Germany Off to Olympics in Team Handball
With a surprise 24-17 victory over Spain in the final at the European Handball Championship in Poland, Germany not only won its second-ever title (the first was 2004), but also qualified for the Olympics as the continental representative. Spain, who had beaten the Germans in the preliminary round, now has to face the Olympic Qualification Tournament to make the Rio field. As does third-place Croatia, winners of the bronze medal over Norway. Fifth-place finishers France already qualified through the 2015 Worlds.
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And Qatar Takes Asian Title
Meanwhile, in the Asian Championship also held this week, Qatar reaffirmed its regional prowess in taking their second consecutive title, defeating home team Bahrain 27-22 in the final. Qatar also finished second in the World Championship behind France last year, on home turf. By virtue of their finish in last year's continental Olympic Qualification, Bahrain and Iran move on to the next Olympic Qualification events for another chance at Rio. In a complicated qualification, Japan - winners of this year's Asian bronze and their firs-ever medal - did not earn a berth at the next stage.

Japan Wins Asian U-23 Football
Also on the continent, the Asian U-23 Football Championships concluded this week in Qatar, with Japan scoring a 3-2 win over South Korea for their first title in the tournament. Both teams also now move onto the Rio Olympics, as does third-place Iraq, after their 2-1 extra time win over Qatar. Japan also fielded the tournament's MVP in Shoya Nakjima. In London, Japan finished fourth in the Olympic tournament - can they make the medal stand this go-around?

Serena the Big News at the Australian Open
Or, rather, Serena Williams' defeat at the hands of Angelique Kerber of Germany was the big story. Going for her 22nd Grand Slam title and her seventh Australian, Williams lost a tight three-set match to Kerber, for only the second time in her career. Kerber now moves on to world ranking #2, behind Williams, and a storyline to watch for the rest of the long year in tennis. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic won his three-set match on the men's side, for his sixth title in Melbourne - and his fourth over Andy Murray in the final. Also at the tournament, Brazil's Bruno Soares won two titles - in men's doubles with Andy's brother Jamie Murray, and in mixed doubles with Russia's Elena Vesnina. In women's doubles, comeback Swiss legend Martina Hingis continued her doubles dominance with India's Sania Mirza for their third-straight Grand Slam title, after last year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open. If only they could team up in the Olympics - but it will be interesting to see what happens with their own compatriot playing partners in that tournament - although, is there a partner for them?

Russia and Spain Big Winners at the European Figure Skating
While Russia topped the medal table at this week's European Figure Skating Championships in Bratislava with a total of seven medals, the highlight gold went to Spain's Javier Fernandez. Landing three quad jumps in the long program, Fernandez won his fourth-straight title - and scored over 300 to become only the second man to ever do so. Finishing second was Israel's Alexei Bychenko, for his country's first medal ever at the event. Russia scored at least one medal in each event, including golds in pairs (by Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxin Trankov) and ladies (by Evgenia Medvedeva, who led a podium sweep for Team Russia). Ice Dance was won by Italians Anna Cappelini and Luca Lanotte.

​While Germany Dominates World Luge
At the World Luge Championships in Koenigsee, the home town Germans came through as favorites by dominating the medal table, with 12 of 21 total podium spots. Felix Loch and the doubles team of Tobias Wendl and Tobias Art each won three golds - individual singles (Olympic distance), individual sprint, and as part of the relay event for Germany. Switzerland's Martina Kocher was the only non-German winner, in the women's sprint, surprisingly pushing German favorite Natalie Geisenberger to second. (Geisenberger did win the standard women's singles event)

South Korea Tops Asian Cycling
At the conclusion of the Asian Track Cycling Championships in Izu, South Korea topped the hometown Japanese to take overall medal honors, with a tally of 17 to 14. Hong Kong, though, provided the individual star of teh competition with Cheung King Lok taking three golds - in the men's road race, road time trial, and track individual pursuit, and a silver in madison with partner Leung Chun Wing. Quite a show of prowess!

Christie and Elistratov Add to European Short Track Successes
At the conclusion of the European Short Track Speed Skating Championships In Sochi, familiar continental leaders continued success. On the women's side, Elise Christie led a British 1-2 in the overall standings with Charlotte Gilmartin in silver position. Christie's win was emphatic, as she won all races to capture her fifth overall medal since 2010 and her second-straight title. The Netherlands' Suzanne Schulting finished third. Meanwhile Russia's Semion Elistratov took his first all-around gold, after one silver and two bronze since 2012. Hungary's Sando Liu Shaolin and France's Vincent Jeanne rounded out the all-around podium in second and third, respectively.

Gerrans Wins His Fourth Tour Down Under Title
Australia's Simon Gerran won his fourth Tour Down Under in Adelaide this week, after the Orica-GreenEdge rider finished the sixth stage in 11th place to secure the victory. With the top 18 UCI-ranked teams entered in the calendar year's first top-ranked event, Gerran's win gives Orica its second title, and represents the 11th time in 18 years that an Australian has won (and sixth since 2009). Gerrans also won the sprint classification, while Sergio Henao of Colombia / Team Sky finished second.

Hungary and Serbia Take European Water Polo Titles
At the European Water Polo Championships in Serbia, Hungary took the women's title, after defeating continental rivals the Netherlands 9-7 in the final. That victory was a revenge match for the Hungarians, after losing 14-10 to the Dutch in their opening match. This was the team's third-ever title, but the first since 2001, and after four bronzes since 2006. With the win, Hungary has now qualified for the Olympic tournament as well, while the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Greece, Russia and France all move on to the final 12-team Qualification Tournament in March, where four more teams will earn Rio tickets. On the men's side, Serbia reaffirmed its power, with a third-straight gold and seventh overall, after a 10-8 victory over Montenegro in the final. Serbia having already qualified for Rio through the 2015 World League, Montenegro moves on to the Olympics as European representatives. Meanwhile, Hungary (third-place) as well as Spain, Italy, Russia, France, Romania, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia all get another chance through the Qualification Tournament. Fourth-place Greece and seventh-place Croatia are already in the filed for Rio through their finishes at the World Championships last year. Cheers to such competitiveness!

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Prevc Tops In Ski Flying Again
Fresh off his victory at the annual Four Hills tournament ending last week, Slovenia's Peter Prevc won the World Ski Flying Championship this week in Bad Mitterndorf, Austria. Prevc finished with having the longest jump in each of the competition rounds, including in the team event, but had to overcome Kenneth Gangnes of Norway in the last jump. Gangnes finsihed with the silver, and Stefan Kraft of Austria earned the bronze, after the fourth and final round was cancelled due to high winds. Norway won the team event over Germany and Austria.

North America Fills Olympic Spots
The NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournaments were held this week - and first up, the women of Team USA earned a spot at Rio with a 3-set win over regional rivals Dominican Republic in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Dominicans and third-place Puerto Ricans will move on to a final World Qualification event later in the spring for a final chance. (p.s. no Cuba even in the tournament? How they have fallen!) Next, Cuba's men defeated Canada in three sets to earn their own ticket, and securing another Olympic trip. The Canadians, who were ranked highest in the tournament, will join third-place Mexico in the World Qualifiers now.

While Argentina's Women Make Their 1st Games
At the women's South American qualifier, Argentina, ranked #12 in the world, joined the field for Rio, making their first-ever Olympic tournament with their own three-set win over Peru, long a continental power. Their home-court victory in Bariloche sent the Peruvians onto the World Qualification event along with Colombia for another try. Meanwhile, at least both Argentina and Brazil will represent the continent in Rio.

And Russia Wins in Europe for Even More Volleyball News
Rounding out this week's Olympic qualifiers, Team Russia's men join their female counterparts as victors in the European Qualifiers. The 3-1 victory in Berlin over France secured the Russians the opportunity to defend their title at the Olympics, and a string of disappointing results in the subsequent years. France and third-place Poland (the defending Wolrd Champions) now have to go through the World Qualifiers to make it to Rio. The women, meanwhile, earned their trip through their own 3-1 win, over the Netherlands. This was a rematch of the 2015 European Championship, which Russia also won. The Dutch and Italians, from third-place, move onto the World Qualifiers. The Olympic field is shaping up!

Sven Kramer Wins Eighth European All-Around Skating Title
At the European All-Around Speed Skating Championships in Minsk, Dutch star and current legend Sven Kramer won his eighth straight championship, a record, by winning the 5,000 and 10,000 meter events while finishing in the top five of the 500 and 1500. Can he break his own record by winning the World All-Around next for the eighth time as well in Berlin in March? On the women's side, Czech Martina Sabilikova won her ninth medal at the event - but first gold since 2012 - by overcoming defending champion Ireen Wust of the Netherlands, who finished second.

Australia Wins Hopman Cup
Team 'Green' of Australia - Nick Kyrgios and Daria Gavrilova - won their country's second Hopman Cup title this week, after defeating Ukraine in the final match. The Hopman, in its 28th year, features male and female players in a mixed-gender team event of singles and mixed doubles, to start off the year in Perth. The Australian's second entry, the 'Gold' team, featured star Lleyton Hewitt, and other names to participate were Serena Williams of the U.S. (retiring in 1st match), and Andy Murray for Great Britain. 

Norwegians Dominate the Tour de Ski
Martin Sundby of Norway won his third straight Tour de Ski title, after winning four of the eight stages, including the final in Val di Fiemme, Italy over the weekend. The win puts him in commanding first place in the World Cup standings as well. There was certainly a lot more drama on the women's side, with fellow Norwegians Therese Johaug and Ingvild Ostberg battling for the title entering the final stage, and with Johaug emerging victorious for her second title after 2014.

Peter Prevc Wins Four Hills Jumping
Slovenia's Peter Prevc won his first Four Hills title, after a strong last jump of the circuit in Paul Ausserleitner-Schanze, Austria this weekend. Coming from behind, Prevc launched a 142.5 meter jump to clinch the title, and cement his world number one ranking. The victory also marked the first time Austria did not win the event since 2008.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all! And thanks for reading. Here's to a great 2016, and a start to final Olympic qualifications in a big sports year.