The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current, August 03, 2016, Page 7A, Image 7

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    03”
SPORTS
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016
FACTS
& FIGURES
7A
This time, he's not going to waver. There
will be no more swimming after these
games, no dreams of taking yet another
shot at the age of 35 in Tokyo
“I'm done,” Phelps said. “The body is
done. This is my last one.”
T H E O LY M P I C S • R I O D E J A N E I R O
Dates: Aug. 5-21
Site: Rio de
Janeiro
Slogan: “A New
World”
Other things to watch for in Rio:
NEW SPORTS
Golf returns to the Olympics for the first
time in 112 years, while rugby also makes a
return of sorts with the rugby sevens
competition. Golf will be without some of
the world’s top male players, who
withdrew either because of Zika worries or
scheduling conflicts, but a full field is set
anyway for both the women's and men's
events. Watch for Fiji, a favorite in men's
rugby, to win the country's first-ever
Olympic medal.
Mascot:
“Vinicius,” a mix
of different
Brazilian
animals
U.S. OLYMPIANS TO WATCH
SIMONE BILES
AGE: 19
Hometown: Spring, Texas
Sport: Gymnastics
Best shot at gold: Biles could return from Brazil
with up to five medals in her carry-on
luggage. She is a heavy favorite to become
the fourth American to win the Olympic
all-around title and is a threat to win gold on
vault, floor and beam.
KATIE LEDECKY
Age: 19
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Sport: Swimming
Best shot at gold: Ledecky is an overwhelming
favorite to win at least two individual golds
as the world-record holder in the both the 400
and 800 freestyle. She will likely face more of
a challenge in the 200 free but is still the
swimmer to beat.
ALLYSON FELIX
Age: 30
Hometown: Los Angeles
Sport: Track
Best shot at gold: She wanted to go for gold in
the 200 and 400, but an ankle injury set back
her training and she failed to qualify in the
200. With only one event to focus on, it’d be
hard to bet against her.
ASHTON EATON
Age: 28
Hometown: Eugene, Oregon.
Sport: Track & Field
Best shot at gold: When healthy, he’s pretty
much untouchable in the decathlon.
IBTIHAJ MUHAMMAD
Age: 30
Hometown: Maplewood, New Jersey
Sport: Fencing
Best shot at gold: Muhammad will make
history in Rio as the first U.S. athlete to wear
the hijab, a Muslim head scarf. Muhammad
will be a long shot to compete for gold, but a
medal is possible.
GYM GEMS
They call Aly Raisman “Grandma” because
at 22 she's pushing traditional age limits
for gymnasts. But the captain of the “Fierce
Five” U.S. women's team that won gold in
London will be back, as will reigning
all-around champion Gabby Douglas. The
best member of the strong U.S. team,
though, is Simone Biles, a 4-foot-9 bundle
of moves who has not lost a major compe-
tition since 2013 and is the three-time
reigning world all-around champion.
His legacy as one of the greatest Olympians ever
already secure, Michael Phelps looks for more
H
e's the greatest Olympian ever, with a
staggering haul of 22 medals — 18 of
them gold — since first testing the
water in Sydney as a teenager in 2000.
Now Michael Phelps is a 31-year-old new
father trying to cap off a remarkable career
with one final gold rush in Rio. He has
qualified for three individual races but also
could swim in up to three relays.
After coming out of a brief retirement
and coming to terms with some personal
issues, he'll be the titular leader of a U.S.
team loaded with both proven talent and
young swimmers hoping to make a splash.
Among them is Ryan Lochte, who has 11
medals of his own and will try to go out on
top in his rivalry with Phelps in their show-
down in the 200-meter individual medley.
"I don't know of another person in this
world who brings out the best in me like he
does," Phelps said. "Neither one of us likes
to lose."
Neither does Katie Ledecky, perhaps the
most dominant swimmer in the world. She
will be a big favorite to add to her medals
from the London Olympics, where she sur-
prised everyone by winning the 800 free-
style as a 15-year-old.
All eyes won't be on the water in Rio. On
land, Jamaica's Usain Bolt figures to electri-
fy fans as he did in the last two Olympics,
where he dominated the sprints. With Rus-
sia's track team banned because of doping
allegations, some surprise winners also are
likely.
Fears of Zika, polluted water and crime
aside, the Rio games have a lot to offer. The
scenery will look spectacular on TV, and
athletes will compete for glory under the
kind of stifling pressure that only the
world's biggest sporting event can impose.
There will be tears and cheers, surprise
winners and devastated losers. New stars
will be born, and old ones will take one last
shot at gold when the games begin Aug. 5.
The biggest star, though, is Phelps, who
insists this will be his last time, more eager
than he was four years ago in London and
more secure in who he is now with an in-
fant son and more settled personal life.
OREGON CAPITAL
INSIDER
HOOPS
No Kobe. No LeBron. No problem. The U.S.
men's basketball team is still a prohibitive
favorite to win gold yet again, despite the
absence of some stars of Olympics past.
With Kobe Bryant retired and LeBron James
resting after winning the NBA title, the
roster is missing some star power. But
Kevin Durant will be in Rio, and so will Klay
Thompson. Carmelo Anthony is in, too, as
is Kyrie Irving. Spain, France and Brazil
should fight for the silver and bronze.
TUNING IN
Need a quick Olympic fix at any time of the
day? No problem. Broadcasters around the
world are showing the games, but NBC is
going all out to make sure the Olympics are
a big part of everyone's summer. Besides
coverage on NBC's assortment of stations,
a whopping 4,500 hours of Olympic action
will be available for live streaming on
everything from phones to TV sets. Expect
to see lots of swimming and gymnastics,
but plenty of hours dedicated to even the
most minor sports and 170 commentators
to tell you all about it.
Content by The Associated Press; page designed
by GateHouse Media’s Center for News & Design.
COMPILED BY TIM DAHLBERG;
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
We’re investing in Salem
coverage when other
news organizations are
cutting back.
Get the inside scoop on state government and politics!
September 10, 2016
Daily Astorian File
Astoria’s Clay Englund tries to outrun a Tillamook defending in last year’s Homecoming Game.
Shrine Game kicks off Saturday
Three locals
play for West
The Daily Astorian
The 64th annual East West
Shrine All-Star Football Game
kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday in
Baker City.
Showcasing some of Ore-
gon’s best football players
(Class of 2016) from the Class
1A to 4A levels, the game caps
a week full of activities for the
players, including a visit to the
Portland Shriners Hospital for
Children.
A pre game parade takes
place at 11 a.m. Saturday in
Baker City.
Three local players will suit
up for the West squad: Asto-
ria’s Clay Englund and Sea-
side’s Alex Barker and Austin
Eagon.
Other players from the
region include a trio of players
from Scappoose — Brandon
Clark, Rob Lohman and Bren-
nen McNabb; Twister McCo-
mas of Banks; Clatskanie’s
Wyatt McKay; Casey Tripp of
Rainier; and Vernonia’s Blade
Ware.
The four coaches of the
West squad are Dusty Birch-
fi eld (Central Linn), Mike
King (Rainier), Sean McNabb
(Scappoose), and Pat Todd
(Lowell).
The game, which bene-
fi ts the Portland Shriner Hos-
pital for Children, will not be
televised live, but will be aired
on ROOT Sports Network at a
later date. Check local listings.
WEST ROSTER
Dylan Arritola, Kennedy
Jarred Ashley, Dayton
Ivan Ayala, Lost River
Hunter Bain, Santiam
Christian
Alex Barker, Seaside
Michael Barrett, Triad
Ben Bartch, Blanchet
Daniel Cano, Oakridge
Brandon Clark, Scappoose
Mitchell Cole, Hosanna
Christian
Austin Eagon, Seaside
Clay Englund, Astoria
Rylan Fisher, Taft
Gunnar Foster, Triad
Austin Gordon, North
Douglas
Joel Hills, Santiam
Gary Jantzer, Marshfield
Dylan Jennings, Siuslaw
Anthony Johnson, Scio
Daniel Lindstrom,
Siletz Valley
Rob Lohman, Scappoose
Jacob Lopez, Kennedy
Taylor Lowther, Scio
Noah Lubben, Horizon
Christian
Alex McArthur, Blanchet
Twister McComas, Banks
Wyatt McKay, Clatskanie
Wryland McKnight, Sutherlin
Brennen McNabb,
Scappoose
Lance Nelson, Amity
Alex Pettner, Central Linn
Jakob Pruitt, Valley Catholic
Wyatt Robb, Central Linn
Forrest Rosser, Waldport
Joe Rutherford, North Bend
Will Shaw, Yoncalla
Andrew Taylor, Lost River
Casey Tripp, Rainier
Austin Voltin, Regis
Dillon Wallen, Scio
Blade Ware, Vernonia
Coaches:
Dusty Birchfield, Central Linn
Mike King, Rainier
Sean McNabb, Scappoose
Pat Todd, Lowell
www.racetothebar.com
Who:
What: 5K walk/run or 10K run, followed by a bonire on
the beach
When: 5:00 p.m., Sept. 10, 2016
Where: Peter Iredale Shipwreck at Fort Stevens State Park,
Warrenton, Oregon
How:
Cost:
Seaside’s
Alex Bark-
er turns
the corner
and heads
up field for
another
gain in a
Septem-
ber win
over Valley
Catholic.
Jeff Ter Har
For the Daily
Astorian
You (walker or runner)
Register online at www.RaceToheBar.com.
$40 before Aug. 26, includes a shirt. $45 on Aug.
26 or later, shirt not guaranteed after Sept. 5.
Help to provide hospice care for those in need.
2111 Exchange Street, Astoria, Oregon • (503) 325-4321
www.columbiamemorial.org • A Planetree Designated ® Hospital