Games tidbits

WEIGHTLIFTING

Figueroa strikes gold before retiring

Colombian weightlifter Oscar Figueroa struck Olympic gold on Monday and then immediately retired, capping a rollercoaster few months after he was given a suspended prison sentence for car crime.

The 33-year-old, who once fled fighting by Colombian rebels, fell to his knees and burst into tears after lifting a total of 318 kg in an emotionally-charged men's 62kg final.

Figueroa, silver medalist at the London Games four years ago, kissed the barbell and removed his shoes to signify that he was retiring as he sobbed for several minutes in front of an adoring Colombian crowd.

"I can't describe how it feels right now. I've been lifting weights for 22 years and it's time to retire. That's why I took my shoes off," Figueroa said afterward.

He ran foul of the law in June when he was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, put on probation for two years and fined $468 for his involvement in falsely reporting a car theft.

SWIMMING

Sjostrom gives Sweden a new hero

She might not swagger or boast quite like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but swimmer Sarah Sjostrom put the soccer superstar in the shade - at least temporarily - by winning Olympic gold.

After becoming the first Swedish woman to win gold in the pool on Sunday by storming to a world record in the 100m butterfly, Sjostrom was savoring her moment in the sun.

"Ibrahimovic is one of a kind," the soft-spoken 22-year-old said after winning her 200m freestyle heat on Monday.

"It is usually always male athletes who get this stuff, the biggest names in sport, so it is nice a woman can come up and challenge him."

CELEBRITY

Ghostbusters star heading to Rio

Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones almost quit Twitter last month after receiving online abuse, but the comedian had the last laugh on Monday as her humorous tweets about the Olympics landed her an invitation from NBC to cover the Games.

NBC Sports said Jones will be in Rio by Friday and will be a contributor to its Olympics coverage. More details on her role will be announced later.

Jones, one of the leads in last month's Ghostbusters remake, spent the weekend tweeting reactions, responses and words of support to Team USA in events such as gymnastics, swimming and tennis to more than 400,000 of her followers.