Rio Olympics 2016

Samoa wraps up Rio Paralympics campaign

RNZ reports the 26 year old managed a best throw of 19.56 metres with her third attempt, finishing one place above Florentina Hriscu from Romania.

China claimed the gold and silver medals with Yao Juan setting a new world record mark of 44.53 metres.

Samoa's other Paralympian, Alefosio Laki, finished 12th in the men's F37 Discus final last week.

Papua New Guinea's Joyleen Jeffrey trailed the field in the women's T12 200 metres heats but did set a season best time of 32.78 seconds.

Rio Olympics 2016: Simone Biles to carry U.S. flag in closing ceremony

Biles, 19, won four gold medals in Rio, five in total, as a member of the Games' best gymnastics team.

"It's an incredible honor to be selected as the flag bearer by my Team USA teammates," Biles said in a statement.

Sunday will mark the second time a gymnast has carried the Stars and Stripes into an opening or closing ceremony. The first was Alfred Jochim in 1936. A silver medalist in 1932, he carried the banner into the opening ceremony at Berlin.

Rio Olympics 2016: Simone Biles, actor Zac Efron exchange kisses

Everyone wants a little time with the pint-sized wonder, who cemented her position as the greatest gymnast ever. That includes celebrity heartthrob Zac Efron. 

Biles met the actor who is popular for his roles in films such as "High School Musical" and "That Awkward Moment." The two met up up backstage Tuesday, following Biles' historic run. They hit it off immediately, exchanging selfies and even a couple smooches. 

Biles returned the favor, planting a couple on the movie star.

Rio Olympics 2016: Kariman Abuljadayel makes Saudi history in 100m

The 22-year-old, dressed in a full-body kit and hijab, was unable to qualify, finishing seventh in her preliminary heat in a time of 14.61 seconds.

Afghanistan's Kamia Yousufi also raced in a hijab and full bodysuit, finishing last in her heat in 14.02secs.

Middle distance runner Sarah Attar was the first female track athlete to run for Saudi Arabia, at London 2012.

Rio Olympics 2016: Games organisers 'not disappointed' by crowds

They claimed 58% of available tickets for the first session were sold, and 65% for the evening session.

Ticket prices and VIPs not filling their allocations have been cited as reasons for empty seats.

"Without heroes and local athletes the public take longer to fall in love," said Rio 2016 spokesman Mario Andrada.

"But one of the legacies of the Games will be to show Brazilians how spectacular these other sports can be and there will be no problem when Usain Bolt competes on Sunday."

Rio Olympics 2016: Bulgarian Silvia Danekova fails drugs test

The 33-year-old, a 3,000m steeplechase athlete, tested positive in a doping control conducted a few days after her arrival in Brazil on 26 July.

Danekova has been temporarily suspended pending the test of her B sample.

"Unfortunately, we have a positive test," confirmed the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, whose weightlifting team was banned from the Games for doping.

Danekova raced in the 3,000m steeplechase at the London Olympics in 2012 but did not get beyond the heats.

 

Rio Olympics 2016: Kenyan coach John Anzrah sent home after posing as athlete

Kenya said sprint coach John Anzrah "presented himself" as 800m medal hope Ferguson Rotich and "even signed the documents" for the doping test.

"We cannot tolerate such behaviour," said Kip Keino, chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.

Rotich, who finished fourth at last year's World Championships in Beijing, is set to race in the heats on Friday.

The athlete's agent, Marc Corstjens, said Rotich lent Anzrah his pass so the coach could get a free breakfast in the Olympic Village on Wednesday.

Rio Olympics 2016: Six types of Olympic booing

While boos have been heard at most Olympics - despite the idea that it's a time when sportsmanship should reign - it's already clear that Rio is noisier than any other recent Games. Here are six types of booing already heard in Brazil.

1. Booing for fun

Brazilian crowds have a tendency to take sides - cheering for one team, or one athlete, and booing their rivals. But they may switch allegiances at the drop of a hat.

Rio Olympics 2016: Ginny Thrasher wins gold in women's 10m air rifle

The 19-year-old secured her first major international victory, scoring 208.0 to leave China's 2006 world champion Du Li with silver.

Du's compatriot Yi Siling, the defending champion, took bronze.

Jen McIntosh secured the best-ever finish for a British woman - 15th out of 51 in the qualification round.

The five-time Commonwealth medallist overcame a rifle malfunction to produce a strong finish and was just 1.2 points from securing a place in the final.

She will return to compete in her favoured 50m rifle three positions event on Thursday.

 

Rio Olympics 2016: Vietnam win first ever Games gold

Hoang scored 202.5 points to edge out home favourite Felipe Wu who recorded 202.1 points to clinch silver and Brazil's first medal of the Games.

Wu took the lead after the penultimate shot but Hoang denied him with a brilliant final effort.

Pang Wei scored 180.4 to win bronze for China, while South Korea's defending champion Jin Jongoh came in fifth.