Police in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday searched the home of the head of Brazil’s Olympic Committee as part of an investigation into allegations that politicians, wealthy businessmen and Olympic officials bribed members of the committee to secure the city’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Games.

Rio 2016 Olympic Vote-Buying Probe News

According to Rio-based newspaper O Globo, prosecutors are questioning Brazilian Olympic Committee President Carlos Arthur Nuzman and Arthur César de Menezes Soares Filho, a wealthy businessman known as “King Arthur” in Brazil. Filho has intermittently lived in Miami, where he owns a large portfolio of luxury properties and businesses. O Globo adds that a warrant has been issued for the latter’s arrest.

Nuzman, a former IOC member, will answer questions from prosecutors Tuesday afternoon during a meeting at which he will turn in his passport. The Associated Press reported that police were spotted removing suitcases, documents and a computer from his house.

“I can confirm that he did not commit any irregularity,” Nuzman’s lawyer, Sergio Mazzillo, told reporters in Brazil. “Unfortunately, this has created a media spectacle.”

According to the Washington Post, officials from France, Antigua and Barbuda are assisting in the operation. Brazilian prosecutors claim that Nuzman helped buy the votes of African IOC members during the bidding process for the 2016 Olympics and that Soares Filho laundered the money used to pay them off by using bank accounts in the United States, Antigua and Barbuda — a scheme centered in the British Virgin Islands — according to O Globo.

Filho previously served as a top government contractor in Brazil and was also the right-hand man of Sergio Cabral, the former governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro. In June, Cabral — who served as governor of the state from 2007 to 2014 — was convicted of bribery and money laundering to finance Olympic infrastructure projects. Cabral was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Here is an excerpt of a report from the Miami Herald published last month, which claims Cabral, then-Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes held a meeting with Soares in 2009 with the intention of authorizing him to bribe an IOC member for his 2016 Olympic bid vote:

Investigators in France claim an offshore company tied to Soares and based in the British Virgin Islands was involved in two suspicious wire transfers totaling $2 million to the son of Lamine Diack, a Senegalese IOC member who was then president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The transfers took place three days before the IOC vote on the 2016 host city in 2009, and the money was transferred to a Russian account. On the day of the vote, the offshore company wired another $300,000 to an IOC committee member in a leadership role, according to Le Monde.

Rio de Janeiro defeated Madrid in a landslide for the right to host the 2016 Olympics, securing 66 of 98 votes in the final round of IOC voting, and Rio 2016 organizers have long denied any wrongdoing.

“Rio won the Games because it had the best project, both from the point of view of the organization of Games and the legacy,” a Rio 2016 spokesperson told the Guardian in March 2016. “Rio beat Madrid by a clear margin of 66-32 [votes], which excludes any possibility of a manipulated election.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14: Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia celebates placing first in the Women’s Triple Jump final on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic distance runner from Great Britain, has revealed that he promised his two kids he would win two gold medals, one for each of them, from last summer’s Rio Olympics.

British Olympic Runner Mo Farah ‘Promised’ His 2 Kids He’d Win A Gold Medal For Each

Farah, 33, said this promise gave him additional motivation to win both the 5,000 and 10,000m races.

“Leading up to the Olympics I was injury free and my training had gone well, so I went into the Games feeling good and confident,” he said. “But four years is a long time in athletics. I’m getting older and it gets harder to recover between sessions, so I didn’t take anything for granted when it came to retaining my golds.”

He continued:

U.S. Soccer has announced that Hope Solo has been suspended from the U.S. Women’s National Team for six months following the goalkeeper’s comments on Sweden’s performance in the Olympic quarterfinal match that saw the USWNT eliminated from the Rio Games.

U.S. Soccer Suspends Hope Solo For Six Months, Terminates Contract After Olympics Remarks

Solo’s national team contact has also been terminated. The 35-year-old American goalie said following the quarterfinal match that she believed the Swedish women were “a bunch of cowards” for using a defensively-minded strategy to win the game, adding “the best team did not win.”

Sweden earned the victory on Aug. 12 via a penalty shootout following a 1-1 tie in regulation.

U.S. women’s coach Jill Ellis and U.S. Soccer general secretary Dan Flynn met with Solo in Seattle on Wednesday afternoon and gave her the news, which comes with three months of severance pay. She will become eligible for reinstatement and a new contract in February 2017.

Solo, who received public criticism from teammates Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, as well as U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati for her comments, did not immediately apologize for them.

Instead, both Morgan and Rapinoe said they believed Sweden, as the underdogs, used the right strategy to play a team as strong as the U.S., the reigning women’s World Cup champions, almost hinting that the Americans would have also played more defensively than offensively had the situation been reversed.

“They played their cards right,” Morgan told USA TODAY’s Nicole Auerbach. “They did the exact same thing with Brazil. They’re in the final, so you can’t really doubt their strategy now.”

“I saw [Solo’s] comments but I feel like those are opinions I don’t share,” Morgan told Auerbach.

Rapinoe was more direct in attacking Solo for her comments.

“[I’m] really disappointed to be honest,” Rapinoe told NBC. “That’s not our team. That’s not what this team has always been. That’s not what this team will be in the future. It’s frustrating sometimes as an athlete. You’re thrust into the spotlight and I think this team has always done a really amazing job of understanding that we have this incredible platform. Let’s do something good with it. Let’s inspire. Let’s be [expletive]. Let’s be fierce. Let’s be competitive.”

“But we’re gracious and we are humble. We play the game a certain way. Whether we win or lose. We’ve been on the winning side quite and bit and when we find ourselves on the other side, we need to handle that graciously. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.”

Gulati then issued a statement of his own.

“The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our national team players,” Gulati said in a statement Wednesday evening. “Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect. We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions.”

The women’s national team has just two more matches scheduled for the remainder of 2016. Solo can still play for for her club team, Seattle Reign, during the suspension.

Gulati continued: “Taking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the private conversations we’ve had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner befitting a U.S. national team member, U.S. Soccer determined this is the appropriate disciplinary action.”

Some reports have confirmed that, because U.S. Soccer also pays her club contract, only the national team portion of her contract was revoked.

“During our current National Team camp, Hope made a poor decision that has resulted in a negative impact on U.S. Soccer and her teammates,” Ellis said in a separate statement. “We feel at this time it is best for her to step away from the team.”

Of course, many will surely argue that the punishment handed to Solo seems excessive given her transgression, and others might even complain that a punishment this severe would probably never be given to a male player for making comments like hers.

Rich Nichols, executive director of the USWNT Players Association, is one such person who quickly rose to Solo’s defense.

Solo then responded to the suspension with an apology, saying: “I apologize for disappointing my teammates, coaches and the Federation who have always supported me,” she wrote. “I think it’s best for me to take a break, decompress from the stress of the last several months, and come back mentally and physically ready to positively contribute to the team.”

Solo also issued the following statement:

This is not the first time, however, that Solo has received punishment for something controversial she has said or done.

At the 2007 World Cup, U.S. coach Greg Ryan benched her for the semifinal against Brazil after she had started every game. Solo lashed out publicly after the U.S.’s 4-0 loss and was shunned by her teammates, but ultimately Ryan lost his job and Solo was welcomed back to the U.S. team under coach Pia Sundhage and won a gold medal in 2008.

Coincidentally, Sundhage now coaches the Swedish women’s team that Solo insulted.

After Solo’s standout performance at the 2011 World Cup, where the U.S. finished second, she became a breakout personality and ended up on Dancing With The Stars.

In 2014, however, she was accused of a fourth-degree domestic violence offense in an incident involving her nephew and half-sister. That case has yet to be resolved. In early 2015, Solo was suspended for 30 days by U.S. Soccer after she and her husband, Jerramy Stevens, were stopped in a U.S. team van that Stevens was driving in Los Angeles. He was charged with DUI and served three days in jail.

Solo and the USWNT have won one World Cup (2015) and two Olympic gold medals in a U.S. career that has included 202 national team appearances and 102 clean sheets. Both are the most ever internationally for a goalkeeper, male or female.

BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL – AUGUST 03: Hope Solo #1 of United States looks on during the Women’s Group G first round match between the United States and New Zealand during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Mineirao Stadium on August 3, 2016 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)

Neymar helped lead Brazil to its first-ever Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, but the national team’s captain doesn’t have to return to his club team, Barcelona, just yet.

Neymar To Stay In Brazil, Miss Barcelona Weekend Game Before World Cup Qualifiers

New Brazil coach Tite included him on the the 23-man roster for World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Colombia, so Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has allowed the 24-year-old to stay in Brazil instead of returning for the match against Atletico Bilbao this weekend.

Neymar scored the winning penalty– along with Brazil’s lone goal in regulation–against Germany in Saturday’s Olympic final shootout, and had been expected back in training on Wednesday.

Barcelona’s second league game of the new season against Atletico on Sunday is followed by the first round of international matchups for the 2018 World Cup qualification.

Luis Enrique, therefore, has decided it is best to allow the former Santos forward to remain in his homeland in order to avoid an excess of flights between South America and Europe.

Instead, he will return to Catalonia ahead of the home game against Alaves at Camp Nou on Sep. 10.

Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Rafinha, who also played in Saturday’s Olympic final, will return to training with Barca this week, having not been selected for the qualifying matches.

Brazil face Ecuador on September 1 and then Colombia on September 6 in World Cup qualifiers.

After Brazil’s historic gold medal victory, Neymar stepped down as captain of the national team.

“It was an honor to be captain, but from today I stop being captain,” he said. “I will send a message to [senior coach] Tite that, from now, he can look for another captain.”

Former Brazil manager Dunga named Neymar captain in September 2014.

Neymar has previously been investigated for tax evasion.

Barcelona started their league season with a 6-2 win over Real Betis on Saturday, with Luis Suarez netting a hat-trick in the victory.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 17: Neymar of Brazil in action during the Men’s Semifinal Football match between Brazil and Honduras at Maracana Stadium on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Ryan Lochte lost three major sponsors after swimsuit giant Speedo USA, retail company Ralph Lauren and skin-care firm Syneron-Candela announced in rapid succession early Monday that they were dropping the swimmer in the wake of his involvement in drunken incident at the Rio Olympics that he initially and falsely described as an armed robbery.

Speedo And Two Other Sponsors Drop Ryan Lochte After Rio Scandal

Speedo USA, the first of the three companies to announce they were severing ties with the 32-year-old American swim star, also said it would donate $50,000 of Lochte’s fee to Save The Children to benefit needy youngsters in Brazil.

“While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the Speedo team, we cannot condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for,” the prominent swimsuit company said in a brief statement. “We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience.”

Ralph Lauren and Syneron-Candela, released their own similar statements shortly afterwards.

“Ralph Lauren continues to proudly sponsor the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team and the values that its athletes embody,” said Ralph Lauren, which provided the Polo-branded attire worn by the American team at the opening and closing ceremonies. “Ralph Lauren’s endorsement agreement with Ryan Lochte was specifically in support of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the company will not be renewing his contract.”

Syneron-Candela offers a line of skin-treatment products that are used for body contouring, wrinkle reduction, acne and vein care, and tattoo removal.

“We hold our employees to high standards, and we expect the same of our business partners,” the company said. “We wish Ryan well on his future endeavors and thank him for the time he spent supporting our brand.”

Lochte also issued a brief statement through his public relations firm relaying his lengthy relationship with Speedo.

“I respect Speedo’s decision and am grateful for the opportunities that our partnership has afforded me over the years,” he said. “I am proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved together.”

The swimmer originally claimed he and three of his other teammates had been robbed after their taxi was pulled over by armed men who presented themselves as policeman in the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 14, the day after the swimming competition ended in Rio de Janeiro.

Lochte has since apologized for lying about the actual events that took place that night, events which involved him and his teammates drunkenly showing up at a gas station in Rio thanks to the taxi that drove them from their party at the French house earlier that night. There, the four swimmers urinated on several parts of the premises, while Lochte himself caused damage to a bathroom door, took down a sign and even got into a fight with a security guard– all according to video surveillance footage and witness testimonies from the gas station owner and others, including Lochte’s teammates.

The U.S. Olympic Committe and USA Swimming have stated that Lochte will be punished, perhaps by being forbidden to compete in a fifth Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. He could also potentially face criminal charges in Brazil, where the other swimmers– Jimmy Feigen, Jack Conger and Gunner Bentz– were initially barred from leaving the country until they were interviewed by authorities. Conger and Bentz were actually detained on their flight home.

Feigen wound up donating just under $11,000 to a Brazilian nonprofit sports organization to settle any potential legal action.

Lochte, in an initial interview with NBC, said that “these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing, just a police badge, and they pulled us over. They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused. I was like, ‘We didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m not getting down on the ground.’” He went on to say he was robbed of money and his wallet.

That version quickly unraveled when police said the swimmers never reported the incident to authorities and that there was scant evidence of a robbery.

In his most recent interview with NBC, which was taped in New York and began airing last weekend, Lochte said he was “very intoxicated” during the incident and takes “full responsibility” for his actions. He also apologized in an interview with Brazil’s main broadcaster, Globo.

“I over-exaggerated the story,” he told NBC. “If I had never done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Lochte finished fifth in the 200-meter individual medley, far behind longtime rival Michael Phelps, but he did help Phelps and the Americans win gold in the 4×200 freestyle relay.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 12: Ryan Lochte of the United States attends a press conference in the Main Press Center on Day 7 of the Rio Olympics on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)

Sam Kendricks’ army training shows very clearly, and has served him well.

USA Pole-Vaulter Sam Kendricks Stops Mid-Run To Stand For National Anthem

When ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ began playing during his Olympic competition in Rio early Sunday, the 23-year-old American pole vaulter– who is also a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve– literally stopped what he was doing to stand at attention while the national anthem played.

Kendricks was racing down the runway on his way to a vault when he abruptly stopped, dropped his pole and stood tall and proud in respect of his country’s anthem.

The patriotic act by Kendricks came during a qualifying jump last week and drew praise from many, who hailed the motion as one of the most respectful acts of the 2016 Olympics.

One of 18 Team USA athletes competing in Rio di Janeiro who also serve in the military, Kendricks finished his 2016 Olympics with a bronze medal thanks to a vault of 19 feet, 2 1/4 inches.

The Mississippi native became the first American to take home a medal in that event since Timothy Mack won gold in Athens in 2004. A two-time NCAA champion, he also is the third track and field athlete from the University of Mississippi to win an Olympic medal.

Kendricks comes from a military family. His father, Scott, served 10 years in the U.S. marines and is now his coach in the pole vault.

“Those guys are really proud of me and have given me every chance to continue as a civilian,” Kendricks told the official Team USA website. “(I’m proud) to represent the Americans on two fronts, as a military man and as a U.S. athlete.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 15: Sam Kendricks of the United States celebrates winning the bronze medal in the Men’s Pole Vault Final on Day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 15, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

The Brazilian soccer team has had more than its share of ups and downs in recent years. It’s won several great championship matches, yet also suffered heartbreaking losses, like the 7-1 thrashing it took from Germany during the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup, which the South Americans also hosted.

Brazil Men’s Soccer, led by Neymar, Beat Germany In Penalties For First-Ever Olympic Title

On Saturday in Rio di Janeiro, Neymar and the Brazilian squad made history by defeating that same country who embarrassed them two years in a thrilling 5-4 penalty shootout following a 1-1 tie in regulation to secure the Olympic hosts their first-ever soccer gold medal.

The historic victory has surely brought– and will bring for quite some time– greater pride for Brazil, a country that has faced severe international criticism for the numerous problems encountered by Olympians in Rio– security issues, the Zika virus, polluted waters– ahead of and during this year’s Summer Games.

Maracanã Stadium erupted in celebration after Neymar, the 24-year-old Brazilian captain and Barcelona star forward, scored the final penalty to clinch the long-awaited title for his country, which was won five World Cups.

After Brazilian goalkeeper Weverton dove to his left to successfully save Germany’s fifth penalty kick–shot by Nils Petersen– the host country’s players, coaches and fans already began jumping in excitement.

This was only compounded after Neymar stepped up for Brazil’s fifth and final penalty. He did a stutter step, then shot high and confidently to send German goalie Timo Horn, 23, the wrong way and send the ball into the back of the net.

The captain dropped to his knees, then onto his stomach, and covered his face as he welled up with tears and his teammates– who had been anxiously watching on their knees at midfield– rushed over to embrace him and pile onto each other.

As the Maracana crowd of about 78,000 roared in elation, one Brazilian fan ran from the stands into the giant group hug of players, the national flag draped around his shoulders like a superhero cape.

“Nothing will replace 7 to 1,” said Roberto Artiaga, 39, a Brazilian fan, referring to the tragic World Cup loss to Germany in the World Cup semifinals two years ago. “It’s impossible. But it eases the pain. We will hurt a little less.”

It should be noted, nonetheless, that Saturday’s historic triumph came with very different rosters and under very different circumstances from those of the 2014 World Cup.

The Olympic tournament is for players under 23 years of age, with only three older players allowed per team.

Neymar sat out the crushing defeat to Germany in 2014 with a broken vertebra in his back.

“Nobody here played in that final,” Weverton told reporters before Saturday’s match. “What happened in the past is in the past. Nothing is going to change that, even if we win by seven goals. We have a chance to create our own history.”

Though the weight of an Olympic soccer final is not quite as big as that of the World Cup final, the stress level of Saturday’s match was almost just as palpable as that of a FIFA World Cup final.

In the 27th minute, Neymar drew a foul about 25 yards out from goal. The captain took the ensuing free kick and beat Horn with a pinpoint strike that hit off the bottom of the crossbar and bounced into the upper-left corner to give Brazil a 1-0 lead.

Germany came back a few minutes later and nearly equalized twice off free kicks, themselves hitting the crossbar twice. First, Serge Gnabry fired in a cross that was flicked off the crossbar and out of play. Then, it was Sven Bender who got on the end of a free kick, but sent his header off the top bar.

In the 59th minute, Germany’s Maximilian Meyer swiveled on a crossing pass and equalized with a low, hard one-time shot. It was the first goal that Brazil had allowed at the Rio Olympics.

Brazil’s Felipe Anderson had the lone scoring chance of the second session of extra time, but he was unable to capitalize as the teams went into a penalty shootout.

Germany won the 2014 World Cup at Maracanã, defeating Lionel Messi and Argentina by 1-0 in the final. The German women’s team won an Olympic gold medal there this week.

Mauro Beting, a commentator and reporter for Fox Sports Brasil, said before the tournament that Brazil’s players would start tentatively, knowing that “in every beginning of a game, every time they make a mistake, they will think, ‘It’s 7-1 coming.’”

Even if Brazil won a gold medal, Beting projected, “At the same time that the team will be running the victory lap, thinking, ‘We finally won the Olympics,’ fans in Maracanã will say, ‘You’ve lost 7-1.’ Neymar, you can be the star of the Olymics, but in the World Cup you were not there.’”

Brazilian fans are like that, he said.

“Soccer fans are cruel and were most cruel on the defeat to Germany,” Beting said.

Prior to the tournament, the news media criticized Neymar for partying too much while on vacation during the US-hosted Copa America earlier this summer. And after Brazil failed to score a goal during its first two Olympic matches, some fans mocked him with “missing” posters. Others screamed “Marta!” as if they preferred the star of the Brazilian women’s team.

Nevertheless, some Brazilian fans appear willing to forgive the captain and his squad.

“Brazil is five times champion of the World Cup and we had never had a gold medal before, so against any team it would have been great,” said Manoel Santos, 56, a Brazilian fan. “But, O.K., being against Germany made it that much sweeter.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 20: Neymar and Brazilian team mates celebrate with their gold medals after winning the Men’s Football Final between Brazil and Germany at the Maracana Stadium on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Team USA began the Rio 2016 Olympics strong by winning the first gold medal of the Games thanks to teenage shooter Ginny Thrasher, and their last medal of the Games was also one to remember.

U.S. Men’s Basketball Rout Serbia 96-66 In Gold Medal Game For Third Straight Olympic Title

Led by Kevin Durant, who scored 30 points, the U.S. men’s basketball team thrashed Serbia 96-66 in Sunday’s gold medal game in Rio to earn their third consecutive Olympic title and cap off an 8-0 winning streak.

With the victory, the Americans extended their winning streak in the Olympics to 52 games and sent Mike Krzyzewski into his Team U.S.A. retirement as the first coach to win three Olympic gold medals.

In a rematch of their Aug. 12 pool play game–which Team USA won 94-91– the U.S. men comfortably cruised to victory. After leading by one late in the first quarter, they finished the first half on a 36-14 run and led 52-29 at halftime.

The Serbians did not have a single scorer reach double digits until late in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, they got to within four points of the Americans after the first quarter.

Durant, who left the Oklahoma City Thunder last month to join his U.S. Olympic teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green on the Golden State Warriors, took over the game in the second quarter. The 27-year-old forward went on an incredible 8-0 run in the span of less than a minute that included back-to-back contested 3-pointers and a steal that he finished emphatically with a dunk.

At halftime, Durant had 24 points. “I just tried to go out there and be who I am,” he said, adding that in the first few games of the tournament, “I was trying too hard to sacrifice and make the extra pass and it was taking away from my game.”

The Americans also held Serbia to 38% shooting, while forcing 18 turnovers. Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins had 13 points and 15 rebounds, and Thompson added 12 points.

Krzyzewski, the Duke legend who was hired by program head Jerry Colangelo in 2005, is now officially retired from the national team and will make way for the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich in 2020. He finishes with a 59-1 mark overall, his lone loss coming against Greece in those 2006 Worlds that led to the bronze finish.

Carmelo Anthony, the New York Knicks star who already beat the all-time Team USA lead in scoring, is now the first American player to win a third gold medal.

Anthony, who was playing in the Olympics for an unprecedented fourth time, made it clear that his international career was done.

“As much as I’m going to miss it, it’s time to pass it on to some of the guys who were on the team this year, and also the younger guys (not on the team),” he said.

The U.S. men struggled in their first few games in Rio. Following blowout victories over China and Venezuela, they were pushed by Australia (98-88), Serbia (94-91) and France (100-97) before breaking out against Argentina (105-76) in the quarterfinals. They were also in control for most of their semifinal matchup against Spain (82-76), but had no reason to expect they would dominate the same way in the final. They ultimately won their eight games by an average of 22.5 points. The 1992 team, the first to include NBA players, beat its opponents by an average of 44 points.

The United States shot 44 percent from the field on Sunday. Serbia, which shot 38 percent, was led by Nemanja Nedovic’s 14 points on 10 shots.

The Serbian coach, Aleksandar Djordjevic, said that from the second quarter on, “Our morale was going down.”

During the medals ceremony, Anthony exercised his leadership role one last time, pointing out to his teammates where the flag was during the playing of the national anthem. ”I just told them look at the highest flag,” he said.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 21: Gold medalists Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, and DeAndre Jordan of the United States stand on the podium after defeating Serbia in the Men’s Gold medal game on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games officially ended Sunday night with an incredible, carnival-inspired closing ceremony, as well as the handover to 2020 hosts Tokyo.

Rio 2016: In Amazing Closing Ceremony, Olympic Flag Goes To Tokyo, Japan PM Shinzo Abe Appears As Super Mario

The colorful event, which lasted nearly three hours, celebrated Brazil’s arts and was held in a wet Maracana Stadium.

Among the highlights were Tokyo’s amazing showcase and a vibrant carnival parade.

“These were a marvelous Olympics, in a marvelous city,” said International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach.

“Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life.”

Bach officially closed the Games of the 31st Olympiad after 16 days of competition, featuring 11,303 athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team.

One of the most entertaining and cheer-filled moments of the night came when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared dressed as classic video game character Super Mario, coming out of a giant green pipe in the stadium.

The event also included the parade of athletes and the extinguishing of the Olympic flame by a rain shower, which then gave life to a large tree sculpture to symbolize rebirth.

Gymnast Simone Biles, who finished with five medals (four gold, one bronze), served as Team USA’s flag bearer.

The United finished first in the standings, with 121 total medals (46 gold). Great Britain finished second with 67 medals (27 gold), and China came third with 70 medals (26 gold). (The number of gold medals determines the rank, not the total number of medals.)

Rounding out the top 10 were Russia (56 total, 19 gold), Germany (42 total, 17 gold), Japan (41 total, 12 gold), France (42 total, 10 gold), South Korea (21 total, 9 gold), Italy (28 total, 8 gold), and Australia (29 total, 8 gold).

Final Rio 2016 Olympics Medal Count (Aug. 21):

Other highlights of the ceremony included human formations of iconic Rio landmarks Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.

The Rio carnival anthem ‘Cidade Maravilhosa’ also played toward the end of the event.

Brazilian model Izabel Goulart led a parade of 50 women and 200 dancers, who were joined by a sound truck containing 12 carnival queens.

The ceremony ultimately concluded with a confetti and firework show.

For the symbolic passing of the Olympic flag to Tokyo, Rio mayor Eduardo Paes returned it to IOC president Bach, before it was passed to Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike.

After this came an astounding 12-minute showcase of Tokyo, which included Prime Minister Abe’s shining moment.

Bach also stated: “Brazil we love you, thank you for your warm hospitality. Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy of life. You gave many reasons to be proud. These Games demonstrated that diversity is an enrichment for everyone. These Games were a celebration of diversity. [These Games] are leaving a unique legacy for many generations to come. History will talk about a Rio before and a much better Rio after these Games.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 21: Model Izabel Goulart and Renato Sorriso dance during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

For the fourth consecutive Olympic Games, Team USA ended Spain’s hopes for a gold medal.

U.S. Men’s Basketball Top Spain 82-76 In Rio To Reach Gold Medal Game

Klay Thompson scored 22 points and Kevin Durant added 14 points as the U.S. men’s basketball team defeated Spain 82-76 Friday in the semifinals.

The United States will now hope for a third straight gold in men’s basketball in the final on Sunday, where they will face the winner of the Australia-Serbia semifinal.

It was the USA’s 52nd consecutive victory in a major international event and 24th consecutive Olympic victory.

Spain has also established itself as a top team, winning bronze in the sport at both the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. The U.S. remain the only team they seem consistently unable to defeat.

Thompson was the unquestionable offensive leader for Team USA. The Golden State Warriors guard recorded four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

DeAndre Jordan led defensively, deterring the Spaniards from drives to the basket and blocking shot attempts left and right. Jordan also contributed offensively, and finished with nine points, 16 rebounds, two assists and four blocks. The Los Angeles Clippers center joined the starting lineup in place of the Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins. 

Despite trailing for most of the game, Spain kept it close. The U.S. led 36-32 in the second quarter and 53-48 in the third. However, the Spaniards proved to be less of a threat than they were in the 2008 and 2012 Games.

Spain trailed 66-57 at the start of the fourth quarter, and the U.S. built a 72-57 lead with 7:28 left in the game.

Center Pau Gasol, who signed with the San Antonio Spurs just last month, proved to be Spain’s top player for the fourth straight Olympics. The 36-year-old Barcelona native scored a team-high 23 points, including two from three-point range.

Durant scored five of the US’s first seven points to help the Americans start on a good note. Durant, the leading scorer for the U.S. throughout the tournament, had eight rebounds.

USA out-rebounded Spain on both ends of the court, but it was especially noticeable on offense, where they scored 25 points on second-chance opportunities compared to 18 for Spain.

The U.S., which had at times struggled defensively in Rio, improved on defense in the quarterfinals against France and even further against Spain. Spain shot just 39% from the field.

The Americans extended the lead to double digits several times throughout the game, but the Spaniards always fought back and refused to let the match slip away from them completely.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 19: Sergio Rodriguez #6 of Spain goes to the basket against DeAndre Jordan #6 of United States during the Men’s Semifinal match on Day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)

The U.S. became the first-ever two-time Olympic champion in women’s water polo on Friday, after a 12-5 defeat over Italy In the final at Rio’s Olympic Aquatics Stadium.

U.S. Women Beat Italy 12-5 For Second Straight Olympic Water Polo Title

Team USA won its first gold in the sport– which was added to the Olympics in 2000– in London four years ago, but only four women from that team– Maggie Steffens, Kami Craig, Melissa Seidemann and Courtney Mathewson– played in Rio di Janeiro this year. All four scored in Friday’s final, nonetheless, with Steffens’ third-period goal giving her a tournament-high 17.

The Americans, who trailed only once for less than a minute in six games in Rio, took a definitive lead on Kiley Neushul’s goal less than four minutes into the final.

By the end of the first eight-minute quarter, the U.S. led 4-1 and was never truly challenged after that. Neushul finished with three goals — on four shots — while Rachel Fatal and Mackenize Fischer scored two each.

Goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson, the first African-American to make the national team in women’s water polo, was incredible with nine saves on 13 shots, including a save on a penalty shot that came early in the second half before being replaced by Sami Hill with 2.5 minutes remaining. Hill made two saves in her brief playing time.

The U.S. had previously thrashed Hungary 14-0 in the semifinals, a game after which Johnson criticized her own level of play throughout this tournament.

The United States dominated this tournament following the shocking news on Aug. 3 that head coach Adam Krikorian’s brother Blake Krikorian, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, had died of a heart attack. Adam Krikorian left the team the next day to return to California, but came back to Rio on Aug. 8 before the competition began.

Friday’s final was the first matchup of former champions in five women’s water polo tournaments.

Italy won its gold medal in 2004.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 19: Gold medalists Team United States celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Water Polo Gold Medal match between the United States and Italy on Day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Several strange things have occurred in the women’s track and field competition at the Rio Olympics, but one of the most bizarre happened on Thursday night.

U.S. Women Drop Baton In 4x100M Relay, But Reach Final Thanks To Second Chance

Running in Lane 2 on an otherwise empty eight-lane track, at a half-full Olympic Stadium, the United States’ women’s 4×100-meter relay team re-ran a qualifying round all by itself.

The re-run came hours after a botched handoff by the Americans was determined by track officials to have been caused by the obstruction of a Brazilian sprinter. The Brazilian, Fauiza Venancio, bumped into Allyson Felix as the latter prepared to pass the baton to English Gardner on the third leg.

The repeat went much more smoothly, as the Team USA runners crossed the finish line in 41.77 seconds, qualifying with the fastest time for Friday’s final.

China, which had finished eighth in the morning heat in 42.70 seconds, fell to ninth following the re-run and was eliminated from the final.

“Honestly, I felt like it was just like a glorified practice,” Gardner said.

Felix said: “It was really weird, but we were walking out, people were cheering for us. I think it uplifted us a little bit, encouraged us. I think we’re just grateful.”

On Monday night, some competitors in a preliminary round of the men’s 110-meter hurdles were permitted a re-run after rain hampered the event. However, a replay like Thursday’s with one relay team on an empty track, is extremely rare at the elite level.

Asked if it had happened before, Bill Mallon, an Olympic historian, said in an email, “Not that I know of.”

At the U.S. Olympic track and field trials four years ago, Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh finished in a dead heat for third place in the 100 meters and were supposed to have a runoff in order to determine the final entrant at the London 2012 Games. However, Tarmoh declined to run again.

David Wallechinsky, another Olympic historian, said the closest comparison to Thursday’s relay replay was the final of the men’s open 400 meters at the 1908 London Olympics, one of the most controversial results in the history of the Summer Games.

According to sports-reference.com, an American named John Carpenter was disqualified in 1908 for impeding a British runner, forcing him wide in the homestretch.

The race was ordered rerun, but two other Americans in the final refused to participate. The gold medal went to the only participant, Wyndham Halswelle of Britain, the runner who had been obstructed by Carpenter.

Nonetheless, Wallechinsky said Thursday’s episode was still very different from this particular incident from over a century ago.

The United States is the defending Olympic champion in the 4×100 relay. Felix and the leadoff runner, Tianna Bartoletta, were members of the team that set a world record of 40.82 seconds at the 2012 London Olympics.

Felix reflected on the several strange moments she has faced in her Olympic career.

“Why me?” Felix said with a laugh. “I’m probably the least person who would ever want to be involved in anything like this.”

In the 400, she was favored but took silver as Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas dived across the finish line to win gold.

After Thursday’s incident, the American said she was not hurt, “just upset.”

She stumbled and then tossed the baton toward Gardner. The baton hit Gardner and fell to the track. Though they were surprised, the Americans powered through the end of the race.

In the women’s 5,000 meters, Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand and Abbey D’Agostino of the United States helped each other finish the race after colliding and falling to the ground with four laps remaining. Both were praised for embodying the Olympic spirit.

In the women’s marathon, German twins Anna and Lisa Hahner held hands across the finish line, leading to some criticism that they had not been seriously competing in the 26.2-mile race.

 RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 18: Morolake Akinosun, English Gardner and Allyson Felix of the United States celebrate after the round one Women’s 4 x 100m Relay Re-Run on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

As of noon on Day 14 of the 2016 Rio Olympics (Aug. 19), The United States continues to dominate, boasting a stunning 100 medals (35 gold, 33 silver, 32 bronze) in total to lead the standings. In the London 2012 Olympics, Team USA finished first with 103 medals.

Will they match or even surpass that number this year? We will find out soon enough.

China and Great Britain, meanwhile, follow behind at second and third respectively, with 59 (20 gold) and 56 (22 gold) medals respectively.

Rounding out the top 10 are Russia (46), Japan (38), France (34), Germany (33), Australia (28), Italy (24) and Canada (19).

Rio 2016 Olympics Medal Count, Day 14 (Aug. 19):

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 16: Silver medalist Will Claye of the United States (L) and gold medalist Christian Taylor of the United States pose during the medal ceremony for the Men’s Triple Jump Final on Day 11 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 16, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Lightning has struck Rio de Janeiro once again with unstoppable force.

Usain Bolt Dominates Again For 200M Olympic Gold In Rio

Usain Bolt reminded everyone why he is the world’s fastest man on Thursday night by winning the 200-meter final in 19.78 seconds to easily claim his third straight Olympic title in the event, adding to his gold from the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games.

As his name was announced and he entered the Olympic Stadium Thursday, the Jamaican– who turns 30 this Sunday– spread his arms, wide, flashed a big smile for the cameras, and wiggled his eyebrows. Bolt also did a quick samba dance and eventually dropped to his knees, pointing to the sky, where a light rain was beginning to fall amidst a cool, steady breeze. As soon as the gunshot went off, he rose to begin his sprint and from there, it was clear to everyone what would likely happen in the final race of his Olympic career.

“I’ve proven to the world that I’m the greatest,” Bolt said. “This is what I came here for. This is why I said this is my last Olympics. Because I cant prove anything else.”

Bolt has now won both the 100 and 200 meters at three consecutive Olympics, an accomplishment that will surely go down as one of the most unbeatable records in Olympic history and more generally in the world of sports.

Canada’s Andre De Grasse took silver with a time of 20.02, a second Olympic medal this year following his 100m bronze.

France’s Christophe Lemaitre claimed bronze in the 200 with a time of 20.12 seconds, after edging Great Britain’s Adam Gemili, who finished in the exact same time as him.

Bolt can still add another medal in the 4×100 relay final on Friday. The Jamaican admitted he was not happy with his performance Thursday, even though the race was never close.

Bolt strayed from the pack as he came around the turn. He puffed out his cheeks down the final stretch.

Bolt said he lost his form, and he was turning his head back and forth as he crossed the finish line.

After the race, he fell to his knees and raised his arms toward the stands. As the other runners shuffled off the track, Bolt took a solitary walk around the stadium, the Jamaican flag wrapped around his shoulders, as Bob Marley songs played over the speakers.

Bolt said on Sunday, after winning his first gold medal of the 2016 Olympics, that he felt he needed two more in Rio to “become immortal.” He has previously stated that he plans to retire following the world championships next year.

Following the race, Bolt also added that he proved that an athlete could be great while competing clean, without drugs. “I’ve made the sport exciting, made people want to see the sport,” he said.

Just after finishing the race, Bolt also paid homage to NBA superstar LeBron James. The Jamaican broke out the Cleveland Cavalier’s “Silencer” move, lifting his knees high while pushing his hands down sharply, with the palms flat.

James later tweeted at Bolt to show his approval, just as he did earlier in the week when he expressed his amazement with Bolt’s 100-meter win:

Bolt’s fellow competitors were hailing his legacy. Many were asked if it was a relief to see him retire.

“If his time is up, I guess a new person has to come in there,” De Grasse said.

After the race, a reporter asked Bolt what a 30-year-old retired person does with his time.

“What am I going to do? I have no idea,” Bolt said, laughing. “You just stressed me out about that.”

The most decorated Olympic sprinter in the world will surely find a good way to spend his time.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 18: Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the Men’s 200m Final on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Ashton Eaton of the United States successfully defended his 2012 Olympic decathlon title on Thursday night in Rio de Janeiro, equaling the Games record with a surge on the final lap of the 1,500 meters– the last event in the two-day competition.

Ashton Eaton Wins Second Straight Gold Medal In Decathlon

The 28-year-old Oregonian finished with 8,893 points to match the Olympic mark set by Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic in 2004.

France’s Kevin Mayer, 24, won silver, finishing 59 points behind Eaton, and Damian Warner of Canada claimed bronze with 8,666 points.

Having missed on his first two attempts at 4.90 meters in the pole vault, Eaton knew what stood in the balance should he fail in his third try at that height.

“That was the moment I thought, all right, your whole life has been about this,” he said. “Get ready. What are you going to do?”

He cleared the height. In the subsequent event, the javelin throw, Eaton faced a similar problem: he was completely unsatisfied with his first toss and was only moderately content with his second.

His third, at 59.77 meters (196 feet), proved to be enough.

He entered the 1,500 meters with a 44-point advantage over Mayer.

Eaton finished the 1,500 in 4:23.33, fourth-best among competitors, to win his second gold medal.

I’m glad I passed the test,” Eaton added, referring to Mayer’s statement of putting him “to the test.”

Tying the all-time Olympic record clearly didn’t come easy for the American, even if he might have made it look simple.

“I wasn’t nervous,” he said. “I was willing to run myself into the hospital if I had to.”

Eaton has now become part of a prestigious group. He joins Team USA’s Bob Mathias (1948 and 1952) and Great Britain’s Daley Thompson (1980 and 1984) as the only two-time decathlon winners in Olympic history.

“The decathlon is exclusive company,” Eaton said. “I’m just happy to be part of the family, the decathlon family. To be with the other two-time gold medalists is great, but it’s great to just be a decathlete.”

This is just one among many of his other accomplishments, however. Eaton also boasts two World Championships and three heptathlon titles in the Indoor Championship, the latest coming in his home state of Oregon in March.

Eaton is now arguably on route to becoming one of the world’s greatest decathletes, and one of the greatest Olympians of all time.

To his coach, Harry Marra, there’s no question. He said Eaton is the greatest.

“It’s historic. I wish the rest of the world understood that,” said Marra. “Repeating in the decathlon? Repeating in the decathlon? When so many things can go wrong? That’s impressive.”

This gold was certainly even more meaningful for Marra, who is coaching in his last Olympic Games. He has tutored not only Eaton, but also his wife, 27-year-old Brianne Theisen-Eaton of Canada, who took bronze in the women’s heptathlon and lovingly embraced her husband and former University of Oregon teammate after his historic victory on Thursday night.

Eaton was heavily criticized after he was photographed wearing a Canada hat to support his wife at one of her events earlier in the Olympics, with many people calling him a ‘traitor.’

Eaton admitted, however, that it was a far more difficult path to gold than it was during the London Games four years ago.

“I’m glad that this wasn’t the easy walkthrough,” Eaton said, quickly adding, “I guess the decathlon’s never an easy walkthrough.”

Eaton’s former college coach, Vin Lananna, also weighed in on his success.

“I think it’s clear. You win the Olympics, you win the World Championships, you own the world record,” said Lananna. “He’s got everything he could possibly be. But what the résumé will not show is how wonderful a young man he is. There’s no line in the résumé for that.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 18: Ashton Eaton of the United States celebrates winning gold overall after the Men’s Decathlon 1500m on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

After two years of battling injuries and losing confidence over disappointing results, Dalilah Muhammad finally got her first-place finish, and simultaneously made history.

Dalilah Muhammad Becomes First U.S. Woman To Win Olympic Gold In 400M Hurdles

The 26-year-old became the first American woman to take gold in the 400-meter hurdles at the Rio Olympics on Thursday, finishing in a stunning 53.14 seconds.

After gaining an early lead, Muhammad–who competed collegiately at the University of Southern California– found herself all alone in the final 100 meters, crossing the finish line a comfortable .42 seconds over Denmark’s Sara Slott Petersen, who won silver. 

Muhammad’s victory follows that of U.S. Women Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali, and Kristi Castlin, who swept the 100-meter hurdles on Wednesday.

Fellow American Ashley Spencer, who was far back early, won the bronze medal with a strong finishing kick while recording her personal best time of 53.72 seconds.

“It’s so exciting,” said Muhammad, a Queens, New York native. “This means so much; I’ve been working so hard for this. The last two years haven’t been the best but to finally be where I’m supposed to be at the right time, and I’m so happy about that.”

Her performance at the U.S. Olympic trials were a great predictor of her success at the Rio Games. Following a coaching change in February and an improvement of her fitness level, Muhammad posted the fastest time in the world this year and took nearly a second off her personal best.

“I just had to re-motivate myself to work harder,” she said. “I worked as hard as I ever did in this last year and being so much more disciplined played a huge factor.”

On Thursday, her game plan coming out of lane No. 3 was to reach the front as quickly as possible, and she delivered. By hurdle No. 8, she had opened up on the field and was only going to get caught if she made a mistake.

“I’m always trying to be the first one to the first hurdle,” Muhammad said. “I don’t really know what I was today but I caught the girl to my right fairly quickly, so once I did that I tried to even out with the rest of the race. I could tell I was in front but you never know in the 400 hurdles until you’re right at the finish. It wasn’t my (personal record), but I think it was a job well done.”

Spencer, who only began competing in hurdles full-time this year, admitted she made technical errors during the race and was probably not aggressive enough, since she lay back off the pace early, but added she was thrilled to win the bronze.

Meanwhile, Kerron Clement also secured a victory for Team USA on Thursday by winning his own gold medal in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.

“I knew I was going to get that gold medal, and I was sticking to that plan,” Clement said. “Nothing and no one was going to stop me from achieving that.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 18: Dalilah Muhammad of the United States celebrates winning gold in the Women’s 400m Hurdles Final on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Helen Maroulis added her name on Thursday to the list of American Olympians to make history at the Rio Games this summer.

Helen Maroulis Beats Japanese Star For First Gold In U.S. Women’s Wrestling History

The 24-year-old wrestler from Maryland defeated one of the greatest wrestlers in the world, Japan’s Saori Yoshida, to win the gold in the 53kg weight class.

Yoshida, 33, is widely considered to be a wrestling legend. She is a 13-time world champion and a three-time reigning Olympic champion.

Maroulis, a first-time Olympian who lost weight to compete in Rio, defeated Yoshida, who had not lost a match in four years, 4-1.

The first period ended with Yoshida leading 1-0 after Maroulis failed to convert when put on the 30-second shot clock. The American came out strong in the second period, securing two takedowns to finish 4-1.

Maroulis’s win adds to a recent tear that includes her first-ever world title at the 2015 world championships in Last Vegas (in the 55kg division); she currently holds the longest winning streak of all American wrestlers.

The medal ceremony was incredibly emotional, to say the least, as both finalists cried on the podium. Maroulis mouthed “The Star-Spangled Banner” with tears running down her face while Yoshida seemed inconsolable, sobbing after ending her 14-year streak of capturing either a world or Olympic title.

The Washington Post’s Adam Kilgore described the scene:

“I’ve dreamed of this my whole life,” Maroulis said. “I put it on this pedestal.”

“I’ve been dreaming about wrestling Saori for so long,” Maroulis said. “She’s a hero. She’s the most decorated wrestler in the sport. It’s such an honor to wrestle her.”

Maroulis was on a two-year streak of her own.

“I should have attacked sooner and faster, but the opponent was stronger than me,” Yoshida said. She also added that she has not yet decided whether or not she will compete in the 2020 Games in the capital of her home country, in Tokyo.

53kg quarterfinals
Yoshida (JPN) wins 9-0 vs. Sambou (SEN)
Arguello (VEN) wins 6-3 vs. Prevolaraki (GRE)
Mattsson (SWE) wins 10-3 vs. Krawcyz (POL)
Maroulis (USA) wins 7-4 vs. Jong (PRK)

53kg semifinals
Yoshida (JPN) wins 6-0 vs. Arguello (VEN)
Maroulis (USA) wins by fall (5:24) vs. Mattsson (SWE)

53kg repechage matches
Rd. 1: Zhong (CHN) wins by tech fall 10-0 vs. Khavaldzhy (UKR)
Rd. 2: Sinishin (AZE) wins 4-0 vs. Sambou (SEN)
Rd. 2: Zhong (CHN) wins on criteria 5-5 vs. Jong (PRK)

53kg bronze medal matches
Sinishin (AZE) wins 2-1 vs. Arguello (VEN)

53kg gold medal match
Maroulis (USA) wins 4-1 vs. Yoshida (JPN)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 18: Helen Louise Maroulis of the United States celebrates after defeating Saori Yoshida of Japan during the Women’s Freestyle 53 kg Gold medal match on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Usain Bolt ran his fastest time of the season to win his Olympic 200-meter semi-final in 19.78 seconds in Rio on Wednesday as his American rival Justin Gatlin missed out on a spot in the final.

Usain Bolt Continues Hot Olympic Streak With 200M Semifinal Win; USA’s Justin Gatlin Crashes Out

The Jamaican won the 100m on Sunday night and is now seeking an eighth Olympic gold medal by retaining his 200m title.

Gatlin, 34, won silver behind Bolt in the 100m final, but only finished third in his semi-final.

Great Britain’s Adam Gemili, 22, reached Thursday’s final as one of two fastest losers.

Gatlin, banned twice for doping violations, clocked 20.13 and failed to advance along with another favorite: Jamaican Yohan Blake. 

Blake, who won silver behind Bolt in London in 2012, has been hampered by injury over the past few years and faded to finish sixth with a time of 20.37 seconds.

American LaShawn Merritt, who has run 19.74 this year, is likely to pose the biggest challenge to Bolt in the final.

But Bolt believes he can break his world record of 19.19 and could even go under 19 seconds in the final.

“I definitely think I can try for the world record, I definitely feel that,” Bolt said. “I need to run efficiently and get into the straight and run the perfect race.”

Nonetheless, the Jamaican added that he believes he would have a better chance of achieving his goal to run under 19 seconds if he gets a high lane, adding: “If I get a lower lane it’s always harder for me to run the corner when it is tighter.”

On Wednesday night, the Jamaican felt someone on his right side challenging him the last few meters of the race. After quickly glancing sideways, Bolt saw that it was Canadian Andre De Grasse, who won bronze in the 100m, and De Grasse was threatening to pass him.

However, Bolt flashed a big smile, accelerated and beat the Canadian at the finish line. Once there, he turned and wagged a finger De Grasse’s way, as if to say, “Not yet.”

Afterwards, the two embraced, laughed together and walked back to the locker room side-by-side, displaying no hard feelings.

“I don’t think he expected me to do that,” the 21-year-old De Grasse told reporters after the race. “I had to push him a little bit, you know, see what he has left in the tank.”

Bolt, who turns 30 on Sunday, said: “He was supposed to slow down. I said: ‘What are you doing? It’s a semifinal.’ But I think he wanted to push me.”

On Gatlin’s exit from the competition, Bolt told BBC Radio 5 live: “Everybody’s in shock. You can tell from the 100m he’s getting old. It’s a fact the older you get, the rougher it gets to double.

“Next year if I go to the World Championships [in London] I’m not going to double. I’m going to do the 100m and that is it.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 17: Usain Bolt of Jamaica looks on prior to the Men’s 200m Semifinals on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The American Olympic swimmers who claimed they were robbed at gunpoint  early Sunday morning by Brazilians posing as police officers fabricated their account of the incident, according to local investigators.

Ryan Lochte And U.S. Swimmers Vandalized Rio Gas Station, Got In Fight, Brazilian Reports Say

After viewing video footage and hearing testimony from witnesses, the Brazilian police have assessed the incident involved the four U.S. male swimmers, which included three-time Olympian Ryan Lochte, causing damage to a bathroom door at a gas station where the swimmers stopped Sunday morning on the way back to the athletes’ village from a party at the French hospitality house.

A Brazilian police official who had reviewed the video images stated there had been no armed assault, contrary to what the Olympians alleged. The official declined to be identified because the investigation is ongoing.

Two of the swimmers, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, were pulled off their flight bound for the United States overnight and had their passports seized as the episode quickly spiraled into a diplomatic affair in the waning days of the Rio Games.

Some news organizations have reported that one of the swimmers got into an altercation with a security guard, although no evidence of any kind of this has yet been found.

Brazilian daily newspaper O Globo cited the owner of the Barra da Tijuca gas station as saying that the Olympians had thrown stones at the business and torn one of its signs before urinating in the street that morning.

“They stopped next to the gas station, and urinated outside right next to the gas station,” said the owner, who the newspaper stated chose to remain unnamed. We even have images of one of the athlete’s butts, as he is pulling up his pants.”

CNN has viewed the footage but cannot confirm its authenticity. The network has reached out to police and attorneys for the swimmers for comment on the report but has not received any responses.

Someone at the gas station called the police, but by the time a police car arrived at the scene, the swimmers were gone. Witnesses, including a person who offered to translate for the swimmers, said that they paid money to the manager before leaving.

Brazilian authorities said they have questions about what happened early Sunday and have concerns over inconsistencies in the accounts of the events. Many policemen in Rio reportedly believe there was no robbery.

Jeff Ostrow, Lochte’s lawyer, waived off suggestions of conflicting stories, stating the four swimmers’ accounts “are 95 percent consistent.”

On Sunday, Lochte gave a terrifying account of the alleged robbery to NBC, which is broadcasting the Olympics in the United States. The 32-year-old swimmer said his and his three teammates’ taxi was pulled over and men flashed a police badge at the Americans before forcing them to the ground. After Lochte refused to get down, he said one of the assailants cocked a gun and pressed it against his head.

However, Lochte slightly changed his account Wednesday, NBC reported, saying he and his teammates were robbed after using a toilet at a gas station. Lochte said two men tried to force them to the ground, one pointing a gun inches from him when he refused.

Three U.S. women made history in Rio on Wednesday night, placing 1-2-3 in the 100-meter hurdles in the first time ever that American women have swept an Olympic track and field event.

U.S. Women Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali, Kristi Castlin Sweep 100M Hurdles In Rio

Brianna Rollins, the 2013 world champion, clocked 12.48 seconds to take gold, while teammates Nia Ali (12.59) and Kristi Castlin (12.61) won silver and bronze, respectively. Great Britain’s Cindy Ofili (12.63) finished fourth.

The U.S. has medaled in five consecutive Olympic Games in the event. The three medals capped off a seven-medal day for U.S. track and field, which also included a 1-2 finish in the long jump.

Tianna Bartoletta, who turns 31 later this month, managed to power past 2012 Olympic gold medalist and USA teammate Brittney Reese in the long jump.

“It was an awesome hour, for sure,” Bartoletta said. She previously won world championships in 2005 and 2015.

It was an extra special day for Rollins, who turned 25 on Thursday (Aug. 18).

“I knew that I got the gold,” Rollins said. “But I just wanted to make sure that my other teammates medaled as well.”

She and her two teammates leaped for joy, holding up the American flag, and then came together for a long embrace.

“We’ve talked about it, but it’s not something that we focused on,” Rollins added. “We just wanted to focus on being our best, and being our best would get us on the podium.”

Earlier in the evening, Elaine Thompson got another sprint double for Jamaica. She blasted out of the blocks and eluded Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers on the 200 meters.

After winning the 100 on Saturday, Thompson now has a double that compatriot Usain Bolt has specialized in. Thompson can make it triple gold during the relay races Thursday and Friday.

She finished in a season-best 21.78 seconds, to beat Schippers by 0.10 seconds. Team USA’s Tori Bowie won bronze with a final time of 22.15.

The back-and-forth between Bartoletta and Reese was captivating. On her fifth of six attempts, Reese, the favorite, leaped a stunning 7.09 meters. Bartoletta responded with a 7.17-meter jump.

“To win that medal after all that time, and still be here and be a more mature athlete, a more serious athlete, more deliberate in my approach to the sport, more businesslike,” Bartoletta said, “it’s really validating for sure.”

Rollins and her teammates, meanwhile, are very close. “It’s like a sisterhood,” she said. They also compete in an event that is so tightly contested in the U.S. that the woman who finished sixth at trials, Kendra Harrison, responded to that disappointment — and resulting failure to make the U.S. team — by setting the world record in the event at a July meet in London.

“It just shows you how strong our event is,” Rollins said.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 17: (L-R) Silver medalist Nia Ali, gold medalist Brianna Rollins and bronze medalist Kristi Castlin of the United States pose with American flags after the Women’s 100m Hurdles Final on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)