LONDON (AP) – Michael Phelps is master of the medals.
The swimming sensation has set the Olympic record for most medals won, helping the U.S. to the gold medal in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay. That brings his medal haul to 19, including a record 15 gold.
Phelps broke the record held by former Russian gymnast Larrisa Latynina (lah-TIHN’-ihn-uh).
Earlier, Phelps tied the mark when he was edged out for gold by South Africa Chad le Clos (KLOH) in the 200-meter butterfly.
Allison Schmitt set an Olympic record to win the 200-meter freestyle. The American was clocked at 1 minute, 53.61 seconds, more than a second better than the old mark. American teenager Missy Franklin finished fourth.
The International Olympic Committee is springing to the defense of China’s teenage swim sensation Ye Shiwen (yee shih-wehn). There has been speculation as to how the 16-year-old swam so fast while shattering the world record in 400-meter indvidual medley final on Saturday.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams says the top five finishers in all events are drug-tested, and the IOC is very confident that if there are cheats, they will catch them.
Adams also says it is “very sad” if great performances cannot be applauded.
GYMNASTICS
U.S. women strike gold
LONDON (AP) – The Americans emphatically claimed their first Olympic gold medal in women’s gymnastics since 1996. The favorites lived up to expectations, collecting 183.596 points to earn a whopping five-point victory over Russia. Romania won the bronze medal.
The Americans jumped on top on their first rotation with a number of booming vaults to open a 1.7 point lead. With one rotation to go, the outcome was decided and the U.S. women used their floor exercises like a coronation.
Aly Raisman (RYS’-man), world champion Jordyn Wieber (WEE’-bur), Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross raised their index fingers as the crowd chanted “U.S.A.”
BASKETBALL
France surprises Argentina
LONDON (AP) – Tony Parker scored 17 points as France stunned Argentina 71-64 in an Olympic preliminary men’s game featuring 10 NBA players. Nicolas Batum added 14 points for France (1-1), which came in 0-4 in Olympic competition against Argentina.
Parker’s San Antonio teammate Manu Ginobili (MAN’-oo jih-NOH’-blee) scored 26 for Argentina which had looked so impressive in a 23-point win over Lithuania in its opener.
SOCCER
U.S. women win, wrap up first
MANCHESTER, England (AP) – The United States clinched first place in its group in Olympic women’s soccer with a 1-0 win over North Korea.
Abby Wambach scored in the 25th minute for her 141st international goal and third of the tournament.
Nearly 30,000 attended the first women’s soccer game played in 23 years at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United.
The Americans won all three of their group games and were already assured a berth in the next round heading into Tuesday’s game. They now move on Newcastle for a quarterfinal match on Friday.
TENNIS
Roddick bounced, Williams sisters advance
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) advanced to the third round of the Olympics by beating three-time Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick of the U.S. 6-2, 6-1 on Centre Court at the All England Club.
Venus Williams eased into the third round of the women’s competition by beating Aleksandra Wozniak (WOHZ’-nee-ak) of Canada 6-1, 6-3. She later teamed with sister Serena to advance to the quarterfinals in doubles with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Sabine Lisicki.
Top-seeded Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States advanced to the quarterfinals of Olympic doubles by edging Nikolay Davydenko (NIH’-koh-ly dah-vee-DENK’-oh) and Mikhail Youzhny (YOOZ’-nee) of Russia, 7-6, 7-6.
TENNIS
Olympic record set
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – The longest set in Olympic history was played at Wimbledon when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (SAHNG’-guh) of France defeated Milos Raonic of Canada 6-3, 3-6, 25-23 in the second round.
Tsonga leaped and roared when he won on his fourth match point with a drop volley.
The previous record was 30 games in 2004 when Fernando Gonzalez defeated Taylor Dent in the third set, 16-14, to win the bronze medal.
VOLLEYBALL
American men are 2-0
LONDON (AP) – Clay Stanley scored 16 points and the U.S. men’s volleyball team improved to 2-0 in preliminary pool play at the London Olympics with a three-set victory over Germany.
Matt Anderson added 15 points in the 25-23, 25-16, 25-20 win for the defending Olympic champions.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Walsh Jennings will press on
LONDON (AP) – American beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings has pinkeye but says she’s taking antibiotics and will keep competing at the London Olympics.
Walsh Jennings and partner Misty May-Treanor (TRAY’-nur) are two-time defending gold medalists and are 2-0 so far in these Olympics.
SKEET SHOOTING
Hancock goes back to back
LONDON (AP) – Vincent Hancock of the U.S. has successfully defended his title in the Olympic men’s skeet competition.
Hancock topped his own Olympic record by hitting 123 targets in qualifying earlier Tuesday, and was a perfect 25-for-25 in the medal round.
It gives the U.S. a skeet sweep in London. Kimberly Rhode (ROH’-dee) won the women’s competition earlier this week.
WATER POLO
Yanks rally to win
LONDON (AP) – The United States recovered from a slow start to edge Romania 10-8 in men’s water polo.
Ryan Bailey and Peter Varellas paced the comeback with three goals each.
Trailing 5-3 halfway through the second quarter, the Americans cranked up the defense and shut down Romania while scoring four unanswered goals of their own to take control of the match.
FIELD HOCKEY
U.S. stuns Argentina
LONDON (AP) – Shannon Taylor scored late in the first half and the United States upset second-ranked Argentina 1-0 in women’s field hockey.
The Americans got into the Olympics by stunning Argentina 4-2 in last year’s final at the Pan American Games. That was considered the biggest win in U.S. field hockey history.
Both teams are 1-1 in Group B play.
IN OTHER SPORTS NEWS:
MLB-TRADE DEADLINE
Rangers get Dempster
UNDATED (AP) – Texas won the Ryan Dempster sweepstakes, acquiring the Chicago Cubs ace for two minor leaguers moments before the trade deadline. The AL West leaders fortified their rotation for the stretch run, sending infielder Christian Villanueva and pitcher Kyle Hendricks to Chicago.
Dempster had refused to approve a trade to Atlanta last week. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees also tried to land the 35-year-old righty.
Dempster was 5-5 with a 2.25 ERA in 16 games for the Cubs and can become a free agent after the season.
– The last place Phillies sent two-time All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Philadelphia gets relief pitcher Josh Lindblom, minor league pitcher Ethan Martin and other considerations in the deal.
Philadelphia also shipped two-time All-Star right fielder Hunter Pence to San Francisco for three players.
The Phillies get outfielder Nate Schierholtz, minor league catcher Tommy Joseph and minor league right-handed pitcher Seth Rosin in the deal.
– St. Louis has acquired reliever Edward Mujica (moo-HEE’-kuh) from Miami for 2010 first-round pick Zack Cox. The Marlins also send All-Star first baseman Gaby Sanchez to Pittsburgh for minor league pitcher Kyle Kaminska.
– The Red Sox have traded outfielder Scott Podsednik and right-hander Matt Albers to the Arizona Diamondbacks for left-hander Craig Breslow.
– The Yankees have obtained third baseman Casey McGehee from Pittsburgh for reliever Chad Qualls, a move that followed injuries to Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira (teh-SHER’-uh).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-PENN STATE-PLAYERS
RB Redd leaving Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Star tailback Silas Redd is bolting Penn State for Southern California.
The 1,200-yard rusher has opted to leave a Nittany Lions program facing stiff sanctions handed down by the NCAA in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
Among the penalties was a four-year postseason ban.
The NCAA gave Penn State players the option to transfer immediately and play for another school this year.
NFL-AP Pro32
Packers have honor
NEW YORK (AP) – The Green Bay Packers top the first-ever AP Pro32 NFL power rankings. It’s a new pro football version of the AP Top 25 college football and basketball polls.
Green Bay is followed by New England and the New York Giants. Indianapolis is projected as the worst team in the NFL heading into the 2012 season.
The Packers, coming off a 15-1 record but without a championship, received 374 points from a panel of 12 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the league.
NFL-TRAINING CAMP NEWS
Bengals extend Lewis
UNDATED (AP) – Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has received a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season. That lengthens the longest coaching tenure in franchise history. Lewis is entering his 10th season as head coach and has a 69-74-1 record in that time. The Bengals have had just three winning seasons under Lewis with and 0-3 playoff record.
– The NFL has suspended Green Bay Packers linebacker Erik Walden for the regular-season opener for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. In February, Walden reached a deferred judgment agreement to resolve a disorderly conduct-domestic abuse charge without pleading guilty. Walden spent last Thanksgiving weekend in jail after a dispute with his girlfriend.
NHL-SENATORS-ALFREDSSON
At least one more go round for Alfredsson
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) – Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson says he’ll be back for a 17th season with the club that drafted him in the sixth round back in 1994. The 39-year-old Swede hinted at the end of last season he might retire after registering 27 goals and 32 assists in 75 games.
The six-time all-star has been Ottawa’s captain since 1999 and is the franchise leader in every major offensive category.
NHL-LABOR
Talks continue
NEW YORK (AP) – NHL players and their union began examining the league’s proposed expansion of revenue sharing as labor talks continued.
NHLPA executive director Don Fehr says he can’t make a counterproposal on the league’s full package until his group receives and examines the requested team financial reports. The first batch – 76,000 pages – arrived late Monday night.
The meetings will continue Wednesday at the league offices in New York. More talks are scheduled next week when Fehr returns from a meeting with NHL players in Russia.
