Former top-ranked tennis player Marat Safin has won a seat in Russia’s lower house of Parliament and will represent the pro-Kremlin party United Russia.

The 31-year-old Safin will be one of the youngest members in the 450-seat legislature.

Record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt says he will not be regarded a legend of athletics unless he successfully defends his three Olympic titles in London next year.

"I want to be a legend in the sport and defending my Olympic titles will definitely help me in achieving this goal," the 25-year-old Jamaican was quoted as saying by the Times of India on Friday.

American Michelle Kwan, who won five world championship titles, was elected to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Kwan is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history with nine American titles.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque faced the prospect on Thursday of David Villa's broken leg pushing the defending champions' Euro 2012 hopes to breaking point.

Villa, dubbed King David for his spectacular scoring record of 51 goals in 82 internationals, faces five months on the sidelines after fracturing his left tibia in Barcelona's Club World Cup semi-final win over al-Sadd in Japan.

Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger will not return to action until the start of the new year following recent surgery on a broken collarbone, his club Bayern Munich said on Thursday.

Bayern sporting director Christian Nerlinger said last week he hoped the midfielder would return before the start of the Bundesliga's winter break.

Barcelona set up a Club World Cup showdown with South American champion Santos by brushing aside Qatari club al-Sadd 4-0 Thursday in the semifinals.

Adriano scored two first-half goals to lead Barcelona, which will be returning to the Club World Cup final for the first time since 2009 when the team beat Argentine club Estudiantes. Seydou Keita and Maxwell added the others for the Champions League champions.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has dismissed talk of his side's title chances as the Serie A's joint leader prepares to take on struggling Novara on Sunday.

Juventus, which was held to a 1-1 draw at Roma on Monday, is now level on 30 points with Udinese at the top of the standings.

Real Madrid is facing a tough test at fifth-place Sevilla on Saturday as it looks to rebound from another loss to Barcelona in the Spanish league.

A win at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium would move Madrid three points ahead of Barcelona, which has already played its 16th round match so it can compete in the Club World Cup.

Albert Costa is stepping down as Spain's Davis Cup captain to become the coordinator of the Spanish federation's national teams.

After three years and two Davis Cup titles, Costa will now preside over the captains of Spain's Davis Cup, Fed Cup and Olympic teams.

The fastest man on legs is taking on the fastest on wheels for the top prize at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Usain Bolt, who won two gold medals at the 2011 world championships, and Sebastian Vettel, who became Formula One's youngest two-time champion in November, are among the nominees for the 2012 honors.