BERKELEY, Calif. — As a boy in Milwaukee, Ziyad Saleem would walk through the house pretending to swim backstroke — arm circling backward along the right ear and over his shoulder, then the other arm doing the same on the left side. Some days he would also propel both arms forward as if doing butterfly. … Read more
MELBOURNE, Australia — Basketball star Lauren Jackson will compete at her fifth Olympics after being selected in Australia’s 12-player squad on Sunday just four months after again coming out of retirement. The Opals, Boomers and the 3×3 teams were announced by Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team in Paris, Anna Meares in Melbourne … Read more
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Russia said on Saturday that 10 of its wrestlers who were offered spots at the Paris Olympics as neutrals will refuse to compete. The Russian wrestling federation said in a statement that its officials, coaches and athletes held a meeting and “came to an unanimous decision — to refuse to participate in … Read more
LOS ANGELES — Once a year, law professor Moraima “Mo” Ivory usually brings celebrities like Steve Harvey, Ludacris and Rick Ross into her Georgia State University classroom for some entertainment legal talk. But this time, she’s taking her next lesson across the Atlantic Ocean, from Atlanta to the Paris Olympics. Ivory and her law students … Read more
LONDON — If this does actually turn out to be the end for Andy Murray at Wimbledon — and, given his history, there are those who don’t believe, or maybe just don’t want to believe, the 37-year-old from Scotland definitely will never return — he will be celebrated and remembered for all sorts of reasons. … Read more
It’s been 100 years since a Scottish runner famously refused to race on a Sunday at the Paris Olympics because of his Christian beliefs. Devout top athletes say elite sports performance still poses some hurdles for the faith practices that are central to their lives on and off the field. At this summer’s Paris Olympics, … Read more
LOS ANGELES — SZA might be known for hit songs like “Kill Bill” and “Snooze,” but the R&B star unveiled another impressive skill beyond music that drew high praise from gymnastics superstar Simone Biles. The multiple Grammy winner showed off her nimble athletic abilities during a friendly handstand contest with Biles during an NBC promo … Read more
MINNEAPOLIS — Simone Biles is heading back to the Olympics. So are some of her friends. The gymnastics superstar earned a third trip to her sport’s biggest stage by cruising to victory at the U.S. Olympic trials on Sunday night, posting a two-day all-around total of 117.225 to clinch the lone automatic spot on the … Read more
MINNEAPOLIS — Skye Blakely’s bid to make the U.S. women’s Olympic gymnastics team is over. The 19-year-old will miss the U.S. Olympic trials after suffering a right Achilles injury during training on Wednesday. USA Gymnastics confirmed the injury Thursday, just over 24 hours before the women’s trials begin. Blakely arrived at trials as a heavy … Read more
MINNEAPOLIS — Reigning Olympic champion Sunisa Lee and six-time world championship medalist Shilese Jones are facing health concerns ahead of the U.S. Olympic trials. Lee, who has spent the better part of two years fighting multiple kidney issues, felt ill while training on Wednesday, though longtime coach Jess Graba doesn’t believe it will hinder Lee’s … Read more
