European Aquatics Champs End
The European Swimming Championships ended in London this weekend, with the host British showing a strong effort to lead the medal table with 33 medals, including 10 golds. That total also included the lead in swimming with 22 medals - in which they won all three medley relays (men's, women's, mixed). And that followed their medal-win for diving at the start of the Championships, marking them an overall threat for Rio. Coming in a close second was Italy with 32 overall, and then Hungary and Ukraine with 20 each. A total of 25 nations won at least one medal, including Israel (2), Portugal (1) and Iceland (3!, all by Hrafnhildur Lúthersdóttir in women's breaststroke events). In addition, a total of 21 championship records were set, with one also a European mark, by Italian Gregorgio Paltrinieri in the men's 1500m free.
The European Swimming Championships ended in London this weekend, with the host British showing a strong effort to lead the medal table with 33 medals, including 10 golds. That total also included the lead in swimming with 22 medals - in which they won all three medley relays (men's, women's, mixed). And that followed their medal-win for diving at the start of the Championships, marking them an overall threat for Rio. Coming in a close second was Italy with 32 overall, and then Hungary and Ukraine with 20 each. A total of 25 nations won at least one medal, including Israel (2), Portugal (1) and Iceland (3!, all by Hrafnhildur Lúthersdóttir in women's breaststroke events). In addition, a total of 21 championship records were set, with one also a European mark, by Italian Gregorgio Paltrinieri in the men's 1500m free.
Canada Wins Ice Hockey Worlds
The World Ice Hockey Championship ended in Moscow with a familiar winner - Canada, with its 26th overall title in the 80 years of the championship event. The defending champions lost to Finland in group play for their only loss, before avenging against the Finns in the gold medal final for a 2-0 win. Russia defeated the United States in the bronze medal game, 7-2. Hungary and Kazakhstan, after joining this elite level this year, are relegated again to Division I after finishing in the bottom two of the 16 teams. Next year, Slovenia and Italy will move up in their place.
UEFA U-17 wins for Germany and Portugal
European soccer crowned its newest champions in U-17 competition for both men and women this week. First up, Germany won the women's tournament in Belarus for the fifth time (out of nine tournaments). Runners-up were Spain in penalties, with England taking third over Norway. The top three will compete as European representatives in the 2017 U-17 World Cup. On the men's side in Azerbaijan, Portugal also won another title, its 6th in this tournament out of 15. Spain, again, were the runners-up, with Germany and the Netherlands the other semifinalists.
The World Ice Hockey Championship ended in Moscow with a familiar winner - Canada, with its 26th overall title in the 80 years of the championship event. The defending champions lost to Finland in group play for their only loss, before avenging against the Finns in the gold medal final for a 2-0 win. Russia defeated the United States in the bronze medal game, 7-2. Hungary and Kazakhstan, after joining this elite level this year, are relegated again to Division I after finishing in the bottom two of the 16 teams. Next year, Slovenia and Italy will move up in their place.
UEFA U-17 wins for Germany and Portugal
European soccer crowned its newest champions in U-17 competition for both men and women this week. First up, Germany won the women's tournament in Belarus for the fifth time (out of nine tournaments). Runners-up were Spain in penalties, with England taking third over Norway. The top three will compete as European representatives in the 2017 U-17 World Cup. On the men's side in Azerbaijan, Portugal also won another title, its 6th in this tournament out of 15. Spain, again, were the runners-up, with Germany and the Netherlands the other semifinalists.
Denmark Makes History in Badminton
The Thomas & Uber Cup for badminton was held in Kunshan, China and a slight surprise as second-seed Denmark won the men's team title (Thomas Cup). Although long a top badminton power, Denmark hadn't won the title before despite a finalist for eight previous editions since 1949 - nor had any other European team for that matter. The Danes won 3-2 over Indonesia on the strength of their singles players, including 2015 world bronze medalist Jan O Jorgensen. On the women's side, defending champion, top seed, and host China won the Uber Cup as expected, with a 3-1 victory over third-seed South Korea in the final. This was China's 14th title.
Women's Volleyball Rio Field Set
FIVB finished its final Olympic Qualifying Tournaments this week, with five teams earning trips to Rio. In the first tournament, Italy, the Netherlands, and South Korea secured the top three spots of qualifying in the eight-team tournament. Japan, actually finishing just ahead of the Koreans in third place, are the official Asian representatives for the Games, as the tournament doubled as their continental qualifier. In the second qualifier, Puerto Rico topped the four-team field to secure their first-ever trip to an Olympics. The 15th-ranked nation will join the 12-team field in Rio after going 3-0 against Colombia, Kenya and Algeria.
The Thomas & Uber Cup for badminton was held in Kunshan, China and a slight surprise as second-seed Denmark won the men's team title (Thomas Cup). Although long a top badminton power, Denmark hadn't won the title before despite a finalist for eight previous editions since 1949 - nor had any other European team for that matter. The Danes won 3-2 over Indonesia on the strength of their singles players, including 2015 world bronze medalist Jan O Jorgensen. On the women's side, defending champion, top seed, and host China won the Uber Cup as expected, with a 3-1 victory over third-seed South Korea in the final. This was China's 14th title.
Women's Volleyball Rio Field Set
FIVB finished its final Olympic Qualifying Tournaments this week, with five teams earning trips to Rio. In the first tournament, Italy, the Netherlands, and South Korea secured the top three spots of qualifying in the eight-team tournament. Japan, actually finishing just ahead of the Koreans in third place, are the official Asian representatives for the Games, as the tournament doubled as their continental qualifier. In the second qualifier, Puerto Rico topped the four-team field to secure their first-ever trip to an Olympics. The 15th-ranked nation will join the 12-team field in Rio after going 3-0 against Colombia, Kenya and Algeria.
RSS Feed