Roundup: Italians power past U.S. men’s volleyball team

The Italians ended the gold-medal aspirations for the U.S. men’s volleyball team in a second straight Olympics.

After an embarrassing third-set flop, Italy forced a deciding fifth by using the momentum of a 6-0 run to close the fourth, to win 30-28, 26-28, 9-25, 25-22, 15-9.

As the last point was secured, the Italian players fell to the floor in joy, piling on each other.

The Italians face either defending champion Russia or host Brazil in Sunday’s final.

The Americans play for bronze, just like the No. 1 U.S. women after their stunning five-set defeat to Serbia on Thursday.

Equestrian

Rider injured when her horse falls on her during jump

Cuban modern pentathlon athlete Leyda Laura Moya was injured early in her equestrian run when her horse failed to clear a jump and she crashed into the supports.

The 24-year-old appeared to be gasping for air as medical personnel raced onto the course. Moya lay on the course for several minutes as medics stabilized her and strapped her to a stretcher.

… Nick Skelton won Great Britain’s first gold medal in individual jumping after a six-person jump-off.

Cycling

BMX gold medal finally headed to the United States

The United States has ended its gold medal drought in BMX cycling after Connor Fields took the men’s final.

Fields ended the American drought in BMX racing, winning the men’s final in 34.622 seconds, beating the Netherlands’ Jelle van Gorkom by .684 seconds.

It’s the first time Team USA has won BMX since the American-born sport became an Olympic medal event in 2008.

Wrestling

Russian freestyler puts brakes on U.S. dominance

U.S. wrestler Jordan Burroughs, considered by many the best wrestler in the world, was stunned by Russia’s Aniuar Geduev in the quarterfinals of freestyle wrestling.

Geduev, a three-time European champion ranked second, upended Burroughs, 3-2, at 74 kilograms to hand the American his third international loss.

A devastated Burroughs was later routed by Uzbekistan’s Bekzod Abdurakhmonov, 11-1.

Medal musings

French fighter Estelle Mossely celebrated her 24th birthday in style, winning a split decision over China’s Junhua Lin to win the lightweight gold medal.

She received another present earlier — her boyfriend, French fighter Tony Yoka, won gold in super heavyweight.

... Australia’s Chloe Esposito, in fourth starting the final segment, captured gold in women’s pentathlon, a first for Australia in the event.

Podium points

Brazilian police say IOC executive Patrick Hickey, 71, has been transferred to Bangu prison while under investigation in a ticket scalping scandal.

The Rio force says Hickey’s legal team unsuccessfully claimed the Irishman was being illegally detained following his arrest Wednesday.