Reuters Sports News Summary

08/13/2016 3:55

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Shot put 'Diva' Carter puts on girly, golden show in Rio

With crimson lipstick, eye-liner, mascara and a beaming smile, Michelle Carter on Friday won a stunning Olympic shot put gold to sprinkle a little glitz on an event often cruelly ridiculed for the shape of its women athletes. Holding her nerve, the self-proclaimed "Diva" etched her name in the history books with a last-gasp throw at Rio. Now the bubbly, fashion-conscious American wants to change the perception of her event and the strong women who compete in it.

DiRado bows out with backstroke gold

Maya DiRado of the United States won the women's 200 meters backstroke in her final race before quitting swimming on Friday, coming from behind to deny Katinka Hosszu a fourth gold medal at the Rio Olympics. The American reeled in the 'Iron Lady' from Hungary in the last 50 meters, the pair swimming neck and neck in adjacent lanes before DiRado touched first to win by six-hundredths of a second.

Basketball: U.S. men survive Serb scare to stay unbeaten

The U.S. men's team extended their Olympic unbeaten run to 21 games with a tense 94-91 win over Serbia on Friday, but their uneven play hinted that a third straight gold might not be a fait accompli. After opening the Rio Olympics with blowout wins over China and Venezuela, cracks are starting to show in the armor of a usually invincible U.S. team that have been put to the test against Serbia and Australia in their last two games.

Rodriguez helps Yanks to victory in pinstripe farewell

One last play in the field, that was all Alex Rodriguez wanted and with a 6-3 lead in Friday's ninth inning of his last game in pinstripes, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was able to make it happen. "We want A-Rod! We want A-Rod!" the sold-out Yankee Stadium crowd of over 46,000 pleaded at the end of the eighth and out from the dugout Rodriguez emerged, trotting toward third base and the ball park shook with their standing ovation.

I'm ready to retire, says Phelps

No means no. No amount of cajoling, arm-twisting and pleading by his team mates and swimming fans around the world will make Michael Phelps change his mind about retiring after the Rio Olympics. The great American swimmer made that abundantly clear on Friday after winning the 27th Olympic medal of his career, a three-way dead-heat silver in the men's 100 meters butterfly.

Swimming: Ervin wins gold 16 years after his first

Anthony Ervin of the United States reclaimed the mantle of fastest man in the water on Friday by taking the Olympic 50 meters freestyle gold medal 16 years after he first won it, and by the slimmest of margins. "I kind of laughed. It's almost absurd I was able to do it again," said Ervin of his immediate reaction to seeing his name with the number one against it.

Ledecky smashes 800m record to claim freestyle treble

Katie Ledecky of the United States finally succumbed to her emotions on the podium after destroying the field in the 800 meters freestyle on Friday and smashing her own world record to complete a rare Olympic swimming treble. Ledecky led from the start and inexorably stretched out the gap over her opponents to finish in eight minutes, 4.79 seconds, beating her previous mark of 8:06.68 set in Austin, Texas in January.

Athletics: Adams' history bid falls short, Ayana smashes record

Michelle Carter produced the throw of her life with her last attempt to deprive New Zealander Valerie Adams a piece of Olympic history on Friday as the American won the women's shot put to close out a memorable first day of athletics in Rio. Carter heaved an American record 20.63 meters to snatch gold from Adams, who had been seeking to become the first woman to win three straight Olympic titles in an individual athletics event. She took silver with 20.42m.

Swimming: Schooling wins Singapore's first gold

Joseph Schooling beat Michael Phelps and made Singaporean sporting history on Friday when he won the 100 meters butterfly and his country's first Olympic gold medal. Once the pupil, photographed as a boy alongside his childhood idol Phelps, he put in a masterful performance to deny the American a 23rd and final individual gold in a race that will also be long remembered for a three-way dead-heat for second.

Soccer: We lost to 'cowards', U.S. keeper says

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo called Sweden "a bunch of cowards" after they knocked the United States out of the Olympic women's football tournament on penalties on Friday. "I think we showed a lot of heart," Solo told Sports Illustrated after the Europeans moved into the semi-final 4-3 on penalties. "We came back from a goal down. I'm very proud of this team.

08/13/2016 3:55