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RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Olympics began in full with the first gold medal going to an American teenager by the fearsome name of Thrasher. There was plenty of rough riding on a punishing cycling course, a smooth opener for Kevin Durant and company, and a difficult loss for Venus Williams.The American mens basketball team romped past China 119-62 Saturday night behind Durants 25 points. Although it was a blowout, bettors in Las Vegas, where wagering on the Olympics is legal for the first time since 1998, were undoubtedly on edge until the final minutes.Japans Kosuke Hagino won the mens 400-meter individual medley in the marquee race in Saturday nights swimming program, albeit a bit less flashy without two of the sports biggest stars. Michael Phelps, the world record holder and two-time Olympic champion, dropped the race for his fifth games and defending champion Ryan Lochte didnt qualify.Virginia Thrasher, a 19-year-old who once had her heart set on figure skating, captured the 10-meter air rifle Saturday. Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium won the grueling road race that left cyclists with a myriad of injuries.Riders rolled off to the sound of crashing waves on Copacabana Beach on a steamy morning hours after Brazils high-energy opening ceremony featuring thumping funk, sultry samba and supermodel Gisele Bundchen sauntering to the tune of The Girl from Ipanema.Showcasing Rios famed beaches and majestic mountains, the mens road race began under clear, sunny skies buzzing with helicopters -- some carrying TV cameras, others from the military to provide security.The brutality of the course became evident over the cobblestone sectors that rattled one cyclist off his bike, cost another his chain and forced Tour de France champion Chris Froome to replace his broken bike.Van Avermaet out-sprinted Jakob Fuglsang and Rafal Majka on the long run to the finish at sun-splashed Copacabana Beach after Italys Vincenzo Nibali and Colombias Sergio Henao crashed while trying to navigate a corner on the final harrowing descent of the 6-hour race.Goalkeeper Hope Solo came up big as the United States fought off France 1-0 in a group stage match at Mineirao Stadium. Carli Lloyd scored the games only goal.Solo became the first goalkeeper, male or female, to reach 200 appearances in international play. Despite the milestone, Solo was still peppered with jeers from the crowd, which was riled up about social media posts she made about the threat of the Zika virus.Thousands of police and soldiers were patrolling the city amid concerns about safety.On Saturday, there was a scare during the break at the eventing dressage at the Olympic Equestrian Center as a military-looking bullet pierced the roof of the tent and landed on the floor near startled reporters. The competition was not disrupted and nobody was hurt.Brazilian military and police called it an unfortunate incident, one that came shortly after bomb-disposal experts blew up an unattended bag near the finish line of the mens cycling race.Among the highlights on Day 1:-BOUNCED : Venus Williams, playing her opening match at her record fifth Olympics, lost 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) to Kristen Flipkens of Belgium. With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry watching, the fifth-seeded Williams was broken while serving for the victory at 5-3. She was two points from the win four times but could not close out Flipkens, who is ranked 62nd and only once reached the semifinals of a major tournament.-YOUTH SERVED : Thrasher topped her spectacular spring where she won three NCAA titles and a spot on the U.S. Olympic team by upsetting Chinas Li Du, a two-time gold medalist, to capture the 10-meter air rifle title. She swapped figure skating for shooting after a family hunting trip in which she killed a deer with her first shot.-HANDBALL HOST : Host Brazil upset reigning gold medalist Norway 31-28 in the opening game of the handball tournament. Ana Paula Rodrigues led the way with 12 goals for Brazil, which has never won an Olympic handball medal. As the arena filled with passionate home fans for the early morning game, five straight goals and big saves from goalkeeper Mayssa Raquel Pessoa paved the way for victory.-WOMEN FIRST : France won the first rugby match at the Olympics in 92 years -- and the first ever for women -- beating Spain 24-7 to begin the six-day sevens tournament. Rugby sevens, the fast-pace, condensed form of the game, is the format for the sports return to the Olympic program for the first time since 1924, when the U.S. men won gold in the 15-a-side tournament.-BAD BREAK : French gymnast Samir Ait Saids Olympics ended when he severely injured his left leg while vaulting during team preliminaries. Saids leg bent awkwardly as he tried to land, the sound echoing through the arena. Said writhed on the ground in agony while medical officials tended to him. He exited on a stretcher to a standing ovation.---AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.---AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org Dave Cowens Jersey . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Michael Redd Jersey .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. https://www.cheapbucksonline.com/556t-gary-payton-jersey-bucks.html . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Kent Benson Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Vin Baker Jersey . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Greater Western Sydney have had a player meeting to emphasise the importance of staying on the straight and narrow, in the wake of Sydney defender Michael Talias drug charges.Illicit drugs in the AFL are back in the news following Talias arrest near a Sydney nightclub early on Sunday morning, when he was allegedly caught in possession of cocaine.Giants co-captain Callan Ward said it had prompted his club to re-address the pertinent issue with players.We had a small meeting about it this morning, Ward said on Wednesday.We just mentioned that this is how easily it can happen if you get yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.That if youre doing the wrong thing it can ruin careers, it can ruin seasons for some people.Its just not worth the risk of things like that happening.So we addressed it a tiny bit this morning.Talia, who is due to face court next month, had only been a couple of weeks shy of a comeback from a foot injury thats kept him sidelined since round one.The 23-year-old has been stood ddown by the Swans, though the club are supporting both the player and his family.ddddddddddddWard made it clear he did not know all the details but felt the Swans had dealt with the `sensitive situation well.The player welfare of Michael Talia is obviously the first priority, he said.Until that happens here, hopefully I dont have to deal with it.If it does, hopefully I can learn from the way the Swans are dealing with it.A key priority for Ward was the mental wellbeing of injured players, especially those enduring long-term rehabilitation programs such as Jarrod Pickett (foot) and Paul Ahern (ACL).Being in rehab is not the funnest place to be, he said.Its extremely boring ... I can imagine how tough it gets.So its important for us as a playing group and leadership group to change our schedule up and always interact with them, take them out for dinner and hang out with them. ' ' '