AP Sports

COVID-stricken Noah Lyles finishes 3rd in 200 meters won by Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Noah Lyles lost the Olympic 200 meters, falling to Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, then being tended to by medics who carted him off the track in a wheelchair. Later, wearing a mask as he spoke with reporters, Lyles said he had COVID. After crossing the line third, Lyles fell to his back and writhed around in pain, staying down for nearly 30 seconds before getting up, asking for water and getting to the wheelchair. It’s the second straight Olympics the virus has played a major role in Lyles’ trip to the Games. He also won the bronze in the Tokyo Olympics.

France back in men’s basketball gold medal game after win over Germany in Paris Olympics

PARIS (AP) — Guerschon Yabusele scored 17 points and France beat Germany 73-69 to advance to the men’s Olympic basketball gold medal game. Isaia Cordinier added 16 points and Victor Wembanyama finished with 11 points and seven rebounds to help France – which won the silver medal in Toyko three years ago — reach its second straight Olympic final. The Paris Games host nation will play the winner of Serbia and the U.S. on Saturday.

US-Australia set to renew women’s Olympic basketball rivalry. Belgium-France meet in other semifinal

PARIS (AP) — The U.S. and Australia are set for the next chapter in their international women’s basketball rivalry at the Olympics. The teams will play in Friday’s semifinals for a spot in Sunday’s gold medal game. France will face Belgium in the other matchup. It has been a one-sided rivalry between the Americans and Australians. The Opals have never beaten the U.S. in the Olympics, losing in the gold medal game in 2000, ‘04 and ’08. The Australians also lost to the U.S in the semifinals of the 1996 and 2012 Olympics.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone breaks her own world record, wins Olympic gold again in 400-meter hurdles

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once again broke her own world record, powering over the 400-meter hurdles in 50.37 seconds to defend her Olympic title. The 25-year-old American has now lowered the world record six times. She was in the lead around the corner and breezed down the home stretch to beat teammate Anna Cockrell by 1.50 seconds. This was billed as one of the must-see races at the Stade de France, given the rivalry between McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol of the Netherlands. Cockrell crashed the party, with Bol finishing third.

Jets have Aaron Rodgers sit out their joint practice with the Commanders because of rainy weather

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers sat out the team’s joint practice with the Washington Commanders as a precaution because of inclement weather. With heavy rain moving through the area at the start of the practice, coach Robert Saleh pulled Rodgers from participating. The 40-year-old Rodgers is coming off a torn left Achilles tendon that ended his season last year after just four snaps. He has been healthy, participated fully in every previous practice and looked good on the field during training camp this summer. The Jets and Commanders play their preseason opener Saturday at MetLife Stadium. Saleh previously said Rodgers wouldn’t play in that or the second preseason game.

Growing number of NFL teams are deciding joint practices don’t need to last beyond a single day

The first week of joint practices at NFL training camps already has included one player getting carted off the field and two teams getting fined $200,000 each for excessive fighting. Those events lent credence to the notion that joint practice sessions don’t need to last longer than one day. The idea is growing in popularity. Over two-thirds of the scheduled joint practice sessions this year are one-day affairs. Nearly 80% of the 2023 joint practices lasted two days.

Olympic champion gymnasts Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles to return to school

Gold-medal-winning Olympic gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey are heading back to school. Chiles and Carey — part of the “Golden Girls” squad led by Simone Biles that soared to gold in Paris — have both announced they are returning to college. Chiles goes to UCLA, and Carey is at Oregon State. Carey, who boosted her career Olympic medal total to three by also earning bronze on vault, has one year of eligibility remaining. Chiles, who added a bronze on floor to go with her team gold, has two years of eligibility left with the Bruins.

China hits back at the US in response to doping allegations dogging its swimmers

BEIJING (AP) — China is trying to fight fire with fire in the face of persistent doping allegations that have dogged its swimmers at the Paris Olympics. The China Anti-Doping Agency called Thursday for more intensive testing of American track and field competitors, citing past doping scandals and questioning how the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency handled them. Repeated blasts from the Chinese agency have been echoed by reports in the government-controlled state media. The World Anti-Doping Agency and World Aquatics have acknowledged that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, but both bodies accepted the Chinese explanation that the positive results were caused by tainted food.

White Sox fire manager Pedro Grifol after end of 21-game losing streak that tied AL record

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox have fired manager Pedro Grifol, two days after the team ended a 21-game losing streak that tied the American League record. The White Sox began Thursday 28-89. They ended the losing streak with a 5-1 victory at Oakland on Tuesday night, then wasted a two-run lead in a 3-2 loss on Wednesday. White Sox general manager Chris Getz said the team’s “performance this season has been disappointing on many levels.” Major league coach Grady Sizemore will take over as interim manager. Chicago also fired bench coach Charlie Montoyo, third base coach Eddie Rodriguez and assistant hitting coach Mike Tosar.

In Olympic relay, Sha’Carri Richardson saves US women, while men advance easily and Jamaica is out

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson bailed out the U.S. women out from near collapse in the Olympic 4×100 relay, overcoming a German runner in the anchor leg to help the Americans move to the gold-medal race. The U.S. men, always an adventure in this event, advanced easily despite a small hiccup. And in the strangest twist of all, it was Jamaica’s men who struggled with the baton and will be sitting on the sideline for Friday’s final. In the women’s race, Richardson was about three steps behind after receiving the baton from Gabby Thomas, who earlier nearly misconnected on her exchange with Twanisha Terry. Richardson passed Rebekka Haase for a U.S. win.