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For Olympic Boxer Claressa Shields, Round 2 Brings New Expectations

Boxer Claressa Shields, shown here in November 2015, wants to follow in Muhammad Ali's footsteps. Harry How/Getty Images hide caption

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Harry How/Getty Images

The Torch

For Olympic Boxer Claressa Shields, Round 2 Brings New Expectations

At 17, boxer Claressa Shields won gold in the 2012 London Olympics. But it didn't change her life as much as she thought it would. After she returned home to Flint, Michigan, she thought: Now what?

For Olympic Boxer Claressa Shields, Round 2 Brings New Expectations

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45 Olympic Athletes From 2012, 2008 Implicated In New Doping Tests

New analysis of stored samples taken from athletes at the Beijing and London Summer Olympics has turned up 45 cases of banned substances. Here, urine samples are recorded upon arriving at the China Anti-Doping Agency in Beijing in 2008. Robert F. Bukaty/AP hide caption

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Robert F. Bukaty/AP

The Torch

45 Olympic Athletes From 2012, 2008 Implicated In New Doping Tests

More than 20 athletes who won Olympic medals in Beijing are among those implicated. The new findings nearly double the number of implicated athletes from those games.

Badminton Takes Swing At Avoiding Repeat Of London Scandal

Referee Torsten Berg tried to get players from Indonesia (near court) and South Korea to try their hardest during this match at the London Olympics. The format gave some teams an incentive to lose — in order to get easier opponents in upcoming matches. That format's being changed. Adek Berry /AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Adek Berry /AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Badminton Takes Swing At Avoiding Repeat Of London Scandal

In London last summer fans were shocked as some players played to lose in order to get an easier opponent in later matches. The sport's ruling body is changing the format for upcoming Olympics to hopefully prevent that from happening again.

Paralympics Begin In London, Near 'Spiritual Home' Of Games

A team of torchbearers brings the Paralympic flame through Piccadilly Circus as the torch heads across London to the Olympic Stadium. The Paralympic Games' opening ceremony will be held Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET. LOCOG/Getty Images hide caption

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LOCOG/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Paralympics Begin In London, Near 'Spiritual Home' Of Games

More than 4,000 athletes from 147 countries will compete in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, where the opening ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m. ET today. The U.S. contingent of 227 athletes includes 133 men and 94 women. Of the American Paralympians, 20 are U.S. military veterans.

Olympic Bodies: They Just Don't Make Them Like They Used To
Adam Cole/NPR

Shots - Health News

Olympic Bodies: They Just Don't Make Them Like They Used To

We've put together an infographic that explores how athletes' bodies have changed over the last century. Those physiques are shaped by years of training — and by the laws of physics.

Olympic Bodies: They Just Don't Make Them Like They Used To

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Kinesio Tape Plasters Olympians, But Not All The Science Sticks

Germany's Laura Ludwing wears Kinesio tape during a women's beach volleyball match on July 31, 2012, during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Kinesio Tape Plasters Olympians, But Not All The Science Sticks

Said to ease pain and treat muscle injuries, brightly colored Kinesio tape is all over the Olympics, from the track to the diving platform. Some athletes say it's superior to other tape for recovery and performance, but the research on it doesn't always agree.