2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS Recaps of Saturday’s other events in Rio

Fencing

Muhammad, U.S. win bronze medals

Ibtihaj Muhammad came to the Olympics determined to show the world that Muslim-American women can excel in sports.

Muhammad will return home to New Jersey with proof that she was right.

Muhammad, who became the first U.S. Olympian to wear a hijab during competition earlier this week, won a bronze medal Saturday along with her teammates in the women’s team sabre event.

The U.S. routed Italy 45-30 to clinch third place and the first women’s medal in fencing for the Americans in Rio de Janeiro.

“This is sport. It doesn’t matter what hair color you have, or what religion you are. The point is to go out there and be the best athlete you can be,” American teammate Dagmara Wozniak said. “We’re the best explanation of what American is. A mix of so many different cultures and races, and everything all together.”

Russia won its fourth fencing gold medal of the Rio Games in the final, beating Ukraine 45-30.

Green water

Officials to drain green pool water

Olympic officials gave up on cleaning the green-tinged water in one of the pools at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center. Instead, they began draining it Saturday and planned to transfer nearly 1 million gallons of clear water from a nearby practice pool in time for the start of synchronized swimming.

Mario Andrada, a spokesman for Rio 2016, said the “radical measure” was necessary to ensure clear water for both judges and competitors during an event that requires swimmers to spend much of their time underwater.

He stressed again that the kale-colored water posed no risk to the health of the athletes. An adjacent, smaller pool will continue to be used for the diving competition, even though it remains murky. American diver Abby Johnston has dubbed it “the swamp.”

“Of course it is an embarrassment because we are hosting the Olympic Games,” Andrada said. “It should be light blue, transparent. We could have done better in fixing it quickly. We learned a painful lesson the hard way.”

Men’s Tennis

del Potro stuns Nadal, makes final

Juan Martin del Potro ended Rafael Nadal’s bid for an unprecedented second Olympic singles gold medal in a thrill-a-minute semifinal, then celebrated as if the title were already his, kneeling to kiss the court before leaping into the stands.

Del Potro, who earned a bronze for Argentina four years ago, will add a silver or gold to that after advancing to the Rio de Janeiro Games final by coming back to stun 2008 champion Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (5) in more than 3 hours Saturday.

“Both of us,” Nadal said, “played a very high level.”

Using the same ferocious forehands that carried him past No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first round a week ago, 2009 U.S. Open champion del Potro now will try to pull off a third surprise on Sunday, when he meets defending champion Andy Murray in the best-of-five-set final.

“It means something very, very big in my career. It would be the same as the U.S. Open. Maybe even better,” said del Potro, who’s fallen to 141st in the rankings after three operations on his left wrist, which he uses for a two-handed backhand.

“I didn’t expect to reach the final, beating Djokovic and Rafa,” del Potro said, “but I did, and I get a medal, and it’s amazing for me.”

MEN’S GOLF

Rose positioned for golf’s first gold

Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson know what it’s like to play next to each other on a big stage when it’s all about flag and the gold prize.

That was two years ago at the Ryder Cup, and they were undefeated as partners.

They will be rivals Sunday, playing under their own flag, each pursuing golf’s first Olympic gold medal since 1904.

Rose made two eagles in the opening five holes Saturday and did a little shimmy after making a 10-foot par putt at the end for a 6-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead over Stenson going into the final round — the medal round — at Olympic Golf Course.

After 112 years away, and three days of what amounted to preliminary heats, golf finally gets the feel of being in the Olympics when medals are awarded.

“It’s like all the other sports,” Rose said. “You work really hard to get into the final, and tomorrow is about a great performance and bringing your best golf when you need it. I have the opportunity, and tomorrow is going to be fun.”

Staff/wire report