Nick D'Arcy

The Australian Olympic Committee on Friday appointed a barrister to lead its own investigation into drug use and bullying by Australian swimmers at last year's London Games.

Switzerland footballer Michel Morganella has been sent home from the Olympics after racially abusing South Korea's players on Twitter, team officials confirmed on Monday.

The London Olympics are set to be liked, tweeted, pinned and shared with more people than ever before as athletes, fans and organisers interact online in the first-ever social media Summer Olympics.

Australian swimmer Kenrick Monk, who caused outrage when he and teammate Nick D'Arcy were pictured posing with shotguns, slammed his Olympics punishment as 'brutal' on Friday.

Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan has backed his Australian teammates Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk, saying he saw "nothing wrong" with them posing with guns in images posted on social networking sites.

Controversial swimmers Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk were blasted as "foolish" by Australia's Olympic authorities Thursday for posting a photo of themselves posing with guns on the Internet.

Triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice will spearhead an Australian contingent at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix in California next week ahead of the London Olympics, according to Swimming Australia.

James Magnussen was the fastest qualifier in the heats of the 50-metres freestyle at the Australian Olympic trials on Tuesday but he only had thoughts for the 100m freestyle world record.

Former breaststroke queen Leisel Jones will compete at her fourth Olympics in London this year after finishing second in the 100-metres event at Australia's selection trials on Saturday.

Triple Beijing Olympic champion Stephanie Rice was ninth fastest into the semi-finals of the 200m medley behind Alicia Coutts at the Australian Olympic trials in Adelaide on Saturday.

Australia's leading butterfly swimmer Nick D'Arcy risks missing next year's London Olympics by declaring himself bankrupt, reports said on Wednesday.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Michael Phelps is used to celebrating 200 meters butterfly victories but the American's gold medal at the world swimming championships on Wednesday was particularly sweet.

Australian swimmer Nick D'Arcy was ordered on Monday to pay damages of at least Aus$180,000 ($190,000) to a former swimmer he hit during celebrations marking his selection to the Beijing Olympic team.

Australian swimmer Nick D'Arcy was Monday ordered to pay damages of at least Aus$180,000 ($190,000) to a former swimmer he hit during celebrations marking his selection to the Beijing Olympic team.

Michael Phelps returns to China, scene of his astonishing Beijing Olympic swimming triumphs, seeking to kick-start another Olympic campaign at the 2011 world championships in Shanghai.

Australian swimmer Nick D'Arcy faced a Sydney courtroom Monday over a bar room assault three years ago which left former champion swimmer Simon Cowley with multiple facial fractures.

Australian Nick D'Arcy handed Michael Phelps another 200m butterfly defeat, edging the world record-holder and Olympic champion at the Santa Clara Grand Prix.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Australia won the opening skirmish in the Delhi pool Monday by claiming three of the five medals up for grabs as the athletes finally took center stage at the troubled Commonwealth Games.

Australia's swimmers opened their account in the pool at the Commonwealth Games on Monday, clinching three of the five medals on offer as they sought to replicate their success of four years ago.

Michael Phelps held on for a "painful" victory in the 200m butterfly at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, holding off Nick D'Arcy with the fastest time in the world this year.