Reuters Sports News Summary

08/21/2016 0:59

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Basketball: U.S. rolls past Spain to win sixth straight gold

The United States women's basketball team thumped Spain 101-72 to claim a sixth straight gold medal on Saturday to rubber-stamp their credentials as one of the greatest Olympic sporting dynasties of all time. After a sloppy start that saw Spain lead much of the opening quarter, the U.S. finally settled into their familiar rhythm, turning a 10-0 run into a 17-point halftime lead.

Farah does the double, U.S. clean up

Briton Mo Farah joined the ranks of the all-time distance greats on Saturday by becoming just the second man to retain both Olympic track long distance titles after adding a brilliant 5,000m gold to his 10,000 at the Rio Games. On a sparkling final night of athletics, Matthew Centrowitz won a shock 1,500m gold for the United States, their first in the event since 1908.

Triathlon: American Jorgensen takes gold with perfect race

Hot favorite Gwen Jorgensen produced the perfect race to win the Olympic women's triathlon gold on Saturday, the American unusually staying with her rivals on the bike before surging clear of defending champion Nicola Spirig-Hug on the run. Jorgensen has dominated the sport over the last two years but usually wins her races by chasing down the stronger bikers during the 10km run.

U.S. win sixth straight gold in women's 4x400 relay

The United States maintained their iron grip on the Olympic women's 4x400 meters relay on Saturday when they held off Jamaica for their sixth straight victory in the event to give anchor Allyson Felix her sixth career gold. The U.S. finished in 3 minutes 19.06 seconds. Jamaica took silver in 3:20.34 and Britain the bronze in 3:25.88.

Centrowitz ends America's long wait for 1,500m gold

American Matthew Centrowitz pulled off a shock victory in the 1,500m final on Saturday, stunning pre-race favorite Asbel Kiprop of Kenya to secure his country's first gold medal in the event since 1908. In the run-up to the Games few expected the 26-year-old to challenge for a medal as all the focus was on Kenya's former Olympic champion Kiprop, who had won the last three world titles.

Neymar hands Brazil precious soccer gold medal

Neymar shed tears of joy after delivering Brazil's first men's soccer gold medal with the winning penalty in a 5-4 shootout triumph over Germany after a thrilling final ended in a draw following extra-time on Saturday. Brazil had lost the Olympic final three times - in 1984, 1988 and 2012 - but they finally got the gold they craved on a dramatic night at the Maracana stadium in which they outplayed the Germans but were saved three times by the woodwork.

United States reclaim men's 4x400m title

LaShawn Merritt ran a blistering anchor leg to return the men's 4x400m title to the United States, and win his third Olympic gold medal, in the final athletics event of the Rio Games on Saturday. Before Matthew Centrowitz's shock victory in the 1,500m earlier in the evening, the American men had been limited to one gold medal on the Rio track through Kerron Clement in the 400 meters hurdles.

Lochte apologizes to Brazil on national TV

U.S. gold medalist Ryan Lochte admitted to Brazil's largest broadcaster Saturday night that he had exaggerated his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio - but insisted he did not lie. In an interview aired on Globo TV after the proud soccer country won its first Olympic gold in a penalty shootout, Lochte apologized to the nation.

Beitia wins historic high jump gold for Spain

Spaniard Ruth Beitia leaped into the Rio night to win Spain's first Olympic gold medal in women's athletics and claim her first global outdoor high jump crown at the age of 37 on Saturday. The three-times European champion cleared 1.88m, 1.93m and 1.97m at her first attempts and became the oldest Olympic champion in the jumps on countback when all four remaining athletes failed to get over two meters.

Basketball: U.S. and Serbia to clash in David and Goliath final

Basketball superpower the United States will face Serbia on Sunday in an Olympic men's basketball David and Goliath gold medal final that will bring down the curtain on the Rio Games. It will mark the first appearance in the final as an independent nation for Olympic debutants Serbia, but the mighty Americans arrive at the gold medal contest riding a 24-game Olympic winning streak, looking to step on top of the podium for their third straight Summer Games.

08/21/2016 0:59