Sports

Sports

The Week In Sports: Olympian Greats

8:39am August 14, 2016

Michael Phelps' victories in Rio have prompted some observers to call him the greatest Olympian of all time. Mike Pesca of Slate tells Rachel Martin why we should take that claim with a grain of salt.

Proof the sport used to be pretty weird: a game of water polo, circa 1880. Although the barrels and mallets of the sport's early versions look quite unlike what's played today, note that even then there was one thing missing: actual horses.

Sports

Dipping A Toe In Water Polo For The First Time? Here's A Handy Guide

8:12am August 14, 2016

by Colin Dwyer

Chances are, you only see this sport every leap year — but water polo is far more than an Olympic curiosity. With this layperson's guide, you may soon be dropping lingo like an expert.

Michael Phelps of the United States competes in the Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final on Thursday.

Sports

Phelps Helps U.S. Men Win Relay Gold In Rio; Manuel Helps Women Snare Gold

11:45pm August 13, 2016

by Bill Chappell

Michael Phelps wins his 23rd career gold. American Simone Manuel picked up a silver medal and a gold, as she swam an individual race and anchored the women's medley.

Elaine Thompson of Jamaica (right) celebrates as she wins the women's 100-meter final ahead of Tori Bowie of the United States, who took silver, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, who got bronze.

Sports

Rio Highlights: Phelps Ends With 23 Golds; Jamaicans Maintain Sprint Dominance

11:38pm August 13, 2016

by Greg Myre

Michael Phelps captured one last gold, his 23rd in his staggering career. On the track, Jamaica kept its stranglehold on the women's 100 meters as Elaine Thompson became the world's fastest woman.

Michelle Carter competes in the women's shot put final during the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday.

Rio Round-Up: Michelle Carter Makes Shot Put History; USA Men's Basketball Vs. Serbia

10:50pm August 13, 2016

by Emma Bowman

Carter outthrew favorite Valerie Adams of New Zealand, joining her father as a decorated U.S. Olympian. Men's basketball clinched a narrow win against Serbia in a second game of sloppy defense.

Monica Puig of Puerto Rico reacts after defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany in the women's singles gold medal match at the Rio Summer Olympics.

Monica Puig Makes Olympic History, Winning Puerto Rico's First Gold Medal

7:57pm August 13, 2016

by Bill Chappell

Puerto Rico has been sending athletes to the Olympics since 1948; before today, it had amassed eight Olympic medals. Tennis star Monica Puig changed that on Saturday.

Pump Up The Jams: Sprinter Shares What Gets Her Running

5:09pm August 13, 2016

Team USA track and field athlete Morolake Akinosun, 22, is at the Olympics in Rio. She shares the songs that get her pumped to compete.

Black U.S. Olympians Won In Nazi Germany Only To Be Overlooked At Home

1:42pm August 13, 2016

by Hansi Lo Wang

Jesse Owens is still the most famous name from the 1936 Olympics in Nazi-controlled Berlin. But a new documentary highlights 17 other African-American athletes who also made their mark.

Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya wins the London Marathon last year. He's the favorite in the men's marathon in Rio.

In The Marathons, Look For Duels Between The Kenyans And The Ethiopians

11:56am August 13, 2016

by Alex Ashlock

The neighboring African nations have the world's best distance running teams. In both the men's and women's marathons, they are expected to be in the thick of it.

Emily Lopez-Diaz, 11, swims for the YMCA of South Florida Barracudas in the Miami area. Her father, Josue Lopez, estimates that about 30 percent of the team is Latino.

USA Swimming Wants More Diversity In The Pool

11:30am August 13, 2016

by Carolyn Beans

The U.S. swimming team competing in Rio is the most diverse yet. But there is still a long way to go before the ranks of swimmers reflect the diversity of the country.