SOCCER

SOCCER

Lloyd, Solo, Heath make third US roster

Carli Lloyd, who has scored in the gold-medal winning final for the United States in the last two Olympics, has been named to the national team roster for the Rio Games.

Lloyd, who scored three goals in 16 minutes to lead the United States to victory over Japan in the final at last summer’s Women’s World Cup, joins fellow three-time Olympians midfielder Tobin Heath and goalkeeper Hope Solo on the roster announced Tuesday. Solo was also an alternate in 2004.

The United States has won the last three Olympic gold medals.

Midfielders Megan Rapinoe, forward Alex Morgan and defenders Kelley O’Hara and Becky Sauerbrunn will make their second Olympic appearance.

Players who make their debut in Brazil include goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, defenders Whitney Engen, Julie Johnston, Meghan Klingenberg and Ali Krieger, midfielders Morgan Brian, Lindsey Horan and Allie Long, and forwards Crystal Dunn, Christen Press and Mallory Pugh.

VOLLEYBALL

Kiraly names US women’s roster

Outside hitter Jordan Larson and setter Courtney Thompson have been named to the U.S. women’s volleyball roster for the upcoming Rio Olympics by coach Karch Kiraly.

They are joined by middles Foluke Akinradewo and Christa Dietzen as returnees from the team that won the silver medal at the 2012 London Games.

Newcomers on the 12-player roster announced Tuesday include outside hitter Kim Hill and Kelsey Robinson, middle Rachael Adams, opposites Karsta Lowe and Kelly Murphy, setters Alisha Glass and Carli Lloyd and libero Kayla Banwarth.

The top-ranked U.S. team, which has won silver medals at the past two Olympics, opens the tournament on Aug. 6 against Puerto Rico.

Brazil is the two-time defending Olympic champion.

“Ultimately, we have assembled a group that we believe is capable of embracing the challenges a tournament like the Olympics will surely present,” said Kiraly, a two-time gold medalist in volleyball and a gold medalist in beach volleyball.

GOLF

Hend, Fraser go to Rio for Australia

With its top players deciding to forego the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Australia announced its men’s golf team of Scott Hend and Marcus Fraser on Wednesday.

The country’s most successful women’s player, Karrie Webb, was missing for a different reason — she failed to qualify.

Jason Day and Marc Leishman (Zika virus) and Adam Scott (scheduling) said they wouldn’t play in Rio, leaving the 81st-ranked Hend and No. 86 Fraser to play in golf’s s return to the Olympics after 112 years.

Minjee Lee (No. 14) and Su Oh (No. 41) will play on the women’s team for Australia, leaving Webb, a seven-time LPGA major winner and World Golf Hall of Fame member, on the sidelines after her ranking of 58 failed to see her qualify.

CYCLING

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador to miss Rio

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador says he will miss the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro because of injuries that forced him to abandon the Tour de France.

Contador says “making it to Rio is practically ruled out.”

Contador, a two-time Tour winner, says he hopes to recover in time to compete in the Spanish Vuelta on Aug. 20.

Contador says “not going to the Summer Games is a hard blow, it was my second objective after the Tour.”

The 33-year-old Contador withdrew from the ongoing Tour on Sunday during its ninth stage because of a fever.

He had already lost valuable time after falling during the opening two stages of the three-week race.

The Olympic road race is scheduled for Aug. 6.

Associated Press