Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened over the last 72 hours in Olympic sport:
LANE ONE
Sunday: Thomas Bach is changing the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Movement into something totally new, but will it be better? Last week’s IOC Executive Board meeting provided clear indicators of how he sees the future, not just of the Olympic Games, but of the Olympic Movement as a force for human rights and youth engagement.
ARTISTIC SWIMMING
Sunday: The USA Synchro Nationals in San Antonio, Texas was a showcase for the Cincinnati Synchrogators and especially for Rose Homoelle, who took home a total of six medals!
ATHLETICS
Saturday: Joshua Cheptegei wins the World Cross Country Championship in Aarhus (DEN), leading a Ugandan 1-2 and finishing ahead of two-time defending champion Geoffrey Kamworer (KEN). In the women’s race, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri proved her brilliance with a historic, tight win over Ethiopia’s Dera Dida, and was delighted. Why? She says she doesn’t have to run cross country any more!
BADMINTON
Sunday: Two former champions returned to the top of the podium once more in the BWF World Tour India Open, as Danish star Viktor Axelsen won his second career title there, and Thai Ratchanok Intanon won her third.
BIATHLON
Sunday: This wasn’t the best season of Susan Dunklee’s career, but she took all three titles at the U.S. Biathlon Championships in Jericho, Vermont. On the men’s side, Sean Doherty won two titles and was second in the third event.
CYCLING
Saturday: Czech Zdenek Stybar wins the E3 Binckbank Classic in Belgium for his second World Tour victory of the season.
Sunday: A heavy day on the UCI World Tour, with Colombia’s Miguel Angel Lopez claiming the seven-stage Volta Ciclista de Catalunya thanks to his win in the Pyrenees in Stage 4. In the famed Gent-Wevelgen races in Belgium, Kirsten Wild led a repeat 1-2 over Lorena Wiebes after they finished the same way four days earlier! Norway’s Alexander Kristoff won the men’s edition with a final sprint.
Sunday: USA Cycling’s BMX National Championships in South Carolina confirmed Corben Sharrah as national champion once again, but Alise Willoughby was deposed as women’s gold medalist for the first time since 2011 by Felicia Stancil.
FIGURE SKATING
Saturday: Phil Hersh comments on the “transcendent greatness” of Nathan Chen at the 2019 World Championships, but silver medalist Yuzuru Hanyu is still no. 1 … in another sphere!
FREESTYLE SKIING
Saturday: The Freestyle World Cup concluded in Switzerland with the men’s and women’s Slopestyle events, with American Mac Forehand and Canada’s Megan Oldham taking the seasonal titles. Both are 17 years old!
JUDO
Sunday: Host Georgia won the most medals at the IJF’s World Tour Tbilisi Open with 10, but France had the most victories with three.
SHOOTING
Saturday: The U.S. rifle and pistol team for the Pan American Games was selected in the Spring Selection Match in Ft. Benning, Georgia. Among the top finishers on the way to Lima are four prior Pan American Games medal winners, including pistol star Sandra Uptagrafft, winner of three medals in 2003-07-11!
TABLE TENNIS
Sunday: In the first ITTF World Tour Platinum tournament of the season, China was dominant, with all-Chinese finals in the men’s Singles, women’s Singles and women’s Doubles. Olympic champ Long Ma took the men’s title.
WATER POLO
Sunday: The U.S. women managed to win another Intercontinental Cup – 13th all-time – in Perth (AUS), but it took overtime in a 14-12 win over Australia. In the men’s division, Australia made the home fans happy with a 10-8 win over Japan.
UPCOMING
Highlights of the coming week, with coverage in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:
● Curling: Finish of the men’s World Championship in Canada!
● Football: Huge test for the U.S. women’s National Team, vs. Australia on Thursday in the thin air of Colorado.
● Ice Hockey: Start of the IIHF Women’s World Championship, expected to come down once again to the U.S. and Canada!
Much more coming to our daily coverage of the 41 sports on the Olympic program!
