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Phelps is racing sharks for fun, Owens raced horses because he needed money

This is not a mirage: Jesse Owens really is getting ready to race a horse in 1938.

PALM DESERT, July 19, 2017 – The silly Michael Phelps vs. a Great White Shark show coming Sunday is designed to be fun and entertaining. But man vs. beast was no joke for another Olympic champion 81 years ago.

Jesse Owens won four gold medals in Berlin in 1936, but he couldn’t find a job when he returned to the U.S. So, he had to race horses to pay his debts.

We remember Owens’ pain in his own words in our Lane One commentary, plus full coverage of the FINA World Championships in Aquatics and much more:

= p. 5/Aquatics: U.S. scores first medals in Budapest in diving, open water and synchro!
= p. 11/Fencing: Strong U.S. team headed for Leipzig and 2017 World Champs;
= p. 13/Football: U.S. men in Gold Cup quarterfinals in Philadelphia tonight!
= p. 14/Cycling: Decision time in the Alps for the 2017 Tour de France!
= p. 17/Triathlon: Flora Duffy joins elite company with third win in a row!

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The IOC changed its future, now what about the Paralympics?

PALM DESERT, July 17, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee made a decisive move for the future with its decision to select host cities for both the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games.

Now the International Paralympic Committee is getting ready to find its future through the election of a new governing board and a new president. But what is the IPC’s vision for the future?

Can it continue to grow? Will it do the one thing that will bring its athletes into the spotlight, unhindered by the shadow of the Olympic Games?

We check in on the IPC and its future in our Lane One commentary, plus a full coverage of the FINA World Championships in Aquatics and much more:

= p. 5/Diving: China still strong, but not invincible so far in Budapest!
= p. 11/Athletics: Sensational shot put series from U.S. & Olympic champ Ryan Crouser;
= p. 17/Cycling: Tour de France is getting serious now; are you paying attention yet?
= p. 23/Triathlon: U.S. scores silver in first-ever Relay World Championship race!
= p. 25/Wrestling: U.S. men’s Freestylers go 25-0 in Grand Prix of Spain!

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The International Olympic Committee, and its money

PALM DESERT, July 14, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee gives away 90% of all of its revenue to support the Olympic Movement.

Is this, to paraphrase 19th Century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, “lies, damned lies or statistics”?

We comb through the IOC’s just-released annual report to find out the facts from the figures in our Lane One commentary, plus a full coverage of the FINA World Championships in Aquatics that starts today:

= p. 5/Phil Hersh: IOC and NBC reinforce Peter Ueberroth’s Olympic legacy;
= p. 9/Aquatics: Previews of FINA World Champs diving, open water and synchro events;
= p. 14/Athletics: U.S. World Champs team warming up at Diamond League Rabat;
= p. 17/Swimming: Ryan Lochte returns from suspensions & two swimmers get BMWs!
= p. 18/Wrestling: 17 U.S. wrestlers in new United World Wrestling rankings!

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Remembering UCLA’s Jim Bush, who knew the power of effort and encouragement

PALM DESERT, July 12, 2017 – Do we die a little bit inside when one of our mentors passes away?

For so many athletes who were coached, encouraged or advised by UCLA’s great track & field coach, Jim Bush, the world is a little less bright after he passed on Monday, aged 90. He had gathered with alumni and friends last April, knowing that his time was short and wanting to touch those whom he knew and loved best one more time.

A personal recollection of Coach Bush is in our Lane One commentary, plus a full analysis of the historic 130th Session of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne:

= p. 6/Olympic Games: IOC approves L.A. and Paris for 2024/2028, IF they can agree …
= p. 8/Aquatics: Massive FINA World Champs start Thursday; our Water Polo preview!
= p. 9/Football: U.S. men’s team faces group leader Martinique in Gold Cup action;
= p. 11/Athletics: Christian Coleman only in 100 at Worlds; Bolt’s next race is …
= p. 12/Table Tennis: Tizzy over Chinese walkout about coaching still percolating.

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Ronald Reagan’s advice for the IOC and future Olympic bids

PALM DESERT, July 10, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee is on the verge of selecting host cities for two Olympic Games at the same time for the first time since 1921. But is this going to help solve the IOC’s problem in attracting bid cities for the future?

The issue is money, and U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s approach to dealing with Soviet promises of nuclear arms control applies equally to what the IOC must do in the future with its candidate cities.

We have the details – and the data – in our Lane One commentary, plus the details of a wild week of U.S. successes and disappointments in races and games around the world:

= p. 5/Athletics: Allyson Felix, Kerron Clement & Aries Merritt star for U.S. in London;
= p. 8/Basketball: U.S. men win bronze at FIBA U-19 World Cup in Egypt;
= p. 9/Beach Volleyball: U.S. duo of Phil Dalhausser & Nick Lucena win Gstaad 5-star!
= p. 21/Table Tennis: Kanak Jha & Lily Zhang repeat as U.S. champs;
= p. 22/Volleyball: U.S. women beat China, start 3-0 in FIVB Grand Prix!

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What did the IOC’s Evaluation Commission really say about L.A. and Paris?

PALM DESERT, July 7, 2017 – The International Olympic Committee’s Evaluation Commission gave glowing endorsements to both the Los Angeles and Paris bids for the 2024 Olympic Games in their report released on Wednesday.

But were both bids as perfect as they seemed? Both are excellent … but not perfect, and the Commission did pick up on some of the underlying issues. And there’s a big monetary mistake that’s a plus for both cities!

We have the details in our Lane One commentary, plus a full report on what’s going on in the five-ring circus:

= p. 6/Athletics: Wayde van Niekerk’s 43.62 just one of five world leaders in Lausanne!
= p. 9/Basketball: U.S. U-19 men crush Mali and head to world Cup semis vs. Germany!
= p. 11/Swimming: Ready for the Global Association of Professional Swimmers?
= p. 12/Athletics: Star-studded Diamond League meet with Farah & Felix on Sunday;
= p. 15/Football: U.S. men face Panama in Gold Cup opener in New Jersey!

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What is fairness? The IAAF, Caster Semenya and “intersex” athletes

Testosterone chemical structure formula

PALM DESERT, July 5, 2017 – South Africa’s reigning Olympic 800 m champion Caster Semenya has been a lightning rod for controversy since her 2009 World Championship at age 18 that raised questions about her status as a woman.

The IAAF required her to be medicated to reduce her unusually high testosterone level, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport told the IAAF it had to come back with better scientific evidence and suspended the federation’s rules on testosterone. Now the IAAF has its report in hand; what does it say and what’s next?

The background and the issues going forward are in our Lane One commentary, plus a full report on what’s going on in the five-ring circus:

= p. 6/Shooting: Mother and son both make the U.S. National Team in Air Pistol!
= p. 7/Swimming: USA Swimming names World Champs team for Budapest;
= p. 9/Athletics: World-record holder Wayde van Niekerk in Lausanne meet Thursday!
= p. 13/Basketball: U.S. men’s U-19 World Cup team faces Mali in Round of 16;
= p. 13/Cycling: Star rider Peter Sagan throws an elbow and is DQ’d in Tour de France!

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The unbearable sadness of watching the world’s greatest swim team

PALM DESERT, July 3, 2017 – USA Swimming’s Phillips 66 National Championships in Indianapolis was the swim meet of the year, producing 48 top-five marks in the world, eight world-leading times and two American Records.

But it was also depressing, because the stands were only half-full at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. Who is to blame for this? What wasn’t done? Who should be fired?

It’s a lot more complicated than that and we explore the issues in our Lane One commentary, plus a full report on a hot weekend in Olympic sport:

= p. 5/Swimming: Full coverage of a sensational 2017 Phillips 66 Nationals!
= p. 9/Athletics: A great day for U.S. hurdler Devon Allen, and then a false start …
= p. 10/Basketball: U.S. men’s U-19 team wins first two World Cup games by 217-116!
= p. 13/Cycling: Has anything important happened at the Tour de France yet? Yes!
= p. 18/Gymnastics: Laura Zeng wins fifth straight U.S. Rhythmic All-Around title.

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