Chicago Sun-Times

‘‘Blade Runner’’ Oscar Pistorius makes headlines by not winning 200 meters

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 06:14:59 -0500

A chastened Oscar Pistorius moved Monday to defuse the row that threatens to blemish the clean-cut image he forged during a protracted struggle to compete alongside able-bodied rivals. For years Pistorius was the poster boy of the Paralympics. But the era of invincibility for the so-called ‘‘Blade Runner’’ appeared to end when his bid for a third straight gold in the 200 meters was thwarted Sunday night in London by another double amputee on carbon fiber prosthesis. Alan Oliveira of Brazil came storming down the home straight to overtake the defending champion. Rather than hailing his rival, Pistorius accused Oliveira …

Oscar Pistorius: Court excerpts from bail hearing

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:50:00 -0500

PRETORIA, South Africa — The statements from Oscar Pistorius’ defense and the prosecution give conflicting accounts of what happened in the shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Feb. 14. Excerpts from the affidavit made by Pistorius, and read out in court by senior defense lawyer Barry Roux, in a bail hearing Tuesday after the athlete was charged with premeditated murder for the killing of his model girlfriend: “I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated murder, as I had no intention to kill my girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp (“Reeva”). ... I …

Olympian Oscar Pistorius charged with murder

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:54:00 -0500

PRETORIA, South Africa — Paralympic superstar Oscar Pistorius was charged Thursday with the murder of his girlfriend who was shot inside his home in South Africa, a stunning development in the life of a national hero known as the Blade Runner for his high-tech artificial legs. Reeva Steenkamp, a model who spoke out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women, was shot four times in the predawn hours in the house, in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria, police said. Hours later after undergoing police questioning, Pistorius left a police station accompanied by officers. He looked down as …

Politicians take up Olympic wrestling issue

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:28:21 -0500

When wrestling was voted out of the Summer Games beginning with 2020, it took nearly everyone by surprise. So too was the case when baseball and softball were eliminated eight years ago. But the U.S. reaction to both decisions differs, thanks in part to the greater influence of social media. On Tuesday (POUND)SaveOlympicWrestling was trending on Twitter. A tweet with that hashtag from U.S. wrestler Jordan Burroughs -- “It’s not over yet. We will keep fighting to save the sport we love. Don’t stop dreaming and don’t stop believing” â(euro) “ has been retweeted almost 6,000 times. Politicians chimed in …

X Games snowmobiler Caleb Moore dies after crash

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:38:01 -0500

DENVER — Caleb Moore, an innovative freestyle snowmobile rider who was hurt in a crash at the Winter X Games in Colorado, died Thursday morning. He was 25. Moore was being treated at a hospital in Grand Junction since the Jan. 24 crash. Family spokeswoman Chelsea Lawson confirmed his death, the first in the 18 year history of the X Games. “He lived his life to the fullest. He was an inspiration,” Lawson said. A former all-terrain vehicle racer, Moore switched over to snowmobiles as a teenager and quickly rose to the top of the sport. He won four Winter …

Shaun White already ‘X-cited’ for Sochi Olympics

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:40:00 -0500

ASPEN, Colo. — Shaun White turned in a nearly flawless performance in the superpipe at the Winter X Games on Sunday night and then quickly vowed to step up his game even more for the Sochi Olympics next winter. The best snowboarder around just isn’t satisfied. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is always looking to stay ahead of the competition, especially when the field includes up-and-comers such as Ayumu Hirano, a 14-year-old from Japan who just may be the next Shaun White. Shortly after locking up his sixth straight title at Winter X, White gushed about the teenager who finished …

Lolo Jones selected to U.S. bobsled team

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:02:00 -0500

Lolo Jones agreed to try bobsledding because she needed something to take her mind off the rigors of her Olympic track season. Three weeks later, she’s got a spot on the national team. Jones, a two-time Olympic hurdler, was one of 24 athletes selected to the U.S. bobsled team Thursday. She’s one of six women’s push athletes selected, a group that also includes Olympic sprinting gold medalist Tianna Madison. “I just came out here and kind of needed to get away from track for a bit, kind of wanted to get some motivation,” Jones told The Associated Press. “I thought …

Ben Johnson doping story told in ESPN film

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:12:40 -0500

TORONTO — Filmmaker Daniel Gordon was wrapping up a final visit to Ben Johnson’s home when he asked the disgraced sprinter one last question. “We were packing everything up, having a coffee in his house with a crew and I was just like ‘Where are all your medals?’ And he says ‘Oh, I keep them in my basement.’ And I was like ‘What here?’” Downstairs was a haphazard treasure trove of memorabilia. Scheduled to fly home the next day, the 39-year-old British director begged Johnson to let him film it. The resulting footage is some of the most memorable of …

Snowboarder Shaun White apologizes for drunken behavior after his arrest

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:18:01 -0500

BNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Olympic snowboard champion Shaun White apologized Tuesday for “unwise choices,” saying he got “carried away” after police accused him of pulling a hotel fire alarm that forced guests to evacuate. White was charged with public intoxication and vandalism and is due in court Oct. 10. The 26-year-old snowboard star said on his Facebook page he wants to apologize for “any inconvenience it caused my family, friends, business partners, the hotel and their guests. He added that he was “celebrating a happy occasion with a ton of family and friends and got carried away. I’m truly sorry for …

Olympics close with big celebration

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 09:22:24 -0500

With a little British pomp and a lot of British pop, London brought the curtain down on a glorious Olympic Games on Sunday in a spectacular, technicolor pageant of landmarks, lightshows and lots of fun.

Jordan pulls 3 squad members accused of sexual assault out of Paralympics

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:50:01 -0500

AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan has pulled three squad members accused of sexual assault in Northern Ireland out of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The Jordanian Paralympic Committee says the three will be flown home later on Thursday but that they will be returned to court in Northern Ireland on Oct. 18 for their hearing. The three men were arrested Monday northwest of Belfast where Jordan’s squad is one of several national teams training before the Paralympics, which begin Aug. 29. The men were released on bail Wednesday. The committee said in a written statement to The Associated Press on Thursday …

Video: Prince Harry swims against Ryan Lochte at Vegas party

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:36:00 -0500

Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Ryan Lochte takes on Prince Harry in the breastroke at a late night party at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.

Michael Phelps may pay in gold for Louis Vuitton photos

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:50:00 -0500

All-time Olympic medal winner Michael Phelps could be in hot water for a photo shoot he did with Luis Vuitton during the Games. The IOC prohibits athletes from promoting any non-Olympic sponsors from July 18 to Aug. 15. Phelps’ ad campaign for Vuitton was set to launch on Aug. 16, but a few of the photos leaked early. This would seem to be a minor infraction, but penalties can include fines and being stripped of medals. …

Belarus shot putter stripped of Olympic gold

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:04:00 -0500

LONDON — Shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus became the first athlete to be stripped of a medal at the London Olympics after her gold was withdrawn Monday for doping. Valerie Adams of New Zealand was awarded the gold and Evgeniia Kolodko of Russia was bumped up to silver. Fourth-place finisher Gong Lijiao of China was moved up to bronze. The International Olympic Committee said Ostapchuk tested positive for the steroid metenolone. She won the shot put exactly a week earlier. The IOC said she was tested the day before her competition and again following the event. Both samples were …

Chicago ought to give the Olympics a chance

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 06:13:43 -0500

RICK MORRISSEY: London Pride is a beer, but it’s also a fact. Finding the strain of fervor that was on display here for the last 17 days might involve visiting a country with an official state news agency, ideological slogans and soldiers parading in lockstep.

Team USA tops Spain for men’s basketball gold

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 06:13:52 -0500

RICK TELANDER: You can’t blame the United States for winning the gold medal in men’s basketball. It was basically a given it would happen with this team, which includes Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony.