World Sports

Indiana native Steele Johnson won a silver medal in the 10-meter synchronized diving on Monday, inching closer to conquering a sport that nearly killed him. Johnson was just 12 years old and going through a routine diving practice at Indiana University in Jan. 2009 when he attempted a difficult 3 and 1/2 somersault dive. It would later become his favorite move, but that day it was too far advanced and…

Image copyright EPA Image caption The Russian Paralympic Committee is considering whether to appeal against its ban The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) gives details of anti-doping activities in its annual reports. The report for 2015 is due out in the next few weeks, so the most recent report we have is the 2014 one. In the year covered by that report, 1,013 tests were conducted for IPC sports (which include…

To save articles or get newsletters, alerts or recommendations – all free. Don’t have an account yet?Create an account » Subscribed through iTunes and need an NYTimes.com account?Learn more » Need to connect your Home Delivery subscription to NYTimes.com?Link your subscription »

Never mind the waiting game surrounding Paul Pogba’s £100million move to Manchester United — the biggest-money deal to shake up the Premier League is still yet to come into play. Between them, Sky Sports and BT Sport have shelled out £5.36billion to show live coverage of the English top flight, with this the first season of a three-year mega-deal. Among the big changes are new Friday night kick-offs hosted by…

The Williams sisters entered Sunday’s match with a 15-0 career record in the Olympics, having won gold in 2000, 2008 and 2012 Serena and Venus Williams lost for the first time in an Olympics doubles match as their hopes of winning a fourth successive title were surprisingly ended in the first round at Rio 2016. The American top seeds lost 6-3 6-4 to Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova,…

Rio will host the 15th edition of the summer Paralympic Games Russian athletes have been banned from competing at the Rio 2016 Paralympics following the country’s doping scandal. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had opened suspension proceedings following the McLaren report, and has now confirmed the ban. That report, published last month, detailed a state-sponsored doping programme operated by Russia. The Russian Paralympic Committee will reportedly appeal against the decision…

Media playback is not supported on this device Pogba scores for France at Euros Manchester United are on the brink of re-signing Paul Pogba from Juventus in a deal worth over £100m ($131m). United will pay a world record £89m (105m euros) transfer fee, with other costs such as agents fees to be added. Pogba will have a medical in the next few days with the deal due to be…

This wasn’t his decision. Alex Rodriguez said that the Yankees informed him a few days ago that they wanted to release him. The news surprised him. The terms of his departure will stun the baseball world. The relationship between Rodriguez and the Yankees is not ending badly. In fact, it is continuing, Rodriguez said, first with him playing one final game at Yankee Stadium on Friday, then remaining with the team as an ambassador, instructor and special…

1.55pm EDT13:55 Katie Ledecky sets new Olympic record The absurd Katie Ledecky has just delivered an absurd performance in the 400m freestyle heats. The 19-year-old American, who’s going to win absolutely everything this year, just set a new Olympic record, shooting home in 3m 58s. She could be setting a new world record in the final later tonight. Updated at 1.57pm EDT

Media playback is not supported on this device Great Britain’s Adam Peaty wins the men’s 100m breaststroke semi Great Britain’s Adam Peaty qualified easily for Sunday’s 100m breaststroke final having earlier broken his own world record. The 21-year-old qualified fastest in 57.62 seconds as he aims to become the first British male to win an individual Olympic swimming gold since 1988. The City of Derby swimmer’s 57.55 in the heats…

After what seemed like an eternal buildup to these Games, culminating in the pomp and pageantry of the opening ceremony, the time for sporting action to finally take centre stage in Rio arrived. That’s what the Olympics is about, after all. Yet despite the first medals beings won – three of which (two gold and one bronze) made a resurgent Australia the tentative leader on the medal table – this…

(CNN) – Basketball, track and swimming have been staples at the Olympics for decades, drawing thousands of spectators. But solo synchronized swimming or live pigeon shooting? They are among the strangest events that have, at one time or another, taken place at the Games. Here are the 10 oddest sports that have actually graced the modern Olympics: Oxymoron alert! Yes, this sport features one female swimmer synchronizing with herself. The…

Dan Currier RIR Peter Valavanis tosses a bean bag as he plays a game of cornhole in the parking area before the 62nd Annual Toyota Owners 400 Sunday April 24, 2016 at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va. Posted: Saturday, August 6, 2016 10:00 pm McElroy: Five more Olympic sport recommendations for 2024 BY WES MCELROY Special correspondent Richmond Times-Dispatch What I learned in sports this week is that it’s…

Outside the beach volleyball venue Saturday, Brazilians and tourists danced on the boardwalk, munched on grilled shrimp, scanned racks of cheap jewelry and played futevolei — soccer on a volleyball court. If you want to feel alive, you come to Copacabana Beach on a glistening, 85-degree day. And if you want to feel good about the Olympics and fall in love with a new sport, you go to a venue…

(CNN) – Basketball, track and swimming have been staples at the Olympics for decades, drawing thousands of spectators. But solo synchronized swimming or live pigeon shooting? They are among the strangest events that have, at one time or another, taken place at the Games. Here are the 10 oddest sports that have actually graced the modern Olympics: Oxymoron alert! Yes, this sport features one female swimmer synchronizing with herself. The…

x Embed x Share French gymnast Samir Ait Said suffered a gruesome injury during artistic gymnastics men’s team qualification at the Rio Olympics on Friday. The sound of his leg snapping could be heard throughout the arena. USA TODAY Sports Samir Ait Said of France receives attention after falling while competing on the vault.(Photo: Scott Halleran, Getty Images) RIO DE JANEIRO — French gymnast Samir Ait Said will now be remembered alongside…

The International Paralympic Committee is set to do what its Olympic counterpart did not and ban Russia outright from its Games later this month, the Observer has learned. In the wake of the publication of Professor Richard McLaren’s report that revealed jaw-dropping details of systemic doping in Russia, the IPC provisionally suspended Russia from the Paralympics. Related: Richard McLaren accuses IOC of misrepresenting doping findings It is understood that after…

Media playback is not supported on this device Rio 2016 Olympics: Highlights of the opening ceremony The 2016 Olympics have been formally opened with a colourful and pulsating ceremony at Rio’s Maracana stadium. Broadcast to an estimated audience of three billion, it celebrated Brazil’s history, culture and natural beauty, before former marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima lit the Olympic cauldron. Wimbledon champion Andy Murray led the Great Britain team into…

The Olympic Games are finally here. The modern incarnation began back in 1896, but the Olympic tradition harkens back to the ancient Greek festival where a massive municipal infrastructure boondoggle was offered unto the gods as a tribute. Many of the sports appearing at the Summer Games have storied and truly ancient histories, and not just the obvious ones like the discus and javelin events. The race Herodotus presumably called…

Media playback is not supported on this device Rio 2016: Biles, Ennis-Hill & Whitlock in BBC team’s athletes to watch The 2016 Olympic Games officially start in Rio on Friday with the opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium. Athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team are in Brazil to compete in 28 sports and be watched by a global audience of billions. The build-up has been dominated by a…