Mexico's players celebrate their victory over Brazil at the men's soccer final gold medal match (REUTERS) LONDON – Mexico took less than a minute to set itself on the road to the Olympic men's soccer gold medal on Saturday, but the foundation for its triumph was laid a decade ago.

The Mexicans outdueled Brazil 2-1 in front of a packed Wembley Stadium to earn their nation's first gold of the Games and send a warning message to the soccer world.

Oribe Peralta struck with the fastest ever goal in an Olympic final to stun Brazil after only 29 seconds and added another with 15 minutes left to provide a lead big enough to survive Brazil's inevitable late rally.

With the World Cup less than two years away, the victory was proof that Mexico can be a serious contender on the international stage. Olympic soccer, with its under-23 format, does not always translate into senior success, but Mexico's golden generation has been grown, developed and carefully managed for 10 years with the specific intention that they will one day help lift a major international trophy.

[ Related: Fastest Olympic

Read More »from Mexico's master plan produces soccer gold

Mohamed Farah crosses the finish line to win gold in the Men's 5000m Final (Getty Images)LONDON – By his own admission, Mo Farah has never been much good at taking instructions.

As a cheeky schoolboy, he would regularly play pranks on his teachers, and it's a good thing he ignored a comedy video titled "Don't Do It" that Usain Bolt sent him on his wedding day.

But as a packed Olympic Stadium screamed at Farah to complete his perfect Olympic Games by winning the 5,000 meters on Saturday, he had no problem obeying.

[ Video: Friends Rupp and Farah go 1-2 in Men's 10,000m ]

Having won the 10,000 meters exactly seven days earlier, the Great Britain runner forced his way towards the front with six laps remaining and never relinquished control of the race. A blistering last lap saw him come under heavy pressure from eventual silver medalist Dejen Gebremeskel and third-place finisher Thomas Longosiwa, but Farah resisted their challenge before pulling away on the final straight to win in 13 minutes and 41.66 seconds.

Americans Bernard Lagat (fourth), Galen Rupp (seventh)

Read More »from Great Britain's Mo Farah wins 5000 meters to complete London Games long-distance 'double'

LONDON – Swimming star Sun Yang will celebrate signing China's biggest-ever Olympic endorsement deal by giving his teammates an enormous bonus.

Sun's popularity in his homeland has skyrocketed after he won the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle at London's Aquatics Centre and will rake in around $18 million over the next year as part of his arrangement with three major companies.

However, under the terms of his contract with the Chinese swimming authority he will have to hand over one third of those earnings to other members of the Olympic team who are not so well rewarded.

[ Related: Sun Yang wins 1,500 free with world record ]

His handout will be welcomed by the less well-known swimmers, many of whom receive just a small stipend from their country's governing body, although all their training and living costs are covered.

Chinese media reports told how Sun's wealth will be boosted by Coca Cola, shoe company 361 Degrees and dairy goods manufacturer Yili. A series of smaller

Read More »from Teammates will share in Chinese swim star Sun Yang's huge endorsement deal income

LONDON – The two historic athletes who became the first women to ever represent Saudi Arabia in the Olympic Games have been snubbed by their nation's media and subjected to a campaign of hate.

Sarah Attar ran the 800 meters on the Olympic Stadium track and Wojdan Shaherkani competed in judo earlier in the Games after the Saudi government eased its strict stance on women competing following international pressure.

Attar finished last in her heat and Shaherkani lost her opening bout, with both gaining huge worldwide attention. However, back in Saudi Arabia, the approach was very different.

[ Related: Saudi judoka loses first bout, promises to be back ]

Saudi judoka Wojdan Shaherkani (Reuters)"We were the only newspaper to write about it," said Khaled Al-Maeena, editor of the English-language publication Saudi Gazette, in a telephone conversation with Yahoo! Sports. "I believe these girls are heroines, and we should celebrate as a nation. Unfortunately, other people do not agree."

A sinister Twitter campaign with the

Read More »from Saudi Arabia media ignores historic Olympic Games of female athletes

LONDON – Hope Solo's personality is pretty unusual, often prickly, and totally unapologetic. And the U.S. women's soccer team could not be happier about it.

The U.S. goalkeeping star kept her best for last at the Summer Games, with a superb performance that included four outstanding saves as the side retained its Olympic title with a 2-1 victory over Japan. Solo is never more impressive than when she has a point to prove. A public spat with national team legend Brandi Chastain at the start of the tournament, then allowing three goals against Canada in a tense semifinal, proved to be the perfect cocktail for a Solo master class at Wembley Stadium.

Just don't expect her to change.

[Photos: Hope Solo comes up big | Athlete page: More on Hope Solo]

"I am who I am," Solo said after her close friend Carli Lloyd scored the two goals that clinched victory for the Americans, who avenged last year's Women's World Cup defeat to Japan.

"I don't care how I am seen. I don't care how

Read More »from Hope Solo saves the day again for U.S.

LONDON – Japan's women's soccer team lost a game but gained a worldwide army of admirers Thursday, thanks to its touching display of class following the Olympic final. 

The Japanese, winners of the Women's World Cup last year, came up just short in losing 2-1 to the United States at Wembley Stadium, and many of the players were so devastated that they wept onto the turf when the final whistle blew.

Less than 15 minutes later, though, they showed exactly how to bow out with dignity. While the Americans emerged from the locker room tunnel relishing a victory by sporting T-shirts emblazoned with a deserved boast – "Greatness Has Been Found" – Japan kept things a little more low key.

Led by captain Aya Miyama, Japan's players held hands as they walked onto the field, skipping, jumping, and smiling as they headed toward the podium, and a delighted crowd roared its approval. Once they stood on the dais, Miyama and her players leaped in the air as a victor might normally, then

Read More »from Japan classy in defeat to U.S. in soccer final

LONDON – The United States gained sweet revenge on Thursday for one of the most painful women's soccer defeats, beating Japan 2-1 to take the Olympic Games gold medal before a record crowd of 80,203 at Wembley Stadium.

A pair of outstanding goals from midfielder Carli Lloyd was enough to ensure the Americans avenged their defeat by the same opponent on penalty kicks in last year's Women's World Cup final. The U.S. still had to weather a late comeback by Japan, which applied constant pressure after Yuki Ogimi's 63rd-minute goal.

Lloyd missed the Americans' first penalty in the shootout on that fateful night in Frankfurt, Germany, but the 30-year-old midfielder was the difference maker here, scoring with an opportunistic header after seven minutes, then smashing home the second just after halftime. Thursday's victory was redemption for the U.S., but Lloyd downplayed that factor for her personally.

Carli Lloyd celebrates after scoring against Japan goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto to give the U.S.a 1-0 lead. (AP)"The penalty shot wasn't in my mind one bit – it happens," said Lloyd, who

Read More »from Fresh Take: Carli Lloyd leads U.S. women past Japan to defend title and win Olympic soccer gold

LONDON – An audacious plan for the United States and Canada to team up and co-host the 2024 Olympic Games has received strong early support. Toronto (pictured) and Buffalo could be co-hosts of the 2024 Olympics. (CBC)

City leaders from Buffalo, N.Y., and Toronto, which are separated by 100 miles, have openly discussed the option of trying to make the 2024 Games the first OIympics to officially be staged in more than one country.

Toronto City Councilor James Pasternak has pushed the idea. He told the Toronto Sun that any bid for the Games should include partnering with an American city to cut down on the severe financial costs involved with staging the world's biggest festival of sport.

Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown has sounded receptive to the idea, and representatives of the two cities will now discuss ways to take the plan forward.

"It is a novel concept," Brown said. It's "very interesting to hear about a proposal to bring an Olympics to a binational area – to come to Toronto and the city of Buffalo. I am certainly intrigued by it."

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Read More »from Toronto, Buffalo discuss making joint bid for 2024 Olympic Games