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LANE ONE: LA28 suffers the ultimate irony as its “no-build” Games now subject to L.A. City’s risky, $2.62 billion Convention Center expansion

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Los Angeles Convention Center, with the South Hall at right and the West Hall at left (Photo: Los Angeles Convention Center).

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≡ L.A.’s RISKY BUILD ≡

As soon as the euphoria of the 2017 award of the 2028 Olympic Games to Los Angeles had worn off, the Los Angeles City Council has continuously wrung its hands with worry over potential operating losses by the wholly private Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As part of the bid guarantees to the International Olympic Committee, the City promised to cover the first $270 million in losses, with the State of California responsible for the next $270 million and Los Angeles in the hook for the rest.

No matter that the 1932 Tenth Olympiad Committee – in the depths of the Great Depression – returned a stunning $196,267 surplus. Or that the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Games had revolutionized sports marketing and revived the Olympic Movement with minimal building and produced a $232.5 million surplus.

For 2028, the organizers have created a new revenue stream with the International Olympic Committee approving a pilot program – which will become permanent – of venue naming rights, which for 2028 will mostly be confined to temporary sites for the Games.

Moreover, the 2024/2028 bid was founded on the concept of no new venue construction. Venues would be either fully existing, or temporary sites would be created and then returned to their former state after the Games.

LA28 has kept that promise. But the City of Los Angeles didn’t.

In an astonishing bet on itself, coming a few months after an emergency effort to close a $1 billion budget gap for fiscal 2025-26, the City Council approved on Friday – by 11-2 – to undertake a frantic expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center at a currently-projected cost of $2.62 billion.

This came as the discussion over expanding the Convention Center – opened in 1971 and first expanded in 1993 – had been going on for 10 years or more. Now, because the 2028 Olympic Games was staring the Council in the face, the decision had to be taken last week.

As Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso explained in the 16 September Finance & Budget Committee meeting:

● “The real concern that we have is really about Olympic readiness. When we embarked upon this, the whole purpose was to do this for the Olympics. And ironically – ironically – where we’re at, we could actually compromise the delivery of the Olympics, by moving forward on a project that could possibly be delayed for any number of reasons.”

● “I will remind you that there are at least 10 events that will be taking place there, as well as six other events that will be using adjacent facilities there. That facility, that whole sports park, will be utilized every day by LA28. Every day. They are expecting over a million ticketed people who will be attending everts there.

“And any risk that compromises the delivery of that, it gives me great concern. And we could be on the hook for additional liability and the fact that we worked so hard to maintain venues here in the City makes me think really hard about that. And so that is of great concern.”

So the City Council, which has continuously regaled LA28 with its concerns of the finances of the Games, has now folded itself like a taco, taking a $2.62 billion or more gamble that the Convention Center expansion will get substantially done by 31 March 2028, with the project to be finished after the Games, in 2029.

LA28’s exclusive use date for the Convention Center is 1 June 2028, so there are a couple of months after the stop date, but the organizing committee will need non-exclusive use to the site for cabling, deliveries of materials, site visits and so on.

So where LA28 has continuously modified its venue plan to save costs and increase revenue, most recently the move of diving from the LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium in Exposition Park to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena, the City Council has done the opposite and rolled the dice on a major facility for the Games in downtown Los Angeles.

The LA28 organizers plans to use the Convention Center for fencing, judo, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling for the Olympic Games and boccia, para judo, para table tennis, para taekwondo, and wheelchair fencing for the Paralympic Games. Plus, part of the Convention Center will be used for gymnastics warm-up facilities, with the competition at the adjacent Crypto.com Arena.

If the project is not ready for LA28 use by the agreed date, the City will be liable for the cost to the organizing committee to relocate the sports and any shortfall in revenue from using a smaller site.

Rest assured, LA28 has already started planning for this, because the Games will not be delayed from its 14 July 2028 opening. But any future City warnings about LA28’s finances can no longer be taken seriously. The City Council is now all about risk and not about security.

Questions will quietly also be asked now at City Hall and at the LA28 headquarters about other City services during the Games. As Tso told the Budget & Finance Committee:

“We have real fiscal problems right now. We really do. We just completed a budget process that was very brutal, and if you’re happy with the level of service that we have today, then this is the project for you. If you want to devote pretty much all of your economic activity in the next few years, this is your project.

“But if you’re happy with the level service, that’s what you’re going to get with this project, because you will be very, very limited in terms of being able to add any additional firefighters in the next decade, any additional police officers, improving your Rec & Parks services, paving another street. That is all going to be at risk.”

Maybe LA28 should consider moving the sports in the Convention Center now and just keep the warm-up area for the arena events, in the close-by West Hall. But what will the Council say about moving more events out of the City of Los Angeles? Sacrilege! Or will they agree to stave off a potential $100 million or more in liability?

The financial foundation of the ultimately successful 1984 Games was minimizing construction. The 2028 organizers want to build no permanent sites. Now, it is the City of Los Angeles which is rolling the dice.

It’s not all gloom at the LA28 offices in downtown L.A., a few blocks from the Convention Center.

The local beach communities news site The Argonaut reported last week:

“Facing sexual abuse settlements, growing costs and declining revenues, Santa Monica has declared a state of financial distress.

“The city council unanimously approved the declaration of financial distress last week, establishing a ‘tool’ strengthening its arguments when applying for grant funding or other types of external support. Through this motion, the city is not moving to declare fiscal emergency, which would affect city services.”

Santa Monica rejected LA28’s interest in establishing the beach volleyball venue in the city, which would have brought significant positive publicity to the beachside community, and the organizing committee walked away in March 2024. Beach volleyball will be held in Long Beach, the “second city” of the 2028 Games.

No one – no one – at LA28 is celebrating the tough fiscal situation in which Santa Monica finds itself. But there was probably at least one smirk.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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PANORAMA: Fabulous 619,178 attend Tokyo Worlds; Sawe smooth for Berlin Marathon win in 2:02:16; Evenepoel wins third cycling Time Trial gold

By
Rich Perelman
-
The “Hocker shocker” at the Tokyo Worlds in the men’s 5,000 m final (Photo: Mattia Ozbot for World Athletics).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2030: French Alps ● The International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission for 2030 was named, with the head of the Paris 2024 CoComm, Belgian IOC member Pierre-Olivier Beckers selected as Chair.

Seven other members were named (a Paralympic rep is still to be identified), including federation presidents Johan Eliasch (GBR/International Skating and Snowboard), Ivo Ferriani (ITA/International Bobsleigh & Skeleton) and Jae-Youl Kim (KOR/International Skating Union).

● Athletics ● The World Athletics wrap-up e-mail on the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo started with “WCH Tokyo 25 will be remembered forever – full stadiums every day, athletes delivering unforgettable performances, a world record, and plenty of championship records.”

“Full stadiums” has been a major emphasis for the federation and it got what it wanted in Tokyo:

● 13 Sep.: 32,739 a.m. // 56,819 p.m.
● 14 Sep.: 30,080 a.m. // 57,528 p.m.
● 15 Sep.: 33,144 a.m. // 53,124 p.m.
● 16 Sep.: 37,462 p.m. only
● 17 Sep.: 35,975 p.m. only
● 18 Sep.: 57,327 p.m. only
● 19 Sep.: 58,643 p.m. only
● 20 Sep.: 25,818 a.m. // 58,221 p.m.
● 21 Sep.: 23,575 a.m. // 58,723 p.m.

The totals were 619,178 all together, second only to London 2017, and an average of 44,227 for all 14 sessions and 52,647 for the nine evening sessions. Perhaps the biggest – positive – stunner of the meet was the 23,575 – smallest of the meet – who came on Sunday morning to see three events in the decathlon! They got two relay re-runs as a bonus, but 23,575 for decathlon?

That’s a wow.

Olympic super-statistician Dr. Bill Mallon shared on X the most-ever gold medals won by a single country at the Worlds:

● 2025: United States 16
● 2005: United States 14
● 2007: United States 14
● 2019: United States 14
● 1993: United States 13

● 2022: United States 13
● 1995: United States 12
● 2011: United States 12
● 2023: United States 12
● 1999: United States 10
● 2009: United States 10
● 2017: United States 10

The U.S. team won less total medals – 26 – then in Paris in 2024 (34, with 14 golds), Budapest in 2023 (29) or Eugene in 2022 (33) and is the lowest overall production since 2013 (26), but the gold-medal efforts and four golds and a silver (by 0.07) in the five relays were impressive results.

A doping appeal by Spanish star distance star Mohamed Katir, the men’s 2022 1,500 m bronzer and 2023 5,000 m silver man, was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Katir will continue to serve his four-year ban for “whereabouts” failures and tampering (forging evidence):

“[T]he CAS Panel found that the Athlete had committed an ADRV for intentionally tampering with documents in relation to the doping control process. The Panel also found that there were no aggravated circumstances to justify an increase to the period of ineligibility of four years. Both appeals were dismissed and the decision of the WA Disciplinary Tribunal on 11 December 2024 is confirmed.”

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● USA Bobsled & Skeleton named its IBSF Bobsled World Cup team, featuring Olympic and/or World Championship women’s gold medalist drivers Kaillie Humphries, Elana Meyers Taylor and Kaysha Love and men’s pilots Kris Horn, Frank Del Duca and Geoff Gadbois.

The Skeleton World Cup team will be named in November.

● Football ● FIFA announced that more than 4.5 million applications for the 2026 World Cup ticket-sales lottery have been received from “216 countries,” with the top 10 countries being hosts U.S., Mexico, Canada and then Germany, England, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Spain and Italy.

Applicants “will be notified of their application status on a rolling basis starting Monday, 29 September, with time slots beginning on Wednesday, 1 October.”

● Table Tennis ● The 2025 Annual General Meeting of the International Table Tennis Federation, suspended on 27 May due to the near-riot following the Presidential election, is required to be completed by the end of November.

The ITTF announced that the meeting will be resumed online on 15 November, with “an independent third party company will be used to ensure absolute impartiality in the handling of the continuation of the meeting and its remaining items.” Elections of ITTF Executive Vice Presidents, ratification of Council members and appointments of committees are on the remaining agenda.

Ironically, the appeal of the Presidential election result to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is based on disallowing online voting!

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Archery ● Korea’s Olympic champ Woo-jin Kim set a world record for the 72-arrow ranking round on 15 September during the national championships at 709 (out of 720: 355/354). That broke the mark of 702 by American Brady Ellison from 2019.

Unfortunately, Kim’s record did not assure a tournament win as he was defeated in the quarterfinals of the elimination round.

● Athletics ● The 51st annual Berlin Marathon was on Sunday, with Kenyan star Sabastian Sawe taking off – with pacesetters – at world-record pace. But with temperatures up to the mid-70s, it was too much to try, but Sawe had only two others with him at 5 km, Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha at 10 km and was clear of Mengesha by 11 seconds at 15 km and ran away.

Sawe passed the half in 1:00:16 and won by almost four minutes in a world-leading 2:02:16 – the equal-9th performance all-time – bettering his 2:02:27 win in London in April. Akira Akasaki (JPN) was a distant second in 2:06:15 and Chimdessa Debele (ETH: 2:06:57) was third. Mengesha did not finish.

For Sawe, 30, the 2023 World Half Marathon champ, it was his third win in three career marathons: 2:02:25 in Valencia (ESP) last December, then London and now Berlin.

The women’s race was a lot closer, with Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru leading a pack of four at the halfway mark in 1:09:07. But Wanjiru broke free after 25 km and had a 24-second lead at 30 km and 53 seconds over Dera Dida (ETH) at the 35 km mark.

But from there, Wanjiru slowed and Dida – second in Dubai in January and second in Paris in April – moved up, as did Azmera Gebru (ETH). The lead was down to 36 seconds by 40 km over Gebru, with Dida close and then Dida moved into second and set sail at the leader.

At the end, it was Wanjiru winning by just 2:21:05 to 2:21:08, with Gebru third in 2:21:29.

After running 16:49 from 30-35 km, Wanjiru slowed to 17:37 to 40 km and 7:58 for the final 2.2 km. Dida sped up to 17:22 from 35-40 and then 7:23 for the final segment to close the gap. But Wanjiru won her second marathon in six starts and moved up from second at Berlin in 2018, to the top.

After the continual protests of the Vuelta a Espana cycling tour, a heavy police presence ensured no interference with the race on Sunday.

● Badminton ● At the BWF World Tour China Masters in Shenzhen (CHN), home favorites China and South Korea both won two titles.

In the men’s Singles, Hong Yang Weng (CHN) won an 21-11, 21-15 victory over Chun-Yi Lin (TPE), while top-seed Olympic champ Se Young An (KOR) took the women’s Singles with a 21-11, 21-3 rout of third-seed Yue Han (CHN).

Korea won the men’s Doubles against India, China took the women’s Doubles over the Koreans and Thailand won the Mixed Doubles over Malaysia.

● Beach Volleyball ● The Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 in Joao Pessoa (BRA) had an all-American women’s final, with ninth-seeded Molly Shaw and Kelly Cheng (USA) defeating no. 8 Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft (USA), 21-17, 21-17.

It’s the first medals for Shaw and Cheng this season and their first FIVB tournament win as partners (both have won events with others). For Cannon and Kraft, it’s their second silver of the season.

In the all-Brazilian bronze match, Olympic champs Ana Patricia Ramos and Duda Lisboa swept Carol Salgado and Rebecca Cavalcante, 21-16, 21-13.

In the men’s final, Evandro Oliveira and Arthur Lanci (BRA) won a two-set marathon over 21st-seeded Remi Bassereau and Calvin Aye (FRA), 21-15, 27-25. 

The all-Dutch bronze-medal match had Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot defeating Steven van de Velde and Alexander Brouwer, 21-16, 21-13.

The Elite 16 tour remains in Brazil with a tournament next week in Rio de Janeiro.

● Cycling ● The UCI World Road Championships is in Africa for the first time, in Kigali (RWA), with the men’s and women’s Time Trials on Sunday.

Swiss Marlen Reusser was second in 2020, second in 2021 and third in 2022, losing to Dutch star Anna van der Breggen in 2020 by just 15 seconds. When Reusser lined up as the 38th of 44 riders in the 31.2 km women’s time trial, there was van der Breggen with the fastest time at 44:01.23.

But Reusser led at every checkpoint and routed the field, finishing in 43:09.34, with van der Breggen a distant second. Demi Vollering (NED), second in 2024, was third as the final rider, in 44:14.07. Chloe Dygert of the U.S., the 2019 and 2023 champion, finished ninth (45:34.77); Ruth Edwards was 19th (47:31.17).

The men’s race had two-time champion Remco Evenepoel (BEL) trying for three in a row, but expected to be tested by Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar. The 40.6 km route had a couple of modest hills and Pogacar and Evenepoel were the last two starters.

Coming into the final 10, Belgian Ilan van Wilder had the lead at 52:11.10 and he was not surpassed until Australia’s Jay Vine – having a career year – finished in 51:00.83 to take over, with four riders left.

The standings were the same when Pogacar started, , but he was never better than third at each checkpoint and faded a little to third overall when he finished in 52:23.76. That brought up Evenepoel, who left no doubt of his superiority, leading at each checkpoint and winning in a dazzling 49:46.03, a stunning 1:14.80 up on Vine and pushing Pogacar to fourth.

Evenpoel has won medals in this race in the last five Worlds (3-0-2) and in six of the last seven (3-1-2). He is the first to win three straight since Tony Martin (GER: 2011-12-13); Michael Rogers (AUS: 2003-04-05) also took three straight wins.

The championships will continue with U-23 and junior racing, and will conclude next weekend with the women’s road race on Saturday and the men on Sunday.

The annual UCI Mountain Bike World Series stop in Lenzerheide (SUI) was another showcase for two-time men’s World Champion Alan Hatherly (RSA), who rode away with another spectacular win in 1:20:23, 32 seconds ahead of Britain’s Charlie Aldridge, the 2024 Worlds Short Track silver medalist (1:20:55). France’s Adrien Boichis was a clear third in 1:21:02.

Swiss Alessandra Keller, second at the last two World Cup stops, finally got a win, in 1:24:10, a full 16 seconds up on Rio 2016 Olympic champ Jenny Rissveds (SWE) and 25 seconds ahead of American Savilla Blunck (1:24:35), who got her second medal of the World Cup season.

France’s Paris Olympic runner-up Victor Koretzky (21:28) and Boichis (21:29) went 1-2 in the men’s Short Track race, well ahead of Simon Andreassen (DEN: 21:33) in third. The women’s race was a victory for Rissveds (SWE) over 2021 World Champion Evie Richards (GBR), 20:07 to 20:09. Swiss Ronja Blochlinger was third in 20:28 and Blunck finished seventh in 20:33.

In the men’s Downhill, France’s 2019 Worlds bronze medalist Amaury Pierron won a tight battle with Henri Kiefer (GER), 2:44.699 to 2:45.106, with Lachlan Stevens-McNab (NZL: 2:45.513) third. Luca Shaw of the U.S. was ninth. Britain’s four-time Worlds medalist Tahnee Seagrave won the women’s race – barely over Nina Hoffmann (GER), 3:11.579 to 3:11.640. World Champion Valentina Hoell (AUT) was a close third at 3:12.394. Anna Newkirk was the top American, in 10th.

The series will move to North America: Lake Placid, New York on 3-5 October and Mont Sainte-Anne (CAN) for the finale on 10-12 October.

The final two rounds of the UCI BMX World Cup were in Santiago del Estero (ARG), with France’s World Champion Arthur Pilard taking the fifth round race in 29.898, just ahead of Gonzalo Molina (ARG: 30.322) and Cameron Wood of the U.S. in 30.522.

Sunday’s final race of the season saw Pilard double up, winning in 30.430, leading a French 1-2 with Eddy Clerte (30.655). Argentina’s Molina was third (30.968).

Pilard won the seasonal race with 2,358 points, ahead of teammate Sylvain Andre (FRA: 2,130) and Wood was third (1,723).

Paris Olympic champ Saya Sakakibara (AUS) won a battle in the women’s race, timing 32.852 to 32.901 for Swiss two-time Worlds silver winner Zoe Claessens, with seven-time Worlds medalist Laura Smulders (NED) third in 33.612 and American Daleny Vaughn fourth (33.668).

Sunday’s women’s final was another win for Sakakibara in 32.356, with Smulders second in 33.436 and Britain’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ Bethany Shriever third in 33.791. Sakakibara won the seasonal series with 2,562 points, beating Smulders (2,026) and Molly Simpson (CAN: 1,881). Vaughn was the top American, in seventh (1,156).

● Figure Skating ● Russian entries qualified for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games with wins at the ISU Skate-to-Milano Olympic Qualifying Event in the men’s and women’s Singles.

Five men were able to qualify, but none could touch Russian “neutral” Petr Gumennik, who won the Short Program and the Free Skate, finishing with 262.82 points. That was way ahead of Korea’s Hyung-yeom Kim (228.60) and Mexico’s Donovan Carrillo (222.36).

There was a political dust-up following the Short Program, as an International Skating Union Instagram post about his victory was reportedly accompanied by music from a Ukrainian band. It was taken down.

The women’s title went to Russian “neutral” Adeliia Petrosian, who won the Short Program and the Free Skate, scoring 209.63 points, just ahead of Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO: 206.23) and Belgium’s two-time Worlds medalist Leona Hendrickx (204.96).

Fourth-place Belarusian “neutral” was fourth and also qualified for Milan Cortina, at 181.91, as the top five advanced.

In Pairs, the three available slots went to Jiaxuan Zhang and Yihang Huang (CHN: 191.52), Karina Akopova and Nikita Rakhmanin (ARM: 186.84) and Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi (JPN: 178.66). Americans Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy finished sixth at 158.66.

Four qualification spots were available for Ice Dance, won by Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU: 198,73), followed by Holly Harris and Jason Chan (AUS: 183.50).

● Gymnastics ● At the FIG Trampoline World Cup in Cottbus (GER), home favorite Matthias Schuldt (GER) took the men’s individual title at 60.61, just ahead of Maksim Didenko (RUS “neutral”) at 60.19 and Magsud Mahsudov (AZE: 60.09).

Russian “neutral” Sofiia Aliaeva won the women’s competition at 58.08, with teammate Anzhela Bladtceva second (57.99) and Britain’s Bryony Page third (57.06).

● Luge ● At Friday’s USA Luge Start Championships in Lake Placid, New York, Tucker West won the men’s title with a combined time of 10.13, and Emily Fischnaller (nee Sweeney) took the women’s win in 11.65.

The Doubles winners were Zach DiGregorio and Sean Hollander for the men (10.89) and Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby for the women (11.17).

● Volleyball ● The FIVB men’s World Championship continued in the Philippines with the round-of-16 playoffs, with no. 1 seed Poland downing Canada, 3-1 and no. 17 Turkey winning by 3-1 over the Netherlands. Poland and Turkey will meet in the quarterfinals on the 24th.

Also in the lower bracket, no. 5 Italy swept Argentina, 3-0, and no. 16 Belgium swept Finland, 3-0, and the winners will also meet on the 24th.

The third-seed U.S. meets no. 4 Slovenia in the playoffs on Monday in the upper bracket, being played on Monday and Tuesday.

● Wrestling ● The UWW World Championships wrapped up in Zagreb (CRO) with the Greco-Roman competitions, with Iran taking the team title easily with 180 points and four golds.

The Iranians scored wins at 67 kg (Olympic champ Saeid Esmaeili), 82 kg (Gholamreza Farrokhi), 97 kg (Olympic winner Mohammed Hadi Saravi) and 130 kg (defending champ Amin Mirzazadeh).

Azerbaijan’s Ulvu Ganizade repeated as World Champion at 72 kg and Armenia’s Malkhas Amoyan won a second career gold, this time at 77 kg after winning at 72 kg in 2021.

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ATHLETICS: Another Hocker shocker in the men’s 5, plus U.S. wins in the 4×100 (2) and 4×400 (1) as Tokyo Worlds conclude

By
Rich Perelman
-
Gold for Sha’Carri Richardson and the U.S. in the Worlds women’s 4x100 m! (Photo: Dan Vernon for World Athletics).

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

/Updated/Sunday’s final session of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo had pleasant, 78 F temperatures, starting with 53% humidity but turning into rain by the time of the relays.

The rain delayed the discus, but the running events were held, with a big day for the U.S.:

● Men/5,000 m: Americans Grant Fisher and Nico Young, plus 2023 World road 5 km winner Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) moved to the front and picked up the pace after 800 m, not wanting to repeat the slow 10,000 m, where he was passed on the final lap.

At 2,000 m, Young led Gebrhiwet and Fisher and the field was strung out and then Gebrhiwet took the lead and had it with six laps to go. With five laps to go (3,000 m), Fisher took over again over Gebrhiwet and Paris sixth-placer Biniam Mehary (ETH) and Tokyo Olympic sixth-placer Birhanu Balew (BRN).

The field bunched up again and then two-time defending champ Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) moved to the front, with three laps left. It was tight with two laps to go, with Ingebrigtsen still in front, now with Isaac Kimeli (BEL) right behind. At the bell, it was Mehary in front and then Kimeli and Balew.

With 200 to go, Mehary, Kimeli, 10,000 m winner Jimmy Gressier (FRA) and Paris 1,500 m winner Cole Hocker of the U.S. were in position. Into the straight, Kimeli had the lead but Hocker roared ahead and won easily in 12:58.30, with Kimeli second in 12:58.78, then Gressier third in 12:59.33.

Mehary fell to fifth in 12:59.95, Young was sixth in 13:00.07, Fisher eighth in 13:00.79 and Ingebrigtsen faded to 10th in 13:02.00. Gebrhiwet ended up 13th in 13:07.02.

Hocker was disqualified in the 1,500 m semis because he was boxed in on the straight and pushed his way through. This time, he came on the outside and had a clean run to the line, with speed no one could match. It was the first U.S. medal in the race since 2017 and the first win since Bernard Lagat in 2007.

● Men/4×100 m: The defending champion U.S. had a new order with Christian Coleman, Kenny Bednarek, Courtney Lindsey and Noah Lyles in lane seven and lots of questions about passes, as the rain came down steadily. No Jamaica after a drop in the heats, but Olympic winners Canada in five with Andre De Grasse on anchor.

Coleman was out hard and got to the lead right away and his pass to Bednarek was just fine and he was clearly the leader. His pass to Lindsey was shaky – it took a couple of tries – but Lindsey charged around the turn and made a good pass to Lyles.

No one was catching him and Lyles roared home over De Grasse in a meet record 37.29, the no. 5 performance of all-time and no. 2 in American history. Canada was second in 37.55, followed by the Netherlands in 37.81 and then Ghana in 37.93.

That’s three wins in the last four for the U.S. at the Worlds and Coleman and Lyles have been on all three.

● Men/4×400 m: The rains had come and the U.S. came out with a new squad of Vernon Norwood, national champ Jacory Patterson, Khaleb McRae and 400 m hurdles winner Rai Benjamin, in lane one. Botswana had three in the 400 m final, plus Paris 200 m winner Letsile Tebogo on second leg and 400 m winner Busang Collen Kebinatshipi on anchor.

It was raining hard at the start, with Lee Eppie starting well on the first leg for Botswana and Norwood also passed close to the front. Patterson took the lead on the backstraight and he and Tebogo broke away and they passed 1-2. This was close and McRae and Ndori dueled down the backstraight with South African star Wayde van Niekerk coming up to challenge.

McRae was up by a meter on the pass to Benjamin but this was going to be close. Benjamin stayed in front on Kebinatshipi as Zakithi Nene (RSA) closed in around the final turn.

On the straight, Benjamin charged ahead with about 80 m left, but could not shake Kebinatshipi who came on in the final 10 m to win in 2:57.76, the no. 4 performance in history. Nene also closed with a rush, but Benjamin barely held on for second in 2:57.83 (no. 6 performance all-time) with South Africa given the same time for third.

For Botswana: Eppie 45.16, Tebogo 44.05, Ndori 44.41, Kebinatshipi 44.14, in the hard rain. The U.S. had Norwood in 44.60, Patterson 44.22, McRae 44.61 and Benjamin in 44.40.

● Men/Discus: Australia’s Paris bronze winner Matt Denny slipped on the second throw of the event due to the rain-soaked, wet ring, and the competition was stopped, and only resumed with warm-ups a half-hour after the track events had finished, but with the ring still very slippery.

The crowd didn’t mind, singing along to “Sweet Caroline” (1969), “Y.M.C.A.” (1978) and “Boogie Wonderland” (1979), all released before the first World Championships in 1983!

The throwing started at 10:15 p.m., with six fair throws and six fouls, then world-record holder and Paris 2024 runner-up Mykolas Alekna (LTU) staying steady in the ring and out to 67.84 m (222-7) to take the lead. Denny quickly followed at 63.18 m (207-3) to move into second, then was passed by Sweden’s Tokyo Olympic winner – in this stadium – Daniel Stahl at 63.74 m (209-1).

Suddenly, it all picked up and by the end of the second round, Mario Diaz (CUB) was second at 64.71 m (212-3) and Alex Rose of Samoa third (64.63 m/212-0). Denny moved into second in round three at 65.57 m (215-1) and Stahl passed him, throwing 65.60 m (215-3). It was still raining and the ring was being dried frantically by eight helpers between throws. But it was still a challenge.

Stahl got loose in round four and improved to 67.47 m (221-4) in second and Rose – born in Michigan, but who has been throwing for Samoa since 2013 – threw 66.96 m (219-8) in round five to move into third!

The rain lessened, but Alekna appeared to hurt himself on his fifth round throw and did not improve. In the sixth, Rose had a foul and won a bronze, Samoa’s first-ever medal in the Worlds. Then Stahl went wild with a brilliant throw of 70.47 m (231-2) and took the lead!

Alekna was the last thrower and fouled and Stahl won his third Worlds gold (2019-23-25), joining Lars Reidel (GER/4: 1991-93-95-97) and Robert Harting (GER/3: 2009-11-13) as three-time winners of the event at the World Championships. What a way to finish, at 11:05 on a rainy night in Tokyo!

● Men/Decathlon: In the discus, Germany’s Paris runner-up Leo Neugebauer led as expected, getting out to 56.15 m (184-2) – the best throw ever in a decathlon competition – ahead of Lindon Victor (GRN: 52.34 m/171-9). Overall leader Kyle Garland of the U.S. was fifth at 48.06 m (157-8).

Harrison Williams of the U.S. led in the vault at 5.20 m (17-0 3/4) and Garland was ninth at 4.80 m (15-9), while Neugebauer cleared 5.10 m (16-8 3/4) and moved up.

Niklas Kaul (GER) led the javelin at 78.19 m (256-6), way in front of the field. Neugebauer was fifth overall at 64.34 (211-1), a lifetime best and into the lead. Garland managed 59.78 m (196-1), but fouled a much better throw. So, going into the 1,500 m, Neugebauer was in front at 8,072, with Garland at 8,057 and Puerto Rico’s 2022 NCAA champ Ayden Owens-Delerme at 7,958. Kaul was standing fourth at 7,732 and Estonian Johannes Erm at 7,681.

In the 1,500 m, there was about a two-second gap between Neugebauer and Garland, but with Owens-Delerme lurking with a much faster best in the event. And Owens-Delerme took the lead from the start and was way ahead of Neugebauer and Garland.

But Neugebauer moved up and while Owens-Delerme finished in 4:17.91, the German got a lifetime best of 4:31.89 to win the gold by 20 points. Garland got a seasonal best of 4:45.45.

Overall, Neugebauer got the gold at 8,804, his no. 3 score ever, just enough to edge Owens-Delerme (8,784, a national record) with Garland taking bronze at 8,703. Americans Heath Baldwin and Harrison Williams finished 6-7 at 8,337 and 8,269.

● Women/800 m: Olympic champ Keely Hodgkinson was the favorite, but defending champ Mary Moraa (KEN) took the lead. At the bell, Moraa led with a speedy 55.73, and had Hodgkinson on her shoulder and they were even down the backstraight.

Into the straight, it was Hodgkinson who was surging and with a clear lead. But British teammate Georgia Hunter Bell – third in the Paris 1,500 m – who was coming hard. But both were passed by Kenyan Lilian Odira, who made it to the Paris semifinals last year, in the final 50 m and she ran away to win in a brilliant 1:54.62, now no. 7 on the all-time list and ending the season nearly four second faster than when she started!

Hunter Bell was also closing hard and got Hodgkinson right at the line for second at 1:54.90, a lifetime best and now no. 9 all-time. Hodgkinson, who had come back from injury and only run twice prior to Tokyo, ran 1:54.91 and took bronze.

American Sage Hurta-Klecker got a lifetime best of 1:55.89 in fifth, now no. 3 all-time U.S.! Moraa faded to seventh in 1:57.10, still a season best.

● Women/4×100 m: The U.S. changed only its starter, adding 100 m champ Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (!) on first leg and keeping TeeTee Terry, Kayla White and Sha’Carri Richardson as 2-3-4. The Jamaicans were a lane outside of the U.S. in six, with superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton and Jonielle Smith.

The rain was back on, and Jefferson-Wooden and Fraser-Pryce were even after the first leg. Tia Clayton had the lead on Terry on the second leg, but the exchange to White was good enough and White took the lead on the turn.

White had some trouble with the baton and had to switch hands, but got the stick to Richardson early in the zone. And that was it. Richardson took off and was in the lead over Smith and held on to win in 41.75. Smith brought Jamaica home in 41.79, with Gina Luckenkemper anchoring Germany in third in 41.87; Great Britain was fourth in 42.07.

It was the third win in a row for the U.S. in the Worlds and four out of the last five. Terry now has 4×1 golds in 2022-2023-2024-2025, Jefferson-Wooden won in 2022-2023 (ran in prelims)-2024 and 2025 and Richardson has wins in 2023-24-25.

● Women/4×400 m: The rain had let up, but it was still wet, with the U.S. fielding Bella Whittaker, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Aaliyah Butler and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, in lane five. The defending champion Netherlands, with Femke Bol on anchor, was in nine.

Whittaker passed first (50.12), just ahead of Jamaica’s Dejanea Oakley (50.50) and Irby-Jackson (48.71) rolled into the lead and had a 5 m lead with 200 m to go. Jamaica’s Stacey Ann Williams (49.59) moved up for second and Irby-Jackson handed a 10 m lead to Butler.

Butler (49.96) and Andrenette Knight (50.66) broke away and were 1-2 at the handoff, with an 8 m lead. McLaughlin-Levrone led Nickiska Pryce (48.50) into the straight by 20 m and raced home with a dominant gold in 47.82 and 3:16.61, the no. 5 performance all-time.

Bol anchored the Dutch home in third, running 49.10 and 3:20.18.

The U.S. won its 11th Worlds gold in this race and now four of the last five. McLaughlin-Levrone won for the third time: 2019, 2022 and 2025.

● Women/High Jump: The wet conditions hampered the jumping, but not for two-time Olympic runner-up Nicola Olylsagers (AUS). She cleared her first three bars and had the lead at 2.00 m (6-6 3/4).

But only six cleared 1.97 m (6-5 1/2), and Olympic champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) missed her first try at 2.00 m and passed to the next height. The rain continued and only Maria Zodzik (POL) made 2.00 m on her final try for a lifetime best.

So at 2.02 m (6-7 1/2), Olyslagers missed twice, but so did Mahuchikh and she had to settle for bronze in a tie with 2024 European silver winner Angelina Topic (SRB), who was also perfect through 1.97 m.

Zodzik was still in it and also missed twice at 2.02. On her third try, Olyslagers kicked the bar off with her heels and it was up to Zodzik. She missed and Olylsagers won her first Worlds medal – a gold – after two Olympic silvers and two World Indoor victories in 2024 and 2025.

The final medal table showed the U.S., with six medals on the day, at 26 total (16-5-5), and Kenya second at 11 (7-2-2) and Jamaica with 10 (1-6-3). The placing table, scored 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 to measure overall team strength, had the U.S. at 308, with Kenya at 118 and Jamaica at 98.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

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ATHLETICS: Garland continues decathlon lead as U.S. men beat Kenya to get into 4×400 m final at Tokyo Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The decathlon continued on Sunday morning but also the extra relay heats from the carnage during Saturday’s heats at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. It was hot again, this time with 85 F temperatures, but with much lower humidity at about 55% and lots of sunshine.

Just two relays: a 4×100 m time trial and a one-on-one match in the 4×400 m, held in between groups of the decathlon discus:

● Men/4×100 m: South Africa was impeded – hit – by Italy on the first exchange in the heats and allowed to run again, needing to time 38.34 or faster to get into a nine-team final.

Shaun Maswanganyi led off well and made a good first pass to Sinesipho Dambile. The second exchange to Bradley Nkoana was good and the final exchange to star sprinter Akani Simbine was excellent.

Simbine ran hard to the line, but finished in 38.64, short of the time needed. They’re out.

● Men/4×400 m: Zambia’s David Mulenga cut across other runners, especially Demerius Smith of the U.S. on the second exchange in heat one and got his team disqualified. The decision was to allow Kenya (3:00.76) and the U.S. (3:01.06) to have a run-off for a ninth lane in the final.

The Americans showed the same order, with Chris Bailey, the World Indoor winner, then Smith, 2023 national champion Bryce Deadmon and Jenoah McKiver. Kenya changed its order to George Mutinda (3rd on Saturday), David Kapirante (lead-off), Dennis Mulongo (2nd) and anchor Kevin Kipkorir.

They ran in the same lanes as in the heats: four for the U.S. and seven for Kenya, which made for a strange outlook with the three-turn stagger. The first exchange was fairly even, with Bailey (44.67) ahead of Mutinda (45.12). Smith took a clear lead on the backstraight, but Mutinda blasted up to challenge.

Smith re-established the lead in the home straight and passed ahead by 2 m (45.00) to Deadmon, who rolled to a big lead on the third leg. He came into the straight up by about 12 m but faded a bit (44.35), and McKiver took an 8 m lead on the final pass.

Kipkorir was gaining on the anchor leg (44.50), but McKiver pulled away on the straight (44.46) and the U.S. qualified at 2:58.48, actually the fourth-fastest qualifier among all teams! Kenya finished in 3:00.39. (Relays hands photo by Mattia Ozbot for World Athletics.)

● Men/Decathlon: The 110 m hurdles started before the relays, with Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme – fourth at the 2022 Worlds – posting the fastest time at 13.65 in race three, with Heath Baldwin of the U.S. fifth-best at 14.16 and U.S. champion Kyle Garland sixth overall in 14.30.

The shocker was Sander Skotheim (NOR) in heat two, the world leader at 8,909, hitting hurdle five, losing his balance over hurdle six and then pushing hurdle seven over, then continuing and finishing in 15.77 (worth 759 points). He was disqualified in the event and after a warm-up throw in discus, retired.

So, Garland leads with 5,643, with Owens-Delerme second (5,507), then German star Leo Neugebauer (5,329), 2024 European Champion Johannes Erm (EST: 5,286) and Baldwin (5,264). On to the discus.

Going into the final evening session, the medal table shows the U.S. way in front with 20 total (12-4-4), and Kenya second at 10 (6-2-2) and Jamaica with eight (1-4-3). The placing table, scored 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 to measure overall team strength, has the U.S. at 250, with Kenya at 95 and Jamaica at 80.

The final session schedule has the women’s 800 m, men’s 5,000 m, the end of the decathlon and the relays. The field-event program has women’s high jump and the men’s discus.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

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ATHLETICS: Hall and Brooks score brilliant heptathlon 1-3, Chebet wins 5,000 m showdown with Kipyegon; another U.S. relay meltdown at Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
A World Championship for American heptathlete Anna Hall! (Photo: Dan Vernon for World Athletics).

 The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The Saturday evening session at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo had more wet conditions early on, but with nice 76 F temperatures, but the track condition was good. The competition was fierce.

/Update/In the men’s 4×400 m heats, the jury ruled that both Kenya (3:00.76) and the U.S. (3:01.06) were impeded by Zambia in heat one and the two teams have been advanced to a run-off for a ninth place in the final at 10:40 a.m. Sunday Tokyo time (9:40 p.m. Saturday Eastern time).

South Africa was impeded by Italy in the men’s 4×100 m heats and will be a time trial (10:33 a.m. Sunday), needing to run 38.34 or better to get into a nine-lane final.

● Men/800 m: The Paris podium – Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN), Marco Arop (CAN) and Djamel Sedjati (ALG) – was all on the line, in an event which has gone crazy in 2025, with 15 men running in the 1:42s. This was one of the expected highlights of the Worlds.

Wanyonyi and Arop ran to the front right away and Wanyonyi took the bell with Arop and Max Burgin (GBR) third in 49.27. Wanyonyi rolled down the backstraight, and was moving hard with Arop right behind on the turn.

In the straight, Wanonyi and Arop were together – straining – right to the final meters, and then Sjedjati came up – as he always does – and got second at the line, 1:41.86 to 1:41.90 to 1:41.95.

Ireland’s Cian McPhillips was fourth in a national 1:42.15, while Burgin was sixth in 1:42.29. It’s two straight wins in 2024 and 2025 for Wanyonyi, who by the way, is 21 years old.

● Men/Decathlon: American Kyle Garland got a lifetime best 17.02 m (55-10 1/4) to lead the shot, ahead of Germany’s Leo Neugebauer at 16.70 m (54-9 1/2), and then Garland and world leader Sander Skotheim (NOR) battled in the high jump, with Skotheim winning the event at 2.14 m (7-0 1/4) and Garland second at 2.11 m (6-11).

That gave Garland the lead at 3,833 to 3,627 over Skotheim, with ex-NCAA champ Neugebauer third at 3,559. In the 400 m, Garland got a seasonal best of 48.73 for fourth in the second section and finished the first day at 4,707.

Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme – fourth at the 2022 Worlds – took the final section in 46.46, with Harrison Williams of the U.S. second in 46.88 and Skotheim fourth in 47.86, giving him 4,543 points for the day. Owens-Delerme ran up to third at 4,487 and Neugebauer stood fourth at 4,455.

American Heath Baldwin ran up 4,310 points for sixth and Williams stood ninth at 4,153.

● Women/5,000 m: This was an epic showdown, with defending champion Faith Kipyegon (KEN) – doubling back from her 1,500 win – and countrywoman Beatrice Chebet, the Olympic champion, doubling back from her 10,000 m win.

American Shelby Houlihan, the 2025 World Indoor silver winner and teammate Josette Andrews were in front at the start, jogging at a slow pace of 78 and 80 seconds on the first two laps. They were still 1-2 at 2,000 m, with Agnes Ngetich (KEN) – no. 3 all-time – in third. Houlihan led Andrews and Ngetich at 3,000 m, but everyone was in contact.

With three laps to go, Houlihan, Ngetich and Andrews were still in front, and Josette Andrews moved up to lead with two to go. 10,000 m silver winner Nadia Battocletti (ITA) was third and then Kipyegon came up to challenge with 500 to go. Battocletti took over at the bell with Kipyegon close and Chebet third.

Kipyegon took the lead on the backstraight, with Chebet and Battocletti moving up behind her. Kipyegon and Chebet were 1-2 into the straight and Chebet had the most speed and won in 14:54.36. Kipyegon was a clear second and Battocletti came up close for third, 14:55.07 to 14:55.42. Houlihan was fourth, moving well on the straight to pass 2022 World Champion Gudaf Tsegay (ETH), 14:57.42 to 14:57.82. Andrews was a very creditable sixth in 15:00.25. Chebet ran the final 400 m in a striking 57.60.

● Women/Shot: Defending champion Chase Jackson of the U.S. opened at 19.55 m (64-1 3/4) as the first throwers, but Canada’s World Indoor winner Sarah Mitton took the lead at 19.76 m (64-10). Then Paris runner-up Maddison-Lee Wesche (NZL) took over with her first-round throw of 20.06 m (65-9 3/4).

Those were the top three through three rounds, with Diamond League winner Jessica Schilder (NED) moving up to fourth in round four at 19.51 m (64-0 1/4). Jackson improved to 19.67 m (64-6 1/2) in round four, but stayed third.

In round six, Schilder got more speed behind her final throw and took the lead at 20.29 m (66-7). And Jackson, now in fourth, responded with her best at 20.21 m (66-3 3/4), moving into silver position. Mitton did not improve and finished fourth. Wesche, in the lead coming into the round, had the last chance, but was called for a foul.

It was Schilder’s first world title after a 2022 bronze, to go with her two European wins in 2022 and 2024. Jackson got her third straight Worlds medal.

● Women/Javelin: Budapest Worlds bronze winner Mackenzie Little (AUS) got to the lead right away at 63.58 m (208-7), with South Africa’s Jo-Ane du Plessis second at 63.06 m (206-11) from round two.

Ecuador’s three-time national champion Juleisy Angulo, 24, who got a lifetime best 63.25 m (207-6) in the qualifying, shocked the field and popped into the lead in round two with another huge best at 65.12 m (213-8)!

Latvia’s Anete Sietina, fourth in 2023, moved into third in the fifth round at 63.35 m (207-10) and then into silver position in the sixth round at 64.64 m (212-1). Little did not improve on her last four throws and left the unheralded Angulo as the winner! What?

She entered the year with best of 61.10 m (200-5) and finished as World Champion after improving 13 feet this season.

● Women/Heptathlon: Taliyah Brooks of the U.S. led the field in the long jump, getting a tremendous lifetime best of 6.79 m (22-3 1/2), tied for 19th in the world in 2025! Leader Anna Hall was seventh at 6.12 m (20-1) and continued in the lead with 5,041 points, but Brooks moved up to second at 4,930!

Ireland’s Kate O’Connor led the javelin with a lifetime best of 53.06 m (174-1), with Hall fourth with a lifetime best of 48.13m (157-11) and Brooks in 14th, but also with a PR of 43.37 m (142-3). So, going into the final event, Hall led with 5,865, with O’Connor at 5,743 and Brooks at 5,662 and defending champ Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) at 5,578.

In the 800 m, Hall got out to the lead, then passed by teammate Michelle Atherley, who took the bell. Hall took the lead on the backstraight and led into the straight, winning easily in 2:06.08

Johnson-Thompson was second in 2:07.38 and Atherley was third in 2:07.77. O’Connor got a lifetime best of 2:09.56 and Brooks ran a lifetime best of 2:13.37.

That gave Hall 6,888 points and the first U.S. Worlds win in the event since Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1993! Shel won bronze in 2022 and silver in 2023. O’Connor got a national record of 6,714 for the silver and Brooks and Johnson-Thompson tied for the bronze at 6,581 apiece!

That’s a lifetime best for Brooks, her first Worlds medal and the second time that Americans have won two medals in this event. Joyner-Kersee and Jane Frederick went 1-3 way back in 1987. In 2025, Brooks won the World Indoor bronze in the pentathlon and how the bronze in the outdoor hep.

Atherley finished 11th at 6,287; Timara Chapman of the U.S. did not start the 800, she was 19th after the javelin. 

There was qualifying in the relays, and LOTS of drama (or insanity?):

● Men/4×400 m/Updated]: The U.S. was in the first heat and Chris Bailey and Gardeo Isaacs of South Africa passed first, but Demarius Smith was in a mess trying to hand the baton to Bryce Deadmon, as Zambia’s Kennedy Luchembe crossed in front of him.

When Deadmon finally got the stick, he was last. He tried to move up on the backstraight, but still handed to Jenoah McKiver well back. McKiver got into contention coming into the final straight, but faded to sixth in 3:01.06 and did not qualify for the final … for the first time in World Championships history, a complete disaster. A protest was made and Zambia was disqualified, but the U.S. placement remained sixth and the U.S. was – unbelievably – out. (But got a later reprieve from the Jury of Appeal and will run Sunday morning against Kenya for a lane in the final.)

The American quartet was the nos. 2-5-6-7 (Bailey-McKiver-Deadmon-Smith) finishers at the USATF nationals. That selection – even with the later reprieve from the jury – will be questioned.

At the front of the race, South Africa was strong, with Lythe Pillay anchoring in 2:58.81, with Qatar’s hurdles star Abderrahmane Samba bringing Qatar in second in 3:00.15 to 3:00.23 for the Netherlands.

The second heat had favored Botswana and 200 m star Letsile Tebogo ran a 44.18 leg to hand to Bayapo Ndori in the lead. Alexander Doom of Belgium got to the lead on the backstraight, but Ndori pulled ahead with a 44.30 leg and won in 2:57.68. Belgium was second (2:57.98) while Britain’s Charles Dobson (43.78!) made a late run for third, but came up short to Australia, 2:58.00 to 2:58.11.

● Men/4×100 m: The U.S. had Christian Coleman, Ronnie Baker, Trayvon Bromell and T’Mars McCallum in lane eight, with Jamaica inside in lane three, including Kishane Thompson on anchor, and Olympic champ Canada in five.

Coleman was strong on the first leg and passed – in a bad exchange – to Baker, as he ran up on him. He passed in the lead to Bromell, but Brendon Rodney’s third leg was great and he passed nicely to Andre De Grasse and Canada won the heat in 37.85, with McCallum bringing the U.S. in second in 37.98 and on to the final. Behind them, the final Jamaican pass from Rylem Forde to Thompson was fouled up and dropped and they did not finish.

The U.S. passes were barely good enough to get through, but they did. Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek will be expected to join the team for the final.

Heat two had Great Britain in seven and South Africa in six, but Shaun Maswananyi couldn’t make the first pass to Sinesipho Dambile and they were out. Japan and Britain were leading into the final pass, but Jona Efoloko could not get the stick to Eugene Amo-Dadzie and Britain did not finish. Instead, it was Ghana on the inside with Abdul-Rasheed Siminu who got a national record of 37.79, ahead of the Dutch (37.95) and Japan (38.07) into the final. Crazy.

● Women/4×400 m: In heat one, Jamaica’s Dejanea Oakley passed first and Stacey Ann Williams took the lead and had a 3 m edge on the field. Williams was up 7 m, passing to Roneisha McGregor. Nickisha Pryce took the baton well in the lead and won in a world-leading 3:22.77 with a brilliant 49.64 finale.

Behind her, Henriette Jaeger (49.84) brought Norway clear of the rest of the field for second in a national record 3:23.84., ahead of Poland (3:24.39).

In heat two, veteran Alexis Holmes led off for the U.S. (50.90) and passed with France, and Rosey Effiong got to the pole first. She led Lieke Klaver (NED: 49.72) into the straight, but Klaver took over as Effiong (50.39) faded. The Dutch exchange was poor and Quanera Hayes (50.59) got to the front for the U.S. again quickly and created a 5 m lead for Britton Wilson.

Wilson rolled and blew away the rest of the field, winning by about 8 m in a world-leading 3:22.53 (50.65). Belgium’s Helena Ponette moved up on the straight and passed Dutch anchor Lisette de Witte for second, 3:23.96 to 3:24.03.

● Women/4×100 m: Jamaica was out best with Jodean Williams, passing first to Tia Clayton, who roared down the backstraight, passing to sister Tina Clayton. She gave Jonielle Smith a big lead and she ran to the line in 41.80. That was well ahead of Spain (42.53) and France (42.71).

The Americans were in lane five in heat two, with Jacious Sears, TeeTee Terry, Kayla White and Sha’Carri Richardson, who anchored the gold-medal team in Paris last year. Great Britain was in seven. Sears was out very well and Terry was running well, along with Great Britain. White was in the lead around the turn and passed smoothly to Richardson, who cruised to a world-leading 41.60 win. Gina Luckenkemper moved Germany past Britain for second, 41.86 to 41.88.

The medal table shows the U.S. way in front with 20 total (12-4-4), and Kenya second at 10 (6-2-2) and Jamaica with eight (1-4-3). The placing table, scored 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 to measure overall team strength, has the U.S. at 250, with Kenya at 95 and Jamaica at 80.

The final day schedule has the decathlon in the morning, then the women’s 800 m, men’s 5,000 m, the end of the decathlon and the relays. The field-event program has women’s high jump and the men’s discus.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC for Sunday’s final day.

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ATHLETICS: Perez finishes women’s walk double-double at Tokyo Worlds as Bonfim claims first Worlds gold in men’s 20 km

By
Rich Perelman
-
An ecstatic World Champs double-double for Spain’s Maria Perez! (Photo: Mattia Ozbot for World Athletics).

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

A busy Saturday morning was dedicated mostly to the walks and multi-events at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

● Women/20 km Walk: The race started at 7:30 a.m. in 73 F and 66% humidity, warmer than preferred, but it did not stop Spain’s Maria Perez, the defending champion looking for a second straight Worlds sweep of the 20 and 35 km women’s walks.

She was at or near the front throughout, passing 15 km in 1:04.59, with Alegna Gonzalez (MEX), 2022 champion Kimberley Garcia (PER) and Nanako Fujii (JPN) close. Perez finally took the lead for good by 16 km, over Gonzalez, and steadily moved away to win in 1:25:54, with Gonzalez taking the silver in 1:26:06, then Fujii – to the delight of the home fans – in 1:26:18. Garcia faded to fifth in 1:26:22.

Lauren Harris was the American entry, finishing in 27th (lifetime best 1:32:50).

● Men/20 km Walk: The race started in 75 F temperatures and by the half, 13 were within five seconds of leader Paul McGrath (ESP), the 2024 European silver winner, but Japanese world-record holder – and two-time World Champion – Toshikazu Yamanishi got to the lead by 13 km.

He was up by eight seconds at 16 km, but received a fourth red card and suffered a two-minute penalty, and McGrath was then in front by nine seconds over Zhaozhao Wang (CHN) with 2 km remaining. Meanwhile, Paris runner-up Caio Bonfim (BRA) charged and got to the lead with just more than 1,000 m left and walked away with the victory in 1:18:35, his first Worlds golds after bronzes in 2017 and 2023.

Wang was second in 1:18:43 for his first Worlds medal, and then McGrath in 1:18:45; Yamanishi ended up 28th (1:22:39).

● Men/Decathlon: The 10-eventer started with Ayden Owens-Delerme (PUR) at 10.31, much faster than anyone else. American Kyle Garland was second overall, at 10.51, then Lindon Victor (GRN) at 10.60. American Harrison Williams ran 10.79 and Heath Baldwin timed 11.01.

In the long jump, Swiss star Simon Ehammer, fourth in the open final, co-led the event with Norway’s Sander Skotheim at 7.97 m (26-1 3/4) with Garland third at 7.92 m (26-0), a season’s best.

The shot put, high jump and 400 m will be covered in the evening session report.

There was qualifying in two field events:

● Men/Discus: Two made the auto-qualifying mark of 66.50 m (218-2) in group one, Tokyo Olympic champ Daniel Stahl (SWE) at 69.90 m (229-4) and Martynas Alekna (LTU) at 67.16 m (220-4).

The shocker was world-record holder and Olympic silver winner (and younger brother) Mykolas Alekna (LTU) in fourth at 65.39 m (214-6), but he advanced in eighth place overall.

Slovenia’s Kristjan Ceh got his auto-qualifier in group two on his first try, at 68.08 m (223-4), as did Paris bronze winner Matthew Denny (AUS: 66.63 m (218-7). Those were the only auto-qualifiers.

Non-qualifiers included Reggie Jagers of the U.S., 14th overall at 63.59 m (208-7); Sam Mattis as 20th at 62.86 m (206-3), and Marcus Gustaveson reached 59.12 m (193-11) in 31st.

● Women/Shot: The stars got going quickly, with Olympic champ Yemisi Ogunleye (GER) auto-qualifying at 19.65 m (64-5 3/4), defending champion Chase Jackson of the U.S. (19.31 m/63-4 1/4), Maddison-Lee Wesche (NZL) at 19.27 m (63-2 3/4) and Fanny Roos (SWE: 19.24 m/63-1 1/2).

In group two, World Indoor winner Sarah Mitton (CAN) got her auto-qualifier in round two at 19.20 m (63-0), but was the only one.

American Jaida Ross managed 19.13 m (62-9 1/4) and qualified fifth, followed by two-time World Champion Lijiao Gong (CHN) at 18.99 m (62-3 3/4) and Dutch Diamond League winner Jessica Schilder at 18.98 m (62-3 1/2).

The U.S. had four entries; Jessica Ramsey was 14th at 18.28 m (59-11 3/4) and Maggie Ewen was 26th (17.31 m/56-9 1/2).

The Saturday evening schedule includes the men’s 800 m, decathlon, the women’s 5,000 m, shot, javelin and heptathlon, and qualifying in the 4×100 and 4×400 m relays.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Los Angeles City Council approves $2.62 billion Convention Center expansion, 11-2, despite severe cost and timing worries

By
Rich Perelman
-
The expanded Los Angeles Convention Center as it is to look when the LA28 organizers take possession for the 2028 Olympic Games (Photo: City of Los Angeles CAO).

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≡ L.A. CONVENTION CENTER ≡

The battle royal over whether the City of Los Angeles will undertake a $2.62 billion expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center, which will potentially impact the use of the Convention Center for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, was moved from the regular Friday meeting of the City Council to a special meeting to follow.

Over a two-and-a-half hour session, the Council heard from the City’s Chief Legislative Analyst, Matthew Szabo, who outlined the enormous cost of the program and the considerable risks attached, including borrowing costs for 30 years that will average $89 million more a year than the increased revenue the expansion will bring in during that time. The City of Los Angeles will have to pay those interests costs “out of its own pocket,” meaning the General Fund.

But in order to get the project going and substantially completed enough to allow the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games to host events in the Convention Center, the decision had to made today, on a project that had been discussed and delayed for more than 10 years.

Council member Katy Yaroslavsky, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, submitted an alternative proposal to do deferred maintenance and modernize the facility and then do the expansion when there was no longer an Olympic-Paralympic deadline looming over it.

She told the Council she opposes the expansion in no uncertain terms:

● “The question before us today is not whether to invest in the Convention Center, the question is whether we commit to a nearly $3 billion expansion on terms that put our city’s finances and our basic city services at risk for decades.

“This expansion is unrealistic, it’s unaffordable and it’s fiscally irresponsible.”

● “The schedule just does not work. We are gambling billions of taxpayer dollars on a best-case scenario that everyone in this Chamber knows is highly unlikely to come to pass. We can wish for it, but we know it’s not going to happen. This is not careful planning, it’s dangerous wishing thinking.”

● “That [debt service] obligation is going to eat up all projected General Fund growth for the foreseeable future. I am not making that up, it comes directly from the CAO’s report.

“So what does that mean, colleagues? It means when we want to accelerate the hiring of police officers or expand the Fire Department, there will be no money left to do it. If we want to repair the sidewalks that are costing us more than $100 million a year in liability, or build new bike lanes and walkable communities … there will be absolutely no money to do it. …

“If you think City services are bad now, and I think all of us would agree that they suck, and you thought one day we would have funding to restore service, I have bad news. It’s going to get worse. We won’t be able to afford the level of service we have now, which is crap.”

Questions and comments came from 10 other Council members, crystalized by Eunisses Hernandez, who had carefully considered Yaroslavsky’s lower-cost alternative, but told the Council:

“The reason I am voting yes is that there are people around this horseshoe who are incredibly smart, diligent, solutions-oriented who will do the work to find new money and new revenue.”

Essentially, the pro-expansion Council members cited the risk of doing nothing as greater than the $2.62 billion project. Tourism officials have said for years that Los Angeles is no longer competitive in the major convention market without the expansion.

Ultimately, the vote was 11-2 to proceed, with two Council members absent and only Council member Nithya Raman joining Yaroslavsky.

The LA28 organizers plans to use the Convention Center for fencing, judo, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling for the Olympic Games and boccia, para judo, para table tennis, para taekwondo, and wheelchair fencing for the Paralympic Games.

LA28 requires the exclusive use of the fully-functional Convention Center – as it is now – on 1 June 2028; should the expansion interfere with that, the City will be on the hook for any and all relocation costs to other sites and any lost revenue.

The Convention Center successfully housed the Main Press Center during the 1984 Olympic Games. The question now is whether it will be able to host Olympic and Paralympic events again in 2028.

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INT’L OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Coventry worried on conflicts, starts group to protect Olympism; “neutral” athlete program OK’d for 2026

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) (Photo: IOC video screen shot).

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≡ IOC EXECUTIVE BOARD ≡

“Every single Executive Board member was taken back and saddened, really, when you look at the world and what is happening today, by the images that we see daily. And it was very empowering, actually, for us to sit around the table together and to discuss, because we all realize, now more than ever, our movement – the sports movement – has to showcase the good that is in humanity.

“And we believe now, more than ever, we need to re-affirm our commitment to peace and to remaining a beacon of hope, remaining a platform for athletes from around to be able to live out their Olympic dreams.

“And for athletes to be able to help change perceptions. Today, perceptions are mystified out there. Perceptions are seen as truths. Sometimes they are and sometimes they are misleading.”

That was International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), speaking through a bad cough, at Friday’s news conference following the IOC Executive Board meeting in Milan (ITA). Seeing the continuing, violent, international conflicts on three continents, the IOC issued a statement, including:

● “The IOC is concerned by the disruption of competitions across the world, the restriction of access to host countries for athletes, and the boycotting and cancellation of competitions due to political tensions. These actions deprive athletes of their right to compete peacefully and prevent the Olympic Movement from showing the power of sport.”

● “As part of the IOC’s ‘Fit for the Future’ process, the IOC EB decided today to set up a Working Group on the Protection of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism. This is aimed at ensuring that the IOC, the Olympic Games and sport remain politically neutral and can uphold their mission to unite the world in peaceful competition.”

● “Athletes have an incredible opportunity to showcase the Olympic values and play the role of peace ambassadors in line with the Fundamental Principles of Olympism.”

No members of the working group were named, but this will undoubtedly continue to expand involvement opportunities for IOC members, a promise that Coventry has made, and would be a potentially significant platform for some of the members who are also currently, or recently, part of their national governments.

The more practical outcomes of the Executive Board meeting included the future of Russian and Belarusian athletes for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games:

● Coventry announced that the “AIN” neutral-athlete program used for Paris 2024 will be continued for Milan Cortina 2026, allowing individual athletes but no teams and disallowing any Russian or Belarusian athlete “who actively support the war.”

A review panel of IOC Vice President Nicole Hoevertsz (ARU), IOC Athletes Commission member Pau Gasol (ESP) and International Gymnastics Federation President Morinaru Watanabe (JPN) will review each application, with Hoevertsz and Gasol having served on the Paris 2024 panel.

IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey (SUI) noted that opening for AIN participation are so far limited to skating event and ski mountaineering, and possibly skiing. The federations for biathlon, bobsled & skeleton, curling, ice hockey and luge do not allow participation by “neutrals.”

● For Los Angeles 2028, the weightlifting program weight classes were expanded from a total of 10 to 12 – with the same 120-athlete quota – to better match up with the weight classes at the IWF World Championships.

● For French Alps 2030, the decisions on disciplines (within sports) will be taken in December, except for Nordic Combined and Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom, with those disciplines to be discussed after the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

Coventry explained that the working group on “protection of the female category” – whose members have not been named to protect outside influence – has met and that there is no deadline for a report, since one of the needs is to be able to talk to all parties who are impacted, including those who may be removed from women’s competitions.

She also noted that the goal is not a hard-and-fast set of rules:

“What I’ve asked the working group, in relation with all the International Federations. Is to try and find consensus. Now that could mean different things; I’ve not boxed them in to say, ‘I want consensus in a policy,’ or ‘I want consensus in a framework.’ I’ve left it open for the working group to identify in what way we could find consensus.

“We know that in some sports, it’s really not a very big topic, but in other sports, there’s been a lot done, in other sports, less done. At the end of the day, we want there to be fairness and we want the female category to be protected.”

She was asked about security for the Milan Cortina Games, notably about Israeli athletes with continuing protests, and Coventry indicated she had full confidence in the security planning.

The IOC also approved medal re-allocations in four events impacted by the doping disqualification of Russian biathlete Evgeny Ustyugov in the Winter Games of 2010 and 2014.

The Executive Board will meet one more time in 2025, in December.

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ATHLETICS: Triple gold for the U.S. with Benjamin, Lyles and Jefferson-Wooden winning in Tokyo Worlds; final-round TJ magic for Pichardo!

By
Rich Perelman
-
A world title for American 400 m hurdler Rai Benjamin (Photo: Dan Vernon for World Athletics).

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Friday’s session at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo continued cooler, with 74 F temperatures, but continued high humidity at 71%. But it was a hot night for the U.S., with three golds on the track!

● Men/200 m: Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo (BOT) was in lane five, three-time defending champ Noah Lyles of the U.S. was in six, Bryan Levell (JAM) in seven and Olympic runner-up Kenneth Bednarek of the U.S. in eight.

Levell had the best start and Lyles was fourth at best. But Lyles was rolling around the turn and they were four across into the straight. Lyles moved up and got to the lead with 75 m to go and although it was close, Lyles got to the line first at 19.52 (wind: 0.0).

Bednarek actually passed Levell first, then Lyles took over. But Bednarek was strong to the finish and got silver in 19.58, with Levell edging Tebogo for the bronze, 19.64 to 19.65.

This wasn’t a classic from Lyles, but a brilliant finish to a season that started with injuries. No one else can muster his finishing speed. And after a bronze – with Covid – in Paris, he is back on top. Bednarek now has two Olympic and two Worlds silvers.

● Men/400 m hurdles: Tokyo Olympic champ Karsten Warholm (NOR) was in four, Paris Olympic champ Rai Benjamin of the U.S. was in seven and Alison dos Santos (BRA) in nine in one of the most eagerly-anticipated finals of the meet.

Warholm hit hurdle three, but was still even with Benjamin into the turn. They were even after six hurdles, but then Benjamin surged over hurdle seven and took firm control of the race.

He rolled into the straight in total charge and was clearly going to be the winner … until he slammed into the 10th hurdle and had to regain his balance! But he recovered and won easily in 46.52, the equal-9th performance all-time (Benjamin has five of the nine).

Behind him, Warholm faded badly off the 10th hurdle and was passed on the run-in by dos Santos (46.84) for second, Qatar’s Abderrahmane Samba (47.06) for third and then NCAA champ Ezekiel Nathaniel (NGR: 47.11) for fourth. Warholm was fifth in 47.58 and American Caleb Dean finished seventh in 48.20.

Afterwards, NBC reported that Benjamin was shown as disqualified for his smash of the 10th hurdle impacting the hurdle of the lane inside of him. But the results were confirmed with him as the winner. Benjamin told NBC’s Lewis Johnson that the plan was to run hard and clean through four hurdles – and he did, using 12 strides – and he then knew he would be good through eight. At that point, he said, he was just hanging on. And he did.

● Men/Triple Jump: Tokyo Olympic champion Pedro Pablo Pichardo (POR) got out to the lead at 17.07 m (56-0), but the first round heated up with 2024 World Indoor runner-up Yasser Triki (ALG) at 17.25 m (56-7 1/4) and Cuba’s 2022 World Indoor champion Lazaro Martinez into third at 17.16 m (56-3 3/4).

That did not impress Pichardo, who boomed out to 17.55 m (57-7) in round two to re-take the lead. Then Martinez moved up to second at 17.49 m (57-4 3/4), and Pichardo repeated his 17.55 m distance in round three.

Nothing changed until round six, when Italy’s Andrea Dallavalle, the 2022 European silver medalist, exploded into the lead at 17.64 m (57-10 1/2), a lifetime best by more than 11 inches! Martinez finished with four fouls and won bronze. Pichardo passed his fifth jump, then got way out there and won it with a clutch finale at 17.91 m (58-9 1/4), the world leader in 2025!

It’s Pichardo’s second Worlds gold, also in 2022, to go with his Tokyo Olympic victory.

● Women/200 m: Defending champ Shericka Jackson (JAM) was in seven with favorite Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the U.S. in six and U.S. Olympic bronzer Brittany Brown in three. The U.S. had four finalists, with McKenzie Long in two and Anavia Battle in eight.

Anthonique Strachan (BAH) false-started in lane one; her left leg was heavily bandaged after an injury in the semis. On the re-start, Jackson was off well but Jefferson-Wooden got to the lead by 100 m and ran away from the field to win in a world-leading 21.68 (-0.1)! She’s now no. 8 all-time.

Behind her, Jackson was second, but Amy Hunt (GBR) came on in the final 50 m to get a surprise second in 22.14 to 22.18. Battle was in the fight for a medal and came up just short in fourth in 22.22. Brown was sixth in 22.54 and Long was eighth in 22.78.

Jefferson-Wooden was the first U.S. woman to win the 100 and 200 at the Worlds and it’s the first U.S. win in this event since Allyson Felix won her third straight in 2009.

● Women/400 m hurdles: This was expected to be the Femke Bol Show, with the Dutch star defending her title from 2023 in lane five. But there were also Americans Dalilah Muhammad – the Rio 2016 winner – in lane nine, Olympic silver winner Anna Cockrell in six and Paris fourth-placer Jasmine Jones of the U.S. in seven.

Bol was in front by hurdle three and it was Bol and Jones 1-2 into the straight. But Bol ran away and won easily in 51.54, the world leader and the no. 9 performance ever.

Jones was a clear second in a lifetime best of 52.08, moving to no. 5 all-time. Cockrell was third around the turn and over hurdle 10, but Emma Zapletalova (SVK) was rolling over hurdle 10 and got the bronze on the run-in at 53.00, a national record.

Cockrell was fourth in 53.13; Muhammad was in contention early, but in what is expected to be her last race, faded to seventh in 54.82.

● Women/Heptathlon: American Taliyah Brooks had the fastest 100 m hurdles at 12.93 with world leader Anna Hall third at 13.05, a great start. Olympic champ Nafi Thiam (BEL) took the high jump at 1.89 m (6-2 1/4) and Hall equaled her, with Brooks eighth at 1.77 m (5-9 3/4).

In the shot, Hall went crazy, getting a lifetime best of 15.80 m (51-10), way ahead of Thiam at 14.85 m (48-8 3/4), who was next best!

That gave Hall 3,125 points going into the 200 m, with Thiam at 2,978. But in the first race in the 200 m, Thiam was last in 25.52, a sub-par performance. In race three, Abigail Pawlett (GBR) won in 23.25 and Hall was second in 23.50.

That gave Hall 4,154 points for day one and a big lead over Kate O’Connor (IRL: 3,906) and defending champ Katerina Johnson-Thompson (GBR: 3,893) in third. Brooks stands fifth at 3,828, then Thiam at 3,818 in sixth.

American Michelle Atherley is 12th (3,704) and Timara Chapman, the 2024 NCAA champion, stands 21st at 3,442.

The qualifying was predictably – for this meet – crazy, with unbelievably fast times to advance in the women’s 800 m:

● Men/5,000 m: The pace quickened in heat one with four laps to go, with Swede Andreas Almgren in front with Nico Young of the U.S. at 3,000 m. Young led at the bell and the sprinting started with 300 m to go and Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet and Kenyan Mathew Kipsang took the lead.

In the straight, Kipsang moved to the lead but Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli zoomed by everyone to get to the line in 13:13.06 to win, with Kipsang at 13:13.33. Cole Hocker of the U.S. moved well to get into a qualifying third in 13:13.41 and Young was fourth in 13:13.51. Gebrhiwet advanced in fifth.

Heat two had defending champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) – on his 25th birthday – who went right to the back as he often does, running with Dutch 1,500 m star Niels Laros, the Diamond League winner.

American Grant Fisher had the lead at 3,000 m as the race slowed considerably (8:42.57). Saymon Amanuel (ERI) took the lead and increased the pace to 61.1. Fisher and Laros were 1-2 led with three laps left and Fisher and Biniam Mehary (ETH) were in front as Laros left the race after apparently being spiked.

Paris Olympic sixth-placer Mehary took the lead at the bell and the pressure increased, with 2024 European silver winner George Mills (GBR) and 10,000 m winner Jimmy Gressier (FRA) and Fisher. Into the straight, Mehary and Gressier led a crush of runners to the line and Mehary won in 13:41.52, with Gressier second (13:41.64), Mills fourth (13:41.76), Fisher sixth (13:41.83 and Ingebrigtsen, biding his time and running hard at the end, got in eighth in 13:42.15. The top 10 finished within 1.04 seconds of each other.

The U.S. has all three into the final.

● Women/800 m: Defending champion Mary Moraa (KEN) headlined semi one and she took the lead right away, ahead of Paris 1,500 m bronze winner Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR). Moraa took the bell in 58.91, with Natoya Goule-Toppin (JAM) moving up to challenge.

Those two led into the straight, but Hunter Bell moved inside to get a clear second, 1:58.40 and 1:58.62. Eloisa Coiro (ITA) and Claudia Hollingsworth (AUS) passed Goule-Toppin for third, 1:59.19-1:59.50-1:59.58. Maggi Congdon of the U.S. was seventh in 1:59.95.

Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi, the 2019 World Champion and Tsige Duguma (ETH), the 2024 World Indoor winner, figured to be the ones to beat in semi two, along with Diamond League winner Audrey Werro (SUI). Duguma took the lead and took the lead ahead of Werro in 58.53.

Australian 1,500 m star Jess Hull, came up for third with Nakaayi by 500 m, then into the straight, Werro was in front. But Kenya’s Lilian Odira came from behind on the outside and passed everyone to win at a fast 1:56.85. Werro was second at 1:56.99, then Hull with a national record of 1:57.15 for third. American Sage Hurta-Klecker also blasted the straight to get fourth in 1:57.62, relegating Duruma – the Paris silver winner – in fifth in 1:57.70. Naakayi also faded, to sixth in 1:57.79, a time that would have easily won semi one.

Olympic champ Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) lined up in semi three, and went to the lead, taking the bell at 59.02. Hodgkinson and Abbey Caldwell (AUS) were 1-2 with 300 to go, but Anais Bourgoin (FRA) ran into third on the straight. But it was Kenya’s Sarah Moraa, the younger sister of Mary, who barreled down the straight and almost caught Hodgkinson at the line, with both timing 1:57.53. Bourgoin ran 1:58.00 for third and did not make the final.

Hull and Hurta-Klecker both advanced on time.

● Women/Javelin: The automatic qualifiers from group one were two-time European silver winner Adriana Vilagos (SRB: 66.06 m/216-9), Australia’s 2023 Worlds bronzer Mackenzie Little (65.54 m/215-0) and Juleisy Angulo (ECU: 63.25 m/207-6 national record!). From group two, three made the 62.50 m (205-1) standard: Anete Sietina (LAT: 63.67 m/208-10), world leader Victoria Hudson (AUT: 62.85 m/206-2) and Tori Moorby (NZL: 62.78 m/206-0).

Olympic champ Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan did not qualify, finishing 14th overall at 60.38 m (198-1). Madison Wiltrout of the U.S. was 18th at 59.58 m (195-6) and Evelyn Bliss finished 19th at 58.88 m (193-2).

A big day for the U.S., now atop the medal table with 17 total (11-3-3), followed by Jamaica with eight (1-4-3), then Kenya (7: 4-1-2) and Italy (6: 1-3-2). The placing table, scoring eight places from eight points down to one, as a measure of team strength, has the U.S. at 220 now, to 80 for Kenya and Jamaica.  

The Saturday morning schedule has the 20 km walks, plus the continuation of the women’s heptathlon, the start of the men’s decathlon and qualifying in the men’s discus and women’s shot.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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PANORAMA: Milan Olympic village praised; big crowds, but U.S. medals down at Tokyo Worlds; World Boxing’s van der Vorst will not run again

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst (NED) (Photo: World Boxing).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The now-built Olympic Village (but not yet furnished) in Milan for the 2026 Winter Games was toured by International Olympic Committee officials on Thursday, including President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM). An IOC review of the tour noted:

“There will be six Olympic Villages during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, in Milan, Cortina, Predazzo, Bormio, Livigno and Anterselva – with a mix of existing, temporary and newly built facilities. … Milano Cortina 2026 will be hosted across two cities, Milano and Cortina, two regions, Lombardy and Veneto, and two Autonomous Provinces, Trento and Bolzano.”

The new Milan village, completed in July, includes 1,200 bedrooms – to house 1,700 athletes during the Games – and will be student housing after the Games.

● Athletics ● Attendance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo has been strong, with six of the nine days completed:

● 13 Sep.: 32,739 a.m. // 56,819 p.m.
● 14 Sep.: 30,080 a.m. // 57,528 p.m.
● 15 Sep.: 33,144 a.m. // 53,124 p.m.
● 16 Sep.: 37,462 p.m. only
● 17 Sep.: 35,975 p.m. only
● 18 Sep.: 57,327 p.m. only

The first three days were on the weekend and a Monday national holiday, but the all-sessions average is 43,800 and for the six evening sessions, 49,706. Impressive.

Olympic super-statistician Dr. Bill Mallon shared on X on Wednesday (not including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s women’s 400 gold and the Curtis Thompson men’s javelin bronze):

“Last 7 World Athletics Championships for USA

“2011 USA 28
“2013 USA 26
“2015 USA 18
“2017 USA 30
“2019 USA 29
“2022 USA 33
“2023 USA 29

“Prior to Tokyo people were asking if we can get to 30 medals.

“We currently have 10 medals (7 gold). I don’t see anyway we can get more than 23.

“So fewest medals likely since 2015.”

The Athletics Integrity Unit disclosed that 1,200 doping tests were being taken during the World Championships, with 650 at the athlete hotel and 550 during the competitions. Moreover, targeted testing of the 145 athletes from the five “category A” countries requiring added scrutiny – Bahrain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine – were tested 1,209 times over the 10 months prior to the meet, an average of 8.34 tests per athlete.

A Grand Slam Track spokesperson told Britain’s The Guardian:

“The rumors that Michael Johnson has received $2 million or profited in any way from Grand Slam Track are categorically false.

“In fact, Michael has actually put over $2 million of his own money into the project. We are working hard in real time to secure additional funds, and Michael has asked for patience while we try to fix this.”

The Berlin Marathon comes on Sunday, also the final day of the World Championships. The top entries by time:

Men:
● 2:02:05 ~ Sabastian Sawe (KEN ‘24)
● 2:03:00 ~ Gabriel Geay (TAN ‘22)
● 2:03:17 ~ Milkesa Mengesha (ETH ‘24: defending champ)
● 2:03:31 ~ Haymanot Alew (ETH ‘24)
● 2:03:46 ~ Guye Adola (ETH ‘17: 2021 champion)

Women:
● 2:16:14 ~ Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN ‘24)
● 2:17:58 ~ Degitu Azimeraw (ETH ‘21)
● 2:18:32 ~ Dera Dita (ETH ‘25)
● 2:18:52 ~ Mestawut Fikir (ETH ‘24)
● 2:18:52 ~ Tigist Girma (ETH ‘22)

Prize money is €30,000-15,000-10,000-8,000-6,500-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000-1,500 for places 1-10 for men and women. In all, some 80,000 people from 160 countries are expected to participate, with 55,146 runners registered to start.

● Boxing ● Major announcement from World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst (NED) on Thursday:

“My time as President has been fulfilling and inspiring, but it has also been relentless. After years of global travel and the daily demands of building World Boxing from the ground up to meet the requirements of the IOC and other stakeholders, I have concluded that I will not commit to another term as President.

“World Boxing is firmly established and recognised, and it is time for new leadership to guide the organisation towards Dakar 2026 and Los Angeles 2028.”

The next Congress will be in New Delhi (IND), after the conclusion of the World Boxing Cup from 15-22 November. World Boxing’s announcement explained:

“The window for nominating candidates to take part in elections at the World Boxing Congress in November is now closed. In line with the processes set-out in World Boxing’s ‘Election process And Voting Regulations’ policy … all of the candidates will be assessed for eligibility by an independent Vetting Panel using open-source materials.

“The Vetting Panel is made-up of three independent, external experts that do not have any involvement or knowledge of World Boxing and will be supported by the leading independent provider of sport-specific arbitration and mediation services, Sport Resolutions.

“Once the vetting process has been completed a final list of eligible candidates will be published no later than 30 days before the elections take place.”

Van der Vorst won with 63% of the vote against Elise Seignolle of the U.S. in the November 2023 election for World Boxing President, for an initial two-year term.

● Cycling ● The UCI World Road Championships start on Sunday in Kigali (RWA) with the men’s and women’s Time Trial, with the stars of the sport lined up to race.

The men’s course is 40.6 km, with three modest climbs and a slightly uphill finish, with two-time defending champion – and Paris Olympic winner – Belgian Remco Evenepoel looking for no. 3 and 2022 champ Stefan Kung (SUI) looking for a second. No one has won three in a row since Tony Martin (GER) in 2011-12-13.

But everyone will be looking at Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar, the Tour de France winner, who was second (stage 5) and first (stage 13) in the two time trials during the Tour.

The women have a 31.2 km route, with two small climbs and a modest uphill finish. Two prior champions are back: American Chloe Dygert, who won in 2019 and 2023, and Dutch star Anna van der Breggen, the 2020 champ. Olympic silver winners Marlen Reusser (SUI: 2020) and Anna Henderson (GBR: 2024) are in, as well as Dutch star Demi Vollering, who was fourth in her only time trial this year, the opening stage of the Vuelta Espana Femenina.

● Volleyball ● Group play concluded at the FIVB men’s World Championship in the Philippines, with the playoffs to start on Saturday (pool standings shown):

Upper bracket:
● Tunisia (A1) vs. Czech Republic (H2)
● Serbia (H1) vs. Iran (A2)
● United States (D1) vs. Slovenia (E2)
● Bulgaria (E1) vs. Portugal (D2)

Lower bracket:
● Poland (B1) vs. Canada (G2)
● Turkey (G1) vs. Netherlands (B2)
● Argentina (C1) vs. Italy (F2)
● Belgium (F1) vs. Finland (C2)

The quarterfinals will be on the 24th and 25th, the semis on the 27th and finals on the 28th.

● Wrestling ● Big day for Japan’s women wrestlers, winning three of four classes at the UWW World Championships in Zagreb (CRO):

● 53 kg: Haruna Murayama d. Lucia Yepez (ECU), 5-0
● 62 kg: Sakura Motoki d. Ok-ju Kim (PRK), 5-4
● 68 kg: Ami Ishii d. Yuliana Yaneva (BUL), 4-2
● 72 kg: Alla Belinska (UKR) d. Nesrin Bas (TUR), pinfall

Murayama, 26, won her fourth Worlds gold, also in 2017-18-23; Motoki won her first Worlds gold to go with her Paris 2024 victory, and Ishii won her second title in a row. Japan, of course, won the women’s team title with an overwhelming 162 points, to 115 for North Korea; the U.S. was fourth at 83. American Kennedy Blades, the Paris Olympic 76 kg runner-up, won bronze at 68 kg.

The championships will conclude over the weekend with the Greco-Roman classes.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: L.A. Metro plotting new avenues for 2028 Olympic funding from the U.S. government; $68 million might be coming

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ METRO KEEPS SWINGING ≡

Requests by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority to the Federal government for $3.2 billion in funding to support added transportation programs related to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles have gone nowhere.

Nothing from the Biden Administration. Nothing so far from the second Trump Administration.

But Metro continues to push for funding, with another lobbying effort detailed during Thursday’s Executive Management Committee hearing, with a new proposal to be included in a possible bill that would replace the expiring, $1.2 trillion “Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill” (also known as the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” P.L. 117-58) passed in 2021 during the Biden Administration.

The Olympic funding concept is a part of a much larger, “USA Build Initiative” to get the Federal government to agree to build and support surface transportation infrastructure (and give billions to Metro). The Olympic-related elements include:

● “2028 Games Recommendation #1 – MEGA Program Eligibility
“Eliminate the requirement in the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (‘MEGA’) Program that public transportation projects must be part of another eligible project to receive assistance under the program.

● “2028 Games Recommendation #2 – MEGA Program Prioritization
“Prioritize funding provided under the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (‘MEGA’) Program to projects that will support a designated National Special Security Event.

● “2028 Games Recommendation #3 – Transportation Assistance for Olympic Cities
“Update the dates and include S.4348 (117th Cong.), the Transportation Assistance for Olympic Cities Act of 2022, in the surface transportation reauthorization bill”

The MEGA program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which has so far rejected any Olympic funding assistance to Metro, but it is designed for “large, complex projects that are difficult to fund by other means and likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits.”

The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games certainly fits within the description. However, as the 2021 Act was heavily criticized by Republicans, it is not clear whether a new bill will be considered.

The “Transportation Assistance for Olympic Cities Act of 2022” was introduced by California Senator Alex Padilla in June 2022, was assigned to committee and died there. It directed the Secretary of Transportation to assist with planning and technical assistance for the 2028 Los Angeles Games and 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City and to provide “such sums as are necessary.”

Whether the Congress will pay attention is an open question, but the Trump Administration has continuously reiterated its support for the success of the LA28 Games.

Metro Executive Officer for Government Relations Michael Turner explained that an advocacy program for 2026 is in development, and “top of mind on everything is obviously the [FIFA] World Cup and the Olympics that we will soon be hosting.”

Director of Federal Affairs Raffi Hamparian talked about the ongoing efforts for at least some Olympic-related funding to come to Metro. He said of the current inter-party fight over spending:

“The fiscal 2025 spending bills are a bit of a wreck on Capitol Hill … right now, we’re looking at a Continuing Resolution, taking the Federal Government and keeping it funded through November 21st. …

“For us, there were provisions, especially in the Senate THUD [Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act] bill that were of particular interest.

“We were able, working with our Congressional delegation in the House and with the leadership of Senator Padilla and Senator [Adam] Schiff, we were able to get $68 million in mobility funding for the 2028 Olympic Games. There was also $78 million for transportation related to the World Cup.

“Whether those provisions will survive [in] the Continuing Resolution remains to be seen.”

Observed: To its credit, Metro refuses to take “no” for an answer on Olympic and Paralympic Games funding from Washington, D.C.

The overarching question is what the Trump Administration will choose to do: support Metro, take over the spectator transportation program itself through the Department of Transportation and possibly the military – 1,000 military drivers were used to support the 1996 Atlanta Games – or some composite.

So far, no direction has been announced. But the clock is ticking.

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ATHLETICS: McLaughlin-Levrone awesome in 47.78 400 m win, Lyles and Jefferson-Wooden make 200 m statements at Tokyo Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
Brilliant World 400 m Championships win for American star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Photo: Dan Vernon for World Athletics).

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Day six of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo was finally cooler, but still at 80 F with rain coming in as the session started at 7 p.m. But that did not stop a sensational crowd of 57,327 from showing up to see the stars.

And the crowd knew what they wanted to see, roaring for the introduction of American star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the women’s 400 m. They were not disappointed.

● Women/400 m: What would Sydney do? She was in lane five, with Paris Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino (DOM) in nine and 2019 World Champion Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) in seven.

McLaughlin-Levrone was off well, making up the stagger on Britain’s Amber Anning outside her, with Paulino running well in nine and Naser pushing as well. But McLaughlin-Levrone had the lead into the straight, with Paulino challenging and within view. There was no let up from Paulino and McLaughin-Levrone kept working to the line and crossed in a sensational 47.78, the no. 2 performance of all time and another American Record.

Paulino was a strong second in 47.98, the no. 3 performance ever, with Naser third in 48.19. Those three were way ahead, with Natalia Bukowiecka (POL) fourth in 49.27.

Only Marita Koch (GDR 1985: 47.60) and Jarmila Kratochvilona (CZE 1983: 47.99) had ever run under 48 seconds coming in; two did it in one race on Thursday. Spectacular is an understatement. What’s next?

● Men/400 m: The new world leader, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (BOT) was in five – one of three Botswanans in the final – and American champ Jacory Patterson in three, with a light rain coming down.

South Africa’s Zakithi Nene was running strongly down the backstraight, but Kebinatshipi got to the lead around the turn and into the straight. Jereem Richards (TTO) came on in the straight and moved up to challenge, but he ran out of room as Kebinatshipi won in a world-leading 43.53, still no. 10 all-time.

Richards, the 2020 World Indoor champion, got a national record of 43.72 in second and Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori came up for third in 44.20. Patterson tried to challenge on the straight, but faded to seventh in 44.70.

It’s the second Worlds medal for Richards, who won a Worlds 200 m bronze in 2017.

● Men/Javelin: American Curtis Thompson, having a career year, took the lead in round one and arched the spear to 86.67 m (284-4), then was passed by two-time World Champion Anderson Peters (GRN) with his second throw of 87.38 m (286-8). London Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott (TTO) solved the swirling winds with a line drive in round two to get the lead at 87.83 m (288-2).

It wasn’t easy and Olympic champ Arshad Nadeem (PAK) didn’t advance to the fourth round, finishing 10th at 82.75 m (271-6). But Walcott solved the conditions in round four and improved with a flat-arcing throw at 88.16 m (289-3).

World leader Julian Weber (GER) just could not find the right way through the conditions and finished a frustrating fifth at 86.11 m (282-6).

The standings didn’t change and Walcott won a world title to go with his Olympic gold in 2012. For Thompson, 29, it was his first Worlds medal, after finishing 11th in 2022, and 30th in qualifying in 2023. He didn’t qualify for the final in Paris. Now, he’s a Worlds medal winner, the first by an American since Breaux Greer’s bronze in Osaka in 2007.

● Women/Triple Jump: World Indoor champ Leyanis Perez (CUB) got out to the lead in round one at 14.85 m (48-8 3/4), trailed by world-record holder Yulimar Rojas (VEN) at 14.76 m (48-5 1/4). Returning from her devastating leg injuries, Rojas’s shoes were decorated with an “I’m Back” message.

In round two, Olympic champ Thea LaFond (DMA) fired up in round two and moved into second at 14.76 m (48-5 1/4). But Perez kept the pressure on, extending her lead to 14.90 m (48-10 3/4) in round three. And then again in round four, despite the rain, reaching 14.94 m (49-0 1/4).

LaFond got out to 14.89 m (48-10 1/4) in round six, almost passing Perez, but stayed in second. Rojas also improved to 14.71 m (48-3 1/4) on her final jump and won the bronze after a brutal injury (and four Worlds wins before).

Perez equaled her 14.94 m best in round six and completed the indoor-outdoor Worlds double. Jasmine Moore of the U.S., the Olympic bronzer in Paris, managed 14.51 m (47-7 1/4) for seventh.

The qualifying was impacted by the rainy conditions, but U.S. 200 m star Noah Lyles sent a message:

● Men/200 m: Semifinal one saw two-time Olympic silver winner Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. move smartly on the turn and move into the lead, winning a smooth race in 19.88 (-0.1). Alexander Ogando (DOM) was a clear second in 19.98, with Makanakaishe Charamba (ZIM) moving up for third at 20.03 and South Africa’s 400 m world-record holder Wayde van Niekerk fading to fourth (20.12).

Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo (BOT) was in lane six in semi two, with Jamaica’s Bryan Levell – 19.69 this year – in lane eight, and American Courtney Lindsey in seven. Levell was out best and led into the straight and he and Tebogo were easily in front and were a clear 1-2 in 19.78 (0.0) and 19.95. Lindsey was third in 20.30 and Australian teen star Gout Gout was fourth (20.36) and did not advance.

Defending champ Lyles was in his preferred lane seven in semi three, with British star Zharnel Hughes (GBR) just inside him in six. Lyles was fast off the turn and flew into the straight and didn’t relax until the final 3 m, crossing in a world-leading 19.51 (+1.0)!

Wow! That’s the fastest prelim race ever, faster than Lyles’ 19.62 in his semi at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene. It’s also the no. 15 performance of all time. Yikes.

Hughes was second in 19.95; Tokyo Olympic champ Andre De Grasse (CAN) was sixth in 20.13 and did not advance.

● Men/800 m: The semis were expected to be wild, with the rain returning. Defending champ Marco Arop (CAN) leading at the bell of semi one, but Ireland’s Mark English sprinted past the field and led with 200 m to go. Arop came on off the turn and took the lead and he and Olympic bronze winner Djamel Sedjati (ALG) finished 1-2 with both at 1:45.09. English had to settle for third in 1:45.47.

U.S. champ Donavan Brazier, the 2019 World Champion, was in semi two and the pack was tight through 300 m. Francesco Pernici (ITA) took the bell and then Paris Olympic finalist Max Burgin (GBR) took over with Brazier boxed in in fifth. Around the final turn, Burgin led Cian McPhillips (IRL), but McPhillips got to the line in 1:43.18, a national record. Burgin was second in 1:43.37 and Brazier had to sprint hard on the inside to get third at the line in 1:43.82, ahead of Bernici at 1:43.84, a lifetime best.

Olympic champ Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) headlined semi three, but France’s Yanis Meziane took the lead and led at the bell, ahead of Tshepiso Masalela (BOT). Wanyonyi moved up on the shoulder of Masalala with 200 m to go, then Spain’s Paris fifth-placer Mohamed Attaoui sprinted into the lead on the straight and won in a stunning 1:43.18 – the fastest non-final ever – with Wanyonyi second in 1:43.47.

Behind them, Navasky Anderson (JAM) got a national record of 1:43.72 for third, Masalela was fourth in 1:43.80 and American Bryce Hoppel was fifth in 1:43.92.

● Women/200 m: The rain held off for a few minutes, with two-time World Champion Shericka Jackson was in lane seven in semi one, with Olympic bronzer Brittany Brown outside her in eight. Jackson led into the straight and was chased by Britain’s Amy Hunt and they were 1-2 in 21.99 and 22.08 (-0.1). Brown was third in 22.13, fading in the final 30 m, but advanced to the final on time.

World 100 m winner Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the U.S. was in seven, with 2019 World Champion Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) inside her in six. Jefferson-Wooden got into the lead on the straight and shut it down with 40 m left, winning in 22.00 (+0.1), with Asher-Smith second in 22.21. Very impressive.

The U.S. had Tokyo Olympian Anavia Battle and 2024 NCAA champion McKenzie Long in semi tree in lanes six and eight. Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith (CIV) ran well on the turn and had the lead into the straight, but Battle came on to win in 22.09 (-0.3) to 22.17. Long came on for third in 22.48.

Long and Anthonique Strachan (BAH) from semi one both ran 22.48 for the final (eighth) qualifying spot, but Strachan was 1/1,000th faster at 20.477 to 20.478. But, both were advanced to a nine-woman final!

● Women/800 m: Olympic champ Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) was in front at the bell in heat one and rolled into the straight with Assia Raziki (MAR) a close second, 1:59.79 to 1:59.82. U.S. champ Roisin Willis moved up on the final straight and was fourth – and did not advance – in 2:00.24.

Defending champion Mary Moraa (KEN) led heat two at the bell, with Veronica Vancardo (SUI) close, then Moraa and France’s Anais Bourgoin separating from the field down the final straight and Bourgoin winning, 1:58.43 to 1:58.44. Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma, the Paris runner-up, led at the bell with Nelly Jepkosgei (BRN) close. Into the straight, Duguma and American Maggi Congdon ran away and went 1-2 in 2:01.53 and 2:01.74, with Eloisa Coiro (ITA: 2:01.86) third.

Heat four had Diamond League winner Audrey Werro (SUI) and she was leading with Sage Hurta-Klecker (USA) just behind, as the rain started. They were 1-2 into the straight and rolled home in 1:58.43 for both. Uganda’s Halimah Naakayi, the 2019 winner, led Paris fourth-placer Jemma Reekie (GBR) at the bell, then Kenya’s Lilian Odira ran away on the final straight to win in 1:57.86, then Daily Cooper Gaspar (CUB) got a lifetime best in second in 1:58.16. Naakayi and Reekie faded to 4-5 in 1:58.57 and 1:59.35, but advanced on time.

Olympic 1,500 m bronze winner Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR) had the lead at 600 m in heat six and was in front on the straight and won in a final sprint with Gabija Galvydyte (LTU), 1:58.82 and 1:58.86. Australia’s Jess Hull, the 1,500 m bronzer, was doubling back in heat seven, fell on the backstraight of the first lap and was out of it. Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin led at the bell and held on to win over Oratile Nowe (BOT), 1:59.66 to 2:00.09. Hull was seventh and last in 2:13.42; Prudence Sekgodiso (RSA), the World Indoor champ, stepped off the track on the final lap and did not finish.

Hull protested and was advanced to the semis.

● Women/5,000 m: Olympic champ and world-record holder Beatrice Chebet (KEN) was in heat one, but the crowd was cheering Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka in front, with Chebet right behind. With two laps to go, Tanaka led Maureen Koster (NED), Chebet and 10,000 m runner-up Nadia Battocletti (ITA).

Tanaka led at the bell with eight in the front pack, with all to qualify. Koster took the lead on the final turn, then Chebet strode away on the straight to win in 14:45.59. Battocletti was an easy second (14:46.36), then Shelby Houlihan of the U.S. in 14:46.52. Koster was fourth and Tanaka was fifth; Elise Cranny of the U.S. was 10th in 15:00.23.

Defending champion (and 1,500 m winner) Faith Kipyegon (KEN) was in heat two, but Japan’s Ririka Hironaka rolled out to a 25 m lead after 2 1/2 laps. Hironaka was still way in front at 3,000 m – maybe 40 m! – with everyone else in the chase pack.

Kipyegon took the lead in the chase pack by 4,000 m and started to close the gap, with teammate Agnes Ngetich – no. 2 on the year list – and Ethiopian star Gudaf Tsegay, the 2022 World Champion in this event. They finally caught Hironaka after 4,100 m and Kipyegon and Ngetich were 1-2 with 600 m to go. At the bell, Kipyegon led a mass of eight.

Kipyegon, Tsegay and Marta Garcia (ESP) came into the straight 1-2-3 and Tsegay won the final sprint in 14:56.46, with Kipyegon at 14:56.71 and Rose Davies (AUS) third in 14:56.83. Garcia was fourth; Josette Andrews of the U.S. qualified sixth in 14:57.59. Hironaka ended up 13th and did not qualify.

The final, with Chebet vs. Kipyegon at the top, will be epic.

● Women/High Jump: There were 24 who cleared 1.88 m (6-2) and then 11 who made 1.92 m (6-3 1/2). With the rain impacting the footing, the qualifying was extended to five who made 1.88 m (6-2). The stars all moved through: Olympic champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) and Australian stars Eleanor Patterson, the 2022 Worlds winner, and Paris runner-up Nicola Olyslagers.

As for the Americans, U.S. champ Vashti Cunningham managed 1.88 m and was 17th; Emma Gates was 22nd at 1.88 and Sanaa Barnes cleared 1.83 m (6-0) and finished 25th.

The medal table shows the U.S. with 12 total (8-1-3), followed by Kenya (7: 4-1-2) and Jamaica (6: 1-4-1). The placing table, scoring eight places from eight points down to one, as a measure of team strength, has the U.S. at 164 now, to 80 for Kenya and 63 for Jamaica.

The Friday evening schedule – no more morning events until Saturday – in Tokyo has the men’s and women’s 200 m and 400 m hurdles finals, the men’s triple jump and the first day of the heptathlon. Qualifying is in the men’s 5,000 m, women’s 800 m, shot and javelin.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Metro approves $42 million 2028 Games consultants contract to ensure sufficient expertise as the event gets close

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ METRO GETS CONSULTANT HELP ≡

“We shared that Metro would put its best foot forward, as it welcomes the world to see these major events over the next few years. But, CEO [Stephanie] Wiggins consistently emphasized ‘the elephant is still in the room.’

“We know what that is: it’s money. It’s funding, right.

“I know that our Metro teams are working hard on that issue at both the Federal and the State levels.”

That was the introduction to Wednesday afternoon’s special meeting of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors by Chair Fernando Dutra.

This was mostly an informational meeting, but one significant contract was approved, a unique, not-to-exceed agreement for up to $42,043,610 with a trio of major engineering firms: Jacobs Engineering Group, Mott MacDonald Group and Legacy 2028, a joint venture between STV Inc. and Egis Rail Inc. USA.

The contract is not for a specified scope of work, rather an on-call support team to provide requested services regarding Metro’s roles during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, such as the Games Enhanced Transit Services program to meet increased demand, the Games Route Network for Games operations, mobility hubs, bus-only lanes, key station improvements and other items.

This contract has been awarded solely to Mott MacDonald in mid-May, but, according to the Metro staff report:

“This item was originally presented to the Ad Hoc 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games Committee on May 14, 2025 (Item #7). However, prior to the May Board meeting, staff were made aware of discrepancies with the recommendation, and the Item was withdrawn from the May Board agenda. After further review, on July 23, 2025, staff rescinded the Notice of Intent to Award that was issued to all three firms and initiated the re-evaluation of the proposals received.”

The original scoring of the proposals from the three firms – the only ones who bid – showed:

● 86.15: Mott MacDonald
● 84.04: Jacobs Engineering Group
● 76.94: Legacy 2028

The revised examination of the proposals had a different outcome:

● 83.45: Jacobs Engineering Group
● 79.75: Mott MacDonald Group
● 78.40: Legacy 2028

So the spread of the scores in the first review was 9.21 points, but just 5.05 after the second look.

Seleta Reynolds, the Metro Chief Innovation Officer, explained that the choice to engage all three was not based on a balance of expertise, but capacity when capacity will be needed:

“We took this approach really looking at the magnitude of the task that lies before us, all of the things that we have that we’re trying to complete between now and 2028, whether its infrastructure projects or some of those more programmatic elements.

“We wanted to make sure that we had absolutely no constraints on our capacity to deliver. One of the key lessons learned that we took away from the City of Paris was that, as the Games get closer, there is a real workforce constraint because everyone is vying for the same talent.”

In terms of how the contract will work, Reynolds noted:

“Each of the teams – they’re large teams, they have a number of sub-consultants and a very deep bench, all of them – and so it does allow us to potentially match up the skills with the actual talent with the actual task orders that we have lined up, but the way the task orders get awarded is rotational.

“So the first task order that goes out will be to the team that had the highest score, and so on and it just goes 1-2-3, 1-2-3, so that’s it’s really quick and we’re not going back out and asking for more information, but we are rotating through.

“So we have our list of task orders ready to go, that we want to start awarding almost immediately. … But I will just say, to be honest, each of these three teams is extremely strong because of their depth and I don’t have concerns. My concern is speed and urgency. You know, along with some strategy, of course, but for the most part, we’re just ready to go.”

The contract award was passed on a unanimous voice vote.

The other three items on the agenda were informational only, on the Mobility Concept Plan, the implementation effort, and Metro’s fan zone approach.

A question was raised about 2028 Games-period service running beyond even extended operating hours. Reynolds commented:

“I will say that there is another Olympic Games and Paralympic Games that are happening before us, and that’s the Winter Games in Milan and I know, speaking with their transit agency, that they have been requested to run service that goes much later than they normally do, and to activate a full, what’s called a ‘night-owl network’ of buses throughout the city, to be there for 24-hour service.

“Much more extensive than they normally have, and so I can see that that is a request that’s probably going to be coming our way. That request came from the [International Olympic Committee] and so we’re starting to take that into consideration in our planning.”

A list of possible low-cost, long-life improvement projects – such as station improvements – was shared, based on a prior request, with priority shown for 15 programs, from $2 million to $135 million, with 12 requiring funding commitments by December 2025, or they cannot be completed by the time of the Games. Nine other projects have later funding deadlines.

A scoring system for identifying possible fan zones in Los Angeles County (separate from the City of Los Angeles) was explained, with priority for proximity to existing transit stations and Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility of the site. Other considerations include placement in “Equity Focus Communities,” any history of events at the site, heat abatement and shade and whether the location is culturally significant.

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PANORAMA: LA28 ticket sign-up starts in January; IOC confident in Milan Cortina for 2026; sprinter Kerley signs up for Enhanced Games

By
Rich Perelman
-
Another UWW World Championships gold for American star Helen Maroulis! (Photo: United World Wrestling)

★ 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 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizing committee announced that registration for the ticket sales lottery will begin next year:

“Starting in 2026, fans will have access to a wide variety of options. Single tickets for both Games will start at $28, with early access to tickets for locals around Games venue cities. To purchase tickets, a general registration period will open in January 2026. In addition to several purchase options for individual tickets, curated ticket-inclusive hospitality experiences and packages will be revealed and on sale to the general public in 2026. Tickets for the Paralympic Games will go on sale in 2027.”

The announcement also noted that hospitality sales will start in early 2026, and:

● “Ticket access will be determined through a draw process that assigns purchase time slots for ticket drops beginning in 2026.”

● “Early access will be available for local communities surrounding Games venues.”

On the sponsorship front, official ticket services Eventim and AXS have joined at the Official Supporter level (third tier) and as “LA28 “preferred Secondary Ticketing Provider.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission was generally pleased with the work of the Milan Cortina organizers, with the Winter Games opening on 6 February.

Coordination Commission Chair Kristin Kloster (NOR) notably endorsed the progress on the controversial, new sliding track:

“Since the Coordination Commission’s previous visit, when we witnessed the start of construction in Cortina, the new Sliding Centre has exceeded all our expectations. The most ambitious construction project ever undertaken for a facility of this size has been completed, and I would like to thank Simico and its CEO, Fabio Saldini, for their commitment.”

The IOC post noted that almost 800,000 of the 1.5 million tickets available for the Games have been sold. Milan Cortina chief executive Andrea Varnier said €450 million in sponsorship support has been obtained so far, still short of the €550 million target. (€1 = $1.18)

IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi (SUI) explained that the call by some countries to exclude Israel is not in line with the Russian invasion of Ukraine:

“We have two National Olympic Committees, both of which comply with the Olympic Charter, and that’s why it’s a different case than Russia and Belarus. As for Israel and Palestine, we rely on the sports institutions. From a sporting perspective, for which we are responsible, they are two separate cases.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2030: French Alps ● A dissident group called “Collectif Citoyen JOP 2030” is trying to stop the organization of the 2030 Games, announcing Wednesday:

“The environmental aberration, democratic denial, financial mismanagement and opacity that constitute the JOP 2030 project should not and cannot remain without response or action, we have therefore referred the matter to the Administrative Court of Lyon and the UN to:

“● request the suspension of the execution of the Olympic host contract and the public decision to organize the 2030 Winter Games.

“● We also ask:

“to the State a moratorium on special Olympic laws allowing derogations from numerous standards, particularly environmental ones

“to the project leaders to immediately contact the National Commission for Public Debate so that a public debate can be organized under the aegis of this commission as soon as possible and while alternatives to the project are still possible

“Our mountains, our future… But also our democracy are at stake!

“To this end, we also submitted a petition to the AURA region and the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee on Friday 16 May 2025, requesting the suspension of the contract while the public consultation and information process is organised.”

France is in the throes of a difficult financial crisis and the Macron government is now on its fifth Prime Minister since the start of 2024. State efforts in all areas are under stress and unpopular, and this effort against the 2030 Winter Games continues that turmoil.

● Athletics ● Fred Kerley, the 2022 World men’s 100 m champion and two-time Olympic 100 m medalist, but who has been in trouble with sponsors and the law in 2024 and 2025, is the first track & field athlete to sign with the Enhanced Games. In a statement, he explained:

“I’m looking forward to this new chapter and competing at the Enhanced Games. The World Record has always been the ultimate goal of my career. This now gives me the opportunity to dedicate all my energy to pushing my limits and becoming the fastest human to ever live.”

The doping-friendly Enhanced Games will be held in May 2026 in Las Vegas; the project has signed five swimmers so far, plus Kerley.

Beyond the medal count at the World Athletics Championships is the World Athletics placing table, measuring team strength by scoring the top eight finishers with points from 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.

The U.S. is leading both after five of the nine days, but an even deeper dive by super-statistician Dr. Bill Mallon notes an important trend: the number of finalists and the number in places 4-8. So far:

● 31: United States (4-7-5-2-3 from 4-8)
● 13: Kenya (4-1-0-1-0)
● 11: Italy (0-0-1-3-2)
● 11: Ethiopia (1-1-3-0-2)
● 9: Jamaica (1-0-1-1-0)
● 9: France (1-2-0-2-3)

As the road to 2028 shapes up, this is a good sign for the U.S. as better and better depth will push the top of the team in the coming years.

The full opinion of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the suspension of Ethiopian 1,500 m star Diribe Welteji was published. The Athletics Integrity Unit won an appeal against a clearance by the Ethiopian National Anti-Doping Office’s hearing panel, which upheld Welteji’s view that she was not required to produce a sample outside her designated testing hour.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport arbitrator’s opinion included this critical passage:

“Given the factual and legal background surrounding the doping control, and the realistic possibility that the [AIU] Appeal will be upheld resulting in the Athlete’s ineligibility and subsequent disqualification of any results achieved, allowing her to compete in the World Championships, with a strong chance of winning a medal that may ultimately be withdrawn, would clearly jeopardize the integrity and credibility of the competition while depriving another athlete of rightful achievement.

“While these circumstances alone would not be sufficient to establish irreparable harm for [World Athletics], the fact that the Athlete voluntarily prevented the antidoping control from taking place, without proper justification, no longer allows her to submit that she would suffer irreparable harm if provisionally suspended; on the contrary, the irreparable harm shifts on the side of WA, which is deprived of the possibility to know if the Athlete would have been tested positive or not and to determine if the competitions it organizes would be fair and equitable.

“The Athlete would have been certainly in a better position if she had undergone the antidoping test under protest, with a possibility for her to challenge the validity or reliability of the test at a later stage. Therefore, the Division President accepts that under the particular circumstances of this case, combined with the importance of the competition, to allow her to compete despite the concrete risk of ultimate ineligibility would unjustifiably deprive other athletes of competition opportunities and potential success.

“While medal reallocations are regrettably not uncommon in sport, they must be avoided whenever possible. In this respect, the Division President observes that reallocations typically occur when an athlete is later found to have committed an ADRV [violation] which was unknown at the time of the specific competition. In this case, it is undisputed that the Athlete was already involved in antidoping proceedings and is suspected to have committed a possible ADRV which, as mentioned, has a realistic prospect of lead to a sanction.”

Translation: The decision clearly enunciates a rule that if an athlete is asked for a doping sample, the athlete must comply.

The AIU also announced a provisional suspension for Kenyan distance runner Diana Chepkorir for a prohibited substance or method based on her Athlete Biological Passport.

Chepkorir, 23, has run 29:56 for 10 km on the road and was fourth in the Berlin Half Marathon this year at 1:08:46.

● Fencing ● Another unique USA Fencing program returns for 2025 and 2026: the Listening Tour.

USA Fencing chief executive Phil Andrews has scheduled visits to 11 cities across the country from October 2025 into July 2026, seven coinciding with various fencing events, but five simply to visit and meet federation members one-on-one, with time slots booked in advance.

The schedule starts on 5 October at the North American Cup tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah and continues to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Kansas City, National Harbor, Salt Lake City again for the FIE Sabre World Cup, then Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Bradenton and Portland.

Shouldn’t every U.S. National Governing Body chief executive do this?

● Figure Skating ● There are 111 entries from 49 countries and two “neutral” entries each from Russian and Belarus in the “ISU Skate to Milano Figure Skating Qualifier” that runs from 17-21 September in Beijing (CHN).

At stake are Olympic Winter Games entries: five spots each for men (26 entries) and women (25), three spots for Pairs (11) and four for Ice Dance (19).

The U.S. is trying for one spot in Milan (it already has earned two entries) with Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy.

● Swimming ● Australia’s The Age newspaper reported that Rio 2016 Olympic 100 m Freestyle winner Kyle Chalmers, also the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 silver medalist, turned down a three-year promotional contract with the doping-friendly Enhanced Games worth $1.08 million. Further, bonuses of up to $1.5 million were offered, along with equity in the project.

Chalmers, 27, turned it down, focusing instead on a fourth Olympic Games in 2028. The story noted that he will continue to be pursued.

● Volleyball ● Pool play is finishing up at the FIVB men’s World Championship in the Philippines, with four groups concluded, with the top two advanced to the playoffs:

● Pool B: Poland (3-0), Netherlands (2-1)
● Pool D: United States (3-0), Portugal (2-1)
● Pool E: Bulgaria (3-0), Slovenia (2-1)
● Pool G: Turkey (3-0), Canada (2-1)

The American men finished with a 3-1 win over Cuba (25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 27-25) and won nine of 10 sets in their three matches.

Playoffs will start on the 20th; the third-seed U.S. is set to face no. 4 seed Slovenia on the 22nd. Group play will finish on the 18th.

● Wrestling ● At the UWW World Championships in Zagreb (CRO), U.S. star Helen Maroulis won her fourth Worlds gold, this time in the 57 kg class, by defeating Il-sim Son (PRK) by 3-2 in the final.

Maroulis, now 33, won her first three matches by pinfalls, but had a tough time with Son, but returned to the top of the podium, following wins in 2015, 2017 and 2021.

The North Koreans won a second gold in the tournament in the 50 kg class, as Myong-gyong Won defeated China’s Yu Zhang by 8-2. At 65 kg, Japan got a second women’s gold from Miwa Morikawa, beating Russian “neutral” Alina Kasabieva, 8-0.

At 76 kg, Ecuador’s Genesis Reasco defeated Aiperi Medet Kyzy (KGZ), 4-2, in the final, for her first career Worlds medal. American Kylie Welker, who lost to Kyzy in the quarterfinals, fought back to take one of the bronze medals.

The final men’s Freestyle team scoring was updated to finish with Iran winning with 145 points to 134 for the U.S. and 111 for Japan. Women’s Freestyle will conclude on Thursday; the final three days will be devoted to Greco-Roman.

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ATHLETICS: Moon gets third Worlds gold in U.S. vault 1-2 at Tokyo Worlds; dramatic wins for Nader, Cherotich and Furlani

By
Rich Perelman
-
A clearance on the way to a third World Championships gold for U.S. vault star Katie Moon (Photo: World Athletics).

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Hot and steamy on day five of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with 85 F temperatures and 75% humidity as the meet started. Good for the sprinters, not so much for the distance runners.

You want crazy, dramatic finishes? You got them on Wednesday:

● Men/1,500 m: The last two World Champions lined up – Jake Wightman from 2022 and Josh Kerr from 2023, both from Britain – but many had Diamond League winner Niels Laros (NED: 20 years old) as the favorite.

Laros and 2019 World Champion Tim Cheruiyot (KEN) had the lead with three laps left, then Cheruiyot took over with two laps to go with Reynold Cheruiyot (KEN) third. With 600 left, Kerr dropped off the back, limping badly, and was out of contention.

At the bell, Tim Cheruiyot led Laros, but Wightman struck for the lead with 200 to go with Laros chasing. Into the straight, Wightman led Laros, with Reynold Cheruiyot sprinting into third in the final 50 m as part of a mad rush by a half-dozen to the finish.

Stunningly, Isaac Nader (POR) was coming fastest and got past Reynold Cheruiyot and then Wightman right at the line and won in 3:34.10 to 3:34.12. Reynold Cheruiyot got third (3:34.25) with Tim Cheruiyot fourth (3:34.50) and Laros fifth in 3:34.52.

American Jonah Koech was 13th in 3:37,00; Kerr did finish, limping home in 4:11.23.

In six outdoor meets in 2025, Nader had won twice, including at the Bislett Games in Oslo, but was 10th at the Diamond League Final on 28 August. Twenty days later, he’s the World Champion.

● Men/Long Jump: Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, the 2019 World Champion, blew up the first round, taking the lead at 8.33 m (27-4). China’s Yuhao Shi, who didn’t get out of qualifying in Paris, also got out to 8.33 m in round two and stood second.

Swiss Diamond League winner Simon Ehammer, the combo decathlete and long jumper, reached 8.30 m (27-2 3/4) for third and World Indoor winner Mattia Furlani (ITA) was at 8.22 m (26-11 3/4) after three rounds for fourth. The stunner was Olympic champion Milatidis Tentoglou (GRE), who managed only 7.83 m (25-8 1/4) and finished 11th. Isaac Grimes of the U.S. was 10th at 7.85 m (25-9 1/4).

Gayle extended his lead to 8.34 m (27-4 1/2) in the fourth round, then Furlani exploded in round five and got a lifetime best of 8.39 m (27-6 1/2) to take the lead and the victory … at age 20!

Gayle and Shi finished 2-3 and Ehammer did not improve and ended up fourth.

● Women/Steeple: Paris Olympic champ Winfred Yavi (BRN) was the favorite, but Tokyo Olympic winner Peruth Chemutai (UGA) led after two full laps, with Olympic bronzer Faith Cherotich (KEN) and 2022 World Champion Norah Jeruto (KAZ) also close.

With three laps to go, Jeruto took over and then Chemutai fell to the track after tripping on a backstraight barrier and was out. With two laps left, Yavi was in front of Jeruto and Cherotich and increasing the pressure. At the bell, Yavi was in front of Cherotich and Jeruto and only Cherotich had a shot at Yavi.

Yavi took the final water jump, but Cherotich flew by and rolled to the finish to win in a rout in a meet record of 8:51.59, the no. 8 performance all-time! Yavi was second in 8:56.46, but Jeruto crashed over the final water jump and was out of contention.

That allowed Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew to win bronze in 8:58.86, ahead of Marwa Bouzayani (TUN: 9:01.46); Jeruto finished sixth in 9:06.34.

The Americans were 9-10-14: Angelina Napoleon (9:17.44), Kaylee Mitchell (9:18.66) and Lexy Halliday (9:34.03).

● Women/Vault: Twelve made the opening height of 4.45 m (14-7 1/4) and nine were left after 4.65 m (15-3). The bar went up to 4.75 m (15-7), with defending champion Katie Moon and two-time World Indoor winner Sandi Morris of the U.S. both over on their first tries.

Everyone else missed twice, but then ex-NCAA Indoor champ Tina Sutej (SLO) cleared, as did Amalie Svabikova (CZE), to move on Everyone else missed, including NCAA Indoor champ Amanda Moll and NCAA champion Hana Moll.

At 4.80 m (15-9), Moon cleared right away, Morris and Sutej cleared on their second tries, but Svabikova missed twice and passed. Morris cleared 4.85 m (15-11) on her first try and took the lead. Moon missed and then passed; Svabikova missed her one try and Sutej missed all three and won the bronze medal, her first outdoor Worlds medal after fourth places at the 2022 and 2023 Worlds!

On to 4.90 m (16-0 3/4), with Morris and Moon missing their first tries. Morris missed on her second try, but Moon slammed the bar on her second (final) try, but it stayed on and put her in the lead. So, Morris passed to 4.95 m (16-2 3/4) with one attempt, but missed and won another silver medal, her fourth at the Worlds: 2017-19-22 and now 2025.

Moon now has three Worlds gold in a row, plus the Tokyo Olympic title.

Qualifying started in a series of very entertaining 200 m races:

● Men/200 m: South Africa’s 400 m world-record holder Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) led off the turn, but was passed by Alexander Ogando (DOM), who won in 20.10 (wind: -0.2 m/s). Van Niekerk was second in 20.19, then Timothe Mumenthaler (SUI: 20.39) and Henrik Larsson (20.40) passed American Robert Gregory (20.43), who eased up at the line and did not advance.

World no. 7 Courtney Lindsey of the U.S. was lane nine for heat two, but it was Kentucky’s Carli Makarawu (ZIM) who rolled to the finish in a speedy 19.91 (-0.5) to win, with Lindsey moving up on the straight for second in 19.95.

Olympic silver winner Kenny Bednarek (USA) was in lane three in heat three, and was in the lead into the straight and won eased up in 19.98 (-0.3), ahead of former Stanford star Udodi Onwuzurike (NGR: 20.27). Defending champ Noah Lyles of the U.S. was in a stacked heat four with Tokyo Olympic champ Andre De Grasse (CAN), 2022 European champ Zharnel Hughes (GBR) and ex-NCAA champ Joseph Fahnbulleh (LBR) also on the line. Hughes and Lyles were 1-2 off the turn, but Lyles moved up to win in 19.99 (-0.1) with Hughes at 20.07, then Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor (20.26) and De Grasse (20.30) in fourth.

Heat five was a romp for Jamaica’s Bryan Levell in 19.84 (-0.1) with Auburn’s NCAA runner-up Makanakaishe Charamba (ZIM) second in 20.06 and Australian teen sensation Gout Gout third in 20.23. Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo (BOT) was in heat six, but he was fourth off the turn, then moved to the lead and won a sloppy effort at 20.18 (0.0).

● Men/400 m hurdles: World-record holder Karsten Warholm (NOR) was in lane four of semi one, and had a big lead, but eased off and 2019 Worlds bronzer Abderrahmane Samba (QAT) passed him on the run-in in 47.63 to 47.72. American Chris Robinson crumpled after the fifth hurdle and fell to the track and did not finish.

American Caleb Dean, the 2024 NCAA champ at Texas Tech, faced Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel – the 2025 NCAA winner for Baylor – in semi two. Nathaniel had the lead through most of the race and moved well to the finish in 47.47, with a lifetime best of 47.61 for Ismail Abakar (QAT) in second. Dean was third over hurdle eight, but was a speedy third in 47.85 and qualified for the final on time.

Olympic champ Rai Benjamin was in lane five in semi three, with 2022 World Champion Alison dos Santos (BRA) ahead of him in six. Benjamin piled up a big lead after nine hurdles and then jogged in to win in 47.95. Dos Santos had to work for second in 48.16, with Qatar’s Bassem Hemeida third with a lifetime best of 48.29.

● Men/Triple Jump: Algeria’s Yasser Triki, the 2024 World Indoor silver winner, got the auto-qualifier at 17.26 m (56-7 1/2) on his first attempt. Jamaica’s Jordan Scott joined him in round two at 17.19 m (56-4 3/4) as the only ones to get the automatic qualifying mark.

Tokyo Olympic champ Pedro Pablo Pichardo (POR) qualified third at 17.09 m (56-1), with World Indoor champ Andy Diaz (ITA) and defending champion Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR) also moving on at 16.94 m (55-7).

Salif Mane of the U.S. reached 16.86 m (55-3 3/4) and qualified 10th and moved to the final. Two-time Olympic silver winner Will Claye had a best of 16.52 m (54-2 1/2) was 19th and did not advance; U.S. champ Russell Robinson did not have a fair mark. Olympic champ Jordan Diaz (ESP) took one jump, was clearly in pain and did not jump again.

● Men/Javelin: World leader Julian Weber (GER) got his automatic qualifier on his second throw at 87.21 m (286-1), with defending champ Neeraj Chopra (IND) auto-qualified at 84.85 m (278-4) on his first throw. Poland’s Dawid Wegner got a lifetime best for an auto-qualifier at 85.67 m (281-1).

American Marc Minichello was 11th in the first group at 80.47 m (264-0) and did not advance.

In group two, two-time World Champion Anderson Peters (GRN) blasted out to 89.53 m (293-8) to lead all qualifiers, and 2015 World Champion Julius Yego (KEN) reached 85.96 m (282-0) for an auto-qualifier. Curtis Thompson of the U.S. also got the auto-qualifier at 84.72 m (277-11) in the second round and Olympic champ Arshad Nadeem (PAK) joined the party at 85.28 m (279-9) in round three.

● Women/200 m: Tokyo Olympian Anavia Battle of the U.S. won the first of six heats, coming off the turn to move ahead of Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith (CIV) and get a seasonal best of 22.07 (+0.1), no. 8 in the world for 2025. Ta Lou-Smith was second in 22.39.

The 100 m winner, U.S. star Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, was in lane seven for heat two, took the lead immediately and cruised home in 22.24 (-0.3), ahead of Thelma Davies (LBR: 22.76). Heat three had ex-NCAA champ McKenzie Long of the U.S., who led into the turn and won in 22.51 (-0.2) with Jamaica’s Ashanti Moore inside her at 22.57.

Heat four had the fourth American, Olympic bronzer Brittany Brown, in lane three, running the turn hard and rolling to the finish in 22.50 (+0.1), winning a competitive race with Anthonique Strachan (BAH: 22.57) and Britain’s Daryll Neita (22.59).

Two-time defending champ Shericka Jackson (JAM) headlined heat five in lane nine and led off the turn and won eased up in 22.33 (0.0), over Amy Hunt (GBR: 22.57). The final heat had 2019 World Champion Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), who had the lead off the turn and won easily in 22.40 (0.0), ahead of Torrie Lewis (AUS) with a lifetime best of 22.56.

St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred, the Olympic 100 m champ and bronze winner this year, withdrew with a hamstring injury after the 100 final; she said she felt some pain during the warm-ups.

● Women/400 m hurdles: Panama’s Gianna Woodruff, a Tokyo Olympic finalist, got a lifetime best of 52.66 in a wire-to-wire win in semi one, now no. 5 in the world this season. American Jasmine Jones, fourth in Paris, got a seasonal best of 53.01 in second.

Defending champ Femke Bol (NED) and Rio 2016 Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad of the U.S. were in lanes 6-7 in semi two, and Muhammad was out well, with Bol taking over after hurdle seven, winning in 52.31. Muhammad was second in 53.14.

Semi three had Olympic silver winner Anna Cockrell of the U.S. in eight and she led from wire to wire, winning in 53.28. Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon got a seasonal best in second (54.03).

With the 1-2 in the women’s vault, the U.S. leads the medal table with 10 total (7-1-2), ahead of Kenya (7: 4-1-2) and Jamaica (6: 1-4-1). The placing table, scoring eight places from eight points down to one, as a measure of team strength, has the U.S. at 146, to 77 for Kenya and 52 for Jamaica.

The Thursday evening schedule – no more morning events until Saturday – in Tokyo has the men’s and women’s 400 m, the men’s javelin and women’s triple jump. Qualifying is in the men’s and women’s 200 m, men’s and women’s 800, women’s 5,000 m and high jump.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: L.A. City Council committee recommends, by 3-2, not to advance Convention Center expansion for now

By
Rich Perelman
-
The massive South Hall entry to the Los Angeles Convention Center (Photo: Los Angeles Convention Center).

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≡ THE CONVENTION CENTER ≡

After a two-and-a-half hour hearing, the Los Angeles City Council Budget & Finance Committee voted, 3-2, for a lengthy recommendation to the full City Council to scrap the proposed $2.72 billion expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center until after the conclusion of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The committee, chaired by Council member Katy Yaroslavsky, heard extensive testimony from the City’s Chief Administrative Officer Matt Szabo, Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso, from the Department of Water and Power’s Senior Asst. General Manager for Power Systems Dave Hansen and the developer on the project, APCLA.

Tso noted the rushed nature of the reviews by City departments on the project and that the project has not been completely designed, risking added scope and costs. The cost has risen dramatically and the projected revenue from massive, digital signage facing the Harbor Freeway is now in jeopardy as a hoped-for waiver in bill AB 770 from the State of California has not materialized. Tso explained:

“The real concern that we have is really about Olympic readiness. When we embarked upon this, the whole purpose was to do this for the Olympics. And ironically – ironically – where we’re at, we could actually compromise the delivery of the Olympics, by moving forward on a project that could possibly be delayed for any number of reasons.

“And Water & Power is here to address that, Engineering can also address that, but there are a lot of schedule risks that could impact that. We’ve had some preliminary sessions with LA28; they’ve already begun the venue design for the Convention Center.

“I will remind you that there are at least 10 events that will be taking place there, as well as six other events that will be using adjacent facilities there. That facility, that whole sports park, will be utilized every day by LA28. Every day. They are expecting over a million ticketed people who will be attending everts there.

“And any risk that compromises the delivery of that, it gives me great concern. And we could be on the hook for additional liability and the fact that we worked so hard to maintain venues here in the City makes me think really hard about that. And so that is of great concern.”

The City has set a hard deadline of 31 March 2028 for most of the expansion work to be done on this project so that the LA28 organizers will be able to take exclusive access with a fully-functioning facility on 1 June 2028. That rest of the expansion work would be done in 2029.

Tso added:

“We have real fiscal problems right now. We really do. We just completed a budget process that was very brutal, and if you’re happy with the level of service that we have today, then this is the project for you. If you want to devote pretty much all of your economic activity in the next few years, this is your project. But if you’re happy with the level service, that’s what you’re going to get with this project, because you will be very, very limited in terms of being able to add any additional firefighters in the next decade, any additional police officers, improving your Rec & Parks services, paving another street. That is all going to be at risk.”

Yaroslavsky, after two hours, expressed her frustration with the project, especially with the costs and the aggressive timeline:

“The truth is that we don’t actually know. We don’t know. Because as a city, we haven’t built up a real estate development practice in-house, that can advise us on whether or not this is a good deal, and it’s capable of being finished by March of ‘28, or it’s not. We just don’t know. I don’t know.”

She noted that the cash cost to the City for debt payments on the bonds required to finance the expansion would cost $100 million per year for 30 years and up to $160 million in the early years.

Yaroslavsky made a motion to end the current expansion plan, and asked City staff to come back within 30 days with a plan to take care of deferred maintenance at the Convention Center, implement electrical, fire, technical and accessibility upgrades, installation of digital signage as allowed now and other modernization needs. Further, within 120 days, a report was requested to create a new Request for Proposal for the expansion of the Convention Center with a firm, fixed-price contract, with the construction to start after the 2028 Games conclude.

The motion was countered by Council member Heather Hutt, who asked for a vote to have the committee make no recommendation and forward the matter to the City Council. That motion failed, 3-2.

Yaroslavsky’s motion passed by 3-2, with Council members Bob Blumenfield and Eunisses Hernandez in favor. Hutt and Council member Tim McOsker were opposed.

The matter now goes to the full City Council for an up-or-down vote – with lots more discussion – on Friday.

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PANORAMA: Good attendance at Athletics Worlds so far; FIE promises integrity and growth in new plan; Snyder wins fourth wrestling Worlds gold!

By
Rich Perelman
-
A big crowd of 56,819 in the Japan National Stadium to see the first evening session of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo! (Photo: Karen Rosen).

★ 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 ≡

● Athletics ● The World Athletics Championships in Tokyo has been well attended this far, with figures now available for the first four days (morning and evening sessions):

● 13 Sep.: 32,739 a.m. // 56,819 p.m.
● 14 Sep.: 30,080 a.m. // 57,528 p.m.
● 15 Sep.: 33,144 a.m. // 53,124 p.m.
● 16 Sep.: 37,462 p.m. only

The first three days were on the weekend and a Monday national holiday. Evening sessions will be held Wednesday through Friday, with walks and qualifying session on Saturday morning and the start of the second day of the decathlon on Sunday morning.

It’s quite a change from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021, when no spectators were allowed, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

● Fencing ● The Federation Internationale de Escrime (FIE), which has been stifled since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Russian President Alisher Usmanov recusing himself from his office, issued a 22-page “Strategic Plan” last week. The goal:

“By 2028, the FIE will be recognised as a benchmark of institutional excellence, competitive fairness, and global fan engagement.”

The plan objectives start with “Modernize government and institutional structure,” an area which has atrophied under Usmanov’s time as President; officer term limits are promised to be introduced in 2026 (Usmanov has been elected to five terms so far).

Promotion will include more digital content, use of influencers on social media and a focus on Gen Z as future athletes and fans. The target is a 30% increase in global participation by 2028 and 15% annual growth in its digital audience.

Development will be focused on “diversify revenue and build long-term reserves”; the FIE media rights agreements are to be renewed in 2026. A new, tiered sponsorship program is also promised.

With Usmanov self-sidelined, the FIE Executive Committee appointed Abdel Moneim El Husseiny (EGY) as interim President on 30 April of this year, with an FIE Congress to ratify the selection in November.

Usmanov personally contributed CHF 87,158,404 (about $110.94 million U.S. at $1 = CHF 1.27) to the FIE from the year of his first election as President in 2008 to 2021, but the donations stopped after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The FIE has not publicly posted its financial statements since those covering 2021 (and then only in its Congress minutes). As of the end of 2021, the FIE had CHF 37.02 million in assets and CHF 35.29 million in reserves. It had total expenses in 2021 of CHF 8.12 million.

The 2023 Congress report stated the 2022 budget of CHF 10 million was underspent at CHF 7.74 million and that the budget for 2024 was CHF 6.95 million. The 2023 budget was CHF 7.43 million. Perhaps posting financial statements will be part of the future transparency plan.

● Swimming ● USA Swimming announced its team for its major international competition of 2026, the 14th Pan-Pacific Championships from 12-15 August in Irvine, California, the first time the meet has been held in the U.S. since 2010 (also in Irvine).

This is a strong meet, with the U.S., Australia, Japan and Canada the featured teams. For 2026, the American squad was selected via a performance formula, as there will not be a selection meet.

The team is a strong one, with the men’s squad including sprinter Jack Alexy, who won two medals at the World Aquatics Championships this year; Bobby Finke, the three-time Olympic distance champion and Luca Urlando, the only individual men’s gold medalist for the U.S. at the 22025 Worlds, in the 200 m Butterfly.

The women’s squad includes Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky, the 800-1,500 m Worlds winner, and 2025 Worlds gold medalists Katharine Berkoff (50 m Backstroke), Kate Douglass (200 m Breaststroke, but shown in five events!), and Gretchen Walsh (50-100 m Fly), plus triple Backstroke silver winner Regan Smith and Paris 2024 five-medal winner Torri Huske, in Free and Fly events.

USA Swimming updated its 221-page Operating Policy Manual on Tuesday, revising its “Competition Category Policy” to comply with U.S. President Donald Trump’s February Executive Order banning transgender women from women’s competitions:

“USA Swimming is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport. As mandated by the USOPC, and pursuant to the Act, USA Swimming must continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities (e.g., the International Olympic Committee, World Aquatics, etc.) to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the [Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports] Act. As required by Executive Order 14201, the definitions in Executive Order 14168 shall apply to this Competition Category Policy (this ‘Policy’).”

The women’s category is now defined as available to:

“Only athletes who meet the Executive Order’s definition of ‘women’ or ‘girls’ may compete in the Women’s Competition Category. In registering for membership in the Women’s Competition Category, an athlete represents and warrants that they meet the Executive Order’s definition of ‘woman’ or ‘girl.’”

● Wrestling ● Rio Olympic 97 kg champion Kyle Snyder of the U.S. won his fourth World Championships gold on Tuesday with a 4-2 victory over Iran’s Amir Ali Azapira at the UWW World Championships in Zagreb (CRO).

Snyder, now 29, won his matches by 10-0, 5-0 and 9-1 before the final and now has eight Worlds medals (4-2-2); his prior wins were in 2015, 2017 and 2022.

Real Woods of the U.S. won a bronze at 65 kg, with the class taken by Iran’s Rahman Amouzad, so the American men’s Freestyle group won five medals in 10 classes (3-1-1) and scored 134 points for second as a team (Iran won with 140).

Women’s Freestyle began on Tuesday, with Asian champion Kyong-ryong Oh (PRK) winning at 55 kg and Japan’s Sakura Onishi winning her first Worlds gold at 59 kg.

At 57 kg, 2016 Olympic 53 kg champ Helen Maroulis, 33, reached her sixth Worlds final and will face Il-sim Son (PRK) to try for a fourth Worlds gold tomorrow. Maroulis stormed through her three matches on Tuesday with pin falls in all three!

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Sales momentum surges as Starbucks joins as Founding Partner of LA28, also for U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, NBC

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ SPONSORSHIP RISING ≡

“Starbucks today announced it will be the Official Coffee Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA. As LA28 prepares to welcome athletes and fans from around the globe, Starbucks will be there to support moments of connection and community through unique coffeehouse activations featuring Starbucks arabica coffee handcrafted by green apron partners.”

The sponsorship is at the Founding Partner level, which is the highest tier for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee, joining Comcast, Delta and Honda and is the second agreement at that level announced in the last four months, a good sign for the LA28 finances.

In terms of its presence in 2028, the announcement explained:

“As the Official Coffee Partner of LA28 and Team USA, Starbucks will be a part of numerous aspects of the Games in the U.S. In the Olympic and Paralympic Village, Starbucks plans to provide a specially designed coffeehouse to foster moments of connection and community, serving Starbucks coffee crafted by expert green apron partners to the thousands of athletes participating.

“Starbucks will also extend the cafe experience at competition venues, volunteer hubs, and many other places-serving coffee to Olympic and Paralympic athletes, fans and spectators.”

The announcement made special mention of the company’s strong presence in the Los Angeles area:

“Starbucks has been part of the fabric of the Greater Los Angeles community for nearly 35 years with more than 1,000 stores in the broader LA region. Beyond its coffeehouses, Starbucks continues to invest in the broader Los Angeles community through the Starbucks Foundation. In June 2025, The Starbucks Foundation awarded 45 Neighborhood Grants, totaling nearly $100,000, to Los Angeles organizations and in January 2025, The Starbucks Foundation contributed $1 million to support relief and recovery efforts in response to the Los Angeles wildfires.”

If you watch the 2028 Games on any of the NBC channels providing coverage, Starbucks will be the only coffee advertiser.

LA28 has an ambitious $2.517 billion budget for domestic sponsorship revenue, which would be the second-highest on record. Olympic organizing committee revenue surpassed $1 billion U.S. at the 2008 Beijing Games and has been at that level in three of the next four Games (shown in amounts at the time):

● 2008: $1.218 billion from 51 partners (Beijing)
● 2012: $1.150 billion from 42 partners (London)
● 2016: $848 million from 53 partners (Rio de Janeiro)
● 2020: $3.240 billion from 68 partners (Tokyo)
● 2024: €1.238 billion from 70 partners (Paris: =$1.403 billion U.S.)

For 2020, 2024 and 2028, a three-tier sponsorship structure has mostly been followed, using the Paris 2024 verbiage:

● Premium Partners
● Official Partners
● Official Supporters

Comparing where LA28 is now vs. where Tokyo and Paris ended up:

● 2020: 68 partners: 15 Premium, 33 Official, 20 Supporters
● 2024: 70 partners: 7 Premium, 13 Official, 50 Supporters
● 2028: 24 partners: 4 Premium, 8 Official, 12 Supporters

LA28 also separately recognizes OnLocation as its Official Hospitality Provider and AXS and Eventm as its ticketing partners.

LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman has said repeatedly that he believes the organizing committee will reach $2.0 billion in sponsorship deals – 80% of the budgeted total – by the end of 2025. Comcast, Delta and Salesforce came in within four months in 2021, but the lingering effects of the pandemic slowed sales and Salesforce withdrew in 2024, paying $124.93 million as a termination fee.

Wasserman has noted that LA28 has, with just 24 partners so far, surpassed the Paris 2024 sponsorship revenue total three years in advance of its Games and is the second-most ever. Not bad at all.

There is clear momentum for LA28, and Wasserman said in a May interview – shortly before the Honda announcement in June – “People buy when they want to buy, and not when you want to sell.”

The upcoming intrigue will be how the LA28 sales effort, now led by former Nike executive John Slusher as the head of U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties, approaches its new-found right to sell venue sponsorships at more than a dozen of its temporary sites for 2028.

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ATHLETICS: U.S.’s Tinch wins 110 m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone smashes U.S. record in 400 m, fifth straight Kipyegon gold in Tokyo

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Champion hurdler Cordell Tinch of the U.S. (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Day four of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo continued with warm temps in the low 80s, but also the high humidity: 80% at the start of the evening. The competition was just as hot, with world-leading performances in the men’s high jump and hammer and the semis of the men’s and women’s 400 m … including an American Record for Olympic hurdles star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

First the finals:

● Men/110 m hurdles: The semifinals started with a crash for Shunsuke Izumiya (JPN), but the race continued and Dylan Beard of the U.S. was leading after eight hurdles. But off the final hurdle, the field closed and Orlando Bennett (JAM) got to the line first in 13.27 (wind: -0.8 m/s). The blanket finished saw Enrique Llopis (ESP: 13.29) second, then Shusei Nomoto (JPN: 13.30) and then Beard in 13.31. He did not advance.

World leader Cordell Tinch of the U.S. got to the lead right away and held on, giving back some of his lead on the run-in, but won in 13.16 (-0.5) to 13.18 for Swiss Jason Joseph. Demario Prince (JAM) and Lorenzo Simonelli (ITA) were 3-4 in 13.22.

The third semi had three-time World Champion Grant Holloway in lane eight and U.S. champ JaKobe Tharp in two. And Holloway was out well, but was caught by the field by the seventh hurdle. Jamaica’s Tyler Mason went to the lead and world no. 2 Rachid Muratake (JPN) came on during the run-in in 13.12 and 13.17 (-0.1). Tharp was right there at the close and was third in 13.19, but advanced to the final. Holloway ended up sixth in 13.52 and told NBC’s Lewis Johnson about his frustration, training well, but not getting the results he expected. At 27, he’ll be back.

About 90 minutes later, Tinch was in seven and Tharp was in nine in the final. The start was even but Joseph crashed into the first hurdle next to him in eight, but it did not impact Tinch. He was smooth over the hurdles and had the lead by the third hurdle and did not let go.

He stayed clean and won by daylight in 12.99 (-0.3), with the two Jamaicans close, and Bennett second in 13.08 and Mason running 13.12 again for bronze. Llopis got fourth in 13.16; Tharp was sixth in 13.31.

It’s the fourth straight Worlds gold for the U.S., after Holloway’s triple in 2019-22-23.

● Men/High Jump: Nine cleared 2.24 m (7-4 1/4), then at 2.28 (7-5 3/4), Olympic champ Hamish Kerr (NZL), Ukraine’s Oleg Doroshchuk and JuVaughn Harrison of the U.S. all cleared right away, with seven clearing the height, including USATF winner Tyus Wilson.

It got serious at 2.31 m (7-7), with Sang-hyeok Woo (KOR) and Jan Stefela (CZE) clearing on their second tries. Kerr and Doroshchuk cleared on their third. Everyone else missed, with Harrison just kicking the bar off with his heels on his third try. He finished fifth and Wilson tied for sixth.

At 2.34 m (7-8), everyone missed their first two tries, but Woo – the two-time World Indoor winner – cleared on his third. But Kerr also cleared! Doroshchuk missed and was fourth and Stefela missed and took bronze.

Now to 2.36 m (7-8 3/4), Woo missed, but Kerr sailed over to the roar of the crowd – equaling his lifetime best – to take the world lead in 2025. Woo passed to 2.38 m (7-9 3/4), missed, then Kerr missed and Woo was close, but missed to earn the silver. Kerr defended his Olympic title in style.

● Men/Hammer: Olympic silver winner Bence Halasz (HUN) took the lead in round one at 81.51 m (267-5), but was immediately passed by World and Olympic champ Ethan Katzberg (CAN) at 82.66 m (271-2).

Katzberg got even more speed in the second round and sent a bomb to the far left side of the sector that measured a monstrous 84.70 m (277-11)! That moves him to no. 5 all-time with a lifetime best by 13 inches. Wow. He finished with at 83.73 m (274-8) bomb and celebrated three straight global titles. And he’s 23!

Merlin Hummel (GER) moved into second with his first-rounder at 82.77 m (271-6), then Halasz improved, but stayed third at 82.69 m (271-3). American Rudy Winkler had two fouls to start, but moved into fourth in the third round at 78.52 m (257-7).

Ukraine’s Paris bronze winner Mykhaylo Kokhan passed Winkler into fourth in round four and improved to 82.02 m (269-1) to finish in fourth. American Trey Knight was 10th at 76.11 m (249-8).

● Women/1,500 m: Could anyone stop Kenyan star Faith Kipyegon? She came to the final with Olympic titles in 2016-21-24 and World Championships golds in 2017-22-23.

She got to the lead right away, with Paris runner-up Jess Hull (AUS) right behind and then Nelly Chepchirchir (KEN). Kipyegon controlled the race from the front and at the bell, Kipyegon led Hull, Chepchirchir and Kenyan Dorcos Ewoi.

Kipyegon was leading with 300 m to go, with Hull a meter back at 200 to go. Then Kipyegon rolled away and charged into the straight with an easy win in 3:52.15.

Behind her, it was the other Kenyans chasing Hull and Ewoi got the silver in 3:54.92 (lifetime best), then Hull in 3:5516, and Chepchirchir in a lifetime best of 3:55.25. Nikki Hiltz of the U.S. was fifth in 3:57.08 and Sinclaire Johnson was 13th in 4:00.92.

Like Mondo Duplantis in the vault and Ryan Crouser in the shot, Kipyegon has won five World or Olympic titles in five straight years: 2021-22-23-24-25.

The qualifying was crazy and included a sensational American Record:

● Men/400 m: World Indoor champ Chris Bailey of the U.S. was in five, and world leader Zakithi Nene (RSA) in seven for semi one, delayed due to the hammer and high jump taking place at the same time at the same end of the field. Lee Eppie (BOT) had the early lead, but Nene came on in the final 100 m and won in 44.20, with Eppie at 44.51. Reece Holder (AUS) was third in 44.63, with Bailey unable to make a late charge, finishing seventh in 45.05.

U.S. champ Jacory Patterson was in lane five in semi two, and ran smoothly from the start, but Busang Kebinatshipi (BOT) was flying on the inside and ran away with the fastest time in the world this year at 43.61! Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald was second in 44.04, a seasonal best, then Paris fourth-placer Jereem Richards (TTO: 44.12) and Patterson (44.19). This was not expected. Kebinatshipi now stands at no. 10 all-time, with the fastest non-final race in history.

Richards and Patterson advanced to the final on time.

London 2012 champ Kirani James, 33, was in lane four in semi three and was in good position into the straight, leading Bayapo Ndori (BOT) into the straight. But Ndori ran away and won in 44.21 and the crowd roared as Japan’s Yuki Nakajima moved up for second in 44.53. Americans Khaleb McRae and Vernon Norwood were 4-5 in 44.82 and 44.83 and did not advance.

● Men/800 m: There were seven heats, with Handal Roban (VIN) leading the first race at the bell, but was passed on the straight by three, led by David Barroso (ESP: 1:44.94) and 2022 Worlds silver winner Djamel Sedjati (ALG: 1:45.01). Roban faded to fifth in 1:45.32 and did not advance.

Heat two was a mass finish down the straight, with Kenya’s Kelvin Loti leading but Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui sprinting on the outside to win in 1:45.23. Loti was second in 1:45.35 with 2023 World Champion Marco Arop (CAN) having to sprint hard to get a qualifying third in 1:45.39, ahead of Samuel Chapple (NED: 1:45.45).

American wunderkind Cooper Lutkenhaus – 16 – was in heat three, and was seventh at the bell, on the outside. Britain’s Ben Pattison led with 200 to go, then Maciej Wyderka (POL) rolled into the lead into the straight and won in 1:46.30. Pattison was second (1:46.51) and France’s Gabriel Tual (1:46.54) moved into third. Lutkenhaus pushed on the straight, but could not make up any ground and finished seventh in 1:47.68. He has a brilliant future ahead.

Heat four saw American Bryce Hoppel lead through the bell, in front of Peter Bol (AUS) and they were 1-2 into the final turn. He was passed by Cian McPhillips (IRL: 1:44.91), but held on for second in 1:45.09. Bol was passed for third by Jamaica’s Tyrice Taylor, 1:45.13 to 1:45.15.

Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) headlined heat five, and he took the lead, but he was challenged at the bell by Norway’s Tobias Gronstad. Things got tangled on the backstraight, with Wanyonyi second with Mohamed Ali Gouaned (ALG) leading on the turn and into the straight. But Wanyonyi pushed to move back to the lead with 50 m left and won in 1:45.05 with chaos behind him as Francesco Pernici (ITA) sprinted to the line for second (1:45.11) ahead of a flying Mark English (IRL: 1:45.13).

Tshepiso Masalela (BOT) led at the bell in 51.34, with Max Burgin (GBR) leading into the straight and he held on to win in 1:44.73, with Masalela at 1:44.74 and Jamaica’s Navasky Anderson roaring at the end to get third in 1:44.87.

U.S. champ Donavan Brazier, the 2019 World Champion and injured since, was in heat seven, but Kenya’s Nicolas Kebenei had the lead at the bell. Four were running for three auto-qualifiers on the final turn and Brazier moved well on the straight and got to the line first in 1:44.66, with Algeria’s Slimane Moula sprinting for second in 1:44.77. Kebenei faded to fourth in 1:44.91, but advanced on time.

● Women/400 m: Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino (DOM) was in lane six in semi one, with Henriette Jaeger (NOR) leading at 200 m. Paulino cruised into the lead off the turn and jogged the last 10 m to the finish, being passed by the all-out Natalia Bukowiecka (POL), who won in 49.67, a seasonal best. Paulino was second in 49.82 with Jaeger was third in 49.87. American Aaliyah Butler was a non-qualifying fifth in 50.63.

World leader Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) – the 2019 winner – was in semi two, and was flying down the back straight. She was 5 m up into the straight and won in 49.47, with Roxana Gomez (CUB) moving up on the straight to be a clear second in 49.78, then Bella Whittaker of the U.S. in 50.20, but she did not advance.

Paris Olympic 400 m hurdles winner McLaughlin-Levrone of the U.S. was in lane eight in semi three, and was out well and in the lead right away. Into the straight, she had 3 m on the field and cruised home in a world-leading 48.29, a new American Record! That crushed Sanya Richards-Ross’ 2006 mark – on this date! – of 48.70 and moves her to no. 7 all-time. And there is clearly more there.

Britain’s Amber Anning was second in 49.38, a seasonal best with Nickisha Pryce (JAM) third in 49.46 and also qualifying for the final.

Looking ahead, Naser’s best is 48.14 from 2019 and Paulino’s is 48.17 from 2024. This is going to be great. McLaughlin-Levrone said afterwards she wasn’t expecting the record, but “it shows my fitness is there.”

● Women/Triple Jump: The world-record holder, Yulimar Rojas (VEN) – four-time World Champion – was back from injury and immediately qualified in 14.49 m (47-6 1/2) on her first jump of the season! She appears to be back in a good way.

The other auto qualifiers included the expected stars: World Indoor champ Leyanis Perez (CUB: 14.66 m/48-1 1/4), runner-up and teammate Liadagmis Povea (CUB: 14.44 m/47-4 1/2), and Olympic champ Thea LaFond (DMA: 14.40 m/47-3).

Jamaica’s Olympic silver winner Shanieka Ricketts qualified fifth at 14.30 m (46-11) and Olympic bronze medalist Jasmine Moore of the U.S. was sixth at 14.22 m (46-8). The second U.S. entry, Agur Dwol, was 34th at 12.96 m (42-6 1/4).

The U.S. leads the medal table with eight (6-0-2), ahead of Kenya (5: 3-1-1) and Jamaica (5: 1-3-1) with a long way to go.

The Wednesday evening schedule – no more morning events until Saturday – in Tokyo has the men’s 1,500 m final, long jump, women’s Steeple and vault. Qualifying will be held in the men’s and women’s 200 m, men’s and women’s 400 m hurdles and the men’s triple jump and javelin.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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PANORAMA: Coventry says Olympic TV plan needs review; fired-up Duplantis earns $170,000 for WR win; Hidlay wins second U.S. wrestling gold

By
Rich Perelman
-
Uruguay's Worlds marathon bronze winner Julia Paternain (Photo: Dan Vernon for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games ● International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, who turns 42 on Tuesday (16th), told Japan’s Kyodo News Service that future adjustments to how the Olympic Games are televised will be needed to find future audiences:

“I think that the way in which we have our broadcasting rights and the way that they’re delivered, there is a lot of value in how we are doing it, because, you know, the Games are for everyone, and that’s a value and a principle that we would like to try to keep.

“We want to be open to new platforms and work with new platforms, but I believe there is a strength in how we have traditionally done certain things. It’s now just finding a balance on how we’re going to navigate that and not go just one way or the other.

“There’s not as many younger people watching linear TV, right? They’re all on TikTok and Instagram and short bursts of information are what they’re attracted to. We have to allow for ourselves to look into how we can communicate with the youth of today’s world.”

● Anti-Doping ● The International Testing Agency continues to report sanctions on now-retired Russian athletes who were found to be doping during the state-sponsored project from 2011-15, from data collected from the infamous then-Moscow Laboratory of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency in 2019.

On Monday, Bilyal Makhov – the London 2012 Olympic men’s Freestyle 120 kg gold medalist, and a three-time World Champion – was found to be doping in 2015. Now 37, he was also found to be doping by RUSADA in 2020, so no ineligibility was added.

Last Friday (12th), Abdusalam Gadisov, the 2014 World Freestyle 97 kg champ, was found to have tested positive for trenbolone in May 2015. Now 36, he was sanctioned for four years for a different violation from an August 2015 test, thus, no ineligibility was added.

● Athletics ● Swedish vault superstar Mondo Duplantis’ 14th career world record, at 6.30 m (20-8) in Tokyo earned him not only the $70,000 first prize, but another $100,000 as a record bonus, supported by World Athletics sponsor TDK.

World records in women’s events will be paid by World Athletics; if a Mixed 4×400 m record had been set, TDK and World Athletics would have split the bonus payments!

Said an ecstatic Duplantis afterwards:

“I am so happy, I cannot explain it. For the past two weeks I really enjoyed being in Tokyo. I have been enjoying everything so much. I feel the only way to leave Japan was to set the world record. That was my mentality.

“I don’t know what is next for me at this moment, I don’t care. I will just enjoy this right now. I was feeling really good the whole day. I knew I had the record in me. If I have the right runway, I know that everything is possible. I am glad it all worked out.

“As soon as I take off, from transition from the ground through the air, I know if the jump is going to be valid. I know if I’ve transferred enough energy or it’s not really going to work out. The run says it all, everything is about speed. As long as I have that right, I know it will work out for me.

“I am proud of myself for winning the World Championships when it mattered most, setting the world record is a bonus. I guess there is not a limit for me. Maybe I am the one to find out what the limit in pole vault really is. Today was a pretty much a dream competition. I was not alone at a lot of heights. Emmanouil [Karalis/GRE] was pushing me a lot. I have never jumped at 6.20 m [20-4] and had another guy with me. That’s quite special. I got juices from it.

“I am very proud of him for performing, not only today but throughout the season. He is pushing me and making me a better jumper. He got the best out of me too. Looking at 6.40 meters [21-0], that’s a new barrier in pole vaulting. That’s a new chapter.”

One of the best stories of the World Championships so far is women’s marathon bronze winner Julia Paternain, 25, who explained:

“I have three passports and a green card. I was born in Mexico, my entire family is Uruguayan, and I grew up in England since I was two years old. I’ve already run for Great Britain, in the U-23 European Championships, and now I’m running for Uruguay.”

She competed for Penn State as a frosh, then for Arkansas in 2021-22-23, finishing second in the SEC women’s 10,000 m in 2023. She’s still living in Fayetteville, now as a Worlds bronze medalist.

The endless swirl of litigation around Italian walker Alex Schwazer, now 40, continues. The 2008 Olympic 50 km walk champion was banned for 3 1/2 years for doping – which he admitted – in 2012. He tested positive for testosterone in 2016 and was banned by the Italian anti-doping agency until July 2024.

Media reports cast doubts that the 2016 positive test, but the ban to 2024 was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in January 2017. Schwazer’s appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal was dismissed.

Now Schwazer has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that the Swiss Federal Tribunal did not properly review the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision and the ECHR has opened an inquiry.

● Basketball ● USA Basketball announced 2016 Olympic gold medalist Elena Delle Donne as the first Managing Director of its women’s 3×3 program through 2028.

She was a 10-year star in the WNBA and a two-time Most Valuable Player selection.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● At the IBSF Push Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo, home favorite Italy won three of the six titles, with Mattia Variola and Mario Lambrughi taking the two-man bob title in 9.75 and Patrick Baumgartner’s sled winning the four-man in 9.64.

Austria’s Katrin Beierl swept the women’s bob titles, winning the Monobob in 10.98 and teaming with Christiana Williams for the two-woman win in 10.33.

Swiss Livio Summermatter took the men’s Skeleton win in 9.48, and Italy’s Alessia Gatti won the women’s Skeleton in 10.16.

● Figure Skating ● The ISU Challenger Series Lombardia Trophy event in Bergamo (ITA) is a popular stop prior to the ISU Grand Prix circuit and the U.S. was well represented for the competitions ending Sunday.

World Champion Ilia Malinin was a convincing winner in the men’s Singles, scoring 306.65 to 285.91 for Japan’s 2022 Olympic runner-up, Yuma Kagiyama. Japan’s Rion Sumiyoshi, 22, won the women’s title, scoring 209.59, with Americans Sarah Everhardt third (199.91) and 2025 World Champion Alysia Liu fourth (197.84).

Two-time Worlds bronze winners Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (ITA) won Pairs at 215.63 and Americans Eva Pate and Logan Bye took the Ice Dance gold, scoring 186.96.

● Short Track ● Three-time Worlds medalist Corinne Stoddard dominated the skating at the U.S. Championships in Kearns, Utah, winning the women’s overall classification and sweeping the six A-division finals.

Stoddard won both of the A-division finals in the 500 m, 1,000 m and 1,500 m distances and piled up a perfect 60,000 point total, ahead of Julie Letai (40,515) and Kamryn Lute (38.748). Stoddard also set an American Record in the 1,000 m at 1:26.460 in the second race semifinal.

The men’s title went to Brandon Kim, with 54,225 points, with Andrew Heo second (45,887) and Clayton DeClemente third (35,601). Kim won the second 500 m final and the first finals in the 1,000 m and 1,500 m. Heo took the first 500 m A-final, DeClemente won the second 1,500 m final and Marcus Howard took the second 1,000 m A-final.

Kim also claimed an American Record in the 500 m, at 39.83.

● Skiing ● The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced an agreement with Ski Austria (OSV) to combine media rights for its events beginning in 2027-28 with the centralized FIS program. Austria had been one of the holdouts hardest to convince about the program and is agreed through the 2033-34 season.

FIS President Johan Eliasch (GBR) said, “Today’s agreement concludes the centralization of the international media and broadcast rights, and is an important step forward for the future of our sport.

“By bringing international media and broadcast rights together under one framework, we can deliver a more consistent and innovative product – one designed for the digital age. This will drive greater visibility, attract more investment, and create new opportunities for our athletes, our disciplines, and our sport.”

● Volleyball ● At the men’s World Volleyball Championship in the Philippines, half of the eight groups have completed two rounds of matches, with top-seeded Poland, the Netherlands, the U.S., Bulgaria, Turkey and Canada all qualified for the playoffs.

The third-seeded American men have beaten Colombia by 3-0 and Portugal by 3-0 and will play Cuba on the 17th. The top 16 teams (of 32) will advance to the knock-out rounds, with matches starting on 20 September.

● Wrestling ● The U.S. scored a second gold at the UWW World Championships in Zagreb (CRO), with Trent Hidlay winning at 92 kg in a wild, 13-10 final against Russian “neutral” Amanula Gadzhimagomedov. Hidlay had won his first four bouts by 11-1, 10-0, 6-1 and 15-4, but had his hands full, down 10-2 before a major comeback.

He cut the deficit to 10-5 before the end of the first period, then collected three takedowns in the second for the victory, his first Worlds medal.

Levi Haines lost a tight, 3-2 decision in the gold-medal bout at 79 kg with Greece’s Georgios Kougioumtsidis. The U.S. has another shot at a class win with Kyle Snyder qualifying for the 97 kg final.

At 57 kg, North Korea’s Chong-soong Han won a 12-9 final over Bekzat Almaz Uulu (KGZ) and Japan’s Kota Takahashi took the 74 kg class with an 8-2 win over Cherman Valiev (ALB).

The women’s Freestyle matches will begin on Tuesday.

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CYCLING: UCI states “total disapproval” and “deep concern” over protests cancelling final Vuelta a Espana stage

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ POLITICS AND SPORT ≡

“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) expresses its total disapproval of and deep concern about the events that marked the 2025 edition of La Vuelta Ciclista a España, notably the abrupt halt to yesterday’s final stage in Madrid, a direct consequence of a series of incidents linked to pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

“Since the race arrived on Spanish soil, the Vuelta was disrupted almost daily by militant actions: individuals intruding into the peloton, throwing urine, endangering riders, and causing physical harm, with some of them crashing, suffering injuries, and being forced to abandon the race. Faced with these incidents, the race organisers reacted quickly and calmly, putting emergency measures in place to ensure the continuity of the event. They acted with exemplary professionalism, respecting the autonomy and independence of sport.

“The repeated acts that affected a significant number of stages constitute a serious violation of the Olympic Charter and the fundamental principles of sport.”

The UCI, like the International Olympic Committee and the other International Federations, normally uses a studied, calm tone in all of its communications. That went out the window after Sunday’s cancellation of the final stage of the 80th Vuelta a Espana, where the riders were told to stop after about 52 km of the 108 km route into Madrid due to protests; the La Vuelta Web site announced, “The riders are stopped in Madrid. Protesters have invaded the road.”

The unhappy UCI statement continued:

“We also regret the fact that the Spanish Prime Minister and his government have supported actions that could hinder the smooth running of a sporting competition and, in some cases, expressed their admiration for the demonstrators. This position is contradictory to the Olympic values of unity, mutual respect, and peace. It also calls into question Spain’s ability to host major international sporting events, ensuring that they take place in safe conditions and in accordance with the principles of the Olympic Charter.

“The UCI strongly condemns the exploitation of sport for political purposes in general, and especially coming from a government. Sport must remain autonomous to fulfil its role as a tool for peace. It is unacceptable and counterproductive for our sport to be diverted from its universal mission. Moreover, there are dedicated platforms where countries can discuss their differences.

“As we approach our annual Congress next week, which will be attended by representatives of the Palestinian, Israeli, Russian, and Ukrainian National Federations, we reaffirm our constant call for dialogue and peace. Sport must unite, never divide.

“Finally, we commend the exemplary work of the Spanish law enforcement agencies at the Vuelta, who acted with professionalism in extremely tense conditions.”

The Associated Press reported that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in remarks to his Sociality Workers Party:

“The sports organizations should consider whether it’s ethical for Israel to keep participating in international competitions. Why expel Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and not expel Israel after the invasion of Gaza? Until the barbarity ends, neither Russia nor Israel should be in any international competition.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded on X:

“An antisemite and a liar.

“Did Israel invade Gaza on Oct. 7th or did the Hamas terror state invade Israel and commit the worst massacre against the Jews since the Holocaust?

“Sánchez and his Communist government are antisemites and enemies of the truth.”

Observed: As is often the case, the popularity of sport makes it a target for politics, most horrifically at the 1972 Munich Games in which Palestinian terrorists murdered 11 members of the Israeli delegation.

This is the more of the same, taking the headlines from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the Hamas invasion of Israel on 7 October 2023, with 1,195 killed, 3,400 wounded and 251 taken hostage (47 still held by Hamas after almost two years) with the conflicts moved to other arenas.

The Vuelta a Espana simply offered an opportunity; the sport and the event itself are insignificant to the protesters. Which means they will continue elsewhere, in other places and in other sports.

For those staging events, their jobs are – increasingly – harder, and their events more expensive due to security issues. And that’s not going away soon.

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ATHLETICS: Unbelievable World Championships wins for Beamish and Kambundji, as Duplantis’s WR takes fifth straight global vault title!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Sweden’s vault superstar: Mondo Duplantis (Photo: Mattia Ozbot for World Athletics).

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Monday night at the World Athletics Championships was hot as usual, with temperatures in the low 80s and lots of humidity, but nowhere near as hot as the competition, with stunning results all night.

Oh yes, and Swedish star Mondo Duplantis came through on his called shot of a world record!

● Men/Steeple: Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, going for a fifth straight global title, went immediately to the back, as he usually does. He was joined by Ethiopian world-record holder Lamecha Girma.

Kenya’s Edmund Serem and Frederik Ruppert (GER) were in front with three laps to go, and Girma moved up and El Bakkali followed. With two laps to go, American Dan Michalski took the lead and pushed the pace. Michalski had a 3 m lead into the penultimate water jump and he took the bell.

Girma got the lead into the backstraight and was pulling away, but El Bakkali came even at the water jump. Into the straight, El Bakkali had too much speed and had the lead and looked like the winner.

But New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish, who fell in the heats, ran down El Bakkali off the final barrier, as El Bakkali did not fully sprint to the line, 8:33.38 to 8:33.95 in a huge upset.

Serem, 17, was third in 8:34.56, running past Samuel Firewu (ETH: 8:34.68) on the run-in. Girma ended up sixth (8:35.60) and Michalski faded and finished ninth in 8:37.12. Slow races can produce crazy results.

● Men/Vault: Ten were in at 5.85 m (18-10 1/4), and at 5.90 m (19-4 1/4), Greek star Emmanouil Karalis was way over on his first try, while Olympic champ Duplantis passed.

Five cleared 5.90 m and three more passed to 5.95 m (19-6 1/4). Duplantis cleared easily on his first attempt, but everyone else missed. Two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks of the U.S. missed once at 5.90 m, then missed 5.95 m, but snaked over his second try, touching the bar with his chest … but it stayed on!

Australia’s Kurtis Marschall also made 5.95 on his second try and Karalis made it on his third. They were the only ones to clear this height, as three others passing to 6.00 m (19-8 1/4).

At 6.00, Karalis cleared and took the lead, then Duplantis cleared and went in front. Kendricks and Marschall missed twice, then Kendricks missed his third and finished fourth. Marschall missed his third and took bronze.

Now the bar went to 6.10 m (20-0), and Karalis missed, but Duplantis cleared easily. Karalis passed to 6.15 m (20-2) and missed, but Duplantis cleared for his sixth straight clearance. Karalis missed his third and won silver.

That’s five straight global titles in a row – same as Ryan Crouser of the U.S. in the shot – on to a possible 14th world record. The bar went to 6.30 m (20-8), a height he had never tried. He missed his first try, and just touched off the bar on his second try. One more: this time he hit the bar, but it stayed on!

He was mobbed by the other vaulters and he delivered his fourth world record of the year, closing the night to the roar of the near-capacity crowd that all stayed to see him.

● Women/100 m hurdles: The semis opened with a false start by Finland’s Lotta Harala. On the re-start, Paris fifth-placer Grace Stark of the U.S. was off well and held a small lead over Swiss Dita Kambundji and got to the line in 12.37 to 12.44 (wind: -0.5 m/s). Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent was a distant third in 12.63 and did not advance to the final.

World-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR) started well and had the lead throughout, winning in 12.36 (-0.2), in control over Nadine Visser (NED: 12.45) with Pia Skrzyszowska (POL: 12.53) third. American Alaysha Johnson was fourth in 12.66 and did not advance.

Olympic champ Masai Russell of the U.S. was out well in semi three, but behind super-starter Devynne Chalrton (BAH). But Russell came on, with two-time World Champion Danielle Williams (JAM) and they were 1-2 in 12.42 (-0.2) to 12.44. Charlton was third in 12.51 and advanced on time.

The final was an hour later, Williams was in four, Stark in five, Amusan in six, Russell in seven and Visser in eight. The race was a complete stunner, as Kambundji, who had a best of 12.40 this year – no. 13 on the world list – was out with Stark and held her form well and got to the line first in a stunning 12.24 (-0.1)!

Amusan came on well over the last two hurdles in 12.29, with Stark at 12.34 for second and third, with Russell hitting a hurdle mid-race and finishing fourth (12.44). Absolutely stunning, with a national record for Kambundji. Wow.

● Women/Hammer: Olympic champ Cam Rogers (CAN) opened at 78.09 m (256-2) to take the lead and then got even better at 80.51 m (264-1) in round two, a sensational throw that was not just a lifetime best, but moves her to no. 2 all-time!

American DeAnna Price, the 2019 World Champion, opened at 74.45 m (244-3) for fifth in the first round. China’s Jie Zhao (76.54 m/251-1) and Jiale Zhang (76.22 m/250-1) were 2-3 after the first round.

The event settled down after that. Rogers did not improve through five rounds; Zhao improved to 76.65 m (251-5) in round four; Finland’s Silja Kosonen moved into fourth at 75.28 m (247-0) in round four. Price improved to 75.10 m (246-5) in round five, but stayed in fifth.

In round six, Zhang improved to 77.10 m (252-11) to move into second, but Zhao moved back to silver at 77.60 m (254-7)! But no one was close to Rogers, now the global champion three years in a row.

American Janee Kassanavoid was 10th at 70.35 m (230-9).

Monday’s qualifying was wild as well, especially in the men’s 1,500 m:

● Men/1,500 m: Defending champ Josh Kerr (GBR) was in the lead in semi one, with 2019 champ Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) with two laps to go. Dutch star Niels Laros came up to challenge at the bell, with 2022 champ Jake Wightman (GBR).

Kerr was leading Laros with 200 to go and a pack rushed to the line, with Laros winning (3:35.50) with Kerr falling at the finish, but second in 3:35.53. Wightman was third (3:35.56), then Cheruiyot (3:35.61). American Ethan Strand was eighth in 3:36.15, unable to move up in lane two on the final straight.

Semifinal two had Olympic champ Cole Hocker of the U.S. in front by the 200 m mark. There was a fall at 600 m that impacted American Jonah Koech a little, but he was back into the pack safely. Stefan Nillessen (NED) took the lead at the bell with Hocker third, with the sprinting starting with 300 to go.

Into the straight, the runners were four abreast but Hocker behind a wall. He pushed between Nillessen and German Robert Farken on the inside and ran hard to emerge as second behind Reynold Cheruiyot (KEN), 3:36.64 to 3:36.67. Spain’s Adrian Ben got third (3:36.78); Koech came up for a qualifying fifth in 3:36.89.

But Hocker was disqualified by the jury for pushing his way through on the final straight, which definitely impeded Farken, who was advanced to the final.

● Men/110 m hurdles: American Dylan Beard, having a career year, was slow out of the blocks in heat one, but came on in mid-race, passing Brazil’s Thiago Ornelas dos Santos while China’s Yuanjiang Chen came up on the inside. Beard won convincingly, 13.28 to 13.39 for Chen and 13.43 for 2023 Worlds sixth-placer Sasha Zhoya (FRA) and 13.52 for Ornelas dos Santos (wind -0.6 m/s).

U.S. champ JaKobe Tharp started well in heat two, but France’s Wilhem Belocian had the lead on the inside, with Tharp moving better in the second half. On the outside, Swiss star Jason Joseph came on in the final hurdles and won in 13.27 with Belocian at the same time and Tharp in third at 13.28 (-0.2).

Jamaica’s Orlando Bennett, in lane eight, moved well over the final four hurdles to get the win in heat three in 13.20 (-0.6) just ahead of Just Kwaou-Mathey (FRA: 13.25) and Lorenzo Simonelli (ITA: 13.25).

World leader Cordell Tinch of the U.S. was in lane five in heat four, and appeared to be in the lead with Enrique Llopis (ESP) close on the inside. But China’s Zhuoyi Xu moved up after the 10th hurdle and with Llopis winning in 13.22 (0.0), Xu leaned hard in 13.28 with Tinch third in 13.31, barely ahead of Demario Prince (also 13.31).

Defending champ Grant Holloway of the U.S. was in lane six in heat five, and he was out well, but he was chased down over the 10th hurdle and the run-in. Jamaica’s Tyler Mason got the win from lane one in 13.17 (-0.3) and Japan’s Rachid Muratake moved up for second in 13.22. Junxi Liu (CHN) passed Holloway in the final meters, 13.23 to 13.27, for third, not the start Holloway was hoping for.

● Men/400 m hurdles: Qatar’s Abderrahmane Samba, the 2019 Worlds bronze winner, got to the lead early and won in 48.03, but there was chaos behind him. Britain’s Tyri Donovan and Chris Robinson of the U.S. were stride-for-stride and Donovan lunged at the line to get second a lifetime best of 48.26, with Robinson at 48.27. But Jamaica’s James King (48.27) and Kenya’s Wiseman Mukhobe also crossed in 48.27: four within 0.01!

Alison dos Santos (BRA), the 2022 World Champion, ran strongly and had the lead in heat two and jogged in, passed just at the line by Bassem Hemeida (QAT) in lane nine, 48.43 to 48.48. The surprise was Kyron McMaster (IVB), the 2023 Worlds silver winner, who faded in the straight and was fifth in 49.89 and was eliminated.

World-record holder Karsten Warholm (NOR) was in lane nine for heat three, and he took the lead quickly, but then backed off a little. Qatar’s Ismail Abakar had the lead into the straight and then he was passed on the inside by Brazil’s Matheus Lima on the run-in, 48.15 to 48.34. Warholm was a surprise third in 48.56, a shocker since he usually blasts through all of his rounds on the way to the final. What’s up? He said afterwards he was just being conservative.

Olympic champ Rai Benjamin of the U.S. also drew lane nine for his heat, and was behind 2023 Worlds fourth-placer Roshawn Clarke (JAM) around the final bend. But Benjamin turned it on as German Emil Agyekum moved up in the straight, with Benjamin winning easily in 48.15. Agyekum was a strong second in 48.33 but Clarke faded to fifth in 48.83.

NCAA champion Ezekiel Nathaniel of Nigeria was rolling in lane seven in the fifth heat, winning in 48.37, with American Caleb Dean moving up for second on the straight in 48.67, and Francisco dos Reis Viana (BRA) getting a lifetime best of 48.69 in third.

It took 48.92 to get out of the first round in this event, amazing. Spain’s Jesus Delgado ran 48.98 and didn’t advance.

● Men/Long Jump: Olympic and World Champion Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE) got the automatic qualifier right away at 8.17 m (26-9 3/4), and was joined by Spain’s Lester Lescay (8.21 m/26-11 1/4) in the second round.

In round three, the 2019 World Champion, Tajay Gayle (JAM) powered up and reached 8.28 m (27-2) for the best mark of the day. Teammate Nikaoli Williams also joined in at 8.15 m (26-9) in round three for the fourth auto-qualifier.

They were the only automatic qualifiers, but other favorites got in, including World Indoor champ Mattia Furlani (ITA: 8.07 m/26-5 3/4) and Diamond League winner Simon Ehammer (SUI: 7.99 m/26-2 3/4). American Isaac Grimes qualified for the final at 8.04 m (26-4 1/2), in 10th.

Jeremiah Davis of the U.S. finished 23rd at 7.81 m (25-7 1/2) and Will Williams was 29th at 7.63 m (25-0 1/2).

The Tuesday evening schedule – no more morning events until Saturday – in Tokyo has the men’s 110 m hurdles, high jump, hammer and the women’s 1,500 m. Qualifying will be held in the men’s 400 m and 800 m and women’s 400 m hurdles and triple jump.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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ATHLETICS: Tanzania’s Simbu wins all-out sprint finish over Petros in men’s Worlds marathon in Tokyo!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Tanzania's Alphonce Felix Simbu wins the men’s Worlds marathon at the line over German Amanal Petros! (Photo: Mattia Ozbot for World Athletics).

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The men’s marathon started at the World Athletics Championships in warm, sticky conditions on a holiday Monday morning on Respect for the Aged Day in Tokyo (JPN), with 80 F temperatures and 73% humidity, starting in sunshine but quickly under cloudy skies, and with lots of spectators cheering at the street sides.

● Men/Marathon: With the difficult conditions, a large pack rolled through 10 km with Kenyan Vincent Ngetich leading about 50 runners in a modest 30:48. No early breakaways today.

Clayton Young of the U.S., the Paris ninth-placer, fell after being tripped from behind at about 14 km, but was up quickly and continued.

By 20 km, the race began to string out a little, with Sweden’s Suldan Hassan in front at 1:01:54, and 34 in contact. The half was passed in 1:05:19.

The attrition was real, with Isaac Mpofu (ZIM) – 10th at the 2022 Worlds – leading at 1:17:11 at 25 km and 28 in contact. A couple more dropped off by 27 km, with traffic jams for towels and water at every aid station.

At 30 km, Ethiopia’s 2025 Tokyo Marathon runner-up Deresa Geleta was in front at 1:32:27, steady at 2:10+ pace, with 23 in contact. Defending champ Victor Kiplangat (UGA) was at the front and turning up the pace just a bit, with 15 in the lead pack – including Young – at 33 km.

By 35 km, Geleta stopped and all three Ethiopians did not finish. The lead group was slimming down to 12 and by 38 km, the incline was stretching the pack out and Kiplangat fell back and out of contention.

Suddenly, Uganda’s Abel Chelangat – in his fifth marathon – was the leader at 40 km and the small hill spread the leaders out and five were in front; Young dropped off the back. As the course moved downhill, six were in the lead pack with just 2 km remaining.

Chelangat led Illiass Aouani (ITA), German Amanal Petros, Israel’s Haimro Alame and Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) at 41 km, and the medalists were coming from that group. The pace increased, Simbu had the lead on Aouani and Petros with Chelangat and Alame were dropped.

Into the stadium, Petros had the lead on Simbu and Aouani onto the track! Petros and Simbu were 1-2, with Aouani dropped, and Petros had the lead with 80 m left and was seemingly the winner-to-be – he looked back twice – but Simbu sprinted hard to the line and won in 2:09:48, with Petros given the same time! Aouani got the bronze at 2:09:53, then Alame in fourth (2:10:03) and Chelangat fifth (2:10:11).

Simbu, 33, won a Worlds bronze way back in 2017 and was 5th-7th-17th at the Olympic marathons in 2016-21-24. He has run 2:04:38 and was second in Boston this year. How about this: it was only his second win in 25 career marathons and first since 2017!

Petros (2:04:58 best) didn’t finish in Paris last year and now has the silver medal; Aouani was the 2025 European champion in the marathon and has a best of 2:06:06. Not the fastest, not the big names, but they were the Worlds medalists in 2025, with the race finishing at 81 F and 70% humidity.

Young was ninth in 2:10:43; teammate Reed Fischer was 28th (2:15:17) and C.J. Albertson was 40th in 2:19:25.

There were four events in the stadium for qualifying:

● Men/Hammer: In the first qualifying group, automatic qualifiers came right away for Hungary’s Paris silver medalist Bence Halasz (78.42 m/257-3) and 2024 bronzer Mykhaylo Kokhan (UKR: 77.33 m/253-8). Norway’s Elvind Henriksen joined in round two at 77.70 m (254-11).

Trey Knight, the U.S. nationals runner-up, got out to 76.40 m (250-8) in round three to move up to fourth in the group and he advanced as 10th overall.

In the second group, defending champion Ethan Katzberg (CAN) blasted 81.85 m (268-6) on his first throw and German Merlin Hummel (78.54 m/257-8) and Rudy Winkler of the U.S. (77.46 m/254-1) qualified on one try as well.

Five-time Worlds winner Pawel Fajdak (POL) jumped the auto-qualifiers at 78.78 m (258-5) in round two, as did Thomas Mardal (NOR: 77.34 m/253-9) and Armin Szabados (HUN: 77.20 m/253-3).

Daniel Haugh of the U.S. managed 74.87 m (245-7), was 17th and did not advance.

● Women/Steeple: Heat one has 2022 World Champion Norah Jeruto (KAZ) and Paris 2024 Olympic bronzer Faith Cherotich (KEN), part of a lead pack of eight with four laps to go. They stayed together to the bell, with Cherotich in front, but it came down to six chasing five qualifying spots on the back straight.

Britain’s Elise Thorner took the lead into the water jump, but Cherotich grabbed the lead into the straight and Jeruto also passed Thorner after the final barrier and they finished 1-2-3 in 9:13.95, 9:14.25 and a lifetime best for 9:14.37 for Thorner. Lexy Halladay of the U.S. held on to fifth in 9:15.06 and advanced to the final.

Defending champion and Olympic winner Winfred Yavi (BRN) headlined the second heat, with American Angelina Napoleon leading in the early going, then giving way to Ethiopian Paris fifth-placer Sembo Almayew. Yavi came to the front at 2,000 m and led Almayew with two laps left.

Yavi took the bell, and was rolling away from the field and jogged to the finish, just ahead of the suddenly-sprinting Marwa Bouzayani (TUN), 9:15.63 to 9:15.68. Almayew was third (9:15.84) and Napoleon qualified for the final in fifth at 9:18.03.

Heat three had Tokyo Olympic champ Peruth Chemutai (UGA) and NCAA record holder Doris Lemngole of Kenya. Chemutai – who hurdles the water jumps – led Paris finalist Lomi Muleta (ETH) and Lemngole with four laps to go, and 10 m up on the rest of the field.

Chemutai was way out in front with two laps left and took the bell up 15 m on Lemngole, who moved up coming to the last water jump, but Chemutai won easily in 9:07.68, with Lemngole at 9:08.97 and Muleta at 9:12.20. American Kaylee Mitchell was fifth in 9:15.52 and advanced (all three Americans finished fifth!).

● Women/400 m hurdles: Defending champ and heavy favorite Femke Bol (NED) went in lane one, was in the lead from the first hurdle and won easily in 53.75. Ayomide Folorunso (ITA) was well back in second at 54.67.

Next, Olympic silver winner Anna Cockrell of the U.S. and Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight were even for seven hurdles, but Cockrell edged ahead and won in 53.63 to 53.74. Paris fourth-placer Jasmine Jones (USA) ran easily in heat three and won in 53.18, equaling his seasonal best, way ahead of Emma Zapletalova (SVK: 54.15).

Rio 2016 Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad of the U.S. was in lane four in heat four, and was out well, striding ahead of Shiann Salmon (JAM) to win, 53.80 to 54.21, a seasonal best. Canada’s Savannah Sutherland, the NCAA champ, was in heat five, but was never in contention, as China’s Jiadie Mo led through halfway. Italy’s Alice Muraro came hard on the final straight and won in 54.36, ahead of Emily Newnham (GBR: 54.59) and Mo third (54.63 lifetime best). Sutherland had no push on the straight and was fifth in 55.68 and did not advance!

● Women/Vault: All four Americans – defending champ Katie Moon, Sandi Morris and Hana and Amanda Moll – cleared 4.60 m (15-1). There were 14 who cleared and all were taken to the final.

Britain’s Molly Caudery, the 2024 World Indoor winner and a serious medal contender, suffered an injury in warm-ups and had to withdraw.

The Monday evening schedule in Tokyo has the men’s steeple, men’s vault, women’s 100 m hurdles and hammer finals. Qualifying will be held in the men’s 1,500 m, 110 m hurdles, 400 m hurdles and long jump.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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VOX POPULI: AB 749: A Key Moment for Youth Sports in California

By
John Moffet
-

/John Moffet was a member of the 1980 and 1984 U.S. Olympic Swimming teams. He was a five-time individual NCAA Champion at Stanford, where he was team captain. Following his athletic career, he has been a three-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer. He serves as President of the Southern California Olympians & Paralympians Association. Moffet’s opinions are, of course, his own alone./

During a California Senate Health Committee hearing, Renata Simril reached for the microphone when asked for her remedy for the state’s growing inequities in youth sports. To help more kids play, what would a system look like for greater access to sports for families and communities?

As president of the Play Equity Fund, Simril is a national leader in sports-based youth development. Her organization builds opportunities for kids from all backgrounds to be involved in sports, play and movement. She has spread the word to policymakers about the symptoms and causes of the challenges afflicting youth sports in California, and nationally.

It is a system that fails millions of kids, and divides access by race, economics and class. Simril’s answer was revealing – with a solution on the horizon.

“This is why AB 749 is so critical,” she said. “It will show us what we don’t know. It will establish a blue-ribbon committee to evaluate the need for a centralized entity to support youth sports and ensure there is a pathway to fair access for all kids across the state.”

AB 749 – the Youth Sports For All Act – has arrived at an opportune time. The legislation was introduced by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, and inspired by statewide research by the LA84 Foundation, legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games. In 2024, the study found nearly 1-in-3 youth quit sports the last two years in California. AB 749 was approved last week by the legislature.

Years ago I was a product of California’s youth sports system. It was before decades of budget cuts, when school-based sports, as well as local park and recreation departments, provided kids access to quality sports programs. At 10 years old, I took summer swim lessons at a public pool because my mother didn’t want me sitting at home. A coach told me I had potential, and it changed the trajectory of my life. As a swimmer, I was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1980 and ’84.

Today, the pay-to-play model in youth sports has grown exponentially. It erodes access and compounds problems for kids from low-income families – whether they dream of being an Olympian or not. Many just want to play, enrich their school experience, or make new friends.

The U.S. is one of the few industrialized nations without a governing structure overseeing youth sports. It has consequences beyond impacting individual kids in our diverse state. Sport and play fosters socioemotional well-being and academic achievement. In addition to the benefits of physical activity, sports can cultivate essential life skills and interpersonal relationships.

The lessons children learn from sports and play can positively affect the rest of their lives, by instilling resilience and goal setting. A young person doesn’t have to be on their school’s varsity team. Value comes from the dedication of applying themselves and building friendships.

Throughout my professional career, whenever I’ve felt overwhelmed or questioned my ability to perform at the highest level, I rely upon the determination I learned as an athlete. Sports is a platform that enhances young lives all the way into adulthood

There are also health impacts. California has the highest obesity-related costs nationally, estimated at $15.2 billion annually. If the statewide body mass index (BMI) reduced by just 5%, it’s estimated the state could save $81.7 billion in obesity-related healthcare costs by 2030.

Sports encourages teamwork and cooperation, both vital in a positive school environment. For generations, grassroots organizations, coaches, leagues, nonprofits and volunteers have worked diligently to build access to their programs, engage communities and drive participation.

AB 749 is California’s opportunity to investigate bringing this fractured system together. The economics have changed, as have expectations. The research from the 2024 Play Equity Report has brought us to a watershed moment. Government has a bigger role to play to ensure safety, accessibility, accountability – and equity – in youth sports.

The circumstances demand that if we are invested in the well-being of our future generations, we eliminate the silos and prioritize that all kids have access to sport and play – not just wealthy children. Providing more opportunities will also bolster our Olympic and Paralympic teams.

I proudly serve as President of the Southern California Olympians & Paralympians chapter. It’s the largest and oldest organization of Olympic athletes in the nation. Throughout history, Southern California has supplied the largest percentage of athletes that comprise the U.S. Olympic Team.

The leadership of the Play Equity Fund in its advocacy for AB 749 is rewarding for this 1984 Olympian. It’s an organization with roots that reach to those epic Games in my hometown 41 years ago as the LA84 Foundation’s charitable partner. I’m proud to have played a small part.

This legislation is an Olympic legacy working in an ambitious direction. It shows an innovative capacity to affect policy – which is the scale such a daunting challenge demands. It also prioritizes kids using the developmental skills sports offer to be Olympians in life, rather than focusing on producing elite athletes. We all want kids to thrive, and be connected to their families and communities. Sports can be a bridge.

AB 749 is the chance for experts to bring structure to California’s youth sports system. It’s an opportunity to prioritize sport, play and movement as essential to the lifelong well-being of kids. Communities are more robust with access to sports and recreation for families. AB 749 can be a start, it has been approved by the legislature and is on Governor Gavin Newsom‘s desk for his consideration. I urge our governor to sign AB 749.

Photograph courtesy Play Equity Fund. 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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PANORAMA: World Athletics Champs too popular as Web site crashes; IBSF keeps Russian ban; U.S.’s Valencia wins wrestling men’s Freestyle gold!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games: Germany ● The process for the selection of a German city or region for a future Olympic bid – 2036, 2040 or 2044 – is moving along, with a final selection expected in 2026.

In the meantime, Munich – the 1972 host – will have a public referendum on the bid on 26 October of this year, with Hamburg and Rhine-Ruhr to have referenda in 2026. No plans have been announced on a public vote regarding a Berlin bid.

● Athletics ● The Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships is providing to be a hit with fans, but too many hits for the results Web site.

The main World Athletics results site for the meet froze, off and on, during the live evening sessions on both of the first two days. On Sunday, the site – with the start lists and results for all events – simply went down altogether at the time of the men’s 100 m final, about 10:20 p.m. local time, with a static page posted stating:

“We’re experiencing extremely high traffic!”

The site was promised to come back up at 11 p.m. local time, and did, on time. But there are seven more days to go.

Citius Magazine reported a program proposed by Kenyan marathon star Sabastian Sawe, the 2025 world leader at 2:02:27 and no. 5 all-time at 2:02:05 from 2024 to remove any doubts that he might be doping and which started on 25 July:

● “At least 25 anti-doping controls in the 2 months before the Berlin Marathon.

● “Tests include unannounced, out-of-competition controls using the most advanced lab protocols.

● “All testing managed independently by AIU. Sawe and his team have no knowledge of test timing or methods.

● “The initiative is fully funded by adidas, Sawe’s primary sponsor.”

Said Sawe: “I am tired of reading what people write in the press and on social media. There is always doubt or an accusation when the athlete is a Kenyan. I do, however, recognize that doping is a huge problem in our country. We cannot deny this or avoid the topic. To do so would be a mistake and we must accept that it is a fact.

“To fight the current state of doping, we must shed light on it and the issues surrounding it and work with the sport’s authorities and governing bodies like AIU and World Athletics. I feel we must all combat what has become like a cancer for Kenyan athletes.

“By taking this step, I hope that I not only can serve as an example for other athletes, but that people will truly try to address the issue and to try to find lasting solutions. But first, I want to prove that I am clean when I set foot at the start line and that whatever result comes from my efforts, it is not dragged through the mud because I am Kenyan.”

The Berlin Marathon is on 21 September.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The two-day IBSF Congress in Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) concluded on Friday, with a vote on Russian and Belarusian participation going forward:

“Following extensive discussions, the Congress decided by secret ballot not to allow the participation of Russian athletes as neutral athletes in IBSF events.”

This maintains the current IBSF policy, in place since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to the Russian news agency TASS, the IBSF vote included nine in favor of Russian participation, 36 against and six abstentions. The Russian federation said it will pursue an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Archery ● The World Archery Championships finished in Gwangju (KOR) with the women’s Recurve elimination tournament on Friday, with the home team finishing with a victory as Chae-young Kang defeated China’s 19-year-old Jingyi Zhu, 7-3, in the final.

Kang won her first individual Worlds gold, but fifth career Worlds win, with the others in team events; she was the women’s runner-up in 2019. Korea’s San An, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ, won the bronze, 6-4, over Indonesia’s Diananda Choirunisa.

Overall, South Korea won seven medals (2-1-4) to lead all nations; no one else won more than three. The U.S. won two silvers.

● Badminton ● China claimed a clean sweep of all five finals at the BWF World Tour Hong Kong Open, with second-seed Shi Feng Li (CHN) sweeping Lakshya Sen (IND), 21-15, 21-12 in the men’s Singles and top-seeded Zhi Yi Wang defeating no. 2 Yue Han, 21-14-24-22, in the women’s Singles match.

China teams won the Doubles titles over India (men), Japan (women) and two Chinese teams were in the Mixed final.

● Boxing ● The first World Boxing World Championships in Liverpool (GBR) was dominated by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which left with seven and six wins, respectively.

Two fighters, both from Uzbekistan, followed up with World Boxing titles after winning golds at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Abdulmalik Khalokov at 60 kg (57 kg class in Paris) and Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev at 70 kg (65 kg in 2024). The other Uzbek winners included Fazliddin Erkinboev at 75 kg, Javokhir Ummataliev at 80 kg, Akmaljon Isrollov at 85 kg and Turabek Khabibullaev at 90 kg.

Kazakhstan had four men’s gold medalists: Sanzhar Tashkenbay at 50 kg, Makhmud Sabayrkhan at 55 kg, Torekhan Sabrykhan at 70 kg and Albek Oralbay at +90 kg.

In the women’s division, Kazakh fighters took three classes, with Alua Balkibekova winning at 51 kg over two-time Olympic silver medalist Buse Naz Cakiroglu (TUR); Aida Abikeyeva at 65 kg, and Natalya Bogdanova at 70 kg. India also scored two wins, by Meenakshi Hooda at 48 kg and Jaismine Lamboria at 57 kg.

The U.S. won one medal, by Yoseline Perez, a silver in the women’s 54 kg class, losing the gold-medal bout to Hsiao-wen Huang (TPE) by 4:1.

● Cycling ● Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard came in as the favorite in the 80th Vuelta a Espana and he left as the champion after a brilliant Saturday performance on the final climbing stage.

Friday’s 161.9 km route was fairly flat and made for the sprinters, with Belgian Jasper Philipsen winning his third stage of the Vuelta with a final charge over Mads Pedersen (DEN) and Orluis Aular (VEN). Vingegaard picked up four bonus seconds in an intermediate sprint to give him a 44-second edge on pursuer Joao Almeida (POR).

Then came the brutal, 165.6 km, five-climb 20th stage, set to decide the race on the Bola del Mundo uphill finale. Vingegaard, Almeida and three others were ascending the final climb, when Vingegaard attacked with 1.2 km to the finish and rode away to a 3:56:23 win, 11 seconds ahead of Visama – Lease A Bike teammate Sepp Kuss (USA) with Australia’s Jai Hindley third (+0:13). Almeida was fifth at +0:22 and fell back to 1:16 behind with only the final ride to Madrid to go. It was over.

On Sunday, the planned 108 km stage from Alalpardo to Madrid got about 50 km in and then was stopped by police for security reasons due to pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid. The official La Vuelta Web site reported:

“The riders are stopped in Madrid. Protesters have invaded the road.”

Officially, the stage was cancelled and the results from the end of stage 20 were used. Vingegaard was the winner at 72:53:57, with Almeida at +1:16 and Tom Pidcock (GBR) third at +3:11.

American Matthew Riccitello was fifth at +5:55; Sepp Kuss – the 2023 winner – was seventh overall at 7:45 and Matteo Jorgenson was 10th at +12:16.

Vingegaard has contested eight Grand Tour events, with an impressive record:

● Tour de France: 2x1st, 3x2nd
● Vuelta a Espana: 1x1st, 1x2nd, 1x46th

That’s seven top-two finishes (in a row) in eight tries; what about the Giro d’Italia in 2026?

At the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec on Friday (12th), French star Julien Alaphilippe separated from countryman Pavel Sivakov in the final 1,200 m to win in 5:04:32 over the 216 km multi-loop course in and around Quebec City. Sivakov ended up two seconds behind and Alberto Bettiol (ITA) was third at +0:04.

Sunday’s 209.1 km Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal, also a loop-style race, saw Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogacar launch an attack with 24 km left, but once clear, slowed to have his UAE Team Emiratas-XRG teammate Brandon McNulty of the U.S. join him, with 16 km to go.

The two rode together to the line and McNulty crossed first with both timed in 5:14:04. American Quinn Simmons was a distant third, 1:03 behind.

At the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland, the women’s Cross Country Olympic race went to a familiar champion: 2016 Olympic gold medalist Jenny Rissveds (SWE).

She was at or near the lead the entire race and in front for the last three laps, winning in 1:21:35, 18 seconds ahead of Sammie Maxwell (NZL) and Short Track winner Alessandra Keller (SUI: 1:22:31). Savilla Blunck was the top American, in fifth (1:23:21). It was Rissveds’ first career Worlds gold.

Sunday’s men’s race saw defending champion Alan Hatherly (RSA) dominate, finishing in 1:30:30, way ahead of Simone Avondetto (ITA: 1:31:18) and Paris 2024 runner-up Victor Koretzky (1:31:21). Christopher Blevins was the top American, in 14th place (1:34:14).

● Gymnastics ● The FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup in Paris (FRA) drew a strong field of international stars, including Russian “neutrals” such as Tokyo 2020 Team gold medalist and All-Around bronze winner Angelina Melnikova. As promised, Ukrainian athletes did not compete in protest as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.

The women’s winners included Abigail Martin (GBR: 14.016) on Vault; Olympic Uneven Bars champion Kaylia Nemour (ALG), scoring 15.033; Melnikova on Beam (13.500) and Romania’s Sabrina Maneca-Voinea on Floor (13.800), with Melnikova second (13.400).

Tokyo Olympic men’s Floor gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat (ISR) won his specialty at 14.466; Paris Olympic silver winner Nariman Kurbanov (KAZ) won on Pommel Horse at 15.066; Belgian Glen Cuyle won in Rings (14.466); Italy’s Thomas Grasso took the Vault at 14.016; Britain’s Joe Fraser, the 2019 Parallel Bars World Champion, won his event at 14.533 and the Horizontal Bar went to Carlo Macchini (ITA), the 2023 European silver winner, at 14.433.

● Rugby ● In the quarterfinals of the World Rugby Women’s World Cup in England, defending champion New Zealand ran past South Africa, 46-17 and second-seed Canada stormed by Australia, 46-5. The winners will meet on 19 September in Bristol.

In the lower bracket, France defeated Ireland in a low-scoring match by 18-13, and top-seeded England walloped Scotland by 40-8. France and England will meet on the 20th in Bristol.

● Shooting ● Not just wins, but world records at the ISSF Rifle-Pistol World Cup in Beijing (CHN):

● Men/10 m Air Rifle: 255.0 by David Scolazzo (ITA) to defeat Paris Olympic champ Lihao Sheng (CHN: 253.5), the prior record holder at 254.5 from 2024.

● Women/10 m Air Rifle: 255.3 by 16-year-old Xinlu Peng (CHN), winning over Jeanette Hegg Duestad (NOR: 252.6); Zifei Wang (CHN) had the old record at 254.8 from April 2025.

In the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions finals, Czech Jiri Privratsky, the Paris fourth-placer, won the men’s gold at 465.3; Norway’s Duestad, the 2022 Worlds bronze winner, took the women’s event at 466.2.

Germany’s Florian Peter, the 2023 Worlds bronzer, won the men’s 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol over Tokyo 2020 champ Jean Quiquampoix (FRA), 34-33, and Olympic champ Ji-in Yang (KOR) took the women’s 25 m Pistol final, 39-37, over teammate and Paris Olympic 10 m Pistol gold medalist Ye-jin Oh.

Esha Singh (IND) was the women’s 10 m Air Pistol winner, over Qianxun Yai (CHN), 242.6 to 242.5.

● Sport Climbing ● Home fans cheered at the IFSC Speed World Cup in Guiyang (CHN), as the home nation won both the men’s and women’s Speed finals.

Eighteen-year-old Shouhong Chu took the men’s title – his first World Cup win – over Ryo Omasa (JPN), 4.79 to 4.99, with German Leander Carmanns winning bronze, 4.98 to 5.11, vs. Ukraine’s Yaroslav Tkach.

The women’s gold went to Shixue Meng, who defeated Jimion Jeong (KOR) in the final, 6.30 to 6.36, for her first World Cup victory. American Emma Hunt took the bronze against Yafei Zhou in 6.44 (Zhou fell).

In the seasonal Speed series, Kiromal Katibin (INA) was the men’s winner over Sam Watson of the U.S., 3,945 to 3,629. Hunt won the women’s title with 3,795 points.

● Surfing ● The 2025 World Surfing Games finished Sunday in La Bocana (ESA), with new champions in both the men’s and women’s classes.

Australia’s Dane Henry came out on top in the men’s final, scoring 18.17 points to edge Olympic gold medalist Kauli Vaast (FRA: 17.57), Australian Morgan Cibilic (14.77) and Brazil’s Douglas Silva (13.60).

Spain’s Janire Extabarri scored 14.57 to win the women’s gold, the first-ever Spanish medal in the World Surfing Games! Yolanda Sequeira (POR) claimed second at 14.57 and defending champion Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) was third with the same score. Peru’s Arena Rodriguez was fourth (8.53).

It’s the fifth career World Surfing Games medal (3-0-2) for Fitzgibbons, now 34. Sequeira scored her second silver, also in 2021.

● Table Tennis ● The fourth of six WTT Champions tournaments for 2025 was in Macau, with China sweeping both titles for the third time. Chuqin Wang, a double team gold medalist in Paris in 2024, took the men’s title, 11-9, 11-7, 1108, 11-4, over Brazil’s 2025 Worlds silver winner, Hugo Calderano.

Yingsha Sun, China’s Olympic women’s runner-up in Tokyo and Paris, took the women’s title against countrywoman Manyu Wang in a tight battle, 11-8, 13-15, 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6. It was also Sun’s second win of the season in WTT Champions tournaments.

● Triathlon ● A brand new medalist in the World Championship Triathlon Series in Karlovy Vary (CZE) took the men’s race in German Henry Graf, who had the fastest swim in the field by 12 seconds and was no. 7 on bike, allowing him to rank seventh in the 10 km run and still win by 1:49:22 to 1:49:29 over Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo with Hungary’s Csongor Lehmann in third (1:49:46).

Seth Rider was the top American, in 18th (1:51:20).

The women’s winner was the 2023 World Champion, Beth Potter (GBR), a decisive winner in 2:02:12 with Taylor Spivey of the U.S. second in 2:02:25 and then German Lisa Tertsch in 2:03:07.

Potter simply outran everyone, taking just 32:42 on the 10 km run and taking the lead with about 1,000 m to go, while Tertsch was second-fastest at 33:38 and Spivey – who led at the start of the run phase – at 33:58. For Spivey, it was her best finish in a World Championship Series race since 2019 (also second).

● Wrestling ● The U.S. scored a men’s Freestyle gold on the second day of the UWW World Championships in Zagreb (CRO), as 2023 Worlds bronze medalist Zahid Valencia dominated Japan’s Hayato Ishiguro to win the 86 kg title by 12-0.

Valencia won his bouts by 10-0, 10-0, 10-0, 7-0 and then 12-0 in the final for a perfect 49-0 total. Wow.

The other three men’s Freestyle classes decided on Sunday included wins for Russian “neutral” Zaur Uguev at 61 kg (his third world title); Yushinosuke Aoyagi (JPN) at 70 kg (1st title) and Iranian Amir Zare at 125 kg (third title).

Americans Levi Haines (79 kg) and Trent Hidlay (92 kg) have advanced to the gold-medal finals on Monday. Competition continues through the 21st.

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ATHLETICS: U.S. stars Jefferson-Wooden, Allman and Davis-Woodhall claim Worlds golds in Tokyo while Jamaica’s Seville wins men’s 100

By
Rich Perelman
-
World 100 m champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) (Photo: Mattia Ozbot for World Athletics)

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Another big crowd and another warm (85 F) and humid evening at Japan’s National Stadium in Tokyo for the second night of the World Athletics Championships, with three amazing wins for the U.S. and a Jamaican win in the men’s 100.

Event by event:

● Men/100 m: The semifinals started with defending champ Noah Lyles of the U.S. in lane five, with South Africa’s Akani Simbine – fourth in Tokyo and Paris – in six. Jamaican Akeem Blake got the best start, and Kaynsola Ajayi (NGR) was rolling, as Lyles moved up in mid-race and passed Ajayi in the final 10 m to win in 9.92 (wind +0.1 m/s) with Auburn’s Ajayi in 9.93 and Simbine in 9.96. Blake was fifth in 10.12 and did not advance.

Jamaica’s world leader, Kishane Thompson was in five and U.S. star Kenny Bednarek in four in semi two, and they were out together and ran together, with Bednarek given the win with both at 9.85 (+0.2). There was a blanket finish for third, with Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, the 2023 Worlds bronzer, was third in 10.03 and Jerome Blake (CAN) in the same time.

Semi three had Jamaican star Oblique Seville – fourth in the last two Worlds – in eight, but also South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, who ran 9.87 in the heats. A recall was made and Canada’s Andre De Grasse, the two-time Worlds bronze winner in this event, received a warning. Seville rolled in the final 50 m, winning in 9.86 (0.0), with Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo emerging as second in 9.94 and Leotlela third in 9.97. Courtney Lindsey of the U.S. was eighth in 10.18.

About an hour and 15 minutes later, the final had Lyles in four, Thompson in five, Bednarek in six and Seville in seven.

Tebogo, the 2023 Worlds silver medalist, jumped in lane eight and was disqualified.

Off the re-start, Thompson was out well, but Seville came on in mid-race and got the lead and rolled to the line in 9.77, a clear winner over Thompson (9.82) with Lyles moving hard to get third in 9.89. Bednarek, with a poor start, was fourth in 9.92. Seville was eighth in the Paris final, but is now World Champion.

● Men/10,000 m: It was 83 F with 79% humidity at the start of the race and so it was slow from the gun, with Grant Fisher of the U.S. leading in a jog at 74.16 for the first 400 m. After four laps, Ethiopia’s Tokyo Olympic champ Selemon Barega decided to move and opened up the pace. But the move was covered quickly.

At 6,800 m, Fisher was back in front, ahead of Edwin Kurgat (KEN), but with almost everyone still in contention. The lead kept switching, with Japan’s Jun Kasai in front with six laps left, then Andreas Almgren (SWE) with five laps to go. When would the break come?

Almgren led Fisher, France’s Jimmy Gressier, Nico Young of the U.S. and Ethiopia’s two-time World Indoor 3,000 m champ Yomif Kejelcha at the front with 1,200 to go. The running started with 600 to go, with Barega taking the lead, with Fisher close. At the bell, Barega led a dozen in a crowd.

With 200 left, it was Barega and Kejelcha in front and into the straight, Kejelcha led, but Almgren was close as was Gressier. Fisher and Young were charging, but Gressier had the most speed and got past Kejelcha and won a stunning victory in 28:55.77. Kejelcha got second in 28:55.83 and Almgren took third in 28:56.02.

Kenya’s Ismael Kipkurui sprinted last three others in the final 20 m to get fourth in 28:56.48, ahead of Young (28:56.62), Barega (28:57.21), with Fisher eighth in 28:57.85. Graham Blanks of the U.S. was 11th in 29:01.27. A slow race, and a crazy finish, but Gressier stunned with a Diamond League Final win in the 3,000 m and now he is World Champion at 10,000 m.

● Women/100 m: The semis were up first, with defending champ Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. in five. Half the field false-started, so a green card was shown to everyone. On the re-start, Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith (CIV) was out well, along with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the 2023 Worlds silver winner and they were 1-2 in 10.94 and 10.97 (-0.3). Richardson started poorly and was sixth by 25 m, but moved up quickly in the final 25 m to get third in a seasonal best of 11.00, with Daryll Neita (GBR: 11.06) in fourth. American Kayla White was sixth in 11.20.

Semi two was all about Olympic champ Julien Alfred (LCA), out well and cruising to a 10.93 win (+0.1), with five-time Worlds winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) a clear second in 11.00. Britain’s Amy Hunt was third (11.05) and TeeTee Terry of the U.S. was fourth (11.07).

World leader Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was in lane six in semi three, with Jamaica’s Tina Clayton in five and Clayton was out best, but Jefferson-Wooden was in charge by 50 m and won in a startling 10.73 (+0.2). Clayton was a clear second in 10.90.

With Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) third in 11.02, Richardson advanced to the final once again on time, just as she did in 2023, when she won the gold from lane nine.

An hour and a half later, the final had Richardson in two, Jefferson-Wooden in four, Alfred in five and Clayton in six. Off the start, it was Jefferson-Wooden off well and she accelerated away from the field and won in a runaway in a sensational 10.61 (+0.3), now no. 4 on the all-time list!

It equals the no. 4 performance of all-time and only Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49) and Jamaicans Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.54) and Fraser-Pryce (10.60) have ever been faster.

Clayton was a clear second, moving away from Alfred in mid-race, finishing in 10.76 for a lifetime best, then Alfred (10.84) and Jackson (10.88). Richardson was fifth in a seasonal best of 10.94 and Fraser-Pryce was sixth in 11.03.

● Women/Long Jump: Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall put the field on notice, blasting out to 7.08 m (23-2 3/4) in round one. Tokyo 2020 champion Malaika Mihambo (GER) moved up to second in round two at 6.92 m (22-8 1/2) and then got closer at 6.95 m (22-9 3/4) in round three.

Davis-Woodhall responded, powering out to a world-leading 7.13 m (23-4 3/4) in round four, with Mihambo improving to 6.99 m (22-11 1/4). Mihambo closed with a very loud foul on her final try, but was well over the line.

Natalia Linares (COL) was third at 6.85 m (22-5 3/4) from round two, being chased by France’s Hilary Kpatcha, at 6.82 m (22-4 1/2) from round three. Linares tied her lifetime best at 6.92 m (22-8 1/2) in round five and cemented her bronze position. Kpatcha stayed in fourth and World Indoor champ Claire Bryant of the U.S. was fifth with her 6.68 m (21-11) in round four.

American Quanesha Burks managed 6.60 m (21-8) in the third round and was eighth.

Davis-Woodhall moved up from silver in 2023 and now has gold medals in both the Olympic Games and the World Championships.

● Women/Discus: Olympic champion Valarie Allman of the U.S. came in with 28 straight wins – since the 2023 World Championships – and took the lead right away as the opening thrower at 67.63 m (221-10) in round one.

Dutch challenger Jorinde van Klinken responded with a seasonal best 67.50 m (221-5) toss as the second thrower, with Cuba’s Silinda Morales moving up to third in round three at 67.25 m (220-7). Defending champ Lagi Tausaga of the U.S. was fourth after three rounds at 65.49 m (214-10).

Two-time World Champion Sandra Elkasevic moved into fourth in round four at 65.82 m (215-11), then was passed by Vanessa Kamga (SWE) in round five at 65.95 m (216-4).

Then, Allman unloaded on the final throw of round five and she knew it: 69.48 m (227-11), to extend her lead and that turned out to be the winning throw and her 29th straight victory … and first Worlds gold. Tausaga finished sixth.

Of course, there was more qualifying:

● Men/400 m: Six heats in the first round, with 2022 World Indoor champ Jereem Richards (TTO) powering down the straight to edge ahead and win heat one in 44.64, ahead of Lythe Pillay (RSA: 44.73).

Paris Olympic silver medalist Matthew Hudson-Smith was out well in heat two, with Jamaica’s Bovel McPherson on the outside, but into the straight, 2022 Worlds finalist Bayapo Ndori (BOT) and Japan’s Yuki Nakajima came on strong and were 1-2 in 44.36 and 44.44. McPherson held on for third (44.51 lifetime best) but Hudson-Smith faded to fourth in 44.68.

U.S. champ Jacory Patterson was in lane eight in heat three, and he powered to the win in a speedy 43.90 (fastest ever in a heat; 43.93 was the prior best). Rusheen McDonald of Jamaica won a three-way battle for second in 44.38 and a national record for Italy’s Edoardo Scotti (44.45).

Australia’s Reece Holder had a big lead in heat four, but was reeled in by World Indoor champ Chris Bailey of the U.S., 44.49 to 44.54, with Olympic bronzer Muzala Samukonga (ZIM: 44.56) getting third.

In heat five, world leader Zakithi Nene (RSA) led almost from the start and held his form on the straight to win in 44.34, but Vernon Norwood of the U.S. came on in the straight to move up for second in the final 15 m in 44.55. That was the same time as Hungary’s Attila Molnar in third, a national record. Defending World Champion Antonio Watson (JAM) was in contention, but faded to eighth (46.23) and did not advance.

American Khaleb McRae was in lane eight for heat six, and he was out hard, running smoothly right through the finish, unchallenged, to win in 44.25. Botswana’s Lee Eppie ran well in the middle of the track for second in 44.44 and then London 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James (GRN) in 44.66 for third.

It took 44.91 to qualify to get out of the heats; Argentina’s Elian Larregina ran 44.97 and did not advance. Wow.

● Men/High Jump: It took 2.25 m (7-4 1/2) to make the final, with Olympic winner Hamish Kerr (NZL), two-time World Indoor winner Sang-hyeok Woo (KOR) and Americans JuVaughn Harrison and Tyus Wilson in the group.

U.S. Olympic silver winner Shelby McEwen cleared 2.21 m (7-3) tied for 19th; defending champion Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA), fighting illness and injury all year, managed 2.16 m (7-1) and did not advance.

● Women/400 m: Dutch star Lieke Klaver, the 2024 World Indoor runner-up, took the lead around the second turn and won cleanly in 50.32. Bella Whittaker of the U.S. had to push a little on the straight to get second in 50.82.

Heat two had world no. 4 Aaliyah Butler of the U.S. in six, but it was former American star Wadeline Venlogh (formerly Jonathas) – now running for Haiti – who was strong throughout and won in a national record of 49.91. Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka and Butler were strong on the straight to finish 2-3 in 50.16 and 50.44.

American star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone headlined heat three – in lane six – and she ran away from the field and won easily in 49.41. Chile’s Martina Weil was second in 50.61. Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce, the former Arkansas star, was a smooth winner in heat four in 49.91, beating Norway’s Henriette Jaeger (50.12).

World leader Salwa Eid Naser (BRN), the 2019 World Champion, led heat five and ran away from the gun, winning in 49.13, with Stacey Ann Williams (JAM: 49.59 lifetime best) alone in second. Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino (DOM) was comfortably in control in heat six, winning in 49.85, with Britain’s Amber Anning second in 49.96.

Naser’s 49.13 is the fastest heat ever, which had been 49.40 by Britton Wilson of the U.S. in 2023. It took 51.37 to make it to the semis.

● Women/1,500 m: Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu, the 2024 World Indoor winner, fell in the first 200 m of the first semifinal, but made it back into the pack within a lap. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Olympic champ Faith Kipyegon was in front and took the bell, ahead of Linden Hall (AUS) and Dorcus Ewoi (KEN). Kipyegon and Ewoi separated around the final turn and went 1-2 in 4:00.34 and 4:00.65. Hailu motored on the straight for third in 4:01.03, ahead of American Sinclaire Johnson (4:01.08).

Emily Mackay of the U.S. was 10th in 4:12.80 and did not advance.

Semi two was slow, with some pushing and tripping, but with Paris silver medalist Jess Hull (AUS) in front with U.S. champion Nikki Hiltz. At the bell, Nelly Chepchrichir (KEN) moved to the front, with Hull close on her shoulder and Chepchirchir got the win in 4:06.86. Hull ran 4:06.87 and Hiltz was third in 4:07.04.

The Monday morning schedule in Tokyo has the men’s marathon and qualifying in the men’s hammer, women’s vault, Steeple and 400 m hurdles.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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ATHLETICS: Jepchirchir outlasts Assefa for women’s marathon World Champs gold on final lap in Tokyo; Ingebrightsen, Koech out of men’s 1,500 m

By
Rich Perelman
-
Brilliant World Championships marathon win for Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir (Photo: Dan Vernon for World Athletics).

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Sunday morning’s action at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN) focused on the women’s marathon, and some more morning qualifying, with plenty of excitement. The one final:

● Women/Marathon: Even with the race start moved to 7:30 a.m., it was 79 F, humid and cloudy for the 73 starters from 43 countries. By the 10 km mark, the U.S. duo of Susanna Sullivan and 2024 Olympic Trials fourth-placer Jessica McClain were in front of a large group of 15, including Paris 2024 silver winner Tigst Assefa (ETH) and Kenya’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ Peres Jepchirchir.

Sullivan, 58th at the 2023 Worlds marathon, pushed the pace on her own and broke to a 25 m lead, ahead of Osaka 2025 runner-up Kana Kobayashi (JPN), McClain and Rotterdam 2025 winner Jackline Cherono (KEN).

By 14 km, Sullivan – in her 14th career marathon – was 150 m up, but the chase pack of eight had caught McClain, Kobayashi and Cherono. But Kobayashi and McClain surged again, while Sullivan stayed well in front. Fatima Gardadi (MAR), the 2023 Worlds bronzer, moved ahead of the larger pack and into fourth and then up with McClain at 18 km.

By the half, Sullivan was running at roughly a 2:26 pace and had 30 seconds on McClain, Gardadi and Kobayashi and more than a minute on the large chase pack. McClain moved 10 seconds ahead of other two by 23 km, and then the chase group of nine was 1:01 back. By 25 km, Sullivan was 27 seconds up on McClain and the chase group was seven, with Kobayashi and Gardadi having fallen back.

Now the chasers got busy, as Assefa, Kebede and Jepchirchir caught and passed McClain and set their sights on Sullivan, closing to 15 seconds by 26.4 km. The chasers finally caught and passed Sullivan by 28 km as Assefa and Jepchirchir took over.

By 30 km, Assefa and Jepchirchir were together, 30 seconds up on Magdalyne Masai (KEN) and Paris 2024 seventh-placer Stella Chesang (UGA), then Sullivan in fifth. The two leaders stayed together, but with Masai edging ahead of Chesang for third at 33 km, but Chesang was back to third by 35 km.

Behind the leaders, unheralded Julia Paternain (URU), in her second career marathon, moved into a stunning third place; her only prior marathon was a 2:27:09 national record on 30 March at the McKirdy Micro in Congers, New York. And at 40 km, Sullivan had passed Chesang into fourth, 41 seconds behind the Uruguayan.

Assefa and Jepchirchir, side by side, were right together with 800 m to go and Jepchirchir led into the stadium. Jepchirchir pushed, but Assefa stormed into the lead, but couldn’t drop the Kenyan. Then Jepchirchir mounted one last sprint and got to the line, winning in 2:24:43 to 2:24:45.

It’s Jepchirchir’s fourth Worlds gold, but the other were all in the Half Marathon, in 2016, 2020 and 2023. But she has a World title to go with her Olympic title in Sapporo four years ago and is now 3-3 in marathons run in Japan. In 11 career marathons, she has now won seven.

Paternain won the bronze in 2:27:33, then Sullivan in fourth in 2:28:17. Finland’s Alisa Vainio was fifth in 2:28:32, then Kobayashi in 2:28:50. McClain was eighth in 2:29:20.

The third American, Erika Kemp, finished 52nd in 2:50:35.

There was also three qualifying events in the morning, with some shockers:

● Men/1,500 m: There were four heats with the top six in each to advance to the semis. Norway’s Narve Nordas, the 2023 Worlds bronze winner, took the bell in heat one, just ahead of Federico Riva (ITA), 2023 World Champion Josh Kerr and Ethan Strand of the U.S.

Nordas held on and won in 3:35.90, with Kerr moving well on the straight for second in 3:35.98, then Strand at 3:36.27 and Riva fourth in 3:36.28. World leader Azeddine Habz (FRA) was fifth into the straight, but faded and was eliminated in seventh (3:36.62).

The second heat had Dutch star Niels Laros, brilliant in the Diamond League, as the one to watch and he was in charge at the bell and leading Pietro Arese (ITA) and Adam Spencer (AUS). Isaac Nader (POR) moved up off the final curve and Arese and Nader passed Laros and tied for the win in 3:40.91. Laros was an easy third in 3:41.00 and moved on.

Olympic champ Cole Hocker of the U.S. and 2019 World Champion Tim Cheruiyot (KEN) headlined heat three and Hocker surged to the lead at the bell, ahead of Robert Farken (GER). Hocker stayed clear and in front through the final lap and crossed first in 3:41.88, then Farken (3:42.06), Britain’s Neil Gourley (3:42.13) and Cheruiyot (3:42.20).

Kenya’s teen sensation Phanuel Koech was in heat four, facing Norway’s Tokyo 2020 winner Jakob Ingebrigtsen – back from injury – and 2022 World Champion Jake Wightman (GBR). But as Jose Carlos Pinto (POR) took the bell, almost everyone was in contention, with Wightman second and as Koech made a move in lane two, he tripped and fell and was out of contention.

Wightman had the lead with 200 m to go, passing Pinto and Sweden’s Samuel Pihlstrom coming up to challenge. Ingebrigtsen was on the inside and looking for space on the straight, but he was passed by American Jonah Koech, and others and faded to eighth. Wightman won in 3:36.90, with Pinto at 3:37.09 and Jonah Koech at 3:7.11. Phanuel Koech was 12th (3:42.77); he filed a protest, but this was denied.

● Women/100 m hurdles: Olympic champ Masai Russell of the U.S. had no trouble in heat one, winning in 12.53 (wind: +0.2 m/s), well ahead of Marione Fourie (RSA: 12.86). Same for two-time World Champion Danielle Williams (JAM), winning heat two in 12.40 (0.0), with American Alaysha Johnson coming on in the second half of the race for second in 12.76.

Two-time Olympic finalist Nadine Visser (NED) was an easy winner of heat three in 12.48 (-0.2), winning by 0.35; Jamaica’s Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Megan Tapper was injured and did not start.

Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent was the winner in heat four in 12.54 (+0.5), just ahead of Swiss Dita Kambundji (12.59). American Grace Stark, the Olympic fifth-placer in 2024, won heat five in 12.46 (+0.1), barely ahead of Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska (12.51).

World-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR) rolled to the heat six win in 12.53 (0.0), with two-time World Indoor champ Devynne Charlton (BAH) a clear second in 12.69. Except for Tapper, everyone who should be in the semis is on to the semis.

● Women/Hammer: The automatic qualifying distance was 74.00 m (242-9) and in the first group, Finland’s Silja Kosonen (75.88 m/248-11) and 2019 World Champion DeAnna Price of the U.S. (74.99 m/246-0) advanced on their first and second throws, respectively.

World leader Brooke Andersen of the U.S., the 2022 World Champion, failed to get a legal mark and was eliminated; this had also happened to her at the 2023 Pan American Games and at the 2024 Olympic Trials.

Defending champion Cam Rogers (CAN) got her auto-qualifier right away in the second group at 77.52 m (254-4) on her first toss, as did China’s Jie Zhao at 74.24 m (243-7).

Two-time Worlds medalist Janee Kassanavoid of the U.S. reached only 71.95 m (236-0) on her second try but ended up ninth overall and on to the final. Rachel Richeson, the world no. 3 for 2025, could manage only 66.95 m (219-8) and did not qualify in 28th place.

The evening session will have finals in the men’s and women’s 100 m, the men’s 10,000 m and the women’s long jump and discus.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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ATHLETICS: U.S.’s Crouser wins fifth global shot title in a row at Tokyo Worlds, to go with a dominant win in the mixed 4×400 m relay!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Shot Put superstar Ryan Crouser (USA)

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The first evening session of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo had warm temperatures at 80 F, humid with a little rain, but a full house in the National Stadium, in contrast to the fan-less Olympic Games in 2021.

It was a good night for the U.S.:

● Mixed 4×400 m: The Americans made no changes in its line-up of Bryce Deadmon, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Jenoah McKiver and Alexis Holmes, which led the qualifying.

Deadmon was off strongly (44.98) and handed off first to Irby-Jackson (49.18), who had a slight lead on South Africa and extended on the straight with a 5 m lead. He was chased by Belgium and Poland, with the British second on the straight to challenge McKiver.

McKiver (43.91) gave Holmes a 6 m lead on the anchor and was flying, with a 12 m lead into the straight. Holmes (50.73) won easily, winning in 3:08.80 and took any chance of a comeback by Dutch star Femke Bol (50.06), who moved up to second and took silver (3:09.96).

Belgium dueled with Poland for the bronze, and won by 3:10.61 to 3:10.63.

For the U.S., it has won three of the four Worlds golds in this event – also in 2019 and 2023 – with Holmes also the anchor in Budapest. The time of 3:08.80 is the equal-fifth performance all-time.

● Men/Shot: All the questions were about Ryan Crouser’s elbow and what he could do in his first meet of the year! But teammate Tripp Piperi took the lead right away at 21.05 m (69-0 3/4), followed by 2017 World Champion Tom Walsh (NZL: 21.58 m/70-9 3/4) to take over. Crouser opened with 21.41 m (70-3) to stand second.

World leader Leonardo Fabbri (ITA) moved into third at 21.26 m (69-9) and Piperi improved to 21.20 m (69-6 3/4) in round two, but stayed in fourth. Then Crouser took the lead at 21.99 m (72-1 3/4) and Fabbi moved into second at 21.83 m (71-7 1/2); U.S. champ Josh Awotunde reached 21.14 m (69-4 1/4) to move to sixth. Piperi improved in round three to 21.50 m (70-6 1/2) but stayed fourth.

Walsh moved up to second at 21.94 m (71-11 3/4) in round five, equaled by Fabbri on the next throw, moving the Italian back into second. Crouser fired up, and extended his lead to 22.34 m (73-3 1/2) and feeling more like himself.

In the sixth, Mexico’s Uziel Munoz had been fourth, then went fast on the spin and moved into second at 21.97 m (72-1) for a national record! Walsh was now fourth and was unable to improve. Fabbri, the world leader, did not improve and that left Crouser as the winner; he passed his final throw. He had done enough.

In his first meet of the year, he won another gold to add to his Olympic titles in 2021 and 2024 and his Worlds golds in 2022 and 2023. Five in five years!

Piperi finished sixth and Awotunde was seventh.

● Women/10,000 m: It was still warm and muggy for this race, with Olympic champ and world-record holder Beatrice Chebet (KEN) the favorite, but defending champ Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) ready to challenge. Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich had the lead by 3,600 m, with Chebet and Tsegay right behind as 10 moved away from the pack at 4,000 m.

Chebet then took the lead with 14 laps to go and Tsegay moved right up to keep contact and the lead group was trimmed to six. Chebet and Ngetich were towing the field and at 5,000 m at 15:16.31, amazing for this heat and humidity. Ngetich took the lead again, as the pressure increased, but with five completely clear of the rest of the field – Tsegay, Ngetich, Chebet, Nadia Battocletti (ITA) and Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye – the pace slowed after 6,000 m.

Ngetich had the lead at 8,000 m, but everyone was just marking time. Tsegay took over at 9,000 m and Chebet moved up and Taye was dropped. At the bell, Tsegay led Chebet, but Chebet rolled into the lead around the final turn. Battocletti sprinted into second, but Chebet won going away with a 60.1 last lap in 30:37.61 with the Italian second in a national record of 30:38.23 and Tsegay third in 30:39.65. Ngetich was fourth in 30:42.66.

The top American was Elise Cranny, 12th in 31:40.07, with Emily Infeld 14th in 31:47.65 and Taylor Roe 18th in 32:12.19.

In the evening qualifying:

● Men/100 m: Jamaican star Oblique Seville was left in the blocks in heat one, but ran himself into third as Gift Leotlela (RSA) got a lifetime best of 9.87 to win (wind: +0.3 m/s), with Auburn’s Kayinsola Ajayi (NGR) second (9.88 lifetime best) second. Seville ran 9.93 to move on.

World leader and Paris silver winner Kishane Thompson (JAM) got away well, was in front by 20 m and cruised in 9.95 (+0.1). Canada’s Eliezer Adjibi was a distant second in 10.19. Defending champ Noah Lyles of the U.S. was in heat three, but Ackeem Blake (JAM) got the best start. But Lyles took charge by 60 m and was an easy winner in 9.95 into a 1.1 m/s headwind. Blake was second in 10.07.

American “Kung Fu” Kenny Bednarek got a modest start in heat four, but was in the lead by 40 m and finished in a jog in 10.01 (-0.8), ahead of Jerome Blake (CAN: 10.05). Olympic 200 m champs Andre De Grasse (CAN) and Letsile Tebogo (BOT) were in heat five and Tebogo had the lead early and won in 10.07 (-1.2), with De Grasse at 10.16 and Courtney Lindsey of the U.S. at 10.19 in third.

In heat six, T’Mars McCallum of the U.S. had a reaction time of 0.099 – faster than allowed – but no false start was charged. On the re-start, Israel Okon (NGR) was out best and won in 10.04 (-0.6), with 2023 Worlds bronzer Zharnel Hughes (GBR) second in 10.06 and Tokyo 2020 champion Lamont Jacobs (ITA: 10.20) third. McCallum hurt his right hamstring and was fourth in 10.25 and did not advance.

South African star Akani Simbine took the lead in heat seven by mid-race and won in 10.02, with Abdul-Rasheed Siminu (GHA) second in 10.09 and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala third in 10.12.

Lyles told NBC’s Lewis Johnson that Seville was “panicking in the back” (check-in area) prior to his bad start in heat one. Seville told Johnson that he was dealing with an undisclosed personal issue.

● Men/Steeple: Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale opened up the race with three laps to go and led into the final straight, then passed at the line by Edmund Serem (KEN) in 8:29.97 to 8:30.14. American Isaac Updike was eighth in 8:33.46 and did not advance.

Jostling and a couple of falls marked heat two, with New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish one of those who went down late, but he got up quickly and got back into the race, eventually won by Morocco’s Salahheddine ben Yazide in 8:27.21. Beamish came on after the final water jump to get second in 8:27.23; Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Rooks of the U.S. dropped off the pace by mid-race and was 11th in 8:45.57.

Daniel Michalski of the U.S. was at or near the front in heat three, but was passed by Olympic champ Soufiane El Bakkali (ETH) and world-record holder Lamecha Girma (ETH) – who fell earlier – over the final water jump and into the straight. El Bakkali won in 8:26.99 with Girma at 8:27.79 and then Michalski at 8:28.76 and into the final. Girma was well back after the fall, but worked his way into contention impressively over the final 300 m.

● Men/Vault: It took 5.75 m (18-10 1/4) to separate out the 12 finalists, with the big favorites all moving on: world-record holder Mondo Duplantis (SWE), Emmanouil Karalis (GRE) and two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks of the U.S.

France’s London 2012 Olympic champ Renaud Lavillenie also made it to the final … at age 38.

The other two Americans did not qualify, as Matt Ludwig cleared 5.70 m (18-8 1/2) and U.S. national champion Austin Miller managed 5.55 m (18-2 1/2).

● Women/100 m: U.S. champ Melissa Jefferson-Wooden took the lead after 40 m of heat one and cruised – cruised – to a 10.99 win (wind: -0.9 m/s) in heat one, ahead of Zoe Hobbs (NZL: 11.16). Jamaica’s world no. 3 Tina Clayton won heat two in 11.01 (-0.4), in control from 30 m and led Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith (11.07) to the line.

Defending champ Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. was in heat three, as was Jamaican star Shericka Jackson, the defending 200 m winner. Jackson was out best and had the lead by 20 m and moved smoothly, cruising to the finish in 11.04. Richardson came on hard in the second half of the race and won at the line in 11.03 (-0.8), a seasonal best!

Olympic champ Julien Alfred headlined heat four, and had no trouble at all, winning in a breezy 10.93 (0.0), jogging the last 15 m and winning by 0.30. Wow. Britain’s Daryll Neita won heat five over TeeTee Terry of the U.S., taking charge at 40 m and timing 10.94 (+0.5) to 11.06.

Italy’s Zaynab Dosso got out well in heat six and was a clear winner in 11.10 (-0.1), ahead of U.S. runner-up Kayla White, who was passed at the line by Amy Hunt (GBR: 11.13); White was third in 11.16 and looked sluggish.

Five-time champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) got out well in heat seven, but Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith (CIV) was the winner in 11.05 (-0.4), to 11.09, both running easily at the line.

● Women/1,500 m: Sinclaire Johnson of the U.S. had the lead at the bell in heat one, ahead of Paris silver winner Jess Hull (AUS). But 12 were in contention with 200 to go, and Hull took over into the final straight and won in 4:04.40. Johnson was a clear second in 4:04.59.

Australia’s Linden Hall took the bell, with five pulling away with 200 m to go led by Nelly Chepchirchir (KEN), who won in 4:07.01. Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska came on hard for second in 4:07.34, with Hall fourth (4:07.61) and American Emily Mackay a qualifying fifth in 4:08.19.

In heat three, Ethiopia’s 2024 World Indoor champ Freweyni Hailu took the lead with 600 m to go and poured on the pace, , dragging the pack with her. Into the final straight, Hailu rolled to the finish in 4:01.23. U.S. champ Nikki Hiltz moved up in the final 50 m for second in 4:01.73, ahead of Susan Ejore (KEN: 4:01.99).

World-record holder Faith Kipyegon (KEN) led heat four on the third lap and took the bell ahead of Tokyo silver winner Laura Muir (GBR). On the final straight, Kipyegon held the lead and won in 4:02.55, with a bunched sprint behind her and France’s Sarah Madeleine (4:02.66) and Ireland’s Sarah Healy (4:02.67) coming second and third. Muir faded to eighth (4:05.59) and did not advance.

● Women/Long Jump: Olympic champ Tara Davis-Woodhall took care of business right away with an auto-qualifying 6.88 m (22-7) on her first jump. The others to clear 6.75 m (22-1 3/4) were Hilary Kpatcha (FRA: 6.85 m/22-5 3/4), Agate de Souza (POR: 6.81 m/22-4 1/4) and Marthe Koala (BUR: 6.76 m/22-2 1/4).

World Indoor champ Claire Bryant of the U.S. needed a third-round 6.72 m (22-0 3/4) to qualify and was fifth overall. Fellow American Quanesha Burks was eighth at 6.63 m (21-9) and advanced.

The shocker was Italian star Larissa Iapichino, the Diamond League winner, in 15th at 6.56 m (21-6 1/4) and not qualifying for the final.

U.S. shot putter Payton Otterdahl did not qualify for the final and said afterwards he suffered a right-elbow injury in warm-ups.

Prize money for the Worlds is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for individual events and $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000 for relays.

The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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ATHLETICS: U.S. star Crouser opens season with auto-qualifier in men’s shot, Americans lead mixed 4×4 qualifying as Tokyo Worlds open

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The opening session of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN) started with the men’s and women’s 35 km walks, moved up to avoid high heat and with mid-70s temperatures and overcast skies as the race developed.

The men’s 35 km had three clear by halfway, with home favorites Hayato Katsuki and two-time Worlds medalist Masatowa Kawano and Ecuador’s 2023 Pan Am Games 20 km winner David Hurtado, with Tokyo 2020 50 km bronzer Evan Dunfee (CAN) about 12 seconds back.

The top three passed 25 km together, but then Hurtado moved away and was up by 12 seconds at 28 km, but had to sit for 3 1/2 minutes of penalties due to three red cards. Kawano took the lead back and by 30 km, had nine seconds on Dunfee, who had moved up nicely. But Dunfee had the lead at 31 km as Kawano was struggling mightily.

The Canadian star was ahead by 40 seconds by 32 km, and Korea’s Ming-yu Kim passed Kawano after 33 km for second, but Brazil’s Caio Bonfim, the Paris 2024 20 km silver medalist was moving best, passed Kim and challenged Dunfee for the lead. But the Canadian overcame a cramp and had enough to win, waving the Canadian flag above his head as he crossed in 2:28:22.

Bonfim was second in 2:28:55 and Katsuki thrilled the crowd in third in 2:29:16. Kawano faded to 18th.

Five women were in the lead pack by halfway in the women’s 35 km, starting with Tokyo 2020 20 km winner Antonella Palmisano (ITA), Paula Torres (ECU), China’s Li Peng, Spain’s Olympic 20 km silver winner (and defending champ) Maria Perez and Peru’s star, 2022 World Champion Kimberley Garcia.

Perez got clear by 23 km, and had a 16-second lead on Palmisano (and everyone else) by 24 km and more than a minute by 28 km. With 2 km to go, she had a 2:58 lead on Palmisano and 3:30 on Torres, and strode home the winner – her second straight in this event – waving the Spanish flag in 2:39:01.

Palmisano was a clear second in 2:42:24, then Torres in 2:42:44. The U.S. entries included Maria Michta-Coffey, 22nd in 3:05:02; Miranda Melville, 30th in 3:12:07 and Katie Burnett, 32nd in 3:14:13.

Everything else in the morning session was qualifying, with the sun coming out for the running events:

● Mixed 4×400 m: The new rules allow only one substitution between heats and final, so the quality was up for the top teams. The U.S. was in heat one with former national 400 m champ Bryce Deadmon, Tokyo Olympic 4×400 gold winner Lynna Irby-Jackson, Jenoah McKiver and Alexis Holmes, who anchored the 2023 World Champion team.

South Africa’s Gardeo Isaacs and Deadmon passed together, but then Irby-Jackson took the lead and passed with a meter lead on Miranda Coetzee. McKiver opened a bigger lead, but passed even with Leendert Koekemoer at the final exchange. Holmes was in control all during the final leg, away from South Africa’s Zeney van der Walt, but then Britain’s Yemi Mary John came on hard to challenge in the final 15 m. But Holmes saw her coming on the scoreboard and stayed in front to the tape in 3:10.18 to 3:10.22, with South Africa third in 3:11.16, the auto qualifiers.

Poland and the Netherlands handed off even after two legs in heat two, but Dylan Borlee brought the Belgians to the front on the final exchange. Helena Ponette maintained the lead and got clear of the field to win in 3:10.37, with 800 m star Mary Moraa bringing Kenya up into second (3:10.73) and Eveline Saalberg (NED) hanging on for third in 3:11.11.

Olympic hero Femke Bol is expected to help the Dutch in the final.

● Men/100 m: In the run-in round, the top time was 10.41 (-0.8 m/s wind) by Christopher Borzor (HAI).

● Men/Shot Put: Defending champ Ryan Crouser of the U.S. hadn’t thrown all season thanks to injuries, but debuted as the fourth man in the qualifying, and  very conservatively reached 21.37 m (70-1 1/2), just beyond the auto-qualifying mark of 21.35 m/70-0 1/2.

Teammate Tripp Piperi led off Group A with an auto-qualifier at 21.47 m (70-5 1/4) and that ended up second-best overall in the morning.

In Group B, 2017 World Champion Tom Walsh (NZL) hit his qualifier in the second round at 21.74 m (70-5 1/4) and that was the best of the day. U.S. champ Josh Awotunde did 20.78 m (68-2 1/4) in the first round and that was his best, but good enough for eighth and advancing to the final.

Payton Otterdahl was out of form, did 19.78 m (64-10 3/4) in round one but then had two fouls and did not advance, ranking 21st overall.

● Women/Discus: Three auto qualifiers – past 64.00 m/210-0 – from the first group, with two-time World Champion Sandra Elkasevic (CRO) at 66.72 m (218-11), followed by 2022 World Champion Bin Feng (CHN: 65.52 m/214-11) and defending champ Lagi Tausaga of the U.S. (64.99 m/213-2). Gabi Jacobs of the U.S. reached 59.70 m (195-10), eighth in the group and did not advance.

The second flight had auto qualifiers in Jorinde van Klinken (NED: 66.39 m/217-9), and Olympic champ Valarie Allman of the U.S. (66.07 m/216-9).

American Shelby Frank was 13th in Group B at 58.90 m (193-3) and did not advance.

Saturday’s evening session begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time in the U.S. The meet is being shown by NBC in the U.S., primarily on Peacock, but also on CNBC and USA Network.

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ATHLETICS: Athletics Integrity Unit wins bans on U.S.’s Knighton, Ethiopia’s Welteji and World Athletics suspends Powell

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ KNIGHTON AND WELTEJI BANNED ≡

Two major doping decisions came down on Friday, just ahead of the opening of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN), one knocking out a potential medal winner.

That would be Ethiopian 1,500 m star Diribe Welteji, 23, the 2023 women’s World Road Mile champion and World women’s 1,500 m runner-up, who stands no. 3 in the world in 2025 in the 1,500, at 3:51.44:

“The Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) application for provisional measures has been upheld by the CAS Division President and Ethiopian athlete, Diribe Welteji, has been suspended, pending the outcome of the AIU’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“As a result, Welteji is not eligible to compete at the World Athletics Championships starting in Tokyo tomorrow, in which she was entered in the women’s 800 metres and 1500 metres events.

“The AIU appealed to CAS following the decision of a national hearing panel of the Ethiopian Anti-Doping Authority to clear Welteji of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation for a breach of article 2.3 of the Ethiopian National Anti-Doping Office Rules (Refusal or Failure to submit to Sample Collection).”

The Ethiopian decision to clear Welteji came on 27 August; the AIU received the file on 1 September and filed its motion to challenge on 10 September.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport banned 21-year-old U.S. sprint star Erriyon Knighton for four years in a reversal of his arbitration win in the U.S.:

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld two appeals by the Athletics Integrity Unit and by the World Anti-Doping Agency against USA athlete, Erriyon Knighton, following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).

“Knighton has been banned for 4 years, starting from today, with credit for the provisional suspension he served between 12 April and 19 June 2024.

“The AIU appealed against the First Instance Decision of an arbitral tribunal in the USA that found that Knighton had established No Fault or Negligence for his ADRV after testing positive for a metabolite of the steroid, trenbolone in March 2024.

“Knighton had blamed his positive test on eating contaminated meat.

“As a result of the CAS decision, Knighton is not eligible to compete at the World Athletics Championships starting in Tokyo tomorrow. He was entered in the men’s 200 metres and as a member of the USA relay squad.”

Knighton’s ban is from 12 September 2025, less his provisional suspension from 12 April 2024 to 19 June 2024, so he will be out until mid-2029 and miss the 2028 Olympic Games, unless an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal is successful.

Despite being a back-up entry for the 2025 Worlds, he was not included on the USA Track & Field team roster for Tokyo, given his fifth-place finish at the USATF National Championships. He would only have been eligible to run in relays, but was not selected.

Knighton’s doping positive was from a 26 March 2024 sample, for epitrenbolone, a metabolite of the anabolic steroid trenbolone and was provisionally suspended as of 12 April 2024.

At a hearing on 14 and 16 June 2024, the United States Anti-Doping Agency asked for a four-year suspension; Knighton’s team asked for a “no-fault” funding due to the epitrenbolone being ingested from meat – oxtail – eaten by Knighton on 22-23 March at a Brandon, Florida restaurant.

The oxtail meat used by the restaurant was traced to Nicaragua and tested in the U.S., which found trenbolone to be present. The arbitrator wrote that “Respondent has provided sufficient evidence to establish there was no intentional doping. The amount in Respondent’s sample was low.”

Moreover, the arbitrator praised the evidence assembled by Knighton to show “no fault”:

“He established by uncontroverted evidence that meat imported into the United States is barely tested for trenbolone; the restaurant where the meal was purchased sources oxtail meat containing trenbolone; he tested negative three (3) weeks prior and after the March 26 test; he has no doping history; there is no evidence that the Prohibited Substance is micro-dosed; he takes no supplements other than a protein powder; his hair sample was negative; there was no deception detected in his polygraph test; and the explanation of what occurred with the meal purchase and his consumption of it was plausible.”

And so the arbitrator issued a 39-page decision on 18 June 2024 of a “no fault” finding, allowing Knighton to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials. The Court of Arbitration for Sport came to the opposite conclusion:

“After considering the scientific evidence, the CAS Panel determined that there is no proof that would support the conclusion that oxtail imported into the USA would be likely to contain trenbolone residues at the level required to have caused the Athlete’s Adverse Analytical Finding.”

This is a real tragedy for a talented sprinter with his whole career ahead of him. He was the Worlds 200 m bronze winner in 2022 and silver winner in 2023 and fourth at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The AIU also posted a notice concerning long jump world-record holder Mike Powell of the U.S., now 61, the 1991 and 1993 World Champion and 1988 and 1992 Olympic silver medalist:

“The Case Management Group (CMG) of World Athletics has suspended Mike Powell (USA) indefinitely for a Safeguarding Concern, following a referral by the AIU” with sanctions:

“Suspension from World Athletics-sanctioned activities and activities in athletics including no accreditation or credentials at World Athletics Series Events or any competitions or events organised or sanctioned by World Athletics, or any Area Association or Member Federation and no attendance (whether by invitation or otherwise) at any hospitality or other private access venue at, or in connection with, any World Athletics Series Events.”

The “safeguarding” issue was not specified and is appealable.

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VOX POPULI: Culver City Mayor O’Brien sees inspiration in 2028 Olympic New Zealand House plan, confident of approval at 29 September meeting

By
Dan O'Brien
-

/Culver City Mayor Dan O’Brien wrote to The Sports Examiner following our 8 September story, detailing the City Council’s decision not to approve a non-binding Term Sheet with the New Zealand Olympic Committee for its hospitality and public outreach program in Culver City during the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Council requested further staff research and will take up the matter again on 29 September. Mayor O’Brien’s opinions are, of course, his own alone./

After reading your article summarizing Monday night’s city council meeting, it echoed exactly how I felt walking out of that chamber: frustration. I had arrived expecting to celebrate a pivotal step forward – instead, we left with a decision delayed until September 29.

Like my colleagues, I’m inspired by the vision presented by New Zealand’s Olympic Committee.

But despite our shared excitement, we couldn’t align on the financial calculus – specifically, whether the investment would pay for itself in the long term.

To me, the answer is clear. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to partner with one of the world’s most celebrated Olympic nations – a country that brings unmatched energy, charm, and global appeal. The Kiwis offered to fund and organize an open, inclusive, and unforgettable fan zone adjacent to their Hospitality House at our iconic Culver Hotel. In Olympic circles, New Zealand is legendary for its hospitality, consistently delivering one of the most dynamic and welcoming national houses, regardless of their size.

As I said during the meeting, in an Olympic context: “New Zealand has the gravitational pull of the sun.”

In return, Culver City is being asked to provide basic public infrastructure – safety services, bathrooms, traffic management, and emergency health personnel – at an estimated cost of just over $700,000. That price tag gave some of my colleagues pause. They requested a detailed breakdown of costs and potential funding sources before making a final commitment. I respect that diligence, but I’m confident that by September 29, we’ll have the clarity and consensus needed to say yes – not just to New Zealand, but to the global moment this represents.

The enthusiasm from the Kiwi side is palpable. Days after that meeting, I attended a reception hosted by a local New Zealand expat – over 100 guests, including members of the NZ Olympic Committee, gathered to celebrate their future home in the heart of Culver City. They spoke passionately about the vision, the programming, and the partnership. They thanked us for our efforts. And they made it clear: this is not a casual endeavor – it’s the product of a year of coordination, trust-building, and shared ambition.

Yes, I wish we had finalized the agreement Monday night. But after waiting a year for this to take shape, I’m willing to wait a few more weeks. Because when the world comes to Culver City in 2028, and they step into the NZ Hospitality House – drawn in by that same gravitational pull – we’ll be proud to say we had the foresight to say yes.

[≡The Sports Examiner encourages expressions of opinion – we really do – but preferably based on facts. Comments may be sent 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.≡]

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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ATHLETICS: World Athletics releases impressive 2024 financials, showing fab $99.4 million in revenue and $47.1 million in reserves

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ ANNUAL REPORT ≡

World Athletics had a big year in 2024, with a sensational Olympic Games in Paris at the center, but the federation had just as good a year at the bank.

Its Annual Report covering the 2024 calendar year, released on Friday in Tokyo (JPN) ahead of the World Athletics Championships that start on Saturday, showed outstanding results:

● $99.386 million in revenue
● $78.769 million in expenses
● $20.616 million operating surplus
● $20.284 million surplus after investment income

This compares to a deficit of $16.674 million for 2023 and $17.384 million for 2022!

Importantly, revenues rose mightily thanks primarily to the International Olympic Committee payment of a share of television rights from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games of $39.572 million, all received by the end of 2024.

However, the federation’s own broadcast and sponsorship rights also increased:

● $16.667 million: broadcast rights (vs. $14.725 million in 2023)
● $13.000 million: sponsorship from $130 million/10-year guarantee
● $13.846 million: profit-share from outside sales
● $6.736 million: in-kind goods and services
● $1.300 million: Diamond League

In all, these income areas contributed $51.549 million, an increase of 11.4% on the 2023 total of $46.275 million. Interestingly, the sponsorship profit-share total of $13.846 million was nicely up from $11.063 million in 2023 and $7.977 million in 2022 (!).

There was also $8.265 million in other revenue, from certification of tracks and equipment, road race designations, reimbursements for doping-control activities in Bahrain, Kenya and Russia and pass-through in-kind goods and services to local organizers.

The key figure for the future: $59.814 million in non-Olympic revenue vs. $54.198 million, up 10.4% for the year.

In terms of spending:

● $6.981 million: World Indoors, U-20, Relays, Cross Country
● $4.271 million: Olympic Games, with $2.5 million prize money
● $2.464 million: Diamond League support
● $2.093 million: Continental Tour and Permit meet support
● $1.659 million: Other competitions and events

That’s $17.468 million related directly to meets and events. In terms of competition and event administration:

● $3.502 million: staff costs
● $3.808 million: technology
● $2.030 million: broadcasting
● $1.444 million: marketing
● $4.335 million: communications & publications
● $7.578 million: commissions for value in-kind

There were other, smaller expenses, such as $985,000 to expand the federation’s digital impact, with 1.2 million addressable fans at the end of 2024. In all, $42.877 million was spent on competition and event-related programming.

There were three other major spending areas:

● $11.927 million for grants to area and national federations
● $16.943 million for legal and compliance
● $7.021 million for general administration

The major cost in the legal and compliance category was $11.897 million for the Athletics Integrity Unit.

Sebastian Coe (GBR) received $257,500 as President and another $22,500 as a member of the federation Executive Board. He was provided with the services of an assistant in London at $191,000 for salary and office space, paid to a third-party company

In terms of the sport itself, things were busy in 2024, according to the report:

● “A total of 7791 competitions were registered across all our six Areas in 2024 with the 6875 events in track& field, combined events and race walk and just under a thousand events in road running, cross country, mountain and trail running.”

● “Continued investment in competitions particularly the Continental Tour, which grew from 229 events in 2023 to 270 events in 2024, meant more competition and prize winning opportunities for our athletes. Almost 21,000 [20,443] athletes from 193 countries competed in Continental Tour events during the year.”

In terms of exposure, Coe explained in an opening statement that “1.2 billion people tuned in to watch athletics” at Paris 2024, and the sport benefitted from a huge increase in hours shown, 5,477 at Tokyo 2020 to 7,426 in Paris (+36%).

The World Athletics championship events outside of the Games drew a total of 132 million viewers worldwide during the year.

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PANORAMA: California Youth Sports For All bill advances in Sacramento; Kenya declared non-compliant by WADA; USOPC wants sports strategists!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2034: Salt Lake City-Utah ● More from the startling “Podium34” announcement by the 2034 SLC-Utah organizers on Monday (8th), with Executive Chair Fraser Bullock noting that the Larry H. And Gail Miller Family Foundation was the first to commit, as a Founding Captain, to pledged donations of $20 million or more.

Bullock also spoke about the role of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rarely mentioned publicly in relation to the Games. Bullock, however, recognized senior members of the Church at the announcement and added:

“It’s very important to us that you support us. As we all know, support by the Church was critical to the success of the 2002 Games. The prominent Medals Plaza would not have been possible without their support.

“And we thank the Church for its early support and commitments for 2034: the time, talent and resources that the Church and its members brings to these Games tells the story of friendship and volunteer service that is appreciated and unique.

“We are aware the Church will make its contributions public in the coming weeks. Thank you.”

● Youth Sports For All ● An energetic campaign to create a comprehensive, new approach to the current, fragmented youth sports environment has achieved another milestone with passage of AB749 by the California State Legislature.

The bill requires the California State Public Health Officer to “establish and convene the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Development of a California Department of Youth Sports or an Equivalent Centralized Entity to conduct a comprehensive study to review the need for and feasibility of creating a centralized entity charged with supporting and regulating youth sports.”

The commission would examine the current landscape of youth sports and make recommendations for establishing a central entity to ensure fair access to quality sports programs for all youth in California. At present, the situation is confused, with pay-to-play models, lack of facilities, lack of coaching standards, and inaccessible community sports programs that deny many children opportunities for wellness, academic success and positive personal development.

Introduced in February, the Youth Sports For All Act – a major policy initiative of the Play Equity Fund – passed in the Assembly by 62-3 on 2 June, was amended and passed in the State Senate by 29-10 on 8 September and the Assembly concurred with the amended version on 10 September, by 61-7.

It now goes to Governor Gavin Newsom.

● Anti-Doping ● The World Anti-Doping Agency declared Kenya as non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code as the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has not resolved issues which surfaced in an audit from May 2024.

ADAK has 21 days to contest the allegation of non-compliance and carry the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. If not, bans on hosting events will be in force as of 2 October; no penalties for loss of flag or anthems would apply unless non-compliance carries on for more than a year.

Further, the WADA Executive Board, meeting in Prague (CZE), added Cote d’Ivoire to its compliance “watchlist,” with sanctions to come if “non-conformities” to the World Anti-Doping Code are not resolved within four months.

No comment was made in the meeting summary about the continuing battle with the U.S. over unpaid dues from 2024.

● Russia ● Russian authorities have re-issued an arrest warrant for former Russian Anti-Doping Agency Moscow Laboratory head Grigory Rodchenkov, who left for the U.S. in 2015 and continues living in an undisclosed location.

Rodchenkov provided detailed information on his work as head of the RUSADA lab from 2006-15, including how the state-sponsored doping program was initiated in 2011. According to the Russian new agency TASS, he is “accused of abusing his authority, obstructing justice, and illegally trafficking potent or toxic substances.”

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Three U.S. National Governing Bodies – U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey and US Speedskating – have combined to create the “Ice House” in Milan to offer a hospitality space for their guests and sponsors, as reported by Sports Business Journal.

The USOPC does not have a “U.S. House” for Milan Cortina with events spread over a wide area, in Milan and in the mountains. The hotel Aethos Milan will be the Ice House site, with space for 300 and a private dining room.

The USOPC wants to be more “strategic” for its Olympic and Winter Games programs and is now looking for Senior Directors of strategy for summer and winter sports. The job (summer version):

“The Senior Director, Summer Sport Strategy is responsible for leading the implementation and operationalization of the USOPC’s Summer Sport Plan across Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. The role oversees a team of high performance professionals and directly partners with summer National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to develop and execute performance plans that maximize the probability of medal success. A critical leader within the Olympic & Paralympic High Performance team, this position is entrusted with overseeing the allocation, deployment, and impact of a multimillion-dollar pool of combined resources (cash, Olympic & Paralympic Training Center access, and human capital) annually.”

Interestingly, the jobs are listed as remote, although with “frequent travel” to Colorado Springs. Both positions report to Kelly Skinner, the long-time USOPC Vice President/High Performance.

● Archery ● In the men’s Recurve final of the World Archery Championships in Gwangju (KOR), Spain’s Andres Temino, ranked no. 12 worldwide, took down no. 3 Marcus D’Almeida (BRA) in a shoot-out.

They were tied, 5-5, after a 28-28 fifth end, and in the sixth, Temino shot 10 while D’Almeida managed a nine, for the 6-5 final. For Temino, it was his second gold of the tournament, having won the Mixed Team title with Elia Canales on Wednesday. D’Almeida now has three Worlds individual medals: silver in 2021, bronze in 2023 and silver in 2025.

Korea’s Je-deok Kim won the bronze, 7-3, over Matteo Borsani (ITA).

● Athletics ● World Athletics is worried about heat at the Tokyo World Championships, already changing the start times from 8 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. for the 35 km walks on Saturday (13th), the women’s marathon on Sunday (14th) and men’s marathon on Monday (15th).

On the eve of the Tokyo Worlds, the Athletics Integrity Unit has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport of the 27 August decision to clear Ethiopian middle-distance star Diribe Welteji, for refusal to provide a sample:

“The AIU obtained the case file from the Ethiopian National Anti-Doping Organisation on 1 September 2025 and, following review, filed its appeal with CAS on 8 September 2025.

“As part of the appeal, the AIU has requested provisional measures from CAS declaring the athlete ineligible to compete pending the outcome of the appeal. That application will be heard by the CAS Division President who will determine whether Welteji may compete at the forthcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.”

Welteji ranks third in the world in the women’s 1,500 m (3:51.44) and the heats in the event begin on Saturday (13th).

● Bobsled ● Wednesday’s Panorama post mistakenly identified USA Bobsled & Skeleton women’s push athlete Jasmine Jones as also being the Paris Olympic women’s 400 m hurdler. Nope.

Jasmine Jones the bobsledder is 29 and a member of the U.S. Air Force; Jasmine Jones the hurdler is 23, attended USC and was fourth in the 2024 Olympic women’s 400 m hurdles and is in Tokyo for the 2025 World Athletics Championships. The post has been corrected.

● Cycling ● Italy’s time-trial star Filippo Ganna, a two-time World Champion in the event, won the shortened, 12.2 km time trial in and around Valladolid in 13:00.89 in the 18th stage of the 2025 Vuelta a Espana.

The course was shorted to avoid the pro-Palestinian protests which have increased in intensity as the race has gone on. Australia’s Jay Vine was second by 0.9 seconds, with Portugal’s Joao Almeida at +7.57.

However, race leader Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) finished at +18.02, so Almeida closed his deficit to 40 seconds with three stages remaining, and a mountain stage on Saturday.

At the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland, the Mixed Team Relay – with Junior, U-23 and Elite riders – went to France in 1:05:14, well ahead of Italy (1:05:48) and the home Swiss (1:06:47). The U.S. was sixth in 1:08:40.

The Cross Country Olympic races will be held over the weekend.

● Football ● The Russian Football Union said it was negotiating with U.S. Soccer on a Russia-U.S. match, to be held in Moscow or Washington, D.C., with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov already involved since March in the negotiations.

Russia is banned from international competitions held by UEFA and FIFA over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES 1980: Congressional Gold Medal bill for “Miracle on Ice” team passes U.S. Senate

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Congressional Gold Medal for Jesse Owens, presented posthumously in 1990 (Photos: Wikipedia).

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≡ “MIRACLE ON ICE” MEDAL ≡

The unforgettable U.S. ice hockey win over the USSR at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York is now close to having a special commemoration in the form of a Congressional Gold Medal.

A bill to create and award the medals was introduced on 15 January 2025 in both the U.S. House (H.R. 452) and the U.S. Senate (S. 94). It was approved by a voice vote in the House on 28 April with that version sent to the Senate for approval.

The House version was offered in the Senate and with some minor changes, SA 3828 was approved by unanimous consent on Monday (8th) and sent to the House to confirm the changes and send the bill for signature by President Donald Trump.

Three copies of the medal are to be struck, and sent for display to the Lake Placid Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York, to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in Eveleth, Minnesota, and to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

As 12 of the 20 members of the U.S. team listed in the bill were from Minnesota, the state’s Congressional delegation was at the forefront of promoting it. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a statement:

“The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team made all Americans believe in miracles.

“It’s time for Congress to recognize this legendary team, which included 12 players and head coach Herb Brooks from Minnesota, for their Miracle on Ice and award them the Congressional Gold Medal.”

Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith added:

“The ‘Miracle on Ice’ hockey game was an upset that nobody saw coming – but one that showcases the strength and resilience of Americans in the face of adversity.

“More than half of the team was from Minnesota, so I am proud this legislation to honor their achievement passed the Senate.”

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award presented by the U.S. Congress, first awarded by the Second Continental Congress to Gen. George Washington, in 1776. Multiple athletes have been honored, with the late Puerto Rican baseball star Roberto Clemente the first, in 1973. The 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, not allowed to compete in Moscow in 1980, received Congressional Gold Medals and in 1988, Congress awarded a Congressional Gold Medal to 1936 Olympic hero Jesse Owens.

Those interested may be able to buy a bronze copy of the Miracle on Ice medal, as the bill states:

“The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medals struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.”

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Congressional watchdog committee on China warns Dept. of Homeland Security on IOC sponsor Alibaba role

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ CHINA WATCH ≡

In a rare show of bi-partisan concern, a letter from the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party was sent Wednesday to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the Olympic role of the Chinese communications giant Alibaba Group:

“We write to express serious concern about the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ongoing partnership with Alibaba Group and the implications of allowing a People’s Republic of China (PRC)-based cloud provider to support the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“Alibaba serves as a critical enabler of the CCP’s digital surveillance and censorship apparatus. The company appears to have partnered with Chinese military firms on surveillance and weapons development, helped process data for PRC intelligence agencies, and established a CCP party committee within the company.

“Given that the 2028 Olympics will be held in the United States, it is imperative that Alibaba not receive any access to a major U.S. city’s infrastructure and security information, which would create unacceptable exposure to espionage, data exploitation, and foreign influence operations at a globally significant event.

“Recent reporting has made clear that these are not abstract concerns. In the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics, French cybersecurity authorities pushed back against Alibaba’s role in hosting Olympic systems. Guillaume Poupard, the head of France’s National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI), confirmed there was a ‘fight’ to keep Alibaba away from sensitive data systems due to concerns about access by the PRC government. French authorities ultimately insisted that Olympic data remain within France’s sovereign jurisdiction, with special safeguards imposed on any Alibaba systems involved.”

The letter was signed by Committee Chairs John Moolenaar (R-Michigan: House Select Committee on China) and Andrew Garbarino (R-New York: Committee on Homeland Security) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois: House Select Committee on China) and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi: Committee on Homeland Security).

The concerns were clearly stated:

● “[T]he presence of any PRC-controlled technology company in operational roles for LA 2028 creates an unacceptable risk. Alibaba’s provision of cloud infrastructure, e-commerce, ticketing, and broadcasting services in prior Olympics has already given the company substantial access to systems and personnel. This risk is heightened by the nature of the CCP’s influence over PRC-based companies and the increasing geopolitical tension surrounding critical technology platforms.”

● “Given the CCP’s clear strategic interest in exploiting foreign data systems, we believe that no PRC-controlled provider should be given any operational role unless the U.S. Government can verify the implementation of robust and demonstrable security controls – if such controls are even possible.”

This is a direct parallel to the French government’s concerns prior to the Paris 2024 Games, for example, with possible access to personal data of the hundreds of thousands of people who will be accredited, who file applications to volunteer, register to buy tickets and so on.

The lawmakers asked for a quick response:

“[W]e request a classified briefing no later than September 30, 2025 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on the above risks, ongoing efforts to advise the IOC and relevant critical infrastructure owners and operators of potential risks and mitigation measures, and potential options to prevent or remove Alibaba’s access to LA 2028 infrastructure and information.”

Alibaba’s cloud service has been under U.S. scrutiny for some time. The first Trump Administration flagged it in 2020 and in 2022, the Biden Administration’s Commerce Department was reported to be reviewing Alibaba access to U.S. intellectual property and personal data.

The Alibaba Group became the IOC’s cloud and e-commerce partner in 2017 and has led a revolution in the way that the Olympic Games are broadcast. Working with the IOC-owned Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), Alibaba created the “OBS Cloud” which allows rights-holding broadcasters to receive live, direct signals from the OBS Master Control to their home-city control rooms.

This has dramatically reduced the need for broadcasters to send staff to be on-site at the Games, and many events are now announced remotely – in home-country studios – with just a reporter on-site for interviews. The Tokyo 2020 broadcast center was 25% smaller than that at Rio 2016 and the Paris 2024 IBC was 13% smaller again than Tokyo, with a parallel reduction in staffing.

Alibaba has become more and more involved in IOC support, including hosting of its archives in digital formats, monitoring of power consumption and more.

Concerns over U.S. data safety will only grow – as was the case for Paris 2024 – and the Select Committee on the CCP was formed in January 2023 to coordinate policy toward China and monitor developments related to U.S. economic and security issues.

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MEMORABILIA: Expert Olympic collectors swap tales of how they started and what they are hunting now at U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum panel

By
Rich Perelman
-
The USOPM panel on Olympic collecting: (l-r, top to bottom): Lindsay Huban, Karen Rosen, Gordy Crawford, Jonathan Becker (USOPM video screen shot).

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≡ PIN TRADING AND MORE ≡

“My first Olympic Games was Munich in 1972. My family, we were on vacation in Europe, and we were in Salzburg, Austria, which isn’t far from Munich and I begged my father – since we had a rental car – could we drive up to Munich for day to see what’s going on in the Games.

“And he acquiesced and it was a nice little drive, and I just fell in love with it there. I picked up a couple of pins at the Games. They were actually handing out ‘I was there’ pins – in German – they were these plastic ones that you see pop up from time to time, and they had women with baskets of them handing them out to people in the Olympic park. And that really got me bitten.”

That’s Jonathan Becker, President of the Lake Placid Olympic Museum and treasurer of the Olympin Collectors Club, explaining how he got hooked on Olympic memorabilia at a fun online forum on “Collecting and Preserving Games History” organized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum on Tuesday (9th).

He was joined by Olympic super-collector Gordy Crawford, for more than 40 years a senior executive of Capital Research and Management, retiring in 2012 as Senior Vice President, and Karen Rosen, a long-time Olympic writer in Atlanta, but also an Olympin board member.

The session was hosted by U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum Chief Content & Integration Officer Lindsay Huban, who asked Crawford how he got involved:

“In the fall of 1983, my wife and I got invited by ABC to be their guest at the Sarajevo [Winter] Olympics in February of 1984. I went over and on the flight over, with all these ABC advertisers, they handed me an ABC Guest pin and then a bag of regular ABC pins. And I said, like, ‘what’s this for’ and they said, ‘oh, people trade pins at the Olympics.’

“So the next day I make my first Olympic event, which was speed skating and I put on my ABC pin and I was immediately surrounded by five guys from the Soviet Union – in the middle of the Cold War – who had these big fut hats and fur coats, and for the next 20 minutes, we traded pins.

“I was hooked. By the evening, I was working the lobby of the hotel, stopping the Icelandic representative to trade pins. And that was the start.”

Crawford didn’t get just the collecting bug, he wanted the whole hive, explaining:

“Somewhere along the line, I decided, ‘you know what, I’m going to try to collect the entire physical history of the Olympics,’ and then, if I’m successful, I’m going to give it away, somewhere it can be seen by the public.”

And, over 40 years, he amassed a spectacular collection that included a complete set of winner’s medals from every Olympic and Winter Games, all of the Olympic torches and much, much more and in 2018, gifted it to the U.S. Olympic Committee Foundation (USOPF today). The Crawford collection can be seen as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs today.

Rosen talked about a long history that led to her collecting passion:

“In 1976, at my first Olympics, I got one pin, because I really didn’t know pins were a thing.

“And then in ‘84, I got some ABC pins because I worked for them and my Dad [Mel Rosen] was a coach, and he got a medal. And I had no idea that the medals went all the way back to 1896.

“So in 1990, I was covering Atlanta bidding for the [1996] Olympics. And after they won, there was a big party in Atlanta, and the person who held the party, he had a collection of participation medals, and there’s one from 1900 … it was just gorgeous: it was an angel over Paris.

“And I said, ‘I’m going to collect these.’ And so it started with participation medals, because there’s usually only one from each Olympics. So what else [can] you get? So there’s pins and there’s badges, and as Gordy said, you just get hooked and you get everything. Tickets, programs, official reports.

“So if it has the [Olympic] Rings on it, I’m interested in it, unless it’s ugly. I don’t get ugly things.”

She said she decides herself whether an item was ugly or not!

Asked what they are looking for now, Becker said that he wants the Lake Placid Olympic Museum to have a 1932 Olympic gold and silver medal; it has a bronze.

Crawford, the first head of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation, said he still collects the occasional item, but is now committed to collecting a full set of Paralympic Games medals, also to be displayed publicly.

Rosen has her eyes out for a 1932 Los Angeles Olympic gold badge provided to International Olympic Committee members, but also for a – get this – pin celebrating the Olympic bid from Bangkok (THA) for the 2008 Games!

So, how do you get started?

Rosen had excellent advice:

“If you want to collect pins, unfortunately you have to have pins. So I would say, go on eBay and find these things where someone is selling 200 pins for maybe $100. If you can get a pin for 50 cents, that’s a good deal. Because retail, sadly, it’s like $12.99 and that’s a lot to invest in one pin that you’re then going to trade away.

“So if you have these pins, then you can go trading, or look on eBay for things that just attract your attention.”

And she pointed out that one never knows what will end up being sought after, mentioning “the Atlanta [1996] Varsity pin, which had the Olympic rings – The Varsity is a fast-food restaurant [in Atlanta] – and it had the Olympic rings in onion rings! And it was promptly banned [as a trademark violation] and so that was a highly sought-after pin and it still costs maybe $200.”

It was a fun hour, part of the “Games History Hour” series from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.

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ATHLETICS: U.S. expected to triple up next-best medal winner at Tokyo Worlds in final Track & Field News predictions!

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. sprint star Melissa Jefferson-Wooden on the September cover of Track & Field News.

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≡ T&FN WORLDS PREDICTIONS ≡

The picks are in from “The Bible of the Sport” since 1948, with Track & Field News releasing its top-10 projections for the 2025 World Athletics Championships that start Saturday in Tokyo (JPN).

● Men:
As usual, the U.S., the dominant force in the sport, is figured to do well, with T&FN predicting American men will win five events:

● 200 m: Noah Lyles
● 400 m: Jacory Patterson
● 100 m hurdles: Cordell Tinch
● 4×400 m: United States
● Shot: Ryan Crouser

In all, T&FN has the American men with medals in 13 events, and to win 17 medals in all.

Next best are Ethiopia and Jamaica with five medals each, then Canada, Kenya and Norway at three each. The Norwegians are projected for three wins, for Jakob Ingebrigtsen (5,000 m), Karsten Warholm (400 m hurdles) and Sander Skotheim (decathlon).

In the hot-button events, T&FN has Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson beating Lyles in the 100 and Lyles ahead of Kenny Bednarek in the 200, Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) and Marco Arop (CAN) 1-2 in the 800 and Dutch sensation Niels Laros taking the 1,500 m.

Warholm is picked over Olympic champ Rai Benjamin in the 400 hurdles and Jamaica over the U.S. in the 4×100.

● Women:
The Americans have a powerful women’s squad, with eight wins projected for Tokyo:

● 100 m hurdles: Masai Russell
● 4×100 m: United States
● 4×400 m: United States
● Vault: Katie Moon
● Long Jump: Tara Davis-Woodhall
● Shot: Chase Jackson
● Discus: Valarie Allman
● Heptathlon: Anna Hall

That’s not all, however, with eight more medals predicted for a total of 16.

But Kenya will be featured, with predicted wins in the 1,500 m by Faith Kipyegon, the Steeple by Faith Cherotich and the 5,000 m and 10,000 by Olympic champ Beatrice Chebet, and eight total medals.

Great Britain is favored for six medals, including a win in the 800 m for Olympic champ Keely Hodgkinson; the Dutch are shown with five medals and a win for Femke Bol in the 400 m hurdles, and Ethiopia projects for four medals, including a marathon win for Tigst Assefa.

Sprint power Jamaica is figured only for bronzes from Shericka Jackson in the 100-200 m and runner-up to the U.S. in the 4×100 m.

Olympic 100 m champ Julien Alfred (LCA) is favored in both the 100 and 200 m over Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the U.S. and Bol over Americans Dalilah Muhammad and Anna Cockrell.

Olympic 400 m hurdles star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is picked for third in the 400 m, behind Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino (DOM) and Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser.

● Overall:
Adding up all the medals picks – T&FN goes 10-deep in each event, but does not pick the Mixed 4×400 m since the team members aren’t known – the U.S. is expected to lead once again:

● 33: United States
● 11: Kenya
● 9: Ethiopia
● 8: Jamaica
● 8: Great Britain

● 7: Netherlands
● 5: Canada

USA Track & Field has entered an enormous, 141-athlete team for Tokyo, by far the largest of any nation. In terms of medal performance, the U.S. won 34 medals, including 14 golds (14-11-9) at the 2024 Olympic Games.

In the most recent World Championships, the American team won 29 (12-8-9) at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN) and 33 (13-9-11) at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon.

Those desiring a much deeper dive into each event also need to visit the T&FN site, for statistical profiles of each event by stellar statistician K. Ken Nakamura.

Not all events have been posted yet, but will be in the coming days.

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PANORAMA: LA28 adds T-Mobile as Supporter; Swiss 2038 Winter Games plan in jeopardy; British swim star Proud joins Enhanced Games

By
Rich Perelman
-
Brady Ellison (USA), the 2019 World Archery Champion. (Photo: World Archery)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizers announced T-Mobile for Business as its Official Telecommunications Services Provider, at the Official Supporter level, the third tier for LA28, behind Founding Partner and Official Partner.

In the U.S., T-Mobile is one of the three mobile service leaders, along with Verizon and AT&T, and had $81.4 billion in revenue in 2024. T-Mobile US is majority owned by Deutsche Telekom AG of Germany.

The Los Angeles City Council approved Wednesday the move of diving from the LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swimming Stadium to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena, “contingent upon completion of a signed definitive agreement between the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028 (LA28) and the Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) regarding the licensing and right to access the John C. Argue Swim Stadium at Exposition Park and a commitment by LA 28 to undertake efforts to bring it to national and international competition standards in order to create a lasting community benefit.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2038 ● Switzerland was granted a first-ever “privileged dialogue” status with the International Olympic Committee for the 2038 Olympic Winter Games, but with the proviso that an agreement on the bid must be completed in 2027.

That timeline may be under threat, said Swiss Sports Federation President Ruth Metzler-Arnold, in an interview published Wednesday. She explained that the Swiss Federal Council would need to approve the bid outline by June 2026, with confirmation by the Swiss Parliament by the end of 2026, and then submitted to the IOC in February 2027. But:

“The instrument that the Federal Council has provided for this project is a planning decision. If parliament were to declare this to be substantial, this would open the way for an optional referendum.”

She indicated that if a referendum was to be held, “our candidature is no longer possible” due to the timing.

Swiss regional efforts to land a Winter Games have been torpedoed by referendums previously, in Graubunden in 2017 and in Sion in 2018 (both for 2026). The Swiss plan for 2038 is considered as a national bid, being re-worked to meet the IOC’s needs.

● Enhanced Games ● British sprint star Ben Proud, 30, the Paris 2024 silver medalist in the men’s 50 m Freestyle and a six-time World Championships medal winner, has signed with the doping-allowed Enhanced Games. He wrote on Instagram:

“It’s time for a shift.

“I will be retiring from traditional swimming to compete in the Enhanced Games.
Stepping into a framework that challenges everything we know about performance, and a chance to chase the outer edge of human potential with the tools and possibilities of our time.

“This is where my next chapter begins.”

AquaticsGB posted a statement on X:

“Aquatics GB is immensely disappointed in Ben Proud’s announcement to sign with the Enhanced Games. Aquatics GB, along with our partners, stand firmly behind the values and principles of clean sport and condemns Ben’s decision in the strongest terms.”

Proud competes in the 50 m Free and 50 m Fly, which fits the Enhanced Games program. The first event is slated for May 2026 in Las Vegas.

● U.S. Anti-Doping Agency ● USADA and the International Testing Agency, which will be responsible for implementation of the anti-doping program at Los Angeles 2028, announced an expanded cooperation agreement extending their 2019 pact to collaborate on testing and investigative efforts. Per the statement:

“The new agreement details how the organizations will share information, coordinate on sample collection, and partner to advance best practices.

“More specifically, the renewed agreement confirms USADA DCOs’ access to the ITA’s globally recognized IDCO Training Program, which will further guarantee that USADA personnel, who already receive extensive training, have additional opportunities to obtain advanced certifications along with their counterparts around the world. Similarly, the ITA will work closely with USADA to ensure that its operations align with standards and testing certification requirements in the United States.”

The agreement is important politically as well, as while USADA continues its war of words with the World Anti-Doping Agency over its performance, the on-the-ground anti-doping work continues in cooperation with the ITA.

● Archery ● The Recurve team events took center stage on Wednesday at the World Archery Championships in Gwangju (KOR), with the host South Koreans winning their third straight men’s team title, defeating the U.S. by 6-0 in the final.

Korea’s team included Woo-jin Kim, Woo-seok Lee and Je-deok Kim, and Woo-jin Kim won his 10th individual World Championships gold. The American squad had Brady Ellison (seventh career Worlds medal), Trenton Cowles and Christian Stoddard; Japan finished third.

Chinese Taipei won its second Worlds Women’s Team gold in the last four championships, defeating Japan by 6-0. South Korea won the bronze.

In the Recurve Mixed Team final, South Korea had won all seven editions of this event since it was included in the 2011 Worlds, but the streak ended with Spain’s Elia Canales and Andres Temino defeating Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ San An and Woo-jin Kim, 6-2.

The Recurve men’s and women’s events continue through Friday.

● Athletics ● The USATF Foundation announced $750,000 in Elite Athlete Development Grants for 2025:

“Elite Athlete grants are awarded through a competitive selection process. The Elite Athlete Development applications are carefully reviewed and determined by the USATF Foundation Elite Grant Committee, based on a combination of athletic performance, character references and an extra emphasis on financial need.”

Recipients include development athletes and established stars, including members of the 2025 World Championships team; 45 athletes will receive $15,000 grants and another 15 will receive $5,000.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● /Updated/ USA Bobsled & Skeleton’s annual Team USA Push Championships in Lake Placid, New York saw 2025 World Women’s Monobob Champion Kaysha Love with the fastest two-heat combined time for pilots of 11.337 seconds, ahead of Sylvia Hoffman (11.414), Kaillie Armbruster Humphries (11.881) and Elana Meyers Taylor (11.938).

The fastest women in the push group were Jasmine Jones (11.112) – not the star 400 m hurdler – followed by Sylvia Hoffman (11.118); Lolo Jones was sixth at 11.389.

The top men’s pilots were Kris Horn (10.553), Frank Del Duca (10.690) and John Eldridge (10.750). The top pushers were Charlie Volker (10.132) and Carsten Vissering (10.272).

● Cycling ● Stage 17 of the 2025 Vuelta a Espana was another uphill finish, this time to the 1,755 m Alto de El Morredero, with Australia’s Jai Hindley attacking with 6 km remaining, but passed by Guilio Pellizzari (ITA) with 3.5 km left and he sailed to victory in 3:37:00 over 143.2 km.

Britain’s Tom Pidcock was second (+0:16) and Hindley was third at +0:18. Race leader Jonas Vingegaard was fourth (+0:20), with challenger Joao Almeida (POR: +0:22) in fifth.

Overall, Vingegaard leads Almeida by 50 seconds, with Pidcock third at +2:28. Thursday is a flat, 27.2 km Individual Time Trial in and around Valladolid.

● Figure Skating ● /Updated/ The International Skating Union, assuming that a limited number of Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete as “neutrals” at the 2026 Winter Games, has allowed one Russian skater in the men’s and women’s Singles events at its Olympic qualifying event on 19-21 September in Beijing (CHN).

However, as flags and symbols are banned, this applies to spectators as well, according to an ISU statement to the Russian news agency TASS:

“The flags of the Russian Federation or Belarus (modern or historical) must not be raised or displayed at any competition venue, any area where ancillary events are held, or any other area controlled by the organizer of the qualifying competitions for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.”

● Shooting ● “The International Shooting Sport Federation regrets to inform all athletes, coaches, officials and other personnel affected that Moving Target events have been cancelled for the upcoming ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol in Cairo, Egypt, due to government restrictions.

“Following correspondence with the Egyptian Shooting Federation President, Hazem Hosny, a decision has been to cancel the scheduled 10m and 50m Moving Target events.

“This is due to the prohibition of bringing telescopic sights into Egyptian territory, necessary pieces of equipment for Moving Target events.”

Moving Target events are not part of the Olympic program for shooting, but are included in the much larger ISSF World Championships event list. Ukraine and Kazakhstan dominated those events at the 2023 Worlds, winning a combined 10 of the 12 events.

China’s Kai Hu, 23, won his fourth ISSF World Cup gold of the year in the men’s 10 m Air Pistol in Ningbo (CHN), scoring 242.3 in the final, ahead of teammate Changjie You (241.5).

It was Hu’s second win of the tournament, after he and Qianxun Yao took the Mixed Team final, 17-5, over Veronika Schejbalova and Jindrich Dubovy (CZE). Norway’s Jeanette Duestad and Jon-Hermann Hegg won the 10 m Rifle Mixed Team, 17-9, over China.

● Snowboard ● Two-time Olympic Slopestyle champion Jamie Anderson of the U.S. has returned to competition at age 34. A mother of two, she won the Slopestyle at 2014 and 2018 Winter Games and a 2018 silver in Big Air and said in an NBC interview:

“I don’t know where it’s coming from, but I’m fired up. As always, I’m going to go with the flow, trust my intuition and play it by ear. It will probably be mayhem traveling with a family of four, but I’m feeling inspired to get some tricks I was doing pre-motherhood back on the table.”

She will, of course, be trying to qualify for the U.S. team for the Milan Cortina Winter Games in February.

● Weightlifting ● American star Joe Dube, a 1968 Olympic bronze medalist and the 1969 World Champion in the +110 kg class, passed away at age 81 on 8 September, in Jacksonville, Florida.

He is the last American male lifter to win an overall Worlds gold (combined lifts), taking the Super Heavyweight title with a lifetime combined best of 577.5 kg (1,273 pounds!).

He won the only American medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, placing third in the +90 kg class. Injuries sidelined him from 1972-79 and he came back briefly before retiring for good in 1981.

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PANORAMA: USATF Foundation announces $3.65 million in Schwarzman Awards; U.S. men rebound with 2-0 win over no. 17 Japan!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Donovan Brazier (center) and teen sensation Cooper Lutkenhaus were 1-2 at the USATF Champs and now, Schwarzman Grant Award winners! (Photo: USATF)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The petition for a referendum against the Los Angeles City Council’s “Olympic Wage” ordinance failed to get enough signatures to be listed on the June 2026 ballot.

The Los Angeles City Clerk announced Monday that “proponents of the referendum petition were required to collect a minimum of 92,998 valid voter signatures. Based on the County’s examination, 84,007 signatures were found to be valid and 56,767 were found to be invalid. Therefore, the petition has failed to meet the sufficiency requirements of the City Charter.”

This means that the “Olympic Wage” ordinance is now effective, which will rise to $30.00 per hour for Los Angeles airport and workers at larger hotels by 1 July 2028 via annual increases. The count is subject to a challenge within 30 days.

The increased wages place pressure on hotels who are participating – with already-agreed rates – with the LA28 organizing committee for accommodations for officials, media and technical staff for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Some may try to remove themselves from the organizing committee’s program and re-negotiate their rates for 2028.

● Sports Cities ● The annual Burson ranking of top sports cities retained Paris at the top of the list for 2025, followed by upcoming Olympic host Los Angeles, then New York, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, Miami, Milan and Manchester.

The U.S. led all countries with 19 in the top 100. Also in the top 50: Washington (12), Chicago (15), Las Vegas (16), Boston (17), Philadelphia (26), Salt Lake City (31), Dallas (34), Indianapolis (36), Atlanta (40), Houston (41), Detroit (44) and San Francisco (45).

● Archery ● Compound events concluded at the World Archery Championships in Gwangju (KOR), with Mexico’s Andrea Becerra moving up from two silvers in 2023 – women’s final and women’s Team – to golds in 2025.

Becerra won the women’s Compound title, 147-146, against El Salvador’s Sophie Paiz. She then joined Marianna Bernal and Adriana Castillo to win the women’s Team gold, 236-231 over the American trio of Olivia Dean, Alexis Ruiz and Sydney Sullenberger.

India won the men’s Team gold, 235-233, over France. The Recurve shooters are next up; the championships continue through the 12th.

● Athletics ● NBC announced its broadcast schedule for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, with all sessions shown on Peacock, weekend sessions live on CNBC and weekday sessions on USA Network.

NBC will have time-delayed shows on the first Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern and highlights on the final Sunday (21st) at noon Eastern.

The ATHLOS NYC meet in New York on 10 October will be broadcast on ION, adding cable after only online service in 2024. Per the announcement:

“Athlos NYC’s broadcast on ION will also include a pre-show, ‘Icons on ION,’ before the official event broadcast begins at 7 p.m. ET.”

The agreement with ION is for multiple years and will include the ATHLOS League in 2026. The 2025 meet will also be shown on X and YouTube.

Stephen A. Schwarzman, head of the giant Blackstone Group investment firm, announced 100 winners of his 20th class of USATF Foundation grantees, with 65 stars to receive $40,000 each and 35 more to receive $30,000 more; a total of $3.65 million.

The 65 recipients of the $40,000 grants include big U.S. stars such as Valarie Allman, Kenny Bednarek, Ryan Crouser, Grant Fisher, Cole Hocker, Grant Holloway, Chase Jackson, De’Anna Price, Sha’Carri Richardson, Masai Russell and more … including 800 m teen sensation Cooper Lutkenhaus!

Tokyo 2020 women’s shot put runner-up Raven Saunders had not been seen this season, with her last competition on 22 August 2024 at the Athletissima in Lausanne (SUI). It turns out that she “has accepted a 30-month sanction for accruing three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.

“At the time of the Whereabouts Failures, Saunders, 29, was included in the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP), which consists of a select group of elite athletes subject to certain Whereabouts requirements in order to be located for out-of-competition testing. Within a 12-month period, Saunders accrued three Whereabouts Failures: the first on April 19, 2024, the second on May 17, 2024, and the third on December 26, 2024.”

Her suspension dates back to 26 December 2024, so she will not be eligible again until 26 May 2027. The extended penalty comes as she was previously banned for 18 months from August 2022 and February 2024, also for “whereabouts” failures.

● Cycling ● Pro-Palestinian protesters cut short another Vuelta a Espana stage on Tuesday, as police could not fully disperse them and the race was “finished” 8 km short of the original distance.

The hilly, 167.9 km route that ended at Mos. Castro de Herville was won by Colombian star Egan Bernal, winning a final sprint against Spain’s Mikel Landa with both timed in 3:35:10, with Brieuc Rolland (FRA) third, seven seconds back. Landa attacked with 60 km to go, with four chasing, but only Bernal finally able to follow.

The race leader, Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) and challenger Joao Almeida (POR) were both 5:52 back and Vingegaard retained his 48-second lead. Stage 17 offers a difficult, uphill finish at 1,755 m at the Alto de El Morredero, ending a 143.2 km route.

The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Cross Country Short Track races were on Tuesday in Zermatt (SUI), with Paris 2024 Cross Country silver winner Victor Koretzky defending his 2024 Worlds gold with a 21:26 to 21:27 win over American Christopher Blevins, the 2021 Short Track winner. France’s Mathis Azzaro led into the final lap, with Koretzky and Blevins close and those three dueled to the line.

The women’s race was a clear victory for Swiss Alexandra Keller, the 2022 Short Track runner-up, who got to the lead by the end of the seventh lap and held on to win – accompanied by the sound of cowbells from home fans – in 20:43, ahead of Sweden’s Rio 2016 Olympic champ Jenny Rissveds (20:47). Canada’s Jennifer Jackson was third (20:57); Savilla Blunck was the top American, in sixth in 21:08.

● Football ● The U.S. men faced another 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in 17th-ranked Japan, in Columbus, Ohio, with a much improved performance, thoroughly dominating in a 2-0 win.

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino (ARG) changed five starters from the 2-0 loss to South Korea on Saturday, adding in Folarin Balogun, Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Cristian Roldan and Alex Zendejas.

And the U.S. was better, both offensively and defensively, in front of keeper Matt Freese. Then, Zendejas struck in the 30th with a left-footed a rocket into the Japan net from the middle of the box off a seeing-eye cross from midfielder Max Arfsten from the far left side. At the half-hour mark, the U.S. already had six shots to three for Japan.

Freese saved a blast by forward Junya Ito in the 35th, also off a long pass, but the U.S. defense held steady – and Freese was terrific with four saves – and took the 1-0 lead to halftime. The Americans ended with 63% possession and an 8-7 edge on shots.

The U.S. controlled possession to start the second half and midfield star Christian Pulisic sent a left-footed screamer in the 54th that was kicked aside by Japan’s keeper, Keisuke Osako. But the pressure kept up and in the 64th, on a lead pass from Pulisic got striker Balogun clear on the left side of goal and he sent a left-footed liner past Osako for the 2-0 lead.

Substitute forward Jack McGlynn smashed a shot from just inside the box off the crossbar in the 78th and Damien Downs smashed a shot off Osako in the 86th off a give-and-go with fellow sub Diego Luna.

The U.S. finished with 55% possession and a 19-11 edge on shots, and a much better feeling about themselves.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: L.A. City Council finance committee continues Convention Center decision to next Tuesday, as LA28 schedule worries mount

By
Rich Perelman
-
The massive South Hall entry to the Los Angeles Convention Center (Photo: Los Angeles Convention Center).

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≡ L.A. CONVENTION CENTER ≡

The City of Los Angeles wants to expand its Convention Center, opened in 1971, used as the Main Press Center for the 1984 Olympic Games and expanded in 1993, but has spent years discussing what to do, how to do it and who will do what.

In the meantime, the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic organizers have identified the Convention Center for Olympic fencing, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, wrestling, and Paralympic boccia, para judo, para table tennis, para taekwondo and wheelchair fencing.

On Tuesday, the L.A. City Council’s finance committee held a special hearing to vote on whether to advance the project for a yes-or-no vote to the full City Council.

No vote was taken.

Instead, the committee, chaired by Council member Katy Yaroslavsky, spent 90 minutes listening to mostly supportive public comments and a lengthy report from City Administrative Officer Matthew Szabo.

There is considerable worry about the cost of the project, but also whether it will crater the use of the Convention Center for the Olympic Games. Szabo explained:

“What we’re asking for today is a decision whether to proceed or whether to terminate [the project.]

“The schedule dictates that we must achieve commercial close by the end of September, meaning that this committee must make a determination today, and the full Council must act in the very near future if there is going to be any chance of making the ‘Olympic readiness’ deadline.

“If you decide not to proceed with the project at this time, the CAO recommends terminating the project and reevaluating the entire effort.

“This is an extraordinarily expensive and complicated project which has been nearly a 100% construction cost increase since 2020. And just as a reminder, in February of 2020 – and I am not talking about overall costs, I am talking about just the construction costs of the expansion as designed – in February of 2020, the estimated construction cost was $1.1 billion.

“By November of 2023, that construction cost increased to $1.4 billion, and that construction cost is over $2 billion today.”

The “Olympic readiness” date is very real for the City. It is set at 31 March 2028, for the expansion effort – if approved – to be stopped and access restored to specific areas of the Convention Center to allow the LA28 organizers to take possession of the facility on 1 June 2028, install the needed equipment, bleachers and so on, in order to stage the Olympic Games events beginning on 15 July. The project would finish after the Paralympic Games closes on 27 August 2028.

Said Szabo:

“It would be beyond significantly bad, it would be catastrophic to the Olympic planning effort if they would need to pull out of the Convention Center as a venue. The Convention Center is a venue for a number of events itself, it is also a warm-up area for gymnastics.

“That effort is fully underway, assuming the Convention Center as a venue; they will be engaging in ticket sales, sponsorships, etc., and it would be extraordinarily disruptive if – at this late date – there would need to be a change.”

Szabo’s written analysis of 22 August to the Council went further, noting:

“The City and LA28 are negotiating a Venue Use Agreement (VUA) for the LACC, which will be the legally binding contract that outlines the terms and conditions of LA28’s use of the LACC during the 2028 Games. Should the LACC be unavailable for LA28’s use as a result of Project delays after the City and LA28 enter into the VUA, the City would likely be in breach of contract, which could expose the City to significant liabilities as LA28 would be entitled to remedies and damages.”

The City committed the Convention Center – as it is today – for use for the Games back during the bid phase in 2017.

The total cost of the expansion presented by Szabo, as of today, is $2.72 billion, with $2.04 billion in construction costs and $566 million in contingencies held by the City. Bonds would be sold to pay for all of this, with Szabo saying the deal needs to close by 29 September for the schedule to be met. Serious questions have also been raised about revenue projections and whether state law amendments to allow giant ad signage panels to be installed will be passed.

The City Chief Legislative Analyst, Sharon Tso, wrote in a 29 August memo:

“Our Office has serious concerns about proceeding with the Project as presented. The cost required to accelerate construction for the 2028 Games is estimated to have an acute negative·impact on the General Fund through 2056. Crucial issues remain unresolved, and tangible risk remains due to the shortened construction timeline, minimized delay contingency, lack of resolution on major aspects of the revenue program, and the risk to City assets by the uncommon bond financing structure. Council should consider the cost, revenue uncertainty, liabilities,. and the City’s overall fiscal status when analyzing this significant decision.”

Tso will testify before the Finance Committee next week (16th), where – once again – a recommendation to the full Council will be needed.

Everyone agrees that the expansion is worth doing, but at what cost and – due to the 2028 Games – when?

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ATHLETICS: Coe says World Athletics is a “growth business”; 95% of all World Championships women entries have been tested so far

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe at his news conference following the March 2025 Council meeting in Nanjing (CHN) (Photo: World Athletics video screen shot).

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS COUNCIL ≡

“World Athletics is now a high-performing growth business. This isn’t a vision or a wish. It is a fact.

“Growth is exciting, but it can also be risky if you are not prepared. Fast-growth businesses are not just looking for short-term wins, they are building scalable systems and strategies to sustain that growth over time. It’s why we have a four-year business strategy and an eight-year World Plan.”

That’s World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR), speaking after the World Athletics Council meeting in Tokyo (JPN) on Tuesday (9th), noting high-profile efforts like the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest at the end of the season, when a World Athletics Championships is not being held. Coe added:

“In two years’ time we will meet again in Beijing and a number of us in this room, including me, will end our term of office at World Athletics. That gives us two years to supercharge our sport so we can hand it over to others in better shape than we inherited it.

“Our challenge isn’t a lack of ambition. It’s knowing where to prioritize, how to adapt, and how to make the kind of strategic decisions that lead to meaningful, sustainable growth.

“Understanding the goal is what is important – actually, critical – as our growth journey will only speed up over the next two years.”

On the federation’s new SRY gene-testing efforts for eligibility in the female category, the meeting summary noted, “more than 95% of testing is now complete with the remainder of the tests (for the French and Norwegian teams and some athletes based in France) being done in Tokyo prior to the start of the competition at the World Athletics Championships.”

He was asked about issues with the testing, in view of the problems from five federations suffered by World Boxing, and the inability to test in France due to the laws there:

“I’m actually comforted that, thus far, we haven’t and I think it’s because of the very nature and clarity around the testing and the processes. Our medical delegate is the only one that will see the test. If there is anything to be followed up on, they will follow it up directly with the athlete.

“We’re not testing for anything other than the eligibility or otherwise of that athlete. There’s no DNA testing. There’s no genetic testing. That is simply what we’re looking for.

“It’s a one-off test. and once that has been done, that’s it. And when the information that we glean is deemed useful and absorbed, it is then destroyed. We’ve followed this very, very closely.

“We’ve done this to the highest and accepted standards of international medical practice. and look, I think we’re we’re in pretty good shape, but of course, if athletes individually had any concerns, I would or we would want to reassure them that we’ve taken a lot of effort to make sure that those security issues are absolutely followed through.”

But what about France?

“Some nations will have national laws in place, but actually, on this occasion where they have, we’ve actually managed to work our way around those in a sensible and a constructive way, particularly with the member federation.

“So, you know, the very fact that we I’m able pretty much to say to you that 95% of our testing has already been done still within touching distance of a championships tells me that these are workable situations.“

Also:

● “The Council also approved the proposal to introduce a fixed running order of man-woman-man-woman for the 4x100m mixed relay in World Athletics Series events and to use this format starting with the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Botswana. This running order will be used at all World Athletics Series events up to and at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”

● The indoor 400 m was re-formatted, “with a potential pilot at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships. The format will see the number of athletes per heat reduced from six to four, leaving lanes one and two empty due to their inherent disadvantage on tight indoor curves.”

World Athletics will hold its 55th Congress on 11-12 September in Tokyo, with the Worlds to begin on Saturday (13th).

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Culver City rebuffs New Zealand NOC over costs for 2028 program; Greece announces NOC house in Long Beach

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Culver City City Council in session on 8 September 2025 (Photo: Culver City live stream screen shot).

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Nicki Nicol and chief marketing officer Jonny Errington made the 6,504-mile trip from Auckland to Culver City, California to attend, along with New Zealand Consul-General to Los Angeles Katja Ackerley and other Kiwi supporters, a presentation to the Culver City City Council on Monday evening (8th).

They hoped – and had every right to expect – that a carefully negotiated Term Sheet for New Zealand to call Culver City “home” during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, would be approved, then leading to the follow-on negotiation of a detailed contract. The deal, in short:

“The shared objective for establishing a New Zealand House in Culver City would be to create a destination for the community and fans alike to be immersed in the LA28 Olympics and showcase local community culture, as well as the culture and the values of the New Zealand Team (and New Zealand).

“This draft Term Sheet sets out the broad principles of the potential collaboration that involves the use of the wider Town Plaza and precinct, in conjunction with the New Zealand Team (including athletes, friends and family and supporters); where athletes can come to visit (and celebrate post competition), and as a destination where the New Zealand Team’s friends and family and supporters can congregate to support their Team. The Town Plaza and precinct would also provide a base to showcase New Zealand culture and for Culver City to showcase its community and culture externally.

“This Term sheet is non-binding on the parties until such time as the parties agree to enter into a legal binding agreement.”

Note the last sentence: the document is not binding, pending an actual, signed contract.

There was a presentation, artist’s renderings and more, but instead of a smooth approval, Nicol, Errington, Ackerley and their supporters left empty handed.

Nothing was decided.

Instead, there was two hours of discussion, back and forth, about costs and adding street closures to attract more traffic and whether Culver City – one of the smaller of the 88 incorporated municipalities within Los Angeles County – after 4 1/2 months of discussion with the New Zealand Olympic Committee, should do nothing:

● The NZOC wants to spend $1.4 million or more to create not just a “New Zealand House” in Culver City, centered on the famed Culver Hotel, but to set up – at its expense – two large viewing screens for people to watch the Games, an entertainment stage and other local activities, including integration with Culver City arts and cultural elements, across 19 days in July 2028 (the dates of the Games are 14-30 July).

● It is asking Culver City to provide the space, as well as security, access control, traffic management and access to support facilities such as restrooms.

● The project could be shared by some of the other, small Oceanian National Olympic Committees as well. The New Zealand House at Paris 2024 attracted more than 20,000 visitors.

The staff report on the project added more details:

● Culver City officials have met with representatives of 32 National Olympic Committees, but so far only New Zealand has entered into advanced discussions on headquarters there.

● City costs were estimated at $717,763, including $300,000 for police and $190,000 for fire support. Possible revenues from occupancy and sales taxes could total $225,600.

● The costs for viewing screens and an entertainment stage, estimated at $452,000, could be a savings for Culver City if it decided it wanted to do something similar – at its own cost – during the Games period.

The discussion among the Council members was dominated by first-term member Bubba Fish, who acknowledged that the Olympic Games brings possibilities, but could not stomach the $717,763 costs, citing the City’s precarious finances. He then extended the cost issue to include a projected $400-450,000 in costs for “open streets” to allow restaurants and other businesses to take over more area for programming during the Games, insisting that the issue in front of the City Council was really more than $1.1 million.

Former Mayor and current Council member Yasmine-Imani McMorrin supported Fish and thought a “cap” on the costs that the city would spend might help. Mayor Dan O’Brien, a supporter of the New Zealand project, also liked the cap idea, but said that was an internal matter, having nothing to do with New Zealand.

Vice Mayor Freddy Puza liked the cap but Council member Albert Vera clearly was in favor of going forward with the agreement with the NZOC. Darrel Menthe, Executive Director of the Culver City Downtown Business Association, supported the project and said without New Zealand or another, similar attraction, Culver City (and its businesses) would be an afterthought during the Games period.

Fish asked Nicol if the NZOC could pick up more of the City’s costs. “No” was the answer as Nicol said the NZOC is trying something larger than ever before and will be straining to cover its projected $1.4 million in costs. She suggested reducing the scope of the program – maybe one screen instead of two or something similar – to lower the City’s costs, as well as those for the NZOC.

Assistant City Manager Jesse Mays was repeatedly asked about the cost estimates and about whether other National Olympic Committees could come in and pay for the “open streets” costs and more. He was clear that only New Zealand had indicated significant interest so far.

So what happened? Nothing. After more than two and a quarter hours – and past midnight – the matter was continued to the 29 August 2025 meeting, with the staff asked to look at the costs again. The City Council then went on to other matters.

The New Zealanders, and their supporters, left. The question now is whether they will come back.

Meanwhile, the Hellenic Olympic Committee announced Monday that its “Greek Olympic House” will be in Long Beach, California, the site of multiple 2028 Olympic and Paralympic events:

● Said Hellenic Olympic Committee President Isidoros Kouvelos: “The creation of the Greek Olympic House in Long Beach is a powerful symbol of Greece’s timeless connection with the Olympic Games and a living bridge between the birthplace of Olympism and the global Olympic community. In Los Angeles, through this House, we will share our culture, history, traditions, as well as the values of Olympism: excellence, friendship and respect that remain our strongest contribution to humanity.”

● “The Hellenic Olympic House will be a welcoming space dedicated to showcasing the best that Greece has to offer. It will host a variety of events and exhibitions related to Greek history, culture and the arts, while also serving as a meeting point for fans of the Olympic Games.”

The announcement noted Long Beach as “home to one of the oldest and most dynamic Greek Diaspora communities in the United States.”

These are just the first of many agreements to be made for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, not only for hospitality houses, but for pre-Games training sites as well. The Netherlands committed to pre-Games training in Mission Viejo, California in 2024 and Great Britain’s training site will be at Stanford University.

In the City of Los Angeles itself, the hospitality house for Croatia will be in San Pedro.

Lots of whispers about Canada, Denmark, Sweden and more, and on 28 August, several National Olympic Committee representatives met at Los Angeles City Hall for a briefing on hospitality house possibilities in the City. NOC reps from Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain met with the City of Long Beach on the same day.

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SALT LAKE CITY-UTAH 2034: Organizing committee launches “Podium 34″ campaign with stunning $200 million in private-sector commitments

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

Because Olympic and Paralympic organizing committees in the U.S. do not receive government funding, it is always difficult to get started after the bid process concludes.

For the Salt Lake City-Utah organizers for the 2034 Winter Games, selected last year,  and incorporated in February 2025, that problem no longer exists.

On Monday, the organizing committee announced a startling $200 million in private-sector funding commitments at the “launch” of its “Podium34” campaign:

● A total of 22 Founding Captains and Donors, including two who wish to remain anonymous.

● All are in Utah, including “Utah families and nonprofit foundations, the charitable arms of Utah corporations, and other giving organizations engaged in cause-related work within the state.”

● Nine of the 22 donors are at the “Founding Captain” level of $20 million or more, with the 13 “Founding Donors” at commitments of $1-15 million each:

Founding Captains:
● The Daniels Fund
● George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation
● Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Foundation
● Huntsman Family Foundation
● Maverik, Inc.
● Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation
● John and Marcia Price Family Foundation
● Matthew and Tatiana Prince
● Ryan and Ashley Smith Foundation

Founding Donors:
● The Andrus Family Foundation
● The Boyer Company
● The Coburn Family
● Gregory and Julie Cook Family
● Intermountain Health
● The Kahlert Foundation
● Frederick Q. Lawson Foundation
● Janet Q. Lawson Foundation
● Blake and Sandy Modersitzki Family
● S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation
● Blake and Nancy Roney Family
(two others anonymous)

SLC-Utah 2024 Executive Chair Fraser Bullock explained:

“Today we announce ‘Podium34,’ which invites donations to the cause of hosting the Games and to related positive impacts in our communities. With today’s milestone, we accomplished two things.

“First, we lay the financial foundation to host great Games in 2034. This is essential. Second, we open the door to be able to execute the first pillar of our vision, which is to elevate our communities, whether it’s youth sport or education or other initiatives that are so important to our communities.

“We don’t have to wait until 2034, we can start them now because of these great contributors to this cause. We have the opportunity, through the Games, to do good. When you cut through it all, that’s our purpose.”

And he underscored the truly historic nature of the program:

“What you’ll hear described today has never been done before, in the history of the Games. To have donations of this magnitude to an Olympic host, has never happened before. This is a Games first.

“In fact, as I was talking in the last several with some of my friends at the [International Olympic Committee], they were astonished, at Utah stepping forward in this manner. They understand that Utah loves the Games.”

Founding Captain-level donors can direct some of their contributions to support specific programming, such as arts and culture, education, mental health and youth sports.

The SLC-Utah 2034 organizers initially revealed the remarkable success of its outreach effort during comments to the Utah Legislature’s Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Coordination Committee meeting on 14 August 2025, with chief executive Brad Wilson explaining that nearly $150 million in commitments had been made by then.

This is especially crucial for the 2034 organizers as they have no opportunities available in the commercial sponsorship market until after the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles are concluded.

The organizing committee’s Board revised the goal of the philanthropic campaign to $300 million from an original $200 million to reflect the enthusiasm from the first wave of donors, and to be able to begin thinking about the long-term, post-2034 benefits that the Games can bring.

In terms of what the funding means to the tiny organizing committee of about a dozen people, it was explained that the funding commitments made so far are generally payable over a 10-year period from 2025 through 2034, so something less than $20 million will be available this year and then coming in steadily beginning in 2026.

That’s enough to get going. And then some.

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PANORAMA: Coventry forming own team at Olympic House; T&F “fair play” nominations open; World Aquatics settles 2018 swimmer suit

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ 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 ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● The “Coventry Cabinet” is under formation at the IOC, with three new directors announced on Monday:

● Jan Paterson (GBR), for many years at the British Olympic Association, is the Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the IOC President, replacing Marcus Hausen (GER), in place since July 2021;

● James Pearce (GBR), a longtime BBC correspondent and communications professional, is the Chief Communications Advisor to the IOC President;

● Julien Baehni (SUI), the chief of human resources at UEFA, will join the IOC in January 2026 to succeed Xavier Tissieres (SUI) as Human Resources Director, as of the end of March 2026.

On 1 July, Pierre Ducrey (SUI) took over as IOC Sports Director, replacing Kit McConnell (NZL), who became the sports director for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee.

● SportAccord ● After the cancellation of the 2025 SportAccord Convention slated for Istanbul (TUR) due to political unrest in the city, the next SportAccord has now been scheduled, for 24-28 May 2026 in Baku (AZE).

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The USOPC announced that William King is joining as General Counsel as of 15 October. He replaces the retired Chris McCleary, who had been in the role since 2015 and retired at the end of June.

King comes to the USOPC from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), where he served as Associate Commissioner for Legal Affairs and Compliance since 2015.

● Archery ● At the World Archery Championships in Gwangju (KOR), Nicolas Girard (FRA) won the men’s Compound title with a perfect 150-149 win over Mathias Fullerton (DEN). Korea’s Yong-hee Choi edged American Curtis Broadnax for the bronze, 146-145.

● Athletics ● With the World Athletics Championships starting Saturday in Tokyo (JPN), World Athletics and the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP) will accept fan nominations for the 2025 Fair Play Award in athletics.

The process to nominate an athlete or moment for the Fair Play Award is easy: send it by e-mail to [email protected]

A six-member jury, which includes CIFP President Sunil Sabharwal (USA) and 2024 winner Sander Skotheim (NOR) – will review the nominations from across the entire season to create a finalist list of five candidate moments, to be cut down to three for final voting.

World Athletics announced that it has named Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt as its “Ultimate Legend” to help promote the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest (HUN) in September 2026.

● Cycling ● Although not Olympic events, the U.S. has scored three impressive wins at the ongoing UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland.

Keegan Swanson, a four-time Cross Country and Short Track national champion, took the Cross Country [125 km] Marathon title in 6:01:44.3 over Samuele Porro (ITA: 6:02:10.0) and 2018 World Cross Country champ Kate Courtney won the women’s Marathon gold in 7:10:11.1, well ahead of Swiss Anna Weinbeer (7:13:55.9).

A third gold came in the men’s Enduro class, with Richard Rude Jr. winning in 29:37.67 over Slawomir Lukasik (POL: +2.50). The championships continue this week with the Cross Country Olympic and Short Track racing.

● Swimming ● Following up on an earlier report of a settlement, World Aquatics provided more details on the conclusion of a 2018 suit in U.S. Federal Court for the Northern District of California brought by three swimmers – Americans Tom Shields and Michael Andrew and Hungarian star Katinka Hosszu – against FINA, as the International Federation was known at the time.

The action involved threats by FINA against a meet to be held in Turin (ITA) in December 2018, with the same organizers creating the International Swimming League that took place in 2019, 2020 and 2021. ISL stopped functioning after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but it also filed suit against FINA, in an action which is still alive.

FINA rescinded its ineligibility threats and allowed the ISL project to proceed in 2019, but the suit continued; now, however, subject to court approval:

“Through this settlement, World Aquatics is setting up a fund of $4.6 million that will be distributed to swimmers who signed contracts to compete at the International Swimming League (ISL) event in Turin in 2018 and in the 2019 ISL season. The settlement fund will ensure swimmers are more than fully compensated following the 2018 and 2019 ISL seasons.”

● Tennis ● Olympic super-statistician Dr. Bill Mallon shared a Grand Slam men’s winner’s chart posted on X and noted that while the recent dominance of Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) and Jannik Sinner (ITA) is impressive, it’s hardly new:

“While the last 2 years for Sincaraz has been impressive, note that from 2005-09, Fedalovic [Federer-Nadal-Djokovic] won 18 consecutive majors.”

Sinner also made all four Grand Slam finals in 2025, the fourth to do it in the Open Era after Rod Laver (AUS: 1969, the only one to win all four), Federer (SUI: 2006-07-09) and Djokovic (SRB: 2015-21-23).

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THIS WEEK: Mammoth Salt Lake City-Utah funding announcement Monday, plus seven world championships, as T&F Worlds start Saturday

By
Rich Perelman
-
Paris Olympic 100 m champion Julien Alfred (LCA) (Photo: Diamond League AG).

★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

One of the most challenging aspects of starting up an Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee for U.S. hosts, operating without government subsidies, is funding.

The LA28 organizers and the International Olympic Committee committed to a $180 million advance over five years from 2018-22, primarily to support youth sports in the City of Los Angeles, but which also helped to get the effort started.

At 4 p.m. Mountain Time on Monday, Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 will announce its first round of donors – to be streamed on YouTube – which will be in excess of the nearly-$150 million already noted at the Utah Legislature’s Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Coordination Committee meeting on 14 August 2025.

Wow.

There are also seven world championships either continuing or getting started, around the world:

● Archery: The 53rd World Archery Championships are ongoing in Gwangju (KOR), with home fans looking for medals in the Recurve division, where Korean archers swept all five Olympic events in Paris in 2024, including Woo-jin Kim, who won his first individual men’s gold to go with three Worlds victories, in 2011, 2015 and 2021. Si-hyeon Lim won the women’s Olympic gold and teamed with Kim to take the Mixed Team gold.

● Athletics: The World Athletics Championships start Saturday (13th) in Tokyo (JPN) in the National Stadium, but this time with fans instead of the quiet during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.

The first weekend of events will be highlighted by the men’s shot final with American Ryan Crouser – who has not thrown all season – trying for his third straight Worlds gold, and American Valarie Allman going for her 28th straight win in the women’s discus, and the men’s and women’s 100 m finals.

The U.S. has both defending 100 champions in Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, but the favorites are Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and either St. Lucia’s Olympic winner Julien Alfred or American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. The meet will continue through the 21st.

● Boxing: The first World Boxing Championships organized by the new World Boxing federation started on 4 September in Liverpool (GBR) with 540 fighters from 66 federations taking part. There are 10 weight classes for men and women, with three finals on Saturday (13th) and 17 gold-medal matches on Sunday (14th).

● Cycling: The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will finish this week with the Cross Country Olympic and Cross Country Short Track racing in Switzerland.

The Short Track finals will be on Tuesday (9th), with Victor Koretzky (FRA) and Evie Richards (GBR) the defending champions.

The Cross Country Olympic finals, in junior and senior divisions, will be held on 11-12-13-14 September. South Africa’s Alan Hatherly and Puck Pieterse (NED) won the men’s and women’s World titles in 2024; the Olympic champions were Tom Pidcock (GBR: now at the Vuelta a Espana) and France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.

● Surfing: The 37th World Surfing Games has started at La Bocana (ESA) for the third time in the last five years with competition working its way toward the finals on 14 September.

Gabriel Medina (BRA: men) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS: women) are the defending champions. The Paris Olympic winners – in Tahiti – were Kauli Vasst (FRA) and American Caroline Marks.

● Volleyball: Now that the women’s FIVB World Championship has finished, the men will start, in the Philippines on the 12th and continue to 28 September. There are 32 teams in all, who will play in four-team pools, with the top two in each advancing to the playoffs.

The top seeds include Poland at no. 1, then France, the U.S., Slovenia, Italy and Japan as the top six. Italy is the defending champion, winning in 2022 over Poland; at Paris in 2024, France won over Poland, with the U.S. third.

● Wrestling: The annual UWW World Championships start in Zagreb (CRO) on the 13th and run to the 21st, with the men’s Freestyle from 13-16, women’s Freestyle from 15-18 and Greco-Roman from 18-21.

Weights were split in 2024 between the Olympic program and a separate Worlds afterwards; at the last full Worlds in 2023, the U.S. topped the medal table with 14, to 12 for Japan. The U.S. won the men’s Freestyle team title, and was second to Japan in the women’s Freestyle standings; Azerbaijan won the Greco-Roman title over Iran.

Those are the World Championships, but hardly the only headliners this week. The 80th Vuelta a Espana, the third of the cycling Grand Tours in 2025, enters its final week with Denmark’s favored Jonas Vingegaard in front of Portugal’s Joao Almeida by 48 seconds.

There are hilly stages on Tuesday and Wednesday, an Individual Time Trial on Thursday and a final climbing stage on Saturday for Almeida to make a charge. The race has been continually marred by pro-Palestinian protests and more are expected in the final week.

The move of the World Athletics Championships to the end of the season, instead of in August, has created new scheduling quirks, such as the Berlin Marathon taking place on the final day of the Worlds (although the Worlds marathons are on 14-15 September).

Nonetheless, a strong field is lined up for Berlin, with Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe (2:02:05 in 2024) and defending champ Milkesa Mengesha (ETH: 2:03:17) leading the men’s racers. Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru (2:16:14 in 2024) and Ethiopian Degitu Azimeraw (2:17:58 in 2021) are the fastest women’s entries.

Looking ahead, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board will meet in Milan (ITA) on 18-19 September, with consideration of what to do about Russian and Belarusian athletes for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games on the discussion list.

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PANORAMA: Multiple teams out of boxing worlds from no sex-test reporting; “Redeem Team” in Hall of Fame; more Palestinian protests at La Vuelta

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ 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 ≡

● Athletics ● World Athletics released its official entries for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN), to start on 13 September.

A total of 2,202 athletes are entered, from 198 national federations with 1,123 men from 164 federations and 1,033 women from 136 federations.

● Basketball ● The 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s “Redeem Team” was one of the honorees at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Saturday, which also included two members of the team – Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard – as individual honorees.

The 2004 U.S. Olympic team was considered a failure for winning a bronze medal after three prior teams of NBA players – 1992, 1996 and 2000 – had all won golds. Managing Director Jerry Colangelo assembled a brilliant team that also included Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and more, coached by Mike Krzyzewski.

The three women’s honorees have a combined 11 Olympic golds, led by Sue Bird (5: 2004-08-12-16-20), plus Sylvia Fowles (4: 2008-12-16-20) and Maya Moore (2: 2012-16).

Coach Billy Donovan and NBA referee Danny Crawford were also inducted, along with Miami Heat owner Micky Arison as a contributor.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● Entrepreneur Phil Saunders, well known for companies in energy, finance, transportation and other fields, added another contribution: a new, four-man sled for USA Bobsled & Skeleton. Per the federation, the genesis of the gift was the 2025 IBSF World Championships in Lake Placid, New York:

“Following a tour of the USA Bobsled garage and conversations with the athletes, team coaches, and mechanics, Saunders learned of the team’s need for a new four-man sled to remain competitive on the world stage. Through his company, Saunders Management, he pledged the funding required to purchase a state-of-the-art bobsled.

“In a unique gesture, Saunders assigned the sled’s advertising rights to Kodak, a company with which he has close ties. Kodak decals will be featured on USABS sleds, marking the start of this exciting new initiative.”

● Boxing ● The World Boxing Championships in Liverpool (ENG) have started, but with reports that fighters from multiple countries could not compete because they were not able to submit required tests for entry into the women’s division on time.

Britain’s The Telegraph reported that besides France, entries from the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Nigeria and the Philippines were also not allowed to compete.

World Boxing announced in May that such testing would be coming, but announced on 20 August that it would be required for entry into the 2025 Worlds, which began on 4 September (Thursday) and continue through the 14th.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport already dismissed a request for injunctive relief to allow Paris 2024 women’s 66 kg champion Imane Khelif (ALG) to compete without the test, but the legal challenge continues.

● Cycling ● Britain’s four-time Tour de France winner, Chris Froome, 40, survived a brutal training crash on Toulon (FRA) on 27 August, with a fracture in his spine and broken ribs, but also a tear in the heart lining.

He had surgery and was released on Friday, with his wife Michelle telling The Times (London):

“It was obviously a lot more serious than some broken bones. He’s fine, but it’s going to be a long recovery process. He won’t be riding a bike for a while.”

● Football ● A lengthy argument about the use of legacy seating boxes at the Estadio Azteca was resolved in favor of the boxholders for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The suites were originally sold when the stadium was built in 1966 to help underwriting the construction and promised access to all stadium events, without exception, including the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cups.

The box holders had threatened to go to court to enforce their contractual rights, but the stadium management came to an agreement to assure access.

● Gymnastics ● USA Gymnastics reported good television audiences for the 2025 Artistic National Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana, but modest in-person attendance.

The four-day event at the Smoothie King Center drew a total in-house crowd of 16,527, with no breakdown by session available. Assuming a 2:1 interest level for women over men, the average women’s session would have been about 5,509 per night, and 2,755 for the men. Comparing to the 2022 nationals in Tampa, Florida – the last post-Olympic year, also without Simone Biles – the nationals had about 26,000 in attendance for all sessions, a lot more.

However, broadcast figures show that the total audience in 2025 on NBC and CNBC was about 2.846 million, up 16.8% on the 2.436 million from 2022.

● Swimming ● Two-time Olympic women’s open-water champion Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED), now 31, announced her retirement on Friday (5th) on Instagram, in a lengthy post of eight panels in English, four in Dutch and four in French. Included:

“At 31, I am back in the Netherlands, living on the same street as my parents. We have coffee together every day. I finally know what it feels like to live a normal life, to breathe, to coach others, and to share my knowledge, instead of only chasing my own medals.

“So today I announce: I am ending my professional swimming career.”

Van Rouwendaal won Olympic open-water 10 km golds in 2016 and 2024 and the silver at Tokyo 2020, by 0.9 seconds. She won three World Championships golds (two at 10 km, one at 5 km) plus four silvers and a bronze from 2015-24. She also won a Worlds 200 m Backstroke bronze in 2011 and 400 m Freestyle silver in 2015. She has no doubt of her legacy:

“I do this with peace, pride and gratitude. I leave the sport not only as a double Olympic champion but as the most successful open water by winning on the biggest stage and earning three Olympic medals. The GOAT (Greatest of All Time). The Queen of Open Water Swimming.”

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Archery ● The World Archery Championships are under way in Gwangju (KOR), with the Compound team finals on Sunday.

In the Compound Mixed Team event, now in the Olympic program for 2028, Sanne de Laat and Mike Schloesser won a tight final from Jyothi Vennam and Rishabh Yadav (IND), 157-155. Mexico won the bronze.

India defeated France, 235-233 in the men’s Compound team final and Mexico edged the U.S. (Olivia Dean, Alexis Ruiz, Sydney Sullenberger), 236-231 in the women’s gold-medal final. The championships continue through the 12th.

● Athletics ● At the Continental Tour Gold in Beijing (CHN), U.S. 400 star Khaleb McRae tuned up for the World Championships with a 44.64 to 44.78 win over teammate Bryce Deadmon in the men’s 400 m, with Paul Dedewo of the U.S. fourth in 45.56.

American Maia McCoy won the women’s 100 m in 11.20 (wind +0.1 m/s), with Celera Barnes third in 11.32. Helen Schlachtenhaufen led a U.S. 1-2 in the women’s 1,500 m with Christina Aragon in 4:06.95 and 4:07.20.

Two-time World Indoor champ Sarah Mitton (CAN) took the women’s shot at 19.81 m (65-0).

At the rainy 5th Avenue Mile in New York, U.S. star Yared Nuguse had more speed than anyone else in the final sprint to the finish and passed fellow Americans Parker Wolfe and Drew Hunter to win in 3:47.7, with Wolfe and Hunter at 3:48.1.

Defending champ Karissa Schweizer was out strongly in the women’s race, but Gracie Morris, ninth at the USATF Nationals 1,500 m, sailed by and won easily in 4:15.5, with Kayley Delay second (4:17.4) and then Schweizer (4:17.6) for a second U.S. sweep.

● Canoe-Kayak ● At the ICF Slalom World Cup Final in Augsburg (GER), two-time Paris 2024 Olympic bronze winner Kimberley Woods (GBR) dominated the women’s racing, winning the Kayak final, 104.55 (0 penalties) to 107.73 (0) for German Elena Lilik, the 2021 Canoe World Champion. American Evy Leibfarth, the Paris Canoe bronzer, finished seventh in 109.17 (0).

In the Canoe final, Woods timed 115.92 (0), ahead of Brazil’s Ana Satila (118.16/0), with Leibfarth in 10th (129.38/6). It’s the 10th career World Cup win for Woods.

France swept the men’s Kayak and Canoe finals, with 2022 U-23 World champ Anatole Delassius winning the Kayak final in 93.50 (0) over Noah Hegge (GER: 93.66/2). In the Canoe final, Olympic champ Nicolas Gestin won in 97.40 (0), ahead of two-time Olympic medalist Matej Benus (SVK: 101.98/0).

Sunday’s Kayak Cross races saw Tokyo 2020 K-1 winner Ricarda Funk (GER) get the women’s win, ahead of Czech Katerina Bekova. Britain went 1-2 in the men’s race with 2023 U-23 World Champion Sam Leaver and Jonny Dickson.

● Cycling ● Two brutal, uphill-finishing stages at the 80th Vuelta a Espana on Friday and Saturday could have broken the race, but favored Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) maintained a significant lead on Joao Almeida (POR) heading into the final week.

On Friday, the final climb to the Angliru (1,556 m) had Almeida attacking with 4.5 km left and Vingegaard following and they finished 1-2 in 4:54:15 with Almeida getting the win; American Sepp Kuss, riding in support of Vingegaard, was fourth (+0:30).

On Saturday, the finish was to the La Farrapona peak at 1,711 m and Spain’s Marc Soler attacked with 24 km left in the 135.9 km route and was a solo winner in 3:48:22. Vingegaard and Almeida dueled behind him and finished 2-3, both 39 seconds behind.

Sunday’s hilly, 167.8 km stage 15 route to Monforte de Lemos ended with a descent, so the predictable sprint to the line went to Mads Pedersen (DEN) for his first win in the race, in 4:02:13, ahead of Orluis Aular (VEN) and Marco Frigo (ITA). Vingegaard and the other contenders were content to finish in a large group, 13:31 back. Spanish rider Javier Romo and another rider crashed with about 50 km to go after a pro-Palestinian protester ran toward the riders with a large flag, but was removed by police before reaching the road. Both riders returned to the race.

Heading into Monday’s rest day, Vingegaard leads by 48 seconds on Almeida and 2:38 on Tom Pidcock (GBR).

The Israel-Premier Tech team faced continuing protests from pro-Palestinian protesters, with police removing 12 people holding a banner on the course and impeding the lead riders on Friday, and a delay in the start of Saturday’s stage by another protest. The team – which is operated by Canadian Sylvan Adams and not supported by the Israeli government – changed the team uniforms to a logo that does not include the word “Israel” for the final week of the race, similar to the branding of the team vehicles.

The race’s technical director, Kiko Garcia, said at one point he would be in favor of Israel-Premier Tech dropping out, and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said he was in favor of the team being removed, but said the government had no say in the matter.

At the third Maryland Cycling Classic in Baltimore, the highest-ranked international race in the U.S. in 2025 (UCI 1.1 Pro), France’s Sandy Dujardin won a final sprint in 3:48:25 over a hilly, rainy, six-lap, 172.8 km course, edging Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR), Marius Mayrhofer (GER) and American Brandon McNulty in fourth, all in the same time.

The inaugural women’s race was four laps and 115.2 km, with another sprint finish, with Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka (POL) getting to the line in 2:51:59, just ahead of Alison Jackson (CAN) and Emma Langley of the U.S.

Dutch star Lorena Wiebes dominated the 27th Simac Ladies Tour in Belgium and The Netherlands, winning each of the first four stages and piling up a 30-second lead on American Megan Jastrab. Saturday’s 10.2 km Individual Time Trial saw her ninth, with Zoe Backstedt (GBR) the winner and Wiebes’ lead up to 48 seconds over Italy’s Elisa Balsamo with Jastrab at +0:51.

Sunday’s flat final stage of 156.3 in and around Lichtenvoorde, and Wiebes won again, in 3:45:46, just ahead of Nienke Veenhoven (NED) and Balsamo in third; Jastrab was fifth. That gave the race victory to Wiebes in 15:26:45, trailed by Balsamo (+0:54) and Jastrab (+1:01) in the overall standings.

The Downhill finals were held at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais (SUI) on Sunday, and just as in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Austria’s Valentina Hoell was the women’s gold medalist.

Still just 23, she took her fourth straight title by taking over before halfway and leading to the finish in 3:27.136, just ahead of France’s 2019 and 2021 World Champion Myriam Nicole (3:27.803) and teammate Marine Cabirou (3:28.227). Anna Newkirk was the only American in the top 10, in eighth (3:34.399).

Canada’s Jackson Goldstone, 21, won four of the first five UCI World Cup races and he is now World Champion, taking the men’s final in 2:54.153 to 2:56.099 for German Henri Kiefer, with Ireland’s Ronan Dunne third (2:56.146).

American Dylan Maples was sixth (2:59.19), with teammates Luca Shaw in eighth and Dakotah Norton in ninth.

● Football ● The U.S. men’s National Team was back in action on Saturday for the first time since July, in Harrison, New Jersey, against world no. 23 South Korea, which is a World Cup qualifier for 2026.

While the U.S. had some chances early, the Koreans struck first on a great lead pass from forward Jae-sung Lee that found star striker Heung-min Son at the left side of the box and he dribbled in and sent a left-footed laser to the far side of the U.S. net for a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute.

Both teams had more chances, but a confused scrum in front of the U.S. net in the 43rd saw Lee forward a pass to Son in front of the net which was blocked, but the ball rolled to forward Dong-gyeong Lee, who finished easily for a 2-0 lead. The U.S. had 52% possession, with the Koreans getting four shots on goal to three for the U.S.

The second half had a few highlights, but no scoring. The U.S. had a great chance in the 74th as substitute forward Chris Richards got on the end of a long cross from midfielder Sebastian Berhalter in front of the Korean goal, but the shot was saved by Korean keeper Hyeon-woo Jo.

U.S. keeper Matt Freese stopped a rocket in the 90th from sub striker Hyeon-gyu Oh and the U.S. had a final chance to score as substitute striker Folarin Balogun got two shots off at close range in stoppage time at 90+3, but Jo brilliantly stopped both and then a third Balogun shot went wide.

The U.S. ended with 54% of possession and a 17-5 edge on shots, but it didn’t help. The national team is now 7-6 on the year, and will face Japan in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday (9th).

● Rugby ● Pool play concluded at the Women’s World Cup in England, with the quarter-finals to start on 13 September (seedings shown before each team), with seven of the top-eight seeds advancing:

Upper bracket:
● 3 New Zealand vs. 12 South Africa
● 2 Canada vs. 5 Australia

Lower bracket:
● 4 France vs. 6 Ireland
● 1 England vs. 7 Scotland

The group winners included England (3-0), Canada (3-0), New Zealand (3-0) and France (3-0).

The U.S. (1-1-1) was in group A and finished with a 60-0 win over Samoa, but it wasn’t enough as Australia (1-1-1), as they finished with a +33 point differential to -2 for the Americans. The tournament final is on 27 September.

● Sport Climbing ● Performing in front of home fans, Olympic star Janja Garnbret won her 49th career IFSC World Cup gold in the Lead event in Koper (SLO). She scored 47+ in the final to win easily over Korea’s 2021 Lead World Champion Chae-hyun Seo (38+) and 2021 Worlds bronzer Laura Rogora (ITA: 37+).

Japanese star Sorato Anraku, the Olympic Combined silver winner, took the men’s title at 48+, just edging Alberto Gines Lopez (ESP: 47+) and Olympic champ Toby Roberts (GBR: 46+).

● Volleyball ● Two teams that had a combined two appearances in the history of the final of the FIVB Women’s World Championship met in Bangkok (THA) on Sunday for the 2025 title: Italy and Turkey.

It was the first-ever medal match for the fourth-seeded Turks, which fought past Japan in the semifinals by 16-25, 25-17, 25-18, 27-25. Top-seeded Italy won in 2002 and was runner-up in 2018 and was in an all-out thriller against no. 2 Brazil, winning 22-25, 25-22, 28-30, 25-22, 15-13.

In the final, it was a battle for the Italians, but they got their second title, 25-23, 13-25, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8.

In the third-place match, Brazil went up 2-0, but then had to win the fifth set to defeat Japan, 3-2: 25-12, 25-17, 19-25, 27-29, 18-16! The third-seeded U.S. lost to Turkey in the quarters and was classified in fifth place.

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LANE ONE: Coventry keeping promises by standing up four review committees on hot-button issues

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ COVENTRY IN ACTION ≡

One of the signatures of the Thomas Bach Era at the International Olympic Committee was action.

He followed his own “change or be changed” mantra with near-fanatical devotion, trying to push the IOC into new areas where it could make a difference, or start on offense now instead if playing on defense later, for example, in his approach to e-sports, with an “Olympic Esports Games” coming in Saudi Arabia in 2027.

One of Bach’s protegees, new IOC chief Kirsty Coventry, who will be 42 on 16 September, has the advantage of youth, but also a front-row seat to what Bach did and didn’t do. In her presidential campaign, she promised more active roles for IOC members – many of whom were sidelined during Bach’s presidency – and that she would try to take the best ideas from the other six candidates.

The Friday announcement of four new working groups on high-tension topics for the IOC furthered both of those promises. Her introduction:

“As part of our ‘Fit For The Future’ process, I had announced that we would immediately begin the process of forming key working groups. The groups announced today are the start of that process. They will allow us to meet deadlines, and bring important technical expertise to these complex and important discussions, while realigning where we feel that it is necessary to strengthen our Movement.”

The four groups:

● Commercial Partnerships and Marketing Working Group: During her candidacy, Coventry noted that no one can say what the future of broadcasting will be, but that the IOC needs to be ready for it. This group “will look at the IOC’s existing programmes, platforms and systems, how it engages with partners, and how it can evolve and ensure that it is fit for today’s competitive market.”

Also – and this is important – “It will also explore how the capabilities of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and Olympic Channel Services (OCS) can be further leveraged to create future revenue generation.”

Translation: OBS and OCS will eventually be production companies for hire, potentially not only for sports, but also for programs which fit within the IOC’s value structure. Who better than to promote these services to the many parts of the United Nations or similarly-styled organizations than U.N. devotee, Bach, the IOC’s Honorary President for Life?

The Chair is Colombian IOC member Luis Alberto Moreno – born in Philadelphia – who was the national Minister for Economic Development from 1992-94 (his brother is U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio).. Two former IOC Presidential candidates are on this panel: FIS President Johan Eliasch (GBR) and Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP), both of whom are highly energetic about this issue. For example, there is enormous opportunity to merge artificial intelligence, the Olympic star athletes of yesterday and today and gaming, for year-round entertainment and educational product lines that do not even exist yet.

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee President Gene Sykes is a member, as is Puerto Rico’s Richard Carrion, with deep financial backgrounds.

● Olympic Programme Working Group: “It will look to find a balance between the size of the Games, the relevance of the sports and disciplines, the integration of new sports and disciplines, and, potentially, identifying ways for sports to be added to or removed from the programme through a clear and transparent process. It will also consider the suggestion that traditional summer or winter sports could cross over, the timing of the Games, and the sports calendar.”

Makes sense, right? But this is a significant break for the IOC, as it already has an Olympic Programme Commission of 24 members. This new group has only one of those members – the chair, Karl Stoss (AUT) – who is also the head of the Programme Commission, which should guarantee some continuing of thought.

Where there was an emphasis under Bach on trying to contract the Games and keep the numbers of sports, events and athletes down, LA28 has expanded the 2028 Olympic Games to 36 sports, 351 events and 11,198 athletes. Brisbane 2032 is much more wary of expansion and this could be a way to help trim the Games further.

The task list is also a challenge to the Olympic Charter provision that Winter Games events must be held on snow and ice, and potentially opening the door to winter-season disciplines such as cross country running and cyclocross.

Among the panel members are IOC Presidential candidate Seb Coe (GBR), American member Allyson Felix, LA28 Coordination Commission head Nicole Hoevertsz (ARU) and equestrian federation chief Ingmar De Vos (BEL), who is also the head of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.

● Protection of the Female Category Working Group: “will look at how we can best protect the female category. The group will consist of experts and IFs. The names of the members of the working group will remain confidential for now to protect the integrity of the group and their work.”

Coventry promised that “protection of the female category” was a priority and she is making good on her commitment. The extreme sensitivity of the issue – ethically, legally and scientifically – will keep the group membership quiet for now, but who is involved will eventually be known.

The International Federations, especially World Aquatics, World Athletics and the Union Cycliste Internationale, have been in the front of this issue, among others. Further, World Athletics has underwritten scientific work in this area for decades.

Coventry said that the IOC membership wants to bring the Olympic sports world to some consensus on this issue, which has now flared into a political fight worldwide. While equestrian is fully a mixed-gender sport – the horses don’t appear to care – the questions in athletics and swimming can also be met with questions, for example, as to why shooting should have competition by gender, since it’s the pistols and rifles which do the work. Same for archery: the targets are 70 m away for everyone.

● Youth Olympic Games Working Group: “will look at the potential and relevance of the YOG. It will also take over the process for selecting the host for the 2030 YOG.” This is a split from the Future Host Commission for the Games of the Olympiad, which had been overseeing the Youth Olympic Games as well.

The YOG was created during the Jacques Rogge (BEL) presidency and was designed as a low-cost way to spread Olympic values to youth. As with everything in sports, the cost and complexity have grown quickly and while seen at one point as largely irrelevant, Bach rescued it by using the event as a living laboratory for new events and sports; breaking was such a hit at the 2018 YOG in Buenos Aires (ARG) that landed it on the Paris 2024 Olympic program. The 2026 event in Dakar (SEN) is seen as a way to have an Olympic event, short of an Olympic Games, in Africa.

Whether the YOG is still a good idea, or if something else would be better, is worth exploring. Slovakian Skeet star Dante Hrbekova, 40, who won a London 2012 Olympic women’s Skeet bronze, as well as the 2023 Worlds gold, heads the committee.

So, with Coe, Eliasch and Samaranch already named, that’s three of Coventry’s six challengers. If cycling boss David Lappartient (FRA) is on the protect-the-female-category team – quite possible – that would be four of the six, leaving out only Prince Feisal (JOR) and gymnastics chief Morinaru Watanabe (JPN). She may have other plans for them.

Bach installed a preference for action at the IOC, and Coventry is following that plan in her early days on the job. Now, will the results match the intentions?

Rich Perelman
Editor

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SKIING & SNOWBOARD: Just how many people watch FIS World Cups? Reports show a cumulative 5.82 billion viewers in 2024-25!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ FIS TELEVISION AUDIENCES ≡

Fascinating studies from the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS), profiling each of its major disciplines and their broadcast performance for the 2024-25 season, with comparison to the 2023-24 season.

Compiled by Nielsen Sports, a primary measurement was the total broadcast audience for the six major disciplines, with the U.S. audience also noted:

Alpine Skiing:
● 2.266 billion total viewers (+1% over 2024: 2.251 billion)
● 365 million live audience; 1.901 billion non-live
● 26.86 million cumulative U.S. audience

Cross Country Skiing:
● 650 million total viewers (–15% over 2024: 767 million)
● 119 million live audience; 531 million non-live
● 0.07 million cumulative U.S. audience

Freestyle Skiing:
● 452 million total viewers (–7% over 2024: 486 million)
● 36 million live audience; 417 million non-live
● 2.36 million cumulative U.S. audience

Nordic Combined:
● 379 million total viewers (+14% over 2024: 332 million)
● 85 million live audience; 294 million non-live
● Less than 10,000 cumulative U.S. audience

Ski Jumping:
● 1.549 billion total viewers (–16% over 2024: 1.845 billion)
● 398 million live audience; 1.150 billion non-live
● 0.05 million cumulative U.S. audience

Snowboard:
● 528 million total viewers (+18% over 2024: 446 million)
● 43 million live audience; 485 million non-live
● 1.03 million cumulative U.S. audience

The cumulative total for the season was 5.824 billion broadcast viewers, but most of “non-live” programs, meaning either delayed full shows or highlights:

● 18.0% ~ 1.046 billion live
● 82.0% ~ 4.778 billion “non-live”

There’s no doubt that alpine skiing is the top attraction for FIS, but how many would guess that ski jumping is no. 2 by far, with the big audiences in central and eastern Europe, and Japan.

FIS President Johann Eliasch (GBR) has expended enormous energy to centralize FIS as the rights-holder for World Cup broadcasts, and from the current base will come the sales for the future, with significant increases expected.

Where are the audiences now compared with the recent past? Nielsen has this data included in its report, although the numbers are scrambled somewhat by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020-22. Comparing audiences for 2020-21, when the pandemic was at its height, to 2024-25:

Alpine Skiing:
● 2020-21: 3.265 billion (69 races)
● 2024-25: 2.266 billion (73 races) ~ down 30.6%

Cross Country Skiing:
● 2020-21: 900 million (48 races)
● 2024-25: 650 million (67 races) ~ down 27.8%

Freestyle Skiing:
● 2020-21: 399 million (54 events)
● 2024-25: 452 million (112 events) ~ up 13.3%

Nordic Combined:
● 2020-21: 623 million (18 events)
● 2024-25: 379 million (33 events) ~ down 39.2%

Ski Jumping:
● 2020-21: 2.581 billion (45 events)
● 2024-25: 1.549 billion (62 events) ~ down 40.0%

Snowboard:
● 2020-21: 305 million (26 events)
● 2024-25: 528 million (85 events) ~ up 73.1%

This demonstrates where Eliasch believes there is more value to be obtained for FIS events; these figures do not include social-media channels, where FIS is highly active.

Skiing – of all kinds – is big, no doubt about it. But as television cedes ground to online channels, FIS is being challenged to find its audiences everywhere, especially since only 18.0% of viewing of its events was live.

And if FIS is being challenged, so is everyone else in the Olympic Movement.

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PANORAMA: Junior Pan Ams bring $431.3 million to Paraguay; French women out of World Boxing Champs; Jones given ‘88 Seoul gold (in 2023)!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Fiery opening of the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion (PAR) (Photo: Panam Sports).

★ 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 ≡

● Pan American Games ● An economic study of the recently-completed Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion (PAR) estimated that the event brought a total economic impact to Paraguay of $431.3 million U.S.

Against a budget of $85.0 million, direct expenditures related to the Games were $156.6 million, including athlete travel and visitor spending, creating indirect and induced impacts of $274.8 million for a $431.8 million total.

During the time of the Games – 7-23 August – an 86% increase in tourism entries was observed (208,583 in 2025 vs. 112,215 in 2024), with the event credited for 49,598 international visitors and $71.6 million in spending.

The Junior Pan Ams was staged as part of a continuing effort to popularize Paraguay as a tourism and business location through sports and Asuncion is one of two bidders (with Rio-Nitroi in Brazil) for the 2031 Pan American Games.

● Russia ● “We are waiting for the decision of the IOC Executive Board to reinstate the rights of the [Russian] Olympic Committee. Until the rights are restored, no decisions on the admission of the national team to international competitions can be made.

“The first step must be the reinstatement of the Russian Olympic Committee.”

That’s Russian Olympic Committee President Mikhail Degtyarev speaking Thursday at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, with the IOC Executive Board to meet on 18-19 September in Milan (ITA).

“We are preparing for full-fledged participation in the 2028 Olympic Games.”

He also said that World Athletics is now allowing athletes of other countries to compete in Russia, although Russian athletes are banned from competing internationally. So, the Russian federation “is preparing several competitions on our territory with the invitation of foreign athletes. A good story, this is our common diplomatic victory with the ARAF. That’s it: step by step. Maybe something else will appear somewhere.”

● Archery ● During his pitch to be elected as the President of World Archery, American Greg Easton told the delegates about what he wanted to see changed. Beyond promises of being more responsive to the national federations and to archers, also touched on two aspects of the sport to be revised:

● “I have heard your concerns. Events are too expensive. We will change that. We will create a flexible hosting model that allows more nations to welcome the world. We will audit every requirement, keeping only what truly serves our athletes and our sports growth. Doing that will lower the cost of attending.”

● “[O]ur fourth pillar, our sport. Archery is timeless, yet we face new challenges with today’s media and how people engage with the sport. Here, I see opportunity.

“We will make events more engaging by using new digital tools that bring fans closer to the best of our sport. We will empower athletes to share their stories authentically, connecting with new fans. And we will embrace innovation without losing sight of the traditions that make archery unique.”

He also suggested making the federation’s steaming channel, ArcheryTV+, free to view to attract new fans. Easton ultimately won easily, by 208-96, over longtime World Archery Secretary General Tom Dielen (BEL).

● Athletics ● Ace statistician Walt Murphy observed that among the late changes in the USA Track & Field team roster for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (JPN) that start on 13 September was a foot injury to steepler Matt Wilkinson (8:10.23 in 2025), allowing Isaac Updike (8:10.59) to join the team.

Also, sprinter Aleia Hobbs (10.89 in 2025) withdrew, allowing TeeTee Terry (10.85) to complete in the women’s 100 m. McKenzie Long (21.93), fifth in the 200 m, will also compete, as Gabby Thomas (21.95) has not recovered from an Achilles injury and USATF fourth-placer Brittany Brown (22.13) won a wild-card entry as the Diamond League winner in 2025.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● German Simon Wulff, a 10.06 sprinter who turned to bobsled and pushed for Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich at the IBSF 2-Man World Cup in Altenberg (GER) last December, was banned for 21 months by the International Testing Agency on Thursday.

He tested positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine on 7 December 2024 and while he apparently did not intentionally take it, he was unable to show how the drug got into his system. He will regain his eligibility on 7 September 2026.

● Boxing ● France will not have any women entries at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool (GBR) as it was unable to get its sex-test results completed in time.

World Boxing announced on 20 August that sex-testing was required for entry in the women’s category for the 2025 Worlds, its first as the new International Federation for the sport. However, in France, such testing has been outlawed since 1994.

So the five French women were tested in England and assured that the results would be delivered on time. But they were not; a World Boxing spokesperson told Agence France Presse:

“We are sorry some boxers did not meet the deadline for results of testing but the rules and deadlines were published.”

The FFBoxe federation, however, was furious:

“It is with stupefaction and indignation that the French team learned on Wednesday evening the French women’s boxing team would not be able to compete in the first world championships organised by World Boxing.

“Despite guarantees given to us by World Boxing, the laboratory which they recommended to us was not up to the task of delivering the results on time.

“As a result our athletes as well as those from other countries have been caught in this trap and excluded.”

The Worlds are from 4-14 September, with 540 boxers from 66 countries entered, including 17 medal winners from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

In a remarkable turn of events in 2023, but only disclosed on Wednesday, Korean boxer Si-hun Park gave his 1988 Olympic 71 kg men’s gold medal to silver winner, American Roy Jones Jr.

Jones shared the circumstances in a video posted on Wednesday (3rd), where Park and his family traveled to Jones’ ranch in Pensacola, Florida in May 2023 to present him with the medal, saying through his son as translator, “I had the gold medal, but I wanted to give it back to you. It belongs to you.”

Park was the beneficiary of ridiculous beneficial treatment from the judges in Seoul, and Olympic historian David Wallechinsky, writing in The Complete Book of the Olympic Games (1996 ed.), explained, “Veteran ring observes of all nationalities, reporters, referees and fans agreed that it was the worst decision they had ever seen.” He noted that Park himself apologized to Jones, telling him through an interpreter, “I am sorry. I lost the fight. I feel very bad,” even raising Jones’ arm on the awards stand.

Park suffered from depression after the 1988 Games and did not fight professionally. Jones went on to one of the great boxing careers in history, including world titles in four weight classes.

● Football ● FIFA said Wednesday that 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets would be priced as low as $60 for group-stage matches, and as much as $6,730, but provided few further details. FIFA will use a dynamic pricing model to maximize revenue from popular matches and teams.

Visa cardholders can enter for an early-draw purchase slot, with actual sales beginning on 1 October. The second sales phase will be from “mid-November to early December,” and a third phase after the Final Draw on 5 December.

The $60 lowest World Cup price contrasts with €24 (about $28 U.S.) as the least-expensive Olympic tickets for Paris 2024, with half of the 2024 Olympic tickets offered at €50 (about $58 U.S.) or less.

● Swimming ● A unpleasant coda to the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, as Italian Olympic swimmers Benedetta Pilato, the women’s Worlds 50 m Breaststroke bronze winner, and sprinter Chiara Tarantino, were sanctioned after being accused of stealing perfume from a duty-free airport shop.

They received 12-month conditional sentences and a ban from entering Singapore. They were detained at the airport by Singapore authorities on their way back to Italy after a holiday in Bali following the Championships. Although the legal matter is closed, the swimmers are subject to disciplinary hearings in Italy by the national federation.

● Volleyball ● The top two seeds at the FIVB Women’s World Championship in Bangkok (THA) will meet in the semifinals as no. 1 Italy and no. 2 Brazil notched wins in their quarterfinal matches.

Both swept aside their opponents, with Italy pounding Poland, 25-17, 25-21, 25-18 and Brazil sailing past upset-minded France, 27-25, 33-31, 25-19.

No. 4 Turkey defeated the U.S., seeded third, 25-14, 22-25, 25-14, 25-23 to earn a semifinal berth against no. 7 Japan, which out-lasted The Netherlands, 20-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12.

The semis will be on Saturday with the medal matches on Sunday. Brazil has never won this tournament, but has now made it to the medal round in five of the last six editions. Same for Italy, which did win the 2002 title.

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SWIMMING: USA Swimming doubles down on marketing, selects Legends Golf chief Kevin Ring as new chief executive

By
Rich Perelman
-
USA Swimming President & Chief Executive Officer to-be Kevin Ring (Photo: USA Swimming).

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

When Chuck Wielgus passed away in 2017 after almost 20 years as the head of USA Swimming, the federation board turned to Tim Hinchey, whose background was in marketing, with three NBA teams and then as head of the MLS Colorado Rapids for six years.

He served seven years with USA Swimming, but his contract was not renewed following the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

A year later, the federation again turned to a marketer as leader, announcing on Thursday:

“USA Swimming, the national governing body for the sport of swimming in the United States, today announced the appointment of Kevin M. Ring as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Ring, who currently serves as President of Golf at Legends, brings a proven record of building revenue and elevating fan engagement across some of the world’s most competitive sports.

“At Legends, Ring oversaw strategic growth initiatives in the global golf business, creating innovative partnerships, media strategies, and commercial platforms that enhanced both athlete and fan experiences. Prior to Legends, he served as Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at the PGA of America, where he spearheaded efforts to grow the game of golf through new sponsorship models, media rights deals, grassroots engagement, and enhanced championship experiences.”

The announcement confirmed the marketing emphasis of Ring’s assignment:

“As CEO, Ring will lead USA Swimming’s strategy to expand membership, increase revenue, and maximize the momentum of the sport heading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. His appointment comes at a pivotal time, as the organization focuses on the long-term health of the sport in the United States. Ring will also serve as the CEO of the USA Swimming Foundation, focusing on furthering their mission of saving lives, building champions, and impacting communities.”

Said Ring:

“Swimming is one of the world’s most inspiring and global sports, and I am honored to join USA Swimming at such an important moment. There is an extraordinary opportunity to grow participation, connect with new fans, and develop innovative partnerships that will fuel success for the entire swimming community. I look forward to working with our athletes, coaches, volunteers, and partners to expand the reach and impact of this incredible sport.”

Ring’s background is extraordinarily deep in high-level sports marketing:

● 2022-2025: Legends Global Golf: President
● 2013-2023: PGA of America: Chief Revenue Officer
● 2000-2013: IMG: Vice President/IMG Consulting
● 1998-2000: Olympic Regional Development Authority: Asst. Dir. of Communications

His background has been primarily in golf, but with efforts in tennis, soccer and outdoor events during his time with the ORDA in Lake Placid. He played ice hockey at Southern New Hampshire University.

The Sports Examiner was told that Ring’s compensation is near or at $1 million per year, with a multi-year contract.

The federation is coming off of a record revenue year in 2024, with $51.06 million in income, no. 4 among all U.S. National Governing Bodies, including a $5.152 million surplus from the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

During Hinchey’s tenure, revenues vacillated from a Covid-induced low of $29.34 million in 2022 to over $42 million in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023 before sailing up over $50 million last year.

Ring will start on 17 September. He said in a statement:

“In order to succeed as CEO of USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation, initially, I will spend meaningful time listening and learning, creating partnerships with key stakeholders, and communicating clearly with the board, stakeholders, membership, and USA Swimming staff.

“We will build a culture of transparency, innovation and modernization, all the while keeping focus on the mission and building upon the solid foundation already in place.”

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