A nagging knee injury forced Shawn Johnson to announce her retirement from competitive gymnastics Sunday, four days before the start of the U.S. championships.
The 20-year-old Johnson, winner of four gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, has had repeated setbacks with her left knee, seriously damaged in a January 2010 ski accident, and she feared she was putting her long-term health at risk by continuing with her attempts to make a second Olympic team.
"It just little by little gets worse and worse," Johnson said. "My body is to the point where I need time to rest and retire so I can be healthy for the rest of my life. It's hard to wrap my mind around. Gymnastics has been my entire life, and now it's no more."
Soccer
Tie with Canada puts US at 4-1-1 for year
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TORONTO - The United States and Canada played to a 0-0 tie in a soccer exhibition match Sunday, leaving the U.S. 4-1-1 this year.
The Americans open World Cup qualifying play Friday in Tampa, Fla., against Antigua and Barbuda.
• In Arlington, Texas, Giovani Dos Santos and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez both scored in the first half as Mexico beat Brazil 2-0 in a final warm-up for the Mexicans before World Cup qualifying.
Hockey
Bruins goalie Thomas taking a year off
BOSTON - Tim Thomas will sit out the next NHL season, the Boston Bruins goaltender said on his Facebook page Sunday.
Thomas said he believed that at age 38 it was time to put his time and energy into relationships he said he has neglected, and will reconnect with friends, family and faith over the next year.
Thomas played in Finland and didn't break into an NHL lineup until he was 32. He won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie in 2009, and the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2011, when he led the Bruins to their first Cup since 1972.
Miscellaneous
Leverenz beats '08 gold medalist in 200 IM
Sahuaro High School grad Caitlin Leverenz defeated 2008 Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Rice to win the 200-meter individual medley Sunday at the Santa Clara (Calif.) International Invitational swimming meet.
Leverenz, a senior-to-be at California, was timed in 2 minutes 10.81 seconds. Rice, of Australia, touched in 2:11.18. The meet is one of the last big warmups before this month's U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb.
• In Phoenix, DeWanna Bonner's 23 points and 13 rebounds helped the Mercury hold off the Tulsa Shock 79-72, sending the Shock to their sixth straight loss to open the WNBA season.
• In Stillwater, Okla., receiver Justin Blackmon, first-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was arrested on an aggravated DUI charge. Authorities said the former Oklahoma State All-American had a blood-alcohol level of 0.24, three times the DUI level.
• In Los Angeles, Texas won its third NCAA men's golf championship defeating Alabama on a 20-foot birdie putt by senior Dylan Frittelli on Sunday at Rivera.
Includes material from a news release
Player, budget decisions loom as roster transition heats up for Arizona basketball
