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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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