Olympics:
American Simone Biles has become the fourth straight American and fifth overall to capture the Olympic women's gymnastics all-around title. The 19-year-old Biles compiled 62.198 total points at Rio and was well clear of silver medalist and "Final Five" teammate Aly Raisman, along with bronze medalist Aliya Mustafina of Russia.
Michael Phelps is the first swimmer ever to win the same event at four straight Olympics. He finished a full body-length ahead of the field in the 200-meter individual medley to earn his fourth gold medal of the Rio Games and 22nd overall. U.S. teammate Ryan Lochte led at the midway point before finishing fifth. Ryan Murphy has completed a U.S. sweep of the men's backstroke events by taking gold in the 200. Murphy touched first again in 1 minute, 53.62 seconds, three days after winning the 100 back.
Simone Manuel of the United States and Canadian Penny Oleksiak tied for the gold medal in the women's 100-meter freestyle. Manuel is the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in swimming. Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden picked up the bronze.
Kayla Harrison has become the first American to successfully defend her Olympic judo title, clutching gold after she forced France's Audrey Tcheumeo to tap out in the final of 78-kg competition. Madison Keys of the U.S. has advanced to the women's tennis semifinals with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Russia's DariaKasatina. And Australia's Marcus Fraser is three shots ahead of HenrikStenson and Graham DeLaet after firing an 8-under 63 in the opening round of the first Olympic golf competition since the 1904 London Games.
— Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena have reached the knockout stage of the beach volleyball tournament after a three-set win over Italy. The Americans are unbeaten heading into the Round of 16.
— Madison Keys has advanced to the women's tennis semifinals with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Russia's Daria Kasatina. The seventh-seeded Keys is joined in the Final Four by Petr Kvitova, Angelique Kerber and Monica Puig.
— Rafael Nadal is into the quarterfinals at the men's tennis tournament after beating 15th-seeded Gilles Simon of France 7-6, 6-3. Also advancing to the men's quarters were Juan Martin del Potro, Wimbledon champ Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori and American Steve Johnson.
— The U.S. women's field hockey team has improved to 4-0 and will play Britain on Saturday to determine who will win Pool B. Katie Bam scored twice in helping the Americans defeat India 3-0.
— Belgium's Evi Van Acker became sick after racing on polluted Guanabara Bay, the first sailor to fall ill from the waters that were heavily scrutinized leading to the Rio Games. The governing body for World Sailing said the 2012 bronze medalist reported feeling sick after Wednesday's races. Her poor performances have put her at risk of missing out on a medal in the Laser Radial class.
The dominating U.S. basketball teams will be back on the court at the Rio Olympics, with the men hoping to make sure their last contest — a scrambling win against Australia — was just a wobble. The U.S. men, who play Serbia on Friday, are still the team to beat. In other action, China's men face Australia.
The U.S. women, meanwhile, take on Canada. The three Olympic rookies on the American team have had an impressive start: Elena Delle Donne, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner have all taken over parts of games as the U.S. women won their first two Olympic contests in dominating fashion.
Usain Bolt, no slouch himself on the track, says it's going to be hard to pick a favorite in the women's 100 meters at the Rio Olympics. Olympic track and field events are starting Friday, including preliminary heats in the women's 100 meters. Five sprinters at Rio have joined the small list of women to crack the 10.8-second mark: Elaine Thompson of Jamaica, Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast and American teammates English Gardner, Tianna Bartoletta and Tori Bowie. Two-time defending Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of the United States is also in the field.
On the men's side, preliminaries start in the 400 meter and 800 meter races. The man to beat in the 800 meters is David Rudisha of Kenya, who holds the world and Olympic records. In the 400, Rio fans will get a first look at American LaShawn Merritt, South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk and Grenada's Kirani James.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, the Yankees doubled up Boston 4-2, Houston topped Minnesota 10-2, Cleveland bested the Angels 14-4, Baltimore won against Oakland 9-6, Houston beat Minnesota 15-7, and it was Kansas City over the White Sox 2-1.
In the National League, Arizona shut out the Mets 9-0, Pittsburgh blanked San Diego 4-0, Milwaukee won against Atlanta 11-3, and it was the Cubs over St. Louis 4-3 in 11 innings.
In interleague play, Colorado beat Texas 12-9.
Rodriguez is set to play his final game for the Yankees on Friday night at home against Tampa Bay. The 41-year-old designated hitter will then be released and become an adviser and instructor for the club.
Cubs reliever Pedro Strop (strohp) needs arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will be sidelined four to six weeks. He has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. Strop tore the meniscus while fielding a grounder in the eighth inning of Wednesday's victory over the Los Angeles Angels. The 31-year-old Strop has a 2.89 ERA in 50 games this season.
Elsewhere:
— Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales sat out Thursday's game against the White Sox after dropping the appeal of his one-game suspension. Morales was penalized by Major League Baseball for returning to the field after being ejected Aug. 2 at Tampa Bay.
NFL:
The New York Giants face the Miami Dolphins in a preseason game tonight at 7. The Buffalo Bills take on the Indianapolis Colts at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Jimmy Garoppolo made his preseason debut, spreading the ball around for 168 yards, and Jamie Collins added a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown as the New England Patriots beat the New Orleans Saints 34-22 Thursday night. Garoppolo played the entire first half as he preps to start the first four games of the regular season in place of Tom Brady, who will be serving a suspension for his involvement in the "Deflategate" case.
Blake Bortles led the Jacksonville Jaguars on two scoring drives, the second capped by Chris Ivory's 1-yard run against his former team, in a 17-13 loss to the New York Jets in the preseason opener for both teams Thursday night. Ivory, who signed with Jacksonville as a free agent after three seasons in New York, capped the second drive with his TD in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Chargers have suffered a major loss to their offense as they try to climb bounce back from a 4-12 season. Wide receiver Stevie Johnson will miss the season with a knee injury. Coach Mike McCoy says Johnson injured his right knee during the second practice of training camp while getting up to run downfield after making a diving catch. The nine-year pro underwent surgery Tuesday and was told Wednesday that his season was done. Johnson had 45 catches for three touchdowns and 497 yards last year, missing six games with hamstring and groin issues.
PGA:
Andrew Loupe was leading the first round of the John Deere Classic when play was suspended because of darkness. The 27-year-old former LSU player was 8 under through 14 holes when play was called. Zach Johnson, Patrick Rodgers and Ryan Moore were in at 65. The tournament was delayed for 3 1/2 hours by a storm that dropped just over an inch of rain.
Vijay Singh closed with a birdie to take a two-stroke lead through one round of the U.S. Senior Open near Columbus, Ohio. Singh opened with a 4-under 66 as he tries to win a Senior major after missing the cut at the British Open and PGA Championship. Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jeff Gallagher, Michael Allen, Gene Sauers and Glen Day shot 68. Defending champion Jeff Maggert had a 70.
NHL:
Patrick Roy has resigned after three years as head coach and vice president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche, saying he and the team are not on the same wave length when it comes to club matters. The Avalanche have missed the playoffs the last two seasons after winning the Northwest Division in Roy's first year behind the bench. Colorado was 130-92-24 under Roy, but the Avs played .500 in finishing sixth in their division last season. The move comes just over a month before NHL training camps begin.
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