rio olympics 2016
- Thread starter spaminator
- Start date
What Olympic discipline was that in? He's got a rather odd name, I must say.
It was probably something posh, like the horse dancing.
Penny Oleksiak wins Canada’s first gold medal in Rio, cementing her star in Olympic history
Rob Longley, Postmedia Network | August 12, 2016 12:50 AM ET
RIO DE JANEIRO — On the weekend, when she started on what quickly turned into an epic Olympic journey, Penny Oleksiak became Canada’s darling, a teen sensation to capture a nation.
On Thursday night at the Olympic Aquatic Stadium, it was time to share her with the world.
Not only did the 16-year-old Toronto swimmer win her fourth medal of these Rio Games, the Penny is now pure gold as she set an Olympic record in winning the women’s 100-metre freestyle.
And what a show it was. After hitting the wall seventh at 50 metres, she rocketed off the turn and mowed down the competition, including world-record holder Cate Campbell of Australia. Her time of 52:70 put her in a dead heat with Simone Manuel of the U.S., who also collected gold.
But now with four medals — including a full gold, silver, bronze set and the possibility of an incredible fifth in a relay on Saturday — she is officially the breakout young star of these Games, regardless of sport, regardless of sex.
The gold medal made Oleksiak Canada’s most accomplished Summer Olympics athlete, the first to win four medals in one Games. She also became the first Canadian swimmer to win gold since Mark Tewskbury in 1992.
“I definitely knew the pressure was on to kind of make history and get four medals but it wasn’t something I was trying to think about before my race,” Oleksiak said. “I was just trying to think about swimming as fast as I could and to be happy with whatever outcome.
“I never thought I’d win a gold medal.”
The outcome, like the gold, is spectacular, Canada’s first trip to the podium in these Games, already matching the lone golden moment from London four years ago.
The historic nature of the win was dizzying. Oleksiak became the youngest Olympic champion ever from Canada and became one of four women from these Games to complete a full set of medals. The Toronto high schooler also became the first athlete born after Jan. 1, 2000 to win an Olympic gold medal.
She did it in breathtaking fashion too, displaying the kick she had already shown in almost each of her races in this memorable week. While close to the back at the 50-metre wall, she launched like a torpedo off of it and kept it going in her swim for glory.
“My tactic was the last 50 metres, put your head down and swim as fast as you can,” Oleksiak said. “I didn’t really know I had tied until a few minutes after.”
During her medal ceremony, Oleksiak soaked it up quietly and with little emotion, barely mouthing the words to the Canadian anthem. It was like the youngster didn’t know what hit her.
But don’t let the kid in her fool you, the one you see in that smile on her almost nightly trips to the medal podium and on the front pages of your newspaper. Once her 6-foot-1 body is submerged in the Olympics, she becomes a force — a machine the likes of which Canadian swimming has never seen before.
No one should be so foolish as to compare Oleksiak to Michael Phelps, but as Olympic debuts go, it is one of the most successful in the history of the Games. Remember that as a 15-year-old at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, Phelps was just dipping his toe in the Olympic water and left with a fifth-place finish as his best effort.
And now the rest of the world will take notice of the young Canadian, her four medals ranking among the most impressive debuts for a young athlete in Olympic history.
On Thursday, Oleksiak lined up in a spot few would have been able to imagine before this meet began. With a favourable Lane 5, thanks to her blistering 52.72 time in Wednesday’s semi-final, she had world record holders on her left (Austrailian Cate Campbell) and right (Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden.)
Any sense that she would be intimidated by such an assignment went awash earlier in the week, in particular in Wednesday’s semi-final when she went fingernail-to-fingernail and toe-to-toe with the Aussie great Campbell. Oleksiak’s time in that race destroyed her own Canadian record and was .01 off the Olympic record, set by Campbell in that very race.
Suddenly, a Canadian kid who wondered back in April whether she would even make her country’s Olympic team, has served notice to the rest of the world.
The success Oleksiak has had has become as contagious to her teammates as her smile.
“Penny is contributing to this,” said Katerine Savard of Montreal, who was part of the 4×200 metre relay on Wednesday. “It makes everyone really excited. She is actually amazing. She is putting swimming to another level and to be part of this is amazing.”
One of the few veterans on the Canadian team at age 23, Savard is in awe.
“She is big and strong and mentally strong,” Savard said. “She has everything going for her. When I was 16 I wasn’t muscular. She is more advanced for her age.”
By virtue of the medals alone, Oleksiak is easily the darling Canadian of these Games thus far, a status almost certain to stand and put a flag in her hand for the closing ceremony.
Like so many kids her age, an Oleksiak lifeline is social media. And as much love as she is getting from Canadians coast-to-coast, the sweet 16-year-old is just as keen to give it back on.
“I have honestly loved every second of being here in Rio,” Oleksiak wrote on Thursday on her Instagram account, punctuated with a heart emoji. “And it’s still not over yet! Thank-you to everyone in Canada who has watched me and supported me!! I will do my best to keep making you guys proud.”
rlongley@postmedia.com
twitter.com/longleysunsport
Penny Oleksiak of Team Canada wins gold in the 100m Freestyle final.
Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/08/11/penny-oleksiak-adds-gold-to-rio-olympics-medal-haul
Rob Longley, Postmedia Network | August 12, 2016 12:50 AM ET
RIO DE JANEIRO — On the weekend, when she started on what quickly turned into an epic Olympic journey, Penny Oleksiak became Canada’s darling, a teen sensation to capture a nation.
On Thursday night at the Olympic Aquatic Stadium, it was time to share her with the world.
Not only did the 16-year-old Toronto swimmer win her fourth medal of these Rio Games, the Penny is now pure gold as she set an Olympic record in winning the women’s 100-metre freestyle.
And what a show it was. After hitting the wall seventh at 50 metres, she rocketed off the turn and mowed down the competition, including world-record holder Cate Campbell of Australia. Her time of 52:70 put her in a dead heat with Simone Manuel of the U.S., who also collected gold.
But now with four medals — including a full gold, silver, bronze set and the possibility of an incredible fifth in a relay on Saturday — she is officially the breakout young star of these Games, regardless of sport, regardless of sex.
The gold medal made Oleksiak Canada’s most accomplished Summer Olympics athlete, the first to win four medals in one Games. She also became the first Canadian swimmer to win gold since Mark Tewskbury in 1992.
“I definitely knew the pressure was on to kind of make history and get four medals but it wasn’t something I was trying to think about before my race,” Oleksiak said. “I was just trying to think about swimming as fast as I could and to be happy with whatever outcome.
“I never thought I’d win a gold medal.”
The outcome, like the gold, is spectacular, Canada’s first trip to the podium in these Games, already matching the lone golden moment from London four years ago.
The historic nature of the win was dizzying. Oleksiak became the youngest Olympic champion ever from Canada and became one of four women from these Games to complete a full set of medals. The Toronto high schooler also became the first athlete born after Jan. 1, 2000 to win an Olympic gold medal.
She did it in breathtaking fashion too, displaying the kick she had already shown in almost each of her races in this memorable week. While close to the back at the 50-metre wall, she launched like a torpedo off of it and kept it going in her swim for glory.
“My tactic was the last 50 metres, put your head down and swim as fast as you can,” Oleksiak said. “I didn’t really know I had tied until a few minutes after.”
During her medal ceremony, Oleksiak soaked it up quietly and with little emotion, barely mouthing the words to the Canadian anthem. It was like the youngster didn’t know what hit her.
But don’t let the kid in her fool you, the one you see in that smile on her almost nightly trips to the medal podium and on the front pages of your newspaper. Once her 6-foot-1 body is submerged in the Olympics, she becomes a force — a machine the likes of which Canadian swimming has never seen before.
No one should be so foolish as to compare Oleksiak to Michael Phelps, but as Olympic debuts go, it is one of the most successful in the history of the Games. Remember that as a 15-year-old at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, Phelps was just dipping his toe in the Olympic water and left with a fifth-place finish as his best effort.
And now the rest of the world will take notice of the young Canadian, her four medals ranking among the most impressive debuts for a young athlete in Olympic history.
On Thursday, Oleksiak lined up in a spot few would have been able to imagine before this meet began. With a favourable Lane 5, thanks to her blistering 52.72 time in Wednesday’s semi-final, she had world record holders on her left (Austrailian Cate Campbell) and right (Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden.)
Any sense that she would be intimidated by such an assignment went awash earlier in the week, in particular in Wednesday’s semi-final when she went fingernail-to-fingernail and toe-to-toe with the Aussie great Campbell. Oleksiak’s time in that race destroyed her own Canadian record and was .01 off the Olympic record, set by Campbell in that very race.
Suddenly, a Canadian kid who wondered back in April whether she would even make her country’s Olympic team, has served notice to the rest of the world.
The success Oleksiak has had has become as contagious to her teammates as her smile.
“Penny is contributing to this,” said Katerine Savard of Montreal, who was part of the 4×200 metre relay on Wednesday. “It makes everyone really excited. She is actually amazing. She is putting swimming to another level and to be part of this is amazing.”
One of the few veterans on the Canadian team at age 23, Savard is in awe.
“She is big and strong and mentally strong,” Savard said. “She has everything going for her. When I was 16 I wasn’t muscular. She is more advanced for her age.”
By virtue of the medals alone, Oleksiak is easily the darling Canadian of these Games thus far, a status almost certain to stand and put a flag in her hand for the closing ceremony.
Like so many kids her age, an Oleksiak lifeline is social media. And as much love as she is getting from Canadians coast-to-coast, the sweet 16-year-old is just as keen to give it back on.
“I have honestly loved every second of being here in Rio,” Oleksiak wrote on Thursday on her Instagram account, punctuated with a heart emoji. “And it’s still not over yet! Thank-you to everyone in Canada who has watched me and supported me!! I will do my best to keep making you guys proud.”
rlongley@postmedia.com
twitter.com/longleysunsport
Penny Oleksiak of Team Canada wins gold in the 100m Freestyle final.
Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/08/11/penny-oleksiak-adds-gold-to-rio-olympics-medal-haul
Canada's Rosie MacLennan, from King City, Ont., smiles following her gold medal winning routine in the final of the trampoline gymnastics competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics Friday, August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. © THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
RIO DE JANEIRO - Canada's Rosie MacLennan has won gold in women's trampoline at the Rio Olympics.
Britain's Bryony Page (56.040) took silver and China's Li Dan followed MacLennan's performance with a 55.885 for bronze.
MacLennan guaranteed herself a medal with the leading performance at 56.465 points with two competitors left to go.
She was the only Canadian to win Olympic gold four years ago in London.
She was Canada's flag-bearer during the opening ceremony last week.
MacLennan, from King City, Ont., finished seventh in her Olympic debut in 2008.
She won a world title in 2013 and took gold at last year's Pan Am Games.
Canada's Rosie MacLennan wins trampoline gold at Rio Olympics - Sports - The Guardian
Way to go, Rosie. :canada:
Derek Drouin’s perfect night at high jump earns him Canada’s third gold medal at Rio 2016
Rob Longley, Postmedia Network | August 16, 2016 11:41 PM ET
RIO DE JANEIRO — From the time he was a kid growing up in the tiny Ontario town of Corunna, Derek Drouin always wanted to jump.
He never did it with more focus, brilliance and meaning than Tuesday night, however.
Canada’s latest gold medallist became so in clinical fashion at Olympic Stadium, clearing every bar he approached while the competition was on.
From the opening clear at 2.20 metres, where there was so much air between his rump and the bar, to the winning jump of 2.38 metres, there was little doubt he would win Canada’s third gold of these Games, a history-making result accomplished so spectacularly.
“I was definitely gunning for the big one,” said Drouin, the reigning world champion and an Olympic bronze medallist four years ago in London. “I was confident in my preparation, but also I just love the Olympics and taking in the whole moment.
“The last couple of days I’ve been feeling so confident. It’s been awesome to try to find my place in history.”
Let’s start the historical recount with this: By soaring his way to the top of the podium, Drouin became the second Canadian ever to win high jumping gold and the first since Duncan McNaughton in 1932 in Los Angeles. Drouin is also a leading force in the Athletics Canada resurgence, becoming the first from his country to win a track and field gold since sprinter Donovan Bailey at Atlanta in 1996, a dry run of two decades.
On Tuesday, after just missing on the attempt to secure the Olympic record of 2.39 to give the crowd a little something extra — but with the gold already in his pocket — Drouin let the focus drain from his face and replaced it with joy as he wrapped himself in the Canadian flag.
Tears spilled as he greeted his parents and sisters in the stands moments after victory was secure.
“I’ve grown up wanting to be an Olympian,” said the 26-year-old, who currently lives in Toronto. “As I’ve become an elite athlete, that’s obviously shifted to wanting to be an Olympic gold medallist.
“There have been some sacrifices but I’ve always prided myself on my mental toughness. I was ready for anything.”
That mental toughness was in full effect on Tuesday when he essentially toyed with his competition. There wasn’t a single moment that anyone in the half-filled stadium could have made a case for anyone else winning.
In qualifying and in the final, he cleared every jump he attempted, except for the encore attempt at the record. And he did so with such ease that it had to be discouraging to the others, including silver medallist Eass Barshim of Qatar and Bohdan Bondarenko of the Ukraine, who collected silver.
“The kid’s a gamer, there’s no doubt about it,” Drouin’s coach, Jeff Huntoon said moments after the thrilling victory was secured. “We don’t sit around and do a lot of projections and stuff like that, we just know when we’re fit. And he had shown that.”
Though not as flamboyant as others in his sport — Drouin certainly puts on a show. The pre-race routine includes slaps to both sides of his face as he narrows his focus and zooms in on the bar towering in front of him. His long stride builds in speed and power and when he gets airborne, he soars with such technical precision that it seems effortless.
Because Drouin never missed, you could sense the competition getting disheartened, especially when there seemed no end to the heights he would destroy.
“His preparation has been amazing,” fourth-place finisher Robert Grabarz of Great Britain said. “I was expecting that from him. He was the one that was going to be tough to beat.”
The gold continued Drouin’s remarkable rise through the sport, following on the bronze medal he collected at the London Games in 2012 and gold at the world championship in Beijing last summer. His resume is getting crammed now, with gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and another at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto last summer.
It was Canada’s third track and field medal in Rio, joining Brianne Theisen-Eaton who won bronze in the heptathlon and Andre De Grasse’s bronze in the 100 metres.
As well, Drouin became the first Canadian man to win a gold in any summer event since paddler Adam van Koeverden hit the top of the podium in the men’s K1 500-metre sprint in 2004.
As an athlete who appreciates the history of his sport and the magnitude of his accomplishment, the thrill will only increase when he receives his gold medal and hears the Canadian anthem on Wednesday night.
“My Mom was in tears, Pop was so proud,” Drouin said of his family’s initial reaction.
They won’t be alone, as Canadians learn more about their humble new Olympic champion, who methodically and resolutely rose to the top of the world.
“My story began in Corunna, Ontario where I jumped from monkey bars,” Drouin wrote on his official Twitter account earlier this year. “Now I’m jumping over bars all over the world.”
And better than anyone else who’s trying.
rlongley@postmedia.com
Derek Drouin’s perfect night at high jump earns him Canada’s third gold medal at Rio 2016 | National Post
Rob Longley, Postmedia Network | August 16, 2016 11:41 PM ET
RIO DE JANEIRO — From the time he was a kid growing up in the tiny Ontario town of Corunna, Derek Drouin always wanted to jump.
He never did it with more focus, brilliance and meaning than Tuesday night, however.
Canada’s latest gold medallist became so in clinical fashion at Olympic Stadium, clearing every bar he approached while the competition was on.
From the opening clear at 2.20 metres, where there was so much air between his rump and the bar, to the winning jump of 2.38 metres, there was little doubt he would win Canada’s third gold of these Games, a history-making result accomplished so spectacularly.
“I was definitely gunning for the big one,” said Drouin, the reigning world champion and an Olympic bronze medallist four years ago in London. “I was confident in my preparation, but also I just love the Olympics and taking in the whole moment.
“The last couple of days I’ve been feeling so confident. It’s been awesome to try to find my place in history.”
Let’s start the historical recount with this: By soaring his way to the top of the podium, Drouin became the second Canadian ever to win high jumping gold and the first since Duncan McNaughton in 1932 in Los Angeles. Drouin is also a leading force in the Athletics Canada resurgence, becoming the first from his country to win a track and field gold since sprinter Donovan Bailey at Atlanta in 1996, a dry run of two decades.
On Tuesday, after just missing on the attempt to secure the Olympic record of 2.39 to give the crowd a little something extra — but with the gold already in his pocket — Drouin let the focus drain from his face and replaced it with joy as he wrapped himself in the Canadian flag.
Tears spilled as he greeted his parents and sisters in the stands moments after victory was secure.
“I’ve grown up wanting to be an Olympian,” said the 26-year-old, who currently lives in Toronto. “As I’ve become an elite athlete, that’s obviously shifted to wanting to be an Olympic gold medallist.
“There have been some sacrifices but I’ve always prided myself on my mental toughness. I was ready for anything.”
That mental toughness was in full effect on Tuesday when he essentially toyed with his competition. There wasn’t a single moment that anyone in the half-filled stadium could have made a case for anyone else winning.
In qualifying and in the final, he cleared every jump he attempted, except for the encore attempt at the record. And he did so with such ease that it had to be discouraging to the others, including silver medallist Eass Barshim of Qatar and Bohdan Bondarenko of the Ukraine, who collected silver.
“The kid’s a gamer, there’s no doubt about it,” Drouin’s coach, Jeff Huntoon said moments after the thrilling victory was secured. “We don’t sit around and do a lot of projections and stuff like that, we just know when we’re fit. And he had shown that.”
Though not as flamboyant as others in his sport — Drouin certainly puts on a show. The pre-race routine includes slaps to both sides of his face as he narrows his focus and zooms in on the bar towering in front of him. His long stride builds in speed and power and when he gets airborne, he soars with such technical precision that it seems effortless.
Because Drouin never missed, you could sense the competition getting disheartened, especially when there seemed no end to the heights he would destroy.
“His preparation has been amazing,” fourth-place finisher Robert Grabarz of Great Britain said. “I was expecting that from him. He was the one that was going to be tough to beat.”
The gold continued Drouin’s remarkable rise through the sport, following on the bronze medal he collected at the London Games in 2012 and gold at the world championship in Beijing last summer. His resume is getting crammed now, with gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and another at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto last summer.
It was Canada’s third track and field medal in Rio, joining Brianne Theisen-Eaton who won bronze in the heptathlon and Andre De Grasse’s bronze in the 100 metres.
As well, Drouin became the first Canadian man to win a gold in any summer event since paddler Adam van Koeverden hit the top of the podium in the men’s K1 500-metre sprint in 2004.
As an athlete who appreciates the history of his sport and the magnitude of his accomplishment, the thrill will only increase when he receives his gold medal and hears the Canadian anthem on Wednesday night.
“My Mom was in tears, Pop was so proud,” Drouin said of his family’s initial reaction.
They won’t be alone, as Canadians learn more about their humble new Olympic champion, who methodically and resolutely rose to the top of the world.
“My story began in Corunna, Ontario where I jumped from monkey bars,” Drouin wrote on his official Twitter account earlier this year. “Now I’m jumping over bars all over the world.”
And better than anyone else who’s trying.
rlongley@postmedia.com
Derek Drouin’s perfect night at high jump earns him Canada’s third gold medal at Rio 2016 | National Post
'I could beat Bolt if I was in my prime': Ben Johnson
By Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 10:59 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 11:07 PM EDT
One-time fastest man in the world Ben Johnson was thrilled to see fellow Canadian Andre De Grasse stand on the winner’s podium with Olympics legend Usain Bolt.
But, in his heyday, Johnson thinks he would have beat both.
“You ask if I can beat Bolt? 100%,” muses the 1988 Olympic gold medal winner and world 100-metre-record-holder-for-a-day before being busted for a failed steroid test. “Yes, I think I could beat Bolt if I was in my prime.”
And without the help of the performance enhancers that made him the Olympic poster boy for cheating and that also resulted in a lifetime ban from his sport. Johnson believes his explosive power would match up well against today’s sprinters.
“If we were on today’s track and I was in the shape I was in then, there is no question I would win,” he told the Toronto Sun. “The shoes, track, the blocks, the training and technology of the sport is much different now.
“There was a show on CBC a few weeks ago where they had De Grasse run on a track similar to that of Jesse Owens and had shoes made for him, similar to those of Jesse Owens, and he ran over 11 seconds. He commented on how tired he was.”
Johnson had his Olympic glory-turned-disaster six years before De Grasse was even born. But he says he was with the youngster every step for his bronze medal on Sunday “from my hotel room in Amsterdam.”
“I am very happy for Andre,” he said. “I wish him all the best.”
If Johnson, who lives in Markham, was able to run today, he says he’d be lights out.
Bolt, who in 2009 set the world record at 9.58 seconds (which still stands), ran this race in Rio in 9.81. In 1988, Johnson beat Carl Lewis with a time of 9.79.
“My physique, strength and power would allow me to beat Bolt,” he said.
And the world record would be his, as well, he says.
“I think with the way it is today, I would have run a 9.2 or 9.3,” he said, adding he thinks fellow Canadian and Olympic gold medallist Donovan Bailey would, too.
There seemed to be a bit of nostalgia in Johnson, as he hearkened back to those magical days before it all came crashing down. He said he feels his sport does not have the drama and competitive fire it did in his era.
“The race, although entertaining, didn’t have the hype or excitement of the 1988 Olympic showdown between myself and Carl,” he said. “I think part of the hype around the race in 1988 was also the fact it was Canada vs. the U.S.A. and in addition to all the media coverage about Carl being arrogant and me being a ‘nice’ Canadian.”
A lot of people feel Johnson wrongly ended up as the main villain in athletics doping and was over-punished.
“Ben was a very simple athlete who ran fast in a straight line. In fact, the fastest,” said former Olympian and IOC member Paul Henderson. “He did what his coaches and doctors told him to do. He had no idea what they were feeding him.”
That Johnson was banned for life was “totally wrong,” said Henderson. “Most get a six-month ban for the first offence, then two years and then life.”
This is not lost on Ben.
“I am still confused about how (American) Justin Gatlin tested positive twice and was able to compete (and win silver on Sunday), unlike myself who was banned for life. How does that work?”
But none of it affects his popularity in Europe, where he’s promoting a new book he says is called The Outsider. “I feel a lot of love here and people think of it all differently. Remember, I won a lot of my big races here.”
He said he’s looking at offers to bring his book out in North America, but says that for the next few days, his focus is on rooting for De Grasse, who he thinks has greatness ahead.
“I believe he has a lot more to offer, as he is young,” said Johnson. “I think De Grasse needs to work on his power and strength to really reach his potential.”
At 54, there may be no Olympic redemption chance but Johnson, in between his business and charitable endeavours, is still burning up the track and hints about proving he can still fly.
“I still train most days and am thinking of competing in the masters next year,” he said, teasing. “Once you are over 50 you lose your energy, but I think I still could run a 10.75. But let’s see how fast I am then.”
jwarmington@postmedia.com
'I could beat Bolt if I was in my prime': Ben Johnson | Warmington | Other Sport
Ellen DeGeneres slammed over 'racist' Usain Bolt tweet
WENN.COM
First posted: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 10:56 AM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 11:22 AM EDT
Ellen DeGeneres has denied she is racist after coming under fire for a Usain Bolt meme she posted on Twitter.
The Jamaican runner was captured by a photographer smiling for the camera as he casually sprinted to victory in the semi-final of the men's 100m event at the Rio Olympics on Saturday.
After the now-iconic picture went viral, a Photoshopped image of the 58-year-old talk show host riding on the back of Bolt was posted by Ellen on Twitter on Monday, with the caption, "This is how I'm running errands from now on."
The comedian faced a backlash on social media, with some branding the image racist and insensitive. "You thought it'd be funny to post a pic of yourself riding on the back of a black man? Nope. Delete this racist garbage," wrote one user.
"'An apology won't do. This is utterly f---ing ridiculous. How dare you!?!?" posted another, while others called for someone to be fired over the meme. "Dear @TheEllenShow: Whatever intern thought this tweet was a good idea should be fired. Immediately," they posted.
On Tuesday, Ellen took to Twitter to insist she is not racist, and told her fans, "I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am."
Bolt, who was a guest on her show last year, also retweeted the image, further supporting Ellen's claims that the meme was not intended to cause offence.
Both the talk show host's original post from Monday, and Usain's retweet of the image, are still on their Twitter accounts. Neither has commented further on the controversy.
The record-breaking sprinter went on to win the men's 100m final on Sunday, and is due to compete in the upcoming 200m semi-final on Thursday.
The fastest man on the planet, who is the current holder of world records in the men's 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, is attempting to achieve an unprecedented 'triple triple' at the Rio Olympics, by defending the titles he won in the events at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008, and London in 2012.
Ellen DeGeneres slammed over 'racist' Usain Bolt tweet | Celebrities | Entertain
By Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 10:59 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 11:07 PM EDT
One-time fastest man in the world Ben Johnson was thrilled to see fellow Canadian Andre De Grasse stand on the winner’s podium with Olympics legend Usain Bolt.
But, in his heyday, Johnson thinks he would have beat both.
“You ask if I can beat Bolt? 100%,” muses the 1988 Olympic gold medal winner and world 100-metre-record-holder-for-a-day before being busted for a failed steroid test. “Yes, I think I could beat Bolt if I was in my prime.”
And without the help of the performance enhancers that made him the Olympic poster boy for cheating and that also resulted in a lifetime ban from his sport. Johnson believes his explosive power would match up well against today’s sprinters.
“If we were on today’s track and I was in the shape I was in then, there is no question I would win,” he told the Toronto Sun. “The shoes, track, the blocks, the training and technology of the sport is much different now.
“There was a show on CBC a few weeks ago where they had De Grasse run on a track similar to that of Jesse Owens and had shoes made for him, similar to those of Jesse Owens, and he ran over 11 seconds. He commented on how tired he was.”
Johnson had his Olympic glory-turned-disaster six years before De Grasse was even born. But he says he was with the youngster every step for his bronze medal on Sunday “from my hotel room in Amsterdam.”
“I am very happy for Andre,” he said. “I wish him all the best.”
If Johnson, who lives in Markham, was able to run today, he says he’d be lights out.
Bolt, who in 2009 set the world record at 9.58 seconds (which still stands), ran this race in Rio in 9.81. In 1988, Johnson beat Carl Lewis with a time of 9.79.
“My physique, strength and power would allow me to beat Bolt,” he said.
And the world record would be his, as well, he says.
“I think with the way it is today, I would have run a 9.2 or 9.3,” he said, adding he thinks fellow Canadian and Olympic gold medallist Donovan Bailey would, too.
There seemed to be a bit of nostalgia in Johnson, as he hearkened back to those magical days before it all came crashing down. He said he feels his sport does not have the drama and competitive fire it did in his era.
“The race, although entertaining, didn’t have the hype or excitement of the 1988 Olympic showdown between myself and Carl,” he said. “I think part of the hype around the race in 1988 was also the fact it was Canada vs. the U.S.A. and in addition to all the media coverage about Carl being arrogant and me being a ‘nice’ Canadian.”
A lot of people feel Johnson wrongly ended up as the main villain in athletics doping and was over-punished.
“Ben was a very simple athlete who ran fast in a straight line. In fact, the fastest,” said former Olympian and IOC member Paul Henderson. “He did what his coaches and doctors told him to do. He had no idea what they were feeding him.”
That Johnson was banned for life was “totally wrong,” said Henderson. “Most get a six-month ban for the first offence, then two years and then life.”
This is not lost on Ben.
“I am still confused about how (American) Justin Gatlin tested positive twice and was able to compete (and win silver on Sunday), unlike myself who was banned for life. How does that work?”
But none of it affects his popularity in Europe, where he’s promoting a new book he says is called The Outsider. “I feel a lot of love here and people think of it all differently. Remember, I won a lot of my big races here.”
He said he’s looking at offers to bring his book out in North America, but says that for the next few days, his focus is on rooting for De Grasse, who he thinks has greatness ahead.
“I believe he has a lot more to offer, as he is young,” said Johnson. “I think De Grasse needs to work on his power and strength to really reach his potential.”
At 54, there may be no Olympic redemption chance but Johnson, in between his business and charitable endeavours, is still burning up the track and hints about proving he can still fly.
“I still train most days and am thinking of competing in the masters next year,” he said, teasing. “Once you are over 50 you lose your energy, but I think I still could run a 10.75. But let’s see how fast I am then.”
jwarmington@postmedia.com
'I could beat Bolt if I was in my prime': Ben Johnson | Warmington | Other Sport
Ellen DeGeneres slammed over 'racist' Usain Bolt tweet
WENN.COM
First posted: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 10:56 AM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 11:22 AM EDT
Ellen DeGeneres has denied she is racist after coming under fire for a Usain Bolt meme she posted on Twitter.
The Jamaican runner was captured by a photographer smiling for the camera as he casually sprinted to victory in the semi-final of the men's 100m event at the Rio Olympics on Saturday.
After the now-iconic picture went viral, a Photoshopped image of the 58-year-old talk show host riding on the back of Bolt was posted by Ellen on Twitter on Monday, with the caption, "This is how I'm running errands from now on."
The comedian faced a backlash on social media, with some branding the image racist and insensitive. "You thought it'd be funny to post a pic of yourself riding on the back of a black man? Nope. Delete this racist garbage," wrote one user.
"'An apology won't do. This is utterly f---ing ridiculous. How dare you!?!?" posted another, while others called for someone to be fired over the meme. "Dear @TheEllenShow: Whatever intern thought this tweet was a good idea should be fired. Immediately," they posted.
On Tuesday, Ellen took to Twitter to insist she is not racist, and told her fans, "I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am."
Bolt, who was a guest on her show last year, also retweeted the image, further supporting Ellen's claims that the meme was not intended to cause offence.
Both the talk show host's original post from Monday, and Usain's retweet of the image, are still on their Twitter accounts. Neither has commented further on the controversy.
The record-breaking sprinter went on to win the men's 100m final on Sunday, and is due to compete in the upcoming 200m semi-final on Thursday.
The fastest man on the planet, who is the current holder of world records in the men's 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, is attempting to achieve an unprecedented 'triple triple' at the Rio Olympics, by defending the titles he won in the events at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008, and London in 2012.
Ellen DeGeneres slammed over 'racist' Usain Bolt tweet | Celebrities | Entertain
British news anchor out of coma after contracting malaria in Rio
WENN.com
First posted: Thursday, August 18, 2016 09:39 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, August 18, 2016 09:48 PM EDT
British news anchor Charlie Webster has reportedly been brought out of a coma after contracting a rare strain of malaria while cycling to the Olympic Games.
The former Sky Sports host, 33, took part in a charity bike ride from London to Rio de Janeiro, where she was due to present coverage of the sporting extravaganza, but she became ill during the opening ceremony on August 5 and was admitted to a local hospital.
Her condition deteriorated and she was placed in an induced coma last week, but her manager has told the BBC Charlie was taken out of the coma early on Thursday, but remains in intensive care.
While her doctors tell the outlet they are “very happy with Charlie’s neurological results” after performing a number of cognitive tests, she is still being kept on dialysis because her kidneys are not responding to treatment, and she is still supported by a respirator to help with her breathing.
Charlie’s mother also gave an update to the BBC, revealing the host was conscious enough to speak to her, saying in a statement: “Charlotte knows she nearly died. She mouthed to me earlier, ‘Look at all the machines keeping me alive’. Charlotte is really strong but as the doctors keep reminding me, everyone heals differently. I am just so thankful that she’s able to communicate with us again.”
“It’s been the worst imaginable time. We have been beside ourselves with worry but the fact Charlotte is now conscious is amazing,” she continued. “Knowing Charlotte, the thing she’ll be most annoyed about is that she’s missed the Olympics.”
A spokesperson for Charlie, who dated Downton Abbey star Allen Leech between 2014 and 2015, added, “Charlie’s family and friends have been incredibly touched by the overwhelming support and love shown to Charlie today. Their main focus now is for Charlie to be stable enough to fly back to the U.K.”
British news anchor out of coma after contracting malaria in Rio | World | News
Scott Stinson: Canada’s Erica Wiebe wrestles perfect match on perfect day to secure Olympic gold medal
Scott Stinson | August 18, 2016 9:06 PM ET
RIO DE JANEIRO — When it was over, when Erica Wiebe had wrestled a perfect match on a perfect day and had secured the gold medal, she fell to her knees on the mat at Carioca Arena.
She held a Canadian flag in her hands, and she buried her face in the mat. When she got up, tears streamed down her face.
Wiebe, 27, said it was a release of all the hard work and disappointment that had gotten her this far. The latest in a line of Canadian heavyweight wrestling stars — but who suffered a surprise loss at the nationals last year and whose confidence was gone — Wiebe said the process to climb back was long and tough. It included six stitches and a broken tooth, in just the past few months.
“Wrestling is not fun,” she said. “For me, competing for a long time was not fun. I put so much pressure on myself, I knew I was good, and I put so much pressure on myself to wrestle a certain way, to be a certain way, the pressure of being an Olympian even.”
“In the weeks leading up to this I shed that pressure. I’m still the same person, and I don’t have to be any certain way other than the way I am,” she said, her voice breaking. “And so I just went after it.”
After a series of wins put her in the 75 kg gold-medal final, Wiebe, from Stittsville, Ont. by way of the University of Calgary, handled her Kazakh opponent, Guzel Manyurova, with what looked like relative ease. She wore her opponent out, and countered three takedown attempts, scoring two points each time for a 6-0 win.
The strategy, she said, was simple: “Pressure her, break her, make her want to quit.” Yikes.
Leigh Veirling, one of the Canadian coaches, said Manyurova looked exhausted by the end. “I think if she had blown on her, she would have fallen down,” he said.
She didn’t, but the win was convincing enough as it was. After she watched the Canadian flag raised, and cried again a little, and sung the national anthem, Wiebe met the media with a stunned look on her face. Not from the bout, but from the realization of what she had done.
“I’m never at a loss for words, but I’m at a complete loss for words right now,” she said. “I think I just gave it my everything today, and what I did on the mat speaks for itself.”
Wiebe, who started wrestling at Stittsville’s Sacred Heart high school on something of a lark so she could get close to the boys on the team, took a minute to think about how far she had come. She missed out on the national team at London 2012, but went there as a training partner. This Olympic trip was rather more special.
“I really feel like I’m the same silly Grade 9 girl who was like, ‘I want to do wrestling’,” Wiebe said with a giggle, which is not a sound you expect to hear from someone who just tossed an opponent around a mat for six minutes. “But to get this far, it has been quite the journey.”
Her coaches say the journey is far from over.
“She scratched the surface today,” said Paul Ragusa, who received a Wiebe bear hug and then a piggy-back ride on the mat when the match was over. He said she wrestled conservatively, partly because the stage of an Olympic final was one where neither wrestler wanted to make mistakes. “You haven’t seen anything from Erica yet,” he said.
Wiebe was still trying to figure out how to put what she had done in words.
“I woke up and I was just a random person, an everyday girl just trying to work hard and be my best today,” she said, “and to have it end like this is amazing.”
From the failure of 18 months ago, and the questioning of whether she wanted to keep going with the gruelling career — “I was really doubting myself last year,” she said — Wiebe managed to put those thoughts behind her, and it ended in the best possible way. Canada’s 16th medal in Rio, and fourth gold, the most since Barcelona in 1992. Another woman who rose to the occasion. It is, suddenly, a familiar script.
Wiebe said she knew she had done all she could to prepare, so it was just a matter of not thinking about the stage. Even though it was the biggest one of her life.
“The wrestling mat is the same size as the one I practise on every day, though there’s a little more lighting,” she said, with another little laugh and a smile. “I just went out there and wrestled,” she said. “I had fun today.”
Gold medals will do that.
sstinson@postmedia.com
Erica Weibe was all smiles during the medal ceremony
Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network
Scott Stinson: Canada’s Erica Wiebe wrestles perfect match on perfect day to secure Olympic gold medal | National Post
WENN.com
First posted: Thursday, August 18, 2016 09:39 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, August 18, 2016 09:48 PM EDT
British news anchor Charlie Webster has reportedly been brought out of a coma after contracting a rare strain of malaria while cycling to the Olympic Games.
The former Sky Sports host, 33, took part in a charity bike ride from London to Rio de Janeiro, where she was due to present coverage of the sporting extravaganza, but she became ill during the opening ceremony on August 5 and was admitted to a local hospital.
Her condition deteriorated and she was placed in an induced coma last week, but her manager has told the BBC Charlie was taken out of the coma early on Thursday, but remains in intensive care.
While her doctors tell the outlet they are “very happy with Charlie’s neurological results” after performing a number of cognitive tests, she is still being kept on dialysis because her kidneys are not responding to treatment, and she is still supported by a respirator to help with her breathing.
Charlie’s mother also gave an update to the BBC, revealing the host was conscious enough to speak to her, saying in a statement: “Charlotte knows she nearly died. She mouthed to me earlier, ‘Look at all the machines keeping me alive’. Charlotte is really strong but as the doctors keep reminding me, everyone heals differently. I am just so thankful that she’s able to communicate with us again.”
“It’s been the worst imaginable time. We have been beside ourselves with worry but the fact Charlotte is now conscious is amazing,” she continued. “Knowing Charlotte, the thing she’ll be most annoyed about is that she’s missed the Olympics.”
A spokesperson for Charlie, who dated Downton Abbey star Allen Leech between 2014 and 2015, added, “Charlie’s family and friends have been incredibly touched by the overwhelming support and love shown to Charlie today. Their main focus now is for Charlie to be stable enough to fly back to the U.K.”
British news anchor out of coma after contracting malaria in Rio | World | News
Scott Stinson: Canada’s Erica Wiebe wrestles perfect match on perfect day to secure Olympic gold medal
Scott Stinson | August 18, 2016 9:06 PM ET
RIO DE JANEIRO — When it was over, when Erica Wiebe had wrestled a perfect match on a perfect day and had secured the gold medal, she fell to her knees on the mat at Carioca Arena.
She held a Canadian flag in her hands, and she buried her face in the mat. When she got up, tears streamed down her face.
Wiebe, 27, said it was a release of all the hard work and disappointment that had gotten her this far. The latest in a line of Canadian heavyweight wrestling stars — but who suffered a surprise loss at the nationals last year and whose confidence was gone — Wiebe said the process to climb back was long and tough. It included six stitches and a broken tooth, in just the past few months.
“Wrestling is not fun,” she said. “For me, competing for a long time was not fun. I put so much pressure on myself, I knew I was good, and I put so much pressure on myself to wrestle a certain way, to be a certain way, the pressure of being an Olympian even.”
“In the weeks leading up to this I shed that pressure. I’m still the same person, and I don’t have to be any certain way other than the way I am,” she said, her voice breaking. “And so I just went after it.”
After a series of wins put her in the 75 kg gold-medal final, Wiebe, from Stittsville, Ont. by way of the University of Calgary, handled her Kazakh opponent, Guzel Manyurova, with what looked like relative ease. She wore her opponent out, and countered three takedown attempts, scoring two points each time for a 6-0 win.
The strategy, she said, was simple: “Pressure her, break her, make her want to quit.” Yikes.
Leigh Veirling, one of the Canadian coaches, said Manyurova looked exhausted by the end. “I think if she had blown on her, she would have fallen down,” he said.
She didn’t, but the win was convincing enough as it was. After she watched the Canadian flag raised, and cried again a little, and sung the national anthem, Wiebe met the media with a stunned look on her face. Not from the bout, but from the realization of what she had done.
“I’m never at a loss for words, but I’m at a complete loss for words right now,” she said. “I think I just gave it my everything today, and what I did on the mat speaks for itself.”
Wiebe, who started wrestling at Stittsville’s Sacred Heart high school on something of a lark so she could get close to the boys on the team, took a minute to think about how far she had come. She missed out on the national team at London 2012, but went there as a training partner. This Olympic trip was rather more special.
“I really feel like I’m the same silly Grade 9 girl who was like, ‘I want to do wrestling’,” Wiebe said with a giggle, which is not a sound you expect to hear from someone who just tossed an opponent around a mat for six minutes. “But to get this far, it has been quite the journey.”
Her coaches say the journey is far from over.
“She scratched the surface today,” said Paul Ragusa, who received a Wiebe bear hug and then a piggy-back ride on the mat when the match was over. He said she wrestled conservatively, partly because the stage of an Olympic final was one where neither wrestler wanted to make mistakes. “You haven’t seen anything from Erica yet,” he said.
Wiebe was still trying to figure out how to put what she had done in words.
“I woke up and I was just a random person, an everyday girl just trying to work hard and be my best today,” she said, “and to have it end like this is amazing.”
From the failure of 18 months ago, and the questioning of whether she wanted to keep going with the gruelling career — “I was really doubting myself last year,” she said — Wiebe managed to put those thoughts behind her, and it ended in the best possible way. Canada’s 16th medal in Rio, and fourth gold, the most since Barcelona in 1992. Another woman who rose to the occasion. It is, suddenly, a familiar script.
Wiebe said she knew she had done all she could to prepare, so it was just a matter of not thinking about the stage. Even though it was the biggest one of her life.
“The wrestling mat is the same size as the one I practise on every day, though there’s a little more lighting,” she said, with another little laugh and a smile. “I just went out there and wrestled,” she said. “I had fun today.”
Gold medals will do that.
sstinson@postmedia.com
Erica Weibe was all smiles during the medal ceremony
Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network
Scott Stinson: Canada’s Erica Wiebe wrestles perfect match on perfect day to secure Olympic gold medal | National Post
Olympic champ Usain Bolt snapped in bed with another woman
WENN.com
First posted: Monday, August 22, 2016 04:28 PM EDT | Updated: Monday, August 22, 2016 04:44 PM EDT
Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt has been accused of cheating on his girlfriend after he was photographed in bed with a Brazilian student over the weekend.
The Jamaican gold medallist’s girlfriend of two years, Kasi Bennett, has been cheering on her man via Twitter during the Rio Olympics, but it appears he found another woman to celebrate his 30th birthday with after partying at a club in Barra de Tijuca in the early hours Sunday.
Jady Duarte, 20, reportedly sent two telling snaps of herself in bed, cuddling up to the topless sprinter, to her friends via the WhatsApp messaging service early on Monday, and they were leaked online.
One of the images shows Bolt hugging Jady from behind, as they pose for the camera, while in another shot, the birthday boy appears to kiss the student on the cheek.
Duarte has since opened up about her night with Bolt, claiming she was initially unaware she had bedded a famous athletw and now she is embarrassed their encounter has been made public.
“It’s very negative,” Duarte reportedly told local paper Extra of the public response to the pictures. “I never wanted to be famous, I’m dying of shame.”
Meanwhile, it has since been revealed she isn’t the only woman Bolt got intimate with during his night out. Photos published by DailyMail.co.uk show him passionately kissing a mystery brunette in the club, hours before going home with Duarte.
Bolt has yet to comment on his apparently bad birthday behaviour.
Olympic champ Usain Bolt snapped in bed with another woman | OLYMPICS | Other Sp
WENN.com
First posted: Monday, August 22, 2016 04:28 PM EDT | Updated: Monday, August 22, 2016 04:44 PM EDT
Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt has been accused of cheating on his girlfriend after he was photographed in bed with a Brazilian student over the weekend.
The Jamaican gold medallist’s girlfriend of two years, Kasi Bennett, has been cheering on her man via Twitter during the Rio Olympics, but it appears he found another woman to celebrate his 30th birthday with after partying at a club in Barra de Tijuca in the early hours Sunday.
Jady Duarte, 20, reportedly sent two telling snaps of herself in bed, cuddling up to the topless sprinter, to her friends via the WhatsApp messaging service early on Monday, and they were leaked online.
One of the images shows Bolt hugging Jady from behind, as they pose for the camera, while in another shot, the birthday boy appears to kiss the student on the cheek.
Duarte has since opened up about her night with Bolt, claiming she was initially unaware she had bedded a famous athletw and now she is embarrassed their encounter has been made public.
“It’s very negative,” Duarte reportedly told local paper Extra of the public response to the pictures. “I never wanted to be famous, I’m dying of shame.”
Meanwhile, it has since been revealed she isn’t the only woman Bolt got intimate with during his night out. Photos published by DailyMail.co.uk show him passionately kissing a mystery brunette in the club, hours before going home with Duarte.
Bolt has yet to comment on his apparently bad birthday behaviour.
Olympic champ Usain Bolt snapped in bed with another woman | OLYMPICS | Other Sp