Olympics : All posts

MLive: Detroit mayor says no thanks to 2024 Summer Olympics bid

Mayor Dave Bing took Detroit’s hat out of the ring for the hosting of the 2024 Summer Olympics, according to a report from MLive.

MLive/with Poll: Should Detroit bid to be 2024 Summer Olympics host?

Detroit was one of 35 cities to receive a letter from the United States Olympic Committee to gauge interest in hosting the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. According to an MLive story, a Facebook page already has been created in support of a bid by the city.

International Gymnastics Federation names move after Michigan Olympian Sam Mikulak

Sam Mikulak's performance on the pommel horse didn't earn him a medal at the 2012 London Olympics, but his routine ensured his name will resonate across the sport for years to come.

Literally.

Olympic gold medalist and former Club Wolverine swimmer Allison Schmitt receives hero's welcome home

Olympic gold medalist swimmer Allison reacts to the adoring hometown crown in Canton on Tuesday.

Dan Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Fresh off an Olympic performance that saw her captivate the nation and bring home five medals (three gold, one silver and one bronze), Schmitt -- who went to Canton High School but trained in Ann Arbor as a youth and throughout high school -- was anxious to get home to the people that supported her from the beginning.

“I’ve been excited to come home for a while now. I haven’t been home since Christmas,” Schmitt said. “Just being able to come home, this is my favorite place to be. It’s very welcoming place, I feel comfortable here and I love being here.

“With the fans, supporters and friends that are around this town, it’s a great atmosphere to be in.”

Ann Arbor wrestler Jake Herbert believes anti-American bias influenced controversial Olympic loss

Ann Arbor resident Jake Herbert, front, reacts after losing his final match of the London Olympics.

Paul Sancya | Associated Press

Herbert, who represented the United States in the 84 kilogram division of the freestyle wrestling competition, won his opening match, but lost in the second round to eventual gold medalist, Sharif Sharifov, of Azerbaijan. A hotly contested scoring decision in the second period ended the match in Sharifov's favor, much to the dismay of Herbert and American coach Zeke Jones, an Ann Arbor native.

Confidence and intensity drive Cliff Keen wrestler Jake Herbert's bid for Olympic gold

Jake Herbert (right), who trains in Ann Arbor at Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, reacts after winning the 84-kilogram freestyle finals match at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials on April 22 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Charlie Neibergall | Associated Press

Jake Herbert says he isn’t concerned with the global audience watching his Olympic wrestling matches, just the man who will be standing in front of him.

“I’m looking at it as four matches, it doesn’t matter who is watching. It doesn’t matter if the whole world is watching," Herbert told AnnArbor.com before leaving for the Summer Games in London. "I’ve got to win that match. If you start focusing on those other factors it can make you nervous and I’m not going to worry about that stuff.”

Those words are said with an intensity that can only come from an athlete who spends his days slamming people to the mat.

Huron water polo team elated as alum Betsey Armstrong leads Team USA to gold

Huron High School boys water polo coach Justin Thoresen reacts to a save by USA women's water polo goalkeeper and Huron graduate Betsey Armstrong during a gold medal match watch party with members of his team.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

• Related: Betsey Armstrong bringing Olympic gold back to Ann Arbor

After an hour-and-a-half of agony, Huron High School water polo coach Justin Thoresen finally allowed himself a moment of relief.

He clapped his hands loudly and yelled at the television one last time, as if his childhood friend Betsey Armstrong could actually hear him while leading the U.S. women's water polo team to Olympic gold over Spain on Thursday.

Armstrong -- a 2001 Huron graduate -- started in goal for the U.S. and had just wrapped up an 8-5 win, but it seemed as if Thoresen would soon have the gold medal draped around his neck.

"Way to go Bets," Thoresen said with an elated smile on his face, a current crop of Huron boys water polo players joining him in applause. Several team members, having just begun practice for the fall season, gathered at current player Grey Garrett's home to cheer Armstrong and Team USA on to gold.

Betsey Armstrong bringing Olympic gold back to Ann Arbor

Betsey Armstrong is golden.

The Huron High School and University of Michigan graduate gave a sterling performance Thursday to help the United States women’s water polo team beat Spain, 8-5, in the Olympic gold medal match.

One of only two non-California natives on the U.S. roster, and the only one that didn’t play college water polo there, Armstrong joins her Golden State teammates as the first Americans to win a gold in the sport.

1 of 3 former Michigan runners advance in Olympic events on Wednesday

Three former University of Michigan athletes took part in races at Olympic Stadium in London on Wednesday.

Geena Gall advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 800-meter run while two other former Wolverines failed to advance from the semifinals of their events to an Olympic final.

health: Fitness tips from Olympians

With the London 2012 Summer Olympic games in full gear, we look to some of the world’s ultimate fitness experts for fitness tips. While we many not train all day as our Olympian representatives do, we can still learn from them how they keep workouts fresh and interesting, what they fuel their bodies with for their workouts and competitions and how they keep themselves motivated.

Many Olympians suggest group workouts are the best way to keep up your motivation and enjoy the workout. Many suggest group classes at the gym. Classes such as weight training, similar to CrossFit, or yoga are some of the two-time Olympic medalist, Nancy Kerrigan’s favorites.

Nick Willis fails to repeat medal performance in 1,500 meters and more local Olympic results

Former University of Michigan runner Nick Willis (far right) during the final of the men's 1,500-meter run at the London Olympics on Tuesday. Willis finished ninth.

Sergey Ponomarev | Associated Press

Another Olympic near miss for Eastern Michigan graduate Jamie Nieto

Eastern Michigan graduate Jamie Nieto clears the bar in the men's high jump final on Tuesday. A tie-breaker pushed Nieto out of third place.

Associated Press

Jamie Nieto's final Olympic appearance ended with another near miss.

Ypsilanti native Tiffany Porter falls .08 seconds short of Olympic hurdles final

Ypsilanti native Tiffany Porter, above, missed the women's 100-meter Olympic final by .08 seconds.

David J. Phillip | Associated Press

Ypsilanti native Tiffany (Ofili) Porter’s Olympic Games came to an end on Tuesday afternoon. Eight hundredths of a second and three places kept Porter, who competes for Great Britain, out of Tuesday afternoon’s final.

Olympian Sam Mikulak to have ankle surgery before return to Michigan

U.S. gymnast Sam Mikulak reacts after his performance on the vault Monday at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Associated Press

Olympic gymnast Sam Mikulak will have surgery on his ankle before returning to Ann Arbor for his junior year at the University of Michigan.

Going for gold: Betsey Armstrong, U.S. women's water polo reach Olympic title game

This story has been removed from our site after 30 days as required by our digital use agreement with the Associated Press.

Ypsilanti native Tiffany Porter hurdles to Olympic semifinal in London

Great Britain's Tiffany Porter, an Ypsilanti native, competes in a women's 100-meter hurdles heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

David J. Phillip | Associated Press

Competing in the first heat of the women's 100-meter hurdles preliminaries, Porter took third place with a time of 12.79 seconds and secured a spot in Tuesday's semifinal.

Ann Arbor's Nick Willis, EMU grad Jamie Nieto advance to Olympic track and field finals

This story was updated with reaction from Nick Willis via Twitter.

Ann Arbor middle-distance runner Nick Willis qualified for the Olympic finals of the 1,500-meter run. His old college teammate wasn’t as fortunate.

Willis, who trains with former Michigan coach Ron Warhurst at The Running Institute and is representing his native New Zealand at the Games, finished third in the second of two semifinal runs at Olympic Stadium in London to advance to Tuesday’s final.

Betsey Armstrong, U.S. water polo team reach Olympic semifinals

Ann Arbor native Betsey Armstrong makes a save during the United States' 9-6 win against Italy in a women's water polo quarterfinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Sunday.

Associated Press

Ann Arbor native Betsey Armstrong made 13 saves to lead the United States women's water polo team to a 9-6 win over Italy in an Olympic quarterfinal match on Sunday.

Italy capitalized on an American penalty in the first 15 seconds of the game on its way to a quick 2-0 lead. From there, goals were at a premium for the Italians at the Water Polo Arena in London.

The U.S. led 6-3 by halftime and Italy wouldn't get within two goals in the second half.

Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman: A partnership like no other

This story has been removed from our site after 30 days as required by our digital use agreement with the Associated Press.

U-M's Connor Jaeger sixth in 1,500 free; EMU's Eric Alejandro doesn't advance in 400 hurdles

University of Michigan junior Connor Jaeger, making his first Olympic appearance, finished sixth in the final of the 1,500-meter freestyle Saturday.

Connor Jaeger

U-M athletics

Jaeger, who has only been training for the long-distance event for two years, finished in 14:52.99, less than a second off his personal-best time (14:52.51) set at the U.S. Olympic trials.