Beijing Olympics

First comes emotion, then 82-game season begins

By BETH HARRIS| AP| Sports

… Bynum, the Lakers were lucky in avoiding injuries last season. Bryant and Gasol, who were coming off playing in the Beijing Olympics , and Fisher and Odom missed a combined total of six games. "We have the talent to win another one," Bryant said …

Story|10/26/2009

Texas freshman Goodwin matured while running track

By JIM VERTUNO| AP| Sports

… Brown said, "and he played lights out." Texas track coach Bubba Thornton, who led the U.S. men's team at the Beijing Olympics last year, credits Goodwin's success on the track for that ability to stay calm. Track athletes, especially in events …

Story|10/22/2009

Japan's Olympic champ Kitajima set to dive back in

Sports

… Olympic breaststroke champion Kosuke Kitajima will return to competitive swimming next month for the first time since the Beijing Olympics . The 27-year-old Kitajima has entered the 50-, 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events at a Nov. 20-23 meet …

Story|10/22/2009

Liu Zige sets 200 butterfly world record

Sports

… 03.41 set by Australia's Jessicah Schipper at the world championships in July. Liu, who won the same event at the Beijing Olympics last year for China's only swimming gold medal of the games, won Wednesday by almost 4 seconds over Jiao Liuyang, the …

Story|10/22/2009

Blazers sign Aldridge to extension

By ANNE M. PETERSON| AP| Sports

… right foot during practice in the offseason. It is not clear when he will return. After starring for Australia in the Beijing Olympics and for Saint Mary's in college, Mills was selected by the Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the NBA draft. The …

Story|10/22/2009

China's Liu Zige Sets World Record in 200-Meter Butterfly

AP| World

… 03.41 set by Australian Jessicah Schipper at this year's World Championships. Liu, who won the same event at the Beijing Olympics last year to clinch China's only swimming gold medal of the games, won Wednesday's race by almost four seconds from …

Story|10/21/2009

Kayla Williams, 16, wins gold for US at gym worlds

By NANCY ARMOUR| AP| Sports

… still rings. Romania's Marian Dragulescu won his fourth world floor title _ not bad for a guy who retired after the Beijing Olympics . "I was feeling like I can still win medals," said Dragulescu, who retired because of chronic back and neck pain …

Story|10/17/2009

Favored status: Sloan is one to beat at gym worlds

By NANCY ARMOUR| AP| Sports

… member of the U.S. team that won the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics , Sloan is the one to beat at this year's worlds. The ..... it, I tried." ___ TEST RUN: Only a year after the Beijing Olympics , the gymnasts at this week's world championships are …

Story|10/12/2009

Injury knocks all-around favorite from gym worlds

By NANCY ARMOUR| AP| Sports

… repair a tendon in his left pinky finger that he tore when he banged it during parallel bars in the team finals at the Beijing Olympics . And now this. "Things happen and, OK, this time it happens to him," Wolfgang Hambuechen said. "I'm happy it …

Story|10/12/2009

Wanjiru wins Chicago Marathon

By ANDREW SELIGMAN| AP| Sports

… the Chicago winner in 2005, placed sixth (2:28:50) in her first marathon since breaking her right foot in the Beijing Olympics . "It's very exciting," the 21-year-old Shobukhova said. "It's a great surprise for me." Nearly 35,000 …

Story|10/11/2009