Madison Kocian receives highest individual uneven bar score
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Madison put off entering college for a year in order to compete in Rio. That decision paid off today.
Madison Kocian, an incoming UCLA freshman who will join the Bruin Womens Gymnastics team in the Fall, became the first UCLA student-athlete to win a medal at the Olympics in Rio.
While she graduated from high school in 2015, Madison put off starting college until this Fall, presumably so she could train and compete in Rio.
Today, that decision paid off in a big way as Kocian is a part of the US womens gymnastics team which captured the gold.
The US Olympic Committee twitter account tweeted their congratulations.
According to a report on CBSNews.com, these were the team scores for the three teams which won medals in the competition:
1. United States (Simone Biles; Lauren Hernandez; Alexandra Raisman; Gabrielle Douglas; Madison Kocian), 184.897.
2. Russia (Angelina Melnikova; Maria Paseka; Seda Tutkhalian; Aliya Mustafina; Daria Spiridonova), 176.688.
3. China (Yilin Fan; Chunsong Shang; Yan w**g; Yi Mao; Jiaxin Tan), 176.003.
If you want to watch Madison and her teammates win the gold, NBC will be airing the competition on tape-delay in primetime tonight.
Congratulations, Madison! Way to bring home the gold! And, of course, go Bruins!
Texas Rangers slugger Prince Fielder will have to quit playing baseball after his second neck surgery.
A person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that Fielder isn"t formally retiring, but that doctors won"t give the six-time All-Star medical clearance to play again. That person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because there was no official announcement from the Rangers or Fielder about his future.
The Rangers said only that Fielder would hold media availability Wednesday when the team returns home after an eight-game trip. Texas won at Colorado 7-5 on Tuesday.
Fielder, who is signed through 2020, had a cervical fusion on July 29 to repair a herniation between two disks in his neck. That was done just above the area where the 32-year-old Fielder had the same procedure in May 2014, only 26 months earlier.
He will finish his 12 MLB seasons with 319 career homers, the same number that his father Cecil Fielder had in 13 seasons but fewer games.
Before surgery in 2014, Prince Fielder had MLB"s longest active streak of 547 consecutive games played. He played in 809 of 810 possible games from 2009-13 with Milwaukee and Detroit, after playing at least 157 games each of the three seasons before that.
The Rangers acquired Fielder from Detroit in November 2013 for second baseman Ian Kinsler.
Fielder hit .247 with three homers and 16 RBIs over 42 games in 2014 before the first surgery. He came back to play 158 games in 2015, when he hit .305 with 23 homers and 98 RBIs but slowed late in the season. The stout first baseman and designated hitter will finish this season at a career-low .212 with eight homers and 44 RBIs in 89 games.
Fielder was only two years into a $214 million, nine-year contract when he got to Texas. His annual salary is $24 million each of the next four seasons, of which $6 million is due from the Tigers as part of the 2013 trade and the remaining $18 million from the Rangers, though half of their liability is expected to be covered by insurance.
Over 1,611 major league games with the Brewers (2005-11), Tigers (2012-13) and Rangers (2014-16), Fielder hit .283 with 1,028 RBIs. The only other father-son duo with more than 300 homers each is Bobby and Barry Bonds. Cecil Fielder got his 319 homers in 1,470 games over 13 seasons with five teams.
A young Hollywood actor has now experienced the harshness of celebrity life. The past few weeks have clouded Jaden Smith dead hoax all over the Internet. The18-year old has fallen victim to a second death hoax.
The young star has made his way to the Hollywood scene in 2006, after starring in theThe Pursuit of Happyness with his father, Will Smith.Four years later, Jaden was casted inhis firstlead role for the Karate Kid reboot, where he was paired with Jackie Chan.Through the years, Jaden has evolved to a budding style icon. Additionally, thelikes of GQ haverecognizedthe actor/model as one of the most style-forward teens.
Read Also:Jaden Smith Dead: Facebook & Will Smith Team Up To Slam Rumors?
In 2011, a year after the Karate Kidwas released, a deceitful Jaden Smith deadhoax started. The false report mentioned that the actor/model passed away after a snowboardingaccidentin Switzerland. The report was immediately debunked by the camp of Will Smith, stating the report as adeceitfulattempt to ruin a young stars career.
Five year later, the young actor has now fallen victim to another death hoax. This years Jaden Smith dead hoax reports that the teen allegedly committed suicide after his 18th birthday. Angered fans defended their idol by claiming that the report was reckless and hurtful.
On August 8, Jadens representatives officially issued that the actor is not dead. They also proceeded in stating that Jaden again joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by similar hoaxes.
By all accounts, the actor/modelis alive and well. Heand he is very busy with his career. Just last month, Jaden was on tour with his good friendJustin Bieber. The young actor also guested on The Tonight Show StarringJimmy Fallon.In this guesting, Jaden talked about his upcoming role in the Get Down, Netflixs latest original series.
Read Also:Jaden Smith Dead: Alive And Promotes Netflix Show Amid Girlfriend Cheating Scandal
For comments and suggestions, leave a message in the comments section below. Like and Follow our Facebook page for more stories and to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings.
Resentencing hearing for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich
CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on the resentencing of ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (all times local):
2 p.m.
A lawyer for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says now that a judge has declined to lighten Blagojevich"s 14-year prison sentence, he may again appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Defense attorney Leonard Goodman said Tuesday the decision of whether to appeal will be up to Blagojevich, adding "I don"t see why he wouldn"t."
The high court refused to consider Blagojevich"s corruption conviction earlier this year. At the time, one argument prosecutors made against the appeal being heard was that resentencing and other legal steps needed to play out.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel refused Tuesday to lessen Blagojevich"s sentence after an appeals court threw out some of the counts he was convicted of in 2011.
Blagojevich, who is being held in a prison near Denver, appeared at the hearing via video.
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1:10 p.m.
Former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich says she finds a federal judge"s decision to uphold her husband"s 14-year sentence "unusually cruel and heartless and unfair."
Patti Blagojevich spoke to reporters at Chicago federal court Tuesday afternoon after the judge"s resentencing of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption counts. Patti Blagojevich said she"s "dumbfounded and flabbergasted" at U.S. District Judge James Zagel"s "unwillingness to bestow even the smallest amount of leniency or mercy or kindness."
Blagojevich"s attorneys requested a five-year sentence.
She went on to praise the couple"s daughters, 20-year-old Amy and 13-year-old Annie, for making statements in court in support of their father. Patti Blagojevich said though that despite what their daughters said "the judge clearly made up his mind before it even started."
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12:35 p.m.
Rod Blagojevich"s brother Robert Blagojevich says the former Illinois governor "deserves a break."
Robert Blagojevich spoke to reporters Tuesday afternoon outside Chicago federal court after a judge denied Rod Blagojevich"s request for a lighter sentence in his corruption case. An appeals court ordered the resentencing after dropping five of the 18 counts.
Robert Blagojevich said his brother "admitted culpability and responsibility. How much can you squeeze out of a turnip? I don"t know."
Both brothers were once indicted in the federal investigation. Jurors deadlocked on charges against Robert Blagojevich, a businessman. Robert Blagojevich called it "grossly unfair" when Rod Blagojevich was initially given the 14-year sentence in 2011.
Robert Blagojevich went on to write a book about the case called "Fundraiser A."
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12:15 p.m.
A federal judge who was ordered to resentence Rod Blagojevich has decided to keep the former Illinois governor"s original 14-year term on corruption counts.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel on Tuesday ignored pleas for leniency from Blagojevich"s wife and daughters in making the ruling. Blagojevich"s attorneys had asked for a 5-year reduced term after a federal appeals court. In making his decision Zagel said "these are serious crimes that had an impact on the people of Illinois."
The judge also said it"s "an unfortunate reality" that Blagojevich"s innocent family members are made to suffer the consequences.
Blagojevich appeared at the sentencing via live video from prison. He looked down briefly when the judge announce his decision but otherwise stared ahead and held a straight face.
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12:15 p.m.
A federal judge has upheld former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich"s 14-year prison sentence on corruption charges.
The Democrat appeared via a video link Tuesday from his Colorado prison for a resentencing hearing in Chicago. It was the 59-year-old"s first public appearance since he entered prison in 2012.
Blagojevich was originally sentenced in 2011, following his conviction for trying to exchange an appointment to President Barack Obama"s old U.S. Senate seat for campaign cash. An appeals court later struck down five of his 18 convictions and ordered he be resentenced.
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11:55 a.m.
Prosecutors have told a federal judge that the dismissal of five counts against Rod Blagojevich in no way diminishes the seriousness of his offenses.
Representatives from the U.S. attorney"s office spoke Tuesday morning at the former Illinois governor"s resentencing hearing. They said Blagojevich"s 14-year sentence shouldn"t be reduced despite an appeals court resentencing order.
Prosecutors say Blagojevich hasn"t done anything crucial to rehabilitation since he"s been incarcerated in 2012. They said he has repeatedly expressed regret for his mistakes but never acknowledged criminal conduct or admitted to doing something illegal.
Prosecutors said Blagojevich"s corruption in the Illinois governor"s office further eroded the public"s trust. They said the people of Illinois deserve better and Blagojevich deserves his original sentence.
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11:45 a.m.
Rod Blagojevich says he blames himself for the position his family is in and is working to make amends.
During a resentencing hearing Tuesday morning, Blagojevich also told a federal judge via live video feed that being in prison since 2012 has taught him humility and given him more compassion for people and the difficulties they face. He said it"s brought him closer to G*d.
The former Illinois governor thanked the judge for the chance to have his 14-year sentence reconsidered. He ended his statements saying he is a different person now and thinks he"s "become someone who has learned a lot from the mistakes I have made."
Blagojevich"s attorneys have asked U.S. District Judge James Zagel to give him a five-year sentence in his corruption case.
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11:30 a.m.
Rod Blagojevich said at his resentencing hearing that he regrets "mistakes and misjudgments" he"s made in the past.
Blagojevich told a Chicago federal court Tuesday morning via a live video feed from a Colorado prison that he realizes it was a mistake to have lashed out in public when he was unhappy with how past his legal proceeding were going. He spoke calmly.
The former Illinois governor said being a good father has kept him going during his 14-year prison term. His defense attorneys have asked the federal judge to lower it to five years given five of his 18 convictions were struck down.
Blagojevich said he has come to recognize that he brought what happened to him on himself. He highlighted his work with fellow inmates.
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11:15 a.m.
Rod Blagojevich started crying and wiping his eyes when his daughters took the stand at his resentencing hearing.
Blagojevich"s younger daughter, 13-year-old Annie, told the judge Tuesday morning that she almost doesn"t want to grow up because she wants to wait for her father to come home from prison. The former Illinois governor has been incarcerated since 2012 on corruption convictions.
Annie said she speaks to her father on the phone every night.
Twenty-year-old Amy Blagojevich told the court it"s been difficult to remain close with her father. She said it"s hard to talk with him about private things because strangers are always listening. She said "my dad used to be my best friend" and "he"s never give up on us and we will never give up on him."
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11:05 a.m.
A defense attorney describes Rod Blagojevich as "a different man" who has made "extraordinary efforts to redeem himself" since he was incarcerated for corruption.
Attorney Leonard C. Goodman said during Blagojevich"s Tuesday morning resentencing hearing that the former Illinois governor is making the effort "to make his family proud again." Blagojevich"s wife Patti and daughters Amy and Anne were in court Tuesday. Blagojevich appeared via a video feed from prison.
Goodman told a federal judge who is to resentence Blagojevich that "the arrogance and anger are no longer present in this man" and he"s "been a model inmate." Another Blagojevich attorney read court letters of support from Blagojevich"s fellow inmates.
An appeals court ordered Blagojevich to be resentenced after striking down five of his 18 convictions.
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10:50 a.m.
Rod Blagojevich"s defense attorney says the former Illinois governor"s corruption case is "no longer about selling his office for personal gain."
Attorney Leonard C. Goodman told a federal judge Tuesday morning that the case the judge will resentence Blagojevich for is "significantly different." Goodman told U.S. District Judge James Zagel that counts involved with Blagojevich trying to get a job in President Barack Obama"s Cabinet have been thrown out and the counts remaining deal with Blagojevich trying to earn campaign money.
Blagojevich"s attorneys have asked the judge for a five-year sentence. Prosecutors say Blagojevich"s 14-year sentence should stand. An appeals court ordered a resentencing after striking down five of his 18 convictions.
Blagojevich is appearing at the sentencing via a video feed from prison. He stood when the court asked for all to rise.
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10:30 a.m.
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has white hair and is wearing prison-issued clothing in a video feed from prison at his resentencing hearing.
The glimpse of Blagojevich Tuesday morning is the first official look at the convicted politician since he was incarcerated in 2012. The resentencing hearing was scheduled after an appeals court struck down five of his 18 convictions.
Blagojevich still has his same full head of thick hair, but it has turned white because hair dyes aren"t allowed in prison. He looks thinner and was wearing dark clothing, sitting on a chair facing the camera.
Blagojevich"s defense has asked for his sentence to be reduced to five years. Prosecutors have asked the judge to leave it the same, saying he doesn"t deserve leniency.
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10:25 a.m.
Rod Blagojevich"s wife and two daughters have arrived at Chicago federal court ahead of the former Illinois governor"s resentencing hearing.
Patti Blagojevich and daughters Amy and Anne arrived Tuesday morning at the downtown courthouse. Blagojevich has been separated from his family since he was incarcerated in 2012. Patti Blagojevich pleaded with a federal judge in court documents filed Monday, asking U.S. District Judge James Zagel for leniency on behalf of her husband.
The resentencing hearing was scheduled for Tuesday after an appeals court struck down five of his 18 convictions. The 59-year-old Democrat will appear at the hearing via a video link. The defense has asked for a 5-year term. Prosecutors want the judge to impose the same term.
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9:05 a.m.
The wife of Rod Blagojevich is asking a federal judge for leniency ahead of a ruling on whether to reduce the 14-year prison term of the former Illinois governor.
In a letter to U.S. District Judge James Zagel contained in court documents filed Monday, Patti Blagojevich wrote she is "pleading, indeed begging" that her husband be freed.
Blagojevich also recounted the milestones her husband has missed with their two daughters since being incarcerated in 2012.
A resentencing hearing is scheduled Tuesday in Chicago federal court after an appeals court struck down five of his 18 convictions. The 59-year-old Democrat will appear at the hearing via a video link.
Zagel also received a letter from Blagojevich"s father-in-law, former Chicago Alderman Richard Mell.
Prosecutors want Zagel to impose the same term, saying Blagojevich doesn"t deserve leniency.
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8:55 a.m.
Rod Blagojevich"s Jailhouse Rockers may have disbanded but their memory lives on in the ex-Illinois governor"s resentencing case.
A federal judge will decide Tuesday whether to cut Blagojevich"s 14-year prison sentence on 13 of 18 convictions upheld by an appellate court, including that he sought to exchange an appointment to President Barack Obama"s old U.S. Senate seat for campaign cash.
The defense has asked for a five-year term, citing the dropped counts and Blagojevich"s exemplary prison behavior. They even pointed to how Blagojevich, an Elvis Presley fan, formed a prison band called "The Jailhouse Rockers." The group had a 21-song play list, and Blagojevich was the lead singer.
It dissolved after the lead guitarist was released.
Blagojevich went to prison in 2012.
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1:15 a.m.
A federal judge is set to decide whether to cut the 14-year prison term given to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich after an appellate court threw out several of his corruption convictions.
A resentencing hearing is scheduled Tuesday in Chicago federal court. The 59-year-old Democrat will appear on a courtroom screen at the hearing in Chicago via a video link from his Colorado prison It will be his first public appearance since he entered prison in 2012.
Blagojevich was originally sentenced in 2011, following his conviction for trying to exchange an appointment to President Barack Obama"s old U.S. Senate seat for campaign cash.
An appeals court ordered a resentencing after striking down five of his 18 convictions.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Gymnast Ellie Downie Cracks Neck During Routine at Rio Olympics 2016
Sisters Becky and Ellie Downie giggle when I ask if they are best friends and a couple of seconds later decide that yes, they probably are, before bursting into a fit of laughter.
It sounds so cheesy but we do everything together, says Becky, the elder by seven years. We train together, compete together, share make-up and clothes.
"If were getting ready to go out together its like, Can I borrow this? Can I borrow that? Ellies got a bit more quirky clothes but shell steal pieces of mine and Ill steal hers.
Becky (left) and Ellie Downie have high hopes for Great Britain"s gymnastics team at Rio
The seven years between them is almost a lifetime in gymnastic terms and at 24 Becky has been competing at the top level for a decade since making her senior debut as a precocious 14-year-old at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Ellie is just 17 and Rio will be her first Olympics. But to the untrained eye they look like twins leaping and tumbling around their Nottingham gymnasium in unison.
We look alike but our body shapes are actually quite different, says Ellie, who at 8st 5lb and 5ft 1in is slightly taller than her older sister.
When I was little I was more similar to Becky but as Ive grown Ive become more of a power gymnast than she is. Shes more elegant, with more technique. Ive got a lot more muscle so when were in the gym we do different conditioning programmes, I dont do as much strength because I have it naturally.
This means the sisters rarely go head to head, with Becky specialising in the most technically taxing disciplines of uneven bars and beam, while Ellie is best on the vault and floor.
Although they compete for the same places on the British team, the three individual medals they won between them at the European Championships this year, including bars gold for Becky, helped ensure them a seat on the plane to Brazil.
The pair of them are best friends and like to laugh but are ultimately serious about competing
They will be part of the best gymnastics team Britain has ever sent to an Olympics.
Ellie became the first British woman to win an individual all-around European Championships medal when she claimed bronze in 2015, and she helped the women win their first team bronze medal at the World Championships last year ahead of the Russians, while the men clinched an equally unexpected silver to follow up their team bronze at London 2012.
With Max Whitlock becoming the first British man to win an individual World Championships gold medal, it seemed to herald a bright new era in British gymnastics. Becky, the only one on the womens team with Olympic experience, has seen the sport transform and witnessed the British team evolve into genuine medal contenders.
Beth Tweddle was always our biggest medal hope as an individual, says Becky. When she won bronze at London it became a case of, How can we win that medal as a team?
After 2012 there was a big push, we just came together as a team a bit more. A massive aspect of team success is everyones got to want everyone to do well and we genuinely do.
There have been hiccups along the way, notably when British Gymnastics experimented with team-building techniques.
We all hate it, says Becky. They set up film night and the projector didnt work, it went a bit wrong. Its just very natural with us girls. Im third cycle and most are aiming for their first Olympics but because Ellie is in there Ive got to know all the younger ones through her.
Wed happily go to each others cities, go shopping for the day and arrange group nights out for the older ones. Our old team wasnt like that, itd be one or two who were close and the others would just do their own thing. Now were a proper team. Ive had the most fun Ive ever had in my gymnastics career the last few years.
Born in Nottingham, both sisters attended Rushcliffe school, adjacent to the gymnasium they train in. Becky, one of five siblings, began gymnastics after seeing a school friend doing flips and tricks in the playground.
Ellie would be in the car when their mother Helen dropped Becky off for class. My mum put me in pre-school classes, says Ellie. At first I would stand at the door crying but she encouraged me to go back in.
HOW TO EAT LIKE A CHAMPION
If you want to be a champion, you have to eat like a champion especially if, like Becky Downie, you have a weakness for chocolate.
In this sport, body composition and weight is really important, Becky says. Not necessarily for our looks but because we have to do so many repetitions and impacts. Extra pounds means extra pounds of impact on joints.
Breakfast: Scrambled egg whites or omelette with veg and fish.
Lunch: Salad, sometimes with prawns, quinoa, sweet potato, rice and n***d or Primal bars.
Mid-afternoon: Protein yoghurt or shake.
Dinner: Lean fish or meat with vegetables such as butternut squash. Pasta alternatives like carrot or courgette spaghetti.
Luxuries: Chocolate.
Although Becky rose to the top of the British gymnastics scene quickly, competing at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, injury intervened and she went eight years without winning a senior medal. Missing London 2012 after suffering a ruptured achilles took a heavy toll and she considered quitting the sport. But she is determined to help Ellie learn from her experiences.
I feel like I made a lot of mistakes in my career, says Becky. Because British Gymnastics was not as established as it is now I feel like I did a lot of things along the way that led to an injury which couldve been prevented. Ive kind of been the guinea pig and Ive tried to help Ellie not make the same errors. Its my second chance too, to pass on all that experience and see what she can do with it.
The nerves of watching a team-mate compete are amplified when that person is a family member. At the World Championships in Glasgow last year Ellie made an error on the bars in the team final.
When she did a mistake early on my heart sank because I knew how she would be feeling and two minutes later I had to go out and compete myself, says Becky.
I just had to shut out everything I was feeling emotionally. Thats probably been the hardest thing about watching her so far. Youre not falling for yourself, if you have a mistake the whole team suffers.
Their parents could not afford to travel out to Beijing to watch Becky at the Olympics in 2008 but will be in Rio. All competitors get a certain number of tickets for friends and family, says Becky. But as theres two of us we get double so thats a bit of a bonus.
One of the many advantages of going to the Olympics with your sister.
It was an Olympics gymnasticsroutine thatany armchair athlete could have performed with precision.
In bizarre scenes inthe men"s gymnastics team final in Rio de Janeiroon Monday night, Ukrainian Maksym Semiankivwalked up to the high bar, jumped up,grabbed it, then immediately dropped back to the floor.
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Rio 2016: death-defying gymnastics
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Olympic torch hits downtown Rio
Rio 2016: death-defying gymnastics
Some want the Produnova vault banned, fearing broken legs and spines, but India"s first female gymnast to qualify for the Olympics is hoping it"s her golden ticket.
The elite athlete, performing at the pinnacle of his sport on the world stage,then bowed to the judges and walked off.
So fast was his "routine" that his name was still flashed up on television screens to introduce him when the 24-year-oldwalked away, leaving commentators and fans alike baffled.
Ukrainian gymnast Maksym Semiankiv, pictured here in 2015, left fans baffled in Rio.Photo: Getty
"That was strange. I"mnot sure what just happened," NBC"s gymnastics commentator said.
It was only the start.
Onto the parallel bars, andSemiankiv did it again:Jump up, touch the bars, drop down, walk away.
Ukraine had qualified seventh out of eight teams ahead ofthe final, in which each country selects three gymnasts from their five-men squads to compete on each of six apparatus.
Ukraine, however, had only two gymnasts competing in three of the six apparatus.
Amid the confusion, conspiracy theories about what had happenedimmediately started spreading online.
Was this some kind of political protest? Was the Ukrainedeliberately tanking,hoping to keep their gymnasts fresh for the individual finals?Was the team airing their grievances four years after the London Games, whenUkraine was denied a bronze medal in the men"s team finalafter Japan appealed a score on pommel horse that was ultimately changed?
NBC gymnastics analyst Andy Thornton tweeted that the move was a planned strategy by Ukraine.
"Just before the start, he had problems with his hand," Hryko said. "Even at the qualification, he was still able to work fine, but now before the start he couldn"t even support himself with his hand."
Ukraine"s Oleg Verniaievalsosaidon Instagram that a member of the team had to go to a hospital, but provided little other explanation.
"I would like to personally apologize for the situation in today"s team final competition. There was unpredictable circumstances. We found out that we won"t be competing as a full team 15 minutes prior to start of the competition when one of our team members came back from the hospital. At that point we weren"t able to change our line up.
"I would like to personally apologize in front of Switzerland team as well. I"m sure they were disappointed to see this situation tonight."
However, the international gymnastics federation told the Wall Street Journal that it was Ukraine"s choice -not the federation"s rules -to skip parts of the men"s gymnastics team final.
The Ukrainian team would have been allowed to shuffle their line-up due to an injury simply by filling out a form and speaking to medical staff, the federation said. If they had withdrawn, the Swiss team - ranked ninth after the preliminaries - would have competed in their place.
Swiss fans were furious that Ukraine simply threw in the towel.
One tweeted: "I am so mad at Ukraine and so gutted for Switzerland right now."
Amid the confusion, there were comparisons to ascene in the 2006 film Stick It, when a group of gymnasts revolt anddeliberately earn a string of zeroes in competition.
Uproar after Google Removes Palestine from Google Maps
More than 150,000 people have signed a petition in anger at Googles decision to erase Palestine from Google Maps.
Users using Google Maps who type in Palestine no longer see the name appearing on Google Maps. Instead, an outline of the Palestinian territories appears, with Israel clearly labeled.
The omission of Palestine is a grievous insult to the people of Palestine and undermines the efforts of the millions of people who are involved in the campaign to secure Palestinian independence and freedom from Israeli occupation and oppression, reads the petition on Change.org, calling for Google to return Palestine to Google Maps.
Though Google removed Palestine from Google Maps several weeks ago, the issue only came to light after the Palestinian Journalists Forum (PJF) started an online campaign calling for the reinstatement of Palestine.
This is part of the Israeli scheme to establish its name as a legitimate state for generations to come and abolish Palestine once and for all, said the PJF, adding that it is an attempt to change history.
Responding to the criticism, which has been voiced through hashtags such as #PalestineIsHere and #BoycottGoogle, a Google spokesperson reportedly told Quartz that the decision is aimed at featuring regions objectively.
Google has not responded to the campaign and the lack of Palestine on the map persists.
The State of Palestine is recognized by 136 United Nations member states.
