Olympics: Breaking Stories and all the Latest from USA Today

Steffens embracing leadership role with water polo team
Steffens embracing leadership role as U.S. women’s water polo team prepares for Rio Olympics

Post, Crain headline US team for BMX world championships
Olympic veterans Alise Post and Brooke Crain were joined by medal hopefuls Nic Long and Corben Sharrah on the U.S. team headed for the BMX world championships in Colombia next month

Adam Scott won’t compete at Olympics in Rio
The Australian said he has a number of other commitments around that time.

Neymar to play for Brazil at Rio Olympics, not Copa America
Striker Neymar to play for Brazil in the upcoming Olympic Games and will skip the Copa America

Runner hopes London Marathon leads him to Paralympics
Donald Balcom didn’t qualify at trials but still hopes he can make U.S. team.

Switzerland opens process for 2026 Winter Olympic bid
Davos and St. Moritz want to mount another bid for the Winter Olympics, this time teaming up with Zurich for a shot at the 2026 Games

Ethiopian runners sweep men’s, women’s titles at Boston Marathon
More than 30,000 runners take the streets for 120th running of Boston Marathon.

Mayoral candidate opposes Rome’s 2024 Olympics bid
One of the leading candidates for next month’s mayoral election has come out against Rome’s bid for the 2024 Olympics

Valverde wins Fleche Wallonne for record 4th time
Alejandro Valverde of Spain became the first rider to win the Fleche Wallonne four times after a third straight title Wednesday

Rio Olympic flame will live downtown _ not in a stadium
The Olympic flame will have an unusual home for the Rio de Janeiro Games

After losing 100 pounds years ago, rower chases dream at trials
Greg Ansolabehere’s passion for rowing led him to train full time with Potomac Boat Club.

Backup flame for Rio lit in birthplace of ancient Olympics
The backup flame for this summer’s Rio Olympics has been successfully lit in the birthplace of the ancient Greek Games, in a dress rehearsal ahead of Thursday’s formal ceremony

Austrian anti-doping officials slam WADA’s meldonium policy
‘Bad signal ahead of Olympics’: Austrian anti-doping officials slam WADA’s meldonium policy

UCI president aims to boost track cycling at 2024 Olympics
International Cycling Union President Brian Cookson wants the 2024 Olympics to boost track racing’s reputation, with more medal events at a less troubled velodrome

Going for Gold: Jake Dalton eager to return from injury
Rachel Axon catches up with American men’s gymnast Jake Dalton, a four-time world medalist and hopeful for this summer’s Olympics

Going for Gold podcast: Jake Dalton eager to bounce back from injury
Rachel Axon catches up with American men’s gymnast Jake Dalton, a four-time world medalist and hopeful for this summer’s Olympics

Linden looks forward to chance at redemption
Olympic marathon runner Desi Linden joins Nancy Armour to reflect on her devastating injury in 2012 and look ahead to her opportunity this summer in Rio de Janeiro.

Runner hopes London Marathon leads him to Rio Paralympics
Donald Balcom didn’t qualify at trials but still hopes he can make U.S. team.

Shawn Johnson ties the knot
Des Moines native and Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson married NFL player Andrew East on Saturday.

Paralympic jumper Rehm places Rio hopes on scientific study
Paralympic long jump champion Markus Rehm hopes a scientific study will clear him to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics

World comes to ASU seeking time with Michael Phelps
Journalists from around the world came to ASU to talk to Michael Phelps and see what he plans to wear at Rio Olympics

Sports federations concerned about venues for Rio Games
International sports federations have been told of problems with venues for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, including power failures at the gymnastics arena this week

Romania fails to qualify full gymnastics team for Rio
Romania had won team medal at every Olympics since 1976

Oscar Pistorius to be sentenced in June for murder
The 29-year-old double amputee sprinter was found guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.

Female gymnast is 1st from India to make Olympics
Dipa Karmakar becomes 1st female gymnast from India to make the Olympics

Oscar Pistorius to be sentenced in June
Oscar Pistorius will be sentenced for the 2013 murder of Reeva Steenkamp in June.

Ethiopian runners sweep elite titles at Boston Marathon
More than 30,000 runners take the streets for 120th running of Boston Marathon.

Meldonium’s creator: Drug used to improve sexual performance
The Latvian scientist who developed meldonium says some male athletes who have taken the recently banned drug have used it in order to improve sexual performance

Boston Marathon gets underway in ideal conditions
The 120th Boston Marathon will host more than 30,000 runners

IOC: Rousseff impeachment vote won’t hurt games preparations
The IOC says the impeachment process against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff should not divert from preparations for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

120th running of Boston Marathon

U.S. women draw New Zealand, France, Colombia in Olympics
The U.S. women are seeking their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Boston Marathon runners applaud Bobbi Gibb’s historic run
Gibb made her Boston debut in 1966 before there was a women’s division.

Romania fails to qualify full team in women’s gymnastics for Rio Olympics
Romania had won team medal at every Olympics since 1976

Enrico Gasparotto posts 2nd win in Amstel Gold Race
Italian rider Enrico Gasparotto won a two-man sprint Sunday to claim a second victory in the Amstel Gold Race classic

Rally Cycling wins men’s, women’s team time trial nationals
The men’s and women’s teams from Rally Cycling captured titles on Saturday at the USA Cycling professional criterium and team time trial national championships

Michael Phelps keeps an eye on fast competition from other countries
Phelps says watching times worldwide helps U.S. team prepare for relays.

WADA revokes Moscow testing laboratory’s accreditation
The World Anti-Doping Agency has stripped accreditation from the laboratory in Moscow implicated in a state-sponsored conspiracy