Chile Defends Copa America
The final of the expanded, special Copa America Centenario tournament in the U.S. finished this weekend, with a familiar feel. As in 2015, Chile met Argentina in the final, and won in an upset in penalty kicks. Superstar Lionel Messi couldn't convert his shot in penalties, as compatriot Lucas Biglia couldn't and Chile finished with a 4-2 advantage for the victory. Chile became the nation to win at least two consecutive titles, and Argentina lost their third straight major final in a row (after 2014 World Cup, 2015 Copa). Colombia won third place over the U.S., 1-0.
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Spain Makes It Twice in Olympic Rugby
A week after the Spanish men took the last available spot in the men's Olympic rugby sevens tournament, their female counterparts took the last spot in their tournament. Finishing on top of a sixteen-team field by going unbeaten in group play and then through China and Kazakhstan, Spain then defeated Russia 19-12 for their Rio ticket. Hosts Ireland finished third.

But Host Russia One-Upped in Canoe Sprint
Host Russia couldn't take the overall medal lead at the European Canoe Sprint Championships this week in Moscow, finishing with 12 to Hungary's 14. Multiple golds for individuals went to Portugal's Fernando Pimenta in the men's K-1 1000 and K-1 5000, and Hungary's Danuta Kozak in the women's 500 for K-1, K-2, and K-4 (compatriot Gabriella Szabo teamed with her in the K-2 and K-4).

Argentina Take Seventh Champions Trophy in Hockey
The week-long, six-team Champions Trophy for women's hockey finished this weekend, with Argentina securing their record seventh title ever in the event after a 2-1 win over the Netherlands. The win sets them up for Rio well to step up from the silver medal position at London 2012, with the victory coming at the expense of the reigning world and Olympic champions and after already winning the 2015-15 Hockey World League. Rounding out the field were the United States in third place, followed by Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand.

Russia and France Dominate European Fencing
The annual European Fencing Championships took place in Torun, Poland this week, with Russia and France leading the overall medal table, with 10 and nine medals respectively. Russia, though, landed six golds to France's two, including all four team titles in foil and sabre for men and women. A total of eleven nations won at least one medal, including Estonia with one (gold, women's team epee), and Italy with six overall (including all three men's team silvers).

Women's Olympic Basketball Field Set
After a final qualifying tournament in Nantes, France, the Olympic field for women's basketball is set. Perhaps no major surprises occurred in the event, with France (defending Olympic silver-medalists), Spain, China, Turkey and Belarus took the five available spots on offer in the 12-team tournament. The last two games featured Belarus - quarterfinal losers to China - fighting back to fifth place with two relatively easy wins, dispatching Argentina and then South Korea to secure the final Rio ticket.
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Spain Upsets to Take Rio Rugby Spot
There was one last spot available in the inaugural Olympic rugby sevens tournament, and Spain stood tallest at the end of a long two days of action in Fontvieille, Monaco. Sixteen teams entered the final qualification event, and after initially finishing second in their group pool play behind Hong Kong, they overcame Ireland in the quarterfinals, Russia in the semifinals and then Samoa in the final. That last victory was a 22-19 win, with a try in the waning moments of the match. Spain now joins the 12-team field for Rio.

Australia Wins Hockey Champions
Six teams entered the biennial Champions Trophy competition concluded in London this past week, and Australia emerged victorious after a tight, shootout final in the gold-medal match. The victory over India in the final marked a strong statement for the Aussie's Rio preparations, but also signified a strength by India, perhaps finding resurgence in the sport after a long wane. Germany defeated Great Britain for third, with Belgoum and South Korea rounding out the field. All teams (minus the Koreans) will compete at the Olympics as well.

Russians Dominate Rhythmic Gymnastics Still
World Champion Yana Kudryatseva of Russia successfully defended her all-around title at the European Rhythmic Championships this week, held in Holon Israel. Reiterating an all-Russian battle for gold - and previewing Rio - she overcame a strong performance by compatriot Margarita Mamun, winning with less than .5 of a point margin. Ukrainian veteran Ganna Rizatdinova finished third. In the group competition, Russia took gold with Belarus second and host Israel third.

New Zealand Wins OFC Nations Cup
It took penalty kicks, but New Zealand won the OFC Nations Cup for the fifth time this weekend, finishing 0-0 (4-2) against host Papua New Guinea in the final. With the victory, the All-Whites qualify as the Oceanic representative in the 2017 Confederations Cup and also lead the way into the third round of continental qualifying for the '18 World Cup. The top six in this OFC Nations Cup all move onto that third round, including Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Fiji and New Caledonia. New Zealand also tie Australia for most OFC Nations titles with this fifth win. (Australia now plays within Asia)

USA Win Water Polo Super Final
For the third straight time, the United States won the Water Polo Super Final; this week's victory coming over Spain 13-9 in Shanghai. Australia defeated China for the bronze medal, with Italy, Russia, Canada and Brazil rounding out the rankings in the eight-team tournament. All the teams (except Canada) will meet again in the Olympics. Hungary, winners of the '16 European Champs, will be the eighth team there.

Rio Volleyball Field Filled
The five final teams for the men's Olympic volleyball tournament were filled, with the FIVB Olympic Qualifiers ending this weekend. In Tokyo, Poland went 6-1 to lead the eight-team field and secure the first qualification ticket. In second, Iran took the Asian continental qualifying spot, leaving France and Canada to take the final two tickets available at this tournament. The unfortunate fifth-place finisher was Australia, which had needed to defeat Poland in the final match to take over Canada and fourth-place for their place in Rio. In the Olympic qualifier in Mexico City, host Mexico took the lone Rio spot available over Chile, Tunisia and Algeria in that four-team tournament.
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European Gymnastics Champs Conclude
After the men had their turn last week, the women of European gymnastics had their championship in Bern this week, with Russia taking the overall medal win, with five. That total included the team gold, and four medals in individual apparatus finals. Aliya Mustafina was the high performer for the Russians, winning a gold (beam) and bronze (Uneven bars). Switzerland's Giulia Steingruber won two individual golds (vault and floor) to be the top individual performer overall, while Great Britain's Elissa Downie also won two medals (silvers in vault and floor).

French Open Has New Singles Champions
​The French Open concluded this weekend, with the crowning of two new champions in singles play. First, Spain's rising star Garbine Muguruza upset USA's Serena Williams for her first grand slam title (and final), in a tight two-set victory. The loss for Williams also continued her delay in tying Steffi Graf's record of 22-wins in Grand Slam finals. On the men's side, the final featured two superstars in Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Andy Murray of Great Britain who were both looking for their first French Open title. In another tight match, Djokovic won, completing his career Grand Slam and became the first man since 1969 to hold all four Slam titles at the same time. In men's doubles, Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez took the title over the USA's Bryan brothers, while Carolina Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic of France won the women's doubles over the Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vessina. Martina Hingis (Switzerland) teamed with Leander Paes (India) to defeat Sania Mirza (India) and Ivan Dodig (Croatia) for the mixed doubles championship.