Olympics

Russia's INCREDIBLE synchronized swimming team didn't just blow away the judges with their gold medal-winning Michael Jackson routine this week -- they also left a lasting impression on one particular member of the Jackson family.

In case you missed it, the Russian team of Natalia Ischenko and Svetlana Romashina donned MJ-themed bathing suits and performed an amazing routine to the King of Pop's "They Don't Care About Us." The performance eventually helped them land the gold, over Spain.

Their routine was near-perfect -- but no one was more impressed than Michael's sister, La Toya Jackson, who tells TMZ, "I'm thankful for the honor that the Olympian swimmers paid to my brother Michael's memory."

She adds, "It is so wonderful to see how many global fans he has!"

Nigel Lythgoe's niece is now England's idol, after winning her second gold medal in the Olympics this morning.

Charlotte Dujardin rode her way to victory in the non-sport of dressage ... a fancy term for horse dancing.

As for the connection between the famed "American Idol" honcho and Charlotte, she's his ex-wife's sister's daughter. Translation -- even though Nigel calls her his niece, it's really his ex-niece.

Nigel tells us, although he hasn't spoken to her in 9 years, he sponsored her for a year in dressage before he got divorced.

Nigel tells TMZ when he found out Charlotte won for a second time this AM, he actually cried.

Hopefully, we'll see Charlotte on Nigel's next show ... "So You Think You Can Horse Dance."

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his wife Queen Silvia have officially earned the title of most AWESOME MONARCHS EVER -- cheering their faces off last night at Sweden's Olympic handball match against Denmark.

Their hilariously annoying battle cries must have worked too -- because Sweden advanced over its rival, winning 24-22.

Hungary's next in line -- but little do they know ... Sweden's got two incredibly rich (and loud) secret weapons.

Apologies to the meatball-hating, anti-IKEA, ABBA-bashing party pooper sitting in the front.

Belgian cyclist Gijs Van Hoecke didn't just stain the crotchel region of his pants during a drunken post-event nightclub bender in London ... he stained the good reputation of the Belgian Cycling Federation ... so says the org.

We posted the photos ... showing a completely wrecked Van Hoecke being carried out of a British nightclub earlier this week ... barely able stand or keep his eyes open.

We reached out to the BCF for comment ... and a rep told us, "I can let you know that the Belgian Cycling Federation regrets the conduct of [Gijs Van Hoecke] after the competitions."

In fact, the Belgian Olympic Committee reportedly put GVH on a plane and flew him home after the pics came out.

According to reports, the cyclist told his home paper, "I made a big mistake. I'm happy my parents didn't tell me off. They understand that I needed this" ... but since we don't speak Dutch, TMZ can't confirm the accuracy of the translation.

16-year-old Gabby Douglas is officially being recruited by one of the most prestigious black universities in the country ... Spelman College ... and TMZ has learned the school president has even flown to London to get a leg up on the competition.

We've learned ... Spelman -- an all-girl college in Georgia -- wants Gabby in a bad way ... and sources at the University tell us the Team USA gymnastics superstar has become the number 1 recruit ... by far.

In fact, the President of Spelman, Beverly Daniel Tatum (not pictured below), went out to London and made sure Gabby got a Spelman gift bag ... containing a congratulatory note, school t-shirt and a CD containing a song produced by the college.

Tatum also released a statement to TMZ ... in which she acknowledges the school would LOVE to get its hands on the gold medal winner:

"A young woman who has demonstrated the drive and discipline needed to achieve world-class excellence is likely to have what it takes to be successful at Spelman, and we would welcome her interest in the college."

U.S. Olympic volleyball phenoms Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings won the gold medal -- for the third time -- in the women's finals on Wednesday.

Questions is ...

Why did the sexy Olympic rifle shooter cross the road? TO REENACT THE MOST FAMOUS BEATLES PHOTO OF ALL TIME.

The gorgeous rifle-shooting 21-year-old deadeye Amanda Furrer struck a pose on the world-renowned Abbey Road yesterday in honor of the famed Beatles photograph -- which was snapped exactly 43 years ago ... on August 8th, 1969.

Furrer – who placed 15th for U.S.A. in the women’s 50m rifle competition – took the pic during a little sightseeing excursion from the athletes' village ... IN HEELS.

Talk about an Olympic low blow ... some dude on the French basketball team just delivered a closed-fist scrotum punch to a Spanish player ... sending the guy crumbling to the floor in agonizing pain.

The ball-punisher is France's Nic Batum ... who obliterated Juan Carlos Navarro's bean bag in the 4th quarter of their quarterfinal matchup ... in an effort to intentionally foul the guy. Batum was NOT ejected from the game.

Seems testicle attacks are all the rage at the Olympics this year -- just yesterday, Team USA member Carmelo Anthony took a fist to the no-no zone from a guy on the Argentina squad.

For being an Olympic athlete, Belgian cyclist Gijs van Hoecke sure needed help keeping his balance as he attempted to leave a London club on Tuesday night.

Looking obliterated, the 20-year-old was carried out of the Mahiki nightclub and literally dragged into a waiting taxi by his pals.

With his events over, Gijs is all about celebrating not winning any medals.

Potheads have a new reason to cheer for Usain Bolt ... besides the whole Jamaica thing ... TMZ has learned California weed shops are now selling a strain of weed named after the fastest man on the planet. What an honor!!

Our well-informed, and prescription-carrying sources, tell us ... ever since the Games began, multiple weed dispensaries in the Orange County area have been selling a new product called, "Usain Bolt OG."

One pot shop honcho tells us U.B.O.G. got its name because it's so "fast-hitting" ... get it? Stoner humor ...

But the Olympic weed tie-ins are far from over ... we're told some shops plan to release a new line of weed-filled baked goods inspired by U.S. Judo fighter Nick Delpopolo ... who was just booted from the Games for eating a pot brownie.

Silver lining?

Ryan Lochte insists ... he did NOT go on a lady-banging bender inside the athletes' village in London last week -- telling TMZ Live, he barely had enough time to sleep ... let alone sample the local fare (sexually).

FYI -- the athletes' village at the Olympics has famously become a hot bed for late night liaisons among medal contenders -- i.e. the athletes are going at it like rabbits when they're not competing.

But Lochte tells us, he kept his snake in the cage -- claiming, "All I really saw was the dining hall, the swimming pool, and basically my bed. So I wasn’t able to get around the village."

Michael Phelps' hot cocktail waitress GF has been around the block -- in fact, she's been around the WORLD ... on private jets ... long before she ever met Phelps ... all because of her pretty face ... and TMZ has the pics to prove it.

Sources tell TMZ, 25-year-old Megan Rossee ingratiated herself with the rich and famous through her job as a model at VIP events around the country -- and thanks to her gig, she and her hot friends have been showered with lavish gifts by their elite admirers ... including expensive trips to Vegas AND flights on private jets.

We're told all the photos were taken within the last year -- in the months before Megan and Phelps eventually came into contact.

Seven Olympic athletes from Cameroon have mysteriously disappeared from the athletes' village in London ... in what appears to be an effort to abandon their home country and seek asylum in the UK.

The head of mission for Team Cameroon said the athletes in question -- 5 boxers, a swimmer, and a soccer player -- all have visas that will allow them to remain in Britain 'til at least November.

The soccer player -- a reserve goalkeeper for the women's soccer team named Drusille Ngako -- was the first to disappear, followed by swimmer Paul Edingue Ekane.

The five boxers -- Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomo -- disappeared on Sunday. They had all already been eliminated from the games.

It's not the first time Cameroon athletes have disappeared during international sports competitions -- several quit their delegation without consent at the recent Francophonie and Commonwealth games.

The tribe has spoken -- and the Patriotic Puppy picture took home the metaphoric gold in our Team USA Olympic Fan Photo Contest... scoring 250 AMERICAN dollars and some great gifts from TMZ!

Ryan Lochte won't have to ever worry about losing a swimming race by a hair, because he just received two gold and diamond encrusted razors from Gillette.

The 11-time Olympic medalist tweeted a pic of the new blinged-out shaving set gifted to him by one of his biggest sponsors and wrote, "U gotta hand it to @Gillette for getting me my own personally gold plated and diamond encrusted razor. #jeah"

The Olympic water polo referee who was fired from the London Games for blowing a game-deciding call is taking FULL RESPONSIBILITY ... telling TMZ he wants to apologize to Spain.

In case you didn't know ... Boris Margeta was banned from officiating any more 2012 Olympic matches ... after he disallowed a goal that should have counted in Spain's July 31st match against Croatia.

TMZ spoke to Boris and he tells us ..."It was very bad. After I saw the replay I knew I made a mistake." He adds, "My apologies to Spain's team."

Spain lost the game 8-7 and Croatia went on to take the lead in their bracket.