South Africa
FILE - South Africa's Caster Semenya smiles after winning the women's 800-meter race during the Prefontaine Classic, an IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting, in Stanford, Calif. USA, Sunday, June 30, 2019. Semenya was listed on Friday, July 8, 2022 to compete at next week's world championships in Oregon, potentially setting up a surprise return to the big stage for the two-time Olympic champion and one of the most contentious athletes. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
In big surprise, Semenya listed to run at worlds in Eugene

By Gerald Imray Jul. 08, 2022 03:17 PM EDT

FILE - Barry Steenkamp, father of Reeva Steenkamp, leaves the High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, June 14, 2016, after Oscar Pistorius's sentencing proceedings. South African former track star Oscar Pistorius has met with the father of Reeva Steenkamp, the woman he shot to death in 2013, as part of his parole process, the Steenkamp's family lawyer told The Associated Press on Friday July 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
Seeking parole, Pistorius meets with girlfriend's father

By Gerald Imray Jul. 01, 2022 01:55 PM EDT

FILE - Nigeria's Jahlil Okafor (15), center, celebrates with teammates after making a basket during men's basketball preliminary round game against Italy at the 2020 Summer Olympics, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. The Nigerian government has made a sudden U-turn and cleared its national basketball teams to return to competition immediately. The sports ministry on Thursday, June 23, 2022 says the decision to lift a ban on the teams playing in international competitions came after an appeal to the government by the Nigerian Basketball Federation. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, file)
Nigerian government allows basketball teams to play again

By Gerald Imray Jun. 23, 2022 11:00 AM EDT

FILE - Nigeria players walk off the court after their loss in the women's basketball preliminary round game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. FIBA-Nigeria, basketball's world governing body, confirmed Thursday, June 2, 2022, that Nigeria has withdrawn its team from the women's World Cup and warned of "potential disciplinary measures" against the country because of government interference. Nigeria's government announced last month that it was withdrawing all its basketball teams from international competitions for two years while it completely restructures the sport. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
FIBA warns of possible disciplinary action against Nigeria

By Gerald Imray Jun. 02, 2022 08:17 AM EDT

FILE - South Africa's RG Snyman takes a restart during the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium between Wales and South Africa in Yokohama, Japan, Oct. 27, 2019. The United States has landed another World Cup. The Rugby World Cup, in 2031. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Column: US lands 2031 Rugby World Cup, if anyone cares

By Paul Newberry May. 13, 2022 04:12 PM EDT

FILE - Chad le Clos of South Africa looks up after his swim in a men's 200-meter butterfly semifinal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Former Olympic champion Chad le Clos was named on South Africa's team on Monday, May 9, 2022, for his seventh swimming world championships. The 30-year-old le Clos is planning to compete in the 50, 100 and 200 meters butterfly at the worlds in Budapest, Hungary, which start on June 18, South Africa's swimming federation said.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Le Clos makes South Africa team for his 7th world champs

By Gerald Imray May. 09, 2022 02:41 PM EDT

Shannon Abeda, of Eritrea passes a gate during the first run of the men's giant slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
After dip in Beijing, Olympians ask: What about Africa?

By John Leicester Feb. 16, 2022 02:27 AM EST

Former South African swimmer says he was abused by coach

Oct. 14, 2021 08:45 PM EDT
SYDNEY (AP) — A former world-ranked South African swimmer has told an Australian television network that he was abused by a coach who has been implicated in...

Canada's Alysha Corrigan, front left, passes the ball as Britain's Megan Jones grabs her during a women's HSBC Canada Sevens rugby match in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
South Africa close in on Series title at Edmonton Sevens

Sep. 25, 2021 09:21 PM EDT

United States' Martin Iosefo (12) vies for the ball against Canada's Andrew Coe, right, and Josiah Morra, back, during an HSBC Canada Sevens rugby game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
US, South Africa through to final 8 at Vancouver Sevens

Sep. 18, 2021 10:53 PM EDT

South Africa head coach Delaine Mentoor, kneeling second from left, talks to her team during a 33-1 loss to The Netherlands in a preliminary round women's water polo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Delaine Mentoor hoping to grow water polo in South Africa

By Jay Cohen Jul. 30, 2021 11:33 AM EDT

Marie-Josee Ta Lou, of the Ivory Coast, wins a heat in the women's 100-meter run at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Fast day at pool, track on Day 7 of Tokyo Olympics

By Josh Dubow Jul. 30, 2021 04:38 AM EDT

United States women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team Paige Madden, left, Arabella Sims and Kathy McLaughlin, right, react during their heat at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
South African swimmer flirts with world mark in Tokyo heats

By Beth Harris Jul. 28, 2021 09:05 AM EDT

Argentina players, including Argentina's Santiago Mare, right, embrace as they celebrate defeating South Africa in their men's rugby sevens quarterfinal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Fiji, Britain into semifinals, Argentina upsets South Africa

By John Pye Jul. 26, 2021 11:46 PM EDT

Ricarda Funk of Germany competes in the Women's K1 heats of the Canoe Slalom at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Olympics Latest: Funk wins surprise kayak slalom gold

Jul. 26, 2021 08:17 PM EDT

Belgium defender Loick Fanny A Luypaert (25) celebrates after Belgium defender Alexander Robby P Hendrickx, right, scored against the Netherlands during a men's field hockey match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Hendrickx scores 3 goals, leads Belgium past the Netherlands

By Cliff Brunt Jul. 24, 2021 07:00 AM EDT

A Tokyo 2020 staff member stands by to help direct team members from other countries for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games as they arrive at Haneda international airport in Tokyo on Sunday, July 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Zero risk? Virus cases test Olympic organizers' assurances

By Stephen Wade, Yuri Kageyama And Gerald Imray Jul. 17, 2021 11:55 PM EDT

This is a Feb. 5, 2019 photo provided by Olympic swimmer Erin Gallagher of her swimming under water in Durban, South Africa. Gallagher got COVID-19 late last year and went from elite Olympic athlete in peak condition to lying flat on a bed concentrating on just breathing. And yet she's one of the lucky ones. She recovered and is going to Tokyo. Other African hopefuls have not been so fortunate as the coronavirus surges again across the continent just as the Olympics approach. (Erin Gallagher via AP)
In Africa, virus ruins Olympic dreams and tests dedication

By Gerald Imray Jul. 08, 2021 03:55 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 24, 2019, file photo, Ivory Coast's Franck Kessie receives the ball in front of South Africa's Sandile Hlanti during an African Cup of Nations group D soccer match in Cairo. The only time the Ivory Coast men have competed at the Olympics was in 2008 when they faced Lionel Messi’s Argentina before going out in the quarterfinals. They will be hoping to secure the release from Manchester United of Amad Diallo and Kessie from AC Milan. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
South Africa vs Ivory Coast 6/24/2019

Jul. 03, 2021 05:03 AM EDT

Caster Semenya reacts before the women's 5000 meter race in Regensburg, Saturday, June 19, 2021. The two-time 800-meter Olympic champion from South Africa once again missed out on qualifying for the Summer Games in Tokyo during her surprising start in Regensburg. (Stefan Puchner/dpa via AP)
Semenya misses Tokyo, may be forced out of Olympics for good

By Gerald Imray Jul. 03, 2021 02:48 AM EDT