Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
James picked as USA’s flag bearer
Four-time NBA champion LeBron James will be Team USA’s male flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, the American team said on Monday. The two-time Olympic gold medallist, aged 39, will be participating in his fourth Olympics.
Olympics-Athlete influencers compete for likes as well as medals in Paris
Athletes on the hunt for Olympic gold will also be chasing likes and follows on social media in Paris, as a battle for a coveted piece of viral fame kicks off at the Games. A social media side hustle unlike any other will play out across a frantic 16 days beginning on July 26 with Olympians looking to exploit a narrow window to connect with fans from the Games on platforms like YouTube, Tik Tok and Instagram.
Nadal beaten in straight sets
Rafa Nadal suffered a setback in his Paris 2024 Olympics preparations on Sunday as he was beaten 6-3 6-2 in the Swedish Open final by Portuguese seventh seed Nuno Borges. The 38-year-old Spaniard was playing his first title match since his 2022 French Open triumph, but saw his serve broken five times in the one-hour and 27-minute contest as Borges won his maiden tour final.
Vondrousova and Hurkacz pull out
Olympic silver medallist Marketa Vondrousova has withdrawn from the Paris Summer Games due to a hand injury, the Czech 25-year-old said on Monday, with Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz also withdrawing. Vondrousova reached the women’s final in Tokyo three years ago as an unseeded player, losing to Swiss ninth seed Belinda Bencic. The Swiss, who gave birth to a daughter in April, will not be in Paris to defend her title.
American wins Open
American PGA superstar Xander Schauffele celebrated achieving a lifelong dream after winning his second major title with a two-shot victory at the British Open on Sunday, earning another major win.