When Fabrice Lapierre is hot, he is hot; when he is not, well…
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On the women’s side, the Netherlands have captured seven world titles and been to every Olympic Games since 1984, winning three gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
China have been in something of a transitional phase in recent years, but the current group is really starting to make some serious headway in their bid to restore the team to the performance levels achieved in 2008, when they claimed the silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games.
While the athletes at the Olympics are concerned with winning them, us economically curious people are actually wondering; “how much is a gold medal worth”?
After retiring and then un-retiring, Michael Phelps will be at the Summer Olympics next month in Rio as the first USA male swimmer to compete in five Olympics.
Her team-mate and best friend Jade Jones may get closer attention but Walkden is the reigning world taekwondo champion in the women’s +73kg division and will head into the Games on the back of a long unbeaten streak. She broke through in Athens with the first of her back-to-back Olympic titles. It’s no understatement to say that for these high-performing athletes, the chance to compete for an Olympic medal on this world stage is an opportunity second to none.
Cate Campbell set a 100m freestyle world record in July, while sister Bronte is world champion, but both face a challenge from Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom. Massialas, who also competed at the 2012 Olympics, took his senior year off at Stanford to train for Rio, earning a silver medal at the 2015 World Fencing Championships. She is the world-record holder and huge favorite in both the 400- and 800-meter freestyle, and could bring home another gold in the 200 free.
Every four years, the Olympics celebrate athletes from around the world.
Spain, runners-up at the last two Olympics, are expected to dominate Group B play and perhaps represent the toughest challenger for the United States, a team they have pushed on several occasions.
The Kookaburras, who recently beat India in a penalty shootout in the Champions Trophy final, only managed a bronze four years ago in London despite being overwhelming favourites.
The 2016 Rio Olympics is right around the corner and, believe it or not, there’s a lot more on offer than just track and field. He responded to the Australian criticism by saying the Village is “more beautiful” than Sydney’s for the 2000 Games and that he was about to put “a kangaroo jumping outside” to “make them feel at home”. So why should we stop sending the best basketball talent in the world?
Dane Bird-Smith’s rapid improvement in the 20km walk has given hope a medal in Rio will not be out of the question for the laidback Queenslander.
Germany, who triumphed in Beijing and London, are ranked third in the world.
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Team GB have called up a plumber to stay with them at the Olympic Village amid fears over the condition of their accommodation.
