Summer Olympics

Carlos Arthur Nuzman, former head of Brazil's Olympic committee and a key figure in bringing the 2016 Summer Games to Rio de Janeiro, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme to secure votes for his country to host the Games. 

Per Tariq Panja of the New York Times, Nuzman was found guilty of corruption, criminal organization, money laundering and tax evasion. 

The 79-year-old was originally arrested in 2017 when law enforcement officials discovered "about $155,000 in cash and a key to a vault in Switzerland in which 16 gold bars were discovered" during a raid on his house. 

Nuzman was originally detained four years ago as part of a joint investigation by Brazilian and French authorities into sports corruption. 

According to Panja's report, judge Marcelo Bretas "singled out Nuzman as the linchpin of a scheme to buy the votes of sports officials in an effort to secure the hosting rights to the Games" in his ruling. 

In addition to Nuzman, former Rio de Janeiro governor Sergio Cabral, businessman Leonardo Gryner and Rio 2016 committee member Arthur Soares also received prison sentences for their role in the scheme. 

"The culpability is high, as Carlos Arthur Nuzman was the main creator of the illicit scheme examined in these records and thus acted taking advantage of the high position achieved over 22 years as president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, which is why his conduct must be valued more rigorously than that of any corrupt person," Bretas wrote in the ruling, per Panja.

Nuzman's lawyer said his client plans to file an appeal, and Nuzman won't have to start serving his sentence until after it is heard.

A native of Rio de Janeiro, Nuzman was named president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee in 1995. He has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 2000, but his membership is currently suspended due to his legal situation.    

Kenyan professional long-distance runner, World Championship medalist, world-record holder and Olympian Agnes Jebet Tirop was found stabbed to death at her home in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County. She was 25.

Elgeyo Marakwet County police chief Tom Makori provided more information, per BBC Sport.

"When [police] got in the house, they found Tirop on the bed and there was a pool of blood on the floor," Makori said.

"They saw she had been stabbed in the neck, which led us to believe it was a knife wound, and we believe that is what caused her death.

"Her husband is still at large, and preliminary investigations tell us her husband is a suspect because he cannot be found. Police are trying to find her husband so he can explain what happened to Tirop."

Gerald Imray of the Associated Press also revealed more information from Makori, who noted that Tirop's husband was a person of interest after his family told police he called them crying and asking for God's forgiveness.

Tirop's car was also found with its windscreen and windows smashed, per police, which they said could be indicative of a domestic dispute.

Makori also said CCTV (video surveillance) in the house may be able to aid in the investigation. BBC additionally reported that Tirop suffered a stab wound to her stomach.

Tirop's father reported her missing Tuesday evening, and investigators were at Iten's residence Wednesday, per BBC Sport.

Tirop finished fourth in the 5,000-meter run at the Tokyo Olympics last August. She also took bronze at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships in the 10,000-meter run.

In addition, Tirop set a women-only world record for a road 10-kilometer race when she had a time of 30 minutes and one second:

"I'm so happy to have broken the world record," Tirop said.

"I felt the pace was good. The course was very good, too."

Many expressed their condolences upon hearing the news.

Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the president of Kenya, issued a statement:

It is unsettling, utterly unfortunate and very sad that we've lost a young and promising athlete who, at a young age of 25 years, she had brought our country so much glory through her exploits on the global athletics stage including in this year's 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she was part of the Kenyan team in Japan.

It is even more painful that Agnes, a Kenyan hero by all measures, painfully lost her young life through a criminal act perpetuated by selfish and cowardly people.

I urge our law enforcement agencies led by the National Police Service to track down and apprehend the criminals responsible for the killing of Agnes so that they can face the full force of the law.

Adidas and Athletics Kenya did as well:

Aliphine Chepkerker Tuliamuk, a Kenyan-born American long-distance runner, also expressed the importance of speaking out for women suffering from domestic violence:

Tirop's resume also includes a storied victory at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where she became the second-youngest gold medalist in history.

Swimmer Klete Keller, who represented the United States in multiple Olympics, pleaded guilty to a felony charge for his role in the deadly attack on Jan. 6 when a pro-Donald Trump mob violently stormed the Capitol.

TMZ Sports reported Keller pleaded guilty Wednesday to obstruction of an official proceeding and could now be looking at multiple years in prison.

Keller, who was identified in video in part because he wore a Team USA jacket while storming the Capitol, said he spent approximately an hour in the building and destroyed his phone in an effort to erase evidence he was present.

He also threw away the jacket.

In February, Rebecca Rosenberg of the New York Post reported Keller received a seven-count indictment after he was initially charged with three counts. He faced counts of obstruction, remaining in a restricted building, civil disorder, disorderly and disruptive conduct, disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building and impeding the passage through the Capitol grounds.

Karen Crouse and Victor Mather of the New York Times reported multiple former teammates and coaches contacted authorities when they recognized him at the Capitol on video.

Keller competed for the U.S. in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Games.

Decorated gymnast Simone Biles has yet to commit to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but it looks as though she's warming up to the idea.

In the most recent episode of the Facebook Watch and Religion of Sports series Simone vs Herself, Biles' head coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi hinted at the possibility of Biles returning.

"Actually, she texted me a couple days ago and she said, 'Ha ha, tell me why I'm thinking of 2024.' ... I said, 'Unfinished business?' And she responded with, 'Maybe,'" Canqueteau-Landi said.

Biles participated in the Tokyo Olympics but withdrew from five finals to focus on her mental health. She competed in the balance beam and won a bronze medal, giving her seven career Olympic medals, which is tied with Shannon Miller for most all-time by an American gymnast.

Legendary Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt suggested Friday that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill may be afraid to put his Super Bowl ring on the line against him in a race.

In an interview with TMZ Sports, Bolt was asked if Hill would accept a challenge to put his Super Bowl ring on the line for one of Bolt's eight Olympic gold medals:

"Nah, I don't think he will," Bolt said. "He's got one, so he's probably scared."

Those comments didn't go unnoticed by Hill:

Bolt, 35, was long regarded as the fastest man in the world, winning gold in the 100-meter dash at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

The Jamaican superstar also won three consecutive Olympic golds in the 200-meter dash, and he is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100-meter relay as well, giving him the most impressive resume of any sprinter in history.

Bolt has been retired since 2017, though, and he said it would take time to get ready for a high-stakes race against Hill.

"I definitely gotta train; he's been working out," Bolt said. "I work out too, but I would have to step up my training. ... Remember I retired for a while, so I still gotta get my legs going again. I've still got speed, but I've gotta get it going."

The 27-year-old Hill, known as Cheetah, has primarily been the one pushing for the race. Last month, Hill called Bolt "old" and "washed up" and insisted he would beat him in a 40-yard dash:

Bolt later appeared on The Dan Patrick Show with Patrick suggesting a 70-yard race with the Super Bowl ring vs. Olympic gold medal stipulation:

Hill has yet to accept, but there is no question he would have a lot more to lose.

Still, it isn't outside the realm of possibility to think Hill could beat Bolt in a race given that he is eight years younger and still an active athlete.

Last season, after Hill executed a 71-yard catch and run during K.C.'s win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, NFL Next Gen Stats noted it was his 12th play of the season in which he reached a top speed of at least 20 mph—the most in the league.

It should be noted, though, that the 6'5" Bolt is seven inches taller than Hill, meaning his long stride could work to his advantage in a race.

Regardless of the winner, Bolt vs. Hill would be a massive spectacle and a great thing for the sports world as a whole.

After finishing last in the 100-meter race earlier Saturday, Sha'Carri Richardson withdrew from the women's 200 meters at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic.

Saturday marked Richardson's first event since she served a one-month ban starting June 28 because of a positive drug test for marijuana. 

The suspension prevented Richardson from competing in the 100-meter race at the Tokyo Olympics. She won the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials qualifier June 19 with a time of 10.86 seconds.

The 21-year-old's first appearance Saturday came in the women's 100 meters. The field also included the Jamaican trio of Olympic medalists, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

Early in the race, Richardson fell behind the field, and she finished ninth. 

Thompson-Herah, Fraser-Pryce and Jackson finished in the top three spots, just as they did in the final at the Tokyo Olympics last month. 

Richardson will likely continue to train for the 2022 World Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, from July 15-24.   

After winning a gold medal as part of the United States men's basketball team at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green received a congratulatory FaceTime from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.

Green shared a screenshot of their FaceTime conversation on Instagram, including the caption: "You get a call from the [GOAT]… act normal! Everything is Golden!"

Team USA held off a tough challenge from France to win the gold-medal game 87-82, giving the Americans their fourth consecutive Olympic gold in men's basketball.

Green's former Warriors teammate, Kevin Durant, was the driving force behind Team USA's victory, as he scored 29 points in the win and became Team USA's all-time leading scorer at the Olympics earlier in the tournament.

The 31-year-old Green played a key role in the United States' gold medal-winning performance as well, contributing five assists, two rebounds and two steals in 16 minutes off the bench against France.

Green is now a two-time Olympic gold medalist in addition to being a three-time NBA champion, three-time NBA All-Star and one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

In Brady, Green spoke to someone who knows a thing or two about winning, as his seven Super Bowl wins are the most by any player in NFL history.

Brady won six of them with the New England Patriots before joining the Bucs last offseason and then being named Super Bowl MVP in a 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.

Green hasn't quite reached a Brady-caliber level of winning, but with three NBA titles and two Olympic golds, he isn't far off.

Team USA repeated as Olympic gold medalists in the men's 4x400-meter relay at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo on Saturday.

The quartet of Michael Cherry, Michael Norman, Bryce Deadmon and Rai Benjamin couldn't be touched with a time of 2:55.70.

The Netherlands secured silver with a time of 2:57.18 and Botswana held on for bronze, completing the relay in 2:57.27.

Here is the full finishing order for the men's 4x400-meter relay, courtesy of Olympics.com:

1. United States: 2:55.70

2. Netherlands: 2:57.18

3. Botswana: 2:57.27

4. Belgium: 2:57.88

5. Poland: 2:58.46

6. Jamaica: 2:58.76

7. Italy: 2:58.81

8. Trinidad and Tobago: 3:00.85

While the men didn't dominate quite as thoroughly as the American women did in their 4x400-meter relay, they weren't far off, winning by well over a second.

NBC Olympics provided a look at how much space separated the Americans from second-place Netherlands at the line:

With Saturday's win, the American men have now won the 4x400-meter relay at back-to-back Olympics, four of the past five and eight of the past 10.

Not surprisingly, Team USA chose Benjamin to run the anchor leg after he took silver in the 400-meter hurdles behind Karsten Warholm of Norway.

The Americans weren't far ahead of Botswana entering the final handoff, but as noted by Chris Chavez of Sports Illustrated, Benjamin put the race to bed for Team USA with a blistering split:

After the American women and men pulled off the double in the 4x400-meter relay Saturday, Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe congratulated them:

The other medalists in the men's race pulled off some massive accomplishments as well, including silver medal-winning Netherlands, which set a new national record and medaled for the first time ever in the event.

Botswana also won its first-ever medal in the men's 4x400-meter relay and only its second-ever medal in men's track and field at the Olympics.

Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning runner David Rudisha of Kenya recognized Botswana for its remarkable feat:

The Botswanan team set a new African record in the men's 4x400-meter relay and became the first African team to medal in the event since Nigeria won bronze in 2004.

The men's 4x400-meter relay was the final race of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and it yielded a familiar result, with Team USA continuing to prove why it is the standard-bearer in the event.

Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen set a new Olympic record with a winning time of 3:28.32 to capture the gold medal in the men's 1,500 meters Saturday at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.

Ingebrigtsen, who previously won gold in the event at the 2018 European Championships and 2021 European Indoor Championships, is a first-time medalist in the Summer Olympics.

Kenya's Timothy Cheruiyot earned the silver medal, while Great Britain's Josh Kerr took third for bronze in a race that saw the top three finishers separated by less than eight-tenths of a second.

Here's a look at the full race results:

1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR, 3:28.32)

2. Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN, 3:29.01)

3. Josh Kerr (GBR, 3:29.05)

4. Abel Kipsang (KEN, 3:29.56)

5. Adel Mechaal (ESP, 3:30.77)

6. Cole Hocker (USA, 3:31.40)

7. Stewart McSweyn (AUS, 3:31.91)

8. Michal Rozmys (POL, 3:32.67)

9. Jake Heyward (GBR, 3:34.43)

10. Jake Wightman (GBR, 3:35.09)

11. Ollie Hoare (AUS, 3:35.79)

12. Charles Grethen (LUX, 3:36.80)

13. Ignacio Fontes (ESP, 3:38.56)

Ingebrigtsen surged to the front of the field with a strong 56.2-second split in the first 400 meters.

Cheruiyot, the 2019 world champion in the event, took over the lead at the 800- and 1,200-meter checkpoints, but the 20-year-old Norwegian ran the final 300 meters in a blistering 40.8 seconds to retake the lead in an Olympic thriller.

It's the first time Ingebrigtsen has beaten Cheruiyot in 13 career meetings, per Jonathan Gault of LetsRun.com.

He also becomes the first Norwegian runner to win a medal in the 1,500 meters at the Olympics.

"I've been struggling with eating for the last couple of weeks because I have been waiting so long for this race," Ingebrigtsen told reporters. "This is what you want as a professional runner. I've been able to [win gold] first try, and I feel like I am just getting started. But at the same time, I have been dreaming of this for my whole life. It's great."

Kerr, 23, reached the podium for the first time in a major race at the senior level. He won the 1,500 meters at the European Junior Championships in 2015.

Hocker, the U.S.' only finalist in the race, posted a personal-best time to finish sixth.

After finishing second to the United States at each of the past two Olympics, Jamaica finally got revenge Friday by winning the women's 4x100-meter relay at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

The team of Briana Williams, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson won the race with a time of 41.02 seconds, which wasn't far off the world record of 40.82 seconds set by Team USA at the 2012 Summer Games in London.

Team USA took silver Friday with a time of 41.45 seconds, while Great Britain won the bronze, finishing in 41.88 seconds.

Here is a full rundown of the finishing order, courtesy of Olympics.com:

1. Jamaica: 41.02 seconds

2. United States: 41.45 seconds

3. Great Britain: 41.88 seconds

4. Switzerland: 42.08 seconds

5. Germany: 42.12 seconds

6. China: 42.71 seconds

7. France: 42.89 seconds

8. Netherlands: DNF

NBC Olympics tweeted video of the race, highlighting Jamaica's dominant performance:

Friday marked only the second time Jamaica has ever won Olympic gold in the women's 4x100-meter relay and the first time since the 2004 Athens Games.

Jamaica has now medaled in the event at each of the past three Olympics, however, as has Team USA.

Despite finishing second to the Americans in 2012 and 2016, Jamaica was a heavy favorite Friday because of the fact that it swept the podium in the women's 100-meter dash earlier at these Olympics.

Thompson-Herah, Fraser-Pryce and Jackson won gold, silver and bronze, respectively, in the 100, and they pushed Jamaica to victory in the relay.

With Friday's win, Fraser-Pryce is now an eight-time Olympic medalist with three of them being gold, while Thompson-Herah is a six-time Olympic medalist with five golds.

Team USA was comprised of Javianne Oliver, Teahna Daniels, Jenna Prandini and Gabby Thomas. The 24-year-old Thomas won her second medal of these Games after taking bronze in the 200-meter event.

Morolake Akinosun—who was part of Team USA's 4x100-meter relay team at the 2016 Summer Olympics that won gold—pointed out how dominant Jamaica, the U.S. and Great Britain have been in the event as of late:

While the gold and silver medal positions at the 2021 Summer Olympics were flipped compared to 2016, Great Britain repeated as the bronze medalists.

Asha Philip, Imani Lansiquot, Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita made up Team GB on Friday. All of them except Lansiquot were also part of the team that won Olympic bronze five years ago.

None of the other nations in Friday's race had won an Olympic medal in the event since 2004 when France took bronze, and that drought continued in Tokyo.