RIO DE JANEIRO -- It came down to a dare in the headwinds, a bit of verbal jockeying by elite triathletes at a moment when mere mortals would have been too gassed for banter.Two-time world champion and prerace favorite Gwen Jorgensen of the United States knew she wouldnt win on reputation alone. A flat tire derailed her chances in the Olympic triathlon in London four years ago. On Saturday, she found herself rounding into the bell lap with defending champion Nicola Spirig of Switzerland. The two women hadnt been on the same course since that day in 2012.The 34-year-old Spirig had fought to get to the start on Copacabana Beach after a bike crash in early March. She raced with three plates and 23 screws in her surgically repaired left hand. She had helped make it a two-woman race with multiple aggressive attacks during the bike leg.Now, with no other athletes within realistic striking distance, the front-runners had a short discussion.No one wanted to lead, Spirig said. I was like, Come on, we share the work. And she said, No, I was leading before. I said, I was leading over there.It was just some mental games. I had to try everything to get her out of the rhythm a bit.It didnt work. She said, I already have a medal, Jorgensen said. And its fair enough. Now she has two and I still only have one.Jorgensen has the color she wants -- the gold she won by 40 seconds in 1 hour, 56 minutes, 16 seconds as she pulled away in the stretch, taking the first Olympic triathlon title by a U.S. athlete. Her pursuit compelled her to search for a coach on the other side of that world and to train with a group of young, hungry Australians who refer to her as grandma because she is 30 years old and consistently early to bed.Even as her honors and her aura expanded over the past few seasons -- two world championships, 17 World Triathlon Series wins and an undefeated 2015 -- Rio remained the big, flashing object on her radar.Jorgensen had controlled all that she could control. She won the test event held on the same course a year ago, and she was not about to let her feet betray her. She allowed herself a smile as she bore down on the finishing arch and hit the tape with her face awash in relief, followed by a few tears.She credited her husband, Patrick Lemieux, and Kiwi coach Jamie Turner, saying, Its as much their medal as it is mine.Ive said for four years that this was my goal, Jorgensen said, with just the slightest hitch in her voice. Aug. 20. I wanted to cross that line, I wanted to get a gold medal. Its pretty incredible that I was actually able to do it. Four years comes down to one day. To be able to perform on the day is something pretty amazing.Jorgensens quest combined her long-held Olympic ambition, the methodical mind of a certified public accountant, a multisport background at the University of Wisconsin and fearsome closing speed in the 10-kilometer run.Swimming was her first love, and when she was tapped by USA Triathlon college talent scout Barb Lindquist, I kind of laughed at them, Jorgensen said. I just felt like I didnt have what it took, Im not good enough.[Lindquist] said, On paper, you could be an Olympian. I just didnt believe that, and actually when I qualified for my first Olympics in 2012, it was a complete shock to me. Im just really thankful that Ive had those people to believe in me throughout the way and encourage me along the way, because without them I wouldnt be doing triathlon.Great Britains Vicky Holland saw Jorgensens kick from a familiar vantage point.To watch Gwen in full flight, usually from behind, is quite something, said Holland, who outsprinted teammate Non Stanford for the bronze medal. I think even today when I was watching the two of them duke it out in front, I could see they were running together for a long time before Gwen edged away.Its almost inevitable. Ive seen it in so many races. When Gwen is gone, its very hard to get her back again, and I think thats been shown time and time again. On the most important day and the most important stage, Gwen did it today.Jorgensens U.S. teammate Katie Zaferes finished 18th in 2:00:55.New Hampshires Sarah True, fourth in London, had a different kind of heartache Saturday as she tweaked her right quadriceps during the swim and had to abandon during the bike leg. Initial reports that she had crashed were incorrect. My leg seized up at the start of the bike, she posted on her Twitter feed. While I fought to ride as long as I could, I had to pull out.In an online note to ESPN.com, True wrote, No matter how we try to ignore it, theres always an element of luck to sport and I was just on the wrong side today. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Filipe-Luis-Jersey/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Diego-Godin-Jersey/ . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Koke-Jersey/ . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Antonio-Adan-Jersey/ . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.atleticomadridpro.com/Kids-Blank-Jersey/ . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. DETROIT -- Michael Fulmer has been baffling teams throughout a highly successful rookie season. The Boston Red Sox may have figured him out.Boston homered twice off Fulmer in the first inning and eventually scored six runs against him -- the most hes allowed in the majors -- in a 10-2 victory Friday night.Hes a very good pitcher who is very aggressive, said Jackie Bradley Jr., who hit one of Bostons two first-inning homers. We wanted to attack him right away. Hes going to come after you with the fastball, and we were looking for it.Fulmer figured out what the Red Sox were doing, but was already in a 4-0 hole after the first inning.They are a fastball-hitting team, and they were ready for my fastball, Fulmer said. It felt like every time I went inside, they were on it.The Tigers have lost nine of 12 after winning 10 of 11.It is a roller coaster, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. Ive gone through this every year of my career -- 25 years now. You have ups and downs.Boston starter Rick Porcello appreciated the early help.Thats huge, especially against a guy who has been pitching as well as Michael, Porcello said. Its always easier to pitch with a cushion, especially against that offense.Porcello was pitching for the first time at Comerica Park as a member of the Red Sox. He spent the first six years of his career with Detroit before being traded before the 2015 season.It was fun. Honestly, Porcello said in his usual low-key way. I think it helped that I pitched against those guys at Fenway last year and we came here last year, even though I didnt pitch. It was still weird being on the opposite side, though.Porcello is 17-3 with a 3.22 ERA, which no one appreciates more than his teammates.We gave him four runs in the first inning, and then he just did what he has done for us all year, said Hanley Ramirez, who drove in four runs. When we need a win, we know hes going to get us one. We had a tough loss yesterday, and he came out and shut them down.Porcello allowed four hits and two walks while striking out eight. His only major mistake was J.D. Martinezs two-run homer in the second inning.David Ortiz gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead in the first with his 22nd career homer at Comerica Park -- a blast deep into the stands in right field. Ortizz has hit more homers in Detroit than in any other ballpark outside the AL East.ddddddddddddBradley gave Boston a four-run lead with the second two-run homer of the first inning, but Martinez pulled the Tigers within 4-2 with his two-run shot in the second.Both pitchers settled down after that, and the score didnt change until the sixth. Fulmer retired the first two hitters, but base hits by Sandy Leon and Brock Holt put runners on first and second. Andrew Benintendi and Dustin Pedroia followed with RBI singles to knock Fulmer out of the game.Ramirezs two-run double off Bruce Rondon made it 8-2 in the seventh, and he added another two-run double in the eighth off Mark Lowe.TRAINERS ROOMRed Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (hamstring) threw in the bullpen Friday and remains on pace to start Sundays series finale. ... RHP Steven Wright (shoulder) is expected to miss at least one more start, but could start throwing off a mound this weekend.Tigers: RHP Mike Pelfrey (back) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session before the game, and is scheduled to throw another on Sunday. He would then progress to a simulated game before reporting to the minors for rehab games.MARTINEZ LOCKED INJ.D. Martinez hit a long home run in his first at-bat, but his second one might have been even more impressive. He hit a line drive to the left side that ripped the webbing out of shortstop Xander Bogaerts glove on its way to the outfield. Bogaerts had to call time to get a new glove from the Boston dugout.SPIRIT OF CESPEDESWhile Yoenis Cespedes wasnt at Comerica Park on Friday night, he certainly had a major impact on the game. Before the 2015 season, the Tigers traded Porcello to the Red Sox for Cespedes, then shipped him to the Mets at the trading deadline for Fulmer.Both trades were made by then-Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski, who was back in town Friday in his new role as Red Sox president.UP NEXTThe teams play the third game in their four-game series Saturday night with Bostons Drew Pomeranz (9-9, 2.99) facing Daniel Norris (1-1, 3.47). Norris is 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in two career outings against Boston, one of which was a start. Cheap Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys China Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Gear Stitched Jerseys Discount Jerseys Cheap NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys 2019 Black China NFL Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2020 ' ' '