London — Stopping was the hardest part. Never before in her distance running career had Desiree Davila ended a race with “DNF” – Did Not Finish — next to her name. But Sunday morning, Davila, 29, of Rochester Hills, simply had no choice as she pulled out of the Olympic women’s marathon after just one … Continue Reading →
Oscar Pistorius, who is making history in London as the first amputee runner at the Olympics, called it “a dream come true” as he advanced to the semifinals in the 400 meters with a second-place finish in his preliminary heat Saturday morning. “I’ve worked for six years to reach the 400 (qualifying) standard, and to … Continue Reading →
Freestyle wrestler Jake Herbert, easily one of the most colorful U.S. Olympians, won’t compete until the final weekend here in London. And though you didn’t see it if you were watching NBC’s coverage of last night’s opening ceremony, Herbert, who spent the last year living and training in Ann Arbor, created a bit of a stir. Having … Continue Reading →
Flint boxer Claressa Shields already is London with the rest of the USA Boxing team preparing for next month’s Olympic competition. And her story, not surprisingly, has garnered plenty of attention in the run-up to these Games. We profiled her quest to clinch an Olympic berth back in May, and News photographer Elizabeth Conley captured her training … Continue Reading →
Rochester Hills native Peter Vanderkaay and his family — parents Mark and Robin, and brothers Christian, Alex and Dane – are headed back for a third Olympic Games beginning next week in London. And there’s still time to join them, at least in spirit. The family’s quadrennial t-shirt campaign continues with this year’s commemorative “Vanderkaay USA” design. … Continue Reading →
Former University of Michigan rower Sarah Trowbridge qualified for the London Olympics on Tuesday, as she and U.S. teammate Margot Shumway won the final in the womens’ double sculls at the 2012 Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland. “I’m very excited,” said Trowbridge, 29, who trains out of the Potomac Boat Club in Washington D.C. … Continue Reading →
(Updated 10:30 a.m.) We’re still waiting for the official word, but Flint boxer Claressa Shields is headed to the London Olympics after an excruciating week in limbo at the AIBA women’s world championships in Qinhuangdao, China. “She called me up and said, ‘Coach?”” said Jason Crutchfield, Shields’ coach back in Flint, where the 17-year-old U.S. … Continue Reading →
They’ve won gold everywhere but at the Olympics. And even there, they’ve come painfully close. So as Ann Arbor native Betsey Armstrong said this week, there’s no denying the goal. “After Beijing, you’re kind of left with a sense of unfinished business,” said Armstrong, one of 13 players officially named Thursday to the U.S. women’s … Continue Reading →
Halfway around the world from home, Flint boxer Claressa Shields still is waiting for a definitive answer about her Olympic qualification. But the cloudy picture is clearing, if not brightening. After losing a preliminary bout Sunday at the women’s world championships in Qinhuangdao, China — the final Olympic qualification tournament — the 17-year-old Shields was … Continue Reading →
Dallas — Of the 100-plus athletes here at the U.S. Olympic media summit, there might not be a more engaging or entertaining one than Jerome Singleton, who in December 2010 finished up a triple major that’ll make your head hurt — math, physics and industrial engineering — at the University of Michigan as part of … Continue Reading →