Slovakia Leads European Canoe Slalom
Host Slovakia topped the medal table at the European Canoe Slalom Championships this week, with seven overall medals, including a sweep of all four canoe-class events and a 1-2 in the men's C-1 by Alexsander Slafkovsky 
and Michal Martikan (Spain's Ander Elosegi finished third to secure an Olympic berth for himself). In the women's competition, both Great Britain and Germany secured three medals, highlighted by Kimberly Woods' gold in both the C-1 and K-1 team events for the British. Overall, eight nations won at least one medal, with gold medalists also coming from Spain and the Czech Republic.

African Weightlifting Champs End
The 2016 African Weightlifting ended in Yaounde, Cameroon this weekend with Olympic qualification on the line for nations' lifters not yet qualified through the worlds or commonwealth champs, or other IWF events. In the end, Tunisia topped the men's competition, with six overall/big medals out of eight events. They, along with Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana, earned the right to send one athlete to Rio. On the women's side, Nigeria secured seven overall/big medals in seven events to lead Tunisia, Cameroon, and Algeria to Olympic qualification for one athlete each.

 - European Aquatics Champs Begin
The 2016 LEN European Aquatics Championships began in London this week, with Great Britain (in diving) and Italy (in synchronized swimming) leading the way early. In diving, the British ended with 11 medals in 13 events to outpace Russia's nine medals. Tom Daley led the way for Team Britain, with three medals - gold in the men's 10m platform and another gold and a silver in synchro events. Tania Cagnotto swept all three springboard events for the women to power Italy's six total. In synchronized swimming, Italy continued to find success, as the only nation (not Russia!) to medal in each event, finishing with nine. Russia was second again - albeit largely due to not competing in the team free event - with eight total, followed by Ukraine (7) and Spain (3) to complete the table. Russia's tally included gold by Alexandr Maltsev and Michaela Kalancha in the mixed duet, the first time to be held at these championships. Only four other nations - Italy, Spain and Ukraine - took part in the inaugural event. You have to start somewhere!

Egyptian Upset in Women's Squash Worlds
World #1 and top seed Laura Massaro of England was upset by 20-year old Egyptian Nour El Sherbini in the title match of the Women's World Open Squash Championship in Kuala Lumpur, despite being two games up to start. For El Sherbini, she becomes the youngest-ever world champion and will rise to the top ranking after entering the tournament as the fifth seed. Hometown favorite - and previous youngest-ever champion from 2005 - Nicol David of Malaysia finished her run in the quarterfinals at the hands of El Sherbini. David had been the second seed. Egypt also enjoyed both of the two bronze medals, as Nouran Gohar and Raneem El Weleily made the semifinals.

Russia Wins World Fencing Titles
In one of the more ridiculous effects of the IOC trying to cap the number of athletes, fencing is limited to ten medal events at any Olympics. So, each quadrennial, fencing's FIE rotates out a men's and women's team event to sit out the Games. And then, the Olympic year's fencing world championships feature those two events - and only those two. And, adding insult - the 2016 championships were held in Rio as a test event for the Games. This year, the unfortunate team events held were men's sabre and women's foil. Russa emerged the winner in both, with Hungary and Romania rounding out the podium on the men's sabre side and Italy and France on the women's foil. Twenty men's sabre and thirteen women's foil teams participated.

Denmark Leads Europe in Badminton
​At the European Badminton Championships in La Roche Sur Yon, France, Denmark swept four of the five titles on hand to lead the way for European badminton. The eleven Danish medals included titles for Viktor Axelsen over Jan Jorgensen in men's singles, and a sweep of the three doubles titles (men's, women's, and mixed). Danish strength is so deep that they won four medals in doubles competitions  - not including the golds. The one title to escape was, as expected, by Spain's world champion Carolina Marin in the women's singles competition. Although, Denmark did win both bronze medals there. With three medals, the Netherlands finished in second place on the overall medal table, with England securing two bronzes for third place.

While China Dominates in Asia
At the same time, the Badminton Asia Championships were held in Wuhan, with China securing the overall medal table with seven medals. Chinese titles came in women's singles and mixed doubles, marking China the only nation with multiple golds. South Korea finished with five medals, including gold in men's doubles, with Japan earning three overall medals, including both the gold and silver in women's doubles. Notably, China was shut out off the podium in that event, while overall, Malaysia (one overall medal), India (one), and Indonesia (two) all made their mark on various podiums as well.

And at Weightlifting, Too
China, as well, topped the medal table at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent this week - winning twelve total medals across men's and women's competitions combined to lead the continent. Thailand finished second with seven, while both Iran and Taiwan finished with four. (um, if Iran devoted resources to women's weightlifting they'd probably give China a good run...) In all, fifteen nations won at least one medal, including the Philippines and Mongolia. The event also served as an Olympic qualifier.

European Weightlifting Champs Conclude
Somewhat surprisingly, Romania stood tallest at the conclusion of the European Weightlifting Championships this week, driven to the top of the top of the overall medal table on the strength of both their men's and women's teams (4 men's medalists and 3 women's, for a total of seven 'big' medals). Armenia was second with six medals, while tying Turkey for tops in golds with three. Russia finished with five medals. Eighteen nations, including Estonia and Moldova, won at least one medal.

Olympic Gymnastics Field Fills In
At the Rio Final Gymnastics Qualifier and test event starting this weekend, the last Olympic spots available across all gymnastic disciplines (men's and women's artistic, rhythmic and trampoline) are to be decided. Men's artistic was up first, and delivered inspired performances. Reaching the podium in the team event were Germany, Ukraine, and the Netherlands, followed by France in fourth to earn the four team spots. On the individual side, notable qualifiers for Rio included Chile's Tomas Gonzalez, Ireland's Kieran Behan, and Colombia's Jossimar Calvo Moreno, who finished just behind Ukraine's star Oleg Vernaiev in the all-around. Meanwhile, the shock continues for Romania's women. After finishing out of the top eight at the last worlds, and being relegated to the test event for team qualification, they finished seventh of eight here to not qualify for the Games as a team. They had won 62 total medals in women's gymnastics over the course of the Olympics, and had appeared in every Games competitions for women since 1968. Instead, Brazil, Germany, Belgium (!) and France secured the four spots. Romania will be able to send only one individual athlete to the women's competition, same as with their men. Notable individual qualifiers include Dipka Karmakar of India, Ana Gomez of Guatemala, Toni-Ann Williams of Jamaica, and  - at for her seventh (!) Olympics - Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan. A single tripartite invitation for an individual is still available for both the men's and women's competitions. And, still to come is rhythmic and trampoline qualifications in the new week.

Murray Powers GBR to Davis Cup Win
Great Britain won their tenth overall Davis Cup title after Scot Andy Murray won the third match of the weekend, his second singles win after the opening singles on day one and doubles on day two. In beating David Goffin of Belgium in three sets, Murray completed an impressive run for himself and Team GBR in beating the USA, France, Australia and now Belgium en route to the title.

China Leads Trampoline Worlds
At the conclusion of the Trampoline and Tumbling Worlds in Odense, China topped the medal table for a sixth straight time, with 13 totals podium appearances across the trampoline, tumbling, and double mini events. Leading the way were Gao Lei emerging as champion on the men's side, to give China its seventh straight men's win. Meanwhile, China also won the women's competition with Li Dan, who last won the the women's title in 2010, and came back to win this year's event ahead of compatriot Li Lingling. Also at stake were Olympic berths: China, Russia and Japan earned two slots on the men's side, with China, Belarus and Great Britain the same for the women.

And Also Weightlifting Worlds
At the conclusion of the World Weightlifting Championships in Houston, China added this sport to their dominant team performances of the year, finishing on top here as well, with ten overall (big) medals to Russia's nine in second place. Chinese champions included Chen Lijun (62kg) and Shi Zhiyong (69kg) for the men, and Jiang Huihua (48kg), Deng Weit (63kg), Xiang Yanmei (69kg), and Kang Yue (75kg). Also causing some attention was North Korea, whose athletes won six big medals, for fourth overall. They were led by Om Yun-Chol breaking his own world record in the men's snatch and clean & jerk of the 56kg class, and Rim Jong-Sin fighting injury to claim a dramatic silver in the women's 75kg.

Japan Rugby Scores Again
After a month-long Asian Olympic qualification tournament that started with an initial 14 teams, Japan stood last to win a berth at Rio. Defeating Kazakhstan 14-7 in the second leg of the final pairing, the 'Sakura Sevens' join the Japanese men at the Olympics for the inaugural rugby sevens event. The Asian qualifier also concluded the continental portion of competition for Rio, with only a final general qualification tournament to be held next year to fill the 12th and final spot. Kazakhstan, China, and Hong Kong move on from Asia to try their luck in that event, against 13 other teams, including Russia, Ireland, Spain, and Mexico.

​While Qatar Makes History
The Asian handball qualification tournament was also completed this week in Doha, with Qatar earning their ticket to their first-ever team sport event at the Olympics, after a 28-19 win over Iran in the final. And, true to recent Qatari and rich Persian Gulf tendency of late, the team was built of mainly foreign-born players - in this case, Montenegrin and Bosnian. Iran and third-place Bahrain will move onto the final Olympic Qualification Tournaments next year for a final chance.

Gile Scott Repeats as Finn World Champ
The Finn Gold Cup ended this weekend with Giles Scott of Great Britain winning his third Finn sailing world title (2014, 2010) and the tenth win for GBR since 2002. France's Jonathan Lobert, with two wins in the last three races, finished in second over Slovenia's Vasilij Zbogar. Those three had already secured Olympic qualifications, but nations earning a slip in Rio from this event were the Netherlands, Greece, Estonia, and Uruguay.

And Ann-Marie Lindom Wins Her First Worlds in Laser Radial
Denmarks' Ann-Marie Lindom won her first title in women's Laser Radial, defeating defending champion Marit Bouwmeester of the Netherlands by 13 points. It also marked the seventh time in the last nine years that Scandinavia has had a medalist. Japan, Australia, Turkey and Australia earned Olympic berths from this event.

European Curling Champions Crowned
The 2015 European Curling Championships were held in Esbjerg, Denmark, with Sweden and Russia taking titles in the men's and women's competition, respectively. For Sweden, it was their fourth title under skip Niklas Edin, and came at the expense of Switzerland 7-6. Norway defeated Finland 7-4 for bronze. Russia's win was also their third overall on the women's side, after 2006 and 2012. Finishing second was Scotland, who also lost to Russia in the '12 final, and in third was Finland over Denmark.
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