Boulders Emma Coburn claimed the first American medal ever in the steeplechase Monday morning,August 15, 2016, taking bronze in a race won by Ruth Jebet of Bahrain.
Source: http://www.denverpost.com/2016/08/16/emma-coburn-bronze-steeplechase-olympics/
Misty May-Treanor made history with partner Kerri Walsh Jennings -- winning three straight Olympic gold medals in beach volleyball.
Since retiring from the sport, May-Treanor has turned her focus to family. She"s now mom to a two-year-old daughter.
"Time as a family, I think is a lost art. Now especially, knowing how precious that time is. I"m actually making up for lost time since I had to sacrifice so much being an Olympic athlete," said May-Treanor.
May-Treanor now coaches volleyball at a community college. She"s also passionate about promoting a healthy lifestyle and has partnered with healthcare company Abbott to get families off the couch with a video series dubbed "Full-Life Hacks."
"The whole point of each of these videos is to get the creative juices flowing for each family," said May-Treanor.
The videos feature fun, inexpensive activities -- from egg and spoon races, to obstacle courses, drumming, even do-it-yourself badminton rackets.
May-Treanor is proof you don"t need fancy equipment to get started.
"My first experience learning volleyball was in our apartment over a coffee table with a balloon," said May-Treanor.
She isn"t going to Rio, but May-Treanor said she will be watching. She is excited to finally see all of the sports she missed while she was busy competing.
"My daughter, she loves swimming. I always enjoy the gymnastics. I was a big track athlete, so I"m looking forward to track and field," said May-Treanor.
She hopes the olympics will inspire families to create some healthy competition.
"It could be over this two week span that families play different activities every day and see who comes out on top, so they can have their own mini family Olympics," said May-Treanor.
To watch the "Full-Life Hacks" videos, click here.
Copyright 2016 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
Source: http://www.clickondetroit.com/health/misty-may-treanor-on-life-after-the-olympics
The Bills are filling a void at OLB with the veteran, whos still a strong run defender.
Adam Schefter has reported that the Bills will be signing former Falcons DE Kroy Biermann.
Biermann played eight seasons with the Atlanta Falcons; one of those (2013) ending after only two games due to a torn Achilles tendon. In those eight seasons Biermann played in 114 games, recorded 333 tackles, 23.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two touchdowns. Kroy will turn 31 the day after the Bills season opener versus the Baltimore Ravens.
Biermann was listed by Jeff Hunter as a possible free agent target back in February. Jeff noted that Biermann would be a great back up to whoever the Bills found to replace Mario Williams. Matt Warren reiterated the possibility of the Bills bringing Biermann in again yesterday, noting that they had him in for a visit in March. Instead of backing up one of the Lawsons, it now looks like Biermann may be in line for a starting role given the string of injuries to the Bills outside linebackers.
Source: http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2016/8/15/12484488/bills-to-sign-de-olb-kroy-biermann
RIO DE JANEIRO -- For beating Allyson Felix, Shaunae Miller gets a gold medal. Maybe they should give her a cape, too.
It took a head-first dive, Superwoman-style, for Miller to spring an Olympic upset Monday over America"s top female sprinter in the 400 meters and deny her a record fifth gold medal.
Miller, a 22-year-old from the Bahamas who finished second to Felix at the world championships last year, took an early lead, then held off her charge along the straightaway. Neck-and-neck with two steps to go, Miller sprawled, dove and tumbled across the line to win by .07 seconds.
Now, instead of a coronation for Felix, it"s a celebration for Miller, whose dive will go down as one of the most dramatic images we"ve seen at these, or any, Olympics.
"This is the moment I have been waiting for," Miller said. "I just gave it my all."
While not Shaunae Miller"s most graceful moment, it was still good enough for gold in the women"s 400-meter race.Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY SportsStarting from Lane 7, Miller expanded the lag, instead of getting gobbled up the way most women do when Felix is on the track.
Stride for stride they ran down the last 100 meters, until the last few steps. Felix, classically trained by Bobby Kersee, made a textbook lean into the finish line. Miller tried something else. The dive is something no coach would ever teach. Then again, amazing things happen with a gold medal on the line.
"I was just focused on myself," Felix said when asked about the dive. "I didn"t really have too many thoughts on it."
As Miller lay on her back, gasping for breath and maybe even stunned herself at what she"d done, Felix sat on the ground stone-faced. Ten seconds passed. Then 20.
While Miller jumped with her arms flailing forward, the rules say the win is determined by which athlete has any part of her torso cross the line first. The photo finish showed the negative image of Miller"s sprawled-out body. Her shoulder barely beat Felix to the line.
The result popped up on the scoreboard: Miller won in 49.44 seconds. The bronze went to Jamaica"s Shericka Jackson.
What a finish. What a race.
It marked quite a disappointment for Felix, whose season just didn"t turn out the way she planned it.
"I don"t think I ever quite had a year this tough," Felix said, as her eyes welled with tears.
She was one of those rare athletes who had the cachet to get the Olympics to change the schedule. After winning the world championship at 400 meters last year, she put the 200-400 double in her sights for the Olympics. The schedule as it was originally written made it impossible: The 200 heats were scheduled for the same evening as the 400 final.
Felix asked, and she received: The 200 heats were moved to the morning to give America"s best female sprinter a chance for the two-fer.
But she never got to the starting line in the 200. She landed awkwardly on a medicine ball while doing core work in the gym during the spring and her ankle swelled up like a balloon.
Suddenly, what once was a quest for two golds transformed into a struggle to simply make the Olympic team. She did in the 400 but not in the 200. Then, Miller showed up and handed Felix her third Olympic disappointment. This silver goes with the pair she won in 2004 and 2008 in the 200.
Even so, she became the most decorated U.S. female track star, with seven overall medals, including three in the relays.
But this was Miller"s night.
The flagbearer for her country in the opening ceremonies, Miller came into the games 5 for 5 in her races this season, including Diamond League meets in Shanghai, Eugene and London.
Now she"s 6 for 6.
A wild finish to a crazy night.
It began with a downpour that stopped action in all the events and put the DJ to work, playing "Singing In The Rain," "Umbrella," and "I Can"t Stand the Rain," among other fare, while the fans waited out the delay.
Those who stayed got their money"s worth.
Miller got a few scratches and scrapes, but she also got the gold.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Source: http://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/17314085/2016-rio-olympics-shaunae-miller-bahamas-wins-women-400m-race-american-allyson-felix-takes-silver
The crowd at Copacabana"s Beach Volleyball Arena loudly booed and taunted American volleyball players Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat during an Olympic pool match Sunday, shouting "Zika" each time one of the duo served.
Their treatment follows U.S. women"s soccer goalie Hope Solo also being roundly booed in a pool match against France on Saturday night because of her comments about the virus.
Neither Sweat nor Fendrick is known for expressing alarm over playing under the threat of the virus - indeed in an interview with a U.S. channel last week, Fendrick called the water quality in Brazil and Zika "non-factors" for the duo.
But with some high profile U.S. competitors having withdrawn from the Games citing their concerns over Zika, other U.S. athletes also appear to have become targets for vocal criticism.
In February, the U.S. Olympic Committee told U.S. sports federations that athletes and staff concerned for their health over Zika should consider not going to the Games.
American golfer Dustin Johson is among several top-ranked men in the sport who dropped out over Zika fears.
In June, American cyclist Tejay Van Garderen withdrew his name from consideration for the U.S. team, also citing concern over the virus.
Global health officials are racing to better understand the virus behind a major outbreak that began in Brazil last year and has spread to many countries in the Americas.
In the match, Fendrick and Sweat started strong against Poland"s Monika Brzostek and Kinga Kolosinska, winning the first set 21-14, before falling apart and losing the following two sets 13-21 and 7-15.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery; Editing by Alison Williams)
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-beachvolleyball-m-zika-idUSKCN10I0OL
Parker wrote, produced, directed and stars in in this historical drama about Nat Turner, who led the Virginia slave rebellion in 1831. If he isnt at least nominated for most of the Oscars out there, it will be a shock, especially after Fox bought the global film rights for $17.5 million at Sundance in the largest deal ever seen at the festival. The Birth of a Nation went on to win the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award after earning the most enthusiastic standing ovation of the year. Expect big things come its release on 7 October.
Martin Scorseses passion project since 1991 is yet to receive a release date but rumours abound that it will be out in time for the Oscars. Based on a novel of the same name by Japanese author Shusaku Endo, the story centres on two Jesuit missionaries sent to 17th century Japan to spread Christianity and find their mentor Once there, they endure brutal persecution at the time of Kakura Kirishitan (Hidden Christians) following the defeat of the Shimabara Rebellion. Silence sounds weighty, intense and full of hard-hitting promise.
Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi director Ang Lee has narrowly missed out on a Best Picture win twice now but this adaptation of Ben Fountains acclaimed novel could be the film that finally wins him some overdue glory. The cast includes Kristen Stewart and Vin Diesel with newcomer Joe Alwyn in the lead as 19-year-old soldier Billy, who is brought home for a victory tour after serving in Iraq. Told in flashbacks, the drama reveals the horror of what really happened to his squad in contrast to Americas flashy, patriotic perceptions. Out here 6 January.
Oyelowo plays Prince Seretse Khama, inaugural Botswana president from 1966 to 1980, in this follow-up to 2015s Belle. Films about real life people often hold clout with the Academy when done well and with Gone Girls Rosamund Pike playing Khamas eventual wife Ruth Williams, A United Kingdom should pull in cinemagoers. Khama sparked a global stir when he married the white Londoner in the late Forties and the first pictures from the movie promise beautiful costumes and cinematography. A United Kingdom will open the London Film Festival before its general release on 25 November.
Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton star as Mildred and Richard Loving in this historical drama about an interracial couple sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for the crime of getting married. Out here just in time for the Oscars on 3 February. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, Loving earned positive reviews from critics when it competed for the Palme dOr at Cannes and received a standing ovation for understated, strong performances.
One of the best scripts co-producer Matt Damon had ever read, this tragedy about an uncle who is forced to take care of his teenage nephew after the boys father dies while trying to reconcile with his ex-wife stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and newcomer Lucas Hedges. It was bought at Sundance by Amazon for $10 million and arrives in the UK on 13 January.
Designer Tom Ford has cinematic strings to his bow, as proved with 2009s Venice premiere The Single Man. Hes back in the chair for this drama-thriller starring Amy Adams as a remarried art gallery owner whose ex-husbands violent new book begins to haunt her. Jake Gyllenhaal, Isla Fisher and Armie Hammer also star. Due in UK cinemas on 4 November.
Michael Fassbender stars alongside last years Best Supporting Actress winner Alicia Vikander in the big screen adaptation of ML Stedmans 2012 novel of the same name. Derek Cianfrance is the man behind the camera for this story about a lighthouse keeper war veteran who rescues a baby girl with his wife after she washes up on an adrift rowboat. Then, in steps another Oscar winner, Rachel Weisz, as the woman who threatens to break their happy family apart. Out in the UK on 4 November - bring tissues.
Ewan McGregor makes his directorial debut with this period adaptation of Philip Roths novel American Pastoral. The drama - set in the 60s - centres on a successful businessman (McGregor) whose missing daughter (Dakota Fanning) is accused of a violent bombing in post-war America. Out in the UK on 11 November.
Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) is the director behind this long-awaited biopic of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. That Mutesi is played by 12 Years a Slave Oscar-winner Lupita Nyongo is reason enough to anticipate this Disney-produced film, out here 21 October.
Disney
Ben Wheatleys new action thriller will close the London Film Festival. Set in Massachusetts in the late Seventies, Free Fire stars Oscar-winning Room actress Brie Larson in the lead alongside Cillian Murphy. It follows the heart-stopping game of survival after shots are fired during a meeting between Justine, two Irishmen and two arms dealers who are selling them a stash of guns. Expect blood, sweat and irony with bravura filmmaking from the High-Rise director. Reaches UK cinemas sometime in 2017.
Jim Jarmuschs Palme dOr contender sees Adam Driver take the lead as a bus driver poet from Paterson, New Jersey. Each night after work, he has dinner with his wife Laura before walking his dog (2016s Palm Dog winner) to the bar for one beer. Then one day, a small disaster strikes.
Michael Keaton has starred in the last two Best Picture winners Spotlight and Birdman. Here, he takes on the role of ruthless McDonalds founder Ray Kroc, with the film telling the story of the fast food empires origins. The ambitious entrepreneur on a journey to theme didnt end so well for last years Joy, so it remains to be seen whether The Founder can live up to expectations as an Oscars contender. Out here 30 September.
The Weinstein Company
Clint Eastwood returns with Sully: Miracle on the Hudson, about the hero pilot who, in 2009, successfully landed his plane along the Hudson River after it was disabled by a flock of geese, saving all 155 crew and passengers. Tom Hanks takes the lead as Chesley Sullenberger in a biopic that sounds like it could tick a lot of Oscars boxes. Based on the autobiography Highest Duty, the thriller marks Eastwoods first directorial effort since 2014s American Sniper. Out 2 December.
Pablo Larrain directs Oscar winner Natalie Portman as late first lady and fashion icon Jacqueline Kennedy in what he has promised will not be another classic biopic. Set in the days immediately after John F Kennedys 1963 assassination, the film sparked great excitement among distributors after a seven-minute promo screened at Cannes. Release date unknown at this stage.
The Helps Tate Taylor is in the directors chair for this years Gone Girl about a troubled woman who becomes embroiled in a murder case after developing a fixation on a beautiful couple from her commuter train. Expect a film pulsating with creepy, voyeur vibes, a la Rear Window, based on Paula Hawkins bestselling thriller. Out in the UK on 7 October.
Meryl Streep has been widely praised for her turn as the 1940s New York heiress who couldnt sing (and we mean really couldnt sing) yet somehow became an opera singer with the help of her patient husband St Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) and pianist Cosme McMoon (Simon Helberg). Directed by two-time Academy nominee Stephen Frears, the film proved heartwarming and inspiring upon its release earlier this year and was embraced by both film lovers and critics.
Rebecca Hall set Sundance ablaze in January, earning five-star reviews for the performance of her career in Christine, about the news anchor who killed herself live on air in 1974 after suffering from depression. Yet to receive a UK release date, Christine arrives in US cinemas in October, with Antonio Campos also one to watch for directorial accolades come awards season.
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/deadpool-2-kyle-chandler-cable-ryan-reynolds-manchester-by-the-sea-mashable-a7191586.html
Shaun Botterill/Getty
The second week of the Olympics are underway in Rio, meaning swimming and gymnastics have given way to track and field ("athletics" to most non-Americans). And while most track and field eventsare fairly straightforward run this distance as fast as you can; throw this object as far as you can one event in particular stands out for its sheerweirdness. Thiswould be the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
The casual fan of the Olympics may, understandably, wonder what"s going onwith the steeplechase: what are these massive barriers doing on the track, and why are the runners jumping over them? Why is there a water pit? And why, really, is this sillyrace called thesteeplechase?
Allow us to explain.
Like many track and field events, the steeplechase"s origins can be traced back to United Kingdom. Runners, as they were apparently wont to do,would often race each other from one town"s church steeple to the next. The steeples were chosen because they were easy to see from long distances,leading to the name "steeplechase."
The countryside would also require runners to jump over various barriers over the course of their race. These included stone walls and small rivers. When the race was modernized, the walls were simulated with hurdles and the rivers and creeks were simulated with the water pit.
According to the IAAF,the modern 3,000-meter steeplechase track event with the barriers and the water pit first originated at Oxford University in the mid-19th century.It was then included in the EnglishChampionship in 1879. In the Olympics, men have raced the steeplechase since 1920, while the women, somewhat shockingly, only first raced it at the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing.
Today, the race features five barriers: four hurdles plus the barrierbefore the water pit. For the men, those barriers are 36 inches, and for the women they are 30 inches. The water pit, meanwhile, is 12 feet long for both.
Often you"ll see runners land one foot on the top of the barrier to propel themselves over it, though many elite runners just clear the whole thing altogether.Wipeouts are all too common, especially in or around the water.
Here"s an example of what can happen if you don"t properly traverse the water pit:
Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
It"s a quirky race, to be sure, but it"s also a sneakily fun one.
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/olympic-steeplechase-history-explainer-2016-8
