Gold medalist Karine Ruby died today after a fall in a rock climbing accident in France. She and several others were mountain climbing on Mont Blanc when tragically, they fell into a crack in a glacier.

Michael Phelps has returned to the pool for the first time since Beijing.

Deadspin had a nice write up on Michael Phelps. The good news: Phelps likes to chew tobacco, drink, go to strip clubs, and have threesomes with stirppers.

Sasha Cohen just confirmed she will be back to contort her body for America at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. This comes as great news on many fronts. 1) We get to look at some of America’s finest talent stretch itself to the limit. 2) Apparently our women need the help, so the 24-year-old veteran is coming out of retirement to whup ass. Props to Sports Illustrated for breaking the good news.

Cohen is the 2006 Olympic Silver Medalist & 2006 US National Champion. In case you need a refresher, this 5′2″ dynamo is the best argument to watch figure skating. No one is probably more happy than Shaun White, who is probably saving these pictures while plotting his best pickup routines before they meet again:

The NCAA has approved Sand Volleyball for play beginning in the 2010-2011 school year.

I’m not sure if you call this a child prodigy, or someone whose parents just have a lot of, ummm, dedication. Either way, this kid is a little too intense for being 1) an alleged six-year-old, and 2) a player of table tennis. In about 12 years she will also beat the crap out of you in beer pong, assuming alcohol doesn’t turn her face beet red.