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NEWS ABOUT: gold medalist

Olympic Marathon Champ Commits Suicide

Sammy Wanjiru jumps after wife finds him with another woman

(Newser) - Kenyan Olympic marathon gold medalist Sammy Wanjiru leaped to his death from the balcony of his apartment following a heated argument with his wife, authorities said. Wanjiru, 24, had been drinking when his wife found him with another woman in their home in Nyahururu, said police. Efforts to revive him... More »

Ex-Olympic Gold Sprinter Found Dead

Pettigrew lost gold medal after doping scandal

(Newser) - Former world champion sprinter Antonio Pettigrew has been found dead in the backseat of his car in North Carolina. Pettigrew, 42, was part of the American 4x400-meter relay squad that won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, only be be stripped of their medals after Pettigrew confessed to being part... More »

Canada's Virtue-Moir Capture Ice Dance Gold

Russians knocked out of long-standing domination on podium

(AP) - Long after the arena emptied, ice dancer Scott Moir stole back onto the ice. Clutching his gold medal, he knelt down and kissed the Olympic rings at center ice. He and partner Tessa Virtue had knocked the Russians from their traditional perch atop the ice dance podium—only the third... More »

Semenya Is a Hermaphrodite: Aussie Tab

South African track sensation has no uterus or ovaries: source

(Newser) - South African track star Caster Semenya is a hermaphrodite, the Daily Telegraph of Australia reports. The 18-year-old has no ovaries or uterus, according to the tabloid, which cites "a source closely involved" in tests ordered by the international track and field governing body after Semenya won the gold medal... More »

Experts Called In to Review Semenya's Gender Tests

South African track champ may be suffering chromosomal disorder

(Newser) - The International Association of Athletics Federations' gender testing on Caster Semenya is complete, and enough doubt remains that she is truly female that experts have been called in to examine the results, the Daily Telegraph reports. The review will determine whether the South African runner suffers from a chromosomal disorder... More »

Semenya Tests Reveal 'Triple Testosterone'

(Newser) - Pre-race World Championship blood tests on super South African runner Caster Semenya revealed testosterone levels three times typical female rates, a source tells the Telegraph. The results of the tests, carried out in South Africa, contributed to a decision by sports officials to call for "gender verification" tests on... More »

Swimmer Makes Ass of Himself

(Newser) - Champion US swimmer Ricky Berens got that sinking feeling when his high-tech suit split down the back an instant before he sailed into the water for his leg of a relay at the FINA Swimming World Championship in Rome. The result was a flash of muscly derrière transmitted on... More »

(Some) Sponsors, Celebs Support Phelps

A few celebs are also in his corner

(Newser) - Michael Phelps’ sponsors are supportive—so far—following his bong imbroglio, AP reports. Watchmaker Omega called the whole thing a “nonissue,” and Speedo reiterated that Phelps is a “valued member of the Speedo team.” Experts say Phelps better stick to the straight and narrow—he promised... More »

Phelps to Kick Off SNL Opener

Gold medal star makes comedy debut as host next month

(Newser) - Super swimmer Michael Phelps will be trying his hand at making comedy gold as host of the season premier of Saturday Night Live, E! Online reports. The 23-year-old Olympic champ will be making his acting debut when the program's 34th season kicks off September 13. The swimmer will be joined... More »

Chinese Athletes Went Through Hell for Gold

'Project 119' delivered medals at high price

(Newser) - China topped the gold medal tally at the Beijing Olympics but the road to glory was a tough one for many athletes, the Los Angeles Times reports. Judo gold medalist Xian Dongmei, the only mother in the squad, did not see her 18-month-old daughter for a year before the Games,... More »

China's Gold Rush Pays Off Nicely for Athletes

Government, corporations give athletes big bucks on top of Olympic glory

(Newser) - Decades ago, bringing glory to the motherland would have been the sole reward for victorious Chinese Olympians. The glory is still there—plenty of it, as China leads the gold medal table—but champions can now expect an average reward of $300,000 in cash and bonuses, even before corporate... More »

Phelps' Ties to Timekeeper Raise Doubts

Sponsor Omega won't release images of race No. 7 finish

(Newser) - Michael Phelps' razor-thin victory in his seventh race is raising sticky ethical questions because the Olympics' official timekeeper is also one of Phelps' sponsors, the New York Times reports. Making matters worse, the timekeeper, Omega, and swimming's governing body won't break with protocol and release underwater images of the finish.... More »

An Olympic Medal, but Then What?

Many athletes experience a vacuum when they withdraw competition

(Newser) - When Olympic careers end, many athletes endure emotional stress or cope with the comedown by turning to drugs, the New York Times reports. Few can expect the multi-million-dollar endorsement deals that await Michael Phelps, and many fail to redirect their focus. The fix, says one sports psychologist, is to identify... More »

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