Rippon wins U.S. title
Adam Rippon won his first U.S. figure skating title, a victory likely to reignite the debate about the value of artistry vs. athleticism in the sport. Rippon fell on his only quadruple jump attempt in the free skate, while runner-up Max Aaron landed two and 16-year-old Nathan Chen did a stunning four but had to settle for third place at St. Paul, Minn. Rippon was superior in expression and choreography, which still make up a huge part of scores.
In skiing, Lindsey Vonn won a World Cup super-G, her 11th career victory in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, to break Renate Goetschl’s resort record. A day earlier Vonn won a downhill to eclipse Annemarie Moser-Proell’s mark of 36 career wins in skiing’s marquee event. Last year in Cortina, she broke Moser-Proell’s women’s record of 62 wins across all events. . . . Henrik Kristoffersen won a men’s World Cup slalom at Kitzbuehel, Austria. He is the first to win the classic slaloms in Adelboden, Wengen and Kitzbuehel in the same year.
Former mixed martial arts champion Cain Velasquez’s bid to recapture his Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight belt was postponed because of a back injury. The UFC said contender Stipe Miocic will fight champion Fabricio Werdum Feb. 6 in UFC 196 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
— Lance Pugmire
Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic venues will be inspected daily during the 2016 Summer Games in a bid to prevent the spread of a mosquito-borne virus linked to a rare birth defect and a condition that can cause paralysis. Brazil is experiencing an outbreak of Zika virus, which health officials say may be behind a spike in cases of microcephaly, which sees infants born with unusually small heads, and the paralysis-causing Guillain-Barre syndrome. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised pregnant women to reconsider travel to Brazil and 21 other nations with Zika outbreaks.
Transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in the Olympics and other international events without undergoing sex reassignment surgery, according to new guidelines adopted by the International Olympic Committee. IOC medical officials said they changed the policy to adapt to current scientific, social and legal attitudes on transgender issues. The guidelines are designed as recommendations — not rules or regulations — for international sports federations and other bodies to follow.
Former NFL receiver Jabar Gaffney faces possible drug charges after a traffic stop in central Florida. The Florida Highway Patrol said Gaffney, 35, was arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. . . . The Minnesota Vikings added former Philadelphia offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur as an assistant coach. His role has not been finalized. . . . Southern Mississippi Coach Todd Monken is leaving to be the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Three-time world champion Sebastien Ogier won the seasonopening Monte Carlo rally, his third straight win in his favorite race. The Frenchman led overnight ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen of Norway, and crossed the finish in Gap, France, nearly two minutes ahead of his Volkswagen teammate for his 33rd career victory.