Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened this week in Olympic sport:
LANE ONE
Wednesday: Our Monday column asking why FINA and the European swimming confederation continue to have an accused murderer on their governing boards was responded to by Tamas Gyarfas himself, the man in the middle of the controversy. He stated, “You have to be sure that I didn’t commit any crime.” In the meantime, former IAAF president Lamine Diack should know within the next 90 days whether he will be put on trial for corruption in France, and the IOC Executive Board may decide the fate of the Tokyo boxing tournament on Wednesday.
Friday: The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board recommended that AIBA, the federation responsible for Olympic boxing since 1946, be suspended until after the 2020 Tokyo Games. Its report details where AIBA went wrong, and it’s a long list. It’s also a warning to the other International Federations about what not to do.
THE BIG PICTURE
Wednesday: The IOC Executive Board confirms there will be a boxing tournament in Tokyo in 2020, but AIBA will not be involved. It’s suspended until after the Games and the IOC created a group to figure out how to manage the tournament!
HEARD AFTER HALFTIME
Thursday: The IOC has decided to be even more flexible in its bidding procedures in the future … more defendants identified in the French corruption probe that stars former IAAF head Lamine Diack … Kenya’s Margaret Wambui confirms hyperangrogemism … FIFA will play the 2022 World Cup with 32 teams, not 48 … shock 2012 Breaststroke gold medalist Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) retires at 22 … what’s happening with Olympic wrestling star Helen Maroulis? … surgery for Gwen Jorgensen temporarily halts her try for the 2020 Olympic marathon.
STAT PACK
Monday: Our statistical review of 17 events in 12 sports during the week of 13-19 May.
ARCHERY
Tuesday: Strong fields lined up for the third World Archery World Cup, this time in Antalya (TUR). The Koreans aren’t there, but American star Brady Ellison and 15-year-old emerging talent Casey Kaufhold are ready to go.
ATHLETICS
Tuesday: Excellent meet in the IAAF World Challenge Series in Nanning (CHN) on Tuesday, with China’s Lijiao Gong taking the world lead in the shot put back from American Chase Ealey. And U.S. sprint ace Christian Coleman suggests some perspective on the spectacular Shanghai 100 m, where he lost by a whisker to Noah Lyles.
Thursday: The biggest decathlon/heptathlon meet of the year, the annual Hypomeeting in Gotzis (AUT) is on this weekend, with Canada’s Damian Warner looking for a record-tying fifth title.
CYCLING
Tuesday: Preview of the UCI Women’s World Tour Emakumeen Bira in the Basque Country of Spain. Can anyone beat the Dutch?
Wednesday: Preview of the second UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Nove Mesto (CZE). How about two in a row for American Kate Courtney & Swiss Mathias Flueckiger after their surprise wins in tough conditions in the season opener?
Thursday: The 102nd Giro d’Italia has moved to the Alps, so the racing is getting serious. Thursday’s stage completely upset the leaderboard and more climbing in on the way this weekend! Are Slovenian riders really standing 1-2?
DIVING
Tuesday: The USA Diving Senior National Championships are underway in Indianapolis, with selections being made for the U.S. World Championships team for later this year. The synchronized teams have been determined; a preview of the likely contenders for the men’s and women’s Springboard and Platform spots.
FOOTBALL
Thursday: The U.S. women finish their prep games before the Women’s World Cup on Sunday vs. Mexico, and the FIFA men’s U-20 World Cup starts in Poland.
ICE HOCKEY
Thursday: Russia eliminated the U.S., 4-3, in the IIHF World Championship quarterfinals in Slovakia, so they will move on to the semis to face Finland, while Canada takes on the Czech Republic.
RUGBY
Thursday: A berth in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic tournament is within the grasp of the first-place USA Eagles at this weekend’s ninth leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series in London! Wow!
SKATEBOARDING
Wednesday: The first step in the long road to the inaugural Olympic skateboarding Street competition is underway in London with the World Skate SLS Tour event. The event itself is pretty complex, but one of the stars to look for is World Champion Nyjah Huston of the U.S.
VOLLEYBALL
Tuesday: The FIVB Women’s Nations League has just started, with the United States women the defending champions. But the U.S. women are not ranked no. 1 in the world, but started their title defense with a 3-0 whitewash of Belgium in Ruse. That’s in Bulgaria!
PREVIEWS & RESULTS
● Beach Volleyball: FIVB World Tour four-star in Jinjiang (CHN).
● Fencing: Korea’s Oh truing for third straight FIE Sabre Grand Prix victory in Moscow
● Gymnastics: Eight wins for China in first FIG World Challenge Cup
● Gymnastics: Croatia’s Tin Srbic headline second World Challenge Cup
● Modern Pentathlon: Fourth World Cup starts in Kladno (CZE).
UPCOMING
Highlights of the coming week, with previews in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:
● Athletics: The third IAAF Diamond League meet, in Stockholm (SWE).
● Cycling: The final week of the year’s first Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia!
● Swimming: Third and final leg of the FINA Champions Swim Series, in Indianapolis.
And a look at a revolution … or implosion? … in swimming.
