Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened this past week in Olympic sport:
LANE ONE
Wednesday: After some reversals in Federal court, the NCAA has formed a working group to figure out how to reform its rules to allow collegiate athletes to be paid for the use of their name and likeness. There’s a good idea here, but let’s not kid ourselves. This will likely create just as problems as it purports to solve.
Friday: Australian Olympic insider John Coates, a close advisor to International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach, says the Games of the XXV Olympiad could be awarded as early as 2020 (!) and that Australia is in a prime position to get the event!
THE BIG PICTURE
Monday: The IAAF Council decided to keep Russia on suspension and the federation’s task force is well aware of some shenanigans going on with a doping violation cover-up and some suspended coaches showing up in the wrong place. The head of the Russian Olympic Committee was not amused. The IAAF also decided to change its name and logo, both of which are dumb moves.
HEARD AFTER HALFTIME
Thursday: Another doping positive from the London 2012 Games, this time in canoeing … sad news of the passing of U.S. distance star Gabe Grunewald … LSU frosh Sha’Carri Richardson turns pro … Calgary’s 2026 Winter Games bid effort and vote cost half as much as expected … and more.
ARCHERY
Monday: The 50th World Archery World Championships are underway in the Netherlands and Brady Ellison leads a strong U.S. presence among 30 prior Olympic or Worlds medal winners in Recurve and Compound. And there is Olympic qualifying the line.
ATHLETICS
Thursday: Sold-out Bislett Games in Oslo saw six world-leading marks, including 9.85 for U.S. star Christian Coleman in the 100 m, but the race of the day was teen Sydney McLaughlin rocketing down the straight to fly by Rio Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad in the women’s 400 m hurdles! Wow!
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Tuesday: The last major tune-up for the World Championships is in Warsaw (POL), with many of the top teams in the world looking for medals. Can anyone stop Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sorum from winning their fourth major tourney is a row?
CYCLING
Thursday: The final tune-up for the Tour de France is the Tour de Suisse that starts this weekend, with an excellent field and the return of Colombian star Egon Bernal from a broken collarbone.
FOOTBALL
Tuesday: The United States women’s National Team pummeled Thailand by 13-0 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a new record for the most goals in a World Cup game. Alex Morgan had five alone – tying the record – but our exclusive look at the first round of matches shows this tournament is all about Europe … so far.
Thursday: The 15th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup starts Saturday, with matches in the U.S., Costa Rica and Jamaica. Mexico is the hot favorite, and what about the U.S, losers of its last two friendlies, to Jamaica and Venezuela?
RUGBY
Thursday: New Zealand can win its fifth World Rugby Sevens Series title in the final leg of the season this weekend in France, while the U.S. women can clinch their highest finish ever and a spot in the Tokyo 2020 tournament!
SWIMMING
Wednesday: Modest fields for the final Tyr Pro Swim Series meet in Clovis this week, but perhaps a new star to look for in 2020?
Wednesday: Strong marks at the Australian World Championships Trials, as Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus going 1-2 in the 400 m Freestyle in the second and third-fastest times of the season. Plus American Michael Andrew moving to no. 3 for 2019 in the 50 m Back at the Mare Nostrum series in France, and the dozen swimmers who earned $50,000 or more at the FINA Champions Swim Series.
Thursday: Cate Campbell swam the sixth-fastest women’s 100 m Free in history at the Australian World Championships Trials, and three more Aussie stars weren’t far behind. Plus another win for Mitch Larkin, his third at the Trials.
PREVIEWS
Canoe-Kayak: Slalom World Cup season begins at the London 2012 venue.
Cycling: Tour de France warm-up, the Criterium du Dauphine in France.
Cycling: Another Tour de France warm-up, the Tour de Suisse in the Swiss Alps.
Table Tennis: Best in the world lined up for the Japan Open in Hokkaido!
UPCOMING
Highlights of the coming week, with previews in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:
● Athletics: The IAAF Diamond League is in Rabat (MAR) for another meet on Sunday!
● Football: The Women’s World Cup continues and the CONCACAF Gold Cup begins!
● Wrestling: USA Wrestling’s final Final X showdown comes Saturday in Lincoln.
And, don’t look now, but the IOC will soon select the host for the 2026 Winter Games.
