OLYMPICS ROUNDUP || Two Lochte teammates pulled off plane

Team usa

Two Lochte teammates pulled off plane

rio de janeiro

The USOC says American swimmers Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight to the U.S. by Brazilian authorities Wednesday night, hours after a judge ordered gold medalist Ryan Lochte and teammate Jimmy Feigen stay in the country as police investigate their claim they were robbed during the Olympics.

United States Olympic Committee spokesman Patrick Sandusky confirmed the swimmers were detained but had no other details.

Lochte and his three teammates said they were held up at gunpoint in a taxi as they returned to the athletes village from a party, several hours after the last Olympic swimming events were held.

Police have found little evidence so far to support their accounts, and say the swimmers were unable to provide key details in police interviews.

track and field

Bolt advances to 200 final after heat win

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Usain Bolt easily advanced to the 200-meter final.

As usual, Bolt blasted away opposition in the semifinals of his favorite event, where he is seeking a third a third Olympic gold medal in a row to match his three 100 titles. This time, he will not have to deal with Justin Gatlin, so often his main challenger. The 100 silver medalist finished third in his heat and is out of the hunt.

In a game of cat and mouse, Bolt let Andre De Grasse remain on his shoulder right up to the line. But as they were laughing at each other, Bolt pushed his chest just across the line for 19.78 while De Grasse set a Canadian record of 19.80.

USA women sweep podium in 100 hurdles

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Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin finished 1-2-3 in the 100-meter hurdles to give the United States its first sweep in the event and only its seventh in the history of Olympic track.

It was a not-all-unexpected result, though this might be an eye-opener: Both 2008 champion Dawn Harper-Nelson and the current world-record holder, Keni Harrison, were back home watching on TV after failing to crack the top three at the Olympic trials.

Also parading the stars and stripes were long-jumpers Tianna Bartoletta and Brittney Reese, who finished 1-2, steeplechaser Evan Jager, who won silver earlier in the day, and Tori Bowie, who added a 200-meter bronze to her 100 silver.

“Who wouldn’t be thankful for another medal?” Bowie said. “Now, I have two.”

soccer

Brazil reaches final in blowout over Honduras

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With the fastest goal in Olympic history, Neymar led Brazil back to the gold-medal match.

The Barcelona striker scored 15 seconds into the game and converted a penalty kick in second-half injury time Wednesday to lead Brazil over Honduras 6-0 in the semifinals of the men’s tournament.

Gabriel Jesus added two goals in the first half at the packed Maracana Stadium and Marquinhos and Luan scored a goal each in the second.

Brazil has never won the Olympic title, and lost in the final at the 2012 London Games.

“We won and we won well, but if in the final we don’t play well again, all of this will be for nothing,” Brazil midfielder Renato Augusto said. “We don’t want to disappoint the fans. They want us to play well and they want us to win the gold.”

The host country will play Germany in Saturday’s final. The Germans beat Nigeria 2-0 in Sao Paulo.

Brazilian fans had been hoping for a sort of rematch against Germany, whose senior team embarrassed Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals of the World Cup two years ago.

Wire reports