Norway Wins Its Third World Handball Title
​Confirming its status as a team handball power, Norway won the 24-team World Championship tournament in Denmark, for their third-ever title (1999, 2011). The victory over a surprising Dutch team in the final also cemented Norway's status as Olympic favorites, as they look to three-peat as Games gold medalists. From these Worlds, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Denmark, Russia and France all qualified for the Olympic qualification tournaments next year to fill the Rio event. (12 teams overall to compete for six spots.)

Japan Returns to Olympic Water Polo
The last time Japan played in an Olympic water polo men's tournament was 1984, when it finished in 11th place. Their win this weekend, though, in the Asian Water Polo Championship over China in their final match guaranteed their spot as continental representatives. In finishing second and third, China and Kazakhstan now move onto next year's qualification tournaments for a last chance at Rio for themselves.

While China's Women Make it Three Straight
China has represented Asia at the Olympics the last two cycles, having finished in fifth place in 2008 and 2012. They will try it again, after their two-leg playoff win against Japan for the Asian Water Polo Championship. Japan, meanwhile, will be the lone Asian representative in the Olympic qualification tournament next year for their last Rio chance., as no other teams competed in the Asian championship. Congrats to the victors!

Nigeria Leads African Olympic Football
The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Dakar served both as the continental age group championship, as well as the African Olympic qualifiers. In the end, finalists Nigeria and Algeria, as well as third-place South Africa all earned Olympic tickets. In the title match, Nigeria defeated the Algerians 2-1 for their first tournament championship (although, this was only the second-ever held) and will enter Rio next year as African best. While they have competed at the Games six times - with gold in 1996 and bronze in 2008, they did miss 2012. On the other end of the spectrum, both Algeria and South Africa have only competed in the Olympics once before. But South Africa has not confirmed their berth acceptance this time around. Despite qualification, and as in other sports, South Africa's Olympic Committee has seen strict home qualification standards and questioned use of continental qualifiers as a means in. Will they be in Rio??

Argentina Wins World Hockey League
The host Argentines won their ​first World League title in hockey at the conclusion of the final eight-team tournament in Rosario. Defeating New Zealand 5-1 in the final, Argentina must certainly enter the Olympic Games as definitely one of the top favorites. Ranked third in the world currently, they hold now the World League title in addition to the 2014 Champions Trophy, the 2014 South American title, and a record of four straight medals in the Games, although none gold. Will 2016 be their year?

Diversity Tops Cross-Country Euros
The town of Hyeres in France hosted the European Cross-Country Championships this weekend, and while Great Britain emerged on top the medal table, with nine overall across men's, women's and juniors events, a highlight overall certainly was the diversity of titleists - six different nations won the six individual titles on offer. The men's senior title went to Turkey's Kaya Ali, while the Netherlands' Siffan Hassan won the women's. In all, 12 nations won at least one medal.

Australia Still #1 in Field Hockey
Australia won the World Hockey League title, after a two-year tournament that featured 56 teams at the start in 2014. In the final match, the Kookaburas defeated a surprising Belgium 2-1 in Raipur, India. After finishing fourth in the 2012/13 League, Australia now adds this championship to the 2014 World Cup and 2014 Commonwealth titles, and cements their current status as world #1 and favorites for the Olympic title next year. Meanwhile, host and #6 India finished a strong third over #2 Netherlands, while #7 Belgium showed strong promise with their final appearance. Jamie Dwyer added the Best Player of the Tournament trophy to Australia's collection as well.

Egypt Dominates African Shooting
The 2015 African Shooting Championships concluded in Cairo, with host Egypt taking all but six of the gold medals on offer during the competition. Dominating both the men's and women's events, the Egyptians collected 26 medals out of 54, and secured 11 continental spots in the Olympics next year across 15 events. Algeria, Tunisia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Namibia also took at least one gold at the Championships.

Katinka Hosszu Wins European Swimming
At the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Netanya, Israel this week, Hungary's Katinka Hosszu absolutely stole the show - winning seven medals overall, including six golds. That success also included one world record (100m IM) and three other championship records (100m & 200m back, 200m IM). Despite Hosszu's and Laszlo Czeh's efforts (he won three golds), Hungary couldn't finish on top the medal table with their 15 overall. That honor went to Italy and Russia, tied with 17 each. (Italy won seven gold) In all, 23 nations, from Poland and Great Britain to Ireland and Iceland, won at least one medal across the 40 events.