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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● NCAA ● As expected, on the day after the NCAA Division I Cabinet approved the five-year eligibility plan, lawsuits were filed in Ohio state court by 15 basketball players asking for a fifth year of eligibility, not allowed under the new rule.
More suits are expected in other states. The rule itself is not being challenged in the suit, but the application.
● Athletics ● World Athletics said that Last Rep Coffee, founded by British stars Jake Wightman and Zak Seddon, are the “official coffee suppliers” for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September. Per the announcement:
“Last Rep will source their coffee beans for the Ultimate through KTRL, a Hungarian coffee roastery, simultaneously supporting a local company while optimising logistics.”
● Ice Hockey ● The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) circulated its confirmed list of candidates for office at the 2 October 2026 IIHF Congress in Spain. There are eight Presidential hopefuls to replace Luc Tardif (FRA), four of whom are current IIHF Council members (*):
Henrik Bach Nielsen* (DEN), Petr Briza* (CZE), Sergey Goncharov (BLR), Frank Gonzalez (ESP), Zakaria Knechuashvili (GEO), Aivaz Omorkanov* (KGZ), Matjaz Rakovec (SLO) and Franz Reindl* (GER).
The only American candidate is Mike Trimboli, a candidate to be a Regional Vice President.
● Swimming ● Complaints about open-water World Cup water quality at last week’s races in Setubal (POR) – a regular World Cup host – with Italian Ginerva Tadeucci, a six-time Worlds medal winner, writing on Instagram: “A whole night vomiting, lying on the floor!”
Teammate Gregorio Paltrinieri, the 10-time Worlds open-water medalist, added on his page: “The quality of the water is a problem, the temperature of the water is a problem, and nothing really ever changes.” He added: “More than 10 athletes sick, some in the hospital.”
World Aquatics officials require specific tests for bacteria at all World Cup stops and have temperature standards for whether races can be held.
● Volleyball ● The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) is running an Instagram contest in advance of the 7 July “World Volleyball Day” by giving away “a seven-day trip to an FIVB event, with the choice between: the 2026 Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals in Macau, China, the 2026 Men’s Volleyball Nations League Finals in Ningbo, China, or another 2026 FIVB Volleyball or Beach Volleyball event of their choice.”
There are multiple entry conditions, including sharing a post and using #WorldVolleyballDay, following three FIVB handles and some more requirements. The drawing of the winner will be made at random on 8 July 2026 at noon Central European Time.
● Wrestling ● USA Wrestling named Olympic and World Champion Helen Maroulis as its 2025 women’s Wrestler of the Year. She won the UWW World Championship at 57 kg and became the third American woman to win at least four Worlds golds.
She won previously in 2016 after taking the Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro (BRA).
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