By Steve Keating LONDON, Ontario, March 17 (Reuters) – The figure skating world championships closed on Sunday as they almost always do with a glitzy gala, arguments and controversy. With a scoring system that is harder to understand than the theory of relativity and offers about as much transparency as a Papal conclave, figure skating […]

By Steve Keating LONDON, Ontario, March 16 (Reuters) – Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White capped a perfect season by reclaiming the ice dance title from Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir at the figure skating world championships on Saturday. While the title will change hands, it will not go far with the good friends […]

MINSK, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Experienced American Sarah Hammer and young German rider Stefan Botticher each won their second gold medal of the world cycling championships, prevailing in the women’s omnium and the men’s sprint respectively on Sunday. Hammer, who sealed her fifth world title in the individual pursuit on Wednesday, beat her main rival […]

MINSK, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Britain won two gold medals in quick succession as Simon Yates claimed his first major title in the points race and Jason Kenny took the keirin crown at the world cycling championships on Friday. The British team, who collected seven of the 10 golds on offer at last year’s London […]

Will Lin Dan of China (can you say “Lin-Danity?”) become the second “Lin” sports star of the year by living up to his billing as the greatest badminton player ever? (Photo by Liu Jin/AFP/Getty Images) By Mike Tierney, Special to Universal Sports The hoopla generated by NBA player Jeremy Lin, which became forever known as […]

It was a 12-day mini-Olympics, a stretch ending July 1 that delighted us with the overlapping U.S. trials for track and field, swimming and gymnastics. Out of these 12 days of Christmas-in-summer came the rosters for perhaps the three most high-profile sports at the Games. We were served heaping helpings of high-end performance, along with […]

Will Michael Phelps be prevented from becoming the most decorated Olympian in any sport (if he wins three medals) by his talented teammate, Ryan Lochte? (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) By Mike Tierney, Special to Universal Sports They play cards together and poke fun at each other. In the unique universe of Olympic sports, two athletes […]

Michael Phelps swims the men’s 200m butterfly final during the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Nebraska, June 28, 2012. (REUTERS/Jeff Haynes) By Julian Linden OMAHA, Nebraska, June 28 (Reuters) – After years of keeping everyone guessing, Michael Phelps has finally revealed his intentions for London, and no one should be surprised. The greatest Olympian […]

Ryan Lochte starts his men’s 200m freestyle heat during the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Nebraska, June 26, 2012. (REUTERS/Jeff Haynes) By Julian Linden OMAHA, Nebraska, June 26 (Reuters) – Ryan Lochte outswam Michael Phelps for the second day in a row to set the fastest qualifying time for the 200 meters freestyle at […]