Lochte wins record fourth 200 IM title
SWIMMING: Ryan Lochte made history at the world swimming championships, becoming the first man to win the 200-meter individual medley four consecutive times Thursday night in Kazan, Russia.
The 31-year-old American trailed through the first three legs but came home strong on the freestyle lap and touched first in 1 minute, 55.81 seconds.
Thiago Pereira of Brazil finished second in 1:56.65 and Wang Shun of China was third in 1:56.81.
It was Lochte’s 24th world championships medal – second only to Michael Phelps’ career total of 33 – and his 16th gold.
The U.S. has won the event seven consecutive times, starting with Phelps’ three titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Lochte picked up the mantle with previous victories in 2009, 2011 and 2013.
Grant Hackett of Australia won the 1,500 freestyle four times at worlds.
It was the seventh medal won by the U.S. team in Kazan, and the first gold by a man. Katie Ledecky has won three golds and set two world records for the Americans so far.
• China’s Zetao wins first world title: Ning Zetao of China led all the way to win the 100-meter freestyle at the world swimming championships in a race missing two key competitors.
Ning touched first in 47.84 seconds. Russia’s Vladimir Morozov was disqualified for a false start in the semifinals and defending champion James Magnussen of Australia is home with a shoulder injury.
NBA stars expected at U.S. basketball camp
OLYMPICS: LeBron James, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony are among 34 players expected next week at the U.S. men’s basketball minicamp, indicating their possible interest in chasing a third Olympic gold medal.
Kevin Durant, Paul George, Blake Griffin, and Kevin Love are also expected after pulling out last summer as the Americans begin preparations for the 2016 Olympics.
The Americans will bring 26 players from their national team pool and eight newcomers to Las Vegas for two days of light workouts and an intra-squad exhibition game that will resemble an All-Star game.
Not all players will be on the court as a number are still recovering from injuries sustained during the NBA season, but USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo wanted anybody interested in going to Rio de Janeiro to join the team for what he said will be a “celebration” of the past decade of basketball accomplishments for the top-ranked Americans.
NBA MVP Stephen Curry and fellow All-Star Klay Thompson were two of the four members of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors attending, most for any team.
The Americans were the first team to qualify for Rio by winning last summer’s Basketball World Cup.
• Rio Olympic official: ‘No risk’ of glanders at equestrian: A test event for the 2016 Olympic equestrian has begun in Rio de Janeiro in the wake of an outbreak of the highly contagious and lethal disease glanders.
Authorities have pledged that the discovery of the disease among horses stabled at the games venue poses no threat.
Mario Andrada, a spokesman for Rio’s Olympic organizing committee, says there is “no risk whatsoever” of further contagion. He says the Olympic site has been under quarantine as a precautionary measure since February, even before one horse stabled nearby tested positive for the disease, and results for another came back inconclusive.
The bacterial-borne disease was long eradicated in the United States but is endemic in Brazil.
Lee leads in return to Bridgestone
GOLF: Danny Lee made seven birdies for a 5-under 65 for a one-shot lead in his first time at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, played in Akron, Ohio, in six years.
Lee had a one-shot lead over Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk.
The major championship pairing of Jordan Spieth (Masters and U.S. Open) and Zach Johnson (British Open) produced two rounds of even-par 70. Some of that was rust from being off the last two weeks. Most of that was Firestone.
The South Course was firm on the fairways and greens, lush in the rough. Only 21 players in the 77-man field broke par. Phil Mickelson was not among them. He made only one birdie and shot 76.
• Sucher’s 18 points tops at Barracuda Championship: Zack Sucher took the first-round lead in the Barracuda Championship in Reno, Nevada, scoring 18 points in the PGA Tour’s only modified Stableford event.
Sucher had nine birdies in his bogey-free round at Montreux Golf and Country Club for three-point lead over Patrick Rodgers. Under the modified Stableford format, players receive 8 points for double eagle, 5 for eagle, 2 for birdie, 0 for par, minus-1 for bogey and minus-3 for double bogey or worse.
Wang, Dalke win Junior PGA championships: Brad Dalke and Elizabeth Wang won playoffs in the Junior PGA Championship at Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas.
The 17-year-old Dalke, from Hobart, Oklahoma, beat Wilson Furr of Jackson, Mississippi, with a birdie on the second extra hole.
The 15-year-old Wang, from San Marino, California, beat Mariel Galdiano of Pearl City, Hawaii, with a 2-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole. Galdiano won the Canadian Women’s Amateur last week.
Dalke earned a spot next year in the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open, and Wang received an exemption to the LPGA Tour’s Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
Young wins Stage 4 at Tour of Utah
CYCLING: Eric Young beat Dion Smith in a sprint finish to win Stage 4 of the Tour of Utah in Heber Valley, Utah, while Jure Kocjan finished third and took over the yellow jersey as overall leader.
The peloton pulled back an early breakaway during the 127-mile stage from Soldier Hollow, and Young’s Optum team positioned him well for the uphill finish.
Kiel Reijnen had held the overall lead since Stage 1.