Going for Gold

USA TODAY Sports Olympics reporter Nicole Auerbach is joined on the telephone by USAT sports editor David Meeks to dive into the ever-changing story of U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte and his three Olympic teammates and their encounter with Brazilian security guards at a gas station in Rio de Janeiro.

David offers the latest findings in the investigation, which tilt the story toward the possibility that Brazilian police, like Lochte, might have embellished their story.

The pair also discuss how Lochte was dropped from sponsors, how the media, in general, covered this story all wrong, and how the Rio Games should not be remembered mostly for this non-Games-related altercation.

The story by Meeks and Taylor Barnes can be read at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/21/investigation-ryan-lochte-rio-olympics-authorities/89082232.

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USA TODAY Sports' Nicole Auerbach and Sam Amick recap the overall performance by Michael Phelps and USA Swimming at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Phelps walks away with five gold medals and one silver, to run his career-best tally to 28 total Olympic medals -- 23 gold. He displayed raw emotion and appreciation and says retirement is next, as he's in a much better place than he was four years ago in London. But is this REALLY it?

It was also a record-breaking Olympics for Katie Ledecky, and breakout stars Lilly King, Maya Dirado, Ryan Murphy and Simone Manuel helped make the Rio Games a real pool party for the Americans.

Then USA Swimming coach Bob Bowman joins Nicole at the end of this episode to discuss all things Michael Phelps -- past, present and future.

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Rachel Axon and Nancy Armour of USA TODAY Sports catch you up on everything from the first week in Rio, including the many American stars at this year's Olympics, the city's security problem and Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi testing positive for a banned substance.

View the Facebook Live video of this podcast at: https://www.facebook.com/usatodaysports/videos/1221358757896284

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In a rare free moment, USA TODAY Sports' Rachel Axon and Nancy Armour discuss the top topics from the first three days of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

They discuss Lilly King vs. Yulia Efimova and all dopers, Michael Phelps vs. Chad le Clos and the U.S. women's gymnastics team vs. the world. And why aren't the American men as dominant as the American women in gymnastics?

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USA TODAY Sports reporter Rachel Axon is joined by a slew of guests to dissect the many issues facing Rio as the Olympics arrive. Rachel takes a look at the cost of these Olympics on Rio, how the city’s issues could play out during the Games and what will happen when the world turns its focus away after closing ceremonies on Aug. 21.

Guests include: reporter and Rio resident Taylor Barnes; Andrew Zimbalist, Smith College professor and author of "Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup"; Jules Boykoff, Pacific University politics teacher, author of "Power Games: A political history of the Olympics" and former U.S. men's soccer player; Elizabeth Talbot, an associate professor of medicine in the section of infectious disease and international health at Dartmouth and expert on outbreak and disease control; and Renata Neder, senior researcher and human rights adviser at Amnesty International’s office in Brazil.

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USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour chats on the phone with five-time Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin.

Liukin reminisces about the 2008 Beijing Games, where she captured the gold medal in All-Around, and admits she still hasn't gotten rid of any keepsakes from those Olympics.

Liukin also discusses the past eight years of her life, which includes graduating from New York University, appearing on "Dancing with the Stars", getting engaged and taking on broadcasting -- which she will do from Rio de Janeiro.

She gives her take on this year's U.S. women's gymnastics Olympics team and reveals whether she misses competing.

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USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour and Olympics reporter Rachel Axon discuss the IOC delegating decisions about Russian athlete eligibility to international sports federations rather than banning the country for running a state-sponsored doping program. The decision leaves plenty to be answered as 27 federations must decide on the eligibility of hundreds of Russian athletes before the Games open on Aug. 5, and Nancy and Rachel discuss what will come as a result of the IOC’s decision.