12 news starts now. the rio olympics. >> are your new home for everything about the games. >> a huge day for the women's us basketball team winning six medals. they are in rio with the action. >> reporter: good evening team 12 little night here in rio de

olympic park and i have to tell you it is absolutely hopping here right now because about one hour ago brazil clinched the gold-medal over germany in these brazilians are going crazy so a lot of great energy here today and that is what brazilians here are celebrating that way back in arizona we have a big reason to celebrate two of our very own athletes also clinching the gold-medal as far as basketball is concerned. the absolutely dominated spain in the game that was played earlier this afternoon. check out the score. 101-72. this is her fourth olympic gold medal and the six consecutive gold for team usa in women's basketball. the american women so overpowered their opponents the tournament was the least

that the average margin of victory for the us here has been about 40 points. in this game the us jumped ahead early and the americans who beat spain by 40 points earlier during this tournament steadily expanded their use -- lead and diana had 17 points with other teammates earning their fourth gold-medal it is an incredible example of what team usa and women's able to achieve in the last couple of olympics. truly magnificent and dominating in every way. i had a choice -- chance to talk to her not long before i came on the air today and i have an exclusive one-on-one to do with her tonight at 11 pm. she tells me what she is looking forward to doing the most when she gets back home to arizona. and i am standing here by the olympic rings and people are excited and snapping pictures

in the celebrations here will be a lot of fun because of that gold medal win like brazil over germany. [ cheering and applause ] yes it doesn't take much right now to get the crowd hyped as you tell you i am wearing the olympic gold medal because today is officially 21 days that we have been here in rio my photojournalist and i tomorrow is our last day and monday night we fly back home. it is unbelievable to think that the real olympic games now almost ready to be over. >> no kidding and it's great to see them celebrate their first ever called for men's soccer. is this a replica that you can buy that? >> reporter: i don't reveal my

with me and wearing it proudly. it has been an exhilarating experience and an exhausting experience. i call it the double d trip. exhilarating and exhausting. the double d . >> she needs to bring us one. there are the gold standard, women's hospital has been in team usa has 18 gold medals. the rest of the world just three. it has never been done before by any women's team in olympic history. 49 straight wins they are just so good. the last time they lost was august 5, 1992 with george bush senior still the president. diana is the engine behind this and hold the record for most points in olympics. they beat

you want to know what a dream team looks like? you are looking at them. >> very well put. and team usa was cheered on from here in the valley because of those players on the team . there is a lot of support behind them. >> we talked to the coach and teammates at the watch party happening today. >> usa. usa. >> showing that diehard devotion to the phoenix mercury >> just being part of this and being able to be part of this with my teammates is a really exciting thing. >> six players made it to the olympics to starring for the red white and blue. fans packed the new york restaurant to watch the gold- medal game. >> i predict the usa will win comfortably. just because they are the best players.

offered them six straight medals downing spain with a 29 point win. >> it is amazing that we are representing the phoenix mercury and arizona athletes. >> this is it. last game of the olympics so go usa. looking elsewhere simona biles has been chosen to carry the us flag during the closing ceremony of the olympic games marmite. >> team usa announced her selection on twitter. she earned for individual and team gold models -- medals. she says it is an incredible honor. and in all her excitement she had to tweet a crash zach efron. she said i am carrying the flag for closing ceremony. will you still be here? >> sadly he tweeted back to her

heading home for work. but i will be there. in spirit. carry that fire carry the flag #go team usa. >> i think the two of them will meet up again. >> somewhere. >> and will see it on twitter. >> now to the latest on the controversy surrounding the swimmers. the final swimmer is on his way home as gunnar bentz is sharing what really night in question. >> the apologies and back tracking may be over now that all four olympic swimmers are freemen this morning. ben's released a statement on friday collaborating on that night saying i never made a false statement to anyone at anytime and i cannot speak to his actions but ryan stood up and began to yell at the guards.

want to apologize for my behavior last weekend and for not being more careful and candid and how i described the events of the early morning. olympic smith swimming great mark spitz expressing sadness about it all . >> unfortunately i think it still attention away from the great performances. >> from a speedo to ralph lorenz ryan lafferty's endorsement future is drifting into uncertain waters. he and his fellows olympic swimmers are now facing post- olympic financial uncertainty after a week of tall tales in rio . >> they pulled us over and pulled out their guns . >> their initial accounts of late-night armed robbery began to unravel this week is authorities viewed surveillance footage and conducted interviews. once his rubbery claims collapsed under scrutiny damage to his brand is already apparent . >> this incident will be

his endorsements. he becomes someone who is recognizable but not necessarily for the right reasons. >> for the big named olympic athletes season and corporate sponsorship after the olympics is key. millions are at stake. the american public's perception of his sincerity in particular will determine his future. the rest of the world may continue to judge himself he stands for a certain type of ugly american type. >> and international mess to be sure and a costly one. coming up in prime time matt lauer sits down with ryan lafferty to discuss the continuing controversy >> you didn't tell them the whole truth.

didn't tell me the whole truth. >> i left details out. and that is why i am in this mess. i left certain things out and over exaggerated some parts of the story. >> you can catch the whole interview tonight in prime time right here on 12 news. >> he dyed his hair back. >> half the rio medals won by those with arizona ties simply put asu and the olympics go hand-in-hand. this athlete finished 11th friday night with one of the best times of her career. >> is supposed to be the best competition in the world and i definitely saw that today obviously but i think it was a

teams but this is my first big world stage team and i think i handled it pretty well [laughter] if i do say so myself. but yes it is definitely taking away a learning experience. >> she handled it very well. this is just the beginning for the 23-year-old who was already no american has ever medals in the women's 5000 m . >> well-done shelby. coming up at 5 pm we are going behind-the-scenes of all the late-night olympic fun with ryan seacrest. their champions in the passport but how well can they sing the song? they take their shot at we are the champions.

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counselor will hold a vigil to honor the victims of the alleged serial shooter who is believed to have killed someone. there are three new cases and three new people have the virus. all people have since recovered. and were tracking active weather looking up toward the you're looking at a strong to severe thunderstorm that is moving down these are storms that stretch up to the northeast of canyon city dropping down just towards the southwest and could impact mountain hills in the next hour so also tracking a flash flood warning in effect the south and they have received a lot of rainfall and there are likely

you can see how large the complex of storms, it stretches back up to king. but are we getting any rain in the valley that is the question. you can see this line that's coming out and basically stretched all the way back over to cave creek those openings of 35 to 40 miles an hour a dust. and behind as you are starting to see those storms please built into the north. you can see how they are slowly dropping down off the mountains. and you will see some very strong thunderstorms moving into your region in the next 30 minutes or so. but here is what is happening you can see all this moisture is dropping down from the north toward the south and this pattern will stay especially for the high country.

those thunderstorms in especially for the morning hours. one or two without forecast high temperature we do have a chance of thunderstorms in the forecast and the next few days were going to see a dry trend but we have another chance of thunderstorms next friday and saturday. if you can't get enough of the olympics than you probably stayed up late to watch ryan seacrest right here on 12 news. secondly went behind the scene of his late-night show >> reporter: the last few weeks ryan seacrest has been here at copacabana beach hosting a late- night. respect it is so much fun because as a kid you grow up wanting to be at the olympics and as an adult you get a chance to have access to the olympics so be -- to be part of the coverage is really fun for me. and it is a little different to what i do every day so that makes it more exciting.

around the colorful lights around the beaches for one of two things . to interact with ryan or meet the olympians he brings onto the set. hosting a show at 1:35 am is not as easy as he makes it seem. >> finish at 2:35 am and may try to sleep by 4 am and then i wake up and do a radio show to the schedule is tricky i sleep but it is worth it. >> perfect because fans like chelsea robson made it a point to check the late-night from her to do list . >> i would get together with a bunch of friends we would sit on the couch and watch the olympics and as we were watching we saw his part come up and i told my friend i am going to be there. i will be right next to brian [laughter]. >> it is electric. action-packed . patriotic. it is very special and it is called the cheese. >> is is an experience you will

thank you giselle. when you are the fastest man on earth and to win several olympic gold medals what you eat to celebrate? if you are using bolt it is chicken mcnuggets. that is what he read eight after his final race last night. but it's nothing new for the staff in his book he details how he ate approximately 100 of them every the 2008 olympics. it actually added up to about 1000 nuggets if you are keeping track. sabino the olympic athletes are great at what they do but test them with something like singing and they give it their best effort there as well. judge if you will, we gave it a try with a song we are the champions . >> [music]

>> as we are the champions. >> of the world. >> we are the champions [ cheering and applause ] >> i found this hard enough without them singing it a cappella. give them some olympians music to sing two. >> look if you had one and metal especially gold it doesn't matter . you deserve it. if you look good singing it -- [laughter] rio is kwn serving a bigger purpose than fun in the sun. masterpieces are being created

the famous beaches of rio are not just for sunbathing and assuming artists use them for their kansas -- campus. one artist started making these masterpieces as a child and has traveled the world but keeps coming back to copacabana.

in brazil and copacabana is the main place in rio and this is the most famous place in copacabana. >> he says he finds peace in creating the sculptures and others to enjoy them. >> let's see if we can get a bigger shot. it was a massive work of art. >> there is incredible sculpting that these artists do with sculpting. i went to contest as a kid in south carolina and what they can do is incredible. i don't have that kind of imagination when i am at the beach. it is pretty typical dump a bucket over and good to go. look at the castle. >> right. yes. while we haven't seen much olympic on-air time for this duo but it doesn't mean they have been quiet. how they have been social media gold coming up on the olympic

people of arizona work so hard. it is a fascinating place to live. they are in the center of these cultures that are coming

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skydivers with an emergency at 25,000 feet. see how they survived the incident caught on camera tonight. and tonight on 12 news at 10 pm. the contrast in the olympics who did it better? and what will become of the rio venues? the olympic spirit is a pretty strong for one couple in pennsylvania. jim and karen check the mail

metal the usa team wins . and they are running out of room as the count is well over 100 but it is all about showing pride for our country and they will continue to do it in the winter olympics in 2018. >> a great idea showing their patriotism. >> they will be putting out a pack for women's basketball. >> 12 news 's office on. >> thanks for joining us we'll see you at the news at 10 pm. technically at 11 pm. stack you in heaven, wrapped in luxury.

you in luck. play in style. talking stick resort, scottsdale. anncr: book now for rates from only $109, during hot rates, hot dates. on this saturday night, nbc news exclusive. ryan lochte with matt lauer admitting his tale about being robbed in rio isn't the whole truth.

zika zone. growing worries after that virus is found in a popular destination for tourists. the measure some are taking to protect themselves in miami beach. faces of war. the symbol of an unending conflict. more on the desperate plight of so many syrian children with no way out. it's not just a vacation. it's a way of "nightly news" begins now. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" reporting tonight from the olympic games in rio, peter alexander. >> good evening. after an exhilarating couple weeks of competition here in rio, it remains the biggest blemish on these games. an embarrassing episode involving ryan lochte and several teammates. tonight with the last