France is the Future of European Soccer
Just a week after the French men's U-19 team won the European Championship, the French ladies U-19 won their own European title. In a heartbreak for Spain - finalist losing team for three straight years now - the French won their fourth-ever championship at this level, in a 2-1 wet final that was delayed for two hours at halftime. Other rising powers for women's football Switzerland and the Netherlands were the semifinal round losers, with Norway, Germany, Austria and host Slovakia rounding out the tournament field.

France Wins European U-19's Again
The annual European U-19 championship finished this week in Sinsheim, Germany with France winning their third-ever title with a 4-0 victory over Italy. France had previously won in 2005 and 2010, and had won four other titles in earlier iterations of the tournament. Seven other nations participated, including Portugal (losers to France 1-3 in the semifinals), England (1-2 loss to Italy in the other semifinal), Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Croatia.

The U.S. Dominates Athletic U-20's
The World U20 Championships in athletics ended this week in Bydgoszcz, Poland with a familiar presence at the top of the overall medal table - the United States, with 21 total. That total far outclassed the field, with Ethiopia a distant second with ten and then Kenya in third with nine overall. In all 47 nations won at least one medal, including Jamaica's eight total, Qatar with three (including two gold), Barbados, British Virgin Islands, India with a gold in javelin, and Ecuador with a silver from Jhonatan Amores in the 10m walk, continuing a walk tradition for that nation.

​U.S. Wins Tenth World Softball Title
Team USA won its tenth-ever title at the World Softball Championship this week, after ​a 7-3 win over Japan in the gold medal match. Japan was the two-time defending champion, but before that, the United States had won seven straight titles dating back to 1986. Host Canada (Surrey) won the bronze medal in a tournament featuring 31 (!) nations, including Uganda, Ecuador, Austria, Ireland, and Kenya in the opening round. 

Chris Froome Wins Tour de France a Second Time
Great Britain's Chris Froome won his second-straight Tour de France, and his third-ever (his first was 2013). Coming into this year, he already had been the first Briton to win the Tour more than once; in fact, the only other British winner was Bradley Wiggins in 2012. The 103rd Tour featured 21 stages over 3,529km. Frenchman Romain Bardet finished second, just over 4minutes behind, followed by Colombian Nairo Quintana and Brit Adam Yates.

Serbia Wins Volleyball World League
Despite its 12th-place world ranking, Serbia won the World Volleyball League this weekend, with a 3-0 win over Brazil in the final match. The Serbians had previously won silver five times - including last year in Rio - and bronze three times. Hopefully, this provides some national team comfort as the team failed to qualify for the Olympic tournament, as it finished fifth in the European qualifier to not advance further. In the World League, however, Serbia defeated France, Poland, and finally Brazil (all those three will be in Rio) on the way to first place in the tournament in Krakow, Poland.

Portugal Finally Wins
Portugal struggled without a regular-time win through all of its games during the Euro 2016 until the semis, but they scored when they counted - including the title game's lone goal in the 109th minute to upset host and favorite France for the champions' title. This then became Portugal's first Euro title despite leading-team status in many editions, as well as the first victory over the French in a major tournament. And, this was despite losing star Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half to injury. France dominated the game, with 17 shots to Portugal's six, but the one shot that counted was the one goal, by substitute Eder Lopes. Congrats!

Olympic Basketball Field Set
With the conclusion of the three separate Olympic Qualifying Tournaments this week, the men's Olympic basketball tournament is finalized with the last teams earning berths. In Belgrade, host Serbia (FIBA ranked #6) easily overcame Czech Republic in the semis and then Puerto Rico in the final to take one spot. In Milan also on Saturday, Croatia (#12) needed overtime to defeat host Italy by six points to advance to Rio. And finally, in Manila, favorites France (#5) won the last berth by taking out Canada. This was the second time in a row the Canadians fell one game short of the Games.

Dutch Continue BMX Strength
​​Dutchman Niek Kimman was the 2015 world champion and the 2016 world runner-up, but it was compatriot and two-time Olympian Raymon van der Biezen taking the European title in Verona this weekend, continuing a strong showing for the Netherlands in the sport. In second was Switzerland's David Graf (third in 2015 Worlds), with Sylvain Andre of France third. On the women's side, Sarah Sailer of Germany, a former junior-level international medalist, won over Marine Lacoste of France in second and Sandra Aleksejeva of Latvia in third. France topped the overall medal table, with 

Czech Republic Tops Euro Modern Pentathlon
The European Modern Pentathlon Championships ended this week in Sofia, Bulgaria with Czech Republic taking the top spot on the overall medal table. That tally was led by men's individual winner Jan Kuff, who took the title by only one point over Hungary's Robert Kasza. Riccardo de Lucca of Italy finished third. Defending champion Arthur Lanigan-O'Keefe of Ireland only competed in the relay events. On the women's side, Lithuania's Laura Asadauskaite won her third-ever title and cemented her favorite status to retain the Olympic crown. Russian Gulnaz Gubaydullina and Turk Ilke Ozyuksel finished second and third, respectively. The Cezchs also won the women's and mixed relays, and a silver in the men's, to complete their medal total of four.

Euro Athletics Conclude
The European Athletics Championships ended this weekend in Amsterdam, with tension high as the event served as key preparation for Rio. As probably expected, Germany and Great Britain led the medal table sixteen each (and both with five gold), but Poland and Turkey served notice with twelve each. Highlights from the men's competition included Great Britain's Olympic and World champion Greg Rutherford winning the long jump, Dutchman Churandy Martina winning the 100m and then having his win in the 200m disallowed for a lane violation, Norwegian brothers Filip and Henrik Ingebristen finsihing 1-3 in the 1500, and Belgian Thomas van der Plaetsen winning the decathlon. On the women's side, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands re-confirmed her global power with a win in the 100m, and leading her team to the 4x100 title. Meanwhile, the British 4x400 set a new world lead in their win, Bulgarian veteran Ivet Lalova finished second in both shorts sprints, Turkey's Yasemin Can won both the 5000 and 10,000, and seven championship records or European leading marks were set.

Serena Finally Gets 22
The USA's Serena Williams finally got her 22nd career Grand Slam title, equaling Germany's Steffi Graf for the lead, when she won the women's title at Wimbledon. The victory came at the expense of German Angelique Kerber, the Australian Open champion in her first Wimbledon final. Williams also took home the women's doubles, with sister Venus, for their 6th joint title. On the men's side, Great Britain's Andy Murray won his second Wimbledon title, and third Grand Slam, winning in three sets over Canadian Milos Raonic. Men's doubles went to Pierre-Hugues Hubert and Nicholas Mahut of France, with mixed doubles to Henri Kotinen of France and Heather Watson of Great Britain.

Switzerland Dominates World Mountain Bike Champs
The Cross Country Mountain Bike Worlds concluded this week in Nove Mesto Na Morave, Czech Republic with a dominant performance by Team Switzerland across all senior and junior events. The Swiss finished with nine medals overall, highlighted by Nino Schurter's win in the men's elite division, for his fifth title. Czech Jaroslav Kurlavy finished second, with another five-time winner Julien Absalon of France in third. Denmark's Annika Langvad won the women's elite race, with Lea Davison of the U.S. and Emily Batty of Canada in second and third, respectively. Next up for the competitors: the Rio Games in less than 30 days.

Armenia and Malta Win FIBA's Small Country Titles
FIBA held its European Championships for Small Countries for both men and women. Armenia overcame Andorra for the title on the men's side in Ciorescu, Moldova with a 79-71 win. San Marino finished third, after their 60-53 victory over Ireland, with Moldova, Malta, Wales and Gibraltar rounding out the field. Malta had better luck on the women's side, winning the title 67-59 over Ireland. Moldova finished third in this tournament, with Andorra, host Gibraltar, and Wales rounding out the six-team field.

While the U.S. and Australia Take the U-17 Championships
FIBA also held its U-17 Worlds ending this week in Zaragoza, Spain, with familiar and new faces gracing the gold medal stands. The U.S. won the men's gold, with a 96-56 victory over Turkey for their fourth straight title. Lithuania won the bronze medal with an 81-63 win over Spain in the 16-team tournament. Finishing a day ahead of the men, Australia took a surprise gold on the women's side  by first beating the U.S. in the semifinals, for the first loss at this level for the Americans, and then defeating Italy 62-38 for the title. The U.S. did regroup for the bronze medal by defeating China 65-50.

And Venezuela Takes the South American Crown
FIBA also held the South American Championship in Caracas this week, with host Venezuela defeating Brazil 64-58 for their second title in a row and third overall. Uruguay took the bronze medal, defeating rival Argentina 87-83 in the third place match. Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina will all meet again - at full strength - at the Olympics.