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PANORAMA: World Games opens in China as flame lit on water skis! Difficult situation reported for key ex-Russian doping whistleblowers, now in U.S.

By
Rich Perelman
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From the opening ceremony of the World Games 2025 Village (Photo: World Games 2025 organizing committee).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Pan American Games: Lima 2027 ● Although left off the sports list for the XX Pan American Games announced in June, bowling and racquetball have been added back to the program for the 2027 Pan Ams. Per Panam Sports President Neven Ilic (CHI):

“At the request of many National Olympic Committees and because of what these sports represent on our continent, the Panam Sports Executive Committee, with the approval of the General Assembly, has decided to include bowling and racquetball in the Lima 2027 sports program. With this, there are now 38 sports that will be featured at our Games in the capital of Peru.”

Bowling was first held at the Pan American Games in 1991; racquetball was first included in 1995.

● World Games: Chengdu 2025 ● The XII World Games, for sports and events which are not on the Olympic program, opened on Thursday (7th) in Chengdu (CHN), in a 90-minute opening at the massive Tianfu Eaves lakeside plaza, adjacent to the Tianfu International Convention Centre.

About 4,000 athletes from a record 118 nations are attending, with the event opened with a flourish, as Chinese waterskiers Xu Lu and Alu Xiaobo glided across the lake behind powerboats and lit the World Games cauldron, stationed on top of the water! It concluded what was billed as the first-ever World Games torch relay, covering 13 days.

Competition has already begun and will continue through 17 August. Competitions are being held in 34 sports and 253 events, including the added LA28 Olympic sports of softball, flag football, lacrosse and squash. The largest teams are from China (321), Germany (220) and Australia (137). There are 36 Russian athletes, competing as “neutrals.”

● Athletics ● A Wednesday report from the German ARD channel and its anti-doping team explained the precarious situation of Russian whistleblowers Yuliya Stepanova and Vitaly Stepanov, whose courage was a key to exposing the Russian state-sponsored doping program in place from 2011-15.

She last competed for Russia in 2012, left the country in 2014 before the ARD documentary, based in part on her information and secret videos, aired in December of that year. They moved to Germany, where she competed in several meets in 2015 and 2016 and then to the U.S., where she competed beginning in 2017, on and off until finishing in 2021; her 800 m best was 1:58:14i in 2011.

Now, says Stepanov, “Unfortunately for us, 10 years down the road, the world moved on and we have no rights, no documents. We don’t have any understanding if we can ever live like normal people again.” Their asylum application has remained unfulfilled by the Obama, Trump I, Biden and, so far, Trump II administrations. The couple told ARD they have asked for help from the International Olympic Committee (which did help into 2022), the World Anti-Doping Agency and World Athletics, but with no action in their favor at present.

● Cycling ● The Union Cycliste Internationale is testing its GPS safety tracking system at next week’s Tour de Romandie Feminin (15-17 August):

“The objective of this test is to refine the UCI’s safety tracking software and establish protocols to provide real-time data to race control, medical teams and UCI Commissaires. This system will strengthen the monitoring of rider safety during races and enable rapid response in case of incidents.”

All riders will be issued a device for September’s UCI World Road Championships in Rwanda.

● Fencing ● Good news for collegiate women fencers, with all three NCAA divisions now agreeing to hold separate men’s and women’s NCAA fencing championships, beginning in 2026.

Until now, a single NCAA team title was awarded in fencing; there are nine women’s-only fencing programs in the NCAA that will now be able to effectively compete for a national championship. The move is expected to induce more interest in women’s fencing at NCAA institutions in the future.

● Football ● Spain’s run to the final of the UEFA Euro 2025 tournament, ending in a penalty shoot-out loss to England, vaulted the Spanish women to no. 1 in the latest FIFA women’s world ranking … barely.

Spain now has 2,066.76 points to 2,065.06 for the U.S., the 2024 Paris Olympic champions. Sweden is third at 2,025.26 and England is fourth (2,022.64).

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SWIMMING: Lengthy editorial from iconic Rowdy Gaines backs up criticisms of U.S. swimming leadership, not athletes

By
Rich Perelman
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A selfie by Rowdy Gaines (l) with Michael Phelps and play-by-play announcer Dan Hicks at the NBC broadcast position at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris (Photo: Rowdy Gaines on X).

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≡ ROWDY GAINES WRITES ≡

American icon Rowdy Gaines, the triple gold winner at the 1984 Olympic Games and decades-long commentator on NBC, wrote a lengthy follow-up to his Associated Press interview about the U.S. performance at the World Aquatics Championships and the Instagram post by all-time greats Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte that featured a tombstone “burying” USA Swimming in 2025.

Gaines’ 1,022-word message appeared on both SwimmingWorldMagazine.com and SwimSwam.com, the leading U.S. swim news sites and included:

● “Last week, when he [Phelps] shared that symbolic image on social media, a message suggesting that USA Swimming faces a choice: rebuild with purpose or risk losing its identity. It wasn’t a eulogy. It was a challenge, a call for all of us to reflect, refocus, and demand more from the systems that support our athletes.

“It was a reminder that no program, no matter how decorated, is immune to decline without direction.”

● “This isn’t about throwing stones at the athletes. Far from it. I’ve spent the last 50 years as one of their biggest cheerleaders. But both Michael and I are saying what many are thinking: something is broken in the way USA Swimming is being run. And if we don’t fix it now, we risk losing the very culture of excellence that built this program in the first place.

“This conversation isn’t a criticism of the athletes. My belief in these athletes is exactly why I’m raising this concern. They deserve better from the system around them.

“When both Michael and I speak up, it’s because we see what many inside the sport already know: the structure guiding USA Swimming is not functioning as it should.

“And if we don’t address that now, we risk losing the very culture of excellence that made Team USA the global standard in the first place.”

● “The athletes are showing up. The coaches are doing the work. And our club programs – the lifeblood of American swimming – continue to develop world-class talent every day.

“They haven’t failed. But the system that’s supposed to support them? That’s another story.

“There are hardworking, passionate people inside USA Swimming – including the new National Team Director. I give full credit to Coach Greg Meehan for his leadership at the World Championships under impossible circumstances.

“But they’ve been left without clear direction. No permanent CEO. No long-term plan. No real support. That’s not just frustrating. It’s demoralizing.

“They deserve better. We all do.”

Gaines also stated:

“He [Phelps] didn’t post that message for attention. He has nothing to gain by speaking out. He did it because he knows something has to change. Because he cares. Because he’s not willing to sit on the sidelines when the sport he helped elevate is losing direction.

“Neither am I.

“We didn’t take this public lightly. But we’re out of time for silence. This isn’t about drama. It’s about accountability. It’s about urgency. It’s about making sure that when LA 2028 arrives, we are ready – not just to win medals, but to show the world what makes American swimming great.”

Gaines acknowledged that the American team showed “resilience” after the training-camp illness epidemic and won the swimming medal count, but worried about the sport’s “long-term health” in the U.S. He called the long wait for a new chief executive for USA Swimming, “a failure of leadership.”

For context, the U.S. swim team, despite the sickness problems, won 29 medals, including nine gold, 11 silver and nine bronzes; Australia was next with 20 (8-6-6). The 29-medal total was the most for a U.S. team at the Worlds since 2022 (45), but was the third straight Worlds or Olympics in which the U.S. team did not win at least 10 events.

USA Swimming let go of seven-year chief executive Tim Hinchey on 29 August 2024, instituting a search that named University of Delaware athletic director Chrissi Rawak on 19 February 2025. But before she could start – scheduled for 14 March – she withdrew on 28 February.

A new search was instituted, but no new chief executive has been named. USA Swimming hired Meehan as its National Team Director on 11 April, and promoted communications and marketing chief Jake Grosser to Chief Operating Officer on 9 July of this year.

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VOX POPULI: A critical LA28 juncture: can the Olympics really be a “no cost” event for Los Angeles?

By
Nick Patsaouras
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[Nick Patsaouras was president of the Southern California Rapid Transit District during the 1984 Olympic Games, and parts of this comment are drawn from his 2024 book, The Making of Modern Los Angeles (ORO Editions). His opinions, are, of course, solely his own.]

For seventeen days in July 2028 Los Angeles will be the beguiling story for billions of people around the world as it hosts the LA28 Olympic Games. And its pageantry will be more elaborate than the ceremonial grandeur often magically fashioned by its own Hollywood. As always, the city will gleam as it turns its celebrated face to the camera.

To do so, however, the Olympics must materialize and to do so the city must unravel its currently perplexing pathway to organization and money, and quickly – a pathway that today resembles the legendary labyrinth.

The mammoth Olympics consume mammoth budgets. To create such a massive budget is an Olympian task on its own. LA28 is estimated to cost $7.1 billion, and while organizers believe they are on track to meet or exceed their corporate fundraising goals, many do not agree, and the fear grows that public funding will be needed to ensure the Games.

Under an agreement between LA28 and the City of Los Angeles, reimbursements must be made only for services that go beyond what the city would provide on a normal day. In two months, October 1, 2025, the two parties must agree on what enhanced services beyond the normal level will be needed for the Games, including the rates, repayment timelines, audit rights, as well as other processes.

This is not a simple task because the funds remain elusive, and the politics is enigmatic. The LA28 Games have been billed as a “no cost” event in a city with a perilous financial position. Any significant or unexpected costs would be disastrous. The City of Los Angeles is responsible for the first $270 million deficit.

Security, for example, is one of the major expenses with local, state and federal agencies working together to protect athletes and spectators. The Federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” recently signed into law includes a $1.625 billion allocation to support the U.S. hosting aspects of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the holding of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. What exactly will be covered is not yet known.

For example, will this allocation provide help to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority for funding related to spectators` transportation?

Olympic fiscal problems are not new. Stunned by Montreal’s enormous 1976 Olympic debt, Councilman Bob Ronka with the support of Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky authored Charter Amendment N forbidding Los Angeles from spending taxpayer monies on the games.

But it was Mayor Tom Bradley who saved the day. In July 1978, he threatened to withdraw the city’s bid unless it was given freedom for financial liability, with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee being the primary financial body responsible for the Games. The International Olympic Committee reluctantly withdrew its objections and ratified the contract under Bradley’s terms. The 1984 Los Angeles Games made history.

I vividly recall the great concerns in 1984, and the innumerable anxieties that were present then and are recurring today. Many feared terminal gridlocks would develop, and thousands of athletes and fans would be stuck in traffic jams. The dreaded prospect was possible that world athletes would be required to perform in empty stadiums.

I had been appointed by Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee Chair Paul Ziffren to the Olympic Citizens Advisory Commission and subsequently as president of the Southern California Rapid Transit District, I pulled together planners to devise a complex transportation plan. After years of planning and coordination, more than fifty federal, state, county and local agencies were coordinated to provide a comprehensive Olympic planning effort. No gridlocks ensued. The streets were not congested.

I doubt if such planning efforts and funding, so vitally imperative, are going on today.

Indeed, for every Olympics, the funding issues will always be troubling. The question that will persist can only be answered when the Olympic Flame is extinguished on the final day of the Games: Will the warm and fuzzy feeling of the LA28 Games continue, or will the emotions of the day swiftly disappear when the bills are passed around?

Comments are welcome here.

[≡The Sports Examiner encourages expressions of opinion – we really do – but preferably based on facts. Send comments to [email protected]. We do not guarantee publication of any comment, but all comments submitted will be considered and your submission implies your agreement to publication (and light editing if needed to meet our grammatical and punctuation standards) at our sole discretion. Please include your name and hometown on any comment submitted for publication.≡]

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LANE ONE: Panic! Trump is taking over the 2028 Games! The sky is falling! Waaah! Hey, calm down already

By
Rich Perelman
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U.S. President Donald Trump, with Vice President J.D. Vance (l) and LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman at the signing of an Executive Order creating the White House Task Force on the 2028 Games (Photo: C-SPAN video screen shot).

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≡ LOS ANGELES 2028 & TRUMP ≡

Doomed! Trump has taken over the 2028 Olympics! The Feds will run everything in 2028! All is lost! Waaah!

Those were some of the reactions seen on social media, and that I received yesterday from friends and some TSX readers in the aftermath of U.S. President Donald Trump signing an Executive Order establishing a White House Task Force on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Even an interview request from a local news channel.

My reply: calm down. Just calm down. And stay calm.

Having helped organize and stage 20 multi-day, multi-site events, including multiple Olympic Games, let’s be clear about this: the U.S. government must be involved for the Games to work. Period.

And it is much better to have Washington involved early than late, and it is:

● The 2028 Games were declared a National Special Security Event (NSSE) in June 2024, the furthest-in-advance such a designation has ever been granted.

The designation placed the U.S. Secret Service in the lead role for “design and implementation of the operational security plan.” That was more than a year ago and security officials from local, regional, state and Federal agencies have been in continuing discussions ever since about how to plan for security and who will do what and when.

● H.R.1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” provided $1 billion in security funding for the 2028 Games, to be managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

● Now, Trump signed the Task Force Executive Order, which informs the entire Federal bureaucracy that (1) the success of the 2028 Games is a priority and (2) there is one responsibility with three primary areas of focus:

“[C]oordinate Federal planning and response related to the security, transportation, and entry/exit processes for the Games.”

It’s not to run the Games, or replace the LA28 organizing committee, or do a bunch of other things that make no sense. It’s about those things which only the Federal government can do – national security and access control into the U.S. – and something the Federal government can help with, namely transportation.

The other instructions in the order are about coordination and planning:

“(b) support interagency cooperation and information-sharing with State and local partners;

“(c) identify legal, logistical, or regulatory barriers that could impede effective Federal support for the Games and recommend timely solutions;

“(d) assist in the planning and implementation of visa processing and credentialing programs for foreign athletes, coaches, officials, and media personnel; and

“(e) ensure operational readiness across law enforcement, counterterrorism, transportation, and emergency response functions.”

There is nothing new in all this, in fact, the same sort of White House Task Force was created for the last Los Angeles Olympic Games, in 1981, following a meeting of President Ronald Reagan and Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee President Peter Ueberroth, Executive Vice President/General Manager Harry Usher and Glenn Wilson, the LAOOC’s coordinator for coin and philatelic programs.

Reagan’s Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver headed the task force, whose directive was to ensure coordination within the Federal government, eliminate bottlenecks that could hurt the organizing effort and support the overall security effort.

Same thing. And with excellent results in 1984.

In fact, the U.S. government has been more and more involved in each Olympic Games since. A U.S. General Accounting Office report in 2000 described prior Olympic spending by the U.S. government, which included:

● For Los Angeles 1984, $50 million (in 1984 dollars) was allocated for security support for the Games and $45 million was actually appropriated.

● For Atlanta 1996, the Federal government spent about $609 million (in 1999 dollars) on the Games, including $96 million for safety and security measures ($36 million for the Department of Defense). Most of the money was spent on highway and other infrastructure projects; of the $609 million total, $17 million was spent on spectator transportation (including the provision of 1,000 military drivers).

● For Salt Lake City 2002, Federal spending of $1.254 billion was planned, with $1 billion for highway and transit infrastructure projects already planned, but accelerated. Spending on the Games for security was expected to cost $161 million, plus $77 million on spectator transportation systems.

The $254 million in Games support costs had ballooned to $342 million by the time of a 2001 GAO update (2001 dollars shown at $341 million due to rounding):

● $185 million for Safety and Security
● $106 million for Transportation
● $27 million for Venue Construction
● $19 million for Staging and Operations
● $4 million for Housing and Infrastructure Support

The security cost went up considerably due to added protections after the terrorist incidents of 11 September 2001. No follow-up GAO report on costs compiled after the 2022 Games is available.

Those who worry about armed soldiers walking the streets of Los Angeles during the Olympic Games conveniently forget – or don’t know – that U.S. soldiers were a significant presence on the ground in and around Salt Lake City’s 2002 Winter Games, which opened just five months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. in 2001.

The $1 billion already allocated for 2028 is far from the last money the U.S. will spend for security, or to ramp up the visa section of the State Department, and money will be allocated – at some point – for transportation.

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority has asked for $3.2 billion in support for the Games and some other projects and received nothing from the Biden Administration and so far, nothing from the Trump Administration. Who will run what in the public transportation sector is yet to be determined, but the Department of Transportation is now on notice to help make the Games work.

Federal assistance will be needed elsewhere, for instance on weather support and forecasts, especially for the sailing venues, and the U.S. Chief of Protocol, the recently-confirmed Monica Crowley, will have her hands full with more than 100 heads of state expected to attend some part of the 2028 Games. There are venue sites on lands controlled by some element of the U.S. government. Will there be a commemorative coin and stamp program?

There’s a lot to do and organizing success will boil down to the three “Cs”: coordination, cooperation and communication. Much easier to say than to do at this scale, as I have seen myself.

The sooner such efforts are started, and relationships developed, especially for events as large as the Olympic and Paralympic Games and with an organization as insanely complex as the U.S. government, the better.

For those who can’t stand the idea of the Trump Administration involved with the 2028 Games, there is plenty of time left to worry. For those who know that the Federal government has to be involved, Tuesday’s Executive Order is a good thing, a very good thing, and on time.

So, for now, stay calm.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: NBC’s coverage of USATF Nationals averages 1.2 million viewers; Bednarek and Lyles settle spat; whereabouts violations rising in Russia

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic and World Champion sprinter Noah Lyles of the U.S. (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Russia ● “Whereabouts” incidents – failures to be present for an anti-doping test – are on the rise in Russia. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency reported 47 incidents in July and 195 for the full year of 2025.

That’s the most for any month in 2025 and projects to 334 for the year, which would be the most since 2022 (375). There were 242 incidents in 2023 and 282 in 2024.

● Athletics ● More strong audiences for track & field on NBC, as the two televised days of the USATF National Championships last weekend both drew more than a million viewers:

● 2 August (Sat.): 1.1 million on NBC, Peacock and NBC digital
● 3 August (Sun.): 1.3 million on NBC, Peacock and NBC digital

The follows the 1.1 million total audience for the Prefontaine Classic on NBC on 5 July. Audience data was provided upon request by NBC.

Track & field off of NBC does not do as well, with the new Grand Slam Track effort averaging 239,000 for its six dates on The CW, with similar audiences for the NCAA Championships, annually on ESPN or ESPN2.

But without much promotion, the NBC shows consistently come in at about one million viewers, over many years, and this is the great promise for the sport if the right kind of showcase can be constructed.

Audiences for the U.S. Olympic Trials are in another category. The 2024 T&F Trials averaged 4.5 million viewers across eight nights of coverage, up from 3.2 million on average for 2021.

U.S. men’s 100 m champion Kenny Bednarek told CNN Sports that he had a discussion with 200 m winner Noah Lyles and have worked out their differences regarding the end-of-race incident on Sunday at the USATF Nationals in Eugene, Oregon.

Lyles looked at Bednarek as he came from behind to win, 19.63 to 19.67, said something and then Bednarek pushed Lyles in the back past the line. Both said afterwards they needed to talk, and they did, with Bednarek telling CNN:

“[W]e both decided to discuss the situation after the event was done and that’s what we did. We had about an hour-long conversation and it was a really good, honest conversation. We both came to an agreement with things and we’re good now.”

Russian vaulting icon, two-time Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva and an International Olympic Committee member from 2016-24, is being pursued by Russian law enforcement for unpaid rent and utility bills in her hometown of Volgograd.

The Russian news agency TASS carried the story and noted that Isinbayeva, 43, has been reported to be living in Tenerife in the Canary Islands of Spain. She is married with two children and retired in 2016.

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced it “has provisionally suspended Judy Jelagat Kemboi (Kenya) for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Hydrochlorothiazide).”

Kemboi, 26, ranks in the top 60 all-time in the road 5 km (14:54 in 2024), 10 km (30:29 in 2024) and Half Marathon (1:05:43 in 2024). Her last race was on 27 April of this year, a 1:07:47 third in the Istanbul Half. He won the 2024 Kenyan national title in the Half.

● Fencing ● USA Fencing announced a new record for memberships at 45,157, with 752 clubs, with a significant expansion after the U.S. team success at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Reaching past 700 clubs meets a target set for 2028! Membership totals before the pandemic were in the 30,000 range, so the federation has been expanding strongly in recent years.

● Football ● The cat-and-mouse game between violent spectators and law enforcement in England is moving to a new level as Cheshire police said Wednesday that a “DNA tagging spray” will be used on disruptive fans that will help identify them in the future.

The Associated Press reported:

“The spray marks equipment, clothing and skin with an invisible uniquely-coded synthetic DNA solution that can be used for forensic evidence. It ‘clings to skin and clothing for months,’ police said. The spray shows up under ultraviolet light.”

● Skiing ● U.S. star Lindsey Vonn, 40, preparing to try and make the U.S. team for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina with a strong performance on the FIS World Cup circuit, announced retired Norwegian star Aksel Lund Svindal as coach and equipment advisor.

Svindal, 42, retired in 2019 after 36 World Cup wins and 80 total medals across 17 seasons. Like Vonn, he was primarily a speed skier – Downhill and Super-G – and both have been long-time users of Head ski equipment. Said Vonn:

“There are very few people in the world I would trust when it comes to line, technique, and equipment – and Aksel is absolutely one of them. He knows exactly what it takes to be the best of the best. …

“This comeback is a little bit crazy, but I think Aksel can really help me.”

● Swimming ● At the USA Swimming Summer Nationals in Irvine, California, two U.S. stars who were not part of the U.S. team at the Worlds were in the final of the men’s 50 m Free.

Australia’s Jamie Jack won the race in 21.63, which would have placed seventh in the Worlds final and has him at no. 10 on the 2024 world list, followed by Americans Hunter Armstrong (21.76 lifetime best) and Tokyo 2020 Olympic star Caeleb Dressel, in 21.94, his fastest of the season.

The meet continues through Friday.

Longtime Australian swimming supporter and billionaire mining company owner Gina Rinehart announced added bonuses of A$300,000 for Aussie swimmers of A$20,000-15,000-10,000 for individual events and A$5,000-3,750-2,500 for medal performances at the recent World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. (A$1 = $0.65 U.S.)

This is on top of the U.S. $20,000-15,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000 prize money paid by World Aquatics for places 1-8.

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GYMNASTICS: U.S. nationals in New Orleans starts on Thursday in the post-Biles era, with men trying to rise on the road to LA28

By
Rich Perelman
-
Claire Pease, the women’s All-Around winner at the 2025 U.S. Classic (Photo: USA Gymnastics).

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≡ USA GYMNASTICS NATIONALS ≡

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the U.S. women dominated the team competition and won the gold by almost six points over Italy. But that team is no more as American artistic gymnasts get ready for the USA Gymnastics National Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana, starting on Thursday.

Between Paris and New Orleans, youth is ascending:

● Simone Biles (28 now): not entered
● Jade Carey (25): not entered
● Jordan Chiles (24): not entered
● Suni Lee (22): not entered
● Hezly Rivera (alternate; now 17): entered

Of the 24 women entered in the senior division, there are some familiar names who have been World Championships or Olympic team members, besides Rivera:

● Skye Blakely (20): Two-time Worlds Team gold medalist
● Jayla Hang (17): 2025 Pan American All-Around gold medalist
● Joscelyn Roberson (19): 2023 Worlds Team gold medalist
● Ashlee Sullivan (18): 2025 U.S. Winter Cup All-Around gold medalist
● Leanne Wong (21): Two-time Worlds Team gold medalist
● Alicia Zhou (17): 2025 American Classic All-Around gold medalist

Then there is 16-year-old Claire Pease from Honolulu, Hawaii, who won the 2024 U.S. Junior All-Around and won the U.S. Classic All-Around in her first try at the senior level, and Simone Rose, 17, who was second at the Classic, with both finishing ahead of Roberson.

This is the future of the U.S. women’s team, although some of the Paris 2024 stars may decide to return ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The year after an Olympic Games is a good one for rest and recovery. But the new faces will be anxious to claim their places on the road to the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta (INA).

The men’s situation is quite different. The breakthrough 2024 team, which won an Olympic team bronze, was the first to medal at the Games since Beijing in 2008:

● Asher Hong: entered
● Paul Juda: not entered
● Brody Malone: entered
● Stephen Nedoroscik: entered
● Fred Richard: entered

So, four of the Paris fab five are returning and will be formidable contestants in multiple events:

● Hong (21): 2023 U.S. All-Around gold; 2022 U.S. Vault gold

● Malone (25): 2022 Worlds Horizontal Bar gold; 2021-22-24 U.S. All-Around gold; 2021 U.S. Vault gold; 2022 U.S. Floor and Horizontal Bar golds; 2024 U.S. Horizontal Bar gold

● Nedoroscik (26): 2021 Worlds Pommel Horse gold; 2021-22-23-24 U.S. Pommel Horse fold

● Richard (21): 2023 Worlds All-Around bronze; 2024 U.S. All-Around silver; 2023 U.S. Horizontal Bar gold; 2024 U.S. Floor gold

The enormous, 54-man senior field also includes stars who did not make it to Paris, but are undaunted, such as Rings specialist Alex Diab, a three-time national champion and five-time U.S. champion Donnell Whittenburg, now 30, who has won on Vault (2014, 2024) and Rings (2016, 2022-23).

The U.S. won one individual men’s gymnastics medal in Paris, with Nedoroscik taking a bronze on the Pommel Horse and has won at least one medal in three straight Worlds, in 2021-22-23.

The Nationals, which also include junior competitions, will be contested over four days:

● 7 August: Men/Day 1 (Peacock: 8 p.m. Eastern)
● 8 August: Women/Day 1 (Peacock: 7:45 p.m. Eastern)
● 9 August: Men/Day 2: (CNBC: 6:45 p.m. Eastern)
● 10 August: Women/Day 2: (NBC: 7 p.m. Eastern)

NBC just wrapped up an extension with USA Gymnastics for its broadcast rights to 2032.

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ATHLETICS: USATF Nationals shows U.S. will be formidable at Worlds, but for how many medals; modest Hayward crowds normal for Eugene nationals

By
Rich Perelman
-
World-leading 10.65 women's 100 win for Melissa Jefferson-Wooden at the USATF Nationals (Photo: USATF).

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≡ USATF NATIONALS REVIEW ≡

The drama was amazing across all four days of the USA Track & Field National Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with tremendous performances and astonishing upsets all over the place, including three world-leading marks:

● Men/200 m: 19.63, Noah Lyles
● Women/100 m: 10.65, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
● Women/Long Jump: 7.12 m (23-4 1/2), Tara Davis-Woodhall

Beyond this, it’s worthwhile to ask how good the meet was in terms of athletics and aesthetics.

On the athletic side, the meet selected – for the most part – the U.S. team for the 13-21 September World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN). And based just on the standings of the top three performers on the world list for 2025 right now, the American team would be formidable:

● Men: 17 entries in the 19 in-stadium individual events
● Men: 4 world leaders, in the 200 m, 110 m hurdles, 400 m hurdles, hammer

● Women: 19 entries in the 19 in-stadium individual events
● Women: 7 world leaders, in the 100 m, 100 m hurdles, long jump, shot, discus, hammer, heptathlon

Assuming the U.S. is not a medal favorite in any of the road events, but is a medal favorite in all five relays, that projects to an on-paper total of as many as 40 medals in Tokyo!

That’s a lot; consider the recent successes at the Worlds and Olympic Games:

● 2024 Games: 34 medals (14-11-9)
● 2023 Worlds: 29 medals (12-8-9)
● 2022 Worlds: 33 medals (13-9-11)
● 2021 Games: 26 medals (7-12-7)
● 2019 Worlds: 29 medals (14-11-4)

But, while it shows that the Americans will yet again have a powerful team at the World Championships, please keep in mind that two-thirds or more of the U.S. entries will perform worse at the Worlds or Olympic Games than at the U.S. trials. Expressed as a “batting average,” exclusive TSX research shows the U.S. trials performances vs. the last round reached at the last four Olympics or Worlds:

● 2024 Games: .306 (33 out of 108 entries were better)
● 2023 Worlds: .363 (41 out of 113)
● 2022 Worlds: .362 (42 out of 116)
● 2021 Games: .265 (20 out of 113)

A 30-medal performance is always a good target to shoot for and will be again in Tokyo.

As for aesthetics, there has been lots of chatter about the half-full Hayward Field for the USATF meet, but this is the reality of the national championships in that facility since it re-opened for the 2021 season. Day-by-day ticket sales for the last three USATF Nationals (not including the 2024 Olympic Trials):

2025: 26,566 total
● 5,781
● 5,996
● 7,812
● 6,977

2023: 27,462 total
● 5,311
● 5,782
● 8,965
● 7,404

2022: 13,306 total
● 2,751
● 3,314
● 3,664
● 3,577

The 2022 figures were low due to the upcoming World Championships and people were saving their money for that.

Hayward has held the last five USATF Nationals, from 2021-25, including two Olympic Trials. It has also held the NCAA meet in 2010, 2013-18, 2021-22 and 2023-25 and is scheduled to host in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Add in the annual, very popular, one-day Prefontaine Classic and it’s a heavy schedule for the no. 147 market in the U.S., so it should not be a wonder that the multi-day attendance is modest. Moreover, the cost of getting to Eugene and the high-demand prices for accommodations and the rest makes travel there less appealing for some fans.

What Eugene offers, most importantly, are safe hands. Thanks to all of its experience and strong community support, the TrackTown USA organization is able to handle these large meets – logistically and financially – over and over again. Unlike larger markets, track and field is important in Eugene and it shows, especially in having a permanent organization to continuously stage these multi-day events.

In this century, only six sites have hosted the USATF meet (including Olympic Trials):

● 12: Eugene, Oregon
● 4: Des Moines, Iowa
● 4: Sacramento, California
● 2: Palo Alto, California
● 2: Indianapolis, Indiana
● 1: Carson, California

The NCAA meet has had only seven hosts this century:

● 12: Eugene, Oregon
● 4: Sacramento, California
● 3: Austin, Texas
● 3: Des Moines, Iowa
● 1: Fayetteville, Arkansas
● 1: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
● 1: Durham, North Carolina

In the 2020s so far, Eugene has hosted nine NCAA and USATF meets and Austin, one NCAA meet. That’s it. And TrackTown USA is a key player, and safe hands.

For comparison, the 2019 USATF Nationals in Des Moines, also held late in July due to the late Worlds in Doha (QAT), drew a bit better, with 30,367 over four days. But Eugene keeps asking. 

USATF has said it wants to hold the 2028 Olympic Trials in the Olympic venue, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, on a condensed schedule. That may be the next time a nationals is held outside of Eugene’s safe hands, thanks to TrackTown USA.

A couple of other world-leading performances at national championships else, with Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri taking the men’s shot lead at 22.82 m (74-10 1/2) in Caorle. At the British Championships in Birmingham, Molly Caudery grabbed the women’s vault lead with her win at 4.85 m (15-11).

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Trump signs Executive Order to create White House Task Force on 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games preparations

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. President Donald Trump after signing an Executive Order establishing the White House Task Force on the 2028 Games (Photo: C-SPAN video screen shot).

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≡ WHITE HOUSE TASK FORCE ≡

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Tuesday afternoon to create a White House Task Force to support the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

In addition to a large group of administration officials on the stage, the guests included LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman and chief executive Reynold Hoover, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board Chair Gene Sykes, 2008 Olympic gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin and five-time Paralympic gold medalist Brad Snyder.

Noting that when the Games were awarded to Los Angeles during his first term in 2017, he did not expected to be involved – assuming he would be re-elected in 2020 – Trump said:

“Today I will sign an Executive Order establishing the White House Task Force on the 2028 summer Olympics, mobilizing the entire Federal government to ensure the Games are safe, seamless and historically successful.

“It’s going to be amazing. … L.A.’s a little bit different place than it was when selected [in 2017], but we’re going to bring it back stronger than ever. I spoke to Casey about that; he said, ‘nope, we’re going to make it better than ever.”

The 15-minute ceremony closed with Trump signing the order before he launched into an 18-minute news conference on various topics, with only one question on Olympic issues. The order itself included:

● “The Federal Government will lead a unified effort to ensure maximum safety, secure borders, and world-class transportation for millions of visitors throughout the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games (Games).”

● Trump was designated as Chair and Vice President J.D. Vance as Vice Chair, with an Executive Director to be hired and report through Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Implementation, Nicolas Luna. The Task Force will work out of the Department of Homeland Security.

● The specific responsibilities were noted as:

“(a) coordinate Federal planning and response related to the security, transportation, and entry/exit processes for the Games;

“(b) support interagency cooperation and information-sharing with State and local partners;

“(c) identify legal, logistical, or regulatory barriers that could impede effective Federal support for the Games and recommend timely solutions;

“(d) assist in the planning and implementation of visa processing and credentialing programs for foreign athletes, coaches, officials, and media personnel; and

“(e) ensure operational readiness across law enforcement, counterterrorism, transportation, and emergency response functions.”

Wasserman thanked Trump and his support and that of the administration, and he presented Trump with a boxed set of 1984 Los Angeles Olympic medals as a souvenir.

During the question-and-answer session, the only 2028 Games-related question was on whether U.S. security forces will be used and Trump confirmed that the military and/or National Guard will be used as needed.

“We’ll do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe, including using our National Guard or military. … I will use the National Guard or military, this is going to be so safe, and if we have to,” and then launched into a tirade against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass:

“because, obviously, you have a mayor that is not very competent. She can’t get the permits to the people [rebuilding after the Palisades fire], you know people are still waiting for their permits. [EPA Director] Lee Zeldin got them the Federal permit, which is 10 times harder to get and everybody can build on the Federal basis – and that’s the hard one – but the mayor, Bass, she refuses to or cannot get them permits. They are waiting.”

Trump also said he thinks women should be tested to ensure that transgender athletes are not competing in the female category.

The first Federal funding for the 2028 Games came with the 4 July 2025 signing of H.R. 1, The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which appropriated $1 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support 2028 Olympic security needs.

A 7 March 2025 Executive Order established a White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Trump as Chair and Vance as Vice Chair and also operating out of the Department of Homeland Security.

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PANORAMA: Aboriginal tribe challenges Brisbane ‘32 stadium plan; fans hurl luggage on field to ask for coach firing; USA Gym & NBC together to ‘32

By
Rich Perelman
-
A Queensland government rendering of to-be-built 2032 Olympic Stadium in Victoria Park in Brisbane, Australia.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) and Save Victoria Park activist group have asked for a review of the Victoria Park area, in which the new Olympic stadium is to be built, as a site of cultural significance.

If so designated, it could impact development plans. YMAC spokeswoman Gaja Kerry Charlton said in a statement, “We are very concerned there are ancient trees, artefacts and very important ecosystems existing there. There may be ancestral remains.”

The Australian government confirmed it received the request and will review it. The decision to built the new stadium in Victoria Park was made by the Queensland State government, but will be partially paid for with federal funding.

● Court of Arbitration for Sport ● The International Council on Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) issued a short statement after the European Union Court of Justice (CJEU) decision in the Royal Football Club Seraing vs. FIFA case, which included:

“ICAS acknowledges that today’s CJEU judgment determined that the review of CAS awards should be limited to EU public policy only. The Seraing decision is in continuation of previous CJEU jurisprudence and in line with the International Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (i.e. The New York Convention). ICAS also acknowledges recognition by the CJEU that sports arbitration is a legitimate mechanism ensuring a uniform treatment of sporting disputes and a consistent application of sporting rules.

“CAS resolves sporting disputes worldwide and already applies EU law when required. Whilst the vast majority of cases before CAS concern contractual and disciplinary issues not governed by EU law, matters related to EU competition law can already be challenged before EU state courts following a previous CJEU judgement (Case International Skating Union C-124/21).”

Translation: no worries. The statement also noted that only about 6% of CAS decisions are ever appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

● Fencing ● At last week’s FIE World Championships in Tbilisi (GEO), seven members were elected to the FIE Athletes’ Commission, including Rio 2016 silver winner Alexander Massialas of the U.S.

Among the other selected were Olympic medalists Luca Curatoli (ITA), Ruben Limardo Gascon (VEN), Bon-gil Ku (KOR) and Andras Szamati (HUN).

The FIE has a generous prize purse for its championships, paying $40,000-20,000-10,000 for its individual medal winners, and $50,000-25,000-15,000 for its team medal winners. The total amount paid was $1.02 million.

● Football ● Is this a new one?

At a Monday match between Lithuanian A-League clubs, seventh-place FK Zalgiris of Vilnius and league leader Kauno Zalgiris in Vilnius, home fans simultaneously threw dozens of suitcases onto the pitch at the start of the match, signaling their desire to have coach Vladimir Cheburin fired.

The bags were thrown off the field by the players, and the match resumed, but the fans chanted “Cheburin out.”

FK Zalgiris lost, 2-1. Wow.

● Gymnastics ● USA Gymnastics and NBC announced an extension of their broadcast rights agreement from 2029-32, after signing an agreement for 2025-28 rights that was announced on 27 March of this year.

Women’s gymnastics draws strong audiences for NBC, which has the U.S. Olympic Games television rights through 2036. NBC has been busy with rights extensions, taking up a deal with USA Track & Field to 2028 in March and USA Swimming through 2028 in May.

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COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT: European Court of Justice rules European states must have “public policy” review of CAS results

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Court of Arbitration for Sport

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≡ LIMITED REVIEW AVAILABLE ≡

The Court of Arbitration for Sport handles hundreds of cases annually, many of which involve football in various ways. Last week, one of those cases turned into an order from the European Court of Justice to create a window of review on cases from the Court of Arbitration.

The key facts are that the Royal Football Club Seraing – a Belgian club – was prevented from obtained outside investment from a Maltese company in 2015 due to existing rules from the International Federation (FIFA) and the continental confederation (UEFA). The club appealed within FIFA and lost, then appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2016, claiming that the FIFA restrictions:

“infringe [European Union] law and, more specifically, the freedom of movement for workers, the freedom to provide services and the free movement of capital.”

The Court of Arbitration for Sport panel upheld much (but not all) of the FIFA judgement. The club appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal on ground that Swiss public policy is being infringed, but the appeal was dismissed in 2018.

At the same time, the club and the investor pursued actions in Belgian courts, losing at the Commercial Court and at the Court of Appeals in December 2019. A further appeal was made to the highest Belgian court, the Cour de Cassation, which asked the European Court of Justice for a ruling on whether a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in Switzerland – which is NOT a member of the European Union – must be acknowledged as final since European Union law has not been considered.

That’s the issue here, and the key element to remember is that Switzerland is not an EU member and do not apply EU law.

A hearing on the question referred to the European Court of Justice was held in October 2024, more than nine years after the dispute started!

The opinion of the European Court of Justice referred to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and noted the existing Belgian Judicial Code section 1721 on enforcement of an arbitration award, including:

“(1) The court of first instance may refuse to recognise or declare enforceable an arbitral award, irrespective of the country in which it was made, only in the following circumstances: …

“(b) if the court of first instance finds that: …

“(ii) the recognition or enforcement of the arbitral award would be contrary to public policy.”

This is a narrow ground for review, but it is Belgian law. Interestingly, it is eerily similar to the Swiss Private International Law Act, section 190.2, which states that an arbitration decision can only be annulled if one of five conditions are present.

These are improper appointment of the arbitrator(s), jurisdictional questions, if the decision went beyond the issues submitted (or failed to decide the issue submitted) and:

● “d) if the principle of equal treatment of the parties or the right of the parties to be heard was violated;

● “e) if the award is incompatible with public policy.”

But for the European Court of Justice, it is improper to leave a plaintiff from a European Union country unable to have its claim considered on “European public policy” grounds. Not Swiss, but European Union grounds and in a court in a European Union country.

So, the opinion states, as a matter of law:

“The second subparagraph of Article 19(1) TEU, read in conjunction with Article 267 TFEU and Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, must be interpreted as precluding

“– the authority of res judicata from being conferred within the territory of a Member State on an award made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), in the relations between the parties to the dispute in the context of which that award was made, where that dispute is linked to the pursuit of a sport as an economic activity within the territory of the European Union and the consistency of that award with the principles and provisions of EU law which form part of EU public policy has not first been subject to effective review by a court or tribunal of that Member State that is authorised to make a reference to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling;

“– probative value from being conferred, as a consequence of that authority of res judicata, on such an award within the territory of that Member State, in the relations between the parties to that dispute and third parties.” (underline added)

Observed (comments by TSX editor Rich Perelman): As written, the European Court of Justice ruling – which does not deal with the case at all, but is a question of the value of Court of Arbitration for Sport decisions on actors in European Union countries – appears to allow national courts to review Court of Arbitration decisions as to adherence to “EU public policy” only. And the national court does not have to accept the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision as true and correct in all aspects.

This is a complex holding which maintains the ability of European Union plaintiffs and defendants to obtain a review of Court of Arbitration for Sport decisions in national courts in European Union countries, but does not touch the requirements for use of the Court of Arbitration between parties as the primary forum for resolution of disputes.

Now, the question is what will the Belgian courts do with this direction from the European Court of Justice? That is still to be seen. And there is no impact on any Court of Arbitration for Sport decisions which do not involve parties which are outside the 27-state European Union.

Nope, it’s still not over. Not even close.

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PANORAMA: Trump to announce‘28 Games Task Force Tuesday; Bednarek talks about Lyles shove; McIntosh led Singapore Worlds money winners

By
Rich Perelman
-
2025 USATF men’s 100 m champion Kenny Bednarek (Photo: USATF).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● President Donald Trump will sign an Executive Order on Tuesday that will establish a White House Task Force on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Trump will head the unit, with members to be announced Tuesday, including Federal officials and possibly others. A priority will be the efficient processing of entry visas and credentialing of athletes, team and sports officials, media and others, as well as transportation.

A 7 March 2025 Executive Order established a White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Trump as Chair and Vice President J.D. Vance as Vice Chair and operated out of the Department of Homeland Security. Only Federal officials were listed as members.

● Anti-Doping ● The World Anti-Doping Agency announced that Cameroon hads addressed its legal issues with the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code and was reinstated as compliant. Per WADA:

“There are currently three non-compliant Code Signatories; namely, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation and the International Federation of Basque Pelota.”

● Transgender ● The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service announced Monday:

“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual in alignment with Executive Order 14201, Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports, which directs the Department of Homeland Security to develop policies to prevent the entry of male athletes seeking to compete in women’s sports.

“USCIS will affirmatively protect all-female athletic opportunities by granting certain athlete-related petitions and applications, that had previously been abused and offered to men, only to women, ensuring that male aliens seeking immigration benefits aren’t coming to the U.S. to participate in women’s sports.”

The Executive Order, issued on 5 February, directed immigration officials to “shall issue guidance with an objective of preventing such entry” into the U.S.

● Aquatics ● Albeit with multiple assumptions about splits for relay swimmers, SwimSwam.com compiled the prize and bonus money winners from the swimming events at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore:

● $90,833: Summer McIntosh (CAN)
● $73,300: Leon Marchand (FRA)
● $70,000: Regan Smith (USA)
● $58,357: Kate Douglass (USA)
● $56,000: Gretchen Walsh (USA)
● $52,143: Haiyang Qin (CHN) and Katie Ledecky (USA)

Event prize money was $20,000-15,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000 for the top eight places, plus a $30,000 bonus for world records. The U.S. won the most money overall with $563,000, followed by Australia with $352,500 and China with $272,000.

Interesting note from The Associated Press interview story with U.S. Olympic icon and NBC swimming analyst Rowdy Gaines during the World Aquatics Championships. While the AP’s Stephen Wade reported from Singapore, he noted that he interviewed Gaines, who was in the U.S., announcing the meet remotely.

Gaines and Jason Knapp called the races on NBC’s Peacock streaming service; NBC itself programmed only two highlights shows, on Saturday (2 August) and this coming Saturday (9th), at 1 p.m. Eastern. Nicole Auerbach was in Singapore as the deck reporter.

The lawsuit filed in 2018 by U.S. swimmer Tom Shields and Hungarian star Katinka Hosszu against (then-FINA) World Aquatics will apparently be settled, after a June mediation led to an agreement. According to a Front Office Sports report, the settlement will include some damages for the swimmers and an injunction to prevent the federation from competing in events not sanctioned by it.

World Aquatics adopted that stance years ago, but the suit has continued. A parallel suit by the now-in-suspension International Swimming League continues and is to be tried in January 2026.

● Athletics ● More from the men’s 200 m final at the USATF Nationals in Eugene, where Noah Lyles came from behind and won, 19.63 to 19.67, over 100 m winner Kenny Bednarek, in the top two times in the world in 2025.

Lyles looked over at Bednarek at the line, the two had words after and Bednarek shoved Lyles in the back. Bednarek spoke about the incident to reporters afterwards; Reuters reported:

“Noah’s going to be Noah. If he wants to stare me down, that’s fine.

“The summary is, don’t do that to me. I don’t do any of that stuff. It’s not good character right there. That’s pretty much it. At the end of the day, he won the race. I’ve got to give him props. He was the better man today.

“What he said didn’t matter, it’s just what he did. Unsportsmanlike [stuff], and I don’t deal with that. It’s a respect factor. He’s fresh. Last time we lined it up, I beat him [at Paris 2024], that’s all I can say. Next time we line up, I’m going to win. That’s all that matters.”

Lyles was also interviewed and said, “on coach’s orders,” he had no comment. He did say he needs more races and will be running in the Diamond League meets in Europe beginning in Poland on 16 July.

For those wondering where breakout 800 m star Cooper Lutkenhaus came from, he’s a sophomore at Northwest High School in Justin, Texas, part of the Ft. Worth metro area.

Now 16 years and 229 days old, his progression is pretty impressive:

● 2023: 1:53.59 in middle school
● 2024: 1:47.58 as a freshman
● 2025: 1:42.27 as a sophomore, at the USATF Nationals

He’s now no. 18 all-time and lowered his best from 1:47.58 last season to 1:47.04 on 3 May to win the Texas 6A State title, 1:46.26 on 8 June for the U.S. high school record, 1:45.45 on 21 June and then his stunning stretch run to get his USATF second in a world U-18 record of 1:42.27. He’s also run a 46.30 400 m this season.

● Boxing ● The International Boxing Association confirmed that its future focus is outside of the Olympic world, with chief executive Chris Roberts (GBR) explaining that the “IBA Men’s Elite World Championships will feature an invitation of cross combination top amateur and professional athletes from around the world competing in high-stake bouts, the very first hybrid event of its kind.”

World Boxing has been confirmed as the recognized governing body for Olympic boxing and now has 118 member national federations.

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SWIMMING: Gaines, Lochte, Phelps rip U.S. performance at Worlds; Finke slaps back, but only 31% of U.S. entries bettered Trials marks

By
Rich Perelman
-
The U.S. ended the 2025 Worlds on a high note, with a world record in the women’s 4x100 m Medley by (l-r) Gretchen Walsh, Regan Smith, Torri Huske and Kate Douglass (Photo: World Aquatics/Aniko Kovacs).

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≡ ANALYSIS & OBSERVATIONS ≡

The United States swim team won 29 medals at the just-concluded World Aquatics Championships in Singapore to lead the medal table once again, with nine golds – most of any nation – 11 silvers and nine bronzes. Australia was second with 20.

The achievements were all the more impressive after the extensive gastrointestinal trouble experienced by half the team or more, during their pre-Worlds training camp in Thailand.

But American swimming legends were hardly impressed:

● Rowdy Gaines, the 1984 Olympic sprint icon, told The Associated Press:

“We’re far from killing it. It’s a major struggle, and we can’t hide our heads in the sand and say this is just a blip.

“You can blame it on the illness, you can blame it on the inexperience – most of these kids have never been in this situation – and you can blame it on logistics. [A pre-meet camp in] Thailand doesn’t make sense to me in the first place.”

He also noted the “state of today’s athletes,” explaining “I think in some cases there’s an entitlement for a lot of these kids. They feel like, ‘I should be in the finals of the world championships. And I can still do the peripheral stuff and not worry about making it all the way.’ I think there needs to be a more focused attitude on the task at hand.”

Gaines also felt that USA Swimming needs help, saying, “I do think changes need to be made. There needs to be a complete reset. But I don’t think the sky is falling. But there needs to be some great leadership. Whoever they hire as CEO needs to be the leader that is sorely needed.”

● Olympic legends Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps were more acidic, with an Instagram post showing a tombstone engraved with:

“In Loving Memory of
“United States Swimming
“1980-2025
“Aged 45
“‘They set the bar high – until they stopped reaching for it’”

At the top of the illustration was “Call it a funeral, or call it a fresh start. We’ve got 3 years” and at the bottom was added, “Is this the wake up call USA swimming needed? Let’s find out …”

● But Olympic distance champion Bobby Finke, who won a men’s 1,500 m Free bronze in Singapore, commented:

“There’s a lot of stuff being said. They have zero clue [about] the kind of teamwork that we have behind the scenes, and how well we’re being put together. We have [about] eleven new guys on a team, and there’s a lot of high schoolers. Those boys stepped up. And despite everything that was happening these past two weeks, we did great work.”

Now, what actually happened? As far as the medal count, it’s instructive to look at the U.S. performance on the medals stand over the last 10 World Championships and Olympic Games from 2015-2025:

● 2025 Worlds: 29 total (9-11-9) in 42 events
● 2024 Games: 28 total (8-13-7) in 37 events
● 2024 Worlds: 20 total (8-6-6) in 42 events
● 2023 Worlds: 25 total (13-7-5) in 42 events
● 2022 Worlds: 45 total (17-12-16) in 42 events
● 2021 Games: 30 total (11-10-9) in 37 events
● 2019 Worlds: 27 total (14-8-5) in 42 events
● 2017 Worlds: 38 total (18-10-10) in 42 events
● 2016 Games: 33 total (16-8-9) in 35 events
● 2015 Worlds: 23 total (8-10-5) in 42 events

Recognizing that the 2024 Worlds in Doha (QAT) were lightly attended because of training for the upcoming Olympic Games, the American medal output was average or better this year excepting the 2017 and 2022 Worlds and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the Tokyo Olympic performance was also good, in a limited event program.

One way to measure the quality of the Worlds or Olympic performance is to look at the performances on the world stage compared to what it took to make it onto the U.S. team. Comparing the times posted in the last stage competed in (final, semi or heats) at the last three Olympic Games with the performances it took to make the American team at the U.S. Trials:

● 57.7% at Rio 2016: 30 better out of 52
● 51.8% at Tokyo 2020: 29 better out of 56
● 30.4% at Paris 2024: 17 better out of 56

The trend is clearly down. Looking at the 2023 Worlds – with everyone present – and 2025, the drop-off from the excellent Rio and good Tokyo levels is obvious:

● 33.3% at 2023 Worlds: 22 better out of 66
● 30.6% at 2025 Worlds: 19 better out of 62

That’s not going to get it done. Looking at the last three years in more detail:

● 2023 Worlds: 33.3% overall ~ Men: 15/32 or 44.1%; Women: 7/34 or 20.1%
● 2024 Games: 30.4% overall ~ Men: 4/28 or 14.3%; Women: 13/28 or 46.4%
● 2025 Worlds: 30.6% overall ~ Men: 7/31 or 22.6%; Women: 12/31 or 38.7%

The gastro problems from the Thailand training camp noticeably impacted the situation in Singapore, as Josh Matheny and Carson Foster scratched events for the men and Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske and Claire Weinstein all scratched events for the women.

Moreover, eight of the 12 women’s performances that were better at the Worlds came from just three swimmers: Katie Ledecky (3), Regan Smith (3) and Kate Douglass (2).

Then there were the relays. In 2023, American teams medaled in all eight relays, winning two, with four silvers and two bronzes. In 2025, the U.S. didn’t qualify for the mixed 4×100 Medley and otherwise won two golds, two silvers and two bronzes. The women medaled in all three of their relays; the men were two-of-three and the mixed teams were 1-2. For a team with the depth of the U.S., this was not impressive.

Whatever the formula was at Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and for the post-Olympic 2017 and 2022 Worlds – where the U.S. dominated – worked. American production and performances in swimming were down for Paris in 2024 and the same was true, despite topping the medal table, in 2025.

But as Lochte and Phelps pointed out, there are three years to go to Los Angeles in 2028. Oh yes, and hire a food taster!

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Hotel workers union battle with L.A. business extended to fight on new development, Olympic venue usage

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Los Angeles City Hall, a 1928 Art Deco downtown icon (Photo: Tim Ahem via Wikipedia)

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≡ LOS ANGELES DIVIDED ≡

The fractious, angry battle between the activist hotel workers union in Los Angeles and area businesses continues to escalate, with the union trying to launch a petition to place an initiative measure on a 2026 City ballot to require public votes on hotel development and public events.

There could be an impact on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic organizing effort.

The background in brief:

● Unite Here Local 11, which represents airport, hotel, sports and convention center employees in Southern California and Arizona, pushed through what it calls its “Olympic Wage” ordinance at the Los Angeles City Council, finally approved on 27 May 2025.

● The measure increases minimum hourly wages at hotels or more than 60 rooms, and at airport concessionaires in the City of Los Angeles to $22.50 as of 1 July 2025, $25.00 on 1 July 2026, $27.50 on 1 July 2027 and $30.00 on 1 July 2028.

● In response, the LA Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress, a coalition of hospitality-related business, including airlines and hotels, filed for a referendum to cancel the ordinance. Signatures were gathered, with Local 11 protesting loudly, and on 27 June 2025, the Los Angeles City Clerk announced that the implementation of the ordinance was suspended after delivery of more than 140,000 signatures in favor of listing “Referendum Petition Against Ordinance No. 188610” on the ballot.

More than 92,998 valid signatures are required and the City Clerk has turned the signature list over to the Los Angeles County Clerk for verification. Lawsuits against the signature-gathering effort have been filed, but with no resolution yet.

At the same time as the LA Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress referendum signatures were delivered, Local 11 filed two initiative petitions, trying to be placed on the June 2026 City ballot. One was for an “Increase Minimum Wage for Workers” ordinance, to have a vote on the ordinance passed by the L.A. City Council and now suspended; this would be a direct counter to the Alliance referendum against the “Olympic wage.”

The second was an initiative to “Require Voter Approval of Major Development Projects,” which would require a public vote on any new hotel, sports or convention center projects for which the City provides subsidies, or for the construction, addition or alteration of event facilities, “which cumulatively create or add facilities of more than 50,000 square feet or with a seating capacity of 1,000 seats.”

Different from a referendum – like the Alliance petition – an initiative petition requires more signatures: 139,497 from City of Los Angeles residents to be placed on the ballot.

Both of the Local 11 measures were submitted on 16 June 2025 and had the measure title and summary completed on 27 June. The next step will be for a petition for each to be approved for posting and circulation, with signatures due within 120 days of the filing date (ostensibly 14 October 2025).

What does this mean for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games?

● The LA28 organizers already have agreements with dozens of hotels for accommodations during the Games period in 2028. Those agreements are likely to continue, although there may be some changes to the guaranteed pricing if the “Olympic wage” ordinance stands after the June 2026 municipal ballot.

● The voter-approval initiative for new hotels, sports or convention facilities includes “alterations” which can be interpreted to mean temporary additions, as will be widely used for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

That could cause issued for the LA28 organizers, for those sites for which temporary works are needed. The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that in a statement, L.A. Office of Major Events Executive Director Paul Krekorian said of the measure:

“The proposed measure would make vital projects essential for our city and these Games potentially impossible to complete. It would also require costly special elections before even relatively small projects could begin.”

The potential impacts on the Games from the proposal could include:

● Additional seating to the LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium in Exposition Park, slated to host diving.

● Additional seating – above 1,000 – for viewing of sailing events at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro.

● Facilities and possible seating at Venice Beach for the cycling road races marathons starts and triathlon.

● Seating for events at the Los Angeles Convention Center, for boxing, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling.

● Use of the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area for temporary sites for 3×3 basketball, BMX cycling, modern pentathlon and skateboarding.

● If interpreted quite liberally, the measure as written could include changes to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, such as for the 2022-23-24 NASCAR Clash at the Coliseum, or the installation of the track and field surface for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The measure’s requirement of a vote on facilities of more than 50,000 sq. ft. would also essentially torpedo all “fan festival” activities within the City of Los Angeles, a major focus of City Council members.

Observed: So, is the measure a threat to the Games?

In a word, no. The Games – Olympic and Paralympic – will go on.

But if the proposed initiative gets onto the June 2026 ballot, it will cause the LA28 folks to create or implement alternate plans that simply move the impacted sports to sites outside of the City of Los Angeles. And there are so many facilities in Southern California, this will not be that difficult (but will be highly inconvenient).

Even an alternative to the Coliseum for track and field is possible: the Rose Bowl, which was briefly considered to hold track at the 1984 Olympic Games. Either facility would require the installation of a temporary track on top of the existing field, although the engineering requirements will be different (and difficult). The football matches scheduled for the Rose Bowl would then be moved to the Coliseum, as a normal, existing use.

The immediate winners of such a scenario would likely be the convention centers in Long Beach and possibly Anaheim, both used for the 1984 Games.

If the voter-approval proposal for development passes, development within the City can be expected to diminish significantly, including the much-desired post-2028 expansion program for the L.A. Convention Center.

But at present, Local 11 is trying to get its petitions approved and start asking for signatures on L.A. street corners and shopping centers soon. 

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PANORAMA: Grand Slam Track missed athlete pay date; Parsons challenged in IPC elections; Shriever wins third BMX Worlds gold

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons speaking at the 2024 Paralympic Games closing ceremony, with Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet at right. (Photo: IPC)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● International Paralympic Committee ● The IPC announced the candidates for its elections on 27 September 2025, in Seoul (KOR), with the President, two Vice Presidents and seven At-Large board members to be selected.

Incumbent IPC President Andrew Parsons (BRA) is being challenged by Korean Hyun-bae Dong, the head of the Korean Paralympic Committee. Parsons, 48, is running for a third and final term as IPC head and has worked to raise the Paralympic profile and has created a close relationship with the International Olympic Committee.

● Athletics ● Multiple athlete agents told Front Office Sports that Grand Slam Track did not meet its own expectations to pay prize money from its Kingston, Jamaica meet by the end of July. In a statement, Grand Slam Track explained:

“Grand Slam Track is anticipating investor funds to hit our account imminently, and the athletes are our top priority.

“Once these funds are received on our end, we will work to immediately process them to the athletes, noting all banks have different timelines for receiving and depositing funds into individual accounts.

“We are in the process of recapitalizing the company, and we are committed to distributing funds to athletes as soon as we receive them. As we continue to receive funds in the upcoming months, we will distribute payments as they come in. We will continue making progress toward completing full payments at the earliest date possible.”

Fred Kerley, the 2022 World men’s 100 m champion, but who has had repeated run-ins with law enforcement in 2025 and was suspended by Grand Slam Track, converted to Islam on 8 July. He noted in a social-media post:

“They tried to break me, Allah rebuilt me. Took my shahada today. I’m chosen. I’m covered. I’m home.”

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Aquatics ● A stunning upset in diving at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in the men’s 3 m Springboard final, as Mexico’s Osmar Olvera won at 529.55, beating Rio 2016 Olympic champ Yuan Cao (522.70) and three-time defending champion and two-time Olympic silver winner Zongyuan Wang (515.55).

Olvera won four of the six dives, and took the lead for good after his fifth dive and won the sixth to ensure his victory. Wang won two dives, but was sixth on two others and seventh on his fifth dive. The win for Olvera ends a Chinese winning streak of 10 Worlds in a row, from 2007-2024, with Wang winning the last three. The Paris 3 m bronze winner in 2024, Olvera won his second Worlds gold, after taking the 1 m title in 2024.

There was no such upset in the women’s 3 m Springboard, where Olympic champion Yiwen Chen was supreme, scoring 389.70 in the final, ahead of teammate Jia Chen (356.40) and Italy’s Chiara Pellacani (323.20).

It’s Chen’s ninth Worlds gold in her career and third in Singapore, after the team event and the 3 m Synchro. She’s now won the 3 m Springboard in 2022, 2023 and 2025.

Sunday’s men’s 10 m finale belonged to defending champion Cassiel Rousseau (AUS), who dominated the field and won with 534.80 points to 515.20 for Ukraine’s Oleksiy Sereda, the 13-year-old sensation of 2019, but now 19, who moved up from bronze in 2024.

Mexico’s Randal Waters out-dueled Chinese newcomers Zifeng Zhu and Renjie Zhao, 511.95 to 506.10 to 499.95 to win the bronze, the first time China has missed a Worlds medal in this event since 1982! That’s a streak of 17 straight Worlds stopped, in Singapore.

China dominated diving, as usual, with 16 medals (9-3-4) to seven for Mexico (1-4-2) and three each for Italy and Australia. It’s the second straight Worlds with nine wins for China, compared to 12 in 2023, all 13 in 2022, 12 in 2019; the last Worlds with less than nine was in 2017, with eight.

Thanks to its improved swimming performance (14 medals), China won the overall medal count at the Singapore Worlds with 37 (15-12-10), followed by the U.S. with 32 (10-11-11) and Australia (28:13-7-8). Eight countries won 10 or more total medals and 20 countries won one or more golds!

● Cycling ● After France’s Maeva Squiban won her second straight stage on Friday at the Tour de France Femmes, thanks to a 20 km solo attack on the 159.7 km route in 3:58:26, Mauritius’ Kimberley Pienaar still maintained the race lead by 26 seconds over France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.

But that all changed Saturday, on the massive uphill finish to the 111.9 km eighth stage. Ferrand-Prevot, the 2024 Paris Olympic Mountain Bike gold medalist, was the 2014 World Roads champ and is back, causing trouble. She attacked with 5 km left on the final climb and won in 3:47:24, a full 1:45 ahead of Sarah Gigante (AUS), with Pienaar in 17th (+9:06). So, going into Sunday’s final ride, Ferrand-Prevot was now the leader, by 2:37 over Gigante and 3:18 over 2023 winner Demi Vollering (NED)!

That set the stage for the 124.1 km finale, with three climbs and an uphill finish to Chatel Les Portes du Soleil, and Ferrand-Prevot was ready, riding away in the final 6.5 km to win in 3:38:23, 20 seconds up on Vollering and0:23 ahead of defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma (POL).

That gave Ferrand-Prevot the overall victory in 29:54:24, 3:42 up on Vollering and 4:09 ahead of Niewiadoma. She’s the first French winner of the Tour de France Femmes, in its fourth edition.

Niewiadoma kept her medal streak alive, now in all four Tours: 3-3-1-3!

The UCI World Tour schedule resumed after the Tour de France, with Italian Giulio Ciccone getting his first victory in a one-day race, taking the Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa in Spain, breaking away with 9 km left and winning the hilly, 211.4 km race in 5:05:33. Jan Christen (SUI: +0:09) was second and well ahead of Maxim van Gils (BEL: +0:19) leading a group of four to the line for places 3-6.

At the UCI BMX World Championships in Copenhagen (DEN), Britain’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Beth Shriever cemented her place as one of the top riders ever, becoming the fifth to win three World Championships golds, taking the women’s elite race in 35.614, leading from start to finish.

Australian star Saya Sakakibara, the Paris 2024 Olympic winner, was second in 36.744, with Judy Baauw (NED) a clear third in 37.223. Shriever has now won an Olympic title and Worlds golds in 2021-23-25, and joins Gabriela Diaz (ARG), Shanaze Reade (GBR), Mariana Pajon (COL) and American Alise Willoughby as three-time Worlds winners. Willoughby has the record for the most women’s Worlds medals, with seven.

The men’s title went to France’s Arthur Pilard, also with a wire-to-wire win in 32.500, his second career Worlds medal after a silver in 2023. Izaac Kennedy (AUS) was a clear second in 32.985, ahead of three more French riders, led by Eddy Clerte, who won the bronze in 33.108 over defending champ Joris Daudet (33.301).

It’s the third win in a row by a Frenchman; Kennedy won his first Worlds medal and the first for Australia since 2014.

● Hockey ● The U.S. faced Argentina in both the men’s and women’s finals at the Pan American Cup in Montevideo (URU), but came up second both times.

Seventh-ranked Argentina won men’s Pool A at 3-0, beating the no. 24 U.S. (2-1) by 3-0. But they met again in the final, as the American defeated Chile, 3-1, on penalties after a 1-1 in their semi. The final, though, was no contest, as the Argentines scored one in the first, had a 4-0 halftime lead and won, 10-0.

In the women’s tournament, Paris Olympic bronze medalists and second-ranked Argentina and the no. 12 U.S. were both 3-0 in group play and the U.S. got past Uruguay, 4-2 on penalties, after a 1-1. In the final, Agustina Gorzelany scored at 4:46 of the first quarter and Argentina won the title with a comprehensive, 3-0 shutout. Uruguay beat Chile, 2-0, for the bronze.

● Volleyball ● Poland was only fifth during the FIVB men’s Nations League season, with an 8-4 record, but at the FIVB men’s Nations League finals in Ningbo (CHN), they were supreme.

The Paris Olympic silver winners swept Japan, 3-0, in the quarterfinals, then stomped round-robin winners Brazil by 28-26, 25-19 and 25-21 for another sweep. They met regular-season runner-ups (10-2) Italy in the final, 3-1 winners over Cuba and Slovenia in their matches.

Poland rolled to another 3-0 win – 25-22, 25-19, 25-14 – to sweep all three finals matches and win its second men’s Nations League title, also in 2023. Brazil won the third-place match, 3-1, over Slovenia.

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ATHLETICS: Lyles’ salty, world-leading 200, insane men’s 800 (1:42.27 for a 16-year-old!) and upsets galore conclude USATF Nationals

By
Rich Perelman
-
Still no. 1, with a lot to say: American sprint superstar Noah Lyles (Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ USATF NATIONALS ≡

The final day of the 2025 USATF National Championships in Eugene was just crazy. Upsets all over, and statement wins by true champions on a roller-coaster of a day at Hayward Field.

First and foremost:

● Men/200 m: The semifinals were the first events of the day, in cool, 68 F temps, with Courtney Lindsey – second in the 100 – taking off from the gun in the first race and winning easily in 20.08 (wind 0.0), with world leader T’Mars McCallum – third in the 100 – second in 20.37.

Reigning World Champion Noah Lyles was only fourth after 100 m, but roared into the straight and won easily in 19.97 (+1.7), well ahead of 2017 NCAA champ Christian Coleman (20.20) and Kyree King (20.25). Kenny Bednarek, the 100 winner, won semi three in 19.99 (-0.1) from 2024 NCAA runner-up Robert Gregory (20.03).

In third was Erriyon Knighton, the 2023 Worlds silver medalist, in 20.14, advancing to the final on time. He hadn’t been in a meet since April and faced an appeal on 23 June by the Athletics Integrity Unit against his clearance by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for a doping positive due to contaminated meat. He apparently cleared that hurdle and ran only his second 200 m of the year.

In the final, McCallum was in five, Bednarek in six and Lyles in seven. Bednarek got off to a good start and passed Lyles outside him. Into the straight, Lyles had work to do, but he moved up from fourth, turned on the jets and got by in the final 5 m in a world-leading 19.63 (+0.2). Bednarek was a clear second in 19.67, with Gregory in a lifetime best of 19.80 and Lindsey was fourth in 19.82; Knighton was fifth in 19.97.

Lyles turned to Bednarek as they crossed the line, had some apparently harsh words for Bednarek and Bednarek pushed him with both hands on the run-out. This was tense.

In the interview, Bednarek simply said they had things to work out between them. This relationship has been salty and it’s getting saltier. The loss was also Bednarek’s first of the year, although he’s now no. 2 on time in the world this year.

● Women/200 m: The semifinals came first, with immediate drama as 2024 NCAA champion McKenzie Long rolled to a 22.12 win in the first race (+0.1) over Deajah Stevens (22.37). But Sha’Carri Richardson, the 2023 Worlds bronze winner, and who ran only her heat of the 100 m, was third off the start and was passed by USC’s NCAA runner-up Madison Whyte, finishing fourth, 22.55 to 22.56; Whyte made the final on time, but Richardson did not.

Olympic bronze medalist Brittany Brown handled the field in semi two in 22.32 (+1.6), well ahead of NCAA winner JaMeesia Ford (22.61), with Cambrea Sturgis third (22.66) and Hayward Field favorite Jenna Prandini, the 2018 USATF winner in fourth in 22.68. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, fresh off her 10.65 100 win, led semi three from the gun and won in 22.06 (0.0), ahead of Olympic champ Gabby Thomas (22.19), Kayla White (22.23) and Tokyo Olympian Anavia Battle (22.26).

Jefferson-Wooden dominated the final, taking charge on the turn and rolling to the finish with a sensational win, in a lifetime best of 21.84 , now no. 2 in the world for 2025. Behind her, Battle, who has won four Diamond League meets this season, got second in 22.13, but the next three were too close.

At the line, Thomas leaned best and was able to hold off Olympic bronze winner Brittany Brown and Long, all in 22.20, but all within 2/1,000ths: 22.197-22.198-22.199. This was too close.

● Men/800 m: World Indoor winner Josh Hoey got out fast to stay out of trouble and took the bell in a blazing 49.29! American Record man Bryce Hoppel came up on Hoey around the final turn and then it was an all-out sprint with 2019 World Champion Donavan Brazier and Brandon Miller.

Hoey led in the straight, but Hoppel went by and then Brazier – plagued by injuries since that 2019 title – took charge and flew by between Hoey on the rail and Hoppel and rolled to the line in 1:42.16, a lifetime best!

Behind him, high school record holder Cooper Lutkenhaus – 16 – was moving fastest on the outside and stormed past everyone else, getting second in 1:42.27, a world under-18 record in a complete shock. Hoppel stayed in third at 1:42.49, with Hoey fourth in 1:43.06 and Miller was fifth in a lifetime best of 1:43.16.

Brazier moved up to no. 3 in the world for 2025, Lutkenhaus to no. 6; Brazier’s mark is the no. 3 performance in American history and Lutkenhaus is now no. 4 all-time U.S., with the no. 4 performance. Stunning, unexpected and perhaps miraculous.

● Women/Discus: Olympic champion Valarie Allman put everyone on notice in the first round, sailing out to 67.25 m (220-7) in her quest for a 27th straight win. She then ended the discussion with a 69.66 m (228-6) second throw, a mark only she and reigning World Champion Lagi Tausaga–Collins have reached this year.

Tausaga-Collins was a solid second from the first round on, reaching 63.75 m (209-2) on her opener and improving to 64.86 m (212-9) in round three. Then Allman exploded in round four with a 71.45 m (234-5), the no. 3 throw in American history! Allman followed up at 70.28 m (230-7), the no. 10 performance, and then 68.12 m (223-6). She might be the biggest favorite of all in Tokyo.

Tausaga-Collins did not improve, but stayed in second; Gabi Jacobs surprised, moving from seventh to third in the sixth round to 63.33 m (207-9) to get third and on to Tokyo.

There was a lot more drama, of course, in all of the other events (especially the men’s shot):

● Men/5,000 m: This was expected to be a wild race, with Paris 1,500 m winner Cole Hocker leading at 3,000 m, but with more than a dozen in contact.

Hocker still led with four laps left, ahead of Cooper Teare and Olympic bronzer Grant Fisher. When would the break come?

With two laps left, ex-North Carolina star Parker Wolfe moved up into fourth, but it was still too tight. Young moved up towards the lead and then Olin Hacker took the lead over Young with 600 m to go, but Young took the bell in front and in full sprint. Fisher moved up into second, out of a box and was running with Young into the final straight, with six in contention for the top three.

Then Hocker repeated his Paris shocker on the straight, and sprinted past everyone to win on the rail – just like his Olympic 1,500 win – in 13:26.45! Hocker’s final 400 was 51.76.

Fisher ran 52.88 for his final 400 and got second in 13:26.75, with Young finishing third in 13:27.05. Drew Hunter was fourth in 13:27.16, then Teare in 13:27.56 and Wolfe in 13:28.20.

● Men/110 m hurdles: The semifinals saw world leader Cordell Tinch surge over the last three hurdles to edge World Champion Grant Holloway in the first race, 13.11 to 13.18 (-0.1), with Ja’Qualon Scott in third (13.27).

World no. 3 Dylan Beard won semi two, also at 13.11 (-0.1), ahead of Jamal Britt (13.12) and NCAA winner Ja’Kobe Tharp (13.30). Paris Olympian Freddie Crittenden was fifth in 13.40 and did not advance. Trey Cunningham, the 2022 Worlds runner-up, was in front by hurdle two and won race three cleanly in 13.16 (+1.9), with Devion Wilson second in 13.24.

Holloway skipped the final as planned, and Cunningham had the early lead off the gun, fighting with Beard. But as Tinch came on, Cunningham faded and Beard was right there, as was Tharp in lane one. And on the run-in, Tharp was strong to the line and won in a lifetime best of 13.01 (+0.7), no. 3 in the world for 2025. Who saw this coming?

Tinch was second in 13.03 and Beard made the team at 13.04 in third; Cunningham was a frustrating fourth in 13.10.

● Men/400 m hurdles: Olympic champion Rai Benjamin was in lane seven and saw 2024 NCAA champion Caleb Dean take off from the gun. Dean was in front through the first half, then Benjamin took over and ran away with the victory in 46.89, a good time, but not close to his world-leading 46.54.

Dean held on and got second and on the Worlds team in 48.45, then Chris Robinson – another NCAA winner, from 2023 – getting third on the run-in from C.J. Allen, 48.56 to 48.76. The top three all have the Worlds standard and are on to Tokyo.

● Men/High Jump: Only four could manage 2.22 m (7-3 1/4) and at 2.27 m (7-5 3/4), only Tyus Wilson could clear! What? The NCAA indoor champ from Nebraska claimed the national title, but failed on all three tries at 2.30 m (7-6 1/2); he does not have the Worlds standard, so it will be up to the World Athletics Rankings.

Olympic silver winner Shelby McEwen and two-time Olympian JuVaughn Harrison went 2-3 at 2.22 m, finishing ahead on misses against Mississippi’s NCAA outdoor champ Arvesta Troupe. None have the Worlds standard in 2025.

● Men/Triple Jump: James Carter got a lifetime best of 16.93 m (55-6 1/2) to take the lead in round one, but Paris Olympian Russell Robinson took the lead at 17.15 m (56-3 1/4) in the fourth round and was matched by 2024 Trials winner Salif Mane in round five.

Behind them, Carter was passed by 34-year-old Will Claye, who reached 17.09 m (56-1) – his best since 2021! – to get third with Carter fourth. Claye, a two-time Olympic silver winner and two-time Worlds silver man, does not have the Worlds standard and will have to see how the World Athletics Rankings sort out.

● Men/Shot Put: Reigning World Champion Ryan Crouser was out with injury, and two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs took the lead at 22.09 m (72-5) in round two and reached 22.06 m (72-4 1/2) in round three.

But Tripp Piperi, the 2025 World Indoor bronze winner, exploded to 22.29 m (73-1 3/4) – a lifetime best – to take the lead in round four. Then round six came.

Josh Awotunde, the 2022 Worlds bronzer, was fifth, but unloaded a lifetime best when he needed it at 22.47 m (73-8 3/4), one cm off Kovacs’ world leader, and took the lead. Then Payton Otterdahl, the Paris Olympic fourth-placer, got his best of the day and moved into second at 22.35 m (73-4)!

That moved Piperi into third and he did not improve, bringing up Kovacs, now fourth and off the team. He managed 21.99 m (72-1 3/4) and stayed fourth and will not be in Tokyo. Amazing.

Awotunde made his third U.S. Worlds team, after 2022 and 2023.

● Women/800 m: The start was slow, with Nia Akins, the Olympic trials winner, taking the bell in 60.81. Akins stayed in front, with Sage Hurta-Klecker coming on around the final corner, but Addy Wiley, the top entry coming in, got into a tangle with Meghan Hunter and fell back.

In the straight, Akins was trying to hold on, but was passed by Hurta-Klecker and then NCAA champ Roisin Willis powered past everyone to win in 1:59.26. Also flying to the line was Maggi Congdon , who got second in the final step at 1:59.39, with Hurta-Klecker third (1: 59.48) and Akins in the dreaded fourth spot at 1:59.52. Wiley was ninth in 2:02.14.

● Women/5,000 m: Annie Rodenfels had the lead at 3,000 m, with everyone still in contention, at 9:30.29. Emily Venters had the lead with three laps to go, then Josette Andrews took the lead and got everyone’s attention, with two-time Olympian Elise Cranny and Karissa Schweizer close behind.

Seven broke away and Andrews took the bell, ahead of Cranny, Schweizer and three-time winner Shelby Houlihan. Bailey Hertenstein moved hard and took the lead with 200 to go and Houlihan moved up into second. Into the straight, Houlihan ran away and won easily in 15:13.61, with a 61.85 last 400 m. After serving her four-year doping suspension, Houlihan won the World Indoor 3,000 m silver in March and is now on her third Worlds outdoor team.

Cranny moved hard for second in 15:14.26 and Andrews was a clear third in 15:15.01. Weini Kelati got fourth (15:15.89) and Hertenstein was fifth in 15:16.54.

● Women/400 m hurdles: Olympic silver medalist Anna Cockrell moved fastest off the start, just ahead of Rio 2016 champ Dalilah Muhammad, one lane to her outside in seven.

But Muhammad surged and had control of the race around the turn, held on on the straight and won in 52.65, over Cockrell (52.89) and Olympic fourth-placer Jasmine Jones in third in 53.23. Muhammad has said this will be her last season …but why?

South Carolina’s Akala Garrett, the NCAA runner-up, was a distant fourth in 55.66.

● Women/Vault: The four everyone expected to contend for the Tokyo team cleared 4.73 m (15-6 1/4) and it was on. Tokyo Olympic champ Katie Moon and two-time World Indoor champ Sandi Morris led, with twins Amanda Moll (NCAA indoor champ) and Hana Moll (NCAA outdoor champ) in places 3-4.

The bar went to 4.83 m (15-10) and Morris was the only one to clear and took the victory, with Moon second and Amanda Moll third on fewer misses vs. sister Hana. Both will go as Moon has an automatic entry as the 2023 Worlds winner. For Morris, it’s a ninth national title, indoors and out.

There will be a lot of attention to the next edition of the World Athletics Rankings on Wednesday to see who will make it to Tokyo. The international circuit starts up again next week, with the next Diamond League meet the following week on 16 August in Chorzow (POL).

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SWIMMING: Marchand and McIntosh finish with sharp wins as U.S. ends World Champs with women’s 4×100 m Medley world record!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Four golds for Canadian star Summer McIntosh at the 2025 World Championships! (Photo: World Aquatics/Aniko Kovacs).

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≡ WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPS ≡

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships closed on Sunday in Singapore with superstars Leon Marchand of France and Summer McIntosh of Canada taking more golds, with a world record from the U.S. in the final event.

The American women had the fastest qualifying time in the heats of the 4×100 m Medley with a reserve team, then brought out its stars for the finale. And they were on it, with Regan Smith leading by 0.12 after a 57.57 backstroke, then Kate Douglass blowing the race wide open with a 1:04.27 breast leg, creating a 2.34-second gap with the rest of the field.

Gretchen Walsh, the 50-100 Fly winner, widened the lead further at 54.98 for her leg and Torri Huske finished it off with a 52.52 Free finale to touch in a world record 3:49.34. That smashed the U.S.’s record swim from Paris 2024 of 3:49.63, which included Smith, Lilly King, Walsh and Huske.

It was a great way to end a difficult meet for the U.S. and one of three medals on the day. Australia was a clear second in 3:52.67, followed by China in 3:54.77.

The final-day events were highlighted by Marchand and McIntosh in the 400 m Medleys, among a bevy of 50 m finals:

● Men/50 Backstroke: World-record holder Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS “neutral”) won his first Worlds gold with a clear win in 23.71, a time only he has bettered (23.55 in 2023) and fastest in the world for 2025.

South Africa’s Pieter Coetze, the 100 m Back winner and Russian Pavel Samusenko tied for second, well back at 24.17. American Quintin McCarty was fifth in 24.58.

● Men/1,500 m Freestyle: Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi got his second gold of the Worlds, winning a tight battle with Sven Schwarz (GER) and Olympic champ Bobby Finke of the U.S.

Schwarz led for much of the race, but Jaouadi – the 800 Free winner – surged to turn first at 1,400 m and had the fastest final 50 to touch in 14:34.41, the no. 10 performance in history; he now ranks sixth all-time.

Schwarz held on for second in 14:35.69, with Finke third in 14:36.60, a seasonal best.

● Men/400 m Medley: French superstar Marchand completed his Medley double with a dominant win in 4:04.73, the no. 5 swim in history in this event. He had the lead right from the start and was never headed, up by almost three seconds at the half and winning by 3.59.

Paris Olympic runner-up Tomoyuki Matsushita (JPN) repeated his silver medal performance, in 4:08.32, ahead of Russian “neutral” Ilia Borodin (4:09.16). Marchand now has four of the top five performances ever in the event.

● Men/4×100 m Medley: The U.S. was the top qualifier, but in the final, lead-off Tommy Janton managed only a 53.37 opener on backstroke and was sixth at the exchange. Josh Matheny moved the U.S. up to fifth on the breaststroke leg and Dare Rose got the Americans to fourth at the final change on butterfly.

Meanwhile, France got strong opening legs from Yohann Ndoye-Brouard and Marchand, then took the lead with star Fly leg Maxime Grousset. The Russian “neutral” team was a strong second and Egor Kornev posted a 46.40 Free leg to pass Yann le Goff and win in 3:26.93, the no. 2 time in history.

France’s 3:27.96 ranks as the 12th-fastest ever in second. The U.S. had star sprinter Jack Alexy on anchor and he blasted his leg, moving up to third past Italy and taking the bronze for the Americans in 3:28.62.

Alexy’s split was an insane 45.95, the second-fastest ever, behind only Chinese world-record holder Zhanle Pan’s 45.92 last year in Paris and faster than Jason Lezak’s legendary 46.06 anchor at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (CHN). Relay splits are not considered for record purposes, except for the first leg, when all swimmers start at the same time, but it’s an amazing swim nonetheless.

● Women/50 Freestyle: Australia’s Meg Harris joined the World Champions club with a convincing win in 24.02, ahead of Qingfeng Wu (CHN: 24.26) and Yujie Cheng (CHN: 24.28).

Americans Walsh (24.40) and Huske (24.50) finished fourth and sixth, well off their seasonal bests of 23.91 and 23.98, which came into Singapore 1-2 on the world list.

● Women/50 m Breaststroke: Four Worlds golds in a row for Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte, who was a clear winner in 29.55, just 0.01 off of her world-leading time in the semifinals. China’s Qianting Tang, who won bronze in the 100 Breast, moved up to silver here in 30.03, ahead of Italy’s Benedetta Pilato (30.14), who won her fifth straight Worlds medal in this event (silver-silver-bronze-bronze-bronze).

Retiring star Lilly King of the U.S. finished fifth in 30.25, ending a brilliant career as one of the best ever.

● Women/400 m Medley: Canadian star McIntosh won her fourth gold of the meet, sweeping the medleys with a 4:25.78 performance that is the third-fastest in history. She now has the fastest four swims ever in the event and seven of the top eight.

She won by almost seven-and-a-half seconds, with Jenna Forrester (AUS) and Mio Narita (JPN) tying for second at 4:33.26, with Forrester coming on strong on the final lap to touch at the same time.

China’s 12-year-old sensation. Zidi Yu got fourth in 4:33.76, ahead of Americans Emma Weyant (4:34.01) and Katie Grimes (4:36.52).

In Singapore, Yu was fourth in all three of her individual events: the 200 m Fly and the 200 and 400 m Medleys. She won a bronze as a prelim swimmer in women’s 4×200 m Free relay.

The final medal table showed the U.S. on top with 29 medals in all, with nine golds, 11 silvers and nine bronzes. Australia was second at 20 (8-6-6), with China third at 14 (2-6-6). This was not considered a top performance by the U.S., thanks to the training-camp illness problems and some significant weaknesses in the men’s line-up.

Even so, the U.S. topped the medals list once again and there will be much discussion before the next Worlds, in Budapest (HUN) in 2027.

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ATHLETICS: McLaughlin-Levrone, Russell, Jackson star at USATF Nationals as Koech and Strand get shock 1-2 in men’s 1,500 final!

By
Rich Perelman
-
New American distance star Jonah Koech winning the Diamond League 1,500 m in Rabat (MAR) (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ USATF NATIONALS ≡

There were some things that were expected on Saturday at the USA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone winning the women’s 400, yes. Olympic 100 hurdles champ Masai Russell and two-time World Champion Chase Jackson in the women’s shot, yes.

But Jonah Koech in the men’s 1,500? NO!

The 1,500 m heats were astonishingly fast, and Olympic bronzer Yared Nuguse and Paris fifth-placer Hobbs Kessler were at the front off the gun, passing 400 m in 56.23. Nuguse passed 800 m in 1:54.59, a little slower, and stayed in front through 1,200 m in 2:50.53.

Olympic champ Cole Hocker moved into third around the turn, but then new sensation Koech got into the mix, trailing Hocker for third into the backstraight. Nuguse and Kessler were still 1-2 into the final turn, but ex-North Carolina star Ethan Strand was running hard on the outside and got to the lead with 100 m to go.

Koech was right behind with Hocker chasing both down the straight. Koech passed Strand in the final 5 m and won in a shocking upset in a lifetime best of 3:30.17! Strand was second in 3:30.25, also a lifetime best. Hocker got third in 3:30.37, with Kessler at 3:33.12 and Nuguse a stunning fifth in 3:31.34. Koech ran his last 400 m in 52.91 and Strand in 53.07, and that was the difference.

Unbelievable does not even begin to describe this outcome. Koech, who transferred allegiance to the U.S. in 2021 from Kenya, now ranks no. 7 all-time U.S. and Strand, 22, is no. 8.

However, the big stars did shine elsewhere:

● Women/400 m: McLaughlin-Levrone was the star attraction, in lane five, with good conditions at 1:03 p.m., in 78 F and sunny skies. She was off strongly, making up the stagger on Bella Whittaker to her outside. Around the turn, McLaughlin-Levrone was all in charge and ran to the line in 48.90. Whittaker was undaunted, and was a strong second in 49.59, with Georgia star Aaliyah Butler coming on in the final 50 m in lane nine to get third in 49.91, ahead of Lynna Irby-Jackson (50.06).

Alexis Holmes (50.33) and Britton Wilson (50.88) finished 5-6 and will probably be in the relay pool for Tokyo.

● Women/100 m hurdles: The semifinals were hot, with Olympic fifth-placer Grace Stark winning the first race in 12.34 (+0.6), and Olympic champ and world leader Russell even faster in race two in 12.25 (+1.5). Olympic Trials fifth-placer Tonea Marshall got the third win in 12.46, just ahead of Olympic finalist Alaysha Johnson (12.47: +0.4).

The final was about 95 minutes later, with Russell getting out well and taking the race in hand, never giving anyone a chance, finishing in 12.22 (+0.7). Stark figured to be second and she was in 12.31, with Johnson just edging former world-record holder Keni Harrison for third at the line, 12.36 to 12.37.

That’s the no. 7 performance in history for Russell; she’s the only one with more than one of the top seven.

● Women/Shot Put: Two-time World Champion and American Record-setter Jackson bombed the field early, measuring 20.84 m (68-4 1/2) in the first round, the no. 3 throw in U.S. history, all by her this year! No one could touch her and her 20.56 m (67-5 1/2) in the second round is the no. 9 throw in American history.

Maggie Ewen was the only one within a meter, at 19.94 m (65-5) in round two; Jessica Ramsey was third at 19.56 m (64-2 1/4), and all three have the Worlds qualifying standard.

There was a mix of expected winners and surprises in the rest of Saturday’s finals:

● Men/400 m: Jacory Patterson, the 2025 World Indoor bronze winner, wanted this race and he ran hard from the start, making up ground on the field and then taking the lead for good on the turn. He was unchallenged on the straight and won in 44.16. Veteran Vernon Norwood was hanging on to second into the straight, but World Indoor champ Chris Bailey was moving hard in lane nine, as was Khaleb McRae in lane two. Both passed Norwood, and Bailey timed 44.43 for second, McRae hit 44.45 and Norwood was fourth in 44.47.

Jenoah Mckiver (45.16) and 2023 U.S. champ Bryce Deadmon (45.39) went 5-6 and into the relay pool for the World Championships.

● Men/Steeple: BYU’s NCAA champ James Corrigan led early, but Olympic silver winner Kenneth Rooks had the lead by 2,000 m. Fellow Olympian Benard Keter was second with Daniel Michalski third at the bell, but Rooks kept the pressure on.

Rooks and Michalski were 1-2 into the final straight and Rooks got there for his third straight U.S. crown in 8:26.58. Michalski was second in 8:26.77, then Keter in 8:29.00. Matthew Wilkinson, the top American on time in 2025, was fourth in 8:29.32; neither Michalski or Keter have the Worlds standard.

● Men/20 km Walk: Held in the early morning, Nick Christie, the national champion in 2018-19-21-22-23-24, won again, leading from the start and finishing in 1:24:56.2, his fifth-fastest time ever. Emmanuel Corvera was second, just ahead of Jordan Crawford, 1:27:59.2 to 1:28:02.6.

● Men/Vault: Five were alive after 5.72 m (18-9 1/4), with two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks, 2020 U.S. indoor champ Matt Ludwig and Austin Miller all perfect with three clearances each.

But only Miller could clear 5.82 m (19-1) and he ended up the winner and on his first U.S. national team! Kendricks go second and Ludwig third. Miller went on to a lifetime best of 5.92 m (19-5) and got that on his third try to wrap up his first American national championship.

● Men/Discus: Two-time Olympian – and two-time USATF champion – Sam Mattis got the early lead at 64.82 m (212-8) in round two, but was passed by 2018 winner Reggie Jagers in round three at 66.85 m (219-4).

And that was enough for Jagers to win, with Mattis improving to 65.56 m (215-1) in the fifth round, but he could get no closer. Marcus Gustaveson moved up to third on his final throw of 64.51 m (211-7) and is on the way to Tokyo.

● Women/1,500 m: It was warm for the final, at 80 F, with Nikki Hiltz the winner of the 2023 and 2024 national titles, the favorite. It started slow, at 67.88 for 400 m and slower at 2:15.90 m at 800 m. Finally, 2022 national champ Sinclaire Johnson took the lead at the bell, with Emily Mackay close, then Hiltz moving up to challenge with 200 m to go.

Johnson led into the straight, with Hiltz on the shoulder and Hiltz had too much speed and won in 4:03.15, with a 58.67 last lap. Johnson second in 4:03.77 and Mackay got third in 4:04.38 and is on the team; Heather MacLean was fourth in 4:05.60. It’s a strong team: the top three are all in the world top 14 right now.

● Women/Steeple: Former NCAA champ Courtney Wayment had the early lead, with North Carolina State’s NCAA third-placer Angelina Napoleon and a half-dozen others all close with four laps to go. Napoleon was in front with three laps left, and with two laps left, but then NCAA runner-up Lexy Halladay-Lowry took off and had a 5 m lead at the bell.

Only Napoleon was in contact and they ran to the line 1-2, in 9:09.14 and 9:10.96. Kaylee Mitchell was third off the final water jump and held off a late charge from 2023 national champ by Krissy Gear for third, 9:11.36 and 9:11.64.

● Women/20 km Walk: Lauren Harris, the 2025 USATF Indoor 3,000 m Walk champ, won her first U.S. 20 km national title, taking control right away and crossing in 1:31:23.7, ahead of nine-time champion in the event, Maria Michta-Coffey (1:39:58.6). Katie Burnett was alone in third in 1:40:35.2.

● Women/Triple Jump: Olympic bronze medalist Jasmine Moore missed making the U.S. long jump team and came out determined, reaching 14.29 m (46-10 3/4) in the first round. NCAA runner-up Agur Dwol jumped 13.76 m (45-1 3/4) in round two to move up to second, and stayed there.

Moore had it won and then exploded in round six, reaching 14.68 m (48-2), moving to no. 3 in the world in 2025! All six of her jumps would have won the event.

In the qualifying, the men’s 110 m hurdles featured six of the world’s top 10, which did not include reigning World Champion Grant Holloway, who is 0-4 in finals in 2025! World leader Cordell Tinch took heat one in 13.34 (+0.1), ahead of Connor Schulman (13.46) with NCAA winner Ja’Kobe Tharp advancing to the semis in fourth (13.58).

World no. 3 Dylan Beard continued his career year with a 13.13 win in heat two (+0.8), ahead of Paris Olympian Freddie Crittenden (13.46). Holloway headlined heat three, and delivered with a 13.15 win (-0.4) over world no. 8 Jamal Britt (13.25). Trey Cunningham, the 2022 Worlds runner-up, won heat four in 13.10 (+1.3) – fastest of the day – ahead of Texas’ Kendrick Smallwood (13.35). Olympic silver winner Daniel Roberts was scheduled for heat four, but did not start.

Ex-NCAA champion Caleb Dean took the lead over hurdle eight in semi one of the men’s 400 m hurdles and dueled with another NCAA winner, Chris Robinson, both in 47.76, now equal-6th in the world for 2025. Trevor Bassitt, the 2022 Worlds bronze winner, clobbered two hurdles in semi two and finished seventh; Aldrich Bailey passed CJ Allen on the run-in to win in 49.00 to 49.04.

Olympic champ Rai Benjamin was in lane seven in semi three, and went to the lead right away, and essentially loafed the straightaway to win in 47.45. Amazing. Texas’ Kody Blackwood was a distant second in 49.12.

In the women’s 400 m hurdles, Olympic fourth-placer Jasmine Jones was the runaway heat one winner in 54.36, and the same for Olympic runner-up Anna Cockrell, in 53.97. Rio 2016 Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad, who said she will retire at the end of the season, featured in heat three, and she ran down both women ahead of her by the fourth hurdle and stormed to an easy win in 53.80, fastest of the day. Those three were more than a second-and-a-half faster than the rest of the field.

Sunday’s program begins with the women’s discus and vault at noon and the men’s 200 m semis at 12:05 p.m. NBC and Peacock have broadcast coverage from 1-3 p.m. Pacific (4-6 p.m. Eastern).

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MEMORABILIA: Mexico City ‘68 medals and uniform of high jump star Dick Fosbury and ‘84 Michael Jordan gold-medal shoes on auction

By
Rich Perelman
-
Dick Fosbury winning the 1968 U.S. Olympic (semi) Trials in Los Angeles (Photo: Los Angeles Times via UCLA on Wikipedia).

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≡ FOSBURY AND JORDAN≡

Dick Fosbury’s Olympic success revolutionized the high jump and forever changed the way the event is conducted. He astounded the crowd in Mexico City’s Estadio Olimpico on 20 October 1968, winning with an Olympic record of 2.24 m (7-4 1/4) to win over U.S. teammate Ed Caruthers, who cleared 2.22 m (7-3 1/4).

Fosbury, who lived a long and productive life in Oregon as an engineer and stayed close to the Olympic Movement through the World Olympians Association, passed away in March 2023.

Now, three mementos of his Mexico City 1968 triumph are available at Heritage Auctions in its August 23-24 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction:

● Mexico City ‘68 Olympic gold medal, projected to bring $200,000.

● Mexico City ‘68 U.S. Olympic uniform top, projected to bring $50,000.

● Mexico City ‘68 Olympic participation medal, a rare example with a ribbon and clamshell presentation case, projected to bring $20,000.

Initial bidding will end on 23 August at 10 p.m. Central time.

The auction has more than a dozen Olympic-related items, including:

● 1900 Paris medals for shooting (three separate lots)
● 1912 Stockholm Olympic tickets on three days when Jim Thorpe competed
● 1936 Berlin Olympic tickets on three days when Jesse Owens competed
● 1984 Olympic Games tickets for two games in which Michael Jordan played

● 1984 Los Angeles Olympic torch, projected to bring $2,000
● 2016 Rio Olympic torch, projected to bring $20,000

While Michael Jordan became an icon thanks to his basketball prowess and relentless promotion by Nike, he wore Converse during the 1984 Olympic tournament as his Nike relationship was in the future.

The auction has a pair of Converse shoes worn by Jordan during the 1984 Olympic tournament are also up, expected to bring $40,000 and up. The shoes were gifted by Jordan to Patrick Knight, son of U.S. coach Bobby Knight, after the U.S.’s 96-65 gold-medal win over Spain.

Eight years later, Jordan won a second Olympic gold as part of the original “Dream Team” at the 1992 Barcelona Games, by that time fully engaged with Nike.

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AQUATICS: Ledecky takes women’s 800 Free, Walsh wins women’s 50 Fly and U.S. gets world record win in mixed 4×100 Free in Worlds medal spree!

By
Rich Perelman
-
An amazing seventh Worlds gold for Katie Ledecky (USA) in the women's 800 m Free! (Photo: University of Florida).

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≡ WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPS ≡

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore will be remembered for many things, among them the showdowns between superstars Katie Ledecky of the U.S. and Summer McIntosh of Canada.

Day one saw McIntosh winning the 400 m Freestyle, with Ledecky third, but they met again on Saturday, this time at 800 m and it turned into a three-way battle with Australia’s Lani Pallister.

Ledecky got out first, tracked by McIntosh and Pallister, with both at 4:01.33 at 400 m, just 0.18 behind Ledecky. McIntosh was 0.14 down at 500 m, just 0.04 down at 600 m and took the lead at 700 m, up 0.14 on Ledecky!

But Ledecky punched back, with the fastest next 50 in the field (30.24) to 30.63 for McIntosh and took the lead at the final turn by 0.25 and was moving away. McIntosh was then passed by Pallister, who had the fastest finish in the field – 29.11 – and crept up on Ledecky.

But the American star was too good and won in 8:05.62, the no. 4 time in history, ahead of Pallister’s 8:05.98 and McIntosh at 8:07.29. They were more than five seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

Ledecky’s performance was the no. 4 time in history and Pallister’s was no. 6, and she is now the no. 3 performer ever. At 28, Ledecky now has 23 Worlds golds and has won the 800 Free seven times: in 2013-15-17-19-22-23-25; she owns 30 total Worlds medals. Amazing.

That was followed by the final event of the night, the mixed 4×100 m Freestyle. The U.S. led the qualifying by almost three seconds at 3:21.48, and left no doubt in the final, leading from the start with a world-record of 3:18.48!

Freestyle star Jack Alexy led off in 46.91, just 0.10 off his own American Record from this meet and was followed by Patrick Sammon (46.70!), Kate Douglass (52.43) and Torri Huske (52.44). They smashed Australia’s 3:18.83 mark from the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka (JPN).

Russia’s “neutrals” finished a clear second with a European Record of 3:19.68, followed by France (3:21.35).

That wasn’t all for the U.S. on Saturday, with a third win coming in the women’s 50 m Butterfly.

Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. and Australia’s Alex Perkins came in 1-2 on the world list for 2025 and they finished exactly that way, with Walsh starting fast and touching in 24.83, still the only one to crack 25 seconds this year.

Perkins was a clear second at 25.31, with Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk getting her second medal of the meet with the bronze in 25.43.

There was a lot more on a busy night in the pool:

● Men/50 m Freestyle: Australia’s Cam McEvoy won his third title in a row, after the 2023 Worlds and 2024 Olympic Games, touching in 21.14, fastest in the world this year and the equal-11th best all-time. He now has three of those 12.

Britain’s Olympic silver winner Ben Proud was a clear second in 21.26 for his first individual medal of the meet and Alexy got his second individual medal in third at 21.46. Teammate Santo Condorelli was eighth in 21.73.

● Men/100 m Butterfly: France’s Maxime Grousset was the 2023 World Champion in this event and he is again, getting in front quickly, turning first and touching in 49.62, the no. 3 performance ever and a European record. He won the 50 and 100 Flys in Singapore.

Short-course star Noe Ponti (SUI) was third at the turn, but moved up to second at the touch in 49.83, a national record, the no. 9 performance ever and making him the no. 5 performer ever. Canada’s Ilya Kharun claimed the bronze (50.07), just as he did in Paris in 2024.

● Women/200 m Backstroke: Two-time World Champion Kaylee McKeown (AUS) faced defending champ Claire Curzan of the U.S. and fellow American and Olympic silver winner Regan Smith, but was up the challenge once again.

Smith got out fast and led at the 50, 100 and 150 m marks, but her 0.73-second lead at the half tightened up to 0.03 at the last turn and McKeown had the most left and touched in 2:03.33, the no. 3 performance of all time (she owns all three).

Smith won yet another silver in 2:04.29; she was the 2019 World Champion in this event and won in 2022 in the 100 m Back. But since then:

● 2023 Worlds: 50-100-200 m Back silvers
● 2024 Olympics: 100-200 m Back silvers
● 2025 Worlds: 50-100-200 m Back silvers

At 23, she will have many more chances. Teammate Curzan was a clear third in 2:06.04.

In the qualifying, Russian “neutral” Kliment Kolesnikov – the world-record holder – led the men’s 50 Back semifinals in 24.16, well ahead of teammate Pavel Samusenko in semi two. Pieter Coetze (RSA), the 100 m Back winner, won semi one in a national record of 24.32 to qualify third; American Quintin McCarty advanced as no. 7 overall (24.52) as the third finisher.

The men’s 1,500 m Free heats were held in the morning, with Germany’s Florian Wellbrock – who impressively swept the open-water events – leading the parade at 14:44.81; Olympic champ Bobby Finke of the U.S. was fourth-fastest at 14:45.70. Teammate David Johnston was ninth (14:56.20) and did not advance.

Poland’s Kasia Wasick led the women’s 50 Free semis, winning the first race in 24.19, ahead of Milou van Wijk (NED: 24.29) and Walsh (24.31), doubling back from the 50 Fly. Australia’s Meg Harris won the second semi in 24.31, with Huske of the U.S. qualifying in fourth at 24.41.

Three-time defending champion Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) led the semifinals in the women’s 50 Breast, with a world-leading 29.54, ahead of Qianting Tang (CHN: 30.04) and semi one winner Benedetta Pilato (ITA: 30.20) and Lilly King of the U.S. (30.22).

Even with all of the illness issues, the U.S. now has 26 medals (8-11-7) to 17 for Australia (7-4-6) and 10 for China (2-4-4). There will be considerable effort on Sunday for the American squad to surpass the 28 medals won in Paris in 2024 (8-13-7 in a smaller program) that was seen as a disappointment.

The championships conclude on Sunday with the men’s 1,500 m Free, 50 Back, 400 m Medley and the 4×100 m Medley; the women have the 50 Free, 50 Breast, 400 Medley and the 4×100 m Medley.

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ATHLETICS: Bednarek (9.79) and Jefferson-Wooden (10.65) storm to U.S. 100 m titles, with Garland (8,869) and Hall (6,899) easy Dec-Hep winners in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-
A first national 100 m title for “Kung Fu” Kenny Bednarek! (Photo: Grand Slam Track)

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≡ USATF NATIONALS ≡

There were other events, but the focus of Friday’s session of the 2025 USA Track & Field nationals in Eugene, Oregon was the 100 m finals. Conditions were good, starting with 87 F temperatures for the semifinals, with the men’s races first, in front of a modest crowd at Hayward Field.

Just as on Thursday, the first race had T’Mars McCallum and two-time Worlds bronze winner Trayvon Bromell, and the outcome was almost identical, with McCallum taking it in 9.99 (wind: +0.1 m/s) and Bromell second in 10.03 and into the final. Georgia prep Maurice Gleaton – 18 – got third in a lifetime best of 10.05; NCAA winner Jordan Anthony was fourth in 10.13 and did not advance.

Courtney Lindsey, the 2023 NCAA winner, took semi two in 10.06 (+0.6), ahead of Lawrence Johnson (10.12) and Brandon Hicklin (10.13). Semi three had 2019 World Champion Christian Coleman and Grand Slam star Kenny Bednarek, who won all three races on the circuit. And with 2.1 m/s wind, Bednarek won his fifth straight race of the year in 9.90w, with Coleman a solid second in 9.94w, followed by Ronnie Baker at 9.97w.

The women’s semis were next, with Jacious Sears looking great again with a 10.95 win (+0.7) in the first race, well ahead of Jenna Prandini (11.08) and Hayward Field favorite English Gardner (11.10), now 33, who made the final on time. World leader Melissa Jefferson-Wooden showed she is the favorite, steaming to a dominant win in 10.84 (-0.3), with Aleia Hobbs a distant second in 11.10. Wow.

Semi three had heat winners Kayla White and TeeTee Terry, and they were close at the line, going 1-2 and both timed in 10.92 (+1.1), and then Tamari Davis at 10.96.

(World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson, who has a direct entry in the 2025 Worlds, skipped the semis after running a seasonal best of 11.07 in the heats. It came out today that Richardson was arrested for an altercation with Coleman on Sunday at SeaTac Airport; Coleman declined to press charges, but police charged her with 4th-degree assault after seeing security video of the incident.)

About 1:50 later, the men were in the blocks for the final – with 86 F temps – and McCallum reacted best, but Coleman and Lindsey got to the front with the field all close. But at 40 m, Bednarek cut in another gear and stormed to the line clearly in front in a lifetime best 9.79, no. no. 2 in the world for 2015 (+1.8) and equal-12th all-time!

The race behind him was fabulous, with Lindsey getting a lifetime best of 9.82, then McCallum at 9.83 (lifetime best) and Bromell at 9.84 … in fourth! Those times rank 2, equal-3rd, equal-5th and equal-7th in the world this season! Coleman ran 9.86 and was fifth, then Gleaton, equaling the U.S. prep record at 9.92! The top seven all ran 9.92 or faster. Wow.

The women’s final came 1:38 after the end of their semis, and while Hobbs had the best reaction, Jefferson-Wooden was gone and ran away from the field after 40 m and was unchallenged, setting a lifetime best and world-leading time of 10.65 (+0.4)!

She’s now equal-5th all-time and equal-third all-time U.S. with Marion Jones (1998) and Richardson (2023). White got a lifetime best of 10.84 to finish second (world no. 4), running just to Jefferson-Wooden’s right and Hobbs was third in 10.92. Terry (10.94), Davis (10.97) and Sears (11.00) followed and are likely on the plane in the relay pool for Tokyo.

Spectacular! There were other finals, of course:

● Men/Long Jump: Things got cooking when 2017 national champ Jarrion Lawson took the lead at 8.12 m (26-7 3/4), then Will Williams got out to a wind-aided 8.14 mw (26-8 1/2) in round four to take the lead.

Finally, Isaac Grimes, no. 21 in the World Athletics rankings, came through in round six and stole the event with a 8.15 m (26-9) jump, to win his first national title! None of the top three have the Worlds standard, but should be in the mix to get in depending on the other entries.

● Women/High Jump: Five cleared 1.88 m (6-2) and then the jumping really started. Only six-time U.S. outdoor champ Vashti Cunningham, 2024 Trials fifth-placer Sanaa Barnes and Emma Gates cleared 1.91 m (6-3 1/4) and then Gates missed three times at 1.94 m (6-4 1/4), while Cunningham cleared and Barnes got her second lifetime best of the day!

The bar went to 1.97 m (6-5 1/2), with Cunningham clearing for the win on her second try, with Barnes missing her attempts and settling for second. Cunningham also got the Worlds entry standard with her 1.97 clearance, equal-fifth in the world this season.

Both of the multi-events concluded with impressive wins for the top American stars:

● Men/Decathlon: Kyle Garland had made two U.S. World Championship teams, but did not have a national decathlon title … until today. Already leading after five events, he won the 110 m hurdles in 13.78, won the discus at 50.93 m (167-1), cleared 4.80 m (15-9) in the vault for fourth and won the javelin at 65.52 m (214-11). All that gave him a 8,277 to 7,694 lead over 2024 Olympic Trials winner Heath Baldwin going into the 1,500 m.

The final event went off in 87 F temperatures, and Garland sauntered through in 4:54.50 to score 8,869, a lifetime best (prior: 8,720 ‘22), and no. 2 in the world this year. He’s now no. 10 all-time in the event worldwide and no. 3 all-time U.S.

Baldwin held on for second at 8,407, followed by fellow Olympian Harrison Williams (8,223) and Austin West (8,162).

● Women/Heptathlon: The 2023 Worlds runner-up, Anna Hall, rolled through day two, second in the long jump (6.32 m/20-9) and first in the javelin (47.32 m/155-3), entering the 800 m with a 206-point lead on Paris Olympian Taliyah Brooks, 5,854 to 5,648.

Hall won the 800 m in 2:04.60 and finished with 6,899, her no. 3 score ever! Brooks finished 10th in the 800 m, but got a lifetime best, and met the Worlds qualifying standard at 6,526 in second; Allie Jones was third at 6,164.

There were a limited number of preliminary events on Friday, with most of the favorites moving through, but some big names left out of the finals:

In the men’s 400 m, 2023 USATF champ Bryce Deadmon took the early lead, but was passed by world no. 2 Khaleb McRae on the turn. But Deadmon fought back on the straight and won in 44.34, and Demarius Smith passed McRae to get second, 44.45 to 44.47.

Two-time Olympic relay gold medalist Vernon Norwood got out quickly in semi two, but was passed by Florida’s Jenoah Mckiver. But Norwood came on in the straight to win in 44.78 to 44.92 for Mckiver and 45.06 for Will Sumner. Prep star Quincy Wilson, the world no. 4 at 44.10, was fourth in 45.39 and did not advance to the final.

Jacory Patterson, the World Indoor bronzer this year, was only fourth at 200 m in the third heat, but moved up on the turn and then passed World Indoor winner Chris Bailey on the straight to win in 44.63, with Bailey at 44.81. USC’s William Jones was third in 45.88.

In the men’s 800 m first semi, Paris Olympian Brandon Miller took the lead just after the bell and led down the backstraight, while 2019 World Champion Donavan Brazier – in a comeback year – moved from sixth to third. Miller was not headed and won in 1:44.25, with Brazier passing Isaiah Harris on the straight to get second in 1:44.39 to 1:44.53, a seasonal best for Harris.

The second semi had American Record holder Bryce Hoppel going for the lead after 200 m, leading at the bell and staying in front to win in 1:45.31, with national prep record-setter Cooper Lutkenhaus storming into second from fifth on the home straight in 1:45.57 – his second-fastest time ever – ahead of Tokyo Olympian Isaiah Jewett (1:45.62).

World Indoor champ Josh Hoey wanted to be in front and stay out of trouble in semi three and he did just that, leading from start to finish in 1:44.47. He was shadowed by Abe Alvarado for most of the race, until Northern Arizona’s Colin Sahlman grabbed second on the final straight, 1:44.80 – a lifetime best – to 1:45.11, but both advanced to the final.

In the women’s 400 m, two-time Olympian Quanera Hayes came off the turn and dueled down the straight with world no. 3 Aaliyah Butler and won at the line, 50.76 to 50.77, with Arkansas star Rosey Effiong a clear third in 51.01. In heat two, NCAA Indoor champ Bella Whittaker had control of the race from 200 m on and won in 50.07, with former Arkansas star Britton Wilson second in 50.25 – her fastest since 2023 – and World Indoor runner-up Alexis Holmes third in 50.42, making the final on time.

Heat three had Olympic 400 m hurdles star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and she was in front all the way, winning easily in 49.51, with Paris Olympian Lynna Irby-Jackson a decisive second in 50.59.

The loaded first semi of the women’s 800 m had Tokyo Olympic champ Athing Mu-Nikolayev, 2022 World Indoor champ Ajee Wilson and 2024 Trials winner Nia Akins all in, with BYU’s NCAA third-placer Meghan Hunter taking the bell at 57.39. Akins moved from fourth to second on the final turn, then surged home to win in 1:58.09. Wilson also jumped Hunter on the run-in to get second in 1:58.30, with Hunter at 1:58.42 and Mu-Nikolayev able to manage fourth in a seasonal best of 1:59.79, but did not make the final.

Tokyo Olympic bronzer – and Hayward Field favorite – Raevyn Rogers got out to the lead early and took the bell in 58.14, then was passed by Sage Hurta-Klecker on the backstraight. Rogers fought back and led into the final straight, but Hurta-Klecker and Maggi Congdon both passed her and went 1-2 in 1:58.40 and 1:58.42. Rogers was a strong third in 1:58.78 and made the final on time.

World no. 6 Addy Wiley was in semi three along with NCAA winner Roisin Willis, but Wiley and 2023 NCAA champ Michaela Rose led at the bell in 56.98 and 57.09. Willis was third by 600 m, then blew by everyone on the straight to win in 1:59.60, with Wiley at 1:59.71 and Skylyn Webb shooting up to third in 1:59.81 as Rose faded from third to sixth in 2:01.32.

The Saturday schedule begins with the 20 km walks at 7 a.m. Pacific time, then field events at 11:20 and the running events at 11:22 a.m. The NBC television window begins at 1 p.m. (4 p.m. Eastern) and continues to 3 p.m. on the network and then for another hour on Peacock.

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AQUATICS: Douglass brilliant in women’s 200 Breast win in U.S. record time; ill Huske gets 100 Free bronze in Singapore World Champs

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. breaststroke Olympic and World Champion Kate Douglass (Photo: World Aquatics).

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≡ WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPS ≡

As the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore head to the finish on the weekend, plenty of familiar faces were on the podium on Friday, with former Olympic or World champions taking all five finals!

The final of the women’s 200 m Breaststroke was a showdown between Russian “neutral” world-record holder Evgeniia Chikunova and Olympic champ Kate Douglass of the U.S., who had been 1-2 on the world list since April.

But Douglass was in no mood to play and took the lead from the start, up by 0.34 at the turn, then 1.30 seconds at 100 m, 1.18 seconds at 150 and came home in an American Record of 2:18.50, the no. 2 time in history! She moved up from silvers at the 2023 and 2024 Worlds.

Chikunova was a lonely second in 2:19.96, with the rest of the field more than three seconds later with Kaylene Corbett (RSA) and Belarus “neutral” Alina Zmushka tying for third in 2:23.52.

● Men/200 m Backstroke: Olympic champ Hubert Kos (HUN) hadn’t been the fastest all season, but he was when it counted, with the fastest time in the world in 2025 in 1:53.19, a European record and the no. 7 performance all-time. He now ranks as the fifth-fastest in the event in history.

Kos overtook semifinal leader – and 100 Back winner in Singapore – Pieter Coetze (RSA), after the 100 mark, but Coetze didn’t cede much and won silver in 1:53.36, moving to no. 6 all-time with another national record. France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard was third for most of the race and took the bronze in 1:54.62.

● Men/200 m Breaststroke: China’s Haiyang Qin won all three Breast events at the 2023 Worlds, then had an Olympics to forget in 2024. But he’s back, winning his second gold in 2:07.41, charging from third at the final turn to touch first, passing Japan’s ex-world record holder Ippei Watanabe, who claimed the silver in 2:07.70. Caspar Corbeau (NED) was fifth at the turn, but won the bronze at the touch in 2:07.73; American AJ Pouch had the lead at the 150 m mark, but faded to fifth with the slowest final 50 in the field, at 2:09.13.

● Men/4×200 m Freestyle: Olympic champs Great Britain were brilliant again, taking the lead from Matt Richards’ 1:45.37 opener and stormed to a 6:59.84 win, the no. 8 performance in history. The Brits have four of the eight swims ever under seven minutes.

James Guy kept Britain in front, but American Luke Hobson – the 200 Free runner-up – split 1:43.45, the fastest of the race, to pass Jack McMillan and put the U.S. in front after the third leg. But Duncan Scott swam 1:43.82 on anchor for Britain and the U.S.’s Rex Maurer managed only 1:45.82 and the Americans faded to fourth in 7:01.24.

China, with Zhanle Pan’s 1:44.20 on anchor, claimed silver (7:00.91) and Max Giuliani swam a 1:44.92 final leg for Australia to get the bronze (7:00.98).

● Women/100 m Freestyle: American star Torri Huske hasn’t been right all week due to illness, but she was in form off the start, turning first in 25.16. But on the way home, it was defending champion Marrit Steenbergen (NED) and Paris Olympic winner Mollie O’Callaghan who battled for gold, with the Dutch star touching first in 52.55, no. 2 in the world for 2025.

O’Callaghan was close, but her 52.67 was good for silver. Huske faded, with the third-slowest final 50, but still touched third, 52.89 to 52.91 over Milou van Wijk (NED) to earn the bronze.

Olympic champ Cameron McEvoy (AUS) led the way in the men’s 50 m Freestyle semis, winning semi one in 21.30, equaling the fastest time of the year. He was just ahead of American Jack Alexy, the 100 m Free runner-up in Singapore (21.32). Santo Cordorelli of the U.S. qualified seventh in 21.68, fourth in the first semi with McEvoy and Alexy.

World short-course champion Noe Ponti (SUI) led the semifinals in the men’s 100 m Butterfly, winning the second race in 50.18, the no. 2 time in 2025, over Olympic silver man Josh Liendo (CAN: 50.24). France’s Maxime Grousset, the 50 m Fly winner, took semi one in 50.25. Americans Shaine Casas (19th) and Thomas Heilman (26th) did not advance out of the morning heats.

In the morning women’s 800 m Free heats, U.S. star Katie Ledecky posted the fastest time at 8:14.62, with Australia’s Lani Pallister next at 8:17.08 and Canada’s Summer McIntosh third fastest at 8:19.88.

The first semi in the women’s 200 m Backstroke was fast, with China’s Xuwei Peng and Belarus “neutral” Anastasiya Shkurdai going 1-2 in 2:07.76 and 2:07.85. The second semi had Olympic champ Kaylee McKeown (AUS), silver winner Regan Smith of the U.S. and defending champ Claire Curzan (USA), with Curzan winning over McKeown and Smith, 2:08.13 to 2:08.36 to 2:08.67.

American star Gretchen Walsh was back in the pool for the women’s 50 m Butterfly, winning semi two easily in 25.09, a time no one else has approached in 2025. Belgian Roos Vanotterdijk, the 100 Fly silver winner, won semi one in 25.32 and was the no. 2 qualifier. The U.S.’s Douglass, doubling back 20 minutes after her 200 Breast win, clocked 25.74 for 14th and did not advance to the final.

The medal table shows the U.S. at 20 medals (5-10-5), with Australia at 13 (5-2-6), then China at 10 (2-4-4). No one else has more than six.

Saturday’s program features finals in the men’s 50 m Free and 100 Fly, women’s 800 m Free – Ledecky vs. McIntosh – and 200 m Back (McKeown vs. Curzan and Smith), 50 m Fly and the Mixed 4×100 m Free relay.

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ATHLETICS: Come-from-behind, double world-leading jumps for Olympic star Davis-Woodhall highlights USATF Nationals opening day

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic women’s long jump champ Tara Davis-Woodhall of the U.S. (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ USATF CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The USA Track & Field national championships started at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon in warm conditions with temperatures in the high 80s on Thursday, great for the sprinters and jumpers, but a challenge for the 10,000 m finalists.

The women’s race went off at 7 p.m., in 86 F conditions and 34% humidity, with two-time 5,000 Olympian Elise Cranny towing the field through the half in 16:21.52, ahead of Keira D’Amato and 2024 Trials 10,000 m winner Weini Kelati.

Taylor Roe, already a winner of three USATF road titles in 2025, took over after 7,000 m and led with two laps to go over three others still in contention: Cranny, Kelati and Rio 2016 Olympian Emily Infeld. Kelati surged to the front with 500 m left, then Cranny and Infeld ran by with 200 m to go and Infeld had the most speed and got to the line first in 31:43.56. Cranny was next at 31:44.24, then Roe (31:45.41) and Kelati in fourth (31:46.37).

None have the Worlds qualifying standard of 30:20.00, but Infeld and Cranny are projected to qualify via the World Athletics Rankings. Roe, or if not, Kelati (ranked no. 7), might make it in as well but it will be up to the math and the other entrants.

The men got going at 8:06 p.m. with the temps down to 80 F with 40% humidity, still quite warm for a 10,000 m and the pace was at 70 seconds a lap through 2,000 m (5:49.60), then slowed a bit to 11:51.62 at 4,000 m. It was 14:54.58 at the half, slow but steady, with all 17 entrants still in contact.

Northern Arizona’s Drew Bosley had the lead at 8,000 m as the pace increased with a 68.27 lap, and then a 65.39, which got the attention of Olympic bronze medalist Grant Fisher, who moved up to second from ninth. Fisher took over and ran 60.18 from 8,400 to 8,800 m, with Graham Blanks and Nico Young following.

Fisher’s next lap was 59.39 and Blanks and Young were still on his tail, with the rest dropping off. At the bell, Fisher completed a 60.94 lap with only Blanks and Young for company. But Young pushed hardest, got to the lead with 200 m to go and won in 29:02.12 to 29:02.37 for Fisher and 29:03.66 for Blanks. All three already have the World Champs standard and are on the plane for Tokyo.

But the women’s long jump had to be the event of the day. Olympic bronze winner Jasmine Moore got out to 6.82 m (22-4 1/2) in round two, chased by World Indoor winner Claire Bryant at 6.77 m (22-2 1/2). After two fouls, Olympic champ Tara Davis-Woodhall got untracked, taking the lead at 6.92 m (22-8 1/2).

Bryant took the lead in round three, riding a 2.1 m/s wind to 6.97 mw (22-10 1/2w), but that only fired up Davis-Woodhall, who struck back in round four with a wind-legal 7.11 m (23-4), best in the world this year. But she wasn’t done, extending to 7.12 m (23-4 1/2) in round five, giving her the three-longest jumps in the world in 2025.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympian Quanesha Burks jumped past Moore into third at 6.90 m (22-7 3/4) in round five, followed by Alyssa Jones of Stanford also jumping 6.90 m, in round six, but fourth on Burks’ better second jump. Moore could not respond and will not be on the U.S. team for Tokyo.

In the four other Thursday finals:

Men/Hammer: World leader Rudy Winkler put the men’s hammer to bed with his second throw of 81.47 m (267-3); five of his six throws would have won the event. Trey Knight moved up to second and got the Worlds standard with his 78.76 m (258-5) toss, and Daniel Haugh – who also has the standard – was third at 77.28 m (253-6) in round four.

Men/Javelin: World no. 3 Curtis Thompson won his third straight national title and fifth career, reaching 83.89 m (265-2) in the fourth round. He’s the only American with the Worlds standard; unheralded Dash Sirmon – 14th at the NCAAs this year – was second at 77.28 m (253-6) and Marc Minichello was third at 76.81 m (252-0).

Women/Hammer: The U.S. came into this event ranked 1-3-4-9-10 and 2019 World Champion DeAnna Price got her sixth American title, taking the lead in round one at 78.33 m (257-0) and then improving in the final round to 78.53 m (257-7), maintaining her world no. 4 position. She’s off to her fifth Worlds.

World leader Brooke Andersen, the 2022 World Champion, was a clear second, throwing 75.14 m (246-6) on the best of her two fair throws. World no. 3 Rachel Richeson reached 74.57 m (244-8) in round one and that was good enough to hold off 2023 Worlds runner-up and 2025 world no. 9 Janee Kassanavoid, whose best of 75.55 m (244-7) also came in round one.

Women/Javelin: Bucknell’s Evie Bliss, 12th at the NCAA, won at 57.77 m (189-6), ahead of Madison Wiltrout (56.46 m/185-3). Both are well short of the World Championships qualifying standard of 64.00 m (210-0), but Wiltrout is 30th in the world rankings and in position to be selected for Tokyo.

In the decathlon, Kyle Garland, who has made two U.S. Worlds teams, was hot on Thursday, placing second in the 100 m (10.44), then won the long jump (7.89 m/25-10 3/4)) and the shot (16.95 m/55-7 1/2) and was second in the high jump at 2.14 m (7-0 1/4). His 49.29 in the 400 m ranked eighth and gave him 4,714 points on day one, ahead of Hakim McMorris (4,378) and Heath Baldwin (4,377).

Anna Hall, the world leader at 7,032 in the heptathlon, was third in the 100 m hurdles (13.12), then won the high jump at 1.90 m (6-2 3/4) and the shot at 15.02 m (49-3 1/2) and finished with a 23.56 in the 200 m – fastest of the day – to score 4.097 points and enjoy a commanding lead over Taliyah Brooks (3,898) and Allie Jones (3,662). Hall scored 4,191 first-day points in her Gotzis win where she broke the 7,000-point barrier.

The qualifying rounds were, in most of the events, ridiculously hot:

The men’s 100 m heat winners were T’Mars McCallum (10.01: wind -0.7 m/s) ahead of Trayvon Bromell (10.04); Grand Slam star Kenny Bednarek (9.95 +0.6), World Champion Noah Lyles (10.05 +0.1), ahead of Ronnie Baker (10.07) and NCAA champ Jordan Anthony (10.14) and Courtney Lindsey in heat four (10.05 -1.0), beating Christian Coleman (10.08).

Lyles confirmed afterwards he will concentrate on the 200 for the rest of the meet, as he already is automatically entered in the Worlds as defending champion.

No surprises in the men’s 800 m, with the stars winning the four heats: American Record man Bryce Hoppel (1:45.69), Brandon Miller (1:46.16), World Indoor winner Josh Hoey (1:47.14) and 2019 World Champion Donavan Brazier (1:48.23).

The men’s 1,500 m heats were insanely fast, with ex-North Carolina star Ethan Strand winning the first race in 3:34.12, over Hobbs Kessler (3:34.44). But the Olympic champ Cole Hocker ran a 55.00 last lap to win heat two in 3:32.57, ahead of Eric Holt (3:32.95) and Sam Prakel (3:33.08).

Not to be outdone, Olympic bronzer Yared Nuguse blasted a 54.26 final lap to take heat three from Gary Martin, 3:32.66 to 3:33.01! The top seven qualifiers all ran under 3:34!

American leader Matthew Wilkinson won the first heat of the men’s Steeple in 8:22.42, just ahead of Isaac Updike (8:22.45); American Record holder Evan Jager was eighth in 8:28.21 and did not advance. Olympic silver winner Kenneth Rooks took heat two in 8:21.35, just ahead of Daniel Michalski (8:21.39).

The women’s 100 m was spicy from the start, with Kayla White getting a lifetime best of 10.89 in heat one (+1.3), with defending champ Sha’Carri Richardson second in a seasonal best of 11.07. Fellow Olympian Twanisha Terry won heat two in 10.89 (+1.8) ahead of Aleia Hobbs (10.94) and 200 m Paris champ Gabby Thomas (11.00). World leader Melissa Jefferson-Wooden breezed to a 10.86 win into a 1.5 m/s headwind in heat three and Jacious Sears steamed to a 10.85w win in heat four (+3.2), ahead of Jenna Prandini (10.95w). Woah!

The women’s 800 m went to form, with Addy Wiley winning heat one in 2:01.63 (Raevyn Rogers second), comebacking Athing Mu-Nikolayev getting a seasonal best of 2:00.06 to win heat two (Ajee Wilson second), Sage Hurta-Klecker taking heat three (1:59.28) and 2024 Olympic Trials winner Nia Akins winning heat four over NCAA champ Roisin Willis, 201.22 to 2:01.43.

Olympic Trials winner Nikki Hiltz took heat one of the women’s 1,500 m in 4:05.99, ahead of Taryn Rawlings (4:06.53). Sinclaire Johnson, the 2022 national champion, led heat two after 400 m and continued right to the line in 4:07.54, with Gracie Morris second in 4:07.68. Emily Mackay, the no. 3 American in 2025, won heat three in 4:04.23 from Margot Appleton (4:04.72).

NCAA runner-up Lexy Halladay-Lowry of BYU won the first heat of the women’s Steeple in 9:37.53, ahead of 2024 Trials winner Val Constien (9:37.56), while NCAA third-placer Angelina Napoleon of N.C. State took heat two in 9:30.44, making a late charge past Gabi Jennings (9:30.48), Olivia Markezich (9:30.49) and 2024 Trials runner-up Courtney Wayment (9:30.70).

Friday’s meet has the final day of the decathlon and heptathlon in the morning, then Olympic-event action picks up at 2:30 p.m. with more qualifying; the men’s and women’s 100 m will close out the night. Broadcast coverage is only on USATF.tv on Friday.

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PANORAMA: IOC chief Coventry not behind a desk so far; fourth Worlds 10 m gold for 19-year-old Chen! USA Fencing gets national performance center!

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry at the 2025 USOPC Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Colorado Springs (Photo: USOPC/Mark Reis).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● New IOC President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) took office on 24 June, but she hasn’t been spending much time at Olympic House in Lausanne, showing up in two other continents by the end of July:

● 29 June: Lucerne (SUI) ~ World Rowing Cup
● 12 July: Colorado Springs (USA) ~ U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame
● 25-26 July: Paris (FRA) ~ One-year Olympic anniversary
● 28-30 July: Singapore (SGP) ~ World Aquatics Championships

Coventry, a two-time Olympic champion swimmer and a seven-time Olympic medal winner, was honored by World Aquatics with its Honorary Order, “recognising her lifelong contributions to the sport both in and out of the pool.”

● Association of National Olympic Committees ● Of course, the LA28 organizers are not the only one selling sponsorships for the run-up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

On Thursday, the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) announced a deal through 2028 with Bluewater International, a Swedish-based water purification systems maker, for consumer and business customers.

The company will be an “ANOC Gold Partner through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games” and “reflects a shared ambition to eliminate single-use plastic bottles in sport and promote safe, sustainable hydration practices across the Olympic Movement.”

Bluewater joins two other Gold Partners: Joy Billiards, an equipment maker, and apparel and footwear maker Peak Sports, both from China.

● Aquatics ● China’s Yuxi Chen, still just 19, won her ninth career World Aquatics Championships diving gold with a fourth World title in the women’s 10 m Platform final in Singapore.

Chen led the qualifying at 396.50 points, the semifinal at 394.65 and then destroyed the field in the final, scoring 430.50, ahead of first-time medal winners Pauline Pfeif (GER: 367.10) and Chinese teammate Peiling Xie (358.20).

Americans Bayleigh Cranford and Ella Roselli finished eighth (329.50) and 11th (290.20).

Chen won her first Worlds 10 m Platform gold in 2019 and again in 2022, 2023 and now 2025. She was second in 2024 and has Olympic silver from Tokyo and Paris. She finishes Singapore with three golds, also in the Team event and the 10 m Synchro.

World Aquatics and NBC announced an extension of their U.S. rights agreement through 2028 on Thursday, including the World Aquatics Championships and the World Cup events in swimming and diving.

No financial terms were disclosed.

● Cycling ● France scored a 1-2 finish on stage 6 of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, with Maeva Squiban getting away to score a major win on the triple-climb, 123.7 km route to Ambert, winning in 3:20:46.

Countrywoman Juliette Labrous was second (+1:09), leading a group of 14, with race leader Kimberley Pienaar (MRI) taking third at +1:13, ahead of Dutch star Demi Vollering.

That put Pienaar up by 26 seconds on France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, 30 seconds on Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) and 31 seconds on Vollering. The next two stages are both difficult, with the race ending on Sunday with an uphill finish to Chatel Les Portes du Soleil.

● Fencing ● USA Fencing announced its first-ever National Performance Center and National Academy, to be included in a $56 million redevelopment project by Masters Academy International in Stow, Massachusetts, to open in the fall of 2026:

“With clinics, camps, and National Team activities, the complex will be tailored from the ground up for fencing, complete with high-ceilings and expansive fencing halls, recovery suites, sport-science labs, state-of-the-art weight training centers, outdoor fields, and on-site dorms.”

MAI will renovate an existing, 312,000 sq. ft. facility, which will eventually support 10 more sports – baseball, basketball, esports, equestrian, figure skating, golf, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and softball – and offer instruction to 600 students in grades 6-12 plus post-graduates.

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ATHLETICS: Grant Fisher waiting for Grand Slam Track prize money, says if payments are not made, “I don’t think it will exist for next year.”

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. star Grant Fisher taking the 5,000 m at Grand Slam Track II (Photo: Grand Slam Track).

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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK ≡

Double Olympic distance bronze medalist Grant Fisher has had a productive 2025 so far, setting indoor world records at 3,000 m and 5,000 m and then starring in the Grand Slam Track meets in Kingston, Jamaica and Miramar, Florida.

But like so many others, he has not received prize money for either Kingston or Miramar, and he spoke about the situation in detail on Wednesday, prior to the start of the USA Track & Field national championships in Eugene on Thursday:

● “The last update I heard was that by the end of July they wanted Kingston prize money out. It has not hit my bank account or anyone else’s as far as I know. So fingers crossed, but tomorrow would be the last day before I think people get pretty upset.”

● “You know, the Grand Slam, I think there were some fantastic ideas. Maybe execution was a little off. I think it would be in everyone’s best interest, whether you are in Grand Slam or support Grand Slam, or don’t, if they pay the athletes out.

“The thing is if if the money doesn’t come through, then no athlete is ever going to want to take a chance on a new idea. No investor is going to want to take a chance on a new idea. It’s just going to be an all-round bad thing for the sport if things don’t come through. So my fingers are crossed.; I hope it all works.

“If it drags out a bit longer, I think a lot of people will be up in arms and we’ll see how that concludes. I ideally at this point in the season I’d just be focusing on running and not all that stuff, but I think it might come to a head pretty soon.”

● “If they aren’t able to pay out the debts that they have for this past year, I don’t think it will exist for next year.

“And even if it did somehow exist and they’re still in debt to athletes, no new athlete is going to sign on for the following year. So it’s kind of a wait-and-see situation. I think I was, I was only on a one-year contract, so I was only going to Grand Slam for 2025 … For 2026, I’ll think about that when-and-if the money hits my bank account.”

Fisher said that he’s spoken with other Grand Slam Track athletes, who were paid their contracted appearance fees for the Kingston meet, but not the prize money:

“The the original dialogue was that after everyone’s drug test cleared, the money would come through. After the Philadelphia Grand Slam and after the L.A. Slam was canceled, we were told, the end of July. So that’s the latest information we have and I think for most people within the organization, that’s the latest information they have. And that’s tomorrow. So we’ll see, yeah, I guess; talk to people in August 1st and see what the update is.”

He said that he was glad that he participated in the Grand Slam Track venture, despite being owed $100,000:

“I think, looking back, I am. You know, with the information I had at the time, it was a really good idea and I think it still has really good potential. I really want things to work. I don’t want it to come to a lawsuit and, you know, a big headache and Grand Slam being crushed and then you know everyone saying, ‘I told you so.’

“I don’t really want [that]; I don’t think that’s a good outcome for anybody. So, I still have my fingers crossed, you know, tomorrow I’m focused on racing. I won’t be checking my bank account to see if money came in. But after the weekend, I’m sure there’ll be plenty of discussion.”

In the meantime, Fisher is running the men’s 10,000 m on Thursday evening and then coming back for the 5,000 m on Sunday.

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U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE: USOPC change in transgender eligibility stance developed from discussions with U.S. NGBs

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ TRANSGENDER POLICY ≡

The back story on how the USOPC decided to change its stance on transgender participation in women’s events is now becoming a little clearer.

On 17 April, USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland told reporters during a telephonic news conference:

“Predominantly, [it’s] important to recognize that the USOPC does not define eligibility criteria for events that are not our jurisdiction. So, typically speaking, at an international level, the International Federations will define eligibility criteria for the events in which they own jurisdiction, World Cups, World Championships, etc., and the National Governing Bodies, domestically, would define eligibility criteria for their events. In some cases, those may be elite-level events, national championships and things; in other cases, those may be lower-level, grass-roots, youth-sport competitions and things of that nature.

“So, we do not have, nor will we have an eligibility policy. It wouldn’t be appropriate, it’s not our role to take on that position.”

In the succeeding weeks, however, Hirshland and USOPC President Gene Sykes talked with multiple heads of the U.S. National Governing Bodies, including NGB Council head Brendan Quick of USA Cycling, about their views on the transgender eligibility question and whether the USOPC should take a position.

The Sports Examiner was told that a clear majority preferred that the USOPC should take a position, protecting the female category. The end result was a change to the USOPC’s Athlete Safety Policy, which was communicated to the chief executives, Board Chairs and counsels of most of the National Governing Bodies during a Friday, 18 July conference call with USOPC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Holly Shick, and Chief External Affairs Officer Kate Hartman.

The new policy would be live as of Monday, 21 July, which included an added section 3.3:

“The USOPC is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport. The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., [International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, National Governing Bodies] to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act, 36 U.S.C § 22501, et. seq.”

(Executive Order 14201 is the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” order issued by Pres. Donald Trump on 5 February 2025.)

As written, the new section effectively bars transgender women from participation in the women’s division of sports overseen by the USOPC, including the National Governing Bodies.

USA Fencing, which had a policy-in-waiting on this issue, posted a notice of compliance and a change to its transgender policy on 18 July – after the USOPC conference call – effective as of 1 August 2025.

The USOPC made no public announcement of the change, but The New York Times was told by several NGB heads about the new policy and it broke the story nationally on Tuesday, 22 July. The Times’ story noted that the USOPC had had discussions with Trump Administration officials about the Executive Order and compliance.

All of this comes in advance of a review program to be instituted by the International Olympic Committee, with President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) promising during her campaign to, as she said, “protect the female category.” She told reporters in a 26 June news conference that during the IOC member forum she convened at the time of her inauguration in June:

“There was an overwhelming support … that we should protect the female category.

“And with that, we are going to … not revisit, that we’re going to set up a working group, made up of experts and International Federations. It was agreed by the members that the IOC should take a leading role in this, and that we should be the ones to bring together the experts, bring together the International Federations, and ensure that we find consensus.

“We understand that there will be differences, depending on the sport, but it was fully agreed that, as members and as the IOC, we should make the effort to place emphasis on the protection of the female category and that we should ensure that this is done in consensus with all the stakeholders.”

The USOPC will be expected to abide by that outcome as well.

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AQUATICS: Huge wins for Marchand and McIntosh at World Champs, and Berkoff and Smith score 50 Back 1-2 for U.S.

By
Rich Perelman
-
Romania’s star Freestyle sprinter David Popovici (Photo: World Aquatics).

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≡ WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPS ≡

The big stars were out at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, with Leon Marchand and Summer McIntosh both winning again, as well as a U.S. 1-2 in the 50 m Backstroke. But the featured event had to be the men’s sprint showdown in the 100 Free.

● Men/100 m Freestyle: Romania ‘s David Popovici won the Worlds gold in 2022 and looked to be the new sprint star, but was upended by China’s Zhanle Pan, who set the world record and won Olympic gold in 2024. This time, Pan didn’t qualify and American Jack Alexy was coming on, setting an American Record of 46.81 in the semis.

In the final, Alexy was only third at the turn, followed by Popovici and Rio 2016 gold winner Kyle Chalmers (AUS). But all three surged on the way home, with Popovici rolling fastest to touch in a sensational 46.51, the no. 2 performance of all time! Alexy was game, and managed a 46.92, the equal-ninth performance ever, ahead of Chalmers, third in 47.17.

Fellow American Patrick Sammon was sixth in 47.58. Popovici has now duplicated his 100-200 m Free wins from 2022, for four career Worlds golds. Alexy duplicated his 2023 Worlds silver.

● Men/200 m Medley: All eyes were on France’s Marchand, who smashed the world record in semis. Again? No.

Marchand led from start to finish and won easily in 1:53.68, the no. 2 performance in history and again faster than American Ryan Lochte’s 1:54.00 record that had stood from 2011 until Marchand in the semifinal.

Behind him was training partner, American Shaine Casas, a clear second in 1:54.30, the no. 9 performance ever and the no. 4 performer in history. It’s Casas’ second individual Worlds medal, adding to the 2022 bronze for the 200 m Back. Hungary’s Hubert Kos, the Paris 2024 200 m Back winner, finished third in 1:55.34.

● Women/50 m Backstroke: The U.S. was 1-3 in qualifying and 2022 Worlds silver winner Katharine Berkoff sprinted away to win in 27.08, just behind her world-leading time of 26.97 from the U.S. Trials. It’s her first Worlds individual gold.

Teammate Regan Smith was a clear second in 27.25, repeating her 2023 World silver in this event and her second silver of the night (previously in the 200 m Fly; see below). China’s Letian Wan finished third in 27.30.

● Women/200 m Butterfly: Canada’s McIntosh was the expected winner and she dominated, with the no. 2 performance in history at 2:01.99 leading right from the start. She now has three of the top five performances ever, and has three wins in Singapore, with the 800 m Free and 400 m Medley still to come.

The U.S.’s Smith was a clear second in 2:04.99, moving up from bronze in this event in 2023. Australia’s Elizabeth Dekkers took third (2:06.12) and Caroline Bricker of the U.S. was sixth in 2:07.59.

● Women/4×200 m Freestyle: The U.S. led the qualifying, but in the final, Olympic 200 m Free champ Mollie O’Callaghan held off Katie Ledecky and gave Australia a 7:39.35 to 7:40.01 victory.

It’s the no. 4 performance ever for the Aussies, and no. 5 for the U.S. squad of Claire Weinstein, Anna Peplowski, Erin Gemmell and Ledecky, which did claim the American Record, replacing the 7:40.73 gold-medal swim at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.

In the qualifying, two more American scratched from the morning heats, including star Gretchen Walsh in the women 100 m Free, and Josh Matheny in the men’s 200 m Breast. A statement from USA Swimming before the session explained:

“You may notice some changes in the lineup this morning. Notably, Gretchen is not racing the 100 free. We’ve adjusted our entries today as part of broader race management plans for the team. We will not be commenting on individual athlete health.”

In the men’s 200 m Backstroke semifinals, 100 m Breast winner Pieter Coetze (RSA) scored a world-leading win in semi one at 1:54.22, while France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard took semi two in 1:54.47. American Keaton Jones was 12th in 1:56.20 and did not advance.

Former world-record holder Ippei Watanabe (JPN) men’s 200 m Breaststroke led all qualifiers, winning semi one in 2:08.01. American AJ Pouch won semi two in 2:08.34 and was the no. 2 qualifier.

Defending champion Marrit Steenbergen (NED) posted the top semifinal time in the women’s 100 m Free at 52.81 in semi one, with two-time women’s 100 m Free champion O’Callaghan winning semi two in 52.82. World leader Torri Huske of the U.S. qualified fourth in 53.21, on the mend from illness.

World-record holder Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS “neutral”) led the qualifying in the women’s 200 m Breaststroke in 2:20.65 from semi two, just faster than the 2:20.96 from American Kate Douglass – the Paris Olympic champion – in semi one. Fellow American Alex Walsh was 12th overall in 2:25.16 and did not advance.

Despite all the trouble with illness, the U.S. continues in front with 18 medals (4-10-4) with Australia, which has also had issues, second with 11 (5-1-5), then China (1-3-4) with eight.

Friday’s finals include the men’s 200 m Backstroke, 200 m Breaststroke and the 4×200 m Freestyle, and the women’s 100 m Freestyle and 200 m Breaststroke.

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ATHLETICS: USATF nationals start four-day run in Eugene, with 13 world leaders and Para champs now part of the program

By
Rich Perelman
-
The 2025 USATF National Championships logo

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≡ USATF CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The latest U.S. national championships since 1968 for the women and 1930 (!) for the men gets going on Thursday in Eugene, Oregon, selecting the American team for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN) in September.

The meet is also historic as the first nationals to be combined for Olympic and Paralympic events, competing at the same place on the same days:

Thursday, 31 July:
● 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Decathlon-heptathlon
● 10:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Paralympic events
● 1:20 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Javelin/men and Hammer/women
● 3:00 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.: Olympic events

Friday, 1 August:
● 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Paralympic events
● 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Decathlon-heptathlon
● 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Olympic events
● 6:12 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.: Paralympic events
● 6:52 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Olympic events

Saturday, 2 August:
● 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.: 20 km Walks
● 9:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Paralympic events
● 11:20 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.: Discus/men
● 12:05 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Olympic events
● 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Olympic & Paralympic events

Sunday, 3 August:
● 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.: Masters exhibitions
● 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Olympic events

The meet has plenty of stars, including 13 athletes who are the world (outdoor) leaders in their events:

Men (5):
● 200 m: 19.73, T’Mars McCallum
● 110 m hurdles: 12.87, Cordell Tinch
● 400 m hurdles: 46.54, Rai Benjamin
● Shot Put: 22.48 m (73-9), Joe Kovacs
● Hammer: 83.16 m (272-10), Rudy Winkler

Women (8):
● 100 m: 10.73, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
● 100 m hurdles: 12.17, Masai Russell
● Pole Vault: 4.83 m (15-10), Katie Moon
● Long Jump: 7.07 m (23-2 1/2), Tara Davis-Woodhall
● Shot Put: 20.95 m (68-8 3/4), Chase Jackson
● Discus: 73.52 m (241-2), Valarie Allman
● Hammer: 79.29 m (260-1), Brooke Andersen
● Heptathlon: 7,032, Anna Hall

The U.S. also has defending (2023) world champions in multiple events, all of whom have a direct entry into the 2025 Worlds, but are competing in Eugene:

● Men/100 m: Noah Lyles
● Men/200 m: Noah Lyles
● Men/110 m hurdles: Grant Holloway

● Women/100 m: Sha’Carri Richardson
● Women/Pole Vault: Katie Moon
● Women/Shot Put: Chase Jackson
● Women/Discus: Lagi Tausaga

Men’s shot star Ryan Crouser, still recovering from an elbow injury, won in 2023, but is not entered. Heptathlete Michelle Atherley also has a direct Worlds entry from winning the World Athletics combined events tour.

Beyond all these folks is women’s 400 m hurdles superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the world-record holder and Olympic champion, who is contesting the 400 m this year. She’s run 49.43 so far and is expected to challenge the U.S. 400 m record of 48.70 by Sanya Richards-Ross from 2006.

One star who is not competing is men’s 2022 World 100 m champion Fred Kerley, who has been in trouble with law enforcement this year and posted:

“The 100m should be a straight sprint. 2025 has presented many hurdles. Taking some time out to get back on track. No USATF Champs this year. Thanks to all my supporters.”

A highlight of the Olympic and Paralympic events together will be Olympic women’s long jump champ Davis-Woodhall competing in the same meet as husband Hunter Woodhall, the Paris Paralympic men’s T62 400 m gold medalist.

The first two days of the meet are only on the subscription USATF.tv streaming platform; NBC has coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 4-6 p.m. Eastern and Peacock has extended Saturday coverage to 7 p.m. Eastern.

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PANORAMA: Marchand aimed at 200 m Medley world record in semis; gold-medal biathlete Dahlmeier confirmed dead in Pakistan mountains

By
Rich Perelman
-
World-record setter Leon Marchand (FRA) (Photo: Akino Kovacs for World Aquatics).

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

● Aquatics ● Lots of reaction to the sensational swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, especially from men’s 200 m Medley world-record setter Leon Marchand (FRA), Luca Urlando of the U.S. for his men’s 200 m Butterfly gold and American Record sprinter Jack Alexy in the men’s 100 m Free semis:

● Marchand:
“I actually can’t really believe it right now. I knew I was going to get close to my [personal best] because I felt really good today, and the preparation has been pretty good, so I was really excited to race. It’s unbelievable for me.

“What’s crazy is that it’s [a record by] a whole second … and it’s still hard to believe. A 1:52 on the 200 m?; that’s insane. I’m so happy, it’s just incredible.

“Today, I felt really good before the race. In the water, I felt light, I was taking in a lot of water, and technically, everything felt clean. I had talked with [coaches Bob Bowman (USA) and Nico Castel (FRA)], and we agreed that tonight was the time to go for it. In the end, I went out hard from the start, but I stayed super relaxed. I kept taking in a lot of water, my underwaters were really hitting 15 meters every time, and I didn’t make many mistakes. I didn’t realize I was going that fast, but I gave it absolutely everything. Arms at full speed all the way to the wall. At that point, I wasn’t even thinking about technique anymore.”

● Urlando:
“Oh, it’s huge. Winning a world championship was my goal from the beginning of the season. To be able to actually do it is a whole another thing and doing it in a best-time fashion … I truly can’t put it into words.

“I hope to just build off more experiences like this. It’s a huge stepping stone for 2028. I have some new goals going forward, going to work through them with my coach and see how much I can get better at the little things. Just continue with that.

“It was a great race, just embracing the moment, trying to have as much fun as I can with it too. It felt good, felt smooth, controlled, where I wanted to be.”

● Alexy:
“I felt pretty good throughout that race, and I knew I was going pretty fast. It is really great to go under 47 [seconds] again, especially at this stage. I am grateful and happy, and hopefully I can shave a few more tenths off that time tomorrow and have a good finish. I am looking forward to that race tomorrow night.”

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Aquatics ● In diving at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Italy’s Matteo Santoro and Chiara Pellacani won the Mixed 3 m Synchro gold, scoring 308.13 to edge Australia’s Maddison Keeney and Cassiel Rousseau (307.26) and China’s Zilong Cheng and Yajie Li (305.70).

Cheng and Li won the first three dives, but ranked sixth on dive no. four, won by the Italians, who then held on to win. The U.S. pair of Luke Hernandez and Kyndal Knight finished seventh (267.60).

● Biathlon ● Terrible news from Pakistan, where German biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier – a double gold medalist at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games – died on 28 July (Monday) as the result of a rock fall while climbing Laila Peak in the Kashmir region. Per ExplorersWeb:

“Dahlmeier’s home team has issued a press release that states that the accident took place on Monday, as the 31-year-old Dahlmeier and partner Marina Krauss were descending from the summit of 6,069m Laila Peak in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley. They were rappelling at 5,700m when a rope maneuver caused a rockfall that hit Dahlmeier.

“Krauss, also from Germany, was unharmed and immediately sent an SOS message. She also tried for many hours to reach her partner, but the difficult terrain and the risk of further rockfall thwarted her attempts. Eventually, in the middle of the night, Krauss decided to retreat from the dangerous area and continued rappelling down the dagger-sharp mountain to Base Camp.”

Dahlmeier’s body was spotted on Tuesday by helicopter and she was reached by a ground rescue team who confirmed her death. In accordance with her written will, Dahlmeier’s body will be left on the mountain.

Just 31, Dahlmeier retired from biathlon in 2018 after three medals in PyeongChang (2-0-1) and 15 Worlds medals (7-3-5) from 2015-19.

● Cycling ● At the Tour de France Femmes, the hilly, 165.8 km fifth stage ended with a sprint of seven riders, won by Kimberley Pienaar (MRI) in 3:54:07, ahead of Dutch stars Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen. Overall, Pienaar took the lead, over Paris 2024 Mountain Bike gold medalist Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (FRA: +0:18) and Vollering (+0:23), jumping from sixth to third on Wednesday, after a bad crash at the third stage cost her 19 seconds.

The climbing stages start Thursday, with the race finishing on Sunday.

● Fencing ● The FIE World Championships finished in Tibilisi (GEO), with Japan winning the men’s Team Epee behind individual gold medalist Koki Kano, defeating Hungary, 45-35, in the final. Just as Kano won Japan’s first individual title in this weapon, this was also the first Worlds Team Epee win for Japan!

France won the women’s Team Sabre title for the first time since 2018 and for the fourth time overall, besting South Korea, 45-37 in the final. The French defeated defending champ Hungary in the semifinals, 45-41. The U.S. team – Maia Chamberlain, Alexandra Lee, Lola Possick, Siobhan Sullivan – barely lost to the Koreans in the quarterfinals by 45-44 and finished sixth overall.

France (2-3-1), Italy (2-0-4) and Hungary (0-3-3) led the medal table with six each; the U.S. tied with four other countries with three (2-1-0).

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ATHLETICS: World Athletics approves testing to compete as a woman, using cheek-swab test for SRY gene

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ GENDER TESTING NOW ≡

“All athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the World Championships are required to undergo a once-in-a-lifetime test for the SRY gene – a reliable proxy for determining biological sex. This is to be conducted via a cheek swab or blood test, whichever is more convenient.

“The testing protocol will be overseen by Member Federations as they prepare their athletes and teams for the Championships in Tokyo.”

Wednesday’s announcement stated that the regulations will come into effect on 1 September, meaning they will be in force for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN) from 13-21 September.

Said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR):

“We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female. It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology.”

An accompanying question-and-answer document added some important details:

● “Athletes wishing to compete in the female category need to take the SRY test just once in their lifetime. If their SRY test is negative for the Y chromosome (i.e. the Y chromosome is absent) then they are eligible to compete in the female category in all world ranking competitions.

“If their test result is positive for the Y chromosome (i.e. shows presence of the Y chromosome) they can compete in the female category in non-world ranking competitions or in another category other than the female category.”

● “The SRY test is extremely accurate and the risk of false negative or positive is extremely unlikely. When the sample collection is properly conducted and the laboratory uses an FDA or CE In-vitro Diagnosis kit relying on Quantitative Fluorescent Polymerase Chain Reaction, the accuracy of this test is extremely high with very good sensitivity and specificity.”

● “Once a laboratory has received an athlete’s cheek swab or blood sample it can take between one and two weeks for the sample to be analysed and the results issued. This depends on the country and the laboratory. It is important to know this information so an athlete can get their cheek swab/blood sample carried out as soon as possible.”

● “In the short-term and for the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, Member Federations will be conducting the tests for their athletes, in the same way, and perhaps using the same provider, as they did when they carried out their Covid19 swab tests in 2020 and 2021. World Athletics will contribute up to US$100 per test for athletes competing in Tokyo.”

The regulations also include a provision for athletes with differences in sex development (DSD), specifically allowing participation in the women’s category for “Biological males with a difference of sex development who satisfy the transitional provisions issued by World Athletics.”

The Q&A document noted:

“The position is that a very small number of known DSD athletes eligible to compete under the current regulations would be eligible for the remainder of their career provided they continue to maintain their testosterone below 2.5 nmol/L.”

Observed: This is an important step for athletics and for the Olympic-sport world as World Athletics has been at the forefront of action and research in this area.

Too, it comes not only at an important point in the season – the U.S. championships start Thursday in Eugene, Oregon – but in advance of the International Olympic Committee’s effort to “protect the female category.” The SRY-gene test was called for by some of the IOC Presidential candidates and will be part of the discussions led by new IOC chief Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) in the coming weeks.

The World Athletics position also lines up with the recommendation of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem (JOR) for sex-screening tests from October 2024.

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SWIMMING: U.S.’s Urlando gets 200 Fly gold, Alexy breaks Dressel’s 100 Free record, world Medley record for Marchand at World Champs!

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Champion Luca Urlando of the U.S. (Photo: Luca Urlando Instagram page).

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≡ WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPS ≡

After winning five golds at the 2019 World Junior Championships, including the 200 m Freestyle and 200 m Butterfly, there were great expectations for American Luca Urlando. And at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Wednesday, he met them head on.

A Paris Olympian, Urlando had been on a mission all season, leading the world in the 200 m Fly for much of the season and leading the qualifying in the heats and semis.

The final turned out to be much more of the same, as he took the lead on the second lap and was never headed, winning his first international medal in a brilliant 1:51.87, the fastest time in the world in 2025 and the no. 9 performance in history. It’s also the second-fastest American swim ever, only behind Michael Phelps’ U.S. record of 1:51.51 from 2009.

Poland’s Krzysztof Chmielewski moved hard after 100 m to turn second into the final lap and finished in 1:52.64 for the silver, no. 2 in the world for 2025. Australia’s Harrison Turner was third in 1:54.17; American Carson Foster, a four-time Worlds medley medalist, was fifth in 1:54.62.

The U.S. also celebrated a historic swim in the semifinals of the men’s 100 m Freestyle, with 2024 Olympic finalist Jack Alexy leading all qualifiers in 46.81, no. 2 in the world for 2025, the no. 4 performance ever and setting the American Record!

Swimming in the second semi, Alexy broke Caeleb Dressel’s 46.96 mark from the 2019 World Championships, and beat 2022 World Champion – and 2025 world leader – David Popovici (ROU: 46.84) in the process!

Fellow American Patrick Sammon qualified seventh in 47.62 and is in the final, as is Rio 2016 Olympic champ Kyle Chalmers (AUS: 47.36), who won the first semifinal. A shocker from that race was world-record holder Zhanle Pan of China missing the final, finishing 10th overall at 47.81.

Then there was French icon Leon Marchand, the star of Paris 2024 with four golds, and who had his eye on the long-standing world record of 1:54.00 by American Ryan Lochte in the 200 m Medley from way back in 2011. Well, he got it, in the semifinals!

Marchand, swimming in the second semi, mauled the record, touching in 1:52.69, a staggering 2.44 seconds ahead of American (and training partner) Shaine Casas, whose 1:55.13 is faster than anyone else in the world for 2025, a lifetime best and moves him to no. 6 all-time!

Britain’s Duncan Scott, the Tokyo and Paris silver man in this event, was third in 1:55.51, now no. 3 in the world for 2025. Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita won semi one in 1:57.11. Carson Foster was eighth overall and qualified for the final in 1:57.49.

Wow.

There was a lot more from a busy fourth night in the pool:

● Men/800 m Freestyle: Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi, the short-course 1,500 m Worlds winner in 2024, was the leading qualifier, got to the lead by 350 m and dominated the race, winning in 7:36.88, the no. 3 performance in history!

He was well in front of Germans Sven Schwarz (7:39.96) and 400 m Free winner Lukas Martens (7:40.19), and Tokyo 2020 Olympic winner Bobby Finke (7:46.42), in fourth.

● Men/50 m Breaststroke: Italy’s Simone Cerasuolo came to Singapore ranked fifth in 2025, but he had no peers in the final, winning in 26.54, touching ahead of Russian “neutral” Kirill Prigoda (26.62). China’s Haiyang Qin, the 2023 World Champion, was third in 26.67.

● Women/200 m Freestyle: Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan battled American teen Claire Weinstein, 18, for most of the race, with O’Callaghan turning first at 150 m and coming home with the fastest final 50 m in the field to win in 1:53.48, fastest in the world in 2025, and the no. 9 performance ever.

Weinstein led at 100 m and turned second at 150 m, but faded on the final lap and was passed by China’s 400 m Free runner-up, Bingjie Li, 1:54.52 to 1:54.67. That moves Weinstein to no. 3 all-time U.S., behind only Allison Schmitt (1:53.61 in 2012) and Katie Ledecky (1:53.73 in 2016). Fellow American Erin Gemmell finished eighth in 2:00.16.

● Mixed 4×100 m Medley: The U.S. had a stunning failure in the morning heats, finishing 10th and missing the final. Keaton Jones was a slow 54.20 on the backstroke lead-off, Campbell McKean held his own on breaststroke, but Torri Huske’s butterfly leg was also weak and Simone Manuel‘s freestyle anchor ended in 3:44.50. The last qualifier was Poland, in 3:44.22 in eighth.

In the final, the “neutral” Russian team won in 3:37.97, the no. 5 performance in history, ahead of China (3:39.99) and Canada (3:40.90).

In the evening qualifying, U.S. star Regan Smith led the women’s 50 m Backstroke semifinals, winning the second race in 27.23, with Britain’s Lauren Cox taking semi one in 27.26. American teammate Katharine Berkoff was second behind Cox in 27.34 and the no. 3 overall qualifier.

Smith came back about a half-hour later in the women’s 200 m Butterfly semifinals, qualifying third overall in 2:06.96, second in semi two behind Canadian star Summer McIntosh (2:06.22). The fastest qualifier was Australia’s Elizabeth Dekkers at 2:06.13 to win semi one. American Caroline Bricker was second in semi one in 2:07.86 and qualified sixth overall.

After four of eight days, the U.S. leads the medal table with 12 total (3-5-4), ahead of Australia (8: 4-1-3) and Italy (6: 1-4-1) and China (6: 1-3-2).

The Thursday finals include the men’s 100 m Free and 200 Medley (more Marchand!), and the women’s 50 m Back, 200 m Fly and 4×200 m Freestyle.

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LANE ONE: The story of the first Olympic organizing committee surplus in history, by the Xth Olympiad Committee in 1932

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ GAMES OF THE Xth OLYMPIAD ≡

The Games of the XXXIV Olympiad in Los Angeles will close on 30 July 2028. On 30 July 1932, the Games of the Xth Olympiad opened before 101,022 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

And the 1932 Games was a grand success: aesthetically, athletically and financially:

“Although no official figures are available, it is apparent that the Olympic Games made a lot of money.”

That’s the lead of a Los Angeles Times story from 16 August 1932, two days after the closing of the Games of the Xth Olympiad, held in Los Angeles in the depths of the Great Depression. There was more:

“There are rumors that the show cleared more than $1,000,000 above actual operating expenses, which cover a period of several years.”

The next day, The Times carried a story with Xth Olympiad Committee President William May Garland’s announcement that the organizing committee would pay back the $1 million bond issued by the State of California in 1929 to get the organizing effort started. The “California Olympic Bond Act of 1927″ was voter-passed by 73-27% in November 1928 to provide initial funding for the development of the 1932 Games, given to Los Angeles by the International Olympic Committee in 1923. The Times story included:

“The $1,000,000 provided by the State was virtually the only money received by the committee with the exception of receipts from ticket sales, concessions and incidentals. No money was provided by city, county or public subscriptions, it was pointed out.”

Inevitably, there was a fight over the organizing committee surplus. But the story of how the 1932 organizers got to a surplus was remarkable:

● The Official Report following the Games in 1933 listed a stunningly small staff of just 70 full-time staff members in the organizing committee.

● In terms of revenue, 1,247,580 tickets were sold – about 42.4% of capacity – bringing in $1,483,536. A total of 331,518 programs were sold at 10 cents each, bringing in $33,152, and the organizing committee received a share of venue concessions run by a local (unnamed) firm.

● The men’s Olympic Village charged $2 per person per day; there were 1,503 athletes entered, plus coaches and officials, but no totals on the number of days was published, but operations ran from mid-June to the end of the Games on 14 August and a few days more. A conservative guess on revenue would be $100,000 in all, including the women’s housing at the Chapman Hotel.

● So, the total revenue from operations – remember, no concluding financial statements were ever released – from the Games was probably around $1.7 million, allowing for concessions and post-Games equipment sales. Adding in the $1 million bond issue and the Xth Olympiad Committee probably realized a total of about $2.7 million in total income.

Now, a little money went a long way in 1932, not only for salaries, but also for venues. Almost all of the venue sites for the 1932 Games were either donated or rented for out-of-pocket expenses, and the organizing committee paid for the temporary modifications it needed. The organizers paid the City of Los Angeles Board of Playground and Recreation Commissioners the amount estimated to build a temporary swimming facility and the City built the 5,000-seat Los Angeles Swim Stadium, still in use today and expected to be used for diving in 2028.

The organizers made a similar deal with the City of Long Beach to leave behind permanent docks, starting platforms, a boat house, dressing rooms and grandstands in return for dredging what became the Long Beach Marine Stadium, also slated for use in 2028. The swimming and rowing facilities were the only permanent construction projects undertaken by the 1932 organizers.

When it was all over, the Xth Olympiad Committee had about $1.25 million left over, meaning the Games had been organized for $1.45 million. But the disposal of the money was a matter of contention, leading to a filing in California court in December 1932 for a declaratory judgement that the organizing committee could do whatever it wanted to with the surplus.

The State of California joined the suit, asking for all of the surplus. And, of course, the American Olympic Committee – forerunner to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee – asked that it be given the surplus.

In February 1934, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Leon R. Yankwich ruled that the surplus belonged to the organizing committee, and the decision was confirmed by the California Supreme Court in December 1934.

It wasn’t until an inquiry to the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department was cleared up in 1935 that the funds could finally be disbursed.

No documentation of a final accounting has been found, but as best as can be re-constructed:

● $1,250,000 (more or less) surplus
● $1,053,733 paid to retire the 1929 bond
● $196,267 (more or less) remaining

The remaining amount was donated to the Community Redevelopment Agency, which had spearheaded the building of the Memorial Coliseum and which included representatives of both the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles. In 2025 dollars, the $196,267 total is worth about $4.61 million.

Case closed, on the only organizing committee to finish with a surplus from scratch – construction included – until 52 years later, for the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad in 1984, also, of course, in Los Angeles!

Rich Perelman
Editor

(Special thanks to Michael Salmon of the LA84 Foundation Library, who assisted with the research for this story … in 2014!)

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PANORAMA: World Aquatics creating athlete “retirement fund”; World Boxing up to 118 members; ready for the “Shooting League of India”?

By
Rich Perelman
-
From the World Aquatics Congress, a rendering of a portion of the planned new headquarters in Hungary, beginning in 2028 (World Aquatics video screen shot).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● There are a little less than three years left before the opening of the 2028 Olympic Games, but the work on the creation of the Olympic and Paralympic torches is getting going.

The LA28 organizers have listed a position for a “Manager, Torch Development” with the responsibility “for bridging creative & technical teams to manage the end-to-end process of developing, testing & producing the system of flame devices. …

“We are seeking a highly effective program manager with a technical background to lead a wide-ranging team of experts, driving coordination & ultimate functionality of deliverables, while keeping the program on time & on budget.”

The position pays $85,000-105,000 per year.

● Aquatics ● Two more golds for China in the diving action at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, both in synchronized events.

The men’s 10 m Synchro had Zilong Cheng and Zifeng Zhu with a very tight win, 429.63 to 428.70 over Russian “neutrals” Nikita Shleikher and Ruslan Ternovoi. Americans Joshua Hedberg and Carson Tyler took third, scoring 410.70 and moving up from fourth in the qualifying. It’s the first Worlds medal for Hedberg but second for Tyler, who won a 2022 Worlds Mixed 10 m Synchro bronze.

China’s Yiwen Chen, the Olympic winner in the 3 m and 3 m Synchro in Paris, teamed with Jia Chen to won the women’s 3 m Synchro, scoring 325.20 to 298.35 for Britain’s Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Jensen. The U.S. pair of Bailee Sturgill and Lily Witte finished seventh (261.18).

Yiwen Chen has now won eight Worlds golds and one silver in her career and it’s her fourth women’s 3 m Synchro gold, the first three with Yani Chang, the 2024 World 3 m champ.

At the World Aquatics Congress in Singapore, federation President Husain Al-Musallam (KUW) introduced a new concept of essentially a “deferred-earnings” fund for athletes:

“World Aquatics will become the first International Federation to introduce a compensation plan for athletes at the end of their careers. We will invest USD 10 million in this programme, supporting athletes from the start of their careers to well beyond.”

According to the announcement, “The fund will provide financial support to athletes upon retirement, based on their sustained participation in World Aquatics events. Those who meet qualification thresholds will receive contributions tied to prize earnings, and a final lump sum upon retirement, helping to ease the often-difficult transition out of elite sport.”

Oh yes, since contributions to the fund will be based on “participation in World Aquatics events,” expect more interest in those.

As far as prize money for the 2025 Worlds in Singapore, the total is $6.00 million, with the individual-event finishers receiving $20,000-15,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000 for places 1-8.

Al-Musallam also told delegates that the new federation headquarters in Budapest (HUN) is expected to be completed and open in 2028, including a world-class training center within the facility.

● Biathlon ● Retired biathlon star Laura Dahlmeier (GER), who won 2018 Winter Olympic golds in the women’s Sprint and Pursuit, plus an Individual bronze, has been badly injured during a mountaineering trip in Pakistan.

Now 31, she was hit by falling rock on the Karakoam range in the Kashmir region on Monday, with a search begun on Tuesday in the difficult-to-reach area and now continuing.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● USA Bobsled & Skeleton is recruiting with its second annual “Slide to Glory” combine in Salt Lake City, Utah on 16 August at the Eccles Field House at the University of Utah.

No experience is required, and anyone can enroll to try the sprinting, jumping and weight drills, with the top-performing man and woman earning a trip to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York for a rookie camp and actual sledding trials.

● Boxing ● World Boxing announced the approval of seven new national federations – Bolivia, Central African Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Israel, Micronesia and Somalia – to bring its total to 118 total members.

Membership in World Boxing is required for a federation to be able to enter qualifying competitions for the Olympic boxing tournament at the 2028 Olympic Games.

The International Testing Agency announced a provisional suspension of Paris 2024 Olympic 92 kg (heavyweight) gold medalist Lazizbek Mullojunov (UZB), 26, as an out-of-competition sample collected on 11 June 2025 “has returned an [adverse finding] for methasterone metabolites,” a prohibited steroid.

Mullojunov can ask for a testing of his second (B) sample, or the case can move forward as a violation. The ITA is moving ahead with the case under its agreement with World Boxing.

● Cycling ● Dutch stars Lorena Wiebes and Marianne Vos went 1-2 in the Tour de France Femmes for the second straight stage on Tuesday, both crossing the line in 2:54:11 at the end of a sprint in Poitiers in the 130.7 km fourth stage.

Vos maintains a 12-second lead in the race over Wiebes and Kimberley Pienaar, (MRI) with a hilly fifth stage on Wednesday and then the climbing stages beginning on Thursday.

Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar (SLO) said Tuesday that he will skip the Vuelta a Espana in August, rest from his fourth Tour win and get ready to defend his World Road Championship title in Rwanda in September.

“After such a demanding Tour, we decided it was best to take a break, The Vuelta is, of course, a race I would dearly love to return to. I have fantastic memories there from 2019, but now the body is telling me to rest.”

● Shooting ● A new experiment in the sport is getting ready to launch in November, as the National Rifle Association of India received support from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) for its new “Shooting League of India” venture to debut in November.

The league concept, announced in April, is to feature 6-8 teams in cities, with an 11-day tournament from 20 November to 2 December with 12-shooter, mixed-gender teams competing in six events (10 m & 25 m Pistol, 10 m & 50 m/3 Positions Rifle and Trap and Skeet).

Shooters will receive fees from €5,000 to 10,000 for the tournament, depending on their position in an athlete draft; the goal is to “transform shooting into a mainstream sport by engaging wider audiences and providing a professional platform for athletes.”

Said ISSF President Luciano Rossi (ITA): “The League of India is very important to us and is in the right direction to create publicity for the athletes and help their dream of becoming known around the world.”

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SWIMMING: Ledecky supreme for sixth 1,500 m gold at Singapore World Champs, on a five-medal day for the U.S.

By
Rich Perelman
-
Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky (USA)

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≡ WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPS ≡

Some things don’t change, like American Freestyle star Katie Ledecky winning the women’s 1,500 m Free at the World Aquatics Championships.

So in Singapore on Tuesday, Ledecky had the lead at the first turn and pulled away for a comfortable win in 15:26.44, the no. 4 performance in history and giving her 24 of the top 25 fastest times ever recorded in the event.

Italy’s Simona Quadarella, who won this event at the Worlds when Ledecky did not contest it in 2019 and 2024, was second in 15:31.79, a European Record and no. 2 all-time, with the no. 12 performance. Australian Lani Pallister took third at 15:41.18.

Ledecky now has an astonishing 28 career World Championship medals and has won the 1,500 m Free six times, in 2013-15-17-22-23-25, not to mention her Olympic wins at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

She’s not done, either, with the 800 m Free and the 4×200 m Free relay still to come.

Ledecky’s teammates were busy on Tuesday:

● Women’s 100 m Backstroke: Another showdown between Australia’s Olympic champ Kaylee McKeown and American Regan Smith, with Smith out best as usual, but McKeown with too much at the end, winning in 57.16, the no. 2 performance all-time, just 0.03 off of Smith’s 2024 world record.

Smith was second – again – in 57.35, with teammate Katharine Berkoff third in 58.15. Smith, still just 23, won the Paris silver in this event and now has Worlds silvers in 2023 and 2025, all to McKeown. She did win the 2022 Worlds gold.

Berkoff won her second Worlds bronze in this event, also in 2023 and she took the Olympic bronze in Paris last year.

● Women’s 100 m Breaststroke: Kate Douglass of the U.S. was the leading qualifier at 1:05.49 in the semis, but got out only fourth at the turn, behind defending champ Qianting Tang (CHN), German Anna Elendt – swimming in lane one – and Anna Bottazzo (ITA). But she came on during the final lap and passed Tang and Bottazzo, but not Elendt, who got to the touch first in 1:05.19, fastest in the world this year, a national record and tied for 12th all-time.

Douglass finished in 1:05.27, a lifetime best and now no. 14 all-time and no. 6 all-time U.S. Tang hung on for third at 1:05.64.

● Men/200 m Freestyle: Olympic champion David Popovici (ROU) and bronze winner Luke Hobson of the U.S. came in at the top of the 2025 world list and battled for the victory on Tuesday.

Hobson had the lead at the 100 m mark in 50.07, with Popovici only fourth, and Hobson led by 0.65 at the final turn, but Popovici had plenty left and covered the final 50 m in just 26.43 to sail by and win in 1:43.53, the no. 10 performance in history.

Hobson faded a bit at the end, but finished a strong second in 1:43.84, moving up from third at Paris and at the 2024 Worlds in Doha. Japan’s Tatsuya Murasa came from fifth to third on the final lap (1:44.54); fellow American Gabriel Jett was eighth in 1:45.92.

● Men/100 m Backstroke: The U.S. had no finalists in this event, with veteran stars Ryan Murphy and Hunter Armstrong taking time off this year. World leader Pieter Coetze (RSA) would have been hard to beat anyway, zooming from third at the turn to pass Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon (ITA) and touch in 51.85, fastest in the world this year and moving him to equal-third on the all-time list (and the equal-third performance).

Ceccon won silver in 51.90 – the no. 6 performance ever – and France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard took the bronze in 51.92 (he’s no. 6 all-time) in a very tight finish.

In the men’s 800 m Freestyle qualifying, 2022 World men’s 800 m champion Bobby Finke of the U.S. was fourth in 7:44.02, with Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaquadi the leader at 7:41.58.

China’s Haiyang Qin, already the men’s 100 m Breast winner, led the men’s 50 m Breaststroke semifinals at 26.52; the U.S. had no qualifiers.

American Luca Urlando, already the world leader in the men’s 200 m Butterfly, scorched the semis, winning the second race in 1:52.84, the no. 3 performance of the year … but slower than his 1:52.71 in the morning heats! Teammate Carson Foster was the no. 4 qualifier at 1:54.30; defending champ Ilya Kharun (CAN) qualifed fifth at 1:54.43.

U.S. teen star Claire Weinstein, 18, recovering from the stomach trouble that plagued much of the American team in training camp, led the women’s 200 m Freestyle qualifying at 1:54.69, second-fastest of the year, with world leader and Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) next at 1:55.49, both from semi two. Erin Gemmell of the U.S. also qualified, in eighth position in 1:56.03.

With the American health appearing to return, the U.S. now has 10 medals (2-5-3) to lead the medal table, with Australia (3-1-2: 6) next and Italy (0-4-1) with five.

Wednesday’s finals include (of course) the men’s 800m Free, 50 m Breast and 200 m Fly, the women’s 200 m Free and the mixed 4×100 m medley.

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AQUATICS: Fabulous World Aquatics financial report for 2024 released, showing record $108 million revenue, $241 million in assets!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ 2024 FINANCIAL BONANZA ≡

A spectacular financial report for World Aquatics, released on Tuesday for the federation Congress in Singapore, shows the federation with $107.83 million in 2024 revenues, a surplus of $51.17 million for the year and $241.51 million in assets.

Wow.

In 2024, the federation had an unprecedented set of circumstances which generated enormous revenues:

● $67.76 million in hosting and commercial revenue
● $38.86 million in Olympic Movement revenue
● $1.21 million in other income
● $107.83 million total operating revenue

The expenses:

● $28.71 million in development and athlete support
● $22.81 million in event expenses
● $10.80 million in administration costs
● $3.74 million in anti-doping expenses
● $1.50 million in legal costs
● $1.48 million in other expenses
● $69.04 million total operating expenses

That leaves $38.79 million in operating income for 2024; World Aquatics also enjoyed $8.29 million in investment income and a transfer of $4.08 million from the federation’s capital reserves, bringing the yearly surplus to a glossy $51.17 million.

The key to this bonanza was the presence in 2024 of both an Olympic Games and a World Aquatics Championships, something which had never happened before:

● World Aquatics, as a tier-one federation along with World Athletics and the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique, received $37.84 million from the International Olympic Committee as its share of the Paris 2024 Olympic television rights sales.

● World Aquatics had two of its major events in 2024, with the World Aquatics Championships on Doha in February bringing in $50.06 million in fees, TV rights, sponsorships and in-kind value, the World Short-Course swimming champs in December in Budapest (HUN) earning $10.90 million and other events, $6.81 million, for a $67.76 million total.

(For those thinking about a future World Aquatics Championships in the U.S., World Aquatics received $27.64 million in host-city partnerships and fees for Doha 2024; the fees for Fukuoka 2023 were $26.50 million. World Aquatics Championships have been attributed to Budapest for 2027 and Beijing (CHN) for 2029.)

The balance sheet is impressive:

● $241.15 million in assets, up from $191.51 million in 2023.
● $167.88 million in reserves, up from $120.80 million in 2023.
● $36.92 million in deferred income, meaning the cash is in hand, but the event to which this money applies is in the future.

All of these totals – income, assets and reserves – are all records for World Aquatics, and one of the best financial performances by any International Federation ever, outside of football behemoth FIFA.

The statements are being presented to the World Aquatics Congress for approval in Singapore, where they are expected to be welcomed by the delegates.

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PANORAMA: IOC chief says Paris protocol likely in 2026 for Russia, Belarus; drones the biggest mega-event threat; record attendance at Women’s Euro25

By
Rich Perelman
-
Kansas City police chief Stacey Graves testifying at the 22 July 2025 House Homeland Security Committee hearing on major-event security (C-SPAN video screen shot).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) talked with the French all-sport newspaper L’Equipe about the possibility of Russian entries at the 2026 Winter Games:

“We haven’t made a final decision. For Milan-Cortina, I’m not going to anticipate the Executive Board’s decisions in September and December , but I think we’ll probably follow the same decision as for Paris.”

The IOC implemented a strict review of Russian and Belarusian entries as to “neutrality” grounds, for those federations which allowed them to compete. Among the winter federations, the International Skating Union is allowing very limited entries – one per event – and the International Federation for Ski Mountaineering is allowing some entries.

The other winter federations for biathlon, bobsleigh and skeleton, luge, skiing and the team sports of curling and hockey have not allowed Russian entries.

● Event Security ● A panel on “Lessons Learned: An Examination of Major Security Incidents at Mass Gathering Events” was held last week by the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events. The panel, including senior law enforcement officials from Boston, Kansas City, Miami and New Orleans, emphasized two points especially: prevention of drone attacks and multi-level cooperation.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Groves explained that funding for preparation and protection of events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup – where Kansas City will host matches – and the 2028 Olympic Games is always the top issue, but beyond that:

“The second primary concern is detection and counter-UAS [unmanned aerial systems] authority. Despite our responsibility to safeguard the public, the local law enforcement agencies are currently constrained by Federal regulations that prohibit or severely limit our ability to detect, disrupt, or disable unauthorized drones in real time.

“This creates significant operational gap that hinders our capacity to respond effectively to aerial threats. The proliferation of consumer drones, their affordability, and their potential use by bad actors amplifies this concern. At times our officers are put in the position of observing potentially dangerous drone activity without the legal authority or technical tools to mitigate the threat.

“This not only endangers the safety of event attendees and infrastructure, but also undermines public confidence in our ability to provide a safe environment. We respectfully request Congress to prioritize the following:

● “Authorize the deployment of unmanned aerial systems – UAS – detection and counter-UAS technology at local and regional levels.

● “Current FAA BVLOS or beyond-visual-line-of-sight waivers without visual observers are limited to 200 feet AGL [above ground level], while standard UAB operations allow up to 400 feet above ground level.

“This restriction hampers our ability to monitor and secure wide areas, particularly around stadiums and large venues. For events like FIFA World Cup, authorization for BVLOS operations at 400 feet AGL is essential.

● “Ensure Federal UAS teams are embedded at each World Cup host site to provide airspace security. Without these changes, the increasing use of drones, whether by careless hobbyists or bad actors, will continue to outpace the ability of local law enforcement to respond. We stand ready to collaborate with federal partners to close this critical gap in public safety.”

Col. Robert Hodges, the Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, emphasized the need for close coordination among all levels of law enforcement, especially in responding to the New Year’s Eve terrorist truck incident on Bourbon Street that killed 15, injured more than 30 and caused the Sugar Bowl playoff football game to be delayed a day:

“I think it’s the collaboration between all branches of law enforcement at all levels, local, state, and Federal. No one worried about who’s getting the credit, just acting as a force multiplier. It doesn’t matter who’s in charge.

“We all – it doesn’t matter the badge or the uniform – just that we all work collectively and that we share the information. And I think we were able to do that with the help of many others who had challenges before us. We learned those lessons and we had been working very closely throughout the year of 2024 prior to that New Year’s Eve attack, and we had such a strong relationship with our partners in law enforcement.

“It’s no secret that the crime in the city of New Orleans, violent crime was down 40%, at the time of that attack. So when it did happen, and we all collectively were already there for the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Eve, everyone knew all the leaders in the room. We knew our capabilities, our limitations, and we leveraged that. And because we worked and trusted one another so much, that’s how we were able to build trust and work together regardless of backgrounds. No fiefdoms, no one trying to take credit.”

● Aquatics ● At the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, China scored two more golds, giving them five wins in six events so far. In the men’s 3 m Synchro, two-time Olympic champ Zongyuan Wang teamed with new partner Jiuyuan Zheng to win with 467.31 points, edging Mexico’s Juan Celaya and Osmar Olvera (449.28). Britain’s Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding finished third (405.33); the U.S. pair of Grayson Campbell and Jack Ryan finished sixth (374.82).

In the women’s 10 m Synchro, Tokyo and Paris Olympic winner Yuxi Chen also teamed with a new partner, Minjie Zhang, and won easily, 349.26 to 304.80 over Mexico’s Gabriela Agundez and Alejandra Estudillo. North Korea’s Jim-mi Jo and Mi-hwa Kim took third, with Americans Bayleigh Cranford and Daryn Wright finishing sixth (274.41).

Chinese prodigy Zidi Yu, 12, finished a close fourth in the women’s 200 m Medley in Singapore on Monday and has better prospects in the 200 m Butterfly and 400 m Medley. She spoke with reporters about her experience so far after making the finals of the 200 m Medley on Sunday night:

“This is my first world championship, I didn’t expect it to be so competitive. However, I am just trying to enjoy competing here, and I didn’t even expect to make it to the final. I only learned about it from you now; I didn’t know my result and time.

“Yes, I feel like there is a lot of attention on me, it’s a bit of pressure, but I try to concentrate on my swims.”

● Archery ● American stars Brady Ellison and Casey Kaufhold were the Recurve men’s and women’s winners at the USA Archery Team Qualifier Rebel Gear Buckeye Classic in Dublin, Ohio.

Ellison disposed of third-seeded Nicholas D’Amour, 6-0 in the men’s final, winning his matches by 6-0, 6-2, 7-1, 6-0 and 6-0. Kaufhold battled with fellow Olympian Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez and eked out a 29-27 final end to win by 6-5.

The Compound titles went to Stephan Hansen (men) and Sachiko Keane (women).

● Cycling ● At the fourth Tour de France Femmes, Dutch star Lorena Wiebes won the fairly flat third stage, 163.5 km to Angers, leading race leader Marianne Vos (NED) on the finishing sprint, with the first 70 riders receiving the same time.

Overall, Vos still leads Kimberley Pienaar (MRI) by 0:06 and France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot by 0:12 with six stages left, with the final four all climbing routes.

● Fencing ● At the FIE World Championships in Tbilisi (GEO), the U.S. scored another gold with Olympic and World Champion Lee Kiefer leading the women’s Team Foil squad of Emily Jing, Jaelyn Liu and Lauren Scruggs to a rout of France, 45-24, in the final. It’s only the second time the U.S. has won this event at the Worlds, and Kiefer was also on that team, in 2018!

Kiefer, still just 31, now owns nine Worlds medals in her career (3-2-4).

Italy won the men’s Team Sabre, 45-37 over Hungary, its first win in the event since 2015 and its seventh all-time.

● Football ● Record attendance for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, with a sell-out of 34,203 at the final in Basel and a total spectator count of 657,291. That’s an average of 21,203 per match and a total gain of 82,416 over the 2022 total of 574,875 in England.

Of the 31 matches, 29 were labeled as sell-outs, across eight host cities.

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LANE ONE: Remembering the Games that changed everything: Los Angeles 1984 started 41 years ago today

By
Rich Perelman
-
The magnificently-decorated peristyle end of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Opening Ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games (Photo: Wikipedia)

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≡ LA84: 41 YEARS ON ≡

A third Olympic Games is being organized in Los Angeles, to take place in 2028. Without the success of the 1932 Games, organized with a surplus in the depths of the Great Depression, and the 1984 Games, which re-wrote the script on how major events are assembled, there would be no LA28.

So on the 41st anniversary of the opening of the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad, it’s worth looking back for a moment on the Games that changed everything.

That things would be different came from the bid. Los Angeles was the only bidder for the 1984 Games – no, Tehran did NOT bid, only inquired – and the process was a lot simpler than it is now. There was a glossy brochure touting the advantages of Los Angeles and a thick, comb-bound book of responses to questionnaires from the 21 International Federations with sports at the Games.

The introduction, written by Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games chair John Argue, started with five words never seen before in an Olympic bid:

“Arrangements are to be spartan.”

That was a direct response to the C$1 billion deficit from the 1976 Montreal Games, which had scared off everyone else except Los Angeles. And the arduous bid process finally concluded only when a recalcitrant International Olympic Committee agreed that no government entity would agree to be the financial backstop for the Games; the Games would be privately financed.

The rest is history and 41 years ago today, 92,655 people jammed into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to see the four-hour ceremonial opening that captivated a worldwide audience of 2.3 billion. The entry of “rocketman” Bill Suitor, the 84 grand pianos and more was dazzling, but the most stunning moment of the opening came at 5:32 p.m.

One of the impressive features of the Moscow 1980 Olympic opening was the card-stunt section, meticulously rehearsed using thousands of military personnel to portray the Olympic Rings, the Misha mascot and messages of welcome. In Los Angeles, card stunts had been a regular part of college football games – especially UCLA games – for decades and a former UCLA Rally Committee chair, Mark Flaisher, created a program involving everyone in the Coliseum except the press and broadcast sections – 85,000 people – who on cue turned the vinyl cards into the flags of 140 attending nations:

I was in the Coliseum and you could hear the gasps of 92,000-plus people as they understood what they were seeing. The stunt lasted just two minutes, but it stamped the ceremony as one for the ages.

The Los Angeles Games were the third in a row to be boycotted by a group of nations, after Montreal in 1976 and Moscow in 1980. But it also created and extended iconic Olympic figures like Carl Lewis, Joan Benoit Samuelson in the first-ever Olympic women’s marathon, Edwin Moses, Mary Lou Retton, Rowdy Gaines, the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams, and many more.

How did it happen?

As the editor of the Official Report of the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad, I had the privilege of reviewing the entire history of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LAOOC). To me, five individuals stand out as the catalysts for the success of the Games:

● John Argue, head of the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, which served as the private bid committee. Argue, more than anyone else, was the driving force behind the award of the Games to Los Angeles.

● Tom Bradley, Mayor of Los Angeles, who saw the opportunity the Games could offer to the area and skillfully and steadily maneuvered through the political minefields of both the IOC and the Los Angeles City Council, to obtain the Games with no City backing whatsoever. He then managed the City bureaucracy to help make the Games work, in close coordination with the LAOOC.

● Peter Ueberroth, hired to be the President of the LAOOC in March 1979. A 42-year-old travel industry entrepreneur who had built the second-largest agency in the country, Ueberroth led the organizing committee with bravado, insight and a drive to find people equally as committed as he to make the Games work. He was brilliant and rightly celebrated for his and the LAOOC’s achievements. 

● Harry Usher, the Executive Vice President and General Manager, who knew Ueberroth from his law practice and took over the day-to-day details of the organizing committee in 1980. It is not an exaggeration to say that the 1984 Games would not have happened without Usher. He was amazing, both in his ability to gather, process and use information, and to get people to work together … whether they wanted to or not.

● David Wolper, the famed television producer and eventually the producer of those memorable opening and closing ceremonies of the Games. But his hidden role was even more important, especially in the early days, helping Ueberroth with the U.S. television negotiations. It was Wolper who developed the concept of looking not at what had been paid for prior Games, but how much revenue a U.S. broadcaster could create from broadcasting the Games; that led to the historic, $225 million deal (plus host broadcaster production responsibility) with ABC in September 1979 that set the LAOOC’s financial foundation.

Only Ueberroth is still with us today; four of the five are pictured below from a party following the 28 July opening: from left to right, Ueberroth, Wolper, Argue and Usher:

What they and thousands of others achieved was remarkable:

● The Los Angeles Games changed the way television rights are sold, signing a then-staggering $225 million cash rights deal (plus $100 million in host broadcast services) with ABC in 1979, and sports marketing with a program of exclusive categories and limited availability (35 Official Sponsors, 64 Official Suppliers).

● The original budget projections were for $368 million in revenues, $347 million in expenses and a $21 million surplus. But revenues skyrocketed to more than $769 million (209%) and a surplus of $232.5 million was realized, with 60% going to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the National Governing Bodies and 40% to what is now the LA84 Foundation.

● Of the 27 competition venues, only three were built: the McDonald’s Olympic Swim Stadium at the University of Southern California; the 7-11 Eleven Velodrome at Cal State Dominguez Hills and the Olympic Shooting Range in Chino. Everything else was existing or temporary; the USC swimming facility and Chino shooting range are still in operation; the velodrome was removed to create the Dignity Health Sports Park, which includes a new, indoor velodrome.

● Games staffing was founded on the use of volunteers, a concept already part of the Los Angeles culture, but completely new elsewhere. The 1984 Games were staged with a workforce of more than 81,000, with 45,450 from the LAOOC, of which ~33,500 were volunteers. Another 36,000 contract workers were also used, primarily from suppliers and vendors.

● New concepts were introduced in multiple sectors: a 10-week Olympic Arts Festival instead of a Games-period-only program; a four-year youth sports program replaced the Games-period Youth Camp; a national torch relay that raised funds for youth; today’s accreditation system that separates who-you-are from where-you-can-go … all of these were created by the LAOOC. New technologies such as electronic mail and accessed-from-anywhere voice mail were introduced at LA84.

The result was a record-breaking Games on many levels, not least of which was 140 nations in attendance, shattering the Munich 1972 mark of 122. And it proved that the Games need not be a financial loser if existing venues are emphasized, a concept at the center of the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Agenda 2020, adopted 30 years after the 1984 Los Angeles Games, in 2014.

The legacy of the 1984 Games continues with the LA84 Foundation, opened as the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles in 1985 with $93 million of the LAOOC surplus. In the succeeding decades, it has impacted four million young people, invested more than $230 million in youth sports and is tirelessly lobbying for more private and public support for “play equity” for youth.

The 40th anniversary of the 1984 Games was celebrated in considerable style at the LA84 Foundation last year, with Games stars like Lewis, Greg Louganis, Cheryl Miller, Moses, Bart Conner and more on hand.

But even a year later, the 1984 Games is worth remembering, 41 years on.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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SWIMMING: Walsh storms to women’s 100 Fly title in no. 2 time ever; McIntosh wins second gold at World Aquatics Champs

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Champion Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. (Photo: USA Swimming).

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Day two of the swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore brought world-record holder Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. to the blocks for her first final, and she did not disappoint.

Recovering from the food poisoning issues at the U.S. training camp in Thailand, she dominated the women’s 100 m Butterfly final, leading by more than a half-second at the turn and storming home in 54.73, the no. 2 performance in history, second only to her world mark of 54.60 from May of this year. It’s her first individual Worlds gold.

Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk was a clear second at 55.84, moving her to no. 8 all-time. Alex Perkins (AUS) took the bronze in 56.33.

Canadian star Summer McIntosh was back for her second final – and second gold – in the women’s 200 m Medley, leading from the start over Alex Walsh of the U.S. (Gretchen’s older sister). McIntosh led throughout and touched in 2:06.89, the equal-10th performance in history.

Walsh, the 2022 World Champion, won her third Worlds medal in this event in second in 2:08.58, and Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey took the bronze in 2:09.15, with 12-year-old Zidi Yu (CHN) a very close fourth in 2:09:21.

Oh yes, there were two men’s finals on Monday:

● Men/100 m Breaststroke: China’s Haiyang Qin, the 2023 World Champion, got out second to Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) at the turn, but had plenty left to surge ahead and win, 58.23 to 58.58. Qin’s time is the fastest of 2025, 1/100th better than his semifinal winner; it’s his second Worlds gold in this event.

Denis Petrashov (KGZ) got a national record of 58.88 for third, his first Worlds medal. American Josh Matheny finished seventh in 59.26.

● Men/50 m Butterfly: France’s Maxime Grousset, the 2023 World Champion in the 100 Fly, flew to a national record of 22.48 to touch first over 2024 Worlds short-course winner Noe Ponti (SUI: 22.51). Those are the two fastest times in the world for 2025 and Grousset and Ponti are nos. 4-5 all-time in the event.

Italy’s Thomas Ceccon, the 2023 World Champion in this event, got the bronze at 22.67.

In the morning qualifying heats, U.S. star Katie Ledecky easily led the women’s 1,500 m heats in 15:36.68, more than 10 seconds faster than anyone else, and the no. 17 performance in history (she has the top 24).

In the evening semi-finals, American Luke Hobson led all qualifiers for the men’s 200 m Freestyle, clocking 1:44.80, ahead of Korea’s Sun-woo Hwang (1:44.84). World leader (and Olympic champ) David Popovici (HUN) qualified fourth in 1:45.02, winning semi two. American Gabriel Jett also qualified, in eighth at 1:45.60.

Hungary’s Hubert Kos, the Paris 2024 200 m Backstroke winner, led the qualifying in the men’s 100 m Back in 52.21, his best of the year.

American star Kate Douglass posted the no. 2 time of the year in leading the women’s 100 m Breast semifinals in 1:05.49, a lifetime best. She’s now no. 21 all-time and no. 9 all-time U.S. Italy’s Anita Bottazzo qualified second in 1:05.61; world-record holder Lilly King of the U.S. was ninth in 1:06.26 and did not make the final.

Fellow American Regan Smith, the Olympic silver medalist, led the women’s 100 m Back semi-finals at 58.21, ahead of Olympic champ Kaylee McKeown (AUS: 58.44) and Canada’s Kylie Masse (58.66). Katharine Berkoff of the U.S. was the no. 4 qualifier at 58.79, winning semi one.

Tuesday’s finals include the men’s 200 Free and 100 Back and the women’s 1,500 m Free, 100 Back and 100 Breast. The meet continues through Sunday.

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U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC MUSEUM: As five-year anniversary approaches, facility is rebuilding attendance to 2021 levels and beyond

By
Rich Perelman
-
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs (Photo: Diller, Scofidio + Renfro).

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≡ DIFFICULT FIRST FIVE ≡

“We have this amazing asset, and we know we’re telling amazing stories for Team USA.

“We know too many people in our region and beyond don’t know we’re here. To do right by this community – to do right by Olympic City, USA – we’re making sure we’re shouting it from the rooftops.”

That’s Marisa Wigglesworth, the chief executive for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, which opened on 30 July 2020 and will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Wednesday. The Museum’s situation was reviewed in detail by the hometown Colorado Springs Gazette on Sunday, noting that attendance has been a continuing challenge.

The 60,000 sq. ft. facility, with its distinctive aluminum skin, broke ground on June 2017 and opened three years later, with projections of as many as 350,000 attendees per year. Unfortunately, its completion also coincided with the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.

The USOPM provided the key statistics for the facility, which is completely  separate and independent of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, also headquartered in Colorado Springs:

Attendance:
● 2021: 106,767
● 2022: 77,205
● 2023: 69,929
● 2024: 83,582
● 2025: 42,901 through 13 July

Revenues:
● 2021: $14,923,458
● 2022: $10,754,077
● 2023: $7,292,709
● 2024: $6,430,781
● 2025: $3,176,865 through 13 June

The building cost rose from an initial estimate of $65 million to about $91 million, and was financed with a state grant of $26.2 million, but mostly with private funds and a Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority bond issue.

A 2023 review noted that the Museum operated at a loss in 2020 and 2021, but turned a surplus in 2022; the Gazette story noted:

“In 2023, the museum operated at a loss of about $1.3 million. Its expenses in 2024 totaled about $6 million, not including nearly $3 million in depreciation. Expenses for 2025 are about $2.9 million, as of June 30.”

The Museum has undergone some management turbulence as Chris Liedel, named as its first chief executive in 2018 and who oversaw the opening, was dismissed in early June 2021. Board member Phil Lane served as acting chief, then left for health reasons and Board member Pam Shockley-Zalabak was installed until Wigglesworth was hired in June 2023 from the Buffalo Museum of Science and the 264-acre Tifft Nature Preserve in New York State.

Now in the job for two years, Wigglesworth said the marketing effort is being stepped up and adjustments for the future are being made:

“Five years in, we’re learning a lot. What is clear to us is that 350,000 visitors a year was not an accurate projection for this museum, in this community, in this tourism destination. We are in the process of re-establishing what is going to be our attendance model.”

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PANORAMA: Johnson says investor exit root of Grand Slam Track issues; USA Weightlifting asks trans “open” category; Pogacar wins 4th Tour de France!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic and World Champion Foil star Lee Kiefer of the U.S. (Photo: FIE).

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

● Athletics ● Grand Slam Track founder Michael Johnson confirmed to Front Office Sports that an investor pull-out was the reason for the cancellation of its fourth meet this year and the circuit’s funding problems:

“That was a huge blow to us, caused a major, major cash flow issue for us, put us in a difficult position, put our athletes in a difficult position. But we’re very confident that we’ll pull ourselves out of it.”

“We’ve had a very difficult situation this year financially. We had an investor that wasn’t able to honor their complete commitment to the league.”

“We’ve been working very hard over the last couple of months to make sure that we can get everyone taken care of and making sure that we can actually get to next season. It’s what I wake up in the middle of the night working on and thinking about and what I wake up [to] every morning.”

Grand Slam Track owes prize money for most or all of its three meets and owes nearly $93,000 to the City of Miramar, Florida for venue rental and ticket sales fees for the second meet on 2-4 May.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The agreement by the National Hockey League to have players participate in the Winter Games next year also means that NHL officials will be working the Games, along with officials from the International Ice Hockey Federation.

This is nothing new, as officials from both organizations have worked together in each Games in which the NHL has been involved, from Nagano 1998 through Sochi 2014. The IIHF noted last week:

“Any time, however, that two different crews come together, there is a period of adjustment, and that’s why the ‘blending’ will start next month, half a year away from the first game of the Olympics. All on-ice officials will gather in Buffalo, New York, to meet, train, and work together in preparation for Milano Cortina.”

Danny Kurmann (SUI), the IIHF’s director of officials, explained:

“The Olympic Games are officiated according to the IIHF rulebook, which closely aligns with the NHL’s rulebook. But our goal is to ensure consistent philosophy and interpretation across both leagues, so there will be discussions and training focused on these points. Team building is also a big part of our mini-camp in August – getting to know each other, building trust, and preparing together as a unified group. It’s all important to the end goal, which is to produce seamless officiating next February.”

● Transgender ● USA Weightlifting posted a statement after the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee changed its Athlete Safety Policy to follow Presidential Executive Order 14201, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The statement included:

“Failure to follow this mandate risks USAW’s position as the national governing body for the sport of weightlifting in the United States.

“Our current Athlete Gender Inclusion, Competitive Equity, and Eligibility Policy (effective Jan. 1, 2025) does not comply with the USOPC’s mandate because we provide a pathway for transgender women to compete in the female category. In response to that mandate, USA Weightlifting must update our policy to prohibit transgender women from competing in the female category. We are engaging with our community, including transgender athletes, to determine how we can best keep and protect a meaningful place in our sport for our transgender athletes while also meeting this new standard.

“We’re targeting September 1 for our Board of Directors to consider and approve a new policy. … We are hopeful that the USOPC will allow for our new policy to include alternative competition solutions (e.g., an open category) for our transgender athletes, but those details are still under discussion and negotiation.”

In New Zealand, the government told Sport NZ, the recreation and sports authority in the country, to remove its 2022 guidelines on inclusion from its Web site. Per Sport NZ chief executive Raelene Castle:

“[T]he government has informed Sport NZ that it should not be involved in publishing guidelines related to gender in sport.

“Sporting organisations will continue to make their own decisions on the participation of transgender people in community sport and there are a range of expert organisations that can provide support.”

Sports Minister Mark Mitchell said, “The government does not want to be telling [federations] how to run their own sports; fundamentally we want to see rising participation in sport, but we want to make sure there is safety and fairness in all sports.”

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Aquatics ● Spain’s Iris Tio won her sixth medal of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in Artistic Swimming, teaming with Dennis Gonzalez to win the Mixed Duet Free final, scoring 323.8563 to edge Russian “neutrals” Aleksandr Maltsev and Olesia Platonova (323.4438).

In the Team Acrobatic final, China outscored Russia (“neutrals”) and Spain, 220.0186 to 224.7291 to 221.0962.

Diving began on Saturday with China taking the Mixed Team event, scoring 466.25 to 426.30 for Mexico and 409.65 for Japan. The U.S. team of Jack Ryan, Carson Tyler, Sophie Verzyl and Daryn Wright placed a close fourth, scoring 404.90.

Australia’s Maddison Keeney won her second Worlds gold in the women’s 1 m Springboard – previously way back in 2017 – at 308.00, well ahead of 2022 Worlds winner Yajie Li (CHN: 290.25) and Chiara Pellacani (ITA: 270.80). American Hailey Hernandez was fourth at 270.45, closing the gap on her final effort, but just missing the bronze.

China’s Jiiyuan Zheng won the men’s 1 m final, scoring 443.70 over Mexico’s Paris 3 m bronzer Osmar Olvera (429.60) and China’s Siyu Yan (405.50).

In the Mixed 10 m Synchro, China’s Yongxin Zhu and Peiling Zhe were 12th and last after the first of five dives, but were second-first-first on their next three and had the lead, winning a very tight 323.04 to 322.98 test against North Koreans Wi Hyon Choe and Jin Mi Jo. The U.S.’s Tyler Wills and Bayleigh Cranford finished fifth at 296.13.

● Badminton ● As expected, China dominated the BWF World Tour China Open in Changzhou, winning four of the five events, and all four were all-China finals!

Third-seed Yu Qi Shi, the 2018 Worlds runner-up, won the men’s Singles over Zheng Xing Wang, 14-21, 21-14, 21-15, and second-seed Zhi Yi Wang, a two-time Asian champ, won the women’s Singles final, 21-8, 21-13, over Yue Han.

Olympic runner-ups Sheng Shu Liu and Ning Tan won the women’s Doubles and Yan Zhe Feng and Dong Ping Huang took the Mixed Doubles. Indonesia won the men’s Doubles.

● Cycling ● The 112th Tour de France concluded on Sunday in the same way that four of the last six have: with Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar as the winner.

The last major challenge was Friday’s uphill-finishing stage to La Plagne, with Thymen Arensman (NED), the Stage 14 winner, taking off in the final climb with 14 km remaining on the shortened 93.1 km route. He was chased by the race’s top three – Pogacar, second-place Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) and Florian Lipowitz (GER), but Arensman got his second win in 2:46:06, with Vingegaard and Pogacar 2-3 (+0:02) and Lipowitz third (+0:06). That gave Pogacar a 4:24 lead on Vingegaard with two stages left, and the issue was decided.

Saturday’s hilly, 184.2 km stage to Pontarlier was won by Australian star Kaden Groves, who broke away on a 17 km attack and won in 4:06:09, up 54 seconds on Frank van den Broek (NED). Pogacar and Vingegaard were in a huge group 7:04 behind.

Sunday’s 132.3 km ride into Paris also had some hills and cobblestones, with Belgian star Wout van Aert taking his 10th career Tour de France stage, and first in 2025, in 3:07:30; he attacked with 6 1/2 km left and was all alone at the finish.

Davide Ballerini (ITA), Matej Mohoric (SLO) and Pogacar finished 2-3-4, all nine seconds back, with American Matteo Jorgenson in fifth. Pogacar ended at 76:00:32 for the entire race, winning by 4:24 over Vingegaard and 11:00 over Lipowitz; Sepp Kuss was the top American, in 17th (+1:20:24).

Pogacar now has four wins, tied with Chris Froome (GBR), and at just 26, he is now taking aim at the four five-time winners: Jacques Anquetil (FRA), Eddy Merckx (BEL), Bernard Hinault (FRA) and Miguel Indurain (ESP).

The fourth Tour de France Femmes started on Saturday, with Dutch star Marianne Vos taking the opening, 78.8 km stage to Plumelec, out-sprinting three others to win in 1:53:03. Sunday’s 110.4 km stage to Quimper saw Mavi Garcia (ESP) attack with 11 km to go and stay in front for the win in 2:44:29, three seconds ahead of the peloton, with Lorena Wiebes (NED) finishing second and Kimberley Pienaar (MRI) in third.

Lienaar and Vos share the overall lead, with the nine-stage race continuing through next Sunday.

● Fencing ● American Foil stars earned gold and silver at the FIE World Championships in Tbilisi (GEO), with two-time Olympic champion Lee Kiefer winning the women’s Foil on Friday, sailing past France’s Pauline Ranvier, 15-4, in the gold-medal match.

It’s Kiefer’s first individual Worlds gold, but her eighth Worlds medal (2-2-4); she had three prior individual bronzes in 2011-22-23. She said afterwards, “I’ve been chasing this for so long, and it’s eluded me. To be able to win this as well as the Olympics is awesome.”

The men’s Team Foil squad of Nick Itkin, Bryce Louie, Alexander Massialas and Gerek Meinhardt (Kiefer’s husband) dueled with Italy in the gold-medal final, coming up just short, 43-42, after making up a 10-point deficit. In the last six Worlds, the U.S. men’s Foil team has won four silvers (2017-18-22-25) and one gold (2019).

In the men’s Epee final, Olympic champ Koki Kano won a defensive battle with Hungary’s 2019 World Champion Gergely Siklosi, 10-9. Two-time Worlds medalist Sandra Bazadze (GEO) won his first individual gold in the men’s Sabre, defeating Jean-Philippe Patrice, 15-9 in the final.

The women’s Sabre was won by Russian “neutral” Yana Egorian, the 2016 Olympic champion, defeating surprise finalist Zuzanna Cieslar, 15-11.

France won the women’s Team Epee title with a 41-32 finals victory over the Russian “neutral” team. The U.S. team of Hadley Husisian, Leehi Machulsky, Cat Nixon and Tierna Oxenreider reached the quarterfinals, but lost to Russia.

● Football ● The UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final in Basel (SUI) featured World Champion Spain and defending champion England and while the English generated some quality chances early, Spanish forward Mariona Caldentey scored in the 25th on a header off a cross from the right side by defender Ona Batlle.

That turned out to be the only score in the half and Spain ended with 68% of possession and a 7-6 edge on shots.

England got right back into it early in the second half as a play to the left side had substitute forward Chloe Kelly sending a cross into the box, and headed perfectly by striker Alessia Russo into the goal for the 1-1 tie in the 57th minute.

Spain continued to attack and hold most of the possession, but the English defended strongly and counterattacked when they could. Neither could score and the second half ended 1-1, with Spain holding 63% possession and 17-8 on shot attempts (10-2 in the second half).

England was more dangerous in the first extra period, but Spain almost scored right at the end as a cross in front of the English goal went between the legs of Spanish striker Salma Paralluelo. There was less excitement in the second extra period, again with no score, but Spain with three shots to none for England. On to penalties.

England’s Beth Mead scored on her penalty opener, but was told to re-take it, and Spain’s Cata Coll made the save. But after scoring on their first try, Spain failed to score on three tries in a row, with Paralluelo sending her try wide of the goal. In the fifth round, Kelly scored and closed the door, 3-1, and England defended its title from 2022.

● Gymnastics ● Paris Olympic All-Around gold medalist Darya Varfolomeev won the all-Around at the FIG Rhythmic World Challenge Cup in Cluj-Napoca (ROU), scoring 122.050 to edge Ukraine’s Taisiia Onofriichuk’s 120.150. American Rin Keys was eighth (112.200) and teammate Megan Chu was 15th (108.800).

Varfolomeev won the Ball final at 29.700, with Keys seventh (25.200), but Onofroochuk took the Clubs title (30.55), and won on Ribbon (29.050) with Keys second (28.050). Israel’s Meital Sumkin won on Hoop (29.300).

● Judo ● The IJF World Tour Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam drew 236 judoka to Mongolia, with Japan dominating with six wins among the 14 classes: Hiroto Shirakane (men’s 60 kg), Yuhei Oino (81 kg), Riku Okada (90 kg) and women’s winners Mitsuki Kondo (48 kg), Kokoro Fujishiro (52 kg), Utana Terada (70 kg).

● Volleyball ● Italy entered the Volleyball Nations League women’s finals in Lodz (POL) with a 12-0 record in round-robin play, and did not let up a bit, getting to the final with 3-0 sweeps of the U.S. and Poland.

Brazil had been second-best this season, losing only to Italy in early June and finishing 11-1. In Lodz, the Brazilians brushed Germany aside (3-0) and then came from a set down to edge Japan, 3-2 with a 15-8 final-set win.

In the final, the Italians completed a perfect season with a 22-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-22 triumph to finish at 15-0. Poland won the third-place match over Japan, 3-1.

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WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES: U.S. team powers to historic performance at Rhine-Ruhr 2025, tops medal table at 84!

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 World University Games medals (Photo: Rhine-Ruhr 2025).

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≡ RHINE-RUHR 2025 ≡

The World University Games has been going on since 1959, with U.S. participation ebbing and flowing over the decades. At present, the American team is put together by a group called UniUSA, with the University Games open to athletes aged 18-25 who have been in school within a year of the event.

At the last University Games, in Chengdu (CHN) in 2021, the U.S. won 23 medals, including one gold. At the prior Games in 2019, in Naples (ITA), the American team did better, with 53 medals and 21 golds.

The 2025 World University Games concluded on Sunday in Germany, a de-centralized program with 18 sports across six cities in Germany, called “Rhine-Ruhr 2025.”

And the U.S. team, thanks to USA Swimming, topped the medal table for the first time this century with 84 total medals, including 28 golds, 27 silvers and 29 bronzes. Japan had the most golds, with 34, and 79 total medals and China had 74 total medals, with 30 golds.

This was a stunning outcome, as the U.S. had not been at the top of the medal table since 1999, when the WUG was in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. In fact, it was the seventh time – in 32 editions – that the American team won the most medals:

● 2025: 84 at Rhine-Ruhr (GER)
● 1999: 61 at Palma de Mallorca (ESP)
● 1997: 61 at Sicily (ITA)
● 1995: 60 at Fukuoka (JPN)
● 1993: 71 at Buffalo (USA)
● 1991: 79 at Sheffield (GBR)
● 1987: 69 at Zagreb (YUG)

The U.S. has won more golds at a single WUG than in 2025, with 32 at Tokyo (JPN) in 1967, 31 in Buffalo in 1993 and 29 at Sheffield in 1991.

For 2025, USA Swimming decided to handle the American team, integrating it into its team selection process; because the WUG is not supported by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee – it was at one time, but no longer – U.S. National Governing Bodies are not required to support the event or select the team.

But for 2025, USA Swimming did and the results were smashing: 50 total medals, including 27 golds (all but one of the U.S. wins), 12 silvers and 11 bronzes. Wow.

The rest of the U.S. performances added up to 34 medals in 12 disciplines:

● 9: Diving (0-4-5)
● 7: Taekwondo (1-1-7)
● 5: Athletics (0-4-1)
● 2: Basketball/5×5 (0-2-0)
● 2: Water Polo (0-2-0)
● 2: Basketball/3×3 (0-1-1)
● 2: Basketball/wheelchair (0-0-2)
● 1: Archery (0-1-0)
● 1: Badminton (0-0-1)
● 1: Gymnastics/artistic (0-0-1)
● 1: Rowing (0-0-1)
● 1: Volleyball/beach (0-0-1)

The one non-swimming gold was the Mixed Pair Poomsae event in Taekwondo, won by Eric Gun and Kaitlyn Reclusado.

For most of the U.S. team, it was up to each individual to pay for their trip. The USA Diving notice was typical:

“The World University Games events will be self-funded. It is projected that the cost for each participant will be approximately $5,600 per athlete and $4,800 per coach. All potential participants, including alternates, must provide all required paperwork and proof of funding- Financial Responsibility Agreement to USA Diving by May 18, 2025.”

But with the efforts of the athletes in swimming and the other 12 disciplines, the U.S. did something not seen in 26 years: win the most medals at a World University Games!

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FOOTBALL: FIFPRO chief rips FIFA “autocracy” and “spectacles”; FIFA slams back, says FIFPRO “does not really care” about players

By
Rich Perelman
-
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup ball (Photo: adidas).

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≡ FIFPRO vs. FIFA HEATS UP ≡

It’s nasty now. The player union FIFPRO, working with 72 players unions worldwide, and the worldwide governing body FIFA are now in an open fight, hurling insults in competing interviews and news releases.

● On Wednesday, FIFPRO head Sergio Marchi (ARG) told The Athletic in a striking interview:

“The biggest obstacle to FIFPro today is the autocracy of FIFA’s president. [Gianni] Infantino lives in his own world, the only thing that matters to him are these grand spectacles.”

Marchi has been campaigning for better defined player rest periods between club play, national team matches and exhibitions and most recently, the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. Multiple matches were played in hot conditions in outdoor stadiums, with Marchi complaining:

“It’s perverse to schedule matches at noon in that kind of heat. What are they waiting for? A tragedy? A collapse on the field?”

In a FIFPRO statement, Marchi added:

“We’re in the 21st century and thousands of players still go unpaid. Meanwhile, FIFA celebrates record ticket sales. Let them have their party, but the people who built the game should be paid too.

“Football is deeply inequitable. It’s unjust. And we’re in a profession that ends at 35, with a whole life still ahead.

“It was announced that tickets for the World Cup are now going on sale, millions will surely be sold, according to the [FIFA] president, who says it will generate over three billion dollars in revenue. And it’s incredible. Yet I’ll say it again: There are still footballers who haven’t been paid their salaries for two, three, even four years.

“Most of the time players are afraid speaking up could hurt their careers. But it’s up to us, their representatives, to speak for them.”

● On Friday, FIFPRO held a meeting with 58 player unions in Amsterdam (NED) and added a statement that included:

“FIFPRO expressed its deepening concern over the way FIFA is currently managing global football.

“At the same time, FIFPRO reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of men and women players – rights which are being seriously undermined by commercial policies imposed by its autocratic system of governance.

“The overloaded match calendar, the lack of adequate physical and mental recovery periods, extreme playing conditions, the absence of meaningful dialogue, and the ongoing disregard for players’ social rights have regrettably become pillars of FIFA’s business model; this is a model that puts the health of players at risk and sidelines those at the heart of the game.”

FIFA was hardly silent, responding with an exceedingly blunt statement, that included:

● “FIFA is extremely disappointed by the increasingly divisive and contradictory tone adopted by FIFPRO leadership as this approach clearly shows that rather than engaging in constructive dialogue, FIFPRO has chosen to pursue a path of public confrontation driven by artificial PR battles – which have nothing to do with protecting the welfare of professional players but rather aim to preserve their own personal positions and interests.”

● “On Saturday, 12 July 2025, following a protracted period of unsuccessful efforts to bring FIFPRO to the table in an environment of non-hostility and respectful, progressive dialogue, FIFA convened with multiple player unions in New York, United States, to announce and reaffirm concrete, progressive measures designed specifically to protect the physical and mental wellbeing of players worldwide.”

Among the announced changes are to be a minimum of 72 hours between matches and a minimum, 21-day rest period between seasons.

● “These concrete measures go beyond what FIFPRO has been pretending to be asking for, and FIFA is extremely surprised by their leadership’s reaction.

“Instead of welcoming these unprecedented announcements that benefit players all around the world, FIFPRO has responded with a series of personal and disrespectful attacks.

“This approach reveals a lot about FIFPRO priorities. It suggests that their leadership does not really care about the players, but rather about internal political fights and their image. FIFA’s proposed reforms are about impacting genuine change to support players and are far more important than preserving FIFPRO’s perceived image.”

At the end, the statement challenged FIFPRO:

“FIFA invites FIFPRO to return to the negotiating table, once they have stopped their blackmail and withdrawn their complaints, and once they have published their statutes, their full financial reports (including all their sources of income, the detailed intellectual property rights of the players they claim to own, and the funding one of their regional divisions receives from some football organisations), and the full list of individual members they claim to represent.”

Observed: Both sides are dug in and frustrated, with the conditions at the Club World Cup a flash point for multiple players, clubs and leagues which had issues with FIFA’s expansion of the tournament.

FIFPRO filed a claim against FIFA related to the expanded Club World Cup in June 2024, “asking the Brussels Court of Commerce to refer the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) with four questions for a preliminary ruling.”

That filing, based on the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, is still pending and there might not be any movement until that case moves forward or is stopped.

FIFA’s meeting with other player groups outside of FIFPRO and the criticism of the conditions of the Club World Cup in the U.S. are pressure points for the federation, which weathered the human-rights angst with the Qatar World Cup in 2022, but has since handed the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, reigniting the debate.

No calm seas in sight.

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SWIMMING: McIntosh brilliant in 3:56.26 400 Free win, Australia sweeps both 4×100 m Free relays in first day at Singapore Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

No doubt about the featured race on the first day of swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, and no doubt about Canada’s 18-year-old sensation Summer McIntosh, who stormed to a dominant win in the women’s 400 m Freestyle.

She had the lead from the start and by 100 m was 0.05 up on Australia’s Lani Pallister, with American star Katie Ledecky in third. At the half, McIntosh maintained the lead on Pallister and Ledecky, then Ledecky moved into second by the 250 mark, but could not close the gap.

McIntosh was up by 1.50 seconds at 350 m and cruised home in 3:56.26, the no. 5 performance in history. Meanwhile, China’s Bingjie Li, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalist in this event, stormed from fourth to second to touch in 3:58.21, an Asian Record and now no. 4 all-time in the event.

Ledecky followed in 3:58.49 and then Pallister in 3:58.87, the fastest race in history and only the second time that four women have broken four minutes in the same race.

This was not, of course, the only race of the day, and McIntosh wasn’t finished:

● Men/400 m Freestyle: World-record holder Lukas Martens (GER) trailed 2023 World Champion Sam Short (AUS) for most of the second half of the race, but had more speed in the final 50 m and touched first in 3:42.35 to Short’s 3:42.37. Korea’s Woo-min Kim won a battle with Victor Johansson (SWE) for third: 3:42.60 to 3:42.88.

● Women/4×100 m Freestyle: Australia and the U.S. were expected to duel here and they did, but with the Australians in front the whole way, starting with two-time 100 m Free World Champion Mollie O’Callaghan in 52.79, followed by Meg Harris (51.87), Milla Jansen (52.89) and Olivia Wunsch (53.05), finishing in 3:30.60. It’s the no. 8 performance ever.

The U.S. was a clear second, with Rio 2016 100 Free co-champ Simone Manuel (53.09), then Kate Douglass (51.90), Erin Gemmell (53.17) and Torri Huske (52.88) for a 3:31.04 total. That’s the third-fastest performance in American history, and no. 14 all-time.

The Netherlands was a distant third at 3:33.8.

● Men/4×100 m Freestyle: The U.S. was in front from the start, with Jack Alexy (47.24), Patrick Sammon (47.03) and Chris Guiliano (47.43), but no one had an answer for Rio 2026 100 m Free gold medalist Kyle Chalmers, now 27, who blasted a 46.53 split on anchor to bring Australia from third to first at the touch in 3:08.97, a national record and equal-third all-time.

With Jonny Kulow (47.94) swimming last for the U.S., Italy also rode a hot anchor in Manuel Frigo (47.34) to claim the silver in 3:09.58 (no. 10 performance ever) to 3:09.64 for the Americans (no. 11).

It’s the third straight Worlds in which the U.S. men have been third in this race, after winning three in a row from 2017-22.

There were also semifinals in four events:

● Men/100 m Breast: China’s Haiyang Qin, the 2023 World Champion, led the semifinalists at 58.24, fastest in the world in 2025, to win semi two, ahead of Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA: 58.62) and Ludovico Viberti (ITA: 58.89). American Josh Matheny was second in semi one in 59.15 and advanced as no. 5 overall.

● Men/50 m Butterfly: France’s Maxime Grousset, the 2023 World Champion in the 100 Fly, led the semifinals with a win in the second race at 22.61, just ahead of 2024 short-course champ Noe Ponti (SUI: 22.72, the semi one winner.

Americans Dare Rose (23.02) and Michael Andrew (23.23) finished 12th and 16th and did not qualify for the final.

● Women/100 m Butterfly: World-record holder Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. tied with Roos Vanotterdijk (NED) for the win in semi two at 56.07 and they co-led all qualifiers for the final. Australian Alex Perkins won semi one in 56.19.

● Women/200 m Medley: Only a half-hour after her win in the 400 Free, McIntosh was back in the pool for the Medley semis and won semi one in 2:07.39 – she’s already the world leader at 2:05.70 – and was easily the top qualifier.

American Alex Walsh, the 2022 World Champion and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, won semi two in 2:08.49. Teammate Phoebe Bacon was seventh in semi one (2:11.53) and did not advance to the final.

The swimming continues through the week; television coverage in the U.S. is only on the Peacock streaming service.

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PANORAMA: Liveris says Brisbane 2032 is on track; SafeSport opens CEO, CFO searches; Pogacar makes major move toward Tour de France title

By
Rich Perelman
-
Brisbane 2032 organizing committee chief Andrew Liveris (Photo: ABC News video screen shot).

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● “The venues got a lot of noise. The political body was disagreeing on a couple of very big ones and that didn’t help, but they got that out of the way and frankly, seven years to go, we have our plans, and I’m happy with where we are.

“Seven years is enough time, but we don’t have a lot of wiggle room.”

That’s Andrew Liveris (AUS), the President of the Brisbane 2032 organizing committee and former worldwide chief executive and Board Chair of Dow Chemical, telling Reuters that progress is being made according to plan:

“With 84% of our venues being existing or temporary, we’re mostly in good shape. But the 16% includes the stadium, includes the aquatic centre, it includes a few very important venues. That would be the biggest challenge we have.”

He also sees the Games helping Queensland as one of the growth areas of the country, explaining, “What Queensland is going through, southeast Queensland in particular, is growing pains.

“I think a lot of people want to see better infrastructure, want to see their lives getting better. And I think this is where the Olympics can enable that by accelerating that infrastructure.”

● U.S. Center for SafeSport ● The Center for SafeSport announced the departure of chief executive Ju’Riese Colon on 22 April and on Thursday (24 July):

“The Board of Directors of the U.S. Center for SafeSport announced today that it has begun the formal search for the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The non-profit tasked with safeguarding the nation’s athletes has retained global organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry to lead the search.”

The 22 April statement noted that “The board of directors has initiated the search for new leadership,” apparently now getting started in earnest. As for the positions:

“[T]he Board has established two search committees, one for the CEO and one for the CFO, comprising Board members and advisors with relevant expertise. Korn Ferry has completed stakeholder interviews and is currently conducting organizational assessments and confidential outreach to identify candidates who exemplify both executive acumen and a people first philosophy. This inclusive approach integrates staff feedback, recent strategic evaluations, and market analysis to shape the leadership profiles. Final candidates will be evaluated not only on qualifications but also on their ability to lead with courage, transparency, and care in a time when public trust is essential.”

Those interested are asked to apply on or before 12 September.

● Russia ● World Sailing is continuing its formalized “ban” on Russian and Belarusian boats, but with a significant modification that creates new opportunities:

“The World Sailing Board met on 23 July 2025 to review the decision and determined that there was no material change in the circumstances giving rise to the suspensions and that they would therefore remain in place until the next review which will be on or before the 23 October 2025. This includes the suspension of the participation of any boat owned or effectively controlled or managed by a Russian or Belarusian individual or entity.

“However, following today’s vote, Russian and Belarussian sailors, support personnel and race officials will be permitted to participate as neutrals in World Sailing owned and sanctioned competitions and events, in line with IOC guidance. Boats owned by individuals who are sailing as neutrals under the World Sailing Neutrality Policy are also permitted.

“The policy was supported with 29 votes for, five against, with two abstentions.”

Under World Sailing’s 2024 Neutrality Policy for the 2024 Olympic Games, World Sailing’s legal department carried out neutrality reviews of Russian or Belarusian sailors or officials who applied for eligibility.

● Aquatics ● The Spanish men’s water polo team won its fourth World Aquatics Championships gold with a 15-13 win over Hungary in the final of the 2025 Worlds in Singapore.

The sides were tied at 5-5 at the quarter, with Spain up 7-6 at the half. But the Hungarians, four-time champions and as recently as 2023, were up by 10-8 after three quarters. But six Spanish goals were too much in the final quarter and led to the 15-13 final. Bernat Sanahuja (who was red-carded with 3:50 left!) and Alvaro Granados each had five goals in the victory, and Felipe Perrone, playing in his 14th (and last) Worlds, scored Spain’s 15th goal with 18 seconds left.

Greece took the bronze with a 16-7 pounding of three-time defending Olympic champions Serbia; the U.S. finished eighth, losing 8-7 to Italy in the seventh-place final.

In Artistic Swimming, Spain’s Iris Tio and Lilou Lluis won the women’s Duet Free final, scoring 282.6087 points to 278.7137 for Italy’s Enrica Piccoli and Lucrezia Ruggiero.

It’s the second gold for Tio (also in the Solo Free) and fifth medal of the Championships, with three bronze medals.

Swimswam.com reported that all USA Swimming World Championships team members are now in Singapore, after as much as half of the team had food poisoning issues at its training camp in Phuket (THA).

Swimming will begin on Sunday, with U.S. broadcasts available only on the Peacock streaming channel.

● Cycling ● The 112th Tour de France was not settled for sure, but almost for sure, as Ben O’Connor (AUS) attacked with 16 km to go on the brutal, final climb on the Col de la Loze to the Courchevel ski resort on Thursday to win stage 18.

He finished the triple-climb, 171.5 km route in 5:03:47, for his second career stage win in the race, unaware of the drama playing out behind him. Tour leader and three-time winner Tadej Pogacar (SLO) was repeatedly challenged by two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard (DEN), trying to make up ground … but unable to.

In the final 500 m, Pogacar passed Vingegaard and increased his lead, finishing 1:45 behind O’Connor, in second place, with Vingegaard in third at +1:54. That means Pogacar now has a lead of 4:26 on Vingegaard with three stages left, and 11:01 on German Florian Lipowitz in third.

Friday is another climbing stage, but not as difficult and only 95 km from Albertville to La Plagne – another ski resort – with a major climb in the first half and then a 19.3 km uphill finish from 668 m to 2,062 km at the top. It’s Vingegaard’s last chance, essentially.

Saturday’s 20th stage is hilly and the ride into Paris on Sunday has some early hills and cobblestones, but is fairly calm. Pogacar will, barring a major incident, win his fourth Tour on Sunday.

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ATHLETICS: Six defending 2023 Worlds winners declared to run at USATF nationals in Eugene, plus 9 of 11 Paris Olympic event winners

By
Rich Perelman
-
Paris Olympic 200 m champion Gabby Thomas of the U.S. (Photo: Tim Healy for TrackTown USA)

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≡ USATF NATIONALS ≡

The USA Track & Field National Championships will finally take place beginning on 31 July and continuing on 1-2-3 August in Eugene, Oregon, with the fields finally starting to take shape.

It’s a historic meet on multiple levels, with the dates pushed back due to the 13-21 September dates for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN), and the correspondingly late World Athletics “national championships” windows of 2-3 August and 23-24 August:

● The August dates make 2025 the latest men’s nationals since 1930, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 22-25 August.

● Also, the latest women’s nationals since 1968, held from 14-18 August in Aurora, Colorado.

● For the first time, the U.S. Para Athletics Championships will be held in conjunction with the USATF Nationals, on 31 July and 1-2 August.

USATF has posted the entries for the meet and declarations to run are due by the end of the day – 11:59 p.m. Pacific time – on Thursday (24th), but most of the main competitors are in.

American stars won eight individual events at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN) and have an automatic entry into the 2025 Worlds; winners of seven of the eight have declared to compete in Eugene:

● Noah Lyles: men’s 100 and 200 m
● Grant Holloway: men’s 110 m hurdles

● Sha’Carri Richardson: women’s 100 m
● Katie Moon: women’s vault
● Chase Jackson: women’s shot
● Lagi Tausaga: women’s discus

Only men’s shot star Ryan Crouser is not entered; he has been nursing injuries since the spring; in fact, he hasn’t competed at all in 2025 and was last seen at the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels (BEL) last September.

The U.S. also had 11 individual Paris Olympic gold medalists in 2024 and nine of them are declared to compete in Eugene:

● Noah Lyles: men’s 100 m
● Cole Hocker: men’s 1,500 m (also 5,000 m)
● Grant Holloway: men’s 110 m hurdles
● Rai Benjamin: men’s 400 m hurdles

● Gabby Thomas: women’s 200 m (also 100 m)
● Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: women’s 400 m (no 400 m hurdles)
● Masai Russell: women’s 100 m hurdles
● Tara Davis-Woodhall: women’s long jump
● Valarie Allman: women’s discus

Not competing are Quincy Hall (men’s 400 m) and Crouser, both apparently dealing with injuries. Olympic champs get no extra consideration from World Athletics and have to try to make the U.S. team like everyone else.

There is one other wild-card door into the 2025 Worlds: that’s to win the 2025 Diamond League, which continues through the end of August, with four meets in 12 days in Poland (Chorzow), Switzerland (Lausanne), Belgium (Brussels) and back to Switzerland for the finals in Zurich.

The U.S. has been good on the circuit so far, with 10 athletes leading or tied in their events in the race to qualify for Zurich, where the winner will be the Diamond League winner. So far, the U.S. event qualifying leaders include Chris Bailey (men’s 400 m), Cordell Tinch (men’s 100 m hurdles), Benjamin (men’s 400 m hurdles), and Joe Kovacs (men’s shot), plus Anavia Battle (women’s 200 m), Addy Wiley (women’s 800 m), Grace Stark (women’s 100 m hurdles), Moon (women’s vault), Jackson (women’s shot) and Allman (women’s discus).

The USATF Nationals will be shown on NBC and its streaming network Peacock. More details as the meet gets closer.

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LANE ONE: Coventry’s IOC to-do list should include paying more athletes … but not for Olympic medals

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, home of the International Olympic Committee

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≡ ATHLETES, OLYMPICS & MONEY ≡

Contrary to what you might have heard, the International Olympic Committee pays athletes, in fact, quite a few.

In the 2021-24 quadrennial, the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity Program had 1,560 Olympic Scholarship holders for summer sports – including Paris 200 m gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana – from 95 countries, who received direct payments. Of these, 599 actually made it to the Paris Olympic Games; the IOC also supported 364 winter-sport athletes from 77 National Olympic Committees and 226 teams from 142 NOCs for a total of 2,150 recipients, at a total cost of $17.660 million in 2024 alone.

So, why shouldn’t the IOC pay all of the athletes who make it to the Games?

Good question, which many people have been asking for a long time.

Truth be told, it might be time now.

There have been cogent reasons for the IOC not to pay athletes, especially for winning medals.

Let’s remember that we are talking about the Olympic Games, which did not start with Pierre de Coubertin (FRA) in 1894, but in ancient Greece. In those days, the Greek city-states were the ones who sent their home champions to represent them at Olympia.

If they won, they were rewarded by their own people. So, it has been with the modern Olympic Games, in which National Olympic Committees – also created in 1894 – are the ones paying medal winners. A CNBC list concerning the 2024 Paris Games showed a gold-medal winner from Hong Kong would get the equivalent of $768,000 U.S., and a gold-medal-winner from Singapore would get $745,000, and so on. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, which had 40 gold-medal winning individuals and teams in 2024, paid $37,500, $25,000 and $12,500 for gold-silver-bronze winners.

That system, with echoes of the ancient Games, has been around for a long time. Former IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) has noted that he and his teammates on the winning men’s Team Foil squad from Montreal ‘76 received bonus payments from the German Olympic body.

More recently, one International Federation – World Athletics – entered the fray, paying $50,000 to the Paris gold medalists, with federation chief Sebastian Coe (GBR) promising that all medalists would receive prize money at the 2028 Olympic Games.

This was roundly criticized by other International Federations prior to Paris 2024, and by Bach, who said the role of the federations is to use the millions they receive from the IOC as a share of Olympic television revenues for sport development instead of paying medalists. And, many (most) of the IFs already pay prize money for their world championships.

Further, the IOC, as evidenced by the comments of the candidates from the Presidential election in March, sees the Olympic Games far differently: as a development vehicle. In his introduction to the IOC’s 2024 Annual Report, Bach observed of the successful Paris 2024 Games:

“The Games not only provided a platform for the next generation of Olympians – they also embodied the spirit of the Olympic Movement, encouraging more young people to embrace sport and the Olympic values. …

“Our commitment to solidarity and equality remains at the heart of everything we do. Through Olympic Solidarity, we continued to provide essential funding and support, ensuring every talented athlete has the opportunity to pursue their Olympic dream. In Paris, we saw 91 NOCs win medals, proving that the Olympic Movement is creating a fairer and more inclusive playing field. We are also happy and proud that not only did the IOC Refugee Olympic Team participate with a record 37 athletes in Paris, but that Cindy Ngamba made history by winning the team’s first-ever Olympic medal.

“This is only possible because of our unwavering commitment to reinvesting in sport. Over the past Olympiad, we distributed an average of USD 4.7 million every single day to support athletes and sports organisations. This solidarity-driven model ensures that the Olympic Games remain an event for the world, by the world.”

So much for big-money payouts from the IOC to Olympic medal winners.

But there is another approach, fully in line with the IOC’s development goals and its desire to create incentives for youth to get involved in sport.

Olympic honoraria.

Paying medal winners big prize money would, in many cases, simply pile on more rewards to those who already have them.

But why not pay a reward to all athletes who participate in the Olympic Games?

● This treats all athletes from all National Olympic Committees equally, and offers a demonstrable, tangible reward for qualifying and competing in the Olympic and Winter Games.

● The IOC can certainly afford it. Consider that a $10,000 honoraria paid to the 10,813 athletes at Paris 2024 and the 2,900 expected for Milan Cortina 2026 would cost a total of $137.13 million.

The IOC’s recent annual revenues, from its financial statements show that amount would not significantly impact any of the last four years:

● 2021: $3.107.4 billion
● 2022: $2,339.0 billion
● 2023: $1,122.5 billion
● 2024: $4,621.3 billion

The Sports Examiner review of the IOC’s revenues and expenses indicated that over the 2021-24 quadrennial, the IOC spent 74% of its revenues on the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement, with the other 26% going to administrative costs and reserves (which were $4.880 billion as of 31 December 2024).

● As for the future, the 2024 IOC Annual Report noted that revenues from 2021-24 reached $7.7 billion and “USD 7.5 billion has already been secured for 2025–2028, with a further USD 6.9 billion secured for 2029–2032 and USD 4.0 billion for 2033–2036.”

So, why not expand an Olympic honoraria to a four-year grant of $10,000 per year as long as the athlete continues competing and follows the anti-doping and other eligibility rules?

That would cost $548.52 million over four years, easily within the IOC’s financial capabilities.

Why not? It’s not the ancient Greek way, but we’re in the 21st Century now, and not de Coubertin’s 19th or 20th either.

The IOC is already paying athletes – more than 2,000 scholarship holders – and it’s time to make a gesture to Olympians as well, summer and winter. If the IOC wants to increase interest in the Youth Olympic Games, those too.

Bach’s IOC saw its revenues and reserves expand greatly. Under new chief Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), it’s time to spend some of that money – in equal measures – on those who have made it to the Olympic Games.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: U.S. swimmers win 50 medals (!) at Universiade; LA28 likes Rice for ceremonies; Spain to face England in Women’s Euro final

By
Rich Perelman
-
Five gold and six total medals at the 2025 World University Games: U.S. swim star Leah Shackley (Photo: North Carolina State Athletics).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizing committee named Peter Rice as the “Head of Ceremonies and Content for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

According to the announcement, the British-born Rice “began his career at 20th Century Fox in 1989, ascending through the company in various roles prior to his 2017 promotion to President of 21st Century Fox. Following Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Rice assumed the role of Chairman of Walt Disney Television and Chairman of General Entertainment for The Walt Disney Company.” He left Disney in 2022 and is an independent producer.

He will report directly to LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman.

● Commonwealth Games ● Commonwealth Sport President Dr. Donald Rukare (UGA) praised the progress of the Glasgow 2026 organizing committee with a year to go on Wednesday, explaining:

“In record time, they’ve hit key milestones that would traditionally take years. They’re not just planning a Games, they’re redefining how we imagine and deliver global sporting events, and doing it with energy, authenticity, and global significance.”

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be significantly compressed to just 10 sports, in a handful of venues, as a way to cut spending and pay for most of the event with the abandonment fee paid by the Australian state of Victoria, which walked away in July 2023.

Just as importantly, Rukare repeated the impact of the new, cost-conscious approach:

“In another sign of the Games’ renewed relevance and vitality, we were delighted to announce earlier this year that no fewer than seven countries expressed interest in hosting the 2030 edition, the centenary of the Commonwealth Games. That level of enthusiasm is unprecedented.”

● World University Games: Rhine-Ruhr 2025 ● The swimming competitions at the 2025 WUG concluded on Wednesday, with an overwhelming performance by the United States swimmers.

The squad, selected and administered by USA Swimming, won a sensational 50 medals in the pool (27-12-11), far ahead of Japan (15: 3-5-7) and Italy (13: 3-4-6). Three U.S. swimmers won six medals each: Leah Shackley (5-1-0), Isabel Ivey (5-0-1) and Maxine Parker (5-0-1); Matt King and Leah Hayes also won five golds each (5-0-0).

Overall, the U.S. has 72 medals (28-20-24) to lead all nations, with China at 44 (19-20-5) and South Korea at 38 (14-7-17). The WUG will conclude on Sunday.

● Russia ● The Russian news agency TASS reported a comment from the International Olympic Committee that confirmed the IOC’s position that eligibility for Russian and Belarusian teams is up to the relevant International Federation:

“Each international federation is the only body authorized to hold its international competitions outside the Olympic Games. Therefore, we kindly recommend that you contact the IHF.”

The International Handball Federation asked the IOC about allowing Russian and Belarusian teams back into competitions; the IOC’s February 2022 message after the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a recommendation – but not an order – that federations not allow Russian or Belarusian teams to compete. So, the next move is up to the IHF; the IOC is considering what to do about Russian and Belarusian entries for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, which it does control.

● Aquatics ● At the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Greece’s women’s water polo team scored its first Worlds gold since 2011 with a 12-9 victory over Hungary on Wednesday.

The Greeks had an 8-4 lead at half and held on for the win, thanks to three goals each from Foteini Tricha and Eleni Xenaki. Fourth at the 2024 Worlds and seventh at the Paris Olympic Games, it’s only the second medal for Greece in Worlds history!

Olympic champs Spain won the bronze medal from the U.S., 13-12, taking a 4-2 lead in the first period and matching the Americans essentially score for score the rest of the way. Emma Lineback had five scores for the U.S. and Anni Espar scored four times for Spain. The U.S. has now been fourth two times in a row, at Paris in 2024 and now in Singapore.

In Artistic Swimming, the Mixed Duet Technical went to Russian “neutrals” Aleksandr Maltsev and Mayya Gurbanberdieva, scoring 233.2100 to 230.4634 for Spain’s Dennis Gonzalez and Mirela Hernandez. This was Maltsev’s third win of the meet.

Swimswam.com reported that about 10 members of the USA Swimming team were too sick to travel from the training camp in Phuket (THA) to Singapore as planned on Tuesday, due to food poisoning.

The swimming portion of the Worlds begins on Sunday.

● Athletics ● British sprint star Zharnel Hughes, the 2023 Worlds men’s 100 m bronze winner, told the British Mirror that he is still waiting for about $130,000 in prize money from Grand Slam Track:

“I think the appearance fees have come through but in regards to the actual racing [prize money] it hasn’t come through yet. I’m just looking to see if we get paid by August or September, hopefully it’s in the accounts by then.

“I think people enjoyed it but obviously now the payments have been delayed and they fell short by not having the last one [meet], people may be more hesitant to try out next season. We have to see how it goes next season.”

Grand Slam Track indicated in early July that prize money for the opening meet in Jamaica would be made by the end of July and for the other two meets by the end of September.

More doping suspensions from the Athletics Integrity Unit, including two more Kenyans:

● Roncer Kipkorir Konga, a 58:08 half-marathoner from 2023, provisionally suspended for using testosterone;

● Morine Gesare Michira, a 68:13 half-marathoner from 2024, banned “for 2 years from 26 June 2025 for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Higenamine and Octodrine).”

Eritrea’s Berhane Tesfay, a 2:07:07 marathoner from 2023, was provisionally suspended for the use of Erythropoietin (EPO).

● Cycling ● The hilly 17th stage of the 112th Tour de France ended with a mostly flat final quarter, leading to the expected mass sprint, and ended with the second stage win of this Tour for Italian star Jonathan Milan.

He crossed in 3:25:30, just ahead of Jordi Meuss (GER) and Tobias Andresen (DEN) with the first 130 riders given the same time. So, the race continues with defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) as the race leader, in front of two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) by 4:15, with Florian Lipowitz (GER: +9:03) in third.

Thursday’s stage is a brutal, triple climb route of 171.5 km, with a steep uphill finish to the Courchevel ski resort, a major, late chance for Vingegaard to try and close the gap.

● Fencing ● The 2025 World Fencing Championships are underway in Tbilisi (GEO), with unheralded Ryan Choi of Hong Kong winning the men’s Foil title, 15-9, over Russian “neutral” Kirill Borodachev, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team silver winner. Prior to the Worlds, Choi had won one FIE Grand Prix event in his career, in May of this year.

In the women’s Epee, Ukraine’s Vlada Kharkova, the 2022 European Champion, won her first career Worlds medal, defeating Estonia’s Tokyo 2020 bronze winner Katrina Lehis in a tight, 15-14 final.

The U.S.’s Alexander Massialas, the Rio 2016 Olympic runner-up, reached the men’s Foil round of 16; fellow Americans Kasia Nixon, Hadley Husisian and Margherita Guzzi Vincenti did the same in the women’s Epee.

● Football ● At the UEFA women’s championship semifinal in Zurich (SUI), favored Spain locked up with Germany in a struggle which saw a 0-0 first half in which the Spanish had the better chances – and 75% of possession – but could not score.

Spain continued to control the second half, but neither team could score. Both had chances, with German forward Klara Buhl’s free kick in the 85th sailing barely wide of the Spanish goal, and Spanish keeper Cata Coll saved another shot from Buhl at 90+4, which rebounded for a Carlotta Wamser shot that Coll also saved! Spain’s sub striker Salma Paralluelo almost found the corner of the German net a 90+1, but keeper Ann-Katrin Berger saved it … barely.

Spain finished regulation time with 70% of possession and a 17-10 shots lead, but in a tie. In extra time, neither side could score in the first period, with Spain taking three shots and Germany one.

Finally in the 113th, Germany could not clear and substitute forward Athenea del Castillo sent a pass through to the right side of the box for star midfielder Aitana Bonmati. She instantly smashed a right-footed shot from a difficult angle – near the end line – that barely got past the near post and could not be stopped by Berger for the 1-0 lead.

That’s how it ended, with Spain enjoying 67% possession and a 22-15 shots edge, but most importantly, the only goal of the game.

So, World Champion Spain advances to its first-ever UEFA Women’s Euro final, to face defending champion England on Sunday. It will be the fourth final for England (1-2); Spain had previously won only one medal in this tournament, a bronze in 1997.

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ANTI-DOPING: World Anti-Doping Agency violations reports show rise from 2021 to 2022, with India and Russia the most-penalized

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ VIOLATION REPORTS ≡

The World Anti-Doping Agency finally published its long-overdue “Anti-Doping Rule Violation Report” for 2021 and 2022 on Tuesday (22nd), detailing the number and type of doping samples which came back positive in some way.

As usual, the numbers were not huge, but still enough to be troubling. By posting two years at once, it’s possible to compare year-to-year; please remember that 2021 was still heavily influenced by Covid-19, but that competitions did resume. WADA has summary totals for all sports it has testing, but let’s look at just the Olympic sport results:

2021:
● 181,132 Summer Olympic sport samples
● 971 adverse findings (0.53%)
● 683 anti-doping violations (0.38%)
● 152 OK due to Therapeutic Use Exemptions
● 109 not pursued due to jurisdictional or other issues
● 22 pending cases
● 5 no sanction

2022:
● 192,393 Summer Olympic sport samples
● 1,173 adverse findings (0.61%)
● 849 anti-doping violations (0.44%)
● 198 OK due to Therapeutic Use Exemptions
● 55 not pursued due to jurisdictional or other issues
● 66 pending cases
● 5 no sanction

In terms of the sports with the highest number of doping issues, the usual suspects turned up again, but the doping incidence went up in 2022:

2021 anti-doping violations:
● 147: athletics (31,225 tests: 0.47%)
● 106: cycling (20,560 tests: 0.52%)
● 88: weightlifting (10,603 tests: 0.83%)
● 45: football (31,586 tests: 0.14%)
● 44: rugby (6,619 tests: 0.66%)

2022 anti-doping violations:
● 201: athletics (33,905 tests: 0.59%)
● 122: weightlifting (12,874 tests: 0.95%)
● 82: cycling (22,418 tests: 0.37%)
● 63: wrestling (6,845 tests: 0.92%)
● 61: football (33,499 tests: 0.18%)

The Winter Olympic sports had much few tests, of course, and many fewer violations, including on a percentage basis. The violations went down in 2022:

2021:
● 13,766 Winter Olympic sport samples
● 41 adverse findings (0.30%)
● 32 anti-doping violations
● 5 OK due to Therapeutic Use Exemptions
● 2 not pursued due to jurisdictional or other issues
● 2 pending cases
● 0 no sanction

2022:
● 17,183 Winter Olympic sport samples
● 47 adverse findings (0.27%)
● 25 anti-doping violations
● 12 OK due to Therapeutic Use Exemptions
● 8 not pursued due to jurisdictional or other issues
● 2 pending cases
● 0 no sanction

In terms of positive tests, in 2021 there were 12 in ice hockey, 11 in figure skating, one in speed skating and four each in biathlon and all of skiing. For 2022, the 25 violations include nine in ice hockey, seven in skiing, four each in bobsleigh/skeleton and all skating, and one in biathlon.

Russia was again at the top of the list of doping positives for 2021, but not 2022; these totals are for all sports tested by WADA and its associated agencies, not just Olympic and Winter Olympic-program sports:

2021 anti-doping violations:
● 1. 96: Russia
● 2. 62: Italy
● 3. 52: Brazil
● 4. 47: India
● 4. 47: Ukraine

The U.S. ranked ninth at 30; China was 15th with 21; Canada ranked 33rd (10).

2022 anti-doping violations:
● 1. 124: India (48 in athletics!)
● 2. 87: Russia
● 3. 71: Italy
● 4. 54: Kenya
● 5. 49: South Africa

The U.S. had 42 violations, ranking eighth; China was 17th at 22 and Canada was 23rd with 16.

There was also a section on non-analytical – investigative or whereabouts/sample refusal – findings, with 262 violations cases in 2021, topped by athletics (57), cycling (34) and weightlifting (32). Of the 262, 87 dealt with Russian athletes.

In 2022, the number of non-analytical cases went down to 245, headed by athletics (48), then cycling (38) and weightlifting (25), with bodybuilding – a non-Olympic sport – at 36. Russia had 77 of these, with 20 in athletics and 18 in weightlifting.

Observed: WADA explained the long delay in publishing these reports this way:

“As a matter of course, ADRV Reports are published later as processing ADRV cases is complex and labor-intensive, requiring extensive dialogue with the relevant results management authorities and other stakeholders. The 2023 Report will be published by the end of 2025.”

These 2021 and 2022 reports are way too late and the 2023 report should be released as soon as possible, in order to offer more trend analyses. Doping went up in 2022, that’s clear and India’s 124 violations are alarming.

In 2022, the statistics show just 0.61% of the samples showed a violation from the more than 192,000 samples collected that year. Not a lot. But translate that to the 1,053 top-three placings in the 351 events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and you have 6.4 placements impacted by doping.

Still too many. Let’s see what the 2023 and 2024 numbers say, as soon as possible.

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PANORAMA: Italian inquiry into Milan Village building corruption; Val d’Isere in for French Alps 2030; England does it again at Euro ‘25!

By
Rich Perelman
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The Milan Cortina 2026 slogan: "IT's your vibe!" (Photo: Milan Cortina 2026)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The Federal government has not allocated any money for transportation programs for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, but others are helping.

The Centre Area Transportation Authority in State College, Pennsylvania announced it is donating 10 of its retired, natural gas-fueled buses, to the L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Authority for use in 2028. The buses have been maintained and were going to go to auction, but are on the way west.

L.A. Metro has estimated it will need about 2,000 extra buses for 2028 and had received about 650 donated vehicles by the end of May 2025.

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● A wide-ranging inquiry into building contracts in Milan over the last 20 years has targeted as many as 70 officials, with questions about possible bribes in order to obtain project approvals and permits.

The Olympic Village project in Milan, slated for student housing after the Winter Games, is one of the programs being investigated. Among those being questioned is Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who has said his “hands are clean”; prosecutors were reported to want to arrest six individuals (not including Sala).

● Olympic Winter Games 2030: French Alps ● The storied alpine resort of Val d’Isere is back on the venue list for the 2030 Winter Games, and Meribel, which co-hosted the 2023 World Alpine Championships, is out.

The decision was confirmed at an organizing committee meeting on Monday (21st), with Val d’Isere expected to contribute €25-30 million to the budget (€1 = $1.18 U.S.).

Still to be determined is whether to have the speed skating events in Heerenveen (NED) or Turin (ITA), with an inspection and cost review coming to help make the final choice.

● Aquatics ● At the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, the men’s water polo semifinals saw Spain, the 2022 World Champions, edge Greece, 11-9, to advance to the gold-medal final. Hungary, the 2023 Worlds winners, upset three-time defending Olympic champion Serbia, 19-18, holding on to a 16-12 edge at the end of three quarters.

The medal matches will be on Thursday.

In Artistic Swimming, Spain’s Iris Tio won her first individual Worlds gold, 245.1913 to 241.0025 in the women’s Solo Free, over China’s Solo Technical winner Huiyan Xu (CHN).

China won the Team Technical gold to go with its Team Free victory, 307.8001 to 300.6183 over Russia (as “neutrals”). Spain – with Tio – was third at 294.8575; the U.S. was sixth at 273.6650.

Diving starts Saturday and swimming starts on Sunday.

● Cycling ● The miserable, 171.5 km, uphill-finishing 16th stage of the 112th Tour de France saw a final sprint of two riders, with France’s Valentin Paret-Peintre winning at the line over Ireland’s Ben Healy, with both at 4:03:19.

Not too far behind were the race leaders, with Slovenia’s three-time winner Tadej Pogacar finishing a couple of seconds ahead of rival, two-time champ Jonas Vingegaard (DEN), +0:43 to +0:45, in fifth and sixth. So, Pogacar now leads the race by 4:15, with Florian Lipowitz (GER) third at +9:03. Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel, the stage 2 winner, did not start and abandoned the race, citing pneumonia.

There are two more climbing stages, on Thursday and Friday, before a hilly 20th stage and Sunday’s flat ride into Paris.

The Union Cycliste Internationale issued a pained statement concerning an appearance by former Belgian cyclist and team official Johan Bruyneel:

“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) noted the presence of Mr Johan Bruyneel in the Tour de France start village on 17 July 2025 in connection with his participation in Vive le vélo, a programme broadcast by the Flemish-language Belgian public television channel VRT1.

“On 25 October 2018, Mr Bruyneel was sanctioned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) with a life ban for anti-doping rules violations when he worked with the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team and the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team.

“In accordance with Article 10.14 of the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, Mr Bruyneel is banned for life from taking part in any activity related to cycling. While he is free to attend a cycling event registered on the UCI International Calendar – such as the Tour de France – as a regular spectator, he is strictly prohibited from participating in the event in any role or capacity, or from accessing areas that are closed to the public. This includes, in particular, areas of the Tour de France that require accreditation.

“As a person serving a lifetime ban, Mr Bruyneel was therefore not authorised to be present in the Tour de France start village or team area.”

The UCI has asked the Tour de France organizers to ensure this does not happen again.

● Football ● Defending champion England once again found late, late, late magic to advance to the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship final with a 2-1 extra-time win over Italy in Geneva (SUI) on Tuesday.

The Italians had the lead from the 33rd minute on a Barbara Bonansea score and it looked like that might hold up, despite a consistent English attack that simply could not score. But at 90+6, substitute defender Michelle Agyemang smashed home a loose ball in the box for the 1-1 tie, sending the game into extra time.

In the 119th minute, England sub midfielder Chloe Kelly looked to take the lead on a penalty against sub forward Beth Mead, but her shot was saved by Italian keeper Laura Giulani. But the rebound came back and Kelly scored for the 2-1 lead that held up for the final minute and stoppage, completing England’s second straight miracle comeback.

Germany, the 2022 runner-up, and favored Spain meet on Wednesday in the second semi, in Zurich. The final is Sunday in Basel.

● Swimming ● Swimswam.com reported that as much as half of the U.S. swimming team for the World Aquatics Championships has suffered from food poisoning at its training camp in Phuket (THA), but that everyone was expected to make the trip to Singapore successfully on Tuesday.

Swimming begins at the Worlds on Sunday.

● Triathlon ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport published the 37-page decision of the appeal by Uruguay Triathlon Federation President Liber Garcia against World Triathlon and Australian Triathlon President Michelle Cooper, with Garcia asking for a reversal of a 12-month suspension by the federation over a Code of Ethics violation for corruption.

The facts are that Cooper alleged “collusion, intimidation, threats and manipulations” by Garcia, a World Triathlon Executive Board member, on behalf of a group which included three of the seven candidates for World Triathlon President, of which she was also a candidate. In an exchange of WhatsApp messages on 19 September 2024, Garcia inquired if Cooper would join the candidate “group” and drop out of the Presidential race.

The election took place on 21 October 2024, with Antonio Arimany (ESP) elected; Cooper had filed a complaint on 26 September to the federation’s disciplinary tribunal, which held on 20 October not to have a “material influence” on the next-day election. In March 2025, the tribunal held that Garcia breached the Ethics Code and was banned for a year, to be reduced to six months if he completed a good-governance course.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s three-member panel upheld the finding of ethics violations by Garcia, but found no evidence of a direct bribe and limited only to the one exchange of messages, and only required a “warning” be issued to Garcia. Cooper won, but with essentially no sanction imposed on Garcia. Cooper was defeated in her candidatures for President, Vice President and Executive Board seats.

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U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE: USOPC commits to following Pres. Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” order

By
Rich Perelman
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≡ USOPC PARTICIPATION RULES ≡

On Monday (21st), a notation was added to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Web page on “Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement,” in the section on “Transgender Athlete Participation in Sport.”

The page noted at the top:

“As of July 21, 2025, please refer to the USOPC athlete safety policy.”

The 27-page Athlete Safety Policy included a new section 3.3:

“3.3 Additional Requirements

“The USOPC is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport. The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., [International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, National Governing Bodies] to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act, 36 U.S.C § 22501, et. seq.”

That’s a direct reference to President Donald Trump’s 5 February Executive Order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which included:

“[I]t is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy. It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.”

The Order refers directly to a 20 January Executive Order, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” which states:

“It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality. … ‘Sex’ shall refer to an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female. ‘Sex’ is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of ‘gender identity.’”

Translation: transgender women are not allowed to compete in the women’s category.

The “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” order also included directives concerning organizations like the USOPC:

● “The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall, within 60 days of the date of this order:

“(i) convene representatives of major athletic organizations and governing bodies, and female athletes harmed by such policies, to promote policies that are fair and safe, in the best interests of female athletes, and consistent with the requirements of Title IX, as applicable.”

● “The Secretary of State shall use all appropriate and available measures to see that the International Olympic Committee amends the standards governing Olympic sporting events to promote fairness, safety, and the best interests of female athletes by ensuring that eligibility for participation in women’s sporting events is determined according to sex and not gender identity or testosterone reduction.”

The IOC, under new President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), working on a wide-ranging consultation to “protect the female category.”

The USOPC has now taken a position that it will comply with applicable Executive Orders, and in time to comply in advance of nearly all of the qualifying events for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and Winter Paralympic Games in Milan Cortina. No transgender women on the U.S. Olympic or Paralympic teams.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Administration officials had conferred with the USOPC on the matter and that a USOPC statement explained that “as a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations.”

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2036: Qatar – as expected – announces its entry into dialogue for the Games of the XXXVI Olympiad

By
Rich Perelman
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≡ DOHA 2036 BID ≡

“We currently have 95% of the required sports infrastructure in place to host the Games, and we have a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100% readiness of all facilities. This plan is rooted in a long-term vision aimed at building a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable legacy.

“Our objective goes beyond simply organizing a successful event, we aim to deliver a global experience that reinforces the values of inclusivity, sustainability, and international collaboration.”

That’s Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani in the introduction of a 16-page summary of the Doha 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid, formally announced on Tuesday.

This was hardly a surprise, following the continuing efforts to bring major events to Qatar in the past, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but also:

● 2014 World Aquatics Short-Course Championships
● 2016 UCI World Road Championships
● 2018 FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
● 2019 World Athletics Championships
● 2024 World Aquatics Championships

Further, Qatar has – more importantly – hosted the 2006 Asian Games, with 9,520 athletes from 45 countries, competing in 424 events in 39 sports, and will host the Asian Games again in 2030. This commitment is key to the venue readiness program, claiming 95% of needed sites now and 100% as part of the national master plan, including an Olympic and Paralympic Village, scheduled to be completed in 2028 as part of the preparation for the 2030 Asian Games.

Doha, which previously bid for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, joins a long list of suitors for the 2036 Games and beyond; GamesBids.com noted:

“Other confirmed 2036 bids include Ahmedabad in India, Nusantara in Indonesia, North Jeolla in South Korea and Santiago in Chile. Interest has also been expressed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany, Istanbul in Türkiye, Budapest in Hungary and Spain.”

The Olympic bid process is in flux, with new International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) trying to balance multiple issues:

● The hosts for 2028 (Los Angeles) and 2032 (Brisbane) were awarded the Games 11 years ahead of time and Coventry wants to evaluate whether this was too far ahead of time. The Olympic Charter calls for host-city elections seven years ahead, so in 2029 for 2036.

● A 2036 Olympic Games in Qatar would be impossible in the current July-August time frame, preferred by American and European broadcasters (NBC has purchased rights for the U.S. through 2036). Major events in Qatar have been held much later:

● 2006 Asian Games: 1-15 December
● 2019 World Athletics Championships: 27 September-6 October
● 2022 FIFA World Cup: 20 November-18 December
● 2030 Asian Games: 4-19 November proposed

The IOC has talked about possibly moving Olympic dates later in the calendar to avoid hot conditions in the Northern Hemisphere, but would have to look to late October and beyond for a 2036 Games in Qatar or Saudi Arabia. Does this pose a commercial threat to the Games?

● The current protocol keeps discussions between possible hosts and the IOC quiet, within the Future Host Commissions for the Olympic and Winter Games. This shuts out the vast majority of the IOC membership, who are only asked to confirm the selection made by the Commissions and then approved by the IOC Executive Board. More member involvement in selections was a key campaign point during the IOC Presidential elections, and Coventry is looking for a way to at least keep members better informed.

● A return to member voting on host-city candidates raises the recurrence of corruption issues. These wrecked the IOC in 1999, when information on corruption related to the 2002 Winter Games host selection of Salt Lake City became public, with multiple reforms. But corruption allegations surfaced again as soon as 2009, when the vote for the 2016 Olympic Games was held. How will Coventry ensure this problem does not return?

And there were the continuing, high-decibel protests from human rights organizations during Qatar’s run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which did not subside until the tournament was over. These have been re-ignited by the selection of Saudi Arabia to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034, and will accompany a Qatar or Saudi selection for a 2036 Olympic Games.

But Qatar is in the game for 2036, officially. But until the IOC’s own internal processes are ironed out, not much movement can be expected, at least publicly.

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