Silver Medal

VIENNA — The Austrian judo federation said Olympic judo silver medalist Claudia Heill of Austria committed suicide by jumping out of a sixth-story window in Vienna. She was 29. The federation said that “nobody could foresee this act of desperation.’’ It did not provide more details. Federation president Hans Paul Kutschera told national broadcaster ORF that Ms. Heill “was a very active person,’’ adding that “everyone who knew her is devastated.’’ Ms. Heill won silver in the under-63 kilogram category at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Taiwanese police say Chinese police have recovered a stolen medal that had been presented to a World War II general by Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation said the silver medal awarded to Gen. Hu Lien was stolen last week from a museum on the Taiwanese island of Kinmen. Hu led Nationalist troops fighting Japanese invaders in China between 1937 and 1945 and died in Taiwan in 1977. The bureau's statement Wednesday said the medal was recovered from a Chinese man who had visited Taiwan last week.

Boxer Damon Allen has been suspended for six months by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. USADA says the 19-year-old lightweight from Philadelphia tested positive for a banned diuretic in July. Allen's suspension began on Sept. 1, but he loses all results from July 19 onward. Allen is a student at Northern Michigan University and won a silver medal in the 2010 National Golden Gloves.

Former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine has a new job. The 66-year-old Fine has been hired as a consultant by the Maccabi "Bazan" Haifa franchise of the Israeli Basketball Super League. The team made the announcement Thursday. Fine will be based in the U.S. and will consult on player personnel decisions and help in the search for a new coach. Fine has strong ties to Israeli basketball. He coached the U.S. Maccabiah team to a silver medal at the 1993 World Maccabiah Games.

Lotte Friis of Denmark led for most of the race and won the gold medal in the 1,500 at the world swimming championships. Friis, who took the silver medal in the 1,500 in 2009 and the 800-meter gold, finished Tuesday in 15 minutes, 49.59 seconds. Kate Ziegler of the United States, the world record holder, took silver in 15:55.60, and Li Xuanxu of China captured the bronze in 15:58.02. The women's 1,500 is a non-Olympic event.

French teammates Camille Lacourt and Jeremy Stravius finished in a rare dead heat for gold in the men's 100-meter backstroke at the world swimming championships. Lacourt and Stravius finished in a time of 52.76 seconds on Tuesday. No silver medal will be awarded. The bronze went to Irie Ryosuke of Japan in a time of 52.98. It was the first individual medal of any type for the French swimmers at the world championships.

Brazil's women's Olympic team will play friendlies against Canada, the United States and Japan to prepare for the 2012 London Games. Brazil's soccer federation said Thursday that Brazil will face Canada on March 24 in the Boston area, then will travel to Japan to play Olympic champion U.S. on April 3 and world champion Japan on April 5. The U.S. had announced the April 3 game last week. Brazil had already announced that it will also face England and Portugal in May in yet to be determined locations.

Former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine has a new job. The 66-year-old Fine has been hired as a consultant by the Maccabi "Bazan" Haifa franchise of the Israeli Basketball Super League. The team made the announcement Thursday. Fine will be based in the U.S. and will consult on player personnel decisions and help in the search for a new coach. Fine has strong ties to Israeli basketball. He coached the U.S. Maccabiah team to a silver medal at the 1993 World Maccabiah Games.

PARIS - Pierre Jonqueres d'Oriola, who won show jumping gold medals for France at the 1952 and 1964 Olympics, has died. He was 91. The French Equestrian Federation said Mr. d'Oriola died Tuesday at his home in Corneilla-del-Vercol in the eastern Pyrenees of southern France. At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, he took the individual gold medal riding Ali Baba. Twelve years later at the Tokyo Games, he won the gold medal again on Lutteur B. Mr. d'Oriola's French team took the silver medal in Tokyo and again in 1968 in Mexico.

The Italian volleyball federation says 1996 Olympic silver medalist Vigor Bovolenta has died after he was stricken with a heart attack while playing a match. He was 37. Attempts to resuscitate failed following his collapse on the court Saturday during a second-tier league game between his Volley Forli team and Lube Macerata. Bovolenta had reportedly complained teammates of feeling faint during the match. Federation President Carlo Magri said Sunday that Bovolenta was an "exceptional guy" and his death is a "very great loss.

NICE, France - Carolina Kostner of Italy won the world figure skating title Saturday, delivering a graceful performance of mesmerizing steps and spins for her first gold medal at a major event. Patrick Chan of Canada captured the men's title for the second straight year despite a flawed free skate that included a late tumble. He is the first man to win consecutive titles since the now retired Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland in 2006. "It's more special than the first to be honest.

The Italian volleyball federation says 1996 Olympic silver medalist Vigor Bovolenta has died after he was stricken with a heart attack while playing a match. He was 37. Attempts to resuscitate failed following his collapse on the court Saturday during a second-tier league game between his Volley Forli team and Lube Macerata. Bovolenta had reportedly complained teammates of feeling faint during the match. Federation President Carlo Magri said Sunday that Bovolenta was an "exceptional guy" and his death is a "very great loss.

The Boston Globe's digital design team won six awards Monday from the Society for News Design for projects featured on BostonGlobe.com and Boston.com in the past year. Several judges reviewed more than 500 entries in the "Best of Digital Design" competition, and lauded Globe designers for their data visualization and informational graphic work. Globe design director Dan Zedek said the accolades are a welcome surprise for his team. "I think we did better than any paper of our size around the world," Zedek said Monday.

Brazil's women's Olympic team will play friendlies against Canada, the United States and Japan to prepare for the 2012 London Games. Brazil's soccer federation said Thursday that Brazil will face Canada on March 24 in the Boston area, then will travel to Japan to play Olympic champion U.S. on April 3 and world champion Japan on April 5. The U.S. had announced the April 3 game last week. Brazil had already announced that it will also face England and Portugal in May in yet to be determined locations.

    This flexible silicone beaker made by Chef'n Corp ., which won a silver medal at the 2012 Housewares Design Awards, can be pinched for pouring . I already own a set (I've had them for a couple years), so not sure how new the technology is. What I like about them is that they don't drip when you pour liquids, and you can use them for hot or cold, of course, since they're made from silicone. (The no-drip factor is wonderful for watering plants.)

PRAGUE - Jiri Raska, the 1968 Olympic ski jumping champion who was named the best Czech skier of the 20th century, died Friday. He was 70. Mr. Raska died in the eastern town of Novy Jicin. The cause of death was not given. Mr. Raska became the first Czech to win gold at a Winter Olympics when he won off the middle hill in Grenoble, France. He also won a silver medal at the same Olympics on the large hill. "It's a great loss for Czech sport," Czech Olympic Committee chairman Milan Jirasek said, calling Mr. Raska "a legend.

    This flexible silicone beaker made by Chef'n Corp ., which won a silver medal at the 2012 Housewares Design Awards, can be pinched for pouring . I already own a set (I've had them for a couple years), so not sure how new the technology is. What I like about them is that they don't drip when you pour liquids, and you can use them for hot or cold, of course, since they're made from silicone. (The no-drip factor is wonderful for watering plants.)

The road for double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius to reach the London Games has been made slightly easier because the IAAF softened its Olympic qualifying standards for the 400 meters. The South African now faces a qualifying time of 45.30 seconds, up 0.05 seconds from the earlier standard. Pistorius' top time is 45.07, a mark he set this year. If he qualifies, Pistorius will be one of the biggest draws at the Olympics. He won a silver medal in the 4x400 relay at this year's world championships.

The road for double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius to reach the London Games has been made slightly easier because the IAAF softened its Olympic qualifying standards for the 400 meters. The South African now faces a qualifying time of 45.30 seconds, up 0.05 seconds from the earlier standard. Pistorius' top time is 45.07, a mark he set this year. If he qualifies, Pistorius will be one of the biggest draws at the Olympics. He won a silver medal in the 4x400 relay at this year's world championships.

Boxer Damon Allen has been suspended for six months by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. USADA says the 19-year-old lightweight from Philadelphia tested positive for a banned diuretic in July. Allen's suspension began on Sept. 1, but he loses all results from July 19 onward. Allen is a student at Northern Michigan University and won a silver medal in the 2010 National Golden Gloves.