AP Sports

Browns RB D’Onta Foreman suffers head injury during practice, air lifted to hospital in Virginia

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — Cleveland Browns running back D’Onta Foreman suffered a head injury during practice and was air lifted by helicopter to a hospital in Virginia. The team said Foreman sustained a “direct blow to the head that resulted in neck pain” during a drill. Foreman had movement in all of his extremities, according to a statement from the Browns. The 28-year-old was immobilized on a stretch before he was driven away from the facility in an ambulance. The Browns said Foreman has been flown to a medical center in Roanoke, Virginia, for further evaluation and treatment. Foreman signed with the Browns as a free agent in March.

No. 1 Iga Swiatek loses to Zheng Qinwen of China in the semifinals at the Paris Olympics

PARIS (AP) — Top-ranked Iga Swiatek has lost in the Paris Olympics semifinals to Zheng Qinwen of China 6-2, 7-5. Thursday’s result was surprising not just because of the rankings — Zheng is No. 7 — and because Swiatek entered the day with a 6-0 edge in their head-to-head matchups. The really stunning part is that Swiatek is as good as it gets on red clay and at this particular place. The 23-year-old from Poland has won four of the past five titles at the French Open, the annual Grand Slam tournament played at Roland Garros, the facility being used for tennis during these Summer Games.

Imane Khelif, Algeria boxer who had gender test issue, wins first Olympic fight when opponent quits

VILLEPINTE, France (AP) — Imane Khelif of Algeria won her opening Olympic boxing bout when opponent Angela Carini of Italy quit after just 46 seconds. Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 world championships after failing an unspecified gender eligibility test, and her presence at the Paris Olympics has become a divisive issue. Carini and Khelif exchanged only a few punches Thursday before Carini walked away. Her headgear apparently became dislodged before she quit. Carini didn’t shake Khelif’s hand after the decision was announced but cried in the ring. Afterward, she said she quit because of intense pain in her nose after the opening punches. She said she wasn’t making a political statement and wasn’t refusing to fight Khelif.

As conflicts far and wide shake the planet, can the Olympics unite the world?

PARIS (AP) — More than 100 conflicts fester around the world. The Middle East teeters on the brink of a regional war. In Ukraine, Russia slowly but steadily advances in the east, reducing towns to rubble. The Olympic Truce, clearly, has not been heeded. In the run-up to every Olympics over the past 30 years, the United Nations passes a resolution upholding the Olympic Truce. In theory, it halts hostilities in the name of granting athletes safe passage and promoting world peace. Not even two weeks into it, the news of missile strikes, annexations and heightened tensions is ceaseless.

Olympics on her mind, Ukraine in her heart, world-record high jumper goes for a gold medal in Paris

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — The best high jumper in Ukraine, and maybe the world, hasn’t spent much time at home the last few years. Home for Yaroslava Mahuchikh is Dnipro, a city of nearly 1 million located about 100 kilometers from the front lines of the war with Russia that shows no signs of ending. On Saturday, Mahuchikh begins her quest for an Olympic gold medal that, to her, feels like nothing, — and everything — given the situation back in her country. Mahuchikh, the reigning world champion and newly minted world-record holder, says the Olympics are important to her because they show Ukraine is still strong and still fighting. She is one of 142 athletes at the Olympics for Ukraine and might very well be the country’s best chance at a gold medal.

Léon The Great: Marchand accomplishes a feat that was downright Phelps-like

NANTERRE, France (AP) — If there’s anyone who can appreciate the magnitude of what Léon Marchand has done at the Paris Olympics, it’s Bob Bowman. The coach was on deck for Michael Phelps’ entire career, which gave him a front-row seat for improbable feats such as breaking world records in two different events about an hour apart and winning eight gold medals at a single Summer Games. It’s too soon to call Marchand another Phelps. The Frenchman still trails Phelps by 20 golds. But it’s hardly a stretch to say Marchand’s performance Wednesday was Phelps-like. In the space of about two hours, Marchand won gold medals using two very different strokes.

Jets’ McCutcheon has made mental health awareness his mission since best friend’s death in 8th grade

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Lance McCutcheon can’t remember what caused the sudden rift between him and his best friend. The details don’t really matter now to the New York Jets wide receiver. He just knows he never got to smooth things over with Connor Mills. And he never got a chance to say goodbye. On May 31, 2013, Mills died by suicide. He was 14. The 25-year-old McCutcheon, in training camp with the Jets competing for a roster spot, has been an advocate for mental health awareness since his best friend’s death.

Former Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker sues university over his firing

Former Michigan State University head football coach Mel Tucker is suing the university and school leaders, saying they wrongfully fired him and violated his constitutional rights in response to sexual harassment allegations. His federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Michigan says they undertook an “improper, sham investigation” last year after rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy accused him of sexually harassing and exploiting her. He also says they violated his employment agreement with the school, and he’s asking for damages. The Associated Press emailed a Michigan State spokesperson and members of the school’s legal department Thursday seeking comment.

Gordon Hayward retires after 14 NBA seasons with Utah, Boston, Charlotte and Oklahoma City

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (AP) — Gordon Hayward, who nearly gave Butler a national title over Duke with a half-court shot that just missed on the final play of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball championship game, retired from the NBA after 14 seasons on Thursday. Hayward played for Utah, Boston, Charlotte and Oklahoma City, and was an All-Star in 2017. He averaged 15.2 points in 835 career regular-season games, and said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family.

Horse racing leaders consider Paris Olympics equestrian scandal a lesson for for their sport

PARIS (AP) — The horse welfare scandal that has been the talk of equestrian events at the Paris Olympics is being noticed and highlighted by prominent voices in a related sport. Horse racing leaders believe the conversation sparked by the video showing champion rider Charlotte Dujardin is a lesson to the industry about prioritizing treatment of the animals at all times. Dujardin’s situation could turn out to be the same sort of wakeup call in the equestrian community that a spate of deaths at Churchill Downs last year was for horse racing.