Reuters Sports News Summary

08/22/2016 12:55

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Rainy Rio wraps up challenging Games on upbeat tropical note

A blustery storm, a touch of melancholy and a sense of pride converged at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Olympics on Sunday as Brazil breathed a collective sigh of relief at having pulled off South America's first Games. After a grueling 17 days, Rio de Janeiro cast aside early struggles with empty venues, security scares and a mysterious green diving pool to throw a huge Carnival-like party.

Boxing: Shields wears two golds around her neck

Claressa Shields brought one gold medal to the ring with her and left with two hanging around her neck after retaining her Olympic middleweight title and making U.S. boxing history on Sunday. As a gesture of confidence, having the 2012 gold in her pocket before the fight in the expectation of showing it off alongside another took some beating.

Wrestling: U.S. grab last gold, Mongolian strip-off steals show

Kyle Snyder of the United States won the last wrestling gold medal of the Rio Olympics on Sunday but Mongolia provided the most vivid drama when two of its coaches stripped off in protest at their man's defeat in an earlier bout. Snyder fought a cagey, low-scoring contest in the 97 kg category against Azerbaijan's Khetag Goziumov, hanging in to defend his 2-1 lead as his opponent pressed hard in the closing seconds in a bid to lift and throw him.

Speedo USA ends Ryan Lochte sponsorship

Swimwear maker Speedo USA said on Monday it had decided to end its sponsorship of Ryan Lochte, two days after the U.S. Olympic gold medalist swimmer admitted to exaggerating his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio. However, Lochte in an interview to Brazil's largest broadcaster, Globo TV, on Saturday insisted he did not lie.

Anti-U.S. mood could hurt Los Angeles in bid for Games

A bid by Los Angeles to host the 2024 Olympic Games could fall victim to anti-American sentiment brewing inside the International Olympic Committee, sources inside the IOC said. The bid, which is competing against three European cities, risks an anti-U.S. protest vote by several IOC members angry over America's prominent role in pursuing doping allegations against Russian athletes, the sources said.

Basketball: U.S. routs Serbia for third straight gold

A ruthless United States pounded Serbia 96-66 to claim a third straight Olympic men's basketball title on Sunday, giving coach Mike Krzyzewski a golden send-off. After scrapping to a tense three-point win over Serbia in the group round, the United States quickly removed any suspense from the rematch, surging to a 52-29 halftime lead then cruising to their 25th straight win on Olympic hardwood.

Tennis: Murray dominates in Rio, outsider Puig arrives on big stage

Andy Murray etched his name in history books by winning an unprecedented second singles title at the Rio Games and the Briton now has his sights on the ultimate prize: overhauling Novak Djokovic to become the world no. 1. The shock winner of the women's tournament, 22-year-old Monica Puig of Puerto Rico, holds equally lofty ambitions and she was not mincing her words in Rio: "I'm letting the world know that I've arrived."

Volleyball: Brazil's men beat Italy for third gold

Brazil's men's volleyball team defeated Italy on Sunday to win their third gold medal in the sport and cap their country's best Olympic performance with a total of seven golds in the Rio Games. The Brazilians had lost to the Italians in a pool match but won the final in straight sets 25-22 28-26 26-24, handing Italy its third silver medal in men's volleyball.

Ethiopia says will welcome Rio marathon runner despite protest gesture

Ethiopia will not bar runner Feyisa Lilesa from entering the country after he made an anti-government gesture upon finishing second in the Olympic marathon on Sunday, an official said. Lilesa held his arms over his head, wrists crossed, as he strode across the finish line to claim the silver medal in Rio de Janeiro - mimicking a sign taken up by protesters in the Horn of Africa country's Oromiya region.

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.

08/22/2016 12:55