Blame it on Rio!

China’s bid for recognition as a global superpower in sports seemed back on track Sunday, after Chinese athletes in diving, shooting and weightlifting claimed gold medals at the summer Olympic games in Rio.

Those victories followed a shaky start for China at this year’s games, leading some to wonder momentarily whether China’s prowess as an Olympic juggernaut may be faltering in tandem with the declining fortunes of the economy. Some of China’s strongest contenders failed to produce gold medals on Opening Day.