Reuters Sports News Summary

08/17/2016 0:58

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Cycling: Britain's dominance leaves rivals perplexed

As Britain's track cyclists left Rio's velodrome on Tuesday with their saddle bags laden with gold, their rivals were left scratching their heads wondering just how they managed to keep peaking at the Olympics. "Of course we are wondering," Germany's Kristina Vogel, who did stem Britain's charge by winning the women's sprint, told reporters on the final day of a memorable track program.

Volleyball: Chinese women shatter Brazil's dream of third gold

China's women volleyball team upset favorites Brazil in a five-set battle on Tuesday that dashed the host nation's hopes of winning a third consecutive Olympic gold medal. The younger Chinese team outplayed their more experienced opponents 15-25 25-23 25-22 22-25 15-13 and went through to the semi-finals where they will face the Netherlands.

Third in the medals table, China faces worst haul since 1996

Heavy defeats in sports dominated by China in previous Olympics have left the country languishing in an unfamiliar third place in the medals table, with some predicting that Rio 2016 could see the country's worst haul since 1996. Chinese athletes have so far failed to defend their gold medals in sports from badminton to diving, being unceremoniously kicked out at early stages or having to make do with silver or bronze, leading the country to rank behind the United States and Britain.

Russia stripped of 2008 relay gold due to positive retest

Russia was ordered on Tuesday to return its gold medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympics 4x100m women's relay after Yulia Chermoshanskaya tested positive for a banned substance in a re-analysis of her sample. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) disqualified her for testing positive for steroid use.

Isner, Johnson lead U.S. advance at rainy Cincinnati

Big-hitting John Isner and fellow American Steve Johnson did not allow long periods of rain, drizzle and mist to derail their advance at the weather-hit Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Tuesday. Isner powered his way past Italian Fabio Fognini 6-3 6-2, while the bearded Johnson, fresh off his Rio Olympics bronze in the doubles, defeated Argentine left-hander Federico Delbonis

Gymnastics: Biles signs off with record-equaling fourth gold

No one would have guessed that Simone Biles' "legs felt like rocks" as the standout gymnast of the 2016 Olympics soared higher and higher to win a record-equaling fourth gold on Tuesday. A day after a slipped foot off the balance beam dashed the American's hopes of leaving Rio with a record haul of five golds for a female gymnast, she was back to her hip-shaking best to clinch the floor title with 15.966 points, ahead of team mate Aly Raisman.

Basketball: U.S. women rout Japan to reach semi-finals

The United States steamrolled to their 47th straight Olympic win on Tuesday, routing Japan 110-64 to reach the semi-finals of the women's basketball tournament and taking a step closer to a sixth consecutive gold medal. With an overall record of 64-3, Olympic losses are rare for the U.S. but Japan could lay claim to one of them.

Klishina seeks Russian redemption in long jump final

Russia's Darya Klishina booked a place in the Olympic long jump final on Tuesday, keeping alive her country's slim hopes of an athletics medal in Rio following the exclusion of its track and field squad over doping allegations. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) banned Russia's track and field team in June over allegations of state-sponsored cheating but initially allowed Klishina to compete as she trains and undergoes drug testing in the United States.

Athletics: Imperious Schippers dominates 200m semi-finals

World champion Dafne Schippers laid down a marker to indicate that the Dutch woman remains favorite to add the Olympic 200 meters crown to her list of honors after setting the fastest time in the semi-finals on Tuesday. The former heptathlete started well and ran a magnificent bend on her way to an impressive 21.96 seconds in the first semi-final, finishing comfortably ahead of Jamaica's 100m gold medal winner Elaine Thompson, who ran a season's best 22.13.

Athletics: Jamaica, Kenya and U.S. strike gold

Jamaica, Kenya and the United States added to their athletics medal tallies in the 110metres hurdles, women's 1,500m and men's triple jump on Tuesday, while Russia's sole track and field competitor survived to compete another day at Rio. Athletes from Kenya, Croatia and Canada also claimed Olympic gold in a largely empty stadium, where announcers urged rowdy Brazilian fans to restrain themselves after provoking a French pole vaulter with a chorus of boos the night before.

08/17/2016 0:58