How to Be an Olympic Athlete

Workouts shouldn't destroy you, says fitness blog

(NEWSER) - A new trend emerging among recreational athletes is extreme exercise, but this habit of overtraining is counterproductive to getting fit and healthy, writes Gina Kolata for the New York Times' Well blog . The body needs to rest—between sets, between days of exercise, etc.—a sentiment that many well-meaning amateurs don't know or acknowledge. “People think a good workout is, ‘I am in a pile of sweat and puking,’" says a UConn professor, but really it "means you went much too quickly, and your body just can’t meet its demands.” More»

The money is just an 'investment,' say officials

(NEWSER) - A boxing official made arrangements to "sell" two 2012 Olympic gold medals to the Azerbaijani team for $10 million, according to an investigation by the BBC . Millions of dollars in secret payments have already been made to international boxing organization World Series Boxing, sources say. In exchange, the head of the group promised that the Azerbaijani fighters would win two boxing gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics, according to sources. Lawyers have called the charges "preposterous and utterly untrue," even though the International Amateur Boxing Association, which runs the WSB, admits that an Azerbaijani foreign minister has paid $9 million to one of its competitions as an "investment." More»

Speed skating, hockey and Tanith Belbin makes Esquire list

(NEWSER) - If, like many, your interest in the Vancouver Games is lukewarm (kinda like the weather keeping the ski slopes snow-free), Esquire provides a list of the don’t-miss Olympic moments. Some highlights:

• Friday: Opening ceremonies. Vancouver’s spending less than half the $100 million Beijing did in 2008. Or you can rent Strange Brew.
• Saturday: See Apolo Anton Ohno go for a US-record sixth winter medal—as he and his fellow speed skaters sport the Stephen Colbert logo.

US Open tirade seems to not have influenced editors

(AP) - Playing her best at the most important events, Serena Williams re-established herself as the top player in women's tennis in 2009 and was the landslide choice as Female Athlete of the Year by members of the AP. She received 66 of 158 votes cast by editors; no other candidate got more than 18 votes in the tally. Williams also won the AP award in 2002. "I'm just happy and blessed to even be playing 7 years later," she says. "All this is a bonus, really." More»

(NEWSER) - After a "bloody battle royale," the sports staff of the New York Daily News has anointed the best sports films of all time. Among the contenders:

• Raging Bull: Robert De Niro's knockout performance as boxer Jake LaMotta makes this one of the greatest movies of any kind ever produced.
• Hoosiers: The heartwarming underdog tale loosely based on a real Indiana basketball team beats out other hoops flicks.