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TSX REPORT: IOC U-turns on Russians in Asian Games; LA28 added sports coming Friday; Lithuania beats U.S. in FIBA World Cup

By
Rich Perelman
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Hey! An American - Sepp Kuss, at right - is leading a Grand Tour for the first time in 10 years! (Photo: Filip Bossuyt via Wikipedia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. IOC pulls U-turn on Russia and Asian Games; “not feasible”
2. LA28 added sports expected to be revealed Friday
3. U.S. beats Montenegro, loses to Lithuania in FIBA World Cup
4. Coleman equals world lead with 9.83 win in Xiamen Diamond League
5. Rubiales apologizes, rips “political and media lynching”

● After pushing for months to have Russian and Belarusian “neutral” athletes compete internationally again, the International Olympic Committee halted the integration of as many as 500 such athletes into the 2023 Asian Games in China for “technical reasons.” Now everything is as clear as mud.

● The IOC announced an Executive Board meeting for Friday, at which the added sports proposed for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles are to be revealed. Nine sports are reported to be under consideration, but only one or two are expected to be added.

● At the FIBA World Cup in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines, the U.S. finished the second group stage at 4-1, losing to Lithuania on Sunday. But they will advance to the quarterfinals and face Italy on Tuesday. By doing so and as one of the top two teams from the Americans still remaining, the U.S. qualifies for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

● U.S. sprint star Christian Coleman won the men’s 100 m at the Diamond League Xiamen meet in China in 9.83, equaling the best time in the world this year. World leads were set in the men’s 800 m, women’s 3,000 m and equaled in the women’s high jump. At the ISTAF meet in Berlin, Ethiopia’s Letsenbet Gidey ran the fourth-fastest women’s 5,000 m ever, and American discus star Valarie Allman got a world lead at 70.47 m (231-2), the third-longest throw in U.S. history.

● The chaos in Spain over the actions of RFEF President Luis Rubiales continue, as he apologized again on Friday, but will not resign. An action against him is moving through the Spanish court system, but will take a while to resolve.

● Panorama: Australia (Study shows 46% of elite athletes earn less than poverty-line wages from sport) = Archery (Ellison and Kaufhold win national title, but Williams and Vijay win U.S. Open) = Athletics (Lyles said he’s done for season, but maybe not) = Boxing (2: Finland heading to World Boxing; Pacquiao fighting at Paris 2024?) = Break dancing (Shigekix and Nicka won in BfG World Series in Porto) = Canoe-Kayak (2: Carrington & Fuksa headline Sprint World Cup in Paris; Fox wins gold and silver in Slalom World Cup) = Cycling (4: American Sepp Kuss leads La Vuelta a Espana!; Madouas wins Bretagne Classic; new Dutch star Bredewold takes Classic Lorient Agglom.; Bruni & Hoell win Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup) = Football (2: UEFA needs to recruit 40,000 referees a year, will not implement FIFA’s added-time strategy) = Gymnastics (Chusovitina wins again at FIG World Challenge Cup) = Taekwondo (Rashitov & Jones only repeat winners in Paris Grand Prix) = Volleyball (Dom. Rep. overcomes U.S. in NORCECA women’s championship) ●

1.
IOC pulls U-turn on Russia and Asian Games; “not feasible”

Last December, the International Olympic Committee hosted its annual “Olympic Summit,” which included:

“The [Olympic Council of Asia] offered to facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions in Asia under its authority, while respecting the sanctions in place.”

On 8 July, Russian and Belarusian athletes were approved to compete at the Asian Games in China in September:

“[T]he OCA General Assembly in principle agreed the guidelines for the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games as independent athletes, competing under a neutral flag, should the IOC approve their participation at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. These guidelines include a maximum quota of 500 athletes across no more than 12 individual sports, and that the athletes will not be eligible for medals.”

A few days later, the IOC expressed satisfaction with the arrangement:

“This was the principle agreement to the proposal that was made by the then-OCA President at the Olympic Summit in December 2022, and in line with the recommendations of the IOC Executive Board on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions.

“Discussions on if and how this can be implemented are ongoing.”

All tracking toward Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in Hangzhou, where the Asian Games will be held from 23 September to 8 October, with 481 events across 40 sports and 61 disciplines.

But on Friday, the Mumbai-based, English-language Indian Express newspaper carried this:

“In a brief statement on Thursday, the OCA said the IOC did not give the green signal. The continental body told The Indian Express: ‘No Russian and Belarusian athletes (at the Asian Games) and it is IOC’s decision, not OCA.’

“The IOC told this paper: ‘The concept of the participation of athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports at the Asian Games 2023 was explored as discussed at the Olympic Summit in December 2022, but was not feasible due to technical reasons.’”

That’s a U-turn. The IOC had been clear – up to now – on its insistence that a way for “neutral” Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Olympic qualifying events, of which the Asian Games is a major contributor.

But, the IOC is also unhappy with the Olympic Council of Asia, holding its July election of Kuwaiti Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Sabah as President null and void – pending an investigation – due to interference from already-suspended IOC Member Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah – Talal’s older brother – and then suspending Sheikh Ahmad for three years.

The IOC further asked India’s Randhir Singh, who was the OCA’s acting head prior to the election, and the one who spoke up for hosting Russians and Belarusians at last December’s Olympic Summit, to continue as the OCA chief.

Observed: This is a major turnaround for the IOC, and unexpected. There was resistance to the idea of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing at the Asian Games – up to 500 of them – that would take places away from Asian athletes. It had been agreed that Asian Games medals would not be awarded to Russians or Belarusians, but what of advancements through rounds or brackets of combat sports, for example?

This is the first sign this year from the IOC that it is not all-in to have Russian and Belarusians competing as neutrals everywhere possible, especially as most International Federations have either complied, or are in the process of setting up regulations to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete.

The outlook for the future – and for Paris 2024 – is as clear as mud.

2.
LA28 added sports expected to be revealed Friday

The International Olympic Committee posted a notice of an online Executive Board meeting for Friday, 8 September:

“The IOC EB is scheduled to receive updates on the activities of the Olympic Movement, the IOC commissions and IOC administration and to prepare for the 141st IOC Session in October in Mumbai, India.”

The agenda includes a report from the Olympic Programme Commission and Reuters reported that the added sports for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles will be announced.

The LA28 Games already includes 28 sports that were announced in December 2021, which does not include boxing, modern pentathlon and weightlifting, which were on suspension at the time. With the dismissal of the International Boxing Association as the International Federation for that sport in June, boxing was noted to be assured a place on the 2028 program, but must be approved by the IOC Session meeting in Mumbai (IND) in October. The decision on pentathlon and weightlifting are expected to made at the same meeting.

The request for added sports is up to the LA28 organizers, who have been reported to be considering nine possibilities: baseball/softball, break dancing, cricket, flag football, karate, kickboxing, lacrosse, squash, and motorsports. One or two sports are expected to be added.

The LA28 selection(s) were forwarded to the IOC’s Programme Commission and then to the Executive Board for approval, which must finally be given by the IOC Session.

3.
U.S. beats Montenegro, loses to Lithuania in FIBA World Cup

On to the elimination rounds of the 19th FIBA World Cup, after a wild second round of group games in which many of the favorites – including the U.S. – lost.

The Americans (4-0) faced undefeated Lithuania (4-0) in the final game of the second group stage (Group J), with both teams having already clinched places in the elimination round. But the Lithuanians were brilliant from the start, making their first nine three-point shots and rolling to a 31-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, and 54-37 at halftime.

The U.S. got back into the game in the third quarter, out-scoring Lithuania by 28-17 – including an opening 15-2 run – but still trailing, 71-65. The fourth was a scoring festival, with the U.S. as close as 108-104 with 16 seconds left, but fell, 110-104.

Lithuania shot 52.8% from the floor and a staggering 56.0% (14/25) from the three-point line, and out-rebounded the U.S., 43-27, with its bigger line-up. Lithuania had seven players in double figures, led by guard Vaidas Kariniauskas (15). Forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas led with 14 points, New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas added 12, and small forward Tadas Sedekerskis, forward Ignas Brazdeikis and guard Tomas Dimsa all had 11.

The U.S. shot 53.4% for the game, powered by 35 points from Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who was 14-26 from the field and made five three-pointers. He got help from guard Jalen Brunson (Knicks) and forward Mikal Bridges (Nets) with 14 each, but it was not enough.

Said Brunson, “They executed their game plan. I think we just started too slow. We played way better in the second half. We waited too long to come to play.”

On Friday, the U.S. trailed, 38-37 at the half to Montenegro, the Group D runner-up (2-1), but clamped down in the second half, winning the third quarter by 24-17 and the fourth by 24-18 to finish with an 85-73 win. The Americans finished on a 21-9 run to end the game after Montenegro got within 64-62 with 7:15 to play.

Montenegro shot only 40.0% from the field, but out-rebounded the U.S. by 49-31; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic led Montenegro with 18. The U.S. had excellent balance, with five in double figures: Edwards with 17, guard Austin Reaves (Lakers) with 12, forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies) with 11 and guard Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) and forward Mikal Bridges (Nets) with 10 each.

The U.S. was not the only favorite to go down:

● In Group I, Italy beat undefeated Serbia on Friday, 78-76, and won on Sunday to take the group at 4-1. Serbia (4-1) also advanced, eliminating the previously undefeated Dominican Republic.

● In Group K, Australia was eliminated as Slovenia – with 20 points from Mavericks star Luka Doncic – won by 91-80 on Friday, with Germany (5-0) winning the group by clubbing Slovenia by 100-71 on Sunday. Doncic had 23, but Dennis Schroeder (Raptors) scored 24 for the winners.

● In Group L, defending champion Spain was beaten on Friday by Latvia, 74-69, and then lost again on Sunday, 88-85 to Canada. Meanwhile, Brazil beat Canada on Friday, 69-65, but still ended up eliminated with a 104-84 loss to Latvia on Sunday.

So, Lithuania and Germany are the only remaining undefeated teams. As for Paris 2024, the Worlds will qualify the top two teams from each of the Americas (U.S. and Canada) and Europe (to be determined), and the top team from Africa (South Sudan), Asia (Japan) and Oceania (Australia).

Next up are the quarterfinals on Tuesday and Wednesday:

● 5 Sep.: Italy (4-1) vs. United States (4-1)
● 6 Sep.: Germany (5-0) vs. Latvia (4-1)

● 5 Sep.: Lithuania (5-0) vs. Serbia (4-1)
● 6 Sep.: Canada (4-1) vs. Slovenia (4-1)

All of the remaining games will be played in Pasay (PHI), in the Manila metro area, with the semis on Friday (8th) and the medal matches on Sunday (10th).

4.
Coleman equals world lead with 9.83 win
in Xiamen Diamond League

The World Athletics Championships are over, but the track & field season is not, with two world leads and two ties at the Diamond League in Xiamen (CHN) on Saturday:

● Men/100 m: 9.83 (=), Christian Coleman (USA)
● Men/800 m: 1:43.20, Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN)
● Women/3,000 m: 8:24.05, Beatrice Chebet (KEN)
● Women/High Jump: 2.02 m (6-7 1/2)(=), Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR)

In the men’s 100 m, Coleman, who finished fifth at the Budapest Worlds, got his usual rocket start, but he didn’t fade this time, covering the first 50 m in 5.52 and coming home in 4.31 (wind: +0.4 m/s). That was enough to take care of surprise runner-up Kishane Thompson (JAM) – in lane 10! – who lowered his lifetime best from 9.91, and the only one close to Coleman at 50 m (5.55/4.30).

Last year’s World Champion, Fred Kerley (USA), was fifth at 30 m and moved hard in the middle of the race to get into third by 70 m and stayed there, in 9.96, with fellow Americans Brandon Carnes (10.01 lifetime best) and Marvin Bracy-Williams (10.02) following. Olympic champ Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA: 10.05) was seventh.

The men’s 800 m immediately followed, with Kenya’s Worlds runner-up Wanyonyi, 19, taking over after pacesetter Erik Sowinski (USA) moved off after 500 m. He was being shadowed by fellow Kenyan (and world leader) Wyclife Kinyamal and Canada’s World Champion, Marco Arop, and Arop came up to challenge with 200 m to go. But while Arop got close, he could never get to the lead and Wanyonyi won the sprint to the line in a world-leading 1:43.20, with Arop getting a lifetime best of 1:43.22 in second. Kinyamal faded to fourth (1:44.04) and American Isaiah Harris was 11th (1:45.10).

Mexico’s Laura Galvan, 10th at the Worlds in the 5,000 m, led Kenyan Chebet, the Worlds 5,000 m bronze winner, in the women’s 3,000 m at the bell, but Chebet surged down the backstraight and ran away to a 8:24.05 victory with the fastest time in the world in 2023. Galvan held on for second in a national record 8:28.05, no. 5 on the year list.

Ukraine’s Mahuchikh, the World Champion, was the only one to clear 1.95 m (6-4 3/4), and won, then cleared 1.98 m (6-6) on her first try and went to 2.02 m (6-7 1/2) and also cleared on her first, to equal the world-lead for the year, by Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers. Slovenia’s Lia Apostolovski was second at 1.92 m (6-3 1/2).

World Champion Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) won the men’s Steeple from Samuel Firewu (ETH), 8:10.31 to 8:11.29, taking the lead at the 2,000 m mark and holding on. Americans Isaac Updike and Andy Bayer finished 16-17 in 8:27.37 and 8:33.38.

Dominican Marileidy Paulino, the gold medalist in the women’s 400 m, won in 49.36, way ahead of Candice McLeod (JAM: 50.19) and American Lynna Irby-Jackson (50.45). Talitha Diggs from the U.S. was sixth (51.27) and Makenzie Dunmore was ninth (53.85).

World champ Ivana Vuleta (SRB) won the women’s long jump with her fifth-round effort of 6.88 m (22-7), overtaking Marthe Yasmine Koala (BUR: 6.79 m (22-3 1/2). American Quanesha Burks was eighth at 6.45m (21-2).

Other Worlds winners from Budapest did not fare as well.

Grant Holloway of the U.S., the Worlds 110 m hurdles winner, was out with U.S. teammate Daniel Roberts, but Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment – the Tokyo Olympic winner – came hard in the second half and pushed past both after the ninth hurdle and won in a season’s best of 12.96 (0.0), now equal-second on the year list. Roberts got second in 13.03 and Holloway stumbled on the run-in and was third in 13.12. Americans Freddie Crittenden and Cordell Tinch were sixth and seventh in 13.26 and 13.38.

In the triple jump, Italy’s Andy Diaz got out to 17.25 m (56-7 1/4) in the second round and that was good enough to win over Worlds winner Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR: 17.22 m/56-6), and Diaz finished with a flourish, reaching 17.43 m (57-2 1/4) in the final round. Donald Scott of the U.S. was third (16.65 m/54-7 1/2) and two-time Olympic winner Christian Taylor was ninth at 15.87 m (52-0 3/4).

Miracle women’s discus winner Lagi Tausaga of the U.S. got her best throw of 64.41 m (211-4) in the first round and was the leader, but was quickly passed by Croatian star Sandra Perkovic at 67.32m (220-10). Home favorite Bin Feng of China – the 2022 Worlds winner – passed Tausaga for second and then won the event in the sixth round with a final throw of 67.41 m (221-2).

In the men’s 400 m, Grenada’s London 2012 Olympic winner, Kirani James, won in 44.38 – a seasonal best – at the line over Worlds bronze medalist Quincy Hall of the U.S. (also 44.38), with Vernon Norwood of the U.S. fourth in 44.99.

The women’s 1,500 m was fast, with four under 4:00, with Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu taking over at the bell and running a 60.6 last lap. But she had to fight off Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir, who had the lead with 200 m to go. But Freweyni pushed ahead on the straight and won in 3:56.56, a seasonal best and no. 8 on the world list. Chepchirchir got a lifetime best of 3:56.72 in second. American Danielle Jones got a lifetime best of 4:01.66 in eighth, Helen Schlachtenhaufen was 10th in 4:03.69, Josette Andrews was 12th in 4:05.52 and Emily MacKay finished 14th in 4:06.45.

Jamaica swept the women’s 400 m hurdles with Worlds bronze medalist Rushell Clayton (53.56), Andrenette Knight (53.87) and Janieve Russell (54.01). Anna Cockrell of the U.S. was sixth in 54.56.

Next up: the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels (BEL), on 7-8 September.

At the ISTAF meet in Berlin’s Olympiastadion, Tokyo Olympic champ and 2023 Worlds silver winner Valarie Allman of the U.S. won for the third straight year, with a world-leading 70.47 m throw (231-2), the no. 3 throw in American history; she owns the top nine!

In the women’s 5,000 m, Ethiopian star Letsenbet Gidey – the 2022 World Champion and 2023 runner-up – won in a startling 14:08.79, the no. 4 time in history! She owns three of the four, with only Kenyan Faith Kipyegon’s world record of 14:05.20 from June faster than her.

Americans won two other events, with Jenna Prandini taking the women’s 100 m in 11.24 (+0.1) and Tiffany Flynn winning the women’s long jump at 6.48 m (21-3 1/4).

5.
Rubiales apologizes, rips “political and media lynching”

The continuing chaos surround Royal Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales expanded on Friday as he issued an 18-paragraph statement that included:

● “On August 20, I made some obvious mistakes, which I regret sincerely, from the heart. It is true that for such errors I have asked for forgiveness because it was fair; and now I do it again with humility. I do it convinced and with the purpose of improving.

“I have learned that no matter how great the joy is and deep the emotion, including a World Cup win, sports leaders should be required to exhibit exemplary behavior, and mine was not.

“Therefore, I reiterate, once again, my apologies for this to the footballers, the federation and other football entities in a clear, emphatic and unmitigated manner.”

● “Throughout this period I have suffered an unprecedented political and media lynching from which I have remained completely on the fringes. Not only nationally but globally. Despite this, I have also felt the growing support of people on the street and on social media. …

“It’s time to thank you infinitely for your immense support, for believing me, for not getting carried away by this campaign fabricated against me. Popular support reinforces for me the idea that this issue has been magnified and taken out of context for other reasons.

“I continue to trust in the independence of the bodies where this issue must be resolved, despite the fact that the political pressure and that of certain media with interests is brutal.

● “I’ll continue to defend myself to prove the truth. I want to send a message to all the good people in our country and beyond our borders, including those women who’ve really been abused, and who have my full support and understanding: this isn’t about gender, it’s about the truth.

“In the name of Feminism, it must not be about trying to sink a man – or a woman – without a fair trial. Equality is about identical rights for everyone. Justice must be applied to people without the gender having an impact on the result.”

In the meantime, Spain’s Administrative Tribunal for Sport (TAD) did not deem the issue of Rubiales’ controversial kiss of midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal presentation at the end of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on 20 August as “very serious,” but only “serious,” meaning that under Spanish law, he could not be immediately fired. Said Spain’s Minister of Culture and Sports, Miguel Iceta:

“TAD only considers the [incident] serious. We believe that they are very serious.

“The Superior Sports Council (CSD) itself could have directly suspended Mr. Rubiales if they were very serious. But as TAD have not qualified it as such, it is up to the court itself. We will file a request for them to take that position.”

Multiple investigations are underway, and FIFA suspended Rubiales for 90 days back on 26 August.

The FIFPro football players union, posted a tweet that included:

“We, the players, are stronger, more united, and more determined than ever,” it said. “The systems are failing us. Governance is failing us. Accountability is failing. Discrimination runs deep and occurs at every level.

“Football must respond and rise to this critical moment, not only in Spain, but around the world.”

By all appearances, however, this is not ending soon.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Australia ● The Australian Sports Foundation released the results of a survey in February and March of this year, showing:

“[A]lmost half of elite athletes (46%) over the age of 18 are earning incomes from all sources of less than $23,000 per annum, placing them below the poverty line. [A$1 = $0.65 U.S.]

“The ASF commissioned this research to understand the experiences and issues athletes had experienced over the past 12 months, and to assist it in its efforts to raise additional community and philanthropic funds to provide better support to our emerging and representative athletes. The survey was open to Australian athletes from all sports with more than 2,300 athletes participating from more than 60 sports, including 604 elite athletes (national or international level).

“Against a backdrop of rising costs of living, the Running On Empty report, which focuses on elite athletes, showed the financial situation of two in five (43%) elite athletes aged 18+ had worsened over the past 12 months. More than half (52%) of the elite athletes surveyed were considering leaving their sport.”

The survey results underscore a pitch by Australian Olympic Committee head Matt Carroll to the Australian government from last March, identifying “a $2 billion shortfall in direct investment in Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports in the 10 years leading to Brisbane 2032.” (A$2 billion is about $1.29 billion U.S.)

● Archery ● Stars Brady Ellison and Casey Kaufhold added to their U.S. national title resume at the USA Archery Target Nationals in Malvern, Pennsylvania, but did not survive the elimination rounds at the follow-on U.S. Open.

Ellison, the 2019 World Champion, regained the national title he lost in 2022 with a National Target Championships score of 1,364 over 144 arrows, well ahead of Jackson Mirich (1,317) and Trenton Cowles (1,317) and Tokyo Olympian Jack Williams (1,303). However, Ellison was defeated in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open elimination matches, with Williams winning the final, 7-1, over Oscar Ticas of El Salvador. Alex Gilliam won the third-place match, 6-2, against Joonsuh Oh, who had beaten Ellison.

Kaufhold, still just 19, won the women’s Recurve (Olympic) division at 1,282 points (144 arrows) – his sixth national championship – defending her 2022 title over Catalina GNoriega (1,270), 15-year-old Akshara Vijay (1,255) and Molly Nugent (1,253). In the U.S. Open, Kaufhold made it to the final, but lost to Vijay, 6-5, in a one-arrow shoot-off. GNoriega took the bronze, 6-4, against Isabella Frederick. Vijay moved up from bronze in 2022.

● Athletics ● After his win at the Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League meet, U.S. sprint star Noah Lyles said he was through for the season. Or maybe not.

On Friday (1st), he tweeted:

“And with that I say goodbye to the 2023 season!

“√ worlds fastest man in 100 & 200
“√ 2 years Undefeated in the 200m
“√ 3X world Champion”

That would mean he would skip the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on 16-17 September, which is the Diamond League Final for 2023.

On Saturday (2nd), however:

“You know what… I might have another 100m in me for the year”

Stay tuned.

● Boxing ● Finland is now on the way to joining World Boxing, but with considerable chaos at a meeting of its national federation last week. The Finnish Boxing Association’s statement included:

“The Extraordinary General Meeting of the Finnish Boxing Federation on 26.8.2023 unanimously authorised the decision to decide on the withdrawal from the IBA and to start the the membership application process for World Boxing.

“At the same meeting, the Federal Assembly granted the resignation of the Board of Directors. New President Kirsi Korpaeus, Päivi Ahola and Markku Rautio were elected as Vice-Chairs, and the Board was re-elected.

“Laura Sirviö, Jouko Salo, Olli Miettinen, Markku Rantahalvari, Juho Haapoja and Pekka Mäki. The Board will start its work immediately.”

So the switch to World Boxing caused the federation’s board to resign, but they were immediately replaced. A report on the Finnish network YLE added:

“According to Marko Laine, Executive Director of the Boxing Association , Finland finds membership in the IBA impossible because it strongly supports Russia. Russian Umar Kremlev is still the president of IBA.”

Legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao, now 44 and the winner of world titles in eight different weight classes, has inquired about the possibilities of being able to qualify and fight at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Abraham Tolentino, head of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said that Pacquiao representatives had asked last week what the procedures could be for the fighter to qualify. Tolentino said that fighting at the Asian Games in China later this month is not possible due to an age limit of 40. However, he could pursue qualification at the IOC-operated qualifying tournaments in 2024.

Pacquiao last fought in a sanctioned bout in 2021, but also in an exhibition in 2022. He reportedly weighs 66 kg (146 lbs.), so would have to choose between the Olympic categories of Lightweight (63.6 kg/140 lbs.) or Welterweight (71 kg/157 lbs.).

● Break Dancing ● The fourth stage of the Breaking For Gold World Series, and the last before the 2023 World Championships, was in Porto (POR), with divisions for men and women.

In the men’s final, Japan’s Shigekix (Shigeyuki Nakarai) won over France’s Lagaet (Gaetan Alin), 49-32. American Victor (Victor Montalvo) – the 2021 World Champion – won the bronze medal against Amir (Amir Zakirov: KAZ), 54-32.

Lithuania’s Nicka (Dominika Banevic) won the women’s final against Logistx (Logan Edra) of the U.S., 54-45. Portugal’s Vanessa (Vanessa Cartaxo) won the bronze, 39-32, over Syssy (Sya Dembele: FRA).

The Worlds are 22-24 September in Leuven (BEL).

● Canoe-Kayak ● Just a week after the ICF Sprint World Championships in Germany, an ICF Sprint World Cup was held in Paris in advance of the 2024 Olympic Games. As usual, New Zealand superstar Lisa Carrington – the 15-time World Champion – was in the center of the action.

She teamed with Alicia Hoskin to win the women’s K-2 500 m in 1:41.29, well ahead of Emma Jorgensen and Frederikke Matthiesen (DEN: 1:42.18), then both joined in the K-4 500 m final, finishing second to China, 1:33.88 to 1:33.89!

Kiwi teammate Aimee Fisher won the women’s K-1 500 m final in 1:50.76 , well ahead of Jule Hake (GER: 1:51.92).

China won the women’s C-1 200 m with Worlds bronze medalist Wenjun Lin (CHN: 45.61) edging nine-time World Champion Katie Vincent (CAN: 45.84), with American Andreea Ghizila seventh (47.90). China’s 2023 World Champions Shixiao Xu and Mengya Sun (1:56.13) took the C-2 500 m win, vs. Canada’s Sloan Mackenzie and Vincent (1:57.01).

A double medal winner on the men’s side was Czech star Martin Fuksa, the reigning World Champion in the C-1,000 m, winning that event in 3:51.33, over Adrien Bart (FRA: 3:51.89). Fuksa then teamed with brother Petr to finish second in the C-2 500 m, won by China’s Worlds runners-up Hao Liu and Bowen Ji, 1:39.96 to 1:40.79.

Hungary’s Balint Kopasz, the Worlds winner in the K-1 500 m, took the K-1 1,000 m race in 3:27.46, over teammate Adam Varga (HUN: 3:29.50). Germany’s Max Rendschmidt and Jacob Schopf (1:29.78) took the K-2 500 m win against Adrian del Rio and Rodrigo Germade (ESP: 1:29.86), and Hungary won the K-4 500 m final in 1:21.16, over Spain (1:21.41).

Australian star Jessica Fox almost pulled off a double at the ICF Slalom World Cup 4 in La Seu d’Urgell (ESP), but penalties cost her a sweep.

Fox, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, won the women’s Canoe final in 107.09 seconds, despite four penalties, ahead of Germany’s 2022 World Champion Andrea Herzog (107.17/0) and two-time European Champion Kimberley Woods (GBR: 109.02/2). But in the women’s Kayak final, she suffered two penalties and that cost her the win vs. Slovakia’s Eliska Mintalova, who won her first World Cup gold, 99.36 (0) to 99.42 (2). Italy’s Stefanie Horn (100.23) was third.

Italian Rafaello Ivaldi won the men’s Canoe final in 96.52, beating Slovenia’s 2019 Worlds bronze winner Luka Bozic (97.53/2), with Marko Mirgorodsky third (SVK: 97.63/0). This was Ivaldi’s second World Cup medal – first in six years – and first win! Rio 2016 runner-up Peter Kauzer won the Kayak final in 89.36 (0), just ahead of 2016 Olympic champ Joseph Clarke (GBR: 90.44/2) and 2022 World Champion Vit Prindis (CZE: 90.90/2).

In the Kayak Cross events, Jan Rohrer (SUI) won the men’s final, ahead of Clarke and German Elena Lilik – the 2021 Worlds silver winner – took the women’s event, beating Woods and fellow German Ricarda Funk.

● Cycling ● It’s getting completely crazy at the 78th Vuelta a Espana, with American Sepp Kuss leading the race after three tumultuous weekend stages.

After Kuss won the sixth stage last Thursday, he moved up to second overall, then stayed in place on Friday in a sprinter’s stage as France’s Geoffrey Soupe won the mass finish in 4:56:29 over 200.8 km from Utiel to Oliva.

On Saturday, a hilly stage of 165 km from Denia with an uphill climb close to the finish at the Xorret de Cati in southeastern Spain was a showdown of the top race contenders. Kuss attacked with 5 km left, but was reeled back in and the stage was won by two-time champion Primoz Roglic (SLO) in 4:13:52, but with defending champ Remco Evenepoel (BEL) right behind and Kuss just two seconds back in seventh. That gave Kuss the race lead over Spain’s Marc Soler by 43 seconds and 1:00 up on prior leader Lenny Martinez of France.

On Sunday, the 184.5 km route from Cartagena to Caravaca de la Cruz featured an early climb and then an uphill finish. German Lennard Kamna broke away with 5.5 km to go and won in 4:28:59, 13 seconds up on Matteo Sobrero (ITA) in second. A bout of heavy rain had made some of the route muddy and the placement times for the overall standing were taken with 2.05 km to go, and Kuss right with the rest of the contenders, although he finished 15th overall. Thus, he retains the red jersey and his 43-second lead over Soler, with Martinez now 1:02 back, Evenepoel now 2:22 back, with Roglic and Tour de France champ Jonas Vingegaard both +2:33.

How crazy is this? The last American to have the lead in one of the Grand Tours – the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France or La Vuelta – was in 2013, when Chris Horner was in front after stages 3 and 10 of the Vuelta and then from 19-21 when he won the race, at age 41!

The 87th Bretagne Classic-Ouest France was held in and around Plouay (FRA) on Sunday, with the 258 km race on a slightly hilly course coming down to a sprint of four in the final 1,000 m, with home favorites Valentin Madouas and Mathieu Burgaudeau going 1-2 in 6:15:22. Felix Grosschartner (AUT) and Stefan Kung (SUI) were 3-4.

For Madouas, 27, the French national road champ this year, it was his first career World Tour win.

On the UCI Women’s World Tour, the 22nd Classic Lorient Agglomeration for the Trophee Ceratizit was held on a 159.8 km course, also in and around Plouay, and once again coming down to a sprint, with Mischa Bredewold (NED) getting to the line first in 4:14:54. She was just ahead of Marta Lach (POL) and Sofia Bertizzolo (ITA). For Bredewold, 23, it was her first career World Tour win.

At the fifth UCI Mountain Bike World Cup for Downhill, in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes (FRA), France’s five-time World Champion Loic Bruni won the men’s race over American Dakotah Norton, 3:31:785 to 3:32.562. It’s Bruni first win of the season.

Austria’s Valentina Hoell, 21, took the women’s race in 4:00.593, ahead of Germany’s Nina Hoffmann (4:03.433). It’s Hoell’s third win of the season!

● Football ● UEFA has begun a recruitment drive for referees, with a goal of adding 40,000 new referees per season. UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti (ITA) said:

“With the number of matches increasing we currently need around 277,000 officials in European football, but we are lacking almost 40,000 referees in order to have enough for the running of the game at grassroots level. This is why UEFA has decided to invest in a programme which supports the national associations in recruiting and retaining young referees. It is essential for the lifeblood of European football.”

Special attention will be paid to referee abuse issues, noted as “one reason why referees are deciding to stop pursuing the career.”

UEFA’s Chief of Football, former Croatian midfielder Zvonimir Boban, said that FIFA’s program of adding stoppage-time minutes for all delays in a game would not be used in UEFA competitions:

“It’s absolutely absurd. Regarding player welfare, it’s some kind of small tragedy or big tragedy because we are adding almost 12, 13, 14 minutes.

“When you play 60, 65 minutes – I can speak from my experience, especially as a midfielder – when you get tired, it’s the last 30 minutes of the game. And then somebody comes and adds another 15 minutes.

“How often we have spoken critically about the calendar and too many games. We are not listening to players and coaches … It’s crazy. It’s too much, so we will not do this. Our guidelines are different.”

● Gymnastics ● Uzbekistan’s amazing Oksana Chusovitina claimed another victory at the FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup in Mersin (TUR).

Now 48 and a three-time World Champion in her career, she won the Vault with an average of 13.067 for her two runs, ahead of Turkey’s Bengisu Yildiz (12.950). It’s her fourth medal on the World Cup/World Challenge Cup circuit this year.

Ukraine’s Anna Lashchevska won on both Uneven Bars (13.533) and Beam (13.767), both times over Rose Woo of Canada (13.433 and 13.167). Turkey went 1-2 on Floor, with Sevgi Kayisoglu (13.000) and Yildiz (12.833).

The men’s events saw Ahmet Onder, Turkey’s 2019 Worlds silver winner on the Parallel Bars, win on Floor (13.800) over Britain’s Cameron Lynn (13.600), and on the Horizontal Bar (14.100), over 2017 World Champion Tin Srbic (CRO: also 14.100). On his favored event, however, Onder finished third on the Parallel Bars, scoring 14.750 behind Ukraine’s 2016 Olympic champ Oleg Verniaiev (15.000) and 20-year-old Nazar Chepurnyi (14.750).

Chepurnyi won on Vault (14.900) over Uzbek Abdulaziz Mirvaliev (14.475); Nikita Simonov (AZE) took the Rings title at 14.900, and Ahmad Abu Al Soud(JOR) won on Pommel Horse, scoring 15.500, way ahead of Verniaiev (14.800).

World Challenge Cups will be held for the next two weeks, in Szombathely (HUN) and Paris, to complete the season.

● Taekwondo ● Only two stars managed to retain their titles at the World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Paris, in the second of four stages in the 2023 circuit.

Uzbekistan’s Ulugbek Rashitov, the 68 kg Olympic champ from Tokyo, won his class once again, this time defeating Brazil’s Edival Pontes in the final, two rounds to none (2-0). The only women’s repeater from the first Grand Prix in in Rome in June was Britain’s two-time Olympic winner Jade Jones at 57 kg, this time defeating Zongshi Luo (CHN), also 2-0.

In the men’s 58 kg class, Iran’s Mahdi Hajimousaei moved up from silver in Rome to gold, winning by walkover vs. countryman Abolfazi Zandi in the final. Teammate Mehran Barkhordari also moved from silver to gold, at 80 kg, beating Apostolos Telikostoglou (GRE), 2-1,with American Carl Nickolas getting one of the bronzes. Rio 2016 Olympic 80 kg champ Cheikh Sallah Cisse (CIV), the 2023 World Champion at +87 kg, won that class over Rome winner Caden Cunningham (GBR), 2-0.

Spain’s Tokyo silver medalist Adriana Cerezo made the women’s 49 kg final for the second Grand Prix in a row, but lost again, this time to 2023 World Champion Merve Dincel (TUR), 2-0. China’s Jie Song won the 67 kg class in Rome, but lost to countrywoman Mengyu Zhang – the 2019 World Champion – this time, 1-0.

At +67 kg, World Champion Althea Laurin (FRA) won again, 2-1, this time dispatching Britain’s 2023 Worlds silver winner Rebecca McGowan in a re-run of the 2023 Worlds final, with a 12-0 final period rout.

● Volleyball ● The Dominican Republic won its third straight NORCECA women’s championship in Quebec City (CAN), with a come-from-behind, five-set win over the U.S., 3-2 (12-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19, 15-13).

The U.S. had swept the Dominicans, 3-0, in group play and entered the final at 4-0, but the Dominicans fought back in their seventh straight final in this tournament.

In the third-place match, Canada defeated Cuba, 3-1 (25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-16).

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Nine world champs win at Diamond League Zurich; arbitration win by WADA could preview Valieva case; zero revenue for World Obstacle?

By
Rich Perelman
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Upset! Yared Nuguse of the U.S. beats World Champion Josh Kerr (GBR) to the line in the Diamond League Zurich men's 1,500 m! (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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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. U.S.’s Lyles, Richardson, Nuguse take wins at Weltklasse Zurich
2. WADA wins appeal against RUSADA in Valieva-like case
3. UEFA chief cedes to FIFA in Rubiales case; coach may be fired
4. U.S. Soccer star women’s defender Julie Ertz retires
5. World Obstacle shows zero revenue from 2015 to 2020

● The annual Weltklasse Zurich produced more thrilling finishes on Thursday, with nine world champs from Budapest winning again, but also some shockers. One of those was young American Yared Nguse stealing the men’s 1,500 m from champ Josh Kerr of Great Britain. American sprint stars Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles both won, but Norway’s Karsten Warholm lost to Worlds silver medalist Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands!

● The World Anti-Doping Agency and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency won an interesting case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport that could foreshadow the Kamila Valieva figure-skating case. In this instance, Russian weightlifter Tatyana Kashirina had her doping suspension cut short in 2022 by the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee (DAC) of RUSADA, the same group that gave Valieva a one-day sanction for her 2021 positive. The Court reversed the DAC holding and upheld an eight-year penalty against Kashirina. The Valieva hearing comes late in September.

● In the continuing turmoil in Spanish football, embattled President Luis Rubiales’ mother ended her hunger strike and went to a hospital, the head of UEFA said FIFA will lead the discipline in the matter and Jorge Vilda, the coach of the winning Women’s World Cup team, may be fired.

● Julie Ertz, a star defender for the U.S. women’s team from 2013-23, announced her immediate retirement as a player, after coming back to the 2023 Women’s World Cup squad a year after maternity. She finishes as one of the top American defenders and defensive midfielders ever.

● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne, likely the poorest of all the Olympic sports federations, announced a merger with World Obstacle that is supposed to jump-start a rise in popularity. However, where the money to do anything will come from is open to question, as “profit and loss” statements on the World Obstacle Web site show no revenue ($0) from 2015 through 2020, the last year posted. Really?

● World Championships: Shooting (China leads medal table as Worlds conclude) ●

● Panorama: Russia (Russia wins 69.5% of all medals at its International University Sports Fedtival) = Cycling (U.S.’s Kuss wins stage six in crazy day in the Vuelta a Espana) ●

1.
U.S.’s Lyles, Richardson, Nuguse take wins at Weltklasse Zurich

The Diamond League was back in action following the World Championships in Budapest, with two familiar U.S. stars winning their races and an emerging U.S. star getting a stunning win at the line at the famed Weltklasse Zurich meet on Thursday.

The U.S. 200 m World Championships finalists – Noah Lyles (won), Erriyon Knighton (second) and Kenny Bednarek (fifth) – was lined up in lanes 6-7-8, with 100 m bronze winner Zharnel Hughes (GBR) in five. But it was Canada’s Aaron Brown who got the best start. However, Lyles was in charge by 60 m and roared into the straight with a small lead over Knighton and won in 19.80 (wind -0.5 m/s), followed closely by Knighton in 19.87. Bednarek was third for much of the straight, but Hughes came on in the final 60 m to get third in 19.94, to 19.98.

That’s 15 (finals) in a row for Lyles in the 200 m, after his bronze at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.

The women’s 100 m had World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S., but this time in the middle of the track in lane four, next to Jamaica’s two-time Olympic winner Elaine Thompson-Herah. But it was Jamaican Natasha Morrison who got out well, with Thompson-Herah also in the mix, then Richardson’s patented last rush got her in front by 70 m, and to the finish line in the clear in 10.88 (-0.2), with Morrison out-leaning Thompson-Herah, with both in 11.00. TeeTee Terry of the U.S. got sixth in 11.13 and Tamara Clark was eighth in 11.23.

Those wins were expected. The men’s 1,500 m was not.

The race had new World Champion Josh Kerr (GBR) as the headliner, as well as 5,000 m silver winner Mohamed Katir (ESP), and American 1,500 m finalists Yared Nuguse (fifth) and Cole Hocker (seventh). Once the pacesetters were done, Kerr had the lead over Stewart McSweyn (AUS), Kenya’s Worlds fourth-placer Abel Kipsang and the two Americans with 600 m left, with Nuguse moving up to third at 1000 m. 

Following the bell, Kerr opened a lead on the backstraight, with Kipsang and Nuguse chasing, and Britain’s George Mills moving up to third on the final straight. But Nuguse kept coming, passing Mills and Kipsang on the inside and then, finally, catching up to Kerr and won with a lean at the line, 3:30.49 to 3:30.51. Kipsang was third in 3:30.85 and Mills got a lifetime best of 3:30.95 in fourth. Hocker faded and finished ninth in 3:32.00. An important win for Nuguse, and a lot of lessons about winning at the international level.

There were some World Champions who performed brilliantly, and some who did not.

● All eyes in the women’s 200 m were on World Champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, and she wasted no time blazing away from the start, winning in 21.82 into a 0.8 m/s headwind. The U.S.’s Terry was an early challenger, but Britain’s Daryll Neita – fifth in Budapest – came on in the straight for second, 22.25 to 22.33 over American Kayla White. Terry was fifth in 22.57, with Jenna Prandini and Clark of the U.S. in seventh and eighth in 22.78 and 22.94.

● The Worlds medalists – Winfred Yavi (BRN) and Kenyans Beatrice Chopkoech and Faith Cherotich were back in the women’s Steeple, with Chepkoech leading the other two through 1,200 m. Cherotich took the lead at 1,600 m, with Ethiopia’s Worlds fourth-placer Zerfe Wondemagegn moving up by 2,000 m. Those fourth were in contention at the bell, then Wondemegegn fell back and the medal winners went at it again. Yavi took control with 200 m to go over Chepkoech, and as in Budapest, won in 9:03.19 to 9:03.70 for Chepkoech. Cherotich was third again (9:07.59), with Albania’s Luiza Gega fourth, with a national record of 9:09.64. Wondemegegn finished sixth in 9:13.73; American Courtney Wayment was 11th in 9:24.77.

● Jamaica’s surprise World Champion Danielle Williams was faced by four Americans in the women’s 100 m hurdles, including Olympic silver winner Keni Harrison and 2019 World Champion Nia Ali. But she showed her Budapest results were no fluke, taking charge early and winning in 12.54 (-0.2) to 12.58 for the late-finishing Alaysha Johnson of the U.S., 12.59 for Harrison, 12.62 for Tia Jones and 12.75 for Ali. This was impressive; Williams had won one of 11 meets coming into the Worlds and now has a second career Worlds gold and a Diamond League win in her last two appearances.

● Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, who won the Worlds gold only on her final jump at 15.08 m (49-5 3/4), was back to old self, dominating with a first jump of 15.00 m (49-2 1/2) and then reaching 15.15 m (49-8 1/2) twice to win easily. Shanieka Ricketts (JAM), fourth at Worlds, was second at 14.78 m (48-6); American Keturah Orji was 10th at 13.55 m (44-5 1/2).

● In the men’s Vault, five were still in through 5.85 m (19-2 1/4), but only Sweden’s superstar Mondo Duplantis and two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks of the U.S. could master 5.95 m (19-6 1/4), with Duplantis over on his first try and Kendricks on his second. At 6.00 m (19-8 1/4), Duplantis cleared on his first try and won as Kendricks missed his attempts. Mondo took the bar to a world record 6.23 m (20-5 1/4), but missed his three tries. KC Lightfoot of the U.S. got third at 5.85 m, with fellow Americans Chris Nilsen sixth and Zach McWhorter ninth, both at 5.75 m (18-10 1/4).

● Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou left it until late at the Worlds, winning the men’s long jump in the sixth round. Same in Zurich, as he trailed 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle (JAM: 8.07 m/26-5 3/4) in the final round and produced a clutch 8.20 m (26-11) winner. American Jarrion Lawson was third (8.05 m/26-5) and Will Williams was eighth at 7.81 m (25-7 1/2).

In all, there were nine World Champions from Budapest who won in Zurich. Then there was a stunner.

● The men’s 400 m hurdles had superstar Karsten Warholm (NOR) in seven and Worlds runner-up Kyron McMaster (IVB) in six, and McMaster was out like a shot. Warholm normally leads these races from the start, but it was McMaster in front, then Warholm, and C.J. Allen of the U.S. close behind. There wasn’t much daylight between the top two coming into the straight, and McMaster held off a Warholm surge as they steamed to the line together, with McMaster giving Warholm a rare defeat, 47.27 to 47.30. The 2022 World Champion, Brazil’s Alison dos Santos, came on over the ninth hurdle to take third over Allen, 47.62 to 48.28. American Trevor Bassitt was sixth in 49.39.

McMaster ran just 0.01 slower than he did in the Worlds final to get the win. Warholm lost for the first time after seven straight finals wins in this event, going back to 2022.

● Three-time World Champion Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) and 2023 World Champion Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) back together in the men’s high jump, but this was Barshim’s day. He had only one miss through 2.31 m (7-7) and then cleared 2.33 m (7-7 3/4) on his first try, eliminating everyone except New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr, who also cleared in his first trial and got a national record with the clearance. But Barshim wasn’t done and got over 2.35 m (7-8 1/2) on his first attempt and Kerr could not match. Tamberi settled for fourth (2.28 m/7-5 3/4); Shelby McEwen of the U.S. cleared 2.24 m (7-4 1/4) and finished sixth.

● India’s star javelin champ, Neeraj Chopra, never got untracked, fouling three of his first five throws and finally getting out to 85.71 m (281-2) in the sixth. But that was only good enough for second as Worlds bronze winner Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) took the lead in the fourth round and held it at 85,86 m (281-8) for his fourth Diamond League win of the year.

And the rest of the meet had plenty of drama as well.

A strong field in the men’s 5,000 m included Worlds fifth and eighth-placers Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega of Ethiopia, both decorated stars who were not happy with their Budapest performances. And it showed, as Kejelcha, especially, punished the field, taking charge with eight laps to go, ahead of Steeple world-record holder (and countryman) Lamecha Girma and Barega. By the 3,600 m mark, Kejelcha had moved away and would solo to victory in a speedy 12:46.91, his second-fastest of the season.

Guatemala’s Luis Grijalva, fourth in Budapest, moved into second with 600 m left, and American Grant Fisher – who didn’t make the U.S. team – was also in the mix in fourth as Girma fell back. Kejelcha kept up the pace and in the final lap, Barega regained second and then Fisher passed Grijalva for third coming into the straight and they ran to the line 2-3-4 in 12:54.17, 12:54.49 and 12:55.88. It was a season’s best for Fisher; Girma did not finish.

The women’s 800 m was wide open, with Raevyn Rogers of the U.S. the highest Worlds placer in the race at fourth. But it was the always-impatient Natoya Goule-Toppin who grabbed the lead by 200 m and led through the bell. With 200 m to go, Britain’s 1,500 m star Laura Muir moved up to challenge and had the lead into the final straight, winning easily in 1:57.71. Also coming on in the final straight was Australia’s Catriona Bisset (1:58.77) for second, and Jamaica’s Adelle Tracey (1:59.05) for third. U.S. champ Nia Akins got fourth (1:59.29), Rogers sixth (1:59.35) and Goule-Toppin faded to eighth in 2:00.10. Sage Hurta-Klecker of the U.S. was 10th in 2:00.51.

In the non-Diamond League 110 m hurdles, Swiss Jason Joseph thrilled the home crowd with a national record win in 13.08 (-0.1), moving to no. 9 on the year list. American Eric Edwards was third in 13.45.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH), the 2022 World Champion back from maternity, and who ran 52.65 in her heat in Budapest, won the non-Diamond League women’s 400 m in a season’s best of 51.83.

A whole other set of stars opted for the Diamond League meet in Xiamen (CHN) that will take place on Saturday, followed by the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels on 8 September and the Diamond League Final at the Pre Classic in Eugene on 16-17 September.

2.
WADA wins appeal against RUSADA in Valieva-like case

An interesting outcome of a Russian doping case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with parallels to the Kamila Valieva case coming up later in September.

Tatyana Kashirina, now 32, was the London 2012 Olympic women’s +75 kg silver medalist and won World Championships at +75 kg in 2010-13-14-15, and at +87 kg in 2018, and also a 2019 Worlds silver at +87 kg. In 2020, she was caught for doping and suspended, meaning she was not allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.

Her suspension, however, was ended on 10 September 2022 by the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (DAC), the same unit which gave figure skater Valieva a one-day penalty after she tested positive for a banned substance on 25 December 2021, in advance of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and RUSADA itself – which is independent from the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee – appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. According to a RUSADA report to the Russian news agency TASS (translated from the original Russian):

“On August 28, 2023, the appeals of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency were satisfied, the decision of the RUSADA DAC was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The athlete was found to have violated anti-doping rules and disqualified for a period of eight years from the date of the decision with credit for the served period of provisional suspension, namely from November 13, 2020 to June 30, 2022.”

So Kashirina, who had previously served a doping suspension from 2006-08, will now be ineligible through November of 2028; the added penalty beyond the normal four years is due to her prior doping positive.

This is fascinatingly parallel to the Valieva case, in which the RUSADA Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee reversed a positive doping finding – in Kashirina’s case, cutting it short – and had its finding reversed and the original penalty reinstated.

In the Valieva situation, RUSADA was informed of the doping positive and imposed the usual four-year penalty. The Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee, on appeal, shortened the penalty to one day (!), which allowed Valieva to compete at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, where she participated in the Team Event – won by Russia – and the women’s Singles, where she placed fourth.

Because of the controversy over Valieva’s status, the results of the Team Event have not been finalized., and no medals awarded, more than a year later. And as in the Kashirina case, both the World Anti-Doping Agency and RUSADA – plus the International Skating Union – have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the one-day penalty handed out by the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee.

The combined Valieva cases will be heard from 26-29 September.

A request by the U.S. skaters to have an observer present during the Valieva hearing was responded to by CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb (SUI) on Tuesday (29th), noting in part:

“As your request is of a procedural nature and since none of the parties requested a public hearing, it has been transmitted to the CAS Panel in charge of this matter to decide whether observers may be authorized to attend the hearing.”

The letter was posted by USA Today’s Christine Brennan on Wednesday (30th).

3.
UEFA chief cedes to FIFA in Rubiales case; coach may be fired

The chaos surrounding Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales continued on Thursday, with no direct action again him, but with continuing developments.

Rubiales’ mother, Angeles Bejar, ended her hunger strike at a church in southern Spain and was taken to a hospital for observation after three days. A church official said, “We have called the son. He’s in touch with her and they have decided that she needed to go to the hospital.”

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin (SLO) was asked by the French all-sports newspaper L’Equipe about what actions it will take, and he explained:

“I am a lawyer and one of the vice-presidents of FIFA. His case is in the hands of the disciplinary body of the international federation. Any comments I might make would feel like pressure.

“I just have to say that I am sad that such an event overshadows the victory of the Spanish national team. We should change things. I had a meeting today with [UEFA Vice President] Laura McAllister [WAL] to find ways to change the way we behave. We must do more.

Of course, what he did was inappropriate. We all know it. I hope he knows that was inappropriate. This is enough for the moment because the disciplinary committee will decide.”

Multiple reports state that Spain’s Women’s World Cup-winning manager, Jorge Vilda, will be dismissed, after he was asked to resign and refused. Vilda and Rubiales are close, and Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory came after 15 players sent a message in September 2022, refusing to play for the national team in view of their “situation,” significantly with Vilda.

Changes were made and some of the players agreed to play for Spain, with three eventually on the winning team.

As for the reports, Rubiales was widely reported as ready to resign and he did not.

4.
U.S. Soccer star women’s defender Julie Ertz retires

Another of the key contributors to the U.S. victories in the FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2015 and 2019, Julie Ertz, announced her immediate retirement on Thursday.

Now 31, Ertz said in a U.S. Soccer statement:

“As an athlete you’re always singularly focused on the next goal, the next tournament and rarely do you get time to reflect on your career.

“However, over the past couple of months my heart has been filled with gratitude as I’ve thought about the amazing experiences soccer has given me. I’ve been blessed to meet and train with some of the best and most inspirational women I’ve ever been around, and I’ve experienced different cultures while traveling the world to compete at the highest level. I gave everything I had to the sport that I love. With that I can walk away with no regrets because while I gave soccer every ounce of myself, soccer gave me even more, and for that I’ll always be thankful.”

She debuted with the national team in 2013 and across 10 seasons, made 122 appearances, including the two Women’s World Cup wins and two Olympic Games, in which the U.S. won bronze in Tokyo. In those 122 matches, the U.S. was 100-5-17 (W-L-T; losses in penalty shoot-outs counted as ties).

Ertz was initially a defender, but moved forward as a defensive midfielder and became a feared scored on set pieces, with 20 career goals.

She was a two-time U.S. Female Player of the Year, in 2017 and 2019, and returned after maternity in 2022 – son Madden was born in August that year – to make the American squad for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Ertz played club football for the Chicago Red Stars from 2014-21, and for Angel City FC in 2023, but has now concluded her career.

5.
World Obstacle shows zero revenue from 2015 to 2020

The recent announcement of a plan to have the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne absorb World Obstacle, shared comments by World Obstacle President Ian Adamson (AUS), including:

“We are bringing our sports together, uniting the Olympic movement with the mass participation, broadcast and viewers – all of that creates a very powerful collaboration.

“The possibilities created by the integration of World Obstacle into World Pentathlon are incredible. We will have a complete tool set of everything you need to make a truly great and dominant sport in the world.”

Except, perhaps, money.

The UIPM receives the least of any of the Olympic-sport International Federations from the International Olympic Committee’s distribution of television rights sales, with $12.98 million from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021. It spends down that money across four years, until the next payment comes. By the end of 2020, assets were $3.155 million, with reserves of $1.777 million.

World Obstacle is in an entirely different situation.

Although there are no audited financial statements on the World Obstacle site, at the bottom of the page on the Secretariat, there are single-sheet “PL” (profit-and-loss) statements for the years 2015 to 2020:

● 2015: $0 income, $74,255 expenses
● 2016: $0 income, $101,162 expenses
● 2017: $0 income, $113,867 expenses
● 2018: $0 income, $69,922 expenses
● 2019: $0 income, $100,332 expenses
● 2020: $0 income, $25,742 expenses

A note at the bottom of the 2017-18-19-20 statements indicates that Adamson covered the expenses himself ($309,863) for those four years. World Obstacle was founded in 2014.

So, the UIPM is merging with an organization which has shown no revenue for the six years it has posted a spending statement, which is going to energize pentathlon to heights it has never seen before?

World Obstacle lists 14 people on its Secretariat page and at the bottom of the page, shows six “Brand Partners” and five “Development Partners,” but no revenue, no salaries, no event production costs and a majority of the expenses related to travel.

Its October 2022 Congress minutes included:

“Per the 2015 resolution by the Central Board, all monies advanced by the president that accrue since founding will be reimbursed at such time as FISO [World Obstacle] is financially able.”

As the UIPM has been unable to generate any significant revenue outside of a quadrennial Olympic television share, and World Obstacle cannot generate any revenue at all – at least none reported – how will the combined operation grow?

The announcement of the merger did not contain any details.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Shooting ● Final competition at the ISSF World Championships in Baku (AZE), with Swedes Jesper Nyberg and Emil Martinsson going 1-2 in the 50 m Running Target Open. Nyberg finished at 392 points, just one more than Martinsson.

In the overall medal table, with a majority of the events not on the Olympic program, China led with 28 medals (15-7-6), followed by Germany (16: 3-5-8), India (14: 6-0-8), Switzerland (13: 5-4-4) and Ukraine (12: 6-4-2). The U.S. won 10 medals (5-2-3).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Russia ● The 2023 University International Sports Festival in Russia turned out to be a Russian medal festival in Yekaterinburg as Russian athletes won 481 medals (144-138-199) to 211 medals (51-56-104) for everyone else!

There were 193 events in 14 sports held from 19-31 August; China was second in medals with 24 (10-8-6) and Brazil third (22: 6-7-9). Officials said about 4,000 athletes from 36 countries attended and about 70% of the tickets were sold, with no total attendance figures reported.

● Cycling ● Completely crazy day at the 78th Vuelta a Espana on Thursday, as the difficult final climb up to the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre in Arcos de las Salines blew up the peloton, with American Sepp Kuss the winner of the sixth stage!

A lead group began the finishing climb about four minutes up on the rest of the riders and they would not be caught. Kuss, 28, who won a Vuelta stage in 2019, raced away with less than 3 km left to win the 183.1 km route in 4:27:29, with France’s Lenny Martinez (+0:26) and Romain Bardet (+0:31) closest.

The race favorites, meanwhile, were having a tough time. Leader Remco Evenepoel (BEL) had a bad day, finishing 3:24 back of the leaders, while two-time winner Primoz Roglic (SLO) and Tour de France champ Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) were both 2:52 behind Kuss, their Jumbo-Visma teammate.

So, Martinez (age 20) is now the overall leader, up eight seconds on Kuss, with Marc Soler (ESP) third at +0:51. Evenepoel dropped to ninth (+2:47), with Vingegaard (+2:52) and Roglic (+2:58) in 11th and 12th. But there are 15 more stages to go.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: USOPC review commission sets agenda, speakers; U.S. routs Jordan in FIBA World Cup; 92,003 for women’s volleyball in Nebraska!

By
Rich Perelman
-
A world-record 92,003 for a women's volleyball match? Yes, at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium on Wednesday! (Photo courtesy University of Nebraska)

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

★ To get The Sports Examiner by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Commission on the U.S. Olympics & Paralympics hearing set
2. U.S. stomps Jordan, 110-62, moves on at FIBA World Cup
3. Coe: “We have got to be tough” about events
4. Santa Monica moves forward with LA28 venue agreement
5. NBC announces heaviest Paralympics commitment yet

● The Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics unveiled the agenda and panelists for its 6 September hearing in Washington, D.C., with a curious emphasis on youth and community sport rather than elite competitions.

● At the FIBA men’s World Cup, the U.S. finished an undefeated group stage by beating Jordan by 48 points, joining Serbia, Slovenia and defending champ Spain in the second round. The American men will face Montenegro on Friday and undefeated Lithuania on Sunday to try to advance to the quarterfinals.

● World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the federation will be focusing now on expanding interest in the sport in his final term, and may have to make changes in what sports are highlighted. An added World Championships in 2026 is also possible, with discussions with multiple stakeholders underway.

● The City of Santa Monica, California approved revised commitment letters concerning the use of its beachfront for beach volleyball for the 2028 Olympic Games, and the City Council asked its staff to inquire about having more events in the City, such as skateboarding. But the price is going up.

● NBC released some details on its Paralympic Games coverage in 2024, with 1,500-plus hours of streaming on Peacock, and 140 hours on cable and over-the-air television, including nine hours on NBC. The total program hours are up, but the cable and over-the-air commitment is actually lower than for Tokyo in 2021.

● World Championships: Shooting (Poland’s Czapla wins 50 m Running Target Open) ●

● Panorama: Commonwealth Games (Jenkins & Smith vie to be CGF chief) = Sports & Cities (Paris ranked top on mega-events and world champs) = University Sport (Matytsin stands for election as FISU emeritus president) = Athletics (3: Kennedy wins Zurich vault with world-leading clearance; Kipyegon says 1500-5000-10,000 triple for Paris!; Allen signed to Eagles practice squad) = Boxing (World Boxing says 40 to stand for elections in November) = Cycling (2: Groves wins La Vuelta stage 5; UCI cancels last two BMX Freestyle World Cups) = Football (Rapinoe to end U.S. national team career vs. South Africa in September) = Volleyball (2: Nebraska draws 92,003 for world-record attendance!; Volleyball World to stream Big 10 matches worldwide) = Weightlifting (Iran sanctions masters lifter for shaking hands with Israeli medalist) ●

1.
Commission on the U.S. Olympics & Paralympics hearing set

The detailed agenda and panelists for what is expected the sole public hearing of the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics was released Tuesday, with five panels and a total of 18 speakers.

The hearing will be held on 6 September 2023 at the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2123, from 9 a.m. to about 5 p.m. The program:

Session I: 9:00 a.m.:
Opening Remarks & The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement: A Historical View
● Dr. Victoria Jackson, Associate Professor of History, Arizona State University

Session II: 9:35 a.m.:
Governance & Accountability
● Sarah Hirshland, CEO, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee
● Elizabeth Ramsey, Executive Director, Team USA Athletes’ Commission
● Pat Kelleher, Executive Director, USA Hockey, & Chair, National Governing Bodies
Council

Session III: 10:50 a.m.:
Protecting the Safety of Movement Participants
● Ju’Riese Colón, CEO, U.S. Center for SafeSport
● Grace French, Founder & President, The Army of Survivors
● Scott Gray, Minnesota Hockey Safe Sport Coordinator
● Marci Hamilton, Founder & CEO, ChildUSA

Session IV: 1:00 p.m.:
Athletes’ Rights, Equity, & Accessibility and Ensuring Fair Play
● Donald Fehr, former Executive Director, National Hockey League Players’ Association
and Major League Baseball Players Association
● Ed Williams, Former Chair, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Athletes
Advisory Council (now Team USA Athletes’ Commission)
● Chuck Aoki, Community Access Navigator, University of Michigan’s Adaptive Sports
& Fitness Program and three-time U.S. Paralympian
● Jeff Mansfield, President, U.S.A. Deaf Sports Federation
● Candace Cable, Director of Community Outreach, Resources, & Education at the
Disability Rights Legal Center and eight-time U.S. Paralympian
● Travis Tygart, CEO, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency

Session V: 2:40 p.m.:
How to Build a Better Future for Sports in America
● Dr. Vincent Minjares, Project Manager, Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program
● Sally Nnanami, Co-Executive Director for the United States, PeacePlayers
● Jeremy Goldberg, President, LeagueApps
● Tom Farrey, Founder & Executive Director, Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program

The Commission was formed through the passage of the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020, and will complete its work by the end of September. A report is expected to be made report to the Congress by the spring of 2024.

The panel includes 14 members and is chaired by University of Baltimore Law Professor Dionne Koller and former U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Advisory Council chair Han Xiao. The members include familiar names to Olympic sports fans, including track & field stars Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley, Edwin Moses and Brittney Reese, gymnast Jordyn Wieber and swimmer Nancy Hogshead-Makar.

For those looking for a discussion on how the U.S. might win more medals at the Olympic Games, the choice of panelists indicates that will be lightly discussed, if at all. Koller and Xiao’s statement noted the broad role the Commission sees for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movement, including:

“it impacts the millions of people, including so many of our nation’s children, who participate or seek to participate in movement sports in communities across the country. America’s athletes at all levels deserve to engage in sports safely and access sports equitably, with the institutions that oversee these sports governed with transparency and accountability.”

Look for that to be a significant focus of the hearing, although it is questionable whether recommendations to forcibly broaden the USOPC’s responsibility to be a de facto national sports ministry via legislation – including government funding – will get any traction in the Congress in what promises to be a very fractious 2024.

2.
U.S. stomps Jordan, 110-62, moves on at FIBA World Cup

The U.S. men’s national basketball team had little trouble with Jordan in its final Group C game at the 2023 FIBA men’s World Cup in the Philippines, winning 110-62 on Wednesday and finishing with a 3-0 record, and moving on to the second phase of group play on Friday.

The game was out of hand early, with the Americans taking 31-12 lead after a quarter and 62-33 at half. Guard Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves) led the U.S. scoring with 22, with help from Bucks forward-center Bobby Portis Jr. (13), Grizzlies forward-center Jaren Jackson Jr. (12) and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson had 10. The U.S. shot 48.8% from the field, held Jordan to 33.3% and led in rebounding by 56-34. The Jordanians were led in scoring by U.S.-born Rondae Hollis Jefferson – a former NBA player for three teams – who had 20.

All eight group winners finished 3-0; the Wednesday games included the U.S. finishing up in Group C; Serbia winning its third game to take Group B, with Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic leading in scoring twice; Serbia sweeping Group F, with Mavericks star Luca Doncic scoring 37, 34 and 19 points in the three games, and defending champion Spain taking its three games in Group G, with Juancho Hernangomez scoring 22, 8 and 21 points in their games.

The championship sector of the tournament is now down to 16 teams, who will play two more games in new groups of four, with the top two finishers moving to the quarterfinals:

● Group I: Serbia (3-0), Dominican Republic (3-0), Italy (2-1), Puerto Rico (2-1)

● Group J: United States (3-0), Lithuania (3-0), Montenegro (2-1), Greece (2-1)

● Group K: Slovenia (3-0), Germany (3-0), Australia (2-1), Georgia (2-1)

● Group L: Canada (3-0), Spain (3-0), Brazil (2-1), Latvia (2-1).

Teams will play two games each – four per group – against the teams they have not previously faced, so the U.S. will play Montenegro on Friday (1st) and then Lithuania on Sunday (3rd).

The quarterfinals will be played on 5-6 September, the semis on 8 September and the medal matches on 10 September.

Attendance so far has been modest, with an average of 7,918 through the first 48 games of the tournament, being played in Pasay, a suburb of Manila (PHI); Okinawa City in Japan and the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta (INA).

3.
Coe: “We have got to be tough” about events

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR), glowing in the aftermath of a wonderful World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN), said a major focus of his final term would be on expanding the sport’s popularity.

A number of his comments were quoted in the British newspaper The Guardian and included:

● “The first four years I was stopping this ship from sinking, the second four years was about doing all the things that my predecessors probably should have done – transfers of allegiance, female category, Russia, Belarus, all those things. The next four years have got to be about the product.”

● “It’s got to be about competition. We’re not jettisoning the sport, but we have to be tough about [the events]. There are things that are more popular than others.”

● “All our all our tentative conversations which have started here, with the groups that we need to work with, whether they’re the coaches, whether they’re the member federations, we’ve got member federation sessions here, whether it’s commercial partners with the broadcast, or the shoe companies, they all want to be part of that journey. And you know, there’s only one risk for us at the moment given where we are and that’s just our innate conservatism.”

He also said that he was not ruling out the possibility of adding another full-scale World Championship for 2026, for which there is no worldwide event scheduled. Coe has been clear that he wants some sort of highlight event that year, but there is no consensus yet on what it will be.

Any moves to trim the program and move events to a lower level will likely be met with fierce resistance. In an effort to make the 2020 Diamond League meets more attractive, the 5,000 m was dropped in favor of the 3,000 m, and the 200 m, 3,000 m Steeplechase, triple jump and discus were eliminated or relegated to token appearances.

Those announcements, in 2019, were met with a roar of indignation and the formation, in the U.S., of The Athletics Association, which successfully lobbied for their restoration for the 2021 season.

4.
Santa Monica moves forward with LA28 venue agreement

At its last meeting, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved (7-0) a motion to authorize its City Manager to provide letters that reiterate and update the City’s interest and commitment to being the site for beach volleyball for the 2028 Olympic Games.

During the bid process for the 2024 Olympic Games in 2016, the Los Angeles bid committee prepared letters outlining the venue and city requirements for the Games, which were signed by then-City Manager Rick Cole and the then-City Council President, Tony Vazquez. However, as the City’s staff noted:

“Now that LA 2024 has transitioned to LA28, it is necessary to update the Venue and City Guarantee letters accordingly. The Venue Guarantee establishes the minimum terms, including the exclusive use period, rental fee, and reimbursement for the loss of parking revenue. The City Guarantee letter includes commitments by the City to not stage major events during the Games, protect the marketing rights of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOG), provide basic public services, comply with local laws, and collaborate with the United States Department of Homeland Security on public safety efforts. …

“Following Council’s approval of the updated guarantee letters, staff would begin negotiating the Venue City Games Agreement, which would include more detailed terms and conditions. The draft agreement terms would first be vetted through a community outreach process in collaboration with LA28, and then brought to Council for approval in early 2024.

“Once Council has approved the Venue City Games Agreement, staff would then begin negotiating the Enhanced City Master Agreement, which would include all terms and conditions, financial obligations, and detailed commitments for municipal services.”

The beach volleyball plan foresees a 12,000-seat temporary facility on 475,000 sq. ft. of sand north of the Santa Monica Pier, with an operations compound taking up 400 parking spaces in an adjacent City lot in April and May 2028, then expanding to 800 spaces in June and all 1,175 spaces during the Games period in July and August.

The City’s fee was calculated at $1.893 million for the site and another $1.825 million for the loss of parking revenue to the City during the use period, for a total of $3,717,999.

That was then. Referring to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation data, $1.00 in December 2016 is now $1.27 in mid-2023, so the new fee for this site alone will rise beyond $4,721,859, adding more than one million dollars.

All of this will be spelled out in the agreement to come; this process will be repeated and likely made public for each of the publicly-owned venues which will be used for 2028.

The Council members had the usual concerns about trying to retain local business access, use local labor and vendors and minimize inconvenience to residents during the Games, but were also asking about more opportunities.

In specific, questions were asked about the proposed venues for skateboarding and break dancing. The response from the City staff was that LA28 had informed them that the added sports for 2028 had not yet been finalized, and discussions could proceed after that.

Skateboarding is in for 2028 and has been publicly announced by the International Olympic Committee. Breaking is not, and will debut in Paris in 2024, but could be added, with the decision expected at the IOC Session in India in October. Baseball/softball, breaking, cricket, flag football, karate, kickboxing, lacrosse, motorsport and squash are reported to be under consideration.

5.
NBC announces heaviest Paralympics commitment yet

The 2024 Paralympic Games will receive a huge streaming showcase on NBC’s subscription Peacock service, and more than 140 hours on cable and over-the-air television.

Tuesday’s announcement noted that all 22 sports will be available on the 1,500-plus hours of streaming coverage, with an additional 140 hours on NBC, CNBC and USA Network. The NBC commitment is for nine hours of coverage, with six in primetime and live coverage on weekends.

The 2024 Paralympics are scheduled for 28 August-8 September, starting 17 days after the end of the 2024 Olympic Games on 11 July.

The coverage total is up from Tokyo in 2021, when 1,000 hours of streaming coverage on the then-new Peacock network was available. However, for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, NBC had dedicated channels available in NBCSN and its Olympic Channel: Home of the Team USA that have not been shuttered. The Tokyo coverage offered more than 200 hours of cable or over-the-air programming, including 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily on NBCSN.

For Paris, NBC will have closed captioning of every Paralympic event, regardless of platform. There will also be audio description on all linear programming.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Shooting ● Final days of the ISSF World Championships in Baku (AZE) with Poland’s Lukasz Czapla winning the 50 m Running Target Open event, scoring 586 points to 583 for Ukraine’s Ihor Kizyma and 582 for Emil Martinsson (SWE).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Commonwealth Games ● Faced with an uncertain future for an event which began as the British Empire Games in 1930, two have stepped forward to stand for election to be Commonwealth Games Federation President in November.

As Louise Martin (SCO) is completing her second and final term, the Commonwealth Games Federation announced Tuesday that Chris Jenkins (WAL) and Kereyn Smith (NZL) have been certified as candidates.

Jenkins has been a Vice President of the CGF since 2019 and a Regional Vice President for almost eight years prior, so he is well familiar with the situation. Smith was the chief executive of the New Zealand Olympic Committee from 2011-21 and helped organize the country’s delegations to three Olympic Games, two Winter Games and two Commonwealth Games.

Whoever wins has an enormous task in front of them, after Victoria (AUS) withdrew as the 2026 host and no 2030 candidates ready.

● Sports & Cities ● A ranking of world cities by the major sporting events and world championships held has been released by Scotland-based Quantum Consultancy and Durham University Business School in England, listing Paris (FRA) as the current leader:

“The cities are ranked based on their cumulative event score which considers the number of events a city has hosted or are set to host between 2021 and 2028, as well as the size, scale, and recognition of these events as part of the points-based methodology. The report analysed 355 individual event editions across 95 sports and 156 event properties. In total, 75 host nations and 330 host cities will have hosted this set of pinnacle events between 2021-2028, demonstrating greater diversity in the number and type of destinations hosting these events in comparison with previous years.”

In the top 10 are Paris, Budapest (HUN), Tokyo (JPN), Beijing (CHN), Milan (ITA), Doha (QAT), Belgrade (SRB), Chengdu (CHN), Los Angeles (USA) and Berlin (GER).

Five other U.S. cities made the list: (25) Lake Placid, New York, host of the 2023 Winter World University Games; (34) Orlando, Florida, which will host the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2024; (41) Yankton, South Dakota, which hosted the World Archery Championships in 2021; (45) Eugene, Oregon, host of the 2022 World Athletics Championships, and (=53) Birmingham, Alabama, host of the 2022 World Games.

● University Sport ● Oleg Matytsin, the Russian sports minister, has been nominated to be the “President Emeritus” of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), effectively giving up his claim to return to head that organization.

Matytsin was elected as the FISU President in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. He became the Russian sports minister in 2020 and stepped away from his FISU post on 23 March 2021 on order from the Court of Arbitration for Sport relating to the Russian doping scandals. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Matytsin has not returned to his FISU post and Austria’s Leonz Eder has served as Acting President.

Matytsin has said he could return to head FISU whenever he wishes, but this newest action indicates he will no longer be directly involved (especially with the Russian invasion of Ukraine continuing). The next FISU General Assembly is scheduled for 17-18 November 2023.

● Athletics ● The early event of the Zurich Weltklasse Diamond League meet this year was the women’s pole vault, held downtown, with a sensational win for Australia’s co-World Champion, Nina Kennedy, who grabbed the world lead with her lifetime best clearance and national record of 4.91 m (16-1 1/4). She’s now equal-seventh on the all-time outdoor list.

She bested co-world champ Katie Moon of the U.S., who cleared 4.81 m (15-9 1/4), but could go no higher. Kennedy cleared 4.86 m (15-11 1/4) on her first try, while Moon passed, missed once at 4.91 m and then twice at 4.96 m (16-3 1/4) to settle for second.

American Sandi Morris, seventh at Worlds, cleared a season-best 4.76 m (15-7 1/4) for third.

The main portion of the meet is on Thursday, shown in the U.S. on the Peacock streaming service at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Kenyan distance superstar Faith Kipyegon, 29, who has set three world records this season and won both the women’s 1,500 m and 5,000 m at the World Athletics Championships, said she has her eye on more, much more.

She told the crowd at a ceremony to welcome the Kenyan team home in Nairobi that she plans to attempt an Olympic triple in Paris in 2024, at 1,500 m (where she is twice Olympic champ), the 5,000 m and the 10,000 m:

“Expect more from me since I am still strong. … I will be moving to the marathon after the Paris Olympics. I want to graduate slowly and be consistent in what I do.”

The attempt is not unprecedented, as Dutch star Sifan Hassan won bronze-gold-gold at Tokyo in the women’s 15-5-10 in 2021, and bronze-silver-11th (after a fall near the finish) with the same program at the 2023 Worlds in Budapest.

The Philadelphia Eagles cut wide receiver – and three-time U.S. hurdles champ – Devon Allen on Tuesday, but signed him to the 16-man practice squad on Wednesday.

Although concentrating on football in the 2022-23 season, Allen, 28, ran in seven outdoor meets from 22 April to 9 July, finishing second at the New York Grand Prix in June in 13.04, which ranks equal-fifth on the 2023 world list.

● Boxing ● World Boxing announced that its call for candidates for November elections has produced 40 candidates from 18 countries, meaning six more national federations beyond those announced are in the process of joining. From the statement:

“The nominations, which include 11 female candidates, cover a range of offices including President, Vice President (VP) and places on World Boxing’s Executive Board along with the Chairs of the Sport and Competition Committee, the Medical and Anti-Doping Committee and the Finance and Audit Committee.”

Candidates are being independently reviewed for compliance with the World Boxing requirements for fitness, including conflicts of interest.

● Cycling ● The mostly downhill fifth stage of the 78th Vuelta a Espana finished with the expected mass sprint, but with the same result as on Tuesday, with Australia’s Kaden Groves getting a second straight stage win.

He finished just ahead of Italian star Filippo Ganna and Dries van Gestel (NED) on the 186.2 km route, in 4:23:43, with the first 97 riders receiving the same time. Leader Remco Evenepoel (BEL) extended his lead to 11 seconds over Enric Mas (ESP) by winning an intermediate sprint bonus of six seconds at the 176 km mark.

Stage six will be a stiffer challenge: a 183.1 km route that’s mostly uphill, starting at 167 m in La Vall d’Uixo and finishing on a 7.8% climb to the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre, at 1,947 m!

The final two stages of the 2023 UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup were canceled on Wednesday:

“The Union Cycliste Internationale and Hurricane Group regret to announce that the last two rounds of the 2023 UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup – scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, on 30 November – 2 December and Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, on 7-9 December – have been cancelled.

“The fourth and final round of the UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup (Park) will be staged in Bazhong, Sichuan Province, China, on 13-15 October.”

No reasons were given.

● Football ● U.S. Soccer confirmed that Megan Rapinoe will play her last match for the U.S. Women’s National Team against South Africa on 21 September in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rapinoe, 38, the 2019 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball winner as the top player in the tournament, announced her retirement earlier in the year and will finish out her NWSL season with OL Reign in October. With the two friendlies against South Africa remaining, she has 201 national-team appearances, with 63 goals and 73 assists. She played in four Women’s World Cup (winning twice) and three Olympic Games (winning once).

● Volleyball ● The University of Nebraska women’s volleyball program is not only a five-time NCAA champion, but wildly popular, selling out 306 consecutive matches at the 8,309-seat Devaney Center.

But on Wednesday, Nebraska undertook to sell out its famed Memorial Stadium for an early-season outdoor match with Nebraska-Omaha, resulting in a stupendous attendance of 92,003! According to Nebraska sports information:

“The attendance of 92,003 set a record for the largest crowd to watch a women’s sporting event in the United States. The crowd of more than 92,000 also surpassed what is widely regarded as the world-record attendance for any women’s sporting event.

“The previously recognized world record was 91,648 fans in an UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg on April 22, 2022, at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain. The previous record for an American women’s sporting event was 90,185 in USA’s FIFA World Cup Final against China on July 10, 1999, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.”

Naturally, this was also an NCAA record for any volleyball match, with the prior high “only” 18,755 for the Nebraska-Wisconsin NCAA championship match in Columbus, Ohio, on 18 December 2021.

And, best of all for the home throng, the Huskers won in straight sets, 25-14, 25-14, 25-13.

In an fascinating marketing move, Volleyball World, the joint venture between the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and its private equity investor, CVC Partners, announced a multi-year deal to stream Big 10 Network matches on its Volleyball World TV service:

● “Worldwide (including North America) streaming of 28 matches from B1G+ inventory – those matches will also air concurrently on B1G+

● “Live streaming of nearly 50 televised Big Ten Network volleyball matches outside of North America and certain Caribbean islands”

This is a unique move to take what has been seen as a provincial product – U.S. college matches – and introduce them to a worldwide audience, in a parallel to the way European football leagues were introduced to U.S. audiences a decade ago.

It does not hurt that, especially for women’s volleyball, the Big 10 is a leader, with five NCAA titles in the last 12 years and another four finalists. The Volleyball World growth strategy has been to acquire rights to every top-level competition it can, and offering volleyball fans a one-stop shop for the sport.

If successful – and the returns are not in yet – this kind of model could be duplicated for other sports, offering a potential for added funding for events which now receive only limited attention and exposure.

● Weightlifting ● According to a report of a post by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), an Iranian lifter who placed third at the World Masters Championships in Poland and shook hands with the Israeli silver medalist, has been banned for life:

“The [Iranian] weightlifting federation bans athlete Mostafa Rajaei for life from entering all sports facilities in the country and dismisses the head of the delegation for the competition, Hamid Salehinia.”

Rajaei, 36, and a former national team member, shook hands on the victory stand with silver winner Maksim Svirsky during a photo session after receiving their awards in the men’s 35-39 109 kg division last Saturday. The IRNA report said “serious and decisive measures” will be taken to avoid future incidents.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Biles draws 73% increase in gymnastics nationals viewers; Spanish federation now wants Rubiales out; Lyles picks fight with the NBA!

By
Rich Perelman
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From the men's 200 m medal-winners news conference in Budapest: U.S. star Noah Lyles taking on the NBA! (Via Twitter)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Biles-led USA Gymnastics Champs draw 2.66 million on NBC
2. Four group undefeateds in FIBA World Cup so far
3. Spanish federation U-turns, asks Rubiales to leave
4. Coe thrilled, Lyles picks NBA fight at Athletics Worlds
5. UIPM, fighting for Olympic survival, swallows Obstacle federation

● The USA Gymnastics women’s national championships in San Jose, California drew a TV audience of 2.664 million on NBC to watch the return of Simone Biles, who won her eighth national title. Sunday’s final session of the World Athletics Championships, also on NBC, drew 1.320 million, the top audience for a U.S. broadcast of the sport this year. Plus, a word about the NBC announce crew in Budapest.

● The 2023 FIBA World Cup in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines continue with group-stage play and the Dominican Republic, Germany, Lithuania and Canada all came through their three-game slated undefeated. The U.S. men (2-0) have their third Group C game against Jordan early on Wednesday, U.S. time.

● The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) made a U-turn on Monday, with its regional presidents asking President Luis Rubiales to resign, in view of his behavior after Spain won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia on 20 August. Meanwhile, Rubiales’ mother said she was going on a hunger strike and had locked herself into a church in southern Spain.

● World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe said he was thrilled with the just-completed Worlds in Budapest and held it out as a model for future organizers. American sprint star Noah Lyles picked a fight with the NBA about what the true meaning of “World Champion” is and got quite a bit of attention for it.

● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), struggling to stay on the Olympic program for 2028, announced it will absorb World Obstacle (FISO) to create an entity using obstacle and Olympic heritage to move forward. The history of such concepts has not shown the idea to be a winner, and the UIPM has floundered while the International Biathlon Union – a part of the UIPMB until 1998 – has soared.

● World Championships: Modern Pentathlon (Egypt sweeps relays in Bath) = Shooting (Ukraine wins two in 10 m Running Target) ●

● Panorama: Paris 2024 (Boxing Task Force announced final qualifying tournaments) = Beijing 2022 (China’s delegation secretary general accused of corruption) = Pan American Games (2023 PAG medals unveiled) = Press-Radio-TV (2: tension in the World Athletics Champs mixed zone; Reid denied gymnastics press credentials, buys ticket) = Badminton (BWF approves Russian, Belarusians as neutrals) = Boxing (IBA announces 2024 Women’s World Champs in Astana) = Cycling (Evenepoel in front in La Vuelta) ●

● Errata: Thanks to sharp-eyed readers Phil Minshull and Olivier Bourgoin, who noted that American Vashti Cunningham was 11th (not 10th) in the women’s high jump at the Budapest Worlds, and that Italy’s Alice Sotero, runner-up in the women’s Modern Pentathlon, scored 1,420 points (missed the “4″). Both now corrected on the site. ●

1.
Biles-led USA Gymnastics Champs draw 2.66 million on NBC

She makes a difference.

The USA Gymnastics Artistic Nationals in San Jose, California drew the third-largest U.S. television audience on Sunday, with an average of 2.664 million watching at 7 p.m. Eastern, to watch Simone Biles win her eighth national All-Around title.

That’s up by 73% from the 1.539 million that watched the same event in 2022, about a week later in the calendar than last year. The numbers (all times Eastern):

2023:
● 27 Aug. (Sun.: 7:00 p.m.): 2.664 million on NBC (women/live)
● 27 Aug. (Sun: 12:00 p.m.): 746,000 on NBC (men/tape)
● 26 Aug. (Sat.: 4:30 p.m.): 247,000 on CNBC (women/tape)

2022:
● 21 Aug.: (Sun.: 7:00 p.m.): 1.539 million on NBC (women/live)
● 21 Aug.: (Sun: 12:30 p.m.): 642,000 on NBC (men/tape)

The men’s highlights show gained 16% as well, but the women’s number is stunning and demonstrates the interest in the returning star.

NBC, CNBC and USA Network had coverage of the World Athletics Championships, with reasonably good viewing audiences for the network shows, but modest ones for the cable ones:

Network:
● 19 Aug. (Sat.: 2:30 p.m.): 934,000 on NBC
● 20 Aug. (Sun.: 12:00 p.m.): 1.112 million on NBC
● 27 Aug. (Sun.: 1:00 p.m.): 1.320 million on NBC

Cable:
● 21 Aug. (Mon.: 1:00 p.m.): 302,000 on USA
● 22 Aug. (Tue.: 12:30 p.m.): 277,000 on USA
● 23 Aug. (Wed.: 1:00 p.m.): 305,000 on USA
● 24 Aug. (Thu.: 1:00 p.m.): 354,000 on USA
● 25 Aug. (Fri.: 1:30 p.m.): 436,000 on USA
● 26 Aug. (Sat.: 1:30 p.m.): 281,000 on CNBC
● 27 Aug. (Sun.: 2:30 p.m.): 250,000 on CNBC

That’s an average of 1.122 million for the three NBC shows and 315,000 for the seven shows that had more than 200,000 viewers (the reporting threshold) on CNBC or USA.

For comparison, the six NBC prime-time shows from the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon averaged 1.993 million viewers. The 13 cable shows – same channels – averaged a little more than 379,000 viewers.

For track & field in the U.S., this is not too bad, and the cable audiences – core followers – were way up on the 176,000-207,000-288,000 that watched the U.S. nationals on 7-8-9 July.

Observed: A word on the NBC announce team, which will also be Paris in 2024 – Leigh Diffey (track) and Paul Swangard (field) and analysts Ato Boldon and Sanya Richards-Ross (sprints and hurdles), Kara Goucher (distances) and Trey Hardee (field), plus Lewis Johnson in the mixed zone.

Solid.

Diffey calls track for NBC because he’s their car-racing play-by-play man and they do more auto races than they do track meets. He has his detractors, but he offers a warm personality and did a fine job of setting the table and letting Boldon and Richards-Ross talk.

And this might have been Boldon’s best meet in his 17th year with NBC. Beyond being an Olympic and Worlds medalist, he is a respected coach and is not afraid to make a prediction, or explain why something might be right or wrong. His energy was high the entire time and he and Richards-Ross played off each other well.

Richards-Ross, also a superstar sprinter for the U.S. at the Olympic and World level, does not do well when she reads off introductions of athletes or other scripted narration. She is pretty good, however, when she and Boldon are chatting, as her personality comes through and she is learning to take some chances with predictions on the air. And Diffey got out of the way.

Goucher, a Worlds 10,000 m silver medalist in 2007, is fairly new and getting better, but was not as ready to take over as Boldon was, which makes her informative but less entertaining. Hardee, who was a two-time decathlon World Champion, was excellent in explaining the technical aspects of the events and what the athletes go through before, during and after the competitions. He was a little overwrought in insisting how magnificent the events and the athletes were.

Johnson has a thankless job trying to get U.S. athletes to talk to him and then getting any useful information out of them. But when reporting is needed, he is on it, as with the electric cart incident involved the 200 m semifinalists. Solid.

A modest audience for the U.S.-New Zealand game of the FIBA men’s World Cup in the Philippines, which tipped off at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday, drawing an average of 277,000 viewers on ESPN2.

2.
Four group undefeateds in FIBA World Cup so far

The initial group stage of the XIX FIBA men’s World Cup in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines is closing quickly, with the Dominican Republic, Lithuania, Germany and Canada completing first-round sweeps (NBA affiliations are noted):

● Group A: The Dominican Republic, seeded 23rd coming in, has been a sensation so far, starting with an emotional, 87-81 win over the Philippines in the opener before a World Cup-record crowd of 38,115 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue. Timberwolves forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns led with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and then scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds in the upset of no. 10 Italy, 87-82. Towns got help from guard Andres Feliz, who also scored 24. Feliz had 17 as the Dominican edged Angola by 75-67.

● Group D: Lithuania – seeded eighth – won its games by 93-67 over Egypt, 96-66 over Mexico and 91-71 against Montenegro. Guard Margiris Nomantas scored 18 in the opener, guard Rokas Jakubaitis and Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas had 15 against Mexico and Jakubaitis led with 19 vs. Montenegro.

● Group E: No. 11 seed Germany rushed past Japan, 81-63, upset no. 3 Australia, 85-82, and rolled, 101-75 past Finland. Magic center Mo Wagner scored 25 in the opener, guard Dennis Schroeder (Raptors) scored 30 to lead a final-quarter comeback to surprise the Aussies, and Isaac Bonga and Schroeder each scored 15 in the rout of Finland.

● Group H: Canada, thanks to starring play from Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, stomped on two-time bronze winners France, 95-65, in their opener, then beat Lebanon, 128-73 and Latvia, 101-75. Gilgeous-Alexander had 27 points vs. the French, 12 against Lebanon (in 17 minutes), and 27 again against the Germans.

In Group C, the U.S. men’s national team zipped past New Zealand, 99-72, in its opener, then pounded Greece, 109-81, building a 50-37 halftime lead that expanded to 79-56 after three quarters. Guard Austin Reaves (Lakers) had 15 to lead a balanced scoring attack, with guards Jalen Brunson (Knicks) and Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves) getting 13 each and center-forward Bobby Portis Jr. (Bucks) scoring 10. The Americans shot 57.4% from the field and had a 40-25 rebounding edge.

The U.S. will finish up with Jordan early Wednesday morning, U.S. time. Serbia (2-0 in Group B), Slovenia (2-0 in Group F) and Spain (2-0 in Group G) are the other leaders and will also finish on Wednesday.

The second round of group play has the top two teams from each of the original groups moving on to play the top two from a different group. The U.S. and the runner-up from Group C playing Group D’s Montenegro and Lithuania, on 1 and 3 September.

The elimination rounds begin on 5 September and the tournament final is on 10 September.

3.
Spanish federation U-turns, asks Rubiales to leave

On Saturday, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) issued a defiant statement backing embattled President Luis Rubiales, who said at an emergency Friday assembly that he would not resign after his unsolicited kiss of midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal presentations following the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final on 20 August.

On Monday, the tune changed:

“Following the meeting of the Committee of Presidents of the Autonomous and Territorial Federations of the RFEF, we would like to inform both the world of football and wider society of the following unanimous agreements:

“– After the recent events and the unacceptable examples of behaviour that have seriously damaged the image of Spanish football, the Territorial Presidents’ Committee request that Mr. Luis Rubiales present his resignation as president of the RFEF immediately. …

“– We will urge the corresponding bodies to carry out a wholesale, immediate and organic restructuring process of strategic positions in the Federation in order to bring in a new management role in Spanish football.

“– Following FIFA’s suspension of Mr. Luis Rubiales, the Federation’s internal management protocols have been implemented as a consequence of said suspension. …

“– The RFEF remains committed to continuing to implement its investment and equality policies for the development of women’s football.

“– Finally, the Presidents’ Committee has given its unanimous backing to Mr. Pedro Rocha to lead us through a new stage where dialogue and reconciliation with all football institutions will be the line followed. We place ourselves at the disposal of the [Consejo Superior de Deportes: National Sports Council] and all the institutions involved to continue developing the 2030 World Cup bid together.”

Reports in British media indicate that FIFA’s disciplinary committee are interviewing witnesses and will push for a ban of 15 years, the maximum penalty it can impose. FIFA imposed a provisional suspension of 90 days last week.

Rubiales’ mother, Angeles Bejar, was reported to have begun a hunger strike and locked herself in a church in Motril, in southern Spain. The Spanish news agency EFE reported:

“Luis Rubiales’ mother has asked Jenni Hermoso to ‘tell the truth’ and ‘keep the version she had at the beginning of the facts.’

“She considers that ‘there is no sexual abuse as there is consent on both sides, as demonstrated in the images.’ and wonders ‘why they are being cruel to him’ and what ‘is behind this whole story.’ since her son ‘is incapable of hurting anyone.’”

Bejar insisted that “the bloody and inhumane hounding” of her son be stopped.

The European governing body UEFA, of which Rubiales is a Vice President, has posted no comment.

4.
Coe thrilled, Lyles picks NBA fight at Athletics Worlds

“Together with the Budapest Organising Committee we have created a new standard for our outdoor World Championships going forward. It is the new blueprint. We have seen full stadia which creates an electric atmosphere, we have had the highest ever number of participating athletes, we have witnessed jaw-dropping and nail-biting performances, and we have had huge audiences as a result.”

That’s World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (GBR), commending the 2023 World Athletics Championships as a pivot point for the sport, noting the 400,000 spectators from 120 countries who attended – about 95% of capacity, according to the organizers – and the excitement surrounding the event. He added:

“Innovation has been a driving force for these championships. They have had more innovation embedded in them than we have seen in the last decade. From a medal plaza where athletes are treated like rock stars, to the awarding of coaches’ medals, striking branding that can be seen across the city, and a clear sustainability vision. This is a World Championships city and a country with a long-term, ambitious vision for sport and legacy that goes way beyond a nine-day competition.”

Coe met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during the event, as did International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) and other International Federation chiefs, and further cooperation will be forthcoming. Said Coe:

“Together with the Hungarian government, and science and technology institutions like the Hungarian University of Sport Sciences, we are drawing up plans to create a permanent World Athletics centre of coaching excellence, which will be housed at the National Athletics Centre.”

Coe expounded on where World Athletics will go from here, as reported in The Guardian:

“We can’t afford to have empty stadiums. I don’t really care where it is, it just makes you look marginal. If you’d had just a handful of people in for the morning sessions, and the evening session has looked a bit rinky-dink, then you set the tone and the style, and you guys would have probably written it.”

He also stressed the importance of doing much more with World Athletics championship events than putting on a good meet:

● “I’m not prepared any longer to listen to organising committees tell me that everything is fine and the tickets are going really well, and then suddenly at our April council meeting we hear that they’ve sold 15% of the tickets.

“We’ve been to places where, frankly, I’m not sure most people two weeks later would have remembered that they were in this city.

“So we started a long time ago with Budapest. They’ve been really proactive. They’ve connected with a lot of the countries around us so we’ve sold many thousands of tickets outside of Hungary.”

● “Whenever I go into a country [about an event], I say to the [national] federation: ‘I will come but you need to sit me down and the finance minister, you need to sit me down with your tourist agencies.’ And I’m spending probably as much time on that side of the sport, as I am sitting with the federations.”

The 2025 Worlds will be in Tokyo (JPN), in the new National Stadium, which was empty for the Olympic Games in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For 2027, Nairobi (KEN) could ask to be considered again if its infrastructure questions are resolved, and Beijing (CHN) and Istanbul (TUR) have said they are interested.

Noah Lyles had a brilliant Worlds, with three golds in the men’s 100 m, 200 m and 4×100 m, but he took time during the 200 m medal-winners news conference to pick a fight:

“You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘World Champion’ on their head [on the championship cap]. World champion of what? The United States?

“Don’t get me wrong. I love the U.S. – at times – but that ain’t the world. That is not the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show that they are representing.

“There ain’t no flags in the NBA.

“We’ve got to do more. We’ve got to be presented to the world.”

Lyles and Coe are on the same page, but Lyles got the attention of multiple NBA players, including Kevin Durant, who tweeted: “Somebody help this brother.”

But he also got support from his track & field community, starting with women’s 100 m World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson:

“I’m standing with Noah on this one !! @LylesNoah the organization have players from different countries but do they compete against different countries. You have to go against the world in order to be a world champion!!”

The online debate was fierce and nonsensical, but that’s not the point. Lyles’ showmanship – backed up by three gold medals – has crossed U.S. track & field over into a discussion about it and the NBA. Brilliant.

With the results site back up now, the placing table – scoring the meet 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 – showed the U.S. an easy winner, with 277 points to 139 for Jamaica, 112 for Kenya, 102 for Great Britain and 96 for Ethiopia.

The American total is down from the sensational 328 scored last year in Eugene, or 310 in Doha in 2019. It’s up a tad on the U.S. total of 272 from London in 2017.

With the World Athletics main results site crashing multiple times and even the finally-available detailed results not complete in the 4×400 m relays, French coach and commentator P.J. Vazel posted the men’s and women’s splits on Twitter.

Using video analysis, he reported the U.S. men at 44.78 for Quincy Hall, 43.77 for Vernon Norwood, 44.74 for Justin Robinson and 44.01 for Rai Benjamin (2:57.31).

For the Dutch women: Eveline Saalberg (51.85, Lieke Klaver (48.71), Catherlijn Peeters (51.37) and Femke Bol, 48.79 for a winning 3:20.72 time.

There were only three sub-49 legs in the women’s 4×400, with Klaver the fastest, then Bol, then Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek, who ran 48.85 on anchor to go from seventh to six.

5.
UIPM, fighting for Olympic survival, swallows Obstacle federation

“The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federation Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO) with the shared aim of creating a sporting movement with more audience and active participants.

“Following its recent incorporation of an Obstacle discipline into Modern Pentathlon, under the terms of the MoU, UIPM will integrate FISO and oversee the wider Obstacle Sport movement.”

This astonishing announcement on Saturday at the UIPM World Championships in Bath (GBR), in which the FISO will be swallowed whole by the UIPM. This follows a May announcement of the “re-branding” of a Ninja World Cup held in Orlando, Florida in July and the Obstacle World Championships in September in Genk (BEL). Included in the statement:

“The partnership aims to create a more accessible Modern Pentathlon with Obstacle, merging a new, TV-friendly, and mass participation sport with the prestige and heritage of the Olympic Games.”

Interestingly, the World Obstacle Web site carried no mention of the new agreement as of Tuesday.

As a part of Saturday’s statement, FISO (World Obstacle) President and extreme-sports competitor Ian Adamson (AUS) said:

“We are bringing our sports together, uniting the Olympic movement with the mass participation, broadcast and viewers – all of that creates a very powerful collaboration.”

This remains to be seen, of course. What is now the UIPM was founded in 1948, and added biathlon in 1953, becoming the only International Federation with Olympic and Winter Olympic sports together. The biathlon folks decided to leave in 1993 and formally left the UIMPB in 1998 to form the International Biathlon Union.

The IBU has gone on to substantial success as a separate entity, and as of April 2022, had assets of €70.07 million, reserves of €65.39 million and revenues of €47.52 million for the 2021-22 season. (€1 = $1.09 today)

The UIPM’s most recent posted financial statement is for 2020, showing $3.16 million in assets, $1.78 million in reserves and income of $573,074, in significant part due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Looking at the pre-pandemic year of 2019, assets were $3.66 million, reserves were $3.36 million and income was $1.16 million.

The Saturday announcement gave no details on any plan for the future of the two federations. The UIPM was not included on the program of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the International Olympic Committee is expected to announce – at the latest at its 141st Session in India in October – whether it will be included or not. The UIPM is under fire from a significant part of its elite athlete base, unhappy with the changes to the event since the Tokyo Olympic Games, primarily the dropping of riding and replacement with obstacle racing.

FISO (World Obstacle) was founded in 2014 as an outgrowth of the ESPN X Games, is not an IOC-recognized federation or sport, and financial statements were not found on its Web site.

Observed: This is quite amazing, to have the least successful of the Olympic sports federations suddenly absorbing another, albeit even smaller, federation of a discipline which is not recognized by the IOC.

The repeated assertion by the UIPM and now World Obstacle that the insertion of obstacle racing into the modern pentathlon – or perhaps, with the merger, the replacement of pentathlon with obstacle racing by itself – will energize athlete and viewer interest worldwide, runs counter to real-life experience.

The International Track Association was founded right after the 1972 Munich Olympics, with dozens of track & field’s brightest stars, to take advantage of huge U.S. ratings for the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games. It folded in 1975.

It was just four years ago – 2019 – that Ukrainian billionaire Konstantin Grigorishin founded the International Swimming League based on the enormous popularity of the sport worldwide on Olympic broadcasts. He financed the effort for three years, losing about $20 million a year, before the Russian invasion that collapsed the league, which continues in suspension now.

Grigorishin found no swell of fan enthusiasm for his league in any market, and acknowledged that he had been financing it himself and even before the Russian invasion, said he would not continue to support a money-loser of this size indefinitely.

How is the UIPM, with its much more limited resources – and with the same President as it had when biathlon went on its separate way – going to generate mass support when track & field swimming, genuinely worldwide, mass-participation sports, could not?

The Saturday announcement did not say, but the IOC will be asking.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Modern Pentathlon ● Egypt completed a sweep of the UIPM World Championships relays in Bath (GBR), with Mohanad Shaban and Salma Abdelmaksoud rolling to a 1,413-1,395 win over Korea’s Woong-tae Jun and Sun-woo Kim.

The Egyptians won the fencing, riding and swimming sections to launch into the Laser Run with a 17-second lead on the Koreans, and held on with a 12:38.00 clocking, eighth-best in the field and just better than the 12:39.90 for the Koreans. Egypt had previously won the men’s and women’s team relays, and the men’s team event for a total of four golds to lead all nations; they scored five medals in all; Shaban won two relays golds and an individual silver.

Great Britain won four medals (1-2-1) as did Italy (2-2-0).

Marek Grycz and Lucie Hlavackova (CZE) finished third at 1,386, maintaining their standing going into the Laser Run.

● Shooting ● The 2023 ISSF World Championships continue in Baku (AZE) with non-Olympic events.

Kazakhstan’s Zukhra Irnazarova won the women’s 10 m Running Target final, 6-3, over countrywoman Alexandra Saduakassova, then Saduakassova returned the favored in the Running Target Mixed final with a 19-13 win in a shoot-off. Ukraine’s Ihor Kizyma won the men’s 10 m Running Target, 6-3, against German Kris Grossheim, while Denys Babliuk of Ukraine beat Kizyma in the Running Target Mixed final, 384-381, with Kizyma getting silver over Grossheim in a 20-19 shoot-off.

In the men’s 300 m Rifle/Prone final, Rajmond Debevec (SLO) shot a perfect 600 to win over Aleksi Leppa (FIN: 599) and Tim Sherry (USA: 599)! Poland’s Maciej Kowalewicz took the 300 m Rifle/3 Positions win at 587, over fellow Pole Tomas Bartnik (586), with Sherry fifth (585).

Poland’s Karolina Romanczyk won the women’s 300 m Rifle/Prone title at 593, with Swiss Silvia Guignard Schnyder at 592. Katrine Lund of Norway won the 300 m Rifle/3 Positions gold, scoring 581 to 579 for Romanczyk. Competitions conclude Thursday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● The International Olympic Committee’s Boxing Task Force, running the boxing tournament for Paris, announced the specifics of the two final qualifying tournaments for Paris:

“The first world qualification tournament will take place in Busto Arsizio, Italy – from 29 February to 12 March, 2024. The event will allocate 49 quota places (21 Women and 28 Men).

“The second world qualification tournament will be held in Bangkok, Thailand – from 23 May to 3 June, 2024. By the end of the tournament, the remaining 51 quotas places will be awarded and the boxing qualification period for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be finalized.”

The first opportunity is at continental events, including the completed European Games and the forthcoming Asian Games, Pan American Games and African Games.

● Olympic Winter Games 2022: Beijing ● Agence France Presse reported that Huizhong Nu, who served as the Secretary General of China’s Winter Games delegation, is being investigation for corruption.

The General Administration of Sport said Nu “is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law”; AFP noted “He is one of a string of sport officials to come under scrutiny in recent months as the ruling Communist Party wages an industry-wide anti-corruption drive.”

● Pan American Games 2023: Santiago ● The medals for the 2023 Pan American Games were unveiled in a ceremony in the desert town of Sierra Gorda, in northern Chile, to mark the use of native copper:

“Although this is the second time the medals of the Pan American Games will include Chilean copper — the first instance being Toronto 2015 where the bronze medals had a percentage of said copper — the medals for Santiago 2023 are unique due to the center being made entirely of the mineral extracted from northern Chile. The medals are then completed thanks to the skilled labor of artisans and workers at the Chilean company Milled.”

The ceremony was held at the Centinela Mine and included “a planned and powerful multicolor explosion in the middle of the mining site before moving on to the presentation of the three medals.”

Wow. Some 2,986 medals are being made, for the Pan American and Parapan American Games in Santiago. A special oxidative process was used to produce green tones for the Pan American Games medals and blue tones for the Parapan American Games awards.

Each of the medals has a diameter of 10 cm (3.94 inches), a thickness of 8 mm (0.315 inches) and weighs 280 grams (9.88 ounces).

● Press, Radio, Television ● There has been no shortage of action to report on with world championships everywhere this summer, but the action in and around the press tribunes has been boiling as well:

● From the Laurent Monbvailu of the Brussels (BEL) daily La Dernière Heure/DH les Sports, on the just-concluded World Athletics Championships in Budapest, a note titled “Tensions in the mixed zone” (computer translated from the original French):

“In sports competitions too, influencers are gaining ground. Accreditation around their necks, they took over the mixed zone, this obligatory meeting point between athletes and journalists.

“The former will prefer to talk about outfits, hairstyles and nails with athletes whose trust they have won (and whom they do not hesitate to encourage, even hug), the latter will limit themselves to questions more factual and, in some cases, disturbing.

“In Budapest, the mutual reproaches addressed by the two camps have reached new heights. Still, everyone should, one day, be able to live together if the public is there…”

● Orange County Register investigative and sports reporter, Scott Reid – a 16-time Associated Press Sports Editors honoree – wrote that he had been denied accreditation for last week’s USA Gymnastics Artistic National Championships in San Jose, California.

He said the USAG communications chief told him, “We are over-run with media requests and having to make some tough decisions on credentialing. We can’t accommodate you this year.”

In his story, “Silencing the media won’t change USA Gymnastics’ culture of abuse,” he quoted Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, who served from 1958-81: “Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself,” and followed up with:

“The latter Stewart quote came to mind Sunday afternoon as I sat in the seat I purchased in Section 107, Row 23, Seat 16 at the SAP Center for the USA Gymnastics Championships.

“Normally I would be sitting on press row, just as I have through the last seven Olympic Games gymnastics competitions, World Championships, U.S. championships in parts of three decades and NCAA Championships dating back to the early 1990s. I covered 16-year-old Simone Biles’ first U.S. title in Hartford in 2013.

“But earlier this month USA Gymnastics unexpectedly denied my credential request to cover Biles’ record-setting eighth U.S. all-around title.”

The story as accompanied, of course, by a shot of a portion of the press seating area, which was not full.

● Badminton ● The Badminton World Federation announced Tuesday:

“The Badminton World Federation (BWF) can confirm that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to participate as Individual Neutral Athletes in BWF sanctioned tournaments commencing 26 February 2024. …

“A player eligibility panel will be established to conduct due diligence and to scrutinise all conditions of entry. BWF will subsequently monitor the behaviour of any Individual Neutral Athletes to observe they comply with such conditions. …

“The practical implementation of the framework and the participation of Individual Neutral Athletes in events across the BWF calendar will be done in dialogue with the Member Hosts of the respective events, including mitigation against the risk of tournament cancellation or other disproportionate impacts on tournament organisers.

“First steps towards reinstatement will begin in September with eligibility applications followed by a due diligence process. Approved players will then be subject to a robust anti-doping and testing framework paving the way for the first entries being possible at the beginning of 2024 and towards participation in February 2024.

“If ever the behaviour of an individual athlete compromises the eligibility criteria used for reinstating them in the first place, BWF reserves the right to reconsider their playing status once more.”

The BWF had previously barred Russian and Belarusian entries; President Paul-Erik Hoyer (DEN) said the move “a positive step forward as part of our endeavour to promote peace and solidarity.”

● Boxing ● Rolling on with business as usual, the International Boxing Association announced an agreement to stage its 2024 Women’s World Championships in Kazakhstan:

“The World Championships will take place in October 2024 in Astana. The medal-winners will receive prize money, with the overall fund of $4.8 million, where $200,000 will be secured for the gold medallist, $100,000 is set for the second place and each of the bronze medallists will receive $50,000. The head coaches of the medallists will get 10% of the prize money, and the National Federations are eligible for 20% of the sum.”

Specified payments for coaches in new in boxing, but has been the protocol in judo for years now. The IBA, led by former Russian Boxing Federation Secretary General Umar Kremlev, was dismissed from the Olympic Movement in June by a vote of a specially-called IOC Session and has nothing to do with Olympic boxing. But it is free to put on its own tournaments.

● Cycling ● The first week of the 78th Vuelta a Espana rolls on, with one of the race favorites – Belgium’s defending champion, Remco Evenepoel – back in front.

Evenepoel won the challenging third stage on Monday, a 158.5 km route from Suria (at 338 m elevation) that raced uphill to the 1,977 m Coll d’Ordino in the final third, then down and back up to Arsinal in Andorra, finishing at 1,911 m. A group of 11 riders finally separated from the peloton in the final climb to the finish, with Evenepoel winning by a second over Tour de France champ Jonas Vingegaard (DEN), Spain’s Juan Ayuso and two-time La Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic (SLO).

Evenepoel took the race lead by 0:05, with 16 riders within a minute.

On Tuesday, a 184.6 km ride from Andorra to Tarragona, a mostly downhill route produced the expected mass sprint at the end, with Australian Kaden Groves winning his second career La Vuelta stage in 4:05:41, ahead of Juan Molano (COL), Edward Theuns (BEL), and many others.

Evenepoel remains in the red leader’s jersey – “maillot rojo” – with Enric Mas second (ESP: +0:05), then Lenny Martinez (FRA: +0:11) and Vingegaard (DEN: +0:31).

Wednesday’s stage is another mostly downhill affair, but with a major climb in the final third.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Biles wins eighth U.S. All-Around title; Spain’s Rubiales won’t go, so FIFA suspends him; U.S. wins FIBA World Cup opener

By
Rich Perelman
-
The incomparable Simone Biles (Photo courtesy USA Gymnastics/John Cheng)

★ 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 ≡

1. Biles dominates for eighth All-Around title at U.S. Gymnastics Champs
2. Spanish football chief Rubiales won’t quit, so FIFA suspends him
3. Ireland and Swiss reject move to World Boxing, for now
4. Entrance stampede kills 12 at Indian Ocean Island Games opening
5. U.S. women drop to third in new FIFA rankings

● American superstar Simone Biles won her eighth U.S. All-Around title at the USA Gymnastics nationals in San Jose, giving her 27 national titles from 2013-23. Stanford’s Asher Hong, 19, won his first U.S. A-A title in the men’s division, leading a youth movement.

● Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales refused to resign, declaring his will to stay in a lengthy Friday speech to a special assembly of the federation. The response was angry, with 11 coaches and technical staff resigning, 81 players refusing to play for the national team – including the entire Women’s World Cup squad – and actions against Rubiales initiated by two sectors of the Spanish government. Oh yes, the FIFA suspended him as well.

● In separate actions, the boxing federations of Ireland and Switzerland decided to stay affiliated – for now – with the International Boxing Association. A vote of Irish clubs to affiliate with both the IBA and World Boxing failed to pass in a close vote, and SwissBoxing, in a special assembly, overrode its Board’s decision to move, and the 17-year head of the federation resigned immediately.

● A crush of spectators trying to get into the opening of the Indian Ocean Island Games in Madagascar saw 12 people killed and 80 injured. The ceremony went on as scheduled, with the Madagascar president asking for a moment of silence for the victims, and saying the state will care for the injured.

● The U.S. Women’s National Team dropped to third in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, their lowest position ever since the list debuted in 2003. Sweden is the new no. 1, with Women’s World Cup winner Spain at no. 2.

● World Championships ● Badminton (Korea wins three golds!) = Basketball (2: U.S. wins opener, Canada now 2-0; record number of NBA players in World Cup) = Canoe-Kayak (Carrington stars with three more golds) = Gymnastics (Varfolomeev finishes individual sweep) = Modern Pentathlon (Chooing and Micheli repeat at Worlds) = Shooting (U.S. scores silver in Mixed Trap Worlds final) = Volleyball (China wins FIVB women’s U-21 Worlds) ●

● Panorama: Athletics (Ostrander serves four-month drug suspension) = Cycling (4: Vuelta a Espana now underway; Wellens leads Belgian 1-2-3-4 in Renewi Tour; van Vleuten captures Tour of Scandinavia; Flueckiger gets fifth career XCO World Cup win) ●

● Errata: Typo in Friday’s post on “Brisbane 2036″ instead of the correct “Brisbane 2032.” Thanks to reader Dan Bell for noticing; now corrected on the site. ●

● Schedule: No TSX Report on Tuesday due to a technology installation and upgrade. Back on Wednesday! ●

1.
Biles dominates for eighth All-Around title at U.S. Gymnastics Champs

All eyes were once again on U.S. superstar Simone Biles at the 2023 U.S. Artistic Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, California, and she delivered – again – winning both sessions of the women’s All-Around and the combined score.

Biles led the field after Friday’s first All-Around, scoring 59.300 to 56.750 for 2022 Worlds runner-up Shilese Jones, 55.700 for 2022 Worlds Team winner Skye Blakely, 55.350 for 2021 Worlds silver medalist Leanne Wong and 54.600 for 2022 Worlds Vault and Floor silver medalist Jordan Chiles.

Biles won on Vault (15.700), Beam (14.450) and Floor (14.800), and was third on the Uneven Bars (14.350), won by Jones (14.900).

On Sunday, Biles was revved up again, winning the Vault at 14.850, following up with a 14.050 on the Uneven Bars, 14.850 on Beam and 15.400 on Floor. That gave her a second-day score of 59.150, just 0.150 behind her Friday tally and a two-day total of 118.450.

Jones was second at 114.500, improving on Sunday to 57.800. Wong was third, also better on Sunday than Friday, at 55.750 (total of 111.100). Blakely scored 55.050 to finish fourth at 110.750 and Chiles scored 53.150 to get fifth at 107.750.

Biles led the Vault with a combined score of 30.550, won the Beam at 29.300 and Floor – of course – at 30.200. Her Bars total of 28.400 ranked her third, to Jones (29.900) and Blakely (28.800).

The iconic Biles has now won eight national All-Around titles, and her performance – score-for-score – is right in line with her last three:

● 2013: 60.500 (one All-Around only)
● 2014: 122.550 (61.800 + 60.750)
● 2015: 124.100 (61.100 + 63.000)
● 2016: 125.000 (62.900 + 62.100)
● 2018: 119.850 (60.100 + 59.750)
● 2019: 118.500 (58.650 + 59.850)
● 2021: 119.650 (59.550 + 60.100)
● 2023: 118.450 (59.300 + 59.150)

In terms of national apparatus championships, she now has 19 of those:

● Vault: 6
● Bars: 1 (2018)
● Beam: 6
● Floor: 6

Tokyo Olympic All-Around champ Suni Lee contested only the Vault (13.350 + 13.400 = 26.750: 20th) and Beam (13.650 + 14.200 = 27.850: 3rd), owning to her ongoing health issues.

The 10-member women’s national team was named, but the team for the World Championships in Antwerp (BEL), starting 30 September, will be named after a training camp in Katy, Texas from 18-21 September.

In the men’s competition, Stanford’s Asher Hong, 19, took his first national title, leafing after Thursday’s first All-Around at 85.615, then staying steady on Saturday to post another 85.315 score – again the top total – to finish at 170.930.

Teammate Khoi Young, 20, was similarly consistent, scoring 84.781 on Thursday and 84.674 on Saturday for a silver-medal total of 169.455. Michigan’s Fred Richard, also 19, was third at 169.311.

The third Stanford entry, Colt Walker, 22, finished fourth at 168.811 and three-time U.S. champ Yul Moldauer was fifth (167.446).

The individual apparatus titles went to Michigan’s Paul Juda on Floor at 29.300, while 2021 World Champion Stephen Nedoroscik on Pommel Horse (31.301), with Young second (28.601) and Moldauer third (28.158).

Defending champ Donnell Whittenburg won on Rings (30.272), with Hong second (30.098) and Moldauer fourth (28.628). Ohio State’s Kameron Nelson on Vault (28.325) and Moldauer took the title on Parallel Bars (31.360). Richard was tops on the Horizontal Bar, scoring 29.802.

Hong, Juda, Moldauer, Rchard and Young were named to the U.S. team for the World Championships in Antwerp, with Walker as the alternate.

USA Gymnastics announced that its new mascot has been, appropriately, named “Flip.” About 1,000 suggestions were received online by Saturday evening, with “Flip” the most popular submission.

2.
Spanish football chief Rubiales won’t quit, so FIFA suspends him

Turning from an embarrassment at the end of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sydney’s Stadium Australia into a cause celebre for women in Spain and elsewhere, Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales refused to resign on Friday and was provisionally suspended on Saturday (26th) by FIFA:

“The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), in use of the powers granted by article 51 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level. This suspension, which will be effective as of today, is for an initial period of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings opened against Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, August 24.”

FIFA further directed both Rubiales and the RFEF not to contact midfielder Jenni Hermoso, who was controversially kissed by Rubiales during the medal presentation ceremonies.

It appeared that Rubiales would resign at an extraordinary general assembly on Friday, but instead stunned the room, the Spanish federation membership and the soccer world with a defiant, 21-minute address that included:

● “Is it so serious that I need to leave, having done the best management in the history of Spanish football? Do you think I have to resign? Well, I’m going to tell you something: I will not resign, I will not resign, I will not resign. I will not resign. I will not resign.”

● “To my daughters [who were in the room] I say that today they have to learn a lesson: what equality is. You have to differentiate between truth and lies, and I am telling the whole truth. You are feminists and not the false feminism that is out there. They don’t care about people. They are preparing a social execution so they can put on a medal and say they are moving forward.”

● “It has taken them five days to congratulate us on the World Cup. They have referred to ‘sexual violence.’ What will the women who have been sexually assaulted think? To these people who have said this about me, who are trying to publicly assassinate me, I say that I will defend myself in court.”

● Rubiales also dismissed all of the regional vice presidents of the RFEF except Pedro Rocha, telling the assembly:

“He will be the interim president if the process opened by the CSD prevents me from continuing as president.”

The response came fast and furious, starting with Victor Francos, head of the National Sports Council (CSD):

“The government starts today the procedure so that Mr. Rubiales has to give explanations before the Sport Court and if the Sport Court agrees, I can announce that we will suspend Mr. Rubiales from his functions.”

And from the Spanish prosecutors:

“This Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has received the complaint against Luis Rubiales Béjar in which he recounts facts that could constitute a crime of sexual assault. I hereby inform you that having verified that the territorial jurisdiction to hear the facts corresponds to the Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court, the present Government File has been sent to it, for the appropriate purposes.”

Hermoso released a statement through the Spanish players union, FUTPRO, which included:

● “I want to make it clear that at no time did the conversation to which Mr. Luis Rubiales refers to in his address take place, and, above all, was his kiss ever consensual. I want to reiterate as I did before that I did not like this incident.”

● “I feel the need to report this incident because I believe that no person, in any work, sports, or social setting should be a victim of these types of non-consensual behaviors. I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part.”

● “Despite my decision, I must state that I have been under continuous pressure to make a statement that could justify Mr. Luis Rubiales’ actions. Not only that, but in different ways and through different people, the RFEF has pressured my surroundings (family, friends, teammates, etc.) to give a testimony that had little or nothing to do with my feelings.”

FUTPRO’s statement noted that 81 players – including the entire Women’s World Cup team – will refuse any call to compete for the national team “if the current leaders continue.”

In addition, 11 Spanish football coaches and technical staff all resigned from the federation.

Then the RFEF dropped its own bomb, posting a lengthy statement in defense of Rubiales, including:

● “The RFEF announces its intention to take any necessary legal actions in defense of the honorability of the President of the RFEF. He has clearly and simply explained how the events, which have become a source of controversy and ridicule by wide sectors of society against him, transpired.”

● “In a state governed by the rule of law, as the President has advocated, opinions are countered with facts and evidence, and falsehoods are challenged in the courts.

“The President of the RFEF has sought to handle this matter with the utmost respect for the players and institutions, and only when an insurmountable red line was crossed did he publicly provide his version of the events.

“The version of events presented by the President is corroborated by internal records that have been opened.”

● “The RFEF and the President will demonstrate each falsehood that is spread, whether by someone on behalf of the player or, if necessary, by the player herself.

“Given the gravity of the content in the press release by the Futpro union, the RFEF and the President will initiate the appropriate legal actions.”

What a mess.

3.
Ireland and Swiss reject move to World Boxing, for now

Two national boxing federations expected to move to World Boxing were slowed by their members, who decided – for now – to remain with the International Boxing Association, now un-recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

The SwissBoxing statement included:

“At the extraordinary delegates’ meeting of SwissBoxing on Saturday in the House of Sports in Ittigen, the delegates did not support the decision unanimously taken by the association council regarding immediate withdrawal from the IBA (formerly AIBA). Instead, it was decided to rejoin the IBA. The IOC, based in Lausanne, excluded the IBA from Olympic sport by decision of June 22, 2023. As a result, President Andreas Anderegg announced his immediate resignation. Former amateur boxer Amir Orfia was elected the new president.”

Anderegg had been the President of the federation for 17 years. In a follow-up message, Orfia observed:

“The current situation, marked by significant changes and important decisions, requires a united, transparent and forward-looking approach. The recent decision regarding our affiliation with the IBA, the concerns raised and the departures within our organization demonstrate the importance of our collective commitment to moving in the right direction.”

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) also had an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in Dublin last Saturday; its statement included:

“A majority of Irish boxing clubs attending today’s EGM voted in favour of constitutional change, which would have allowed the Irish Athletic Boxing Association to join any international federation the members voted for. The special resolution cannot, however, be enacted.

“71% of delegates voted in favour, and 29% against. As the special resolution proposed change to our Constitution, it required 75% to pass.”

The vote was 84-34 for the resolution, with four votes spoiled, and since it did not pass, a follow-up motion – “Does your club wish IABA to remain a member of the International Boxing Association (IBA) AND affiliate to World Boxing?” – did not come up.

IABA Chair Niall O’Carroll‘s statement noted:

“The vote was very tight, just 4% in the difference, but the clubs have spoken. It is very important to note that the majority of clubs here today wanted to change our constitution to allow us flexibility and choice, the bar for passing this special resolution is very high – 75%. It means that IABA remains constitutionally tied to IBA. The Board of Directors respects the outcome of this vote. … We’ll consult with members on what that looks like, and create a path forward, together, from there.”

If the IABA motion had passed, it would have meant that the Irish federation could not be a member of the IBA since that organization bars membership in any other federation.

World Boxing has announced 12 members and is processing other applications, in advance of a November Congress to elect its first officers. Its goal is to become the IOC’s recognized federation for Olympic boxing, since IBA’s recognition was ended in June.

The IBA, headed by former Russian Boxing Federation Secretary General Umar Kremlev, was thrilled with these outcomes, of course, but remains outside of the Olympic Movement.

It should be noted that neither Switzerland or Ireland, or any national federation, have had their opportunities to participate in boxing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, since neither the IBA nor World Boxing have anything to do with it, and the qualifying process is being overseen by the IOC itself, as it did for Tokyo in 2021.

4.
Entrance stampede kills 12 at Indian Ocean Island Games opening

“An unfortunate event happened. There was a stampede at the entrance. There were a lot of injuries. We will observe a few seconds of silence because compatriots have died when they wanted to enter.”

That announcement was made by the President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, on Friday night during the opening ceremony of the 11th Indian Ocean Island Games, being held in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Madagascar Prime Minister Christian Ntsay reported that 12 people died and another 80 were injured, including 11 in critical condition. But the ceremony, at the 41,000-seat Mahamasina stadium, continued. A report on the Games opening noted:

“President Andry Rajoelina called for a minute of silence following the death of several people after a stampede in front of a stadium gate. The Prime Minister as well as several members of the Government immediately went to the bedside of the victims. Those injured will be taken care of by the State. The Head of State Andry Rajoelina sent a message of comfort to the victims and took the opportunity to challenge the various officials so that such a tragedy could not happen again.”

A similar incident, with one death and 40 injured at the same stadium, took place before a football match in 2018.

A reported 4,213 athletes from seven island nations – Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion and Seychelles – are competing in 17 sports. The event continues to 3 September.

5.
U.S. women drop to third in new FIFA rankings

Spain’s remarkable run to the championship of the FIFA Women’s World Cup was rewarded up a significant move in the new FIFA Women’s World Rankings, but not to the top spot.

That belongs to Sweden, which eliminated the U.S. on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals and ended up in third place after beating Australia:

● 1. 2069.17 points: Sweden (+2)
● 2. 2051.84 points: Spain (+4)
● 3. 2051.21 points: United States (-2)
● 4. 2030.14 points: England (same)
● 5. 2004.17 points: France (same)
● 6. 1987.67 points: Germany (-4)
● 7. 1984.50 points: Netherlands (+2)
● 8. 1961.35 points: Japan (+3)
● 9. 1949.41 points: Brazil (-1)
● 10. 1944.84 points: Canada (-3)

It’s the first time ever for Sweden at no. 1; the Spanish could have been top-ranked but lost on out on some valuable points in their 4-0 group-stage loss to Japan.

Germany was the biggest loser (-4) in the top echelon, failing to make it out of the group stage, and Canada lost three spots for the same result.

The U.S. moved two slots lower to third, which is its lowest position ever in the history of the rankings, which began in 2003. The U.S. women had never placed lower than third in the prior Women’s World Cups and had been top-ranked since June 2017.

The biggest gain in the list came from Morocco, which rose from 72nd to 58th by making the playoff round.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Badminton ● Big news for Korea at the BWF World Championships in Copenhagen (DEN), with three wins … for a country that hadn’t won a gold since 2014, and came into the tournament with nine wins all-time!

The fun started with Mixed Doubles, as fifth-seeded Seung-jae Seo and Yu-jung Chae defeated defending champs and top-seeded Si Wei Zhang and Ya Qiong Huang (CHN), 21-17, 10-21, 21-18.

Japan’s 2022 silver winners, Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino, won a bronze, along with Zhenbang Jiang and Yaxin Wei (CHN).

Then, top-seeded Se-young An, the 2022 bronze medalist, topped three-time champion Carolina Marin (ESP), 21-12, 21-10.

Defending champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan won a bronze, along with 2022 runner-up Yufei Chen (CHN).

Finally, Mun-hyuk Kang and Seung-jae Seo (KOR) won the men’s Doubles with a 14-21, 21-15, 21-17 victory over 2021 bronze winners – and home favorites Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen (DEN).

Malaysia’s defending champs, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, shared the bronze with China’s Weikeng Liang and Chang Wang.

Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the 2022 silver winner, defeated Kodai Naraoka (JPN) in the men’s Single final, 19-21, 21-18, 21-7 for the country’s first medal in the event.

China’s two-time defending champions Qing Chen Chen and Yi Fan Jia (CHN) won the women’s Doubles over 11th-seeded Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Ramadhanti (INA), 21-16, 21-12.

China won six medals overall (1-1-4), then came the Koreans (3-0-1) and Japan (0-1-2).

● Basketball ● The 2023 FIBA men’s World Cup is underway in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines, with the U.S. scoring a win in its opening game against New Zealand.

Playing in Group C in the Manila suburb of Pasay, the U.S. was down early, but rallied for a 19-18 lead at the quarter and extended to a 45-36 halftime lead. A 31-22 third quarter decided the issue and the Americans also won the fourth quarter en route to a 99-72 win.

Forward Paolo Banchero (Magic) scored 21 to lead the U.S., supported by guards Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves: 14), Austin Reaves (Lakers: 12) and Jalen Brunson (Knicks: 10). Edwards had seven rebounds and Reaves had six assists. The U.S. shot 59.3% from the floor, to 36.5% for New Zealand and had 41 rebounds to 33.

The Americans will face Greece next, on Monday (28th) and then Jordan on the 30th, before moving on to the second round.

Canada crushed France, 95-65, in Group H play, and Slovenia defeated Venezuela, 100-85, thanks to 37 points and seven rebounds from Mavericks’ star Luka Doncic.

In the second round of games played on Sunday, the Dominican Republic went to 2-0 by beating Italy, 87-82; Lithuania and Montenegro are both 2-0 in Group D, and Germany surprised Australia, 85-82, to go to 2-0 in Group E. Canada won its second game in Group H, stomping on Lebanon, 128-73.

The Philippine hosts already set a World Cup record for attendance, as 38,115 saw the home team lose to the Dominican Republic, 87-81, in Group A at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue. That surpassed the 32,616 who attended the 1994 final at the SkyDome in Toronto (CAN).

The World Cup quality level continues to rise, as FIBA reported:

“A total of 55 NBA players from 20 different countries were included in the 32 rosters for the World Cup – up from the previous record of 54 players in 2019 after 45 NBA players at the 2014 World Cup.”

Said U.S. head coach Steve Kerr:

“The USA team is always going to have 12 NBA players. So the fact that we are breaking a record in the World Cup means that the other teams are getting better and better. The game is getting more globalized and improving everywhere. And that’s why you have so many great players in the NBA from overseas. They’re getting good training, they have good competition to allow them to get to this point, and it means it’s that much harder for the United States to win a gold medal.”

● Canoe-Kayak ● New Zealand’s brilliant Lisa Carrington was once again the star of the ICF World Sprint Championships, held in Duisberg (GER), with multiple Olympic qualifying quotas on the line. Carrington, a five-time Olympic gold medalist in the women’s kayak sprints, won three events, the women’s K-1 500 m (1:47.769; fifth title), the non-Olympic K-1 200 m (38.932; ninth title) and on the K-4 500 m with Alicia Hoskin, Olivia Brett and Tara Vaughn, the country’s first Worlds gold in that event (1:30.606).

Denmark’s Emma Jorgensen, the Rio silver and Tokyo bronze K-1 500 m medalist, finished second to Carrington in that race, then teamed up with Frederikke Matthiesen to win the K-2 500 m, ahead of Poland’s Martyna Klatt and Helena Wisniewska, 1:38.956 to 1:40.824. The Poles won the non-Olympic K-2 200 m title in 36.681.

Canada’s Katie Vincent, a three-event winner at the 2022 Worlds, won three more golds in the C-1 500 m (2:01.545), C-1 5,000 m (25:57.255) and with Connor Fitzpatrick in the Mixed C-2 500 m (1:45.771). She also took a bronze with Sloan Mackenzie in the C-2 500 m.

The Olympic-class women’s C-1 200 m was won by Cuba’s Yarisleidis Cirilo in 44.799, ahead of Spain’s Antia Jacome (45.418), her second silver in the event (also 2021). Jacome teamed with Maria Corbera to take silvers in the C-2 500 m (1:52.916 behind Olympic champs Shixiao Xu and Mengya Sun of China: 1:52.775), and the non-Olympic C-200 m (42.760, behind China’s Changwen Shuai and Wenjun Lin: 42.516).

The most popular winner on the men’s side was Czech Martin Fuksa, who won the C-1 1,000 m gold in 3:45.124, ahead of Catalin Chirila (ROU: 3:45.958) and German four-time winner Sebastian Brendel (3:46.581). Fuksa had placed second in this race five times previously – in 2014-15-17-18-21) – but finally got the win. It was his third career Worlds gold, with wins in the C-1 500 m in 2015 and 2017.

Chirila also won the non-Olympic C-1 500 m (1:45.373), and Brendel finished second in the non-Olympic C-1 5,000 m to Balazs Adolf (HUN), 22:12.975 to 22:18.863.

Portugal’s Fernando Pimenta won his fifth career Worlds gold, and third in the K-1 1,000 m, in 3:27.712, ahead of Adam Varga (HUN: 3:28.141). Pimenta also collected a silver in the non-Olympic K-1 5,000 m (20:09.974, behind Dane Mads Pedersen, 19:55.467), and a bronze in the non-Olympic K-1 500 m (1:36.908, behind winner Balint Kopasz (HUN): 1:36.262).

Portugal got a second win in the K-2 500 m from Joao Ribeiro and Messias Baptista (3:11.512), and Germany won the K-4 500 m in 1:19.183, with daylight ahead of Hungary (1:19.570).

● Gymnastics ● The 40th FIG Rhythmic World Championships in Valencia (ESP) concluded with Germany’s 16-year-old Darja Varfolomeev completing an individual sweep of the four apparatus finals and the All-Around.

She took the four apparatus titles on the first two days, then took the All-Around at 137.450 points, ahead of defending champ Sofia Rafaelli (ITA: 135.700), with Israel’s Daria Atamanov third (131.400). Varfolomeev’s feat had not been achieved since 2011, when Russian Yevgeniya Kanayeva did the same.

Bulgaria took the combined team title with 330.150 points, followed by Germany (326.350) and Italy (323.850). The U.S. was 14th, scoring 292.850.

In the group events, Israel won the Group All-Around at 70.800, followed by China (70.050) and Spain (68.600). Using the same group, the Israelis won the 3 Ribbons + 2 Balls final at 34.800, ahead of China (32.800) and Ukraine (32.300).

China won the 5 Hoops team event, scoring 36.550, with Spain second (36.100) and Italy (35.850).

Thanks to Varfolomeev, Germany led the medal standings with six (5-1-0), with Italy at five (0-3-2), Bulgaria at four (1-2-1) and Israel (2-0-1) and China (1-2-0) with three.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The 2023 UIPM World Championships are ongoing in Bath (GBR), but have a strong similarity to the 2022 edition.

In the men’s final, Tokyo Olympic champ and defending Worlds gold medalist Joe Choong (GBR) finished second in fencing, first in riding and eighth in the swimming to carry a 10-second lead into the final Laser Run event. His time of 10:15.70 was only 12th-fastest in the field, but it carried him to the line with a third straight title and 1,523 points.

Mexico’s Emiliano Hernandez, the Central American and Caribbean Games winner, had the performance of a lifetime to grab second at 1,518 points, with a second in riding and seventh in fencing before a 10th-place finish in the Laser Run. Egypt claimed the next three places, with Mohanad Shaban third (1,514), Ahmed Elgendy fourth (1,510) and Mohamed Elgendy fifth (1,506).

The Egyptian men were easy winners of the team title at 4,530, with Britain second (4,450) and South Korea third (also 4,450).

Italy’s Elena Micheli came in as the defending champion, and like Choong, won again! She had the highest score in the semis, and was ultra-consistent, placing sixth in fencing, sixth in riding and second in swimming. That gave her a two-second edge on the field going into the last event.

Her fifth-best 11:14.40 time on the Laser Run brought her home with 1,429 points, nine seconds ahead of teammate Alice Sotero, who had the fastest time on the Laser Run (11:00.10) and moved her from ninth to second, scoring 1,420 points. Britain’s unheralded Kerenza Bryson also made a big move, from sixth to the bronze, with the third-fastest Laser Run (11:09.80), ending with 1,419.

Micheli and Sotero got a second gold for winning the team title with Alessandra Frezza (13th), scoring 4,221 to edge Britain (4,207), with Hungary third (3,537).

The championships will conclude with the Mixed Relay on Monday.

● Shooting ● The ISSF World Championships continue in Baku (AZE), with the Olympic events concluded, but the U.S. continuing to win medals.

Tokyo Olympian Derrick Mein and Rachel Tozier took silver in the Mixed Trap event, in a shoot-off with Portugal. After a tie at 142, the Portuguese managed a 13-12 win for the gold.

China’s Yu Xie won the men’s 50 m Pistol, 558-557 over Lauris Strautmanis (LAT), and Austria’s Sylvia Steiner took the women’s 50 m Pistol, 540-534, against Bayartsetseg Tumurchudur (MGL).

Two-time Worlds medalist Istvan Peni (HUN) won the 300 m Standard Rifle Open event, matching Kim Andre Lund (NOR) at 587, but won on criteria. American Timothy Sherry was third, just one shot back (586).

The championships continue with non-Olympic events through the end of the month.

China piled up 11 medals (6-3-2) in the Olympic events; the U.S. scored three (1-1-1); Greece, India and Germany also had three.

● Volleyball ● China won the 22nd FIVB Women’s World U-21 Championship held in Leon (MEX), with a 3-1 finals victory over Italy, 19-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 15-8. Brazil swept Japan, 3-0, for the bronze medal and the U.S. finished sixth.

It’s China’s fourth title, after wins in 1995, 2013 and 2017, and kept Italy from a second straight title after its win in 2021. The U.S., despite fielding exceptional senior teams, has never won a medal in this event.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● American Steepler Allie Ostrander, a three-time NCAA women’s champ for Boise State, agreed to a four-month sanction from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency:

“Ostrander, 26, tested positive for canrenone, a metabolite of spironolactone, as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample collected on March 30, 2023. Ostrander’s violation resulted from her use of a topical acne medication containing spironolactone for which she had a prescription. However, Ostrander failed to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the medication.”

Her suspension began on 28 April 2023 and has now ended. She hasn’t competed since finishing second in the Carlsbad 5 km on 2 April, a result which has now been nullified.

● Cycling ● The final Grand Tour of the year, the 78th Vuelta a Espana, began on Saturday with the Team Time Trial and got going with a 181.8 km, hilly stage on Sunday, from Mataro to Barcelona.

Danish rider Andreas Kron took the lead on the final, small climb on the Montjuic and pedaled away to win in 4:10:06, with Kaden Groves (AUS) getting the same time, as did the top 40. Due to heavy rains before the stage, the timing for the overall standings was taken with 9 km remaining, when Andrea Piccolo (ITA) and Javier Romo (ESP) were 18 seconds ahead and Piccolo now leads the race by 11 seconds over Romo.

There were some reports of thumbtacks on the road, also a problem from protesters at the Tour de France in July.

Monday’s third stage is more formidable, with a major climb up the Coll d’Ordino and then an uphill finish into Arsinal in Andorra.

Defending champ Remco Evenepoel (BEL), three-time winner Primoz Roglic (SLO) and two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) are the favorites. The 21-stage race continues through 21 September, finishing in Madrid.

The second Renewi Tour – formerly known as the Benelux Tour – finished Sunday, with Belgians taking the top four places with Tim Wellens, Florian Vermeersch, Yves Lampaert and Jasper Stuyven.

Belgium’s sprint star Jasper Philipsen took the flat stage one, then Joshua Tarling (GBR) won the Individual Time Trial to take the lead after two stages. Wellens took the race lead with a second straight runner-up finish in stage three, as Mike Teunissen (NED) won the stage, and Wellens held a 23-second lead after a mass-sprint finish to the fourth stage, won by Tim Welsford (AUS).

On Sunday, Slovenia’s Matej Morohic got to the line first in the mass-sprint finish, winning the 187.3 km route in 4:07:00, ahead of Matteo Trentin (ITA) and Soren Kragh Andersen (DEN).

Wellens finished in 15:51:52, with Vermeersch 23 seconds back, and third-place Lampaert in the same time.

Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten, who plans to retire at the end of the season, took the lead in the women’s Tour of Scandinavia on Saturday in Denmark, passing Dane Cecile Uttrup Ludwig, coming from 12 seconds down to forge a 17-second lead, heading into Sunday’s finale.

The first three stages were held in Norway, with Lorena Wiebes (NED) won the initial, flat stage in a sprint, the Ludwig took stage two and the race lead, with a win over van Vleuten at the line of the uphill finish. Wiebes came back to win stage three, in another mass sprint, but Ludwig was third and maintained the lead, before van Vleuten’s third-place finish in the time trial. Australia’s Grace Brown won, with van Vleuten third (+0:23) and Ludwig 17th (+0:52).

The mostly flat final stage ended in Haderslev (DEN), with Ludwig winning with a late attack, in 3:35:55, but only five seconds up on the mass finish, with Wiebes second, Elisa Balsamo (ITA) third and van Vleuten 15th, in the same time. That gave the Dutch star the win in 14:31:05, just 0:02 up on Ludwig and 33 seconds ahead of Amber Kraak (NED) in third.

The fifth leg of the UCI Mountain Bike Cross Country World Cup was in Pal Arinsal (AND), with two first-time winners this season in the Cross Country Olympic final.

Tokyo Olympic runner-up Mathias Flueckiger (SUI) dominated the men’s Cross Country Olympic final from the start, taking a quick lead and then breaking away on the second (of seven) laps to win in 1:28:03. That was 23 seconds ahead of Thomas Griot (FRA) – his first World Cup medal – and 44 seconds up on Britain’s World Champion, Tom Pidcock in third. It’s Flueckiger’s fifth career XCO World Cup win.

Austria’s Mona Mitterwallner, 21, was 36 seconds behind after the first of five laps in the women’s race, but worked her way back and had the fastest laps in the field when they counted most: laps four and five, to win in 1:14:09. Alessandra Keller (SUI), the 2018 World U-23 champ, was second, but 34 seconds back in 1:14:43 and four-time World Champion Pauline Ferrand Prevot (FRA) was third in 1:15:37. American Sevilla Blunk was ninth in 1:17:40.

Mitterwallner is a comer; she won the 2020 World Junior title and 2021 World U-23 gold, and now this, her first World Cup race at the senior level.

In the Short Track racing on Saturday, Luca Schwarzbauer (GER: 20:13) won a tight finish in the nine-lap men’s race, finishing just ahead of Swiss legend Nino Schurter (20:14) and Jordan Sarrou (FRA) and Alan Hatherly (RSA), both in 20:15.

Keller took the eight-lap women’s race, 20:36 to 20:42 over Britain’s Evie Richards with Puck Pieterse (NED: 20:53) third.

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ATHLETICS: U.S. finishes with 29 medals as men’s 4×400 wins gold; impressive wins for Ingebrigtsen, Mahuchikh and Bol as Worlds close

By
Rich Perelman
-
Dutch star Femke Bol celebrates another Worlds gold medal! (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

The final day of the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest started with a very warm men’s marathon and finished with a brilliant evening, with a 12th gold for the U.S. in the men’s 4×400 m relay and stunning performances in the men’s 5,000 m, women’s high jump and a sensational final leg by Dutch star Femke Bol in the women’s 4×400 m.

● Men/Marathon ● It was 72 degrees F at 7:00 a.m. for the start, with 77% humidity, with the temps rising to 82 F, with 61% humidity at the finish. Of the 84 starters, 60 finished (71%), with times understandably quite modest by today’s standards.

By 10 km, 16 were in close contact, with Kenya’s Rotterdam Marathon runner-up Timothy Kiplangat in the lead. He was in the lead again at 20 km, with a big pack still in contact. At the half, Rwanda’s John Hazikimana was the leader in 1:05:02, with 30 more in the lead group.

There 20 running together at 29 km, with Kiplangat nominally in the lead, but then the Ugandan pair of Victor Kiplangat and Stephen Kissa increased the pace with a 2:58 kilometer and moving to the front. The lead group was 13 at 31 km, and six by 32 km, with 2022 Commonwealth Games champ Kiplangat and Ethiopia’s defending champ Tamirat Tola and 2022 London runner-up Leul Gebresilase together at the front.

Those three were clear by 33 km, with Tola dropping back after that; he eventually dropped out after the 39 km mark. Kiplangat and Gebresilase were together through 38 km, then Kiplangat edged ahead at the 39 km mark, and with Tola out, Ethiopian-born Israeli, Maru Teferi – now 31, who moved with his family at age 14 – moved into third.

At 40 km, Kiplangat was sailing, with a 13-second lead and run to the finish unchallenged to win in 2:08:53. Teferi was 31 seconds behind Gebresilase, , but within 19 seconds at 41 km and four seconds at 42 km, finally taking the silver medal in 2:09:12, with Gebresilase third in 2:09:19. Fourth was Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho, in 2:09:57, a lifetime best.

Kissa was fifth (2:10:22), Hazikimana was ninth (2:10:50) and Kiplangat finished 14th, in 2:11:25. The top U.S. finisher was Zach Panning, in 13th at 2:11:21; Nico Montanez was 55th (2:24:58), and Elkanah Kibet did not finish.

It was Uganda’s second win in the event, with Stephen Kiprotich winning in 2013 and the first medal for Israel in the Worlds men’s race. Gebresilase’s bronze extends an Ethiopian medals streak in this race to eight straight Worlds.

Statistically, this race was harder on the runners than the midnight marathon at the 2019 World Championships in Doha (QAT), where 55 finished out of 73 who started: 75%. This time, only 71% made it to the finish.

The mass-participation “Budapest 10K Mass Race” was shortened to 5.75 km, starting at 11 a.m., and finishing in Heroes’ Square, with a second, 2.023 km run following at 1 p.m.

The winner of the 5.75 km race was David McCarthy of Ireland in 17:03; Carvalho Vanessa of Portugal took the women’s division in 19:09. There were 3,984 finishers, plus 1,511 finishers in the 2.023 km race.

The final evening session was also great, with the National Athletics Centre full once again. The Hungarian organizers said more than 400,000 tickets were sold, about 95% of capacity for the nine days and 14 sessions.

● Men/5,000 m ● What would Jakob Ingebrigtsen do? As in 2022, he had to settle for silver in the 1,500 m, but last year came back to win the 5,000 m. Ingebrigtsen said he has not been feeling well – some type of virus, he wouldn’t specify – but he started in the 85 F heat and 49% humidity at 8:10 p.m.

The first action came with a surge by Kenya’s Ishmael Kipkirui, 18 (13:05.47 this year), after 700 m, and had a 30 m lead with nine laps to go. The pack caught up with 2,500 to go, with world-leader Berihu Aregawi (ETH) taking over with six laps left.

Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet – the 2013 Worlds runner-up – and Aregawi were 1-2 at 3,200 m, then Aregawi, Abdi Nur of the U.S. and Luis Grijalva (GUA) moving up with three laps to go. Everybody was still in it, with Aregawi and Grijalva staying at the front

Aregawi, Jimmy Gressier of France and Grivalja were leading with 800 m left, then Gebrhiwet sprinted at the bell and took the lead, but Spain’s Mohamed Katir – the 2022 European silver winner – took over on the back straight and led into the turn, with Ingebrigtsen chasing and the two clear of the field.

The duel was on and the Norwegian was getting closer, then found another gear in the final 50 m and passed Katir in the final 15 m to win – and repeat as champion – in 13:11.30, with a 52.45 last lap.

Katir got second (13:11.44), and Kenyan Jacob Krop came up for third in 13:12.28, with Grijalva fourth (13:12.50). Gebrhiwet faded to sixth (13:12.65) and Aregawi was eight in 13:12.99. Nur was 12th in 13:23.90 and Paul Chelimo of the U.S. was 15th 13:30.88.

● Men/4×400 m ● The U.S. came in with two wins in a row and eight of the last nine in the Worlds, and started with Worlds bronze winner Quincy Hall.

And Hall ran 44.54 to get clear of the field and passed to Vernon Norwood, who stormed into the lead on the back straight. He gave back a little of his big lead coming into the home straight, but pulled away to finish at 44.01 with the Americans way in front.

Third leg Justin Robinson was smooth, maintaining the lead with a 44.74 leg and handed to Rai Benjamin with a 10 m lead. No problem for Benjamin, who finished in 44.02 and the U.S. had a world-leading 2:57.31 victory to close out its Worlds.

It was Robinson’s second gold of the Worlds, after the Mixed Relay win on the opening night.

The fight for second was furious, with France’s David Sombe and Teo Andant running strongly over the final two legs to get the silver in 2:58.45, a national record, with Britain third in 2:58.71.

● Men/Javelin ● Olympic champ Neeraj Chopra made a statement with a sensational 88.17 m (289-3) in the second round, leaving the field to chase him.

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem got close in round three, reaching 87.82m (288-1), with German Julian Weber – the 2022 European champ – third (85.79 m/281-5) off his round two effort.

Olympic silver winner Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) – the world leader – got up to third at 86.67 m (284-4) in the fifth round, with Chopra and Nadeem both over 87 m, but without an improvement in the later rounds. Chopra emerged as the winner, leading an Indian 1-5-6 finish with Kishore Jena (84.77 m/278-1) and D.P. Manu (84.14 m/276-0)!

Chopra added to his Olympic win with India getting its first Worlds gold. For Nadeem, his silver is Pakistan’s first-ever medal at the World Championships. Important, from a part of the world where track & field has had little impact … until now.

● Women/800 m ● Was American Athing Mu, in only her third meet of the season, ready to defend her title? After getting hit in the semis, she took the lead and came to the bell in 56.01, with Kenyan Mary Moraa – last year’s 2022 bronze winner – in 56.07.

Mu continued in the lead on the back straight, opening a small lead on Moraa, leading by 2/10ths with 200 to go, but with a half-dozen still in contention. Britain’s Jemma Reekie and Worlds silver winner Keely Hodgkinson came up to challenge, but Mu was still in front with 100 m to go, but being pressed.

On the straight, Moraa sprinted hard and passed Mu with 60 m to go, winning in a lifetime best of 1:56.03, as she jumped over the finish line in celebration. And Hodgkinson moved hard on the inside and was able to get through and passed Mu with 20 m left and got second, 1:56.34 to 1:56.61 for Mu.

Raevyn Rogers of the U.S. finished fourth in 1:57.45, a seasonal best, and Nia Akins was sixth in a lifetime best of 1:57.73. It’s the third Worlds gold for Kenya in this event, and first since 2013. For Mu, at 21, she has two golds and a bronze in the last three years: Tokyo, Eugene and Budapest.

● Women/Steeple ● Kenyans Beatrice Chepkoech – the world-record holder and 2019 World Champion – and Faith Cherotich led early, with world no. 4 Winfred Yavi (BRN) third.

With four laps left, it was Chepkoech, Cherotich, Yavi and Tokyo Olympic champ Peruth Chemutai (UGA) separated from the field, and Chepkoech, Yavi and Cherotich moving away from Chemutai at a hot, sub-9:00 pace. With two laps to go, Chepkoech and Yavi were moving away from Cherotich. 

At the bell, they two were together and Yavi took the lead on the turn and got a 2 m gap that was 3 m with 200 m to go and 7 m into the straight. Yavi won in a world-leading 8:54.29 – now the no. 4 performer, with no. 5 performance all-time – to 8:58.98. Cherotich, the 2022 World Junior Champion, managed to get third in 9:00.69, a lifetime best.

For Yavi, it was supreme satisfaction, after fourth-place finishes in the 2019 and 2022 Worlds.

American Courtney Wayment finished 15th at 9:25.90.

● Women/4×400 m ● Candice McLeod led off for Jamaica (50.23) and passed first to Janieve Russell, who had a big lead into the straight, but Britain and the Dutch pulled even and passed ahead to their third runners.

Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce took the lead back, with Britain’s Ama Pipi right in behind, and Pryce passed first to Stacey Ann Williams on anchor. Williams was strong on the back straight, leading Britain’s Nicole Yeargin, with Dutch star Bol trying to get back into contention.

Williams looked good coming into the straight, but Bol was coming hard, despite being 15 m down with 100 m to go. No problem: she charged past Yeargin with 25 m left and then caught and passed the tiring Williams – who ran 49.97 on her leg – with 5 m to go and won in a world-leading 3:20.74, now the 10th-fastest nation ever.

Jamaica was just 0.14 behind at 3:20.88, then Britain at 3:21.04 and Canada at 3:22.42.

● Women/High Jump ● Eight were still in it through 1.94 m (6-4 1/4), then to 1.97 m (6-5 1/2), with Ukraine’s 2022 World Indoor champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh took the lead with a first-time clearance. Then Olympic runner-up Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) equaled, but everyone else missed their first attempts.

Only defending champ Eleanor Patterson (AUS) and Britain’s Morgan Lake managed 1.97 m – on their third attempts – and at 1.99 m (6-6 1/4), Patterson upped the ante with a first-time make.

Mahuchikh matched on her first try, and Olyslagers made on her second. Lake missed twice, passed and then missed on her first try at 2.01 m (6-7) to finish fourth.

The three medalists all missed first trials at 2.01 m (6-7), but Mahuchikh sailed over on her second try, with Patterson and Olyslagers missing all three, to finish 2-3. It’s Mahuchikh’s first Worlds outdoor gold, after silvers in 2019 and 2022, and an inspiration with her country fending off the Russian invasion.

Mahuchikh had the bar moved up to 2.07 m (6-9 1/2), but could not clear and won her country’s first Worlds high jump gold since 1999.

American Vashti Cunningham cleared 1.90 m (6-2 3/4), but could go no higher and finished 11th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Errata ● Thanks to eagle-eyed reader David Greifinger for noticing a typo in Saturday’s post on the decathlon 110 m hurdles, won by Canada’s Damian Warner in 13.67, not 10.67!

● Stats ● The final medal count saw the U.S. pile up 29 total medals, with 12 golds, eight silver and nine bronzes, down only slightly from their home-field Worlds in 2022, with 33 medals overall (13-9-11). An impressive performance, and a great lead-in to Paris for 2024.

Jamaica won 12 medals (3-5-4), followed by Kenya (3-3-4) and Great Britain (2-3-5), both with 10. Ethiopia had nine (2-4-3) and Canada (4-2-0) and Australia (1-2-3) were next with six. China had a disappointing Worlds with two bronzes, down from six medals (2-1-3) in Eugene.

The World Athletics’ main results site was down again, so the placing table will be available later.

● Stories ● The International Fair Play Committee (CIFP) and World Athletics is inviting fans to nominate their “fair play” moment of the season.

Nominations can be submitted now; fair-play awards have usually concentrated on a single event like the World Athletics Championships, but has been expanded for 2023 to the entire season:

“Following the final [World Athletics Series] event of the year, the World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, in October, a jury will be empanelled to review the nominations and judge on a shortlist of five fair play moments in athletics from 2023.

“Fans will then be asked to cast their votes through the World Athletics social media channels for the shortlisted moment that they feel best exemplifies fair play. These votes will be combined with the votes from the jury to determine three finalists for the Fair Play Award. The winner will be revealed at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco in December.”

World Athletics announced the new members of its Athletes Commission, elected in Budapest and including:

● Valerie Adams (NZL) ~ two-time Olympic shot gold medalist
● Adam Gemili (GBR) ~ 2014 European 200 m Champion
● Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) ~ London 2012 vault gold medalist
● Aisha Praught Leer (JAM) ~ 2018 Commonwealth Games Steeple winner
● Diego Garcia (ESP) ~ Two-time European 20 km Walk medalist
● Jasmine Todd (USA) ~ 2015 Worlds 4×100 m silver medalist

This group will serve from 2023-27; Lavellenie, the current Chair, and Adams, the current Vice Chair, and Praught Leer, were re-elected. The outgoing members include American Bernard Lagat and China’s Bingtian Su.

Congratulations to retired American distance star Shannon Rowbury, the 2009 Worlds women’s 1,500 m bronze medalist and three-time Olympian, for being one of three English-language announcers for the Worlds, along with veterans Geoff Wightman and Kris Temple (both GBR).

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ATHLETICS: Ealey, U.S. 4×100 m relays win as Lyles scores third gold; Canada strikes gold for Arop and LePage at Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
The 2022 and 2023 World Athletics women's shot put champion, Chase Ealey of the U.S. (Photo: Diamond League AG)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

A hot and muggy morning in Budapest for the women’s marathoners at the 19th World Athletics Championships, but no problem for Ethiopia, which finished 1-2-5.

In the evening session, Canada won golds in the men’s 800 and decathlon and the U.S. crushed all comers in both the men’s and women’s 4×100 m relays – giving Noah Lyles three golds – plus a repeat Worlds gold for shot putter Chase Ealey.

First, the marathon:

● Women/Marathon ● The race started at 73 degrees (F) and 77% humidity at 7 a.m. and finished at 84 degrees and 57% humidity, so keeping hydrated was key, as well as a steady pace.

The race was run mostly over four laps of 10 km that covered areas of both Buda and Pest, including crossing a bridge over the Danube River. American Susanna Sullivan, however, took off and had a 15-second lead by 9 km, but the pack caught up by the 10 km mark.

There were 24 running in the lead pack at the half, with Keira D’Amato of the U.S. leading at a reasonable 1:14:29. By 25 km, however, the Ethiopian team had taken over, with 2023 Boston runner-up Amane Beriso Shankule, 2023 Tokyo runner-up Tsehay Gemechu, defending champ Gotytom Gebreslase and 2022 London winner Yalemzerf Yehualaw running 1-3-4-6.

Staying with them was Israel’s 2022 Worlds bronze medalist Lonah Salpeter and Kenya’s Tokyo 2023 champ, Rosemary Wanjiru. But the lead pack was down to nine by 30 km, six by 32 km, and then the Ethiopians moved.

Beriso Shankule, Yehualaw and Gebreslase increased the pace to 3:12 and broke away, and Beriso Shankule continued with kilometers of 3:12-3:12-3:12-3:13-3:11 to tear the race apart and lead by 23 seconds at the 39 km split. Gebreslase and Yehualaw were 2-3, but fading under the strain.

A 34-second gap to fourth-place Fatima Gardadi (MAR) was gone by 41 km, and she charged home third for the first Worlds women’s marathon medal for her country. Salpeter also passed Yehualaw by 42 km and finished fourth.

But Beriso Shankule and Gebreslase were unchallenged and won gold and silver in 2:24:23 and 2:24:34. Gardadi was third in 2:25:17, with Salpeter at 2:25:38, Yehualaw at 2:26:13 and Wanjiru sixth at 2:26:42. It was the first time since 2009 that a Kenyan did not medal in this event.

The top U.S. finisher was Lindsey Flanagan in ninth (2:27:47), with D’Amato in 17th (2:31:35) and Sullivan in 58th (2:44:24).

The evening session was really something:

● Men/800 m ● Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, 19, had the lead on the backstraight and was in front at the bell in 52.68 and looked strong past the third turn. But Canadian Marco Arop, the 2022 Worlds bronze winner, went out to lane two and charged into the lead going into the final turn.

Arop was ahead of Wanyonyi into the straight, then Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela came up to challenge. But Arop won going away in 1:44.24, with Wanyonyi steady in second (1:44.53) and Britain’s Ben Pattison – no. 13 on the world list coming in – charging on the inside for third in 1:44.93. Masalela faded to sixth in 1:45.57.

Arop was last at the bell in 53.4, but roared home in 51.9 to win Canada’s first Worlds gold in the event. American Bryce Hoppel finished eighth in 1:46.02, but after a disqualification, was moved to seventh.

● Men/4×100 m ● The U.S. ran the same first three legs as in the semifinals, with Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley and Brandon Carnes, but added Lyles to the anchor, running in lane eight.

Coleman got another great start and moved into the lead right away, passing safely to Kerley, who ran up on Japan in lane nine. The pass to Carnes was fair, but he was in the lead when he got the pass – shakily – to Lyles on the anchor.

It appeared that Lyles was in a fight with Jamaica’s Rohan Watson and Italy’s Filippo Tortu, but his top-end speed was more than enough to bring the U.S. home in a world-leading 37.38. Italy was a happy second in 37.62, followed by Jamaica (37.76) and Great Britain (37.76).

It’s the first U.S. title in the event since 2019 (with Lyles on anchor), but the ninth overall, the most ever. The time is equal-ninth ever.

● Men/Vault ● Six made it to 5.90 m (19-4 1/4), with world-record holder (and defending champ) Mondo Duplantis (SWE) passing, and Ernest John Obiena (PHI) and Chris Nilsen of the U.S. over on their first tries. France’s Thibaut Collet, who came in with a best of 5.82 m (19-1), cleared lifetime bests of 5.85 m (19-2 1/4) and then 5.90 m to take the lead.

Australia’s Kurtis Marschall missed once and passed to 5.95 m (19-6 1/4); Poland’s Piotr Lisek, a two-time Worlds bronze winner, missed twice and was out due to a miss at the prior height.

Now at 5.95 m (19-6 1/4), Duplantis, Obiena, Marschall and Nilsen cleared on their first tries, with Collet missing once and passing. At 6.00 m (19-8 1/4), Duplantis cleared right away and Obiena made it on his second try, but Marschall and Nilsen both missed all three times, but shared the bronze medal, as Collet missed both of his tries. Obiena’s clearance equaled his Asian record.

The bar moved to 6.05 m (19-10 1/4), and Duplantis cleared cleanly on his first trial, for his fifth clearance without a miss. Obiena missed and passed, and after Duplantis cleared 6.10 m (20-0 1/4) without incident, Obiena missed twice and settled for the silver medal, his second straight at the Worlds.

Duplantis asked for the bar to go to a world record 6.23 m (20-5 1/4) – remember he cleared a world-record of 6.21 m (20-4 1/2) in Eugene in 2022, and raised it to 6.22 m (20-5) indoors this year – but missed all three tries.

● Men/Decathlon ● Germany’s NCAA champ Leo Neugebauer started the day with a 4,640-4,610 lead on Canada’s Pierce LePage, but it didn’t last long.

Olympic champ Damian Warner and teammate LePage were 1-2 in the 110 m hurdles, in 13.67 and a lifetime best of 13.77 and that vaulted them to 1-2 at 5,614 and 5,596, with Neugebauer third. In the discus, Grenada’s Lindon Victor, fifth at the 2022 Worlds, was best at 54.97 m (180-4), best ever at a World Championships, with LePage at 50.98 m (167-3), and Neuegebauer and Warner at 6-7.

LePage’s lead increased to 6,505 to 6,380 after seven events over Warner, with Victor now third (6,365) and Neugebauer fourth (6,341). In the vault, American Harrison Williams cleared 5.30 m (17-4 1/2), with LePage at 5.20 m (17-0 3/4), whose lead increased to 7,477-7,282 over Neugebauer with Warner at 7,260 and Victor at 7,214. American Kyle Garland, eighth at the end of the first, did not clear a height and withdrew.

Victor for a seasonal best to finish third in the javelin (68.05 m/223-3), with Warner sixth and LePage seventh, so LePage led with 8,228, ahead of Victor (8,074), Warner (8,044) and Neugebauer (7,989).

Norway’s Sander Skotheim won the 1,500 m at 4:19.64, with Warner seventh, Victor 12th and LePage 13th and LePage won at 8,909, becoming only the sixth man in history to break the 8,900 mark. It’s the no. eight performance ever.

Warner got a second Worlds silver (also in 2015) at 8,804 and now owns four Worlds medals in all (0-2-2). Victor took Grenada’s first Worlds medal in the event and got a national record of 8,756.

Williams of the U.S. was seventh at 8,500.

● Women/5,000 m ● Defending champ Gudaf Tsegay led the field from the start, then teammate Ejgayehu Taye took over before world-record holder Faith Kipyegon (KEN) went in front with eight laps left. They were running in 83 F heat, with 55% humidity.

Kipyegon ran with teammate Beatrice Chebet, the 2022 Worlds runner-up, took turns in the lead, then the third Kenyan, Lillian Rengeruk was in front at 3,000 m (9:16.55), with most of the field in contact. There were 11 within a second at 4,000 m, and with two laps to go, Tsegay was in the lead with 14 in the lead pack.

Kipyegon had the lead with 600 m to go, but when would the real running start? At the bell, Olympic champ Sifan Hassan (NED) had moved up to challenge, right behind Kipyegon.

Finally, the speed kicked in with 300 m to go and Kipyegon, Hassan and Chebet separated from the field and dueled to the finish. They finished in that order, with Kipyegon holding a steady lead all during the last 100 m, winning in a modest 14:53.88.

Hassan was second in 14:54.11, Chebet third in 14:54.33 and Margaret Kipkemboi (KEN: 14:56.62) fourth.

It’s the slowest Worlds 5,000 winning time since 2011. Elise Cranny of the U.S. was ninth in 14:59.22, and Alicia Monson was 14th in 15:04.08.

● Women/4×100 m ● Jamaica and the U.S. had won the last nine Worlds golds coming in, and off the start, American Tamari Davis gained a little on Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison on the first leg, but the pass was less-than-efficient to TeeTee Terry for the second leg.

But Terry gave nothing away to Jamaican star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on second, and while the pass to Gabby Thomas was also confused, Thomas flew around the turn to run down Jamaica’s Shashalee Forbes, heading into the anchor, and the pass to 100 m champ Sha’Carri Richardson was excellent and in front of Jamaica’s  200 m champ, Shericka Jackson.

Richardson was steady to the finish and Jackson gained nothing as the U.S. won in the fourth-fastest time in history in 41.03, a World Championships record. Jamaica’s 41.21 is the no. eight performance all-time and Great Britain ran 41.97 for bronze.

It’s the ninth Worlds gold for the U.S. – same as the men – and the most of all nations, and the U.S. won both the men’s and women’s 4x100s for the first time since 2007.

The utterly incredible world record of 40.82 by the U.S. from the London 2012 Olympic Games is very much in danger next year if the passes are better.

● Women/Shot ● World leader Maggie Ewen of the U.S., in her fourth Worlds at age 28, opened at 19.51 m (64-0 1/4) and moved into second place, but teammate – and defending champ – Chase Ealey picked the right time for a seasonal best and the no. 2 throw of the season at 20.35 m (66-9 1/4) to really pressure the field. It’s the no. seven performance in U.S. history.

Canadian Sarah Mitton, fourth at the 2022 Worlds, reached 19.90 m (65-3 1/2) for a seasonal best and into second place in round three, with Ewen standing fifth.

China’s Lijiao Gong, a medal winner in seven straight Worlds, moved into second at 19.69 m (64-7 1/4) in the fourth round and was equaled by Portugal’s World Indoor champ Auriol Dongmo in the same round.

Then Mitton blew out to 20.08 m (65-10 1/2) in round five and secured the silver, while Ealey extended her lead to 20.43 m (67-0 1/2) in the fifth, the no. six throw in American history.

That’s how it ended, with Ealey winning a second straight gold, the U.S.’s only two wins in Worlds ever. Gong got the bronze for having a better back-up mark. Ewen did not improve and finished sixth.

In the qualifying, Americans Adelaide Aquilla (17.42 m/57-2) and Jalani Davis (16.93 m/55-6 1/2) finished 23rd and 26th and did not advance to the final.

The relay prelims featured yet another U.S. relay disqualification, this time in a 4×400 m!

● Men/4×400 m ● There was a near-surprise in heat one, but the U.S. prevailed.

Hurdles star Trevor Bassitt (45.29) opened and stormed down the final straight to pass first to Matthew Boling (44.39), who cut in for the lead, and was pressed by India, but handed first to Chris Bailey. Bailey (44.31) held the lead over India, but then anchor Justin Robinson lost the lead to Rajesh Ramesh with 200 m to go.

But Robinson came back and strode away on the final 120 m (44.48) to win in 2:58.48. Solid, but India was brilliant with a national record 2:59.05 – first time under 3:00 – for second. Great Britain was third – barely – in 2:59.42 with Botswana, but 8/1000ths better on the extended clock.

Heat two had Jamaica’s Jevaughn Powell in the lead on the second leg, then Zandrion Barnes (44.71) opened up a big lead on the final pass. Anchor D’Andre Anderson held the lead for Jamaica, but was challenged by Kenyan 800 m star Wyclife Kinyamal with 200 m to go.

Kinyamal appeared to get spiked, grimacing in pain, and was passed on the home straight, first by Isaya Ikkink for the Netherlands, then by France’s Teo Andant on the outside, and by Italy’s Alessandro Sibilo on the inside, including a push to keep Kinyamal out of his path.

Anderson finished with a 45.25 leg for Jamaica to win in 2:59.82, then France at 3:00.05 and Italy at 3:00.14. Kinyamal and Kenya faded to seventh (3:01.41).

The U.S. will bring at least Quincy Hall and Vernon Norwood in for the final, and possibly a third; is Rai Benjamin still in Budapest? Robinson is probably on the finals squad.

● Women/4×400 m ● Jamaica took it out on the first leg with Charokee Young (52.16) and handed off first to Nickisha Pryce (49.75), who held on to the lead over Canada, and passed with a 3 m lead to Shiann Salmon.

She held on to the lead, but it was tight when she passed to anchor Stacey Ann Williams. But Williams was steady, finishing in 50.09 to win in a world-leading 3:22.74, with Canada at 3:23.29.

The drama was for places 3-4, with Dutch star Femke Bol being challenged by Poland’s 400 m silver winner Natalia Kaczmarek. The Pole got close on the straight, but Bol steamed home in third with a 49.19 leg and a 323.75. Kaczmarek, despite a heroic 48.87 leg, got fourth in 3:24.05.

Lynna Irby-Jackson got the U.S. off strong in heat two (50.78), but Rosey Effiong (49.60) had to chase a hot start from Britain’s Amber Anning (49.70), who got the lead and then they handed off together.

Quanera Hayes (51.08) was together with Britain’s Nicole Yergin (50.77) into the straight for the final pass, with Hayes passing on the inside to Alexis Holmes. And then, disaster.

Holmes did not look the baton into her hand, stepped on the inside curb and by the time she got the stick, she had passed the exchange zone. She held off charges from Belgium and Italy, and almost passed Britain’s Yemi Mary John (52.12), but her 51.89 anchor was worthless as the U.S. was disqualified. Britain won at 3:23.33, with the U.S. just 0.02 back, but Belgium was advanced to second in 3:23.63.

It’s the first time the U.S. women have not won a medal in this event since being disqualified in 2005, winning seven out of eight Worlds finals since.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Stats ● The U.S. medal parade continued with medals in the relays, women’s shot and men’s vault, now totaling 27 (11-8-8) with a day to go and a couple more medal possibilities left.

Jamaica now has 11 medals (3-4-4), to eight for Ethiopia (2-4-2), seven for Great Britain (2-2-3) and six each for Canada (4-2-0) and Kenya (2-2-2). A total of 41 countries have now won medals in 2023.

World Athletics’ main results site was back up and running on Saturday, so the placing table (8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1) was available and showed the U.S. at 255 points to 121 for Jamaica, 84 for Kenya, 74 for Ethiopia and Great Britain.

● Stories ● The hot and humid weather has caused organizers to shorten the public 10 km race to accompany the men’s marathon on Sunday to 5 km.

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ATHLETICS: Lyles doubles at 200; Jackson scares Flo-Jo’s world record and come-from-behind wins at Budapest Worlds!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Noah Lyles winning the men's 200 m at the 2022 World Championships (Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Conditions in Budapest for the 19th World Athletics Championships were in the mid-80s for Friday’s events, but the competition was hot again, with final-try wins for favorites Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela in the triple jump and Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi in the javelin.

The highlights were the two 200 m finals, with defending champions Noah Lyles writing more history and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson getting ever close to Flojo’s 35-year-old world record:

● Men/200 m ● After getting the worst of the collision between two electric carts that collided on the way into the stadium, Jamaica’s Andrew Hudson was advanced to the final in the men’s 200 m. He had to have some glass cleared out of his eye before the race and said he had blurred vision during, but finished a quite respectable fifth in 20.38. He was given lane one, and finished eighth.

The three Americans in the final were defending champ Lyles in six, 2022 Worlds silver winner Kenny Bednarek in seven and bronze medalist Erriyon Knighton in eight.

Off the gun, Lyles pushed hard and had the lead right away and stormed into the straight, running away from the field in the final 75 m, and won going away in 19.52 (-0.2).

Knighton and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo – from lane nine – were 2-3 down the straight and finished that way, 19.75 to 19.81. Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Bednarek were 4-5 in 20.02 and 20.07.

Lyles’ double in the 100 and 200 m is the first at the Worlds since Jamaica’s Usain Bolt in 2015 and the first by an American since Tyson Gay in 2007. He’s continuing to write history, even if well short of his world-record prediction prior to the meet; at 26, he’ll have lots more chances.

He can go for a third gold if the U.S. coaches place him on the 4×100 m final team as well (maybe Knighton, too)!

● Women/200 m ● Defending champ Jackson was in lane six, with the Americans – Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson – in eight and nine.

Jackson was out like a shot from the gun, and was in the lead from 20 m and ran away with the race in 21.41 (+0.1), the second-fastest time in history. Only U.S. legend Florence Griffith-Joyner has run faster with her world record of 21.34 in 1988, and Jackson owns two of the top three times ever.

Behind her, the field was even, but Thomas emerged with 75 m to move into second, with Richardson following right behind to finish 2-3 in 21.81 and a lifetime best of 21.92.

NCAA champ Julien Alfred (LCA) was fourth in 22.05. Jackson ‘s back-to-back wins are the third in the history of the Worlds, with Allyson Felix of the U.S. winning in 2005-07-09, and Dafne Schippers (NED) in 2015-17.

Worth noting that the medal winners in both the men’s and women’s 200 m were in lanes six (gold), eight (silver) and nine (bronze).

● Men/Decathlon ● German Leo Neugebauer, who won the NCAA title for Texas and set the collegiate record holder at 8,836, was the favorite, but would he hold up at the end of a very long season?

Canadian Olympic champ Damian Warner, as expected, won the 100 m in 10.32, with Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme next-best at 10.43. Neugebauer got a lifetime best of 8.00 m (26-3) to lead the long jump, with Warner third-best at 7.77 m (25-6), and Neugebauer followed up with another lifetime best in the shot, leading everyone at 17.04 m (55-11), and taking a 2,908-2,812 edge over Warner into the high jump.

Neugebauer cleared 2.02 m (6-7 1/2) in the high jump, but Warner got through 2.05 m (6-8 3/4), a season’s best. Teammate Pierce LePage, last year’s Worlds silver medalist, cleared 2.08 m (6-9 3/4) and moved into a tie for second at 3,662, with Neugebauer at 3,730.

In the 400 m, Page won section two in 47.21, a seasonal best. Owens-Delerme won section three over American Harrison Williams, 46.44-46.52, with Warner at 47.86 and Neugebauer at 47.99. The German finished at 4,640 as the leader, with LePage at 4,610 and Warner third (4.578).

American Kyle Garland scored 4,382 and stands eighth, with Williams at 4,380 (ninth). Owens-Delerme stands sixth at 4,429.

France’s two-time World Champion and world-record holder Kevin Mayer felt a leg strain in the long jump and withdrew. American Zack Ziemek, last year’s bronze medalist, stood seventh after the high jump, but then withdrew and did not run the 400 m.

● Women/Triple Jump ● Three-time defending World Champion and world-record holder Yulimar Rojas (VEN) was the prohibitive favorite coming in, but Ukraine’s 2022 European Champion Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk sent a message with a 15.00 m (49-2 1/2) jump to take the lead. Rojas had a huge jump, but fouled in the first round.

Cuba’s Leyanis Perez Hernandez also got a big jump in the first round, jumping 14.96 m (49-1) to stand second, with Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts third at 14.87 m (48-9 1/2).

Rojas managed 14.33 m (47-0 1/4) in the second round, tying for the eighth and final qualifying spot, but advanced only on her second-best mark for the final. Then she had a huge jump in round four that was called a foul, and another foul in the fifth.

Ricketts was passed for third by a national record from Thea Lafond (DMA), at 14.90 m (48-10 3/4).

But in the sixth round, Rojas got a fair jump and didn’t have her usual explosion off the board, but was smooth in all three phases and took the lead at 15.08 m (49-5 3/4). Then she had to wait for the other seven jumpers to see if she had a fourth straight world title. She moved Bekh-Romanchuk to silver and Perez to bronze.

Rickets moved back to fourth at 14.92 m (48-11 1/2), and neither Perez or Bekh-Romanchuk could improve, and Rojas had her fourth world title. She now has eight World or Olympic titles: four outdoors, three indoors and the Tokyo Olympic title, as the greatest ever in the event.

American Keturah Orji also jumped 14.33 m for a non-qualifying ninth, and Jasmine Moore was 11th, at 13.54 m (44-5 1/4). Tori Franklin of the U.S. did not jump in the final.

● Women/Javelin ● Colombia’s Flor Denis Ruiz staggered the field with her first-round national record of 65.57 m (215-1), a national record; her prior best was 63.84 m (209-5)!

Favorite Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan managed 63.00 m to move into second (206-8) after three rounds, then was passed by Latvia’s Anete Kocina in round four at 63.18 m (207-3) for second in the fourth.

Then Australia’s Mackenzie Little, a two-time NCAA winner at Stanford, moved from fifth to second in the final round, at 63.38 m (207-11), taking Kitaguchi off the podium!

So Kitaguchi had one throw left, and ripped one that screamed out to 66.73 m (218-11) to take the lead! Neither Kocina or Ruiz could respond and Kitaguchi moved up from bronze last year to gold in Budapest.

Only a few surprises in Friday’s prelims, with the U.S. women barely getting their passes straight in the 4×100 m heats:

● Men/4×100 m ● The U.S. was in the first heat, with Christian Coleman leading off strongly, and handing to Fred Kerley, who forged a strong lead, passing to Brandon Carnes on the far turn. Carnes gave anchor J.T. Smith a nice lead, but it didn’t last.

The last pass was shaky, but Smith finally got it and was off and running. But Jamaica’s Rohan Watson and Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown were flying and Smith had to lean hard to win at the line, 37.67 to 37.68 to 37.71. The U.S. mark was the fastest time in the world this season.

Olympic champions Italy looked brilliant in heat two, passing brilliantly, and Filippo Tortu outran South Africa’s Akani Simbine to the line in a world-leading 37.65, with South Africa at 37.72. Britain qualified third in 38.07.

The U.S. line-up has to change for the final; surely Lyles will be added and perhaps Knighton as well?

● Men/Javelin ● Olympic champ Neeraj Chopra (IND) led the qualifying at 88.77 m (291-3), one of only three automatic qualifiers, along with Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan (86.79 m/284-9) and Jakub Vadlejch (CZE: 83.50 m/273011). The shock was that defending champion Anderson Peters of Grenada managed only 78.49 m (257-6) and finished 16th. Kenyan Julius Yego, the 2015 winner, was 17th at 78.42 m (257-3) and also did not advance.

None of the Americans advanced: Capers Williamson finished 24th at 76.10 m (249-8), Curtis Thompson threw 74.21 m (243-5) for 30th and Ethan Dabbs had no legal mark.

● Women/800 m ● World leader Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) and U.S. champ Nia Akins ran at the front right away and passed 400 m in 58.36. Hodgkinson led right on through, with Noelle Yarigo (BEN) running second through 700 m, but then Akins pushed down the straight and moved up to challenge Hodgkinson at the finish, 1:59.48 to 1:59.61, a lifetime best.

American Raevyn Rogers lead the second semi, at 61.26 at the bell, then saw Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin take over on the turn. Down the straight, Rogers got the lead back, but Britain’s Jemma Reekie came on from fourth to win in 2:00.28, to 2:00.47 for Rogers. Groule-Toppin was third in 2:00.78 and did not advance.

Olympic and World Champion Athing Mu of the U.S. was the headliner in semi three and ran behind Kenya’s 2022 bronze medalist Mary Moraa and Uganda’s 2019 Worlds winner Halimah Nakaayi through the first lap in 57.36, the fastest so far. But Mu got tangled with South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso – who fell – and Mu twirled around to keep from falling. But she recovered and started moving on the leaders.

By the final turn, she was third again and then moved past Nakaayi on the straight to finish behind Moraa, 1:58.48 to 1:58.78. On to the final. Nakaayi was third and advanced in 1:59.89.

● Women/4×100 m ● Jamaica’s passing in heat one was textbook and four-time Olympic sprint champ Elaine Thompson-Herah flew down the back straight to pass – in the lead – to Shashalee Forbes, who gave Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce an advantage that she extended to win in 41.70. Great Britain was a clear second in 42.33, then Switzerland in 42.64.

In heat two, Tamari Davis crushed the field off the start and TeeTee Terry extended the lead on the second leg. Terry’s pass to Tamara Clark was late and Clark stutter-stepped to stay in the zone – barely – and then regained her momentum. Clark passed to Melissa Jefferson on the anchor and she crossed the line in 41.59. The Cote d’Ivoire set an African record of 41.90 in second and Italy set a national record of 42.14 in third.

● Women/High Jump ● There were 15 qualifiers to the final, all at 1.82 m (5-11 1/2), including back-to-back silver medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) and teammate Iryna Gerashchenko, Olympic silver winner Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) and 2019 Worlds bronze medalist Vashti Cunningham of the U.S.

Ukraine’s Yuliya Levchenko, the 2017 Worlds silver winner, cleared 1.80 m (5-10 3/4) and did not advance.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Stats ● The U.S. scored four more medals (1-2-1) on Friday, bringing its total to 23 (8-8-7) with two more days to go and maybe seven more available on the weekend.

Second in the medal count is Jamaica after Thursday’s explosion, with nine (3-3-3), followed by Ethiopia (6: 1-3-2), Great Britain (5:2-2-1) and Spain (4: 4-0-0). A total of 39 countries have won medals so far.

Because the main World Athletics Web site is still down, the placing table is not available; hopefully soon?

● Stories ● Thursday was an especially important day for Slovakian race walkers Dominik Cerny and Hana Burzalova. Cerny finished 19th overall in the men’s 35 km race in a lifetime best of 2:32:56, then waited at the finish line for Burzalova, who got a seasonal best of 3:02:47 to finish 28th.

But as soon as she crossed the line, Cerny was there, on one knee, to propose! And the answer was yes. World Athletics tweeted, “Love’s not a competition, but [Slovakia’s] Dominik Cerný and Hana Burzalova are winning today.”

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TSX REPORT: BRICS declaration glosses over sport; Spain football chief Rubiales to resign Friday; U.S. skaters ask to observe Valieva hearing

By
Rich Perelman
-
The new USA Gymnastics mascot - a cat - to be named on Sunday! (Image: USA Gymnastics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. BRICS declaration barely mentions sport; six to be added
2. RFEF head Rubiales to resign; FIFA opens inquiry
3. U.S. figure skaters ask to observe Valieva hearing
4. USA Gymnastics unveils “cat” mascot; name voting open
5. World Boxing doubles in size with new additions

● The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) Summit in South Africa produced no diatribe against the International Olympic Committee or the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but the five-member group said it would expand for 2024 and had additional applications pending, which could impact the Olympic Movement in the future, perhaps as soon as 2025.

● Luis Rubiales, head of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, is set to resign at a special federation assembly in view of his “unacceptable” conduct in the aftermath of Spain’s 1-0 win over England in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final in Australia. FIFA announced its own disciplinary inquiry to Rubiales’ conduct, and could suspend him.

● The U.S. Figure Skating Team from the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games sent a letter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, asking to have an observer at the September hearing of the Kamila Valieva doping appeal. If possible, the skaters asked that the same courtesy be offered to the Japanese and Canadian teams. None of these federations are a party in the case.

● USA Gymnastics unveiled its mascot, a friendly cat, on Thursday, and is asking fans to send in names, with the winning moniker to be announced at the conclusion of the Artistic Nationals on Sunday.

● World Boxing announced six more members, bringing the total to 12, with more applications already being reviewed. All have left the International Boxing Association, which was de-recognized by the International Olympic Committee in June.

● World Championships: Gymnastics (Varfololeev, 16, sweeps Rhythmic apparatus titles!) = Shooting (40-something Cernogoraz and Lin Yi win Trap golds) ●

● Panorama: Brisbane 2032 (renovation of The Gabba said not necessary, A$1.5 billion adjacent private development project announced) = Equestrian (multiple candidates for 2026 Worlds, in pieces) = Wrestling (UWW suspends Indian federation) ●

● Special coverage of the World Athletics Championships is being posted daily;
for Thursday, click here ●

1.
BRICS declaration barely mentions sport; six to be added

In the post-Soviet world, declarations of regional political organizations usually don’t get much attention on sports sites, but many eyes in the Olympic Movement were on the XV BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa that concluded on Thursday.

The 94-paragraph Johannesburg II Declaration did not mention the Paris 2024 Olympic Games or the International Olympic Committee at all, and mentioned sport way at the back:

“84. We welcome the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Sports to develop a BRICS Sport Cooperation Framework, during South Africa’s Chairship in 2023. We look forward to the successful holding of the BRICS Games in October 2023 in South Africa. We commit to provide the necessary support for BRICS countries to participate in international sport competitions and meetings held in their own country in compliance with relevant rules.

“85. We emphasize that all BRICS countries have rich traditional sport culture and agree to support each other in the promotion of traditional and indigenous sports among BRICS countries and around the world. We encourage our sport organizations to carry out various exchange activities both online and offline.”

The 2023 BRICS Games in South Africa has never been mentioned by Russia (or anyone else) and Russia will become the BRICS Chair for 2024 and is planning a BRICS Games from 12-23 June – ending a month prior to the Paris 2024 opening. The Russian plan is to hold the 2024 BRICS Games in Kazan, which will also be the host of the XVI BRICS Summit, that will include six new members.

The “BRIC” group – Brazil, Russia, India, China – held its first group summit in 2009 and added South Africa (“BRICS”) in 2010, but has now decided to expand again:

“90. We appreciate the considerable interest shown by countries of the global South in membership of BRICS. True to the BRICS Spirit and commitment to inclusive multilateralism, BRICS countries reached consensus on the guiding principles,
standards, criteria and procedures of the BRICS expansion process.

“91. We have decided to invite the Argentine Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to become full members of BRICS from 1 January 2024.

“92. We have also tasked our Foreign Ministers to further develop the BRICS partner country model and a list of prospective partner countries and report by the next Summit.”

There is additional interest in the group from others, including Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Nigeria, Palestine, Senegal, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam. Another 16 have shown some interest.

Observed: These developments are, of course, well beyond the realm of sport, but could impact international sport in the future. The BRICS group is hardly cohesive, with China and India often in conflict and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine not supported, but also not commented on.

One more example: Russian President Vladimir Putin attended only by videoconference, as he is subject to an arrest warrant for countries who have affiliated with the International Criminal Court, as South Africa has. The South Africans would have been obliged to arrest him if he attended in person.

But as the BRICS group expands, keep an eye out for political moves within sport, and alliances which could be formed to influence future events, such as the 2025 election of a new head of the International Olympic Committee.

For now, the Paris 2024 Games appear safe, but international tensions could mount ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games, just as they did for the 1984 Games, where a reciprocal boycott after the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games kept 15 countries away. That action was widely considered a failure vis-a-vis the success and legacy of the Los Angeles Games, but required IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch to work overtime to get everyone (well, almost everyone) to attend the Seoul Games in 1988.

The next IOC President could be selected on the membership’s view of who will be most capable of doing so again, a qualification far from questions of climate change, gender equity and sustainability so dear to current chief Thomas Bach of Germany.

2.
RFEF head Rubiales to resign; FIFA opens inquiry

Amid reports in Spain that Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF: Royal Spanish Football Federation) President Luis Rubiales will resign at the federation’s emergency general assembly on Friday in view of his actions at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final in Sydney (AUS), FIFA has opened its own inquest:

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee informed Luis Rubiales, President of the Spanish Football Association, today that it is opening disciplinary proceedings against him based on the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ on 20 August 2023.

“The events may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”

Those sections include:

“13. Offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play

“1. Associations and clubs, as well as their players, officials and any other member and/or person carrying out a function on their behalf, must respect the Laws of the Game, as well as the FIFA Statutes and FIFA’s regulations, directives, guidelines, circulars and decisions, and comply with the principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity.

“2. For example, anyone who acts in any of the following ways may be subject to disciplinary measures:

“a) violating the basic rules of decent conduct;

“b) insulting a natural or legal person in any way, especially by using offensive gestures, signs or language;

“c) using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature;

“d) behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute;

“e) actively altering the age of players shown on the identity cards they produce at competitions that are subject to age limits.”

Rubiales was reported to made one or more inappropriate gestures at the end of Spain’s 1-0 win over England and then – infamously – planted an uninvited kiss on midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal presentation ceremony.

He apologized in a video posted later on Sunday, but Spain’s Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called his actions “unacceptable” and the apology as “not sufficient.” Rubiales, 46, was a defender in his playing days, and was elected in 2018, with his current term to expire in 2024.

3.
U.S. figure skaters ask to observe Valieva hearing

USA Today’s Christine Brennan posted a letter from the members of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team, asking to be allowed to have an observer physically present at the 26-29 September hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport for the Kamila Valieva case.

The one-page, four-paragraph letter to Court of Arbitration for Sport Director General Mathieu Reeb (SUI) includes:

● “We come before you with one simple request: to be granted a seat for one of our representatives to observe the upcoming hearing regarding Ms. Valieva’s anti-doping rule violation … We make our request seeking much-needed transparency that we have been largely denied throughout this arduous process.”

● “We are not the only ones affected – the Japanese and Canadian teams have also been unfairly enmeshed in this turmoil and we ask CAS consider granting a member of each team observer status as well.”

● “We are incredibly disappointed that have 500 days have passed since our Olympic triumph, and yet we still have not received our medals. But in no way to we intend to influence the outcome of this hearing, nor do we intend to be a distraction. Nothing can turn back the clocks on this saga, but being permitted to observe the hearing would be a small step towards achieving transparency that we skaters and the entire world deserve.”

The nine members of the U.S. squad are signatories.

Brennan’s analysis, posted on Twitter:

“A brilliant move by U.S. Figure Skating and the U.S. silver-medal-winning 2022 Olympic team to ask for a seat in the Kamila Valieva hearing next month in Switzerland. If CAS denies the request, it looks terrible and secretive, like it’s hiding something.”

The Russian news agency TASS asked Klever Consult sports practice lead attorney Anna Antseliovich (RUS), who said of the request:

“By and large, they have nothing to do there. Observers have no right to make statements, speak and present arguments and evidence. Moreover, their appearance at the meeting, even if they are just silently present, can be regarded as pressure on the arbitrators.

“Please note that CAS does not even disclose their [arbitrator] names in order to avoid this pressure. And here the faces of the representatives of the party obviously interested in the outcome of the case will be visibly looming. It is unlikely that the arbitrators will agree that someone who is really interested only in the outcome of the case, and not in the process, should observe the proceedings.”

The case is complex, actually an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency, International Skating Union and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) against the independent appeal board of RUSADA, which found Valieva had committed an anti-doping infraction with the presence of the banned substance trimetazidine in her 25 December 2021 sample, but sanctioned her with just a one-day penalty, allowing her to compete at the 2022 Winter Games.

4.
USA Gymnastics unveils “cat” mascot; name voting open

As promised, USA Gymnastics unveiled its mascot on Thursday as its national championships in Artistic Gymnastics opened in San Jose, California. The announcement noted the process:

“On March 21, a USAG social post asked ‘Out of all animals in the kingdom, which one do you think would make the best gymnast and why?’ The post solicited a wide range of feedback, from goat to squirrel to lemur.”

The strongest response was for a cat, so often able to stick its landing, no matter the situation, and the project progressed:

“USA Gymnastics then developed multiple artistic renderings and engaged in market testing with fans, athletes, parents, and coaches to choose the final design. Featuring grey fur with white accents; red, white and blue hair; and wearing a red USA Gymnastics t-shirt and blue shorts, the cat is ready to welcome fans to gymnastics – and perform some skills itself.”

The mascot, which will debut in 2024, is not yet named, but will be very soon:

“Fans around the country are invited to submit name suggestions for the mascot online through 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, August 26. The mascot name will be revealed at SAP Center and via social media Sunday after competition concludes at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships.”

5.
World Boxing doubles in size with new additions

“The National Federations for boxing in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Honduras and Sweden have completed the process to become members of World Boxing, the new international federation that has been established to keep boxing at the heart of the Olympic Movement.

“The addition of these six countries means World Boxing now has 12 members spread across four continents.”

Thursday’s announcement was no surprise, but a continuation of the process of federations moving away from the International Boxing Association – now unrecognized by the International Olympic Committee – and to a new organization which has a chance to become the IOC’s recognized federation for Olympic boxing.

More federations are expected to join shortly, with many pointing to the need to be a part of the World Boxing group at its first, organizing congress in November. Switzerland is another national federation which has separated from the IBA; it has not yet been announced as a World Boxing member.

Secretary General, Simon Toulson (GBR) noted, “We are receiving more and more interest and requests from National Federations and boxing organisations to join World Boxing on a weekly basis and currently have a number of applications from those wanting to join or going through the membership application process.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Gymnastics ● Germany’s 16-year-old Darja Varfolomeev completed a sweep of the four apparatus titles at the FIG Rhythmic World Championships in Valencia, Spain, a feat not achieved since 2011, when Russian Yevgeniya Kanayeva did the same, and also won the All-Around title.

Varfolomeev scored 34.350 on Clubs to edge Boryana Kaleyn (BUL: 33.550) and Ukraine’s Viktoriia Onopriienko (also 33.550). The German star and Kaleyn were also 1-2 on Ribbon, 33.350 to 31.850. Ekaterina Vedeneeva of Slovenia won the bronze – for the second straight year – with 31.100.

Kaleyn won her first individual Worlds medals with the two silvers.

No Americans made any of the apparatus finals. The Group All-Around will be held on Friday and the Individual All-Around on Saturday. Competition finishes with group events on Sunday.

● Shooting ● Trap finals were held Thursday at the ISSF World Championships in Baku (AZE), with London 2012 gold medalist Giovanni Cernogoraz (CRO) – now 40 – taking his first Worlds victory, 44-41, over Marian Kovacocy (SVK). Kuwait’s Khaled Almudhaf finished third (31), ahead of Will Hinton of the U.S. (27).

The women’s Trap win went to Chun Lin Yi of Chinese Taipei, 42, who won a Double Trap Worlds gold way back in 2002. She collected her second career world title with a 40-39 final over London 2012 Olympic champ Jessica Rossi of Italy.

In the non-Olympic 25 m Center-Fire Pistol, German Christian Reitz – the Rio 2016 Rapid-Fire Pistol winner – with, scoring 584 points, the same as Peeter Olesk (EST), but decided on criteria. The women’s center-fire pistol final was an Azerbaijan 1-2, with Nigar Nasirova and Narmina Samadova both scoring 554, but Nasirova winning on criteria.

Competitions continue through the end of the month.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● The current focus of controversy in the early days of the organization of Brisbane 2032 is the renovation and expansion project surrounding the famed Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as “The Gabba.”

The project, which would include an expansion of the area into an entertainment district, with new transit landings and a state-of-the-art sports arena, is now estimated at A$2.7 billion (~$1.73 billion U.S.), a project of the Australian and Queensland governments.

On Monday, Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll told the Federal Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee that the project was not required by the International Olympic Committee, and that the IOC preferred that such projects not be built to be used for the Games.

In fact, the IOC’s review of the Brisbane bid suggested that the athletics and ceremonies could be held at the Carrara Stadium just outside of Gold Coast, which was expanded with temporary stands to seat 40,000 for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Gabba project issues are primarily cost, with legislators asking what the actual, final cost will be.

However, the project is also of interest to private developers, with the Belmonde Property Group and Sub Luxe Group proposing a massive, adjacent development. According to the Tuesday announcement:

“A $1.5 billion, four-tower proposal in Brisbane, designed by architects Cottee Parker, has been submitted to Brisbane City Council for assessment.

“The application proposes to transform a 9,361-square-metre site at 79 Logan Road in Woolloongabba into a tourism hub in time for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

“Dubbed the Gabba Heart Precinct, the project includes plans to construct four towers ranging from 36 to 41 storeys, with three of the towers used to house more than 1,387 build-to-rent apartments and the fourth accommodating a hotel with 230 rooms and serviced apartments. The towers will rise above three podiums, providing a range of retail and food establishments. The application also proposes an upgrade to the adjacent Jurgens Park to create a community gathering point with art installations and improved amenities.”

Who wins?

● Equestrian ● In the aftermath of the cost-heavy World Equestrian Games, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) decided to go to a de-centralized World Championships model beginning in 2022, splitting its events between locations willing to host them.

Bidders for the 2026 World Championships were unveiled on Thursday, with Aarchen (GER) – site of the 2006 World Equestrian Games – offering to stage six of the disciplines on offer: Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, Eventing, Driving Four-in-Hand and Vaulting.

Two sites – Boekelo (NED) and Burghley (GBR) – offered to host Eventing, and two others – Al Ula (KSA) and Samorin (SVK) – are bidding for Endurance, which was not part of the Aarchen offer.

After a review by an evaluation team, the FEI Board will allocate the events at its meeting on 18 November 2026.

● Wrestling ● United World Wrestling announced the provisional suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India for its continued failure – among other things – to hold elections as required:

“The UWW Disciplinary Chamber decided on Wednesday that it had sufficient grounds to impose the provisional suspension on the body as the situation in the federation has prevailed for at least six months. The Chamber noted that the absence of a regularly elected president and a board does not comply with the UWW regulations and the conditions for membership.

“The Chamber also considered the protection of athletes after the [abuse] allegations against the former President of the WFI and the necessity to restore the functioning of the federation as another ground to impose the provisional suspension.”

Indian athletes can continue to compete, but must do so under the UWW flag.

This is another problem for Indian sport, with the International Olympic Committee’s 141st Session coming to Mumbai in October. The Indian Olympic Committee had hoped to showcase the country as a candidate for the 2036 Olympic Games, but this newest suspension will not help.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

ATHLETICS: Jamaica scores: Williams wins 100H, Watson wins 400 m; former Cal Bear Rogers takes hammer gold!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Happy medal winners: DeAnna Price (USA), winner Cam Rogers (CAN) and Janee' Kassanavoid (USA) from the women's hammer. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images 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 ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Temperatures in Budapest for the 19th World Athletics Championships were finally down to the mid-80s as Thursday’s evening session began, but it was Jamaica that was the hot, scoring two golds, a silver and two bronze medals on Thursday.

This was the first day of the meet in which the U.S. did not win an event – but won five medals nonetheless (0-2-3) – and is well set up for tomorrow, especially in the men’s 200 m. First, the finals:

● Men/400 m ● The Rio 2016 Olympic champ and world-record holder Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) was in lane two and London 2012 Olympic gold medalist Kirani James (GRN) was in four.

But Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, who set a European Record of 44.26 in the semis, and the 2022 Worlds bronze medalist, was flying down the back straight and was the leader at 200 m, with James and van Niekerk close. American Vernon Norwood came on to be third at the 300 m mark and looked like a medal winner.

Hudson-Smith had the lead off the turn and looked good into the straight, but behind him was a wild finish, with Jamaica’s Antonio Watson coming hard from fourth and passing Hudson-Smith with 5 m to go in 44.22 to 44.31.

American Quincy Hall was seventh coming into the straight, but mounted a hysterical charge and fought his way past James, then Norwood and into third at the line in a lifetime best 44.37.

Norwood was fourth in 44.39, ahead of James (44.52), with van Niekerk eighth (45.11). James was disqualified for a lane violation, moving van Niekerk up to seventh.

Watson’s story is pure Cinderella. He entered 2023 with a lifetime best of 46.17. Now he’s run 44.13 and is the Worlds gold medalist, Jamaica’s first in this event since Bert Cameron, way back at the first Worlds in Helsinki in 1983!

● Men/Long Jump ● Greece’s Olympic champ Miltiadis Tentoglou never quite found the formula in Eugene in 2022 and took silver at a modest – for him – 8.32 m (27-3 3/4). He wasn’t going to let that happen again.

So, jumping ninth in the first round, he flew to 8.50 m (27-10 3/4; +0.6). He was immediately followed by qualifying leader – and 2022 NCAA champ – Wayne Pinnock (JAM), who reached 8.40 m (27-6 3/4; +0.5). Game on.

Then Pinnock followed by with his own 8.50 m jump in round two, taking the lead on his better back-up mark and just four centimeters short of his world-leading 8.54 m (28-0 1.4) in qualifying. Teammate Carey McLeod blasted to 8.27 m (27-1 3/4) to stand third after round two.

Then the event stalled, until round six. Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, the 2019 World Champion, got his best jump of the day and also hit 8.27 m to tie McLeod, but moved into bronze-medal position on his second-best mark. McLeod did not improve and Gayle won his second career Worlds medal.

Down to the final two jumps, and Tentoglou got excellent speed on the runway, got nearly all of the board and hit the sand at 8.52 m (27-11 1/2), and into the lead by 2 cm, with Pinnock getting one chance to respond. He gave it a shot, but ended up a little short at 8.38 m (27-6), leaving the Olympic champ from Greece with his first World Championships gold. Tentoglou and the Jamaicans will surely go for each other again in Paris.

American Will Williams reached 7.94 m (26-0 3/4) in the first round, but did not improve and finished eighth. U.S. champ Marquis Dendy was 12th at 7.62 m (25-0).

● Women/100 m hurdles ● The start was even, but no one was looking at 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica in lane one. Devynne Charlton (BAH), the 2022 World Indoor 60 m hurdles runner-up, was leading in the middle of the track, but Williams was right there and as Charlton faded slightly, American Keni Harrison came on for second, with Williams now in the lead.

But over the final hurdles and especially the run-in, Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) pulled into contention and nearly won, with Williams leaning hard to win in a surprisingly-slow 12.43 (wind: -0.2 m/s). Camacho-Quinn was second in 12.44, Harrison third in 12.46 for her second career Worlds medal, and Charlton fourth in 12.52.

U.S. champ Nia Ali, the 2019 World Champion, was eighth in 12.78.

Since her win in 2015, Williams had been eliminated in her semi in 2017, third in 2019 and sixth last year. Now she is on top again.

● Women/400 m hurdles ● No question about the favorite and Dutch star Femke Bol delivered, taking the lead from the third hurdle on and steaming into the final straight in 51.70, the no. 8 performance of all time.

But she was within reach of U.S. champ Shamier Little at the eighth hurdle, then moved away. Little had to fight to stay in second and did so in 52.80, a seasonal best, winning a second silver after her runner-up finish from 2015.

Anna Cockrell of the U.S. was holding third on the straight, but was passed on the run-in by Jamaican Rushell Clayton (lifetime best 52.81) and Kemi Adekoya (BRN: 53.09 national record), finishing fifth in a lifetime best of 53.34.

● Women/Hammer ● California’s three-time NCAA champion Cam Rogers of Canada took the lead immediately at 77.72 m (255-0), with American Janee Kassanavoid moving into second at 76.00 m (249-4) in the second round and improving to 76.36 m (250-6) in round three.

The 2019 World Champion, DeAnna Price of the U.S. fouled on her first two throws, then got a safe third throw of 73l28 m (240-5) to qualify seventh. None improved in round four, then Price finally got hold of one and moved into third at 75.41 m (247-5) in round five.

There were no improvements in round six, with Price getting to close to the edge of the circle to cut short a promising turn, and Rogers finished with four throws that would have won the event. She moves from silver in 2022 to gold in 2023 and ends the U.S. streak in the event at two. Kassanavoid from up from bronze in 2022 to silver.

Coming into the meet, Canada had won one hammer medal in the history of the Worlds – Rogers’ silver in 2022 – and now has both champions, with Ethan Katzberg’s stunning win in the men’s event.

The history-making walks were held in the morning, with Spain continuing to sweep aside all others:

● Men/35 km Walk ● In his sixth World Championships, Spanish walker Alvaro Martin, 29, got his first Worlds medal with a win in the 20 km Walk last Saturday, becoming the third from his nation to win the event.

On Thursday, he became the only man in the history of the World Championships to win both walking events, taking the 35 km race in a national record of 2:24:30, moving him to no. 9 on the all-time list.

He won by just four seconds over Brian Pintado (ECU: 2:24:34), now no. 10 ever, and 42 seconds ahead of bronze winner Masatora Kawano (JPN: 2:25:12). Canada’s Evan Dunfee was fourth in 2:25:28.

There were 10 walking in the lead pack at 20 km, seven at 25 km, and France’s Aurielen Quinon had been holding on to the lead since the 14 km mark. He was still in the lead at 29 km, but had been repeatedly carded for violations and after falling back to fifth at 30 km, he was eventually disqualified for a fourth red card after 32 km.

Martin, who had been top four the entire race, saw Pintado take the lead , but Martin raced away in the 34th kilometer and won by four seconds. Kawano had been a steady third since 30 km, with Dunfee all alone in fourth.

● Women/35 km Walk ● In Eugene last year, Peru’s Kimberley Garcia Leon swept the walks, winning by 33 seconds in the 20 and 47 seconds in the 35, contested at the Worlds for the first time.

She was back, but so was Spain’s Maria Perez, in her fourth Worlds, but trying the 35 km for the first time. The rest of the field wishes she hadn’t, as she broke away after Poland’s 2022 silver medalist Katarzyna Zdzieblo – the leader from 3 km through 19 km – fell back and was eventually disqualified for a fourth red card after 30 km.

Perez led from 20 km to the finish, breaking the race open after 24 km and up by 1:45 by 30 km. She finished in 2:38:40, with Garcia Leon a clear second in 2:40:52, and Antigoni Ntrismpioti (GRE) third in 2:43:22.

American Maria Michta-Coffey finished 24th in 3:01:22.

Perez pulled off the same double as Garcia Leon in 2022, winning golds after a 10th (2017), eighth (2019) and a disqualification last year in her prior Worlds appearances at 20 km. At just 27, she will be back for more.

The heats of the men’s 200 m got a little crazy after an accident, but everyone eventually got to run:

● Men/200 m ● Act II of the Noah Lyles show was supposed to be in semi one, but NBC’s Lewis Johnson reported that the semi one entrants were in a golf cart that was involved in an accident with another cart, coming from the warm-up area. So semi two was advanced to run first, with 2022 Worlds silver winner Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. and Botswana’s 100 m runner-up Letsile Tebogo 1-2 off the turn and moving away from the field. They actually looked at each other down the straight, with Bednarek winning, 19.96 to 19.97 (0.0). American Courtney Lindsey, the NCAA runner-up, was third in 20.22.

Semi three went second, with American teen star Erriyon Knighton taking the lead on the turn and coasting in with 90 m to go. He had to pick it up a little to win in 19.98 (-0.4), ahead of Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, the 100 m bronzer (20.02). Canada’s Andre De Grasse, the Tokyo Olympic champ, was third in 20.10, and advanced to the final.

Lyles finally got to run in the third semi, 25 minutes after their scheduled time, zipped into the lead after the turn and strode down the straight to win in an impressive 19.76 (-0.1). Dominican Alexander Ogando was second in 20.02. Three races, three U.S. wins. Wow.

● Men/800 m ● Australia’s Joseph Deng and Algeria’s Slimane Moula led through the first lap at 50.54 and 50.55, and Moula, the 2022 African champ, stayed in front and fought off everyone on the straight to win semi one in 1:43.93. Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela came on hard on the straight to get second in a lifetime best of 1:44.14, with Ben Pattison (GBR) third in 1:44.23.

Canada’s Worlds bronze winner from 2022, Marco Arop, led at the bell in the second semi in 49.16, and was not headed, winning easily in 1:44.02, with 2022 Worlds silver winner Djamel Sedjati (ALG) second at 1:44.49.

Semi three saw Max Burgin (GBR) taking it out in 49.53, with Bryce Hoppel of the U.S. close, and Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi taking the lead into the turn. Hoppel was second for most of the straight, but was passed in the final 10 m by Spain’s Adrian Ben for second, 1:43.92 – lifetime best – to 1:44.04.

Wanyonyi won in 1:43.83, fastest of the day. Hoppel moved on to the final on time, with Burgin fading to eighth in 1:47.60.

● Men/5,000 m ● The pack ran lightly for the first 12 laps in heat one, with two-time Olympic medalist Paul Chelimo in the lead, then U.S. champ Abdi Nur was in the lead with three laps left. There still wasn’t much urgency until about 500 m left, when the running really started.

Nur, Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH), France’s Jimmy Gressier and Spain’s Mohamed Katir were in front, but everyone was sprinting at the bell, with Gebrhiwet, Nur and Katir in front. Gebrhiwet and Katir were 1-2 with 200 m left, but with 10 still in contention, then Katir turned on the jets and ran away to win in 13:35.90, ahead of Gebrhiwet (13:36.15). Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the defending champ, stormed down the straight to get third (13:36.21); Nur was fifth (13:36.37) and Chelimo had a mad dash to the line to qualify in seventh at 13:36.51.

Heat two was a re-run, with nine separating themselves to run for eight qualifying spots, with Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, Luis Grijalva (GUA) and Berihu Aregawi (ETH) leading the group at the bell. Kejelcha almost cut Grijalva off with 200 to go, but was pushed away, and while Kejelcha led down the stretch, Grijalva motored by late to win at the line in 13:32.72 to 13:32.83. Canada’s Moh Ahmed came on late to pass Aregawai for third, 13:33.16 to 13:33..23. American Sean McGorty fell out of contention in the final 600 m and finished 15th in 13:40.28.

● Women/200 m ● World leader Gabby Thomas of the U.S. was in semi one, but saw 2019 World Champion Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) led off the turn, but Thomas had the best of it down the straight and strode away in the final 50 m to win in 21.97 (-0.1). Asher-Smith was a clear second in 22.28.

Britain’s Daryll Neita led off the turn in semi two, but NCAA champ Julien Alfred (LCA and Texas) came on in the final 25 m to get to the line first in 22.17 (-0.2). Neita got a lifetime best of 22.21 for second, and Anthonique Strachan (BAH) third in 22.30. American Kayla White was fourth in 22.34, and did not advance.

Semi three had defending champ Shericka Jackson (JAM) and 100 m winner Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S., and Jackson stormed into the lead on the turn and had clear sailing to the finish in 22.00 (-0.2). Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV), fourth in the 100 m, was a clear second into the straight, but Richardson moved ahead with 30 m left and was second with 22.20, and Ta Lou third at 22.26, but a time qualifier for the final.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Stats ● The updated medal table shows the U.S. with 19 (7-6-6), ahead of Jamaica’s big day, now with eight total medals (2-3-3).

Ethiopia (1-3-2) has six, Great Britain (2-2-1) has five and Spain (four golds in walks!) is next with four. A total of 36 countries have won medals so far.

● Stories ● Fans following the Worlds on the World Athletics Web site have been frustrated with delays and outages, and on Thursday, there was this note on the “Live Blog” section of the World Athletics site:

“The good news is that our website has hit unprecedented traffic this week.

“The downside to this traffic – so much more than we ever could have predicted – is that it has crashed our systems for the past couple of days during peak periods.

“So to help the flow of traffic and to give fans the best chance of accessing the most in-demand parts of the website, our site will show just the live results page during the busiest part of this evening. That should hopefully ensure people won’t miss out on following all of the action at the WCH Budapest 23.”

The traffic was so heavy that the main “Timetable/Results” site froze, with this message:

“We’re experiencing extremely high traffic!

“WCH Budapest 23 is full on!

“We want to make sure you can still access the essential info – check it out below. The full version of our website will be back soon, after 10:00pm CET”

Sounds like a sponsorship opportunity!

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: USA Gymnastics chief highlights federation’s “cultural change”; a valve misfunction polluted the Seine; guaranteed income for tennis!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

★ Thank you! Last week of our summer fund-raising drive: 74% of goal from 33 donors. Can you help? ★

★ To get The Sports Examiner by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. USA Gym chief Leung lauds “cultural transformation”
2. ATP creates “Baseline” program of income guarantees
3. Valve responsible for Seine test-event pollution?
4. Russian federation proposes alternate athlete declaration
5. FIBA elects Qatar’s Al Thani as new President for 2023-27

● Li Li Leung, now in her fifth year as the chief executive of USA Gymnastics, credited a change in the culture of the organization and the sport in the U.S. for its turnaround from its past abuse scandals. The federation has added five new sponsors this year alone and seen the return of stars such as Olympic champs Simone Biles and Suni Lee.

● Tennis players earn a lot of money, but the Association of Tennis Professionals (men) is introducing a new program of guaranteed income for the top 250-ranked players. The project will be tried for three years, beginning in 2024, and is a new concept of adding surety for the best players, with the program to impact perhaps 30-40 players a year.

● The City of Paris believes that a valve malfunction was responsible for the excess pollutants in the Seine River that caused the cancellation of the swim sections of the Para events and Mixed Relay of the Paris 2024 test event last weekend.

● The Russian Weightlifting Federation has not accepted the International Weightlifting Federation’s neutrality declaration requirement, objecting to its language, so it has proposed its own, which – of course – does not mention or refer to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

● The International Basketball Federation – FIBA – unanimously elected Qatari Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani as its new President for 2023-27, with Qatar to host the 2027 men’s World Cup. American Carol Callan was elected to the federation’s Central Board.

● World Championships: Gymnastics (Varfolomeev sweeps two at Rhythmic Worlds) = Shooting (China collects 14th goal in Baku) ●

● Panorama: Russia (no European U-23 Rowing Champs entries as Germany refuses visas) = Gymnastics (Chusovitina skipping 2023 World Champs for Asian Games) = Ice Hockey (NHL’s Daly says 2025 national-team tournament in the works) ●

● Special coverage of the World Athletics Championships is being posted daily;
for Wednesday, click here ●

1.
USA Gym chief Leung lauds “cultural transformation”

“Only by relentlessly pursuing this cultural change have we been able to get to where we are today. And now we’re at a place where now just athletes and coaches want to come back and be a part of this community, but we actually now have corporate partners – and major corporate partners – who want to be a part of this community as well.

“So, all of these partnerships, projects and athletic results that I’ve just talked about really reflect that when you live your values, and when others around you believe in them as well, that good things start to happen.”

That’s USA Gymnastics chief executive Li Li Leung, speaking in San Jose, California in advance of this week’s national artistic championships, on a new plateau of success for the federation, recovering from the abuse scandals of Larry Nassar and others. Highlights:

● “In terms of this cultural change, we really focused on building it brick by brick. And so you may have heard me talk about “the three Ps”: new people, new priorities and new policies. …

“We’ve been hiring new people and the right people. We’ve been putting athletes and those that support athletes as a priority and we’ve creating policies and instituting policies that support those new priorities, like the Athlete Bill of Rights and our Code of Conduct, and our safety-and-response policies as well.”

● “All this really hinges on this cultural transformation that I’ve talked about since I took this role four and a half years ago, and so almost every bit of good news that has come out from this sport, from legendary athletes returning, to new partnerships, to this new feeling of fun and celebration is in some way a reflection of all the work that our organization and frankly, the entire gymnastics community , has done, to define and cultivate this new culture that really prioritizes athletes and their safety, health and wellness.”

● “The buy-in of our community to the principles of safe sport and really embracing the change of the culture of gymnastics has been incredibly heartening.”

● “This is all part of the cultural change I have been talking about from day one; it’s been years in the making and as we all know, cultural change is not easy and it’s not quick. It takes many years in the making to happen. And for those of you who were in Tampa last year for this event, I hope you notice that there seems to be a renewed feeling of energy and joy and that there seems to be more happiness and celebration around the event as well.”

● “Our goal has always been to make this sport more safe, and as a result, to make it fun again, as well. And so, whether someone is an athlete, a fan, a parent, a coach, club owner, a member of the media or a volunteer, we really want all of you to feel safe and enjoy the event as well.

“And so one way we are having a little bit of fun, is we’re going to be introducing a new mascot; tomorrow, we’re unveiling it at the opening session of our national congress, and so throughout this process of developing the mascot, we’ve been having fun as well.”

Leung pointed to the return of star athletes such as Simone Biles and Suni Lee, and the interest from new corporate partners as proof of the impact that the changes in the federation have had:

“This past year, 2023, has been a game changer for us. So, since January, we have named five brand new partners, and most recently Comcast, CoreHydration and Nike as well. So now we have this really incredible portfolio of committed partners who are going to be helping us grow the sport, and they are going to enhancing our existing events.”

She also noted a unique mental-health project that has drawn rave reviews, especially from the athletes:

“Aside from achievements on the mat, I also talked about the mental, physical and emotional safety of our athletes: that’s always a priority for us. And so, last fall, we began a program with our partner, GK Elite, to reimburse national team athletes and coaches for mental health visits.

“And this year we started having emotional support dogs at our key events; in fact, when I was walking in just now, one of them is here on site, and so these emotional support dogs are not only for the benefit of our athletes, but our coaches and even judges as well, and I really, honestly, I can’t begin to tell you how well that this program has been received. And, in fact, yesterday when I was here for training, the athletes couldn’t stop talking about how excited they were to see the emotional support dogs here on the site.

“So we first started it at our Rhythmic Elite Qualifier a few months ago in Indianapolis, and we’ll have several dogs here on site throughout the week.”

Leung noted that the focus now is on the revitalization of the USA Gymnastics Foundation and a renewed fund-raising effort to help grow the sport, and on the eventual creation of a national training and wellness center, with “more than a dozen” expressions of interest, with a short-list of possible home cities to be determined early in 2024.

More than anything else, Leung says the gymnastics community is saying the federation is back on the right path:

“Actions speak louder than words. As I sit in front of you today, I can share – truly share – that countless athletes, coaches, members of the community and other organizations have come up to me and said that they are truly seeing and feeling this change.”

2.
ATP creates “Baseline” program of income guarantees

The no. 100 player on the (men’s) Association of Tennis Professionals prize money list for 2022 earned $610,087. In 2023, the no. 100 player has earned $515,422, the no. 200 prize money winner is at $195,996 and no. 300 stands at $89,485, with a couple of months to go.

However, the list does go down to $37 this year for players at no. 3,719 (four tied).

On Tuesday, the ATP announced a new program called Baseline, which will begin in 2024 as a three-year trial with the goal to ensure a minimum income for players on the Tour. The announcement noted three parts:

● “Guaranteed Base Earnings” for the top 250 players on tour (based on rankings), with the ATP providing extra income – if needed – to ensure yearly compensation of $300,000 (Top 100), $150,000 (101-175) and $75,000 (176-250).

● “Injury Protection” for those who play nine or fewer ATP or Challenger tournaments a year due to injury, assuring incomes of $200,000 (Top 100), $100,000 (101-175) and $50,000 (176-250) in 2024.

● “Newcomer Investment” for emerging stars which “will have access to $200,000 of funding upon breaking into the Top 125 for the first time, paid in advance of the following season and offset against prize money earnings.”

Based on the money earnings in 2023, it would not appear that many players would receive aid, but the statement noted:

“Between 30 and 45 players are expected to receive financial support through Baseline each season, with eligibility determined based on a range of criteria. This includes a player’s ranking, career prize money earnings, and number of events played. The 2024-26 trial period will serve as an initial proof of concept, with potential to expand funding in future.”

3.
Valve responsible for Seine test-event pollution?

“At this stage, the preferred hypothesis is that of the malfunction of a valve in the sewerage network located at the level of the Tolbiac bridge.

“Investigations are continuing to understand the sequence of events and determine the measures to be taken in order to guarantee the perfect quality of the water for the holding of the events in 2024.”

That’s from the City of Paris, with an explanation of what went wrong with the water quality in the Seine River last weekend, causing the cancellation of the swimming portion of the Paris 2024 triathlon test events for Para athletes on Saturday and the Mixed Relay on Sunday. The events were changed from a swim-bike-run format to run-bike-run instead.

The E.coli concentration in the water was above the required limits, but officials noted the situation was different from the cancellation of the 6 August open-water swimming test event, where heavy rains overwhelmed the sewage system.

A major reservoir construction project is underway which will help to control any impact of rain water – to be completed prior to the Games in 2024 – and which will help make the Seine available for public swimming. Pollution in the river has kept the Seine off-limits to swimmers since 1923, and the project has become a showpiece for the long-term benefit of bringing the Olympic Games to Paris.

4.
Russian federation proposes alternate athlete declaration

The Russian Weightlifting Federation has refused to have its athletes sign the International Weightlifting Federation’s required “neutrality” declaration for Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competition.

Belarusian lifters did sign and compete at the IWF Grand Prix in Havana, Cuba in June; the declaration includes:

● “I hereby confirm that I understand and accept that, in view of the extraordinary circumstances resulting from the war in Ukraine, my eligibility to participate and the validity of my corresponding entry in IWF competitions through my national federation is specifically subject to the conditions set forth in the Policy. …

● “I undertake to continue to abstain from expressing any support to the war and will immediately and voluntarily notify any relevant change in my activities that occurs after the date of this declaration.

● “I undertake to duly and fully cooperate with any process of verification performed pursuant to art. 3 of the Policy. I understand and accept that adverse inferences may be drawn from failure to fully cooperate with the verification process, notably through refusal to answer and/or to provide evidence.”

Now, Russia federation chief Maxim Agapitov is proposing the IWF adopt an alternative declaration, to be signed by all athletes and not just Russians and Belarusians. According to the Russian news agency TASS:

“In the version of the [Russian Weightlifting Federation] declaration, all athletes are invited to declare their rejection of all forms of violence and injustice, to recognize the inviolability of human life. Athletes must affirm respect for human rights, striving to create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants, ensuring that each person feels valued and respected, without any distinction such as race, color, gender, language, religion, political or other beliefs, national or social origin, property, family or other status.

“In addition, no distinction should be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory where the individual resides. It is emphasized that athletes must reaffirm their firm commitment to respect the fundamental principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter, as well as in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guided by the principles of Olympism, peace, justice, respect and equality.”

Observed: This has no chance of going anywhere, most especially because it is counter to the International Olympic Committee’s 28 March recommendations on acceptance of Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals. And as weightlifting is not presently on the program of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the IWF will do nothing which will perplex or perturb the IOC, with the goal of being readmitted for 2028.

Agapitov’s proposal, as reported, lines up with the existing Russian policy response to the IOC’s recommendations as seen by the parallel comments and policies of the International Boxing Association, run by Russian Umar Kremlev.

This new concept will not impact the 2023 IWF World Championships, as entries closed on Monday (21st).

5.
FIBA elects Qatar’s Al Thani as new President for 2023-27

A familiar face ascended to the FIBA Presidency on Wednesday:

“Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, who succeeds Hamane Niang [MAL] in becoming the new President of FIBA, was elected unanimously by all in attendance. Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani has been FIBA Vice President for the previous cycle, which began in 2019, and President of FIBA Asia since 2002, having formerly been President of the Qatar Basketball Federation and a Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee.”

Al Thani’s term will coincide with the organization of the next FIBA men’s World Cup in his home country of Qatar in 2027.

The FIBA Central Board was also elected and includes American Carol Callan, the long-time USA Basketball director of the dominant women’s national team. She is one of three members from the Americas; two were elected from Africa, two from Asia, four from Europe and two from Oceania. An NBA representative will also join the Central Board, as well as an athlete rep.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Gymnastics ● The 2023 FIG Rhythmic World Championships are underway in Valencia, Spain, with Germany’s Darja Varfolomeev winning the first events, the individual titles in Hoop and Ball.

Varfolomeev won the 2022 Worlds in Clubs, took the silver in Ball and a bronze in Hoop. In Valencia, she scored 35.750 in Hoop to win over defending champion Sofia Rafaelli (ITA: 35.250), with Fanni Pigniczki (HUN: 34.050) winning her first Worlds medal in third.

In Ball, Varfolomeev topped defending champ Rafaelli again, 35.800 to 35.200, with Bulgaria’s Stiliana Nikolova (35.150) getting her fifth career Worlds medal, but first in Ball, with a bronze.

Competition continues through Sunday.

● Shooting ● China scored its 14th win at the 2023 ISSF World Championships in Baku (AZE), with 20-year-old World Junior Champion Sixuan Feng taking the women’s 25 m Pistol, 572 to 565 over Rio 2016 Olympic champ Anna Korakaki (GRE).

India is also doing well and collected its fifth gold with Amanpreet Singh taking the non-Olympic 25 m Pistol final, scoring 577 to 574 for Korea’s Gun-hyeok Lee. The women’s non-Olympic 50 m Rifle/Prone gold went to Anja Senti of Switzerland, a 627.7 to 626.1 winner over Marianne Pallo (FIN); American Sagen Maddalena was eighth (623.6).

Competition continues through the end of the month.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Russia ● The Russian rowing federation announced that it will not compete at the European U-23 Championships in Krefeld (GER) this weekend. According to national team coach Alexander Zyuzin:

“Germany did not open visas for us, unfortunately, we will not go to the European Championship. All the declared participants will go to the open championship of Belarus among youth under 23.”

Russia had four entries, two men and two women, set to go to the U-23 Euros.

● Gymnastics ● The amazing Oksana Chusovitina, now 48, and continuing to compete for Uzbekistan with the idea of performing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, told the Russian news agency TASS that she will not go to the Artistic World Championships in Antwerp (BEL), scheduled for 30 September to 8 October:

“I made the decision to withdraw from this World Championships for two reasons. First, in the same time frame we will have the Asian Games, which I am going to go to and for which I am now preparing.

“Secondly, I decided to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris through the stages of the World Cup, which will be held in the first half of 2024. Now I’m training, and at the Asian Games I plan to perform on vault and balance beam.

“What tasks do I set for myself at the Asian Games? The main thing is to avoid injuries, and then we’ll see.”

The Asian Games will be in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October. Chusovitina has competed in eight Olympics, for the Unified (ex-USSR) Team in 1992, Uzbekistan in 1996-2000-2004, Germany in 2008-2012 and with Uzbekistan again in 2016-2020. She was a member of the Team gold medalists in 1992 and won a silver on Vault in 2008, plus 11 career medals in the World Championships (3-4-4), including Floor Exercise in 1991 for the USSR and Vault in 2003 for Uzbekistan.

● Ice Hockey ● National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly (USA) said Wednesday that the league and the NHL Players Association are working on a new, national-team tournament to take place as soon as February 2025.

“I don’t know exactly what form it will take. The goal is to make it an international competition of some sort. It’s going to obviously be heavily NHL-centric in terms of the player base, maybe entirely NHL. …

“If we do a ’25 international tournament, we do the ’26 Olympics, the ’28 World Cup of Hockey, the ’30 Olympics, the ’32 World Cup of Hockey, and so on. That’s the goal.”

As for the 2026 Olympic Games, Daly noted:

“The IOC has made public statements that indicate to me that they’re going to try very hard to include Russian athletes on some basis.

“Whether it’s on the basis they’ve included them in the past where they’re not really playing for a flag but they are playing and participating, I think that is probably a model they will pursue. Who knows how it plays out?”

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ATHLETICS: Moon shares vault gold, Warholm wins again, but Ingebrigtsen loses to another Brit at Worlds!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Upset: Britain's Josh Kerr wins the men's 1,500 m over Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen (at right) (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images 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 ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Another 90-degree (F) day in Budapest for the 19th World Athletics Championships, which required a move of the women’s 5,000 m heats to the evening session. It was down to 85 F and 50% humidity for the evening races, which saw a shared golds in the women’s vault and a split decision for Norwegian stars Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Karsten Warholm. Here’s what happened:

● Men/1,500 m ● All eyes were on Olympic champ Ingebrigtsen, the overwhelming favorite and world leader at 3:27.14. Usually running from the back, he was up close to early leader Abel Kipsang (KEN), the 2022 World Indoor bronzer, who led at 400 m in 56.01.

The Norwegian star took over at the 500 m mark and led with two laps to go, over Kipsang and U.S. champ Yared Nuguse, and they passed 800 m in 1:54.19, with Kipsang slightly in front.

Ingebrigtsen now took over, with Britain’s Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Josh Kerr moved up to challenge, passing 1,200 m in 2:49.53, with Kipsang third. Down the back straight, Kerr shadowed the Norwegian, waiting. Behind them was a mad scramble for position, with Kipsang holding off teen star Niel Laros (NED) for third.

All out in the straight, it was Kerr with the speed and he pulled ahead for good with 80 m to go and raced to the win at 3:29.38, to 3:29.65 for Ingebrigtsen. The Norwegian knew he was beaten with 20 m left, looking up in disgust at the scoreboard as he ran through the finish.

Norwegian teammate Narve Nordas sprinted from sixth to third at the line in 3:29.68 for his first international medal, with Kipsang fourth (3:29.89) and Nuguse fifth (3:20.25). American Cole Hocker was seventh with a lifetime best of 3:30.70 (now no. 6 all-time U.S.); Laros faded to 10th, but set a national record of 3:31.25.

Lightning struck twice: Ingebrigtsen was beaten at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene by Britain’s Jake Wightman in a huge upset … and it happened again, but with a different British star.

● Men/400 m hurdles ● Norway’s world-record holder Warholm came in as the world leader and had clearly showed he was back, but had American Rai Benjamin behind him in lane six. Off the gun, Warholm was out fast, but Benjamin was close through six hurdles and appeared to take the lead over seven.

But into the straight, Warholm re-took the lead and Benjamin could not match his speed, even losing second place to two-time Commonwealth Games winner Kyron McMaster (IVB).

Warholm’s 46.89 is the equal-14th performance of all-time; he owns six of those top 15. McMaster finished in 47.34, ahead of Benjamin’s 47.56. Defending champ Alison dos Santos (BRA) – who had surgery early in the year – was a very impressive fifth in 48.10. Trevor Bassitt of the U.S., who won bronze in 2022, was sixth in 48.22.

Warholm is now a three-time World Champion in the event, the most ever, and Benjamin has won silver-silver bronze in the last three Worlds, tying Kerron Clement (2-0-1 from 2007-17) for the most Worlds medals in the event by an American.

● Women/400 m ● Dominican Marileidy Paulino was the silver winner in Tokyo in 2021 and at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, and the favorite here. She did not disappoint.

She took the lead on the backstraight and then moved best on the turn to push away from Lieke Klaver (NED) and pulled away from everyone on the straight, winning in 48.76, a national record.

Klaver faded in the straight, and Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek moved up for silver in 49.57 and Sada Williams (BAH) with a second straight Worlds bronze in 49.60. Klaver was sixth (50.33) and American Talitha Diggs was eighth in 51.25.

● Women/Pole Vault ● Qualifying showed the runway to be extra-fast, and the final was expected to be a sizzler.

Six remained in at 4.80 m (15-9), with former Arkansas star (and 2022 Worlds fourth-placer) Tina Sutej (SLO) over on her first try for a national record. So did 2022 Worlds bronze winner Nina Kennedy (AUS) and European champ Wilma Murto (FIN), and Olympic and World champ Katie Moon of the U.S. made it on her second try, and Molly Caudery (GBR) missed once and passed to 4.85 m (15-11).

Of the five still in, only Moon had made this height this season, but Kennedy set a national record with an excellent clearance to take the lead, followed by Moon snaking over to move up to second. They were the only ones to make it, with Murto settling for bronze and Sutej fourth for the second straight year.

Now at 4.90 m (16-0 3/4), Kennedy and Moon missed twice, but Kennedy was perfect with another national record on her third try and took the lead. Moon, on an all-or-silver try, hit the bar, but it held up on the snake-over and the vaulting continued. They both tied Moon’s world-leading height for the season.

At 4.95 m (16-2 3/4), both missed three times, leaving them tied with just one miss each and tied for the lead. They could go on to a jump-off, but the two decided to share the win – as la Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi in the Tokyo men’s high jump – and take golds together.

Three-time Worlds silver winner Sandi Morris cleared 4.65 m (15-3) on her first try, but never looked comfortable at 4.75 m (15-7), missing three times and finishing sixth. Bridget Williams of the U.S. cleared 4.50 m (14-9), but could go no higher and was 12th. High school phenom Hana Moll also cleared 4.50, but placed ninth on misses.

The morning qualifying session produced no huge surprises, but the reigning World Champion in the women’s hammer did not make it out of qualifying in the evening.

● Men/200 m ● Act two of the Noah Lyles show started in heat two with a 20.05 win (wind: -0.1 m/s) over Andrew Hudson of Jamaica (20.25). Britain’s Zharnel Hughes won heat one in 19.99 (0.0), the fastest time of the day.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, 20, who has run 19.50 this season, won heat three in 20.22 (-1.4), with Brendon Rodney of Canada taking heat four in 20.14 (-0.2). A close finish in heat five had Japan’s Towa Uzawa first in 20.34 (-0.2) over NCAA runner-up Courtney Lindsey of the U.S. (20.39).

Worlds bronze medalist Erriyon Knighton of the U.S. and Olympic champ Andre De Grasse (CAN) were 1-2 in heat six in 20.17 and 20.28 (-0.5) and American Olympic and World silver winner Kenny Bednarek won heat seven in 20.01 (-0.1). The semis are on Thursday.

● Men/Pole Vault ● Qualifying required 5.75 m (18-10 1/4) to advance, with world-record holder Mondo Duplantis clearing all three of his heights on the first try. The big names all made it: Chris Nilsen and Zach McWhorter of the U.S., Ernest John Obiena (PHI), Kurtis Marschall (AUS), Poland’s Piotr Lisek, Belgian Ben Broeders and others.

Zach Bradford of the U.S. cleared 5.70 m (18-8 1/4) and did not advance to the final.

● Men/Long Jump ● Wow! Sensational, world-leading jump for Jamaica’s Wayne Pinnock – the 2022 NCAA champ for Tennessee (later transferred to Arkansas) – who blasted out to 8.54 m (28-0 1/4) on his first jump (+1.2), now sitting at no. 20 all-time!

His prior best had been 8.37 m (27-5 1/2) from the SEC Championships in May; he was ninth at the Worlds in Eugene last year. Both of his teammates got in: 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle at 8.12 m (26-7 3/4) and Carey McLeod, who jumped 8.19 m (26-10 1/2) for fourth.

China’s defending champ, Jianan Wang, got a season’s best of 8.34 m (27-4 1/2) on his last jump to qualify, and Olympic champ Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE) reached 8.25 m (27-0 3/4) to qualify third.

Two Americans made it: Will Williams in seventh (8.13 m/26-8 1/4) and U.S. champ Marquis Dendy in 10th (8.08 m/26-6 1/4). American Jarrion Lawson finished 16th (7.96 m/26-1 1/2) and did not advance.

● Women/200 m ● All six heats were won between 22.16 and 22.51; nothing crazy. Anthonique Strachan (BAH) took heat one at 22.31 (-0.4); American Sha’Carri Richardson won heat two in 22.16 (-0.7) over Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV), who got a seasonal best of 22.26.

Defending World Champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica took heat three in 22.51 (-0.4) and NCAA champ Julien Alfred (LCA) cruised to a 22.31 win (-0.4) in heat four. U.S. champ Gabby Thomas won heat five in 22.26 (-1.3) and 2019 World Champion Dina Asher-Smith took heat six in 22.46 (-0.3).

Poland’s Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who fled the Belarus team and sought asylum at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, qualified on time out of heat six in 22.88.

● Women/800 m ● All seven heats were won in the 1:59s, with the favorites moving through. Britain’s world leader, Keely Hodgkinson, won heat one (1:59.53); Kenyan Mary Moraa took heat two, ahead of Raevyn Rogers of the U.S., 1:59.89 to 2:00.06; Noelle Yarigo of Benin won heat three at 1:59.96, and 2019 World Champion Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) took heat four from Adelle Tracy (JAM), 1:59.68 to 1:59.82. American Kaela Edwards was eighth in 2:02.22 and did not advance.

U.S. champ Nia Akins beat Britain’s Jemma Reekie in heat five, 1:59.19 to 1:5971, while Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu won heat six in 1:59.36. Defending World Champion Athing Mu of the U.S. won heat seven, running 1:59.59 to edge Jamaican Natoya Goule-Toppin (1:59.64).

● Women/100 m hurdles ● American Keni Harrison stunned everyone with a 12.24 heat, and she dominated the first semi, running away after hurdle five and won in 12.33 (+0.5), ahead of Devynne Charlton (BAH: 12.49).

American Masai Russell got a brilliant start in semi two, but she clipped the second hurdle and crashed through the third hurdle and did not finish. Jamaican Ackera Nugent, the NCAA runner-up for Arkansas, had the lead through eight hurdles, but then defending champ Tobi Amusan (NGR) moved up and won on the run-in in 12.56 (-0.7) to 12.60.

Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, the 2015 World Champion, got the lead by mid-race and was being chased by Tokyo champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) and 2019 Worlds winner Nia Ali of the U.S. Camacho-Quinn got the win in 12.41 (-0.4), with Ali storming to the line with a lean to edge Williams on the run-in, 12.49 to 12.50.

● Women/Steeple ● The first heat had seven in contact with three laps left, with four in the lead pack at the bell, including American Courtney Wayment. Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi – fourth at the 2019 and 2022 Worlds – won at the line over world-record holder Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN), 9:19.18 to 9:1922. Wayment was an easy qualifier in fourth in 9:20.60.

Three broke away in heat two by 2,000 m, with Peruth Chemutai (UGA) leading a group of four at the bell, with Kenyan Faith Cherotich winning, 9:19.55 to 9:19.60. Emma Coburn of the U.S., the 2017 World Champion, had no response as the pace quickened in the last 1,000 m and finished 10th in 9:41.52. She said she re-injured her hamstring on the first barrier, and told NBC’s Lewis Johnson, “It definitely sucks.”

The third heat had a recall (what?), and with three laps left, it was 2022 European champ Luiza Gega (ALB) leading world leader Jackline Chepkoech (KEN) in a pack of five. Chepkoech decided to go with 650 m to go and won easily in 9:16.41, ahead of Zerfe Wondemagegn (ETH: 9:16.97). U.S. champ Krissy Gear finished seventh in 9:30.61.

● Women/5,000 m ● Agate Caune of Latvia, 19, the 2023 European U-20 Champion, raced away to a huge lead, with an 18-second advantage after six laps of heat one. She passed 3,000 m in 8:54.08, 20 seconds ahead of American Alicia Monson (9:14.94). The lead was 17 seconds at 4,000 m, but at the bell, the lead was down to seven seconds.

Ethiopia’s defending champ, Gudaf Tsegay, led the pack coming on and she and  2022 Worlds runner-up Beatrice Chebet (KEN) caught up and moved into the lead with 120 m to go, and Chebet won in 14:57.70, then Tsegay at 14:57.72. Caune finished fourth, qualifying for the final with a lifetime best of 15:00.48. Elise Cranny of the U.S. was fifth (15:01.53) and Monson was seventh (15:03.35), both moving on to the final.

Kenyan superstar – and new world-record holder – Faith Kipyegon headlined the second heat, the day after her 1,500 m win, along with Olympic 5,000 m champ Sifan Hassan (NED). Hassan and Kipyegon were 1-2 with three laps left, with six in the lead pack. They were still together at the bell, with Hassan and Kipyegon racing down the final straight, and Hassan across first in 14:32.29 to 14:32.31. Kenyan Lilian Rengeruk tripped and fell on the straight, but got up quickly and qualified fourth in 14:36.61. American Natosha Rogers was a non-qualifying ninth in 15:06.68, her fifth-fastest time ever.

How fast was that second heat? Only nine others – besides Hassan and Kipyegon – have run faster this season!

● Women/Triple Jump ● Jamaica’s Shanieka Ricketts led the first group of qualifiers with a seasonal best of 14.67 m (48-1 3/4), with Keturah Orji of the U.S. qualifying at 14.33 m (47-0 1/4). Jasmine Moore of the U.S. managed 14.13 m (46-4 1/4) for sixth, and made to the final as the 11th overall qualifier.

World-record holder Yulimar Rojas (VEN) qualified with one jump for the final at 14.59 m (47-10 1/2), but the leader in the second group was Thea Lafond (DMA) with a national record of 14.62 m (47-11 3/4). American Tori Franklin qualified at 14.13 m (46-4 1/4), so all three U.S. entries will jump on Friday.

● Women/Hammer ● No trouble for medal contenders DeAnna Price of the U.S. – the 2019 World Champion – or Canada’s 2022 Worlds runner-up Cam Rogers, who qualified with first-round throws of 76.25 m (250-2) and 73.95 m (242-7). Jillian Shippee of the U.S. had three fouls.

In the second group, American Janee Kassanavoid – the 2022 Worlds bronze winner – reached 72.70 m (238-6) in her third round and qualified eighth overall. Defending World Champion Brooke Andersen of the U.S., the world leader, fouled twice in the second group, then managed only 67.72 m (222-2) in the last round and did not qualify, in 25th.

Just as shocking was Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk, the three-time World Champion, not qualifying, finishing 13th (71.17 m/233-6).

● Women/Javelin ● Seven reached the automatic qualifying distance of 61.50 m (201-9), led by Latvia’s Lina Muze-Sirma at 63.50 m (208-4). World leader Haruka Kitaguchi (JPN) qualified third at 63.27 m (207-7), Australia’s Mackenzie Little was second at 63.45 m (208-2) and 2022 World Champion Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS) just made it as the last qualifier at 59.66 m (195-9).

U.S. throwers Maggie Malone (18: 57.85 m/189-9) and Ariana Ince (27: 54.60 m/179-1) did not advance.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Errata ● Some fixes on Tuesday’s post. Phil Minshull notes that seven men (not five) were still jumping at 2.36 m (7-8 3/4), having passed from lower heights to try and stay in the mix. Also, Keni Harrison’s 12.24 in the women’s 100 m hurdles heats was her fastest since 2016, not the fastest since 2016, and two incorrect conversions in the women’s discus for Valarie Allman and Lagi Tausaga. All of these have been corrected on the Web site, with thanks.

● Stats ● The U.S. won two medals on Wednesday and now has 14 (7-4-3), with at least one gold on each day so far. Next best is Ethiopia (6: 1-3-2), then Great Britain (4: 2-1-1). Italy, Kenya, Norway and Jamaica all have three.

On the team scoring placing table, scored 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, the U.S. leads with 142 points to 53 for Kenya, 46 for Ethiopia, 39 for Britain and 37 for Jamaica.

● Stories ● Amazing note from Federation of American Statisticians of Track (FAST) index co-editor Alan Mazursky, who observed that, according to the on-field timing system, the Netherlands initially won the Mixed 4×400 m relay on Saturday!

Dutch anchor Femke Bol astonishingly fell just before the finish line, with American Alexis Holmes steaming by to win in a world-record of 3:08.80. But as Bol fell, the baton – which has a timing chip in it – flew out of her hand and crossed the finished line!

So, the instant result on the broadcast showed that the Dutch had won the race (screenshot from an NBC highlight video on YouTube)!

The end of the Mixed 4×400 m relay, with the Netherlands shown as the winner! (Image from NBC Sports highlight video on YouTube)

Technology is great, but people are still needed to get it right. Seiko got it fixed almost immediately, crediting the U.S. with the win and the world record.

● Voices ● Lots of comments about Tuesday’s action, which was amazing to say the least.

Of Hawaiian native Tausaga’s instantly-legendary win in the women’s disc over Olympic champ Allman, Track & Field Writers of America President Jack Pfeifer shared:

“This was the 22nd meeting between the two. Prior to this, Allman had beaten her 20 of 21 times.

“This is an epic T&F moment I’d say. Trying to come up with a comparable upset, only thing I can think of is Billy Mills‘s 10K win in Tokyo in ’64.”

Long-time observer and USATF athlete activist David Greifinger added, “Tausaga followed her monster throw with a 68 + meter throw in Round 6. So, not just one outlier. Mind-boggling. What were the odds of her winning? 100 to 1?”

Quite right and not widely noted: Tausaga followed up her winner with a 68.46 m (224-7), meaning she had the three best throws of her life on Tuesday. She came in with a best of 65.46 m (214-9) at the U.S. Champs and then improved to 65.56 m (215-1) in round three to qualify for the final, then her 69.49 m (228-0) winner in round five and 68.46 m in round six.

Tausaga’s winning throw moves her to no. 2 all-time U.S., with the no. 9 performance; Allman has the top eight, and had a great series Tuesday: 68.57 m, 66.94 m, 68.79 m, 69.23 m, 64.60 m and 68.61 m (224-11, 219-7, 225-8, 227-1, 211-11 and 225-1). That’s an average of 67.79 m (222-5), which would have been fourth!

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TSX REPORT: Fox & Telemundo audiences down for Women’s World Cup; strong NBC audiences for T&F Worlds; U.S. big FIBA World Cup favorite

By
Rich Perelman
-
Austin Reaves of the U.S. going for a layup in their exhibition vs. Spain; the Americans are huge favorites to win the tournament again (Photo: USA Basketball)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Fox averaged 669,000, Telemundo 167,000 for Women’s World Cup
2. FIFA: 119,654 room nights booked for the Women’s World Cup
3. Pitch invader, Spanish kisser marred World Cup final
4. Strong start to World Athletics Champs on NBC
5. No. 2-ranked U.S. a huge favorite in FIBA World Cup

● The viewing audiences for Fox and Telemundo for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup were well down from 2019 levels, thanks to the unfriendly time zones in Australia and New Zealand, as well as the early U.S. exit. Fox was down 60% from 2019 and Telemundo about 45%. Between the two, the final still drew 2.059 million viewers.

● FIFA offered some detailed statistics on the tournament, but perhaps none more important that the report of 119,564 room nights booked during the event, a key number for future and potential future organizing committees. The final attendance at the fan festivals was 777,000 across all of the facilities in each host city.

● The final was marred by an anti-Russian protester who ran onto the field in the first half, and then by an overly affectionate greeting by Spanish federation head Luis Rubiales, kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal presentations. His action was quickly and widely rebuked and he made a video apology later on Sunday. On Tuesday, the Acting Prime Minister called the apology inadequate and the federation has called an emergency meeting on Friday.

● NBC’s Saturday and Sunday telecasts of the World Athletics Championships from Budapest, Hungary were strong on viewers, with 934,000 on the first day and 1.112 million on day two. Sadly, there’s only one more NBC Worlds show coming, next Sunday; the rest is on CNBC and USA.

● The U.S. men’s team is an overwhelming favorite to win the FIBA World Cup in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines that starts later this week. Overwhelming.

● World Championships: Modern Pentathlon (Egypt sweeps men’s and women’s relays) = Shooting (two more wins for China) ●

● Panorama: Pan American Games (Santiago 2023 torch unveiled) = Russia (new law to require national flag at all events) ●

● Errata: Eagle-eyed reader Tony Duffy noted a typo in Tuesday’s post that stated Spanish striker Salma Paralluelo is 29. She’s 19, of course. Sorry; now corrected on the site. Thanks, Tony! ●

● Special coverage of the World Athletics Championships is being posted daily; for Tuesday, click here ●

1.
Fox averaged 669,000, Telemundo 167,000
for Women’s World Cup

Bad time zones make for smaller audiences, as Fox and Telemundo found out in their overall audience ratings for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Fox reported an overall average of 669,000 viewers for all 64 games in the tournament, and 1.658 million for the final between Spain and England. The audience for the final peaked at 2.446 million between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m. Eastern, with the top markets in Washington, D.C., Austin, San Diego, Boston and Hartford.

The Spain-Sweden semi was seen by 470,000 and England-Australia by 1.058 million, starting at 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., respectively. The third-place game between Sweden and Australia drew 562,000 on Fox.

The average is way down from the 1.66 million from the 2019 tournament in France, but still respectable as most of the games were shown in the middle of the night in the U.S.

Telemundo reported a Spanish-language average of 401,000 for the final, making the total 2.059 million, a very good result given the timing.

The Spanish-language average across the tournament, on Telemundo-Peacock-Universo was 167,000, well down from 2019’s average of 302,000, again respectable in view of the time zone.

Reports on European viewing outside of finalists Spain and Britain were mostly lower than for 2019 in France, again due to unfriendly viewing times.

2.
FIFA: 119,654 room nights booked for the Women’s World Cup

Amid a mass of statistics rolled out by FIFA as its 2023 Women’s World Cup closed up was an important one for organizers of future tournaments:

“119,564 – The total number of room nights booked throughout the tournament, supporting businesses and economies in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. This included over 30,000 nights for teams and workforce, and over 7,000 nights for match officials in Host Cities and Team Base Camp locations.”

From a U.S. perspective, at an average price of just $100 per room per night, that’s about $12 million, spread across the host cities. If the average spend per person was $250 per day, that’s $29.9 million, across one month of matches.

If you have wondered how many people it takes to put on the Women’s World Cup, FIFA noted that a total of 41,859 accreditations were distributed.

As far as the FIFA Fan Festivals were concerned:

“After the final whistle in the Final, 777,000 fans had been part of the FIFA Fan Festival, with the attendance peaking on August 12 when 68,000 people across all venues watched the Matildas beat France in a dramatic quarter-final.”

3.
Pitch invader, Spanish kisser marred World Cup final

The Women’s World Cup final was dramatic, but also had its share of less memorable moments.

During the first half of the final, an anti-Russian protester ran onto the field and had to be tackled by security staff and led away, causing a brief delay. He was wearing a T-shirt with a mashed-up image of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, with the words “Stop Putler” on the front and a Ukrainian flag and the words “Free Ukraine” on the back.

Much more widely reported as a too-excited celebration by Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF: Royal Spanish Football Federation) President Luis Rubiales, who greeted midfielder Jenni Hermoso with a kiss on the lips during the medal presentation ceremony.

The action was immediately and widely reviled, with Spain’s Acting Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez calling him out on Tuesday:

“What we saw is unacceptable. And the apologies offered by Mr. Rubiales are not sufficient, I would call them inappropriate, so he must continue taking further steps to clarify what we all saw.”

The RFEF has called an emergency assembly for Friday to consider further steps and an inquiry has been started. Rubiales initially brushed off any impropriety, then issued an apology on Sunday via a video, which included (translated from the original Spanish):

“There’s an event, which I have to regret, which is everything that happened between the player and I, with a magnificent relationship between the two of us, the same as with the others

“And well, I surely made a mistake, I have to recognize that. In a moment of elation, without any intention of bad faith, well, what happened happened – I think in a very spontaneous way. I repeat, there was no bad faith between either of the two of us.

“Here, we didn’t understand it because we saw something natural, normal and in no way, I repeat, with bad faith. But outside of the bubble, it looks like it has turned into a storm and so, if there are people who have felt offended, I have to say I’m sorry.”

Rubiales is up for election in 2024.

4.
Strong start to World Athletics Champs on NBC

In a very tepid year for track & field on U.S. television, the NBC shows on Saturday and Sunday from the World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN) were solid.

Saturday’s opening-day show drew an average of 934,000, the highest total for an outdoor meet in 2023. Sunday was even better, at 1.112 million, the top audience for a track & field event in the U.S. this year.

By comparison, the 2022 Worlds in Eugene were televised six times on NBC and had an average of 1.993 million. Unfortunately, NBC has only one more Worlds show scheduled, for next Sunday.

Last weekend’s coverage was mostly on CNBC, and weekday coverage is on USA Network. Don’t expect much; last year’s Worlds in the U.S. averaged only 379,000 on those two channels.

Also, the final USA Basketball Showcase game vs. Germany in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on Sunday had an average audience of 585,000 at noon Eastern, quite respectable.

5.
No. 2-ranked U.S. a huge favorite in FIBA World Cup

The 19th FIBA men’s World Cup begins on Friday, with games spread across three countries: Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines and will roll on to 10 September, with the final at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay (PHI), part of metro Manila.

The U.S. has won this tournament five times, tied for the most with Yugoslavia and won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2014. But Spain emerged as the 2022 winner in China as the Americans were knocked out in the quarterfinals – finally finishing seventh – missing the medal round for the first time since 2002. That finish is the reason Spain is top-ranked and the U.S. is second.

For 2023, the Americans, coached by Golden State Warriors boss Steve Kerr, has been installed as the prohibitive favorite, following a 5-0 exhibition tour. The top picks:

● United States: -111 to -140
● Canada: +700 to +900
● France: +750 to +1,000
● Australia: +900 to +1,000
● Spain: +1,000 to +1,400

● Serbia: +1,200 to +2,000
● Germany: +1,500 to +2,700
● Slovenia: +1,600 to +3,000
● Greece: +1,600 to +6,000
● Italy: +4,000 to +5,000

Translation: a wager of $111 to $140 on the U.S. is required to win $100, but a wager of $100 on Canada would return $700 to $900. Wow.

That’s the top 10 out of 32 teams. The least-favored:

● China: +50,000 to +100,000
● Iran: +50,000 to +100,000
● South Sudan: +50,000 to +100,000
● Angola: +50,000 to +200,000
● Cape Verde: +50,000 to +200,000
● Cote d’Ivoire: +50,000 to +200,000
● Jordan: +50,000 to +200,000
● Lebanon: +50,000 to +200,000
● Egypt: +50,000 to +250,000

Those are pretty long odds.

The teams will play in groups for three games, with the top two teams in each advancing to the second round. The U.S. will play New Zealand (26th), Greece (28) and Jordan (30th), then, if qualified, move on to a second-round group against the top two teams in Group D, which includes Egypt, Lithuania, Mexico and Montenegro, with games on 1 and 3 September.

The top two move on to the quarterfinals. ESPN2 (six games) and ESPN+ (86 games) will carry the games in the U.S., once again in difficult time slots from Asia.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Modern Pentathlon ● The UIPM Worlds are on in Bath (GBR), with the men’s and women’s relays held Tuesday and swept by Egypt.

The women’s pair of Amira Kandil and Malak Ismail won the opening fencing competition, were fifth in riding and third in swimming, starting the Laser Run as the leaders by a couple of seconds over Italy’s Beatrice Mercuri and Aurora Tognetti. The Egyptians were calm and maintained their lead, finishing with the third-fastest time in the field at 13:33.90 to 13:37.30 for Italy, leading to a 1,315-1,309 victory. Mexico passed China for third, scoring 1,290.

The men’s relay was a victory for Moutaz Mohamed and Ahmed Hamed, who scored 1,467 to hold off Hungary’s Gergely Regos and Balazs Szep (1,462) and Koreans Chang-wan Seo and Ji-hun Lee (1,461).

After a fifth in fencing, second in riding and in swimming, the Egyptian started only one second back in the Laser Run, with the Koreans seven seconds behind and Hungary fifth (+0:13). Regos and Szep managed the fastest time at 11:19.70, but Mohamed and Hamed were at 11:27.70, just enough to get across the line first.

The Worlds continue through Sunday.

● Shooting ● The ISSF World Championships roll on in Baku (AZE), with China continuing to pile up the wins and medals.

In the women’s 50 m Rifle/3 Positions, Qiongyue Zhang, 19, won her first Worlds medal with a 465.3 to 463.5 win over teammate Jiayu Han, 21, also a first-time medal winner. American Sagen Maddalena, the Tokyo fifth-placer, took the bronze (451.9) for her first individual Worlds medal.

Yuehong Li, 33, won the men’s 25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol, his first Worlds gold after bronzes in this event in 2010 and 2014, along with Olympic bronzes in Rio and Tokyo. He out-dueled France’s Clement Bessaguet, also the 2022 Worlds runner-up, 39-30. German Florian Peter took the bronze (24).

Czech Petr Nymbursky won the non-Olympic men’s 300 m Rifle/Prone competition, 626.5-625.5, over China’s Linshu Du, 20, last year’s World Junior Champion.

Competitions continue through the end of the month.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Pan American Games ● The Santiago 2023 Pan American torch was unveiled on Tuesday:

“The torch is 66 cm [26 inches] long, weighs 1.5 kilograms [3.3 pounds] and is inspired by the color palette of the territory with brown and different shades of blue on a background where the mountain range relief is expressed from north to south as if it were a map.

“The top of the torch is framed by a border which represents the moon and its invisible force that moves the tide of the oceans. In the case of the adapted version, references are made to the sun, fire, desert and valleys and it includes the phrase ‘Santiago 2023’ in Braille.”

The Santiago 2023 relay will begin on 30 September, taking three separate paths throughout the country before the Opening Ceremony on 20 October.

● Russia ● On Russia’s annual Flag Day – 22 August – a new law has been proposed that would require the Russian flag to be displayed at competitions inside the country. According to State Duma member Leonid Slutsky:

“For a long time, the Russian flag has been subject to obvious discrimination in the international sports arena. Athletes are forced to compete under a neutral flag. But even in the Russian Federation, the flag is rarely raised at competitions. I believe that the country’s flag should be raised at all sporting events as a symbol of perseverance of the Russian athletes.”

Dmitry Svishchev, head of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, added:

“We insist that it is imperative to raise the Russian flag at all sporting events. … Children, the younger generation, should know our state symbols, should be proud of them.”

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ATHLETICS: Tausaga strikes for miracle gold in discus, Tamberi-Harrison 1-2 in high jump as Kipyegon and El Bakkali win Budapest golds

By
Rich Perelman
-
Unbeatable: Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR), winner of the men's Steeple (Photo: Thomas Windesteam for Diamond League AG)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

More hot weather for day four of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, which will continue right through the end of the meet on Sunday, with highs from 90-93 F daily.

But Tuesday’s session bordered on disbelief, to go along with brilliant repeat Worlds golds for superstars Faith Kipyegon of Kenya and Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco. First to the stunner:

● Women/Discus ● Olympic champ Valarie Allman of the U.S. put her foot on the throat of the field with a first-round throw of 68.57 m (224-11), with World Champion Bin Feng (CHN) moving into second at 66.97 m (219-8).

Two-time World champ Sandra Perkovic (CRO) moved up to third with a season’s best of 66.57 m (218-5) in round two, then Allman stretched the lead a little further at 68.79 m (225-8) in the third. American Laulauga Tausaga got a lifetime best of 65.56 m (215-1) in round three that moved her to fifth overall.

Allman stomped on the field again, extending to 69.23 m (227-1) in round four, a distance no one else has reached this season. Dutch star Jorinke van Klinken, a U.S. collegiate star at Arizona State and Oregon, stunned with a 67.20 m (220-6) throw in round four to move into second.

Then came the complete, total shocker. Tausaga came up in the fifth round and threw a lifetime best of 69.49 m (228-0) to take the lead! Even she couldn’t believe it at first, but she’s now the no. 2 performer in U.S. history (to Allman). And no one could do better, and she won a stunning gold, perhaps the biggest surprise in the event since American Stephanie Brown Trafton won the Beijing 2008 Olympic gold.

Tausaga’s best coming into the final was 65.46 m (214-9) in July at the U.S. Nationals; she added more than 13 feet in two throws between rounds three and five.

She won the first-ever U.S. gold in this event in the World Championships, and Allman the first silver; Allman won the first U.S. Worlds medal in this event ever in Eugene last year with a bronze.

At 25, Tausaga fouled out of the final at the 2019 Worlds, was 12th last year, and now: World Champion. Unbelievable. No, more than that. Impossible, but real.

Almost unnoticed was Feng’s come-through sixth-round improvement to 68.20 m (22-39) to grab the bronze, with van Klinken getting fourth. 

● Men/High Jump ● The headliners were the co-Olympic champs from Tokyo, Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) and Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA), with Barshim looking for his fourth Worlds gold in a row. They were among seven to get to 2.33 m (7-7 3/4), with the crowd roaring between the concurrent discus, high jump and the women’s 1,500 m and men’s Steeple finals.

American Shelby McEwen passed and missed once and Korean Sang-hyeok Woo passed and missed twice at 2.36 m (7-8 3/4), with JuVaughn Harrison of the U.S. the leader with three straight clearances. Barshim missed all three tries and claimed the bronze medal on fewer misses at lower heights vs. Luis Enrique Zayas (CUB) and German Thomas Potye.

Tamberi took the lead with his first-try clearance at 2.36, but Harrison matched him on his second try and the bar went to 2.38 m (7-9 3/4). Harrison had a good look at it on his second jump, but missed and Tamberi missed twice, and having won after Harrison’s third miss, went to 2.40 m (7-10 1/2) and missed once to end the night.

Harrison equaled his lifetime best and the world-leading jump in 2023. After a seventh in Tokyo in 2021, and a disappointing ninth in Eugene in 2022, he’s the first U.S. medal winner in the event since Jesse Williams’ win in 2011.

Tamberi won his first World outdoor medal, to go with his co-Olympic title in Tokyo and a World Indoor title in 2016.

● Men/Steeple ● This was too good, with Olympic and World champ El Bakkali (MAR) against new world-record holder Lamecha Girma (ETH).

Kenyan Leonard Bett had the early lead, and Girma and El Bakkali – unusually – moved up toward the lead after three laps. The Moroccan was tracking Girma, and they were part of a pack of eight at the front.

Girma and El Bakkali were 1-2 with two laps left, with Kenyans Abraham Kibiwot and Bett trailing. At the bell, Girma and El Bakkali had separated, with Kibiwot falling over the next hurdle, but getting up quickly and staying in third.

El Bakkali waited, waited and then struck at the water jump, took the lead and blew Girma away down the straight and won his second straight Worlds gold in 8:03.54, with Girma taking his third straight Worlds silver (!) in 8:05.44.

Kibiwot got the bronze, despite the fall, in 8:11.98, with Bett fourth (8:12.26). Americans Kenneth Rooks and Isaac Updike were 10th (8:20.02) and 16th (8:30.67 lifetime best).

● Women/1,500 m ● Could anyone beat world-record holder Kipyegon?

Nope.

She led at 400 m in a leisurely 65.14, ahead of a thick pack, and stayed in front with two laps to go, then passing 800 m in 2:11.78. The pace wasn’t scaring anyone, and the pack was ready to strike, but Kipyegon stayed in front at 1,200 m in 3:12.41.

And then the sprint was on, and moving up quickly was 2019 World Champion Sifan Hassan, moving toward the lead, but still behind Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji. Kipyegon looked vulnerable with 100 m left, but she strode away and won cleanly in 3:54.87, for her third Worlds gold after 2017 and 2022.

Hassan charged, but could not pass Welteji, who won silver at 3:55.69 and Hassan at 3:56.00. Fourth was Ireland’s Ciara Mageean in a national record of 3:56.61; American Cory McGee finished 10th in 4:01.60.

The heats and semis on Tuesday were crazy, with Keni Harrison exploding in the women’s 100 m hurdles heats and Rio 2016 400 m hurdles gold medalist Dalilah Muhammad not advancing out of her semis.

● Men/400 m ● World-record holder Wayde van Niekerk (RSA), the 2017 World Champion, looked strong at 200 m, but Jamaica’s Antonio Watson ran away from van Niekerk and Jereem Richards (TTO) on the straight to win in a huge lifetime best of 44.13 (his best before this year was 46.17!). But moving fastest was American Vernon Norwood, moving from fourth to second in the final 50 m, in a lifetime best of 44.26. Van Niekerk had to settle for third in 44.65, but advanced on time.

Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith powered down the straight to win semi two with a lifetime best and European Record of 44.26! London 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James (GRN) was second in 44.58.

In semi three, Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori collapsed after 100 m, while Steven Gardiner (BAH), the 2019 World Champion and Tokyo Olympic champ, was comfortably in the lead and then just stopped and fell to the track with 100 m to go. He was taken off the track in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, American Quincy Hall steamed into the lead and won in 44.43, ahead of Sean Bailey (JAM: 44.94).

● Men/800 m ● Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the world no. 2 on time this year, led at the bell in heat one in 51.39, but was passed by Olympic finalist Gabriel Tual (FRA) with 250 m to go. But in the straight, Wanyonyi ran to the front, raised his arms in victory and crossed first in 1:44.92 (53.53 last lap) to 1:45.10 for Tual.

Britain’s Max Burgin led most of the second heat, but was passed in the final meters by Pole Mateusz Borkowski, 1:45.40 to 1:45.43. Heat three was slow, at 55.38 for the first lap, then Kenya’s Alex Kipngetich sprinted to the lead with 200 m to go and he led right to the tape, in 1:47.63. Heat three saw Algeria’s 2022 silver medalist, Djamel Sedjati, had plenty left and flew from sixth to second in the final 40 m (1:47.87), then Saul Ordonez (ESP: 1:47.97); American Isaiah Harris was left in fourth (1:48.00) and did not advance.

U.S. champ Bryce Hoppel was second at the bell in heat four, then led down the backstraight before being passed by Marino Bloudek (CRO) into the final turn. Spain’s Adrian Ben came on in lane three to win in 1:45.37, with Hoppel holding second – with considerable effort – in 1:45.56. Olympic silver medalist Ferguson Rotich (KEN) was sixth and did not advance. In heat five, American Clayton Murphy had the lead around the final turn, but got passed in the final 50 m and finished a non-qualifying sixth in 1:47.06, with Benjamin Robert (FRA) winning in a slow 1:46.45. Olympic and World Champion Emmanuel Korir (KEN) was fourth in 1:46.78. 

Another slow first lap in heat six, with Italy’s Francesco Pernici leading in 53.67, but Abdelati El Guesse (MAR) taking the lead down the straight and winning in 1:45.24, with Andreas Kramer (SWE: 1:45.42) second and Slimane Moula (ALG) bringing it late for third in 1:45.76. Canada’s Marco Arop, the 2022 bronze medalist, moved from third to first with 250 m to go, and off a fast pace, won in 1:45.05. Italian Simone Barontini moved up for second with 40 m left and got a low-five from Arop as he crossed in 1:45.21.

● Women/100 m hurdles ● These were fast from the jump. The U.S.’s Masai Russell and Jamaican Ackera Nugent – SEC rivals from Kentucky and Arkansas – were stride for stride in heat one and both crossed in 12.60, with Nugent given the win (+0.1). Nia Ali, the 2019 World Champion from the U.S., ran steadily in heat two and won in 12.55 (+0.1), but was pushed by Pole Pia Skrzyszowska (12.65).

Olympic silver winner and former world-record holder Keni Harrison was out like a shot in heat three, was challenged by Danielle Williams (JAM), then ran away to win in a startling, world-leading 12.24 (+0.1), the equal-fourth performance all-time and her fastest time since 2016! Devynne Charlton (BAH) came up for second in a national record of 12.44, with Williams at 12.51.

Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) was the clear winner in heat four in 12.50 (0.0), and World Champion Tobi Amusan (NGR) – cleared of a whereabouts suspension – won heat five, just ahead of Olympic bronze winner Megan Tapper (JAM), 12.48 to 12.51 (+0.4).

● Women/400 m hurdles ● Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton took control of semi one, opening a lead on Anna Cockrell of the U.S., and winning in a lifetime best of 53.50. Cockrell came on in the straight and was an easy second, also with a lifetime best of 53.63 at just the right time.

Semi two had favored Femke Bol in eight and Rio 2016 winner Dalilah Muhammad of the U.S. in six, and Bol had a clear lead coming into the straight. But Jamaica’s world no. 3 Andrenette Knight was leading Muhammad and finished second to Bol, 52.95-53.72. Muhammad was third (54.19), and did not advance on time, acknowledging a season of illness and reduced training.

U.S. champ Shamier Little ran a strong first five hurdles, stayed calm and ran away on the straight to win in a seasonal best of 52.81 – her third-fastest ever – ahead of another national record by Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya (53.39) and Janieve Russell (JAM: 53.69).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Stats ● Another look at the women’s 100 m in numbers from RaesTake on Twitter, which detailed Sha’Carri Richardson’s move in the second half, to beat Jamaicans Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce:

● 10 m: Richardson 1.99, SAFP 2.00, Jackson 2.01
● 20 m: SAFP 3.09, Richardson 3.10, Jackson 3.11
● 30 m: SAFP 4.09, Jackson 4.10, Richardson 4.11
● 40 m: SAFP and Jackson, 5.06, Richardson 5.08
● 50 m: SAFP and Jackson, 6.00, Richardson 6.02

● 60 m: Jackson 6.93, Jackson and Richardson, 6.94
● 70 m: Richardson 7.85, Jackson 7.87, SAFP 7.88
● 80 m: Richardson 8.77, Jackson 8.81, SAFP 8.82
● 90 m: Richardson 9.70, Jackson 9.76, SAFP 9.78
● 100 m: Richardson 10.65, Jackson 10.72, SAFP 10.77

Richardson had the fastest 10 m segment from 50 m on: 0.92-0.91-0.92–0.93-0.95. Only Jackson ran 0.93 for a segment once, but Richardson had four segments at 0.93 or faster. She was just better, and didn’t lose any composure when she was trailing in the first half.

Like Noah Lyles in the men’s 100 m, having the best top-end speed in the field ultimately meant a gold medal.

With her 100 m bronze, Fraser-Pryce won her 15th career World Championships medal (10-4-1) and moved into second place all-time, behind American icon Allyson Felix (20: 14-3-3 from 2005-22).

Fraser-Pryce also became Jamaica’s leading Worlds medal winner of all-time, breaking a tie with Usain Bolt, who won 14 (11-2-1) from 2007-17.

The U.S. medal parade continued in the discus and high jump, with 12 total after four days (6-4-2), ahead of Ethiopia (6: 1-3-2), with Great Britain, Italy, Kenya and Jamaica with three each.

In the placing table, scoring points for places 1-8 (8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1), the U.S. is now leading with 116 points, to 47 for Kenya, 46 for Ethiopia, 30 for Jamaica and 27 for Great Britain.

A very heavy schedule for tomorrow, with a big qualifying session in the morning, then nighttime finals in the women’s vault, men’s 1,500 m, women’s 400 m and men’s 400 m hurdles, featuring Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin and Alison dos Santos.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: World Athletics research show FIFA is the world sports leader; Spain dominates awards; Paris 2024 happy about test events

By
Rich Perelman
-
Projected layout of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium (Image: USA Swimming)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. World Athletics research confirms FIFA dominance
2. Spain dominates awards, huge Women’s World Cup TV audiences
3. Paris 2024 declares test-event success for triathlon, archery
4. How are ticket sales going for the 2024 U.S. Swimming Trials?
5. Russia rips World Athletics’ top World Champs moments list

● FIFA grabs the most attention in international sports, as shown by new research done by World Athletics to determine its own “share of voice.” In both 2021 – an Olympic year – and 2022 – a Winter Games and FIFA World Cup year – FIFA is way ahead of the International Olympic Committee and everyone else.

● Women’s World Cup champ Spain dominated the tournament’s awards, as total attendance set a record at almost two million (against a hoped-for 1.5 million total). And the television audience for the final were enormous in Britain, Spain and in Australia.

● The Paris 2024 organizers were positive about the just-completed triathlon and archery test events, despite two of the four triathlon events did not allow swimming in the Seine River. But as part of a massive effort to upgrade the Seine’s safety, organizers and authorities expect no trouble next year.

● Ticket sales for the 2024 USA Swimming Olympic Trials are off to a modest start, with the vast majority of tickets unsold. But the revenue possibilities inherent in placing the event in the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with a possible 30,000 spectators, make it worth the gamble.

● World Athletics created a fan-voted list of the 40 top moments in the 40-year history of its World Athletics Championships. But it had no Russian athletes on it, so of course it was criticized by an important member of the State Duma (legislature), who blamed World Athletics officials and not the fans who voted!

● Panorama: Russia (2: Lysenko says Russian track & field likely out for Paris; stadium honoring Isinbayeva renamed after military service controversy) = Wrestling (remember this name: Amit Elor!) ●

● TSX has special coverage of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest; Monday’s coverage is here ●

1.
World Athletics research confirms FIFA dominance

The worldwide rise of football, powered by not just the club game, but by compelling national-team tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, Women’s World Cup and European Championships, has overshadowed all other international sports, including the Olympic Games.

Confirmation comes from the newly-released World Athletics Annual Report for 2022, which includes a fascinating chart on its communications highlights page, called “Share of Voice and Tonality.”

Although not specifically labeled, this is undoubtedly compiled by Nielsen, which has been working with World Athletics on data analysis for future direction. The “share of voice” results for 2022 and 2021 show FIFA’s unmistakable leadership position:

2021:
● 61%: FIFA (football)
● 23%: IOC (Olympics)
● 4%: World Athletics
● 3%: World Rugby
● 2%: 5 tied, including UCI (cycling), FIBA (basketball), ITF (tennis), FINA (aquatics) and FIVB (volleyball).

2022:
● 69.60%: FIFA (football)
● 14.57%: IOC (Olympics)
● 4.69%: World Athletics
● 2.41%: ITF (tennis)
● 2.16%: 2 tied, including UCI (cycling) and FIBA (basketball).

These figures are even more astonishing, considering that 2021 was an Olympic year, with no major FIFA tournament. The FIFA share rose by more than 14% in 2022, with the FIFA World Cup in November and December, but the IOC fell way back, despite having a compelling Winter Games in Beijing in February of 2022.

The World Athletics share moved from 4% to 4.69%, a worthwhile increase, and well ahead of the top “tier one” sports at the Olympic Games: World Aquatics (1.33%) and the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (0.42%). In fact, FIG is almost invisible, at 1% for 2021 and much less in 2022.

For 2023, one would expect – if World Athletics posts these figures next year – that FIFA would be well in front again after the strong interest in the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Perhaps FIFA chief Gianni Infantino (SUI) should send World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) a thank-you gift?

2.
Spain dominates awards; huge Women’s World Cup TV audiences

For a team which was in revolt in September 2022, when 15 players sent simultaneous messages to the national federation asking NOT to be called to the national team over facilities, support and the decision of coach Jorge Vilda, Spain engineered a brilliant triumph at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Of the 15 players who sent these messages, eight finally agreed to selection if called, after discussions produced several changes in the way the women’s team was run. Of the eight, three eventually made the team: midfielder Aitana Bonmati, forward Mariona Caldentey, and defender Ona Batlle.

Caldentey set up Olga Carmona’s 29th-minute winning goal in the final, and Bonmati was named the winner of the Golden Ball as the top player in the tournament. Teammate Jennifer Hermoso was second (Silver Ball) and Swedish defender Amanda Ilestedt (Bronze Ball).

The top scorers were honored with the Golden Boot, for Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa (five goals and one assist); the Silver Boot to France’s Kadidiatou Diani (4 + 3) and Germany’s Alexandra Popp (Bronze Boot: 4 + 0).

The top keeper was England’s Mary Earps, who kept the Lionesses in the final until the end.

Spain’s electric striker Salma Paralluelo, who had two goals at age 19, was named “Best Young Player” and Japan won the Fair Play Award.

The biggest winner was women’s football, with interest in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup far surpassing any of the eight tournaments that came before.

With sell-outs for the semifinals, third-place and championship match, attendance finished at 1,978,274, smashing the old mark from Canada in 2015 of 1,353,506 (played with fewer matches). On a per-game average basis, the 2023 Women’s World Cup was the third to surpass average attendance of 30,000 or more:

● 37,944 in 1999 (hosted in the U.S.: 32 matches)
● 37,218 in 2007 (China: 32)
● 30,911 in 2023 (Australia and New Zealand: 64)
● 26,428 in 2011 (Germany: 32)
● 26,029 in 2015 (Canada: 52)

About 87% of all seats for the 2023 tournament were sold; FIFA was targeting 1.5 million attendees and far surpassed that. About 770,000 visited the various fan festivals held in the host cities. Even the volunteer staff was excited, with a reported attendance rate of 95%.

Television audiences were also big, with Reuters reporting that a total of 14.46 million viewers – peak viewers – watched the final in Britain, with 12.0 million on the BBC and 2.46 million on the concurrent broadcast on ITV. That’s the second-largest audience of 2023; only the coronation of King Charles III was bigger.

In Spain, the average audience was 5.6 million on public broadcaster RTVE, with a peak of 7.4 million. The match had an audience share of 65.7%, meaning that of all televisions in the country that were on during the game, almost two-in-three were watching the match, with a peak at 71.1%. That’s the most for any women’s football match ever in Spain.

Australian viewing of the championship match was 5.54 million at peak, well down from the peak of 11.15 million (average audience 7.2 million) on Channel Seven for the Australia-England semifinal.

3.
Paris 2024 declares test-event success for triathlon, archery

True, the water quality in the Seine River in Paris was insufficient for the final two days of last week’s triathlon test event, but the Paris 2024 organizers were pleased nonetheless, promoting the effort as a success:

“Over the last few days, and a year ahead of schedule, the heart of the French capital has been beating to the rhythm of the Paris 2024 Games. Test events took place simultaneously for triathlon and Para triathlon in an area around the Pont Alexandre III and, in the immediate vicinity, for archery and Para archery on the Esplanade des Invalides. The events proved to be great learning opportunities that proved the key concepts behind Paris 2024 and allow all to look ahead to the Games with heightened anticipation and confidence. …

“Although this last competition – like yesterday’s Para triathlon events – was run as a duathlon (running – cycling – running), due to discrepancies in the results of water quality analysis of the Seine, the Test Event proved positive generally.”

The announcement was 90% about the triathlon and especially the water quality of the Seine, for which public swimming has been banned since 1923. The women’s and men’s Olympic-distance triathlon events held last Thursday and Friday were held with swimming in the river, but not on Saturday for the Para events, or Sunday for the Mixed Relay:

“Even though the swimming events were not able to be held during the last two days of competition (as a precautionary measure for the health of the triathletes and Para triathletes), the ongoing work on wastewater management and the delivery of new infrastructure for the treatment of rainwater between now and the Olympic Games Paris 2024, will mean that the water quality will be improved and, as a result, the events will be held as planned.

“New infrastructure will include the Austerlitz reservoir, an enormous storage basin 50m in diameter and more than 30m deep will allow for the storage of more than 50,000m3 of water, equivalent to 20 Olympic pools. This reservoir will allow event organisers to be better prepared for exceptional weather events by preventing wastewater from being discharged into the Seine in the event of heavy rain.”

Rain and the pollution brought by it led to the cancellation of the open-water swimming test event in early August.

The archery competition went off well and there was some coordination between the two, on people flows and security.

There are many more test events to come, with Mountain Bike cycling next on 24 September. But the Seine, site of the Opening Ceremony, and then open-water swimming and triathlon, is emerging more and more as the centerpiece of the host city’s preparations to change Paris in 2024.

4.
How are ticket sales going for the 2024 U.S. Swimming Trials?

One of the highlights on the road to Paris in 2024 should be the U.S. Olympic Trials in swimming, slated to be held before 30,000-plus spectators in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The sport’s Olympic Trials sold out in its prior three editions at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, with about 18,000 in seating for each session. But the sales have gotten off to a slow start for 2024.

SwimSwam.com reported that an unofficial count based on the Ticketmaster seating charts showed 23,199 tickets available for the first three-day package; the meet is nine days and all-session and three-day packages are available. Editor Braden Keith estimated that the unsold inventory for the first three days is $8.16 million, or more than $24 million for the meet in total.

He notes that USA Swimming reported $5.5 million in revenue from all of its 2016 meets (including the Trials in Omaha), so the opportunity to make some real money even at less-than-full capacity is substantial. And that’s why the meet is being held in an NFL stadium.

A follow-up story on Monday noted some blowback about the ticket pricing, which is normal when there are increases. Keith suggested a way to sell some of the weakest tickets might be to use them as a fund-raiser for local clubs, but for most folks, Paris 2024 is still pretty far away.

And the prices in Indianapolis are a far cry from the costs of attending the Olympic Games in Paris, including tickets, travel and accommodations.

It’s early yet.

5.
Russia rips World Athletics’ top World Champs moments list

In commemoration of the 40-year anniversary of the first World Championships in Helsinki (FIN) in 1983, World Athletics created a fan-voted project to name the top 40 moments in Worlds history.

Announced between 30 June and 19 July, the list included athletes from 20 countries. But none from Russia.

So, Dmitry Svishchev, the head of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sport and Youth Policy, complained, clearly without knowing how it was compiled:

“I think that the [World Athletics President Sebastian] Coe and the veterans who lead the federation and determine this list on a national basis should carefully study the history of athletics, open the ratings of competitions, encyclopedias. We’re not talking about lists of the strongest athletes only in the UK or the USA, are we? By what criteria were certain athletes chosen to enter there? I doubt that there is a national sign there.

“Or write then – ‘the most influential, with the exception of Russians’ – otherwise, this list says nothing. Our athletes are among the most titled in the world, I’m not talking about the athletes of the USSR. If I were [World Athletics], I would be outraged by this behavior. Still, apparently, there is some kind of conflict between our and the world federation.”

Yuriy Borzakovskiy, the 2004 Olympic men’s 800 m winner, told TASS:

“The absence of Russian women in the list of the 40 strongest track and field athletes of the World Championships, who have made the greatest contribution to the development of our sport, is surprising to me.

“I do not belittle the merits of all the athletes on the list, but I believe that Yelena Isinbayeva [pole vault] and Maria Lasitskene [high jump], who have won three gold medals at the World Championships, which no one else has managed to do in their disciplines, deserve to be recognized by the international federation no less.”

World Athletics had some fun with fans, but it looks like some folks didn’t read the rules. Can’t win.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Russia ● Russian high jump star Danil Lysenko found himself in agreement Saturday with comments by World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe last Thursday, that Russian participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is “unlikely.” Lysenko, the 2018 World Indoor Champion and no. 2 on the 2023 world list at 2.35 m (7-8 1/2) told the Russian news agency TASS:

“In principle, I don’t even expect that we will be allowed to the Olympics, I’m set on other goals. I’m very glad that we have major competitions planned, including the [2024] BRICS Games and the Friendship Games. I hope that everything will work out.”

A stadium in the Dagestan region has been renamed as the “Trud Stadium,” removing the name of two-time Olympic women’s vault champion Isinbayeva.

Isinbayeva was cleared by the International Olympic Committee to continue as a member, with its Ethics Commission determining that she has not supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this context, Isinbayeva, 41, said her military involvement is “nominal,” despite having had the rank of Major – possibly in an honorary capacity – in the Russian Army.

The comment got her into trouble with hard-liners, and the Dagestan Republic decided to change the stadium name.

● Wrestling ● Another name to remember for 2024: Amit Elor, of Walnut Creek, California.

Elor won the World Cadet and World U-20 titles at age 17 in 2021 at 69 kg, then won a sensational triple in 2022, taking the World U-20 Championship at 72 kg, the World U-23 title and the World Championships gold.

And she’s at it again – still just 19 – winning her third straight World U-20 belt at 72 kg in Amman (JOR), taking her bouts by a 10-0 technical fall, a pinfall in 1:40 and technical falls of 10-0 and 11-0. That’s 31-0 and a pin. Remember the name.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

ATHLETICS: Richardson shocks with 10.65 women’s 100 m win, Holloway storms to third 110H title in Budapest Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
Sha'Carri Richardson celebrates her women's 100 m win at the World Athletics Championships (Photo: Stephen Pond/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

Day three of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest was hot again, with the single, evening session beginning at about 90 F and high humidity, but the action on the track was even better. And the focus was on a memorable women’s 100 meters.

● Women/100 m ● The semis started with Jamaica’s five-time World Champion  Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce getting an average start and only taking the lead at 60 m, with American Tamari Davis (20) close behind at the finish, in 10.89 and 10.98 (wind: -0.4 m/s). The brutal second semi had Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S.,  world leader Shericka Jackson of Jamaica and Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) in 6-5-7, with Richardson getting a terrible start and Ta Lou and Jackson running away, with both in 10.79 – tied – and Richardson third in 10.84, qualifying for the final on time. The third semi was tight, with St. Lucia star Julien Alfred only taking the lead from Brittany Brown in the final 20 m and won in 10.92-10.97 (-0.1). Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith was third in 11.01 and also made the final on time.

Lining up for the final were three Americans and two Jamaicans, with Richardson in nine. Poland’s Eva Swoboda, the last qualifier, got her patented bullet start and was in front for 40 m, when the Jamaicans – Jackson and Fraser-Pryce – took over in the middle of the track.

But Richardson was coming, and coming at the far side of the track, and gained ground quickly in the final 40 m and passed Fraser-Pryce with 10 m to go and Jackson in the final five to win in a brilliant 10.65 (-0.2). Jackson was second in 10.72 and Fraser-Pryce taking the bronze in 10.77.

Ta Lou was fourth in 10.81, with Alfred fifth (10.93); Americans Brown and Davis were seventh and ninth in 10.97 and 11.03.

Even through she threw up her arms in celebration at the line, Richardson still couldn’t believe it, but she’s the World Champion, with a lifetime best and now equal-fifth all-time and equal-third all-time U.S. Only Florence Griffith-Joyner and Carmelita Jeter have run faster, and she’s tied with Marion Jones in 1998.

It’s the first U.S. win in the women’s 100 m since the late Tori Bowie in 2017, who won the last U.S. medal in this race.

It was not, of course, the first Worlds sprint winner from a far outside lane, as Kim Collins (SKN) famously won from lane one in the 2003 Worlds in Paris.

● Men/110 m hurdles ● A false start in semi one eliminated heat winner Louis Francois Mendy (SEN), then American Daniel Roberts moved smartly off the gun, passed over hurdle nine, and finished second to Shunsuke Izumiya (JPN), 13.16 to 13.19 (-0.2). Defending champ Grant Holloway of the U.S. and teammate Cordell Tinch were in semi two, with Holloway sprinting to the lead right away and dominating the race in 13.02 (-0.2). France’s Sasha Zoya got a lifetime best of 13.15 for second, but Tinch could not get going and was fourth in 13.31, and did not advance. American Freddie Crittenden was even with Olympic champ Hansle Parchment (JAM) in semi three, then edged ahead over the final three hurdles to win in 13.17-13.18 (-0.1).

The final saw Holloway leave no doubt. He started, as usual, like a rocket, and was never headed, clearing all 10 hurdles flawlessly. He led wire to wire and won in 12.96 (0.0), a seasonal best. Roberts was second for most of the race, but Parchment came on hard on the run-in and got second, 13.07-13.09, with Roberts getting his first Worlds medal, in his third Worlds.

Crittenden, between Holloway and Roberts, was third for most of the race, but ended up fourth in a season’s best of 13.16.

Holloway won his third Worlds gold in a row, only the second man to do it, with American Greg Foster – who passed away in February at just 64 – the other, in 1983-87-91.

● Men/Triple Jump ● Favored Jaydon Hibbert of Jamaica, the NCAA champ for Arkansas and the world leader, suffered an injury on his first jump and passed the rest and had no mark. That left 2022 runner-up Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR) to take the lead at 17.37 m (57-0) in the first round, passed by Cuba’s Lazaro Martinez at 17.41 m (57-1 1/2) in round two.

Zango then exploded in round five to 17.64 m (57-10 1/2) to take the lead and no one challenged him on the way to his first Worlds gold, after a bronze in 2019 and silver last year. Martinez got second, adding to his World Indoor title in 2022, and teammate Cristian Napoles got third with a lifetime best of 17.40 m (57-1).

The U.S.’s Will Claye, a four-time Worlds medal winner, got a seasonal best of 16.99 m (55-9) in the second round, and ended up seventh. Teammate Chris Benard managed 16.62 m (54-6 1/2) in the second round and finished ninth.

● Men/Discus ● Another showdown between Olympic champ Daniel Stahl of Sweden and Slovenia’s Worlds winner Kristjian Ceh, with Ceh reaching 69.27 m (227-3) in round two to take the lead, but Stahl came back in round four with 69.37 m (227-7).

Ceh wasn’t done and sailed into the lead at a sensational 70.02 m (229-9) in the final round, but Stahl responded with a fabulous 71.46 m (234-5) on his final throw to win his second world title, previously in 2019.

Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna, the 2022 runner-up, ended up third at 68.85 m (225-10). American Brian Williams reached 63.62 m (208-9) in the third round and finished ninth.

There was more brilliant running in the prelims on Monday, especially in the men’s 400 m hurdles semis.

● Men/400 m hurdles ● The semis were hot from the start, with two-time Commonwealth Games winner Kyron McMaster (IVB) and Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde in the lead, with American CJ Allen trailing. Into the home straight, McMaster steamed to the finish and won in a startling 47.72! Allen passed Hyde off the final hurdle, but then he was passed by Estonian veteran Rasmus Magi – a two-time Olympic finalist – for second, 48.30 to 48.44, with Hyde fourth at 48.49.

Semi two was a delicious showdown with Olympic and World silver winner Rai Benjamin and defending World Champion Alison dos Santos (BRA) in lanes seven and eight. Benjamin led off the turn and steamed home comfortably ahead of dos Santos to win in a sensational 47.24, a time only Benjamin and Karsten Warholm have run this year. Dos Santos ran a seasonal best of 47.38.

Benjamin’s 47.24 in the semis is the fastest non-final in history and there is much more in the tank. Wow.

Norway’s Olympic champ Warholm was in lane five for semi three, and ran away from the field in 47.09, now the fastest non-final in history. Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke was strong the straight and finished in a lifetime best of 47.34, a World U-20 Record, that was just enough to stay ahead of American Trevor Bassitt.

Running out of lane nine, Bassitt steamed down the straight and got third in 47.38, a lifetime best, and enough to get into the final as the fastest non-automatic qualifier. Allen’s time was not enough to get to the final, on Wednesday.

● Women/400 m ● Dominican star Marileidy Paulino, the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, won the first semi in 49.54, with Ireland (and Texas) star Rhasidat Adeleke coming up for second in 49.87. In the second semi, Lieke Klaver (NED) controlled the pace and ran down the straight to win in 49.87. Talitha Diggs of the U.S. was fifth on the home straight, but pumped her arms hard and got to second, almost falling, but made the final in 50.86.

Poland’s 2022 European runner-up Natalia Kaczmarek edged 2022 Worlds bronze medalist Sada Williams (BAR) in semi three, 49.50-49.58, with Lynna Irby-Jackson of the U.S. third at 50.71, but did not qualify for Wednesday’s final.

● Women/400 m hurdles ● Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton and Rio Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad of the U.S. were 1-2 in the first heat in 53.97 and 54.21, and it was Jamaica-U.S. in the second heat with Janieve Russell and Anna Cockrell in 54.53 and 54.68.

Jamaica’s streak stopped in heat three, as Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya got a lifetime best and a national record at 53.56, with Andrenette Knight (JAM) second at 54.21. Dutch superstar Femke Bol was back on the track after her Mixed 4×400 m mishap on Saturday, and stormed through heat four in 53.39, jogging after clearing hurdle ten; only three others have run that fast this season!

U.S. champ Shamier Little, the 2015 silver medalist in this event, headlined heat five, and was way out in front and then slowed on the home straight, chopped the tenth hurdle and saw Jessie Knight (GBR) pass her in the final 5 m, 54.27 to 54.40. The semis are Tuesday.

● Women/Vault ● Qualifying went to 4.65 m (15-3), with Olympic and World champ Katie Moon of the U.S. clearing, along with teammates Sandi Morris, Bridget Williams and high schooler Hana Moll – the 2022 World U-20 Champion – for whom the height was a lifetime best! European champ Wilma Murto (FIN) and Australia’s Nina Kennedy also made it through to Wednesday’s final.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Errata ● Sunday’s post noted that U.S. heptathlete Taliyah Brooks did not start on the second day; in fact, she fouled three times in the long jump and withdrew. Thanks to reader Bob Bettwy for being the first to notice!

● Medals ● With two wins on Monday, the U.S. is up to nine total medals (5-3-2), already doubling up Ethiopia (4: 1-1-2), with Great Britain (1-1-1) and Jamaica (0-2-1) with three each.

● Stats ● How did Noah Lyles win the men’s 100 m world title? He was the fastest man in the final 50 m. RaesTake posted a 10 m by 10 m breakdown of the race, showing the medalists in half-and-half:

● 1. Noah Lyles: 5.62 + 4.21 = 9.83
● 2. Letsile Tebogo: 5.61 + 4.27 = 9.88
● 3. Zharnel Hughes: 5.64 + 4.24 = 9.88

American Christian Coleman, the early leader, was at 5.57 at 50 m, but came home in 4.35 for fifth in 9.92.

Lyles ran the last five 10 m segments of the race either faster or as fast as everyone else: 0.84, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85 and 0.85. Not much deceleration in the final half of the event! Lyles’ 60-70 m time of 0.83 was the fastest segment of the race.

● Stories ● Last year’s men’s 100 m World Champion, Fred Kerley of the U.S., missed the final by 0.01 with a third in his semifinal on Monday. Asked by @realtalkwithtee – former heptathlete Tiara Williams – afterwards, he explained:

“It’s just track and field, so, hey, I’m a competitor, so there was a better man on this day, but, hey, I’m ready for any challenge.”

He said he would be racing in China, and could be racing in the Diamond League final in Eugene in September.

Sunday’s fifth heat of the women’s 100 m was a little crazy, with Poland’s Krystsina Tsimanouskaya appearing to false start out from lane two, but the computer block control showed that Britain’s Imani Lansiquot actually flinched first in lane eight.

Lansiquot protested and was allowed to run, and she finished third in the race behind Sha’Carri Richardson’s 10.92, but her disqualification was confirmed and she was out. Tsimanouskaya finished fifth in 11.32, well off her all-time best of 11.04 from 2018.

But just racing for Poland is a win for her; remember she ran for Belarus in Tokyo, criticized her coaches and then was sent home, but asked for asylum from the Tokyo airport police. She was eventually welcomed in Poland, and competed in her second World Championships.

Amid all the great performances was another that was less notice, for the seventh-place finisher in heat three of the women’s 400 m on Sunday: defending World Champion and two-time Olympic champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo of The Bahamas.

Now 29, she gave birth to son Maicel just four months before, but still came back to the Worlds, running a seasonal best of 52.65 in the heat. Since the birth in April, she competed only at the nationals in July scored 3,369 in the heptathlon (!) for second place, even though she did not finish the 800 m.

Expect her to be ready for Paris in 2024.

No morning session on Tuesday, but finals in the men’s high jump, women’s discus, women’s 1,500 m and men’s Steeple.

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TSX REPORT: Spain wins Women’s World Cup; tournament broke even at $570 million; Victoria pays A$380 mil to get out of ‘26 Commonwealth Games

By
Rich Perelman
-
The FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy (Photo: FIFA)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Troubled Spain wins Women’s World Cup, edging England, 1-0
2. Infantino: Women’s World Cup generated $570 million U.S.
3. Victoria pays A$380 million to get out of Commonwealth Games
4. Russian Olympic Committee Pozdnyakov head rips IOC again
5. IWF gender policy creates “Open Gender” category as of 1 August

● Eleven months ago, Spain’s women’s football program was in turmoil, with 15 players asking not to be called up to the national team. On Sunday, Spain won the FIFA Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory over England in Sydney. Impossible, but it happened.

● FIFA President – and relentless promoter – Gianni Infantino said Friday that the Women’s World Cup had broken even, with $570 million in revenue, and said that full gender equality had been reached in terms of the support services offered to men and women at their respective World Cup tournaments.

● Victoria reached an agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation, Commonwealth Games Federation Partnerships and Commonwealth Games Australia on a payment of A$380 million (about $242.33 million U.S.) for withdrawing as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

● The head of the Russian Olympic Committee continues to insult the International Olympic Committee, saying its “anti-Russia policies” are destroying the integrity of the Olympic Movement. Interesting way to try and get your team into the 2024 Olympic Games.

● The International Weightlifting Federation adopted new gender-identity rules, banning males from the women’s division after puberty and introducing an “Open Gender” category that will allow male-to-female transgenders to compete, along with those with differences in sex development (DSD). This follows the lead of World Aquatics and others.

● World Championships: Sailing (two wins for the Netherlands, but five medals for Britain at The Hague) = Shooting (U.S. scores three Skeet wins as ISSF Worlds continue) ●

● Panorama: Archery (U.S.’s Kaufhold takes Paris World Cup gold) = Basketball (U.S. men defeat Greece, Germany in exhibitions) = Beach Volleyball (third win for Ana Patricia and Duda Lisboa, in Hamburg Elite 16) = Boxing (IBA instructs IOC on how to follow the Olympic Charter!) = Cycling (Pedersen gets to the line first in Hamburg Cyclassics) = Football (Markgraf resigns from USSF) = Judo (Brazil wins three at Zagreb Grand Prix) = Triathlon (Yee wins Paris test event, as water quality removes weekend swims) = Volleyball (Canada takes first Pan Am Cup title) ●

● Special, daily coverage of the World Athletics Championships: our posts for Saturday and Sunday ●

1.
Troubled Spain wins Women’s World Cup, edging England, 1-0

It has been a memorable FIFA Women’s World Cup, especially for Spain, a team now on top of the world, but which appeared to be falling apart about a year ago.

The Spanish federation was rocked in September 2022 by a coordinated request from 15 players not to be part of the national team, citing inadequate facilities, support and approach. Eventually, things got better and eight of the 15 were willing to play in the Women’s World Cup, and three were selected.

Now, in their third Women’s World Cup appearance, they are champions.

● Championship: Spain 1, England 0 ● The game was expected to be tight, with Spain controlling possession and England looking for opportunities. They got one in the 16th minute, as midfielder Rachel Daly set up striker Lauren Hemp for a left-footed shot that banged off the goal post and was cleared.

Just seconds later, Spain almost scored on a pass inside the box from striker Salma Paralluelo to forward Alba Redondo, but English keeper Mary Earps knocked it away.

In the 29th, Spanish forward Mariona Caldentey – one of the 15 who last year didn’t want to play for Spain – came down the left side, passed ahead to left back Olga Carmona, who had space and ripped a shot that flew diagonally past Earps and into the far right side of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

They almost got another at 45+2 when Paralluelo hit the right post trying to tuck her shot into the far side of goal.

In the second half, Spain continued to control the ball and frustrate England, and had a chance to seal it when English midfielder Keira Walsh was called for a hand-ball off a Caldentey pass in the box in the 67th. But midfielder Jenni Hermoso failed to score as her shot was smothered by Earps, keeping the English hopes alive.

But there was no late miracle, no brilliant finish and England had to settle for second. Spain had 57% of possession and a 13-8 edge on shots. Earps kept the English in it, but in their third straight medal match in the World’s World Cup have now finished third in 2015, fourth in 2019 and second in 2023.

For the Spanish, they made their first Women’s World Cup appearance in 2015, leaving after the group stage, then got to the round-of-16 in 2019, and are champions in 2023, after being the no. 3 choice going in.

● Third place: Sweden 2, Australia 0 ● Co-hosts Australia reached the semifinals for the first time ever and enchanted an already sports-man nation, which filled Lang Park in Brisbane on Saturday with 49,461 fans to cheer them on one more time.

But Sweden was on offense from the start, with striker Stina Blackstenius getting a crisp shot at goal in the first minute that had to be knocked away by Aussie keeper Mackenzie Arnold.

Blackstenius was causing more trouble in the 26th, racing to control a ball at the right of goal when she was tripped from behind by defender Clare Hunt, who was called for a penalty. Midfielder Fridolina Rolfo took the penalty and although Arnold guessed correctly, the shot flew past her to the right side of the goal in the 30th for 1-0 lead.

Sweden almost got another in stoppage time, as Filippa Angeldal’s chip had to be knocked away by a diving Arnold at 45+2. But the half ended at 1-0.

The Swedes were at it again in the second half, with midfielder Kosovare Asilani leading a 3-on-3 break, passing to Blackstenius on the left side, who stopped in the box, passed back to Asilani at the top of the box, whose right-footed rocket whistled into the right side of the net and past the diving Arnold for a 2-0 edge in the 62nd.

The Aussies almost got back in it in the 70th, but defender Clare Polkinghorne’s shot from point-blank range off a Hunt header from the right side was saved by Swedish keeper Zecira Musovic. The Swedes ended with 54% of possession, but shots were even at 11.

This was Sweden’s third bronze medal in the last four Women’s World Cup, their fourth in nine tournaments and fifth medal all-time. Only the U.S., with eight, has more.

2.
Infantino: Women’s World Cup generated $570 million U.S.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) took a victory lap a couple of days before the Women’s World Cup final, telling the second FIFA’s Women’s Football Convention in Sydney that the tournament has been an unprecedented success. Highlights:

● “This FIFA Women’s World Cup has been truly transformational, not only in Australia and New Zealand but all over the world.

“In the host countries, we had almost two million spectators in the stadiums – full houses everywhere – and two billion watching all over the world, and not just watching their own country but watching the World Cup, because it’s an event [where] I don’t just watch my team . It’s great sport, it’s entertaining and people love it.

“We have to thank and congratulate Australia and New Zealand because without them this would not have been as magical.”

● “By increasing the number of teams, we had eight debutants! Eight debutants! We had many countries around the world who thought suddenly that they have a chance to participate. And from the 134 countries who entered the qualification for the 2015 (FIFA) Women’s World Cup, before I became FIFA President, we have now 188 countries in the FIFA ranking. Because everyone believes now that there is a chance to shine on the global stage.”

● “We have to speak a little bit as well about the money. We have increased, of course, the contributions and prize money to USD 152 million. Also, they’re somewhere hesitating with specific recommendations for a part going to women players themselves.

“Well, this is simply ten times more, ten times more than the global prize money in 2015. So, in two editions, we multiplied by ten what we do. And when it comes to the level of service for the teams, the women’s national teams and the men’s national teams had exactly the same level of service in terms of training camps, hotels, travel. So, full equality has been reached.

● “Actually, this (FIFA Women’s) World Cup generated over USD 570 million in revenues. And so, we broke even. We didn’t lose any money, and we generated the second-highest income of any sport, of course, besides the men’s (FIFA) World Cup at global stage. More than half a billion.

“There are not many competitions, even in men’s football, that generate more than half a billion. And this shows what? This shows that our strategy probably was not too bad, that, of course, we still have to do much better, but that we are on the right path. And the lessons we learned from this World Cup are so many.”

He renewed his call for financial support for women’s football from governments, the United Nations and more support from news media, whether print or broadcast (and especially for the purchase of television rights).

FIFA announced gifts totaling A$100,000 to charity, with A$50,000 to NACSA, which works with Australian aboriginal and Torres strait Islander youth, and the same to BBM New Zealand, focused on reducing obesity Maori and Pacific Islander peoples. (AUD 1 = $0.65 U.S.)

3.
Victoria pays A$380 million to get out of Commonwealth Games

The withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria from its contract to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games came at a price, announced Friday as A$380 million, or about $242.33 million U.S. A joint statement included:

“The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Commonwealth Games Federation Partnerships (CGFP), Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) and the State of Victoria have settled all their disputes regarding the cancellation of the multi-hub regional Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games. …

“The parties subsequently agreed to refer the dispute to Mediation and appointed former New Zealand Judge, the Honourable Kit Toogood KC and the former Chief Justice of the WA Supreme Court, the Honourable Wayne Martin AC KC as joint mediators.

“All parties engaged respectfully and made appropriate concessions in order to reach an agreement.

“The State of Victoria has agreed to pay the Commonwealth Games parties (CGF CGFP and CGA) AUD $380 million.

“The parties also agreed that the multi-hub regional model was more expensive to host than the traditional models.”

Victoria Premier Ken Andrews told local media:

“The advice I have is that in terms of industry standards and the nature of contract break clauses, this is the best outcome that Victoria could get. This brings to an end this matter, there can be no further appeals, there can be no further action. And that is a good thing.”

The stunning withdrawal from hosting the event came as cost projections of A$2.6 billion were said to rise to more than A$6 billion. Inflation, supply chain issues and building costs all contributed to the government’s view that costs would be A$4.6 billion at minimum and likely much more between now and 2026.

The Commonwealth Games Federation is now trying to find a new 2026 host, with chatter about another Australian location, or perhaps London (GBR), but no firm offers as yet. The CGF is also looking for a 2030 host for the centennial Commonwealth Games, as Canadian interest from its Alberta and Ontario provinces appears to have ended.

4.
Russian Olympic Committee head rips IOC again

Although the drumbeat has remained constant over the 18 months since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it’s worth continuing to monitor statements from its leading Olympic officials.

Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov posted a long comment on his personal Telegram page – a major Russian-language social site – which maintained Russia’s line not only against Ukraine, but also against the International Olympic Committee:

“We have heard recently an increased number of statements on behalf of foreign sports and political figures regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international tournaments, including next year’s Olympics.

“Most of these statements, particularly voiced by Ukrainian officials, are inconsistent and sometimes resemble a delirious nonsense. They used to announce boycotts, bar their athletes from competing internationally, then would suddenly allow athletes to compete but under certain conditions, and finally come up with some kind of an anti-Russian coalition.

“Unfortunately, Lausanne [the IOC] does not react. It simply bites its tongue. They just keep swerving further away from the sports in general and the intended unifying mission [of sports], which at all times has been called upon to serve the cause of peace and mutual understanding.

“Sports should remain outside the politics in order to be developing on its own regardless of all of the voiced rhetoric and attempts to use it immediately under the political pretext. However, this is what is exactly happening within the International Olympic Committee and the organization’s movement.

“Its [IOC’s] foundations are undermined by the lack of autonomy, politicization of decisions and disregard for the principles of the Olympic Charter favoring anti-Russia’s pre-ordered policies.

“The majority of our colleagues from Lausanne assumed an open stance regarding the political conflict and resorting to their actions and rhetoric they are now destroying the integrity of the Olympic Movement.

“At the same time, true Olympic principles and values are not only still relevant, but are in demand now more than ever. First of all, it is for the benefit of athletes who ended up under the pressure of blatant discrimination, double standards, arbitrariness and lawlessness.”

In other words, do what we want and only what we want. Not very effective, but consistent with the needs of internal messaging within Russia. And, without doubt, German Thomas Bach’s IOC will wait and wait and wait until it is ready to decide what happens in Paris in 2024.

5.
IWF gender policy creates “Open Gender” category as of 1 August

A revision of the International Weightlifting Federation’s “Gender Identity Policy,” in effect as of 1 August 2023, created three competition categories: Men, Women and Open:

“For Continental, Grand Prix, International, World competitions, IWF will adopt the following categories for competition. For the sake of clarity, this excludes university/collegiate events, which are subject to following FISU’s policy.

“● Women’s Events: Events exclusively for athletes who identify as :

“1) A cis-female athlete
“2) Those who are assigned female at birth (may include Non-Binary, DSD, Intersex)
“3) Those trans-female athletes who complete hormonal transition BEFORE Completion of puberty.

“● Men’s Events: Events exclusively for athletes who identify as:

“1) A cis-male athlete
“2) Those who are assigned male at birth (may include Non-Binary, DSD, Intersex)
“3) Those trans-male athletes who complete hormonal transition BEFORE completion of puberty

“● Open Gender Event: These events are for athletes of any non-cis gender, intersex, those identifying as a gender not congruent with their assigned birth gender, DSD athletes. Intersex and DSD athletes may require review from IWF Gender Committee prior to be allowed to compete in open category in order to make sure eligibility requirements are met. Cis-men and cis-women may not participate in Open Gender category.”

The transgender regulations require an athlete – assumed in the regulations to switch from male to female – to have:

● “Started hormonal transition before the end of puberty at Tanner stage 3, AND”

● “ Hormonal levels should be submitted one month before continental and international competition as long as they compete. If the athlete does not compete in that year, they must submit one hormonal test to IWF Gender sub-committee annually.”

A transition from male to female that begins before puberty is completed also requires the new female athlete to maintain serum testosterone levels of less than 2.5 nmol/L as long as they compete.

With this new policy, the IWF has moved in line with the federations who have followed World Aquatics (and now others) in barring post-pubescent males from moving into the women’s category.

As the IWF is asking to be added back to the Olympic program for Los Angeles 2028,  no doubt that the federation has high confidence that this policy will meet with the IOC’s approval. No public protest from the IOC has been made relative to similar policies from World Aquatics and others.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Sailing ● The World Sailing Championships off The Hague (NED) finished on Sunday, with two wins for the home team in the Olympic events, but with Britain claiming the most medals with five (0-3-2).

In the men’s 49er class, the two-time defending World Champion Dutch duo of Bart Lambriex and Floris van de Werken were easy winners, with only 63 net points to 91.0 for Sebastian Schneiter and Arno de Planta (SUI) and 91.8 for Spain’s Diego Botin and Florian Trittel. Lambrieux and van de Werken won five races and had nine finishes in the top three. Botin and Trittel had four wins, but also finished 10th in the medal race.

The U.S. team of Andrew Mollerus and Ian Macdiarmid finished fifth (100) and Ian Barrows and Hans Henken were ninth (116).

Sweden’s Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzler won the 49erFX class in a runaway, scoring just 48 points, with seven race wins, including five in a row! A tight race for second saw Odile van Aanholt and three-time World Champion Annette Duetz (NED) score 84 to 88 for Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine (NZL).

The U.S. team of Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea, 11th in Tokyo, finished seventh (108), and Paris Henken and Anna Tobias ended up 16th (140).

The men’s IQ Foil windsurfing title went to Luuc van Opzeeland (NED), who won both the semi-final and final races. Sebastian Kordel (GER) was second in both, and the bronze went to Italy’s Nicolo Renna, third in the final. The women’s racing saw a 1-2 for Israel, with Shahar Tibi winning over Katy Spychakov, with Emma Wilson (GBR) third in the final. Wilson had been the most consistent in the nine races before the semis, but Tibi and Spychakov went 1-2 in both the semi and final.

Singapore’s 16-year-old Maximilian Maeder grabbed the men’s Kiteboard title, winning six races and then two more in the three-race final, to best Toni Vodisek (SLO) and France’s Axel Mazella. The women’s gold went to France, with Lauriane Nolot winning the final over Britain’s Eleanor Aldridge, with countrywomen Lily Young and Katie Dabson finishing 2-3-4. American Daniela Moroz, the 2018 World Champion, finished seventh.

In the ILCA7 Laser class for men, Australia’s Matt Wearn – the Tokyo Olympic champ and a four-time Worlds medalist – finally got a Worlds gold, sailing to a big lead and winning with 83 points. Michael Beckett (GBR: 96) and George Gautrey (NZL: 101) were 2-3

The women’s ILCA6 Laser Radial title came down to the medal race, and a third-place finish for Hungary’s Maria Erdi vaulted her from third to first, ending with 75 points. Swiss Maud Jayet, the leader going in, finished seventh and grabbed silver (79) while Denmark’s Tokyo Olympic winner Anne-Marie Rindom was third with 81. American Charlotte Rose was ninth in the medal race and finished fifth with 96 net points.

● Shooting ● The U.S. scored four medals in Skeet at the 2023 World Shooting Championships in Baku (AZE), led by 2017 World Champion Dania Jo Vizzi.

She took a silver in the women’s Skeet final behind Danka Bartekova (SVK), a four-time Worlds bronze medalist, but now – finally – World Champion. In the final, Bartekova and Vizzi both shot 54/60 and went to a shoot-off, won by Bartekova, 11-10. Greece’s Emmanouela Katzouraki finished third (43), with Americans Sam Simonton fourth (34) and Austin Smith fifth (26).

Naturally, Vizzi, Simonton and Smith came back to win the women’s Team title, 365-360 over Italy, with Slovakia third (359).

The men’s Skeet winner was Greek two-time Olympian Efthimios Mitas at 56, one better than Finn Eetu Kallioinen (55), followed by Azmy Mehelba (EGY: 46) and then American triple Olympic champ Vincent Hancock (37).

Hancock teamed with Christian Elliott and Dustan Taylor to take the Team gold at 369, with Greece (and Mitas) at 366 and Italy at 365. It’s Hancock’s sixth career Worlds old, but first in a team event.

Hancock also teamed with Smith to win the Mixed Team title, edging Ukraine, 43-42, in the final, with Smith hitting 23 of her 24 targets.

Sweden’s Victor Lindgren, 20, was the surprise winner of the men’s 10 m Air Rifle, in his first senior-level World Championship. He defeated China’s two-time World Champion, Haorang Yang, 251.3 to 250.6, with Czech Frantisek Smetana third (227.5). Yang and teammates Linshu Du and Hoaonan Yu won the Team title with a world-record 1893.3 to 1,883.4 for the Czech Republic, with Croatia third (1,883.5).

China went 1-2 in the women’s 10 m Air Rifle final, with Jiayu Han scoring 251.4 to 250.2 for Zhilin Wang, with India’s Mehuli Ghosh third (229.8). But Ghoush came back to take the Team gold with Tilottama Sen and Ramita Ramita, 1,895.9 to 1,893.7 for China. Germany (1,887.5) was third.

China’s Bowen Zhang and Ranxin Jiang won the men’s and women’s 10 m Air Pistol titles and both scored a second gold in the team events. Zhang led the men’s squad to a 1,749 to 1,743 win over Germany, while Jiang’s team beat Hungary in a tight women’s final, 1,728 to 1,726 with Iran at 1,724.

India took the Mixed Team final for 10 m Air Pistol, with Esha Singh and Shiva Narwal scoring a 16-10 victory over Turkey. China defeated Iran in the Mixed Team 10 m Air Rifle final, 16-2.

Rio Olympian Alexander Schmirl won the men’s 50 m Rifle/3 Positions title, 462.6 to 459.2 over two-time European Champion Petr Nymbursky, but India took the team title, 1,750 to 1,749 over Schmirl and Austria.

Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp won her first individual Worlds gold, in the 25 m Pistol final, equaling the world record of 40, with Olena Kostevych second at 31 and Agate Rasmane (LAT: 25) third. India won its fourth team gold, winning the 25 m Pistol event, 1,744 to 1,743 over Chinese Taipei.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Archery ● The fourth Hyundai Archery World Cup, in Paris, served as a test ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, but also an important stepping stone for American Casey Kaufhold.

Still just 19, Kaufhold was the 2021 Worlds runner-up and scored her first individual World Cup win with a 6-4 final over France’s Lisa Barcelin. Kaufhold defeated two-time Worlds medal winner Mi-sun Choi in the semis, 6-4. Choi won the bronze, 7-3, against Ligan Hai (CHN).

The men’s Recurve final had three-time World Champion Woo-jin Kim winning over teammate Woo-seok Lee, 6-0, while Brazil’s 2021 Worlds runner-up Marcus d’Almeida won a shoot-off with Tokyo Olympic silver winner Mauro Nespoli (ITA), 10-9, for the bronze medal.

Korea won the women’s team title over Chinese Taipei, 6-2, the men also won over Chinese Taipei, 6-0, and the mixed team of Woo-seok Lee and Si-hyeon Lee won against Chinese Taipei, 5-3, for a sweep.

● Basketball ● Continuing their travels on the way to the FINA men’s World Cup in the Philippines, the U.S. national team won its fourth tune-up game in a row on Friday against Greece, in Abu Dhabi (UAE) by 108-86.

The game was a preview of the second game of group play for both teams at the World Cup, and the U.S. had excellent balance, with guard Anthony Edwards leading with 21 points, followed by center Jaren Jackson Jr. and guard Austin Reaves with 11 each, and forwards Mikel Bridges and Bobby Portis with 10.

The U.S. was up, 52-41, at the half and 86-67 at the end of the third, and shot 57% to 40% for the Greeks.

On Sunday, the U.S. played Germany in Abu Dhabi in their final exhibition, and looked like it might suffer its first loss. The no. 11 Germans – also a World Cup team – were up 54-46 at halftime thanks to some premium defensive work and stretched out to a 16-point lead in the third quarter (71-55), but the Americans went on a 16-3 run to close it down to three, and eventually trailed, 77-73 going into the fourth.

Germany went back up by 86-77, then the U.S. reeled off 18 points in a row, highlighted by three-pointers from Edwards (2), Reaves and Bridges and caught up with 5:17 to play. Four more points from Edwards helped to finish with a hard-fought 99-91 win.

Edwards had 34, Reaves had 16, as did guard Tyrese Haliburton. Franz Wagner had 17 to lead Germany. On to the World Cup in the Philippines, with the U.S. opening play vs. New Zealand in Pasay on the 26th.

● Beach Volleyball ● At the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 tournament in Hamburg (GER), no. 2-ranked David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden won their second major tournament of the season, defeating Italy’s Samuele Cottafava and Paolo Nicolai in the final, 21-16, 22-24, 21-19.

The Swedes are the 2022 and 2023 European Champions and won the Elite 16 tournament in Tepic (MEX) in March, but this was their first medal since. Olympic and World champs Anders Mol and Christian Sorum (NOR) won the bronze over George Wanderley and Andre Loyola Stein (BRA), 21-19, 21-16.

The women’s final saw no. 1-ranked Ana Patricia Ramos and Duda Lisboa (BRA) make their fourth Elite 16 final this season and won their third tournament, 21-16, 21-17 over Americans Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth (USA), who won their fourth Beach Pro Tour medal of the season.

Svenja Mueller and Cinja Tillmann (GER) won the bronze by 21-15, 21-19 over Carol Salgado and Barbara de Freitas (BRA).

● Boxing ● New announcement from the International Boxing Association, including:

“The International Boxing Association (IBA) has secured its budget for the upcoming 4-year cycle that allows the organization to have no barriers towards implementing all ambitious projects planned. This includes IBA’s events portfolio, prize money fund, Financial Support Program (FSP) and various development initiatives.”

No word on where the money has come from, and the organization lists no sponsors on its home page. And while criticizing the new World Boxing group, it then instructs the IOC on the procedures for it to follow in recognizing a new federation:

“[T]he IOC cannot simply recognize a new federation if there is another federation governing the same sport even if it does not have Olympic status, and the IOC will wait for the bodies to agree amongst themselves and if this does not happen, it will ultimately be decided by the courts.”

Observed: This is another astonishing, alternate-reality statement from the IBA, which may not have read Rule 25 of the Olympic Charter concerning the recognition of International Federations:

“In order to develop and promote the Olympic Movement, the IOC may recognise as IFs international non-governmental organisations governing one or several sports at the world level, which extends by reference to those organisations recognised by the IFs as governing such sports at the national level.

“The statutes, practice and activities of the IFs within the Olympic Movement must be in conformity with the Olympic Charter, including the adoption and implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code as well as the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions. Subject to the foregoing, each IF maintains its independence and autonomy in the governance of its sport.”

That’s it. The key going forward will be what the (1) national federations think and (2) more to the point, the instructions from their national governments – who fund them – as to which federation to belong to.

● Cycling ● Denmark’s Mads Pedersen continued a great year with a win in Sunday’s Bemer Cyclassics race in and around Hamburg (GER). The 205.6 km circuit was flat and made for sprinters, and Pedersen looked to be out of contention with 1,000 m left. But he rode back into the mix and seized an opening to get to the line first in 4:36:35, beating Danny van Poppel (NED) and three-time race winner Elia Viviani (ITA).

It’s Pedersen’s first-ever medal in this race, but his fourth UCI World Tour win of the season and 12th of his career, and he came right from winning the Tour of Denmark, with a victory on Saturday in the decisive Individual Time Trial!

● Football ● U.S. Soccer announced that Women’s National Team General Manager Kate Markgraf will conclude her service at the end of August, resigning after four years in the newly-created position. It is not known if her position will be continued.

Markgraf, 46, is a National Soccer Hall of Famer as a defender, playing 201 games for the American team between 1998-2010, and was a member of the 1999 Women’s World Cup champions and Olympic gold-medal teams in 2004 and 2008.

● Judo ● Brazil came away from the IJF Zagreb Grand Prix on top of the medal table, with three wins and five total, thanks to victories from Willian Lima in the men’s 66 kg class, Jessica Pereira in the women’s 52 kg division and Karol Gimenes in the women’s 78 kg.

Israel’s 2019 World Champion Sagi Muki won the men’s 81 kg class, two-time Worlds medalist Krisztian Toth of Hungary took the 90 kg division; 2021 Worlds runner-up Aleksandar Kukolj won the men’s 100 kg tournament and Czech star Lukas Krpalek, the two-time Olympic champ at +100 kg, won his division.

Croatia’s Lara Cvjetko, the 2022 Worlds silver medalist, thrilled the home crowd with a win at 70 kg over teammate Barbara Matic, the 2021-22 World Champion.

● Triathlon ● Britain swept the individual titles at the World Triathlon test event in Paris, as Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Alex Yee won Friday’s men’s test event by 13 seconds in 1:41:02.

He was only 18th out of the water – conditions were OK in the Seine again – and 16th after the bike phase, but zoomed to the front in the early stages of the 10 km run and had the fastest time in the field by 14 seconds (!) to win decisively over France’s 2021 European Champion Dorian Connix (1:41:15) and Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca (also 1:41:15).

The top U.S. finisher, Morgan Pearson, made the U.S. team for Paris with his fifth-place finish in 1:41:23; Matthew McElroy was next in 14th (1:42:19). It will be Pearson’s second Games, after his 42nd place finish in Tokyo.

The Seine water quality became a problem again on Saturday for the Paralympic events, so a run-bike-run format was used instead. A statement from the organizing committee and local officials included: “As a precautionary measure and to protect the health of the athletes, the decision has once again been taken to cancel all the swimming races scheduled for today.”

Sunday’s Mixed Relay again skipped the swimming and used the run-bike-run protocol. France led going into the final run section, but Thursday’s winner Beth Potter (GBR) finally took the lead on the final lap, only to be passed herself by German Laura Lindemann on the final sprint for the win in 1:12:18, with Britain one second back and Belgium coming up for third in 1:12:36. The U.S. team of Seth Rider, Taylor Spivey, Darr Smith and Taylor Knibb was ninth in 1:13:05.

● Volleyball ● Canada claimed the men’s Pan American Cup in Guadalajara with a 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22 win over Brazil on Sunday. It’s the first win for Canada in this tournament after four losses in finals in 2008, 2009 and in 2021 and 2022!

Chile won the bronze – its first medal ever in this tournament – with a 3-0 win over Mexico. The U.S. finished fifth, losing in the quarterfinals, but beating Colombia, 3-0, in the classification match.

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ATHLETICS: Lyles storms to 9.83 win in 100; Cheptegei wins third straight 10,000, and a Canadian hammer shocker in Budapest!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Noah Lyles on his way to the men's 100 m world title in Budapest! (Photo; Christian Petersen/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

A wild second day at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in a hot day with temperatures as high as 93 F. But the hottest of all turned out to be U.S. sprint star Noah Lyles.

● Men/100 m ● The first shocks came in the semis, with two-time Worlds 200 m winner Lyles and Christian Coleman sprinting to clear wins in 9.87 (+0.3 m/s) and 9.88 (0.0). Then, in heat three, defending champ Fred Kerley did not make it to the final, finishing third in 10.02; Jamaica’s Oblique Seville won in 9.90 (-0.3). Kerley missed qualifying on time by 0.01.

The conditions were excellent, with temperatures of 87 F for the final, with Coleman in four, Britain’s world leader Zharnel Hughes in five and Lyles in six, in the middle of the track. Off the gun, Coleman got his usual bullet start and was in front, but stumbled and hurt his momentum. He was still in front by 50 m, but it was Letsile Tebogo (BOT) moving best and got to the front with 20 m to go. But Lyles was coming.

And coming, so hard to he won in the final 5 m in a lifetime best of 9.83, equaling the world lead for 2023. Tebogo was second in a national record of 9.88, then Hughes in 9.88 for bronze, Seville in fourth (9.88) and Coleman in fifth (9.92).

It’s Lyles’ fourth Worlds gold, after two in the 200 m and in the 2019 Worlds 4×100 m.

And the 200 m is still to come!

It’s the third straight U.S. win in this race, after four in a row for Jamaica, by Usain Bolt (3) and Yohan Blake (1).

● Men/10,000 m ● Two-time defending champion Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) was the headliner, but teammate Joel Ayeko ran away from the start and set a pace that strung the field out for the first seven laps, and dropped out soon after, with temperatures around the 90 F mark.

Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi led at the 5,000 km mark, but with a dozen within two seconds. A lead pack of nine was together with three laps to go, with Aregawi, Cheptegei and Canada’s Moh Ahmed at the front. There were seven in contention with 800 m left, then Cheptegei took charge with 550 m to go and started sprinting. He broke the race apart and only Ethiopians Selemon Barega and Aregawi, and Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo remained in contention.

Barega, who beat Cheptegei to be the Tokyo 10,000 m champ, chased hard and came to Cheptegei’s shoulder with 100 m to go. But the Ugandan star gritted his teeth and sprinted home the clear winner in 27:51.42. Ebenyo passed Barega at the line for second, 27:52.60 and 27:52.72, with Aregawi fourth at 27:55.71.

Cheptegei ran 53.45 for his final lap and his third Worlds title in a row. He’s the fourth to do it, after Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie (4) and Kenenisa Bekele (4) and Britain’s Mo Farah (3).

Woody Kincaid was the top American finisher in 11th (28:08.71), followed by Sean McGorty (16: 28:27.54) and Joe Klecker (20:29:03.41).

● Men/Hammer ● Hungary’s Bence Halasz sent the home crown into a frenzy with his first-round throw of 80.82 m (265-2) for the lead, but was passed by Poland’s Olympic champ Wojciech Nowicki at 80.83 m (also 265-2) in the fourth round. Nowicki improved to 81.02 m (265-10) in round five.

Then the shock came, with Canada’s Ethan Katzberg, who unloaded a national record of 81.25 m (266-7) in round five and took the lead. And no one could do better. It’s Canada’s first-ever Worlds medal in this event.

Nowicki won his second straight Worlds silver, after three Worlds bronzes in 2015-17-19. Halasz won the bronze; Americans Daniel Haugh and Rudy Winkler finished 6-8 in 78.64 m (258-0) and 76.04 m (249-6).

● Women/Long Jump ● Gold and silver were decided in the first round, as American star Tara Davis-Woodhall got out to 6.91 m (22-8) to take the lead. That held up for a round, then two-time World Indoor Champion Ivana Vuleta (SRB) popped out to 7.05 m (23-1 3/4) to take the lead, and she held it.

Davis-Woodhall could not improve and no one challenged the top two. Then Vuleta finished off the field with a world-leading 7.14 m (23-5 1/4) in round five and took her first outdoor Worlds gold, after two prior bronzes. Davis-Woodhall, sixth in Tokyo in 2021, won her first international medal.

Romanian Alina Rotaru-Kottmann surprised in third with a final-round jump of 6.88 m (22-7); American Jasmine Moore was 10th at 6.54m (21-5 1/2).

● Women/Heptathlon ● American Anna Hall had the lead coming into the second day, but 2019 World Champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) led the long jump at 6.54 m (21-5 1/2), with Hall fifth (6.19 m/20-3 3/4), and Johnson-Thompson took the lead.

Hall had a wrap on her left leg from the high jump, and she finished 10th in the javelin (44.88 m/147-3, a season’s best), but Tokyo Olympic runner-up Anouk Vetter (NED) sailed the spear out to a World Championships best of 59.57 m (195-5) and moved into second overall, while Johnston-Thompson got a lifetime best of 46.14 m (151-4). Johnson-Thompson entered the 800 m at 5,710 points, then Vetter (5,684) and Hall (5,667).

In the 800 m, Hall pushed hard from the start and got the bell at 58.59, with Johnson-Thompson following, trying to stay within three seconds and win the title. Hall pushed into the straight and won in 2:04.09 – a World Championships best – but Johnson-Thompson stayed just close enough and finished in a lifetime best of 2:05.63. Johnson-Thompson won her second world title at 6,740 to 6,720 for Hall. Hall moved up from third at the 2022 Worlds, now to second.

Vetter held on for the bronze with 6,501 points; Chari Hawkins of the U.S. was eighth with a lifetime best of 6,366. Taliyah Brooks, fourth after the first day, did not start on day two.

● Women/20 km Walk ● Defending champ Kimberly Garcia Leon of Peru was in front by halfway, leading a close pack of seven. It didn’t thin out until Spain’s Maria Perez threw in a 4:06 kilometer and took over the lead at the 16 km mark, and she was not challenged.

Perez, the 2018 European Champion and the 2023 world leader, increased her lead and won in 1:26:51, way ahead of Australian Jemima Montag (national record 1:27:16), then Antonella Palmisano (ITA: 1:27:26) and Garcia Leon (1:27:32).

There were some surprises in the prelims, but most of the favorites got through without incident.

● Men/400 m ● Who is Norway’s Havard Bentdal Ingvaldsen?

The 2023 European U-23 champ led the qualifying with a national record of 44.39, quickest of the day, out of heat three. Wow! The expected stars did fine, with Olympic champ Steven Gardiner (BAH) winning heat one in 44.65, Rio 2016 Olympic champ Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) taking heat two in 44.57, and 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James (GRN) winning heat four in 44.91.

Jamaica’s Antonio Watson won heat five in 44.77, ahead of Quincy Hall of the U.S. (44.86), and Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori running 44.72 to win heat six. Vernon Norwood was second to Ingvaldsen in heat four (44.87), but U.S. champ Bryce Deadmon was last in heat six (46.20) and did not advance.

● Men/1,500 m ● The pace was fast off the start of the first semi, with Kenyan Abel Kipsang in the lead, but American Yared Nuguse was leading a big pack at the bell. Nuguse led into the final straight, and into the final 15 m, but a final push from the frantic runners behind him closed the gap. Nuguse actually quickened in the final step and managed to win in 3:32.69, just ahead of Kipsang (3:32.72). Dutch teen star Niels Laros (18) got a national record of 3:32.74 in third.

Norway’s Olympic champ Jakob Ingebrightsen was the focus of the second semi, but he was badly boxed in with 600 m to go, in ninth place. Britain’s Josh Kerr led at the bell, with American Cole Hocker third. Ingebrghtsen had to go to the outside on the back straight, then charged to the front around the final turn – while urging the fans to cheer! – and finished in a jog at 3:34.98, with Kerr at 3:35.14 and Hocker at 3:35.23. The final is Wednesday.

● Men/110 m hurdles ● World Champion Grant Holloway of the U.S. led all qualifiers at 13.18 (-0.6), with Olympic winner Hansle Parchment (JAM) taking heat one in 13.30 (-0.3) with Cordell Tinch of the U.S. fourth in 13.49. France’s Wilhem Belocian won heat two in 13.31 (+0.5).

American Freddie Crittenden was second to Senegal’s Louis Francois Mendy in heat three, 13.24-13.40 (0.0), and Daniel Roberts was third in heat five in 13.36 (-0.9).

● Men/400 m hurdles ● Norway’s Olympic champ and world-record holder Karsten Warholm was actually an eased-up second in his heat, 48.63 to 48.76, to France’s Wilfried Happio, but the other favorites won their races. Defending champ Alison dos Santos (BRA) won heat one in 48.12, Rai Benjamin of the U.S. took heat five in 48.35, and Kyron McMaster (IVB) won heat two in 48.47.

CJ Allen of the U.S. was second in heat four in 48.36 to Joshua Abuaku (GER: 48.32). Trevor Bassitt of the U.S., the 2022 bronze medalist, qualified third in heat two in 48.73.

● Men/High Jump ● It took 2.28 m (7-5 3/4) to qualify, led by co-Olympic champs Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) and Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA), but also Americans JuVaughn Harrison and Shelby McEwen.

Vernon Turner of the U.S. managed 2.14 m (7-0 1/4) and did not qualify.

● Women/100 m ● The stars moved through, with NCAA champ Julien Alfred (LCA: 10.99 with 0.0 wind) winning heat one, Brittany Brown of the U.S ran 11.01 to win heat two (-0.8), Poland’s Ewa Swoboda got heat three at 10.98 (-0.4), with Tamari Davis of the U.S. at 11.06.

Jamaican star Shericka Jackson ran 11.06 to win heat four (-1.0), U.S. star Sha’Carri Richardson had the fastest time of the morning at 10.92 in heat five (-0.4) and Marie Josee Ta Lou ( won heat six at 11.08 (+0.9). Defending champ Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won heat seven in 11.01 (+0.2).

● Women/400 m ● Only 2022 Worlds runner-up Marileidy Paulino (DOM) ran under 50 seconds, at 49.90, to win heat six. Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek ran 50.02 to win heat one, and Dutch star Lieke Klaver won heat two in 50.52.

Two U.S. entries moved through, with Lynna Irby-Jackson third in heat two (50.81) and Talitha Diggs steamed down the straight to get third in heat six in 50.87. Britton Wilson was not in form and finished eighth in heat four (53.87) and was eliminated.

● Women/1,500 m ● Kenya was the story of the semis, with Nelly Chepchirchir taking over with 300 m to go in the first race and pulling away to win in 4:02.14, ahead of Birke Haylom (ETH: 4:02.46), Ciara Mageean (IRL: 4:02.70) and American Cory McGee (4:02.71). Fellow American Sinclaire Johnson was 11th in 4:06.39 and did not advance.

World-record holder Faith Kipyegon led the second semi, and did she ever! The pace was astonishingly fast, with Kipyegon leading Dutch star Sifan Hassan – coming back after her fall in the 10,000 m on Saturday – and Britain’s Laura Muir with 300 m to go, but then Hassan took over into the straight before Kipyegon pushed hard to the finish and held off fast-closing Diribe Welteji (ETH) in a startling 3:55.14! Welteji finished in 3:55.18, then Hassan (3:55.48) and Muir (3:56.36). The top nine all broke four minutes; American champ Nikki Hiltz ran a creditable 4:00.84 – that would have won semi one – and was 11th!

Kipyegon’s 3:55.14 is the second-fastest non-final time in history; only China’s Lax Lixin ran 3:55.01 in a heat of the national games in 1997.

● Women/Discus ● Olympic champ Valarie Allman of the U.S. led the qualifying at 67.14 m (220-3) on her first throw, confirming her status as the favorite. Reigning World Champion Bin Feng of China needed a final throw of 65.68 m (215-6) to get the automatic qualifying mark. American Laulauga Tausaga qualified as well, getting out to 64.34 m (211-1) on her second trial.

Fellow Americans Veronica Fraley and Elena Bruckner did not qualify, at 59.36 m (194-9)) and 55.94 (183-6).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

Through two days, the U.S. has six medals to lead all nations (3-2-1), ahead of Ethiopia (4: 1-1-2) and Great Britain (3: 1-1-1).

In the eight-place points table (8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1), the U.S. has 61 points to 32 for Ethiopia and 22 each for Great Britain and Kenya.

There is no morning session on Monday, with U.S. coverage of the evening session on USA Network from 1-4 p.m. Eastern time.

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ATHLETICS: Crouser, with two blood clots, stuns with 77-1 3/4 win; U.S. somehow wins Mixed 4×4, gets WR in Budapest Worlds day one!

By
Rich Perelman
-
A spectacular win for American Ryan Crouser in the men's shot at the 2023 World Athletics Championships (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

An inauspicious beginning at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest with heavy rain delaying the morning qualifying by an hour, but the weather cleared for the evening session, with 84 F temperatures at the start. But the competition heated up quickly in the evening finals, starting with a historic performance in the men’s shot.

● Men/Shot Put ● The story was the left leg of Olympic and World Champion Ryan Crouser of the U.S., who came to Budapest with two blood clots in his left leg. He got his qualifier in the morning with one chuck, at 21.48 m (70-5 3/4). 

What about the final? No suspense, as Crouser was first in the order and spun to a brilliant 22.63 m (74-3), a distance only teammate (and two-time World Champion) Joe Kovacs has reached this season. Kovacs moved into second at 21.55 m (70-8 1/2) in the first round, then Crouser slammed the door shut in round two: 22.98 m (75-4 3/4), improving his own World Championships record from last year.

Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri produced a huge lifetime best in round three at 22.34 m (73-3 1/2) to move into second, with Tom Walsh (NZL: 21.93 m/71-11 1/2) in third and Kovacs fifth. Then Kovacs jumped onto the podium in the fifth round at 22.12 m (72-7), and Fabbri fouled on a monster throw.

Then Crouser exploded in round six – he knew it when he threw it – and sent the 16-pound ball way beyond the record line at a sensational 23.51 m (77-1 3/4), the number two throw of all time! Pretty good for a guy with two blood cots in his leg!

Fabbri took second and Kovacs was third, with his fifth career Worlds shot medal (2-2-1). American Payton Otterdahl was fifth at 21.86 m (71-8 3/4).

Crouser now owns 10 of the 11 best throws in history. The average of his four fair throws was 22.85 m (74-11 3/4), further than anyone else threw once.

You want more drama? How about this:

● Mixed 4×400 m ● The U.S. led the qualifying with Ryan Willie, Rosey Effiong, Justin Robinson and Alexis Holmes running 3:10.41, the no. 9 performance in history.

For the final, the U.S. chose Robinson, Effiong, Matthew Boling and Alexis Holmes, with Effiong and the Dutch close on the hand-off, with Boling taking the stick in second. But Boling handed off second to Isaya Klein Ikkink, and Dutch superstar Femke Bol – 49.82 this season – took off with the lead over Holmes of the U.S., whose lifetime best of 50.32 ranked her 20th in the world.

That’s why races are run on the track and not on paper. Bol maintained a modest lead and looked in control into the straight, but Holmes – astonishingly – was pressing and pressing hard. They were a foot apart with 12 m left, when Bol simply fell down and had the baton fly out of her hand and into the infield!

Holmes finished with the gold and the U.S. set a world record of 3:08.80, sharing $80,000 for the win and $100,000 for a world-record bonus! Great Britain got second in 3:11.06 and the Czech Republic was third in 3:11.98.

Robinson ran 44.47, Effiong 50.38, Boling 45.13 and Holmes went crazy, finishing in 48.82 to seize the win and completely change the trajectory of her career.

Bol, stunned, double over in frustration after getting to her feet, with the Dutch disqualified.

And there was more, again involving the Dutch:

● Women/10,000 m ● The Olympic champ, Dutch star Sifan Hassan, was trying for a 10,000-1,500-5,000 m triple, where she finished 1-3-1 in Tokyo. By 6,000 m, the racing has started, with world leader Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) now in the lead, and eight laps left, Tsegay, defending champ Letsenbet Gidey and Ejgayegu Taye – all from Ethiopia – were 1-3-4.

With five laps left, it was Taye in the lead over Kenyans Grace Nawowuna and Agnes Ngetich and Gidey, but with 10 in contention. Just two laps left, and Nawowuna and Tsegay were 1-2, but with 10 still together.

Gidey took charge with Tsegay with 600 m left and American Alicia Monson fourth, and then the bell with Gidey and Tsegay 1-2 at the bell and then everyone started sprinting. Hassan moved fastest around the first turn and got to the front on the backstraight, with only Tsegay and Gidey able to chase.

On the straight, it was Hassan and Tsegay, with Hassan leading but seeming to move laterally, slightly out toward where Tsegay was sprinting and then appeared to overstride and trip herself on the track, falling with 80 m left. Tsegay rolled to the win at the top of an Ethiopian sweep (31:27.18), ahead of Gidey (31:28.16) and Taye (31:28.31). American Monson was fifth (31:32.29); Elise Cranny was 12th (31:57.31) and Natosha Rogers in 14th (32:08.05).

Hassan walked in in 11th (31:35.51). It’s the first sweep in the event since the Kenyans did it in 2011.

● Men/20 km walk ● Spain’s European Champion, Alvaro Martin, had a lifetime best of 1:18:49 in June and took control of this race at 15 km and was never headed, increasing lead to 13 seconds with 1,000 m left and winning in a world-leading time of 1:17:32. Sweden’s Perseus Karlstrom closed hard in the final km for second over Caio Bonfim (BRA), 1:17:39-1:17:47. Canada’s Evan Dunfee was fourth in 1:18:03; placers 2-6 all set national records.

American Nick Christie was 41st in a seasonal best of 1:26:21. It’s Martin’s first Worlds medal, after a seventh last year and fourth in Tokyo in 2021; he authored the second-fastest time in World Championships history. It’s the fourth for Karlstrom, after a bronze in 2019 and last year in Eugene. Bonfim won his second Worlds bronze, also in 2019.

Lots of prelims on Saturday, mostly (but not completely) to form:

● Men/100 m ● No huge surprises. Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, the world leader, got out slowly in heat one, but finally got going by 50 m and won eased up in 10.00 (wind: 0.0 m/s). American star Noah Lyles was in lane nine in heat two, but Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala exploded from the blocks and was in front, but Lyles came on hard in the final 50 m to win in 9.95 (-0.6), with Omanyala in 9.97.

In heat three, U.S. champ Cravont Charleston had been rumored to be hurt with a left leg strain, and started well, but faded to fifth, behind Raphael Bouju (10.09; 0.0), and his 10.18 will not advance him to the semis. The rumors were true. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo won heat four un 10.11, just ahead of Rohan Browning (AUS: 10.11; -0.4).

The fifth heat was delayed due to a timing system issue, then Nigeria’s Favour Ashe false-started out. There was another almost false-start, but on the gun, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville got out best and raced to the tape, equaling his lifetime best of 9.86 (0.0), with reigning World Champion Fred Kerley of the U.S. an easy second in 9.99. Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown won heat six in 10.07 (-0.4), with Olympic champ Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA) getting third in the final meters in 10.15.

The 2019 World Champion, Christian Coleman of the U.S. exploded out of the blocks and had a clear lead, then eased up with 10 m to go and was passed at the line by South Africa’s Akani Simbine, 9.97 to 9.98 (-0.1).

● Men/1,500 m ● Norwegian star Jakob Ingebrigtsen had control of heat one at the bell and held on to run the easiest 3:33.94 in history, ahead of Josh Kerr (GBR: 3:34.00). Kenyan star Timothy Cheruiyot, the 2019 World Champion, was in front coming into the final straight in heat two, but the too-tightly-bunched field passed him in the final 50 m and Spain’s Mario Garcia won in a slow 3:46.77, with Cheruiyot fading to sixth (3:47.09). American Joe Waskom was in the middle of the pack, looked like he might qualify with a final rush, but finished a non-qualifying eighth (3:47.26).

Heat three was less hectic, as the top six were in place off the final turn, with Spain’s Mo Katir leading, but passed in the final meters by Dutch teen sensation Niels Laros, 3:34.25 to 3:34.34. American Cole Hocker was well positioned and got third in 3:34.43. Kenyan Abel Kipsang led the fourth heat at the bell, with Yared Nuguse of the U.S. fourth. But there were eight seriously in contention off the final turn, with Kipsang hanging on to win in 3:34.08, and Nuguse second in 3:34.16.

● Men/3,000 m Steeple ● The new advancement rules are in effect, so the top five from each of the three heats moved on. Getnet Wale (ETH) won heat one over Jean-Simon Desganges (FRA), 8:19.99-8:20.04, while U.S. champ Kenneth Rooks leaning to win heat two over Olympic and World champ Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR), with both timed in 8:23.66. World record holder Lamecha Girma (ETH) won heat three in 8:15.69.

Said Rooks: “This is my first time in Europe, first time in Hungary so I enjoyed it a lot.”

American Benard Keter (8:24.20, eighth in heat one) did not advance; Isaac Updike (8:31.81) was 11th in heat three, but was fouled, protested and was advanced on appeal. 

● Men/Triple Jump ● Stunner from the start as Olympic and World Champion Pedro Pablo Pichardo of Portugal did not compete. Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert, who won the NCAA title for Arkansas as a freshman and is the world leader, exploded to 17.70 m (58-1) on his second try, easily the best of the day. China’s Olympic silver medalist Yaming Zhu (17.14 m/56-2 3/4) and, Cuba’s 2022 World Indoor Champion, Lazaro Martinez (17.12 m/56-2) and 2022 Worlds silver winner Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR: 17.12 m/56-2) also surpassed 17 m.

Two Americans made the final, with Will Claye reaching 16.72 m (54-10 3/4) for 10th, and Chris Benard suffered two fouls, then getting 16.71 m (54-10) on his third try for 12th. Donald Scott was 22nd at 16.33 m (53-7).

● Men/Discus ● Sweden’s Olympic champ, Daniel Stahl led the qualifying at 66.25 m (217-4), with defending World champ Kristjian Ceh (SLO) third at 65.95 m (216-4).

American Brian Williams was 11th overall and made the final at 63.85 m (209-5); Sam Mattis (16th: 63.43 m/208-1) and Turner Washington (15th: 63.57 m/208-6) did not.

● Men/Hammer ● Canada’s Ethan Katzberg got a national record of 81.18 m (266-4) and led all qualifiers. Rudy Winkler and Daniel Haugh of the U.S. were 5-6 and qualified for the final, throwing 77.06 m (252-10) and 76.64 m (251-5) respectively.

American Alex Young was 14th in the first group (69.10 m/226-8) and did not advance.

● Women/1,500 m ● The heat winners were Hassan (NED: 4:02.92), World Record holder Faith Kipyegon (KEN: 4:02.62), Nelly Chepchirchir (KEN: 4:00.87) and Hirut Meshesha (ETH: 4:03.47). The top six in each qualified for the semifinals, on Sunday.

U.S. champ Nikki Hiltz qualified third in heat one (4:03.76), Sinclaire Johnson – in due to Athing Mu’s withdrawal – was second in heat three (4:01.09) and Cory McGee (4:03.61) was fourth in heat four, all moving on.

● Women/Long Jump ● American Tara Davis-Woodhall led all qualifiers at 6.87 m (22-6 1/2) and was one of just three who reached the automatic qualifying distance, along with Marthe Yasmine Koala (BUR: 6.84 m/22-5 1/4) and Ivana Vuleta (SRB: 6.82 m/22-4 1/2). American Jasmine Moore qualified fifth at 6.73 m (22-1), but Quanesha Burks, no. 4 on the world list this season, managed only 6.57 m (21-6 3/4) and was 14th.

● Women/Heptathlon ● Favored Anna Hall of the U.S., the 2022 Worlds runner-up, got a lifetime best in the shot put and led with 2,975 points going into the 200 m.

She was in heat three, with 2019 World Champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) winning in 23.48 and Hall second in 23.56 (wind 0.0). That left Hall the leader after day one at 3,998 and Johnson-Thompson at 3,905. The U.S. was also 3-4 with Chari Hawkins (3,900) and Taliyah Brooks (3,888).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Doping ● The Athletics Integrity Unit announced that the provisional suspension of Nigeria’s women’s 100 m hurdles world-record holder Tobi Amusan for “whereabouts” failures has been lifted:

“A panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, by majority decision, has today found that Tobi Amusan has not committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.

“AIU Head Brett Clothier has indicated the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is disappointed by this decision and will review the reasoning in detail before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within the applicable deadline. The decision is currently confidential but will be published in due course.”

If the AIU is going to do anything, it has to be quick: the heats of the women’s 100 m hurdles come Tuesday.

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TSX REPORT: Coe re-elected 192-0 as World Athletics loses $17.2M in 2022; U.S. women to make more for 2023 exit than for 2019 World Cup title!

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (Photo: Leaders Business Summit)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Coe re-elected 192-0 as World Athletics President
2. Coe thinks Russian participation in Paris “unlikely”
3. World Athletics in 2022: $17.2 mil. loss, $43.5 mil. reserves
4. Andonovski steps down, Kilgore interim U.S. women’s coach
5. Britain’s Potter beats Beaugrand in Paris Triathlon test

● World Athletics President Sebastian Coe of Great Britain was re-elected for a third and final term by a 192-0 vote, with three abstentions. Elections for Vice Presidents and the World Athletics Council were also held, with Willie Banks of the U.S. re-elected for a second term.

● Coe told reporters in Budapest for the upcoming World Championships that he thinks Russian participation at the Paris 2024 Games in athletics is “unlikely” in view of the continuing invasion of Ukraine. His comments were met with the usual angry response from Russian officials.

● The World Athletics Annual Report was released, including financial statements which showed a $17.2 million loss on revenues of $54.9 million. The federation has reasonable reserves of $43.5 million, with another massive Olympic dividend coming in 2024.

● U.S. Soccer formally announced the resignation of Women’s National Team coach Vlatko Andonovski, with Twila Kilgore now the interim coach. Thanks to the new revenue-sharing agreement reached with the Men’s National Team, the U.S. women will receive more money in 2023 than they did for winning the Women’s World Cup in 2019! Australia’s semifinal loss to England drew the largest television audience in the country’s history, with a peak total of more than 11 million watching at the end.

● The much-awaited World Triathlon test event in Paris came off well on Thursday, as Britain’s Beth Potter raced to the win over France’s Cassandre Beaugrand, with no difficulties with water quality.

● World Championships: Sailing (Italy’s Tita and Banti sail away with Nacra 17 gold) = Shooting (China sweeps men’s and women’s 10 m Air Pistol wins) ●

● Panorama: Brisbane 2032 (Greens mayoral candidate wants Gabba remodel ended) = PanAm Sports (Adrian among final five all-time honorees) = Boxing (IBA urges national federations to stay affiliated) = Chess (FIDE bans transgender women from women’s division) ●

1.
Coe re-elected 192-0 as World Athletics President

British Olympic icon and two-term World Athletics President Sebastian Coe was re-elected for a third and final term as the head of the federation on Thursday. The vote was 192-0, with three abstentions.

Coe was first elected in 2015, taking over for the disgraced Lamine Diack (SEN) and having to work through the financial chaos of an internal scheme run by Diack that siphoned off sponsorship money and extorted funds from Russian athletes to cover up doping positives, plus the state-sponsored Russian doping scandal.

He introduced the Athletics Integrity Unit in 2017 and has taken steps to improve the federation’s governance and processes, but remains criticized for his sport’s unsure public profile and popularity, an area he says is a primary focus for the future.

Elected as the four Council Vice Presidents:

● Raul Chapado (ESP), a Spanish Olympian in the men’s triple jump in 2000 and head of the Spanish Athletics Federation.

● Ximena Restrepo (CHI), re-elected as a Vice President; a four-time Olympian and 1992 bronze medalist in the women’s 400 m, formerly the General Secretary of the Chilean federation.

● Adille Sumariwalla (IND), a 1980 Olympian in the men’s 100 m, head of the Athletics Federation of India and a founder and managing director of multiple advertising and communications companies.

● Jackson Tuwei (KEN), the head of Athletics Kenya, and a former military officer.

Tuwei’s election is quite remarkable in view of Kenya’s continuing doping issues, so severe that the Athletics Integrity Unit had to assign its managing director to take charge of reforming the situation.

Also elected were 13 members of the World Athletics Council, from a very large field of 27. American Willie Banks was re-elected for a second term as a member, and long-time Council members Abby Hoffman (CAN) and Nawal El Moutawakel (MAR) were also re-elected.

Long-time Council member Sergey Bubka (UKR) did not stand for re-election, but Ukraine will be represented by Nataliia Dobrynska, the 2008 Olympic winner in the heptathlon and a Vice President of the national federation.

2.
Coe thinks Russian participation in Paris “unlikely”

After the election, Coe talked to reporters on Thursday about the situation with Russia, which World Athletics has had on suspension since 2015 for doping issues and although reinstated on that issue, continues to keep them out of competitions in view of its invasion of Ukraine:

“I don’t have a crystal ball, I follow world events in the same way that you all do.

“Our position is very clear. The Council has made that position clear. The new Council – and I’m not going to speak for them in advance – but I would be very surprised if there is any shift in that position.

“We have certainty and we’ve done it for reasons of integrity of competition. We will of course monitor that situation.

“We have risk committees, we have working groups that will always be wanting to be across that and what might the circumstances look like if there’s any shift in the situation but I have to say that looks unlikely at the moment with where we are with events in Ukraine.

“I think we made the right decision as an international federation, but it was made thanks to the task force; we didn’t just close the door and say ‘you are suspended.’ We are working closer with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, we continue to work with them to understand that they can be reintroduced as clean athletes. This work will continue. There was a lot of criticism even from the International Olympic Committee, but it was important that we had a process that our association stood behind.”

The Russian response was quick and unhappy:

● Former sports minister Pavel Kolobkov told the Russian news agency TASS:

“I had a long history of relationships with Coe, from which I concluded that he was not an independent person, and all the agreements that we had with him were never fulfilled by World Athletics.

“I fulfilled all my obligations to this organization a long time ago, but the return of our athletes to the international arena was repeatedly postponed under various unreasonable pretexts. It is obvious that World Athletics was guided by biased circumstances and far-fetched requirements.

“Representatives of World Athletics, who worked in our country, stated that we had fulfilled all the requirements. The question is brewing: why did all this happen at all? We have always built partnerships, but we have not seen any response from that side. Therefore, there are no hopes for positive for I didn’t feed the movement from World Athletics to Russia. It was high time to conclude that they are neither partners nor friends to us.”

● The Chair of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, Dmitry Svishchev added:

“The International Federation has expressed its politicized position on this issue.

“Instead of developing sports, defending the interests of athletes, and Coe, I note that he himself is a former athlete, president of World Athletics, even neglects the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, which spoke about the admission of athletes in a neutral status. His position is incomprehensible, illogical, and I wonder how he argues it. And the first thing I would do in the place of the leadership of the All-Russian Athletics Federation would be to ask Coe for clarification on this issue .

“Previously, he said that Russia must fulfill financial conditions, resolve all issues related to the fight against doping. Now the reason is not even indicated. I think that he is still not saying something, so there are some disagreements that he does not want to voice? In general, nothing surprising or unusual. Of course, we would like to compete at the Olympics in athletics, this is a larger percentage of all Olympic medals, and our chances are good. We know the names of each of our athletes who are capable of this. There is still time, we need to fight for the right of our athletes to participate in the Games.”

The legendary figure skating coach, Tatyana Tarasova, cast further doubt on Russians in Paris in 2024:

“Not only athletics, but also the rest will not be allowed in. No one will be allowed in until this [invasion of Ukraine] is over. This trend will also be in other sports, this is just the beginning.”

3.
World Athletics in 2022: $17.2 mil. loss, $43.5 mil. reserves

World Athletics posted its annual report and financial statements for 2022 on Thursday, with a significant loss for the year of $17.222 million, but reserves of $43.484 million.

This is in line with the stated strategy of taking the $39.478 million Olympic television money it receives and spending it down over the following three years, until the next Olympic Games comes along (two years in the case of the delayed Tokyo payout).

World Athletics broadcast and sponsorship revenues for 2022 – with no Olympic dividend – were steady, with cash income of $37.052 million, up from $34.817 million in 2021. A large increase in value-in-kind income for 2022 pushed the statement total to $48.724 million vs. $38.241 million in 2021. The statements did not indicate the specific nature of the increase in in-kind goods and services.

With the smaller revenue areas added in, total revenue for 2022 was $54.923 million, down from $82.869 million – with the Olympic television money – in 2021.

Expenses zoomed, however, from $52.648 million in 2021 to $72.002 million in 2022. Most of the increase – $18 million – came from increased costs for the World Championships, World Indoor Championships and World U-20 Championships held in 2022 – more than $7 million – and an additional $9.3 million in “Value in kind commissions,” paid to an outside agency, assumed to be Dentsu, the federation’s long-time marketing partner.

The federation showed $61.653 million in assets, down from $82.386 at the end of 2021 (due to the Olympic dividend), with $43.484 million in reserves and $46.061 in cash and equivalents.

Coe’s comments in the report were, of course, positive toward the future:

“We have great foundations in place. We are seeing more stars grow in our sport through the athlete stories we and the media are telling. And we are actively looking at ways to raise them even higher, helping our athletes become more famous through special features, documentaries and making them more available to fans and media. Performance is key but personalities and passions are also important connectors.

“We have never had such a good opportunity to grow athletics as we have over the next few years.”

The federation had good news on Thursday, announcing a sponsorship from Deloitte, “will provide a wide range of digital consulting services and sports operations and platforms to World Athletics and the World Athletics Series events from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2029.”

This is in the “Supporter” classification – a new level – and builds on Deloitte’s TOP sponsorship with the International Olympic Committee.

4.
Andonovski steps down, Kilgore interim U.S. women’s coach

The U.S. Soccer Federation formally announced the resignation of U.S. Women’s National Team coach Vlatko Andonovski (MKD) on Thursday, with assistant coach Twila Kilgore to serve as interim coach for the two September friendlies with South Africa.

Said Andonovski in a statement:

“It’s been the honor of my life to coach the talented, hard-working players of the USWNT for the past four years.

“I’m very optimistic for the future of this program, especially considering all the young players that got opportunities over the past few years who will no doubt be leaders and impact players moving forward. While we are all disappointed by the outcome at this year’s World Cup, I am immensely proud of the progress this team has made, the support they’ve shown for each other, and the inspiration they’ve provided for players around the world.

“I will be forever thankful to the U.S. Soccer Federation for giving me the chance to coach this remarkable team.”

U.S. Soccer’s Sporting Director Matt Crocker (WAL) will lead the coaching search, with the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris less than a year away. The U.S. women are already qualified for the tournament.

Although the U.S. team left the Women’s World Cup in the round-of-16, they will receive more money than they did for winning in 2019!

That’s thanks to the generosity of the men’s National Team, which agreed to pool its World Cup prize money with the women and split it:

● For the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. men reached the round-of-16, losing to the Netherlands (four-game total: three goals, four given up). For that, FIFA paid $13.00 million to U.S. Soccer.

● At the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the U.S. women were also knocked out in the round-of-16, to Sweden (four-game total: four goals, one given up), and will receive $1.87 million.

Pooled together, the pot is $14.87 million, meaning both teams – men and women – will receive $7.435 million, almost double the $4.00 million the women’s team got for winning the 2019 Women’s World Cup!

Australia’s run to the Women’s World Cup semifinals set a record for television viewing, with Channel Seven reporting an average audience of 7.13 million and a peak of 11.15 million. That’s the biggest viewing audience in Australian history.

Pretty impressive for a country with a total population of 25.69 million!

Same story in Great Britain for the Lionesses’ match with the Matildas, with the BBC reporting a peak audience of 7.3 million on BBC One and another 3.8 on streaming platforms, for a total of 11.1 million who saw some part of the game. The British population as of 2021 was 67.33 million.

Reader David Bettwy noted that yesterday’s notes on the betting line for the Spain-England final were incomplete.

While Spain is the favorite (Thursday’s odds) at +160-170 and England at +175-190, there is also a line for a draw – score tied after 90 minutes and not counting extra time or a penalty shoot-out. That’s at +185-210, the least-likely outcome according to the sharpies.

To flat-out win the tournament, Spain is -110 and England is +100. Translation: a wager of $110 on Spain is needed to win $100, but $100 placed in the Lionessses would return $100.

5.
Britain’s Potter beats Beaugrand in Paris Triathlon test

The Paris 2024 triathlon test event went off as scheduled on Thursday and Britain’s emerging star Beth Potter passed the test best with a 1:51:40 victory over France’s Cassandre Beaugrand (1:51:46).

Potter is having a career season, winning two events on the World Triathlon Championship Series tour and finishing second once, but came out of the 1.5 km swim in the Seine River in 20th place. She got up to 15th by the end of the 40 km bike phase, and then took off on the run.

Potter was a 2016 Olympian for Britain in the women’s 10,000 m and knew exactly what to do in the 10 km run, picking off one runner after another and was soon at the front with Beaugrand, who won the World Sprint Championship in July. Potter finished with the fastest time in the field – 32:57 – and won by six seconds. Beaugrand’s 33:07 was second-best, but gave her a nine-second edge over Laura Lindemann (GER: 1:51:59).

Said the winner, “This was my main goal for the season and I ticked it off, I am super happy.”

The U.S. had five in the top 16, with Taylor Knibb finishing fifth (1:52:04), Taylor Spivey in 10th (1:52:46), Katie Zaferes in 12th (1:52:57), Kirsten Kasper in 15th (1:53:29) and Summer Rappaport in 16th (1:53:53). Under the USA Triathlon selection criteria, Knibb’s fifth puts her on the Paris 2024 team.

The water quality of the Seine was more than sufficient, and the test event will continue through Sunday (20th).

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Sailing ● The first Olympic-class events at the 2023 World Sailing Championships have been concluded, with familiar faces back on the podium.

In the Nacra 17 multi-hull category, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalists, Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti were the decisive victors, scoring a net 31 points and winning 11 of the 16 races. The British duo of John Gimson and Anna Burnet, the Tokyo runners-up and 2020-21 World Champions in this class, finished second with 57 points and Sweden’s Emil Jarudd and Hanna Jonsson scored 66 for third.

The top American boat, with Sarah Newberry Moore and David Liebenberg, finished 18th (159).

In the revamped, mixed-crew 470 class, Japan’s Keiju Okada and Miho Yoshioka (the 2018 World Champion in the women’s 470) took the title with just 50 points, taking three wins and six top-3 finishes. Jordi Xammar, the Tokyo bronze medalist in the men’s 470, and Nora Brugman, of Spain were second at 86, with the second Japanese crew – Tetsuya Isozaki and Yurie Seki – third with 91.

The top U.S. crew, Stuart McNay and Lara Dallman-Weiss, were also 18th (135).

Competition continues through Sunday.

● Shooting ● China swept the first two events of the World Shooting Championships, in the men’s and women’s 10 m Air Pistol.

Bowen Zhang – fifth last year – took the men’s gold, scoring 244.3 to edge Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Damir Mikec (SRB: 240.8) in the final. Bulgaria’s Kiril Kirov was third (215.7).

In the women’s final, Tokyo bronze winner Ranxin Jiang won a tight final against Greece’s Rio bronze medalist, Anna Korakaki, 239.8-238.3, with China’s Xue Li taking the bronze (218.9).

The U.S. had no finalists in either event. Competition continues throughout the rest of August.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● Greens politician Jonathan Sriranganathan was the city council member representing the area that includes The Gabba stadium, and now is campaigning to be mayor of Brisbane in March 2024:

“I’m very unapologetic about the fact that my politics are quite radical. Our political system has been completely hijacked by big business and we need to transform almost everything from the bottom up.”

He wants Queensland to end the A$2.7 billion plan to renovate The Gabba stadium and the surrounding area for the Games:

“It’s utterly ridiculous that we’re spending billions of dollars on stadiums rather than reusing existing facilities. The government needs to spend a lot more time addressing the housing crisis, the climate crisis and other urgent issues that so many people are concerned about.”

His candidature is considered a long shot, but the mayoral election is expected to be hotly contested.

● PanAm Sports ● American swimming star Nathan Adrian was honored with a spot in the final report on the top 75 athletes to compete at the Pan American Games.

The short list for 2018 to 2022 began with Adrian, who won the London 2012 Olympic 100 m Freestyle and four more golds on relays on 2008-12-16, plus 10 World Championships golds, all on relays. After returning from testicular cancer, he was a star at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, winning golds on two relays, and silvers in the 50-100m Frees and on the U.S. men’s 4×100 m Free relay.

● Boxing ● The Dutch Boxing Association (Nederlandse Boksbond) posted a statement on Monday, which stressed caution in moving ahead with its membership in the new World Boxing organization, including:

“In the coming period, the Dutch Boxing Association will therefore appoint an external and independent adviser. This advisor must objectively assess the current situation of the Dutch Boxing Association with regard to the route taken and will thereby analyze our international position.”

This followed an outline of what the federation has already done:

“The Dutch Boxing Association has submitted an application for WorldBoxing membership after the withdrawal of the IOC recognition from the IBA and after the amendment of the articles of association at the members’ meeting, in which the aim to maintain the Olympic status of boxing emerged. This moment was important because of the closing date this month. The membership application is a condition to become a member at the World Boxing opening congress in November.

“The Dutch Boxing Association can be admitted as a member if all conditions to become a member are met. There is therefore no definitive membership at the moment, as membership still needs to be confirmed in November 2023. The membership of various countries in WorldBoxing and the recent decision-making by the IOC give reason to consider WorldBoxing as the most logical option for the preservation of Olympic boxing. In line with this, the Dutch Boxing Association is therefore striving to become a member of WorldBoxing.”

The International Boxing Association seized on the appointment of an adviser to urge other national federations to stay put, but acknowledges that its position regarding Olympic boxing is weak:

“Seeking a solution to allow for their athletes to compete at the Olympics is truly understandable, as many of National Federations are dependent on Olympic funds from the state/NOCs. However, the Olympics represents only 248 elite athletes in total. To get there, a boxer must go from grassroots to the top gradually, gaining experience and fighting the best to excel. In addition, there are 4 years in between the Games, and the boxers need to train and compete to develop their skills, grow professionally while also making a living to get them to the next Olympic cycle.

“IBA provides all these opportunities today, while the alternative organization does not. IBA has secured the budget for the next 4-year cycle that includes IBA’s events portfolio, prize money fund, Financial Support Program (FSP) and various development initiatives. Moreover, there are not any guarantees that the alternative organization will receive IOC recognition, because this process is quite long and complicated. At the same time, IBA positively estimates its chances to demonstrate before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a fair procedure the progress achieved recently within the governance, finances, and integrity of the competitions.”

However, the IBA does not allow dual membership of federations, and so is forcing a choice of the IBA (non-Olympic) or World Boxing (might be Olympic), and has already suspended the Dutch federation, although the federation has pointed out that it has not terminated its IBA membership.

Not the route usually taken to keep members from leaving. And, as usual, the IBA’s claim that it has secured its future funding comes with no details as to whom the funding will come from.

● Chess ● The International Chess Federation (FIDE), an IOC-recognized federation, approved new regulations concerning transgender players that will become effective on 21 August, stating:

“In the event that the gender was changed from a male to a female the player has no right to participate in official FIDE events for women until further FIDE’s decision is made. Such decision should be based on further analysis and shall be taken by the FIDE Council at the earliest possible time, but not longer than within 2 (two) years period. There are no restrictions to play in the open section for a person who has changed the gender.”

and

● “If a player holds any of the women titles, but the gender has been changed to a man, the women titles are to be abolished. Those can be renewed if the person changes the gender back to a woman and can prove the ownership of the respective FIDE ID that holds the title.”

● “If a player has changed the gender from a man into a woman, all the previous titles remain eligible. The player may use only the published rating at the time the registration was changed, and all subsequent ratings when applying for women titles. No peak ratings or results that have been reached before the official gender change may be used to qualify for women titles after the legal gender change.”

Ratings are critical in chess as they help determine eligibility to enter tournaments.

Russian State Duma sports committee chair Svishchev opined to TASS of the changes:

“The decision of the International Chess Federation is absolutely correct.

“Other international sports organizations should do the same. There is not a single reason for transgender people to compete with other athletes on a common basis. In addition to the possible advantage, there are also many moral and ethical aspects that for an ordinary athlete can become insurmountable. In addition, we hear various news about the performances on the general basis of transgender people who have not even completely changed their gender.

“I consider this unacceptable and I strongly recommend that all international federations do not allow transgender people to compete on the general rules. There should be separate tournaments for such athletes.”

Pro-trans groups questioned why such new regulations are necessary in a sport which does not rely on physical exertion.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Putin says “parallel” organizations to IOC “inevitable”; Seine swim on for Paris 2024 triathlon test; Spain favored for Women’s World Cup title

By
Rich Perelman
-
The joy of making the Women's World Cup final! (Photo: Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol via Twitter)

★ 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 ≡

1. Putin: “parallel structures” to IOC “inevitable”
2. Paris 2024 triathlon swim in Seine River is on
3. Spain a slight favorite vs. England in Women’s World Cup final
4. World Boxing will wait until 2024 to approach IOC
5. Rio gold winner Lange announces retirement, at 61!

● Russian President Vladimir Putin continued his war of words with the International Olympic Committee, saying that the current “politicalization” makes “parallel” organizations inevitable in international sport. His lieutenants are already hard at work creating alternate events, with a copy of the World University Games coming up next.

● The test event for the Paris 2024 triathlon begins Thursday and the waters of the Seine River have been found satisfactorily safe for swimming for the athletes, after heavy rains made the pollution level unsafe earlier this month for the open-water swimming test that had to be canceled. An important new agreement between World Triathlon and the Professional Triathletes Organisation will bring the PTO’s long-distance format into the federation’s program.

● Oddsmakers have made Spain a slight favorite over England to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Sunday. Total attendance for the tournament should finish just under two million, and only the third Women’s World Cup in history to average more than 30,000 fans per match. U.S. women’s coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned, following the worst-ever American showing at a Women’s World Cup.

● World Boxing will apply to the IOC to be the international federation for boxing, but has been told that can’t happen until 2024, after the International Boxing Association’s complaint to the Court of Arbitration for Sport has been heard and concluded.

● At the World Sailing Championships in the Netherlands, Argentina’s 61-year-old Santiago Lange has decided to retire as he and his sailing partner did not qualify for the country’s spot in the Nacra 17 class for Paris. Lange will finish as the Rio 2016 gold medalist in that event and having competed in seven Olympic Games.

● Panorama: PanAm Sports (top 75 Pan Am Games athletes for 1998-2007 and 2008-2017 noted) = Aquatics (2: Australia out of compliance; “open” category debuts at Berlin World Cup) = Athletics (2: Kenyan doping all about road money; Operation Hammer Sweep grants) = Cycling (Lappartient thrilled by mega-Worlds in Glasgow = Shooting (Worlds begin in Baku) ●

1.
Putin: “parallel structures” to IOC “inevitable”

Russian President Vladimir Putin underscored Wednesday his view that one or more new organizations will arise to govern international sports beyond the International Olympic Committee. The Russian news agency TASS reported his comments as:

“As a result of the politicization of international sports structures and further commercialization of the International Olympic Movement we unfortunately witness a certain degradation evolving there.

“This is inevitable and will simply entail an emergence of parallel structures in the sphere of international sports.”

Putin’s directives following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent IOC request to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams have leaned on this concept. The short-term result has been the formation of events attending by former Soviet republics and central Asian countries and other members of organizations such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS countries (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa).

The second CIS Games was held in Belarus from 4-14 August and a “BRICS Games” is scheduled for June 2024 in Kazan (RUS), prior to the Paris Olympic Games in July. A “Friendship Games” is also being worked on for September 2024.

2.
Paris 2024 triathlon swim in Seine River is on

While the Paris 2024 open-water swimming test event scheduled for 5 August had to be canceled due to pollution levels in the Seine River, better news for the triathlon test event for Thursday through Sunday, with water-quality levels deemed fully acceptable.

Christophe Rosa, the deputy general delegate of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic delegation said, “We are monitoring water quality with a very robust process … almost hour by hour.” The tests have shown that the pollutant levels meet the safety requirements.

Heavy rains ahead of the swimming event caused sewage overflows that made the river water quality to be unsafe. No such weather issues are now in play.

Public swimming in the Seine has been banned due to water-quality issues since 1923 and the clean-up of the river has been a high-profile, legacy promise of the Paris government for the Paris 2024 Games, and the work is ongoing.

In an important development for the future of the sport, World Triathlon and the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) announced an agreement that recognizes the PTO “as the official World Championship Tour of long distance triathlon, using the ‘made for TV’ 100km distance.”

This brings the two groups together and will create a year-round program of the existing World Triathlon Championship Series at the Olympic distance (1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run) and the PTO at the longer distance of 2 km swimming, 80 km cycling and an 18 km run.

Noted PTO Executive Chair Chris Kermode (GBR):

“[B]y uniting together the professional athlete body of the PTO with the international federation of World Triathlon, this partnership has the opportunity to unite the sport under the common goal of growing triathlon – which is essential for the sport to become mainstream.”

World Triathlon rules, including anti-doping, will be observed and PTO competitions will be offered for both professional and amateur athletes alike.

3.
Spain a slight favorite vs. England in Women’s World Cup final

Sixth-ranked Spain is a mild favorite over no. 4 England in Sunday’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final at Stadium Australia in Sydney:

● Spain: +160 to +165
● England: +175 to +190

Translation: a $100 wager on Spain wins $160 to 165 with a Spanish victory – depending on where you place your action – while the same $100 on England would return $175 to $190.

You can be sure the match will be widely viewed in both countries. In Spain, the semifinal win against Sweden was watched by 1.921 million people on TVE, with an audience share of 45.1, meaning that 45.1% of all televisions in the country that were on during the match were watching it!

For the third-place game in Brisbane, the home team is a very slight favorite:

● Australia: +150 to +170
● Sweden: +155 to +180

With two matches remaining, total attendance has reached 1,853,029 or 29,888 per match, an all-time record, smashing the prior high of 1,353,506 from Canada 2015 (52 matches), and well above the hoped-for total of 1.5 million.

It’s fairly well assured that the final two matches will have capacity crowds of 49,461 at Lang Park in Brisbane and 75,784 at Stadium Australia, so the final total looks to be 1,978,274 or 30,911 per match, to rank no. 3 all-time on average attendance per match:

● 37,944 in 1999 (hosted in the U.S.: 32 matches)
● 37,218 in 2007 (China: 32)
● 30,911 in 2023 (Australia and New Zealand: 64) ~ projected
● 26,428 in 2011 (Germany: 32)
● 26,029 in 2015 (Canada: 52)

Observed: Sunday will be an impressive conclusion to a tremendous tournament, whose true impact may not be known until the 2027 Women’s World Cup is also complete.

It will be interesting to see if FIFA, in its drive to expand the women’s game and obtain much more money from broadcasters for 2027 – they paid a cumulative total of $200 million this time – will expand the tournament again, or remain at 32 teams and 64 matches.

Multiple reports have confirmed that U.S. women’s National Team coach Vlatko Andonovski (MKD) has resigned, following the team’s worst-ever performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The defensive-minded Andonovski, 46, had a 51-5-9 (W-L-T) record as the U.S. coach from 2019-23, but his no. 1-ranked team was eliminated in the Round-of-16 at the Women’s World Cup; the U.S. had reached the semis in all prior editions of the event. The American women also won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, although favored to win the tournament.

The Athletic reported that assistant coach Twila Kilgore will be the interim head coach, while U.S. Soccer determines a full-time replacement. The women’s team has friendly matches coming up on 21 and 24 September against South Africa, and is already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic tournament.

4.
World Boxing will wait until 2024 to approach IOC

“World Boxing intends to apply for IOC recognition as an International Olympic Federation.

“However, the IOC has indicated that they will not initiate any discussions with World Boxing until the arbitration proceedings with the IBA are completed. Therefore, we are awaiting the outcome of this litigation, before applying, which is likely to happen in early 2024.”

That’s a statement by World Boxing to the Russian news agency TASS, as it named its first six members on 9 August, from Australia, England, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the U.S. and the GB Boxing high-performance unit. The boxing federations of Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Switzerland have all indicated they will also join.

An initial Congress will be held in November. Meanwhile, the International Boxing Association (IBA), which has been de-recognized by the International Olympic Committee, has commenced an action at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in protest. The IBA President is Russian Umar Kremlev.

None of this impacts the Paris 2024 boxing tournament, which is being run by the IOC itself, primarily in coordination with the major multi-sport events coming up in 2023, including the Asian Games and Pan American Games, and the 2024 African Games, along with the already-completed European Games.

5.
Rio gold winner Lange announces retirement, at 61!

A remarkable story has come to a close, with 61-year-old Argentine sailing star Santiago Lange, a veteran of seven Olympic Games, deciding to retire after he and Vicky Travascio did not qualify for Paris 2024 at the World Sailing Championships now underway off The Hague (NED).

Lange and Travascio were longshots to surpass fellow Argentines Mateo Majdalani and Eugenia Bosco for the one position in the 2024 Nacra 17 class, with the 2023 Worlds the final qualifier for Argentina. With all but the medal race completed (15/16), Majdalani and Bosco sit seventh overall at 73 net points with Lange and Travascio in 17th (158). He told World Sailing:

“It’s important for me to sail the best we can, and to enjoy every moment on the water. I’ve been in the Olympic circuit long enough to know how to perform the best in any given situation and I really want to enjoy the fleet and enjoy the opportunity to race these boats.

“It’s a privilege at 61 years old to still be in this class competing at this level. So it would be stupid of me if I let us down and didn’t try so hard because we are not making it to Paris.”

Lange won the Rio gold in the Nacra 17 with Cecilia Carranza, after taking bronze medals in the Tornado class in 2004 and 2007. He will finish with four World Championships golds in the Snipe class (1985-93-95) and the Tornado in 2004.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● PanAm Sports ● Two more decades of the top athletes to compete in the Pan American Games, with the selections for 1998-2007 and 2008-2017 revealed.

One American made the list for 1998-2007, gymnast Nastia Liukin, who won two golds at age 14 at the Pan Ams in Santo Domingo (DOM) in the Team event and on Beam. She added a third in 2007 in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) in the Team and won a total of eight Pan Am medals between the two. She went on to win the Olympic All-Around gold at Beijing 2008, plus silvers in the Team, Beam and Uneven Bars and a bronze on Floor.

The 2008-17 list started with Allyson Felix, who attended only the 2003 Pan Ams, winning a gold on the women’s 4×100 m and a bronze in the 200 m. But she went on to greater glory with seven Olympic golds and 11 medals between 2004-2020 in the 200-400 m and relays, and 20 medals (14-3-3) at the World Championships.

The 2017 honoree was the amazing Kim Rhode, who won Olympic medals in six consecutive Games from 1996-2016. At the Pan American Games, she won the women’s Double Trap gold at Winnipeg in 1999 and in 2003, then switched to Skeet, taking the silver in 2007, and golds at Guadalajara 2011, Toronto 2015 and Lima in 2019. Wow.

● Aquatics ● SwimSwam.com reported on compliance issues within Swimming Australia which will need to be resolved promptly:

“Swimming Australia is in violation of multiple points within the World Aquatics Constitution, including a lack of athlete voting power on the Board, and the implementation of a Stabilization Committee, and even the expulsion of Swimming Australia’s membership within World Aquatics, would be the consequences if changes aren’t made in a timely manner.”

A Thursday call for an October special meeting of the federation to adopt new regulations that will satisfy the requirements is expected.

World Aquatics announced that it will introduce its promised “Open” category, available to transgender athletes, at the upcoming swimming World Cup in Berlin (GER) from 6-8 October.

Events are to include 50 m and 100 m races in all strokes, but with no further details. Per the announcement:

“To be eligible, swimmers need an affiliation with a national federation and will be given the flexibility to participate individually, for their club, team or as national federation members.”

● Athletics ● In an interview with The Associated Press, Brett Clothier (AUS) of the Athletics Integrity Unit explained that the rampant doping in Kenya has little to do with winning medals for the country in major competitions like the Olympic Games.

It has to do with road running and prize money which is available in more than 1,000 races around the world annually:

“This money that we’re talking about … is life-changing. Not just for them, but for their families, their whole communities. In essence, it really is all about the money.”

He said that the ability to earn created the pressure to “take risks that no one, no other athletes who are controlled by us, would normally take.” He also noted that until the AIU stepped in, Kenya had been, for the most part, “a completely uncontrolled environment,” as regards road running especially. And there will be more positives and more suspensions:

“We’re certainly expecting more positive tests. I’ll tell you that straight away. But that’s the system working.”

The USA Track & Field Foundation continues giving money away, announcing Wednesday the second round of grants for its “Operation Hammer Sweep.”

Created by two-time U.S. Olympian Ken Flax (Seoul 1988-Bacelona 1992), the program provides $5,000 grants to the top three finishers at the U.S. nationals, providing they have met the Olympic qualifying standard. The 2023 women’s recipients are reigning World Champion Brooke Andersen, 2019 World Champion DeAnna Price and 2022 Worlds bronze winner Janee Kassanavoid, who rank 1-3-4 on the 2023 world list going into the World Championships.

American Record holder Rudy Winkler, Daniel Haugh, and Alex Young are the men’s recipients. Winkler ranks no. 2 in the world for 2023 so far, with Haugh 16th and Young 35th.

● Cycling ● Union Cycliste Internationale President David Lappartient (FRA) was thrilled with the outcome of the first mega-Cycling World Championships in Glasgow that ended on Sunday.

“It was the first time, it was a bit of a risk, but it turned into a real success. When we still see today (Sunday), 150,000 to 200,000 people on the streets of Glasgow for the women’s [road] race, it is in the image of what happened during these ten days. We lived an extraordinary atmosphere. The work upstream has been enormous and the five years have not been too much. We’ve had Covid, Brexit, the war in Ukraine, inflation. But the result is up to our expectations.”

Perhaps most important was the exposure, normally reserved for the road-race Worlds, that the other disciplines received:

“It’s huge and, in many markets, we are well beyond what the events were doing individually. Some were simply not broadcast [at all].”

The next edition will be in 2027 and talks have already begun on possible sites for 2031.

● Shooting ● The ISSF World Championships opened Wednesday in Baku (AZE) with 1,249 athletes from 101 countries present for pistol, rifle and shotgun events. A total of 48 qualifying places (quotas, not individual) for Paris 2024 will be available.

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TSX REPORT: England beats Australia, on to Women’s World Cup final; T&F Worlds to be mostly on cable, sport needs “complete rebuild”

By
Rich Perelman
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From the clever USA Swimming Marketing Toolkit - Trials: a do-it-yourself lawn sign graphic for an Olympic Trials qualifier! (Courtesy USA Swimming)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. England too much for Australia, 3-1, on to World Cup final
2. U.S. out, but Women’s World Cup still popular on TV
3. World Athletics Champs mostly on cable, some on NBC
4. Warner: “athletics needs a complete rebuild to rediscover its relevance”
5. Guttsait to AFP: Russia could skip Paris as “goodwill gesture”

● Before 75,784 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, England’s Lionesses were the better team in a 3-1 win over Australia. But the Aussies had a moment to treasure forever as star striker Sam Kerr sent a brilliant rainbow shot from 28 yards out for a tying goal in the 63rd before two English goals sealed the victory. England will play Spain in Sunday’s final.

● Even with the U.S. out of the tournament, the American viewing audience was still good if a match was played at a reasonable viewing hour. Some 2.592 million tuned in – in English or Spanish – for the Netherlands-Spain quarterfinal last Thursday, available in the evening in the U.S., the third-highest-viewed sports event of the week. But most of the games were in the middle of the night.

● NBC released its broadcast schedule for the World Athletics Championships that start Saturday in Budapest, with weekend programs on CNBC and weekday coverage on USA Network, along with the Peacock streaming service. NBC will have shows on the opening weekend and the last day, 27 August, only.

● Former head of UK Athletics, Ed Warner, wrote that track & field continues to recede in popularity worldwide and blames the World Athletics Council. Of the Diamond League, he characterized it as “Underwhelming, undersold, and often impenetrable to casual sports fans.” A preliminary forecast by Track & Field News shows the U.S. is in position to dominate the event once again.

● Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Guttsait continued his interview series and told Agence France Presse that he thought Russia might not compete at Paris 2024 as a “goodwill gesture,” but warned that Russian and Belarusian participation could trigger a multi-nation boycott.

● Panorama: Olympic Winter Games 2026 (San Siro stadium will not be turn down after the Milan Cortina Games) = PanAm Sports (Carl Lewis and Michael Jordan named among greats of the Pan American Games) = Commonwealth Games (famed mechanical bull from Birmingham 2022 opening now in permanent home) = Athletics (2: 50 Elite Athletes Development Grants announced by USATF Foundation; U.S. sweeps annual Thorpe Cup meet with Germany) = Cycling (British team doctor suspended for four years for doping rules violations) = Rowing (Russia to send four to World Championships) = Swimming (USA Swimming offers creative graphics to celebrate Olympic Trials qualifiers) ●

1.
England too much for Australia, 3-1, on to World Cup final

For the first time since the 1966 FIFA World Cup, football-mad England has a finalist, this time the Lionesses in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, after a convincing 3-1 win over Australia in front of 75,784 roaring – but disappointed – fans at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Wednesday.

This was another test for England without star scorer Lauren James, sitting out her suspension after a red card in the round-of-16, but they were ready and controlled possession. And they were on offense right away as midfielder Georgia Stanway’s drive had to be saved by Australian keeper Mackenzie Arnold in the ninth minute.

England had six shots to two for Australia by the 30th minute, and finally scored in the 36th as a pass off the endline by striker Hayley Russo gave onrushing midfielder Ella Toone an opportunity for a right-footed shot from the left of goal, and she buried it to the right-hand side for the 1-0 lead that held up through the half.

Strong English defense made it look like that might stand up, but in the second half, Australia’s star striker, Sam Kerr – in her first start in this tournament due to an injured calf – made a memory. She took a lead pass from midfielder Katrina Gorry at midfield and made a 30-yard solo run down the right side. Others joined, but at 28 yards out, she pumped a rainbow shot that flew right over the outstretched arm of English keeper Mary Earps and into the goal for a 1-1 tie in the 63rd to thunderous cheers from the almost-all-Australian crowd.

Now what? Kerr got off two more shots in the following minutes, but the Lionesses were undeterred. After a header by Russo missed the goal in the 70th, England got possession again and a long lead pass from defender Millie Bright from her own end found striker Lauren Hemp racing between two defenders; when Australia’s Ellie Carpenter could not clear the ball, Hemp slammed a left-footed strike from the left side of the box to the right side of the net for a 2-1 lead in the 71st.

Now the Aussies mounted rush after rush, looking for the equalizer. In the 82nd, striker Mary Fowler sent a ball through to Kerr in front of goal, but her header, stunningly, went over the net. Two minutes later, a shot by substitute midfielder Cortnee Vine from the right side was saved by Earps. A corner in the 85th was punched away by Earps, but popped out to Kerr, whose volley went high and wide to the right, as she grimaced in frustration.

Time was running out for the home team and then it didn’t matter, as England finally got out of its own end, and a run down the middle by Hemp led to a pass to the right to Russo, who sent a seeing-eye shot that crossed by Arnold to the far left corner for the 3-1 lead in the 86th that settled the issue.

England finished with 58% of possession and a 15-12 edge on shots that also included 11 England fouls that helped slow the Aussie attack.

Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman guided the Netherlands to the 2019 Women’s World Cup final against the U.S., but lost. She now has a second straight chance at the trophy, in the first all-European Women’s World Cup final since 2003, on Sunday, again at Stadium Australia.

Australia will get one more game before its adoring fans, on Saturday in Brisbane against Sweden for the bronze medal.

2.
U.S. out, but Women’s World Cup still popular on TV

American viewing interest in the FIFA Women’s World Cup has continued despite the U.S. team being eliminated, with 2.592 million watching the Netherlands vs. Spain quarterfinal, the only match from last week that was shown at a reasonable hour in the U.S.

Nielsen reported the Fox broadcast, which began at 8:45 p.m. Eastern last Thursday, did 1.777 million viewers, with another 815,000 watching the Spanish-language show on Telemundo. The combined total of 2.592 million viewers was no. 3 for the week, behind only the Sunday PGA Tour’s St. Jude Classic on CBS (3.207 million) and the NASCAR race from Indianapolis on NBC. The Women’s World Cup numbers:

Saturday, 12 August (Quarterfinals):
● 861,000 for England-Colombia on Fox (6:14 a.m.)
● 340,000 for England-Colombia on Telemundo (1:30 p.m.) ~ replay
● 226,000 for England-Colombia on Telemundo (6:00 a.m.)
● 579,000 for Australia-France on Fox (2:43 a.m.)

Thursday, 10 August (Quarterfinals):
● 1.777 million for Netherlands-Spain on Fox (8:45 p.m.)
● 815,000 for Netherlands-Spain on Telemundo (8:30 p.m.)
● 578,000 for Japan-Sweden on Fox (3:14 a.m.)

Tuesday, 8 August (Round of 16):
● 312,000 for France-Morocco on FS1 (6:44 a.m.)

Monday, 7 August (Round of 16):
● 362,000 for England-Nigeria on FS1 (6:00 a.m.)
● 329,000 for Australia-Denmark on FS1 (6:22 a.m.)

Beyond the football Women’s World Cup, the U.S. men’s national team played an exhibition game against no. 1-ranked Spain on Sunday and drew a creditable audience of 657,000 on Fox at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. That’s a positive indicator of interest in the American team for the FIBA World Cup coming late this month, with the U.S. again playing in a difficult time zone in Manila (PHI).

3.
World Athletics Champs mostly on cable, some on NBC

NBC announced its broadcast schedule for the 2023 World Athletics Championships, with most of its coverage on cable channels CNBC and USA Network, with three weeks programs on NBC (all times Eastern):

● 19 Aug. (Sat.): 4:30-8:00 a.m. on CNBC
● 19 Aug. (Sat.): 1:00-2:30 p.m. on CNBC
● 19 Aug. (Sat.): 2:30-4:00 p.m. on NBC

● 20 Aug. (Sun.): 3:30-8:00 a.m. on CNBC
● 20 Aug. (Sun.): 1:00-2:30 p.m. on CNBC
● 20 Aug. (Sun.): 2:30-4:00 p.m. on NBC

● 21 Aug. (Mon.): 1:00-4:00 p.m. on USA

● 22 Aug. (Tue.): 12:30-4:00 p.m. on USA

● 23 Aug. (Wed.): 4:00-7:30 a.m. on USA
● 23 Aug. (Wed.): 1:30-4:00 p.m. on USA

● 24 Aug. (Thu.): 1:00-4:00 p.m. on USA

● 25 Aug. (Fri.): 1:30-4:00 p.m. on USA

● 26 Aug. (Sat.): 1:00-4:00 a.m. on CNBC
● 26 Aug. (Sat.): 1:30-4:00 p.m. on CNBC

● 27 Aug. (Sun.): 1:00-3:30 a.m. on CNBC
● 27 Aug. (Sun.): 1:00-3:30 p.m. on NBC
● 27 Aug. (Sun.): 2:30-4:00 p.m. on CNBC

That’s 17 time slots, with CNBC showing eight sessions (and 20.5 hours), USA showing six sessions and 18.0 hours, and NBC with three shows and 5.5 hours; 44 hours total.

NBC’s Peacock streaming service will have all of this coverage, plus extra coverage of the decathlon, heptathlon, and walks.

The usual announce crew will be on hand, with Lee Diffey and Paul Swangard on play-by-play, Ato Boldon, Sanya Richards-Ross, Kara Goucher and Trey Hardee as analysts. Lewis Johnson will be the field (mixed zone) reporter.

4.
Warner: “athletics needs a complete rebuild to rediscover its relevance”

Ed Warner was the head of UK Athletics from 2007-17 and chaired the spectacular London 2017 World Athletics Championships that was essentially a sell-out at every session. He wrote on Monday for SportsProMedia.com of his concerns about track & field in its current situation, just in advance of Worlds in Budapest. Highlights:

● “I’ve a nagging fear that the world – not just the wider American public – is simply unaware. Come Paris 2024, athletics will once again prove the centrepiece of the Games. Ticket sales (and prices, much to French public chagrin) already demonstrate that. Between Olympics, though, the popularity of the sport continues to drain away.”

● “Much of the blame can be laid at the door of a ruling council at [World Athletics] that is simply too hidebound, dominated by retired athletes and long-time administrators over-keen to stick with tradition and who recoil at innovation.”

Warner gives World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (GBR) credit for cleaning up the scandals left by his predecessor, the late Senegalese, Lamine Diack, and for advancing the federation’s work against doping, and in dealing with doping in Russia as well as its invasion of Ukraine.

He notes that although Coe will be re-elected – without opposition – as World Athletics President for a third and final term, he might leave early if he were to run and win a widely-speculated-on campaign to be the head of the International Olympic Committee in 2025.

In any case, Warner warned that athletics is increasingly marginalized and needs change:

● “There’s not a great deal wrong with the centrepiece Championships that better promotion couldn’t fix, but much of the rest of the athletics calendar – especially the Diamond League itself – is a mess. Underwhelming, undersold, and often impenetrable to casual sports fans.”

● “If Coe’s final term of office runs a full four years, he has time yet to solve this challenge himself – indeed simply must solve it. He’s shored up the foundations. Now athletics needs its complete rebuild. That can wait until next month, though. In the meantime, here’s to an exhilarating Worlds.”

Getting ready for the Worlds itself, Track & Field News came out with its preliminary form chart for its subscribers, forecasting that the U.S. will again lead the medal parade.

Although not slated for another record-breaking performance as in 2022, the U.S. is projected to win 14 medals in men’s events and 16 in the women’s. The top nations by total medals:

● 30: United States (12-11-7)
● 14: Ethiopia (3-5-6)
● 9: Kenya (1-4-4)
● 8: Jamaica (2-4-2)
● 6: China (2-3-1)

The U.S. men are projected to win nine track medals (5-2-2) and five in the field (1-3-1) for a total of 14 (6-5-3). The women are also seen to take nine track medals (2-4-3) and seven in the field (4-2-1) for a total of 16.

U.S. star Michael Norman, the 2022 World Champion in the men’s 400 m, has pulled out of Budapest, where he had a direct entry. He wrote on Instagram:

“Unfortunately I will not be defending my title at the 2023 World champs. After an extremely frustrating season I’ve decided to step away from track for the remainder of the 2023 season in order to refocus for the 2024 Paris Olympics.”

After winning the U.S. title in a world-leading 43.56 last year, Norman won the Worlds in Eugene in 44.29. But he ran in only three meets in 2023: 10.02w for third at the Mt. SAC Relays in the 100 m, 20.65 for last in the Doha Diamond League 200 m in May and 10.31 for eighth in heat one of the USATF Nationals 100 m on 6 July. He has switched coaches, now with John Smith, but has work to do to rebuild himself for a run at the 2024 Games.

5.
Guttsait to AFP: Russia could skip Paris as “goodwill gesture”

Continuing a series of interviews with major news agencies, Ukraine’s Sports Minister, Vadym Guttsait, told Agence France Presse that a boycott of the Paris 2024 Games is possible, but so is a Russian withdrawal.

“If Russian athletes are at the Olympics, then Russian propagandists will try to turn this celebration of sport into a celebration of propaganda, just as Hitler once did [in 1936].

“I believe that the IOC will not allow the aggressors to do this.

“I also do not exclude that the Russians will make a ‘goodwill gesture’ and say that they will not go.

“The ball is now in the court of the IOC and international sports federations. I believe that they will continue to stand on the right side of history and prevent the aggressors from participating in the Games.

“I do not rule out that if Russians or Belarusians are allowed to participate in the Olympics and we boycott the competition, other countries that have suffered from Russian imperialism at different stages of their history will join this boycott.”

Guttsait echoed the comments of Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who wrote on his Telegram page on Monday:

“Ukraine is determined. We have formed a powerful international coalition for fair sport, which includes 35 countries.

“Together, we are ready to boycott the Olympic Games in Paris if Russia and Belarus are allowed to participate in the competition.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The historic San Siro football stadium, opened in 1926, had been slated for destruction after use for the opening of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. But now it appears to have been saved:

“The Regional Commission for the Cultural Heritage of Lombardy expressed a positive opinion on the existence of cultural heritage of the second tier at the San Siro stadium, in view of future verification under article 12 of Legislative Decree 42/2004.”

The AC Milan and Inter Milan football clubs had planned to both play in a new facility, agreed to in 2021. The two clubs are now expected to build separate new stadiums, with the future use of the San Siro still to be determined.

● PanAm Sports ● The countdown of the 75 top stars in the history of the Pan American Games continues with 1978-87 and 1988-97. Six of the 10 from the ‘78 to ‘87 list were from the U.S., including Mary T. Meagher (1979), who won the women’s 100 m Butterfly in San Juan (PUR) at age 14 and then returned in 1983 in Caracas and won the 200 m Fly. She went on to win three Olympic golds in Los Angeles in 1984 in the 100-200 m Fly and the 4×100 m Medley relay.

Basketball stars Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan were honored for 1980 and 1983, respectively. Thomas won a Pan Am gold in San Juan in 1979, but couldn’t compete in Moscow due to the U.S. boycott. Jordan was also a Pan Am gold winner, in 1983 and then won an Olympic gold in Los Angeles before embarking on his historic NBA career, which saw him win a second gold as a “Dream Team” member of the 1992 Olympic squad.

Track stars Evelyn Ashford and Carl Lewis were selected for 1982 and 1987. Ashford won the 100 and 200 m sprints in 1979, won the Olympic 100 m gold in 1984, set two world records and won relay golds in 1984-88-92. Lewis, one of the icons of the Olympic Games, he won his major international medal with a 1979 Pan Am bronze, then went on to win four golds in Los Angeles in 1979, two in 1988 and 1992 and a fourth consecutive long jump title in Atlanta in 1996.

The 1985 selection was diver Greg Louganis, not only the 3 m and 10 m winner in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988, but a three-time double Pan Am champion in 1979-83-87.

Tennis star Pam Shriver was honored for 1989, two years before she won a remarkable triple in Havana in 1991, winning the women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles! Gymnast Shannon Miller was the choice for 1995, after her four golds in the All-Around, Uneven Bars, Floor Exercise and Team events, while adding a fifth medal with a silver in the Vault, in Mar del Plata (ARG). She won seven Olympic medals in 1992 (5) and 1996 (2), including as a member of the U.S.’s winning team.

● Commonwealth Games 2022: Birmingham ● The giant mechanical bull which was the star of the opening of the 2022 Commonwealth Games has now found its permanent home at the New Street Station in Birmingham.

Originally simply a prop in the show, it became an instant symbol of the event and the city and was on display well after the Games and eventually placed on permanent public display. It’s 10 m (~33 ft) tall and was named “Ozzy” in a public vote after singer Ozzy Osbourne, who was born in Birmingham.

It’s an unexpected, but novel, permanent memorial of the quite successful Commonwealth Games.

● Athletics ● The USA Track & Field Foundation announced the distribution of 50 “Elite Athlete Development Grants” of $10,000 apiece. The process:

“All USATF Foundation grants are awarded through a competitive selection process. All elite athletes are encouraged to submit their application annually during the application period in May or June. The Elite Athlete Development grants are carefully reviewed and determined by the USATF Foundation Elite Grant Committee, with the selection criteria based on a combination of athletic performance, financial need, and character references.”

The annual Thorpe Cup multi-events meet between the U.S. and Germany was held last weekend in Marburg (GER), with the U.S. winning the team titles in both the decathlon and heptathlon.

The decathlon was won by Felix Wolter (GER) with a lifetime best of 8,299, now no. 18 on the year list for 2023, with Austin West of the U.S. second at 8,158. The U.S. men won the dual, 39,745 to 37,786.

Michelle Atherley of the U.S. won the heptathlon at 6,079, with teammate Erin Marsh second (6,024 lifetime best). The American women took the team race, 17,801 to 16,683.

● Cycling ● Dr. Richard Freeman (GBR), the former team physician for British Cycling and the Team Sky cycling team had his suspension from the sport confirmed on Tuesday, through 21 December 2024.

Freeman was provisionally suspended on 22 December 2020 by UK Anti-Doping and a independent review panel found he intended to make the banned steroid testosterone available to one or more of the athletes in his care. The panel confirmed violations for possession of a banned substances and two charges of tampering.

● Rowing ● Four Russian athletes will compete as neutrals at the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade (SRB) next month, including Tokyo Olympian Alexander Vyazovkin, and Alexander Yakovlev in the men’s Single Sculls and Kira Yuvchenko and Anastasia Lyubich in the women’s Single Sculls.

Russian Rowing Federation chief Alexei Svirin told the Russian news agency TASS:

“Yes, we initially submitted [applications for] all athletes, but in the end we abandoned the twos without coxswains, so far. These are the best, I hope they will show the highest possible results.

“The minimum task is to get into the final race. Now it will be difficult to predict something – this is our first start after almost a two-year break, and the atmosphere at the World Championships can be different. When we made the decision to go, we discussed it, we understood that it would be more difficult psychologically and emotionally. But let’s hope for the best.”

● Swimming ● Credit USA Swimming with inventive ways to celebrate the success of its swimmers.

The federation unveiled graphics that can be downloaded and used for bumper stickers or lawn signs noting that a swimmer has qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials to be held in Indianapolis.

The “Marketing Toolkit – Trials” includes a do-it-yourself lawn sign graphic says “Qualifier lives here,” and the bumper sticker graphic reads “Qualifier on board.” Additional downloads for social media use have “Indy Qualified” graphics for Instagram posts, Instagram stories and Facebook.

USA Swimming has offered these tools for youth awards, such as certificates for a first meet or other achievement, but created these Trials-specific tools in response to swimmer and family feedback.

Clever, easy to use and something that all U.S. governing bodies could adapt for their own use.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Late thrills lift Spain to Women’s World Cup final; Ukraine might compete with Russian neutrals in Paris; San Diego gets World Roads!

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 ≡

1. Spain’s late heroics beat Sweden, 2-1 in World Cup semi
2. Ukraine might compete in Paris with Russian neutrals (maybe)
3. European Parliament group suggests Paris athlete declaration
4. Switzerland proposes national Olympic Winter Games
5. San Diego picked for 2025 World Road Running Champs

● Spain defeated Sweden, 2-1, in the first FIFA Women’s World Cup semi, with all of the scoring coming after the 80th minute! FIFA said all 835 of its doping tests for the Women’s World Cup so far have come back negative.

● The head of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee said its athletes might compete with Russian and Belarusian “neutrals,” but the Prime Minister said that as many as 35 countries might boycott if Russian and Belarusian athletes compete.

● A letter from 14 members of the European Parliament to International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach suggested that Russian and Belarusian neutrals could compete in Paris if not affiliated with the military or security organizations and who sign a declaration against an invasion by one country against another.

● Switzerland is studying an Olympic Winter Games organizing proposal to use the whole country to host the event, instead of a city or a region. They have venues for 13 of 14 sports and would not have an Olympic Village.

● World Athletics picked San Diego as the site for its second World Road Running Championships, in 2025. Eugene was picked to again host the World U-20 Championships, in 2026.

● Panorama ● Russia (3: 36 “countries” coming to Int’l University Sports Festival; with CIS Games over, now prize money is being considered!; 67 Russians have changed allegiance since Ukraine invasion) = Athletics (2: 100 to get $2.65 million in Schwarzman grants; Katie Strauss win U.S. women’s decathlon title) = Boxing (2: Canada to join World Boxing; only 52% of eligible countries sent boxers to African or Americas champs) = Curling (Russian and Belarusian ban extended to year-end) = Cycling (Glasgow organizers declare victory of World Cycling Champs) = Gymnastics (USA Gymnastics signs up Comcast) = Swimming (Kenya suspended by World Aquatics) ●

1.
Spain’s late heroics beat Sweden, 2-1 in World Cup semi

It wasn’t a classic, but the first finalist of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is Spain, after a tight, 2-1 win in Auckland. It’s Spain’s first final and sends no. 3 Sweden to the third-place game for the second straight tournament.

The Spanish were in usual form, dominating possession in the first half at 64%, but neither side produced a goal. A failed clearance in the 42nd gave Sweden a chance, as defender Nathalie Bjorn sent a long cross from the right side to the left of the penalty area that was smashed by midfielder Fridolina Rolfo, but deflected away by Spanish keeper Cata Coll. No score.

The two sides poked and tested each other in the second, until a breakthrough in the 81st. A cross from the left side into the box by striker Jennifer Hermoso was intended for substitute forward Eva Navarro, but was deflected by Sweden, then pounded into the goal by on-the-spot substitute midfielder Salma Paralluelo with a right-footed shot that found the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead. It’s Paralluelo’s eighth goal for Spain in 13 (!) appearances.

Game over, right? Nope, as the Swedes mounted the expected attack, with a long cross from near the left corner of the field by Rolfo finding sub midfielder Lina Hurtig in the middle of the box. She headed it down and onto the right foot of onrushing sub striker Rebecka Blomqvist for the left-to-right equalizer in the 88th!

Then, from a game with so few chances, the winner came just 95 seconds later. Off a corner by Spanish midfielder Teresa Abelleira, played short to the left side of the box, defender Olga Carmona sent a left-footed rocket towards the goal that kept rising and caromed off the underside of the goal post and bounced in for the 2-1 lead in the 89th.

Spain held on for the eight minutes of stoppage time to win, with 63% of possession and a 13-6 edge on shots, but mostly due to two brilliant, individual plays in the final minutes.

Co-host Australia will play England in the second semi, on Wednesday, at Stadium Australia in Sydney. The final is on Sunday, also at Stadium Australia.

FIFA announced that it had conducted 835 doping tests through the quarter-finals, with no positives reported from either in-competition or out-of-competition tests.

All teams were tested, with 449 tests given prior to the tournament and 386 in Australia and New Zealand, so far, about 25% more per team than in 2019. Also, the use of blood testing continues to increase, with 48.2% of the tests using urine, and 24.3% using blood samples, 23.9% blood passport tests and 3.7% using the new, dried blood spot sample collection method.

Never one to miss an opportunity to strike while the iron is hot, FIFA has asked for bids from Australian broadcasters for the FIFA World Cup in North America in 2026 and the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which could also be in the U.S. and Mexico.

The bids are due by 19 September this year, but the location of the 2027 Women’s World Cup will not be known until May 2024. In addition to the U.S.-Mexico bid for 2027, Brazil, South Africa and a combined Belgium-Netherlands-Germany offer are also in the mix.

2.
Ukraine might compete in Paris with Russian neutrals (maybe)

“Our athletes need to be at the Olympics. Our flag will be at the opening ceremony, at the competitions, our athletes will represent our state so that everyone in the world will see that Ukraine is, was and will be.”

That’s Vadym Guttsait, the head of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, and a 1992 Olympic Team Sabre gold medalist for the former Soviet “Unified Team,” speaking to Kyodo News on Monday.

He said that an important moment for Ukraine was when the International Olympic Committee did not invite either Russia or Belarus to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, signaling their isolation from the Olympic Movement.

That act helped the Ukrainian government decide to allow its athletes to compete in Olympic qualifying events where “neutral” athletes are present, even at the risk of incidents like Russian Sabre fencer Anna Smirnova pouting on the piste at the World Fencing Championships after losing to Ukraine’s four-time World Champion Olha Kharlan, and then Kharlan being disqualified, sort-of reinstated and then invited directly to the Paris Games by the IOC.

As for the Paris Games, Guttsait said of the Russian and Belarusian “neutrals,” that as of now:

“We do not pay attention to these athletes, because for us it is not clear at all who these athletes are, because [they are] under a neutral flag.

“If the Russian federation and the Belarusian federation will participate under their own flag – we will not participate in this Olympics.”

The IOC has yet to decide whether it will allow Russian and/or Belarusian athletes to participate in Paris, and until that decision is made and the conditions are clear, Ukraine will not fully commit to participating in 2024.

“Our athletes cannot prepare in peace. It is difficult psychologically…there is no athlete who has not each of the athletes killed or friends, or relatives, or parents, or members of their team.”

Later on Monday, however, Denys Shmyhal, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, posted on his Telegram page a somber note that included:

“Sports and military aggression are incompatible.

“States that have stained themselves with the blood of Ukrainians cannot participate in the Olympic Games.

“During the full-scale war, Russia has killed 340 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, destroyed or damaged 343 sports facilities, and attacks peaceful towns and villages with missiles and drones every day.

“Ukraine is determined. We have formed a powerful international coalition for fair sport, which includes 35 countries.

“Together, we are ready to boycott the Olympic Games in Paris if Russia and Belarus are allowed to participate in the competition.

“We expect that the IOC will make the right decision and resolutely remove the aggressor from the Olympics.”

3.
European Parliament group suggests Paris athlete declaration

The Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation, an activist group of Belarusian athletes who continue to protest against the anti-freedom actions of the Belarusian government, including its complicity in the Russian war in Ukraine, posted on Monday a 21 July letter from the European Parliament which specifies a declaration for potential “neutral” Russian and Belarusian athletes to sign.

The letter was sent to IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) and is signed by representatives of 14 European countries, asking for a “clear decision” on the conditions of participation (if any) for Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games. Highlights:

● “It is usual for dictators and authoritarian regimes to weaponise sport as an instrument of expanding their influence. For Russia and the Putin regime, sport is primarily a political tool; this has been clearly demonstrated by the fact that Russia has a state-sponsored doping program.”

● “Under current conditions, the participation of Russia and Belarus, including the teams and support personnel representing these countries, is inadmissible while the aggression against Ukraine is ongoing.”

● “Though we appreciate not sending official invitations to Russian and Belarusian athletes, it is simply not enough. The IOC’s efforts must go further and not settle on using neutral flags, which would still serve as a vehicle for Russian war propaganda. There need to be clear conditions for athletes to participate.”

● “We, the undersigned, call upon you to amend the IOC recommendations accordingly and support the exclusion of Russian Federation and Belarus at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and support a conditional framework for athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in line with the suggestion by the Czech independent expert commission, i.e., through statutory declaration.”

The declaration the letter calls for was developed by a Czech expert group, formed by the Czech Olympic Committee to find a solution which meets with the requirements of the Olympic Charter and other organizations, such as the United Nations. Its report was filed on 15 June, with two clear suggestions regarding participation by “neutral” Russian or Belarusian athletes:

● “3) The participation of athletes and officials of the Russian Federation and Belarus who have a contractual relationship with military or security structures of both countries at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris is inadmissible for the duration of the aggression against Ukraine.”

● “4) The participation of individual athletes with Russian Federation or Belarus passports, to whom paragraph 3) does not apply, at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris under a neutral flag and without reference to their country of origin is conceivable only on condition of signing the attached statutory declaration expressing unequivocal disapproval of aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a UN member state:

“Statutory Declaration

“In keeping with the aim of promoting a peaceful society as defined in the second fundamental principle of Olympism of the Olympic Charter, I solemnly declare that I do not participate in, support, condone, or approve of any act of aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a UN member state by another country.”

The Russian sports ministry and Russian Olympic Committee have said that they will not allow their athletes to sign any declarations and will not participate in Paris 2024 under such conditions.

The letter was signed by representatives of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden. It notably does not include France or Great Britain, both of whom have been unhappy with the idea of Russian or Belarusian participation in Paris.

4.
Switzerland proposes national Olympic Winter Games

“Switzerland will become the first (para-)Olympic host country in the world and organizes Olympic and Paralympic Games, which become an expression of the transformation into a sustainable society.”

This is the new vision for the National Olympic Committee of Switzerland, shared in a Monday Web post, to use its breadth of existing venues to create a national host – rather than a single city or a region – to stage a future Olympic Games in 2030, 2034 or 2038:

“[N]o single host city or region can be considered. Instead, as the host country, Switzerland would give its name to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 203x, and the competition venues would be spread across the country. This would make Switzerland the first ‘host country’ in Olympic history.”

The ongoing feasibility study notes that in the 2020s, world championships will take place in Switzerland in bobsleigh and skeleton (2023), curling (2024), biathlon (2025), freestyle skiing and snowboard (2026), men’s ice hockey (2026) and alpine skiing (2027). Only luge, Nordic skiing and figure-speed-short track skating are not included within the 10-year period; St. Moritz hosted the FIL Worlds in 2000 and Lausanne hosted the World Figure Skating Championships in 1997.

Davos and Val Mustair were FIS World Cup venues for cross-country skiing last season, and ski jumping was held in Engelberg in 2021.

Facilities are available for all Winter Games sports except speed skating, and no single Olympic Village would be enabled, with athletes spread out to be close to their competition sites. The next steps:

“After completion of the feasibility study and the corresponding report, the Executive Council of Swiss Olympic and in mid-November the Sports Parliament will decide in October 2023 whether the vision of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Switzerland should be pursued further.”

Switzerland has hosted Winter Games in St. Moritz in 1928 and 1948, but more recent attempts have all failed, often at the polls in referendums of the specific areas which wanted to bid on the event. The national option would be a completely new concept, but the cost will be the issue.

Observed: This kind of use-what-you-have plan is exactly what the IOC has been pushing for and if a satisfactory report comes back, and has public support, could be the ticket for Switzerland for 2030. If nothing else, this kind of concept will speed along Sweden’s proposal, which also see a Winter Games spread across the country and even into nearby Latvia for the sliding sports.

5.
San Diego picked for 2025 World Road Running Champs

The World Athletics Council selected two U.S. hosts for important upcoming events, with San Diego awarded the 2025 World Road Running Championships and Eugene the World Athletics U-20 Championships for a second time, in 2026.

The inaugural World Road Running Championships will be held on 1 October in Riga, Latvia, having been condensed from an original two-day plan, and including world-championship events in the half marathon, 5 km and road mile. San Diego is a special place for road running in the U.S., being the start of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series in 1998 and could be a key host in expanding this event.

Copenhagen (DEN) was designated as the 2026 host, also an excellent choice after the famous 2019 World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus and the 2014 World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen.

Lima (PER) – site of the 2019 Pan American Games – was reinstated as the host of the 2024 World U-20 Championships, after the government has agreed to back the event. The 2026 World U-20s will go back to Eugene, which hosted the event in 2014.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Russia ● A list of 36 countries that will participate in the 19-31 August “International University Sports Festival” in Yekaterinburg was published Monday:

“Azerbaijan, Argentina, Armenia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, Venezuela, Vietnam, Guatemala, Zimbabwe, India, Iraq, Iran, Indonesia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tanzania, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, South Ossetia.”

South Ossetia is a part of Georgia which Russia has claimed as part of its territory, with little international recognition. The Festival is a Russian version of the World University Games, which was awarded to Yekaterinburg for 2023, but removed due to the invasion of Ukraine, with Chengdu (CHN) replacing it and hosting 113 countries for its 28 July-8 August event, now concluded. Competition is slated for 14 sports and 197 events.

Critics of the International Olympic Committee because it does not pay prize money for medal winners at the Olympic Games can now add the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to their list, as no prizes were paid for the just-completed CIS Games in Belarus that closed on Sunday.

But, now that the event has concluded, Russian Deputy Sports Minister Alexei Morozov says it might be considered:

“At the moment, no prize money is provided for the winners and medalists of the CIS Games, it is primarily a sports festival for us for sports results and competitiveness. The subjects of the Russian Federation, where we have athletes from, make their own motivation programs. But we will actually think about prize money after a really successful performance.”

Russians won 288 medals (149-89-50) at the Games, far ahead of Belarus (236: 48-78- 110).

The Russian sports ministry reported that 67 athletes have changed national allegiance since the beginning of 2022. Said Deputy Minister of Sports Morozov:

“This is not an avalanche situation, citizenship was changed before all events. I can’t say that these are gigantic numbers, but this is a loss for us. We try to communicate with athletes, to convince them that they should compete for their homeland.”

● Athletics ● The USA Track & Field Foundation announced $2.65 million in Stephen A. Schwarzman Grants, with 100 athletes receiving direct cash payments of either $30,000 (65) or $20,000 (35).

Schwarzman, 76, the billionaire chief executive of the private-equity giant, The Blackstone Group, has now made 555 personal grants through the Foundation over the last decade; the grantees are selected by the USATF Foundation Elite Grant Committee, based primarily on an athlete’s potential to medal at the next Olympic Games or World Championships.

The U.S. women’s decathlon championships were held at Mt. SAC in Walnut, California over the weekend, with Katie Strauss the winner at 6,709 points, followed by Jordyn Bruce (6,445) and Haley Rizek (6,397). 

It was Strauss’s first-ever try at the event, and the second for Bruce!

● Boxing ● “The Board of Directors of Boxing Canada wishes to inform you of a significant decision that Boxing Canada has reached regarding our membership with the International Boxing Association (IBA). Effective immediately, Boxing Canada will be terminating its membership with IBA to become a member of World Boxing. This decision has been carefully considered and aligns with our commitment to advancing the interests of boxing in Canada and on the international stage.”

Friday’s announcement was hardly a surprise and Boxing Canada President Ryan O’Shea noted that the Board had endorsed the federation’s application to World Boxing on 1 August.

Fascinating statistics from the International Boxing Association on the just-completed continental championships in Africa and the Americas.

At the African Championships – men and women: 25 weight classes – in Yaounde (CAM), a total of 26 federation had boxers, from one entrant (Cape Verde) to 23 for the hosts. That’s out of 50 national federations on the continent (52%).

At the Americas Championships – men, women, junior and youth: 55 weight classes – in Cali (COL), 20 out of 38 current IBA members in the area competed, just 52.6%, not counting Argentina, Canada and the U.S., no longer shown as IBA members. Mexico had the biggest delegation with 40 and Bermuda had one.

A lack of funding? A lack of interest? A lack of confidence in the future of the IBA? Unknown, but unimpressive interest in what should be important regional competitions.

● Curling ● The World Curling Federation Board announced Monday that the ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors in WCF events has been extended to 31 December 2023.

Originally sanctioned through the end of the 2022-23 season, “[t]his has now been extended following concerns that their involvement would damage the integrity of the events due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.”

● Cycling ● The organizers of the first mega-World Cycling Championships in and around Glasgow, Scotland declared victory on Monday, with an estimate of one million spectators seeing one or more events, mostly at the popular road races that wrapped up on Sunday.

The early reports indicate about 8,000 cyclists took part, including those in the mass races, with perhaps 2,600 athletes from about 130 countries competing in the championship events. A total of 653 medals were awarded and 220 championships won during the 11 days of the event from 3-13 August.

The top medal winner among the cycling events was host Great Britain, with 56 total (23-12-21), followed by France (42: 13-19-10) and Germany (32: 14-12-6). The U.S. was fourth at 23 (11-6-6) and Belgium fifth (21: 8-5-8).

Medals for the integrated para-cycling competitions showed Britain again the leader at 44 (24-11-9), followed by France (37) and China (28). The U.S. was eighth with 14 (4-3-7).

● Gymnastics ● USA Gymnastics announced that media giant Comcast – which owns NBC and Telemundo – has become a sponsor of the federation on behalf of its streaming technology subsidiary Xfinity, through 2024. No terms were announced.

Xfinity is also a sponsor of USA Track & Field.

● Swimming ● Kenya is already having severe difficulties with a rash of doping positives in track & field, so worrying that the government has intervened with a pledge of $25 million in support for anti-doping programs.

The Kenya Swimming Federation is in worse shape. SwimSwam.com reported that the KSF has been suspended by World Aquatics and no Kenyan swimmers are allowed to compete in its competitions. Per World Aquatics chief executive Brent Nowicki (USA):

“Despite the installation of a Stabilization Committee, the issues within Kenya Aquatics persist. And with this, the Bureau continues to have deep concerns with respect to the ongoing failures within Kenya Aquatics, the continued failure of the Stabilization Committee to hold elections and the historical inability to comply with the rules and decisions of World Aquatics.”

Elections were to have been held by 8 July, but protesters have interfered and a court issued an injunction against the process. The Kenyan federation has not had a successful election since 2014.

Four Kenyan swimmers were allowed to compete as neutrals at the recent World Aquatics Championships in Japan. Now, they are shut out entirely.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Women’s World Cup down to Matildas, three from Europe; McLaughlin-Levrone out of Worlds, Aussie billionaire pays athlete bonuses

By
Rich Perelman
-
The joy of moving on to the Women's World Cup semifinals for Australia (Courtesy @TheMatildas on Twitter)

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

★ We need you! Our 29 donors have covered 66% of our summer fund-raising goal. Please help if you can. ★

★ To get The Sports Examiner by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. World Cup final four is set: Sweden-Spain, Australia-England
2. McLaughlin-Levrone withdraws from Worlds over “knee issue”
3. AIU suspends Suriname’s Asinga (9.89) for doping!
4. U.S. challenged, but beats no. 1 Spain, 98-88, in Malaga
5. Australia’s Rinehart paying A$3 million in bonuses for four sports

● After almost a month, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is now down to Australia, England, Spain and Sweden, with the semifinals coming on Tuesday and Wednesday. The quarterfinals were dramatic and the stadiums full, with the 32-team tournament setting a total attendance record already.

● Track & field superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the U.S. has ended her season and withdrawn from the World Athletics Championships to deal with a “minor knee issue.” She ran in just four meets this year, but prefers to train for 2024. Once again, only the Olympics matters.

● The Athletics Integrity Unit announced a provisional doping suspension of Isaam Asinga, the Florida high school sensation from Suriname, which set a World U-20 Record of 9.89 last month. He has asked for his second sample to be tested quickly, so he can compete at the Worlds if negative.

● The U.S. men’s national team, continuing to prepare for the FIBA World Cup later this month, won a tense game with reigning World Champion Spain in Malaga, 98-88, fighting off a Spanish rally in the second half with tough defense.

● Billionaire Gina Rinehart has pledged A$3 million to Australian medal winners in four sports – including swimming – for medals in the world championships, Olympic Games or Paralympic Games, in 2023 and 2024, in a purely private initiative. Wow!

● World Championships: Cycling (3: Evenepoel and Kopecky star on roads; Shriever and Mahieu take BMX titles; Ferrand-Prevot finishes sweep in Mountain Bike) = Sailing (quadrennial Worlds underway at The Hague) = Sport Climbing (Garnbret and Schubert win Combineds) = Volleyball (U.S. wins FIVB girls World U-19!) ●

● Panorama: PanAm Sports (Carlos, Ashe, Evans, Leonard among top 75) = Artistic Swimming (Brazil wins two at PanAm Champs) = Athletics (two more Kenyan doping suspensions) = Canoe-Kayak (Queiroz and Vincent star at NorAm Sprint champs) = Golf (U.S.’s Vu takes Women’s British Open) = Volleyball (Argentina wins women’s Pan American Cup) = Wrestling (Maroulis takes U.S. women’s 57 kg slot for Worlds) ●

1.
World Cup final four is set: Sweden-Spain, Australia-England

Europe came within a penalty kick of sweeping all four semifinal spots at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but ended up with three of four, and all of the four having never won a Women’s World Cup before.

The drama was unrelenting:

● Sweden 2, Japan 1 ● World no. 3 Sweden, coming off its penalty shoot-out win over the United States, was somehow the underdog to Japan in Auckland (NZL). The Japanese side had been masterful on its four wins, playing with the ball and counter-attacking when without it.

But the Swedes, tenacious as usual, went up 1-0 in the 32nd when defender Magdalena Eriksson was in the box, firing shots at the Japanese goal that were blocked by a wall of defenders. Her first shot was blocked, then a second, then she hit a third, weak shot, which got by defender Saki Kumagai, was loose and slammed into the goal by Swedish defender Amanda Ilestedt for a 1-0 lead.

The first half ended that way, with almost even possession and both sides getting some chances, but only the one goal. Early in the second, a Sweden corner ended up with a Ilestedt header that glanced off the extended arm of Japanese midfielder Fuka Nagano in front of the goal, called a penalty for a hand-ball.

Midfielder Filippa Angeldal sent her penalty into the left side of the net cleanly in the 51st, and up two goals, Sweden was on its way.

It got interesting in the 74th as substitute striker Reko Ueki dribbled into the box and was brought down by Swedish substitute midfielder Madelen Janogy and called for a penalty. But Ueki’s shot hit the crossbar, rebounded and Ueki headed it over the goal in the 76th!

Then, in the 87th, a free kick from 25 yards out by forward Aoba Fujino hit the crossbar again, then the left post and bounced back into the field of play, just a foot from the goal line, and was cleared.

Finally, Japan got on the board seconds later on a shot by sub forward Kiko Seike that Eriksson could not clear in front of the goal and was scored by midfielder Honoka Hayashi, also in the 87th.

But it ended that way and Sweden, by a narrow margin, moved on. Each side had 50% of possession and the Swedes had a 15-11 edge on shots.

● Australia 0, France 0 (Australia wins 7-6 on penalties) ● In front of a full house of 49,461 in Brisbane, the Matildas and France fought to a scoreless tie through 120 minutes and had to go to penalties.

There were chances, as French defender Maelle Lakrar missed an open net, sending a deflected shot over the top in the 12th minute. With French keeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin out of position, Australian striker Mary Fowler’s shot was brilliantly saved by defender Elisa de Almeida in the 41st.

Australian midfielder Hayley Raso’s drive from the top of the box in the 56th looked promising, but was punched away by Peyraud-Magnin. No goals; both sides had 50% of possession and the French had a modest 21-15 shots edge. Now it was on penalties.

The longest shoot-out in Women’s World Cup history had 10 rounds, with both sides scoring on three of their first four and both missing their fifth. In sudden death, both sides made three straight and then both France’s Kenza Dali and Australia’s Claire Hunt had their shots saved.

In round 10, tied at six, Vicki Becho hit the left post and missed, leaving it to Australia’s Cortnee Vine to score with a shot to the right corner to sent Australia on to the semis. It’s the furthest Australia has ever been in this tournament.

● England 2, Colombia 1 ● A full house of 75,784 at Stadium Australia in Sydney saw the underdog Colombians shock everyone with a goal in the 44th minute as midfielder Leicy Santos sent a chip from the right edge of the box that climbed just over English keeper Mary Earps’ hands and into the net.

Surely that would be the only goal of the half, but at 45+6 – seconds before halftime – a header from English midfielder Lucy Bronze found the feet of striker Alessia Russo, whose shot was stopped by Colombian keeper Catalina Perez, but not controlled, was touched by defender Jorelyn Carabali and striker Lauren Hemp slammed the loose ball into the goal for an unimaginable 1-1 tie.

In the 63rd, English midfielder Georgia Stanway played a neat through-ball from 30 yards out that got to Russo at the right side of the box and in excellent shooting position. She right-footed a liner which skipped past Perez as the keeper was coming out to cut down the angle and ended up in the left corner of the net for the 2-1 winner.

Midfielder Lorena Durango had a promising drive punched away by Earps in the 71st, but England largely had control of the game, with 61% possession. The Colombians produced 15 shots to 10, but with only three on target.

England played without star forward Lauren James, who was suspended for the quarterfinals and semifinals for stomping on the back of Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie in their round-of-16 match. She could return for the final if England gets that far.

Even with the French loss, Europe is again showing its strength with three of the four semifinalists for the second Women’s World Cup in a row. It had three in the first Women’s World Cup in 1991 (12-team tournament), two in 1995-2003-07-11-15 and three in 2019. There have been two all-European finals, in 1995 (Norway beat Germany) and 2003 (Germany beat Sweden).

Spain and Sweden will play on Tuesday and Australia and England on Wednesday.

With sellouts of the semifinals and finals – two of the four being played at the 75,784-capacity Stadium Australia in Sydney – the tournament could end up with a record total of about 1.975 million total spectators, or about 30,860 per match, which would be no. 3 all-time:

● 37,944 in 1999 (hosted in the U.S.)
● 37,218 in 2007 (China)
● 30,860? in 2023 (Australia and New Zealand) ~ projection
● 26,428 in 2011 (Germany)
● 26,029 in 2015 (Canada)

FIFA had targeted attendance of 1.5 million for the tournament – expanded to 64 matches with 32 teams instead of 24 – and will see a new record attendance for a Women’s World Cup, far surpassing the 2015 edition in Canada that drew 1,353,506 for 52 matches.

2.
McLaughlin-Levrone withdraws from Worlds over “knee issue”

Once again, only the Olympics matters.

Last Friday, U.S. track & field superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone withdrew from the World Athletics Championships that begin this Saturday in Hungary, announcing the change on Instagram:

“I am sad to share that I must withdraw from this year’s World Championship meet in Budapest. After consulting with my doctors and coaches, I need to take care of a minor knee issue so that I can be fully healthy for next year’s Paris Olympics. I look forward to seeing everyone back on the track soon!”

Coach Bobby Kersee told the Los Angeles Times that McLaughlin-Levrone’s season is over, but that she will continue with conditioning and strength work and does not need surgery. The decision to end her season came Thursday, in order to ensure no further injury would derail her preparations for the 2024 Olympic season.

If healthy, McLaughlin-Levone would have been the favorite to win the women’s 400 m in Budapest, worth $70,000 in prize money, plus another $20,000 for a leg on the winning U.S. women’s 4×400 m team. If she was able to continue with her plan to compete in the 400 m hurdles in the Van Damme Memorial Diamond League meet in Brussels – against Dutch star Femke Bol – she could have won another $10,000 to win or $8,000 for second, and if qualified for the Diamond League final in Eugene, could have won $30,000 for first prize. That’s a potential $130,000 in prize money she won’t win. She finished 2023 having run in four meets: a 60 m indoor race in February and 400 m races in Paris (FRA) and Randalls Island, New York in June and the U.S. Nationals in July. Her 48.74 win at the USATF meet moved her to no. 2 all-time U.S. and no. 10 all-time.

Lynna Irby-Jackson, the fourth-place finisher at the U.S. championships, will replace McLaughlin-Levrone in the women’s 400 m. She has a seasonal best of 50.11, no. 13 on the world list, and was a semi-finalist at last year’s Worlds in Eugene. She won a 4×400 m relay gold with the U.S. in Tokyo in 2021.

As for Olympic and World women’s 800 m gold medalist Athing Mu, who also trains with Kersee, a decision on her situation for Budapest will be made next week.

3.
AIU suspends Suriname’s Asinga (9.89) for doping!

Also on Friday, the Athletics Integrity Unit announced:

“The AIU has provisionally suspended Issamade Asinga (Suriname) for the presence/use of a Prohibited Substance (GW1516).”

This is a shocker, as Asinga, 18, and still in high school at the Montverde Academy in Florida, had emerged as a true contender at the Worlds in the men’s 100 m off of his 9.89 World Junior Record to win the South American Championships in Sao Paulo (BRA) on 28 July. He also won the 200 m in a lifetime best of 2019.

Asinga has not been in hiding, however, posting on Instagram:

“As you may have read, the AlU has charged me and provisionally suspended me for an alleged anti-doping violation related to a urine sample I provided out of competition at my home on July 18th.

“During the high school season, I agreed to be a part of the registered testing pool, as I recognized I was having a historic season. I have been tested before, and after this alleged offense. On June 10th I ran 10.02 wind legal, and a wind aided 9.83. The AlU tested me at home the next day, and that result is negative. I then competed at a World Athletics [Continental Tour] Gold Level meet 2 weeks later in New York (June 24).

“The sample in question is July 18th. I was tested a week later at the South American Championships (July 28th), where I set a World U20 Record. With the AlU’s assistance, the Rio laboratory in Brazil, expedited an analysis of my sample which also came back negative last night (August 10th).

“To clarify, the alleged amount found in my urine sample is 0.2 nanograms per ml (0.0000002mg/ml). For context, a single grain of salt is approximately 58,500 nanograms (0.0585mg). All my supplements are NSF and BSCG batch tested for WADA banned substances.

“I respect the AlU’s processes, and I will continue to comply, as we work to find out what has happened. My team and I are aware that the next generation of track stars is looking up to me, and I would never intentionally let them down. The AIU has agreed to test my B sample, before the World Championships next week. Until that time, I will remain steadfast and wait.”

According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency:

“GW1516 is known by many names, including cardarine and endurobol, as well as various iterations of the initials and numbers (e.g., GW501516). Often advertised as a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), GW1516 is actually a peroxisome proliferated-activated receptor d(PPARd) agonist and is prohibited under S4.5 Metabolic Modulators on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

“Substances in this category modify how the body metabolizes fat and GW1516 was originally synthesized and evaluated for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and other disorders caused by metabolic problems.”

Stay tuned.

4.
U.S. challenged, but beats no. 1 Spain, 98-88, in Malaga

It was only an exhibition on the way to the FIBA World Cup, but there was interest in the match-up between reigning World Champion and no. 1-ranked Spain and the no. 2-ranked U.S. in Malaga, Spain. And it was intense.

The U.S. shot 64% in the first half, including 4-6 from the three-point line, for a 55-45 lead, led by Knicks guard Jalen Brunson’s 16 points.

But Spain stole the ball off the opening pass of the third quarter and started a run of nine straight points in 2:35 to close to 55-54. They took the lead at 65-64 with 3:20 to go on two free throws by Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama and widened it to 68-64 after a Rudy Fernandez triple.

But the U.S. fought back and got the lead back at 71-69 on floater by Lakers guard Austin Reaves and a 9-1 run finished at 73-69 on Orlando forward Paolo Bachero’s three. Another Spanish three and the fourth started at 73-72, as Spain got back into it with a 27-18 quarter.

In the fourth, the American defense tightened and turnovers and better passing led to an 86-79 lead thanks to threes from Nets swingman Mikal Bridges and Reaves. Spain found fewer and fewer holes in the U.S. defense, and turnovers led to a layin for Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr. for a 90-82 lead that grew to 95-84 with 2:30 left.

Suddenly, the U.S. was in control of the game, driving through the Spanish defense and making plays off turnovers for a 97-84 lead with 2:00 to play, off a 24-12 surge in the first eight minutes of the quarter. The final was 98-88, with Brunson leading all scorers with 21 points on 9-9 shooting from the floor. Jackson Jr. had 14 and led the U.S. with five rebounds, and Bridges had 12. Aldama had 14 to lead Spain. The U.S. shot 66.6% from the field.

This was another growing experience for a young U.S. team playing its third game together, but showed a reassuring willingness on defense and to share the ball on offense. The Americans will play three more exhibitions, in Abu Dhabi (UAE) against Greece on Friday (18th) and Germany on Sunday (20th).

The U.S. World Cup experience will begin on 28 August in Manila (PHI) against New Zealand.

In their first game in Malaga, the U.S. men crushed Slovenia – playing without Mavericks star Luka Doncic – in Malaga on Saturday, 92-62, behind 15 points from shooting guard Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves), 11 from Brunson and 10 each from guards Reaves and Tyrese Halliburton (Pacers).

The U.S. shot 49% from the field to 37% for Slovenia and had a 47-33 rebounding edge.

5.
Australia’s Rinehart announces A$3 million
in bonuses for four sports

Australian mining billionaire Gina Rinehart of Hancock Prospecting announced a new, personal funding commitment in which she will pay A$3 million (about $1.949 million U.S.) to medal winners in world championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2023 and 2024 in artistic swimming, swimming, rowing and volleyball. (A$1 = $0.65 U.S.)

This is a purely personal initiative by Rinehart, reportedly Australia’s richest individual, who has provided funding of A$60 million to Australian athletes over the past decade, and will provide A$1.5 million in funds for each year.

Swimming World Magazine reported that in the case of the just-completed swimming portion of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN), Rinehart is paying Australian medal winners the same amount – but in Australian dollars – that World Aquatics paid as prize money in U.S. dollars. So that’s A$20,000 for a gold medal, A$15,000 for silver and A$10,000 for bronze, plus A$30,000 for a world record.

Australia’s sensational performance of 25 medals (13-7-5) earned the athletes another A$590,000. The report said Mollie O’Callaghan, winner of the women’s 100–200 m Freestyles and three relays – four in world-record times – will receive A$111,250 from the fund to go along with the $111,250 (U.S.) she won from World Aquatics.

And Rinehart’s program will pay an unheard-of sum of A$445,000 to Australian Para-swimming athletes, who won 30 medals (9-7-14) at the recent Worlds in Manchester (GBR)!

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Cycling ● The massive 2023 World Cycling Championships, with 13 disciplines all together in Glasgow (GBR) finished on Sunday, with the popular road races finishing in Glasgow and the Individual Time Trials in Stirling.

On Friday, the men’s 47.8 km Individual Time Trial was a showcase for Belgian star Remco Evenepoel, the 2022 World Road Champion, who finally won the Time Trial after a silver in 2019 and bronzes in 2021 and 2022.

It was not going to be easy, especially against 2020-21 Filippo Ganna (ITA), who already had won the Individual Pursuit gold on the track in Glasgow. Ganna started 74th out of 78 riders and put down a solid 55:31.51 time, but Evenepoel, starting 76th as last year’s bronze medalist, was clearly better, finishing in 55:19.23, thanks to his fast finish in the final 4 km.

The surprise was Britain’s Joshua Tarling, 19, the 2022 World Junior Champion in this event, who scored the bronze medal at 56:07.43, ahead of American Brandon McNulty (56:46.14). Defending champ Thomas Foss (NOR) was 11th in 57:23.89.

Sunday’s Women’s Road Race was on a 154.1 km course with an early climb, and ending with six laps of 14.3 km finishing circuit in and around Glasgow. Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky, who won the Elimination and Points Race golds in track cycling, attacked with 5.6 km to go and raced away for a hat trick, finishing in 4:02:12. She finished seven seconds up on Tour de France Femmes winner Demi Vollering (NED) and Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (DEN); Lauren Stephens was the top American, in 18th (+4:34).

Kopecky moved up from second in 2022 and now owns seven Worlds golds at age 27.

Britain’s Bethany Shriever repeated her 2021 Worlds triumph in the women’s BMX Racing final, getting the best start and maintaining the lead all the way to the finish. She won by daylight in 36.577, ahead of 2018 World Champion Laura Smulders (NED: 36.957) and two-time World Champion Alise Willoughby of the U.S. (37.336).

Willoughby, 32, is amazing, having won her first Worlds medal in 2010 and now winning her sixth in 2023 (2-1-3).

France swept the men’s final, with Romain Mahieu leading Arthur Pilard and Joris Daudet to the finish line, in 33.189, 33.331 and 33.543. It’s the first Worlds medals for Mathieu and Pilard, but the eighth for Daudet, who was World Champion in 2011 and 2016. Mathieu took control on the first corner and was never headed.

It’s the first sweep by any nation in this event since 1997, when the U.S. won all three medals in the second UCI BMX championship!

French star Pauline Ferrand-Prevot followed up on her win in the Mountain Bike Cross Country Short Track event with her fifth World Championship win in the Cross Country Olympic event on Saturday.

She was in second place at the end of the first lap and then took over, leading the rest of the way and winning in 1:24:14 in the six-lap race. She was a full 1:14 ahead of teammate (and 2022 European Champion) Loana Lecomte (FRA: 1:25:28) and 11:27 up on Puck Pieterse of the Netherlands, who was second in the Short Track race. Gwen Gibson of the U.S. was eighth in 1:28:31.

The men’s title went to Tokyo Olympic champ Tom Pidcock (GBR), who was third in the Short Track race, and finished the eight-lap race in 1:22:09, taking the lead on the fifth lap and winning by 19 seconds over Short Track winner Sam Gaze (NZL: 1:22:28). The iconic Nino Schurter (SUI) – a 10-time World Champion in this race – won the bronze (1:22:43) for his 26th career Worlds medal.

Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel, trying to win a Worlds golds in Mountain Bike to go along with his 2023 Road Race gold and five World Cyclo-Cross wins, crashed out on the first lap and did not return.

● Sailing ● The once-every-four-years World Sailing Championships have begun off The Hague (NED) and will continue through the 20th, in eight of the Olympic classes.

You can follow the racing from the official results site here.

● Sport Climbing ● Slovenia’s Olympic champ Janja Garnbret won her second event of the IFSC World Championships in Bern (SUI), taking the women’s Boulder + Lead combined title and qualifying to defend her Olympic title in Paris.

The format of the Olympic climbing events has changed for 2024; instead of a combined event for all three disciplines, Speed will be separate and Boulder and Lead will be combined. Garnbret led the qualifying, had the top score in the semifinal (175.0) and scored 177.0 in the final to win easily over Austria’s 2018 Lead World champ Jessica Pilz (157.1) and Japan’s Lead winner, Ai Mori (140.6). Americans Brooke Raboutou and Anastasia Sanders finished 4-8, scoring 137.8 and 69.7, respectively, in the final.

It’s Garnbret’s eighth career Worlds gold.

Austrian Jakob Schubert, already the 2023 Lead winner and the Tokyo bronze medalist, took the men’s Combined title for his sixth career Worlds gold. Only fifth in the semifinal, he scored 183.6 in the final, ahead of American Olympian Colin Duffy (160.7) and Japan’s two-time World Bouldering Champion Tomoa Narasaki (156.7).

● Volleyball ● The United States girls U-19 team won the FIVB Girls U-19 World Championship in Osijek (CRO), coming from 0-2 down to win in five sets: 20-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-16 and 15-10. The U.S. finished undefeated a 9-0.

Outsider hitter Abby Vander Waal was named Most Valuable and Teraya Sigler, the other American Outside Hitter, was named to the all-tournament team. Italy defeated Japan, 3-2, for the bronze medal.

France won its first title in the FIVB Boys World U-19s, beating Iran, 3-1 in the final (25-22, 16-25, 25-18, 25-21). South Korea beat the U.S., 3-1, in the bronze-medal match (25-18, 25-19, 21-25, 25-23); it’s still the best-ever finish for the U.S. in this tournament.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● PanAm Sports ● The PanAm Sports series on its 75 greatest performers during its history continued with 1968-77, beginning with – no surprise – American sprint star John Carlos for 1968, the bronze medalist in the Mexico City Olympic 200 m, who – with gold medalist teammate Tommie Smith – raised his fist during the medal ceremony and was promptly banned for the Games.

What’s not as well remembered is that Carlos won the 1967 Pan American Games 200 m in Winnipeg, in 20.5.

Three other Americans were honored for this decade, including UCLA’s NCAA champion, 1967 Pan Am Games bronze medalist and Doubles gold medalist Arthur Ashe, for 1968. He gained later fame as a civil rights activist and won five Grand Slam titles in Singles and Doubles.

Lee Evans was selected for 1970, after his win at Mexico City in 1968 in the men’s 400 m in world-record time of 43.86, and a leg on the men’s 4×400 m relay that also set a world mark of 2:56.16. Sugar Ray Leonard was selected for 1974, a year in advance of his 1975 PanAm Games gold medal in the light welterweight division of boxing, prior to his Olympic title in Montreal in 1976.

● Artistic Swimming ● Brazil captured two events at the Pan American Championships held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with Julia Soares taking the women’s Solo Technical at 193.0033 and Laura Miccuci and Gabriela Teixeira winning the Duet Technical with 202.6100.

The U.S. got a win in the women’s Solo Free from Ana Martinez (145.5188).

● Athletics ● More Kenyan distance running doping positives, with the Athletics Integrity Unit announcing Friday the provisional suspensions of Agnes Barsosio, a 2:20:59 women’s marathoner from 2017 who won the 2022 Nairobi Marathon, and Rodgers Kwemoi, a Tokyo Olympian and fourth in the men’s 10,000 m at the 2019 World Championships. He has a best of 26:55.36 from the 2019 Worlds.

Both were suspended for “the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method,” based on a review of their Athlete Biological Passport.

● Canoe-Kayak ● Seven-time World Champion Isaquias Queiroz and six-time World Champion Katie Vincent were the stars of the COPAC Pan American Sprint Championships in Halifax, Canada, winning two events each.

Queriroz of Brazil, the Tokyo Olympic C-1 1,000 m gold medalist, won the C-1 500 m in 1:49.6 and then turned back Cuba Serguey Torres, a Tokyo C-2 1,000 m gold winner, in the C-1 1,000 m final, 4:06.6 to 4:09.7.

Vincent, a triple gold medalist at the 2022 Worlds, won the C-1 200 m in 46.5 and doubled back to win the C-1 500 m in 2:05.0.

Americans Jonas Ecker and Aaron Small won the K-2 500 m in 1:30.1 for the only U.S. win on the Olympic event schedule.

● Golf ● American Lilia Vu shot a five-under-par 67 to win the Women’s British Open at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey (ENG).

Former UCLA All-American Vu, 25, shot par 72 in round one, but then moved up to fifth after a 68 in the second and was tied for the lead with England’s Charley Hull after three rounds after a 67 on Saturday. But she birdied holes 2, 9, 10 and 12 to move to -13 and sailed in with six birdies and one bogey for another 67 and a final total of 274.

Hill ballooned to 73 on the final round, but finished second (280), ahead of three Koreans: Jiyai Shin in third (281), and Amy Yang and Hyo Joo Kim, tied for fourth (282). Americans Allisen Corpuz, Ally Ewing and Angel Yin tied for sixth at 284.

It’s Vu’s third LPGA win of the year – the first LPGA Tour wins of her career – and includes two majors, after she won the Chevron in April.

● Volleyball ● At the NORCECA women’s Pan American Cup in Ponce (PUR), Argentina defeated Puerto Rico in five sets – 25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, 15-6 – to win the title. Both teams were only 2-2, but sailed through the playoffs to get to the final.

After losing to Argentina in four sets in the semis, the U.S. won the bronze medal over the Dominican Republic, 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 27-25.

● Wrestling ● Rio 2016 Olympic champ and three-time World Champion Helen Maroulis is headed back to the Worlds after winning a special Final X wrestle-off at 57 kg against Xochitl Mota-Pettis, in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Saturday.

Maroulis won the first match by a 10-0 technical fall and then won by pinfall in 2:12 of the second for a 2-0 sweep and a place on the American team for the UWW Worlds in Belgrade (SRB) next month.

The match was scheduled earlier, but Maroulis asked for a delay in view of injury concerns. Maroulis won the 57 kg world title in 2021 and was runner-up last year.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Budapest doubles Eugene ticket sales already; Lyles calls his shots: 9.65 and WR 19.10! Dygert scores Glasgow gold again!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Noah Lyles predicts: 9.65 in the 100 m and a world-record 19.10 in the 200 m! (Left: Lyles in Zurich, courtesy Diamond League AG; right: Lyles' Instagram post on Thursday)

★ 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 ≡

1. Budapest doubles Eugene tix sales with 10 days to go
2. Noah Lyles: “I will run 9.65 19.10”
3. Amazing Dygert adds road Time Trial gold in Glasgow
4. FIFA Women’s World Cup: Spain advances to semis
5. Ukraine legislature calls for Russian and Belarusian ban

● The Budapest organizers of the soon-to-start World Athletics Championships told local media that ticket sales have passed 300,000 with 10 days to go, more than double the number of ticketed attendees for the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon. A record number of 2,187 athletes have been entered.

● American sprint star Noah Lyles has called his shot, predicting he will run 9.65 for the men’s 100 m and a world-record 19.10 for the 200 m at the World Athletics Championships, in an Instagram post.

● U.S cycling star Chloe Dygert won the World Cycling Championships road Individual Time Trial for women, as she did in 2019, just a week after winning the women’s Individual Pursuit in track cycling! Wow!

● At the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Spain outlasted the Netherlands, 2-1, in extra time, to advance to the semifinals against the winner of the overnight (U.S. time) Sweden-Japan match.

● The Ukrainian legislature passed a resolution asking other governments not to allow Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete on their soil, and asking for an apology by the International Fencing Federation for its disqualification of Sabre star Olha Kharlan after her win against Russian “neutral” Anna Smirnova.

● World Championships: Cycling (Gaze and Ferrand-Prevot win Mountain Bike Short Track) = Sport Climbing (first-time winners in Speed finals) = Volleyball (U.S. to face Turkey in women’s U-19 Worlds final!) ●

● Panorama: PanAm Sports (Rudolph, Oerter, Spitz among the best from 1958-67) = Athletics (Oiselle to offer support to five unsponsored women for U.S. Marathon Trials) ●

1.
Budapest doubles Eugene tix sales with 10 days to go

“In the announcement of the organizers on Wednesday, Balazs Nemeth, the Budapest 2023 CEO emphasized: the 300,000 tickets sold means that this will be the biggest sports event of all time in Hungary in terms of the number of spectators.”

That’s from Hungarian site Nemzetisport on Wednesday, meaning that 10 days prior to the start of the World Athletics Championships, the Budapest Worlds have sold more than double the number of tickets sold for the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon.

The Eugene Worlds, held for the first time in the U.S., reported attendance of 146,033 ticket holders for the 10-day program, across 17 sessions at the new Hayward Field.

The new National Athletics Centre in Hungary has a temporary capacity of 36,000, with 14 sessions in the stadium (and two others for out-of-stadium events), meaning the sales capacity is about 504,000. So, about 60% of the tickets have been sold so far. The stadium will be downsized to 14,000 seats after the Worlds.

This will also be the largest Worlds ever in terms of athletes, with the prior high of 1,895 for the 2009 World Championships in Berlin (GER). For Budapest:

● 2,187 total athletes entered from 202 countries
● 1,106 men from 177 countries
● 1,019 women from 128 countries

As far as the delegations, the largest is from the U.S., of course (totals include alternates):

● 164: United States (83 men + 81 women)
● 79: France (43 + 36)
● 79: Germany (39 + 40)
● 78: Italy (42 + 36)
● 76: Japan (48 + 28)

● 66: Australia (29 + 37)
● 64: Jamaica 932 + 32)
● 64: Poland (30 + 34)
● 63: Spain (31 + 32)
● 63: Hungary (29 + 34)

● 56: Brazil (25 + 31)
● 55: Canada (26 + 29)
● 55: Great Britain (21 + 34)
● 49: Kenya (28 + 21)
● 42: Ethiopia (20 + 22)

China entered 41 – 20 men and 21 women – as did the Netherlands (19 + 22). Ukraine entered a remarkable 30 athletes, with 12 men and 18 women.

World Athletics reported that 38 of the 44 event winners from 2022 will return for Budapest.

2.
Noah Lyles: “I will run 9.65 19.10″

Never one to shy away from self-promotion, reigning World 200 m Champion Noah Lyles, 26, of the U.S. has called his shot. He posted his predictions for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Instagram:

I will run
9.65
19.10

His comment:

“They say if they don’t know your dreams then they can’t shoot them down. But I have always been more of a guy who loves to hear the screams from the heaters, got a nice ring to it. #Budapest2023″

Now those would be pretty spectacular times:

● 100 m: 9.65
If true, it would be a lifetime best by a healthy 0.21 seconds from his 9.86 in 2019 to win the U.S. nationals in Shanghai, the fastest time in the world this year by 0.18 (currently 9.83) and move Lyles from no. 25 all-time to no. 2 in history and break Tyson Gay’s American Record of 9.69 from the 2009 Berlin World Championships.

Will he win? Probably; no one has ever run that fast and lost!

● 200 m: 19.10
This is a world-record prediction, as Jamaican icon’s Usain Bolt’s standard of 19.19 has stood since that 2009 Berlin Worlds.

Lyles stands at no. 3 all-time and is the American Record holder with his 2022 Worlds victory in 19.31, breaking the 19.32 mark by Michael Johnson from the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Of the 11 marks under 19.50 all-time, Bolt has four, Lyles has three, Yohan Blake (JAM) has two and Johnson and fellow U.S. star Erriyon Knighton each have one.

Lyles can feel ownership of this event, as he had led the world list in five consecutive years – 2018-19-20-21-22 – and is the world leader in 2023 at 19.47.

But he’s not looking at leading now, he’s looking at history.

3.
Amazing Dygert adds road Time Trial gold in Glasgow

American cycling star Chloe Dygert won the World Cycling Championships gold in track cycling in the Individual Pursuit back on 3 August, her fourth career victory in that race.

A week later, she was on the roads in the 36.2 km Individual Time Trial, a race she won in 2019, but which also led to a brutal injury at the 2020 Worlds in Italy, when she crashed and eventually required surgery on her left leg.

On Wednesday, she was sick and didn’t know if she could race on Thursday. And her training had hardly been smooth; she told USA Cycling:

“In November, I had my heart surgery. One month later, I got sick for four weeks. Then I crashed in a team camp, and I tore a little bit more of the muscle in my bad leg. I didn’t really get to start training until March. I went to Washington State, that’s where I trained before Yorkshire. That’s where my training really started, and I had my first race in Milton in April.”

None of that mattered, as Dygert, 26, dominated the Time Trial and won her second Worlds gold in the event and her 10th World Championships gold, counting both road and track.

She started 19th out of 86 riders, and put down a tremendous time of 46:59 for the curving course and was the easy leader. But there were 67 more riders, including teammate and two-time World Champion Amber Neben of the U.S. and the 2022 runner-up, Australia Grace Brown.

Dygert had smoked them all. No one was even close except Brown, who finished second for the second straight year in 47:05 (+0:06), followed by Christina Schweinberger (AUT: +1:13), with Neben a creditable eighth at +1:52.

Said the winner, “I’m really lost for words. It’s really amazing to be able to win this jersey again. I gave everything I had until the finish. It’s a very special victory.”

Same-year wins in the track Individual Pursuit and road Time Trial had reportedly only been done by Italy’s Filippo Ganna, which he did in 2020 … in February (track) and September (road), not a week apart!

4.
FIFA Women’s World Cup: Spain advances to semis

A contrast in styles in Wellington, New Zealand Friday afternoon with possession-oriented Spain finally prevailing against a clever Dutch squad, 2-1, in extra time, in the first quarterfinal of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It sends Spain, in its third Women’s World Cup, to the semifinals, the furthest it has ever gone.

The first half was a mismatch, as the Spanish owned the ball and created chance after chance … and couldn’t score, mostly thanks to bad luck and Dutch keeper Daphne van Domselaar.

In the 17th, forward Alba Redondo got a strong shot at goal that was saved by van Domselaar, then hit the post, came back to Redondo for a second chance, that also hit the post and was finally cleared.

In the 38th, forward Mariona Caldentey sent a cross that found Redondo in the box, but her shot missed and was followed up by striker Esther Gonzalez for a goal … that was ruled offsides.

Another drive by Gonzalez in the 42nd was saved by van Domselaar, and the half ended scoreless. The Spanish had 61% of possession and a 12-1 advantage on shots.

Spain continued to hold possession in the second half, and the Spanish got a huge break in the 62nd, as defender Irene Paredes shoved Dutch striker Lineth Beerensteyn to the ground in the box as she charged for a through ball. The obvious penalty was reviewed by referee Stephanie Frappart (FRA), and not given. Wow.

The game did change in the 79th, as a hand-ball was called against Dutch defender Stefanie van der Gragt on an innocuous and unintentional touch at the right side edge of the box off a cross by substitute striker Salma Paralluelo from the right side. In the 81st, Caldentey took the penalty and pinged it off the left post and into the goal for a 1-0 lead.

The Dutch then super-charged their offense, changing formation and adding more scorers. A Beerensteyn dribble through two defenders resulted in a promising 89th-minute shot from the left of goal that went wide to the right. A staggering 12 minutes of stoppage time was added and just one minute later, midfielder Victoria Pelova sent a lead pass to van der Gragt on the right side; she dribbled into the box and smashed a left-footed strike that moved hard left and into the Spanish goal for a 1-1 tie.

Regulation time ended with Spain at 62% of possession and an 18-6 shots edge. The first extra period saw modest chances for both sides, with Spain again controlling possession and getting five shots to two.

In the second extra period, Beerensteyn got a great chance in the 107th, but her left-footed shot from the middle of the box went just beyond the right post and harmlessly out of bounds. Then Paralluelo got a left pass down the left side, leaving her one-on-one with a defender, and she dribbled to the left of the box and sent a bullet past van Domselaar that hit the far post and caromed in for a 2-1 lead in the 111th. And that’s how it ended, with Spain still at 62% possession and 27-10 on shots.

The Spanish will meet the winner of the Japan vs. Sweden match in Auckland, played overnight in the U.S. time zones.

5.
Ukraine legislature calls for Russian and Belarusian ban

The Ukrainian national legislature is known as the Verkhovna Rada and on Thursday, it took action once again on the issue of the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competition in the aftermath of the Olha Kharlan-Anna Smirnova incident at the World Fencing Championships.

Zhan Beleniuk, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Greco-Roman gold medalist at 87 kg and a two-time World Champion, is also a member of the Rada – as it is known – posted on his Telegram account a recap of the resolutions passed:

“Today, the parliament approved two important resolutions:

“1. approved the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the leaders and parliaments of foreign states (r.n. 9409) with a proposal to ban entry to their territory of Russian and Belarusian athletes and sports delegations in order to prevent them from participating in international sports competitions

“The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appeals to the leaders and parliaments of foreign countries to restrict entry to its territory for Russian and Belarusian athletes and sports delegations. This will directly prevent them from participating in international sports competitions.

“2. draft resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the parliaments and governments of Democratic states of the world, the International Olympic Committee, international sports federations on condemnation of illegal disqualification by the International Fencing Federation of Ukrainian fencer, Olympic champion, six-time world champion, eight-time European champion Olga Kharlan (r.n. No. 9554)

“The parliament, among other things, called on the International Fencing Federation: to completely cancel the disqualification of Olga Kharlan and officially apologize to her; to bring to justice all persons involved in the decision to disqualify Olga Kharlan; to disqualify Russian athlete Anna Smirnova for life for a provocative act contrary to the Olympic spirit.

“We will always fight for our athletes, including at the parliamentary level!”

The FIE anounced on 28 July that it had suspended the “black card” penalty imposed on Kharlan the day before, that would have suspended her for two months after Smirnova’s tantrum on the piste following their match, won by Kharlan, 15-7. Kharlan did not shake hands as it noted in the rules, but offered her Sabre in salute, which had been an acceptable substitute for tournaments held under special rules during the Covid pandemic.

It has been noted that Kharlan’s disqualification was not made by the bout referee, but by the head of the FIE Technical Directorate for the Worlds, Dieter Lammer (GER), who may have been influenced by Russian officials.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Cycling ● In addition to Chloe Dygert’s heroics in the women’s road Individual Time Trial, the Mountain Bike Cross Country Short Track races were held at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow, with defending champion Sam Gaze (NZL) winning a final sprint for the mens title, and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France doing the same.

Gaze was at or near the front the whole way, sharing the lead with Martins Blums (LAT) and German Luca Schwarzbauer, then took over on the final two laps to win in 20:27. He got to the line just ahead of Victor Koretzky (FRA), who came from fifth on the penultimate lap to record the same time. Tom Pidcock (GBR) finished third, moving up from seventh after lap 8 to get the bronze in 20:29. Blums finished sixth (20:35) and Schwarzbauer was ninth (20:36).

The 10-lap women’s race belonged to Ferrand-Prevot, the four-time Cross Country World Champion, who dueled with Evie Richards (GBR) and Puck Pieterse (NED) over the final two laps. Ferrand-Prevot ended with the fastest lap in the field on the final circuit and that was enough for a 21:17 to 21:21 to 21:16 over Pieterse and Richards.

Sevilla Blunk was the top American, in eighth at 22:01.

The Worlds continue through Sunday.

● Sport Climbing ● At the IFSC World Championships in Bern (SUI), the Speed titles were decided Thursday, with Italy’s Matteo Zurloni and Indonesia’s Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi as first-time winners.

Zurloni, 21, had never finished higher than eighth in an IFSC World Cup, and was sixth in the qualifying round. But he set a European Record of 5.02 in his quarterfinal, qualified second in the semis and then won the final in 5.56 as China’s Jinbao Long suffered a false start.

Indonesian Rahmad Adi Mulyono won the bronze at 5.05 over Rishat Khaibullin (KAZ: 7.34).

Made Rita Kusuma Dewi was second in the women’s qualifying, had the fastest time in the semifinals and won the title at 6.49 over Emma Hunt of the U.S. (6.67). World-record holder Aleksandra Miroslaw won the all-Polish bronze-medal match from Aleksandra Kalucka, 6.55 to 8.07.

Five of the six medal-winners are first-timers; only Miroslaw had won a medal previously; she took bronze for the second straight year, after winning in 2018 and 2019. The gold-medal finalists all qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic competitions.

● Volleyball ● The U.S. charged into the final of the FIVB Girls’ World U-19 Championship in Osijek (CRO), defeating Italy, 3-1, by 25-18, 22-25, 25-20 and 25-15, and will meet Turkey on Friday for the title. The Turks shut down Japan, 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-10).

The U.S. won this tournament in 2019 and was the bronze winner in 2021. Turkey won in 2011 and has a 1-1 record in gold-medal matches. The U.S. is 1-2.

In San Juan, Argentina, the U.S. boys team lost to France in its semifinal in the FIVB Boys’ World U-19s, 3-0, by 25-10, 25-17 and 25-12. The Americans will play for third place on Friday against South Korea, while France will meet Iran for the title.

The U.S. has already made history, as even a fourth-place finish would be its best ever!

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● PanAm Sports ● The second installment of the salute to the 75 years of the Pan American Sports Organization covered 1958-67, including some big names from the U.S.

Six of the 10 selections were Americans, starting with tennis star Althea Gibson for 1958, an 11-time Grand Slam winner who won the women’s gold at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago. West Virginia basketball star Jerry West was honored for 1960; he played on the winning U.S. basketball team in 1959 in Chicago and was also a star on the 1960 Olympic winners.

Another star in Chicago in 1959 was sprinter Wilma Rudolph, who earned a gold on the women’s 4×100 m relay and a silver in the women’s 100 m, just a year before her 100-200-4×100 m triple at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.

The 1963 honoree was the immortal Al Oerter, the men’s discus winner at 1959 in Chicago, who went on to win four straight Olympic discus golds in 1956-60-64-68. For 1965, swimmer Donna de Varona was selected, a gold medalist in the women’s 4×100 m Free and 4×100 m Medley relays, ahead of her 400 m Medley and 4×100 m Free golds in Tokyo in 1964.

Mark Spitz, who won seven golds in swimming at Munich 1972, but warmed up with five golds at the 1967 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, taking the 100 and 200 m Butterfly events and on the 4×100 m and 4×200 m Free relays and 4×100 m Medley relays.

● Athletics ● Fascinating offer from women’s sports apparel company Oiselle, aimed at helping unsponsored women’s marathoners with support in advance of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Florida next February:

“Oiselle, an innovator and thought leader in the women’s running space announces their new sponsorship program, ‘Year of the Underbird.’ This initiative will support 5 unsponsored female marathon runners as they prepare for the Olympic Trials in Orlando in 2024. Sponsorship includes a stipend, gear, amplifying each athlete’s unique story and athletic journey, and community support through Oiselle’s Volée, and a potential bonus should the athlete make the US Olympic team. These athletes will embody the core values that Oiselle upholds: to improve the sport and build the sisterhood.”

Applications are required and will close on 20 August. Per the announcement: “The team of athletes will be announced in early September. Benefits on the contracts include housing and transportation costs associated with the Olympic Trials, a $2,000 health and training stipend, an athlete essentials kit of Oiselle gear plus another $1,000 gear stipend, pregnancy protections, and the potential for a $50,000 bonus if the athlete makes the team.”

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Return of Biles draws 355,000 live, 1.05 million on replay; England & Japan have top World Cup odds; $8.5 million prize pool for T&F Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
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The 2023 World Athletics Championship medals (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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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Simone Biles return draws 355,000 on cable, 1.055 million on NBC!
2. England top choice, Japan second in revised Women’s World Cup odds
3. World Boxing announces first six members
4. Prize pool of $8.498 million confirmed for World Athletics Champs
5. No bidders to build Milan Cortina’s new sliding track!

● USA Gymnastics’ CoreHydration Classic, featuring the return of Simone Biles, drew a national television audience of just 355,000 live on CNBC, but a highlights show the next day on NBC did 1.055 million! Plus more TV ratings!

● Oddsmakers now have England and Japan as the top choices to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Colombia having the longest odds.

● The new World Boxing federation announced its first six members, as Int’l Boxing Association president Umar Kremlev from Russia continues to insult the International Olympic Committee.

● The upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest will feature an $8.498 million prize pool, plus $100,000 for a world record, with medals presented outside of the stadium for the first time.

● The complications around the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo continue to expand, as no companies bid to build the new sliding track! Now what?

● World Championships: Cycling (2: Swiss repeat as Mountain Bike Mixed Relay champs; Valente wins again, takes Omnium gold) ●

● Panorama: Awards (Sullivan Award finalists named) = PanAm Sports (top 75 athletes named to celebrate 75-year anniversary) = Athletics (2: how about best performances by lane around a turn!; McLaughlin-Levrone entered in 400 m hurdles for Brussels Diamond League) = Volleyball (U.S. men and women both into FIVB U-19 Worlds semis) ●

1.
Simone Biles return draws 355,000 on cable,
1.055 million on NBC!

If there was ever a demonstration of the difference in impact between cable and over-the-air television, this has to be it.

Nielsen television viewing data for last week was posted Wednesday and included the CoreHydration Classic gymnastics meet outside of Chicago at which the iconic Simone Biles made her return to competition:

● Live on CNBC on Sat., 5 Aug.: 318,000 viewers on average
● Taped on NBC on Sun., 6 Aug.: 1,055,000 viewers on average

The live CNBC broadcast was primetime – 8 p.m. Eastern on Saturday evening – and the Sunday afternoon highlights program was 4:30 p.m. Eastern. But there is a big difference between cable and broadcast.

A week-later showing of an NBC highlights package of the World Aquatics Championships from Fukuoka on Saturday (5th) at 1:30 p.m. Eastern did reasonably well, with 600,000 viewers on average.

The rest of the week’s Olympic-sport TV highlights concerned the FIFA Women’s World Cup:

Monday, 31 July:
● 1.350 million for U.S.-Portugal on Fox (2:40 a.m. Eastern)
● 559,000 for Canada-Australia on Fox (6:00 a.m.)

Tuesday, 1 August:
● 659,000 for China-England on Fox (6:43 a.m.)
● 299,000 for Argentina-Sweden on Fox (2:43 a.m.)

Wednesday, 2 August:
● 443,000 for Jamaica-Brazil on Fox (6:00 a.m.)
● 234,000 for Panama-France on Fox (5:43 a.m.)

Thursday, 3 August:
● 558,000 for Germany-South Korea on Fox (6:00 a.m.)
● 197,000 for Colombia-Morocco on FS1 (6:00 a.m.)

Friday, 4 August:
● 369,000 for Switzerland-Spain on FS1 (12:44 a.m.)
● 345,000 for Japan-Norway on FS1 (3:43 a.m.)

Saturday, 5 August:
● 1.307 million for Netherlands-South Africa on Fox (9:43 p.m.)
● 466,000 for Netherlands-South Africa on Telemundo (9:30 p.m.)
● 244,000 for Switzerland-Spain on Telemundo (1:30 p.m. delayed)

Sunday, 6 August:
● 2.515 million for U.S.-Sweden on Fox (4:42 a.m.)
● 439,000 for U.S. Sweden on Telemundo (11:05 a.m. replay)
● 177,000 for U.S.-Sweden on Telemundo (4:30 a.m.)

Interesting how the Telemundo replay – at 11 a.m. – of the U.S. vs. Sweden game, when the results were known, did 2.2 times the live audience in the middle of the night.

2.
England top choice, Japan second in
revised Women’s World Cup odds

The FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals come Friday and Saturday, with the top two teams in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings – the U.S. and Germany – both out of the tournament.

The U.S. was also the betting favorite in the tournament at +220 to +250, meaning that a $100 bet that was success would return $220 (or $250 as the case might be) to the bettor. England was the second-favorite of the sharpies and is now the favorite to win the whole thing.

A look at the quarterfinals, with pre-tournament FIFA Women’s World Rankings and the current and pre-tournament betting lines on each remaining team:

● Aug. 11: Spain (6) vs. Netherlands (9) in Wellington
● Spain: +350 now ~ was +450-550 at the start
● Netherlands: +1,300 now ~ was +2,000-3,000 at the start

● Aug. 11: Japan (11) vs. Sweden (3) in Auckland
● Japan: +500 now ~ was +2,500-3,500 at the start
● Sweden: +1,100 now ~ was +1,400-2,000 at the start

● Aug. 12: Australia (10) vs. France (5) in Brisbane
● Australia: +900 now ~ was +900-1,200 at the start
● France: +550 now ~ was +1,000-1,300 at the start

● Aug. 12: England (4) vs. Colombia (25) in Sydney
● England: +275 now ~ was +350-500 at the start
● Colombia: +3,200 now ~ was +15,000-20,000 at the start

The England-Colombia game is really intriguing from the standpoint that the Colombians have given up exactly one goal in four games. England has won its games by 1-0, 1-0, then 6-1 against China and then a 0-0 tie with Nigeria (and 4-2 on penalties).

But the oddsmakers have England a strong -186 to -205 bet to win (bet $186 to 205 to win $100), while a tie is +280 and a Colombian win in +600 to +700!

Spain, Japan and France are favored to win their matches; if so, the semis would feature Spain-Japan and France-England on the 15th and 16th.

The long-simmering issues between the Nigeria women’s team, which reached the Round of 16, and the Nigerian Football Federation continue over pay. FIFPro, the international player-representation body, released a statement on Wednesday confirming the issues:

“Following the Nigeria women’s national team’s elimination from the FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFPRO can confirm it is assisting players in a disagreement with the Nigeria Football Federation concerning bonus payments, camp allowances and expenses, some of which date back to 2021.

“During the World Cup, the players expressed the desire to remain focused on their performance without making public statements or facing other distractions.

“However, the Super Falcons believe that it is now time for the Nigeria Football Federation to honour their commitments and pay the outstanding amounts.

“The team is extremely frustrated that they have had to pursue the Nigeria Football Federation for these payments before and during the tournament and may have to continue doing so afterwards. It is regrettable that players needed to challenge their own federation at such an important time in their careers.

“FIFPRO will continue to work with the players to ensure their contractual rights are honoured and the outstanding payments are settled.”

3.
World Boxing announces first six members

The new World Boxing federation, in line to eventually become the recognized International Federation for boxing within the Olympic Movement, announced its first six members on Wednesday:

“USA Boxing, New Zealand Boxing, Boxing Australia, GB Boxing, England Boxing and the Dutch Boxing Federation have been confirmed as the first six official members of World Boxing, the new international federation, established to keep boxing at the heart of the Olympic Movement and support the growth and development of the sport at local, regional, national and international levels. …

“All six members will attend World Boxing’s inaugural Congress in November 2023 and have the opportunity to nominate candidates for offices within the new international federation including the Presidency and Executive Committee and membership of Committees and Commissions. The five full members will have voting rights at the Congress.”

World Boxing is also reaching out this week to all national boxing federations, inviting them to become members and participate in the Congress, but with a deadline to show interest of 25 August 2023.

There are more federations coming, with Argentina and Switzerland both having left the International Boxing Association, which was de-recognized by the International Olympic Committee in June.

For its part, the IBA issued a statement that any federation that joins World Boxing cannot also be an IBA member:

“As a fundamental principle of our organization, National Federations cannot be affiliated with another international boxing organization simultaneously, according to Article 5.5 of the IBA Constitution and Article 5.2 of the IBA Membership Policy.”

IBA President Umar Kremlev (RUS) continued trashing the IOC during his Monday visit to Nicaragua, according to the Spanish-language site NotiFight, whose reporter, Paul Fletes, spoke to Kremlev through an interpreter (and now computer-translated into English):

“I am convinced that we are going to get recognition from the IOC again. I’m sure we’re going to get it. They have to understand that, for us, the Olympic Games are also important. We have no problem, no conflict with the Olympic Movement. We have problems with some IOC officials, who are President Thomas Bach and his team. Because they are like prostitutes in sports, who get involved in politics and do not defend the interests of the athletes. …

“And we know that, during the presidency of Thomas Bach, corruption entered the IOC. I’m not afraid to say it, they are afraid of what I say. Because we have a reputation and they are afraid that the truth will come out. They are even afraid to meet me. I have requested several times personal meetings with the IOC leaders, to have answers to many questions, and in response he tells me that the IBA has financial problems, and I say where are those problems if we help the national federations and the athletes.”

This is Kremlev’s standard speech now, well positioned as an extension of the Russian government’s foreign policy. Kremlev came to the IBA as the Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation and bailed out the federation from its debts by securing essentially a $50 million gift from the state-owned Russian energy giant Gazprom.

4.
Prize pool of $8.498 million confirmed for World Athletics Champs

The forthcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN) will offer a total prize pool of $8.498 million to the top eight finishers in each event as follows:

● Individual events: $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000.

● Relays (per team): $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6,000-4,000.

In addition, TDK is sponsoring a $100,000 bonus for world records (not for ties) for men’s events, and the World Athletics “Inside Track” platform will sponsor the women’s record bonus. The two will split the bonus – if necessary – for the Mixed 4×400 m relay.

The prizes for individual events had been $60,000-30,000-20,000-15,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-4,000 in 2019, but have been bumped up for 2021-22-23 by the addition of the fines and expenses paid by Russia for its long-running doping inquiry.

The Budapest 2023 medals are oval in shape and depict symbols related to the Budapest Worlds, with the front featuring a stylized view of the 14 m high (46 feet) Liberty Statue atop Gellert Hill, erected in 1947 to honor those who sacrificed for a free and independent Hungary from Nazi Germany, and later modified to honor the end of its domination by the USSR.

The back pictures the new National Athletics Centre, with the cross-hatched roof over the laned track below.

In an important new concept that could rapidly turn into a tradition, the head of the organizing committee, Balazs Nemeth, explained, “It was imperative that our medals connect sports, heroism and national identity. Moreover, all three coaches of the podium finishers will also receive medals.”

No prize money for coaches has been announced – this is done in judo – and no details on which coaches – national team or personal – will receive medals. The medals themselves have a brass alloy core and are coated in gold, silver or bronze.

The medal ceremonies will also be a first, taking a page from the Olympic Winter Games, to be staged away from the stadium for the first time:

“Adding to the allure of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 is the innovative Medal Plaza, where the medal ceremonies will take place before the sessions each day. …

“The Medal Plaza also serves as a vibrant hub of entertainment. With daily live music, captivating performances and a range of engaging activities, it stands as a dynamic showcase of the World Championships’ festive spirit.”

It will be interesting to see whether these new concepts – medals for coaches and the medal plaza – is continued in Tokyo in 2025.

5.
No bidders to build Milan Cortina’s new sliding track!

“The notice tender for the construction of the Sliding Center (the bobsled, luge and skeleton track) of Cortina d’Ampezzo has gone empty. In other words, no company has come forward to build an indispensable facility for the Olympics.”

That’s from a summary of a report by the independent Italian national news agency ANSA last week, further noting that the governmental construction authority SIMIC – Societa Infrastrutture Milano Cortina 2026 – will now try to negotiate directly with potential contractors who could do the work. Per the story:

“The costs have already exploded, being currently equal to 264% than those expected in January 2019 (124 million euros instead of 47), but could increase further.”

That’s a rise from about $51.6 million U.S. to $136.1 million. The International Olympic Committee raised concerns about the renovation or rebuilding of the now-demolished Eugenio Monti track from the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina during the bid phase, suggesting it could be held at existing ISBF and FIL World Cup tracks in Innsbruck (AUT) or St. Moritz (SUI).

The Italian authorities, however, see the new sliding track as part of a larger entertainment complex in the area and are plowing ahead. But they are also now running out of time, as test events would preferably be held in early 2025, a year ahead of the Winter Games, only 2 1/2 years away.

Milan Cortina 2026 has been plagued by money problems almost from the start, although this issue is about the local governmental plans for the Cortina area and not the organizing committee. But it’s a problem that has to be solved.

By the way, Innsbruck is just 2 1/2 hours from Cortina by car (163.3 km/101 miles) and St. Moritz is five hours away (342.8 km/213 miles).

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Cycling ● At the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow (GBR), defending champion Switzerland came from behind to win the Mountain Bike Mixed Team Relay.

This race included a men’s and women’s U-23 rider, junior and senior rider – six legs in all, each covering 3.5 km – with Britain and France leading after the first exchange and Austria in charge after three legs. But the Swiss – fourth at the half by 1:42 – got powerful performances from Ronja Blochlinger (U-23) and Anina Hutter (Junior) to give superstar Nino Schurter a seven-second lead at the final exchange. He didn’t lose any ground and won by nine seconds in 1:05:42 to 1:05:51 for France, with Jordan Sarrou – a four-time winner in this event – posting the equal-fastest last lap in the field of 9:46.

Denmark was third and the U.S. finished eighth in 1:08:21. The amazing Schurter, now 37, won his 17th Worlds gold, beginning in 2006. He now has 24 total Worlds medals, with a lot more riding to come in Glasgow.

The final day of the Track Cycling events at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow saw American star Jennifer Valente grab her second individual gold with her second straight win in the Omnium.

Valente is the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the event, and was second in the Scratch Race, won the Tempo Race, was second in the Elimination Race and fifth in the Points Race to finish with 145, just ahead of Amalie Dideriksen (DEN: 136) and Belgian star Lotte Kopecky (133).

It’s Valente seventh career Worlds gold and her 17th career Worlds medal.

British home favorite Emma Finucane, 20, won the women’s Sprint by defeating Germany’s European Champion, Lea Friedrich, 2-0, by 0.018 and 0.031 seconds! It’s the third straight Worlds silver for Friedrich in the event, but the first individual medal ever for Finucane.

Coloimbia’s Kevin Quintero moved up from third in 2022 to gold in 2023 in the men’s Keirin final over Matthew Richardson (AUS), who won his second individual Worlds medal (he won silver in the Sprint in 2022). It was close, with Quintero winning by 0.214, and Japan’s Shinji Nakano third (+0.252), ahead of Sprint king (and defending champ) Harrie Lavreysen (NED: +0.329).

New Zealand’s Aaron Gate won the Points Race with 80 from lap finishes and 43 from sprints for total of 123, followed by Albert Torres (ESP: 107) and Belgian Fabio van den Bossche (95). Colby Lange of the U.S. was 16th (0).

Overall, the host British thrilled their home crowd with nine medals (5-3-1), just ahead of new Zealand (8: 2-1-5) and Australia (7:0-6-1). The U.S. won four medals: three golds from Valente (2) and Chloe Dygert (1) and a bronze, tied for sixth overall.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Awards ● The Amateur Athletic Union’s Sullivan Award, emblematic of the nation’s best collegiate or Olympic athlete, will be presented on 23 September in New York and the finalists have been determined:

● Jordan Chiles (UCLA: gymnastics): NCAA champion in Floor Exercise and Uneven Bars.

● Caitlin Clark (Iowa: basketball): Consensus “Player of the Year” in women’s college basketball, setting a record for the most points in the NCAA Tournament with 191, leading Iowa to the national championship game.

● Jordan Crooks (Tennessee: swimming): NCAA champion in the 50-yard Freestyle and, swimming for the Cayman Islands, a finalist in the 50 m Free (sixth) and 100 m Free (seventh) at the World Aquatics Championships.

● Dylan Crews (LSU: baseball): All-American outfielder for the national champion LSU Tigers, and the Golden Spikes Award winner as the best amateur baseball player in the U.S.

● Kate Douglass (Virginia: swimming): Won seven NCAA titles for Virginia, including individual wins in the 100-yard Butterfly, 200-yard Breaststroke and 200-yard Medley. Won six medals (2-3-1) at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, with golds in the 200 m Medley and 4×100 m Medley Relay.

● Zach Edey (Purdue: basketball): Canadian center for Purdue; at 7-4, led the Boilermakers to the Big Ten championship and won the Naismith and Wooden Awards as the player of the year.

Fan voting is part of the selection process for the winner and can be accessed here.

● PanAm Sports ● A really fun feature on PanAmSports.org, listing 75 top athletes from the Americas to mark the 75-year history of the Pan American Sports Organization and counting down to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (CHI).

The first 10 were posted on Wednesday, representing the years 1948 to 1957 and starting with Argentina’s Delfo Cabrera, the 1948 Olympic marathon winner, who repeated his triumph at the first Pan American Games in Buenos Aires in 1951.

Americans in the first 10 include four-time Olympic diving gold medalist Pat McCormick (USA: 1951), the 1948-52 Olympic 800 m winner Mal Whitfield (1951) and two-time Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting Tommy Kono (1957).

● Athletics ● Now this is wild. Long-time statistical whiz Jed Brickner, long known for his compilation of “world records” for days of the week, now has shared a new set of records – posted at trackandfieldnews.com, of the best performances in laned races!

That’s the men’s and women’s 200 m, 400 m, 400 m hurdles and the 4×100 m relay.

So, we can see that Norway’s Karsten Warholm owns the 400 m hurdles bests for lanes 6-7-8, with Edwin Moses still the best from lanes two and nine and Rai Benjamin the best from three and five.

East Germany’s Marita Koch, still the world-record holder in the women’s 400 m, has two lane records each in the 200 m and 400 m, and the U.S. and Jamaica holds the bests in eight of the nine lanes in the women’s 4×100 m. Great stuff!

Women’s 400 m hurdles world-record setter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has not run the event since August of 2022, but has been announced as entered in the Van Damme Memorial Diamond League meet in Brussels for 8 September.

If so, she will face Dutch star Femke Bol, who moved to no. 2 all-time in the event in July at 51.45.

McLaughlin-Levone will be looking for points to allow her to qualify for the Diamond League final in Eugene later in September.

● Volleyball ● The U.S. is into the semifinals of both the FIVB men’s World U-19 Championships in Argentina and women’s World U-19 Championships in Croatia and Hungary.

The men, playing in San Juan, won Group A with a 3-1 record and advanced to the round-of-16, sweeping Puerto Rico, 3-0, and then 2021 runner-ups Bulgaria (3-0) to reach the semifinals against 6-0 France on Thursday.

The American women, the 2019 champions and 2021 bronze medalists, won Pool D in Osijek (CRO) at 5-0, then swamped the Dominican Republic in the round-of-16 (3-0) and got past Brazil in the quarterfinals by 3-2 to reach the semis on Thursday against Italy in Osijek. The final will be on Friday.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Pac-12 implosion a bad sign for college sports future; France and Colombia on to World Cup quarters; USATF names big Worlds team

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 ≡

1. Pac-12 implosion amplifies the danger to all but football and basketball
2. France and Colombia complete quarters for Women’s World Cup
3. U.S.-Sweden match drew 2.5 million at 5 a.m. Eastern!
4. USA Track & Field names massive 139-member Worlds team
5. Somalia Athletics head booted for WUG “sprinter” entry

● LANE ONE: The implosion of the Pacific-12 Conference confirms that only football matters now in college sports and that the future could well include the end of an increasingly professionalized sport by universities. If so, what happens to all the other sports?

● At the Women’s World Cup, France and Colombia filled out the quarterfinals, with Europe taking five of the eight spots, a historically high number, but down from 2019.

● The U.S. women’s Round-of-16 match against Sweden drew 2.515 million U.S. viewers on FOX, despite starting at 5 a.m. Eastern time last Sunday.

● USA Track & Field named a 139-member team for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest; media attending the meet will also be subject to clothing “neutrality” checks!

● Turns out the extra-slow Somali “sprinter” at the World University Games is the niece of the head of the country’s athletics federation; she has been dismissed and may be sued!

● World Championships: Cycling (2: Dutch sprinters dominate on track;
Swiss win road mixed relay again) ●

● Panorama: Pan American Sports Organization (celebrates 75th anniversary!) = World University Games (China dominates at home in Chengdu) = Russia (strong testing numbers for RUSADA in 2023) = Boxing (IBA visits Russian allies Venezuela and Nicaragua) = Triathlon (plan in place for next week’s Paris test event) ●

LANE ONE:
Pac-12 implosion amplifies the danger
to all but football and basketball

Only football matters.

That’s the undeniable conclusion of last week’s stunning collapse of the Pacific-12 Conference, with Oregon and Washington joining USC and UCLA in the Big Ten and Arizona, Arizona State and Utah moving to the Big 12 to re-join Colorado, all based on the size of the television payouts available from each conference.

That leaves an unsustainable quartet of just Cal, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State.

For all the glory of Stanford’s 134 NCAA team titles – the most of any school – it is nowhere. Los Angeles-based UCLA (no. 2: 121) and no. 3 USC (112) are off to play in a midwestern league after the 2023-24 seasons conclude.

Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News, one of the best observers of the Pac-12 for decades, wrote in two separate articles in the past week:

“In July 2018, following a disastrous bowl season for the Pac-12, [then-Pac-12 Commissioner Larry] Scott addressed reporters and brushed aside the results on the field. ‘The scorecard we think matters … is academic and athletic success across all sports,’ he said. The comment exemplifies the ethos, shared by Scott and the presidents, that Olympic sports were as important as football. However inspiring and high-minded, the approach had zero basis in reality on the front lines of college athletics. Scott should have been all about football, all the time.”

and

“Loser: West Coast Olympic sports. Combine the increased travel for athletes at schools joining the Big Ten and the uncertainty looming for those at the four schools left behind and there is no way to cast the future in a bright light. In case there was any doubt that every available cent should be plowed into football, the past 72 hours provided it. Stanford has 134 NCAA titles and a nebulous existence to show for it.”

Chris Vannini, writing in The Athletic, noted ruefully:

“But college sports is about to learn, if it hasn’t already, that when you’ve sacrificed everything at the altar of money, you no longer control where things go, and you might not like where it ends. The big brands will be fine, but a lot of fans will be left behind, and this isn’t the end of it.”

There is no immediate danger of the college sports universe collapsing, as these conference changes will take place in a year and a lot can happen in a year. But what we see now is that television money controls football and therefore football controls collegiate sport.

But what is there is no more college football?

This is a possibility, with the consolidation of conferences continuing – it’s not over by a long shot – and the question of whether and how to pay the football players, and to a lesser extent, basketball players, whose sports are popular enough to command billion-dollar rights fees from television networks.

Inevitably, in my opinion:

● The forthcoming forced, direct payments to football and basketball players will create huge inequities on campuses, with major (negative) ramifications for all sports other the revenue-producers, and significant Title IX issues that are sure to be litigated.

● The pressure to perform will cause schools to begin dropping other programs if they want to compete in football, which will become more and more expensive.

● The most successful of these fully-professionalized sports teams will outgrow their campuses, just as European football clubs have international fan bases today. That will require the construction of whole new groups of staff to support off-the-field money-making activities, further changing the dynamic of college athletic departments into football, basketball and everything else.

● A backlash against this could lead to suddenly foreseeable consequences, such as:

(1) University leaders looking for an out, either to drop football (or go to a lower NCAA division), or to remove it from the school’s purview, by leasing its name and stadium to an outside entity, perhaps from private equity, and letting the outside entity run the program for profit.

(2) The NFL being coerced into creating – as the NBA has done with the G League – a U-23 league with as many as 64 teams to absorb all of the “name brands” in college football. Let’s remember the NBA started in 2001 with its National Basketball Development League of eight teams; there are 30 in the G League now.

Colleges and universities are supposed to prepare students for their professional lives, not be their employers. This diversion is not lost on many academic leaders who are watching the tail (football) now wagging the dog (the university).

And, for Olympic sport in the U.S., an end to football – and the money it brings – within the context of university athletic departments, is an existential catastrophe. Football and basketball revenues are the bedrock on which baseball, gymnastics, softball, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball and all the rest exist.

Without football, what happens?

No one knows.

The NCAA, as an organization, is not impacted much, since it gets almost all of its funding from the television rights for its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. But its members in Division I are mostly dependent on football money to even come close to balancing their costs to operate an athletic department.

The folks at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee are well aware of these issues, but there are no easy answers and no crystal ball on what the right next move is. The American team for Paris 2024 will not be affected, but could be by the time the Los Angeles 2028 Games come around.

Rich Perelman
Editor

2.
France and Colombia complete quarters for Women’s World Cup

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals are set, with Europe still in charge, although not as dominant as in 2019, with five of the last eight. Historically, that’s still a lot:

● 2003: 4 of 8 from Europe (hosted by U.S.)
● 2007: 3 of 8 from Europe (China)
● 2011: 4 of 8 from Europe (Germany)
● 2015: 3 of 8 from Europe (Canada)
● 2019: 7 of 8 from Europe (France)
● 2023: 5 of 8 from Europe (Australia & New Zealand)

The quarterfinals schedule (with FIFA World Rankings):

● Aug. 11: Spain (6) vs. Netherlands (9) in Wellington
● Aug. 11: Japan (11) vs. Sweden (3) in Auckland

● Aug. 12: Australia (10) vs. France (5) in Brisbane
● Aug. 12: England (4) vs. Colombia (25) in Sydney

On Tuesday, France had its best game of the tournament so far and Colombia scored just once, but it was enough to advance:

● France 4, Morocco 0 ● After scoring one goal in its first two games, France scored six in its group-stage finale against Panama and now four against Morocco, which had given up just one score in its last two games after getting trounced, 6-0, by Germany in its opener.

In Adelaide, the French – eliminated in the round-of-16 as the favored hosts in 2019 – got on top quickly and never let up, taking a 3-0 lead halfway through the first half. A perfect cross from the left side to the center of the box by defender Sakina Karchaoui found striker Kadidiatou Diani for a header in the 15th for a 1-0 lead and then midfielder Kenza Dali sent a through-ball to Diani down the right side, and the striker moved into the box and passed back to Dali for a right-footed laser from the top of the box that jetted in at the left side of the net for a 2-0 lead in the 20th.

The issue was completely decided in the 23rd, as Diani scrambled with Moroccan defender Nesryne El Chad for the ball at the endline, deflected her clearance and the ball rolled to the oncoming forward Eugenie Le Sommer, who smashed it into the goal for a 3-0 advantage.

The French controlled the game, with 70% of possession and a 15-1 edge on shots. Le Sommer concluded the scoring in the 70th, as sub midfielder Vicky Becho sent a rainbow cross from the right side all the way across the goal and Le Sommer headed it in for the 4-0 final.

● Colombia 1, Jamaica 0 ● A long cross from the left side of the field all the way to beyond the far post by defender Ana Guzman found striker Catalina Usme, who brought it down and popped into the far side of the net for the only goal in Melbourne.

The Jamaicans had not given up a score in the tournament, with 0-0, 1-0 and 0-0 results in the group stage, but Usme’s drop shot in the 51st minute was well clear of advancing Jamaican keeper Rebecca Spencer.

The Reggae Girlz almost tied it in the 54th as a free kick from defender Deneisha Blackwood at the right side of the pitch was batted by Colombian keeper Catalina Perez, but went right to midfielder Jody Brown, whose header hit the left post and bounced away.

The game was physical and even in possession. There weren’t a lot of good chances, but Jamaican midfielder Drew Spence’s header in the 82nd went wide, and Colombian midfielder Leicy Santos hit the right post with a header in the 86th.

Colombia had an 11-6 edge on shots, but being able to solve the Jamaican defense for the first time in the tournament moved them on to their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal.

The semis will be played on 15-16 August and the championship game on the 20th.

3.
U.S.-Sweden match drew 2.5 million at 5 a.m. Eastern!

FOX Sports reported that the U.S.-Sweden elimination match at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup drew a quite-respectable average audience of 2.515 million, despite being played at 5 a.m. Eastern time.

Match viewing peaked at 4.072 million from 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. Eastern, during the penalty shoot-out. The top markets were Washington D.C., Austin, Baltimore, Detroit and West Palm Beach.

The FOX audiences for the U.S. games (with U.S. start times), all on FOX Sports:

● July 21: 5.261 million vs. Vietnam at 9:00 p.m. Eastern
● July 26: 6.429 million vs. Netherlands at 9:00 p.m. Eastern
● Aug. 1: 1.354 million vs. Portugal at 3:00 a.m. Eastern
● Aug. 6: 2.515 million vs. Sweden at 5:00 a.m. Eastern

That’s an average of 3.890 million per game, up from the 3.726 million average for the U.S. team’s first four matches from the 2019 Women’s World Cup, played in a much more favorable time zone in France.

4.
USA Track & Field names massive 139-member Worlds team

A massive team of 139 men and women will represent the United States at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN), as announced by USA Track & Field on Tuesday.

In addition to its regular qualifiers, the U.S. has 10 wild-card entries into the Worlds this year thanks to defending champion status (9) or as a Diamond League winner (1). That includes Fred Kerley (men’s 100 m), Noah Lyles (200 m), Michael Norman (400 m), Grant Holloway (110 m hurdles) and Ryan Crouser (shot), plus Athing Mu in the women’s 800 m, Katie Moon (vault), Chase Ealey (shot), Valarie Allman (discus – Diamond League winner) and Brooke Andersen (hammer).

While Mu is entered, whether she will run or not is still unknown.

With World Athletics going to a two-lane qualification system of (a) very stringent time or distance standards and (b) invitations based on its World Rankings – in order to get athletes to compete in its favored Diamond League and Continental Tour meets – the U.S. has 87 entries on qualification standards and 34 on world rankings, an impressive show of depth:

● Men: 38 met qualifying standards (24 running, 14 field)
● Men: 22 selected on world rankings (9 running, 13 field + multis)

● Women: 49 met qualifying standards (32 running + 35 km walk, 17 field)
● Women: 12 selected on world ranking (4 running, 8 field + multis)

The only events in which the U.S. is not sending at least three athletes are the men’s walks, women’s 20 km walks, high jump and javelin.

At 139, the U.S. will undoubtedly be the largest delegation in Budapest, but it’s slightly smaller than the 151-strong group that attended the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon.

There are rules for news media, too. The Russian news agency TASS asked World Athletics if media wearing clothing with flags or other national symbols would be allowed at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN) that begins on 19 August. The answer:

“The wearing of national team jerseys by journalists or clothing worn by active fans is inappropriate in designated media areas in sports arenas.

“Accredited media representatives (with the exception of team media relations representatives) who do not comply with this requirement will be asked to remove such clothing.

“The consumption of alcohol in work areas is prohibited. Any media representative found under the influence of alcohol or drugs will have their accreditation revoked and will be escorted out of the working area.”

5.
Somalia Athletics head booted for WUG “sprinter” entry

Remember the furor over Somali “sprinter” Nasra Abubakar Ali, who finished last in her heat of the women’s 100 m in a ridiculous 21.81 at the just-completed World University Games in Chengdu (CHN)?

On Tuesday, an AIPSmedia.com story noted the blowback:

“The president of the Somalian Athletics Federation Mrs. Khadija Dahir has finally left the office hanging her head in shame after the federation’s executive committee voted for her removal over charges of misconduct including nepotism and power abuse.

“In a statement released to communicate this decision, it’s said that the 1st vice president of the federation Mr. Farah Moallim is authorised to act as a caretaker of the overall leadership duties of the federation until the next elections. …

“After a meticulous probe into the case, the federation’s executive committee has declared that Mrs. Khadiija has unlawfully dispatched a delegation made of her family members to the World University Games including her sister as the head of the delegation and her niece disguised as a sprinter to compete in 100m race.”

Discussions are now underway to determine whether a lawsuit by the Ministry of Youth and Sports is in order “for her complicity in a set of administrative wrongdoings that led to the scandalous participation of her incompetent, non-athlete and never-trained niece in the race in China.”

Dahir has apparently been deeply involved in athletics in Somalia for three decades, and the National Olympic Committee also backed her removal.

So much for sending the family on a paid vacation to China!

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Cycling ● Dutch sprinters continued their control of the track portion of the 2023 World Cycling Championships in Glasgow (GBR), as Jeffrey Hoogland defended his title in the men’s 1,000 m Time Trial.

Already a winner in Glasgow with the Dutch Team Sprint, Hoogland timed 58.222 to edge Australians Matthew Glaetzer (58.526) and Thomas Cornish (58.822). It’s Glaetzer’s second Worlds silver in the event, also in 2018.

Hoogland has now won this event at the 2018-21-22-23 Worlds and between this event and the Team Sprint, owns a career total of nine Worlds golds.

The Dutch got another win in the men’s Madison, as Jan Willem van Schip and Yoeri Havik piled up 37 sprint points to edge Oliver Wood and Mark Stewart (GBR: 35) and New Zealand’s 2020 silver medalists Aaron Gate and Campbell Stewart (34).

It’s the second career Worlds gold for van Schip, but first in the Madison, and second also for Havik, who won the 2022 Worlds Elimination race. The U.S. pair of Gavin Hoover and Colby Lange did not finish.

Belgian road star Lotte Kopecky won her second gold in Glasgow, this time in the women’s Points Race, scoring 20 lap points and 19 on sprints to edge Georgia Baker (AUS), 39 to 31. Japan’s Tsuyaka Uchino was third (14) with American Lily Williams (9) fourth.

For Kopecky, she regained the Points title she won in 2021 and now owns eight career Worlds track medals (6-2-0).

In road cycling, the odd Mixed Team Relay was held, with three men’s riders and three women’s riders racing as teams over the same, 20.15 km Time Trial course, with the times combined for the final result.

Defending champs Switzerland won in 54:16.20 for the 40.3 km combined result, despite a crash on the women’s course from which they recovered. France was second at 54:23.28 and Germany third at 55:07.51. The U.S. was eighth in 56:02.05.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Pan American Sports Organization ● The Pan American Sports Organization, known as PASO for many years, but now as PanAm Sports, celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding on 8 August 1948.

The first President was American Avery Brundage, still four years away from becoming President of the International Olympic Committee. The first Pan American Games came in 1951 in Buenos Aires (ARG), with 2,513 athletes from 21 countries; the 19th Pan Am Games is coming on 20 October to Santiago (CHI), with 6,909 entries expected from 41 National Olympic Committees.

● World University Games ● The 2023 Universiade in Chengdu (CHN) concluded on Tuesday, with China dominating the event as expected, winning 178 medals (103-40-35), way ahead of Japan (93: 21-29-43) and South Korea (58: 17-18-23).

The U.S. won 23 medals (1-9-13), which tied for tenth-most in the event. The lone gold medalist was Jackson Jones in the men’s 200 m Backstroke.

A total of 53 countries won medals, out of a reported 120 that competed. The 2023 WUG was open to athletes in college or one year removed, aged 18-27, two years older than usually allowed, but changed this time to accommodate those who would have competed in Chengdu in 2021 – its original date – but for the Covid pandemic.

● Russia ● The Russian Anti-Doping Agency has been busy, with a report of 6,014 samples taken through the end of July.

In comparison to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, RUSADA took 5,280 samples from January to June this year vs. 4,889 for USADA.

● Boxing ● International Boxing Association President Umar Kremlev (RUS) continued using the federation as a tool of Russian foreign policy, visiting Russian allies Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Kremlev promised IBA tournaments to be held in Venezuela, and equipment and money for the Nicaraguan boxing federation.

● Triathlon ● With the Paris 2024 test event coming up on 17-20 August, there is understandable concern over the suitability of the Seine for swimming after World Aquatics canceled its test event last week over pollution concerns.

World Triathlon issued a statement on Sunday (6th) that included:

“Prior to and even during the recent rainy period in Paris, water quality in the Seine has regularly achieved the levels required for healthy public swimming, demonstrating the progress that continues to be made. In early July, swimmers took to the Seine at the Bras Marie, one of the three Paris city-centre sites earmarked for public swimming facilities from 2025.

“For Paris 2024 and World Triathlon, the health and safety of athletes is our top priority. We will therefore, together with the relevant authorities, continue to carefully monitor water quality over the coming days, in the confident expectation – based on the current weather forecast – that elite athletes will compete in the Seine later this month, at the World Triathlon and Para Triathlon Test Event Paris scheduled for 17-20 August.

“In the unlikely event that water quality does not meet the requirement of World Triathlon and public health authorities, a contingency plan is in place which would see the race(s) shifted to a duathlon format.”

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Australia powers, England squeaks in at Women’s World Cup; why U.S. Classic was on CNBC; “Kiss & Cry” comes to track & field

By
Rich Perelman
-
New U.S. judo star Maria Laborde (left) in combat with Brazil's Natasha Ferreira at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam in February (Photo courtesy IJF/ Gabriela Sabau)

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

★ More! Now 29 donors have covered 66% of our summer fund-raising goal. Will you join in? ★

★ To get The Sports Examiner by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Australia impressive, England squeaks through to World Cup quarters
2. Australia now looking at FIFA World Cup, Club World Cup
3. Stunning story of IJF Masters silver for U.S.’s Maria Laborde
4. Peszek on why U.S. Classic gymnastics was on CNBC
5. “Kiss & Cry” comes to World Athletics Champs this year

At the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Australia thrilled a huge crowd at Stadium Australia in Sydney with a 2-0 win over Denmark to advance to the quarterfinals, and England somehow managed to hold Nigeria to a 0-0 tie despite playing the last 33 minutes with 10, and then winning the penalty shoot-out, 4-2. The tournament has been boffo at the box office, with 1.715 million tickets sold, the most ever for this event. Despite the whispers about the imminent demise of the U.S. women’s team, two of Sweden’s stars said the Americans will be back, in force. The success of the Women’s World Cup has the head of Football Australia already talking about bids for the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in the future. Marie Laborde, who was a Worlds bronze medalist for Cuba in judo in 2014, came to the U.S. and had retired when she decided to try the sport again; in an amazing turn, she won a stunning silver medal in the second-most-important tournament of the year and is a sudden Olympic medal contender for Paris at age 33. She shared her story. Former U.S. gymnastics star – and now NBC commentator – Samantha Peszek shared her insights into why the CoreHydration Classic, featuring Simone Biles, was relegated to CNBC last weekend for live coverage. And World Athletics will introduce its own version of the “Kiss & Cry” stage for time qualifiers in races of 800 m and less at the Budapest World Championships later this month.

● World Championships: Cycling (2: Lavreysen wins fifth Sprint title; U.S.’s Roberts wins fifth Freestyle Park title) ●

● Panorama: Paris 2024 (anti-drone system acquired for Rugby World Cup and Olympics) = Milan-Cortina 2026 (costs move women’s hockey to Fiera Milano center) = Athletics (2: Tsimanouskaya approved to run for Poland; know this name: Jonathan Simms) = Basketball (2: FOX to show U.S. men’s World Cup warm-up games; U.S. runs over Puerto Rico in exhibition opener) = Swimming (Russian WR-setter Chikunova happy to be a neutral if asked) = Weightlifting (no Russians at September’s IWF Worlds) ●

1.
Australia impressive, England squeaks through
to World Cup quarters

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is slowing down and heading toward the close with the final Round-of-16 matches being played today and then off until Friday for the first of the quarterfinals.

That does not mean that the drama has abated. On Monday, European Champion England managed a penalty-kicks win over Nigeria and Australia looks to be getting hot at the right time with a convincing win over Denmark:

● England 0, Nigeria 0 ● Sure, the Lionesses crushed China by 6-1 in their final group-stage match, but their cautious, 1-0 wins over Haiti and Denmark were more in line with their performance against aggressive Nigeria.

But there were zeros on the scoresheet, thanks to English keeper Mary Earps … and the crossbar. In the 17th, a drive by defender Ashleigh Plumptre hit the bar from outside the box, and after a few more seconds saw the ball come back, Plumptre dibbled into the box and sent another rocket toward goal which was punched away by a diving Earps.

Nigeria had 20 shots in the game to 12 for England, but the Lionesses had chances.

In the 23rd, English striker Alessia Russo got hold of a muffed clearance and sent a screamer toward goal that was saved by Nigerian keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. A penalty call against Nigeria was waved off after a video review in the 28th. Defender Rachel Daly’s header in the 76th off a corner was headed for goal, but stopped by Nnadozie.

The game changed in the 84th, after English striker Lauren James fell over Nigerian defender Michelle Alozie, then got up the walked over Alozie’s back to get into the play. A yellow card given and upgraded to red after a video review, so England was down to 10.

But the defense held up, aided by England enjoying 56% of possession in the game, through extra time and onto penalties. Both sides missed their first shots, then Bethany England, Daly, Alex Greenwood and Chloe Kelly scored four in a row while Nigeria missed again and the game ended at 4-2 for the Lionesses. Artistic? No, but effective.

● Australia 2, Denmark 0 ● A home crowd of 75,784 at Stadium Australia in Sydney was ready to roar for the Matildas and after a mixed start, striker Mary Fowler sent a long pass from her side of the field down the left side for midfielder Caitlin Foord to run onto. Now one-on-one with Danish keeper Lene Christensen, Foord’s left-footed shot swept under her legs and into the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 29th.

Fowler was at it again in the 70th, dancing with the ball in the box, then sending a pass into a crowded penalty area to striker Emily van Egmond, who passed to open midfielder Hayley Raso at the right of goal and her shot flew past Christensen into the left side of the net for the 2-0 final.

Denmark had 56% of possession and a 13-10 shots edge, but the Matildas had speed when it counted and better playmaking in the attacking zone. The return of Australian striker Sam Kerr for Raso in the 80th gives the home squad more attacking ability as they move on.

In the lower half of the bracket, England will play Saturday against the winner of the Colombia-Jamaica game and Australia will face the winner of France vs. Morocco.

FIFA announced that 1.715 million tickets for the Women’s World Cup had been sold through last Friday, an all-time record for the tournament.

For the 48-match group stage, average attendance across the tournament was 25,476 fans, which would be no. 5 all-time:

● 37,944 in 1999 (hosted in the U.S.)
● 37,218 in 2007 (China)
● 26,428 in 2011 (Germany)
● 26,029 in 2015 (Canada)
● 25,476 in 2023 so far (Australia and New Zealand)

The new Fan Festival program for the Women’s World Cup has also been popular, with more than 400,000 visiting the sites set up in each of the nine host cities. The one-day attendance record was in Sydney at 17,756.

Lots of chatter in the U.S. and elsewhere about the elimination of the top-ranked U.S. women’s squad, with stars Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe both saying they have concluded their careers with the national team.

However, Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer asked Swedish stars Kosovare Asllani and Magdalena Eriksson about the U.S.’s future after Sunday’s elimination win in Melbourne. Said midfielder Asllani:

“It’s the U.S. They will raise their standards, and they’re going to come back. I’ve heard there’s been a lot of talk about it, but they will come back for sure.

“They have so much quality in their team, and this defeat will not take them down. I expect them to be ready for the next World Cup. We see more and more national teams are investing and raising their level as well, but I mean, they have a really good team.

“So I wouldn’t say that they’re out of the game at all. So don’t talk [expletive deleted] about the U.S. women.”

Defender Eriksson added:

“I think they proved today they’re still an amazing team. They’re definitely the toughest team we’ve faced so far in this tournament.

“They have amazing players. And like you said, the youngsters really impressed me today. I think both [Naomi] Girma and [Sophia] Smith had an amazing game. You also have [Catarina] Macario and [Mallory] Swanson that are injured.

“So, no, the future is bright for the U.S. They’re still a massive powerhouse in women’s football, and they will be for a long time.”

The U.S. women will be back in action in two friendlies against World Cup round-of-16 team South Africa, in Cincinnati on 21 September and 24 September in Chicago.

2.
Australia now looking at FIFA World Cup, Club World Cup

Success breeds ambition and Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said Friday that the federation will be looking at bids for the FIFA World Cup and the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the future:

“Our vision is to be local and global, and the way that we can be at our best in Australia is when we’re bringing big, global football content, the biggest events in the world, back to our local communities.

“We’re seeing that right now with the Women’s World Cup, so we see the success of the Women’s World Cup as being a stepping stone towards bidding for other competitions.

“There’s the Club World Cup in 2029, that we’re going to take a look at. And then there’s the men’s World Cup in 2034, that we’re also going to have a look at as well.”

Johnson sees parallels between what Australia – with New Zealand – is doing now and what Canada has done:

“Australia will no doubt host a men’s World Cup one day… and what better way to do that than on the back of the best-ever Women’s World Cup.

“Canada hosted a very good Women’s World Cup in 2015, and 11 years later, funnily enough, they’re hosting [the men’s] together with the United States and Mexico.

“I think that’s a very good blueprint, if you like, is that if you host big, major tournaments, organisations like FIFA get comfortable to give you more. That’s where we want to be.”

3.
Stunning story of IJF Masters silver for U.S.’s Maria Laborde

The U.S. did not win a medal in judo at the Tokyo Olympic Games and had not made much of an impact internationally since Kayla Harrison won the Olympic title in the women’s 78 kg class and Travis Stevens won silver at 81 kg in Rio in 2016.

So the runner-up finish by Cuban-born Maria Laborde at the Hungary Masters meet – second only in importance to the World Championships on the International Judo Federation World Tour – was a stunner. And Laborde’s story is even wilder.

Now 33, she was a Worlds bronze medal winner for Cuba in 2014 at 48 kg way back in 2014. Then her life changed, as she shared with the IJF:

“I was retired. I was only 24 then and I wasn’t really thinking of ever coming back. In the USA, where I now live, there was a competition that is not so hard but there was some prize money. I had been out for many years but I thought it would be fun and I liked the idea of having some prize money. That was in 2021 and I had just gained my full American citizenship. I won the event and I thought ‘wow!’ I was out for almost eight years and assumed my momentum and my judo fitness would not survive but it did.

“Jhonny Prado, the U.S. National Coach, saw me there and said I would have a good chance to still make the U.S. team. If I wanted to keep going he would help me. USA Judo supported me to attend my first continental open in Tunisia and I won again but I thought I could do better. It was a bit complicated but I needed to find a way to compete at the PanAms. I did and I won bronze. It wasn’t the goal but it was actually a good result. With this medal USA Judo took me officially into the team.

“I think all the training I had in my early judo life in Cuba, my body remembered all of that. It is maybe not normal but in that time away I was really focused on how to earn a living and just training in the gym sometimes for exercise, but not for elite sport.”

And then her breakthrough in Budapest happened, bringing her back to world class, with a whole new set of questions:

“I don’t really study judo so much and maybe I should but I watch people at the events and I feel like my body will do the right things with the information it has. Each fight was a different style but I think for some of them my style is tricky. At -48kg everyone is a little bit crazy but I like that, it suits me. For the semi-final against the Serbian, [former Worlds bronze medalist Milica] Nikolic, I was ready. I have beaten her before and that gave me confidence. I put my whole heart into it. With me, I never stop. It’s not possible to stop.

“Here I feel like I am back to do judo almost for fun. This is such a great environment for me. I enjoy it so much. Now if I lose, it’s not good and I don’t like it, but it’s ok, I can recover. Now the pressure is really for funding. Better results mean better funding.

“I have to keep fighting now. I will have Zagreb Grand Prix next. I don’t have any pressure, I just go to do my thing. Sometimes when I fight I feel the old pressure, like a habit of stress but once I get on to the mat the pressure goes completely and I love to fight; I’m learning new habits and it’s good.”

With her Masters silver, Laborde jumped eight places in the IJF World Rankings, to no. 11, and no. 4 on the IJF’s Olympic rankings at 48 kg. The next chapter in this story, the Zagreb Grand Prix, is from 18-20 August. Wow.

4.
Peszek on why U.S. Classic gymnastics was on CNBC

With the return of Simone Biles to competition at Saturday’s CoreHydration Classic – the U.S. Classic – one would think that NBC would be keen to put the iconic star on network television.

But the meet was shown live on CNBC, with a highlights program shown on Sunday on NBC. Why?

Three-time NCAA champion at UCLA and Beijing 2008 Olympic Team silver winner Samantha Peszek was one of the commentators for CNBC at the meet, along with Terry Gannon on play-by-play and three-time Olympian John Roethlisberger. She explained on a Twitter post:

“Getting this question a lot, so wanted to share some insider broadcast info. I know I used to be bummed about this what I was younger watching on TV, but once I learned more, it made sense. here’s the deal …

“Each network/platform has a different strategy depending on the audience …

“For example, live feeds in general are geared more towards the knowledgeable gym fan where the Prime Time shows focuses more on the non-gym fans who we hope BECOME gymnastics fans.

“So, that’s why the purpose of NBC shows isn’t to show everyone (which is frustrating for gym fans), but it’s to build stars and follow them so non-gym fans can follow along & build an emotional connection with the gymnasts that are recognizable names and have already had some longevity in the sport.

“That’s another reason why we say less skill names and specifics [because] we don’t want to overcomplicate an already difficult sport to understand.

“It’s not right or wrong, but it’s just the strategy with this specific network and audience!

“My job as a broadcaster is to make it educational for the non-gym fan, but also entertaining for the gym fan! It’s a tough balance!!”

Observed: There is no doubt that Peszek’s explanation of NBC’s approach is true. The network’s Olympic audience shrank to the lowest level in U.S. history for Tokyo, but hopes are high for a rebound for Paris in 2024. The network abandoned its all-sports cable channel (NBCSN) and its cable Olympic Channel and has shuffled those events it still broadcasts to CNBC and USA Network, and a lot more to its Peacock subscription service.

All of this continues to underline that for gymnastics, swimming, track & field and others, NBC’s view is that Americans watch the Olympics because it’s the Olympics and not because of the sports that are in it. If there is a star-a-day to keep American viewers interested – Biles, Katie Ledecky, Noah Lyles, Sydney McLaughlin Levrone and so on – that’s enough. An hour or so on Sundays on NBC now and again should be sufficient to maintain some level of interest until the Olympic Trials come around in 2024.

5.
“Kiss & Cry” comes to World Athletics Champs this year

A number of changes are set for the 2023 World Athletics Championships that begin in Budapest (HUN) on 19 August.

Familiar to those who have watched figure skating over the years is the post-performance area where the skaters and their coaches see their scores posted while being shown on television; this is known in the trade as “Kiss and Cry.”

A version of this is coming to Budapest, called “The Q Room”:

“For all sprints, hurdles and 800m events, a room will be set up where non-automatic qualifiers can wait to see if they have advanced. The room will have comfortable chairs on which to relax, TV screens to watch subsequent races, foam rollers and stretch bands, refreshments, as well as access to their coaches and kit.

“Athletes can stay in the room for up to 20 minutes and will then be taken through the mixed zone. The room will have TV cameras, so fans can watch the outcome unfold.”

This should be interesting, and has been used for the leader in alpine skiing.

More technical changes include the filling of all lanes, so if an athlete chooses to skip an event after a qualifying round, the lane – or starting position in a field event – will be filled by the next eligible athlete:

“A virtual ‘hot seat’ system will be implemented, where the next-best ranked athlete(s) or teams will be on notice to wait for possible withdrawals. A maximum of two athletes will be considered for each replacement.”

The system of time qualifying for advancement from heats in the 1,500 m-Steeple-5,000 m in which the runners in the last race knew the time to beat has been criticized as unfair, so it has been eliminated. Now, only the placings count, with no time qualifiers at all in these races.

But the “small q” system does remain in place for races of 800 m and less.

And as in college football, the NFL and now the FIFA Women’s World Cup, we will now have the starter making public address announcements if he or she allows an athlete deemed to have false-started by the starting-block sensor, but not visible to the eye, to run under protest. The jury of appeal will deal with the final decision.

Can’t wait to hear the starter ad libs on that new rule!

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) spoke with reporters late in July about the Budapest Worlds and seemed quite happy to have the meet back in Europe, after disappointing broadcast audiences there from the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon. InsideTheGames reported Coe’s comments about the sport in the U.S.:

“Moving into the United States, that’s a challenge. We know it’s a challenge. We took that on a few years ago coming from some distance back.

“The Continental Tour events, we didn’t have any and now we have got some good ones and they’re developing. But it’s a congested market; everybody wants to be there. That’s why we agreed to hold the World Championships in Eugene last year.

“Eugene wasn’t ideal. It certainly posed us some challenges around broadcast numbers in Europe. …

“This is always a balance, but we have always said we would do what we could to help USA Track and Field. It is still the powerhouse of World Athletics.

“And this is something that I will be addressing with the USATF chief executive Max Siegel at next month’s World Championships in Budapest when we talk about what it is that we can continue to work together on.

“Because it’s really important that the athletes in the U.S. are given every opportunity to compete.”

USA Track & Field introduced a new meet, the L.A. Grand Prix at UCLA in May (Continental Tour Gold), with about 4,500 in the stands. U.S. television audiences for the sport have been down significantly in 2023.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Cycling ● The UCI’s mega-World Cycling Championships roll on in Glasgow (GBR), with more action on the track

Monday was a great day on the track for Dutch sprint star Harrie Lavreysen, who defeated Trinidad & Tobago’s Nicholas Paul in the final – but not by much – with tiny margins of 0.061 and 0.100. Lavreysen was the fastest qualifier, won his round-of-16 match-up and then swept through the quarters, semis and finals without losing a race: seven straight in all.

Now 26, the Dutchman won his fifth straight World Sprint title – 2019-20-21-22-23 – and has a staggering 13 Worlds golds (and three silvers) in his career. He’s also the reigning Olympic champion. Paul won his second career Worlds medal, and his first in Sprint. Britain’s Jack Carlin was third.

In the men’s Elimination Race, last year’s bronze medalist struck gold as Britain’s Ethan Vernon won over Canada’s Dylan Bibic and Italy’s two-time defending champion Elia Viviani. Gavin Hoover of the U.S. was eighth.

Britain scored again in the women’s Madison, with Neah Evans and Elinor Barker winning their first Worlds gold in the event. Evans had partnered with Katie Archibald to win bronze in this event in 2021, and Barker had won a silver at the 2017 Worlds with Emily Nelson. In Glasgow, they managed 28 sprint points to edge Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly (AUS: 25) and Victoire Berteau and Clara Coppini (FRA: 22).

U.S. star Jennifer Valente and Lily Williams finished sixth (10).

American Hannah Roberts, 21, the dominant force in women’s BMX Freestyle Park competitions, won her fifth career Worlds gold and fourth in a row with her first-round score of 91.04.

No one really got close, as China’s Sibei Sun, 18, led the second round at 89.10 and took silver, with teammate Huimin Zhou third (87.90). In fact, Chinese riders placed 2-3-4-5-6.

In addition to becoming a five-time World Champion, Roberts has the distinction of being the only athlete to win a medal in all six editions of the World Championships (5-0-1)!

In the men’s Freestyle Park final, Britain’s Kieran Reilly was a first-time medalist and first-time champion, scoring 95.80 points on his second run to overtake first-round leader and two-time World Champion Logan Martin (AUS: 95.30).

Martin led after the first round at 93.56, but the top six finishers all achieved their best scores in the final round. Reilly moved from sixth to first, but Martin also improved to 95.30, a half-point short. American Nick Bruce, the 2019 Worlds bronze medalist, was third again at 93.90.

Americans Justin Dowell – the 2019 World Champion – and Daniel Sandoval finished 6-7 with scores of 89.74 and 89.36, both from the first round.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● The French daily Le Parisien reported that the French government will test an anti-drone system capable of detecting unregistered vehicles as small as 0.39 ounces (11 g) for security purposes during September’s Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Parade system is designed to create interference with a drone’s navigation system, causing it to fall to the ground if desired. Security perimeters for drones will be set up at all sites from 300 m to 1,000 m, with options such as anti-drone nets and small laser systems for destroying unauthorized flying devices up to 1,000 m distant.

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan-Cortina ● The women’s ice hockey competition, expected to be held at a renovated PalaSharp arena, has been reported to move to the giant Fiera Milano Rho convention center.

The Fiera Milano is already the site of the speed skating competition and the International Broadcasting Center, and when the PalaSharp renovation got too expensive, there was plenty of space available at the 3.71 million sq.ft. exhibition center.

● Athletics ● Remember Belarius sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who criticized her coaches at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, was sent home and then asked Tokyo airport police to help her stay in Japan and not fly back?

She was eventually welcomed by Poland and on Sunday was cleared by World Athletics to compete for her new country internationally, perhaps at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest that begin on 19 August. There is usually a three-year wait for a change of allegiance, but the federation has made an exception in this case; she has yet to be invited for the Championships.

Now 26, she has a seasonal best of 11.16 in the women’s 100 m (75th on the 2023 world list) and a lifetime best 22.75 in the 200 m (64th). Her 100 m best is 11.04 from 2018.

A name to know now and remember for the future: Jonathan Simms.

A sophomore at Allen (Texas) High School, he just won the AAU Junior Olympics’ boys 400 m title in 45.12, making him the sixth-fastest prep in history. He also won the 800 m in 1:51.69 and ran a 44.36 anchor on the 4×400 m relay.

Remember the name, you will be hearing it again.

● Basketball ● Fascinating development as USA Basketball announced Friday that it has partnered with FOX Sports for the American men’s and women’s national teams in 2023 and 2024.

NBC has been the U.S. Olympic broadcaster for decades and the NBA is shown on ESPN/ABC and TNT, so FOX is a new presence.

The programming includes the five U.S. men’s warm-up games for the FIBA World Cup beginning 25 August: against Puerto Rico on Monday, then two games on 12-13 August in Spain against Slovenia and Spain, and then vs. Greece (18th) and Germany (20th) in Abu Dhabi (UAE).

The agreement with FOX extends to the 2024 pre-Olympic showcase games of both the men’s and women’s national teams, as well as the Nike Youth Summit in 2024.

The U.S. men’s World Cup team made its debut in Las Vegas Monday night with a 117-74 rout of Puerto Rico, winning the second half by 67-31!

The Americans led, 50-43, at half, behind nine points from substitute guard Austin Reaves and eight points from point guard Jalen Brunson, then blew the game open in the third quarter. Anthony Edwards had 11 points and the U.S. ran off a 34-18 quarter to lead by 84-61, and ran off 20 straight points to build a 94-61 lead with seven minutes to play.

The lead only expanded from there, as the U.S. finished with a 33-13 fourth quarter. Edwards finished with 15, as did sub Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges had 14. Tremont Waters led Puerto Rico with 17.

● Swimming ● As far as Russia’s Evgeniia Chikunova, 18, the world-record holder in the women’s 200 m Breaststroke, is concerned, she’s fine with competing as a neutral. She told the Russian news agency TASS:

“I am an athlete who goes for global goals, I prepare every day, I kill more than six hours a day for sport. If they tell me that there is an opportunity to compete under a neutral flag, I will not refuse. So if the conditions are met and [Russian federation chief] Vladimir [Salnikov] says that it is possible to go, I and most of the team will go. When you prepare and live the sport, you don’t want to miss a single opportunity.”

Chikunova set her world mark of 2:17.55 at the Russian nationals in Kazan on 16 April; she also ranks third in the world this season in the 100 m Breast at 1:04.92 from the same meet.

● Weightlifting ● The Russian news agency TASS reported that no Russian lifters will compete at the International Weightlifting Federation World Championships in Riyadh (KSA) beginning 4 September. A posting from the IWF noted:

“[T]he IWF EB also approved the AIN [neutral] delegation that will be present at the IWF World Championships. It includes 12 athletes, seven support personnel, and one technical official – all of them have a passport from Belarus.”

The IWF requires so-called “neutrals” to sign a declaration of non-support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine; the Russian federation has stated that none of its athletes will sign it.

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TSX REPORT: Sweden’s Musovic too good as U.S. women leave World Cup; Biles wins in style in gymnastics return; French indifferent on 2024?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Back in action and still on top: gymnastics icon Simone Biles (Photo courtesy USA Gymnastics/John Cheng)

★ 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 ≡

1. Swedish stone wall dismisses U.S. in Women’s World Cup
2. Spain, Japan, Dutch sweep on to Women’s World Cup quarterfinals
3. Biles still magical in return at CoreHydration Classic
4. New poll says French indifferent about Paris 2024?
5. Cost projection sinks Alberta interest in 2030 Commonwealth Games

The no. 1-ranked U.S. women were eliminated from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup by Sweden by the slimmest of margins: a seventh-round penalty kick that was swatted by American keeper Alyssa Naeher, but landed barely inside the goal line before being cleared. That drama followed a 0-0 tie after 120 minutes, in which the U.S. had just about all the best chances, but could not beat Swedish keeper Zecira Musovic. Sweden will move on to the quarterfinals to play Japan, while the Netherlands will face Spain in the upper half of the bracket. At the CoreHydration Classic outside Chicago, gymnastics icon Simone Biles returned to competition after two years off, looking confident and winning the All-Around against a strong field with 59.100 points, her second-best ever at the event (and her fourth win). Stanford star Asher Hong won the men’s All-Around. Another poll on French attitudes about the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris is out, showing 48% are indifferent about it, with worries about security and transporation, hardly new issues of concern. The possible Alberta bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games is over as the provincial sports ministry estimated the costs of the event at C$2.68 billion, or about $2.003 billion U.S., considered too expensive. The Commonwealth Games Federation is now looking for hosts for both 2026 and 2030.

● World Championships: Archery (Gazoz and Horackova take Recurve titles) = Cycling (2: Van der Poel attacks last and best for men’s road race title; Valente wins Scratch race gold on the track) = Sport Climbing (Garnbret wins again at IFSC Worlds) ●

● Panorama: Athletics (Camacho-Quinn 12.43, Kovacs 71-3 1/4 at Ed Murphey Classic) = Badminton (U.S.’s Zhang posts long-sought win in Australia) = Cycling (Mohoric wins Tour de Pologne by one second!) = Diving (China wins eight of nine events at World Cup Super Final) = Gymnastics (China sweeps individual titles at Trampoline World Cup) = Judo (Japan wins four, Laborde gets first U.S. medal since ‘16 at IJF Masters) = Swimming (open-water test event in Paris postponed) = Triathlon (inquiry started on illness from Sunderland open-water conditions) ●

● Errata: Friday’s post suggested that U.S. star Chloe Dygert’s Worlds win in the Individual Pursuit will make her a favorite in Paris, but as Olympedia co-founder Bill Mallon points out, that event is no longer on the Olympic program. Sorry about that. Dygert and her teammates will once again be threats for another medal in the women’s Team Pursuit, in which she won a silver medal in Rio and bronze in Tokyo. ●

1.
Swedish stone wall dismisses U.S. in Women’s World Cup

In an excruciating defeat that will bring pain for years to come, the no. 1-ranked U.S. Women’s National Team was eliminated from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand by Sweden in Melbourne, 5-4 on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie.

Despite multiple excellent chances, the Americans could not score against brilliant Swedish keeper Zecira Musovic, who made 11 saves and dashed U.S. hopes again and again (as did the crossbar):

● 18th: Trinity Rodman shot punched away
● 27th: Rodman shot blocked
● 34th: Lindsey Horan header off a corner hits the crossbar
● 54th: Horan shot blocked with the left hand
● 90th: Alex Morgan’s header in the box slapped away
● 96th: Morgan’s liner from the left side pushed away
● 101st: Lynn Williams shot saved, rebound shot by Horan blocked
● 107th: Sophia Smith shot poked away at the near corner of goal

In contrast, Sweden threatened occasionally, but didn’t actually get a shot at U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher until the 85th minute on a drive in the box by substitute midfielder Sofia Jakobsson, which Naeher knocked down and had cleared.

The U.S. had 58% of possession and finished with a 22-9 edge on shots and 11-1 in shots-on-goal. The game got increasingly physical in the later stages as players tired; Sweden had 15 fouls to 11 for the U.S.

Finally, it came down to the penalty shoot-out, with the U.S. going first, and each side made their first two shots – Andi Sullivan and Horan for the U.S. and Fridolina Rolfo and Elin Rubensson for Sweden – and then late sub Kristie Mewis gave the U.S. a 3-2 lead.

But then four misses in a row: Sweden’s Nathalie Bjorn sent her shot over the net, Megan Rapinoe’s shot went high, Rebecka Blomqvist’s try was saved to Naeher’s left and Smith’s try went wide right.

Hanna Benninson, another late sub, stepped up for Sweden’s final try, down 3-2, and scored easily to send the shoot-out to extra frames.

Now it got crazy. Naeher came out for the U.S. try and smashed a liner into the net for a 4-3 lead, but Magdalena Ericsson equalized, to go to a seventh round. Late sub Kelley O’Hara’s shot went off the right post for the U.S. and so sub midfielder Lina Hurtig stepped up and sent her shot to her left.

Naeher guessed correctly, saved the shot with her right hand, but it bounced up and was ruled by video review to have crossed the goal line by perhaps a millimeter or two before Naeher slapped it away again before it hit the ground, but the game was decided, 5-4 on penalties for Sweden.

The U.S. was the better team during the run-of-play, but lost, not an unusual result in this Women’s World Cup. This was a match between no. 1 and Sweden at no. 3 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and the Swedes have had a long history of hurting the U.S. when it counts.

For the Americans, this was their earliest exit ever in nine editions of the Women’s World Cup; the U.S. had always made at least to the semifinals, and had won a medal (4-1-3) in all eight of the prior tournaments. The two-time defending champions were trying to win a third straight, but like Germany – winners in 2003 and 2007 – it was not to be.

Observed: There will be lots of questions to be answered, but unlike the men’s game, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will provide a quick re-run opportunity.

The U.S. women missed, more than anything else, the ability to finish and score, as opposed to getting chances. No one will ever know if the loss of scoring ace Mallory Swanson to a torn patellar tendon against Ireland in a friendly in April – after scoring seven goals in the team’s first five games of the season – might have been the difference, along with other injuries, but the issues will need to be addressed quickly with 2024 on the horizon. The U.S. is already qualified.

Now, sports business insiders will be focused on what the loss of the U.S. in the tournament will mean to the television audiences in the U.S., already in a terrible time zone for American viewers. And, what will the U.S.’s loss mean for its candidature – with Mexico – for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup?

2.
Spain, Japan, Dutch sweep on to Women’s World Cup quarterfinals

In Saturday’s opening elimination-round games, favored Spain and Japan made it clear that they are contenders for all the honors, with decisive wins over European opponents Switzerland and Norway:

● Spain 5, Switzerland 1 ● The Spanish were smarting after their 4-0 loss to Japan on 31 July and completely dominated the Swiss in Auckland.

They got started quickly with midfielder Aitana Bonmati finding a loose ball in the box after a shot by forward Alba Redondo was saved, and sent a seeing-eye shot right through five Swiss defenders and keeper Gaelle Thalmann for a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.

But the Swiss got even without touching the ball in the 11th as defender Laia Codina sent a ball from near midfield back towards keeper Cata Coll with too much on it; Coll was off her line and the ball bounced past her and into the net for an own-goal in the 11th and a 1-1 tie.

But the Spanish were on the attack again quickly and Redondo got the lead back in the 17th on a header inside the box, then Bonmati got possession of a Redondo header that was blocked in the box, turned and fired for a 3-1 lead in the 36th. Even Codina got redemption in the 45th off a corner, which she headed and had blocked, then kicked into the net.

At 4-1, the issue was decided, and midfielder Jennifer Hermoso scored on a left-footed volley from right of the box to the left side of the net in the 70th for the 5-1 final.

Spain was completely in control and ended with 70% of possession and an amazing 26-2 advantage on shots.

● Japan 3, Norway 1 ● Was Japan really as good as its 3-0 record suggested? Yes, after controlling their match against Norway. As if they needed any more help, Japan went up 1-0 in Wellington in the 15th minute as a cross into the box by scoring ace Hinata Miyazawa was tipped by Norwegian midfielder Ingrid Engen on an attempted clearance and deflected into the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Norway got even quickly, however, as midfielder Guro Reiten headed in a long cross from the middle of the box, rising over two defenders in the 20th minute.

The half ended 1-1, but Japan got control of the scoreboard again in the 50th, midfielder Risa Shimizu picked up a loose ball in the box and had her shot – heading for the middle of the goal – defected to the right side and into the net for a 2-1 lead.

The finisher came in the 81st in familiar style, as forward Aoba Fujino rifled a through-ball from 35 yards out past the Swiss defenders and onto the foot of the surging Miyazawa, who finished easily for her fourth goal of the tournament.

Japan controlled play with 60% possession and 16 shots to eight against a quality opponent, but one which has not played well at this World Cup, and is now going home.

● Netherlands 2, South Africa 0 ● The Dutch moved on to face Spain in the quarterfinals with a convincing, but tricky win against South Africa in Sydney. Although the Dutch controlled the ball and the game, with 70% of possession, the South Africans had multiple chances to score, but were continuously thwarted.

The Netherlands got the lead early, as a Sherida Spitse corner was headed on goal by striker Lieke Martens and kicked into the air by defender Lebohang Ramalepe, bouncing in front where midfielder Jill Roord headed it in during the ninth minute for a 1-0 lead.

Playing with the ball only sparingly, South Africa used its speed – especially that of striker Thembi Kgatlana – to overtake the Dutch defense, but keeper Daphne van Domselaar was all over goal and made seven saves in the game.

The half ended 1-0, but the Dutch were on the attack in the second half, with forward Lineth Beerensteyn scoring twice on plays that were called back for offsides. In the 68th, Martens took a page out of the South African playbook and sent a long ball from midfield to Beerensteyn at the left of goal and she eschewed the dribble and sent a hard shot right at goal. South African keeper Kaylin Swart was in position, but the ball went through her hands and into the goal for a 2-0 Dutch lead.

That was enough, and the Dutch ran out the game, although not without some nervous moments. The Netherlands had a 14-13 lead on shots, but van Domselaar was the indispensable element that moved the Orange on to the quarterfinals.

Now, the quarterfinals will see the Netherlands and Spain, and Sweden and Japan.

The Round-of-16 eliminations continued on Monday with the lower half of the bracket, with Australia and Denmark and England and Nigeria.

3.
Biles still magical in return at CoreHydration Classic

She still has it.

After a couple of years away, and getting married, there was Simone Biles, now 26, back on the mats in front of 7,200-plus at the NOW Arena near Chicago, dominating a world-class field of U.S. teammates at the CoreHydration Classic.

Biles won three of four events, posting a very creditable 14.000 – third overall – on her least favorite apparatus, the Uneven Bars, then winning on Beam (14.800), Floor (14.900) and Vault, with a spectacular 15.400.

Her total was 59.100, way ahead of defending champ (and 2021 Worlds All-Around runner-up) Leanne Wong (54.100) and emerging star Joscelyn Roberson (54.050). It’s Biles’ fourth win in this event – the U.S. Classic – with her second-best score:

● 2018: 1st with 58.700
● 2019: 1st with 60.000
● 2021: 1st with 58.400
● 2023: 1st with 59.100

Tokyo Olympic All-Around gold medalist Suni Lee competed only on Vault (13.500) and was second to Biles on Beam at 14.500. Jade Carey, the Tokyo 2020 Floor winner, competed only on Beam and placed ninth (13.000). U.S. Olympic Team silver winner Jordan Chiles tied for fourth in the Uneven Bars (13.900) and was 13th on Beam (12.800).

All of this was in preparation for the U.S. Nationals from 24-27 August in San Jose, California, where Biles will be looking for her eighth All-Around title.

The men were competing in their second U.S. Classic, with defending champ Brody Malone skipping the event this year. So, the 2022 national All-Around bronze medalist, Asher Hong, stepped in to take top honors.

Hong, 19, who won the NCAA Vault title for Stanford this year, scored 85.305 to win over Stanford teammate – and NCAA Vault runner-up – Khoi Young (83.424) and 2022 Michigan’s NCAA All-Around champ Paul Juda (83.354).

Hong won on Rings (14.749) and Vault (15.705) and was second on Floor (14.749). Tokyo Olympian Shane Wiskus won the Horizontal Bar at 14.150 and 2021 World Pommel Horse gold medalist won his speciality at 15.157.

Stanford’s 2022 NCAA Parallel Bars champ Curran Phillips won that event at 15.456 and Illinois’ Connor McCool took the Floor Exercise honors at 14.833.

4.
New poll says French indifferent about Paris 2024?

Another poll on French attitudes towards the 2024 Olympic Games, and another set of findings that do not correlate with others. This time, it was a survey by the French Elabe firm for the Institut Montaigne, a French think tank headquartered in Paris.

Some 1,001 individuals 18 and up were polled from 31 July to 2 August. In terms of overall interest:

● 20% enthusiastic
● 48% indifferent
● 32% skeptical

Asked whether the French authorities and organizing committee will be ready:

● Security: 63% no, 36% yes
● Transport: 58% no, 42% yes
● Tourism: 50% yes, 49% no
● Venues: 64% yes, 36% no

Translation: not too sure about the authorities, but confidence in the organizing committee.

The poll also found that 73% (to 9%) thought the ticket prices were too high and restricted access to the Games; 68% (to 14%) thought the cost of organizing the Games was too high and 48% (to 22%) said the ecological impact of the Games was too high.

Asked what the Games would impact positively, the poll showed 69% on tourism, 68% on sport development, 61% for the economy and 58% for France’s place in the world.

In late July, a Toluna-Harris Interactive poll showed 72% across France were in favor of the Games. A poll by Odoxa showed 59% were in favor of the Games, with worries over cost, the environment, transportation and security.

In the meantime, about seven million tickets have been sold and there were 320,000 applications for 45,000 volunteer positions.

5.
Cost projection sinks Alberta interest
in 2030 Commonwealth Games

“We committed to remain transparent with Albertans about the costs of hosting international sporting events and clearly demonstrating a return on our investment for the people and communities in Alberta. That is why we have made the decision not to continue pursuing the bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

“Based on current bid estimates, hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games could result in a cost of up to $2.68 billion. The corporate sponsorship model and limited broadcast revenues for the Commonwealth Games would have put 93 per cent of those costs and risks on taxpayers.”

That’s from a Thursday (3rd) statement by Joseph Schow, the Alberta Minister for Tourism and Sport, ending interest in a possible Commonwealth Games bid for multiple cities in the province. The C$2.68 billion projection is about $2.003 billion U.S.

The already-reeling Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) reacted with a shrug:

“The Commonwealth Games Federation is sorry to hear that Alberta is no longer developing its bid proposal for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. We thank all those who worked on Alberta’s inspiring and comprehensive plan and we believe the Province could be a fantastic Host for the Commonwealth Games in the future.

“We had already been reviewing our selection timeline as a result of the recent Victorian Government decision. The dialogue with other potential Hosts is on-going.”

The CGF is still in shock from the withdrawal of contracted host Victoria, Australia to stage the 2026 Commonwealth Games on 18 July, citing new cost projections of A$6 billion or more (~$3.95 billion U.S.). There is chatter from London, host of the 2012 Olympic Games and the 1934 British Empire Games – as the event was known – about hosting, but no commitments as yet.

Canada had been a favorite to host the 2030 Games, as Hamilton, Ontario was the site of the first British Empire Games in 1930. Now, back to the drawing board.

Observed: Any new bid for 2026 or 2030 will be interesting to review in terms of the number of sports proposed. The Commonwealth Games from 1930 to 1994 never had more than 10 sports and only reached 20 at Birmingham (ENG) in 2022. The only required sports are athletics and swimming; the current recommendation from the CGF is for 15 sports, a number which was last seen at the 1998 CWG in Kuala Lumpur (MAS).

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Archery ● A stunning outcome at the World Archery Championships in Berlin (GER), with surprises in both the men’s and women’s Recurve – Olympic – division.

The men’s title had been won by a Korean in 13 of the last 15 Worlds and a Korean had medaled in 14 of those 15. But no Koreans advanced even to the semis, and Olympic champ Mete Gazoz and Canadian upstart Eric Peters made it to the final. Gazoz won his first individual World Championships medal with a 6-4 win (27-28, 30-28, 28-24, 28-30, 29-28), as did Peters. Brazil’s Marcus D’Almeida, the 2021 silver medalist, won the bronze.

Korean women had won 11 of the last 17 individual world titles, but had won a medal in 18 of the last 19 Worlds. They were stopped in Berlin in the quarterfinals, as all three Korean entries lost; instead, U.S. star Casey Kaufhold (still 19), Mexico’s Alejandra Valencia, Czech Marie Horackova and Satsuki Noda (JPN) advanced. Horackova shut out Noda in her semi, 6-0, and Valencia finally overcome Kaufhold, 10-9, in a shoot-out. Horackova won the final, 6-0 (29-28, 28-27, 29-27) for her first Worlds individual medal; it was also the first for Valencia. Noda won the bronze over Kaufhold, 6-2.

In the Recurve team events, the outcome was more in line with tradition. South Korea was the defending champion in all three and triumphed again in the Mixed Team, with Woo-jin Kim and Si-hyeon Lim defeating Germany’s Michelle Kroppen and Florian Unruh, 5-1 (38-36, 38-37, 36-36). Italy edged Chinese Taipei, 5-3, for the bronze.

The U.S. duo of Brady Ellison and Kaufhold were eliminated in the quarterfinals. The Koreans are the only country to win the Mixed Team Worlds gold, now in seven straight Worlds since it debuted in 2011.

The Koreans also repeated in the men’s Team event, winning with a trio of Je-deok Kim, W-j Kim and Woo-seok Lee, dispatching Turkey in the final by 6-2 (56-54, 55-56, 56-55, 57-52). Japan won the bronze over Italy, 6-2. The U.S. was eliminated in the round-of-16.

Korean women had won 12 of the last 17 Worlds Team golds, but were stunned by Indonesia, 5-3, in the round-of-16. Instead, it was Germany’s Katharina Bauer, Kroppen and Charline Schwarz that swept to victory, defeating Spain, 5-1, the U.S., 5-3, and Mexico, 6-0, in the semis. In the final, the Germans edged France, 5-3 (53-53, 55-52, 50-58, 57-56) to win

Mexico rebounded to defeated the Netherlands, 5-3, for the bronze. It was the first German medal in this event since a bronze in 1999!

● Cycling ● Another environmental protest stopped the men’s road race at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow (SCO), but the blockage was cleared and Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel raced away from the field in rainy conditions for his first Worlds medal.

The 271.1 km course from Edinburgh to Glasgow featured a climb in the first third, but then a fairly flat course with a 10-lap finish in Glasgow on Sunday. A group called This Is Rigged claimed responsibility for the stoppage, which lasted for about 50 minutes before being cleared; five were arrested.

After the re-start, various attacks failed, then Italy’s Alberto Bettiol took off with 55 km left and had a lead of 40 seconds with three laps left (43 km). He is finally caught by four riders with 22 km left, but then van der Poel kept going and no one could stay with him.

He crashed on a wet corner, but got up and continued without further incident with a 30-second lead going into the final lap that he extended to 1:37 at the finish with an end time of 6:07:27. Belgian Wout van Aert was second, followed by two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar (SLO: +1:45) and Danish sprinter Mads Pedersen (+1:45). Neilson Powless was the top American, in 11th (+4:20).

The win is the first Worlds medal for van der Poel and highlights a sensational season in which he has also won the famed Monument races Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix. His best prior finish in a Worlds was eighth in 2021.

At the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the track cycling championships was another showcase for American star Jennifer Valente.

The Tokyo Olympic Omnium champ, 28, won her sixth career World Championships gold with a victory in the women’s Scratch race, holding off Maike van der Duin (NED) at the line, with Michaela Drummond (NZL) third.

Valente had been close to winning this race, after a silver in the 2020 Worlds and a bronze in 2021. She now has a full set of medals; she’s the defending champion in the upcoming Omnium.

And she added a 16th career Worlds medal on Sunday with her third straight bronze in the Elimination Race, won by Belgian road star Lotte Kopecky, who won her second straight Elimination Worlds gold.

Germany’s Emma Hinze won her second gold of 2023, moving from second in 2022 to first in the women’s 500 m Time Trial, timing 32.820 to 32.956 for Kristina Clonan (AUS) and 33.134 for fellow German Lea Friedrich. It’s Hinze’s eighth career Worlds win.

The women’s Keirin was a victory for New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews, the Tokyo 2022 silver medalist, who beat Colombia’s Martha Bayona to the line. It’s Bayona’s second Worlds medal in this race, but first in six years! Germany’s Friedrich was third, winning her third medal so far.

The men’s Team Sprint went to the Netherlands, led by Tokyo Olympic Sprint winner Harrie Lavreysen, with Roy van den Berg and Jeffrey Hoogland. They barely beat Australia, 41.647 to 41.682 in the final, with France third over Great Britain, 42.583 to 42.946.

For the Dutch trio, it’s their fourth World title together, also in 2019-2020-2021, and second in 2022. For Lavreysen, it’s his fifth Team Sprint gold, also in 2018.

Great Britain (women) and Denmark (men) won the Team Pursuit titles, with the British easily defeating New Zealand in the final, 4:08.771 to 4:13.313. The British won this event for the first time since 2014, with Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Josie Knight and Anna Morris riding, and Archibald and Barker were on that winning 2014 team in Cali (COL)! In fact, the British women have medaled in this event in six straight Worlds and 15 of the 16 times it has been held!

France won the bronze; the U.S. was eliminated by New Zealand and finished sixth.

The Danish men were also decisive winners, beating Italy by 3:45.161 to 3:47.396, with Niklas Larsen, Carl-Fredrik Bevort, Lasse Norman Leth and Rasmus Pedersen aboard. It’s the seventh medal in this event for Leth (2-1-4), the fourth for Pedersen (2-0-2) and fourth for Larsen (1-1-2)! New Zealand overtook Australia to take the bronze.

On Sunday, two-time World Road Time Trial winner Filippo Ganna (ITA) won the men’s Individual Pursuit over Daniel Bigham (GBR), 4:01.796 to 4:02.030, for his sixth Worlds gold in the event (2016-18-19-20-22-23).

Portugal’s Iuri Leitao surprised in the men’s Omnium, winning over two-time World Champion Benjamin Thomas (FRA), 187 to 185, with Japan’s Shunsuke Imamura third (173). Leitao won the Scratch and Tempo races and was second in the Elimination Race.

The Track Worlds continue through Wednesday.

● Sport Climbing ● The IFSC World Championships in Bern (SUI) was another showcase for Slovenian star – and Olympic champ – Janja Garnbret of Slovenia.

She won her third career Worlds gold in women’s Bouldering by being the only one to achieve four tops (4T4Z 4/4), with France’s Oranie Bertone second (3T4Z 7/4) and American Brooke Raboutou third (2T4Z 2/11).

Defending champ Natalia Grossman of the U.S. was fifth (1T1Z 1/9). Said the winner:

“The boulders were tricky, so it was easy to fall, but today I was ‘the right Janja,’ as I like to call it, where I was in my own world and my own bubble. I didn’t hear or see anything because I was just in the present moment and just enjoying myself on the wall, so I didn’t doubt that I would fall once because I was just climbing and enjoying.”

France’s Mickael Mawrem, 33, won the men’s Bouldering title (3T4Z 8/12) – the first from France to do it – leading a 1-2 finish with countryman Mejdi Schalck (2T4Z 5/10). Mawrem had been fourth in Boulder at the 2016 Worlds, but 11th, 23rd and 11th since then.

In the Lead finals, defending champ Jakob Schubert, 32, of Austria won his fourth career Worlds gold at 48+, adding to his wins in 2012-18-21. Japan’s 16-year old rising star Soraku Anraku was a close second at 48, followed by Germany’s 2019 silver winner Alexander Megos (40). American Sean Bailey was seventh (30+).

Japan’s Ai Mori moved from bronze at the 2019 Worlds to gold in 2023 in the women’s final, reaching the top, as did two-time winner Garnbret, but Mori won the title on the basis of a better semi-final performance, 52 holds to 47.

Korea’s Chae-hyun Seo was third (47+) and Raboutou of the U.S. was fifth (39+).

Competition continues through the 12th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● Some strong marks at the Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis, Tennessee on Friday and Saturday, including a 12.43 heat win for Olympic women’s 100 m hurdles champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico.

She took her heat in that fast time (wind: +0.8 m/s) over Masai Russell of the U.S. (12.50) and Jamaica’s Danielle Williams (12.54), but skipped the final. American Alaysha Johnson won in 12.49 (+0.2), ahead of Russell (12.52) and Tia Jones (12.59).

The sprints saw 2022 Worlds men’s 100 m silver medalist Marvin Bracy-Williams win his heat in 9.93 (-0.1) and the final in 9.96 (0.0) ahead of Oblique Seville (JAM: 9.98) and Christian Coleman (10.03). Tokyo Olympic 200 m winner Andre De Grasse (CAN) won the 200 m in 20.19 (-0.2).

Jamaica’s Antonio Watson won the men’s 400 m in 44.69, beating 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James (GRN: 44.92) and Justin Robinson of the U.S. (45.09). A fast 1,500 m saw Henry Wynne of the U.S. win in 3:34.67, beating Johnny Gregorek (3:35.04) and Vincent Ciattei (3:35.55).

The famous street pole vault was won by two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks at 5.82 m (19-1) over Chris Nilsen on misses, with American Record holder KC Lightfoot back from injury and third at 5.62 m (18-5 1/4). Two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs won the shot at 21.72 m (71-3 1/4), ahead of a lifetime best from Adrian Piperi of 21.67 m (71-1 1/4).

The top women’s sprint mark was Aleia Hobbs’ win in 11.11 (+0.5), and it was interesting to see sprinter Jenna Prandini winning the Open 400 m in 51.86, a lifetime best. Alexis Holmes of the U.S. won the Pro 400 in 50.32, also a lifetime best, and no. 20 on the 2023 world list.

Emerging U.S. stars Addy Wiley (1:59.00) and Dani Jones (4:02.83) won the women’s 800 and 1,500 m races, and they were 1-2 in Friday’s road mile, with Wiley winning, 4:37.7 to 4:39.8.

U.S. women’s shot champ Maggie Ewen won the shot at 19.17 m (62-10 3/4), over Canada’s Sarah Mitton (19.02 m/62-5). Well down the list, but noteworthy, was a lifetime best from heptathlete Anna Hall at 14.20 m (46-7 1/4).

● Badminton ● A long-awaited win for American Beiwen Zhang at the BWF World Tour Level 500 Australia Open in Sydney!

Zhang, 33, got to her sixth World Tour final – and third this year – facing Korea’s Ga-eun Kim and after four championship match losses in a row, triumphed by 20-22, 21-16, 21-8 and won her second career World Tour gold, and first in five years.

“It means a lot. I feel touched because today is exactly two years since my surgery [after her Achilles rupture in 2021 at the Tokyo Games]. I feel so emotional right now. I didn’t really think about winning, I just kept telling myself one by one. I was tired and my leg didn’t have enough power but I managed to stay patient.”

Zhang remains the only American ever to win a BWF World Tour event, with the circuit now in its sixth season.

China claimed two wins, with Hong Yang Weng taking the men’s Singles title over H.S. Prannoy (IND), 21-9, 21-23, 22-20, and Yan Zhe Feng and Dong Ping Huang winning in Mixed Doubles by 21-14, 16-21, 21-15 against Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito (JPN).

South Korea won the men’s and women’s Doubles, with Min Hyuk Kang and Seung Jae Seo taking the men’s final by 21-17, 21-17 over Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi (JPN), and So Yeong Kim and Hee Yong Kong sweeping Sheng Shu Liu and Ning Tan (CHN), 21-18, 21-16.

● Cycling ● While the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow has most of the attention of the cycling world, the UCI World Tour was rolling on with the 80th Tour de Pologne, which came down to a final-day showdown.

Slovenia’s Matej Mohoric and Portuguese star Joao Almeida , the 2021 winner and third at the Giro d’Italia this year, were in a duel since Mohoric took the lead with a win in the second stage. His lead over Almeida was never more than 12 seconds – after Stage 5 – but closed up to nothing after the sixth-stage Individual Time Trial. Almeida was second to Mattia Cattaneo (ITA) by 13 seconds, but Mohoric was 11th, 25 seconds back.

So Saturday’s final stage, a fairly flat, 166.6 km course from Zabrze to Krakow, was going to be a mass sprint at the finish, with both Mohoric and Almeida virtually assured of getting the same time. So the real race came down to an intermediate sprint at 139.5 km for a bonus point, won by Mohoric … and that was the difference.

The sprint at the end was won by Belgium’s Tim Merlier – who also won the opening stage – in 3:28:44, ahead of Arvid de Kleijn (NED) and Fernando Gaviria (COL). Mohoric finished 29th and Almeida was 35th.

It’s a big win for Mohoric, 28, who was the 2022 Milan-Sanremo winner and won the BinckBank Tour back in 2018.

● Diving ● China won 12 of 13 events at the recent World Aquatics Championships in Japan, and continued its dominance at the World Cup Super Final in Berlin (GER), winning all eight events it entered.

Zongyuan Wang repeated his World Championships result as the men’s 3m Springboard champ, beating Moritz Wesemann (GER), 540.60 to 464.15, with American Andrew Capobianco third (425.50).

World Champions Wang and Daoyi Long won the men’s 3 m Synchro title easily, scoring 451.44 to best Anthony Harding and Jordan Houlden (GBR: 395.40); Harding was on the British silver medal team in Fukuoka.

China’s Worlds bronze winner in the 10 m Platform, Hao Yang, won in Berlin, scoring 537.24 to rout the field. Ukraine’s Oleksii Sereda was second (480.45) and American Brandon Loschiavo was fifth (458.40); Australia’s Worlds winner, Cassiel Rousseau, finished sixth (457.15).

World Champions Junjie Lian and Yang repeated as the winner of the 10 m Synchro final, 471.00 to 411.84 over Worlds fifth-placers Domonic Bedggood and Rousseau of Australia; the U.S. duo of Zach Cooper and Maxwell Flory finished sixth (368.67).

World Champion Yiwen Chen won a tight battle in the women’s 3 m Springboard against Japan’s Sayaka Mikami (JPN), 344.15 to 342.60, with Worlds runner-up Yani Chang third (318.50). Mikami was only seventh at Worlds, but posted an excellent score, and Chen’s score in the final was down by 15 points from Fukuoka. Americans Sarah Bacon (309.55) and Hailey Hernandez (291.60) finished fifth and sixth.

World Champions Chen and Chang won the women’s 3 m Synchro in a relatively close contest with Mia Vallee and Pamela Ware of Canada, 311.19 to 286.20. The American duo of Bacon and Kassidy Cook finished third at 284.52.

China’s Yuxi Chen repeated her win from Fukuoka in the women’s 10 m Platform, scoring 420.30 to best teammate Hongchan Quan (408.10), with Britain’s Andrea Spendolini Sireix third at 330.90. Nike Agunbiade of the U.S. was 12th (255.20).

World Champions Chen and Quan also repeated as winners of the 10 m Synchro: 362.76 to 288.00 over Caeli McKay and Kate Miller of Canada. Agunbiade and Jessica Parratto of the U.S. finished fourth (275.04).

The Chinese did not contest the Mixed Team competition, won by Canada at 395.50, followed by Australia (390.70) and Great Britain (387.95). The U.S. team of Cooper, Agunbiade, Loschiavo and Hernandez was fourth at 382.65.

● Gymnastics ● China swept the individual titles at the Trampoline World Cup in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The 2022 World Championships bronze medalist Yicheng Hu (CHN) took the men’s Trampoline final at 56.740, ahead of Rio 2016 silver winner Bryony Page (GBR: 55.990) and Tokyo Olympic champ Xueying Zhu (CHN: 55.910)

Emerging star Zisai Wang (CHN), runner-up at the 2022 FIG Age Group Worlds, took the men’s title at 61.000, impressively ahead of reigning World Champion Dylan Schmidt (NZL: 59.710), with Britain’s Zak Perzamanos third at 59.390.

The U.S. duo of Nicole Ahsinger and Sarah Webster won the women’s Synchro at 48.550, beating Brazil’s Camilla and Alice Gomes (48.360). Japan’s Ryosuke Sakai and Hiroto Unno won the men’s Syncho, scoring 52.200.

● Judo ● The important Hungary Masters tournament in Budapest drew 419 judoka from 59 countries, including a powerful delegation from Japan, which dominated with 11 medals and four wins.

Two-time Worlds bronze medalist Ryujo Nagayama won the men’s 60 kg class, 21-year-old Ryoma Tanaka took the 66 kg division, and 2017 World Champion Soichi Hashimoto collected the gold at 73 kg.

The fourth win came in the women’s 48 kg class, with two-time Worlds medalist Wakana Koga winning over American Maria Laborde. That’s an important result for the U.S. and a stunning for Laborde, 33, born in Cuba and the Worlds bronze medalist in this class way back in 2014.

Laborde came to the U.S. soon after and did not compete again until 2022 and now made history as the first to win a Masters medal – this event is second only to the World Championships in importance – since Travis Stevens and Kayla Harrison won Masters titles in 2016. Harrison won the Olympic title in the women’s 78 kg class and Stevens won silver at 81 kg.

In the men’s division, Belgium’s 2021 World Champion Matthias Casse won at 81 kg, Tokyo Olympic champ Lasha Bekauri (GEO) won at 90 kg, 2022 World Champion Muzaffarbek Turoboyev (UZB) took the 100 kg class and Finland’s Martti Puumalainen, 26, scored his major international medal with the gold in the +100 kg final.

France scored two wins in the women’s classes, with Tokyo silver medalist Amandine Buchard winning at 52 kg over Olympic 48 kg champ Distria Krasniqi (KOS), and 2022 World Champion Romane Dicko taking the +78 kg title.

Canada’s 2021 World Champion Jessica Klimkait won at 57 kg, Tokyo Olympic bronze winner Sanne van Dijke (NED) won the 70 kg division and 2023 World Champion Inbar Lanir charged through the 78 kg class for one of three Israeli medals.

● Swimming ● The much-anticipated World Aquatics Open Water World Cup IV in the River Seine in Paris had to be canceled. Per World Aquatics:

“Following recent above-average rainfall in Paris, the water quality in the Seine has remained below acceptable standards for safeguarding swimmers’ health. Consequently, World Aquatics, in consultation with public health authorities and event delivery partners, has cancelled the Open Water Swimming World Cup planned for this weekend.”

World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam (KUW) added:

“World Aquatics understands that further infrastructure projects will be completed to significantly improve water quality in the Seine in the lead-up to next year’s Olympic Games. World Aquatics remains excited at the prospect of city-centre Olympic racing for the world’s best open water swimmers next summer. Based on this weekend, it is clear that further work is needed with Paris 2024 and local authorities to ensure robust contingency plans are in place for next year.”

There was no indication of whether another test event would be scheduled.

● Triathlon ● Reports following the World Triathlon Championship Series event in Sunderland (GBR) on 29-30 July indicate that at least 57 competitors became ill (out of about 2,000) due to contamination in the water for the swim phase.

High E.coli levels were found in the water, and resulted in diarrhea and vomiting, with the UK Health Security Agency opening an inquiry and asking for anyone affected to contact them. British Triathlon released a statement that included:

“We are aware there are concerns around water quality results for a test taken on 26 July by the Environment Agency as part of their regular testing in the local area. These tests were taken outside of the Roker Pier arms and not in the body of water used for the swim …”

However, the federation said that two tests, taken on 20 July and 30 July in the competition area were taken and “passed the required standard to host the event.”

Water quality was an issue for the Tokyo 2020 organizers, and now the River Seine for 2024 was judged unacceptable for last weekend’s open-water swimming test event, due to heavy rains. The cleaning of the river to make it safe for swimming – banned since 1923 due to pollution – has been a headline project for the City of Paris, and now is going to continue to generate more headlines for months to come.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Germany out, Morocco in at Women’s World Cup, Nike bets big on USA Gymnastics, Mu in or out of 800 m at Worlds?

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. star Athing Mu after winning the women's 800 m at the 2022 World Championships (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Germany out, Morocco in to Women’s World Cup last 16
2. Africa finishes 5-0-2 in last seven; Europe still dominates
3. Nike boosts USA Gymnastics with 2023-28 sponsorship
4. U.S.’s Mu may not (or may still) run 800 m at Worlds
5. Germany’s Krueger rips FIE and IOC for Kharlan disqualification

The group stage ended with a bang at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, as debutante Morocco advanced to the knock-out round and Germany failed to make it for the first time. The oddsmakers now see England and Spain as the favorites, ahead of the U.S., to win the title. Statistics compiled by The Sports Examiner showed that Europe still dominated the group stage, with a 16-6-6 (W-L-T) record and eight teams advancing, with Africa (5-4-3) and Oceania (3-2-1) also posting winning records against other regions. Africa advanced three teams despite their four entries scoring a combined 14 goals and giving up 25. USA Gymnastics and Nike announced a five-year sponsorship deal, a critical validation of the renewed federation that has emerged from the Larry Nassar scandal. Olympic and World women’s 800 m champ Athing Mu of the U.S. may or may not run at the 2023 World Athletics Championships later this month in Budapest, according to her coach, Bobby Kersee. She might just skip it and continue to train for 2024; she’s run only twice this season. German fencer Lea Krueger, a member of the Athleten Deutschland executive committee, told German radio that many fencers were upset with the disqualification of Ukraine’s Olha Kharlan at the World Championships, and blamed the International Fencing Federation and the International Olympic Committee for the problems.

● World Championships: Cycling (U.S.’s Dygert opens track Worlds with another Pursuit gold) ●

● Panorama: Russia (CIS Games in Belarus to draw 2,214 athletes from 22 nations) = Transgender (British Rowing assigns transwomen to Open class) = Athletics (2: AIU touts importance of out-of-competition testing; Jerusalem ready to host European U-20s) = Fencing (U.S. Foil star Nicole Ross retires) = Modern Pentathlon (UIPM turns 75 as Schormann misuses Aristotle’s quote) ●

1.
Germany out, Morocco in to Women’s World Cup last 16

The shocks continued on the final day of the group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, as second-ranked Germany did not advance to the elimination round for the first time ever and Morocco – the darling of the men’s FIFA World Cup last year – will be in the knock-outs in its first Women’s World Cup appearance!

● Group H: South Korea 1, Germany 1 ● The Germans had crushed Morocco, but lost to Colombia, so had to win if Morocco unexpectedly beat Colombia … which it did.

And the Koreans made it harder with a great chance by American-born, 16-year-old Casey Phair in the second minute that hit the goal post, and then a pass through the box by midfielder Young-ju Lee from 35 yards away found breaking midfielder So-hyun Cho in the box, who scored in the sixth minute with a right-footed, diagonal finish.

Sure, the Germans controlled possession, but the shots were hard to come by against a packed-in defense. In the 42nd, a long ball from the right side by defender Svenja Huth found striker Lea Schueller and midfield scoring ace Alexandra Popp two-on-two in front of the Korean goal and Popp headed it in for the tie at halftime.

Popp got another shot with a header in the 59th on another Huth cross, but this time hit the crossbar! Popp’s header in the 74th was saved and – knowing that Morocco was beating Colombia late – the Germans applied heavy pressure in stoppage time, with two blasts from substitute midfielder Sydney Lohmann going wide. Germany finished with 71% possession and 14-5 on shots, but they are going home.

● Group H: Morocco 1, Colombia 0 ● The Colombians looked great in wins over South Korea (2-0) and Germany (2-1), but could not score against a feisty and fast Morocco, despite 60 % possession in the game.

Morocco had only scored one goal in its two games, but was on offense right away, with a good chance in the opening minute from striker Ibtissam Jraidi was saved. But the pivot point came in stoppage time, as Colombian defender Daniela Arias pushed Jraidi to the ground at 45+2 for a penalty.

Ghizlane Cheddak’s penalty was saved by Colombian keeper Catalina Perez, but bounced to the right of goal and a cross to the middle of the box by defender Sakina Ouzroui found striker Anissa Lahmari, who finished for the 1-0 lead at 45+4.

The Colombians were game, making repeated runs in the second half and just missing chances in the 58th and especially in the 62nd, when striker Mayra Ramirez’s rising shot at the right side of the goal hit the post and bounced away.

Colombia out-shot Morocco, 11-8, and both move on to the elimination round, where they could meet again in the semifinals.

Of the 32 teams that started on 20 July, only Japan, England and Sweden won all three of their games. As for the knock-out round, it’s now set to start on Saturday:

Top half:
● 5 Aug.: Switzerland vs. Spain in Auckland
● 6 Aug.: Netherlands vs. South Africa in Sydney
● 5 Aug.: Japan vs. Norway in Wellington
● 6 Aug.: Sweden vs. U.S. in Melbourne

Bottom half:
● 7 Aug.: Australia vs. Denmark in Sydney
● 8 Aug.: France vs. Morocco in Adelaide
● 7 Aug.: England vs. Nigeria in Brisbane
● 8 Aug.: Jamaica vs. Colombia in Melbourne

The championship match will be on 20 August in Sydney.

The sharpies have substantially re-arranged the lines now that the group stage is done, but the U.S. is still highly thought of:

● +250 to +300: England
● +400 to +470: Spain
● +450 to +470: United States
● +650 to +800: France
● +750 to +850: Japan
● +900 to +1,100: Netherlands
● +1,000 to +1,300: Australia
● +1,800 to +2,000: Sweden
● +3,000 to +4,400: Colombia
● +5,000 to +10,000: Norway
● +8,000 to +15,000: Denmark
● +8,000 to +15,000: Nigeria
● +10,000 to +20,000: Switzerland
● +15,000 to +20,000: Jamaica
● +25,000 to +30,000: South Africa
● +25,000 to +50,000: Morocco

As for the U.S. and Sweden on Sunday, the American women are favored at +110 to +120, while the Swedes are clearly the underdog at +240 to +260 (a +260 bet means a wager of $100 that wins returns $260).

If the eyeshades are right, it would be Spain and the U.S. in one semi and England and France in the other.

2.
Africa finishes 5-0-2 in last seven; Europe still dominates

A fabulous finishing run by African teams pushed three teams into the Round-of-16, second-best to Europe among all the regions in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

African teams started 0-4-1, then stormed to a 5-0-2 (W-L-T) in their final four matches and qualified Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco for the elimination round. Two qualified in 2019 and one in 2015, and makes Africa the emerging star of the tournament going into the knock-outs, despite a -11 cumulative goal differential.

In statistics compiled by The Sports Examiner, you can compare how the regions did against each other, with Europe once again dominant, and Asia, CONCACAF and South America (!) all having losing records:

Africa: 4 teams/3 advanced
● 5-4-3 (W-L-T)
● Goals: 14-25
● Shots: 117-201
● On Goal: 45-66
● Possess.: 36% on average

Asia: 5 teams/1 advanced
● 5-9-1
● Goals: 15-31
● Shots: 127-257
● On Goal: 46-83
● Possess.: 38% on average

Europe: 12 teams/8 advanced
● 16-6-6
● Goals: 60-21
● Shots: 467-243
● On Goal: 168-74
● Possess.: 64% on average
(4 Europe vs. Europe games not included)

North & Central America, Caribbean: 6 teams/2 advanced
● 2-9-5
● Goals: 10-28
● Shots: 174-259
● On Goal: 47-100
● Possess.: 43% on average
(1 intra-CONCACAF match not included)

Oceania: 2 teams/1 advanced
● 3-2-1
● Goals: 8-4
● Shots: 91-51
● On Goal: 25-15
● Possess.: 56% on average

South America: 3 teams/1 advanced
● 3-4-2
● Goals: 11-9
● Shots: 122-87
● On Goal: 39-32
● Possess.: 54% on average

Only the European, Oceanian and South American teams had positive goal differentials through the group stage. But the African teams were 5-4-3 with a 14-25 goals-against total. Defense wins.

At the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, European teams were 7-1 in the round-of-16 and produced seven of eight quarterfinalists and three of the four semifinalists.

Fox Sports reported that the U.S. vs. Portugal final group-stage match that began at 3 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday drew an average of 1.354 million viewers in the middle of the night.

The audience peaked at 1.731 million from 4:45 to 5:00 a.m. Eastern, near the end of the match, with Kansas City, Austin and Detroit the top markets for the telecast.

No word from Telemundo on its Spanish-language audience.

The U.S.-Vietnam opener drew 6.263 million viewers on the two networks combined, and the U.S.-Netherlands match did 6.430 million on Fox and another 1.371 million for Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Universo (7.801 million combined).

The Round-of-16 game against Sweden is another early start, from Melbourne, at 5 a.m. Eastern on Sunday.

3.
Nike boosts USA Gymnastics with 2023-28 sponsorship

The long road back for USA Gymnastics from the Larry Nassar abuse scandal and its bankruptcy proceeding that was finally closed in 2022 took a turn into the sunshine on Thursday with the announcement of a major sponsorship from Nike that will run from 2023-28.

This is Nike’s first sponsorship as the “Official Apparel and Footwear Partner of USA Gymnastics and the USA Gymnastics National Team,” and was described as the largest partnership in the history of the federation:

“Starting in 2023 and extending through the 2028 Olympic Games, in L.A., Nike will manufacture and produce all sportswear and footwear for the USA Gymnastics National Teams. In 2025, the partnership will expand to include National Team leotards and competition apparel on mat at international events and National Team camps, marking the first time the Nike Swoosh will adorn USA Gymnastics leotards.”

Nike’s Karie Conner, Vice President and General Manager, North America Kids, spoke about the sponsorship’s focus on children, much more than the national team:

“The USA Gymnastics partnership represents Nike’s commitment to expand sport for the next generation. Together we’re providing opportunities for all kids to experience the joy of movement – and the confidence it builds – from their first forward roll to first back handspring and beyond. We’re outfitting USA Gymnastics National Teams and championing fun at every level of gymnastics to spark a love of movement, especially for girls, because movement is fundamental to all sports.”

The announcement is a major validation of USA Gymnastics, just in time for this weekend’s CoreHydration Classic in the Chicago area and the national championships and World Championships selection meet in San Jose, California at the end of this month.

4.
U.S.’s Mu may not (or may still) run 800 m at Worlds

The story of Olympic and World 800 m Champion Athing Mu continues to twist without end.

Her coach, Bobby Kersee, told the Los Angeles Times:

“It’s in our control if we decide we’re just going to go ahead and train through this year and focus on next year, then that’s what we’re going to do.

“The training is going well but our thought process, openly, is that we’re going to just train here in L.A. for the next two weeks and the next time she gets on the plane it’ll either be on vacation or to Budapest.”

Mu had been entered in the 400 m at the Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis this weekend, but withdrew.

Mu finished second in the women’s 1,500 m at the USATF National Championships in Eugene, qualifying for the U.S. team, but withdrew from that slot, allowing Sinclaire Johnson to take her place in Budapest.

As for the 800 m at Worlds, Mu’s presence or not has no impact on the U.S. team, as she has a direct entry as the defending champion, and three other Americans qualified at the USATF Champs.

Observed: Truth is, Mu hasn’t run much since leaving Texas A&M following her all-conquering Olympic season in 2021:

2022: 10 meets
(coached by Milton Mallard at Texas A&M)
● Indoor: Mile x 2
● Outdoor: 400 m x2
● Outdoor: 600 m x 2
● Outdoor: 800 m x 4

2023: 2 meets
(coached by Bobby Kersee)
● Outdoor: 800 m x 1
● Outdoor: 1,500 m x 1

That’s it. There are lots of reasons not to run, such as undisclosed injuries, physical or mental fatigue, issues that have nothing to do with track, and so on.

What her possible withdrawal does show, once again, is how important the Olympic Games are in track & field and how everything else – including the World Athletics Championships – is secondary.

Only one woman – South Africa’s Caster Semenya – has ever won back-to-back Olympic 800 m titles. But three have done at the Worlds: Semenya, Maria Mutola (MOZ) and Cuba’s Anna Quirot.

The Olympics matters; everything else, not so much.

5.
Germany’s Krueger rips FIE and IOC for Kharlan disqualification

German Sabre fencer Lea Krueger, who is also an executive committee member of the Athleten Deutschland, spoke to Deutschlandfunk (German Radio) on the failure of the Federation Internationale de Escrime (FIE) and the International Olympic Committee concerning the disqualification of Ukraine’s four-time World Champion Olha Kharlan at last week’s World Fencing Championships in Milan (ITA):

Noting that Kharlan offered Russian Anna Smirnova her Sabre for a post-match touch instead of a handshake – both a salute and a handshake are called for in the FIE rules – Krueger noted (computer translation from the original German):

“Basically a compromise solution. And she also thought that the Corona rules are still in force [which allowed a weapons touch, not a handshake]. There have been rumors as to whether they are still in effect or not. That didn’t go down well with us fencers. And she also had the go-ahead from the president of the International Federation, who said we would find a solution. But none of that worked.

“There was a very clear sign in the fencing community that this is going too far and that the rules shouldn’t just be interpreted on the basis of the wording.”

As for the situation the FIE found itself in:

“We are the ones who have to deal with the situations now. The International Federations are a bit overwhelmed in this regard because there was not enough time to implement the IOC recommendations [of 28 March]. They are not clearly defined and it is difficult for our International Federation to deal with them because they want to implement this recommendation, but nobody knows how.”

And the future?

“If you want Russians and Ukrainians to start together in Paris [in 2024], there must be ways to make it bearable for the Ukrainian athletes. And then it is no longer a matter of interpreting the wording of any rules, but there must be rules that protect Ukrainian athletes in these situations and not only allow Russian athletes to re-enter world sports.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Cycling ● The U.S. scored a gold at the track on the opening day of the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, with Chloe Dygert dominating the competition.

She led the qualifying, 3:17.713 to 3:20.101 over Germany’s defending champ Franziska Brausse and the two then raced for the title, with Dygert overtaking Brausse to win in 3:17:542. Dygert, 26, won her fourth Pursuit Worlds gold, previously in 2017-18-20; too bad it’s not an Olympic event. It’s her eighth career Track Worlds gold, now four each in the individual and team pursuit events.

Britain’s William Tidball, 23, won the men’s Scratch Race, ahead of Kazushige Kuboki (JPN) and Tuur Dens (BEL); Grant Koontz of the U.S. did not finish.

Favored Germany won the women’s Team Sprint, with Pauline Grabosch, Emma Hinze and Lea Friedrich winning a pitched battle with Great Britain to win in world-record time of 45.848 to 45.923 (+0.75). China took the bronze over the Netherlands.

It’s the fourth straight win in the Team Sprint for Germany and Friedrich and Hinze, and the fifth career gold in the event for Grabosch (also in 2018)!

The Cycling Worlds continue through the 13th.

(Thanks to Olympedia.com co-founder Dr. Bill Mallon for a reminder that the Individual Pursuit is not on the Olympic program for Paris 2024.)

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Russia ● Actually, this is about the II Commonwealth of Independent States Games – CIS Games – in Belarus, the first of the anti-Olympic Movement events being staged by Russia or its wartime ally Belarus.

The competition runs from 4-14 August across 11 cities and according to the Belarus First Deputy Sport and Tourism Minister Alexander Dorokhovich, “As of today, 2,214 athletes from 22 countries have registered to participate in 2nd CIS Games.”

The CIS was formed in 1991 following the break-up of the USSR and includes eight former Soviet Republics Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, with Turkmenistan as an associate member. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia were part of the group in the 1990s, but have left.

● Transgender ● British Rowing announced its revised competition eligibility policy and followed the model used by British Cycling in May. Per the statement:

“1. Open Category

“● All individuals will be eligible to compete in the Open category.

“2. Women’s Category

“● Only individuals who are assigned female at birth will be eligible to compete in competitions under British Rowing’s jurisdiction and/or be selected to represent Great Britain, or England, in international events.

“3. Mixed Category

“● Competition organisers can offer Mixed Events at any level of competition, providing 50% of crew are eligible from the women’s category stated above.”

The new policy will go into effect on 11 September 2023; the announcement also included:

“Our policy has been developed following extensive and ongoing research and consultation with stakeholders, the rowing community, academics, and other relevant organisations, and NGBs since 2021 and is based on the scientific evidence available at this time. The eligibility requirements of World Rowing, our international federation, have also been considered in the context of our decisions.”

In the detailed policy statement itself, the federation notes:

“The scientific research examining whether those retained physiological/biological advantages translate into a retained sporting performance advantage for Transgender women post transition (compared with pre-transition and/or Cis women) strongly challenges the idea that testosterone suppression alone sufficiently removes the retained sporting performance advantage of Transwomen (when compared with pre-transition and/or Cis women).

“In addition, the scientific community broadly agrees that the majority of the physiological/biological advantages brought about by male puberty are retained (either wholly or partially) by Transwomen post transition.”

The policy applies only to competitive rowing and does not impact recreational programs.

● Athletics ● Athletics Integrity Unit Chair David Howman (NZL) shared the group’s out-of-competition testing statistics and underlined the importance of the tests:

“Approximately 500 elite track-and-field athletes are selected each year on AIU’s [Registered Testing Pool]. Given the predictability of in-competition testing, the AIU’s emphasis is on OOC testing for RTP athletes and, wherever they reside or train, these competitors are tested regularly OOC by the AIU.

“No-notice testing is a critical component in mitigating doping by catching sophisticated cheaters and deterring would-be cheaters. Otherwise, doping can be done prior to competition, be undetectable during the event, but still have a significant impact on an athlete’s performance.”

Howman also addressed the widely-questioned number of tests per athlete, which varies widely from country to country:

“An event like the World Championships is huge, with almost 2,000 competitors, many of whom would not have been in any testing pool and therefore not subject to OOC testing. Consequently, a third of the 1,719 athletes in Eugene [in 2022] had zero OOC tests in the ten months prior to the event. However, this number drops dramatically to just six per cent for the top-eight finishers (the finalists) in individual events.

“Another key finding was that only 39% of the athletes had three or more OOC tests, but this number rises to 81% for the top-eight finishers. In fact, top-eight athletes averaged 4.8 OOC tests in the lead-up to the World Championships.”

The AIU’s statistics showed that for the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, the 142-member U.S. team was tested a combined 530 times out-of-competition, an average of 3.73 per athlete. That was sixth-most among all nations, behind Ethiopia (8.03), China (6.20), Kenya (5.93). Morocco (4.93) and Germany (3.82).

You wouldn’t think of Jerusalem, Israel as a favored track & field venue, but for the second year in a row, it will play host to a major European Athletics age-group championship, the U20, from 7-10 August.

The 3,165-seat Givat Ram Stadium on the campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will be the venue once again, which also hosted the 2022 European U-18 Championships. A total of 1,159 athletes from 44 countries are entered, who will all – no doubt – be welcomed by the Israel Tourism Ministry to plan return trips.

● Fencing ● American foil fencer Nicole Ross, 34, announced her retirement with an Instagram post on Thursday, a two-time Olympian who won three World Championships medals during her career.

Ross made the 2012 and 2020 U.S. Olympic teams, and was a member of World Championships Team event medal winners in 2017 (silver), 2018 (gold) and 2019 (bronze). She said she was inspired to get into the sport after seeing The Princess Bride when she was nine. She started her retirement post with:

“For the past 2 years, I’ve been privately and quietly saying goodbye, but today I am making my retirement from competitive sport official. Goodbyes like this are especially tough, but I’m leaving at peace, and with huge amounts of gratitude.”

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) celebrated its 75th anniversary on Thursday (3rd), remembering its formation in 1948, following the London Olympic Games.

The sport had been run since its introduction in 1912 by the International Olympic Committee through a designated commission. The UIPM added the winter sport of Biathlon in 1953, with a separate federation – the International Biathlon Union – founded in 1993.

UIPM President Klaus Schormann (GER), who has led the move from riding to obstacle course racing in a bid to get the sport back onto the Olympic program for 2028, was quoted in the federation’s salute to the anniversary saying:

“I quote Aristotle: ‘The most perfect sportsmen are the pentathletes because in their bodies, strength and speed are combined in beautiful harmony’.”

The only problem with Schormann’s use of the quote is that the pentathlon in the time of Aristotle in the fourth century B.C.E. included the long jump, javelin, discus, a 200 m race – all track & field events – and wrestling. Only the running element has remained in the modern Olympic pentathlon, a clear misappropriation of the Greek philosopher’s observation, especially among those who know.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Sweden sweeps Women’s World Cup group stage, U.S. next; hammer star Berry suspended for doping; Biles returns to mats Saturday

By
Rich Perelman
-
Back in action: the iconic Simone Biles! (Photo: USA Gymnastics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Sweden now 3-0 in Women’s World Cup, gets U.S. next
2. Hammer star Berry hit with 16-month doping suspension
3. Biles, Lee and more return to competition in CoreHydration Classic
4. Massive World Cycling Championships start in Glasgow
5. World University Games open, Russian copy coming 19 August

Sweden became only the third team to go through the group stage undefeated at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and finished off Argentina, 2-0, moving on to the elimination round to play the U.S. on Sunday in Melbourne. France won Group F, but shocking results advanced Jamaica – instead of Brazil – and South Africa, a 3-2 winner over Italy. The knock-outs begin on Saturday. Former American Record holder in the women’s hammer Gwen Berry was suspended by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for 16 months for a doping positive caused by a prescription medication for which she had not received a Therapeutic Use Exemption. The ban will keep her from competing for the U.S. team for the 2024 Olympic Games. The annual USA Gymnastics CoreHydration Classic in the Chicago area this weekend will feature the return of the iconic Simone Biles and Tokyo Olympic All-Around champ Suni Lee to competition, among other medal winners. The cycling world is all gathered in Glasgow for the first all-discipline World Cycling Championships, bringing together 13 disciplines in an attempt to see if a new mega-event can help expand cycling’s popularity. More than 200 individual world champions will be crowed at the senior and junior levels. The 31st World University Games has started in Chengdu, China, but will be followed by essentially a copycat event later this month hosted by Russia in Yekaterinburg, which was supposed to host in 2023, but had it withdrawn after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

● Panorama: Athletics (2: World Athletics and IOC supporting Ukraine for Budapest Worlds; Xiamen to replace Shenzhen on Diamond League calendar) = Cycling (new women’s cycling division formed by UCI) = Swimming (who won the most money at the Fukuoka Worlds?) ●

1.
Sweden now 3-0 in Women’s World Cup, gets U.S. next

Third-ranked Sweden completed its run through Group G at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, joining no. 11 Japan and no. 4 England with perfect, 3-0 records in group play after a 2-0 win over Argentina on Wednesday.

But there also shockers like Jamaica’s scoreless draw that put the Reggae Girlz into the elimination round for the first time and sent Brazil home, and South Africa moving on with a huge upset that ended the tournament for Italy.

● Group F: France 6, Panama 3 ● After Panama took the lead in the second minute, fifth-ranked France roared back for a 4-1 lead by halftime on the way to a 6-3 win in Sydney and first place in their group.

Striker Marta Cox scored Panama’s first goal in their first Women’s World Cup appearance on a fabulous free kick from 10 yards above the box that flew straight into the top-left corner of the French net just 1:09 into the game for the 1-0 lead. But France got even in the 21st as defender’s Maelle Lakrar’s header from the middle of the box was struck by Panamanian midfielder Deysire Sakazar and flew into the goal.

The striker Kadidiatou Diani got to work, scoring in the 28th off a loose ball in front of the goal that she lifted over the keeper for a 2-1 lead, then after a Panama hand-ball in the box, she scored on a penalty in the 37th. When midfielder Lea Le Garrec’s free kick sailed over the head of both defenders and her teammates and bounced into the net at 45+5, it was 4-1 and the issue was decided.

Diani got a hat trick in the 52nd on another penalty kick following a Panama hand-ball, but the Panamanians got one back with defender Yomira Pinzon scoring on a penalty in the 64th following a French foul in the box. At 5-2, Panama mounted another attack with forward Lineth Cedeno scoring in the 87th – 5-3 – off a long Pinzon free kick that hit the crossbar on a bounced and was headed in!

Finally, French defender Eve Perrisset sent a perfect cross to the mount of goal for midfielder Vicki Becho, who volleyed it into the far side of the net at 90+10 to finish the game. France had 72% of possession and had 26 shots to six for Panama, and won its group to move on. Panama finished 0-3.

● Group F: Jamaica 0, Brazil 0 ● The Jamaicans (1-0-1) could advance with a draw, but eighth-ranked Brazil (1-1) needed win to move on … and they didn’t get it.

Of course, the Brazilians dominated possession by 72-28% and had 18 shots to three, but could not score. Jamaican keeper Rebecca Spencer stopped a drive by defender Tamires in the 39th, and substitute defender Geyse missed a promising opportunity in the 82nd as her shot went wide. A final, desperate corner saw striker Debinha head the ball towards goal at 90+4, but Spencer made the save again to preserve the draw, and send Jamaica (1-0-2: 5) on to the round-of-16.

Brazil (1-1-1: 4) had not been eliminated in the group stage of the Women’s World Cup since 1995.

● Group G: Sweden 2, Argentina 0 ● The Swedes had been thoroughly convincing in 2-1 and 5-0 wins so far and shut down Argentina in Hamilton, even with nine different starters.

Both sides failed to mount a serious challenge in the first half but a perfect cross from midfielder Sofia Jakobsson in the 66th was headed in by striker Rebecka Blomqvist for the 1-0 lead that looked quite secure.

Swedish keeper Jennifer Falk was more than equal to any Argentine offensive ideas and after Blomqvist was tackled in the box on a corner, substitute midfielder Elin Rubensson scored on a penalty in the 90th for the 2-0 final. Sweden had 59% of possession, but only a 7-6 edge on shots, but it was plenty.

The Swedes finished 3-0 in the group, with a 9-1 goals-against total and now move on play the U.S. on Sunday in Melbourne (AUS). These two squads have played some memorable games, with the U.S. leading the series 23-8, with 12 draws. In their last match, Sweden shut out the U.S., 3-0, in group play at the Tokyo Olympic Games. At the 2019 Women’s World Cup, the Americans scored a 2-0 win in the group stage.

● Group G: South Africa 3, Italy 2 ● The 16th-ranked Italians came in 1-0-1 (four points) and needed a win or draw to advance in Wellington, while no. 54 South Africans 0-1-1 (1) needed a win.

Italy looked good early as defender Karabo Dhlamini dragged down midfielder Chiara Beccari in the box in the 10th and midfielder Arianna Caruso converted in the 11th for a 1-0 lead. But a horrible back pass by defender Benedetta Orsi in the 32nd had Italian keeper Francesca Durante out of possession and it was an own goal in the 32nd and 1-1.

In the second half, midfielder Hildah Magaia got a lead pass in the box from striker Thembi Kgatlana in the 67th and slammed the ball past Durante for a 2-1 lead and an upset possibility. But Italy equalized in the 74th after a corner was headed, blocked and then bodied in by Caruso in front of the net.

Then at 90+2, Magaia got a lead pass in the box and sent a quick cross to a surging Kgatlana, who finished with authority to give South Africa the 3-2 lead, which they held for the remaining 15 minutes of stoppage time (!).

Italy had 62% of possession and an 18-12 lead on shots, but could not defend at the crucial moments, starting with Orsi’s own-goal.

The group stage finished on Thursday with Group H matches between Germany and South Korea and Morocco and Colombia.

The Round-of-16 bracket is almost complete, with the top half now set:

● 5 Aug.: Switzerland vs. Spain in Auckland
● 6 Aug.: Netherlands vs. South Africa in Sydney
● 5 Aug.: Japan vs. Norway in Wellington
● 6 Aug.: Sweden vs. U.S. in Melbourne

The bottom half still needs the Group H results, but:

● 7 Aug.: Australia vs. Denmark in Sydney
● 8 Aug.: France vs. Group H no. 2 in Adelaide
● 7 Aug.: England vs. Nigeria in Brisbane
● 8 Aug.: Jamaica vs. Group H winner in Melbourne

The championship match will be on 20 August in Sydney.

FIFA announced that ticket sales for the Women’s World Cup have passed the 1.7 million mark – the most ever – and that American Rebecca Sheely from Colorado was the 1,000,000th attendee, at the U.S.-Portugal match in Auckland.

2.
Hammer star Berry hit with 16-month doping suspension

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced that hammer thrower Gwen Berry, a two-time Olympian and former American Record holder, has been suspended for 16 months for doping:

“Berry, 34, tested positive for canrenone, a metabolite of spironolactone as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample collected on March 23, 2023. Berry’s violation resulted from her use of a topical medication containing spironolactone for which she had a prescription. However, Berry failed to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the medication.

“Spironolactone and canrenone are Specified Substances in the class of Diuretics and Masking Agents and are prohibited at all times.”

Berry’s suspension began on 28 April 2023 and runs through 27 August 2024, meaning she will not be able to pursue a third Olympic berth in 2024. She has not competed at all in 2023; her last competition was at the 2022 USATF Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, where she placed seventh.

Berry is one of the all-time greats of American women’s hammer throwing and helped usher in the current U.S. renaissance in the event. She set American Records of 76.77 m (251-10) in 2017 and 77.78 m (255-2) in 2018 and was the U.S. national champ in 2017 as well. She was the U.S. champ in the indoor Weight Throw in 2013-14-17 and set a world best for the Weight in 2017 at 25.60 m (84-0).

She has also been a high-profile critic of racism in the U.S., raising her fist during the victory ceremony at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru and turning away from the flag during the victory ceremony at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon, at which she placed third.

3.
Biles, Lee and more return to competition
in CoreHydration Classic

They’re back.

The core of the U.S. silver medal team from the Tokyo Olympic Games, including the iconic Simone Biles, are slated to return to competition on Saturday at the 39th CoreHydration Classic (formerly the U.S. Classic) at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, outside of Chicago.

USA Gymnastics announced that Biles, 19-time World Champion four-time Olympic gold medalist, will return to competition for the first time since the Tokyo Games, where she won a Team silver and Beam bronze after suffering from a loss of spatial awareness during her routines (“the twisties”).

Biles is no stranger to the event, having won the All-Around in 2015-18-19-21. She will be joined by Tokyo Olympic All-Around gold medalist Suni Lee, who concentrated on collegiate gymnastics during the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Auburn, and Jade Carey, the Oregon State star who won the Tokyo Olympic Floor Exercise gold.

The line-up also includes Tokyo Olympic Team silver winner Jordan Chiles, who took World silvers in Vault and Floor, 2021 World Champs All-Around runner-up Leanne Wong – the defending All-Around champ – and 2021 Worlds All-Around bronze winner Kayla DiCello.

The women’s Saturday sessions will be shown live on CNBC at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Central, with a highlights package on NBC on Sunday.

The U.S. Classic had been a women’s-only competition for decades, but opened to men’s event last year; the men will compete on Sunday this time. Yul Moldauer, the 2017 Worlds Vault bronze medalist, leads the field, with 2014 Worlds Team bronze winner Donnell Whittenburg, 2021 World Pommel Horse Champion Stephen Nedoroscik and Tokyo Olympian Shane Wiskus.

The U.S. Classic has been an important ramp-up events for the USA Gymnastics nationals and Worlds selection meet, which will follow quickly from 24-27 August in San Jose, California.

4.
Massive World Cycling Championships start in Glasgow

A closely-watched experiment in mega-event engineering begins Thursday in Scotland as the Union Cycliste Internationale opens its first Cycling World Championships, with 13 disciplines included from 3 to 13 August:

● Olympic: BMX, BMX Freestyle (2 disciplines), Mountain Bike (1), Road, Track.

● Non-Olympic: Gran Fondo, Indoor, Mountain Bike (2), Para-Cycling (2), Trials.

The track event finals begin on Thursday, with the women’s Team Sprint, Individual Pursuit and the men’s Scratch Race, and continues through 9 August.

The high-profile road races come this weekend, with the men’s and women’s Junior Road Races on Saturday and the men’s Elite Road Race on Sunday. The 271.1 km route from Edinburgh to Glasgow has one modest climb and downhill in the first third of the race and then a fairly flat, nine-lap route to the finish.

The favorites figure to be Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar, Belgium’s defending champion Remco Evenepoel, France’s 2020-21 winner Julian Alaphilippe, Denmark’s 2019 champion Mads Pedersen, Belgium’s 2020 silver medalist Wout van Aert and teammate Jasper Philipsen and France’s Christophe Laporte.

Television coverage, coordinated by Eurovision Sport, will reach 120 countries and is expected to surpass 240 hours of all the disciplines combined. In the U.S., coverage is planned on ESPN and FloSports.

The UCI has received significant assistance from the Scotland government and Glasgow tourism, making this new event an experiment to see if bigger is better. The all-disciplines Cycling Worlds is designed as a once-every-four-years event, with the next edition in 2027.

The Russian news agency TASS reported that 24 Russians are being allowed to compete as “neutrals,” with four rejected. Those allowed include 2019 European Games Team Pursuit gold medalist Gleb Syritsa on the track, and two-time European Mountain Bike champ Alexei Medvedev. A total of 21 Belarusian athletes were also approved by the UCI.

5.
World University Games open, Russian copy coming 19 August

The 31st World University Games opened in Chengdu (CHN) last Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping opening the event and competition continuing through 8 August.

The event is somewhat scaled down compared to some recent editions, but still has about 6,500 athletes from 113 countries competing in 269 events across 18 sports. In addition to the 15 compulsory sports, the Chengdu organizers added rowing, shooting and wushu. China has, of course, the largest delegation at 411 athletes, competing in all 18 sports.

The preparations include an interesting, four-page, English-language FISU Games Daily, with two pages on the results of the events and two pages about Chengdu and China. The 31 July edition included the medal table, with “P.R. China” at the top and included entries for “China’s Macao” and “China’s Hong Kong.”

The 2023 Universiade was originally scheduled for Yekaterinburg (RUS), but was removed by the International University Sport Federation (FISU) due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Instead, Chengdu – which could not host the 2021 WUG due to Covid – moved in as host.

However, the Russians were not interested in giving up the event and have organized a substitute program called the “University International Sports Festival” – in Yekaterinburg – to take place on 19-31 August.

The Russian news agency TASS reported that the Russian organizers expect athletes from 37 countries to compete, with perhaps 4,000 athletes in total.

Russian officials have made it clear that the Yekaterinburg award has not been canceled by FISU, but only suspended and expects to host the event in the future. They will have to wait, as FISU has already assigned the 2025 WUG to the Rhine-Ruhr region in Germany, to the Chungcheong mega-city bid in South Korea for 2017 and the North Carolina bid from the U.S. for 2029.

The Universiade is limited to athletes who are in college or a year out and between 17-25 years of age. But there are no qualifying standards, leading to a Tuesday situation in which 18-year-old Somali Nasro Abukar Ali was entered in the women’s 100 m and finished last in heat three in 21.81, essentially a casual run from start to finish. The next slowest was 13.64.

The Associated Press reported:

“Somalia’s sports minister publicly apologized Wednesday and ordered that the chairwoman of the national track and field federation be suspended after a seemingly untrained female sprinter represented the African country at the World University Games in China and took more than 20 seconds to finish a 100-meter race.”

The Somali sports ministry also instructed the Somalia Olympic Committee to suspend national athletics federation chair Khadija Aden Dahir on allegations that Abukar was a relative; the country’s FISU federation said it did not send any running athletes to Chengdu.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● World Athletics announced that a training camp for 40 Ukrainian athletes and officials is being funded by the federation and the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity.

The team is being Banska Bystrica, Slovakia in advance of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest (HUN) from 19-27 August.

Ukrainian Athletic Association Secretary General Iolanta Khropach offered thanks:

“Your unwavering belief in us has made a profound impact on the life of our team and the opportunities to prepare for world-class competitions,” she said. “Thanks to your support, we have been able to provide the best athletes of the Ukrainian team with the necessary conditions on the final stage of the preparation to the World Athletic Championships in Budapest to achieve their sports goals. We are happy to see your willingness to lend a helping hand in difficult times for us during the war.”

World Athletics reported distributing more than $220,000 to support Ukrainian athletes in 2022 and $190,000 so far this year.

The Chinese port city of Xiamen will host the Diamond League stop scheduled for Shenzhen on 2 September and will host a Chinese stop on the circuit for 10 years, through 2032. Meets will be held at the new, 53,000-capacity Egret Stadium.

● Cycling ● The Union Cycliste Internationale’s Management Committee approved the introduction of a new class of women’s professional teams in road cycling:

“This means that UCI ProTeams for women will appear from 2025. The introduction of this division, positioned between the existing UCI Women’s WorldTeams (1st division) and UCI Women’s Continental Teams (to become 3rd division), was initially scheduled for the 2026 season. However, in view of the current boom in women’s cycling, and following consultation with stakeholders, the decision was taken to bring forward the launch by one year.

“This new initiative will also enable a greater number of female riders to benefit from a professional framework. With the introduction of the women’s UCI ProTeams, women’s teams are now structured according to the same model as men’s teams.”

● Swimming ● SwimSwam.com calculated – unofficially – the biggest money winners in the swimming sector of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN), strongly influenced by world-record payouts.

World Aquatics paid event placers from 1-8 prizes of $20,000-15,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000 or $65,000 per event. There were also world-record bonuses of $30,000 per event, awarded individually, or split amongst relay team members. SwimSwam’s calculations of the top individuals and teams:

1. $103,690: Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS)
2. $100,000: Ruta Meilutyte (LTU)
3. $95,000: Haiyang Qin (CHN)
4. $92,400: Leon Marchand (FRA)
5. $85,357: Ariarne Titmus (AUS)

The top American prize winner were Regan Smith and Katie Ledecky, tied for ninth with $57,500. Some 299 swimmers were shown to win $400 or more. The top-earning teams:

1. $657,833: United States
2. $637,000: Australia
3. $313,000: China
4. $177,000: France
5. $171,000: Great Britain

The calculations showed 38 teams with winnings of $2,000 or more.

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TSX REPORT: England impresses at 3-0 in Women’s World Cup, U.S. swimmers were better in Indy than Fukuoka; flat U.S. marathon trials course

By
Rich Perelman
-
The route for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Florida (Map by Track Shack, organizer of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials)

★ 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 ≡

1. England and Denmark sail into World Cup playoffs
2. U.S. swimmers did better at Nationals than World Champs
3. Fairly flat U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials course in Orlando
4. USA-Dutch World Cup tie dominates weekly TV ratings
5. Anger over UK Athletics selecting just 51 for Budapest

England was one of the favorites coming into the FIFA Women’s World Cup and looked like it on Tuesday, crushing China by 6-1 and winning Group D. Denmark beat Haiti, 2-0, and also moves on to the elimination round. A TSX analysis shows that only a third of U.S. swimming entries posted better times at the World Aquatics Championships than at the USA Swimming nationals at which the team was picked! And the problem was especially acute for the women: just seven entries out of 34 did better in Fukuoka than in Indianapolis. The course for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials next February in Orlando, Florida was posted: it’s pretty flat, but the races will be run beginning just after noon. Too late and too hot? The Women’s World Cup tie between the U.S. women and the Netherlands dominated the sports television audience ratings last week, but most of the other games did modestly due to the adverse time zones for American viewers. The British track & field federation named a pretty small squad for the World Athletics Championships, skipping anyone who did not make the very tough direct-qualification standards or who is not an obvious medal contender. Legal action is being considered and the policy has been loudly criticized. This is not the approach in the U.S.

● Panorama: Archery (reasonable financial report for World Archery) ●

1.
England and Denmark sail into World Cup playoffs

As the group stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand heads toward the close, highly-regarded England unloaded on China and Denmark also moved on from Group D on Tuesday. No surprise there, except that the English had only scored one goal each in wins over Haiti and Denmark.

● Group D: England 6, China 1 ● The Lionesses completely dominated China to finish group play with a 3-0 record, holding 74% of possession (!) and piling up 17 shots to seven in a 6-1 rout in Adelaide (AUS).

England took control right away, as a header from star midfielder Lauren James got to the feet of striker Alessia Russo in the fourth minute and she finished with a right-footed rocket that ran into the left side of the Chinese goal for the 1-0 lead. In the 26th, James’s pass set striker Lauren Hemp up ahead of the defense and she left-footed a hard shot into the left side of the net for a 2-0 lead.

James finally got to score herself in the 41st, receiving a free kick with plenty of space the box and whistling a right-footer into the net: 3-0, and the rout was on. James scored again at 45+5, but the goal was waved off for offsides after a video review.

China got a break in the 57th, as England was called for a hand-ball and striker Shuang Wang scored the first goal against England in this tournament. But James was back on the ball in the 65th, volleying in a perfect cross to the far side of the goal from Jess Carter from the right side for a 4-1 edge. Two goals, two assists and a goal lost to a video review for James!

Substitute striker Chloe Kelly scored in the 77th after Chinese keeper Zhu Yu overran the ball and left an open net, and midfielder Rachel Daly got the final goal in the 84th after a failed clearance gave her the opening for a right-footed finale.

England will now face Nigeria in the round-of-16 in Brisbane on the 7th.

● Group D: Denmark 2, Haiti 0 ● Although Denmark controlled the game, it had only a single goal to show against winless Haiti until the very end, but managed a 2-0 win in Perth.

Haiti was called for a hand-ball in the 21st minute and midfielder Pernille Harder slammed home the penalty in the 21st for a 1-0 lead that held up through halftime and into the second half.

Haitian keeper Kerly Theus made a sensational, one-on-one save against substitute midfielder Mille Gejl at 90+2, coming out to block the shot and sent it out of bounds.

But substitute midfielder Sanne Troelsgaard got a lead pass from Gejl and was clear to score on a diagonal shot from right to left to the far post at 90+10 for the 2-0 final.

The Danes had 62% of possession and while both sides recorded nine shots, Denmark had six on target to only two for Haiti, which leaves 0-3. Next up for Denmark: a date with host Australia in Sydney on the 7th.

The final group standings have England at 3-0 (9 points), joining Japan with a perfect record, followed by 2-1 Denmark (6), then China (1-2: 3) and Haiti (0-3: 0).

Looking ahead to the round-of-16, Europe now has six spots clinched and is in position to secure four more, possibly giving them 10 of the 16, even better than the 8/16 from 2019, which produced seven of the eight quarterfinalists.

2.
U.S. swimmers did better at Nationals than World Champs

One of the eternal problems in sports for a country as powerful as the United States is how to pick its entries for international competitions. In swimming, like track & field, the answer has been to take the top finishers at the national championships.

But, in doing so, there is often more pressure to make the team than to win medals at the Olympic Games or World Championships. This was once again demonstrated at the just-concluded World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN).

A review of performances at the USA Swimming National Championships in Indianapolis from 27 June to 1 July showed that only 22 performances out of 66 (33.3%) were better at the Fukuoka Worlds than at the trials.

The U.S. men won 14 World Championship medals in individual events (2-8-4) and out of 32 qualifying swims at the Nationals, the same athletes produced 15 marks in their final round of competition in Fukuoka that were better (44.1%):

● 6-12 in Freestyle
● 3-6 in Backstroke
● 1-5 in Breaststroke
● 3-5 in Butterfly
● 2-4 in Medley

Historically, this is not bad at all, although the American team produced golds only in the 50 m Back (Hunter Armstrong) and 100 m Back (Ryan Murphy).

The women’s situation was a lot different. The U.S. women won more medals – 16 (3-8-5) – than the men (same number of events), but produced only seven swims in Japan than were faster than Indianapolis, out of 34 entries: just 20.1 percent:

● 4-12 in Freestyle
● 1-6 in Backstroke
● 0-6 in Breaststroke
● 0-6 in Butterfly
● 2-4 in Medley

The medal count was impressive, but even where the U.S. went 1-2 in the 400 m Medley with Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh, they swam slower than at the Nationals. The American women got wins from Douglass and two from Katie Ledecky.

(The U.S. also won medals in all eight relays, which are not counted in the trials-Worlds statistics.)

This year’s national championships ended on 1 July and the swimming at the Worlds began on 23 July, just a day more than three weeks later. Too close? Too long a trip to Japan?

USA Swimming National Team Managing Director Lindsay Mintenko and the eventual U.S. coaching staffs will have to ponder the preparation routine for 2024, and will have a little more time. The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials extravaganza at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis next year will be held from 15-23 June, with perhaps the biggest crowds in swimming history.

The swimming events in Paris for the Games don’t start until 27 July, in the much more cozy Paris La Defense Arena, expected to seat 15,220. That’s a 34-day spread instead of 21, and a friendlier trip from the U.S. to western Europe than to Asia.

After the experience of Fukuoka, with less than half of the men and only 20% of the women producing better marks there than what it took the make the team, it’s a problem that is going to have to get solved.

3.
Fairly flat U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials course in Orlando

The actual course for the 3 February 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, Florida was posted on Tuesday, with a loop course and a noon start.

The men will start at 12:10 p.m. and the women at 12:20 p.m., running a 2.2 mile loop in the downtown business district before transitioning to three loops of an eight-mile course, finishing at the Walt Disney Amphitheater beside Lake Eola.

This is a fairly flat course, with the start at 107 feet, with the end of the short loop at 91 feet and the three eight-mile loops with a maximum rise from 79 to 113 feet and a corresponding downhill on the return. The finish line is at 93 feet.

Given Orlando’s reputation for warm and humid weather, the noon start has raised eyebrows, and the 10-year data on the weather at the Orlando International Airport shows that’s occasionally cool, but usually fairly warm in mid-day on 3 February:

● 2023: 78 F at noon ~ 69 F at 2 p.m.
● 2022: 78 F at noon ~ 82 F at 2 p.m.
● 2021: 48 F at noon ~ 53 F at 2 p.m.
● 2020: 68 F at noon ~ 70 F at 2 p.m.
● 2019: 65 F at noon ~ 69 F at 2 p.m.
● 2018: 66 F at noon ~ 68 F at 2 p.m.
● 2017: 75 F at noon ~ 77 F at 2 p.m.
● 2016: 79 F at noon ~ 81 F at 2 p.m.
● 2015: 59 F at noon ~ 64 F at 2 p.m.
● 2014: 79 F at noon ~ 81 F at 2 p.m.

Humidity, however, is high in February in the mornings, but – on average – drops to 69% by 10 a.m., 53% by noon and 50% by 4 p.m. So the race could be run in drier conditions with a noon start.

NBC will televise the event live in its entirety. As of 13 July, USA Track & Field lists 150 qualified men (144 from marathons, six from half-marathons) and 130 qualified women (117/13).

4.
USA-Dutch World Cup tie dominates weekly TV ratings

A very quiet week for international sport on television, with the FIFA Women’s World Cup dominating the scene. The U.S. vs. Netherlands match, on at a reasonable hour in the U.S., drew 6.430 million on Fox and another 1.371 million for Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Universo.

The next closest was 888,000 for Argentina and South Africa on FS1 on Thursday:

Monday, 24 June:
● 661,000: Colombia vs. South Korea on FS1 (9:45 p.m. Eastern time)
● 176,000: Colombia vs. South Korea on Universo (9:30 p.m.)

● 242,000: New Zealand vs. Philippines on FS1 (1:00 a.m.)
● 235,000: Brazil vs. Panama on FS1 (6:45 a.m.)

Tuesday, 25 July:
● 201,000: Japan vs. Costa Rica on FS1 (12:40 a.m.)

Wednesday, 26 July:
● 6.430 million: USA vs. Netherlands on Fox (8:45 p.m.)
● 1.165 million: USA vs. Netherlands on Telemundo (8:30 p.m.)
● 206,000: USA vs. Netherlands on Universo (8:30 p.m.)
● 336,000: Canada vs. Ireland on FS1 (7:40 a.m.)

Thursday, 27 July:
● 888,000: Argentina vs. South Africa on FS1 (7:40 p.m.)
● 289,000: Australia vs. Nigeria on FS1 (6:00 a.m.)
● 180,000: England vs, Denmark on FS1 (4:10 a.m.)

Friday, 28 July:
● 308,000: England vs. Denmark on FS1 (6:00 a.m.)
● 264,000: China vs. Haiti on FS1 (6:40 a.m.)
● 208,000: France vs. Brazil on Fox (5:40 a.m.)

Saturday, 29 July:
● 781,000: Panama vs. Jamaica on Fox (8:00 a.m.)
● 597,000: South Korea vs. Morocco on Fox (12:10 a.m.)
● 589,000: France vs. Brazil on Fox (6:00 a.m.)
● 399,000: Switzerland vs. New Zealand on Fox (2:40 a.m.)
● 183,000: Germany vs. Colombia on FS1 (5:15 a.m.)

Sunday, 30 July:
● 384,000: Germany vs. Colombia on FS1 (6:00 a.m.)

One other program of note, with NBC’s highlights of the World Aquatics Championships in Japan drawing 697,000 on Sunday (30th).

Both the Women’s World Cup and NBC’s streaming coverage of the Worlds swimming were hurt by the difficult time zones in Australia, New Zealand and Japan for U.S. viewers.

5.
Anger over UK Athletics selecting just 51 for Budapest

UK Athletics, the national governing body for track & field in Great Britain, named a 51-member team for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest this month and has been roundly criticized for leaving qualified athletes at home.

The federation’s policy – spelled out in advance – was to name athletes who had met the very tough World Athletics qualifying standard in each event, assuring they would be competitive at the highest level.

Last Friday’s team announcement included only 51 athletes, compared to 78 for the 2022 Worlds in Eugene. It’s reportedly the smallest British team at the Worlds since 2005.

Said UKA Technical Director Stephen Maguire: “The policy is set out a year in advance. Our selection is very much based on the philosophy of challenging for finals and ultimately winning medals.

“This is about top end of performance. This isn’t about cost. If we had 80 people making the team at the level we have set then hallelujah, that’s great.

“I’m really hoping that the athletes give us real headaches next year and many more people are hitting standards.

“When people don’t make standards, there’s probably a bit of emotion. Athletes will be hurt because they haven’t made standards and the world and Olympic standards are tough.

“But I don’t think the standards are too difficult. It has highlighted some of the work that we have to do. My advice would be to grasp the nettle, train hard and put yourself in a good position.”

There has been talk of legal action against the federation; the issue was superbly presented by longtime British observer and statistician Peter Matthews, writing in Athletics International:

“[The UKA selection process] ignores the fact that World Athletics now have a two-tier system so that there is a very high qualifying standard and then athletes are invited from the World Rankings to fit a specified quota. It has been reported that a further 20 British athletes would be invited by WA from the rankings, yet UKA refuses to accept them. Athletes such as Lina Nielsen, Josh Zeller, Jade Lally and Amelia Strickler were quoted in the media as being extremely cross.

“Surely most other nations would not take this attitude. To my mind this is an utter disgrace and does a gross disservice to the sport, preventing athletes from the honour of representing their country (and very different from the days of inter-nation matches, the European Team Champs is the only senor international event at which an athlete must be chosen for every event), preventing them from gaining invaluable experience and surely a de-motivating factor for athletes in many events.

“It is also a snub to British athletics supporters, who have no superiors around the world. I suppose a factor in this appalling behaviour by UK Athletics is probably that the funding they get depends on medals gained at global championships. This is not the first time they have denied participation to qualified athletes, but together with the neglect of the domestic athletics programme in the UK that means many aspiring British athletes have to travel regularly to the European continent to get appropriate competition, is another sign of their dreadful governance. Athletes so affected by this latest treatment may try to appeal, but time is short. What is needed is a totally different approach and use of resources by our governing body.

“While there are full squads for the five relays, there are only 12 men and 23 women for individual events. Britain will have no competitor in 11 of the 24 men’s events – with just one field eventer, and no distance runners!, and in 7 of the 24 women’s events.”

Observed: This is not the USA Track & Field policy, or the policy of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, who generally want to take every American athlete who is qualified to the Olympic Games or World Championships, as appropriate. This is not a small thing, and is one of the areas which the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics is obligated to review, with their first hearing expected on 6 September.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Archery ● The World Archery Congress preceded the now-underway World Archery Championships in Berlin (GER), reporting reasonable financial stability, underpinned by the IOC’s Olympic television dividend.

The 2022 financials showed that World Archery is at CHF 10.00 million in assets with CHF 7.74 million in cash and investments. Revenue was CHF 7.02 million and expenses were CHF 5.28 million, a positive due to the Olympic television money (CHF 4.13 million), which the federation spreads out over the four-year cycle (CHF 1 = $1.14 U.S.).

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: U.S. women advance at World Cup with 0-0 tie; U.S. wins TSX Worlds swim scoring title; 91 years since LA32!

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Opening Ceremony of the Games of the Xth Olympiad in Los Angeles in 1932 (Photo: Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games)

★ 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 ≡

1. Scoreless tie with Portugal advances U.S. at World Cup
2. Australia, Japan make major Women’s World Cup statements
3. Australia won most golds, U.S. top swim team at Worlds
4. IOC discards OCA elections, will work with Singh
5. Remembering the pivotal Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games

At the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the U.S. played to a surprising scoreless tie with Portugal, which was good enough to advance to the knock-out round as the second-place team in Group E. The Netherlands crushed Vietnam, 7-0, to win the group on Tuesday. In Monday’s games, Australia won Group B and sent Olympic champs Canada home with a 4-0 shutout, and Japan crushed Spain with its counter-attacks, also by 4-0 to win Group C. Japan, especially, made a statement against one of the tournament favorites. Australia had a dreamy World Aquatics Championships in the pool, winning 13 golds, but the U.S. was clearly the top team according to our eight-place scoring table; under-appreciated, but also enormously impressive: China, which won its second-most-medals ever at a Worlds. The International Olympic Committee told the Olympic Council of Asia that its July elections were irrelevant and it will work with the organization’s former interim head, Randir Singh of India. This cuts off any policies which the elected head, Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal, might implement at an extraordinary assembly he called for 15 August. It was 91 years ago that Los Angeles pulled off its first Olympic miracle, staging the Games of the Xth Olympiad in the depths of the Great Depression. The event was not only an aesthetic success, introducing the all-teams Olympic Village concept, the 16-day schedule followed ever since and the use of a podium, with raised flags and anthems for award ceremonies, but also had the first-ever post-Games surplus of $1.25 million, paying back the original State of California bond that financed the organizing committee!

● Panorama: Ukraine (more from Sabre star Olha Kharlan on her disqualification) = Athletics (Asinga completes 100/200 double at SoAm Champs) = Shooting (possible European lead ammo ban?) = Skating (FIFA’s Smith to replace Schmid as ISU Secretary General) = Water Polo (Perrone and Musselman named 2022 players of the year) ●

● Errata: Some readers saw a version of yesterday’s post which placed the World Triathlon Series races in “Sutherland” instead of Sunderland, Great Britain. Nope; Sutherland is in Scotland and Sunderlund is in England; now corrected. ●

1.
Scoreless tie with Portugal advances U.S. at World Cup

The U.S. Women’s National Team had a clear assignment against Portugal in its final Group E game in Auckland (NZL) at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: draw or win and move on to the knock-out round.

The U.S. was all on offense from the opening kick, but the Portuguese held steady with five players on the back line and a clever attacking style that emphasized speed on the wings, especially from strikers Diana Silva and Jessica Silva.

U.S. star striker Alex Morgan couldn’t convert from a tight angle in the third minute and American forward Lynn Williams, seeing her first World Cup action, had a chance to score with a header of a Sophia Smith pass in the middle of the box in the 14th, but Portuguese keeper Ines Pereira made the save. Portugal’s Jessica Silva than missed a shot on the other end two minutes later, missing to the left of the goal.

Portugal controlled large segments of the game with good movement in the U.S. end and careful passing, but not many shots. Williams had another close-in chance at 45+2, but her drive was caught by Pereira. The half ended with Portugal surprising with 54% possession, but with the U.S. taking seven shots to three.

The second half was more of the same, but U.S. midfielder Lindsey Horan stole a pass in the 54th and sent a lead pass to Morgan, who dribbled in, swerved around Pereira, but her shot was blocked from a tight angle at the right side of goal. The U.S. had control of this portion of the game, but could not score, in part due to tight defense, in part just missed finishes.

Past the hour mark, the U.S. started pressing Portugal in front of midfield, looking for turnovers. But the mistakes did not come. A run with the ball by Morgan in the 85th looked promising, but her first shot was blocked and the second off a rebound was saved by Pereira. Another Morgan drive at 90+1 was wide.

Then Portugal had its best look at the game, as substitute striker Ana Capeta took a flick-on and dribbled free for a shot ahead of the U.S. defenders from the right side of the goal at 90+2 and sent a right-footed drive under U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher, but it hit the right goalpost and spun away harmlessly.

Portugal controlled possession at 56%, and although the U.S. had a 17-6 shots advantage, Capeta almost got the Portuguese through and eliminated the top-ranked Americans. But the U.S. moves on as second in the group and will play in Melbourne on Sunday.

Concurrent with the U.S. and Portugal was the Netherlands and Vietnam in Dunedin, with the Dutch taking charge quickly and turn the game into a rout. Striker Lieke Martens chipped in a shot in the eighth minute, fellow striker Katja Snoeijs scored on a left-footed strike in the 11th, midfielder Esmee Brugts sent a rainbow into the net in the 18th and so on.

Midfielder Jill Roord scored in the 23rd and midfielder Danielle van der Donk in the 45th for a 5-0 halftime lead, with the Dutch holding 73% of possession and 24 shots to four for Vietnam.

Brugts scored again in the 57th (6-0), and Roord got her second in the 83rd for the 7-0 final. The Dutch finished with 72% of possession and a 42-5 shots advantage.

With the U.S. draw, the Netherlands won the group at 2-0-1 (W-L-T) with seven points and a +8 goal differential. The U.S. finished 1-0-2 (five points; +3) for second, with Portugal third (1-1-1) and Vietnam fourth (0-3).

2.
Australia, Japan make major Women’s World Cup statements

Two stunning results on Monday elevated both Australia and Japan’s status at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, with 4-0 wins that eliminated Olympic champ Canada and relegated Spain to second place in Group C. Japan, especially, is now one of the teams to watch, having won its games by 5-0, 2-0 and 4-0 against Zambia, Costa Rica and the Spanish.

● Group B: Australia 4, Canada 0 ● This was essentially win or go home for Australia, while Canada needed at least a draw to move on, but the outcome in Melbourne was not close. Midfielder Hayley Raso got a goal in the ninth minute to put the Matildas up, 1-0, on a right-to-left strike from 15 yards out off a loose ball that sailed past three defenders. Raso struck again in the 39th, again off a loose ball right in front of the goal on a corner kick that Raso clubbed into the net.

The half ended 2-0, with Canada taking most of the possession, but Australia finding the net. In the 58th, an endline cross by midfielder Caitlin Foord found striker Mary Fowler open in front of the net and her left-footed swing bounced the ball past Canadian keeper Kailen Sheridan, off the right post and in. Game over.

A penalty was called on Canadian defender Jessie Fleming in stoppage time and defender Steph Catley scored for the 4-0 final at 90+4. Canada’s 61% possession didn’t help, and neither did their 11 shots to 10 for the winners. With the win, the Matildas (2-1) won the group and move on.

● Group B: Ireland 0, Nigeria 0 ● With Australia crushing Canada, all Nigeria needed to move on was a draw and that’s what they got against the Irish, in Brisbane. But there were chances.

Irish defender Katie McCabe missed a chance in the fifth minute, sending a promising shot wide, and Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala sent a tight-angle shot wide in the 14th off a fast break following a turnover.

In the 55th, a long cross into the box found midfielder Uchenna Kanu for a strong head, but Irish keeper Courtney Brosnan barely deflected it and it went off of the crossbar and was cleared away from goal.

Ireland had 60% possession, but Nigeria was the aggressor with 11 shots to five, and is moving on.

● Group C: Japan 4, Spain 0 ● No one saw this coming, after Spain won its first two games by 8-0. And in Wellington, the Spanish employed their usual possession-oriented attack and ended with 77% to 23% for Japan and had 10 shots to seven. And they got crushed.

A left-footed lead pass from midfielder Jun Endo just inside the Spanish half found forward Hinata Miyazawa in the 12th and she outraced the defenders for a left-footed strike that eluded keeper Misa Rodriguez for a 1-0 lead. In the 29th, Miyazawa was leading a fast break with striker Riko Ueki and sent a cross which Ueki lined up and then sent a shot that was blocked by defender Irene Paredes, but had enough force to pop up and sail over Rodriguez’s hand and made it 2-0.

Ueki was leading another counter in the 40th – four on six – and sent a through-ball to Miyazawa on the right side and she finished with another strike over Rodriguez’s hand and into the net for a 3-0 lead in the 40th. That was the score at half.

Substitute striker Mina Tanaka took a ball at the sidelines and dribbled into the box and scored in the 82nd with a left-footed shot from the center of the box that popped into the left corner of the goal.

Japan has outscored its opponents 11-0 and is a dangerous team, able to play with possession, as they it demonstrated, without it as well.

● Group C: Zambia 3, Costa Rica 1 ● Both teams had been eliminated, but Zambia for its first Women’s World Cup win in Hamilton, scoring right away as defender Lushomo Mweemba volleyed in a corner from the right side in the third minute for Zambia’s first goal in the tournament!

Striker Barbra Banda was fouled on the box in the 29th and converted the penalty for a 2-0 lead at the half, with the 1,000th goal in the history of the Women’s World Cup.

Costa Rica got one back – its first of the tournament – in the 47th, as a corner was headed at the mouth of goal and bounced off of midfielder Melissa Herrera for the score. But Zambia got a final score from midfielder Racheal Kundananji, who finished off a pass from Banda, standing alone at the left of goal at 90+3.

The Costa Ricans had 57% of possession and a 16-15 edge on shots, but both teams are going home at least having scored a goal, and Zambia with its first win.

Some observations can be made now, with the group stage through two games for all 32 teams. One way to measure relative standing around the world is to see how teams in each geographic region did in intersectional matches, with statistics compiled by TheSportsExaminer.com:

Africa: 4 teams
● 2-4-2 (W-L-T)
● Goals: 7-22
● Shots: 71-151
● Possess.: 34% on average

Asia: 5 teams
● 4-6-0
● Goals: 9-11
● Shots: 99-143
● Possess.: 44% on average

Europe: 12 teams
● 10-4-2
● Goals: 28-9
● Shots: 279-142
● Possess.: 63% on average
(4 Europe vs. Europe games not included)

North & Central America, Caribbean: 6 teams
● 2-5-3
● Goals: 6-13
● Shots: 112-175
● Possess.: 43% on average
(1 intra-CONCACAF match not included)

Oceania: 2 teams
● 2-2-0
● Goals: 4-4
● Shots: 69-37
● Possess.: 62% on average

South America: 3 teams
● 3-2-1
● Goals: 11-6
● Shots: 87-69
● Possess.: 53% on average

Japan showed against Spain in the third game for both (so not included above) that possession does not equal winning, but once again European and South American teams are the ones with a positive goal differential through the first two rounds, as they were at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year.

At the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, European teams were 7-1 in the round-of-16 and produced seven of eight quarterfinalists and three of the four semifinalists. Will they do it again?

As far as the first-time entries in the Women’s World Cup, only Morocco (1-1), Haiti (0-2) and Portugal (1-1) remain in at least mathematical contention for play-off berths. Already eliminated are the Philippines, Vietnam, Zambia, Panama and Ireland.

3.
Australia won most golds, U.S. top swim team at Worlds

One of the many side stories to the swimming competition at the just-completed World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN) was the dust-up over the medal standings shown on the NBC-Peacock telecasts, initially ranking the teams by the number of gold medals, then switching on day 6 to show rankings by total medals instead, which put the U.S. on top.

SwimSwam.com noted it and the Sydney Morning Herald asked famed American coach Bob Bowman and Australian head coach Rohan Taylor their opinions. Here’s our opinion:

● American media have consistently shown total medal standings as a reflection of total team strength, going back to the Cold War days when the USSR competed with the expressed desire to win the most medals.

● Overall team strength measured by gold medals is useless and so are medals. A deeper dive is needed, one which TheSportsExaminer.com has compiled for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games and plans to do for Paris 2024. That’s for scoring places 1-8 – the finalists – with a system long used in NCAA track & field competition, with 10-8-6-4-3-2-1 points. This gives extra weight to finishing first and second, but takes in placements into a final. You had to beat people to score points.

So, what happened in Fukuoka? The Australians were superb at the top end, but were not the best team, in scoring or placements:

1. 379.83 points: United States (64 top-8 placements)
2. 270.33 points: Australia (41)
3. 167.33 points: China (30)
4. 108.00 points: Great Britain (21)
5. 99.50 points: Canada (20)
6. 87.00 points: France (18)
7. 80.00 points: Italy (16)
8. 47.00 points: Japan (18)
9. 46.00 points: Netherlands (12)
10. 40.00 points: Germany (14)
11. 37.00 points: Sweden (8)
12. 28.00 points: Tunisia (3)
13. 25.00 points: Hungary (8)
14. tie, 23.00 points: South Africa (3)
14. tie, 23.00 points: Lithuania (3)

Some 38 countries scored points, vs. 21 that won medals. Australia was great, but the U.S. effort was impressive. And China has surged, with 16 medals (5-3-8), its second-biggest output ever. Only in 1994 – when it won 19 medals (12-6-1) and outswam the U.S. in golds (21: 4-10-7) – had the Chinese ever won more. They also won 14 in the 2011 Worlds, 13 in 2015 and 10 in 2017.

Keep the Chinese ascendance in mind for Paris in 2024. A deeper focus on what happened to the U.S. – good and not-so-good – tomorrow.

Katie Ledecky was named as the World Aquatics Female Swimmer of the Year for 2022 during the 2023 Worlds in Fukuoka. It’s her second win, also having been named way back in 2013!

In Fukuoka, she became the first swimmer ever to win the same event six times in taking the women’s 800 m Freestyle.

4.
IOC discards OCA elections, will work with Singh

The International Olympic Committee is telling the Olympic Council of Asia again that its 8 July election in Bangkok (THA) of Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as President is null and void.

Reuters reported Sunday that a letter was sent to India’s Randhir Singh, who had been acting as interim OCA President until elections could be held, including:

“Seeing as the IOC investigation is likely not to be concluded before October 2023 and since the IOC has not recognised the election of Sheikh Talal Al-Sabah, the IOC will continue to work with you [Singh] as OCA’s acting President. …

“Following the outcome of the IOC investigation, we will work with you to implement the next steps of a roadmap to ensure the continued functioning of the OCA according to the basic principles of good governance.”

Last Thursday, the IOC suspended for three years its already self-suspended member, and former OCA President, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah for interfering – against the IOC’s direct instructions – in the OCA elections by going to Bangkok for the OCA election to support his younger brother. The IOC Ethics Commission recommendations noted:

● “The Olympic Council of Asia is a continental association of NOCs recognised by the IOC; thus, the elections have to be recognised by the IOC.”

● “Considering the evidence gathered by the IOC and the impact on the OCA’s elections of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah’s behaviour, it appears from the exchange of emails between the OCA’s Ethics Committee and the IOC [Chief Ethics Officer] that there is a need for a full assessment of the potential non-respect of the OCA’s elections process.”

The rush to de-legitimize Sheikh Talal’s election comes as he called for an Extraordinary General Assembly of the OCA on 15 August, but without providing details of the purpose of such a meeting. The IOC’s action makes that event – in their eyes – irrelevant.

This is a rarely-seen, harsh intervention by the IOC in the operation of a continental association of National Olympic Committees, but one involving power players and very little trust on the IOC’s side about what Sheikh Talal might be planning. Although not of heavy interest to the public, the developments in this situation will be closely watched within the Olympic Movement.

5.
Remembering the pivotal Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games

As Friday, 28 July was the 39th anniversary of the revolutionary Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad in Los Angeles, Sunday was the 91st anniversary of the equally-important Games of the Xth Olympiad, also in Los Angeles, in 1932.

While the U.S. sports movement had been a key collaborator with France’s Pierre de Coubertin in the revival of the Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, the first Games held in the U.S. – in St. Louis in 1904 – was widely considered a disaster, lumped in with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, better known as the 1904 World’s Fair.

Los Angeles changed all that. Like so many Olympic bids, the concept was developed by a civic group – the California Fiestas Association – as a way to promote Los Angeles nationally and internationally, just as “Hollywood” was beginning to become synonymous with the motion picture industry.

Prominent developer William May “Billy” Garland made a trip to the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games and met with the IOC, asking for the 1924 Games. But Paris and Amsterdam were already in line for 1924 and 1928; nevertheless, the IOC elected Garland as a member from the U.S.

And, low and behold, Los Angeles was awarded the Games in 1923, the same year in which the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was opened as the city’s monument to its World War I servicemen. The heavy-duty organizing didn’t get started until 1929, after the California Olympiad Bond Act of 1927 was confirmed by 73-27% in November 1928 to provide $1 million in funding for the organizing of the Games.

Then the Depression hit, but Los Angeles plowed ahead. Despite massive doubts on the local, national and international levels, a staff of 70 finally put the event together with enormous local support, but no additional government funding.

And on 30 July 1932, U.S. Vice President Charles Curtis opened the Games before 101,022 at the Coliseum. Given the distances and the Depression, only 1,503 athletes were entered and 1,427 participated from 37 countries, in 14 sports and 117 events, per the Official Report of the Games.

The 1932 Games impacted the future of the Olympic Movement in significant ways:

● First Games contained within 16 days; prior Games had been spread over many weeks or months.

● First all-nations Olympic Village, built on a temporary basis on 250 acres in Baldwin Park; this was for men only; the 126 women athletes were accommodated at the Chapman Park Hotel.

● First awards podium, with the raising of flags and playing of anthems, requested in 1931 by IOC President Henri de Baillet-Latour (BEL).

● First appearance of automatic timing and photo-finish technology, by former American Olympic Association President Gustavus T. Kirby, working with Western Electric.

● First organizing committee to realize a post-Games surplus, after repaying the $1 million bond which initially financed it!

The Xth Olympiade Committee reported a surplus of $1.25 million after expenses, and then won a court fight to repay $1,053,733 in California bond money (with interest) voted in 1928. The final surplus was approximately $196,267 in 1933 – in the depths of the Great Depression – and given to the city and county.

The individual star of the Games had to be the wiry Texan, Mildred “Babe” Didriksen of the U.S., 21, who won the women’s 80 m hurdles and javelin – both new events – and was second in the high jump in a jump-off.

A permanent memorial to the Games, not well known by many Angelenos today was the renaming of the important east-west artery Tenth Street as Olympic Boulevard in honor of the Xth Olympiad.

The 1932 Games was so successful that Garland was asked in 1939 to form a group to take over the 1940 Olympic Games, given to Tokyo, which was deeply involved in an invasion of China. The result was the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, which finally brought the Games back to Los Angeles for the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad in 1984.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Ukraine ● More from four-time World Sabre Champion Olha Kharlan, who was disqualified by the International Fencing Federation (FIE) for not shaking hands with Russian Anna Smirnova, whom she defeated, 15-7, in the round-of-32 at the World Championships in Milan (ITA), and then had the suspension lifted by the FIE under pressure from the IOC.

The Ukrainian news site Tribuna caught up with her prior to her reinstatement; the interview included:

● “I behaved professionally, I won this fight honestly. But I told her that I would not shake her hand. That’s it. I said: ‘I will not shake your hand.’”

● “As far as I know, the [Russian] fencing federation has filed a complaint and protest to keep the neutral status of this athlete. In my opinion, we need to remind international federations that the process of recognizing neutrality should be very serious and not the same as it was before. They should approach this very carefully or simply not accept these athletes for competitions at all.”

● “This is a 100% precedent that happened to me, to my federation and our country, to the athletes. Now, if I were our national federations, especially in contact sports, I would put more pressure on international federations that allow ‘neutral’ athletes like this athlete. And she is not the only one.

“They need to put pressure on. And with the example of tennis, the example of fencing, it is possible. So change this rule so that there are no cases like the one with fencing. Because it has to change, and Ukrainian athletes will not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian athletes – this is a fact. So, as I said, the rules have to change, because the world is changing.”

Asked about Smirnova’s theatrics, including standing and then sitting on the piste in a chair for more than 45 minutes:

“I said it before. I said it in interviews, including with Tribuna, that I would not shake hands. There was no question of shaking hands. So I think they saw that and wanted to provoke me. They wanted to do it because the rules say that everyone has to shake hands. But they were changing somehow, and no one canceled the Covid rules until the last moment. Therefore, I think they were ready for it, the attitude was such that it was a direct provocation on their part.”

Kharlan was finally allowed to fence in the Team Sabre competition and her Ukrainian team finished fourth.

● Athletics ● Suriname’s Issam Asinga added the men’s 200m title to go along with his record-setting 100 m win at the South American Championships in Sao Paolo (BRA).

Asinga, 18, who has signed a letter of intent with Texas A&M, won the 200 m in 20.19 (+0.7 m/s) on Sunday, after taking the 100 m in a World U-20 Record of 9.89 on Friday.

● Shooting ● An interesting development in Europe, where the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is working to ban ammunition with lead in it, as is used by competitive shooters.

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) posted a warning notice on Friday:

“The movement to ban lead shot or severely restrict the use of lead ammunition at shotgun ranges and outdoor rifle/pistol ranges in Europe is at a critical state. ISSF has met with EU Commission officials and tried to offer better solutions. Soon the European countries will vote on this controversial issue. Now we need our European members to contact their political leaders and European Commission members to further ensure that this European Chemical Agency proposal, in its current state, does not get approved.

“The ISSF is in support of managing lead in a responsible way, and we will continue to research best practices and feasible alternatives, we feel that the ECHA proposal will create great economic hardship to many local ranges and irreversibly damage our sport at local and regional levels.”

The federation’s detailed submittal took direct aim at the ECHA’s rationale that the use of lead ammo is ingested by local wildlife and therefore a hazard:

“In the sports shooting portion (shooting ranges) of the restriction proposal, ECHA’s knowledge on all various shooting disciplines and their specific features and demands is inadequate. They inappropriately assess the risk by ignoring the complexity in the proportionality of these ranges and ignore the socioeconomic impacts and with broad strokes propose a simple solution that creates great difficulties, costs and impracticalities for many EU countries. …

“ECHA demonstrates they do not understand target shooting sports and they make errors in assumptions because they do not take into consideration the variability of volume, uses, and sports practised at the shooting ranges. The actual risks that the majority of shooting ranges pose to the environment are minimal and many have already taken precautions recommended or required by their nation.”

● Skating ● The International Skating Union announced Colin Smith (GBR) as its next Secretary General, replacing the highly-respected Fredi Schmid (SUI) at the end of 2023.

Schmid has been the administrative head of the ISU since 1996 and has garnered wide praise for credibility, efficiency and clarity, qualities which are too rare in senior International Federation officers. Smith comes to the ISU from FIFA, where he was the Chief Tournaments & Events Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the FIFA World Cup from 2015-2023.

Smith will begin at the ISU in October to ensure a smooth transition.

● Water Polo ● World Aquatics named Spain’s Felipe Perrone and American Maddie Musselman as the 2022 Athletes of the Year following the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN).

Musselman was a key star for the American women as they won a fourth straight Worlds gold in Budapest last year, scoring 20 goals during the tournament and named Most Valuable. Perrone, now 38, scored three times in the gold-medal shoot-out final with Italy, won by the Spanish, 15-14. It was his 11th Worlds appearance, going all the way back to 2001!

Both received a $10,000 bonus, a trophy and a specially-made “Athlete of the Year” robe from World Aquatics.

● Weightlifting ● The International Weightlifting Federation, still smarting from an incident at the European Championships in Yerevan (ARM), where an Azerbaijan flag was grabbed and set on fire during the opening ceremony in April and possible other situations with “neutral” athletes, has changed its rules for ceremonies. Now:

“The medal winners line up behind the podium, wearing the uniform clothing issued/approved by the Member Federations. It is forbidden for the medal winners to take on stage any flags or other items on stage during the medal ceremony.”

The flag-burning incident in Yerevan led to the Azerbaijani team leaving the championships; the two countries are in a decades-long conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has a mostly Armenian population.

Video review is also now required at all Olympic qualifying and championship events.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: IOC grants Kharlan direct Paris entry! U.S. wins 38 medals, Australia 13 golds at Swim Worlds; review Commission looking at SafeSport

By
Rich Perelman
-
Ukraine's four-time World Champion Olha Kharlan (l) and FIE Interim President Emmanuel Katsiadakis (GRE) at Friday's news conference (Photo: FIE)

★ 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 ≡

1. IOC grants Ukraine’s Kharlan direct entry to Paris Games
2. Russia: IOC’s treatment of Kharlan shows “duplicity”
3. Swim Worlds close with U.S. relay wins
4. Swiss and Spain clinch groups in Women’s World Cup
5. U.S. Center for SafeSport eyed by review Commission

In nothing less than a real-life version of a soap opera, Ukrainian fencing star Olha Kharlan’s disqualification in the women’s Sabre event turned – within 24 hours – into a guaranteed entry into the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and a suspension of her disqualification by the same federation that black-carded her. Especially amazing was the reserved place for her given by the International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach, the day after she was suspended. Fair enough; all of this is the IOC’s fault. Russian reaction was furious, of course. The World Aquatics Championships closed in Fukuoka, Japan, with Australia taking 13 golds in swimming, and the U.S. winning the most medals in swimming – 38! – and 44 overall, to top China (40). At the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and Japan, the second round of group-stage game have concluded, with only five sports in the knock-out round assured yet, for Switzerland, Norway, Spain, Japan and Sweden. The rest of the group-stage matches unfold this week. The Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics will be looking not only at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, but also at the continually-criticized U.S. Center for SafeSport, formed by Congress, but primarily funded by the USOPC.

● Panorama: Tokyo 2020 (another admission in the test-event bid-rigging scandal) = Paris 2024 (Seine book sellers won’t move for Opening Ceremony) = Russia (2: World Archery asking about state funding of Russian athletes; Russian summer games mimicking Deaflympics underway) = Archery (Cowles beats Huish at Buckeye Classic) = Athletics (3: Asinga runs 9.89 for World U-20 record; vault star Braz suspended; Simbass and Taylor win USATF 7-Mile titles) = Badminton (Axelsen gets 20 World Tour win at Japan Open) = Beach Volleyball (Mol & Sorum beat Partain and Benesh at Montreal Elite 16) = Cycling (2: Vollering finishes Tour de France Femmes win; Evenepoel wins San Sebastian Klasikoa) = Football (UEFA 2028 going to Britain and Ireland) = Swimming (Luther impresses at Tyr Pro Swim Champs) = Tennis (Czech Rep. refuses Russian or Belarusian entry for Prague Open) = Triathlon (France sweeps World Tri Series in Montreal) ●

1.
IOC grants Ukraine’s Kharlan direct entry to Paris Games

In another installment of truth being stranger than fiction, Ukraine’s four-time World Sabre Champion Olha Kharlan went from being disqualified following her win over Russian “neutral” Anna Smirnova on Thursday to being guaranteed a place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Friday.

At the World Fencing Championships in Milan (ITA), Kharlan won her round-of-32 bout over Russia’s Smirnova, 15-7, and offered her sword for a post-match touch in salute. The International Fencing Federation (FIE) ruled that she did not offer the handshake called for in the FIE rules – a controversial decision to say the least – and black-carded Kharlan, meaning she was not only disqualified for the remainder of the tournament, but also banned for 60 days and unable to fence in the Team Sabre event.

The Ukrainians immediately and loudly appealed, and the story was quickly elevated worldwide. The Ukrainians, at the urging of the International Olympic Committee, changed its national policy on Wednesday to allow its athletes to compete against Russian or Belarusians who were not competing under their national flags or other symbols.

On Friday, IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) – himself a 1976 Olympic men’s Foil Team gold medalist – sent a stunning letter to Kharlan that included:

“As a fellow fencer, it is impossible for me to imagine how you feel at this moment. The war against your country, the suffering of the people in Ukraine, the uncertainty around your participation at the Fencing World Championships in Milan, the difficult inner conflicts you and many of your fellow Ukrainian athletes may have and then the events which unfolded yesterday – all this is a roller coaster of emotions and feelings. It is admirable how you are managing this incredibly difficult situation, and I would like to express my full support to you.

“Given your unique situation, the International Olympic Committee will allocate an additional quota place for you for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in case you will not be able to qualify in the remaining period. We make this unique exception also because the ongoing procedures will in no case make up for the qualification points you missed because of your disqualification.

“It goes without saying that you must fulfill the other eligibility criteria like any other Olympic athlete.

“Rest assured the IOC will continue to stand in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic community of Ukraine during these extremely difficult times.”

The drama then turned to farce as the FIE called a news conference, with Kharlan and interim President Emmanuel Katsiadakis (GRE); the announcement included:

● “The Bureau of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) has decided to permit Ukrainian sabre fencer Olga Kharlan to participate in the forthcoming women’s sabre team competition at the 2023 Fencing World Championships currently underway in Milan.”

● “The FIE stands fully behind the penalty, which, after a thorough review, is in complete accordance and compliance with its official rules and associated penalties.”

Said Kharlan. “The most important thing for an athlete is to be able to compete, for my family, my team, my country and all the people who support me. During these difficult few days, I appreciate all the support I’ve had from around the world.”

After the incident on Thursday, Kharlan told reporters, “My message today is that we Ukrainian athletes are ready to face Russians on the sports field but we will never shake hands with them,” and said that Katsiadakis had told her it was not required for her to shake hands with a Russian opponent prior to the start of her tournament.

She also said in a video posted by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica:

“I couldn’t act differently, first of all, because I came to the competitions, I came to fence against her, I showed my respect, to stand with her on one piste, and then after the match, I wanted to give her – not shaking hands – but with the blade because it was also allowed during Covid times … but yesterday they changed the rules, because they knew it was going to happen.”

She also said that after the match, while Smirnova would not leave – she stayed on the piste for between 45-50 minutes according to reports – Kharlan was told to go, and was disqualified after a Russian protest was filed. Asked if it was a political decision to disqualify her, she replied, “Of course.”

She said in an Instagram video:

“I did not want to shake hands with this athlete, and I acted with my heart. So when I heard that they wanted to disqualify me, it killed me so much that I was screaming in pain.

“I think I understand, like everyone else in this world, in a sane world, that the rules have to change because the world is changing.”

There have been multiple reports that the FIE has changed its rules to allow a “fencer’s salute” instead of a handshake at the end of matches, but the FIE has posted no document which states this.

Kharlan did fence in the Team Sabre event, winning seven bouts, losing four and tying three as Ukraine finished fourth.

Observed: This extraordinary turn of events was hardly a surprise and is completely due to the IOC’s 28 March decision to try and integrate Russian and Belarusian “neutrals” in international competition. That Bach and the IOC would step in to grant a direct entry for Kharlan is a feel-good, stopgap measure, but is direct interference with an International Federation, albeit a bumbling, incompetent one in the FIE.

Other federations have already taken note. And what of Kharlan’s insistence that she spoke to the FIE’s Interim President about exactly this issue prior to the tournament?

The incident is exactly the opposite of what the IOC wanted and creates even more pressure for future events, especially now that the Ukrainian government’s ban on competing against Russian and Belarusian “neutrals” has been relaxed in the name of Olympic qualifying. Everyone is now on edge.

For those looking at the panorama of international sport, this kind of incompetence seemed all too likely with an Olympic program made up of multiple sports federations whose continued existence is directly tied to the IOC’s television money distribution every four years. Federations like the FIE, which has been supported by cash donations for years from its now-not-involved President, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, do not have the sophistication and experience that well-funded organizations like the Women’s Tennis Association or the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals, where Russian and Belarusian neutrals have been playing in tense but so-far-respectful situations with Ukrainian players. But nothing like the clown show in Milan.

This isn’t over. It’s just starting.

Oh, and what of the larger sports, such as aquatics, athletics and gymnastics? World Aquatics and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) are still mulling over what the conditions for Russian and Belarusian re-admission will be; World Athletics still has a Russian ban in place. Asked what might happen to speed up that process, President Sebastian Coe (GBR) suggested that Russia “get out of Ukraine.”

In the actual fencing, the World Championships in Milan saw homestanding Italy win the men’s Team Epee, defeating France, 45-32, in the final, and the women’s Team Foil, edging France, 45-39, in the final. Japan won the women’s Team Foil bronze over the U.S., 45-34.

Hungary swept the men’s and women’s Team Sabre events; the men defeated South Korea, 45-42, while the U.S. got third over France, 45-42. The Hungarian women beat France, 45-38, while South Korea got the bronze, 45-32, over Kharlan and Ukraine.

Japan won the men’s Team Foil, 45-35 over China and Hong Kong got the bronze, 45-31, over the U.S. Poland won the women’s Team Epee with a 32-28 over Italy in the final, with South Korea third.

In all, Italy led the medal table with 10 total (4-4-2), with France next at six (1-3-2) and then Hungary, Japan and the U.S. at four each.

2.
Russia: IOC’s treatment of Kharlan shows “duplicity”

The Russian reaction to Kharlan’s disqualification was positive, such as from Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin:

“The International Federation made the right decision to disqualify, ensuring equality and fair competition, based on the rules of the sport. Such incidents are unacceptable.”

But her subsequent reinstatement to the team event and the IOC’s gift of a Paris 2024 spot brought a different reaction, such as this diatribe from Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov, himself a four-time Olympic gold medalist in Sabre:

“Yesterday’s IOC statement after the disqualification of the Ukrainian athlete, and in accordance with the rules of the International Fencing Federation – and this is an autonomous organization – once again clearly showed all the duplicity of the so-called recommendations, criteria and parameters, but, most importantly, revealed the true attitude to what is happening in the sports world on the part of the parent Olympic organization.

“One athlete, instead of shaking hands, pokes another with a saber, and for this the president of the International Olympic Committee demands to show sensitivity and delicacy to her. Another athlete – who acted nobly and according to the rules despite the rival’s initiative – now gets threats to life, and insults begin to pour in, humiliating her honor and dignity. But the IOC does not find reasons to show sensitivity and delicacy to her if before that, thousands of citizens of Russia and Belarus were expelled from world sports by Olympic officials without the slightest hesitation.

“Now we have been unwittingly, but clearly shown the attitude that absolutely any Russian will face at international competitions after all the eliminations on a national basis.

“Anna Smirnova experienced it herself, and, unfortunately, this is the new, objective reality. It justifies and encourages any anti-Russian initiative, but for everything else there are concerns, recommendations and sanctions.

“The statement in question indicates that the IOC has identified and taken a side of the political conflict, has begun to act in the interests of this side, already openly distributing instructions to the participants in the Olympic Movement: whose rights to protect, and whose to postpone until the right moment.

“Olympism is officially made an instrument, controlled from the outside in the interests of a geopolitical order to neutralize our citizens and organizations in sports.”

And the Chair of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports Dmitry Svishchev chimed in with:

“These are absolutely shameful decisions of the international federation and the IOC. [Kharlan] broke the rules, and was disqualified absolutely for the cause. And then, apparently, calls rained down with threats to the federation, which got scared and rolled back the situation. The IOC decided to be at all ’clean’ and without selection to admit her to the Olympic Games.

“This is a dangerous precedent, because it puts athletes in unequal conditions. I wonder what to do with those who really cannot participate in the selection due to more complex problems than breaking the rules? The same athletes from African countries, for example.”

The Russian view of participation in Paris 2024 was underscored by Igor Levitin, the former Russian Transport Minister and now a close advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin:

“I believe that athletes should participate in the Olympic Games, Each international federation will put forward its own conditions, and they will be different. But the main thing is that an athlete should not give any signatures about supporting or not supporting the [Russian invasion of Ukraine]. This shouldn’t be happening. And he can participate.”

3.
Swim Worlds close with U.S. relay wins

The 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN) concluded with a big day for the U.S. in swimming on Sunday, including wins in the final two events in swimming, the 4x100m Medley Relays.

On Friday, China’s Haiyang Qin, 24, who had never won a (long-course) Worlds medal coming into the meet, completed a sweep of the men’s Breaststroke events with a brilliant 2:05.48 world record, smashing Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook’s 2:05.95 mark from 2022. Qin led wire-to-wire, while Stubblety-Cook, the Tokyo Olympic champ, moved from sixth at 100 m to third with a lap to go and he and Matt Fallon of the U.S. moved up to 2-3 in 2:06.40 (equal-6th performance ever) and 2:07.74. Fellow American Josh Matheny was eighth in 2:10.41.

Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan got her second individual win in the women’s 100 m Freestyle in 52.16, the no. 2 performance of the year, coming from seventh at the turn to rocket past everyone to the touch. Siobhan Haughey (HKG: 52.49) led after 50 m and got second, with Marit Steenbergen (52.71) third and Americans Kate Douglass (52.81) and Abbey Weitzeil (53.34) fourth and sixth.

The U.S. continued its medal march with three more silvers. Douglass came back 47 minutes after the 100 Free and was second to Olympic champ Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA), 2:20.80 – no. 2 this season – to 2:21.23. Lilly King, the defending World Champion, ended up fourth in 2:22.25, behind Tes Schouten (NED: 2:21.63).

Ryan Murphy led for the first 100 m in the men’s 200 m Backstroke final, but was passed by Hungary’s Hubert Kos, 20, who went on to win in 1:54.14, fastest in the world this year. Murphy was a clear runner-up in 1:54.83, for his 16th career Worlds medal (6-8-2).

After a 1-2 finish in the men’s 200 m Free, Great Britain was favored in the 4×200 m Free relay and won in 6:59.08, the no. 4 performance in history. The U.S. squad of Luke Hobson, Carson Foster, Jake Mitchell and Kieran Smith was a very creditable second in 7:00.02, the seventh-fastest ever.

Saturday was, in some ways, a re-run of Friday. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown, the Olympic women’s 100-200 m Backstroke champ, completed a sweep of the Worlds Backstroke events with a third win, this time in the 200 m Back, beating American Regan Smith for the third time in 2:03.85 to 2:04.94. Smith led through the final turn, but McKeown jetted past in the final 50 to win decisively. McKeown’s time is the sixth-fastest ever is no. 7 in U.S. history.

And Australia’s dream Worlds continued, as Cameron McEvoy won the men’s 50 m Free in 21.06, the no. 6 performance in history and now the no. 4 performer. American Jack Alexy, one of the finds of this Worlds, was second in 21.57, now no. 8 all-time U.S. He now has two individual silvers, and a relay silver and bronze, in his first Worlds. Britain’s Ben Proud was third (21.58) and Ryan Held of the U.S. was fifth (21.72).

Australia set its third relay world record in the Mixed 4×100 m Free, with Jack Cartwright, Kyle Chalmers, Shayna Jack and O’Callaghan winning in 3:18.83, with the U.S. second in 3:20.82. Alexy had the U.S. in the lead after the first leg, but Matt King, Abbey Weitzeil and Douglass could not keep up, but were well ahead of Britain (3:21.68).

Overshadowed was Katie Ledecky’s runaway win in the women’s 800 m Free in 8:08.87, 4.44 seconds up Bingjie Li’s Asian Record of 8:13.31 for China, with Ariarne Titmus (AUS: 8:13.59) third. Jillian Cox of the U.S. was sixth in 8:19.73, now no. 8 all-time U.S.

Ledecky’s swim was the eighth-fastest in history; she has the top 29. And she won her sixth Worlds gold in this event – 2013-15-17-19-22-23 – and now has 21 career Worlds golds and 26 medals overall. She passed Michael Phelps for the most career individual Worlds golds ever, 16-15.

France’s Maxime Grousset won the men’s 100 m Butterfly in a fast 50.14, moving to no. 5 on the all-time list. He beat Canada’s Josh Liendo (50.34, no. 6 all-time) and American Dare Rose, in his first Worlds, timed in 50.46, now no. 12 all-time and no. 5 all-time U.S.

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom concentrated on the 50 m events in Fukuoka, and went wild on Saturday, winning the 50 m Butterfly in 24.77, with a huge 0.28 margin over China’s Yufei Zhang and 0.69 over American Gretchen Walsh. Sjostrom, 29, won her 11th Worlds gold and has won this event in 2015-17-19-22-23! American Torri Huske was fifth in 25.64.

About 20 minutes later, Sjostrom came back for the semis of the 50 m Free and won semi two in an amazing 23.61, obliterating her own world record of 23.67 from the semis of the 2019 World Championships! The next-best time was 24.01 by Australia’s Jack, a difference of 0.40 seconds in a 50 m race! Sjostrom now owns the top three times in history and four of the top five, with the final to come.

The record-setting wasn’t done. In the next event, the women’s 50 m Breaststroke semis, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte – winner of the 100 m Breast earlier – won semi two in 29.30, equaling the world record by Italy’s Benedetta Pilato from 2019. King was second in the semi and second overall in 29.72, and Pilato was third in 30.09. Wow!

The final day of the meet on Sunday was a little different, with the U.S. roaring at the close with seven medals in seven events and two relay wins to finish on a high note.

Sweden’s Sjostrom was the overwhelming favorite in the women’s 50 m Free and won easily in 23.62, just 1/100th off her world record in the semis. It’s her 22nd Worlds medal and 12th career gold, and third in this event. Australia’s Jack (24.10) won silver, Zhang (CHN: 24.15) got the bronze and Weitzeil of the U.S. was fourth (24.32).

The U.S. medal parade started with the men’s 50 m Back, with Hunter Armstrong moving up from silver in 2022 to gold this time, out-touching teammate and defending champ Justin Ress, 24.05 to 24.24.

The women’s 50 m Breast followed, with London 2012 Olympic 100 m Breast winner Meilutyte on fire from the start and, after equaling the world record in the semis at 29.30, re-set the bar at 29.16! King wasn’t close, but won silver in 29.94, followed by Italy’s former world-record holder Pilato in 30.04.

Australia’s Sam Short had already won the men’s 400 m Free and took silver in the 800 m Free and led from the start of the men’s 1,500 m Free. Olympic champ Bobby Finke of the U.S. took over at 1,000 m, with 800 m Free winner Ahmed Hafnaoui leading at 1,100 m. Those were going to be the medal winners, with Short falling back at 1,200 m and Hafnaoui and Finke stroke-for-stroke to the finish, with the Tunisian winning, 14:31.54 to 14:31.59. Those are the nos. 2-3 performances in history, an African Record for Hafnaoui and lowering Finke’s American Record. Short was third in 14:37.28, moving him to equal-9th performer all-time.

Canadian Summer McIntosh, 16, set the world record in the women’s 400 m Medley in March and got her second gold of the meet with a wire-to-wire win in 4:27.11, the no. 3 performance ever. American Katie Grimes was easily the best of the rest, in 4:31.41, a lifetime best and now no. 4 all-time U.S. Australia’s Jenna Forrester got third (4:32.30) and American Alex Walsh was fourth in 4:34.46.

Then came the relays, where Australia had won four of six going in. But the U.S. was in front from the start in the men’s 4×100 m Medley, with Backstroke ace Ryan Murphy taking a huge 1.17-second lead after the first leg and Nic Fink (Breast), Rose (Fly) and Alexy (Free) were hardly challenged on the way to a 3:27.20, the no. 2 performance in history! China was second in 3:29.00 and Australia third in 3:29.62.

The women’s 4×100 m Medley saw Regan Smith finally get the better of Australia’s McKeown, 57.68 to 57.91, but it was King’s 1:04.93 breaststroke leg that broke the race open. King was 0.23 ahead when she started and 2.34 seconds up when she finished and Gretchen Walsh and Douglass finished up in 3:52.08, the no. 6 performance ever. Australia got the silver (3:53.37) and Canada got bronze (3:54.12).

In the final three days of the meet, world-leading marks were set in 13 events, including world records in four:

● Men/50 m Free: 21.06, Cameron McEvoy (AUS)
● Men/1,500 m Free: 14:31.54, Ahmed Hafnaoui (TUN)
● Men/50 m Back: 24.05, Hunter Armstrong (USA)
● Men/200 m Back: 1:54.14, Hubert Kos (HUN)
● Men/200 m Breast: 2:05.48, Haiyang Qin (CHN) ~ World Record
● Men/100 m Fly: 50.14, Maxime Grousset (FRA)
● Men/4×200 m Free: 6:59.08, Great Britain
● Men/4×100 m Medley: 3:27.20, United States

● Women/50 m Free: 23.61, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) ~ World Record (semis)
● Women/50 m Fly: 24.74, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) ~ semifinals
● Women/50 m Breast: 29.30, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) ~ equals World Record (semis)
● Women/50 m Breast: 29.16, Meilutyte ~ World Record
● Women/4×100 m Medley: 3:52.08, United States

● Mixed/4×100 m Free: 3:18.83, Australia ~ World Record

In terms of the final standings, Australia finished with 13 golds and 25 total medals (13-7-5) vs. 38 medals for the U.S. (7-20-11), with China an impressive third (16: 5-3-8). This was the first time since 2001 that Australia has won the most golds at the Worlds and they equaled their best-ever output of 13 wins, in 2001 and 2005.

Both the U.S. and Australia did something else that was critical to their 2024 Olympic plans. Both teams finished in the top three in all eight relays, meaning that for the seven relays on the Olympic program – 4×100 m and 4×200 m Free, 4×100 m Medley for men and women, and Mixed 4×100 m Medley only – those two countries are qualified already and do not have to chase a place at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships that will be held in Qatar next February. That’s an important training consideration for USA Swimming and will help shape its strategy for the 2024 Worlds.

Hungary won its fourth World Championships title in the men’s water polo tournament – and first since 2013 – going to a shoot-out to beat Greece, 4-3, after a 10-10 tie. It was close throughout, with Hungary leading 5-4 at half and tied, 7-7 after three. Spain, the defending champs, won the bronze by beating Serbia, 9-6. The U.S. ended up seventh, beating Montenegro, 17-15.

Hungary’s Gergo Zalanki was selected as Most Valuable; Hannes Daube of the U.S. Made the All-Tournament team as the no. 2 scorer, with 22 scores.

The Netherlands won the women’s title, also going to a shoot-out to defeat Spain, 5-4, in the final, following a 12-12 tie. It’s the first Worlds gold for the Dutch since 1991, and was their first win in their last four appearances in the final.

Italy defeated Australia, 16-14, to finish third. The U.S. women, the four-time defending champs, finished fifth, winning a 4-2 shoot-out with Hungary after an 11-11 tie.

Spain’s Elena Ruiz was selected as Most Valuable; teammate Judith Forca led all scorers with 23 goals.

In the overall medal count for the Championships, the U.S. won 44 medals (7-22-15) to lead all nations, ahead of China (40: 20-8-12) and Australia (30: 15-9-6). The Chinese won 12 of 13 diving events and then five in the pool and three in Artistic.

4.
Swiss and Spain clinch groups in Women’s World Cup

The final round of group matches at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup have begun, with five teams now advanced to the elimination rounds: Switzerland and Norway from Group A, Spain and Japan from Group C and Sweden from Group G.

This will be quite a week as the play-offs – and brackets – get sorted out. The weekend’s games:

● Group D: England 1, Denmark 0 ● The Lionesses managed another 1-0 win, thanks to forward Lauren James’ strike in the sixth minute, off a dribble to the top of the box and smashed a right-footed shot to the right side of the Danish net for the only goal of the game.

Both sides had chances, but England controlled possession (71%) and had a 13-6 shots advantage. Denmark missed its best chance in the 87th, when midfielder Amalie Vangsgaard’s head clanged off the far goalpost.

● Group D: China 1, Haiti 0 ● This game got crazy quickly, as Chinese midfielder Zhang Rui was red-carded in the 29th minute for a studs-up tackle on Haiti’s midfielder Sherly Jeudy, and China had to play with 10.

Even so, they controlled much of the game, with 54% of possession, but without much offense. China got eight shots to Haiti’s seven, with Chinese keeper Zhu Yu denying substitute midfielder Melchie Dumonay from point-blank range in the 53rd to keep it scoreless. In the 71st, Haiti defender Ruthny Mathurin was called for a penalty on a tackle after an offsides call was wiped out on a video review, and substitute midfielder Wang Shuang scored in the 74th for the only goal of the match.

England leads the group at 2-0 with six points, with Denmark (1-1) and China (1-1) at three; China will face England and Haiti will play Denmark on Tuesday (1st).

● Group F: France 2, Brazil 1 ● This was a hard-fought game, played in front of a huge crowd of 49,378 in Brisbane.

France struck for on a long diagonal pass from defender Sakina Karchaoui found striker Kadidiatou Diani at the far side of the Brazil goal, and her header put striker Eugenie Le Sommer in perfect position to head it in for a 1-0 lead in the 17th. The half ended there.

Brazil kept coming and midfielder Kerolin sent a pass through the French defense and striker Debinha right-footed it in for a tie in the 58th. The French kept the pressure up and, finally, a corner from midfielder Selma Bacha found French star defender Wendie Renard at the far side of the goal and she headed a bouncer into the net in the 83rd for the winning score.

France had 54% of possession and a 19-11 edge on shots.

● Group F: Jamaica 1, Panama 0 ● The Jamaicans surprised France with a 0-0 draw in their opening match for their first-ever Women’s World Cup point and then managed to overcome Panama, 1-0, for their first Women’s World Cup win, in Perth (AUS).

The game was tightly played, and while the Jamaicans had chances, the half ended 0-0. Finally, a corner from midfielder Trudi Carter sailed into the middle of the box and was headed into the far side of the net by defender Allyson Swalby in the 56th, for the only goal of the game.

Panama had slightly more possession at 52%, but the Jamaicans were the aggressors, with 20 shots to 13. With the win, Jamaica and France are both 1-0-1 (W-L-T) and have four points, ahead of Brazil (3), with Panama eliminated. The French play Panama and Jamaica is in an elimination match against Brazil on Wednesday (2nd).

● Group G: Argentina 2, South Africa 2 ● The South Africans were on track to win after taking a 1-0 lead in the first half on a breakaway by striker Thembi Kgatlana and a 2×1 attack with midfielder Linda Motlhalo finishing. The play was called offsides, but reversed on video review.

Then Kgatlana got her own goal in the 66th off a steal deep in the Argentine zone from fellow striker Jermaine Seoposenwe, whose pass to the front of goal was finished for a 2-0 advantage.

But Argentina stormed back, with defender Sophia Braun slamming a loose ball beyond the box into the net on the fly in the 74th, and midfielder Romina Nunez heading in a cross into the box into the far corner of the South African net in the 79th for the equalizer. Argentina had 61% of possession, but both sides managed 13 shots and earned a point.

● Group G: Sweden 5, Italy 0 ● The Swedes clinched a playoff spot with a rout of Italy, scoring three times at the end of the first half at Wellington (NZL).

Defender Amanda Ilestedt opened the flood gates with a header in the 39th off a corner kick from defender Joanna Andersson that curled right into the front of the Italian goal, then another Andersson corner sailed a little further in the 44th and forward Fridolina Rolfo knocked it in for a 2-0 lead. At 45+1, a cross near the endline from forward Johanna Kaneryd could not be cleared and striker Stina Blackstenius was waiting to finish for the 3-0 halftime score.

The game was decided; Ilestedt scored on another header from Andersson in the 50th and substitute striker Rebecka Blomqvist outran everyone on a loose ball from midfield at 90+5 and scored for the 5-0 final.

Italy actually had 53% of possession, but the Swedes piled up 21 shots to 12 and essentially clinched the group.

● Group H: Morocco 1, South Korea 0 ● The Moroccans got crushed by Germany in its first-ever Women’s World Cup game, then scored its first-ever Women’s World Cup goal in the sixth minute against South Korea on a header by striker Ibstissam Jraidi at the right side of the box that ran diagonally to the left side of the net off an entry pass from defender Hanane Aït El Haj. That was all the scoring.

The Koreans controlled possession (62%) and got 16 shots off to 10 for Morocco, but the Africans were well organized on defense and physical, with 14 fouls. The Moroccans had more chances, but could not score again and Korea missed a final chance in the 87th with U.S.-born teen Casey Phair missing a strike from inside the box wide to the right in the closing minutes.

● Group H: Colombia 2, Germany 1 ● The no. 2-ranked Germans looked all-powerful in their first game, but ran into a determined Colombian squad in Sydney and suffered a shocking defeat in stoppage time.

Neither side could score in the first half, but the forward Linda Caiceido scored a brilliant goal in the 52nd for Colombia, taking possession of a blocked shot at the left side of the box, dribbling to create space and then sending a right-footed rocket to the high right side of the German net for a 1-0 lead.

The Germans had the ball (68% possession) and shots, but could not score, despite 14 shots (to 9). In the 88th, a breakthrough by midfielder Lena Oberdorf was cut short by a tackle by Colombian keeper Catalina Perez for a penalty. Striker Alexandra Popp converted cleanly to tie the game at 1-1.

But the Colombians stunned the Germans, themselves and 40,499 at the Sydney Football Stadium at 90+7 when a corner by substitute midfielder Leicy Santos was headed by defender Manuela Vanegas into the top right corner of the German goal for the winning score.

Colombia is now 2-0 with six points, with Germany and Morocco at three each; Columbia plays Morocco next and the Germans need a win against 0-2 Korea.

● Group A: Switzerland 0, New Zealand 0 ● The Swiss only needed a draw in Dunedin to advance and with 51% possession and just three shots in the match, that’s what they got.

New Zealand striker Jacqui Hand hit the right goalpost with a shot on the run in the 24th with the best offensive play of the game. The Football Ferns were aggressive – 12 shots to 3 – but could not score and were eliminated. The Swiss won the group at 1-0-2 and five points.

● Group A: Norway 6, Philippines 0 ● It was 2-0 after 17 minutes and 3-0 after 31 as Norway cruised into the knock-put round with a 6-0 win in Auckland. Striker Sophie Roman Haug opened the scoring in the sixth minute on a left-footed volley from the left of goal, then got a second in the 17th on a header, also from the left of goal and into the far right corner.

Forward Caroline Hansen got the third goal of the half in the 31st on a powerful strike from 10 years beyond the box that whistled into the left side of the Philippine goal for the 3-0 halftime edge.

It got worse, as Philippine defender Alicia Barker scored an own goal on a failed clearance in the 48th (4-0) and midfielder Guro Reiten converted a penalty in the 53rd (5-0). Haug got one more on another header at 90+5 for the 6-0 final. The Norwegians enjoyed 72% of possession and put up 31 shots to 4. On to the eliminations.

Group play continues through 3 August; the Round of 16 will begin on 5 August.

Fox Sports announced that its English-language telecast of the U.S.-Netherlands Women’s World Cup drew a big audience of 6,429,000 viewers on Wednesday, including 196,938 streaming viewers (3.06%).

Telemundo’s Spanish-language broadcast drew 1.51 million viewers, including 244,000 streaming viewers (16.16%), for a combined total of 7.939 million, way up vs. the comparable group-stage game from the 2019 edition and 50% ahead of the U.S.-Vietnam opener (1.01 million).

5.
U.S. Center for SafeSport eyed by review Commission

Expect a focus of the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics to be on the U.S. Center for SafeSport, as well as the USOPC.

Said Han Xiao, a Co-Chair of the Commission and the former head of the USOPC’s Athletes Advisory Council, told the Associated Press, “Over and over again, we’re hearing that athlete safety and the SafeSport process must be a top priority.”

Formed in 2017, the SafeSport 2022 report showed that of the 12,751 cases it has resolved to date:

● 1,720 (13.5%) resulted in a violation being found
● 157 (1.2%) resulted in no violation being found
● 744 (5.8%) are on administrative hold (person now not affiliated with an NGB)
● 1,900 cases (14.9%) closed for lack of jurisdiction
● 3,340 cases (26.2%) closed because SafeSport declined to pursue
● 4,480 cases (35.1%) administratively closed as SafeSport declined to pursue

Combining those cases with violations or no violations being found, only 1,877 of 12,751 cases resolved – 14.7% – had a final outcome.

There are varying reasons for each outcome, such as lack of evidence or a judgement that the complaint may be minor enough to be handled by a National Governing Body rather than the Center.

The AP story quoted Center director Ju’Riese Colon: “If I was to look into the future about what we really need, we need at least double what we have today.” She said the Center’s budget was based on an annual complaint volume of 2,700 cases, but it receives about 8,000 now.

The Center for SafeSport is primarily funded by the USOPC, which was mandated by Congress in the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 to pay it $20 million per year each January.

Max Cobb, the former President of the U.S. Biathlon Association – and of the U.S. National Governing Body Council – who is now the Secretary General of the International Biathlon Union, told the AP:

“Too often, the investigations take months or years to begin, and in the end are too slow to be effective within the real-life timeframe in which our athletes and sports happen. This creates a long period of inaction that in many cases is worse or nearly as bad as the initial offense.”

The Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympics is expected to hold a public hearing on 6 September.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2020: Tokyo ● The Tokyo 2020 bid-rigging scandal continued to unfold in the Tokyo District Court last Thursday, as Dentsu Sports Division Assistant Director Koji Henmi admitted working to fix the awards to manage the Olympic test events.

He is the second official to be tried in the bid-rigging program; Yasuo Mori, who was the Deputy Executive Director of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee’s operations team, pled guilty earlier this month. The scheme was executed between February and July 2018 to select companies to organize the test events, leading to much more lucrative contracts for venue management during the Games.

Henmi pled to the test-event project, but not to the Games venue management selections, and reports indicate he may fight that part of his indictment. So far, everyone in both the bid-rigging and sponsorship-selection scandal has pled guilty in hopes of a lighter sentence … all of which have been suspended thus far.

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● Agence France Presse reported that the 200-plus booksellers whose stalls line the River Seine in Paris are not interested in shutting down to accommodate the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Games next year.

The head of the Paris Booksellers Cultural Association, Jerome Callais, said the merchants were told by the Paris police that the shelving of 570 of them had to be removed:

“The official responsible for the Seine explained to us that we would be obstructing the view on the day of the ceremony. We’re a major symbol of Paris. We’ve been here for 450 years!

“To want to erase us from the landscape when the celebration of these Games should be a celebration of Paris seems a bit crazy.”

Worries over security and terrorism are driving the request. AFP noted that the demand to move included an agreement that the city will remove and reinstall the book boxes, and repair any that are damaged. Callais said it could cost €1.5 million to do the job properly (about $1.66 million U.S.).

● Russia ● European sports ministers have asked that any Russian or Belarusian athlete who receives state assistance be disqualified from competing in Paris in 2024 as a “neutral.” For the first time apparently, the question is being asked, according to Russian Archery Federation chief Vladimir Yesheev:

“We are asked to provide personal data of athletes and coaches, but we cannot make cross-border transfers of documents until Roskomnadzor [Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media] gives the appropriate permission.

“We are asked to indicate the employer, the coach, the coach’s employer, to inform whether the athlete served in the army. We reported that the lists of the national team are publicly available, on the website of the Ministry of Sports, but we cannot provide the rest of the data without a decision of Roskomnadzor.

“We reported which athletes are listed in CSKA and Dynamo [sports clubs], but they also demanded to indicate whether they received subsidies from state bodies or sports organizations.”

The Russian government is continuing its program of creating multi-sport events to mimic the Olympic Movement from which it is now excluded. Now underway is the Summer Games for Deaf Athletes “We are together. Sport” for the deaf in Ufa, clearly modeled on the Deaflympics, first staged in 1924.

The event started on 23 July and will close on 2 August, with a reported 2,000 participants, apparently including one American. The International Sports Committee for the Deaf issued a statement in March that included:

“The ICSD strongly states that it has not and will not give any form of permission for the use of the word ‘Deaflympics’ and will closely monitor the organisation of the Russian Summer Games of Deaf Athletes ‘We are together. Sport’ event and, if necessary, take action and take the necessary steps against any possible unlawful use of the word ‘Deaflympics’.”

The next Deaflympics will be held in Tokyo in 2025.

● Archery ● At the fourth U.S. Archery Team Qualifier Series tournament – the Buckeye Classic in Dublin, Ohio – the past met the future in the men’s Recurve final as 1996 Olympic gold medalist Justin Huish, now 48, faced 21-year-old Trenton Cowles, the 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion.

Cowles was the top seed and won, 6-4, in a tight match: 29-27, 27-30, 30-30, 29-29 and 30-29. Is he the next great American men’s archer?

Matthew Nofel, a Worlds silver Team medalist in 2021, won the third-place match, 6-4, over Gabe Anderson.

The women’s title went to Isabella Frederick, 20, a 6-4 winner over Megan McDonough, while Cham Chung took third with a 7-1 win against Molly Nugent.

● Athletics ● A breakthrough for 18-year-old Issam Asinga of Suriname at the South American Championships in Sao Paulo (BRA) on Friday, winning the continental title with a World U-20 Record of 9.89 (+0.8).

That brings him to equal-fourth (with three others) on the 2023 world list and raises him to instant medal contender status for the World Athletics Championships that begin on 19 August in Budapest (HUN).

World Athletics noted, “Asinga was born in Atlanta, USA, and grew up in Zambia, where his mother was born. His father is Surinam’s Tommy Asinga, who still holds the country’s national records for 400m, 800m and 1500m.” He has signed with Texas A&M for college.

Brazil’s Thiago Braz, the stunning winner of the Rio 2016 men’s vault gold, was provisionally suspended Friday by the Athletics Integrity Unit for the prohibited selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) Ostarine that has impacts similar to steroids.

If confirmed, Braz could be subject to a four-year penalty. The World Indoor silver winner in 2022, Braz – now 29 – had cleared a seasonal best of 5.71 m (18-8 3/4) this season, ranking 32nd on the world list.

Abbabiya Simbassa and Kellyn Taylor won the USA Track & Field 7-Mile Championships in Davenport, Iowa.

The men’s lead pack was down to five by the four-mile mark, with Simbassa attacking near the five-mile mark and breaking everyone except 8 km national champ Clayton Young, who took the lead with a half-mile left. But Simbassa had another gear and ran away to win in 32:35 for his second career national title and first in 2023; Young was second in 32:53 and Reid Buchanan came up for third in 32:57.

Tokyo Olympic Marathon Trials winner Aliphine Tuliamuk and Taylor, 37, broke away from the women’s field with a couple of miles left, and then raced to the finish. Taylor finally caught to, and then passed Tuliamuk to get her first U.S. title in 36:33, with Tuliamuk denied an eighth USATF title in 36:38. Ednah Kurgat, who won the USATF 6 m title this season, got third in 36:56, just ahead of Annie Frisbie.

● Badminton ● Top-seeded Viktor Axelsen of Denmark won his 20th career BWF World Tour tournament title to headline the Japan Open in Tokyo. Axelsen defeated Indonesian Jonatan Christie, 21-17, 21-18 in the final.

Second-seed Se Young An (KOR) won the women’s Singles over Bing Jiao He (CHN), 21-15, 21-11, and the Koreans got a second win in the women’s Doubles, by So Yeong Kim and Hee Yong Kong (KOR) over Qing Chen Chen and Yi Fan Jia (CHN), 21-17, 21-14.

Chinese Taipei scored a win in men’s Doubles, as Yang Lee and Chi-Lin Wang swept Takuro Hogi and Yugo Kobayashi (JPN), 21-19, 21-13, but Japan’s Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino won the Mixed Doubles by 17-21, 21-16, 21-16 over Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA).

● Beach Volleyball ● A rematch at the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 in Montreal (CAN) pitted the two finalists from the prior Elite 16 tournament in Gstaad (SUI): Olympic and World Champions Anders Mol and Christian Sorum from Norway and the upstart Americans, Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh.

Partain and Benesh won in Gstaad in a shocker, two sets to one, and in Montreal, it was another tug-of-war. The Norwegians took the first set, 21-17, but were tied, 15-21, after the second set, and finally won the decisive third, 15-10.

In the six Elite 16 finals this season, Mol and Sorum have made all six finals and have won three. In the third-place match, Alex Ranghieri and Carambula Raurich (ITA) edged Evandro Oliveira Jr. and Arthur Lanci (BRA), 24-22 and 22-20.

The women’s final was an all-North American battle between 2019 World Champions Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson (CAN) and Julia Scoles and Betsi Flint (USA), who had already achieved their first medal finish of the season.

In fact, Scoles and Flint could barely believe they made the final after a furious comeback in their quarterfinal against Brazil’s reigning World Champions Ana Patricia Ramos and Duda Lisboa: down 9-14 in the third set, they scored six straight points to get to 15-14, then 15-15. Two more points got the Americans to 17-15 and an improbable win that continued into the final.

The final was close, with the Canadians winning the first set, 21-15, but tied in the second (16-21), and finally winning in the third, 15-13, for their second win of the season. Scoles and Flint won their second Beach Pro Tour medal together, and their first this season.

The third-place match saw Chen Xue and Ximyi Xia (CHN) get past Katja Stam and Raisa Schoon (NED), 21-17, 20-22, 15-12.

● Cycling ● The key seventh stage of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, with its finish on the 2,116 m Col du Tourmalet, was a brilliant victory for Dutch star Demi Vollering, already a five-time winner on the UCI Women’s World Tour in 2023.

Her solo attack from 5 km out won the stage by a whopping 1:58 over Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma and 2:34 over Dutch teammate Annemiek van Vleuten and catapulted her into the overall lead by 1:50 over Niewiadoma, 2:28 over van Vleuten and 2:35 over prior leader Lotte Kopecky (BEL).

Kopecky had remained in the lead after Stage 6, a sprint finish won by Emma Norsgaard (DEN), over Charlotte Kool (NED: +0:01) and Kopecky (+0:01). But the race was decided on Saturday, with only the Individual Time Trial in Pau left on Sunday.

Swiss Marlen Reusser won the 22.5 km Time Trial in 29:15, ahead of Vollering (+0:10) and Kopecky (+0:38). That left Vollering the winner at 25:17:35, ahead of Kopecky (+3:03) and Niewiadoma (+3:03), and defending champ van Vleuten (+3:59). It’s Vollering sixth major win of the year.

The UCI World Tour is back in full swing, with Belgian Remco Evenepoel defending his title at the 43rd Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa in Spain, in a sprint to the finish with home favorite Pedro Bilbao (ESP) at the end of the hilly, 230.3 km course on Saturday.

It’s the third win this season for Evenepoel, who has now won this race three times, in 2019-22-23. He and Bilbao both timed 5:30:59, well ahead of Aleksandr Vlasov (RUS), with American Nelson Powless (+2:50).

● Football ● UEFA announced that Italy and Turkey have merged their bid to host the 2032 European Championship, leaving the 2028 edition to go to the joint bid from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland:

“In 2021, UEFA initiated a bidding process for the hosting of two consecutive editions of its European Championship, in 2028 and 2032. TFF [Turkey] entered the process for both editions, while FIGC [Italy] decided to bid only for the 2032 edition. A joint bid to host the 2028 edition has also been placed by five associations: England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

“UEFA will now work with FIGC and TFF to ensure that the documentation to be submitted for their joint bid is compliant with the bidding requirements.

“If the joint bid does comply with such requirements, it will be submitted to the UEFA Executive Committee at the meeting scheduled on 10 October, where the appointments for 2028 and 2032 will be made.”

● Swimming ● While the World Championships continued, the Tyr U.S. Pro Championships were held in Irvine, California, with Dakota Luther moving into the world top 10 in the women’s 200 m Fly,

Luther, who finished third at the U.S. Nationals, won the 200 m Fly with a lifetime best of 2:06.79, moving her to no. 7 on the year. That time would also have placed her fourth at the 2023 World Championships, just 1/100th behind fellow American Regan Smith for the bronze medal.

American Paige Madden scored a triple win, taking the 200-400-800 m Freestyles in 1:57.41 (season best), 4:07.97, and 8:32.46 (season best). Sprinter Catie De Loof won the 50 m and 100 m Freestyles in 24.68 and 54.06, with 2019 World 50 m champ Simone Manuel third in the 50 at 25.05 and second in the 100 m in 54.21.

Jake Foster took the men’s 100-200 m Breast double in 59.64 and 2:08.23, and Australia’s Maximilian Giuliani won the 100-200 m Free double in 48.21 and 1:46.23. Aiden Hayes of the U.S. won the men’s 100 m Fly in 51.24, now no. 4 in the U.S. this season.

● Tennis ● The Czech Republic has prevented entry to the country by Russian and Belarusian tennis players who were to play as neutrals in this week’s Women’s Tennis Association Prague Open tournament.

One Russian player was stopped from entering the country last Thursday and other players were informed by the tournament organizers that they would not be admitted. Tournament director Miroslav Maly said, “The management of the tournament fully respect the current stance of state authorities. We do not expect any player with Russian or Belarusian citizenship to take part in the tournament in this situation.”

Czech policy is not to allow Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete in the country, regardless of “neutral” status. The WTA responded with an annoyed tweet:

“WTA rules state that all players must be allowed to compete on the WTA based solely on merit, without discrimination.

“We will continue to review the situation as we factor important considerations around these complex geopolitical issues.”

● Triathlon ● France’s Cassandre Beaugrand underscored her Hamburg Super-Sprint world title with a follow-up victory in the World Triathlon Championship Series in Sunderland (GBR) on Saturday.

This was a Sprint – 750 m swim, 21.3 km bike and 5 km run – with Beaugrand coming out of the water third and just five seconds back after the bike phase. She took over on the run, where she posted the fastest time in the field by six seconds, and by more than 20 seconds from her closest competitors to win in 59:53. French teammate Emma Lombardi was a distant second (1:00:11) with Annika Koch (GER: 1:00:17) third, with her first World Series medal. Erika Ackerlund was the top U.S. finisher in 13th (1:00:58), with Rio 2016 Olympic champ Gwen Jorgensen 21st in 1:02:21.

The men’s competition was another French 1-2, with Pierre Le Corre winning his first World Series title, just ahead of 2022 World Champion Leo Bergere, with both timed in 54:06. Once again, the run was decisive, with Le Corre at 14:37, nine seconds up on Bergere (14:36), the next best. New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde was third (54:21), winning his fourth World Series medal in 2023.

The French completed their sweep of the weekend with a win in the Mixed Relay, with Tom Richard, Emma Lombardi, Le Corre and Beaugrand the decisive victors in 1:26:53, ahead of Britain (1:27:16) and Norway (1:27:17). The U.S., with Jorgensen on second leg, finished eighth (1:29:17).

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TSX REPORT: Marchand wins third swim gold, another Aussie WR; Ukrainian fencer axed for not shaking hands with Russian; remembering LA84

By
Rich Perelman
-
The magnificently-decorated peristyle end of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Opening Ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games (Photo: Wikipedia)

★ 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 ≡

1. Australia wins three, Marchand wins third at Swim Worlds
2. Disqualification of Kharlan overshadows Fencing Worlds
3. Portugal wins, Nigeria shocks Australia at World Cup
4. IOC suspends Sheikh Ahmad three years, questions OCA vote
5. Remembering LA84: the Games that changed everything

France’s Leon Marchand won his third event at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in the men’s 200 m Medley, while Australia’s women set a world record in the 4×200 m Freestyle. Kyle Chalmers and Kaylee McKeown also won golds for Australia in Fukuoka, Japan. At the FIE World Championships in Milan, Italy, four-time World Sabre Champion Olha Kharlan of Ukraine was disqualified from the event after beating “neutral” (Russian) Anna Smirnova, 15-7, but not shaking her hand afterwards! This has triggered an angry protest from the Ukrainians, who changed their national policy to allow Kharlan and others to compete in Olympic qualifying events. The IOC said international federations should show “sensitivity” in such situations. The IOC also imposed a three-year suspension on Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad, who interfered – against instructions – in the Olympic Council of Asia Presidential elections that saw his brother win a close vote. Friday marks the 39th anniversary of the revolutionary 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, an aesthetic, financial and organizational success that changed the Olympic Movement from losers to winners across 16 days, and continues to help support sport in Los Angeles and the U.S. today.

● Panorama: Paris 2024 (What does the IOC’s invitation for 2024 actually say?) = Russia (2: Russian Olympic Committee head pessimistic on 2024; dates announced for the BRICS Games in 2024) = Archery (process for re-admitting Russians and Belarusians won’t happen in 2023) = Cycling (German Ricarda Bauernfeind wins Tour de France Femmes stage 5) = Swimming (Kolesnikov gets men’s 50 m Back world record in Kazan) ●

1.
Australia wins three, Marchand wins third at Swim Worlds

It’s pretty clear now that France’s Leon Marchand, 21, is going to be the center of attention in France a year from now when the Olympic swimming events open in Paris, after his third victory at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Marchand came in as the favorite in the men’s 200 m Medley and finally got in front on the Breaststroke leg and had a huge 1.15-second lead coming home, finishing in a European Record of 1:54.82, the 11th-fastest swim in history. He’s now no. 3 all-time behind Americans Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps, who still have the top 10 performances ever.

Tokyo silver medalist Duncan Scott (GBR) and teammate Tom Dean, the Tokyo 200 m Free winner, finished 2-3 in 1:55.95 and 1:56.07, with Americans Shaine Casas and Carson Foster at 4-5 (1:56.36 and 1:56.43).

Marchand won three events as a sophomore for Arizona State at the 2023 NCAAs and is coached by Bob Bowman, formerly Phelps’ coach. It will be fascinating to see how he handles now only the training schedule between now and 2024, but the pressure of being one of the main faces of the French team for the Paris Games.

Otherwise, it was another big day for Australia in the pool, with three more wins and another relay world record.

At the start of the session was the women’s 200 m Butterfly final, with Canada’s 16-year-old star Summer McIntosh getting her first win of this meet in 2:04.06, a lifetime and now equal-5th on the all-time list. She had control from the start, leading at each turn, leading surprising Lana Pudas (BIH) at 100 and 150 m, but on the final lap, both Elizabeth Dekkers (AUS) and Regan Smith of the U.S. passed her and finished 2-3 in 2:05.46 and 2:06.58. Lindsay Looney of the U.S. was eighth in 2:07.90.

Just 34 minutes later, Smith was back in the pool for the final of the 50 m Back, racing against Tokyo 100-200 m winner Kaylee McKeown of Australia, who had already won the 100 m Back in Fukuoka. The race was tight from the start, with McKeown in five and Smith in four and the Australian was first with the touch in 27.08 to 27.10 for Smith and 27.20 for Britain’s Lauren Cox. American Katharine Berkoff finished fifth in 27.38.

McKeown moved to no. 3 all-time with her 27.08 winning mark.

Just before the women’s 50 was the men’s 100 m Free, which was supposed to belong to Romania’s 18-year-old star David Popovici, who set the world record of 46.86 in 2022 and was the defending champion. But it was Rio 2016 Olympic champ Kyle Chalmers of Australia who zoomed from seventh at the turn and swam the last lap in just 24.11 to catch Cal sophomore Jack Alexy of the U.S., 47.15 to 47.31.

The win is Chalmers’ first Worlds gold, although he swam faster (47.08) for silver at the 2019 Worlds. The revelation was Alexy, 20, who barely got into the final and swam from lane eight, turning in front (22.48) and then hanging on for second to move his best from 47.68 to 47.31, now no. 13 all-time and no. 2 all-time U.S. Popovici was sixth in 47.83.

The final event was the women’s 4×200 m Free, with Australia heavily favored after their 1-2 finish in the 200 m Free. And they delivered, with Mollie O’Callaghan (1:53.66), Shayna Jack (1:55.63), Brianna Throssell (1:55.80) and Ariarne Titmus (1:52.41, fastest split ever) racing away to a world record of 7:37.50. That erased the Aussie women’s record set at the 2022 Commonwealth Games of 7:39.29.

The U.S. was third after Erin Gemmell’s 1:55.97 opening leg, second after Katie Ledecky’s 1:54.39 swim and actually in the lead after Bella Sims swam 1:54.64. But anchor Alex Shackell had no answer for Titmus and finished in 1:56.38 for a total of 7:41.38 and silver. That’s the no. 6 time in history and second-fastest ever in U.S. history. China was a distant third in 7:44.40.

By the way, Ledecky won a 25th career Worlds medal (20-5-0) and still has the women’s 800 m Free to swim on Saturday.

World-leading marks were set in four events on Thursday:

● Men/100 m Free: 47.15, Kyle Chalmers (AUS)
● Men/200 m Medley: 1:54.82, Leon Marchand (FRA)

● Women/50 m Back: 27.08, Kaylee McKeown (AUS)
● Women/4×200 m Free: Australia ~ World Record

The meet concludes Sunday. It’s entirely likely now that Australia will win the most gold medals at this Worlds, although the U.S. continues as the top medal-winner. This has happened before, most recently at the 2001 World Championships, when Australia won 19 medals (13-3-3) to 26 for the U.S. (9-9-8).

So far, the U.S. has 21 medals (3-10-8) to Australia’s 13 (9-4-0), with China next at 9 (4-0-5).

Greece and Hungary will meet for the world title in men’s water polo on Saturday, after semifinal wins on Thursday. The Greeks handled Serbia, 13-7 and Hungary overcame defending champ Spain, 12-11, with a 5-3 scoring burst in the final quarter.

The U.S. men lost to France, 5-3, in a penalty shoot-out after a 13-13 tie in regulation. The French came back from an 11-8 deficit in the fourth quarter and then advanced to the fifth-place match against Italy. The American men will play Montenegro for seventh.

The U.S. women will play Hungary for fifth place on Friday.

2.
Disqualification of Kharlan overshadows Fencing Worlds

In his opening remarks at last month’s 140th Session of the International Olympic Committee, President Thomas Bach (GER) praised the European Fencing Championships, World Judo Championships and World Taekwondo Championships for following the IOC’s recommendations to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals.

“All three championships took place without incidents,” he said, extolling the IOC’s approach.

Well, now there has been an incident, at the World Fencing Championships in Milan (ITA) involving four-time World Sabre Champion and 10th seed Olha Kharlan. She defeated 55th-seeded “neutral” (Russian) Anna Smirnova in the round-of-64, 15-7, then refused to shake hands after the bout. She offered her sabre for a touch, but Smirnova made no move and Kharlan left the piste. Smirnova stayed put and was eventually offered a chair, remaining on the piste for what was reported for as much as an hour.

The FIE disqualified Kharlan and the results showed Bulgaria’s Yoana Ilieva advancing to the quarterfinals in a walkover.

The FIE technical rules (t.122) state:

“[W]hen the final hit has been scored, the bout has not ended until the two fencers have saluted each other, the Referee and the spectators: to this end, they must remain still while the referee is making his decision; when he has given his decision, they must return to their on-guard line, perform a fencer’s salute and shake hands with their opponent. If either or both of the two fencers refuse to comply with these rules, the Referee will penalise him/them as specified for offences of the 4th group (cf. t.158-162, t.169, t.170).”

Smirnova stood on the piste, but offered no salute, while Kharlan offered her sabre in salute, raising questions about the severity of the penalty to Kharlan alone.

That Kharlan actually fenced against Smirnova was remarkable, as the Ukrainian government changed its stance on Wednesday, from banning all competitions against Russians or Belarusians to allowing those in situations where they are not representing their countries. Kharlan’s bout against Smirnova was reportedly the first between a Ukrainian and Russian athletes since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

The change in policy came too late for Ukraine’s Igor Reizlin, the Tokyo 2020 bronze winner in Epee, as he refused to compete against Russian Vadim Anokhin on Wednesday, apparently presenting a medical excuse for his withdrawal.

Ukraine’s Fencing Federation President Mykhaylo Ilyashev told reporters in Milan:

“We have already submitted our protest to the Bureau of the International Fencing Federation. We are waiting for the immediate consideration of this protest, so that this disqualification is cancelled and Olha can take part in team competitions.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted:

Ukraine’s Olha Kharlan (left) offering her Sabre in salute following her 15-7 over Russian Anna Smirnova at the 2023 World Fencing Championships (Photo: Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba via Twitter)

“Anna Smirnova lost the fair competition and decided to play dirty with the handshake show. This is exactly how Russian army acts on the battlefield. Olha Kharlan won the fair competition and showed dignity. I urge @FIE_fencing to restore Kharlan’s rights and allow her to compete.”

The IOC issued a statement in support of Wednesday’s decision by Ukraine to allow competitions against Russians and Belarusians acting as neutrals that rings hollow only hours later:

“This decision will allow Ukrainian athletes to participate in international competitions and will enable them to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. We are glad that they will be given this opportunity, and at the same time we are aware of the difficult inner conflicts they may have, given the aggression against their country.

“Therefore, we encourage international federations to handle situations involving Ukrainian and Individual Neutral Athletes with the necessary degree of sensitivity. We continue to stand in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic community of Ukraine.”

The women’s Sabre tournament was won by Japan’s defending champion Misaki Emura, who beat 2022 bronze winner Despina Georgiadou of Greece in the final, 15-11. Greece’s 2019 Worlds third-placer Theodora Gkountoura and Ilieva took the bronzes, her first career Worlds medal.

In Thursday’s men’s Foil tournament, 2022 Worlds silver medalist Tommaso Marini of Italy thrilled the home fans with a 15-13 victory over American Nick Itkin in the final. Itkin, 23, moved up from bronze in 2022. Marini defeated France’s Enzo Lefort in the semis, reversing his loss to Lefort in the 2022 Worlds final, while Itkin out-classed Japan’s Kyosuke Matsuyama, 15-10.

Team events are next in Milan, with the women’s Sabre scheduled for preliminary matches on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday.

3.
Portugal wins, Nigeria shocks Australia at World Cup

The fight for Group E at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which includes the U.S. women, the Netherlands and Portugal is going to come down to the final day of matches, with all three still in contention after the Portuguese win over Vietnam, 2-0. And Nigeria shocked host Australia, 3-2, sending Group B into a tizzy, also to be decided on the final day.

● Group B: Nigeria 3, Australia 2 ● A huge crowd of 49.156 showed up at the Brisbane Stadium to see the Matildas advance, but instead saw a thriller that ended with Australia controlling the game and Nigeria winning.

The first half was scoreless through 45 minutes, but in stoppage time, striker Emily van Egmond got Australia on the board at 45+1, thanks to a perfect pass from the left side to the middle by striker Caitlin Foord that a trailing van Egmond smashed into the goal with her right foot. But the excitement was short-lived, as midfielder Uchenna Kanu left-footed a loose ball from midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade’s shot that was blocked and landed at her feet at the right side of the goal, at 45+6.

The Aussies continued to own possession and take shots in the second half, but Nigeria countered cleverly, and in the 65th, an Ajibade header from the left side was saved, but wasn’t cleared and defender Osinachi Ohale easily headed it in for the 2-1 lead.

Then defender Alanna Kennedy botched a clearance on a long lead ball in the 72nd, beyond keeper Mackenzie Arnold, and substitute striker Asisat Oshoala socked it into the open goal for a 3-1 lead.

A furious rally by the Australians produced seven shots into stoppage time when Kennedy finally got a consolation goal at 90+10 on a header off of a corner kick, but it was not enough. Australia finished with 64% of possession, a 28-11 edge on shots… and a loss.

The group finishes on Tuesday (31st) with Canada and Nigeria at 1-0-1 (4 points) and Australia at 1-1 (3). Canada and Australia will play in Melbourne in an elimination game while Nigeria will face already-eliminated Ireland.

● Group E: Portugal 2, Vietnam 0 ● The Portuguese knew they had to win to stay in contention for the playoffs and got off to a hot start in Hamilton with a seventh-minute goal from striker Telma Encarnacao, finishing off a perfect cross from the right side to in front of the goal by midfielder Lucia Alves.

It was quickly 2-0 in the 21st off an Encarnacao lead pass from the left of goal above the box to forward Kika Nazareth in the center of the box, whose right-to-left strike rolled into the goal for a 2-0 lead that looked very secure.

Portugal had more chances, but could not score again, with Vietnamese keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh making seven saves to keep it respectable. The Portuguese had 69% of possession and a 28-5 shots advantage in a game they completely controlled.

With the loss, Vietnam was eliminated, but the U.S. (1-0-1, +3) and the Dutch (1-0-1, +1) tied for the lead in the group with four points and Portugal with three (1-1, +1). On Tuesday (1st), the U.S. and Portugal will play in Auckland, while the Dutch take on Vietnam. With a Dutch win expected, the U.S. can advance with a draw or win, while Portugal needs to beat the Americans.

4.
IOC suspends Sheikh Ahmad three years, questions OCA vote

The International Olympic Committee signaled its displeasure as it was happening and on Thursday, came back with a three-year suspension of already self-suspended member Sheikh Al-Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait.

Sheikh Ahmad, as he is known, 59, has been an IOC and FIFA power broker since 1991, was the head of the Olympic Council of Asia since 1991, an IOC member since 1992 and on the FIFA Council in 2014. He left the FIFA Council in 2017 after allegations of bribery, and then was convicted of forgery in a Swiss court in 2021, which he is appealing. But he stepped away from his activities with the IOC, and as the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees in 2018, and as Olympic Council of Asia chief in 2021.

With a decision on his appeal still pending, Sheikh Ahmad was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in Kuwait.

And he jumped back into the spotlight at the recent Olympic Council of Asia elections, supporting his brother, Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who ultimately won a close, 24-20 vote on 7 July over longtime OCA Secretary General (and now World Aquatics President) Husain Al-Musallam, also of Kuwait.

The IOC Ethics Commission sent a letter to Sheikh Ahmad, expressly forbidding his participation in the OCA elections, since it would constitute direct government interference. But he was in Bangkok (THA) for the OCA Assembly and vote anyway. And the IOC Ethics Commission was not amused, noting in its recommendations:

“Contrary to the recommendations by the IOC Ethics Commission to avoid any participation in the OCA’s activities, of which he was reminded multiple times and upon which he agreed through his own decision to self-suspend himself, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah actively intervened in the OCA’s election campaign, as also corroborated by the various pieces of evidence.

“The IOC, an association under Swiss law, cannot accept that one of its Members fails to respect its decision of provisional suspension in his subsequent behaviour, in particular after the Member concerned has publicly announced that he has suspended himself.

“A proportional sanction to be recommended for this specific breach of the IOC Executive Board’s decision and of the IOC Code of Ethics should be a full suspension for a duration of three (3) years of all his rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from his IOC membership, as provided by Rule 59.1.1.b of the Olympic Charter.”

Moreover, the IOC’s questions over the validity of Sheikh Talal’s election are not over, as an OCA-member National Olympic Committee has asked for an inquiry. The IOC Ethics Commission noted:

“Considering the evidence gathered by the IOC and the impact on the OCA’s elections of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah’s behaviour, it appears from the exchange of emails between the OCA’s Ethics Committee and the IOC [Ethics Commission Chair] that there is a need for a full assessment of the potential non-respect of the OCA’s elections process.

“Consequently, it would be appropriate to recommend to the IOC Executive Board not to recognise these elections at this stage until a full review of the respect of the OCA’s Elections Process and Procedure … is carried out.”

The IOC announced on Thursday that its Executive Board had agreed with the Ethics Commission’s recommendations.

Observed: Sheikh Ahmad was a key player in Olympic affairs since his involvement in the early 1990s, and the IOC’s forthcoming review of the Olympic Council of Asia election process indicates its willingness to get involved in matters well beyond its direct purview. The outcome will be closely watched within Olympic circles to see how far the IOC is willing to go to root out what it could see as corruption in an affiliated body in a politically-crucial region.

5.
Remembering LA84: the Games that changed everything

There are no formal celebrations planned, no gathering of former staff members, not even a documentary to re-run on cable television. But 39 years ago – 28 July 1984 – was the date on which the Olympic Movement pivoted to the future.

The Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad was held in Los Angeles, although many predicted it would not be held at all. Consider:

● 1968/Mexico City: The post-men’s 200 m protest by Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos was a civil rights protest icon from the moment it happened. Less well remembered was the 2 October Tlatelolco massacre just 10 days prior to the Games, in which hundreds of protestors were killed and more than 1,300 injured by elements of police and army units.

● 1972/Munich: The most technically advanced and brilliantly-organized Olympic Games so far was halted by Palestinian terrorists who invaded the Olympic Village and killed or took hostage 11 members of the Israeli delegation, all of whom were later killed.

● 1976/Montreal: The Games was held successfully, but ran a deficit of more than C$1 billion that was not paid off for 30 years, and was symbolized by the Stade Olympique, whose planned roof wasn’t installed until 1987.

It was against this backdrop that the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games, a private group formed in 1939 after the successful 1932 Los Angeles Games, bid once again, barely getting the U.S. Olympic Committee designation over New York. Los Angeles had bid and lost to Montreal in 1970 and Moscow in 1974, but was ready to go again for 1984.

In response to the Montreal financial disaster, bid chief John Argue famously wrote in his introduction to the sports technical questionnaire, “Arrangements are to be Spartan,” and at the 31 October 1977 bid deadline to the IOC, no one else wanted the Games.

The tense negotiations that followed finally ended with the IOC awarding the Games to Los Angeles in October 1978, followed by a November vote by Los Angeles citizens banning any City expenditure on the Games that was not reimbursed, by 78%-22%.

The Games would live or die with the private sector. It thrived. Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee President Peter Ueberroth, quietly advised by famed film  and television producer David Wolper, astonished the sports and business worlds with the $225 million sale of U.S. television rights to the Games to ABC in 1979; the most any U.S. broadcaster had previously spent was $87 million.

Ueberroth, working with former Mattel marketing exec Joel Rubenstein, designed a new approach to corporate sponsorship that narrowed the number of affiliates from hundreds to a mere 35 sponsors and 64 suppliers, and attracted a then-unheard of $127 million in cash and hundreds of millions more in in-kind support to the LAOOC. The LA84 experience created the modern corporate sponsorship model used today.

The Montreal finances made Argue and Ueberroth determined to build as little as possible and only three new venues were constructed: a velodrome at Cal State Dominguez Hills that later became what is now the multi-sport Dignity Health Sports Center, a swimming pool at USC that is still heavily used today and a shooting range in Chino that is also still going strong. And that was just the beginning:

● Neither the IOC or any international sports organization believed in the concept of volunteers to help operate events, but volunteerism was already deeply rooted in Los Angeles. Some 33,500 came out to assist in 1984 and changed the way large sporting events are run forever.

● An experiment shepherded by Executive Vice President/General Manager Harry Usher turned into the wildly-successful “Festive Federalism” design scheme that replaced the expected red, white and blue theme with miles of utilitarian fence fabric, streamers, Sonotubes, tents and scaffolding in aqua, magenta, yellow, orange, lavender, blue and more that gave the Games an exciting, uplifting feeling.

● A first-ever national Torch Relay took the Olympic flame from New York to Los Angeles across 82 days and raised $10.95 million for the Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA and Special Olympics.

● Instead of the required cultural sideshow during the Games, a massive Olympic Arts Festival was staged for 10 weeks, starting 1 June and energizing the dance, music, opera, theater and visual arts scene in Southern California, drawing more than 1.25 million.

● New technologies came to the Games, including early versions of voice mail and electronic mail and even one of the first mobile telephones available in California.

All of this, plus memorable opening and closing ceremonies orchestrated by Wolper, led to a brilliant Games that drew a then-record 5.72 million ticket sales, with tickets priced as low as $3. The competitions produced stars such as Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses and Mary Lou Retton that sent ABC’s ratings into the stratosphere.

The true beginning of the soccer revolution in America? FIFA’s stunned reaction to the 101,799 who attended the Brazil-France final at the Rose Bowl, which led directly to the U.S. being awarded the 1994 FIFA World Cup, followed by the founding of Major League Soccer.

A record 140 nations attended the Games, even with a Soviet-led boycott by 14 countries, in retaliation for the 1980 U.S.-led boycott of the Moscow Games. At the end, the LAOOC had produced an aesthetic success that also created a $232.5 million surplus – the first for an Olympic Games since Los Angeles in 1932 – that created the still-in-operation LA84 Foundation, with 60% given to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the national governing bodies, monies still supporting athletes today as the U.S. Olympic Endowment.

It was a success beyond all expectations, except to those who worked on the project and saw it grow. Despite the efforts of revisionist historians over the following 20 years who tried to play down the Los Angeles success, the 1984 Games is seen as validating the Olympic concept and changing the direction of the Olympic Movement toward its financial juggernaut status of today.

Ueberroth is now 86; Argue, Usher, Wolper and then-Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, a key player in getting the Games and then ensuring the City bureaucracy worked with the LAOOC instead of against it, have all passed. But the health of the Olympic Movement, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and so many other groups that support sport today was made possible by the success of the Games that opened 39 years ago today.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● What exactly did the invitations to the National Olympic Committees to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games actually say? The IOC’s text:

Le Comité International Olympique a l’honneur d’inviter le
The International Olympic Committee has the honour of inviting the

[name of National Olympic Committee]

à participer aux Jeux de la XXXIIIe Olympiade Paris 2024, France,
qui auront lieu du 26 juillet au 11 août 2024.

to participate in the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024, France,
which will take place from 26 July to 11 August 2024.

Thomas Bach
Président du Comité International Olympique
President of the International Olympic Committee
Lausanne, le 26 juillet 2023
Lausanne, 26 July 2023

Now you know.

● Russia ● Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov told the Russian news agency TASS he is increasingly pessimistic that Russian athletes will compete in Paris:

“Every day the sand in the hourglass is shrinking, along with that the chances of our team’s potential participation are shrinking.

“And that is if we can talk about it at all. Because the participation of the Russian team without the flag, anthem and all the attributes seems unacceptable to me.”

The BRICS Games, an event designed by Russia to offer a challenge to the IOC in international sport, was announced to be held on 12-23 June 2024, about a month prior to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

“BRICS” stands for Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa, and Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said Thursday, “The program includes 25 sports, we will invite national teams, teams from other countries,” with the event to be held in Kazan (RUS).

Russia is also preparing a 27-sport “Friendship Games” in Moscow and Yekaterinburg for September 2024, with Matytsin saying that Ukraine should be invited; Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Svishchev added:

“We must also invite the Americans and the British. We will ensure security and equal conditions. As long as they travel with pure motives. And we certainly will not require you to fill out any forms.”

● Archery ● Russian and Belarusian athletes won’t be competing in World Archery competitions in 2023, but 2024 is still a possibility. World Archery Vice President Joerg Brokamp (GER) told the Russian news agency TASS that the process is ongoing.

A World Archery working group approved the criteria in May to allow Russian and Belarusian archers to compete as neutrals. Archers could not be members of the sports clubs CSKA or Dynamo, which are associated with law enforcement, and process includes five successive points: the formation of admission conditions, the official consent of the national federations of Russia and Belarus to them, the provision of data on athletes, their verification by third-party companies and the final decision on admission. Said Brokamp:

“In May, we sent the national federations the eligibility criteria and asked them to send the details of the athletes and accompanying personnel, but we still have not received an official response from Russia.

“So now we are on the second point, while talking about a possible the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in a neutral status is possible only at the moment when we reach the fifth point.

“You know the international calendar of competitions better than I do, so we can say that in 2023 we will not see Russian and Belarusian athletes in them in connection with the situation I have described.”

● Cycling ● The hilly and often downhill Stage 5 looked like it could be a sprint finish at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, but turned out to be a showcase for German Ricarda Bauernfeind.

She attacked with 35 km left in the 126.1 km route to Albi and no one could catch her, leading to a 22-second victory in 3:07:20. Swiss Marlen Reusser and stage 2 winner Liane Lippert (GER) were 2-3, with a 30 riders coming in at +0:32.

That included race leader Lotte Kopecky (BEL), who maintained a 49-second lead on Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) and 51 seconds on Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA), Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) and defending champ Annemiek van Vleuten (NED). Look for stage 7 on Saturday to be decisive.

● Swimming ● A world record in the men’s 50 m Backstroke for Russian star Kliment Kolesnikov at the Russian Cup in Kazan, winning his Thursday semifinal in 23.55. That’s 0.16 ahead of the 23.71 from Hunter Armstrong of the U.S. from 2022.

Kolesnikov, 23, won the Olympic silver in Tokyo in 100 m Back, and won the Russian Cup 100 Back in a world-leading 51.82, the no. 2 time in history on Wednesday.

He was the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist in the 100 m Back and bronze winner in the 100 m Free, and has been frozen out of the World Aquatics Championships due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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TSX REPORT: Horan’s header gets U.S. a 1-1 tie with Netherlands; O’Callaghan gets historic world record; LA28 adds Ralph Lauren

By
Rich Perelman
-
The Paris 2024 invitation ceremony at the Paris 2024 headquarters (Photo: IOC/Greg Martin)

★ 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 ≡

1. U.S. comes back to tie Dutch, 1-1, in Women’s World Cup
2. More World Cup: Japan and Spain move on, Canada wins
3. O’Callaghan breaks 14-year-old 200 m Free World Record!
4. IOC formally invites National Olympic Committees to Paris
5. LA28 names Ralph Lauren as an “Official Outfitter”

The Netherlands had a 1-0 halftime lead on the U.S. women in their FIFA Women’s World Cup Group E match, but the Americans dominated the final 30 minutes and got even on a Lindsey Horan header that produced a 1-1 tie. In Group C, Japan and Spain both won convincingly, eliminating Costa Rica and Zambia with shutouts. The BBC apologized for one of its reporters asking the Moroccan captain at a news conference if any of the team’s members were gay, a crime in Morocco. Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan beat teammate Ariarne Titmus to win the women’s 200 m Freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships and break Italian Federica Pellegrini’s 2009 world record in the process. Bobby Finke (men’s 800 m Free) and Regan Smith (women’s 50 m Back) set American Records and France’s Leon Marchand won his second event of the meet, in the men’s 200 m Butterfly. The International Olympic Committee formally invited 203 National Olympic Committees to the Paris 2024 Games, including in-person invitations to countries with recent or future hosting responsibilities, including the United States. Russia, Belarus and Guatemala were not invited. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and LA28 announced an agreement with fashion giant Ralph Lauren – a long-time USOPC supporter – to be an “Official Outfitter” for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

● A special year-to-go reflection from Pierre de Coubertin medal winner George Hirthler: France, America and The Olympic Ideal: A perspective on the present, past and future of the Olympic Movement ●

● World Championships: Fencing (Volpi takes second Worlds gold, with U.S.’s Kiefer third) ●

● Panorama: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (review commission comment opportunity closes 31 July) = Boxing (IBA announces new events, but no word on funding) = Cycling (surprise winner at Tour de France Femmes as race tightens) ●

1.
U.S. comes back to tie Dutch, 1-1, in Women’s World Cup

In an entertaining Group E match in Wellington (NZL) that pitted the 2019 finalists, the top-ranked U.S. women managed a second-half goal that allowed them to tie the Netherlands, 1-1 and maintain the top spot in the group.

Playing in sunny, cool, but windy conditions, the U.S. was looking for offense right away, pressing the Dutch in their own half. U.S. midfielder Savannah DeMelo got a quality shot in the ninth that went wide, but the Dutch broke out in the 17th, with a blocked pass in the U.S. zone coming to midfielder Victoria Pelova about 18 yards out, who passed to midfielder Jill Roord for a right-to-left shot that went through the legs of midfielder Lindsey Horan and past U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher into the far left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Netherlands controlled play – rarely done against the U.S. – with 61% of possession through the first 30 minutes, with defender Dominique Janssen just missing another score in the 29th on a top-of-box shot that went just over the crossbar.

The U.S. got a long-distance try from forward Trinity Rodman from 25 yards out in the 18th that was pushed away by Dutch keeper Daphne van Domselaar, and some interesting options off of corners, but wasn’t really close to scoring, despite having nine shots to two for the Orange in the half, and 39% of possession.

Working on a 13-match World Cup win streak, the U.S. trailed at half for the first time since a 2011 group-stage match against Sweden, and came out aggressively, but the Dutch defense was disciplined and physical.

But after an especially hard tackle on U.S. captain Horan, a corner from substitute midfielder Rose Lavelle found Horan moving toward the goal and she headed it into the net for the 1-1 tie in the 62nd.

Striker Alex Morgan then scored in the 67th off a lead pass from Rodman, but was clearly offsides, as the U.S. began to get control of the game. But the Dutch regained their composure and a beautiful build-up saw midfielder Esmee Brugts get a great shot at Naeher, but blocked by U.S. midfielder Julie Ertz in the 80th.

The U.S. regained control and threatened almost continuously for the rest of the game, especially on a shot by Rodman in the 82nd that went wide, and a Sophia Smith drive in the 84th that was deflected out of bounds. The Dutch ended with 56% of possession, but the U.S. owned the last 30 minutes of the game and had the shots advantage, 18-5.

Both teams are now 1-0-1, with four points, but the U.S. is +3 on goals to +1 for the Netherlands. The Dutch will finish group play against Vietnam, while the U.S. gets Portugal on Tuesday (1st).

2.
More World Cup: Japan and Spain move on, Canada wins

Elsewhere at the FIFA Women’s World Cup were strong wins by Japan and Spain in Group C that moved both on to the playoff round, along with a encouraging win for Olympic champs Canada:

● Group C: Japan 2, Costa Rica 0 ● The Japanese attack in Dunedin (NZL) was in full force from the start and the pressure finally paid dividends in the 25th when forward Hikaru Naomoto’s shot from the left side flew under the hand of a dicing Costa Rican keeper Daniela Solara for a 1-0 lead.

Japan kept pressing, looking for openings, and just two minutes later, forward Aoba Fujino turned around her defender and dribbled toward the endline at the right of the goal, seeming to be looking for a cross. Instead, she smashed a shot between Solara and the post (!) for a brillant goal and a 2-0 lead.

That was the score at half, with Japan thoroughly dominating and game and losing interest with each passing minute. The Japanese mounted a couple of interesting attacks in the second half, but Solara was equal and as Costa Rica showed very little on offense, the game ended quietly at 2-0.

Japan enjoyed 57% of possession in the game and a 24-6 edge on shots, despite 13 fouls from the Costa Rican side. At 2-0 and a 7-0 goals-against ledger, Japan appears to be a contenders and will face Spain in its final group game.

● Group C: Spain 5, Zambia 0 ● Following immediately after the Japan-Costa Rica game, a Spanish win at Eden Park (NZL) would mathematically eliminate both Zambia and Costa Rica and move both Japan and Spain into the elimination round.

No problem, as midfielder Teresa Abelleira nailed a right-footed strike from beyond the box that sailed right under the crossbar and into the Zambian goal in the ninth minute to go up, 1-0. In the 13th, it was star midfielder Alexia Putellas who drove into the left side of the box and sent a perfect cross to the far side of the Zambian goal, where striker Jenni Hermoso was waiting to head it in for a 2-0 lead in the 13th.

In truth, the issue was now decided, but Spain got two goals in quick succession in the 69th and 70th minutes from substitute midfielder Alba Redondo and Hermoso. A lead pass from sub forward Eva Navarro put Redondo in position to beat her defender and go around Zambian keeper Eunice Sakala for the third goal, and after sub midfielder Irene Guerrero’s shot hit the post, Hermoso cleaned up with her second score.

Redondo added a fifth in the 85th and Spain clinched its play-off spot with a second straight dominant win. It had 75% of possession and a 22-10 edge on shots, and 13-2 that were actually on goal.

● Group B: Canada 2, Ireland 1 ● The Tokyo Olympic champions from Canada looked to be in trouble in Perth when midfielder Katie McCabe sent a corner kick swerving into the box and flying over the out-stretched arm of Canadian keeper Kailen Sheridan and banking in off the far goalpost for a 1-0 lead.

It was the first-ever Women’s World Cup goal for Ireland, in its first Women’s World Cup.

It looked like the half would end that way, but at 45+5, midfielder Julia Grosso’s cross from the right side into the box flummoxed Irish defender Megan Connolly, whose attempt to clear instead rolled in for an own goal and a 1-1 tie.

Forward Jordyn Huitema’s blast in the 50th looked promising, but was saved by Irish keeper Courtney Brosnan. Three minutes later, sub midfielder Sophie Schmidt gained possession, then sent a pass into the box that was acquired by forward Adriana Leon, who out-wrestled McCabe and sent a left-footed dribbler into the left side of the net for a 2-1 lead.

McCabe almost tied it up in the 79th, beating three defenders for a shot, which was blocked and Canada escaped. Canada controlled possession, 62-38, but had only a 17-14 lead on shots and only 7-6 on shots-on-goal.

Ireland, now 0-2, was eliminated, having played well in both losses; Canada leads the group with four points and will face Australia on the 31st for a spot in the knock-out round.

It wouldn’t be a World Cup without some controversy, and the BBC had to apologize on Tuesday for a question from one of its World Service reporters who asked Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak last Saturday: “In Morocco, it’s illegal to have a gay relationship. Do you have any gay players in your squad and what’s life like for them in Morocco?”

The FIFA moderator brushed aside the question as not relevant to the World Cup or football and one more question was taken before the session was ended.

A BBC spokesperson told CNN: “We recognise that the question was inappropriate. We had no intention to cause any harm or distress.”

Homosexuality is against the law in Morocco and Chebbak’s answer could potentially create legal issues for her. Shireen Ahmed, covering for CBC Sports, tweeted:

“I was at this press conference. The reporter was completely out of line. Harm reduction matters and posing the question to the captain or coach was unnecessary. The question was waved off by a FIFA media officer moderating but it shouldn’t have been asked.

“Asking a player about her teammates and whether they are gay and how it affects them when you know it is not permissible is bizarre and out of line. The captain can not out players nor comment on policy bc it could be dangerous for them, too.”

3.
O’Callaghan breaks 14-year-old 200 m Free World Record!

The seemingly-unbreakable women’s 200 m Freestyle world record had stood since 2009, when Italy’s Federica Pellegrini won the World Championships gold – in the “supersuit” era – in 1:52.98. It was the fifth of five straight world records for Pellegrini in that event, lowering the standard from Laura Manaudou (FRA)’s 1:55.52 in 2007 down to her winning time before home fans in Rome.

It had held up under numerous assaults, but in the textile-suit era, it did not fall until Wednesday in Fukuoka, Japan, at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, in a duel between Olympic champ Ariarne Titmus – already the winner of the 400 m Free in a world record – and 19-year-old teammate Mollie O’Callaghan, the 2022 Worlds runner-up, and Canada’s World Junior Record holder Summer McIntosh (16).

Titmus got out hard and had a solid 0.59 lead on McIntosh after 100 m, but then O’Callaghan came on and was up to second at the final turn, but still 0.74 behind Titmus. But O’Callaghan closed with a sensational 28.11 final 50 m and Titmus faded slightly (to 29.01), meaning O’Callaghan passed her in the final half-lap and got to the wall in 1:52.85 for the world title and a new world record.

Titmus was second in 1:53.01, the no. 3 swim ever, and McIntosh got the bronze with a national record and another World Junior Record of 1:53.65, moving to no. 4 on the all-time list. American Bella Sims was sixth in 1:56.00, making her no. 8 in American history.

That came right after a scintillating men’s 800 m final, with Olympic champ Bobby Finke of the U.S., 400 m Free winner Sam Short of Australia and Tunisia’s Tokyo 400 m Free gold medalist Ahmed Hafnaoui, who was second to Short in the 400 m Free in Fukuoka.

Germany’s Lukas Martens had the early lead, but Short had taken over by halfway, with Hafnaoui in the lead at 500 m. Those three were close together through 700 m, when Finke was expected to start his well-known drive for the finish. By the final turn, Short was in the lead by 18/100ths over Hafnaoui , with Finke fourth, almost two seconds back. But the American had the jets on for the final 50 and passed Martens, but Hafnaoui was the fastest in the field on the last lap and won in 7:37.00, the third-fastest swim in history and fastest ever in a textile suit.

Short’s 7:37.76 was the no. 4 performance ever in second and Finke set an American Record at 7:38.67 in third, breaking his own mark from his winning 2022 Worlds time of 7:39.36.

France’s Leon Marchand, already the winner of the men’s 400 m Medley in world-record time, was favored in the 200 m Butterfly. He got off to a slow start, but was clearly in front by 100 m and pulled away to win by a huge 1.16-second margin in 1:52.43, fastest in the world this year, moving to no. 3 in history. Poland’s Krzysztof Chmielewski, the 2022 World Junior winner, closed from fourth to second on the final lap in 1:53.62, with Tokyo Olympic silver winner Tomoru Honda right behind (1:53.66).

Although he didn’t win a medal, 16-year-old Thomas Heilman of the U.S. surprised with a tie for fourth in 1:53.82, making him the no. 3 American ever! Carson Foster of the U.S., the 400 m Medley silver winner, was sixth in 1:54.74, fading on the final lap after being third for most of the race.

The U.S. did get into the medals in the 50 m Breaststroke, with Nic Fink again pushing hard from the start in lane seven and getting another silver in 26.59, behind winner Haiyang Qin (CHN: 26.29), who also won the 100 m Breast.

Australia looked like the favorite in the Mixed 4×100 m Medley, but Qin gave China the lead after the Breaststroke leg and Yufei Zhang (Fly) and Yujie Cheng (Free) held off Matthew Temple and Shayna Jack and won in 3:38.57, the no. 4 time in history. The Americans started beautifully, with Ryan Murphy recording a sensational time of 52.02 in the lead-off Back leg, but Nic Fink dropped to second, and Torri Huske and Kate Douglass finished up in 3:40.19 for the bronze, the no. 4 performance in U.S. history.

Regan Smith of the U.S. had the fastest time – and set an American Record – in the semis of the women’s 50 m Back, timing 27.10, breaking teammate Katharine Berkoff’s 27.12 mark from 2022. Berkoff will be in the final too, qualifying in a tie for fourth in 27.49. Smith also qualified in the 200 m Fly as well!

There were world-leading performances in five events on Wednesday:

● Men/800 m Free: 7:37.00, Ahmed Hafnaoui (TUN)
● Men/200 m Butterfly: 1:52.43, Leon Marchand (FRA)

● Women/200 m Free: 1:52.85, Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) ~ World Record
● Women/50 m Back: 27.10, Regan Smith (USA)

● Mixed/4×100 m Medley: 3:38.57, China

The U.S. now has 17 medals (3-7-7), ahead of Australia (9: 6-3-0) and China (8: 4-0-4).

Swimming continues to Sunday; Thursday’s finals have Smith swimming the 200 m Fly at 8:02 p.m. local time and the 50 m Back at 8:36! The men’s 100 m Free final, the men’s 200 m Medley final and the women’s 4×200 m Free (Katie Ledecky!) are also on tap.

In the men’s water polo tournament, Greece and Serbia and Hungary and defending champion Spain will play in the semifinals on Thursday for a place in the gold-medal final. The U.S. won its play-in game on Sunday over Canada, 13-10, but lost to Hungary in the quarterfinals, 13-12, on Tuesday.

The American men came back from a 7-5 deficit at half and tied the game at 7-7, but the Hungarians scored three straight for a 10-7 edge after three. The lead was 12-8 before another U.S. rally closed to 13-10 and 13-12 with 1:29 left, but that was it. Alex Bowen led the U.S. with four scores.

Greece edged Montenegro, 10-9, in its quarterfinal and Serbia won a 4-3 penalty shoot-out against previously-undefeated Italy to advance. Spain won a 7-6 quarterfinal against France and also advanced to the semis. The U.S. is now in the fifth-to-eighth bracket.

In the women’s tournament, the Netherlands got past Italy, 9-8, in its semifinal and will play Spain, a 12-10 winner over Australia. The Spanish were the last team to win a World title before the U.S. four-peat from 2015-22. The Dutch last won the women’s world title in 1991.

The American women are also in the 5-8 bracket and beat Canada, 16-4, in their semifinal match, and will play Hungary on Friday to finish up.

4.
IOC formally invites National Olympic Committees to Paris

Climaxing a series of year-to-go activities, the International Olympic Committee issued formal invitations to 203 National Olympic Committees to attend the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris in 2024.

Invitations were distributed, as a symbolic gesture, in person to representatives of seven National Olympic Committees which have recently, or will host Olympic, Olympic Winter or Youth Olympic Games:

● Japan: host of Tokyo 2020, to Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita.

● China: host of Beijing 2022, to Chinese Olympic Committee Vice President Jiasheng Zhang.

● France: host of Paris 2024, to National Olympic Commitee (CNOSF) President David Lappartient, also the head of the Union Cycliste Internationale.

● Italy: host of Milan-Cortina 2026, to National Olympic Committee (CONI) Council member Giulia Quintavalle.

● Senegal: host of Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, to Senegalese Olympic Committee President Mamadou D. Ndiaye.

● United States: host of Los Angeles 2028, to U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board member Elana Meyers Taylor.

● Australia: host of Brisbane 2032, to Olympic rowing gold medalist Alex Hill.

Invitations were also presented to Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos, in honor of Greece’s Olympic history, and to the IOC Refugee Team, represented by Masomah Ali Zada (AFG), member of the Tokyo 2020 IOC Refugee Olympic Team in cycling.

Invitations were not sent to three National Olympic Committees: Russia, Belarus and Guatemala. The IOC said last week it would not invite the Russians or Belarusian as teams, and the Guatemalan NOC is currently on suspension for government interference.

As for Russia, IOC chief Thomas Bach told reporters:

“We will now closely monitor what is happening in the international competitions and in the qualifications because we want to make sure as possible that everybody concerned by these recommendations and by the Olympic Charter is respecting the letters and the spirit of these conditions. Once we have a clearer picture there, we will take a decision.

“We will not set a deadline … because we feel that if we set a deadline, we may face a situation where everybody behaves until the deadline and then afterwards things may get out of control.”

Everything points to a decision some time in 2024.

For most of the history of the modern Olympic Games, the host city, country or organizing committee would issue the invitations to the Games, but following the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and with difficult politics ahead for Seoul in 1988, the IOC decided at its 2 December 1984 Session in Lausanne that it would issue the invitations from then on.

The Paris 2024 organizers celebrated with the release of additional tickets in athletics, beach volleyball, boxing, rowing, canoe slalom, golf, rugby sevens, water polo and others, adding to the inventory offered for events held outside of the Paris area that went on sale on 5 July. Some 6.8 million tickets have been sold so far, out of about eight million that will be offered as stand-alone purchase (vs. as part of hospitality and travel packages).

5.
LA28 names Ralph Lauren as an “Official Outfitter”

Another U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee partner has extended its commitment to include the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games with the announcement that Ralph Lauren will be “an Official Outfitter.”

That’s not to say that it will be THE outfitter of LA28, but apparently one of several; the USOPC and LA28 also announced Oakley as their eyewear designee, no doubt also to have some role with the provision of products to eventual LA28 staff members.

According to the statement:

“Ralph Lauren will create an ongoing special capsule collection featuring the custom LA28 emblem, with new items being released leading up to the LA28 Games. The first product in the collection will be the LA28 Jean Jacket, available today exclusively on the RL App and at Ralph Lauren’s flagship store in Beverly Hills, California.”

A special, combined logo was also revealed, as was done with LA28 founding partner Delta Airlines:

“The emblem features a black and red winged A, a reimagined look from the 1990s iconic Ralph Lauren P-wing symbol. The A is set against LA28’s bold L, 2 and 8 backdrop, which was first launched in 2020, intentionally designed with flexibility and diversity in mind to represent the spirit of LA with its infinite stories of creativity and self-expression.”

Ralph Lauren has been involved with the USOPC as its team apparel supplier since the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Fencing ● Italy overpowered the field in the women’s Foil at the 2023 FIE World Championships in Milan (ITA), taking gold, silver and bronze medals, but with American Lee Kiefer also getting a bronze.

Kiefer is the reigning Olympic champ from Tokyo 2020, and sailed into the semifinals with 15-8, 15-11, 15-5 and 15-7 wins, including a round-of-16 defeat of fellow American Jacqueline Dubrovich. There, she faced 2018 World Champion Alice Volpi, who won a tight match by 15-13 and advanced to the final.

For Kiefer, 29, it’s her seventh career Worlds medals and third individual medal, with bronzes in 2011, 2022 and now 2023.

Volpi faced countrywoman Arianna Errigo, the London 2012 silver medalist and 2013-14 World Champion, now 35, but Volpi was stronger, winning by 15-10 for her second Worlds gold and third Worlds individual medal.

The home Italian fans got a shock, however, in the men’s Epee, as Davide Di Veroli, a two-time Worlds Team silver medalist, rolled into the final against Hungary’s Mate Tamas Koch, 23, a six-time FIE World Cup medal winner, who had never medaled at a major senior international competition, but who was the 2018 European U-20 bronze winner.

But Koch was more than equal to the task, defeating Di Veroli, 14-10 in the final for his first Worlds medal. France’s Tokyo Olympic champ Romain Cannone and Kazakhstan’s 2017 Asian Champion Ruslan Kurbanov won the bronzes.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Not much time left to get your comments in to the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics, which will accept submissions about the USOPC via its Web site through 31 July (next Monday).

The 14-member Commission, working on a fast timeline, is required to hold at least one public hearing, now expected to be on Wednesday, 6 September, in Washington, D.C.

● Boxing ● One of the failed enterprises that got the old Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA) into financial trouble and eventually led to the election of Russian Umar Kremlev was its World Series of Boxing (WSB).

So, of course, now Kremlev’s International Boxing Association – the new name for AIBA – is bringing it back, but undoubtedly with a much different financing situation. In a Wednesday announcement, IBA launched “a team competition, the Global Boxing Cup, and a club tournament, the IBA Champions League. …

“[T]he Global Boxing Cup, the successor of the World Cup established in 1979, with the new edition scheduled for 2024. National Federations will be split into respective leagues with those leading the charge with both qualifiers and potential play off stages. Significant prize money will be at stake as well as the prestigious trophy. The similarity to the previous iteration of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) will be seen during this reinvigoration of IBAs [sic] team event model.”

The Champions League is designed as a club competition, not between national teams.

The IBA is now outside the Olympic Movement, and is pursuing its own agenda under its own rules and interests, specifically without sanctions on Russian and Belarusian fighters, and without any indication as to its funding, which most recently came from the Russian energy giant Gazprom.

● Cycling ● Stage four of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes produced a surprise winner, with 25-year-old Dutch rider Yara Kastelijn attacking with 19 km to go on the hilly last half of the 177.1 km route to Rodez on Wednesday.

She crushed the field by 1:11, with three more Dutch riders finishing 2-3-4: Demi Vollering, Anouska Koster and favorite (and defending champ) Annemiek van Vleuten. Race leader Lotte Kopecky (BEL) was 1:27 back of the winner, so the overall standings show Vollering moving into second (+0:43) and four – including van Vleuten – tied for third, 51 seconds back.

The next two stages are fairly flat, meaning Saturday’s climbing stage, uphill to the 2,116 m Col du Tourmalet, will likely be decisive.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Ledecky, Murphy strike gold in Fukuoka; big TV audience for U.S. in Women’s World Cup; fencing Sabre gold for Dershwitz!

By
Rich Perelman
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The Paris 2024 torch, pictured over the Seine River (Photo: Paris 2024)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Ledecky cruises to Worlds gold no. 20 in 1,500 m Free!
2. Strong ratings for U.S. at Women’s World Cup: 6.263 million
3. Colombia and Philippines win in Women’s World Cup
4. Paris 2024 torches unveiled for year-to-go salute
5. World Aquatics to trial “open category”; Al-Musallam extended

The amazing Katie Ledecky routed the field to win the women’s 1,500 m Freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan for the fifth time in her career. Her time was the third-fastest in history and she now has a startling 20 World Championships golds and 24 medals in all. The U.S. won six more medals on Tuesday and now has 14, by far the leader. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is a tough one for Fox and Telemundo, since most of the games are in the middle of the night in the U.S. But the USA-Vietnam opener was in a reasonable slot last Friday and drew a nice audience of 6.263 million between the two networks, the 10th-highest-viewed Women’s World Cup game in the U.S. ever. At the Women’s World Cup, the second round of games has now begun, with the Philippines surprising host New Zealand, 1-0, and a scoreless draw between the Swiss and Norway. In Paris, the design of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic torches was revealed, integrating the organizing committee’s themes; they torches will be made in France, but will not be given to the 10,000 torchbearers as only 2,000 will be made. Paris 2024 revealed multiple fan celebration sites to be available during the Games, in the Paris area and well beyond. World Aquatics held an important Congress in Fukuoka, with its new “open” category – that will allow transgender participation – to be disclosed soon, and Kuwait’s Husain Al-Musallam re-elected for a full, eight-year term.

● A special year-to-go reflection from Pierre de Coubertin medal winner George Hirthler: France, America and The Olympic Ideal: A perspective on the present, past and future of the Olympic Movement ●

● World Championships: Fencing (Dershwitz wins first U.S. men’s Sabre gold!) ●

● Panorama: Paris 2024 (2: Report says IOC’s own survey indicates 50 countries might boycott if Russia competes; Russian Federation Council Speaker says U.S. is to blame for sports politicalization) = Cycling (2: Wiebes wins Tour de France Femmes third stage; UCI reports no “technological doping” at Tour de France) = Wrestling (USA Wrestling hosts world’s biggest tournament: 7,134 entries!) ●

● Errata: Some readers of yesterday’s post saw a headline asking when a women’s 4:00 1,500 m would come; it should have been when will a women’s 4:00 mile be run. Now corrected, with thanks to reader Jeff Slade for the first mention. Also, apologies for a mis-spelling of German Tennis Federation President Dietloff von Armin, now corrected. ●

1.
Ledecky cruises to Worlds gold no. 20 in 1,500 m Free!

Another big day for the USA Swimming medal machine at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, with two golds and six more medals among the five finals, led by veteran stars Katie Ledecky and Ryan Murphy.

The irrepressible Ledecky, now 26, crushed the field as expected in the women’s 1,500 m Free, leading from the first turn and dashing away to a 15:26.27 victory, the third-fastest swim in history and fastest in the world this season. Italy’s Simona Quadarella was second (15:43.31) and Bingjie Li (CHN: 15:45.71) was third. Katie Grimes of the U.S. was eighth (16:04.21).

Ledecky was so fast in this race that her 400 m split of 4:05.02 would rank 10th on the 2023 word list and her 800 m time of 8:14.07 is faster than anyone else in the world this season at that distance … except for Ledecky herself! She now owns the top 16 times in the history of the women’s 1,500 m, and won her fifth Worlds 1,500 m title: 2013-15-17-22-23.

Ledecky now owns a staggering total of 24 Worlds medals, including 20 golds and four silvers. That’s the most ever among women for both golds and total medals; only Michael Phelps has more, with 26 golds; Phelps and Ryan Lochte have the most total medals, 33 and 27. Ledecky could earn two more medals in Fukuoka, in the 800 m Free – in which she is the favorite – and on the U.S. 4×200 m Free relay.

Murphy, 28, had never won the men’s 100 m Back at the Worlds going into Tuesday, winning bronze in 2017 and silver in 2022. But he was parked right next to the defending champ, Italian Thomas Ceccon, in lane four and the two were 3-4 at the turn, with Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk on a suicidal 25.00 pace for the first lap. But Murphy was steady and passed Masiuk and China’s Jiayu Xu, and was stroke for stroke with Ceccon to the wall and touched first in 52.22, with Ceccon in 52.27. Out of sight of everyone was fellow American Hunter Armstrong in lane eight, who moved into contention in the final 25 m and out-touched Xu, 52.58 to 52.64, for the bronze for the second Worlds in a row.

For Murphy, it was his sixth career Worlds gold, but only his second individual win, after the 200 m Back last year and a great lead-in to the 2024 Olympic year, after winning the 100 m Back in Rio and getting bronze in Tokyo.

The women’s 100 m Breast final was an opportunity for 2017-2019 World Champion Lilly King of the U.S., along with Tokyo Olympic champ Lydia Jacoby. But the remarkable comeback of Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte – the London 2012 gold winner and still just 26 – was completed with a wire-to-wire win in 1:04.62, winning by a huge margin for such a short race: 1.22 seconds. South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker, the Tokyo silver medalist in this event, was only fourth at the turn, but passed Jacoby and King and grabbed second in 1:05.84, with Jacoby right behind at 1:05.94 and King at 1:06.02.

Meilutyte won her second gold in this event 10 years after her win at the 2013 Worlds in Barcelona … at 16! It’s Jacoby’s first Worlds medal, and King was shut out by 0.08 from a 12th career Worlds medal. But she’ll be back for the 200 m Breast later in the week.

One of the anticipated showdowns of the meet came in the women’s 100 m Back, with Australian Kaylee McKeown, the Tokyo Olympic champ and American Regan Smith, the 2022 Worlds winner. They were 1-2 on the world list coming in and in the final, Smith had the lead at the turn as expected, but McKeown came on with her patented last rush to win, 57.53 to 57.78, the fourth-fastest swim in history. Smith finished with her sixth-fastest ever and won her fifth career Worlds medal (4-1-0). Almost lost in the 1×1 showdown was American Katharine Berkoff, the no. 4 performer in the history of the event, who turned third and came home third in 58.25 for her second career Worlds medal.

The men’s 200 m Free looked fairly open, with seven swimmers in the 1:44s this season, but it was 20-year-old Matthew Richards (GBR) who stole the show. Romanian sprint sensation David Popovici led at the final turn, but Richards and Tokyo Olympic winner Tom Dean (GBR) closed better and went 1-2 in 1:44.30 and 1:44.32, with Richards moving to no. 9 all-time. World leader Sunwoo Hwang (KOR) and Popovici finished 3-4 in 1:44.42 and 1:44.90. Americans Luke Hobson (1:45.09) and Kieran Smith (1:46.10) were fifth and seventh.

All together, there were four more world-leading marks on Tuesday:

● Men/200 m Free: 1:44.30, Matt Richards (GBR)
● Men/50 m Breast: 26.20, Haiyang Qin (CHN) ~ semifinals
● Women/1,500 m Free: 15:26.27, Katie Ledecky (USA)
● Women/100 m Breast: 1:04.62, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU)

After three days of swimming, the U.S. has now piled up 14 medals (3-6-5), followed by three with five: Australia (5-0-0), China (2-0-3) and Italy (1-4-0). Sixteen countries have won medals in swimming so far.

The men’s 800 m Free, with Olympic winner Bobby Finke of the U.S., the women’s 200 m Free, men’s 200 m Fly, men’s 50 m Breast and the Mixed Medley 4×100 m final are on the schedule for Wednesday.

2.
Strong ratings for U.S. at Women’s World Cup: 6.263 million

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is a tough one for Fox and Telemundo, the English and Spanish-language rights-holders, with the matches in Australia and New Zealand usually shown in the middle of the night to U.S. audiences.

But the U.S. women’s opener against Vietnam was in an afternoon slot in New Zealand so at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time in the U.S. last Saturday and drew an excellent audience of 5.263 million on Fox and another 1.0 million on Telemundo, Peacock and its affiliated platforms (810,000 on Telemundo on TV) for a total of 6.263 million. Fox’s audience ranks no. 10 all-time among U.S. viewers for a single Women’s World Cup match.

Reports noted that Fox’s Friday audience included 156,000 streaming viewers, or 3.0% of the total audience.

Otherwise, the audiences reported of more than 200,000 are not too bad considering the start times (Eastern time zone); the other reasonably-placed match, Nigeria and Canada, drew 1.228 million on Fox:

Wednesday, 19: June:
● 266,000: New Zealand vs. Norway on Fox (2:45 a.m.)
● 190,000: Australia vs. Ireland on Fox (5:45 a.m.)

Thursday, 20 June:
● 1,228,000: Nigeria vs. Canada on Fox (10:00 p.m.)
● 413,000: Australia vs. Ireland on Fox (6:00 a.m.)
● 231,000: Philippines vs. Switzerland on FS1 (12:40 a.m.)

Friday, 21 June:
● 5,263,000: U.S. vs. Vietnam on Fox (8:30 p.m.)
● 1,000,000: U.S. vs. Vietnam on Telemundo-Peacock (8:30 p.m.)

Saturday, 22 June:
● 804,000: Denmark vs. China on Fox (7:45 a.m.)
● 525,000: England vs. Haiti on Fox (6:00 a.m.)
● 197,000: Sweden vs. South Africa on FS1 (12:30 a.m.)
● 177,000: Netherlands vs. Portugal on FS1 (3:00 a.m.)

Sunday, 23 June:
● 468,000: France vs. Jamaica on Fox (6:00 a.m.)

The 6.263 million cumulative audience for the American women compares interesting to the U.S. men’s World Cup opener last November in Qatar, which kicked off at 1 p.m. Eastern on Monday of Thanksgiving Week, 21 November 2022:

● 7.761 million: U.S. men vs. Wales on Fox 2022
● 5.263 million: U.S. women vs. Vietnam on Fox 2023

● 3.475 million: U.S. men vs. Wales on Telemundo-Peacock 2022
● 1.000 million: U.S. women vs. Vietnam on Telemundo-Peacock 2023

● 11.236 million: U.S. men vs. Wales total 2022
● 6.263 million: U.S. women vs. Vietnam total 2023

Away from football, the only other Olympic-sport event to register more than 200,000 viewers and a Nielsen report was the final-day wrap by NBC of the Tour de France, with 693,000 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Sunday afternoon.

The Diamond League track & field meets on CNBC? Not listed, so apparently less than 200,000.

3.
Colombia and Philippines win in Women’s World Cup

The group-stage matches grind on in Australia and New Zealand, with Group A now set to be decided on its final day of play next Sunday. Tuesday’s matches:

● Group H: Colombia 2, South Korea 0 ● The Colombians controlled the game, leading at half by 2-0 and not letting the Koreans close to goal in the second half.

A hand-ball in the box by Korean defender Seo-yeon Shim off Colombian  defender Manuela Vanegas’ strike from the right side led to a first score in the 30th minute as striker Catalina Usme sent a left-footer that rambled into the far left side of the net.

Colombian midfielder Linda Caicedo, 18, stormed down the left side in the 39th, faked left and sent a curving, eight-footed shot that flummoxed Korean keeper Young-guel Yoon and popped off her hands and into the net for a 2-0 halftime lead.

Midfielder Geum-min Lee had a golden chance for a Korean score at 45+9, but her headed into an apparently open net was saved by Colombian keeper Catalina Perez.

Neither side scored in the second half, but the youngest player in the history of the World Cup, American-born Casey Phair, 15, was subbed in for Korea in the 78th. Colombia finished with 57% of possession and a 17-5 edge on shots.

● Group A: Philippines 1, New Zealand 0 ● The start of the second round drew a big crowd of 32,357 to Wellington Regional Stadium to see the homestanding Football Ferns, but it was a 24th-minute goal from Sarina Bolden that gave the Philippines their first-ever Women’s World Cup victory.

New Zealand controlled play early, but could not score, then suddenly went down 1-0 as midfielder Sara Eggesvik sent a cross in front of goal and Bolden – born in Santa Clara, California – rose above three defenders to head the ball straight at Kiwi keeper Victoria Esson, who made contact, but could not control the ball and it tumbled into the net.

A Hannah Wilkinson header for New Zealand went over the goal in the 58th and fellow striker Jacqui Hand’s shot in the 64th hit the left goal post, then a Hand score in the 68th was wiped out for offsides. Nothing worked and despite 69% of possession and a 16-4 shots edge, the Football Ferns suffered the loss. Both teams are 1-1 and will play to advance on Sunday.

● Group A: Switzerland 0, Norway 0 ● This match in Hamilton (NZL) ended 0-0, but only thanks to Swiss keeper Gaelle Thalmann, who denied striker Sophie Roman Haug’s header of a cross in front of the net that was aimed at the far right corner of the goal.

That excitement in the 24th minute was the best chance for a goal in the game. The Swiss hit the crossbar from long distance in the 32nd and Norwegian defender Maren Mjelde’s header in the 38th was saved by Thalmann, and a rocket off a rebound by Haug was punched away in the 56th.

After it’s 1-0 upset loss to New Zealand in its opener, Norway was the aggressor and had 15 shots to eight for the Swiss and 51% of possession. But it didn’t help and the Norge are still scoreless at this Women’s World Cup. Both teams have a chance to advance with wins in their final games.

On Wednesday, Group C matches have Japan vs. Costa Rica at 1 a.m. Eastern, followed by Spain vs. Zambia at 3:30 a.m.; Canada will face Ireland in Group G, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern.

In Group E, the U.S. women will play against the Netherlands in a re-run of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final on Thursday, to be shown on Wednesday in the U.S. at 9:00 p.m. Pacific time.

4.
Paris 2024 torches unveiled for year-to-go salute

The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 will open a year from today, on 26 July 2024. The climax of the Opening Ceremony on the River Seine will be the lighting of the Olympic Flame, and the Paris 2024 torch was unveiled on Tuesday.

Designer Mathieu Lehanneur came up with an unusual design, which an introductory video displayed as a reflection of the Eiffel Tower, with the top half going from the small flame opening at the top to a larger base section in the middle, then mimicking water ripples from the middle down to a thin base which can be easily held. Essentially, a tower on top, reflected in water below.

Lehanneur’s shaping reflects the Paris 2024 themes of Equality, Water and Peacefulness, as the design is refined and subtle, with the Paris 2024 logos for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games modestly shown in the middle section.

There are no squared edges on this torch at all, an intentional choice. A total of 2,000 will be produced by French steel works ArcelorMittal, an Official Partner of Paris 2024, far less than the expected 10,000 people who will carry the torch; most will go to officials and sponsors, as the reduced number is promoted as a sustainability measure. The torch itself will be made of recycled and renewal materials, will be 70 cm (28 inches) in length, 10 cm in the middle (3.94 inches) and weight 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs.).

The Torch Relay will begin in Marseille on 8 May 2024.

On Monday, Paris 2024 released details of its fan sites during the Games, described as “groundbreaking celebration initiatives, such as the Champions Park, Club France or the Park of Nations in La Villette.”

The Champions Park, at the Trocadero in central Paris, will be a large gathering area, to which all medal winners will be invited. Club France, to which all French medal winners will be invited, will be at the Parc de la Villette, in the northeastern section of the city.

The Park of Nations in La Villette will have sports demonstrations, with pavilions designed by France’s national architecture schools. Some as-yet-unnamed National Olympic or National Paralympic Committees will have spaces at this location.

Outside of Paris will be about 200 “Club 2024″ zones, which will include large viewing screens.

5.
World Aquatics to trial “open category”; Al-Musallam extended

World Aquatics held a busy Congress on Tuesday, with significant developments for its future and for its athletes.

The federation promised a new, “open” category which would be available to transgender athletes now barred by regulations which prevent essentially anyone who has experienced male puberty from competing in the women’s division.

SwimSwam.com reported that World Aquatics chief Husain Al-Musallam (KUW) told the delegates:

“This is a very complex topic. But I am delighted to tell you today that we are now making plans for the first trial of an open category, and we hope to be able to confirm all the details soon. …

“It was very important that we protected fair competition for our female athletes. But you have heard me say many times there should be no discrimination. Nobody should be excluded from our competitions.”

Elections were held and Al-Musallam, running unopposed, was elected to an eight-year term as allowed under the recently-passed, revised constitution. He was originally elected in 2021, but the new rules interposed a new election with first-time term limits of eight years for the first term and an additional four years if re-elected. This is identical to the system used by the International Olympic Committee. In view of the revision of the constitution, Al-Musallam’s election is for a full eight years (to 2031) with the possibility of four more years. Said Al-Musallam:

“I feel very proud and also very humbled that you have shown your confidence in me to continue leading you as your President. It has been the privilege of my life to serve as the President for the past two years.”

American Dale Neuburger, also running unopposed, was re-elected as Treasurer.

World Aquatics also confirmed its intention to move its headquarters from Lausanne (SUI) to Budapest (HUN), with the Hungarian government providing a purpose-built facility that will include pools for training and no rent for 15 years.

The Associated Press reported that Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto promised swim officials: “We are ready to provide you with tax benefits. And we provide immunity for all your official activities and official documentation.”

Hard to beat that; World Aquatics will leave its new Aquatics Integrity Unit in Lausanne and establish a museum there.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Fencing ● American Eli Dershwitz, the 2018 Worlds silver medalist in men’s Sabre, moved to the top of the podium and won gold at the FIE World Championships in Milan, Italy.

Dershwitz, 27, has been a winner on the Grand Prix (1) and World Cup (3) circuit, but had a dream meet, defeating Mohammad Fotouhi (IRI), 15-12 in the round-of-64, then three-time Worlds medalist Bong-il Gu of Korea (15-14), Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Luigi Samele (ITA: 15-6), and Hansol Ha (KOR: 15-10) in the quarterfinals.

That brought him up against Hungary’s three-time Olympic champ, Aron Szilagyi in the semis, a 15-13 come-from-behind victory and into the final against Georgia’s top-ranked Sandro Bazadze. No problem for Dershwitz, who scored a 15-6 win over the 2022 Worlds bronze medalist.

The victory is only the second men’s individual World Championships gold for the U.S., after Miles Chamley-Watson’s 2013 Worlds triumph in Foil. Dershwitz said afterwards:

“Honestly, it feels surreal. It doesn’t feel like it really happened. Hopefully, either tomorrow or the day after when someone asks me, I’ll have thought a little bit better on how to phrase my thoughts. But for now, I’m just thankful for everyone that helped me get here.

“Honestly, my phone’s been blowing up all day from friends, family, girlfriend, teammates, everyone that’s been with me on the journey over these years. It means the world. And the ‘USA’ chants in the stands? We might have a small group here, but they were loud. Especially when I was down in the semis, they really helped me dig down a little deeper to be a little bit faster, a little bit stronger.”

In the women’s Epee, France’s Marie-Florence Candassamy won her first Worlds medal with a 15-12 finals decision over Italian Alberta Santuccio, also her first individual medal at a World Championship. Italy’s 2018 World Champion, Mara Navarria, now 38, won her sixth career Worlds medal with a bronze, along with Yiwen Sun (CHN), the Tokyo Olympic champ.

The FIE Worlds continue through Sunday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● Japan’s Kyodo News posted a story Tuesday which noted the nine sports that it says have completely stonewalled the International Olympic Committee’s request to re-admit Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals, naming “athletics, basketball, equestrian, football, handball, hockey, surfing, rugby and volleyball.”

Other federations have allowed selected Russians and Belarusians to compete under conditions they have set, including fencing, judo, taekwondo ands weightlifting. And the story included this:

“The IOC has withheld its decision on whether to admit them to the Paris Olympics with its in-house survey suggesting that about 50 countries may boycott the games.”

That’s what the story said. Wow.

The Speaker of the Russian Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko fired a new broadside at the Olympic Movement, during a Tuesday news conference:

“A lot of unfair things have already been done to Russian and Belarusian athletes. With this situation hanging in the air, when they were suspended from international competition, from qualifying. They are no longer being treated the same as athletes from other states. …

“Now the hour of judgment has come: if the decision is finally made to exclude [Russia in 2024], then we can bury the Olympic Movement. Because it is impossible to do more damage to international sport. …

“The U.S. and the West are not only putting pressure on all states, demanding that they do what they ask. They also put pressure on all international institutions. It would seem that such a sphere as sport cannot be politicized. It is a gross violation of the principles of the Olympic Movement when some countries try to suspend their participation in the Olympics.

“Even if those athletes who have not changed their citizenship, who have not written libels against their own country, are allowed to compete, then, of course, they will fight for the honor of the country. Even if there is no Russian flag, it will be clear to everyone that these are Russian athletes. I am sure that the support of the fans will not decrease at all. These will be our heroes.

“Now there is a serious geopolitical struggle in the world for the rejection of the unipolar world, from the hegemony of one country or group of countries. For the sovereignty of states, their independence. I am sure that this is an objective historical process that will certainly end with the victory of the unipolar world. Therefore, it will not be long for them to celebrate such “victories’.”

If correctly reported by TASS, she doesn’t seem very optimistic, perhaps trying to lower expectations. She also did not mention what Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has done to Ukrainian athletes, or the millions of refugees now in surrounding countries such as Poland, Romania and others.

● Cycling ● As expected, the third stage of the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, a hilly, 147.2 km route that finished on the flat in Montignac-Lascaux, turned into a mass sprint with Dutch star Lorena Wiebes getting to the line first.

She timed 3:49:47 and finished at the head of a group of eight riders, trailed by countrywoman Marianne Vos and race leader Lotte Kopecky (BEL).

Nine riders are within 1:05 of Kopecky, with Liane Lippert (GER) 55 seconds back and seven more at +1:05, including Dutch superstar and race favorite Annemiek van Vleuten.

The Union Cycliste Internationale announced its findings on hidden motors and the like for the just-completed Tour de France:

“[UCI] today reveals the details and results of the tests carried out at all 21 stages of the 2023 Tour de France as part of its programme to fight against technological fraud (the presence of any propulsion systems hidden in the tubes and other bike components).

“A total of 997 tests were carried out. All were negative.

“Of the tests carried out, 837 were conducted before the start of the stages using magnetic tablets, and 160 at the end of the stages using either backscatter or transmission X-ray technologies.”

● Wrestling ● Now this is impressive. USA Wrestling announced that its USMC Junior and 16U Nationals included a sensational 7,134 entries, making the six-division event once again the largest wrestling tournament in the world.

The total was up considerably from 2022 – 6,646 – with the men’s Junior Freestyle Nationals drawing 1,596 and the men’s 16U Freestyle Nationals, 1,595. The women’s Junior Freestyle Nationals had 853 entries and the 16U Freestyle Nationals, 740.

The U.S. is no stranger to mass events, offering annually the largest archery tournament in the world, the Vegas Shoot indoor in Nevada – 3,911 archers in its 57th year 2023 – and the USA Fencing Summer Nationals, which had more than 5,300 in Phoenix, Arizona, earlier in the month.

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France, America and The Olympic Ideal: A perspective on the present, past and future of the Olympic Movement

By
George Hirthler
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Two of the creators of the modern Olympic Movement: France's Pierre de Coubertin (l) and American William Sloane (Photo of de Coubertin courtesy George Hirthler; photo of Sloane via Wikipedia)

/With one year to go before the Paris 2024 Games, it’s a pleasure to present this guest column by George Hirthler, who has been working in the Olympic world since 1989 when he was engaged by Billy Payne as the lead writer on Atlanta’s bid for the 1996 Olympic Games. Since then he has served as a writer/producer on ten international Olympic bid campaigns, including the winning bids of Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and LA 2028. In 2016, Hirthler published The Idealist, a fictionalized biography of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, and is currently writing and producing two feature-length documentaries on Atlanta 1996 and Pierre de Coubertin respectively. The essay that follows, which will be part of the book, L’aventure Olympique, to be published this fall by L’Harmattan in France, draws parallels between the French and American roles in founding the Olympic Movement and carrying it toward the future. His opinions are, of course, his own alone./

It is a fact of modern life that the Olympic Games are the world’s greatest single celebration of humanity. Far more than just a festival, they carry deeply embedded and meaningful cultural content to every society on earth. While some have claimed the Games have outlived their 19th century origins and are irrelevant today, recent history suggests the opposite is true: the Olympic Games and the global sporting movement that sustains them seem to be more relevant than ever.

As Paris 2024 begins to crowd the headlines with its milestone statement of gender equality – the first Games to achieve a 50/50 male/female balance in the 130-year history of the modern movement – the currency of the social values being expressed through the Games could hardly be more timely. At the same time, a worldwide debate about the inclusion of athletes from aggressor nations Russia and Belarus has raged in the foreground of sports and political news for more than a year, putting the Olympic Movement at the center of one of the most pressing ideological arguments of the era: the rights of the individual in the context of bad behavior by his or her national government.

Two years ago in 2021, Tokyo 2020 – the first Olympics postponed in the modern era – turned the Games into a global laboratory about whether humanity could continue to compete in the face of a worldwide pandemic. Although it faced arguably the greatest existential threat in its history, the Olympic Movement overcame all obstacles and objections and managed to gather 11,420 athletes from 206 national teams for 339 events in a bubble of venues in Japan and answered that question with a resounding “Yes, we can.” Undoubtedly, that feat will one day be rendered by history as perhaps the greatest organizational achievement in the annals of event production, let alone the Games. And one year ago, the Olympic Movement had to protect its autonomy by facing down immense political pressure from human rights advocates and governments seeking to diminish China’s standing while it sought to give 2,871 winter athletes on 91 teams the opportunity of a lifetime in another bubble at the Beijing Winter Games.

Despite the scope and size of the Games, these recent challenges have helped turn the movement into a nimble organization with greater adaptability than ever. It is far from the moribund old-school, out-of-touch institution it is often accused of being. Under Thomas Bach’s leadership, its resiliency has emerged as its greatest strength. Elected as the ninth IOC president in Buenos Aires in September 2013, Bach spent his first year mounting a unanimously-approved set of reforms entitled Agenda 2020: approximately 50 measures designed to increase the movement’s social relevance in the days, weeks, months and years between Games and, at the same time, ensure that all operations, logistics and organizational efforts evolved into models of social responsibility and sustainability for society at large. Bach wanted to make sure the International Olympic Committee, which had labored under one of the world’s most infamous reputations and credibility gaps for years, rose in public standing to a level of integrity commensurate with the world’s admiration for the Games.

In 2017, during the third summer of his presidency at the IOC Session in Lima, Peru, Bach revealed an imaginative range that suggested his Agenda 2020 reforms would carry more depth than the dismissive window-dressing labels many Olympic reporters had pinned on them. In a move that hearkened back to one of Pierre de Coubertin’s final major decisions, Bach led the IOC to award the next two Olympic Games to two of the world’s leading cities, and Paris and Los Angeles walked away from Peru as the simultaneously-elected hosts of the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games.

Bach knew that in 1921, Coubertin had sent his colleagues in the IOC a letter announcing that he had decided to retire in 1925 and asked the IOC membership for one final favor, a favor he knew they would not deny him: To award the 1924 Olympic Games to Paris, the city of his birth, and the 1928 Games to Amsterdam, which had submitted a masterful plan for hosting the Games. That year at the IOC Session in Lausanne, Coubertin’s wishes were confirmed, and the future of the Olympic Movement looked secure as its founder prepared to retire.

Just as Coubertin’s double award reached three years beyond his presidency to Amsterdam, so will Bach’s, whose presidency is scheduled to end in 2025, three years before LA 2028. It is striking to note that like Coubertin, Bach will preside over his last Olympic Games in Paris – 100 years later – a fact that demarcates a series of parallels between their presidencies. Without reading too much into these parallels, there is another striking similarity between the presidencies of the second and ninth presidents. Both men had to guide the Olympic Movement through a crisis that threatened its very existence – World War I and the global coronavirus pandemic – and both managed to bring the Games, assuming Paris 2024 lives up to its lofty expectations, to new heights with a bright future ahead.

It is interesting to note that Bach has become something of a Coubertin aficionado during his presidency, studying the founder’s life and weaving a series of pertinent quotes from the Baron’s vast oeuvre into the speeches he has given and continues to give. He is on record as saying his favorite Coubertin quote depicts the Olympic Games as “a pilgrimage to the past and an act of faith in the future.” ¹

Both sides of that equation ring with spiritual sentiment; a pilgrimage is often thought of as a religious journey and an act of faith is looking ahead in full belief. If we put Paris 2024 and LA 2028 in that framework, we can see the dimensions of Coubertin’s thinking at work. Since it will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the last summer Olympics it hosted, Paris will by necessity look back even as it astounds the world with innovations that may turn its Opening Ceremony along the Seine into something that evokes the spirituality Coubertin alluded to. And during the Closing Ceremony when Bach takes the Olympic flag from the Mayor of Paris and passes it to the Mayor of Los Angeles, an act of faith in the future will be completed.

The soaring idealism the world will witness in Paris 2024 and again in LA 2028 will express in new ways Coubertin’s visionary dream of uniting the world in friendship and peace through sport. And if the storytellers do their work properly – given the fact that we’re celebrating Coubertin’s legacy in the city of his birth – they will remind the world of the full power and promise of the philosophy of Olympism that sits at the heart of his legacy. At some point, the world will have to reckon with the full dimensions of Olympism, and recognize that what Coubertin wrote is true: “Olympism did not reappear within the context of modern civilization in order to play a local or temporary role. The mission entrusted to it is universal and timeless. It is ambitious. It requires all space and all time.”

Yes, the Olympic Movement is ambitious. It has been on an inexorable path of expansion since its birth at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1894. It was there that a vision shaped primarily between Pierre de Coubertin and his remarkable American ally, William Milligan Sloane, the distinguished professor of history at Princeton University and head of its athletics committee, took root.

At its core, the modern Olympic Movement, which was born under the patronage of the peace movement, built its idealistic success on the sporting passions of the two nations Coubertin and Sloane represented, France and America, each of which had gone through a revolutionary transformation hardly a century before they met. While the model of competition Coubertin and Sloane embraced sprang from the playing fields of England, they each had a broader vision for the local and global purposes of sport. On the local level, they shared an educational vision for the value of sport in developing the whole human being. On the international level, they envisioned the possibilities of a competition growing to such stature and allure that it might influence the relationships between nations and contribute to building a better world focused on peace. At the heart of the Olympic Movement, they constructed a ladder of values that led from the personal to the universal, from human excellence, to mutual respect, to friendships formed on the field of play, to international understanding and ultimately to fostering the idea of world peace.

Sloane, who was twelve years older than Coubertin and widely recognized as a brilliant writer and historian well before the Games were born, added intellectual heft to the movement and helped define its most idealistic goals. In 1920, after the Antwerp Olympic Games, he wrote a perspective piece summarizing the work that he, Pierre and a handful of other true believers accomplished in launching the modern Olympic Games, clearly positioning their aim as that of peace:

“The movement for international conciliation has attained very important dimensions. Its goal is nothing short of international disarmament, chimerical as this vision may appear. Among the agencies to this end the work of the International Olympic Committee is likely to be of great importance, and the achievement of its first twenty-five years should not be overlooked by any who are lovers of mankind and have at heart the well-being of their fellows. The peaceful evolution of the newer civilization is not only fascinating to the imagination, but a definite, practical and possible process. The beginnings of things always contain the germ: life comes only from life. But the direction and amplitude of growth are not easily foreseen.” ²

His praise for the drive and achievements of his French friend and colleague could not have been greater. He always assigned the prime credit for the success of the Games to the man known as le rénovateur:

“… the lifelong devotion of M. de Coubertin, his tact, his ingenuity, his self-sacrifice in time and money, in short, the qualities of faith and merit, have been the chief reason for the solid establishment of the enterprise.” ³

From the outset, the success of the modern Olympic Games and their devotion to the highest aspirations and noblest ideals of humanity were rooted in a French-American partnership. As we stand on the threshold of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris, looking ahead to the Games of XXXIV Olympiad in Los Angeles, it is once again those two champions of modern sport and Olympism that are carrying the hopes and dreams of this inexorable movement toward the future.

References:
1. Coubertin, Pierre, The Ceremonies, Olympic Review (1910): an article about the religious atmosphere found in ancient Olympia and Coubertin’s desire to recapture that atmosphere in modern times.
2. Sloane, William Milligan, Modern Olympic Games in The Official Report of the American Olympic Committee on the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games, (1920), p. 71.
3. Sloane, William Milligan, The Olympic Idea: Its Origins, Foundation and Progress, The Century Magazine (1912), p. 414.

TSX REPORT: Douglass gets first U.S. swim gold; Paris 2024 gets huge sponsor boost from LVMH; when is a 4:00 women’s mile coming?

By
Rich Perelman
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The World 200 m Medley champion: Kate Douglass of the U.S. (Photo courtesy World Aquatics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Douglass wins 200 m medley, China wins two in Fukuoka
2. Routs for Germany and Brazil in Women’s World Cup
3. Paris 2024 celebrates LVMH, Air France, IDFM sponsorships
4. Queensland aims at 2032, not rescuing Commonwealth Games!
5. Stoss takes over IOC’s Winter Host Commission

Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh went 1-2 for the U.S. at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka in the women’s 200 m Medley, the first American gold of the meet. The U.S. has eight medals in the first two days, but only one win so far. At the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Germany (6-0 over Morocco) and Brazil (4-0 over Panama) were impressive, and the tournament has now sold more than 1.5 million tickets, an all-time record. The Paris 2024 organizers celebrated a new, major partnership with the luxury-goods LVMH Group, a major boost for their domestic sponsorship budget, along with smaller deals with Air France and the Iles-de-France Mobilities authority. And depending on which poll you believe, either 72% or 59% of French residents think the 2024 Games will be good. In the aftermath of Victoria pulling out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Tom Tate – mayor of the 2018 host Gold Coast – is championing his city – in Queensland – as a rescuer, but the Queensland government is interested only in the already-secured 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane. The International Olympic Committee named Austrian Karl Stoss as the new head of the Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, replacing Romanian member Octavian Morariu, who is also a French citizen; the French National Olympic Committee is now planning a 2030 Winter bid and Morariu would have a conflict of interest.

● Panorama: Aquatics (the ties between Michael Phelps and new 400 m Medley world-record holder Leon Marchand) = Athletics (much more on Kipyegon’s 4:07.64 mile world record … and the future!) = Basketball (first use of approved, all-glass floor!) = Cycling (Lippet wins Tour de France Femmes second stage) = Skiing (major agreement to allow FIS to implement its central-sales strategy) = Tennis (sniping at ITF chief Haggerty in advance of September election already starting) = Wrestling (Poland dismissed as World U-20 Champs host over not issuing visas) ●

1.
Douglass wins 200 m medley, China wins two in Fukuoka

The United States medal machine was in good form at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, winning four more medals on day two of the swimming competition, and its first gold, from Kate Douglass.

The Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo in the 200 m Medley, Douglass came to Fukuoka number two on the world list at 2:07.09, behind only Canadian star Summer McIntosh, who decided not to swim in this event. She led the qualifying, but had to chase teammate Alex Walsh for most of the final.

Walsh came in as defending World Champion and was second after the Fly leg, then took over on the Backstroke – fastest in the field at 31.96 – and led through the Breaststroke leg and into the final turn. But Douglass had moved up from fifth after the Backstroke and zoomed into second on Breaststroke, but still 0.85 behind Walsh. But a brilliant 29.83 Freestyle leg over the last lap pulled her ahead of Walsh and to the finish in 2:07.17, with Walsh at 2:07.97. China’s Yuting Yu was third in 2:08.74.

This was Douglass’s fifth career Worlds medal in two years, and she has a lot more swimming to do this week. Walsh now has three Worlds golds and a silver in two Worlds so far. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown, the 2022 silver medalist and no. 3 on the year list, was disqualified in her semifinal for a stroke violation.

China won twice on Monday, with Haiyang Qin winning the men’s 100 m Breast with a wire-to-wire performance. He had the co-equal-fastest reaction time, led at the turn by 0.12 over American Nic Fink and blasted the field on the final lap to win in 57.69, an Asian Record, now no. 2 on the all-time list (Britain’s Adam Peaty now has the top 14 performances in history). Behind him was a wild scramble, as Fink faded slightly and he, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) and Dutch star Arno Kamminga all touched together, in 58.72! It’s Fink’s fifth career Worlds medal (2-2-1), over the past two seasons.

The women’s 100 m Butterfly final came next, with Tokyo silver medalist Yufei Zhang the fastest qualifier and the favorite. She did not disappoint, leading Torri Huske of the U.S. by 0.01 at the turn, but coming back in 30.09, 0.21 faster than anyone else and winning in 56.12. Canada’s Maggie MacNeil, expected to be a big presence at these Championships, roared past Huske in the final 50 m to take second, 56.45 to 56.61, with Australian star Emma McKeon fourth (56.88). Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. was eighth in 57.58.

Huske, 20, won six (!) medals at the 2022 Worlds (3-0-3) and already has a silver and bronze in Fukuoka.

France’s Maxime Grousset had the fastest heat and semi time in the men’s 50 m Fly, but in the final it was Italy’s defending World Champion, Thomas Ceccon, who emerged with the win in 22.68. Portugal’s Diogo de Matos Ribeiro was a surprise second at 22.80, with Grousset taking the bronze in 22.82. Dare Rose of the U.S. was sixth in 23.01.

Ceccon’s performance – he’s now no. 7 all-time – was all the more impressive since it came 29 minutes after his world-leading semifinal win in the men’s 100 m Backstroke (52.16)! There were three world leaders on Monday:

● Men/100 m Back: 52.16, Thomas Ceccon (ITA) ~ semifinals
● Men/100 m Breast: 57.69, Haiyang Qin (CHN)
● Women/100 m Fly: 56.12, Yufei Zhang (CHN)

The U.S. now has eight total medals (1-5-2) to lead all countries, ahead of Australia (4-0-0) and China (2-0-2).

Tuesday’s finals include the men’s 200 m Free, the women’s 1,500 m Free (can Katie Ledecky win her fifth world title in this event?), the women’s and men’s 100 m Back and women’s 100 m Breaststroke.

A huge upset in the women’s water polo quarterfinals, as the four-time defending champion U.S. women were eliminated in the quarterfinals, 8-7, by Italy.

The game was 4-4 at halftime, and 6-6 after three quarters, and Italy went up 8-6 with 2:57 left. Jordan Raney finally got a U.S. score with 21 seconds to go, but it was not enough. The U.S. Worlds streak is over; it will be their first major event without a medal since the 2013 Worlds in Barcelona.

Maggie Steffens led the U.S. with four goals and Maddie Musselman added two; Sofia Giustini led Italy with three scores.

In the other quarters, the Netherlands beat Canada, 17-10, and will face Italy; Australia upset Greece, 9-8 and Spain overcame Hungary, 12-9.

2.
Routs for Germany and Brazil in Women’s World Cup

Second-ranked Germany and no. 8 Brazil both opened their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaigns with impressive wins in Australia, while Italy had to struggle to finally defeat Argentina:

● Group G: Italy 1, Argentina 0 ● A lot of near-goals marked this game, which was tightly played with 36 fouls and six yellow cards in Auckland (NZL).

It was finally decided in the 87th on a header by substitute striker Christiana Girelli that popped into the left corner of the net, off of a long cross by defender Lisa Boattin from the left side into the middle of the box.

Argentina almost started with a spectacular goal, but striker Mariana Larroquette‘s bicycle kick after 54 seconds ended up wide of the Italian goal. Italian midfielder Arianna Caruso (15th) and striker Valentina Giacinti (42nd) both scored, but had the goals waved off for offsides in the first half, which ended scoreless.

In the 49th, Argentine defender Eliana Stabile’s corner kick almost went in, but was punched away awkwardly by Italian keeper Francesca Durante. Another Stabile free kick in the 72nd almost produced a score on the fly but was saved, and on the rebound, Larroquette could not handle it and her touch went out of bounds.

Down 1-0, Argentina almost scored at 90+7 off a fearsome free kick by midfielder Florencia Bonsegundo that Durante had to punch away to save the win.

● Group H: Germany 6, Morocco 0 ● There were questions about the Germans after a 3-2 friendly loss to Zambia at the start of the month, but their first match, in Melbourne (AUS) was decided quickly.

In the 11th minute, striker Alexandra Popp headed in a perfect cross from the right side of the pitch from midfielder Lina Magull to the center of the box for a 1-0 lead, followed in the 39th by a second Popp score on a header. This time it came from midfielder Klara Buhl on a swerving corner kick that moved toward the center of the box and Popp’s head for a 2-0 lead.

That was the score at half and the German pressure unraveled Morocco in the second half. Buhl made it 3-0 just a minute into the second half, kicking in a loose ball off a scrum that began with her cross from the left side. Morocco suffered own goals off ricochets from German shots in the 54th (off defender Hanane Ait El Haj) and the 79th (off defender Yasmin Mrabet) before Lea Schuller’s final score off a rebound in the 90th.

The Germans ended with 74% possession and a 16-7 edge on shots against a very much overwhelmed Moroccan team.

● Group F: Brazil 4, Panama 0 ● Brazil got two first-half goals from Ary Borges in her first World Cup appearance to take control of their match in Adelaide (AUS) on the way to a 4-0 win and a hat trick for the Brazilian midfielder.

The scoring started in the 19th as midfielder Adriana sent a perfect cross from the left side across the goal to an untroubled Borges at the far post for a header and the 1-0 lead. In the 39th, defender Tamires sent another cross from left to right and Borges’ header was saved by Panamanian keeper Yenith Bailey. But the rebound came right back out and Borges slammed it in for a 2-0 edge at half.

The third goal, in the 48th, was a thing of beauty, as Borges received a pass in front of the net, but with two defenders in front of her, back-passed to striker Bia Zanetatto, who finished into an open net for a 3-0 lead. Borges got a third goal in the 70th, heading in another perfect entry pass from substitute striker Geyse Ferreira from beyond the box for the 4-0 final.

Brazil controlled the match with 73% of possession and a 32-6 advantage on shots, including 10 shots on goal vs. two for Panama.

Tuesday’s games start with Colombia-South Korea in Group H, and the second round will start with New Zealand and the Philippines, and Switzerland-Norway, both in Group A.

FIFA announced that the 1,500,000th ticket for the Women’s World Cup – an all-time record and the ticket-sales target – was sold to a New Zealand family attending the Italy-Argentina match in Auckland (NZL). Maria Strong bought the ticket as part of a five-ticket buy for her family, including her husband and three children.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) participated in a special ceremony, and offered free tickets for the family for the remaining matches at Eden Park in Auckland, which will include a round-of-16, quarterfinal and semifinal match!

3.
Paris 2024 celebrates LVMH, Air France, IDFM sponsorships

The bells are ringing for the Paris 2024 Olympic organizing committee, with the one-year-to-go celebrations being readied for Wednesday (26th). On Monday, the long-awaited, top-tier sponsorship agreement with luxury-goods maker LVMH Group was announced, a major step for Paris 2024 to reach its domestic sponsorship goal of €1.226 billion (about $1.356 billion U.S. today).

The announcement noted specific roles carved out for LVMH units:

“Paris 2024 will entrust several essential roles to artisans from the LVMH Group. These include the design of the Olympic and Paralympic medals by Chaumet. The ultimate emblems of the quest for victory and surpassing oneself, the medals figure among the iconic symbols and traditions of the Olympic Games. An iconic Paris jeweler with centuries of heritage, Chaumet will apply its savoir-faire to create the design of these exceptional pieces that materialize the ultimate reward for athletes after years of sacrifice and commitment to performance.

“Moët Hennessy wines and spirits Maisons will provide their exceptional products as part of hospitality programs during the Olympic and Paralympic Games and will help ensure a superb quality experience for guests. Sephora will be a partner for the Olympic Torch Relay, proposing activations for the public all along the relay route, as well as at Group locations along the itinerary and at stops.

“Between now and the opening ceremony, LVMH and its Maisons – in particular Louis Vuitton, Dior and Berluti – will present, with approval from Paris 2024, the different aspects of their engagement, enabling LVMH to become the ‘Artisan of All Victories’. During the Games, LVMH will also provide direct support for certain athletes whose exemplary journeys make them ‘Artisans of All Victories’. The first is swimmer Léon Marchand, who at the age of 21 has already won three world champion titles, is the world record-holder of the 400 meter individual medley, and is a leading medal hope for the French Olympic team.”

Last week, Air France joined as an Official Partner of the organizing committee and the Ile-de-France Mobilites (IDFM) government transportation authority became an Official Partner of the Games. The IDFM announcement noted that its plan for the Games period is to allow every spectator to attend all of the Games events in its region via public transit. An increase of about 15% above normal traffic is projected; about 1,000 extra buses will be arranged to handle 200,00 accreditees during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Further, the French organizers asked Toluna-Harris Interactive to poll French residents aged 15 and above for the seventh time about their view of the upcoming Games. The results were positive:

● 72% were in favor of the Games, 28% against
● 75% of men were in favor, 69% of women
● 80% of those polled aged 18-24 were in favor

The overall total of 72% in favor was up from 68% from the last poll in June, but down from the 76% level in April of this year.

Some 65% said they would be following the Games next year live on television, 59% said they would follow on social media and 33% said they would go to a fan zone.

However, another poll, by the French firm Odoxa, showed only 59% in favor of the Games, down 17 points since September 2021. The continuing worries are over cost (68%), the environmental impact (65%), transportation (64%), and security (63%).

But, as the FrancsJeux.com site notes, “At this stage of the preparation, nothing very worrying, especially since these figures are largely contradicted by the success of the ticket office [6.8 million sold] and the call for volunteers (320,000 candidates).”

4.
Queensland aims at 2032, not rescuing Commonwealth Games!

Last week’s stunning withdrawal by the State of Victoria (AUS) as the host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games has, predictably, sent shock waves through the international sport community, some of which are rolling back on Australia.

The Mayor of Perth, in Western Australia, has said he is interested in the event, but the most controversial idea came from the always-enthusiastic Tom Tate, Mayor of Gold Coast in Queensland, which successfully hosted the A$1.2 billion Commonwealth Games in 2018 (about $809.7 million U.S. today).

He’s ready to do it again, but he needs money. And the Queensland government has its eyes firmly on Brisbane’s Olympic Games in 2032. Said Queensland Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe:

“He’s always out there making sure he’s boosting and spruiking the Gold Coast and why wouldn’t he.

“The reality is I’m a bit more in deputy mayor Donna Gates‘ camp when she said earlier this week that the idea was ludicrous, we didn’t have the right time.”

Tate, however, is undeterred: “Just give us four weeks, I’ll show you a road map of how we can deliver it, it’ll be great for Queensland.”

But Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is not interested:

“Even though the Gold Coast is a wonderful venue, it does have the venues and the infrastructure, it does have the transport, but we cannot afford to spend more money on another games.

“We are committed to the Olympics, we are focused on the Olympics, but there may be an opportunity for another state to put their hand up.”

Victoria is breaking a signed agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation – among others – regarding the 2026 and whether through negotiations or lawsuits, all of the agreements involved will have to be retired, no doubt at Victoria’s expense.

5.
Stoss takes over IOC’s Winter Host Commission

With the pending submission of a French bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games, Octavian Morariu, the head of the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, stepped down on Friday to avoid a conflict of interest.

Morariu is Romanian, but also has French citizenship; the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) announced that it is bidding for the 2030 Games with the regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

In his place will be highly-regarded member Karl Stoss of Austria, who is hardly a stranger to the process, having been a member of the Future Host Commission since its formation in 2019. He has a long history in banking and casino regulation, and has been the head of the winter-obsessed Austrian National Olympic Committee since 2009.

With Morariu leaving the Commission, the IOC appointed cross-country star (and three-time World Champion) Astrid Jacobsen (NOR) to replace him.

The change has already inspired questions about the IOC’s timetable to select a 2030 Winter Games host, with Salt Lake City definitely preferring 2034, and an award for 2030 due in 2024. France is now the third country, along with Sweden and Switzerland, to be considering a bid for the 2030 Winter Games.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Aquatics ● Some footnotes to the brilliant men’s 400 m Medley world record of 4:02.50 by France’s Leon Marchand on Sunday. He broke Michael Phelps’ mark of 4:03.84 from 2008, and Phelps was in Fukuoka to see the race himself as a commentator for NBC’s Peacock service and congratulated Marchand. And Phelps’ legendary coach, Bob Bowman, is also Marchand’s coach, as a star at Arizona State, where Bowman has been the head of the swimming & diving program since 2015.

● Athletics ● More on Kenyan star Faith Kipyegon’s brilliant world women’s mile record of 4:07.64 in Monaco last Friday, starting with the splits (one mile is 1,609.34 m):

● 400 m: 62.6
● 800 m: 2:04.6 (62.0)
● 1,200 m: 3:06.8 (62.2)
● 1,600 m: 4:06.3 (59.5)
● 1,609 m: 4:07.64 (1.3)

Her 1,500 m time en route was 3:51.41, the no. 8 performance of all time, and she now owns four of the eight! She said afterwards:

“I really enjoyed the race. I came for that, I wanted to chase the world record and thanks God, it was amazing. And just before the World Championships. I was really looking forward to running here. I have done good training so far and I just came for it. The time – yes – it was really good because the race was well planned. It just went smoothly and to accomplish the world record, that is amazing. …

“I do not know how I am doing this because it just keeps going really in a good way. I was feeling healthy and just focusing myself for this world record. When I started this season, my goal was to just break the 1,500 world record. It was still in my head and in my mind. Thank God I did also the mile and the 5,000. So many.

“I want to defend my world title at 1,500 m in Hungary but I am going to double also with the 5,000 in Budapest.”

As for three records in three different events – all at different distances – in the same year, the only one in recent years would have been Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, with his 9.58 and 19.19 sprint double at the Berlin Worlds in 2009, then adding the 4×100 m relay on the third leg in a world record of 37.31 with Steve Mullings, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell on anchor, in the same meet. But it has been done.

U.S. distance star Mary Slaney captured world records in 1982 in the women’s mile (4:18.08 on 9 July), 5,000 m (15:08.26 on 5 June) and 10,000 m (31:35.3 on 16 July).

Now World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) captured the world records in the men’s 800 m (1:42.33), 1,500 m (3:32.03) and mile (3:48.95) during his magical 1979 season. A year before, Kenyan – and Washington State – star Henry Rono set world records in the 5,000 m (13:08.4 on 8 April), Steeple (8:05.4 on 13 May), 10,000 m (27:22.47 on 11 June) and 3,000 m (7:32.1 on 27 June) in three months of the greatest running ever seen. And there were others before him.

Now, the discussion will inevitably turn to when a woman will break the 4:00 barrier for the mile. Looking at the men’s 4-minute mile, it took 21 years to go from New Zealand’s Jack Lovelock and his 4:07.6 mark in 1933 to 1954 for Roger Bannister (GBR) to run 3:59.4. That period was impacted by World War II, but Swedes Gunder Hagg and Arne Andersson did lower the mile record from 4:06.4 in 1937 to 4:01.4 in 1945.

Kipyegon is only 29. After taking almost four seconds off the record in Monaco, how low can she go?

● Basketball ● The game may never be the same again, after the introduction of the first FIBA-approved glass floor for basketball.

Yes, glass. Which means it can be turned into a giant LED screen, and a lot of other things. The ASB GlassFloor court was shown off in Madrid (ESP) for the quarterfinals of the FIBA women’s U-19 World Cup, initially for the Spain-Canada game won by the Spanish. The announcement noted:

“The ASB GlassFloor can also feature the ability to add player tracking to the video floor, making it possible to display live stats and athletic achievements on the floor, providing fans with enhanced interaction and better engagement as well as an enhanced show staging with additional options for sponsorship and marketing.”

● Cycling ● Stage two of the Tour de France Femmes was a hilly, 151.2 km ride to Mauriac, that came down to a mass sprint, with German Liane Lippert getting to the line first in 4:13.43, with the first 11 finishers given the same time.

Lippert just beat out first-stage winner Lotte Lopecky (BEL) and Italy’s Silvia Pesico and Kopecky retained her race lead, now with 49 seconds on Lippert and 59 seconds on seven riders, including favorite Annemiek van Vleuten (NED).

Tuesday’s stage 3 is another hilly course of 147.2 km with a flat finish – perfect for sprinters – before a more difficult fourth stage with the climbs at the end of the course.

● Skiing ● A breakthrough between the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and Infront, the marketing agency for many of the largest national federations, which will allow FIS to energize its centralized marketing strategy.

Swiss-based Infront and its national federation partners have been in the way of the FIS centralized sales project, in view of its contracts through the 2025-26 season. The framework agreement announced Monday will create an eight-year partnership from 2026-27 to 2033-34. The key terms included, according to FIS:

● “Minimum compensation more than €100 million above current terms

● “Commission-based agency agreement with a minimum sales guarantee of more than €600 million

● “FIS in full control over the sales process

● “Infront to provide exclusive marketing implementation and international media operations services”

FIS President Johan Eliasch (SWE) is convinced that a FIS-controlled sales process is essential to the future of skiing, and the agreement will allow FIS to use highlights on its social-media platforms and create streaming platforms for markets which do not now have television-rights carriage agreements. It has made a huge financial bet on that vision.

● Tennis ● German Tennis Federation head Dietloff von Arnim is beginning his effort to unseat American two-term President David Haggerty as head of the International Tennis Federation in elections on 24 September.

Von Arnim told the London-based CityAM.com that the well-publicized but ultimately unsuccessful financing deal to support the Davis Cup with a 25-year tie-in worth up to $3 billion continues to be a problem:

“Quite simply we can say it has been a failure. Germany was against it. I’m not against the format change but with that approach – not to our astonishment – it could not work.

“I think the future of Davis Cup now is very difficult. We changed the format of it many times in the last years. None really made it possible to refinance this project. …

“I think tennis needs a wake-up call. Tennis is asleep at the wheel at the moment.”

Haggerty is one of two U.S. members of the International Olympic Committee at the moment – along with Anita DeFrantz – but his position is tied to his ITF presidency.

● Wrestling ● United World Wrestling announced that its World U-20 Championships have been switched to Amman (JOR) after the Polish government refused to issue visas to Russian wrestlers entering as neutrals.

The event was slated for Warsaw from 14-20 August; the UWW notice included:

“Adhering to UWW’s regulations, which require the organizer to ensure equal participation for all athletes, free from any discrimination based on passport or other criteria, and considering the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, UWW was compelled to find an alternative host after Poland failed to ensure the same.”

The head of the Russian wrestling federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili, that Finland has done the same thing with the World U-23 Championships scheduled for Tampere from 23-29 October, although that event is still listed by the UWW. He said it will be removed from Finland on the same grounds.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Kipyegon’s fabulous 4:07.64 world mile record; three world records on opening day of Worlds swimming; $187,500 for an Olympic torch!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Another 2023 world record for Kenya's Faith Kipyegon, this time in the mile in Monaco! (Photo: Sona Maleter for Diamond League AG)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Kipyegon shatters world mile mark: 4:07.64 in Monaco!
2. Lyles (19.47!), Bol (51.45!) star at London Diamond League
3. Australia delivers big on triple-world record day in swimming
4. Spain, U.S. most impressive in World Cup openers
5. Grenoble ‘68 torch goes for $187,500 at auction!

The final two Diamond League meets before the World Athletics Championships provided eight world-leading marks and a spectacular world record in the women’s mile. Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon claimed her third world record in two months with a stunning 4:07.64 win in Monaco on Friday, the first woman to eclipse 4:10. In London on Sunday before 50,000 at the Olympic Stadium, Dutch star Femke Bol ran the third-fastest 400 m hurdles of all time in 51.45 and Noah Lyles of the U.S. won the 200 m in 19.47, the 10th-fastest in history. At the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, China won 12 straight golds in the diving events before Australia’s Cassiel Rousseau won the men’s 10 m Platform. And the Aussies had a lot more to celebrate with four wins on the first day of swimming, with world records from Ariarne Titmus in the women’s 400 m Free and in the women’s 4×100 m Free, plus golds from Sam Short in the men’s 400 m Free and in the men’s 4×100 m Free. France’s Leon Marchand smashed Michael Phelps’ world mark in the men’s 400 m Medley for the only non-Australian win of the day. At the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Spain’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica and the U.S.’s 3-0 win over Vietnam were the top performances as the first round of matches continues. Japan also impressed with a 5-0 thrashing of Zambia. At the RR Auction of Olympic memorabilia, an ultra-rare torch from the Grenoble 1968 Olympic Winter Games – only 33 were made – went for $187,500 at the top of a list of 25 torches and medals that went for $10,000 or more!

● World Championship: Basketball (U.S. outlast Spain in FIBA women’s U-19 World Cup) ●

● Panorama: Athletics (Fraser-Pryce opens with wins in 10.82 and 10.83) = Cycling (2: Vingegaard wins Tour de France; Kopecky leads Tour de France Femmes) = Gymnastics (Varfolomeev stars at Rhythmic World Cup) = Volleyball (Poland wins Nations League final over U.S. in four) ●

1.
Kipyegon shatters world mile mark: 4:07.64 in Monaco!

It was a sensational Herculis Meet in Monaco on Friday, headlined by another world record in the Diamond League – her third of the year – by Kenya’s two-time Olympic 1,500 m champ Faith Kipyegon, who destroyed another barrier in the women’s mile.

Hers was the most stupendous of four world-leading marks:

● Men/800 m: 1:43.22, Wyclife Kimyamal (KEN)
● Men/400 m hurdles: 46.51, Karsten Warholm (NOR)
● Women/Mile: 4:07.64, Faith Kipyegon (KEN) ~ World Record
● Women/100 m hurdles: 12.30, Nia Ali (USA)

The women’s mile record wasn’t by accident; it was planned from the start. Kipyegon was amazing, running just behind the pacesetter from the gun, with only Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu even close; Kipyegon passed 800 m in 2:04.10, well ahead of world-record pace. She had a 25 m lead with 500 m left and at 3:06.66 after 1,200 m. She grimaced on the backstraight and was more than 50 m up on the field with 200 to go and dug hard for the line at a sensational 4:07.65 for her third world record in 50 days!

The old record was 4:12.33 by Sifan Hassan (NED) from 2019 and Kipyegon broke the 4:10 barrier, to go along with her 3:49.11 world 1,500 m mark in Florence (2 June) and 14:05.20 in the 5,000 m in Paris on 9 June. Awesome! Kipyegon passed 1,500 m en route in 3:51.41, the no. 8 performance of all time.

Behind her was a chase pack the benefitted from her record race, with six national records set, including Ciara Mageean (IRL: 4:14.58) who passed Hailu (4:14.79) for second, then Britain’s Laura Muir (4:15.24), Australia’s Jessica Hull (4:15.34) and Nikki Hiltz of the U.S. (4:16.35).

Hiltz’s time finally eclipsed Mary Decker Slaney’s 1985 U.S. record of 4:16.71 from 1985 – 38 years ago! – and Elise Cranny was eighth in 4:16.47, now no. 2 all-time U.S. At 1,500 m en route, Cranny ran 3:58.88 for a lifetime best (still no. 8 all-time U.S.) and Hiltz passed in 3:59.61, also a lifetime best, now no. 12 all-time U.S. and the 14th American woman to dip under 4:00.

As for the other world-leading marks:

Warholm was the first up, racing away from the gun from his favored lane seven, and storming to a big lead over Brazil’s comebacking World Champion, Alison dos Santos. He had no let-up on the home straight, finishing in a word-leading 46.51, the no. 4 performance of all-time. Dos Santos finished in 47.66, a very encouraging time for him and now no. 5 in the world for 2023. American CJ Allen challenged dos Santos and finished third in 47.84 to 47.85 for Ludvy Vaillant (FRA). Khallifah Rosser of the U.S. was seventh in 48.71; Olympic and Worlds silver medalist Rai Benjamin was scheduled to run, but decided to remain home and train.

The men’s 800 m saw Canadian star Marco Arop in front with 200 to go and looking good, but Kenya’s Commonwealth Games champ Wyclife Kinyamal was charging hard and finally got even in the home straight. He forged a small lead and then African champ Slimane Moula (ALG) moved up and was able to pass Arop in the final meters. Kinyamal got the world lead – with a 54.15 last lap – at 1:43.22 to 1:43.40 for Moula, with Arop third at 1:43.51. Bryce Hoppel of the U.S. ran 1:43.95, but was sixth and Clayton Murphy was 10th in 1:45.83.

The women’s 100 m hurdles followed Kipyegon and 2019 world champ Nia Ali was out best, but former world-record holder Keni Harrison edged ahead after the fourth hurdle and maintained a tiny lead off the final hurdle but Ali pushed hard and leaned best to win in a lifetime best and world-leading 12.30 (wind: +0.6 m/s), with Harrison at 12.31, and fellow Americans Alaysha Johnson and Tia Jones 3-4 with both at 12.39. Ali is now no. 9 all-time and no. 3 all-time U.S. Harrison moved to equal-2nd in 2023 and Jones to no. 7.

The men’s 5,000 m was almost a fifth world leader, with another fast Diamond League race. Four were in a lead pack after 3,000 m, with three more close and six were in contention with three laps left. Kenya’s Jacob Krop and Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi were at or near the front, with Mohamed Katir (ESP) third with two laps left off a very fast pace. Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet took over with 500 m left, ahead of Krop, and took the bell in front, then opened a 2 m lead on the back straight. Aregawi tried, but Gehrhiwet finished with a final lap of 56.70 to win in a fabulous 12:42.18, now no. 8 all-time (no. 11 performance). Aregawi stayed in second at 12:42.58, his no. 2 time of the season and the no. 12 performance ever. Talehun Haile (ETH) got third, also in a lifetime best of 12:42.70, with Katir fourth (12:45.01 European Record) and Krop fifth in 12:46.02.

The Steeple was also fast, with Kenya’s 20-year-old Simon Koech and Abraham Kibiwott breaking away by 2,000 m, and then Koech running away in the final 500 m and winning in a fast 8:04.19, now no. 3 in the world for 2023. His best coming in was 8:18.43! Kibiwott was second in 8:09.54 and Abrham Sime (ETH: 8:10.56) got third in a dive at the line. American Anthony Rotich was sixth in a lifetime best of 8:13.74, now no. 11 all-time U.S.; Mason Ferlic was eighth in a lifetime best of 8:16.03.

The men’s 100 m was, stunningly, one of the lesser lights in the meet, with Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala taking the lead in mid-race to win in 9.92 (+0.6), followed by late-surging Letsile Tebogo (BOT: 9.93), then early leader Ackeem Blake (JAM: 10.00). Courtney Lindsey of the U.S. was seventh in 10.16.

The men’s vault was a surprise, only because Swedish icon Mondo Duplantis lost for the first time this year after 11 wins. Only four were still jumping at 5.82 m (19-1) and Ernest John Obiena (PHI) and Kurtis Marschall (AUS) both cleared on their first try and Olympic silver winner Chris Nilsen cleared on his second, with Duplantis passing. Nilsen took the lead with a first-time clearance at 5.92 m (19-5), with Marschall missing all three tries. Duplantis and Obiena missed twice, then also missed at 6.02 m (19-9) to finish 2-4. Duplantis only cleared 5.72 m (18-9 1/4) and tied for fourth with two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks of the U.S.

The men’s triple jump looked like a win for NCAA champ and world leader Jaydon Hibbert (JAM: age 18!), leading since the second round and at 17.66 m (57-11 1/4) in round four. But Hugues Fabrice Zango (BUR), the 2022 Worlds silver winner, produced a superb final effort to go from third to first on the final jump of the day at 17.70 m (58-1)! Americans Will Claye and Christian Taylor finished seventh and eighth at 16.21 m (53-2 1/4) and 16.20 m (53-1 3/4).

Czech Jakub Vadlejch took the men’s javelin lead in the first round at 85.95 m (282-0) and no one could catch him. Julian Weber (GER) was closest at 84.23 m (276-4); American Curtis Thompson was fifth a 78.79 m (258-6).

Jamaica’s World women’s 200 m champ Shericka Jackson got back to winning after a 100 m loss to Sha’Carri Richardson in Poland, and win her fifth 200 m race without a loss this season in 21.86 (+0.2), ahead of NCAA champ Julien Alfred (LCA: 22.08) and 2019 World Champion Dina Asher-Smith (GBR: 22.23). The Americans had a tough day: Kayla White tied for fifth in 22.54, Gabby Thomas had an off day in seventh in 22.67 and Tamara Clark was eighth (22.83).

In the women’s 400 m, Shamier Little of the U.S. was out in lane eight and was in front of the start. She stayed in front and felt the pressure of 2022 Worlds bronze medalist Sada Williams (BAR) coming up in lane seven in the final 60 m. But Little was still in front with 30 m left, when Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek surged to the line and won in 49.63 to 49.68, a lifetime best for Little and now equal-6th in the world for 2023. Lieke Klaver (NED) was third in 49.99.

Australia’s Olympic silver medalist Nicola Olyslagers got another win – her third in the Diamond League – in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.99 m (6-6 1/4) on her final try, eluding four others who could not go higher than 1.96 m (6-5); Ukraine’s Iryna Gerashchenko and World Indoor Champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh finished 2-3 on misses.

Long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall of the U.S. got out to 6.88 m (22-7) in the third round and looked like a possible winner, but Italy’s Larissa Iapichino had the final jump and launched out to a lifetime best of 6.95 m (22-9 3/4) for her third Diamond League victory of 2023. American Quanesha Burks was ninth at 6.66 m (21-10 1/4).

2.
Lyles (19.47!), Bol (51.45!) star at London Diamond League

How could Sunday’s meet at London’s Olympic Stadium compare to Monaco? Pretty well, as it turns out, with four world-lead marks and two especially sensational performances:

● Men/200 m: 19.47, Noah Lyles (USA)
● Men/4×100 m: 37.80, Japan
● Women/Steeple: 8:57.35, Jackline Chepkoech (KEN)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 51.45, Femke Bol (NED)

The meet was a success before it started, with a sell-out of 50,000 announced on Saturday, and lots of noise for the competitors on Sunday, several of whom doubled back after Friday’s meet. 

Lyles, the reigning World Champion at 200 m, started in lane six, with Britain’s 100 m world leader Zharnel Hughes outside in seven and Botswana’s 20-year-old star Tebogo in eight. But it was Hughes leading through the turn and Lyles had work to do in the straight. Hughes was still leading at 150 m, but Lyles surged to the front and barely held off Tebogo’s rocket finish – isn’t that Lyles’ signature? – to win in a superb 19.47 (wind: +1.6 m/s).

This wasn’t just a world-leading time but the 10th fastest ever run, of which he owns three (and Usain Bolt has four). Tebogo is now no. 6 all-time at 19.50, and Hughes was third in a national record 19.73, no. 2 ever in European history. American Kyree King was fourth in a seasonal best of 20.01.

Bol, the silver winner in Eugene behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s unreal 50.68 last year, is getting closer. She stormed out of the blocks in lane six, made up the staggers on both runners outside of her on the back straight and didn’t let up, finishing in the no. 3 performance of all time in 51.45. Only McLaughlin-Levrone has run faster with her world records of 51.41 at the 2022 U.S. Nationals and the 50.68 Worlds victory. The fight for second was epic, as Jamaica’s Janieve Russell barely beat the on-rushing Shamier Little of the U.S., 53.75-53.76, on the run-in. Bol is the easy Worlds favorite, and Russell and Little will be in the medal mix.

The women’s Steeple was down to Kenya’s women’s world-record holder Beatrice Chepkoech and 19-year-old Jackline Chepkoech (not directly related) after the first lap. While Beatrice led at 2,000 m, it was Jackline who took control with two laps to go and she finished strong, winning in a lifetime best of 8:57.35, running away from Beatrice, second in 9:04.34, also a season’s best. Jackline is the 10th-ever runner to break 9:00 and now ranked seventh all-time. American Courtney Wayment finished fourth in 9:17.21 and U.S. champ Krissy Gear was sixth (9:25.49).

It would have taken a world record for a 2023 world lead in the men’s shot, but American giant Ryan Crouser put on another show, with all six puts beyond 22 m (72-2 1/4) and his fifth throw the winner at 23.07 m (75-8 1/4). It’s Crouser’s eighth meet with a throw beyond 23 m; no one else in history has more than two! New Zealand’s Tom Walsh got a seasonal best of 22.58 m (74-1) to get second and two-time Worlds winner Joe Kovacs was third at 21.87 m (71-9) with teammate Payton Otterdahl fourth (21.74 m/71-4).

The women’s 5,000 m was clearly going to be fast, with Olympic champ Sifan Hassan (NED) and 2022 World Champion Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) the headliners. The race narrowed to Hassan, Tsegay, Kenyan Beatrice Chebet, Medina Eisa (ETH) and American Alicia Monson still in contact in fifth with three laps to go. Hassan kept towing the field, and at the bell, all five were close. Hassan and Tsegay broke away with 200 m to go, and then Tsegay waited until the final 90 m to pass, with Chebet passing into second with 50 m left.

The clock showed Tsegay at 14:12.29, the fourth-fastest performer in history, with Chebet at 14:12.92 (seventh) and Hassan third in 14:13.42 (ninth ever). Eisa, 18, set a world U-20 record at 14:16.54, with Monson finishing fifth in 14:19.45, now no. 14 all-time and taking the American Record, shattering Shelby Houlihan’s 14:23.92 from 2020! Fellow American Elly Henes finished 11th in 14:47.15, now no. 10 in U.S. history.

Australia’s Stewart McSweyn was just behind the pacesetter for 800 m in the men’s 1,500 m and had a 10 m lead with a lap and a half to go, but down to 5 m at the bell. Norway’s Narve Nordas moved up on the back straight and bumped McSweyn and took the lead with 200 m to go. But U.S. champ Yared Nuguse was perfectly positioned on the turn and made a run at Nordas on the final straight, drawing even with 25 m left and in front with 20 m to go, winning in a very impressive 3:30.44 and sharpening his credentials as a possible Worlds medalist. Nordas held on for second (3:30.58) and Neal Gourley (GBR: 3:30.60) got up for third as McSweyn faded to sixth (3:31.42). Cole Hocker of the U.S. was 13th, but still ran a seasonal best of 3:32.14.

The women’s 800 m made the home crowd happy, as Britain’s Jemma Reekie won a hot finish in 1:57.30, coming from third on the home straight to win in 1:57.30, now third on the world list this season. She passed front-runner Natoya Goule (JAM: 1:57.61) and 2019 World Champion Halimah Nakaayi (UGA: 1:57.62) and Catriona Bisset (AUS: 1:57.78). Americans Raevyn Rogers and Sage Hurta-Klecker finished 7-8 in 1:58.98 and 2:03.98.

The men’s 400 was an encouraging result for Americans Bryce Deadmon and Vernon Norwood, 1-2 at the nationals, but with indifferent races in Europe so far. South Africa’s world-record holder, Wayde van Niekerk, was the clear leader at 200 m and then at 300 m, but Norwood closed hard and Deadmon even harder in the final 30 m and van Niekerk barely held on in 44.36-44.40-44.66. American Ryan Willie was sixth in 45.39.

The men’s 110 m hurdles featured reigning World Champion Grant Holloway of the U.S., who got his usual lightning start and continued smoothly to the finish to win in 13.01 (+1.3). But the race also proved that Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya is for real (13.04 this year), closing on Holloway over hurdles nine and 10 and on the run-in to finish second in 13.06. American Jamal Britt was third in 13.25, with Olympic champ Hansle Parchment (JAM) fourth in 13.26.

The women’s 100 m was another win for Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV), her fourth on the Diamond League circuit, in 10.75 (+1.2), equaling her fastest this season and still no. 3 on the 2023 world list. She had to run down quick-starter Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) after 50 m, who got a seasonal best of 10.85, with Jamaica’s world-leader, Shericka Jackson third most of the way in 10.94 in her fourth race in eight days. Americans Aleia Hobbs, TeeTee Terry and Melissa Jefferson were 5-6-7 in 10.96-10.99-11.09. Sha’Carri Richardson was a late scratch.

The women’s vault saw European champ Wilma Murto (FIN) and Olympic and World champ Katie Moon of the U.S, both clear 4.80 m (15-9), but Murto got the win on misses. Sandi Morris of the U.S., trying out new poles, tied for sixth at 4.51 m (14-9 1/2).

American long jumper Quanesha Burks had always jumped well in the U.S., with her top nine performances all on American soil, and a best of 6.81 m (22-4 1/4) in Europe from 2018. But in London, she exploded on her first try, out to a lifetime best of 6.98 m (22-10 3/4) and no one could match her! Australia’s Brooke Buschkuehl and U.S. champ Tara Davis-Woodhall both reached 6.72 m (22-0 3/4), with Buschkuehl taking second on a better back-up jump. Burks is now no. 4 on the year list.

American star JuVaughn Harrison moved to no. 2 in the world for 2023, winning at 2.35 m (7-8 1/2) with a kick over the bar on his second try, taking the win away from world leader and Olympic co-champ Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT), who cleared 2.33 m (7-7 3/4).

Olympic champ Daniel Stahl (SWE) won the men’s discus with his fourth-round throw of 67.03 m (219-11), ahead of Matthew Denny (AUS: 66.77 m/219-0) and World Champion Kristjian Ceh (SLO) at 66.02 m (216-7). U.S. champ Sam Mattis was seventh at 61.83 m (202-10).

This was great, but now the Diamond League is off for a month, in advance of the World Championships in Budapest that begins 19 August.

3.
Australia delivers big on triple-world record day in swimming

The World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN) moved into its main event, with the swimming starting on Sunday, and Australia expected to make the noise in the 400 m Free and the 4×100 m Free. Did it ever.

Five finals on day one, with each the fastest in the world this season, three world records and four wins for Oz:

● Men/400 m Free: 3:40.68, Sam Short (AUS)
● Men/400 m Medley: 4:02.50, Leon Marchand (FRA) ~ World Record
● Men/4x 100 m Free: 3:10.16, Australia

● Women/400 m Free: 3:55.38, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) ~ World Record
● Women/4×100 m Free: Australia ~ World Record

The men’s 400 m Free was the first final, with Australian Sam Short the favorite as the qualifying leader at 3:42.44, fastest in the world in 2023. He led from the start, but never by much over Tunisia’s Tokyo Olympic champ, Ahmed Hafnoui. Short was up by 0.21 at 200 m, and 0.14 at 300 m, but Hafnoui grabbed the lead at the final turn by 0.07! Short was just a little faster in the final meters and touched first in 3:40.68, moving to no. 4 all-time with the eighth-fastest swim ever. Hafnoui was just 0.02 back, now no. 5 all-time; these were the fastest swims since 2012. German Lukas Martens was third in 3:42.20.

Next up was the much-awaited women’s 400 m Free, with Canada’s new world-record holder Summer McIntosh – still just 16 – facing Tokyo Olympic champ Ariarne Titmus (AUS) and Rio 2016 gold medalist Katie Ledecky of the U.S. This was not that close, with Titmus flying from the buzzer and forging a lead over Ledecky that was 0.95 after just 100 m and grew to 1.68 by 300 m and Titmus roared home with a world record 3:55.38, shattering McIntosh’s March mark by 7/10ths. McIntosh was second for most of the race, but was passed by Ledecky before the final turn, and Ledecky finished a solid second in 3:58.73. McIntosh tired in the final 50 m and was passed for the bronze by Erika Fairweather (NZL), 3:59.59 to 3:59.94. Fairweather becomes the fifth to ever swim under 4:00.0. Bella Sims of the U.S. was eighth in 4:05.37.

The men’s 400 m Medley was another world-record assault, this time by France’s Leon Marchand, the Arizona State star. He was gunning for Michael Phelps’ last individual world mark – 4:03.84 from the 2008 Olympic Games – and led from the start.

Marchand was ahead of Phelps’ splits right away, 0.26 after the Fly, but slower after the Back (-0.15), then turned in a brilliant Breaststroke leg to set up the record, ahead of Phelps by 2.77 seconds at 300 m and then finishing in 4:02.50, crushing Phelps’ mark by 1.34.

Behind Marchand was American Carson Foster, who was alone in second and repeated his 2022 medley silver in 4:06.56, exactly the same time he swam in Budapest last year! He remains no. 4 on the all-time U.S. list and no. 8 all-time. Daiya Seto, Japan’s three-time World Champion, won the bronze at 4:09.41; American Chase Kalisz, the Tokyo Olympic winner, was fourth in 4:10.83.

The women’s 4×100 m Free was only a question of whether Australia would set another world record and the quartet of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon had no trouble on their way to a 3:27.96 runaway world record, breaking their own mark from Tokyo in 2021 by 1.73 seconds. It’s the fifth straight world record for Australia in this event and Aussie teams have the top eight marks in history.

The U.S. was second in 3;31.93, the no. 4 performance in U.S. history, with Gretchen Walsh fifth after the first leg, but Abbey Weitzeil moving up to third, Olivia Smoliga remaining in third and Kate Douglass passing China’s Yufei Zhang in the final 50 m to win the silver. China was third in 3:32.40, an Asian record.

The final race was the men’s 4×100 m Free and while not a record, Australia got a sensational anchor from Rio 2016 100 m Free winner Kyle Chalmers (46.96) to go from third to first on the final lap to win in 3:10.16, the no. 15 performance in history. Italy, despite a 47.03 anchor from Thomas Ceccon, was second in 3:10.49, and the U.S. was third in 3:10.81. Ryan Held got the Americans off to a slow start in fourth (48.16) and Jack Alexy was sixth (47.56), but Chris Guiliano (47.77) moved up to second before Matt King’s 47.32 anchor, with Chalmers passing both he and Ceccon.

Great start for Australia (4-0-0) and the U.S. also won four medals (0-3-1) with a whole week of racing coming up.

Diving concluded with China looking sure to repeat with a clean sweep of all 13 events. It didn’t happen.

China’s defending champion Yiwen Chen and Yani Chang, the 2022 bronze medalist, went 1-2 as expected in the women’s 3m Springboard at 359.50 and 341.50, with Canada’s Pamela Ware third (332.00). Hailey Hernandez of the U.S. was sixth at 307.15 and Sarah Bacon also made the final, finishing 293.20.

That was followed by the Mixed 3 m Synchro, with Zifeng Zhu and Shan Lin winning by 326.10 to 307.38 over Australia’s Domonic Bedggood and Maddison Keeney (307.38). Americans Jack Ryan and Krysta Palmer finished eighth at 263.88.

The final event was the men’s 10 m Platform, with China’s defending champion Junjie Lian and 2022 Worlds bronze winner Hao Yang looking strong, but Australia’s 22-year-old Cassiel Rousseau – the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion – moving up from second in the semifinals (494.10) to win at 520.85!

Lian scored 512.35, almost seven points more than in the semis, but was undone by his fifth five of six, where he scored only 70.20, where is next-lowest score had been 81.60. Yang took the bronze at 504.00; Maxwell Flory was the top American, in 16th and did not advance to the finals.

In Artistic Swimming, China won its second gold in the Team Free, scoring 329.1687, clearly ahead of Japan (317.8085) and Ukraine (256.2415). And the Chinese finished with a flourish, as Wentao Cheng and Haoyu Shi took the Mixed Duet Free, 225.1020 to 192.5500 over Mexico’s Itzamary Gonzalez and Diego Villalobos. For Cheng, it was her third Worlds medal in Fukuoka, with another gold in the Team Acrobatic and a bronze in the Mixed Duet Technical.

In the men’s water polo tournament, Greece handed the U.S. a 15-14 loss in their final Group A match, coming back from an 11-7 deficit with a 7-3 outburst in the fourth quarter.

The other group winners, who moved – with Greece – to Tuesday’s quarterfinals, included Italy (3-0 in Group B), Hungary (3-0 in C) and Spain (3-0 in D).

That sent the Americans into the play-in round vs. Canada (1-2) on Sunday, and the U.S. moved on, 13-10, and will play Hungary in the quarters. Greece will face Montenegro and Italy will play Serbia in the top half of the bracket, and Spain will play France, with the winner to get the U.S. or Hungary.

The women’s tournament had the play-in round on Saturday, with Italy (3-1) clubbing New Zealand, 14-7, and moving on to play the four-time defending champion U.S. on Monday. The Netherlands will play Canada (3-1), Greece (3-0) will face Australia (3-1) and Hungary (3-0) will play Spain (3-1).

4.
Spain, U.S. most impressive in World Cup openers

The U.S. opened the 2019 Women’s World Cup with a 13-0 rout of Thailand, but those days appear to be over, judging by the opening matches of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Tight defense, more speed and better organization were evident in lesser-ranked teams and Jamaica earned a first-ever Women’s World Cup point with a 0-0 draw against fifth-ranked France on Sunday.

Spain scored three first-half goals and cruised past Costa Rica, 3-0, and the U.S. also won its game, 3-0, against Vietnam in the most impressive performances of the first few days. Group openers continue on Monday and a second round of games begins on Tuesday. Game by game:

● Group D: Spain 3, Costa Rica 0 ● The Spanish held 80% of possession in this game in Wellington (NZL), and the pressure paid off with a 21st-minute own goal by defender Valeria del Campo, then a second in the 23rd by midfielder Aitana Bonmati from the center of the box and a third in the 27th by striker Esther Gonzalez from in front of the net off of a corner. Game over.

At the end, the statistics showed Spain – one of the tournament favorites – with 46 shots to one for Costa Rica. A favorite Spanish statistic demonstrated its dominance: 521 completed passes to 76 for Costa Rica.

● Group E: United States 3, Vietnam 0 ● There was little doubt about the outcome of this game in Auckland (NZL), but the U.S. was challenged, before a big crowd of 41,107 at Eden Park.

The first half was essentially all played in Vietnam’s half of the field, with the U.S. pressing the offense, but having trouble finishing. Sophia Smith got the first score in the 14th minute on a left-footed blast that went to the far right side of the net off an Alex Morgan flick-on from the top of the box that gave Smith the space to shoot. 1-0.

The U.S. continued on the attack, but without much to show for it. Defender Hoang Thi Loan tripped Trinity Rodman in the 39th going for a ball near the endline and was called for a penalty. But the dependable Morgan had her left-footed penalty shot saved by keeper Tran Thi Kim Tranh, and then Morgan’s right-footed try on the rebound went wide.

It looked like it would be 1-0 at half, but deep into stoppage time, another long U.S. shot was punched out by Thi Kim Tranh, with Morgan appearing to be offside. But Smith sent another left-footer toward the goal that went through the legs of the diving Vietnamese keeper for a 2-0 lead after a long video review at 45+7. The U.S. had 66% of possession – it seemed like more – and a 17-0 lead on shots.

More of the same in the second half. Midfielder Lindsey Horan missed an open volley into the net in the 49th, then got the third goal in the 77th, as Smith sent a perfect cross from the right side into the middle of the box, and Horan brought it down and finished with a powerful right-footed shot through two defenders. Substitute midfielder Rose Lavelle slammed a shot off the crossbar in the 86th and then missed a header at 90+7 for the best late opportunities for the Americans. The U.S. ended with 66% possession and 28-0 on shots.

● Group C: Japan 5, Zambia 0 ● Lots of talk about Zambia following its surprise 3-2 win over Germany in a friendly on 7 July, but Japan was clearly the better team in a 5-0 rout in Hamilton (NZL).

The first half was scoreless until forward Hinata Miyazawa clubbed a cross from fellow forward Aoba Fujino into the net on a right-footed shot from the center of the box and it was 1-0 at the half.

The game opened up for Japan in the second half, as striker Mina Tanaka got a 55th-minute goal and Miyazawa scored again in the 62nd for a 3-0 lead. The game was over, and midfielder Jun Endo added to the lead in the 71st and finally substitute striker Riko Ueki scored on a penalty at 90+11 after Zambian keeper Catherine Musonda was called for a second yellow card, meaning she was disqualified.

How bad was it? Japan had 60% of possession and a 25-0 lead on shots, including 11 on goal.

● Group D: England 1, Haiti 0 ●The highly-regarded English had a tough time with Haiti in Brisbane (AUS), which had only 25% of possession, but got brilliant goal-keeping from Kerly Theus, and was fast and agile on defense.

The only goal came on a hand-ball call on Haiti defender Batcheba Louis in the box, that sent Georgia Stanway to the penalty spot. Her attempt was saved by Theus, who came off her line early and Stanway got a second try. This time she scored on a right-footed shot to the left side of the net in the 29th. The English piled up a 21-7 edge on shots and 11-2 on shots-on-goal, but did not score during run-of-play.

English keeper Mary Earps had to make a late save to preserve the win against substitute striker Roseline Eloissaint in the 81st minute. The chattering about the Lionesses is fully underway.

● Group D: Denmark 1, China 0 ● A tight match in Perth (AUS) was finally decided in the 89th minute as substitute forward Amalie Vangsgaard scored with a header from the center of the box off a cross from striker Pernille Harder.

Although Denmark controlled possession, scoring chances were harder to come by. Forward Josefine Hasbo’s header in the 52nd went over the goal in front of an open net, and a flurry in the 75th saw one Danish shot go wide, another blocked and a third saved.

The Danes had 56% of possession and a 13-9 edge on shots, but most importantly got three points to stay even with England.

● Group G: Sweden 2, South Africa 1 ● While the game was controlled – as expected – by Sweden, South Africa was more than a challenge, taking the lead in the 48th minute as midfielder Hildah Magaia was right in front of the net to knock in a rebound off a left-to-right shot from striker Thembi Kgatlana.

But the joy was short-lived, as Fridolina Rolfo right-footed a perfect cross all the way across the goal from midfielder Johanna Rytting Kaneryd into the net in the 65th to tie the game. From there, it was a struggle for both sides, but in the 90th minute, forward Kosovare Asllani sent a corner kick right in front of the South African goal that was headed in by defender Amanda Ilestedt for the winning score, 2-1.

Played in a downpour in Wellington, the Swedes had 69% of possession and 15-10 edge in shots, but the South Africans were strong defenders and Sweden not as sharp as desired on their finishes.

● Group E: Netherlands 1, Portugal 0 ● Played in wet and windy conditions in Dunedin, the Dutch got an early goal thanks to a video review and made it stand up against a very limited Portuguese attack.

Defender Stefanie van der Gragt headed in a corner from the far side of the Portuguese net in the 13th minute, but the Netherlands was called for interference with the keeper, then overturned by a video review and the goal stood. It was the only score of the match, but the Dutch controlled 56% of possession and Portugal did not get a shot off in the first half and ended with just two on the game, to 12 for the Orange.

Portugal’s first shot didn’t come until the 82nd, but it was a beauty, on a drive into the box by striker Telma Encarnacao and a powerful shot that was punched away by keeper Daphne van Domselaar. But it wasn’t enough; the Dutch will play the U.S. on Wednesday in a re-run of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final.

● Group F: France 0, Jamaica 0 ● This was the surprise of Sunday, as Jamaica held fifth-ranked France scoreless in Sydney to get its first-ever point in a Women’s World Cup.

The French controlled the game, with 72% of possession, but the speed and athleticism of the Jamaican players made life miserable in the final third and despite a 14-6 edge in shots, France could not score.

They got close, really close in the 90th, as forward Kadidiatou Diani sent a header across the goal from right to left, but hit the goalpost and the ball bounced away.

The game had 25 fouls, 15 by France, and the Jamaican defense helped keeper Rebecca Spencer with deflections and quick closes on French attacks that kept the game scoreless.

Monday’s game continue group play: Italy vs. Argentina in Group G, Germany vs. Morocco in Group H, Brazil vs. Panama in Group F and Colombia vs. South Korea (Group H).

5.
Rare Grenoble ‘68 torch goes for $187,500 at auction!

The 396-lot RR Auction of Olympic memorabilia concluded on the 20th, with the rarely-seen Grenoble 1968 Winter Olympic Games torch – one of just 33 – selling for a spectacular $187,500, including the buyer’s premium.

That was the top item among an impressive 25 that sold for $10,000 or more (including the buyer’s premium):

● $93,748: Lake Placid 1980 Winter gold medal in Pairs
● $53,594: Los Angeles 1932 gold medal
● $43,750: Athens 1896 bronze medal
● $41,321: Albertville 1992 Winter torch
● $37,500: Lillehammer 1992 Winter torch
● $30,596: Athens 2004 gold medal in Boxing
● $28,125: Rio 2016 bronze medal in Boxing
● $25,000: London 2012 silver medal in Football
● $25,000: Berlin 1936 gold medal in Hockey
● $18,750: Sapporo 1972 Winter torch
● $18,750: London 1908 gold medal in Shooting
● $14,984: St. Louis 1904 participation medal
● $14,616: Athens 1934 Olympic Truce discus
● $14,271: Munich 1972 gold medal in Boxing
● $13,644: Mexico City 1968 flame safety lamp
● $12,501: Barcelona 1992 gold medal
● $12,501: Sydney 2000 bronze medal in Javelin
● $12,501: Beijing 2008 bronze medal in Decathlon
● $11,534: Tokyo 2020 torch
● $10,980: Amsterdam 1928 bronze medal
● $10,330: Rome 1960 silver medal in Canoeing
● $10,208: Garmisch 1940 Winter participation pattern medals
● $10,001: Los Angeles 1932 silver medal
● $10,000: Athens 2004 silver rmedal in Boxing

The Lake Placid Pairs medal was awarded to Soviet skater Alexander Zaitsev; the Athens 2004 gold was for the heavyweight class won by Cuba’s Odlanier Solis. The track & field medals from Sydney 2000 (javelin) and Beijing 2008 (decathlon) went to Russian Sergey Makarov and Cuban Leonel Suarez.

The Athens 1896 bronze medal was for second place; winners in the first modern Olympic Games received silver medals and third-place finishers got a handshake. The Garmisch 1940 Winter Games participation medal pattern samples are especially rare since the event was canceled due to World War II.

Another Olympic flame safety lamp – this one for the Sochi 2014 Winter Games – sold for $7,563. A collection of 900 unused season tickets (!) for the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, in five different sports, went for $4,999. A seat from the Lake Placid Arena from the “Miracle on Ice” game at the 1980 Winter Games, signed by members of the U.S. team sold for $3,750.

The most unusual item? Might be from the estate of Canadian International Olympic Committee member James Worrall: a collection of 62 neckties – 21 in original boxes – that went for $443.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Basketball ● The two-time defending champion U.S. women cruised into the final of the FIBA women’s U-19 World Cup in Madrid (ESP), then faced the home team on Sunday.

The U.S. had an 18-13 lead at the quarter, but the game was tied at half, 34-34. It was still a two-point game at the end of three quarters. Spain tied it at 54, then a jumper from forward Grace van Slooten jumper and a layup and free throw by forward Cotie McMahon gave the U.S. a five-point edge with 7:26 to play. But the Spanish closed to 62-61 and finally tied the game at 66 with 45 seconds left. The U.S. missed two shots in a row, got both offensive rebounds and McMahon made a layin with 28 seconds to go for a 68-66 lead and after guard Kira Rice added a late free throw, the Americans had a 69-66 win and the trophy.

McMahon led the U.S. with 16 points, with forward Chloe Kitts adding 15 and nine rebounds Sub forward Madison Brooks led the rebounding with 10. Point guard Iyana Martin led Spain as usual with 19 points, and guard Elena Buenavida had 16. Martin was named Most Valuable and was joined on the all-tournament team by forward Joyce Edwards and guard Hannah Hidalgo of the U.S.

The American women won their group-match games by 85-66 over Mali, 100-46 against Germany and 112-49 against Chinese Taipei, moving on to the round-of-16 playoffs and a 112-36 rout of Argentina.

Edwards scored 20 to lead the U.S. in scoring for the third time in five games in a 121-61 win over the Czech Republic in the quarters, with Rice and Van Slooten scoring 13 each in the 80-57 win in the semifinals against France.

Spain, Japan and Canada also went 3-0 in their groups, with the French eliminating Japan and both the Spanish and Canadians sailing through to the semifinals at 5-0. This was a tight game, with Spain leading at half, 40-36, and extending the lead to 58-47 after three quarters. But the lead was down to 67-64 with 3:19 to play, and 69-68 with 1:42 left, until Martin took over, with a steal, multiple rebounds and seven free throws to finally seal a 77-70 win. She finished with a game-high 24 points in just 29 minutes off the bench.

This was the U.S.’s third title in a row and tenth overall, including nine of the last 10. It’s the third time the U.S. has beaten Spain in the final, previously in 2009 and 2011.

Canada got the bronze medal with an 80-73 overtime win over France.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce showed that she is getting ready to defend her women’s 100 m title at the World Athletics Championships with a 10.83 (wind: -0.1 m/s) win in Madrid (ESP).

Fraser-Pryce had a good start, but then ran away from the rest of the field, with Spain’s Jael Bestue a distant second in 11.10. It’s Fraser-Pryce’s second meet of the year, behind her 10.82 (+0.3) in Luzern (SUI) on 20 July.

There were other good marks, starting with strong hurdle wins from Megan Tapper (JAM) in 12.69 over Tonea Marshall of the U.S. (12.74 (+0.3) in the 100 m hurdles and a seasonal best of 53.79 for American Anna Cockrell in the 400 m hurdles, now equal-7th on the year list.

Worknesh Melese (ETH) won the women’s 800 m in a season’s best of 1:58.75 and Brenda Chebet (KEN) took the 1,500 m in 4:01.85.

France’s Gabriel Tual won the men’s 800 m in a seasonal best of 1:44.46 from Cornelius Tuwei (KEN: 1:44.70) and Adrien Ben (ESP: 1:44.72) and Switzerland’s Jason Joseph equaled his national record to win the 110 m hurdles in 13.10 (+0.3). Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell set a national record in the shot, winning at 22.22 m (72-10 3/4).

● Cycling ● Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard rode into Paris on Sunday to win his second straight Tour de France, having to fend off 2020-21 winner Tadej Pogacar (SLO) in the process.

The critical difference came in two stages, the Individual Time Trial in Stage 16, where Vingegaard routed the field and increased his lead from 10 seconds to 1:48, and in the brutal Stage 17, where Pogacar was unable to respond on the final ascent to the 2,300 m Col de la Loze and Vingegaard’s lead increased to an insurmountable 7:35.

On the weekend, the hilly, 172.8 km Stage 19 ended with a sprint including Stage 18 winner Kasper Asgreen (DEN), but it was Matej Mohoric (SLO) who got the win at the line in 3:31:02, with Ben O’Connor (AUS) four seconds back. Saturday’s final climbing stage was 133.5 km with four climbs, including 1,179 m Col du Platzerwasel at the end, with a redemptive win for Pogacar in a five-way battle with the other major contenders. Pogacar won in 3:27:18, ahead of Stage 17 winner Felix Gall (AUT), Vingegaard and Simon Yates, with brother Adam Yates seven seconds back.

Vingegaard entered Sunday’s 115.1 km ride into Paris with a 7:29 lead on Pogacar, with Adam Yates 10:56 back and Simon Yates at +12:23. The expected final, mass sprint ended with Belgium going 1-2, as Jordi Meeus got his first-ever Tour stage win, denying Jasper Philipsen a fifth stage win this year in 2:56:13. Philipsen won Points classification for the best sprinter, taking home the green jersey.

Vingegaard finished in 82:05:42 over the 21 stages, with Pogacar 7:29 behind, followed by Adam Yates (GBR: +10:56) and Simon Yates (GBR: +12:23) and Carlos Rodriguez (ESP: +13:17).

The Dane, 26, took the race lead after Stage 6, ironically a Pogacar win, and held it throughout the remainder of the race. He’s the 22nd to win multiple Tour de France titles; only nine have won three or more, with Britain’s Chris Froome the most recent in 2013-15-16-17.

Vingegaard and Pogacar finished 1-2 for the second straight year; that hadn’t happened since 1978 and 1979. But as Vingegaard was second to Pogacar in 2021, the same riders finished 1 or 2 for the third straight year, which was a first.

Vingegaard said he will race in the Vuelta a Espana starting 17 August; that double hasn’t happened since Froome did it in 2017.

The Tour de France Femmes got underway on Sunday with a 123.8 km route in and around Clermont-le-Ferrand, with Belgian star Lotte Kopecky taking off on the final hills 10 km out and riding away to a 41-second win in 3:04:09. Dutch stars Lorena Wiebes, Charlotte Kool and Marianne Vos finished 2-3-4 and favorite Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) was 13th, 43 seconds back.

The eight-stage race continues through the 30th, finishing with an Individual Time Trial in Pau.

● Gymnastics ● The final stop in the 2023 FIG Rhythmic World Cup series was in Milan (ITA), with 2022 Worlds runner-up Darja Varfolomeev (GER) taking the All-Around over home favorite and World Champion Sofia Raffaeli, 137.200 to 136.700. Bulgaria’s 2022 Worlds A-A bronze winner Stiliana Nikolova and teammate Boryana Kaleyn were 3-4 at 135.050 and 130.950. Alexandria Kautzman was the top American in 25th (119.050) with Lili Mizuno in 27th (118.800).

Rafaelli got a popular home win in Hoop, 35.900 to 35.250 over Ukraine’s Viktoriia Onopriienko, with Varfolomeev third, and then the German topped the victory stand in Ball (35.850), and Clubs (34.000), with Raffaeli second (33.500). Onopriienko came back with an impressive win in Ribbon, scoring 32.500 to best Kaleyn (31.700) and Varfolomeev (30.500).

● Volleyball ● The U.S., Japan and Poland all led the FIVB men’s Nations League round-robin standings at 10-2 and, lo and behold, they were the teams to beat at the Nations League finals in Gdansk, Poland.

The U.S. had a tough time with France, going up 2-0 before being tied and having to win the fifth set, 15-9, to advance to the semifinals. Japan and Poland swept Slovenia and Brazil, respectively, to set up their semifinal. Powered in part by a home crowd of 10,483, Poland lost the first set, then stormed back to win, 3-1 and move on to the final (19-25, 28-26, 25-17, 25-21).

The Americans were up against Italy (10-3) and had no trouble advancing, 25-19, 25-18, 25-19.

The final matched teams which had not yet won a Nations League title; the U.S. was runner-up in 2019 and 2022, with Poland finishing second in 2021 and winning bronze medals in 2019 and 2022. An even bigger crowd of 10,621 cheered the Poles to a 3-1 win, 25-23, 24-26, 25-18, 25-18, with Opposite Lukasz Kaczmarek scoring 25 points on 23-35 swings and Outside Hitter Alexsander Sliwka adding 14. For the U.S., Outside Hitter Torrey Defalco and Aaron Russell led with 14 and 11 points and Opposite Matthew Anderson had 10.

Polish Libero Pawel Zatorski was named Most Valuable; American Micah Christiansen was named Best Setter and David Smith shared the award for top Middle Blocker.

In the third-place match, Japan was up 2-0, but had to rally in the fifth set to beat Italy, 25-18, 25-23, 17-25, 17-25, 15-9.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: FIFA Women’s World Cup opens to 117,921; Univision wins again; Katie Moon on the reality of “whereabouts” reporting

By
Rich Perelman
-
A look at the record crowd of 75,784 at Stadium Australia in Sydney for the FIFA Women's World Cup opener between Australia and Ireland (Photo: The Matildas on Twitter)

★ 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 ≡

1. FIFA Women’s World Cup opens with crowds and surprises
2. Gold Cup final on Univision beats Wimbledon
3. Moon on whereabouts: more than people realize
4. Cycling finances safe: CHF 53.4M reserves, but a 2022 loss
5. Russia’s Potapkin stars at US Rowing Nationals

The FIFA Women’s World Cup opened to record crowds at Eden Park in Wellington, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia, with the home teams both winning, 1-0. Australia’s win over Ireland was expected, but New Zealand upset Norway and won its first ever Women’s World Cup game. Univision’s coverage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final between Mexico and Panama last Sunday beat ESPN’s Wimbledon men’s final coverage and was no. 3 for the week behind the baseball All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. American Katie Moon, the Olympic and World Champion in the women’s vault, shared some insights into the rigors imposed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for whereabouts testing; it’s not easy and not fun. But Moon is all for it if it keeps the sport clean. The Union Cycliste Internationale posted its financial statements in its 2022 Annual Report, showing strong reserves and underlining its plan to essentially spend everything it takes in – including more than $24 million in Olympic TV money – to service its programs across a four-year cycle. The individual star of last week’s US Rowing national championships in Ohio was Russian Olympian Andrei Potapkin, who competed without incident as an individual member of the U.S. federation, winning the men’s Single and Double Sculls. Does Moscow know about this?

● World Championships: Aquatics (4: China now 10-for-10 in diving; Austrian triplets all won Artistic medals; Italy takes open-water relay; U.S. women win water polo group, on to playoffs) ●

● Panorama: Paris 2024 (French government ups medal bonuses for Paris) = Athletics (Diamond in Monaco Friday and London Sunday, on Peacock) = Cycling (Asgreen wins Stage 18 at Tour de France) = Football (U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council asks for SafeSport reform) = Gymnastics (Russian federation head expects FIG re-entry regs in August) ●

1.
FIFA Women’s World Cup opens with crowds and surprises

After all the hype, the ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand finally opened on Thursday – local time – with two 1-0 games in which the home teams won in front of large crowds.

The headline was clearly the record attendance, with Australia’s 1-0 victory over Ireland drawing 75,784 to Stadium Australia in Sydney, over 25,000 more than had ever attended a women’s football match in the country.

In the tournament opener at Eden Park in Auckland, the 26th-ranked Football Ferns upset no. 12 Norway, 1-0, before 42,137. That’s also an all-time record for football in New Zealand, well above the 37,034 from the 2018 intercontinental playoff match in advance of that year’s men’s World Cup in Russia.

The combined total of 117,921 was impressive.

The start of both games was delayed with a minute of silence in honor of the victims of a mass shooting in Auckland earlier in the day. A 24-year-old man opened fire at a construction site in the downtown area, killing two and injuring six; the shooter also died at the scene.

As for the matches:

● Group A: New Zealand 1, Norway 0 ● This was a tightly-played game, with just four shots each in the first half and a scoreless time. The key moment came early in the second half, as a cross from forward Jacqui Hand found teammate Hannah Wilkinson for a right-footed strike from the center of the box and a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.

A resilient Kiwi defense frustrated Norway, which had 15 fouls in the game to five for New Zealand. In the 87th, Norwegian defender Tuva Hansen was charged with a hand ball in the box, resulting in a penalty.

Midfielder Ria Percival smashed the penalty shot into the crossbar, giving Norway new life, but despite four shots at goal during the 11 minutes of stoppage, the game ended with a 1-0 New Zealand win. Both sides had 50% of possession and shots were 13-12 for Norway.

It’s the first-ever Women’s World Cup win for the Football Ferns, who came in 0-12-3 all-time (W-L-T).

● Group B: Australia 1, Ireland 0 ● The 10th-ranked Matildas were expected to win against Women’s World Cup debutante Ireland, ranked 22nd. But this was another struggle, with the Aussies on offense and Ireland defending and countering.

The first half saw Australia manage five shots to one for the Irish, and the second half remained scoreless until a push against midfielder Hayley Raso in the box by forward Marissa Sheva created a penalty opportunity. Defender Steph Catley made the most of it, scoring on a left-footed boot into the left side of the goal for a 1-0 lead in the 52nd.

That was enough and Australia ended with 63% of possession and a 13-9 edge on shots, clearly the aggressor, but with only the one goal. But it’s a win.

● Group B: Canada 0, Nigeria 0 ● The first half saw Canada control possession – 68% to 32% – but Nigeria’s speed caused all kinds of problems on the counter and Canadian keeper Kailen Sheridan was completely out of position in the 33rd, but defender Ashley Lawrence stepped in to block an odd-angle try. Nigeria had seven shots to Canada’s five in the half.

A turning point could have come in the 47th minute as Nigerian midfielder Francisca Ordega hooked Canadian striker Christine Sinclair at the far side of the box for a penalty. But Sinclair’s shot to the right was saved by a diving Chiamaka Nnadozie, who swatted away the rebound.

Sheridan made a sensational, left-footed save in the 80th on a cross to substitute striker Uchenna Kanu, but the play was called offsides. Play went back and forth, with constant threats at goal, and play getting progressively rougher, with a red card issued to midfielder for a Deborah Abiodun stomp on the shin of Lawrence to the right of the Nigerian goal at 90+8. No one managed a finishing play and the game ended scoreless. Canada had 68% of possession and led in shots, 16-11, but Nigeria blunted their attack with 16 fouls.

● Group A: Switzerland 2, Philippines 0 ● This was the Women’s World Cup debut for the Philippines – with none of its players born in the country – playing in Dunedin (NZL) against 20th-ranked Switzerland.

The game almost had a fairy-tale start, as Philippine striker Katrina Guillou scored a stunning goal in the 16th as Swiss keeper Gaelle Thalmann came out too far, but the score was nullified for offside. The Swiss continued to apply pressure, but could not finish, but got their opportunity when Philippine defender Jessica Cowart slid into the leg of Swiss midfielder Coumba Sow at the top of the box, resulting in a penalty in the 43rd. Midfielder Ramona Bachmann converted with authority, sending a right-footed shot right into the left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead in the 45th. The Swiss ended the half with 76% possession and an 8-2 shots edge.

The Swiss were all on offense in the second half and finally got a second goal in the 64th with three players rushing to the front of the net, and while Philippine keeper Olivia McDaniel saved striker Ana-Maria Crnogorevic’s initial shot, and then a second try by Sow, midfielder Seraina Piubel sent a right-footer into the net on the rebound for the 2-0 lead. That’s how it finished, with the Swiss enjoying 73% possession and a 17-3 shots advantage.

The U.S. will open its title defense against Vietnam in Group E, also at Eden Park in Auckland, on Saturday local time, but shown in the U.S. Friday at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

FIFA announced that it had sold all of its sponsorship packages for the Women’s World Cup, revealing deals with Hublot as “official timekeeper” and Itau as “official bank supporter” in Brazil:

“Across the partnership programme, there will be five global FIFA Partners, two global women’s football partners, nine global FIFA Women’s World Cup sponsors and 14 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament supporters.

“The announcement sees FIFA’s commercial partnership programme grow from 12 (six partners and six host country supporters) during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 to 30 this year – marking an increase of over 100%.”

2.
Gold Cup final on Univision beats Wimbledon

Univision had another good week of viewing for the conclusion of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, between Mexico and Panama a SoFi Stadium, with the no. 1 sports program of the week ending last Sunday (16th).

The Mexico-Panama game was on three channels at the same time:

● 4.321 million on Univision (Spanish)
● 1.109 million on Fox (English)
● 1.030 million on TUDN (Spanish)

That’s 6.460 million for the same game, easily the most-viewed event of the weekend, well ahead of the 3.198 million on Sunday on ESPN for the Wimbledon men’s final.

However, it was not the top event of the week, as the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on Fox drew 7.006 million viewers on Tuesday, following 5,518 on ESPN on Monday for the Home Run Derby.

Univision’s audience for Mexico-Panama was down from the U.S.-Mexico final in 2021 (about 5.7 million), and Fox was down from about 1.8 million viewers to 1.1 million, with the U.S. not playing.

Univision once again out-drew Fox for a U.S. game, the semifinal against Panama on Wednesday:

● 1.882 million on Univision
● 1.506 million on FS1
● 381,000 on TUDN
Total: 3.769 million

For the Mexico-Jamaica semi, of course, Univision was supreme:

● 2.772 million on Univision
● 627,000 on TUDN
● 458,000 on FS1
Total: 3.857 million

Last Sunday’s Tour de France highlights special on NBC drew 406,000, but the Diamond League meet from Chorzow (POL) on CNBC was not reported. The Nielsen-provided viewing numbers go down to 200,000.

3.
Moon on whereabouts: more than people realize

In the aftermath of the stunning Athletics Integrity Unit announcement that World Champion and world-record holder Tobi Amusan (NGR) has been provisionally suspended for whereabouts failures – with a possible two-year penalty – Olympic and World Champion Katie Moon of the U.S. contributed a thread on Twitter what “whereabouts” reporting really means:

“As athletes we absolutely are responsible for our whereabouts, but something that most people don’t realize is that American athletes have it different. We have WADA where we have to be there for the hour we give. But we also have USADA…

“With USADA, we have to say where we are all hours of the day (between 5am and 11pm) and they can show up literally any time during that window. If we are not there, we get a missed test. Both WADA and USADA missed tests go towards our 3 missed test limit.

“Again, it’s absolutely our responsibility to update these whereabouts, but it is MUCH easier to miss a test when your entire day is up for grabs. As an American athlete that’s missed tests because of USADA (not WADA) I just want people to understand it’s different for us.”

Scottish distance star Eilish McColgan, the 2022 European women’s 10,000 m runner-up, asked:

“So you have to write the address of the supermarket you’re going to? The restaurant? The cinema?

“We have UKAD but they operate the same at WADA. We give a one hour slot, however they can turn up any time of the day. We have to give an overnight address & training locations too.”

Moon:

“Yep we do have to put those addresses in!”

In reply, sports performance coach Elisabeth Oehler (GER) asked:

“What are the arguments of USADA for not following the WADA system where athletes only need to provide an 1 h window per day? I don’t understand the reasoning behind that…”

Moon:

“My guess is trying to stay diligent about clean sport. Which, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for! But it’s just a lot more than I think people realize.”

And that’s the point. The anti-doping regimen is often harsh, inconvenient and unpleasant. But it’s part of being a professional athletes in Olympic sport in the 2020s. It’s not all free shoes, plane flights and press conferences.

4.
Cycling finances safe: CHF 53.4M reserves, but a 2022 loss

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is one of the more popular sports in the Olympic Games, part of the five-sport second distribution tier for Olympic television revenue, with basketball (FIBA), football (FIFA), tennis (ITA) and volleyball (FIVB).

In its 2022 Annual Report, made available prior to the mammoth inaugural World Cycling Championships in Glasgow in August, the federation details its spending process, which is directly tied to its Olympic television dividend, which was $24.34 million for Tokyo 2020:

“The UCI balances its budget on 4-year cycles. The revenues from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games expected to fund the UCI’s activities until the end of 2024. The non-Olympic years therefore show an operational loss.

“The final margin from the Tokyo Olympic Games was CHF 22 million. A linear distribution of Olympic revenues permitted the UCI a maximum loss of CHF 5.5 million per year. The first two years of the cycle were well below this limit, i.e., excluding Olympic revenues, the loss was CHF 4.6 million in 2022 and CHF 1.9 million in 2021. The UCI continues to manage these resources prudently and in line with its annual objectives.”

The UCI expects its 2021-24 budget to spend almost all of its Tokyo money and have CHF 600,000 left over. That’s tight, but based on its 2022 financials, quite doable.

Moreover, the UCI is in a healthy financial position as it receives good revenues from its major events, especially its World Road Championships and assorted small championship programs. In 2022, it took in CHF 20.65 million for its championships and CHF 6.32 million for its World Cup programs, in all CHF 29.44 million in revenue.

Of course, it spent quite a bit too (in CHF, 1 = $1.15 U.S. today):

● 16.09 million on event support
● 4.432 million net loss on governance
● 6.661 million net loss on development
● 5.718 million net loss on administration
● 947,000 net loss on its velodrome operations

In all, revenues – without any Olympic TV money – were CHF 42.77 million and expenses were CHF 46.816 million for a net operating loss of CHF 4.049 million. As the UCI noted in its narrative, that’s actually on track, so to speak.

There was, like other federations, an investment loss for the year of CHF 5.09 million, so the overall loss was CHF 9.06 million.

But the UCI can deal with this, given its prior prudence. It is sitting on CHF 56.917 million in cash and investments, has total assets of CHF 96.54 million and reserves of CHF 53.42 million.

Although it projects spending everything it takes in from 2021-24, and uses its Olympic dividend to make up for its deficit in operations over the course of four years, the UCI appears to have a carefully thought-out plan for its money, and would be able to tighten its spending if needed.

A major question for 2023 will be the success (or not) of the World Cycling Championships, at which 200 titles will be at stake. If this event creates the foundation for a once-every-four-years colossus, it could considerably expand the UCI’s finances. If not, it will have been a worthwhile try, budgeted within the federation’s existing framework.

The all-disciplines Worlds will be carefully watched by other federations; the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) is now asking for interest for a first-ever, all-discipline FIS Games in 2028.

5.
Russia’s Potapkin stars at US Rowing Nationals

The 2023 US Rowing National Championships were held last weekend on Lake Harsha in Bethel, Ohio, with a Russian Olympian winning two men’s races.

Andrei Potapkin, 27, competed in the Double Sculls in Tokyo for Russia, finishing seventh in the final. He was listed in the U.S. nationals results – from “California” – as the winner of the men’s Single Sculls in 6:52.611 over Christopher Bak (6:57.037) and Willem Descher (7:00.424).

Potapkin then teamed with ex-Dartmouth oarsman Caleb Edmundson to win the Double Sculls in 6:23.692, well ahead of Dartmouth rowers Mark Levinson and Kane Hall (6:27.292) – and Matt Lexa and Owen Maier in third (6:34.393).

What was he doing at the American national championships? US Rowing communications chief Brett Johnson explained:

“You do not have to be from the U.S. to compete at the USRowing National Championships. In Potapkin’s case, he is a USRowing individual member affiliated with California Rowing Club.

“If a Crew entered by a foreign club or rowing federation, or a foreign unaffiliated single sculler, places first, second, or third in a national championship Event at a National Championship Regatta, it shall receive special gold, silver, or bronze medals memorializing the accomplishment, but the national championship medals, whether gold, silver, or bronze, and the designation and entitlements of National Champion, shall be given only to domestic Crews according to order of placement.

“There were a couple of boats at summer nationals that fell under this category, for instance the boats from Ridley College [Canada – Ontario] and University of Victoria [Canada – British Columbia].”

Does Moscow know about this?

Hannah Fitts won the women’s Single Sculls in 7:57.465 over Sierra Cydrus (8:01.466) and Hannah Debray (8:13.552). The Boston University pairing of Ela Ersan and Kylie Lough won the Double Sculls in 7:37.703; Ceylan Algan and Julie Ayer were second in 6:57.037.

In the men’s Pairs, Andrew Tokarski and William Stavropoulos – both Georgetown rowers – won in 6:41.109, well ahead of John O’Brien and Ethan Dooley (7:02.470) and Tristan Green and Bergen Peters (7:06.406).

The only entry in the women’s Pairs was Josephine Monroe and Zoe Vadas, who timed 8:59.936.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Aquatics ● The World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN) continued with China on pace to repeat its 13-for-13 performance in 2022, as Tokyo Olympic silver winner and defending champion Zongyuan Wang took the men’s 3 m Springboard gold.

Wang scored 500.95, 546.25 and 538.10 to win the qualifying, semifinals and final and collected his sixth career World Championships gold. Mexico’s Osmar Olvera won the silver at 507.50 – more than 37 points up his semi score – for his second runner-up finish in Fukuoka after the 1 m Springboard earlier. China’s Daoyi Long took the bronze at 499.75.

American Andrew Capobianco was a distant fourth (448.00), and Tyler Downs was ninth (389.00).

In Artistic Swimming, Austria won the women’s Duet Free gold as sisters Anna-Maria and Eirini-Marina Alexandri scored 255.4583 to edge Chinaese sisters Liuyi Wang and Qianyi Wang (255.2480) by just more than 2/10ths of a point. Japan’s Moe Higa and Mashiro Yasunaga (249.5167) took third, with Megumi Field and Ruby Remati of the U.S. seventh (209.5187).

This means that all three of the Alexandri sisters – including Solo silver winner Vasiliki – won medals in Fukuoka!

In the 6 km Open Water relay, Germany had to be the favorite after Leonie Beck and Florian Wellbrock had won both the 5 km and 10 km races, but Wellbrock was off to the pool, where competition starts on Sunday.

And Beck could not win it on her own, as the Germans finished fourth. Instead, it was Italy, with 2022 Worlds 10 km gold medalist Gregorio Paltrinieri swimming to the lead in the final half-lap, that won in 1:10:31.2, ahead of Hungary (1:10:35.3) with Australia (1:11:26.7) trailing in third.

The U.S. squad of Joey Tepper, Brennan Gravley, Marian Denigan and Katie Grimes finished ninth in 1:13:58.6.

The four-time defending World Champion U.S. women’s water polo team stomped France, 16-5, in its final Group A game, finished at 3-0 (+24 goal differential) and is on to the quarterfinals. Through three games, the U.S. is being led by superstar Maddie Musselman and Tara Prentice, with seven goals each. Keepers Ashleigh Johnson and Amanda Longan have both stopped 71% of the shots against them.

The Netherlands won Group B at 3-0 (+45), Greece won Group C (3-0: +45)and Hungary swept Group D (3-0: +24).

The playoffs start with a play-in series for teams ranked second and third in their groups; the U.S. will play – next Monday – the winner of the Italy-New Zealand game on Saturday.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● The French government announced significant increases in the medal bonuses to be paid to French athletes for Paris 2024 (€1 = $1.11 U.S.):

● 2024: €80,000 – 40,000 – 20,000 for gold-silver-bronze
● 2021: €65,000 – 25,000 – 15,000
● 2016: €50,000 – 20,000 – 13,000

These payments are taxable and similar bonuses are planned for coaches. France won 33 medals – 10 gold, 12 silver, 11 bronze – at Tokyo 2020, which at the new prices would cost the government more than €1.5 million, depending on whether the medals went to individuals or teams. But it will be quite a bit more in 2024.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Operation Gold bonuses to medal winners from Tokyo was $37,500 for gold, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze. Of course, the U.S. won a lot more medals: 113 in Tokyo, including 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze.

● Athletics ● The Wanda Diamond League will be in Monaco on Friday and London on Sunday, with live coverage in the U.S. only on the Peacock streaming service, with a delayed replay on CNBC.

Friday’s Herculis meet from Monaco, which will include Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the women’s 400 m, will air live from 2-4 p.m. Eastern on Peacock, with a relay on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. Eastern on CNBC. The men’s 400 m hurdles race is expected to include Tokyo gold and silver medalists Karsten Warholm (NOR) and Rai Benjamin of the U.S., and Brazilian World Champion Alison dos Santos.

Sunday’s London meet will be shown live from 9-11 a.m. Eastern on Peacock and also on CNBC from 2-4 p.m. Eastern time.

● Cycling ● Stage 18 of the 110th Tour de France was clearly meant for the sprinters and the top 76 finishers received the same time. The 184.9 km route to Bourg-en-Bresse had some modest hills, but the race was shaped by an early attack from Kasper Asgreen (DEN), Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) and Victor Campenaerts (BEL).

Pascal Eenkhoorn (NED) joined the party about two-thirds through and looked like a possible winner, but Asgreen got to the line first. Abrahamsen was third.

No change in the overall standings, with Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) still leading Tadej Pogacar (SLO) by 7:35, with Adam Yates (GBR: +10:45) third, with the race concluding on Sunday in Paris.

● Football ● The U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council sent an open letter to the U.S. Congress, asking for reform of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, established by the Congress in 2017 to reduce athlete abuse. In part:

“As it stands, SafeSport is the only formal mechanism to keep bad actors out of our sport … SafeSport was created with noble and important intentions, but we believe as it stands today, SafeSport is failing in what it was meant to achieve.”

The letter complains that too many cases are “administratively closed,” with no resolution or sanction, and that current law “it cannot be re-evaluated or re-investigated by U.S. Soccer or any other outside body … leaving U.S. Soccer without an avenue to pursue its own investigations against suspected abusers or take any steps to remove them from the sport.”

Further, the letter complains that SafeSport decisions may be appealed, requiring victims to recount their stories again; it asks “appeals should rely first on the case’s original record, and an arbitration should be granted when there was clear error or another compelling reason.”

● Gymnastics ● The Russian Executive Committee member of the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique said he believes that regulations on the return of Russian and Belarusian competitors in 2024 could be announced next month. Vasily Titov, who is the President of the Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation told the Russian news agency TASS:

“The decision made by the FIG executive committee is very responsible, it states the fact that not a single international tournament in any gymnastic discipline without the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes is complete due to the fall in the competitive level.

“Gymnasts will be allowed taking into account the criteria that the International Olympic Committee previously formulated. Admission is expected to be selective, I think the criteria will be developed by the end of August. I am sure that FIG knows about our ‘red lines,’ I mean, among other things, the impossibility of signing political declarations in exchange for obtaining a neutral status. But I propose to wait for the formulated conditions of admission.”

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: FIFA’s women’s football growth plan keys on media and TV; gymnastics to allow Russians in 2024; great World Aquatics financials!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Nigerian star Tobi Amusan barely beat American Keni Harrison to the line in the women's 100 m hurdles in Poland last Sunday, but now faces a two-year suspension for whereabouts failures! (Photo: Ed Hall for Diamond League AG)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Infantino: media – especially TV – is key to growth
2. FIG to allow Russian, Belarusian re-entry in 2024
3. FIG financials show IOC TV share dependence
4. World Aquatics financials show $98.4 million reserves!
5. World-record holder Amusan suspended for whereabouts

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Fatma Samoura talked their plan to grow women’s football on the eve of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, concentrating on the need for the game to be seen on television, and for more media reporting. That’s a lesson which other federations should heed. The Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) decided to allow Russian and Belarusian entries into its events beginning in 2024, but only under “strict conditions,” which are not yet defined. Russian officials said that can not include an anti-war declaration, which Russian athletes will not sign. The FIG also published its 2022 Yearbook, which contained a summary of its finances. Simply said, the federation is deeply reliant on the quadrennial Olympic television revenue bonus from the International Olympic Committee. World Aquatics also published its financials in advance of the Congress at the ongoing Fukuoka World Championships, showing impressive reserves of $98.4 million and $202 million in assets. The Athletics Integrity Unit announced a provisional suspension of Nigerian 100 m hurdles star – world-record holder and World Champion – Tobi Amusan for whereabouts failures, carrying a potential ban of two years. Her hearing will take place prior to next month’s World Championships in Hungary.

● World Championships: Aquatics (3: China wins 10th straight diving gold; Inui completes double-double in women’s Artistic; U.S. men now 2-0 in water polo) ●

● Panorama: Memorabilia (RR Auction ends today, with ‘68 Winter torch at $66,000+) = Commonwealth Games (India could be interested in 2026) = Russia (Isinbayeva criticized for minimizing her military role) = Athletics (top World Championships moments revealed) = Cycling (Vingegaard seals Tour win in Stage 17) = Tennis (ITF revenue jumps to $98.3 million in 2022) ●

1.
Infantino: media – especially TV – is key to growth

Every sport that whines about how it isn’t as popular as it should be got a two-minute master class from FIFA about growth on Wednesday.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will open on Thursday with 32 teams playing over a month’s time for the world title in women’s football. On Tuesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) and Secretary General Fatma Samoura (SEN) answered questions from reporters about the tournament.

A notable answer came to a question about FIFA’s efforts to get more money for television rights to the tournament from broadcasters in five leading European countries and Japan. Infantino gave an insightful reply about how the failure to get the money they wanted was turned into a brighter future:

“This is a path, also this is a journey. And as part of the agreement that we have been able to reach in Europe with the European countries, with the European Broadcasting Union, for example – I just want to take this as an example – it is something that will accompany us globally, as part of the agreement we have added a very significant element on the promotion of the women’s game.

“We want to see, all over the world, at least, I don’t know, one hour a week of women’s football, streamed in the main broadcasters. Because that’s the only way you can promote the game. So when we finally concluded the agreement … the financial agreement was not the most important. We didn’t make 10 times more, or 100 times more than what was offered before, on the contrary. But we added this promotional element, and this is for me the way forward to promote [the] women’s game. It’s the most effective way to grow women’s football all over the world, and that’s what we will focus on in the next couple of years.”

Samoura added:

“We want also more coverage, and definitely more media outlets to support the growth of the game. That’s the only way that we can show the rest of the world that is not walking the talk that, definitely, the investment is there and it’s something that everybody should recognize and should be very comfortable with.”

Infantino also explained that the work already done has paid dividends:

“The path for a more sustainable movement is that: you need to invest in women’s football. We invested over a billion in the last four years globally, and as a consequence of that, if we look at some of the figures, we had participating in the qualifiers of the last World Cup, something over 120 countries – for 2019 – for this one, it was over 170, 175 countries, and we have almost 190 countries in the FIFA rankings, more or less.”

Samoura said that FIFA is aiming at a worldwide viewing audience of two billion, and that 1.375 million tickets have been sold so far, with sales surpassing the 1.131 million total from 2019 more than a month ago.

Sales have been weak in New Zealand and Infantino playfully asked which cameras were from New Zealand television and encouraged attendance: “New Zealand! We want you. We need you. It’s never too late to do the right thing. Come to watch the matches! We need full stadiums to warm us all up.”

Observed: Infantino and Samoura offered an unrehearsed, astonishingly important answer to the question that athletes, coaches, fans, national and international federation executives and the management of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee have been asking themselves: how do we promote ourselves?

Their short answer was (1) through the news media and (2) especially through television.

Infantino said, “We want to see, all over the world, at least, I don’t know, one hour a week of women’s football, streamed in the main broadcasters.” Let’s be clear: we’re talking about over-the-air and cable-service television programming, not just online streaming.

Nielsen reported that in the U.S., broadcast and cable television had 53.9% of all viewing in May, compared to 36.4% for streaming and 9.7% for “other.” So streaming reached just more than a third of the American audience, while TV is still more than half. Since broadcast programs usually end up available on online services, the only way to promote across all demographics is to start on television and continue online.

Media matters. And that includes written media, photographers, short-form video, player social-media promotions and all the others.

How many national or international federations actually reach out to media outlets to encourage coverage? Most simply post a notice that accreditation is available and if you’re interested, y’all come.

With the implosion of newspapers, niche efforts – like TheSportsExaminer.com – are all part of the mosaic now. If you want to see a first-quality effort on making information available to media who cannot attend, the clear leader in the Wanda Diamond League and its “Virtual Mixed Zone” package offered for its meets.

Not only results – brilliantly delivered by Omega – but pre-meet athlete data and statistics, plus short post-race quotes and a selection of meet photographs available for editorial use are available shortly after each meet. This encourages and allows coverage that would otherwise not be available.

The challenges that athletics faces vs. football and other sports are significant, but at least at the Diamond League level, in-depth coverage is possible without being there. And that leads to more coverage.

FIFA is actively reaching out, talking with broadcasters and other media to try and create more buzz for women’s football, both electronically and in person. How many other federations – especially at the national level – can say that?

2.
FIG to allow Russian, Belarusian re-entry in 2024

The Federation Internationale de Gymnastique Executive Committee announced Wednesday its decision:

● “To authorise, under strict conditions, the participation of athletes and support personnel of Russian and Belarusian sporting nationality in FIG sanctioned events listed on the FIG Calendar as ‘individual neutral athletes’ without any involvement or association with the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus, their respective National Federations or National Olympic Committees.

● “To impose a strict requirement of neutrality with regard to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus for any participation in a FIG sanctioned event.”

Athletes from the countries will be required to apply for admission, however, the exact process is still unknown. The FIG announcement also included:

“[T]he FIG EC will now finalise the Ad Hoc Rules and their supporting documents, which will be published in the coming weeks.”

This means that Russian and Belarusian athletes will not compete in the FIG World Championships in artistic, rhythmic and trampoline in 2023, at which most of the Paris 2024 qualifying places will be determined. However, there will be qualifying opportunities in 2024, notably – in the case of Russia – at the European Championships, if Russia is allowed to compete there.

The Russian response was muted. Said Irina Viner, head of the Russian federation for rhythmic gymnastics: “I have absolutely nothing to comment on today, because absolutely nothing is clear.”

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin told the State Duma (legislature) on Wednesday, not specifically related to the FIG announcement:

“There is a red line: No one will sign any declarations to condemn the special military operation and so on. Our athletes will not participate on such terms.”

This statement has been repeated by multiple officials since the International Olympic Committee’s 28 March recommendations on readmitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions, and especially in the past week. The message is clearly aimed at the IOC and the International Federations as well as a protective measure for Russian athletes, who would be subject to criminal charges at home if they signed such a document.

3.
FIG financials show IOC TV share dependence

The FIG Yearbook for 2022 is out, including a summary of its finances, showing its continued reliance on its Olympic dividend from the IOC.

The detailed financial statements were completed in March, and follow the pattern of increased revenues from its IOC payments from Olympic television rights sales, decreasing year after year until the next Games payment comes.

Gymnastics is one of the most popular sports at the Olympic Games and is one of three sports – along with athletics and aquatics – which receive “top tier” money; for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, this was $31.36 million for the FIG.

For 2022 (in Swiss francs, CHF 1 = $1.17 U.S.):

● CHF 13,829,000 in operating income
● CHF 16,192,000 in operating expenses
● CHF -2,363,000 operating loss for the year

This compares to CHF 22.503 million in 2021 income, when FIG received its Olympic dividend, partially applied to each year in the quadrennial, and had an operating surplus of CHF 10.620 million.

FIG also suffered investment losses in 2022 of CHF 2.931 million, but this was offset by rent from rents from its Lausanne headquarters building and some one-time items, notably an apparent IOC grant of CHF 2.336 million labeled as “Contribution for Agenda 2020+5 activities.”

All together, the federation lost CHF 2.461 million for 2022, about the same as forecast (CHF 2.398 million).

However, the FIG shows CHF 58.82 million in assets, including CHF 34.51 million in cash and investments and reserves of CHF 33.11 million. A chart shows the pattern of reserves, going up in an Olympic year and then down again in the subsequent years (in CHF):

● 2017: 21.9 million
● 2018: 22.9 million
● 2019: 26.0 million
● 2020: 25.4 million (Games delayed)
● 2021: 35.6 million
● 2022: 33.1 million
● 2023: 31.4 million forecast
● 2024: 25.7 million forecast

The net result over the budgeted 2021-24 period is for a surplus of just CHF 323,000.

For a top-tier federation, this isn’t much. Its World Championship events produced only CHF 1.55 million in revenue in 2022 and its World Cup and World Challenge Series are only an expense.

Without the IOC’s Olympic rights payment, the worldwide governing body for gymnastics would quickly be in a lot of financial trouble. But it’s not like that for all Olympic-sport federations.

4.
World Aquatics financials show $98.4 million reserves!

One of the best-financed of the International Federations is World Aquatics, which has now posted its 2022 financial statements in advance of its Congress in Fukuoka (JPN) during the World Championships now ongoing.

The federation’s balance sheet shows $202.02 million in assets, including $156.02 million in cash and investments, and $98.40 million in reserves. That’s pretty healthy! It also received $31.36 million from the IOC television rights sales for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, but the difference is its ability to obtain significant rights fees and television rights fees for its World Championships and related events:

● 2022: $20.375 million in event hosting fees
● 2022: $13.179 million in TV rights and sponsorships
● 2022: $3.705 million in in-kind goods and services
Total: $37.259 million

● 2021: $5.980 million in event hosting fees
● 2021: $13.844 million in TV rights and sponsorships
● 2021: $2.612 million in in-kind services
Total: $22.435 million

Significantly, the World Aquatics Championships was held in Budapest (HUN) in 2022, but only a short course (25 m) swimming Worlds was held in 2021. The future is bright, of course, with the 2023 Worlds now ongoing and another coming in early 2024 in Qatar.

Given its resources, World Aquatics underwrites the costs of travel and accommodations for athletes at its World Championships.

For the calendar year of 2022, income and expenses included:

● $42.946 million in operating revenue
● $47.005 million in operating expenses
● -$4.059 operating loss for the year

World Aquatics also suffered investment losses of $12.30 million for an overall loss for the year of $16.36 million. And it still has reserves of almost $100 million.

However, the impact of its Olympic dividend is still important. The forecast for 2023 and 2024 foresee only a modest surplus of $1.42 million for 2023, but $29.94 million in 2024, when IOC income from the Paris Games will roll in.

There was a disclosure of expenses related to the ongoing cases filed by the International Swimming League, which have totaled $10.3 million from 2019 through 2022. Another $3.5 million has been allocated to cover the remaining litigation costs, as a favorable judgment for World Aquatics which could end the cases, is now on appeal.

Aside from the financial colossus which is FIFA, World Aquatics is one of the best – if not the best – financed of the International Federations and with World Championships in 2023 and 2024, appears well positioned to continue.

5.
World-record holder Amusan suspended for whereabouts

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan was one of the sensations of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, setting a world record of 12.12 in the semifinals of the women’s 100 m hurdles and winning the Worlds gold in a wind-aided 12.06.

Now she’s suspended, per the Athletics Integrity Unit:

“The AIU confirms that it has today charged and provisionally suspended Tobi Amusan (NGR) for 3 Whereabouts Failures.

“The Charge will be heard by the Disciplinary Tribunal and determined before the World Athletics Championships.”

Amusan has been everywhere in 2023, running in 10 outdoor meets and exceptionally sharp in the last month:

● 27 Jun: 12.47 (3rd) in Ostrava (CZE)
● 30 Jun: 12.27 (2nd) in Lausanne (SUI)
● 02 Jul: 12.52 (1st) in Stockholm (SWE)
● 05 Jul: 12.70 (1st) at Nigeria Nationals
● 16 Jul: 12.34 (1st) at Chorzow (POL)
● 18 Jul: 12.35 (1st) at Szekesfehervar (HUN)

She and Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) are co-favorites for the upcoming Worlds in Budapest, but now Amusan will have to fight off a suspension for missing three doping test sessions over the past 12 months.

The potential penalties:

“Under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, any combination of 3 whereabouts failures (Filing Failure and/or Missed Test) within a period of 12 months constitute an anti-doping rule violation, for which the applicable sanction is 2 years’ ineligibility subject to a reduction to a minimum of 1 year depending on your degree of fault.”

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Aquatics ● China marched on with its 10th straight gold in diving at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN), with Yuxi Chen leading a 1-2 finish in the women’s 10 m Platform final.

Chen, the 2019 and 2022 World Champion in the event, scored 457.85 to edge teammate – and Tokyo Olympic champ – Hongchan Quan (445.60). Canada’s Caeli McKay won her first Worlds medal with the bronze (340.25); Delaney Schnell was the top American finisher in sixth (310.40), and Nike Agunbiade was 22nd (264.15).

In Artistic Swimming, Japan’s Yukiko Inui won a double-double by defending her 2022 Worlds gold in the women’s Solo Free competition on Wednesday, scoring 254.6062 to overwhelm the field.

As in the Solo Technical, Austria’s Vasiliki Alexandri was second (229.3251), with Kate Shortman (GBR: 219.9542). Inui now has a career total of 12 Worlds medals: her four golds from the past two Worlds and eight bronzes, stretching back to 2015.

The men’s Solo Free was won by Dennis Gonzalez (ESP: 193.0334) ahead of Gustavo Sanchez (COL: 189.9625) and Kenneth Gaudet of the U.S. ( 179.5562). Gaudet was the only one to medal in both the Solo Technical (silver) and Solo Free.

The U.S. beat Australia, 16-8, to go to 2-0 in Group A in the men’s water polo tournament and will play Greece (2-0) for the group title on the 21st.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Memorabilia ● The ongoing, 396-item RR Auction of Olympic-related items will close on Thursday, with a bid required to be entered by 7 p.m. Eastern time.

Some 13 items have already drawn bids of $10,000 or more, led by the ultra-rare Grenoble 1968 Winter Games torch – only 33 were made – which was at $66,550 as of Wednesday afternoon. The next highest bid was $20,000 for a Berlin 1936 gold medal in field hockey, followed by $18,568 for the also-rare Albertville 1992 Winter Games torch.

The astonishingly gaudy Berlin 1936 IOC “chain of office” is up to $3,328 after eight bids.

● Commonwealth Games ● Now Ahmedabad, India is talking about being a potential replacement host for the 2026 Commonwealth Games after Victoria abandoned its hosting responsibilities on Monday.

The city is developing a major sports center with designs on the 2036 Olympic Games, but believes the project will be ready for use by 2026. India last hosted the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010, an event marred by incompetence and corruption charges, something the Commonwealth Games Federation will not have forgotten.

● Russia ● Russian IOC member Yelena Isinbayeva was cleared to continue her position by the IOC Ethics Commission, having found no instance in which she has supported the war against Ukraine since it began.

But Isinbayeva’s comment that her role in the military was “nominal” – she has appeared publicly in uniform with the rank of major – and was related only to her achievements as a member of the CSKA, the Central Army Sports Club, has drawn criticism.

On Wednesday, Russian Sports Minister Matytsin told TASS:

“There is an absolutely unambiguous assessment here: it is unacceptable to treat military rank, citizenship and events that take place in your native country in this way. Every person who loves his country has an unambiguously negative attitude towards such statements.”

A stadium which was named in her honor six years ago, is now to be renamed, according to instructions from Sergei Melikov, a former military leader who has been the head of the Dagestan Republic since 2021:

“Yes, this is a talented athlete who has set more than one world record, but she has never connected her life, her past and future with Dagestan.

“And the athlete’s recent statements made from behind the cordon are a serious signal for us and a reason to reconsider the name of the stadium. I instruct the Ministry of Sports of Dagestan and the Mayor of Makhachkala to organize this work.”

● Athletics ● World Athletics has been slowly releasing its list of the top 50 moments in the history of the World Athletics Championships, which began in Helsinki in 1983 and will celebrate its 40th anniversary in Budapest in August. The top moments, per a fan vote, were named on Wednesday, with the top five:

● 1. Jamaican icon Usain Bolt’s world-record double: 9.58 and 19.19 double in Berlin (2009).

● 2. The world record vault of 6.21 m (20-4 1/2) by Mondo Duplantis of Sweden at last year’s World Championships in Eugene.

● 3. American Sydney McLaughlin’s sensational 50.68 world record in the women’s 400 m hurdles in 2022 (Eugene).

● 4. Another sprint double for Jamaica: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s wins in the 100 m (10.71) and 200 m (22.17) in Moscow (2013).

● 5. Allyson Felix’s 21.81 women’s 200 m victory in Osaka in 2007, accompanied by legs on the 4×100 m and 4×400 m for three golds altogether.

The impressive gold-medal triple by Carl Lewis of the U.S. in the first worlds in 1983 was also recognized in the top ten, with wins in the 100 m, long jump and on the world-record-setting men’s 4×100 m, a year before his four golds at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

● Cycling ● If the 110th Tour de France wasn’t settled during Tuesday’s time trial, it was on Wednesday, as two-time winner Tadej Pogacar (SLO) could not keep pace on the challenging final climb to the top of the 2,300 m Col de la Loze and fell way behind leader – and almost sure winner – Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark.

A lead group of four ascended the Col de la Loze in front and Austria’s Felix Gall rode away in the final 13 km of the 165.7 km route to Courchevel to win in 4:49:08, with only Simon Yates (GBR) close at 34 seconds back.

Race leader Vingegaard and Spain’s Pello Bilbao battled for third, with Bello crossing first (+1:38) and Vingegaard at +1:52. But Pogacar fell way back and finished 22nd, some 7:37 behind the winner. This leaves him 7:35 behind the Dane after 17 stages, now ahead of Adam Yates (+10:35), Carlos Rodriguez (ESP: +12:01) and Simon Yates (+12:19) with four stages to go.

● Tennis ● The International Tennis Federation, which receives IOC television payments, but is primarily powered by the operation of the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup tournaments, also released its 2022 financials, showing a huge jump in revenue.

In 2021, the ITF took in $66.57 million in 2021, but that grew to $98.30 million for 2022. Television and sponsorships grew from $34.80 million in 2021 to $60.73 million in 2022, and tournament data rights for the World Tennis Tour and the two national team events rose from $11.36 million to $20.57 million.

There was also a one-time recovery of $12.06 million from the canceled Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Budapest (HUN) from a victory at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Unfortunately, expenses also rose significantly, from $76.69 million in 2021 to $95.97 million in 2022 and combined with investment losses, caused a $2.44 million net loss for the year.

The ITF showed total assets of $117.76 million at the end of the year, with nearly $60 million in cash and investments and reserves of $40.21 million. Quite healthy, and the ITF’s finances are completely independent of any reliance on IOC television money.

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TSX REPORT: Bach and Estanguet laud Paris 2024 a year out; the real lessons of Victoria’s Commonwealth Games reversal

By
Rich Perelman
-
Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet speaking with reporters on Tuesday.

★ 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 ≡

1. Bach: “Paris 2024 will ignite a new era”
2. Estanguet says Paris 2024 is on track
3. Observed: true impact of the Commonwealth Games mess
4. Vingegaard’s time trial win nearly clinches Tour defense
5. Gardiner 400 m world lead; Alfred beats Richardson in Hungary

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of Germany spoke with reporters on Tuesday and enthused over the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, calling them the first of a ‘new era.” He continued to defend the IOC’s stance on Russian and Belarusian athletes, and said that economic pressures on sporting events will continue and that only those events and elements which are “essential” are safe. In Paris, the head of the 2024 organizing committee, Tony Estanguet, also held a news conference, expressing confidence in the progress so far, on construction, budget, staffing and the ambition of the organizing committee to be as innovative as possible. In the aftermath of the withdrawal of Victoria as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, there was pushback against the approach of the state government on facilities and some disbelief on the estimate of A$6-7 billion. What the withdrawals in Victoria and in Indonesia for the ANOC World Beach Games show is that politics top a signature on a contract every time, a crucial lesson for any mega-event organizer going forward, anywhere. At the Tour de France, defending champ Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark just about wrapped up his defense with a brilliant time trial to take a seemingly-insurmountable 1:48 lead over two-time winner Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia. At the Istvan Gyulai Memorial meet in Hungary, Tokyo Olympic men’s 400 m champ Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas took the world lead at 43.48, St. Lucia sprinter Julien Alfred beat American Sha’Carri Richardson in the women’s 100 m and U.S. teen star Erriyon Knighton suffered a surprise loss in the men’s 200 m. But more meets are coming.

● World Championships: Aquatics (4: China wins eighth diving title; Beck and Wellbrock sweep open-water 5 km; Spain wins Artistic Team Technical; U.S. women beat Australia in polo) ●

● Panorama: Paris 2024 (Opening ceremony test held with 30 boats on Seine) = Winter Games 2030 (France to launch two-region bid) = Commonwealth Games 2026 (London maybe? Perth Mayor wants in!) = IOC (Isinbayeva cleared of any pro-war activities) = Doping (India doping inquiry completed) ●

1.
Bach: “Paris 2024 will ignite a new era”

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of Germany, now 10 years as the head of the Olympic Movement, took questions on Tuesday in advance of the year-to-go milestone for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in 2024.

Noting that this will be the first Games organized since the passage of his massive “Olympic Agenda 2020″ reform package in 2014, Bach enthused that “Paris 2024 will ignite a new era of Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

He highlighted his usual themes of venue re-use, gender equality and balanced budgets. He was asked about how secure he felt about the support of the French government, notably on the issue of Russian and Belarusian participation. He did not waver for a moment:

“We are fully aligned in our approach [with the French government]. …

“We feel the great support and encouragement to accomplish our mission, to get the world together and to be a unifying factor and not add to the too many divisions we have already now.

“And because of this, we are confident that in one year from now, we can accomplish this mission, and, again, we are doing our best. Right now, it is more to monitor the situation on the field of play, whether the rules are respected, the conditions are respected by everybody. Then at a later stage, we can take further decisions. …

“We have as a mission, to unite all the athletes of the world in a peaceful competition. We have the responsibility not to punish athletes for the acts of their governments, and this is something, you know, what the athletes around the world who support our approach are also expressing that they do not want to be held responsible for the actions of their governments.”

Bach was also asked about the recent rioting in the Paris area over the shooting of a teenager:

“We are very sorry for the victims, and in particular, the victim of this riot. We are feeling with everybody affected. At the same time, we are can note that these riots were not related to the Olympic Games in any respect, and that we can feel a great support of the French people for this Olympic Games.

“We are very confident that the Games can, and will, happen in a peaceful environment, and that the sports-loving French people will celebrate the best athletes of the world as they have just celebrated the best cyclists of the world – and are still celebrating – during the Tour de France.”

The calamitous collapse of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria earlier on Tuesday, and the recent cancellation of the ANOC Beach Games in Indonesia were also brought up, and whether the future of the Olympic Games is secure. Here, Bach had no doubts:

“I don’t have any concerns for the Olympic Games, because with our Games Optimization model, we are showing new ways of financing Olympic Games in a solid way, coming up with balanced budgets and very sustainable solutions. …

“What we have, on the other hand, said from the beginning of the pandemic, that after the pandemic – when once the health crisis is over – that the world will see economic and financial crises and challenges and this has been exacerbated by the Russian invasion in Ukraine and all the consequences.

“There, everybody is affected, and, of course, also sport, and I think all International Federations, all sports events organizers are called upon, and we have called upon them several times, to look very carefully which events to organize under which circumstances, and whether every event is really necessary, or it’s just nice to have.

“You know, we are not living in a time where you can look so much at the ‘nice to haves.’ We have to concentrate on the essentials. This is what we are doing with the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Bach took some extra time to weigh in on the implosion of the ANOC World Beach Games and the supposed lack of financing that required their cancellation:

“Allow me a side remark, whether the cancellation of the ANOC Beach Games was really a financial issue. There, one can have some serious doubts about this given the history there in Bali with the FIFA [U-20] World Cup and the discussion before about the Israeli participation in such Games.”

2.
Estanguet says Paris 2024 is on track

“We want to offer the best of our country and the most beautiful face of France when we welcome the world on July 26, 2024, and to date, we are ready, we are on schedule and once again the ambition is still extremely strong.”

That’s Paris 2024 chief – and three-time Olympic gold medalist – Tony Estanguet, speaking to a news conference on Tuesday, following a three-day meeting of Chefs de Mission and the finish of the organizing committee’s first test event, in sailing in Marseille.

In a 47-minute monologue to open the session, Estanguet went through the various aspects of the organizing effort, highlighting what he said its three key elements: to be ready to stage the Games, have the resources needed to stage the Games and to “maintain our ambition” until the end.

On funding, he explained:

“The Paris budget is still under control at €4.4 billion (~$4.94 billion U.S.), 96% here from the private sector. I say this with a smile, I know you know this information, but I realize it is not always easy to get this message across, so thank you for helping us. …

“In terms of partnerships, things continue to progress rather well, we have recently crossed the billion-euro mark in secured income provided by our Paris 2024 partners. It is the first time that a sporting event in France has raised so many resources from companies and partnerships, so we are indeed delighted.”

He said that 22 new partners had joined in since the beginning of the year, with more coming:

“We were at 80% of our objective by the end of 2022; the objective is to secure 92% at the end of the year 2023, so we continue with enthusiasm and serenity for this objective.”

Estanguet also underlined that 90% of the goods being supplied to Paris 2024 are from French companies.

Another €1 billion in revenue has come from tickets and hospitality, with 6.8 million tickets sold so far out of a projected Olympic inventory of 10 million.

He was also happy with the progress on construction, which is in the hands of the government-run Solideo group: “the deadlines have been respected.” The International Broadcast Center was turned over to the organizers on 10 July, with the Olympic Village to be completed and turned over by March of 2024. The new aquatics center is expected in April and the Arena Porte de la Chapelle in June, for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics.

On security, he noted that existing venue operators – like the famed Roland Garros tennis grounds – already have this area under control for their own events, and will be contracted by Paris 2024 to provide for this during the Games. The work now is to develop and execute the program for remaining sites, about half of the total. This is expected by the end of the year, with any shortfalls to then be discussed with French law enforcement.

There are 300,000 applications for the 45,000 volunteer positions, a success so far.

He said the transport sector had seen “a lot of progress” over the prior six months, both with the public transit authorities, but also with the IOC in the use of shared facilities for accredited officials of all types, excepting competing athletes, who will always be separate.

Further, concerns over spectator crowding is being worked on through the development of a communications program direct to attendees as to how best travel to these events. Estanguet said that in this area, the “rate of progress that is rather very assuring.”

He called the sailing test event in Marseille, concluded last Sunday, a “real success,” especially for the first event actually organized by and for the Paris 2024 organizing committee.

Estanguet also emphasized the importance to “maintain the ambition” of the organizing committee, noting that Paris will offer unique ceremonies for both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in the middle of the city, with the first-ever mass-participation road races and a significant environmental program. We want, he said, “to be as creative as possible, to show the best of our country on the occasion of these Games; it is only once every 100 years.”

3.
Observed: true impact of the Commonwealth Games mess

The stunning reversal by the Victoria State government on Tuesday, handing back the hosting duties for the 2026 Commonwealth Games over cost issues just 16 months after agreeing to host it, is reinforcing significant lessons for the international sports community in the post-pandemic era.

In Australia, the recriminations have already started, with Craig Phillips, the head of Commonwealth Games Australia, issuing a Tuesday statement which included:

● “The announcement made by the Victorian Government today is beyond disappointing.”

● “The multi-city model for delivering Victoria 2026 was an approach proposed by the Victorian Government, in accordance with strategic roadmap of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).”

● “The stated costs overrun, in our opinion, are a gross exaggeration and not reflective of the operational costs presented to the Victoria 2026 Organising Committee board as recently as June.“

● “Beyond this, the Victorian Government wilfully ignored recommendations to move events to purpose-built stadia in Melbourne and in fact remained wedded to proceeding with expensive temporary venues in regional Victoria.”

● “The Victorian Government, however, has jeopardised Melbourne and Victoria’s standing as a sporting capital of the world.”

Phillips told a news conference that he was informed of the decision from Victoria at about 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. “I certainly feel let down by the government,” said Phillips, who explained that Commonwealth Games Australia will welcome interest from other states in Australia who might have interest, and “we’ll be doing all we can to be sure that the numbers produced today by the Victorian Government are not taken on face value. They are certainly not a strong indication of what the Games would actually cost.”

He said that he, a member of the 2026 organizing committee board, said he had never heard of the A$6 billion budget figure mentioned by the Victorian government until about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning: “The decision had already been taken by the time the government got to talk to us.” (A$1 = $0.68 U.S.)

Were there options? Phillips said cost-containment discussions were already under way:

“There were some measures which could have brought some of the venues back into Melbourne without compromising the desire to have content in regional Victoria. We still were very much supportive of the regional content, but also saw the pragmatic value of moving some of those venues back to Melbourne.

“The velodrome is the best example of that. You have a purpose-built velodrome here at John Cain Arena, but we’re continuing to prosecute running a games in a temporary venue in Bendigo that would have no legacy value. … We think the regional model is still an important one to have, but you’ve got to balance up the pragmatic with some of your ambitions. That’s what we were trying to do.”

And he ripped the Victorian government, which had agreed to host the event in April 2022; “We thought we had a Games. We thought we had a willing host of the Games here in Victoria, but today obviously showed that wasn’t the case. …

“I would be very careful, if I were an international sporting body, coming and doing business in this state in the future.”

Observed: Phillips’ last remark is the most important, but not specific to Victoria. Any government which is looked to for funding for a mega-event is now suspect.

The Indonesian government threw away the FIFA men’s U-20 World Cup because Israel was going to play in it. Then it canceled the ANOC World Beach Games with a month to go, supposedly because of funding issues, but really over Israel again. IOC chief Bach went out of his way to note that Tuesday morning.

Indonesia had contracts with FIFA and the Association of National Olympic Committees for both. They meant nothing compared to the internal, pro-Palestine politics of the country, especially with national elections coming next February. FIFA doesn’t seem too upset, as it just awarded its men’s U-17 World Cup – returned by Peru – to Indonesia, to be held in November. Israel did not qualify for that event.

Now comes Australia, with a shining reputation for putting on glorious sporting events, including two Olympic Games and five Commonwealth Games. There was a contract, signed and sealed. And now, nothing.

This is hardly new; Denver returned the 1976 Olympic Winter Games to the IOC in 1973, and then Lake Placid was awarded the Winter Games for 1980. No harm done, right?

But these episodes underscore this reality: sports organizations, right up to the IOC and FIFA, are minnows compared to countries. FIFA is projecting a sensational $11 billion in revenue for the 2023-26 quadrennial; Indonesia’s budget for 2023-23 alone was $200.73 billion U.S.

And Indonesia is poor, ranking 112th in the world in per-capita Gross Domestic Product.

When you do business with a government, you are subject to its sovereign power, something no sports organization can cope with. That’s the lesson of Victoria’s withdrawal from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, and a lesson which needs to be learned by every international organization that brings its events – sports or otherwise – into a country, especially one which is providing financial support.

One more: Phillips said he thought Canada would host a 2030 Commonwealth Games – the first one was held there in 1930 – and New Zealand has interest for 2034. But the question must be raised now whether this event, nearing its centennial, is – in Bach’s words, “essential” or a “nice to have.”

4.
Vingegaard’s time trial win nearly clinches Tour defense

Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard and 2020 and 2021 winner Tadej Pogacar had been neck-and-neck in the race for the 110th Tour de France title through the first two weeks and 15 stages.

Not any more.

Tuesday’s Individual Time Trial was a mean, 22.4 km ride from Passy to Combloux, with yet another uphill finish, this time an ascent from 556 m to 974 m in the final 6 km. Pogacar came into the stage with a deficit of 10 seconds, and a good record in prior time trials. He started next to last, with Vingegaard to follow.

Pogacar was quick out of the gate, posting the fastest first split at 7.1 km, 33 seconds ahead of everyone else, then 40 seconds up at 16.1 km and 45 seconds up at 18.1 km. But by this time, Vingegaard was already on the course.

And he was brilliant. The Dane was a staggering 49 seconds better than Pogacar by the 7.1 km checkpoint, 1:11 faster at 16.1 km, an unbelievable 1:50 faster at 18.1 and finished in 32:26.

Pogacar’s ride was 34:14, meaning he had lost 1:38 to Vingegaard in the time trial alone and was now 1:48 behind in the overall standings. Barring a crash or injury or both to Vingegaard, he will defend his title on the ride into Paris on Sunday.

Belgian Wout van Aert was third in 35:27, 2:51 behind the winner.

Vingegaard and Pogacar were the only ones in contention to win the race. After 16 stages, Britain’s Adam Yates – fourth in this race in 2016 – moved into third (+8:52), ahead of Carlos Rodriguez (ESP: +8:57) and Australia’s Jai Hindley (+11:15). American Sepp Kuss stands sixth, 12:56 behind the leader.

There is another climbing stage tomorrow, a 165.7 km route with four ascents, but a downhill finish into the ski-resort town of Courchevel and Pogacar will be on the attack. This is a dangerous stage, especially on the descents, but Pogacar may not care. Stage 18 is flat, stage 19 is hilly with a downhill finish and stage 20 on Saturday has four climbs and a last chance for Pogacar.

But Vingegaard – and everyone else – expected to ride into Paris on Sunday as the winner of his second Tour de France in a row.

5.
Gardiner 400 m world lead; Alfred beats Richardson in Hungary

The always high-quality Istvan Gyulai Memorial meet in Szekesfehervar, Hungary was good again on Tuesday, with Bahamian star Steven Gardiner claiming the world lead in the men’s 400 m at 43.74.

The 2019 World Champion and Tokyo Olympic champ, Gardiner has been sidelined by injuries, but looked powerful all the way around to claim a clear win over in his second-fastest time ever, beating Rusheen McDonald (JAM: 44.03, no. 3 in 2023) and American Vernon Norwood (44.63). That makes Gardiner the clear favorite for the Worlds in Budapest next month.

The women’s 100 m saw NCAA star Julien Alfred (LCA), now a professional, explode out of the blocks and register a quality win over Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S., 10.89 to 10.97 (wind: +0.9 m/s), with Americans Tamari Davis (11.02) and TeeTee Terry following (11.09). Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, who lost to Richardson in the 100 m in Chorzow (POL) last Friday, won the 200 m in 22.02 (+1.0) over Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke (22.36). Kayla White, Tamara Clark and Dezerea Bryant went 4-5-6 for the U.S. in 22.51-22.77-23.23.

The women’s 400 m hurdles saw Andrenette Knight of Jamaica move to no. 3 in the world in 2023 with a win in a lifetime best of 53.26, ahead of teammates Janieve Russell (53.72, no. 6) and Rushell Clayton (53.79, no. 7).

World Champion and world-record holder Tobi Amusan continued her hot streak in the women’s 100 m hurdles with a quality 12.35 win (-0.5), beating Nia Ali of the U.S. (12.41), Alaysha Johnson (12.50) and Tia Jones (12.51).

The men’s 110 m hurdles was a recovery win for U.S. champ Daniel Roberts of the U.S., who won in 13.12 (+0.5), with Tokyo Olympic champ Hansle Parchment (JAM: 13.14) second.

In the men’s sprints, Jamaica’s 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake won the 100 m in 10.04 (-0.1) and Alexander Ogando (DOM) scored a surprise win over Erriyon Knighton of the U.S., 19.99 to 20.05 (+1.1). This was Knighton’s first loss in a final in 2023 and the first time he did not run 19.95 or faster.

The men’s 800 m was a good win for Australia’s Peter Bol in 1:44.48, beating Gabriel Tual (FRA: 1:44.55) and Americans Clayton Murphy (1:45.53) and Isaiah Jewett (1:46.08). Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir broke away from teammate Brenda Chebet in the women’s 1,500 m, 4:00.18 to 4:01.25.

Greece’s Olympic long jump champ, Miltiadis Tentoglou came through on his final try to score an 8.29 m (27-2 1/2) to 8.24 m (27-0 1/2) victory over Jamaica’s 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle. Americans Jarrion Lawson (7.97 m/26-1 3/4) and Will Williams (7.89 m/25-10 3/4) were 3-4.

A big throws program saw Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs of the U.S. go 1-2 in the shot at 22.51 m (73-10 1/4) and 22.06 (72-4 1/2), while Olympic champ Daniel Stahl (SWE) got a win in the discus at 68.98 m (226-4) with World Champion Kristjian Ceh (SLO: 67.60 m/221-9) third. Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan scored an upset win in the hammer over Poland’s Olympic champ Wojciech Nowicki, 79.37 m (260-4) to 77.89 m (255-6).

The European season is in full swing; next up is the Diamond League meet in Monaco on Friday.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Aquatics ● China continued its march through the diving competition at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, winning its eighth gold in eight tries, this time with a 44-point win in the re-formatted Team Event.

Yuming Bai, Jiuyuan Zheng, Yajie Si and Minjie Zhang combined to score 489.65, the third consecutive win for China in the Worlds Team Event, which had two divers in 2015-17-19-22, but now four, with a single 3 m diver, a 3 m synchro dive, a 10 m dive and 10 m synchro dive.

For Si, it was her fifth career Worlds gold, all in Platform events, and Bai won her second Team event gold (also in 2022); the others collected their first Worlds victories.

Mexico finished second (455.35) and Germany was third (432.15). The U.S. team of Krysta Palmer, Jack Ryan, Jessica Parratto and Jordan Rzepka was fifth at 421.40.

Germany’s Leonie Beck and Florian Wellbrock duplicated their wins from the 10 km open-water swims and won the 5 km races on Tuesday as well.

Beck had won a Worlds 5 km open-water bronze in 2019, and came from behind to overtake Rio 2016 Olympic 10 km winner Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED) in the final meters, winning by 59:31.7 to 59:32.7. Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha, the 2019 and 2022 Worlds winner in this race, was third in 59:33.9, charging up from seventh with a half-lap to go.

American Mariah Denigan, eighth at 10 km, finished 18th here, in 1:01:18.3.

Wellbrock, the defending men’s champion in this race, was in front from the start and had 3.7 seconds on Domenico Acerenza (ITA) at the halfway point, with Italian teammate Gregorio Paltrinieri coming on late to grab second, 53:58.0 to 54:02.5 to 54:04.2.

Now 25, Wellbrock owns six Worlds golds in his career, five in open water and the 2019 World title in the men’s 1,500 m Free. He and Beck could both win a third open-water gold in the team relay on Thursday.

American brothers Dylan Gravley and Brennan Gravley finished 17th and 28th in 56:48.5 and 57:20.0, respectively.

Spain won its second Artistic gold, taking the Team Technical gold at 281.6893, ahead of Italy (274.5155) and the U.S. (273.7396), with Anita Alvarez, Jaime Czarkowski, Megumi Field, Andrew Kwon, Jacklyn Luu, Daniela Ramirez, Ruby Remati and Natalia Vega.

The four-time defending champion U.S. women’s water polo squad moved to 2-0 in group play with a 9-5 win over Australia, keyed by a 3-1 third quarter. The U.S. will play China (0-2) in its final group match on the 20th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● An on-the-water test of the Opening Ceremony parade on the Seine River in Paris was held on Monday, with 39 boats sailing the planned 6 km route, accompanied by an additional 18 vessels for operations, broadcasters and safety.

The test provided opportunities to try out scenarios for resolving boat trouble, engine problems and other things that could go wrong a year from now.

● Olympic Winter Games 2030 ● France has jumped into the 2030 race, with new National Olympic Committee President David Lappartient – also the head of the Union Cycliste Internationale – announcing that the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions will bid jointly.

Sweden and Switzerland are interested in bidding and are working on plans; prior bid interest from Sapporo (JPN) and Vancouver (CAN) has fizzled, while Salt Lake City prefers 2034. France last hosted the Winter Games in Albertville in 1992.

● Commonwealth Games 2026 ● With Victoria’s withdrawal, London (GBR) Mayor Sadiq Khan said his city was a possibility, but that the national government would have to be involved.

More excited is Perth (AUS) Mayor Basil Zempilas, who tweeted:

“Not often you get a second chance like this @CityofPerth

“Here’s how it should work – we tell the @thecgf how much we will pay.

“We tell them ‘here are our venues’ you make YOUR games fit around what we have.

“Perth is in the driver’s seat they need us.

“And a big chunk of what we do spend we spend on building the athletes villages – which the day after the games finish become social and affordable housing for 8000 West Australians.

“We get the event.
“At the right price.
“And social housing for 8000 by 2026.

“Let’s do it.”

● International Olympic Committee ● The Russian news agency TASS reported that the IOC Ethics Commission has cleared Russian member Yelena Isinbayeva:

“Like for the athletes, the situation of the IOC Members concerned has been assessed from the time of the invasion on 24 February 2022 and subsequently. The understanding of the IOC Ethics Commission is that during this period Ms. Isinbayeva has neither had contractual links with the Russian military or security agencies nor supported the invasion or the war in Ukraine.”

Isinbayeva, the world-record holder in the women’s vault, has been publicly seen in an army uniform, with the rank of major, but not recently.

● Doping ● The World Anti-Doping Agency published a report on doping issues in India, closing a four-year inquiry into inconsistent testing and monitoring of athletes there.

In 2022, of the 131 Indian athletes in their Registered Testing Pool, only 103 were tested at all, and by May 2023, the “Operation Carousel” reporting shows 97 “whereabouts” failures by 70 athletes. Combined with seven doping charges against powerlifters, five other doping positives, and whereabouts proceedings, more than a dozen sanctions are moving forward.

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TSX REPORT: Commonwealth host Victoria withdraws! Russian sports minister: no anti-war declarations; U.S. favored at Women’s World Cup

By
Rich Perelman
-
Victoria State Premier Dan Andrews announcing Victoria's withdrawal as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games (Photo: ABC News video screenshot)

★ 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 ≡

1. Victoria hands back 2026 Commonwealth Games
2. “Our athletes, coaches will never agree to this.”
3. Russian sports policy extending to Africa, Latin America
4. U.S. the betting pick to win FIFA Women’s World Cup
5. New Club World Cup keys FIFA’s $11 billion revenue goal

The Australian state of Victoria withdrew Tuesday as the host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, citing huge potential cost overruns; the Commonwealth Games Foundation said it received only eight hours notice, but will now look for a new venue. Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin underscored the absolute rejection of any requirement for its athletes or coaches to sign a declaration against the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a prerequisite to competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Further, Matytsin is coordinating a sports diplomatic push with African and Latin American countries on a government-to-government level as a flanking maneuver around the International Olympic Committee and the entire Olympic Movement. Odds are out for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the U.S. a sizable favorite over England, Spain and Germany to win the trophy for the third straight time. FIFA’s hugely-expanded men’s Club World Cup will go from seven to 32 teams when it comes to the U.S. in 2025 and reports indicate that the expectation is that revenues could go from perhaps $35 million now to more than $1.5 or even $2 billion!

● World Championships: Aquatics (6: China now 7-for-7 in diving; two U.S. silvers in artistic; two U.S. water polo wins; Ledecky thinking about LA28; 2,392 total athletes from 194 countries competing; RAI-Italy sends home two announcers for sexist comments) ●

● Panorama: Paris 2024 (cardboard beds coming again) = Alpine Skiing (Lake Louise removed from World Cup schedule due to lack of funding) = Athletics (2: Kenyan authorities stop doping shipment; Richardson won’t reveal her World Champs projection) = Gymnastics (Australian federation unable to pay abuse survivors) = Judo (athletes rights and responsibilities declaration) = Modern Pentathlon (U-17 Worlds finishes in Egypt, but with obstacle issues) = Speed Skating (U.S. star Joey Mantia retires) ●

1.
Victoria hands back 2026 Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games Foundation had a difficult time finding a host for its 2026 Commonwealth Games, until Australia’s Victoria region agreed to take the event in April of 2022. Now Victoria is out.

Victoria State Premier Dan Andrews said at a bombshell Tuesday news conference that the projected cost of the event had ballooned from the allocated A$2.6 billion (~$1.78 billion U.S.) to at least A$6 billion (~$4.10 billion U.S.), up to A$7.0 billion or $4.78 billion U.S.

“And I cannot stand here and say that I have any confidence that that even seven-billion dollar number would appropriately and adequately fund these Games. I think it could be more than that. …

“I will not take money out of hospitals and schools to fund an event that is three times the cost as estimated and budgeted for last year.”

Andrews added, to be clear:

“I’ve made a lot of difficult calls, a lot of very difficult decisions, in this job. This is not one of them. Frankly, $6-7 billion for a 12-day sporting event, we are not doing that. That does not represent value for money. That is all cost and no benefit.”

Andrews said the budgeted funds will now go to A$1 billion for 1,300-plus affordable homes across the state, the new sports venues that would have been used for the Games, and a regional tourism effort that was an important element of the Games project. Andrews noted that negotiations with the Commonwealth Games Foundation on the cost of breaking its hosting contract have not been completed.

The Commonwealth Games Foundation posted a statement that included:

“The numbers quoted to us today of $6 billion are 50% more than those advised to the Organising Committee board at its meeting in June.

“These figures are attributed to price escalation primarily due to the unique regional delivery model that Victoria chose for these Games, and in particular relate to village and venue builds and transport infrastructure.

“Since awarding Victoria the Games, the Government has made decisions to include more sports and an additional regional hub, and changed plans for venues, all of which have added considerable expense, often against the advice of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA).

“We are disappointed that we were only given eight hours’ notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions prior to this decision being reached by the Government.”

The CGF added that it is “committed to finding a solution for the Games in 2026.” Oh boy.

2.
“Our athletes, coaches will never agree to this.”

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko drew a line in the sand last week, following the International Olympic Committee’s disclosure that it would not invite the National Olympic Committee of Russia to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris:

“Of course, we always hope to be invited, do not reject anything on our own and are very happy when our athletes get a chance to participate.

“The question, though, is: In exchange for what? If in order to do so, one has to reject one’s homeland and betray it, then, of course, it does not suit us. On top of those humiliations that the Anglo-Saxons dreamt up when they say: ‘Compete under a neutral flag and without a national anthem,’ now they are adding that one has to publicly condemn our decision to conduct the special military operation. Of course, we don’t agree to this.”

In case anyone didn’t get the memo, Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin underscored the key issue during a session with reporters on Monday. He was asked about the possibilities for Russian athletes to compete in Paris:

“There are some chances.

“We are in dialogue with the International Olympic Committee, the Russian Olympic Committee and the [national] federations with our partners, with international federations. Some international federations, as you know, decided to invite our athletes to participate in international competitions, unfortunately, under a neutral flag without playing the national anthem, which we have always commented as a discriminatory element. But nevertheless, they participate.

“As for admission to the Olympic Games, this is the prerogative of the IOC. For us, the only unacceptable condition is the signing of some declarations that would be positioned as criticism of a special military operation, the policy of our state. Our athletes, coaches will never agree to this.”

A recent example of an unacceptable “neutrality” declaration is the one required by the International Weightlifting Federation prior to the IWF Grand Prix in Cuba in June, which included:

“I undertake to continue to abstain from expressing any support to the war and will immediately and voluntarily notify any relevant change in my activities that occurs after the date of this declaration.”

Russian athletes refused to sign and did not compete; 13 Belarusians did sign and competed in Havana.

3.
Russian sports policy extending to Africa, Latin America

The Russian effort to flank the International Olympic Committee and its affiliates through direct, government-to-government foreign-policy initiatives is expanding, with Africa envisioned as new partners through agreements to be signed later this month.

Sports Minister Matytsin explained on Monday:

“We try to do everything we can in order to stabilize the international situation. The [Commonwealth of Independent States] Games will take place this year, they will begin on August 5 in Minsk; there are also ‘Games of the Future, [esports]’ the BRICS Games, the Friendship Games [in 2024].

“We make the main emphasis on the inter-governmental format. Plus, we actively cooperate with our partners; first and foremost, with the People’s Republic of China. …

“This will be a cross year for Russian-Chinese sports. We establish communication with Latin American, African and Asian countries via embassies, by signing agreements. We also plan to sign agreements on cooperation with a number of countries during the [Russia-Africa economic forum on 27-28 July] in St. Petersburg.”

As for the future of Russian sport, Matytsin was clear about how to proceed:

“It is necessary to study the models, but I prefer the model of the People’s Republic of China with centralized government control. This requires additional investments from the state, on the other hand, now the federations have received a large percentage of co-financing through betting activities, and most federations have increased their budget several times. We must provide assistance to the federations, there are many claims against us, and we can’t do anything; it’s worth thinking about.”

In this context, the Board of the International Boxing Association – now outside of the Olympic Movement and led by its Russian President Umar Kremlev – agreed Saturday on “the confirmation of China as the host country for this year’s International Boxing Day and Global Boxing Forum, to take place on 27 August.”

The IBA also announced plans to expand its programming:

“IBA reveals its intention to launch Champions League, a club competition, and to ensure World Boxing Tour events to be held on all continents. A team event, titled Global Boxing Cup, is to be scheduled shortly.”

No word on where the funding for any of these events will come from.

4.
U.S. the betting pick to win FIFA Women’s World Cup

The ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup starts in Australia and New Zealand on 20 July, with the United States the odds-on favorites to win a record third straight title. A sampling of odds of the leading contenders:

(“+250″ means a $100 bet that was successful would return $250 to the bettor)

● +220 to +250: U.S.
● +350 to +500: England
● +450 to +550: Spain
● +650 to +900: Germany
● +900 to +1200: Australia
● +1000 to +1300: France
● +1400 to +2000: Sweden
● +2000 to +3000: Netherlands
● +2200 to +3300: Brazil
● +2500 to +3500: Japan

In other words, the U.S. and England are definite favorites to make the final; if they both win their groups (England in D, U.S. in E), they would be on opposite sides of the bracket. Spain in Group C would be in the same bracket as the U.S. if it wins its group; Germany in Group H would be in the U.S. bracket if both win their groups.

The longest of long-shots in the 32-team tournament:

● +43,000 and up: Costa Rica
● +43,000 and up: Panama
● +43,000 and up: Philippines
● +43,000 and up: Vietnam
● +43,000 and up: Zambia

In the U.S., the tournament will be televised by Fox and the Fox Sports channels in English and by NBCUniversal’s Telemundo in Spanish.

5.
New Club World Cup keys FIFA’s $11 billion revenue goal

Near the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that the proposed budget for the 2023-26 quadrennium was for $11 billion in revenue, up from $7.57 billion from 2019-23.

The primary driver of that will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches. But the newly reformatted FIFA Club World Cup, which will expand from just seven teams to a staggering 32 for 2025, to be played in the U.S., is expected to be a new financial bonanza and contribute to that $11 billion goal.

According to the FIFA Annual Report for 2022, revenues attributable to the Club World Club played in the United Arab Emirates from 3-12 February 2022 and some other, minor events, brought in not more than $34.46 million for television, sponsorship and licensing rights.

But London-based Sport Business Media reported Monday that FIFA’s revenue target for the 2025 Club World Cup in the U.S. is $1.5 to $2 billion, with roughly half from television rights and the rest from tickets, hospitality and licensing.

Even at $1.5 billion, that would be more than 43 times the revenue from the current seven-team tournament, which has been modest at best:

● 2021 (Feb.): 6 teams, 7 matches, avg. attendance 3,520, in Qatar.
● 2022 (Feb.): 7 teams, 8 matches, avg. attendance 12,594, in UAE.
● 2023 (Feb.): 7 teams, 7 matches, avg. attendance 40,325, in Morocco.

For 2025, a 32-team format with star teams from around the world and a 64-match tournament – as with the 2022 FIFA World Cup – will be held in June or July, instead of early in the year. Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Mexican clubs Leon and Monterrey have already qualified, along with the Seattle Sounders of the MLS.

FIFA is essentially betting on what it sees as an insatiable market for top-level football in the U.S., especially for tickets and hospitality, for 2025, 2026 and possibly for 2027, with the U.S. and Mexico proposing to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that FIFA missed its hoped-for target for added television rights for the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia by New Zealand. Trying for $300 million in sales, FIFA reportedly was able to generate $200 million, selling the tournament separately for the first time, and adding $50 million in sales after the men’s World Cup concluded.

In truth, this was going to be a tough sell given the difficult time zone situation for American and European audiences (where the money is), but it does create a baseline for negotiations for the future, with broadcasters now knowing that they will have to pay separately for the event, which had previously been packaged with the men’s World Cup.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Aquatics ● The World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka (JPN) rolls on, with China continuing its sweep of the diving events, winning twice on Monday to make it 7-for-7.

In the women’s 3 m Springboard Synchro final, Yani Chang and Yiwen Chen dominated the field, winning with 341.94 points to 296.58 for Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen (GBR) and 285.99 for Elena Bertocchi and Chiara Pellacani (ITA). The U.S. duo of Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook finished fourth (285.39).

This was the third straight Worlds 3 m Synchro gold for Chang and second in a row for Chen (2022 and 2023).

As with Chang and Chen, Junjie Lian and Hao Yang won the men’s 10 m Platform Synchro for the second year in a row. They scored 477.75 to outclass Ukraine’s Kirill Boliukh and Oleksiy Sereda (439.92) and Mexico’s Kevin Berlin and Randal Willars (434.16). The U.S. pair of Brandon Loschiavo and Jordan Rzepka was sixth at 375.90.

For Yang, it’s his third Worlds win in this event, in 2019-22-23.

In Artistic Swimming, the U.S. women’s team took the silver medal in the Acrobatic Routine, scoring 232.4033 points to finish behind China (238.0033) and ahead of Japan (220.5867).

In the men’s Technical, Fernando Diaz del Rio of Spain won with 224.5550 points, ahead of Kenneth Gaudet of the U.S. (216.8000) and Eduard Kim of Kazakhstan (216.0000).

In water polo, the U.S. men opened with an 18-5 win over Kazakhstan in Group A play and will face Australia and Greece next. The American women – four-time defending champs – also in Group A, beat China, 15-6, and will play Australia and France in their remaining group matches.

Distance icon Katie Ledecky told reporters at the Worlds that she’s definitely thinking about competing in Los Angeles in 2028:

“I can say pretty confidently that I’m not going to be done in 2024. I just don’t see myself hanging it up after next year. I just love the sport too much right now. I can’t wrap my head around being done next year. 

“I mean, L.A. is definitely in the picture. I can’t fully commit to it at this point in 2023. But if I’m still loving it, if I feel like my body can do it. I think I would give it a shot. It’s amazing to have that opportunity to swim in the United States at an Olympics. It’s a rare opportunity, so something that I’m excited about. Whether I’m competing or not, I’ll definitely be there.”

World Aquatics provided the entry statistics on the 2023 Worlds, demonstrating its status as one of the largest anywhere:

● 2,392 total athletes from 194 countries, in 75 events
● 1,120 athletes in swimming, from 192 nations
● 468 athletes in water polo, from 19 nations
● 340 athletes in artistic swimming, from 52 nations
● 263 athletes in diving, from 49 nations
● 184 athletes in open-water swimming, from 55 nations
● 44 athletes in high diving, from 19 nations

There is also a World Aquatics Refugee Team competing in swimming. The total prize purse is $5.67 million.

Per the Russian news agency TASS:

“World Aquatics has no reason to believe that the issue of the future performance of athletes from Russia and Belarus in World Aquatics competitions will be studied during the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka.”

Italian state broadcaster RAI suspended announcers Lorenzo Leonarduzzi and Massimiliano Mazzucchi for comments made on the RaiPlay2 streaming channel during coverage of the women’s 3 m Synchronized Diving event in Fukuoka.

Reuters reported they “made sexual allusions and comments about the divers’ physical appearance. …

“They made other, untranslatable vulgar jokes about women’s willingness to have sex, and made fun of the way the Chinese speak Italian by mimicking their accent.” Both have been called back from Japan, with a disciplinary procedure being opened.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● The cardboard-based beds used for the Tokyo 2020 athlete village, which proved to be quite functional despite initial ridicule, will be back for Paris in 2024.

Airweave, the Japanese company which provided the beds for Tokyo, is an official supplier for Paris 2024 and demonstrated the 2024 beds last week. The 16,000 beds to be provided feature a cardboard box spring and a modular mattress, arranged in blocks and adjustable as desired, up to 2.2 m (7-2).

The cardboard box springs are made in France, from 80% recycled materials. After the Games, they will also be recycled, with mattresses and pillows donated to schools or associations.

● Alpine Skiing ● Not enough money has caused the cancellation of the men’s FIS Alpine World Cup races scheduled for Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada on 25-26 November 2023. Explained Alpine Canada President Therese Brisson:

“Unfortunately, the economic model for the Lake Louise World Cup has been challenging the past few years. We’ve been working with various stakeholders since last season to try to find solutions and despite some progress, we have run out of time to confirm the funding early enough to execute the event for the upcoming 2023-24 season.”

Lake Louise had been a premiere stop on the World Cup circuit for years, but not for 2023. Canada will host a women’s World Cup event in Giant Slalom at Tremblant, Quebec on 2-3 December of this year.

● Athletics ● A win for the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya and the Kenyan government, battling the rampant doping among the nation’s athletes, with the arrest in Nairobi last Thursday (13th) of a woman on suspicion of smuggling. She is alleged to have been trying to import a shipment that contained 150 boxes of the synthetic corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide, along with 649 boxes of other medications.

Lots to unpack from Sunday’s Diamond League meet, the Skolimowska Memorial in Chorzow, Poland, with American sprinter winner Sha’Carri Richardson enthused after her tight, 0.02 win over Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, but also has bigger things in mind:

“It was an amazing race, I am really having fun. The 10.76 … I love the time. I put a great race together. This was a great competition, it was amazing. I executed correctly. I love the atmosphere here. I wish we could replicate this to the U.S. All the energy, all the love from the audience.

“I was satisfied with my race altogether. As for the World Championships: I know what I want to achieve, but I am not going to say it. I wrote it down for myself.

“Before our nationals, I told the other athletes, ‘Let´s unite, let´s get together.’ It is time for us athletes to take responsibility for ourselves. We athletes should have our own union. We want to take it back into our own hands. It has not yet been released or founded, but you will know when we speak out.”

Norway’s distance superstar Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the men’s 1,500 m in a world-leading 3:27.14, moving to no. 4 all-time, but he is shifting his focus now:

“I am always focusing on myself in races. Today I wanted a fast race and I wanted to run another sub-3:28. I knew if I could do that, there was a big risk of setting another personal best. The pacemakers helped a lot today, especially with Stewart McSweyn [AUS] taking over on the third lap. It is not every day that you get one of the best runners in the world to help you run fast. This result was the best I could hope for today.

“You cannot always think about records. Today I wanted one, but I will now be focusing completely on getting ready for the World Championships.”

South Africa’s Akani Simbine got a major-league win in the men’s 100 m, edging American Fred Kerley, 9.97 to 9.98:

“I was not sure getting to the line that I won. But then I heard my name! I came in here for the win, so I am most happy. I won against all of them, not only against the World Champion Fred Kerley. I know, I am the first to beat Fred this year, we have a good friendship, a good rivalry. I am very satisfied with my performance and hope to continue my good form.”

And the always-taciturn Kerley? He was unmoved by the loss:

“I feel good about today´s race. Nothing was missing. I got my job done.”

The most surprised winner of the day might have been Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek in the women’s 400 m, running a lifetime best 49.48 to beat Lieke Klaver (NED: 49.81) and favored Marileidy Paulino (DOM: 50.00):

“It is hard to describe what I am feeling now. I expected a PB, but not a huge one like this and certainly not the win. The plan today was not to start the race too fast. In earlier races this season I was going out too fast and lacked the finish. Things looked good in training, but I was not quite able to translate it into competition.

“Now things finally worked out. I was surprised to be caught by the athlete behind me on the curve [Klaver], but I was able to respond in the final straight.”

● Gymnastics ● ABC News Australia reported that Gymnastics Australia is financially unable to participate in the National Redress Scheme adopted in 2020 to provide compensation to victims of childhood sexual abuse.

Individual claims can be funded up to A$150,000 (~$102, 347 U.S. today), but in a May submittal to the Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme, said they didn’t have sufficient funds. Further, Gymnastics Australia head Alexandra Ash told the committee:

“It is understood that the National Redress Scheme formally approached Australian Olympic Committee to fund Gymnastics Australia’s application to the scheme, of which was declined.”

● Judo ● The International Judo Federation announced the adoption of its “Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration,” which follows the lead and is modeled on the work of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

The statement includes 12 rights, including being in doping-free competitions, competitions without discrimination, protection from abuse and harassment, and freedom of expression, among other items.

The responsibilities list has 10 items, notably not to engage in doping or discrimination, but also “refrain from political demonstration in competitions, competition venues and ceremonies.”

The responsibilities also state that athletes – as item 6 – “Respect the solidarity principle of the Olympic Movement, which allows assistance and support to be provided among athletes and members of the Olympic Movement.”

It would be interesting to know how many athletes actually understand what item 6 means and how it impacts them.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The UIPM World U-17 Championships, the first to include the obstacle racing discipline, concluded in Alexandria (EGY), with the host country leading the medal table with four wins and seven total awards.

UIPM Vice President Sharif El Elerian, also the head of the Egyptian national federation, was glowing afterwards:

“The past week was historic for both Egypt and UIPM as we proudly hosted the inaugural Youth World Championships featuring the newly introduced Obstacle discipline. The event was a resounding success and enabled us to showcase the sport of pentathlon in the best possible way.

“The Obstacle race has made a huge difference in Pentathlon. I think the youth are enjoying it very much, spectators are enjoying it very much and it will be a great success in the future.”

But there were issues. A widely-seen message from the Ukrainian federation on WhatsApp concerning the men’s final included (quoted as shown):

“The problem for all athletes became the new discipline (obstacle). Thanks to the local climate (high humidity) the track became so slippery that the athletes could not reach the finish and the competition was stopped. The judges couldn’t do anything for a long time and it was decided to conduct a swim, while preparing an obstacle course. The ‘balance” was removed from the track, which was very dangerous in these conditions, slippery mats were covered and ropes were attached on the podium. Only under such conditions athletes were able to overcome obstacles. The competition was delayed and the coaches of our national team had to change the departure date because they couldn’t make it to their plane.”

The Ukrainians ultimately finished second in the men’s team competition.

Modern Pentathlon is not, at present, on the program of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and has substituted obstacle for riding in an effort to “modernize” the sport, despite encountering significant, continuing resistance from individual athletes and the Pentathlon United athlete activist group.

● Speed Skating ● Joey Mantia, who came from inline skating onto the ice and became a three-time World Champion and an Olympic medal winner for the U.S., announced his retirement last week at age 37:

“Might as well make my first thread the announcement of my retirement. It’s been such a good ride, but nothing lasts forever.”

He added later:

“Thank you for all the messages and posts about the retirement, they made this old dog feel good. I was amazed at how many of you were still paying attention to my little journey and I’m humbled by the amount of skaters who have gone out of their way to let me know they felt inspired, not just by the accomplishments, but also the struggles.”

Mantia’s last season was in 2022, where he won an Olympic Winter bronze with the U.S. in the men’s Team Pursuit, his only Olympic medal in his two Games appearances. Back injuries canceled his 2022-23 season and now he’s headed into coaching.

He was especially feared in the Mass Start event, where he won World titles in 2017-19-21. He also took a bronze in the men’s 1,500 m at the 2020 World Championships.

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For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Richardson beats Jackson in Chorzow, UCI puts transgender women in men’s division; LA28 Olympic coin bill to be re-introduced

By
Rich Perelman
-
American Sha'Carri Richardson and Jamaica's Shericka Jackson dueling in the women's 100 m at the Wanda Diamond League meet in Chorzow, Poland (Photo: Matthew Quine for Diamond League AG)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Richardson beats Jackson, four world leads in Chorzow
2. UCI rules transgender women belong in men’s division
3. LA28 commemorative coin bill being re-introduced
4. Kremlev says IBA will be re-recognized by IOC
5. Vingegaard vs. Pogacar moves to final week in Tour de France

A stirring Diamond League meet in Poland saw American Sha’Carri Richardson edge world-leader Shericka Jackson of Jamaica in the women’s 100 m, 10.76 to 10.78, along with four world-leading performances from Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the men’s 1,500 m, Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim in the high jump, Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas in the women’s triple jump and Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi in the women’s javelin. The Union Cycliste Internationale issued a new ruling that transgender women must compete in the men’s division, in order to rule out any advantage gained by male puberty. The Congressional bill to authorize U.S. commemorative coins for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles is being reintroduced in both the House and Senate after being ignored last year. International Boxing Association President Umar Kremlev of Russia told the European Boxing Confederation that he believes that the IBA will re-recognized by the International Olympic Committee, and, as usual, promised more money for federations that stick with the IBA. At the Tour de France, defending champ Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and two-time winner Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia will battle into the final week, with the Dane hanging on to a 10-second lead after 15 stages.

● World Championships: Aquatics (3: Germans Beck and Wellbrock sweep 10 km; Japan dominates Artistic; China 5-for-5 in diving so far) = Triathlon (Wilde and Beaugrand win Super Sprint titles) ●

● Panorama: Athletics (2: Young and Kurgat win USATF road titles) = Badminton (China wins two at U.S. Open in Iowa) = Football (2: Mexico strikes once to win CONCACAF Gold Cup; Japan concludes deal for Women’s World Cup TV) = Gymnastics (Raffaeli wins Rhythmic World Challenge Cup All-Around) = Shooting (U.S. wins two at ISSF World Cup Lonato) = Sport Climbing (Teen sensation Anraku wins Lead World Cup) = Tennis (Hsieh wins fourth career Wimbledon women’s Doubles title!) = Volleyball (2: Turkey takes Women’s Nations League; Iran wins FIVB men’s U-21 Worlds) = Wrestling (14 medals and six wins for U.S. at Ranking Series in Budapest) ●

1.
Richardson beats Jackson, four world leads in Chorzow

The Diamond League season resumed in Chorzow (POL) with a bang, with four world leads and a showdown in the women’s 100 m, won by American Sha’Carri Richardson. The world leads:

● Men/1,500 m: 3:27.14, Jakob Ingebrightsen (NOR)
● Men/High Jump: 2.36 m (7-8 3/4), Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT)
● Women/Triple Jump: 15.18 m (49-9 3/4), Yulimar Rojas (VEN)
● Women/Javelin: 67.04 m (219-11), Haruka Kitaguchi (JPN)

The men’s 1,500 was billed as a world-record attempt for Norwegian star (and Olympic champ) Ingebrigtsen, with three pace setters, and they were right on schedule with a lap to go and then Ingebrigtsen was on his own with 300 m to go. He stormed into the final straight and ran without any let-up to the line in 3:27.14, now no. 4 all-time and the eighth-fastest race ever run. Ingebrigtsen:

● 400 m: 55.8
● 800 m: 1:51.6 (55.8)
● 1,200 m: 2:46.9 (55.3)
● 1,500 m: 3:27.14 (40.3)

His last 400 m was in 54.1 and his last 800 m in 1:49.4. Wow.

Ingebrigtsen wasn’t challenged, with Abel Kipsang (KEN) finishing second in an also-sensational 3:29.11 – a lifetime best and no. 5 this season. Kenyan Reynold Cheruiyot was third in a lifetime best of 3:30.30, then Andrew Coscoran (IRL: 3:30.42 national record) and Sam Tanner (NZL: 3:31.24 lifetime best). Britain’s Elliot Giles ran 3:33.00 and was 10th!

Tokyo Olympic co-champs Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) both cleared 2.32 m (7-7 1/4) in the high jump on their first attempts, but were joined by German Tobias Potye with a lifetime best at that height. Both Tamberi and Potye cleared 2.34 m (7-8) on their second tries, another PR for Potye, while Barshim missed twice. Then Barshim passed to 2.36 m (7-8 3/4) for one more try and sailed over, while Tamberi and Potye all missed three times. Barshim hadn’t jumped since May, but he’s suddenly looking like the favorite for the Worlds in Budapest next month.

Rojas was leading the triple jump, but not by much going into the final round, then she exploded to a world-leading 15.18 m (49-9 3/4) in the sixth. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR) was second at 14.70 m (48-2 3/4). Americans Keturah Orji and Tori Franklin suffered from the long trip, finishing seventh and eighth, at 14.06 m (46-1 1/2) and 13.49 m (44-3 1/4).

Japan’s Kitaguchi, the 2022 Worlds bronze winner, led the javelin with her fifth-round throw of 65.82 m (215-11), no. 2 in the world for 2023, then sailed the spear out to a national record of 67.04 m (219-11) in the final round for the world lead. Australia’s Mackenzie Little, fifth at the Worlds last year, finished second at 64.50 m (211-7).

The women’s 100 m was the final event of the day, pitting nos. 1-2 on the year, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson (10.65) – running on her 29th birthday – and American Richardson (10.71). Off the gun, it was indoor star Ewa Swoboda of Poland with the best start, but Jackson had the lead by 40 m and was steady, as Richardson came on. The American found another gear that no one had and got into the lead by the 75 m mark and held on to win, 10.76 to 10.78 (wind: +0.2 m/s).

Swoboda was third with a lifetime best of 10.94 – her first sub-11 time – and TeeTee Terry of the U.S. for fourth in a seasonal best of 10.99. This was a confident, well-executed, first-class win for Richardson and sets her up to take on five-time Worlds winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) in Budapest.

The men’s 100 m was a surprise win for South Africa’s Akani Simbine, with reigning World Champion Fred Kerley of the U.S. not showing his usual mid-race surge, and Simbine winning a tight finish from Kerley, Emmenual Eseme (CAM) and U.S. champ Cravont Charleston in 9.97-9.98-9.98-9.99 (wind: 0.0).

South Africa got another impressive win by Rio 2016 400 m champ Wayde van Niekerk, who ran away from a good field in the no. 2 time of 2023, 44.08, easing into the finish. He beat Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori (44.61) and 400 m hurdles World Champion Alison dos Santos made a seasonal debut in third in 44.73. The American trio of Ryan Willie, Bryce Deadmon and Vernon Norwood were 5-6-7 in 44.77, 44.81 and 44.88.

Olympic champ Soufiane El Bakkali ran away with the 3,000 m Steeple, winning easily in 8:03.16, easily ahead of Kenyans Abraham Kibiwott (8:08.03) and Leonard Bett (8:09.45).

U.S. stars were also off the mark in the 110 m hurdles, won by Cuba’s Roger Iribarne in 13.25 (-0.2). Trey Cunningham, the 2022 Worlds runner-up, was fourth in 13.36 and U.S. champ Daniel Roberts was seventh in 13.90.

The men’s vault was down to three after 5.81 m (19-0 3/4), with world-record holder Mondo Duplantis (SWE) and two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks (USA) both perfect, and Olympic silver medalist Chris Nilsen (USA) with just one miss. Duplantis and Kendricks both cleared 5.91 m (19-4 3/4) and Duplantis cleared 6.01 m (19-8 1/2) for the win, but could go no higher.

World-record holder Ryan Crouser took time to unwind from the long trip overseas, winning the shot put at 22.55 m (73-11 3/4), on his sixth and final throw. American Payton Otterdahl, 10th in Tokyo in 2021, reached 21.88 m (71-9 1/2) for second. Josh Awotunde of the U.S. was fifth (21.61 m/70-10 3/4) and two-time world champ Joe Kovacs was seventh (20.88 m/68-6).

In the non-Diamond League men’s hammer, home favorite and Olympic champ Wojciech Nowicki edged U.S. champion Rudy Winkler, 80.02 m (262-6) and 78.11 m (256-3).

Dominican women’s 400 m star Marileidy Paulino, the Tokyo silver medalist, was upset in her race, unable to move as she usually does in the final 100 m and finished third in 50.00, behind a surprised Natalia Kaczmarek (POL: 49.48 lifetime best and no. 5 this year) and Lieke Klaver (NED: 49.81).

In the women’s 800 m, Kenya’s Mary Moraa was challenged by 2019 World Champion Halimah Nakaayi (UGA), but Moraa, the 2022 Worlds bronze winner, ran away down the straight and won in a season’s best 1:56.85 (no. 2 in 2023), with Nakaayi getting a lifetime best of 1:57.78 in second. Jamaica’s Natoya Goule got a season’s best of 1:57.90 for third and Sage Hurta-Klecker of the U.S. was fourth in 1:58.09.

Ethiopia dominated the longer distances, with 2022 World Indoor bronze medalist Hirut Meshesha winning a hot finish in the 1,500 m in 3:54.87 over 17-year-old Birke Haylom (3:54.93), Diribe Welteji (3:55.08) and Worknesh Mesele (3:57.00) for a 1-2-3-4 sweep – all lifetime bests – and nos. 3-4-5-6 on the 2023 world list. In the 3,000 m, Tokyo 1,500 m fourth-placer Freweyni Hailu (ETH) outran Lilian Rengeruk (KEN) down the home straight, 8:26.61 to 8:27.80. Hailu moves to no. 4 on the world list this season.

The women’s 100 m hurdles was terrific, with new U.S. champ Nia Ali off best, but giving up the lead over the eighth hurdle to former world-record holder Keni Harrison, but then world-record holder (and World Champion) Tobi Amusan (NGR) came hardest off the final hurdle and got to the line first in 12.34 (+0.9), no. 2 on the year. Harrison and Ali went 2-3 in 12.35 and 12.38.

The women’s high jump had three clearing 1.98 m (6-6), with Ukraine’s Olympic fourth-placer Irina Gerashchenko winning, by making all five heights without a miss through 1.98 m. Tokyo silver medalist Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) make 1.98 m on her third try, and 2017 Worlds silver winner Yulia Levchenko (UKR) was third at that height. All missed 2.01 m (6-7).

In the non-Diamond League women’s hammer, the U.S. was 1-2, with World Champion Brooke Andersen winning at 75.40 m (247-4), ahead of Janee Kassanavoid (74.27 m/243-8).

Pretty good. The next Diamond League meet comes Friday in Monaco, with U.S. star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone scheduled to contest the women’s 400 m.

2.
UCI rules transgender women belong in men’s division

A special meeting of the Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale was held on 5 July, with a decision announced last Friday:

“From now on, female transgender athletes who have transitioned after (male) puberty will be prohibited from participating in women’s events on the UCI International Calendar – in all categories – in the various disciplines.”

A more detailed explanation included:

“The UCI Management Committee has taken note of the state of scientific knowledge, which does not confirm that at least two years of gender-affirming hormone therapy with a target plasma testosterone concentration of 2.5 nmol/L is sufficient to completely eliminate the benefits of testosterone during puberty in men. In addition, there is considerable inter-individual variability in response to gender-confirming hormone therapy, which makes it even more difficult to draw precise conclusions about the effects of such treatment. Given the current state of scientific knowledge, it is also impossible to rule out the possibility that biomechanical factors such as the shape and arrangement of the bones in their limbs may constitute a lasting advantage for female transgender athletes.

“Taking these findings into account, the UCI Management Committee considered the interests of transgender athletes in being able to take part in sporting competitions against those of athletes in the female category, which is considered a protected class. In this context, the UCI Management Committee concluded, considering the remaining scientific uncertainties, that it was necessary to take this measure to protect the female class and ensure equal opportunities.”

However, this does not mean that all questions have been answered. The UCI, and other federations – such as World Aquatics and World Athletics – know that legal challenges are likely. So, there was also a commitment to further research:

“The new rules will come into force on 17 July 2023. They may change in the future as scientific knowledge evolves. With this in mind, the UCI will begin discussions with other members of the international sporting movement on the co-financing of a research programme aimed at studying changes in the physical performance of highly-trained athletes undergoing transitional hormone treatment.”

3.
LA28 commemorative coin bill being re-introduced

Last Friday (14th) marked five years to go until the opening of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the bill to authorize the minting of U.S. commemorative coins to mark the occasion will be re-introduced in Congress.

Senate Bill 4382, the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin Act, went nowhere last year and so sponsors Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Alex Padilla (D-California) are back again with the same bill, with the same language.

The proposal is for a four-coin program:

● $5 gold coin: 100,000, with a $35 surcharge;
● $1 silver coin: 500,000, with a $10 surcharge;
● 50-cent clad coin: 300,000, with a $5 surcharge, and
● $1 proof coin: 100,000, with a $50 surcharge.

LA28 and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee will benefit, of course, as “all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties for the objects and purposes related to the hosting of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and to aid in the execution of its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States.”

The surcharge total, based on the bill, would be $15 million: helpful, but hardly a game changer. For the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a furious legislative battle was fought over the number and types of coins, with a $10 gold piece and two $1 silver dollars eventually approved. However, 50 million of the silver dollars were produced and two million $10 gold pieces were made; both the L.A. Olympic organizing committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee received more than $35 million each from the program.

A companion bill, H.R. 8047 was entered in the House of Representatives last year from Los Angeles-area Congressman Brad Sherman, who will do the same with the new bill.

Expect the Senate bill to be referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, but with more urgency this time as the clock is now ticking a little more loudly in advance of the LA28 Games.

4.
Kremlev says IBA will be re-recognized by IOC

Last week, Argentina and New Zealand announced that they are leaving the International Boxing Association and will apply to join the new World Boxing group, along with – so far – the U.S., Switzerland and the British high-performance unit.

But Umar Kremlev, the Russian head of the International Boxing Association, is unmoved. He told an Extraordinary Congress of the European Boxing Confederation that the IBA’s future is sunny:

“I am thrilled that boxing retains its place in Olympic program, and am convinced that the IBA will return its recognition, there is no doubt. The Olympics are crucial to us since it is an event, but fans are coming to watch the athletes, their techniques, and the beauty of the sport, not the sports officials.

“Despite the IOC’s extremely disappointing decision which does not reflect transparency and democracy, we are resolved to fix it. Adherence to our values, IBA Constitution and our independence is paramount. The IBA will continue to operate and promote boxing globally, ensuring that boxing remains untouched by unscrupulous politics.”

As is his usual practice, Kremlev came with promises of future funding, according to the IBA statement:

“President Kremlev suggested establishing a European Boxing Cup with a prize fund of $1M. Moreover, IBA will continue to allocate $50,000 USD as a financial support to the National Federations and this amount will be increased to $100,000 the following year.”

The EUBC Extraordinary Congress agreed on an amended constitution; the IBA’s statement said it included a call “on all national European boxing federations to admit all athletes on equal terms and rights without political aspects. Sports should stay autonomous and neutral in relation to politics.” Translation: no sanctions for Russian or Belarus related to the invasion of Ukraine. 

In this regard, two sub-sections were added to the EUBC Constitution’s “Mission and Objectives”:

“(i) to respect – to the extent that the mission and the other statutory objectives of the EUBC are not affected – the principle of universality and political neutrality as defined in the Olympic Charter and to maintain harmonious relations with government authorities, institutions or sports governing bodies while respecting the principle of autonomy as defined in the Olympic Charter;

“(j) to commit to respecting international recognised human rights and to striving to promote the protection of these rights as they apply to the activities of the EUBC, and its members, which ensure, in particular the protection of the dignity of people, rejection of all forms of discrimination and rejection of all forms of physical, professional, or sexual harassment and abuse, and of all practices which are detrimental to the physical or mental integrity of a person.”

Observed: As the IBA is out of the Olympic movement now, its activities are more a indication of how Russian foreign policy will be carried out in the sports area. So far, the message is, stay with the IBA and more money will come your way.

5.
Vingegaard vs. Pogacar moves to final week in Tour de France

The two-man battle for the 110th Tour de France title will continue into the final week of the race as the two riders finished together on Sunday and are just 10 seconds apart in the overall standings.

Denmark’s defending champion, Jonas Vingegaard, continues to lead the 2020-21 winner, Tadej Pogacar (SLO), with the two playing cat-and-mouse amid some brutal climbing stages on the weekend.

On Friday, a finishing climb up the Grand Colombier saw Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski break away in the final 12 km of the 137.8 km stage and win in 3:17:33, 47 seconds up on Belgian Maxim van Gils. But right behind were Pogacar (+0:50) and Vingegaard (+0:54), so the Slovenian closed the gap to nine seconds.

Saturday’s 151.8 km stage had two major climbs in the second half, crossing over the tops of the Col de la Ramaz (1,612 m) and the Col de Joux Plane (1,690 m) before the descent to the finish, with Spain’s Carlos Rodriguez taking the stage in 3:58:45, ahead of Pogacar and Vingegaard, both just five seconds back. American Sepp Kuss was fifth (+0:57). The race was marred by a couple of major crashes, with several riders suffering significant injuries.

On Sunday, another uphill finish at the end of a 179 km stage to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc saw Dutch star Wout Poels’ attack with 11 km remaining and rout the field, winning by 2:08 over Wout van Aert (BEL) and by 3:00 over Mathieu Burgaudeau (FRA). Pogacar and Vingegaard were in 16th and 17th, both 6:04 back.

So Vingegaard, thanks to a Saturday mid-race time bonus, has a 10-second lead going into Tuersday’s time trial, a short 22.4 route, but with yet another uphill finish to Combloux. There are climbing stages on Wednesday and Friday, with the final ride into Paris next Sunday.

Rodriguez, thanks to his Saturday win, is now third, 5:21 back of Vingegaard, with Adam Yates (GBR: +5:40) fourth and Jai Hindley of Australia fifth (+6:38), who was hindered in Saturday’s Stage 14 crash.

≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡

● Aquatics ● The World Aquatics Championships are fully underway in Fukuoka (JPN), with Germany sweeping the men’s and women’s 10 km open-water races.

Both races were conducted on six-lap courses, with the women’s race on Saturday and 17-year-old Katie Grimes of the U.S. in command by the halfway point. She led after three laps and four laps, then became part of a lead pack with Chelsea Gubecka (AUS), defending champ Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED) and others. But coming hard was German Leonie Beck, the 2022 silver medalist, who was 10th with a lap to go, but third with a half-lap left and all alone at the finish to win in 2:02:34.0.

Gubecka, 13th in 2022, won her first Worlds medal in second at 2:02:38.1, with Grimes, van Rouwendaal and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA) will coming to the touch together. A sweeping left-hand stroke by Grimes got to the timing plate the fastest to earn her the bronze medal over van Rouwendaal and Cunha, 2:02:42.3 to 2:02:42.4 to 2:02:42.5.

It also won Grimes an individual qualifying slot for Paris 2024, reportedly the first American to personally qualify for Paris 2024. Teammate Mariah Denigan finished eighth in 2:03:13.5.

The men’s 10 km on Sunday saw Tokyo Olympic winner Florian Wellbrock dominate the field, taking the lead midway through the first lap and swim away to an 18.7-second win in 1:50:40.3. Hungary’s Kristof Rasovszky, the Tokyo runner-up, was second again (1:50:59.0), with German Oliver Klemet third (1:51:00.8). Brennan Gravley of the U.S. was 30th in 1:54:13.0 and Joey Tepper was 36th in 1:57:23.9.

Wellbrock’s win is his fifth career Worlds gold and his third in open water: he won the 2019 title in this event and the 2022 gold in the 5 km.

At the 2022 Worlds in Budapest, China won all 13 events. They’re trying to do it again, sweeping the first five held in Fukuoka.

Jianfeng Peng, now 29, won his second career Worlds gold in the men’s 1 m Springboard, after winning the event back in 2017! He scored 440.45 to 428.85 for Mexico’s Oscar Olvera, with China’s Jiuyuan Zheng third (418.30). Jack Ryan was the top U.S. finisher in ninth (376.35).

Shan Lin, just 21, won her third career Worlds gold, in the women’s 1 m, adding to her 2019 victory in the Mixed Team event (at 17) and in the Mixed 3 m Synchro in 2022. She led a Chinese 1-2 at 318.60 with 2022 winner Yajie Li at 306.35. Mexico’s Aranza Vazquez was third with 285.05. The U.S.’s Hailey Hernandez made the final and finished seventh (259.20).

Platform star Yuxi Chen teamed with Tokyo Olympic 10 m champ Hongchan Quan to win her second straight women’s 10 m Synchro world title, scoring 369.84 points. She now has two Synchro golds and individual Worlds golds in 2019 and 2022. Britain’s Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson took the silver (311.760 and the American pair of Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell won the bronze (294.42). Parratto and Schnell won the Tokyo Olympic silver in this event in 2021; it’s the first Worlds medal for Parratto, but the fourth for Schnell, who was a silver winner last year with Katrina Young.

In the Mixed 10 m Platform final, China’s Feilong Wang and Jiaqi Zhang won easily at 339.54, with Diego Balleza and Viviana del Angel (MEX: 313.44) claiming second and Hiroki Ito and Minami Itahashi (JPN: 305.34) taking third. The U.S. finished 11th with Max Weinrich and Kaylee Bishop (256.02).

In Artistic Swimming, Japan’s Yukiko Inui, the defending champion in both the Solo Technical and Solo Free events, won her second straight gold in the Solo Technical, scoring 276.5717 in the final. Austria’s Vasiliki Alexandri was second (264.4200) and Iris Tio of Spain won the bronze (254.2100).

Japan swept the early honors in the Duets, with Moe Higa and Mashiro Yasunaga taking the women’s Duet Technical routine (273.9500) over veteran Italian stars Linda Cerruti and Lucrezia Ruggiero (263.0334) and Spain’s Alisa Ozhogina and Tio (257.8368). The U.S. entry of Megumi Field and Ruby Remati were 17th in qualifying and did not advance. In the Mixed Duet Technical, Japanese siblings Tomoka Sato and Yotaro Sato moved up from silver in 2022 to win at 255.5066, in front of Dennis Gonzalez and Emma Garcia (Spain: 248.0499) and Wentao Cheng and Haoyu Shi of China (247.3033).

● Triathlon ● The World Triathlon Sprint & Relay Championships were in Hamburg (GER), with the unusually-quick super-sprint format of a 300 m swim, 7.5 km bike (3×2.5), 1.75 km run (total 9.55 km).

The format included qualifying round of 30, with a semifinal round of 20, leading to the final with just 10. The men’s race was tight throughout, but New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, was sharp on the bike, efficient in transition and had the third-fastest run to win in 19:26, just ahead of Vasco Vilaca (POR: 19:28) and 2022 Sprint World Champion Alex Yee (GBR; 19:28). No American men made the final.

In the women’s final, France’s Cassandre Beaugrand simply blitzed the field on the run phase to win by 10 seconds. A member of the Tokyo Olympic bronze mixed-relay team, Beaugrand came out of the water in the lead with two others, was only seventh on the bike, but was 11 seconds faster than anyone else on the run to win in 21:35. Britain’s Beth Potter was a clear second in 21:45 with Laura Lindemann (GER: 21:47) third.

Taylor Spivey of the U.S. finished seventh in 21:59 and Summer Rappaport was 10th (22:30). Kirsten Kasper and Katie Zefares of the U.S. made it to the semifinal round, with comebacking Gwen Jorgensen eliminated in the round-of-30.

In the Mixed Relay, home favorite Germany got a great opening leg from Tim Hellwig and really never looked back, with Lindemann finishing in 21:55 to clinch a 1:22:08 victory. Wilde led off for New Zealand, but it was Nicole van der Kay on the anchor who brought the Kiwis in second (1:22:27), with the Swiss third (1:22:35).

The U.S. quartet of Seth Rider, Spivey, Matthew McElroy and Rappaport was fourth, 20 seconds out of a medal in 1:22:55.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● The 2019 NCAA 10,000 m champ from BYU, Clayton Young, took the USATF men’s 8 km Championship in Kingsport, Tennessee on Saturday, beating a quality field in 22:45, ahead of 2023 USATF Cross Country runner-up Andrew Colley (22:49), Isai Rodriguez (22:50) and 2023 U.S. Cross Country champ Emmanuel Bor (22:54).

After a storm delay, Young was among three leaders at the halfway point, but pushed the pace with 3.2 km left to win by daylight. It’s his second national title, after winning the 2021 USATF 20 km championship.

In the women’s USATF 6 km Championship, Ednah Kurgat managed a tight win in Canton, Ohio, taking her second national title in 18:31 over Nell Rojas (18:33), Annie Rodenfels (18:34) and Emma Hurley (18:36).

The top three surged with 1.6 km to go, with Kurgat’s final sprint the difference.

Kurgat won the U.S. Cross Country title in January, then was sixth in the USATF women’s 10,000 m in Eugene and 13th in the 5,000 m, but was strong at the finish to win the 6 km national crown.

● Badminton ● The BWF World Tour was in Council Bluffs, Iowa for the Yonex U.S. Open, with China and Thailand facing off in the men’s and women’s Singles finals.

The women were first, with Supanida Katethong (THA) taking a straight-set victory over Fang Jie Gao (CHN), 21-15, 21-16. But China’s second-seeded Shi Feng Li (CHN) turned the tables in the men’s final, beating top-seed Kumlavut Vitidsarn (THA), 21-15, 21-18.

China got another win in the women’s Doubles, as fifth-seeds Sheng Shu Liu and Ning Tan (CHN) won two close sets from top-seeded Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen (DEN), 21-19, 21-19.

In the men’s Doubles final, Sze Fei Goh and Nur Izzuddin (MAS) defeated Fang-Chih Lee and Fang-Jen Lee (TPE), 21-9, 21-10. But the Chinese Taipei Mixed Doubles team of Hong Wei Ye and Chia Hsin Lee – the top seeds – got a come-from-behind win over Mathias Thyrri and Amalie Magelund (DEN), 13-21, 21-6 and 21-18.

● Football ● SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California was full – really full – for the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup between Mexico and Panama. And the nearly all-for-Mexico crowd go a thriller.

It was going to be an uphill effort for Los Canaleros, who came in with a 2-17-6 (W-L-T) all-time record against Mexico, with its last win (2-1) coming on 24 July 2013! Mexico had beaten Panama, 1-0, in the CONCACAF Nations League third-place team in June.

The game started with Mexico looking for offense, but quickly became end-to-end pressure from both sides. Possession was about even, with Mexico looking to attack and Panama ready to counter.

Mexican striker Henry Martin helped to start, and then eventually scored a brilliant, left-footed goal on a re-direct in the box of a cross from midfielder Luis Romo in the 33rd minute, but the score was disallowed for offsides back at the start of the play.

But the Mexican pressure increased, and in the 43rd, forward Orbelin Pineda got a clear shot at goal that was saved by Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera, but the rebound popped out to Martin, whose shot was saved by Mosquera again. Then, just before the half, Panama midfielder Anibal Godoy sent a seeing-eye shot from just inside the box that just missed the left corner of the Mexican goal. But it ended 0-0; Mexico had 52% of possession and a 14-4 shots edge.

The second half was more back-and-forth, but still no scoring. In the 63rd, Panama defender Harold Cummings was called for a second yellow card and was disqualified, but then the yellow card was rescinded – in fact, there was little or no contact – allowing Cummings to continue.

Mexico’s attack ramped up and Panama couldn’t get possession, but then sub striker Ivan Anderson got two shots at Mexican keeper Memo Ochoa in the 72nd, but the play was called offsides.

With the action end to end, Mexico finally got a goal on an outlet pass after another Panama attack. Pineda cleared the ball out of the Mexican end and found sub striker Santiago Gimenez just past midfield. Gimenez did the rest on his own, dribbling left, then shooting across his body from left to right and sent the ball by Mosqueda to the far post and into the net in the 88th.

Panama’s desperate tries were thwarted through six minutes of stoppage time and Mexico celebrated its ninth Gold Cup title, the first since 2019, to the delight of the 72,963 in attendance. El Tri ended with 52% of possession and a 23-14 edge on shots, in a game that had 41 total fouls and eight yellow cards.

It’s the third Gold Cup final in which Panama has lost, in 2005, 2013 and 2023, with scores of 0-0 (lost on penalties), 0-1 and 0-1. 

Japan, the last major market which did not have a rights deal in place for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, concluded an agreement with FIFA with national broadcaster NHK. The lack of a deal to show the event had been a source of concern for the team, fearing a blackout would reduce enthusiasm for women’s football in the country.

● Gymnastics ● Italy’s All-Around World Champion Sofia Raffaeli won her third title this season at the Rhythmic World Challenge Cup in Cluj-Napoca (ROU).

Already a winner twice in the FIG Rhythmic World Cup series, she was a clear winner in this World Challenge Cup, scoring 133.550, ahead of 2023 European All-Around champ Boryana Kaelyn (BUL: 130.850) and German Darja Varfolomeev (127.600).

Lili Mizuno was the top U.S. finisher, in 13th (119.200).

Kaelyn won on Ball (35.000), with Raffaeli third (31.500) and Mizuno fifth (30.350), and then with Clubs (33.350) ahead of Varfolomeev (33.250) and Raffaeli (32.950). Raffaeli took the Hoops event (35.800) with Mizuno eighth (29.850), and Varfolomeev won with Ribbon (31.350).

The series will close next week in Milan (ITA) with a final World Cup.

● Shooting ● A strong showing for the U.S. at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato (ITA), with two wins and a silver.

Dania Jo Vizzi, the 2017 World Champion, won the women’s Skeet title with 54/60 in the final to finish ahead of teammate Sam Simonton (54) and 18-year-old Yiting Jiang (CHN: 43).

The U.S. pair of Austen Smith and three-time Olympic champ Vincent Hancock won the Mixed Team Skeet final, 42-39 over Chile.

Hancock was sixth in the men’s Skeet final, won by Tokyo Olympic runner-up Jesper Hansen (DEN), 42, over 2019 Worlds runner-up Tammaro Cassandro (ITA), 56-55. American Dustan Taylor was fourth (37).

In men’s Trap, 2022 Worlds runner-up Nathan Hales (GBR) barely beat out China’s Ying Qi, 49-48, as Hales hit his last 42 targets! Australia’s Laetisha Scanlan, the Tokyo Olympic fourth-placer, won the women’s Trap gold with a 46-45 score over Spain’s 2015 World Champion Fatima Galvez. American Ryann Phillips finished fourth (26).

● Sport Climbing ● Japan’s Sorato Anraku is the newest teen sensation in the IFSC World Cup, taking his first win in Lead at the Briancon (FRA) World Cup to go with his Boulder World Cup earlier in the season.

Anraku led a Japanese sweep in the men’s final, reaching the top of the route in both the semi and final, ahead of countrymen Taisei Homma (49+) and Satone Yoshida (49+). In fact, Japan claimed the top six places.

In 10 World Cups this season, Anraku been out of the top seven only once and now has four medals: 1-1-0 in Boulder and 1-0-1 in Lead.

Slovenia’s Vita Lukan also claimed her first World Cup gold, taking the women’s Lead title at 46 holds, ahead of Eliska Adamovska (CZE: 44+) and Manon Hily (FRA: 44+). Lukan had won a bronze – also at Briancon – in 2021 for her only other World Cup medal.

Next up are the World Championships in Bern (SUI) from 1-12 August.

● Tennis ● The Wimbledon Championships concluded Sunday, with Spain’s top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz winning an instant classic from Novak Djokovic (SRB), 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4 in a marathon 4:42. That was a day after unseeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur (TUN) for the women’s title, 6–4, 6–4, for her first Grand Slam title.

Less well publicized were the Doubles results, with Wesley Koolhof (NED) and Neal Skupski (GBR) taking the men’s title over Marcel Granollers (ESP) and Horacio Zeballos (ARG), 6–4, 6–4. For Granoliers, it was his fifth Grand Slam Doubles final, and he’s 0-5; Zeballos is now 0-3.

The Women’s Doubles winners were Su-wei Hsieh (TPE) and Czech Barbora Strycova, who overcame Storm Hunter (AUS) and Elise Mertens (BEL), 7–5, 6–4. It’s Hsieh’s fourth Wimbledon Doubles title, two with Strycova, in 2019 and 2023.

The Mixed Doubles saw Mate Pavic (CRO) and Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) finally win over Joran Vliegen (BEL) and China’s Yifan Xu, 6–4, 6–7(9–11), 6–3. Pavic has now won Mixed Doubles titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian.

● Volleyball ● The fifth Volleyball World Nations League Final for women at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas matched a first-time finalist in China and a one-time silver winner in Turkey.

Poland and the U.S. had the best regular-season records at 10-2, with Turkey at 9-3 and China at 8-4. But in Arlington, the Turks swept aside Italy (3-0) and then upset the U.S., 3-1 (25-21, 25-14, 24-26, 27-25) to advance to the final. China beat Brazil, 3-1, in the quarters and swept Poland, 3-0, to reach its first Nations League championship match.

In the final, Turkey opened with a 25-22 set win, then China won by the same score to square the match. But Turkey took over and completed the job with 25-19 and 25-16 set wins to take the championship.

Turkey was the runner-up to the U.S. in the inaugural women’s Nations League in 2018 and was third in 2021. Now it joins the U.S. (3 times) and Italy as champions. China moves up to silver after winning bronzes in 2018 and 2019.

In the third-place match, Poland edged the U.S. in a marathon, 25-15, 16-25, 25-19, 18-25 and 17-15.

Team prize money for places 1-8 is $1 million-500,000-300,000-180,000-130,000-85,000-65,000-40,000.

At the FIVB men’s U-21 World Championship in Manama (BRN), Iran defeated defending champion Italy to win its second title, by 25-20, 23-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-9. Bulgaria was third, sweeping Argentina in the bronze-medal match, 25-22, 28-26, 25-19.

The U.S. was 0-3 in its group and finished 13th overall.

● Wrestling ● At the United World Wrestling Ranking Series event – the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial in Budapest (HUN) – the U.S. collected 14 total medals, including six wins.

In men’s freestyle, Americans won eight total medals and three golds, with Zahid Valencia at 92 kg, three-time World Champion Kyle Snyder at 97 kg and Mason Parris at 125. Nick Lee (65 kg) and Joey McKenna (70 kg) were finalists and Zane Richards (57 kg), Vitali Arujau (61 kg) and Chance Marsteller (79 kg) earned bronze medals. The U.S. won the team title with 120 points, to 70 for Kazakhstan.

In women’s freestyle, Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg), Jaccara Winchester (55 kg) and Jennifer Page (59 kg) won their classes, with bronze medals won by Forrest Molinari (68 kg) and Yelena Makoyed (76 kg). The American women finished with 115 points, second in the team standings behind China (135).

In Greco-Roman, Azerbaijan was the team winner with 140 points; the only U.S. medal winner was Kamal Bey at 77 kg, taking silver against Sunan Suleymanov (AZE) with a 4-1 loss in the final.

This was the fourth and final ranking-series event of 2023; the series is used for seeding at the World Championships and provides an international competition opportunity outside of the championship-level events.

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TSX REPORT: IOC not inviting “Russia” or “Belarus” to Paris ‘24, Russia shrugs; Women’s World Cup sponsor buying 20,000 tickets for free distribution

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. IOC says Russia and Belarus will not be invited to Paris
2. Russia: this isn’t news, and stop asking us to be traitors
3. FIFA Women’s World Cup sponsor giving away tickets in NZL
4. Another suspended sentence in Tokyo 2020 bribery scandal
5. Kersee says McLaughlin-Levone in 400, Mu in 800 at Worlds

The International Olympic Committee stated Thursday that it will not be issuing and invitation to attend the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris to either Russia or Belarus, and re-confirmed that it is ready to financially support Ukrainian athletes who wish to defy their government’s edict to refrain from competing against Russians or Belarusians. Reaction in Moscow was a shrug, but questions about how individuals may be invited – and the timetable – remain unanswered. Sales of FIFA Women’s World Cup tickets for the 29 matches in New Zealand have been slow, so one of the event’s New Zealand sponsors is giving away 20,000 tickets in lots of 5,000 for each of four of the matches. The 10th conviction and sentencing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic sponsorship pay-to-play scandal was handed down on Thursday, with another suspended sentence (as with all the prior nine). Superstar coach Bobby Kersee said that his stars Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Athing Mu will run the 400 m and 800 m, respectively, at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest, as the schedule is not conducive to doubling.

● Panorama: Olympic Games 2036 (Poland interested in hosting after Euro Games success) = Paralympics 2024 (RMC sponsors terrestrial and digital Paralympics channels) = Bobsled & Skeleton (Humphries loses harassment complaint review) = Boxing (Argentina and New Zealand leaving IBA) = Cycling (Izagirre solos to Tour stage win) = Gymnastics (Gabby Douglas returns to training) ●

1.
IOC says Russia and Belarus will not be invited to Paris

Hold on. Breathe. Nothing earth-shaking happened. But there was a modest announcement on Thursday from the International Olympic Committee, buried in a long revision of its continuing “Q&A regarding the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions.”

Seven new sections were added as of Thursday (13th), mostly adulatory comments from outside groups that support the IOC’s 28 March recommendation on the re-entry of individual Russian and Belarusian athletes as “neutrals.” The IOC continues to vigorously promote its own version of the facts and how their approach is the right one.

The seventh and final added item was this:

“Will the Russian and Belarusian NOCs receive an invitation for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 when the invitations are sent on 26 July 2023?”

“The current IOC recommendations for International Federations and international sports event organisers on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions do not concern the participation of athletes and their support personnel with a Russian or Belarusian passport at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 or the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The IOC will take this decision at the appropriate time, at its full discretion, and without being bound by the results of previous Olympic qualification competitions.

“The invitations to the 203 eligible NOCs will be sent on 26 July 2023. For the reasons given, this will exclude the NOCs of Russia and Belarus, plus the NOC of Guatemala, which is currently suspended.”

So, the National Olympic Committees of Russia and Belarus are not being invited to Paris, which is fully in line with the IOC’s approach since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. But the question of “neutral” athletes is still to come.

The IOC’s comments also struck out at the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, which has forbidden participation in events with Russian and Belarusian athletes, and again publicized its offer to help Ukrainian athletes who want to defy their government:

“The IOC wants to give them this opportunity to qualify and finally participate in the Olympic Games. Therefore, through the respective International Federations, the IOC will support every Ukrainian athlete in their preparation and participation in any competition that they want to take part in. Athletes who want to compete but would lose the support of their National Sports Federation and their National Olympic Committee because of government interference, can count on the direct support of the Olympic Movement’s Solidarity Fund for the Olympic community of Ukraine and the IOC’s athlete support programmes.”

And the IOC clarified the situation concerning its two members from Russia, former tennis player Shamil Tarpishchev, 75, and women’s vault world-record holder Yelena Isinbayeva:

“The situation of the IOC Members concerned will be assessed [by the IOC Ethics Commission] from the time of the invasion on 24 February 2022 and subsequently. Considering the second point, the past contractual situation of the Members before the beginning of the war will not be taken into consideration. These guidelines are being applied to both the IOC Members and Honorary Members.”

Isinbayeva, 41, has long been associated with the Russian Army and has appeared in uniform in public; she has been reported with a rank as high as captain.

2.
Russia: this isn’t news, and stop asking us to be traitors

The Russian response to the IOC’s confirmation that it would not receive an invitation to Paris 2024 was, more or less, a shrug. Said Russian Olympic Committee President Stanislav Pozdnyakov:

“Today’s news is a logical continuation of the IOC’s current policy of neutralizing our athletes.

“In fact, nothing new has been announced. Nor is there any answer to the question: what are the legal grounds not to invite the NOC, which was not disqualified, not suspended and not subject to any restrictions.

“The International Olympic Committee from the outset ruled out the possibility of inviting the ROC and the NOC of Belarus to the Games, when in its March recommendations it in fact deprived the citizens of our countries of the right to national identity in sports.

“So now it would be highly strange if such an invitation occurred.”

Pozdnyakov added that “the conditions and criteria put forward for Russian and Belarusian athletes are illegitimate, discriminatory, contrary to the spirit and letter of Russian and international legislation.”

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko told reporters that there are lots of questions for the IOC still to answer:

“Of course, we always hope to be invited, we do not reject anything on our own and are very happy when our athletes get a chance to participate.

“The question, though, is: in exchange for what? If in order to do so, one has to reject one’s homeland and betray it, then, of course, it does not suit us. On top of those humiliations that the Anglo-Saxons dreamt up when they say: ‘Compete under a neutral flag and without a national anthem,’ now they are adding that one has to publicly condemn our decision to conduct the special military operation. Of course, we don’t agree to this.”

Chernyshenko said he did not see any sense in litigating the legality of the sanctions imposed on Russian sports at this time:

“What’s the point? Of course, we are accumulating all the necessary documentation wherever possible in order for time to be our judge in the courts and it can be presented.”

State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova, the Turin 2006 Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 500 m in speed skating, told TASS:

“We have been waiting for this date for them to decide. But they are stalling for now. The IOC wants to find an opportunity for the Russians and Belarusians a little later so that the athletes can still participate in the Olympics. They are delaying this moment until the last moment, looking for ways. And they will drag it out until the last opportunity.”

3.
FIFA Women’s World Cup sponsor giving away tickets in NZL

Ticket sales in New Zealand for the FIFA Women’s World Cup that begins on 20 July have been lagging, so sponsor Xero – a professional services firm – is giving away 20,000 tickets to matches there.

New Zealand is hosting 24 group-stage games and five play-off matches out of the 64 total matches in the tournament at four sites:

● Auckland (Eden Park: 48,276 capacity)
● Dunedin (Forsyth Bar Stadium: 28,744)
● Hamilton (Waikato Stadium: 25,111)
● Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium: 39,000)

Xero announced that it will provide 5,000 free tickets for one match at each of the four New Zealand venues. The New Zealand women – in Group A – will play matches in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. The U.S. and the Netherlands – both in Group E – will play in Auckland, Dunedin and Wellington.

Total sales of 1.25 million tickets for the tournament have been report, but with only about 320,000 at the New Zealand sites.

4.
Another suspended sentence in Tokyo 2020 bribery scandal

As expected, another suspended sentence was entered in the continuing Tokyo 2020 sponsorship pay-to-play scandal. This time, the former head of the ADK Holdings ad agency, Shinichi Ueno, 69, was sentenced to two years in prison, with the sentence suspended for four years.

Ueno’s firm was accused of paying around ¥14 million (~$101,440) to a consulting form owned by then-Tokyo 2020 Executive Committee member Haruyuki Takahashi, now 79, who played a leading role in the record-breaking Tokyo 2020 domestic sponsorship program. The payments were made from 2019-22; Ueno said the payments were made, but he did not think they were illegal.

Two others from his firm were previously convicted and received suspended sentences.

A total of 15 defendants are known to have been charged in the Takahashi-led Tokyo 2020 sponsorship scandal that surfaced in August of 2022. So far, defendants from Aoki Holdings (3 on 21 April 2023), ADK Holdings (2 on 11 May, 1 on 13 July), Sun Arrow Inc. (2 on 6 June), Kadokawa Publishing (1 on 4 July) and Amuse Consulting (1 on 4 July) have all received suspended sentences.

Executives from Daiko Advertising and the Commons 2 consulting form were also charged, but have not yet been tried. Takahashi has also not been tried yet. He has admitted receiving funds directed to his consulting company, but has denied any illegality.

These cases are separate from the bid-rigging scheme allegedly masterminded by Dentsu Inc. – in collusion with some Tokyo 2020 officials – concerning 26 bids for test event management and then venue management contracts for the Games period, which was publicly exposed in February 2023.

5.
Kersee says McLaughlin-Levone in 400, Mu in 800 at Worlds

Legendary coach Bobby Kersee told the Los Angeles Times that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will run the women’s 400 m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary and that World women’s 800 m Champion Athing Mu will defend her title in that event.

Kersee said of the possible 400 m/400 m hurdles for McLaughlin-Levrone:

“The double does not allow us, I think, the proper amount of time and recovery to do both and I think the bigger challenge would obviously be to see how we can do in the 400. We won our nationals, which is hard to win and we did it in good fashion, so I think that we want to continue moving forward with the challenge. …

“By no means does that mean we’re giving up the 400 hurdles or whatever goals we might have in the future toward being an Olympic champion again in the 400-meter hurdles or challenging the world record in the 400-meter hurdles or what have you.”

The time schedules for Budapest; first for McLaughlin-Levrone to try a 400/400H double:

● 20 August, 9:35 a.m.: women’s 400 m heats
● 21 August, 6:50 p.m.: women’s 400 m hurdles heats
● 21 August, 9:10 p.m.: women’s 400 m semifinals
● 22 August, 8:25 p.m.: women’s 400 m hurdles semifinals
● 23 August, 9:50 p.m.: women’s 400 m final
● 24 August, 9:50 p.m.: women’s 400 m hurdles final

That would be six races in five days, with a leg on the women’s 4×400 m relay on Sunday, and perhaps Saturday as well.

For Mu, an 800-1,500 m double would have looked like:

● 19 August, 1:15 p.m.: women’s 1,500 m heats
● 20 August, 5:05 p.m.: women’s 1,500 m semifinals
● 22 August, 9:30 p.m.: women’s 1,500 m final
● 23 August, 10:05 a.m.: women’s 800 m heats
● 25 August, 8:25 p.m.: women’s 800 m semifinals
● 27 August, 8:45 p.m.: women’s 800 m final

As noted above, the women’s 4×400 m relay final is also on 27 August, an hour after the finish of the 800 m final. So if Mu was trying the double, she would be running the 800 m final as her sixth race of the meet in eight days.

Mu’s withdrawal from the 1,500 m will allow 2022 U.S. champion Sinclaire Johnson to run in Budapest; she finished fourth last week in 4:03.49, just 0.01 behind third-placer Cory McGee.

Kersee added that while McLaughlin-Levrone will compete at the Monaco Diamond League meet on 21 July, Mu may not compete again until the Worlds.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2036 ● In an interview last week with Polskie Radio, national Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk said that the successful hosting of the European Games in Krakow and Malopolska makes Poland a legitimate candidate to host a future Olympic Games:

“By successfully holding the 2023 European Games, we have made a giant step towards assuring the sports community that Poland is capable of being a brilliant host of various multi-sport events.

“We should apply to organise the first Olympic Games that are available, which means the 2036 Olympics … Poland has a sufficient level of economic development, sufficient budgetary resources and sufficient experience, in part thanks to the 2023 European Games.

“Quite simply, we can do it.

“It’s a political decision. I will be urging for such a decision to be made.”

Bortniczuk also noted the support of the European Olympic Committees and its President, Spyros Capralos (GRE):

“The EOC President said that by successfully hosting the 2023 European Games, Poland proved it was also ready to organise winter or summer Olympics. This view is shared by a great many people who got an inside look at the 2023 European Games.”

Poland will join a long line of candidates for 2036; the 6,857-athlete, 29-sport European Games was the largest sporting event ever held in Poland and Capralos said it “exceeded our expectations.”

● Paralympic Games 2024: Paris ● Pretty interesting sponsorship news as RMC – formerly Radio-Monte-Carlo – has committed to be an “official radio partner” of the 2024 Paralympic Games. It’s all about programming:

● “The Paralympic Games are the biggest showcase for persons with disabilities on the world stage, and as part of the deal, RMC will be launching a Paralympic digital radio station that raises awareness of the Paralympic disciplines and Para sport.”

● “RMC will be offering its listeners an exceptional programme to enable them to follow the entire competition, including dedicated broadcasts, prestigious guests (French Para athletes and medal winners), live commentary, and results in real time.”

● “The entire competition will be available on digital radio, accessible via the RMC app and website. With a view to raising awareness of the Paralympic disciplines and Para sport in general, RMC is committed to creating educational digital content, both before and during the event.”

So, this is radio on both the terrestrial and digital level, an interesting experiment in extending the Paralympic message. RMC is also a broadcaster for the 2024 Olympic Games, but has not proposed anything of this breadth for its Olympic coverage.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The long-running abuse case filed by Olympic star Kaillie Humphries was rejected once again. As announced this week:

“The current Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton Board of Directors has examined the independent report following the independent investigation of the harassment and discrimination complaint submitted by Ms. Kaillie Humphries.

“The independent report determined there was no evidence that any of the allegations constituted harassment and found no fault in BCS’s handling of this matter.”

Humphries filed her original complaint against coach Todd Hays (an American Olympic silver medalist in 2002) in July of 2018, alleging “I was verbally and mentally abused by our Head Coach Todd Hays. The part that got me was that while I expressed concern throughout the entire season for specific incidents, nothing was ever done about it by the people who are supposed to keep us safe.”

Humphries, an Olympic gold medalist for Canada in 2010 and 2014 in the two-woman sled, demanded her release in August 2019, which was granted and she began working with the U.S. team, winning an Olympic Monobob gold at the Beijing Winter Games in 2022.

● Boxing ● The national federations of Argentina and New Zealand have signaled their withdrawal from the International Boxing Association and their intention to join the new World Boxing group.

The InsideTheGames site reproduced a letter from the Argentine federation to the IBA, noting the IOC’s withdrawal of recognition, which included:

“Unfortunately, IBA and AMBC [the American Boxing Confederation] could not find a solution in line with the IOC’s recommendations and thus avoid this total failure in the eyes of our athletes and the Olympic Family, being the first International Federation, which was expelled.”

● Cycling ● Stage 12 of the 110th Tour de France was a win for Spain’s Ion Izagirre, who celebrated his second career Tour stage win, but his first in seven years!

This was a hilly, 168.8 km course, but Izagirre attacked with about 31 km left, on the final climb of the day on the Col de la Croix Rosier, and soloed to the win. He finished in 3:51:42, a startling 0:58 up on Mathieu Burgaudeau (FRA) and Matteo Jorgenson of the U.S.

The overall leaderboard did not change. Two-time winner Tadej Pogacar (SLO) and Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, the defending champ, finished 12th and 16th in the same time, some 4:14 back and remained locked in a two-man duel. Vingegaard leads by 17 seconds, with Jai Hindley (AUS) third and 2:40 behind.

That could change on Friday, with a brutal, uphill finish from 248 to 1,495 m atop the Grand Colombier over the last 18 km of the 137.8 km route. Not for the faint of heart.

● Gymnastics ● Gabby Douglas, the 2012 Olympic women’s All-Around champion, announced on Instagram on Thursday that she is returning to training:

“for many years, i’ve had an ache in my heart

“but i didn’t want to keep carrying anger, pain, sadness, or regret and through my tears and hurt, i’ve found peace.

“i wanted to find the joy again for the sport that i absolutely love doing.

“i know i have a huge task ahead of me and i am beyond grateful and excited to get back out on the floor

“and even more grateful for all of your support and love. it truly means so much [heart] there’s so much to be said but for now…. [muscled arm] [smiley face] let’s do this #2024″

Douglas, now 27, last competed at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, winning a Team gold and scoring high enough to compete in the All-Around final, but as the third American, was not allowed to compete.

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TSX REPORT: Gold Cup rules TV, and Univision rules Gold Cup; Utah keeps investing in sport, but not specifically for an Olympics

By
Rich Perelman
-
No Russians or Belarusians at the 2021 (2023) World University Games in China!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Gold Cup crushes everyone on TV, Univision crushes FS1, TUDN
2. Utah keeps investing in 2002 venues, to dismay of some
3. Semenya wins round at European Human Rights Court
4. Philipsen wins again, Vingegaard still leads Tour de France
5. Panama and Mexico on to CONCACAF Gold Cup final

U.S. television viewers enjoyed the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals last week, especially on Univision. Sure, Univision had the most viewers – vs. FS1 and TUDN – for the game featuring Mexico, but once again for the U.S. games! And the Canada-U.S. thriller that went to penalty kicks was easily the top sporting event on U.S. TV last week! A story in the Deseret News detailed how the State of Utah is investing in the 2002 Salt Lake City winter-sport facilities, now that the money from the Olympic Winter Games surplus is starting to wane, 20-plus years later. But of course, there are some who don’t think sports is worth spending money on. South Africa’s twice Olympic women’s 800 m champ Caster Semenya won a minor decision at the European Court of Human Rights, with a very divided court holding that the Swiss Federal Tribunal didn’t give Semenya’s case a through-enough review. There was no consideration of the underlying issue of whether the World Athletics regulations were fair or not. An appeal is very likely for reasons have nothing to do with Semenya’s actual case. At the 110th Tour de France, Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen won his fourth stage, but the battle between past champs Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar continues. At the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals, Panama and the U.S. were 0-0 after regulation time, 1-1 after extra time and then Panama won on penalties, 5-4, to advance to its third Gold Cup final. Mexico stomped Jamaica, 3-0, to advance to the final on Sunday.

● Panorama: Paris 2024 (2: Paris named top sports city for 2023; Airbnb offering night at de Coubertin’s youth home) = World University Games (Russia, Belarus banned for 2023 WUG in China) = Ukraine (Youth minister confirms no participation in events with Russia or Belarus) = Memorabilia (Grenoble torch up to $50,000 on auction) = Aquatics (World Champs start Saturday; no live U.S. TV) = Athletics (2: Kerley, Richardson in Sunday Diamond League; poor TV audience for USATF Champs) = Gymnastics (Nassar stabbed in cell, headed to new prison) = Modern Pentathlon (World U-17s debuts obstacle) = Sport Climbing (let’s get it right: Roberts wins Lead World Cup) ●

1.
Gold Cup crushes everyone on TV, Univision crushes FS1, TUDN

In a lighter week for sports television in the U.S., the CONCACAF Gold Cup topped the field and Univision was the reason.

The Spanish-language network was unstoppable as the top choice for viewers, not only for games featuring Mexico, but also the United States. According to Nielsen-provided audience data for last weekend’s quarterfinals:

Sunday, 9 July:
● 2,323,000 for Canada-USA on Univision
● 1,388,000 for Canada-USA on FS1
● 524,000 for Canada-USA on TUDN
● 4,235,000 total

● 1,528,000 for Guatemala-Jamaica on Univision
● 453,000 for Guatemala-Jamaica on TUDN
● 294,000 for Guatemala-Jamaica on FS1
● 2,275,000 total

The Canada-U.S. game was easily the top sports show on Sunday, in fact for the entire week (Monday to Sunday), with the combined viewership of 4.235 million easily topping Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race in Atlanta (2.323 million). The combined total for the Guatemala-Jamaica game was a clear no. 3. Although a distance second to Univision for the Canada-U.S. match, the Fox folks reported that its audience was up 91% over its broadcast of the 2021 U.S. quarterfinal against Jamaica (also on FS1).

The figures from the first two quarterfinals from Saturday were also good:

Saturday, 8 July:
● 2,472,000 for Mexico-Costa Rica on Univision
● 608,000 for Mexico-Costa Rica on TUDN
● 278,000 for Mexico-Costa Rica on FS1
● 3,358,000 total

● 1,127,000 for Panama-Qatar on Univision
● 287,000 for Panama-Qatar on TUDN
● No report for Panama-Qatar on FS1

Mexico-Costa Rica was already the no. 1 sports show of the day on Univision alone, and the combined 3.358 million total was 50% higher than Fox Saturday Baseball. The Panama-Qatar match, with only Univision and TUDN reporting, was no. 3 on the day at 1.414 million, ahead of ABC’s Wimbledon coverage (1.235 million).

There was no report on the FS1 audience for Panama-Qatar on Saturday, indicating the viewership averaged less than 200,000, usual Nielsen cut-off.

These are good audiences for soccer, but the Univision dominance for U.S. games is interesting. Very interesting.

As for the most-reported-on event of the week, ESPN drew an average live audience of 1,008,000 for its Fourth of July Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, and a stunning 491,000 for a replay three hours later!

The U.S. women’s send-off match against Wales (a 2-0 win), also on Sunday (9th) but prior to the men’s CONCACAF quarterfinal, drew a respectable average audience of 662,000 on TNT.

2.
Utah keeps investing in 2002 venues, to dismay of some

In a world which – in the words of International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) – is more and more “aggressively divisive,” the question of the role of sport in communities and of public spending is an easy target.

Veteran reporter Lisa Riley Roche of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah, contributed a long story on Monday that detailed continued spending by the State of Utah to maintain and expand facilities for sports, including those used for the 2022 Winter Games.

The story noted that the state began to spend on these facilities with a 10-year plan from 2018-28 that will provide about $44 million for facility maintenance and upgrades, and has established a separate fund for support of Olympic and Paralympic venues, with $22 million set aside in 2022 and $40 million to be delivered this year. Projecting out to 2028, perhaps $140 million might be spent.

The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, created after the 2002 Winter Games to operate the sports sites left by the event, received $76 million as an endowment from the organizing committee’s operating surplus and has spent $234 million since 2002, including $80 million in capital improvements. The endowment fund is now down to about $46 million, thus the request for state funds to keep the facilities up to date.

Is this all about the Salt Lake City bid for the 2030 or 2034 Olympic Winter Games?

Bid chief executive Fraser Bullock noted that “We as a bid committee are not asking for any of these investments,” and the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games has said that it does not expect government funding for its projected $2.2 billion budget to operate the Games, once selected.

It’s worth remembering that a $59 million tax set-aside was voted in in 1989, which eventually was used for 2002 Winter Games projects. The 2002 effort was so financially successful that the organizing committee paid back $99 million to cover the costs of the set-aside, with interest.

Naturally, there are naysayers about any government spending. Riley Roche quoted a University of Utah professor who says the public would, given a choice, want the funds used for something else, but cannot explain the passage of the 1989 referendum. Another University of Utah public policy director pointed out that the spending on winter sport helps the economy and keeps the area attractive.

So much for experts. Neither mentioned the tax revenue, in multiple layers, that a Winter Games will bring to Utah, nor the employment, tourism and other spending which comes with a Winter Games that would otherwise not be there. By the way, the Utah budget for fiscal year 2024 alone is $29.4 billion.

3.
Semenya wins round at European Human Rights Court

Twice Olympic champion Caster Semenya of South Africa won a modest, but unimpactful victory at the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday, but the decision has no bearing on her ability to compete.

A seven-judge panel in Semenya vs. Switzerland did not look into the merits of the World Athletics regulations for women with differences in sex development (DSD). What it examined was whether the Swiss Federal Tribunal dismissal of her appeal from the Court of Arbitration for Sport was proper vis-a-vis the European Convention on Human Rights.

The facts were not in doubt: Semenya’s appeal from the World Athletics regulations failed in 2019 as the Court of Arbitration for Sport held that while the regulations discriminated against her, they were fair and proportionate to the goal of protecting the women’s division. Semenya appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, which dismissed her appeal in 2020, noting that its review powers over the Court of Arbitration for Sport were limited to “whether the award under appeal was incompatible with substantive public policy and concluded that it was not.”

Three years later, the ECHR delivered a fractured decision, which produced four opinions amongst the seven judges. Two judges wrote what was characterized as the “majority” decision. One judge concurred in a separate opinion. Another concurred in part and dissented in part. Three dissented.

Out of all this was a 4-3 decision that the Swiss Federal Tribunal’s review of the appeal from the Court of Arbitration for Sport “failed, in the present case, to respond to the serious concerns expressed by the CAS in a manner compatible with the requirements of Article 14 of the Convention.”

This was characterized further that the Swiss Federal Tribunal should have “led to a thorough institutional and procedural review, but the applicant had not been able to obtain such a review.”

The Court did not say that Semenya’s challenge to the World Athletics regulations should be upheld, but that the manner of review was insufficient.

So now what? The case summary noted:

“[T]his Chamber judgment is not final. During the three-month period following its delivery, any party may request that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber of the Court. If such a request is made, a panel of five judges considers whether the case deserves further examination. In that event, the Grand Chamber will hear the case and deliver a final judgment. If the referral request is refused, the Chamber judgment will become final on that day.”

If the case reaches the Grand Chamber, it will be heard before a new, 17-judge panel, with none of the seven judges who heard the case involved.

As the defendant was essentially the Swiss Federal Tribunal, it is the body which must decide whether to appeal the judgement. It is highly likely to do so, because the ECHR decision – as contested as it was – would require the Federal Tribunal’s jurisdiction over the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be significantly enlarged and far more controversial. In essence, the Swiss high court would become the supreme court for world sport, not the Court of Arbitration.

And what of the World Athletics DSD regulations? No change. The World Athletics statement:

“World Athletics notes the judgment of the deeply divided Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). We remain of the view that the DSD regulations are a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair competition in the female category as the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Swiss Federal Tribunal both found, after a detailed and expert assessment of the evidence.

“The case was filed against the state of Switzerland, rather than World Athletics. We will liaise with the Swiss Government on the next steps and, given the strong dissenting views in the decision, we will be encouraging them to seek referral of the case to the ECHR Grand Chamber for a final and definitive decision. The current DSD regulations, approved by the World Athletics Council in March 2023, will remain in place.”

For Semenya, now 32, very little has changed. The legal confrontation will continue, and is unlikely to be finally determined until well after the Paris 2024 Games have concluded. She has won a skirmish, but the battle continues.

However, now in play is the role of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the authority over it of the Swiss Federal Tribunal. And that will interest many additional parties, including the International Olympic Committee, the International Federations and many others who will be solidly against making a non-national arbitration facility essentially a Swiss lower court.

4.
Philipsen wins again, Vingegaard still leads Tour de France

The 110th Tour de France resumed on Tuesday, with no changes to the overall standings in stages 10 or 11, but good riding for the sprinters. Tuesday’s stage was a hilly, 167.2 km route in central France, finishing in Issoire. A six-man breakaway finally led to a win for Spain’s Pello Bilbao, his first career Tour de France stage victory, in 3:52:34, ahead of George Zimmerman (GER), Ben O’Connor (NZL) and Krists Neilands (LAT). Neilands led until just 3.2 km remained, but was then passed.

Race leader Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) was 21st and chaser Tadej Pogacar (SLO) was 27th, with the same time.

On Wednesday, the hills in the 179.8 km route to Moulins came in the first half, with the finish clear for the sprinters. The last breakaway was retrieved with 13.5 km remaining and it was once again Jasper Philipsen (BEL) with the victory, his fourth of this year’s Tour and sixth career. He finished in 4:01:07, just ahead of Dylan Groenewegen (NED) and German Phil Bauhaus.

Vingegaard was 18th and Pogacar 20th, so Vingegaard – the defending champion – remains 17 seconds up on Pogacar – who won the prior two Tours. Australia’s Jai Hindley stands third, but 2:40 back. Spain’s Carlos Rodriguez and Bello are 4-5, 4:22 and 4:34 behind.

The next big test is expected Friday, with a brutal, uphill finish from 248 to 1,495 m atop the Grand Colombier over the last 18 km. Ouch!

British sprint specialist Mark Cavenish, 38, tied for the most career Tour de France stage wins with 34, said he will retire at the end of this season, and tragically crashed out of the race during Stage 8 and broke his right collarbone.

But if he wants to come back to try for the stage-wins record again, his team – Astana Qazaqstan – will offer him a contract for the 2024 Tour.

In the U.S., NBC has the rights to show the Tour de France and has shuffled it off to USA Network, with respectable ratings last week, especially given the time difference with Europe:

● 4 July (stage 4): 278,000 on USA Network (8 a.m. Eastern)
● 5 July (stage 5): 265,000 on USA Network (8 a.m.)
● 6 July (stage 6): 291,000 on USA Network (8 a.m.)
● 7 July (stage 7): 234,000 on USA Network (8 a.m.)

Last Friday’s live broadcast on USA was the last for the rest of the Tour; live coverage will only be on the Peacock subscription channel. NBC will have a wrap-up show at 5 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, 23 July, with the race finishing earlier in the day.

5.
Panama and Mexico on to CONCACAF Gold Cup final

Another barn-burner for the U.S. men on a hot afternoon in San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium – over 80 degrees and 49% humidity – facing Panama in the first CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal on Wednesday afternoon. More than three hours later, it was Panama moving on to the final with a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie.

The first half started with the U.S. nearly scoring in the first minute, as forward Cade Cowell blasted a right-footed spinner from the middle of the box to the right side of the Panamanian net that slammed off the goalpost after 24 seconds.

From there, Panama slowly gained control of the game, with superior passing and continued probing of the American defense and keeper Matt Turner. Midfielder Edgar Barcenas scored in the 28th minute, but was offsides to create the space to allow his shot from the left side. The half ended scoreless, with Panama owning 66% of possession and four shots to three for the U.S.

The U.S. changed their alignment in the second half to bring more help in the midfield and it changed the game, with the U.S. more comfortable on offense and keeping more (and better) possession. But regulation time ended at 0-0, with U.S. keeper Turner making an excellent save on Panamanian forward Ismael Diaz’s header in the 53rd minute, that required a quick, left-handed fist to push it over the net. Panama ended 90 minutes with 57% of possession, but the U.S. had 10 shots to eight.

American striker Jesus Ferreira nearly scored in the 65th for the U.S., just missing a right-to-left shot from the top of the box that flew just wide to the left. Defender Miles Robinson’s header looked promising in the 79th, but went wide off of a free kick, and Ferreira’s header from the middle of the box in the 85th flew past the left goalpost and out of bounds.

Diaz scored in the 93rd for Panama, but another player was offside, with added confusion of a possible hand ball on the U.S. Regulation time ended 0-0, with Panama down to 57% of possession and the U.S. a 10-8 shots lead.

On to extra time, with Turner making a ghastly error in the 99th, off a 2×1 break for Panama, with substitute midfielder Ivan Anderson bouncing the ball by him as he came way off his line to challenge, and then scoring in the open net for a 1-0 lead.

But it didn’t last. Off a header across the box from Jordan Morris, U.S. striker Jesus Ferreira – who had just missed on chances in the 65th and 85th minutes – sent a volley off his right shin and it flew from left to right and into the net for the tie. Extra time ended that way and on to penalty kicks.

Ferreira missed his opener for the U.S., but Turner saved one and the sides were 4-4 and going into sudden-death rounds. Panama’s keeper, Orlando Mosquera, had been favoring his right side, but Cristian Roldan sent his penalty that way and it was saved, leaving the door open for Panama midfielder Adalberto Carrasqulla to beat Turner to the top left corner and win the game.

This will be the third CONCACAF Gold Cup final, which lost to the U.S. in the championship games in 2005 and 2013.

In the second semi, in Las Vegas, Mexico pressured Jamaica from the start and got a second-minute goal (80 seconds actually) from striker Henry Martin from the center of the box. And they doubled the lead in the 30th, with midfielder Luis Chavez curled a magnificent free kick over the Jamaican wall and over the hand of keeper Andre Blake for a 2-0 lead at half. Mexico had 56% of possession and a 9-1 lead on shots.

The second half was more of the same, with Mexico controlling the game and Jamaica generating the occasional chance, but did not severely test Mexico’s star keeper, Memo Ochoa.

A final goal came at 90+3 on a perfect cross by defender Jesus Gallardo from left of the goal to the far side of the goal that Robert Alvarado simply knocked into the open goal. Mexico finished with 55% possession and 13-8 on shots.

Mexico has won this tournament eight times, most recently in 2019, and has been in 10 finals, losing to the U.S., 1-0, in 2021.

The final will be Sunday (16th) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Paris 2024 ● With the 2024 Olympic Games just a year away, preceded by the Rugby World Cup later this year, Paris came out no. 1 on the BCW Ranking of Sports Cites, released on Monday. The top five:

● Paris (FRA)
● Los Angeles (USA)
● London (GBR)
● New York (USA)
● Manchester (GBR)

While Paris’ place at the top is undoubtedly tied to its Olympic status, the other top destinations are mostly home to iconic professional sports teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Lakers, the New York Yankees, Knicks and Rangers and football clubs Manchester City and Manchester United.

The power of the Olympic Games as a game-changer in attitudes was shown by Brisbane’s emergence at no. 15 – after having not been previously ranked in the top 50 – and the presence of multiple championship events has brought three Middle East cities into the list: Doha (QAT: 11th), Dubai (UAE: 19th), and Abu Dhabi (UAE: 21st).

The U.S. has 15 entries in the top 50; the list was expanded this year to 100 and the full report is here.

The methodology includes a quantitative “digital footprint analysis of the association between sport and a city” (weighting 50%), combined with the perception-based views of leaders of International Sports Federations (25%) and major international sports media (25%).

IOC sponsor Airbnb has created a unique year-to-go promotion for Paris 2024, offering a one-night stay at the Chateau de Mirville in Normandy, France, home to the young Pierre de Coubertin, before he decided to revive the Olympic Games from antiquity.

What was de Coubertin’s study has been converted into a bedroom. The listing for the one-night program on 26 July – one year prior to the Games – also comes with conditions:

“This Stay might be covered by the press. By booking you agree to appear in the media.”

● World University Games ● “A TASS correspondent asked the spokesman whether he understood it correctly that Russia and Belarus had been barred from the 2023 Summer Universiade and Olivier van Bogaert [SUI] replied ‘Yes, you do.’”

Having Russia and Belarus unable to compete at the 2023 World University Games in Chengdu, China, which runs from 28 July to 8 August, is ironic for a couple of reasons. One is that the 2021 WUG was awarded to Yekaterinburg, Russia, then postponed due to Covid and then removed because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Second, the elected head of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) remains Russian Oleg Matytsin, now the Russian Sports Minister, whose athletes will now be barred. FISU spokesman van Bogaert gave TASS an exclusive, as a public announcement about the absence of the Russian and Belarusians has not been made.

Russia has set up its own replacement event for Yekaterinburg this year, the “University International Sport Festival” for 19-31 August, with athletes from the BRICS countries and Commonweath of Independent States – both association to which Russia belongs – invited to compete.

● Ukraine ● The current position of the Ukrainian national federations and National Olympic Committee is that they will not compete in events which include Russian or Belarusian athletes. Minister of Youth and Sport, and NOC chief Vadym Gutzeit said in an interview:

“There is a state decision that we still do not participate in these competitions.

“Today, such an option [to review the decision] is not being considered. It is difficult now, but there is such a decision, we have made it, we are moving on it. Everyone’s heart is heavy, you understand. But here, there was a meeting with all the presidents of the federations who expressed their opinion, it was a common decision.”

● Memorabilia ● There’s still a week to go in the 396-lot RR Auction Olympic Memorabilia bonanza, which will finish on 20 July.

An ultra-rare Grenoble 1968 Winter Games torch – one of only 33 used in the relay – has unsurprisingly drawn the most interest so far, with a top bid of $50,000. It is expected to go for perhaps three times that much when the hammer finally comes down.

Also doing well is a gold medal from the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, won by Indian field hockey player Peter Paul Fernandes. It’s now at $13,659 after six bids.

A total of 11 lots have surpassed $5,000 in bidding through Wednesday, all either Olympic torches or Olympic medals. Plenty of time to still get in on the action!

● Aquatics ● The 2023 World Aquatics Championships begin on Friday (14th) in Fukuoka, Japan, with competitions over 17 days in artistic swimming, diving, high diving, open-water swimming, swimming and water polo:

● 14-19 July: Open-water Swimming
● 14-21 July: Artistic Swimming
● 14-22 July: Diving
● 15-29 July: Water Polo
● 22-30 July: Swimming
● 24-26 July: High Diving

In the U.S., television coverage will only be available on NBC’s Peacock subscription streaming network. NBC will show two highlights programs, on 30 July 30 at 5 p.m. Eastern and Saturday, 5 August, at 1 p.m. Eastern.

● Athletics ● The Wanda Diamond League continues on Sunday from Chorzow (POL) for the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, with many of the U.S. stars back in Europe after the USATF Championships in Eugene.

World men’s 100 m champ Fred Kerley, 110 m hurdles World Champion Grant Holloway, shot put supremo Ryan Crouser, and former women’s 100 m world-record holder Keni Harrison are all expected to compete. A showdown is projected between women’s 100 m U.S. champ Sha’Carri Richardson and world leader Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, plus entries from middle-distance star Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) and world-record vaulter Mondo Duplantis (SWE).

The meet will be shown in the U.S. on the Peacock streaming service and CNBC from 10 a.m. to noon Eastern on Sunday.

The USATF Championships did poorly on television last weekend. Reports for television audiences for 2023 and 2022 showed:

● Fri., 7 July: 176,000 in 2023 vs. 214,000 on CNBC in 2022
● Sat., 8 July: 207,000 in 2023 vs. 1.050 million on NBC in 2022
● Sun., 9 July: 288,000 in 2023 vs. 1.052 million on NBC in 2022

(These totals does not include streaming viewers on Peacock, but those numbers are not publicly reported unless NBC publicizes them.)

The USATF Nationals was a great, compelling meet, but very few people saw it. NBC preferred to show the LPGA U.S. Women’s Open from Pebble Beach and had excellent ratings of 364,000 on Thursday; 333,000 on Friday and then 1.084 million on Saturday and 1.548 million on Sunday.

● Gymnastics ● Further details on last Sunday’s stabbing of infamous athlete abuser Larry Nassar, who was attacked in his cell at the maximum-security United States Penitentiary Coleman in Florida, by an attacker with a makeshift knife. Nassar was stabbed in the back, neck and chest.

He was removed to a hospital, where he was reported in stable condition. The Associated Press reported that Nassar was previously attacked at the first prison in which he was assigned, in Tucson, Arizona in 2018, leading to his re-assignment to Coleman. He will have to be moved again.

● Modern Pentathlon ● Let’s face it, most sports do not get much interest in their world championships for U-17 athletes or younger. But there is special attention being paid to the 2023 World U-17s with Obstacle Course added as a discipline, replacing riding.

Now underway in Alexandria (EGY), the new pentathlon format approved by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne has fencing, obstacle, swimming and then the two-in-one laser run as the event order.

Amaya El-Masri, half of the winning German women’s relay team on Tuesday, said: “Obstacle is really cool, and not too hard, but really intense, really fun.”

Unimpressed was the Pentathlon United athlete-activist group, which pointed out that where the 2022 World U-17s – with riding – had 117 entries from 26 national federations, the 2023 Worlds have 106 from 25, with the women’s down from 58 to 45.

The UIPM has insisted that the change of obstacle for riding will make the sport much more attractive, a key issue the IOC has asked about in considering whether to include the sport on the program for Los Angeles in 2028.

● Sport Climbing ● The International Federation of Sport Climbing has an interesting way of reporting results for its World Cup events, posting scores in real time, but without any indication of when a competition is actually over.

Unfortunately, that can lead to errors, like ours on Monday, reporting only partial results of the men’s Lead event from Chamonix (FRA) last weekend. The final results actually showed:

Britain’s Toby Roberts, who won a Boulder World Cup this season, took the Lead title as the only climber to reach the top of the wall. Sam Avezou (FRA) was a clear second at 50 holds, followed by Sorato Anraku (JPN: 48).

The correction has been made in Monday’s post. Sorry about that.

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 787-event International Sports Calendar (no. 3) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

SPECIAL: Updated! Our revised, 787-event International Sports Calendar for 2023 now posted!

By
Rich Perelman
-

≡ CALENDAR UPDATE ≡

As qualifying for Paris 2024 begins in earnest, it’s time for an update, and so here is our revised and exclusive 787-event listing for the remainder of 2023, with a few of the larger events beyond to 2028.

Our updated International Sports Calendar focuses on sports and events on the Olympic and Winter Games program for 2024 and 2026, plus a few other meetings and multi-sports events.

Please note: this listing will change! However, this edition is a good place to start for following many of the events coming up in the rest of a busy year ahead.

Two calendars are included in the single PDF download: an 17-page listing in chronological order and a 18-page listing by sport (and in date order within each sport).

It’s free! Get your download right now here!

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

TSX REPORT: Life lessons from the USATF Steeplechase finals; U.S. dominance in T&F confirmed in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-
BYU's Kenneth Rooks closes in on his improbable Steeple win at the USATF National Championships (Photo: BYU Track & Field/Cross Country)

★ 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 ≡

1. Why the Steeplechase was the most important USATF race
2. USATF Nationals demonstrates U.S. track domination
3. Political fury at Olympic Council of Asia elections
4. Russia rejects declaration for U-23 rowing champs
5. FIFA approves aboriginal flags for Women’s World Cup

The USA Track & Field National Championships in Eugene produced superb performances, but the biggest takeaways from the meet night have been from the two Steeplechase finals and the men’s 110 m hurdles. The performances of Kenneth Rooks, who fell, got up and then won the men’s title, and the upset win for unheralded Krissy Gear are object lessons in how what happens in sport can be a guideline in life. The story of hurdles runner-up Cordell Tinch, who left sports altogether after a year at Kansas, shows the power of family and faith in the future, and once again confirm Jim Valvano’s 1993 inspiration: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” The USATF results confirmed once again the dominance of the United States in worldwide track & field. American athletes, as of the end of the meet, led the world in 10 of 34 individual events and had 55 top-five positions on the 2023 world list – in 26 events – more than Kenya, Jamaica and Ethiopia combined. Amazing. Olympic insiders were close observers of the Olympic Council of Asia elections last Saturday, in which Sheikh Talal, the younger brother of former OCA President Sheikh Ahmed of Kuwait defeated fellow Kuwaiti (and World Aquatics President) Husain Al-Musallam, 24-20. But the intrigue continues. The head of the Russian rowing federation was the latest to reject a signed declaration to allow his athletes to compete in the World Rowing U-23 Championships in Bulgaria beginning on 19 July, continuing a pattern that demonstrates the current Russian thinking vis-a-vis possible requirements for Paris 2024. FIFA approved the use of aboriginal flags at the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, an important cultural and political issue for the host countries.

● Panorama: Gymnastics (2: Keys wins first U.S. Rhythmic Worlds at Juniors; Nassar stabbed in prison) = Modern Pentathlon (UIPM sets up review board for Russian and Belarusian re-entry) ●

1.
Why the Steeplechase was the most important USATF race

Observed: All the hype coming into the USATF National Championships in Eugene was around the sprints and hurdles and if Ryan Crouser set another world record in the shot. But if the running, jumping and throwing in Eugene taught any lasting lessons, it had to be from the men’s and women’s 3,000 m Steeplechase finals.

The men’s race was wide open, with stars Evan Jager and Hillary Bor both absent, and the early pace was slow, creating a bunched field. On the inside was NCAA Steeple champ Kenneth Rooks of BYU, 23, who was running up on ex-UTEP star and three-time NCAA winner Anthony Rotich, and not wanting to push him over the backstraight barrier, took a somersault over the barrier himself, fell and ended up sprawled on the ground as the pack raced away.

That was at about the 750 m mark and he dropped from sixth to 14th, more than two seconds behind everyone else and more than four seconds back of leader Dan Michalski of the Air Force. Rooks didn’t panic.

He said afterwards he remembered U.S. great – and 1976-80-84-88 U.S. Olympian – Henry Marsh, also a BYU legend, who was notorious for running from the back, but ending up in front. But Rooks was still 14th. But he knew what to do:

● 800 m: 14th in 2:18.54 (70.97 lap)
● 1,200 m: 14th in 3:25.60 (67.06)
● 1,600 m: 12th in 4:32.75 (67.16)
● 2,000 m: 9th in 5:39.90 (67.16)
● 2,400 m: 6th in 6:45.67 (65.77)
● 2,800 m: 3rd in 7:47.21 (61.55)

He finished his last 400 in 60.15 and his last 800 m in 2:04.29, moving from seventh to first in a lifetime best of 8:16.78, improving on his Mt. SAC Relays win of 8:17.62.

His key move from 12th to ninth to regain contact with the leaders came between 1,600 and 2,000 m as he ran his third straight lap in just over 67 seconds. No panic. Concentration. Confidence. Rooks offered a six-minute master class demonstrating legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden’s maxim: “Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out.”

This is not the first time such a thing has happened, of course. Long-time observers remember Finland’s Lasse Viren taking a fall in the Olympic 10,000 m final in Munich in 1972, getting up and not only winning, but setting a world record of 27:38.35. That was the start of the Viren legend, winning the Olympic 5-10 double in 1972 and 1976.

Rooks now ranks 18th on the world list for 2023 and won’t be favored to even make the final at the Worlds in Budapest. But we know he won’t ever give up, and he won’t panic.

The women’s Steeple was already a teaching platform, run just before the men. Former World Champion Emma Coburn had won eight straight U.S. titles from 2014-22, and was expected to battle ex-BYU star Courtney Wayment, the 2022 NCAA winner and USATF runner-up.

And Coburn had control of the race, taking the lead with 700 m left. And she was leading with 600 m left, 500 m left, at the bell, and with 300 m to go, with Wayment a half-second back.

But working her way up from sixth with 2 1/2 laps left was Krissy Gear, a 1,500 m NCAA All-American for Arkansas in 2022, now running the Steeple as a pro for the HOKA Northern Arizona (NAZ) Elite Team. Like Rooks, she had a plan and that was to position herself for a closing kick, playing to her speed and strength.

She was fourth with two laps left and had moved up to third at the bell. She ran the fastest 100 m in the field on the final backstraight and caught Coburn and Wayment with 200 m to go and then zoomed by Coburn on the home straight to shave a staggering 11.74 seconds off her lifetime best of 9:23.55, and win in 9:12.81. Coburn was second at 9:13.60 and Wayment third in 9:14.63.

Preparation met opportunity, or as Wooden also said, over and over, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” Gear was ready.

On this site, there is exhaustive coverage of winners and losers, plotters and politicians and making sense of strategies and subterfuges that make international sport both compelling and maddening.

What Rooks and Gear were teaching in Eugene are life lessons that are timeless, priceless and require only belief and effort. That’s why sport is so great.

This was underlined by the final event of the meet, the men’s 110 m hurdles final. World Champion Grant Holloway had an automatic entry in the 2023 Worlds and won his semi, so he pulled out of the final. That left defending champion Daniel Roberts being challenged by insurgent newcomer Cordell Tinch, a star athlete at Kansas in 2019 who had lost his way.

He won the Big 12 title in the 110 m hurdles as a frosh, but left when the pandemic hit in 2020. He enrolled at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas in the fall, but had left the sport and went home to Green Bay, Wisconsin and was working for U.S. Cellular in sales when some of his buddies from Coffeyville suggested giving Pittsburg State – a Division II school nicknamed the Gorillas – a try.

Tinch, encouraged by his family, was an immediate sensation despite three years off. He shocked the track & field world with a wind-aided 12.87 win at the NCAA Division II meet and then a world-leading 12.96 in Arkansas on 23 June.

In Eugene, he was stride-for-stride with Roberts throughout the last half of the final, closing hard to just miss winning, 13.05 to 13.08 (wind: -0.2 m/s). He’s on his way to Budapest and has turned professional in something he has always loved. The key? He told Jeff Hollobaugh of Track & Field News:

“None of this that I have right now, none of this is possible without my mother. She’s truly the one thing on this planet that keeps me grounded and keeps everything in perspective. She’s my biggest fan, my biggest critic, and I will always love that woman for that. I truly wouldn’t be back in school if it weren’t for me and her talking about it.”

If sports – as a life experience – teaches us anything, it is the late North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano’s immortal line from the March 1993 ESPY Awards: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”

There were better performances in Eugene, higher up on the world list for 2023, than what Rooks, Gear and Tinch ran. But their stories will resonate long after the times are forgotten, for all the right reasons.

2.
USATF Nationals demonstrates U.S. track domination

Without special fanfare, the 2023 track & field season has been spectacular already, with sensational marks across many events. But following the results of the USA Track & Field national championships last weekend, the extent to which the U.S. is the world’s top nation is staggering.

A review of the worldwide top-20 performers list on the authoritative Finnish statistical site, Tilastopaja.eu, allows a rapid calculation of the national spread among the top-five performers so far in 2023. It’s not perfect since some stars have direct entries into the World Athletics Championships in Budapest – for example, Jamaican women’s 100 m champ Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – but it offers a sense of where things stand right now.

Let’s check on the U.S. and its usual top pursuers on the Worlds medal chart – Kenya, Jamaica and Ethiopia – across 19 individual track & field events, including the marathons, but not the relays or walks:

Men:
● 26 top-5 performers: United States (in 12 events)
● 9 top-5 performers: Kenya (in 6 events)
● 5 top-5 performers: Jamaica (in 5 events)
● 5 top-5 performers: Ethiopia (in 2 events)

The U.S. has 27.4% of the combined 95 top-5 performers on the world lists as of 10 July; the next three combined have 19 for 10.0%.

There are three U.S. world leaders – Noah Lyles in the 200 m, JuVaughn Harrison (tie) in the high jump, and world-record setter Ryan Crouser in the shot – vs. two for Kenya (Emmanuel Wanyonyi/800 m and Kelvin Kiptum/marathon), two for Ethiopia (Berihu Aregawi in the 5,000 and 10,000 m) and two for Jamaica (Rasheed Broadbell/110 hurdles and Jaydon Hibbert (triple jump).

Women:
● 29 top-5 performers: United States (in 14 events)
● 12 top-5 performers: Ethiopia (in 5 events)
● 10 top-5 performers: Kenya (in 6 events)
● 5 top-5 performers: Jamaica (in 5 events)

The U.S. has 30.5% of the 95 top-5 performers in the world, with the other three combining for 27 across 11 events or 14.2%.

American women are atop the world lists in an amazing seven events: Gabby Thomas in the 200 m, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400 m, Katie Moon in the vault, Maggie Ewen in the shot, Valarie Allman in the discus, Brooke Andersen in the hammer and Anna Hall in the heptathlon.

Kenya has world leaders in the 1,500 m (Faith Kipyegon’s world record), 5,000 m (another Kipyegon world record) and marathon (Rosemary Wanjiru). Jamaica has Shericka Jackson at 100 m and Ackelia Smith in the long jump, and Ethiopia has Gudaf Tsegay at 10,000 m.

Combined:
● 55 top-5 performers: United States (in 26 events)
● 19 top-5 performers: Kenya (in 12 events)
● 17 top-5 performers: Ethiopia (in 7 events)
● 10 top-5 performers: Jamaica (in 10 events)

This is amazing, as the U.S. has 28.9% of the 190 top-5 performers right now, compared to 10.0% or less for Kenya, Ethiopia and Jamaica. In fact, the combined total of those three is 46 total top-5 places, or 24.2%.

Those four countries combine for 53.1% of the 190 top-5 performers in World Championships individual events (excluding walks).

That’s a testament to how good Kenya, Jamaica and Ethiopia are, and how dominant the U.S. continues to be. And this level of achievement amid the continuing angst among many American athletes about their sport’s standing in the U.S. and the difficult path for them to make a living on sponsorship and whatever prize money they can win.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s organizing athletes-only meeting did take place last Wednesday in Eugene, the day before the meet began, and attendees were resolutely close-mouthed about what was discussed. The talking is the easiest part; the doing is harder.

3.
Political fury at Olympic Council of Asia elections

If you’re not tuned in to Olympic politics at the international level, then you neither knew nor cared about the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in Bangkok (THA) over the weekend.

But for those who watch closely to try to understand the eddies and currents of international sport politics were fascinated by a wild turn of events that led to the election – by 24-20 – of Kuwait’s Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, over fellow Kuwaiti Husain Al-Musallam.

In brief, the back story is that since his father was killed on the first day of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, his son Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah – known as Sheikh Ahmed – had been in charge of the Olympic Council of Asia into September of 2021, when he was convicted in Switzerland over a forgery charge relating to a “fake coup video,” which he continues to appeal.

Sheikh Ahmed was well known as a power broker within sports circles and had resigned from the FIFA Council in 2017 over allegations of bribery. While he is not currently serving with either FIFA or the IOC, he has moved up in the Kuwait government and is now the Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister as of 23 June of this year.

Ahmed was assisted at the Olympic Council of Asia since 2005 by fellow countryman Al-Musallam, who became the President of World Aquatics in 2021. As Director General, Al-Musallam was a natural choice to succeed Sheikh Ahmed as the elected OCA President.

But that’s not how Ahmed wanted it. Instead, Sheikh Talal – Ahmed’s younger brother, was put forward as a rival candidate, exceptionally unusual as both candidates were from the same country.

Then Ahmed flew to Bangkok to campaign for his brother at the Congress, drawing a rebuke from the International Olympic Committee – of which he is a self-suspended member – for possible interference in the OCA elections. That matter is continuing and will be a highly-scrutinized issue for the IOC Ethics Commission in the coming months.

The win for Talal is widely seen as a win for Ahmed as the OCA presidency is maintained within the family. What matters is the maintenance of the power structure which Ahmed created and which can now be used once again. As the OCA constantly preaches “unity,” this will likely be seen in bloc voting in the future on issues of all kinds, not the least of which will be the 2025 election of the next head of the International Olympic Committee.

At present, there are 99 members of the IOC, of which 21 are from Asian countries, an important and potentially decisive group on certain issues.

After losing the vote for President, Al-Musallam was unanimously approved as an Honorary Life Vice-President of the OCA.

4.
Russia rejects declaration for U-23 rowing champs

The position of Russia’s national sports federations against signing declarations against the country’s invasion of Ukraine continues, now reaching to the sub-elite level, in specific, the World Rowing U-23 Championships from 19-23 July in Plovdiv (BUL).

Russian Rowing Federation (FGSR) President Alexei Svirin told the Russian news agency TASS:

“On Saturday, we received a negative response from the international federation to our version of the obligation form, which must be signed by athletes, coaches and specialists traveling to the world championship.

“On Sunday, the FGSR presidium recommended that athletes not sign the declaration in the version proposed by World Rowing. Athletes and coaches supported the position of our federation. A refusal to participate in the World U-23 Championships was sent to the international federation.”

“Earlier, we proposed to World Rowing to make adjustments to the text of the obligation in order to adhere to the Olympic Charter and the integrity of sport. In particular, we advocate the exclusion from the declaration of items related to the attitude of athletes to the special military operation in Ukraine, since this is politics, not sport.

“On Saturday, an answer was received that the form of obligation was previously approved by the executive committee of the international federation, and nothing can be corrected in it.”

The Russian team was limited to six athletes, as World Rowing is only allowing entries in the Single Sculls and Pairs without Coxswain. The World Rowing decision on Russian and Belarusian entries as neutrals also included the requirement of:

“a thorough background-check process, implemented by a third party, to ensure that athletes who are associated with the military or war in any form, or have publicly supported the war, will be automatically excluded.”

Svirin said that entries for the World Rowing Championships in Serbia (3-10 September) are not due yet and is waiting for information from World Rowing to see if the same issue will arise.

5.
FIFA approves aboriginal flags for Women’s World Cup

“In each of Australia’s six host stadiums, the Australian flag, Australian Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander flag will be flown, while in each of Aotearoa New Zealand’s four host stadiums, the Aotearoa New Zealand flag and tino rangatiratanga/national Maori flag will proudly be displayed.”

FIFA announced last week that it had approved a request from the Australian and New Zealand football federations, supported by their governments and FIFA’s special, all-female cultural advisory panel, to fly these added flags. Per FIFA President Gianni Infantino:

“This week, during NAIDOC Week in Australia and just before Aotearoa New Zealand’s Matariki celebrations, FIFA has acknowledged the request made by the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Cultural Advisory Panel, Football Australia and New Zealand Football, which was supported by the governments in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. These significant flags express a spirit of mutual respect, national identity and recognition of Indigenous cultures for our hosts.”

Both Australia and New Zealand are making substantial efforts to recognize the culture of First Nations in both countries, with the issue becoming a high-profile political question in multiple areas of public discussion.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Gymnastics ● USA Gymnastics is celebrating a first-ever American medal at a FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship as Rin Keys won a bronze medal in the Clubs final at the World Juniors in Cluj-Napoca (ROU).

Keys scored 29.400 to win the bronze, behind winner Liliana Lewwinska (POL: 30.950). Keys also finished eighth in the Hoop final; the U.S. had one other finalist, Megan Chu, who placed eighth in the Ball final.

Infamous former physician Larry Nassar was reported to have been stabbed at least 10 times in a fight at the maximum-security United States Penitentiary Coleman in Sumterville, Florida. A Federal Bureau of Prisons statement included:

“We can confirm on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at approximately 2:35 pm, an inmate was assaulted at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Coleman II, in Sumterville, Florida. Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures. Staff requested Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and life-saving efforts continued. The inmate was transported by EMS to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation.”

Nassar, 59, was reportedly stabbed in the back, chest and neck, and was reported to be in stable condition. He was sentenced to 60 years in Federal prison on child pornography charges, and an additional 40-175 years for his role in sexually abusing gymnasts and others.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) is the latest to set up an independent review apparatus to process applications from Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competition.

According to a statement furnished to the Russian news agency TASS:

“The Independent Panel set up to review applications from athletes with Russia or Belarus passports who apply to compete as neutral athletes in UIPM Sports has decided on the eligibility criteria, application procedure and timelines.

“UIPM’s application process opens on July 31, 2023 for those who wish to compete in UIPM Sports as Individual Neutral Athletes. No teams of athletes from Russia or Belarus will be allowed to compete, and the individual athlete applicants must satisfy the Independent Panel that they have never actively supported the war in Ukraine, do not serve the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies, and comply with anti-doping regulations.

“Very similar rules apply to the eligibility criteria for support personnel (coaches and trainers, medical staff and physiotherapists, etc).”

There was no mention of a declaration from those applying; no further timetable was provided. The UIPM World Championships, the primary Paris 2024 qualifying competition remaining this year, will be held from 21-28 August in Bath (GBR).

You can receive our exclusive TSX Report by e-mail by clicking here. You can also refer a friend by clicking here, and can donate here to keep this site going.

For our updated, 651-event International Sports Calendar (no. 2) for 2023 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Fabulous USATF Nationals closes with four world leads; U.S. men edge Canada on penalties in Gold Cup; Russians in Asian Games?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Sensational women's 200 m win for Tokyo bronze medalist Gabby Thomas! (Photo: Tim Healy for TrackTown USA)

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

★ Encouraging! Thanks to 20 donors, we’re at 52% of our summer fund-raising goal. Please help if you can.. Your support is vital. ★

★ To get The Sports Examiner by e-mail: sign up here! ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Richardson, Thomas, McLaughlin-Levrone, Benjamin headline USATFs
2. Kenyan T&F anti-doping testing to increase 7x in 2023
3. Turner stars as U.S. men overcome Canada, 2-2 (3-2) on penalties
4. Asian Games to welcome 500 Russians, Belarusians … maybe
5. IFSC ex-Med Comm member says “climbing has a RED-S problem”

A fabulous USATF Nationals in Eugene closed on Sunday, with world-leading marks in four events and major statements made by Sha’Carri Richardson (100 m), Gabby Thomas (200 m), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400 m) and by Rai Benjamin in the men’s 400 m hurdles. There were also three world leads in the Jamaican nationals in Kingston from Shericka Jackson in the women’s sprints and Rasheed Broadbell in the men’s hurdles. The Athletics Integrity Unit and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya are working to process 5,000 tests for track and road running athletes this year, by far the most ever, to try and wipe out the doping scourge which has engulfed the country’s stars. At the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the U.S. squeezed by Canada in Sunday’s quarterfinal on penalty kicks, 3-2, thanks to heroics from keeper Matt Turner. The U.S. women won their final tune-up match before the FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2-0, over Wales. The Olympic Council of Asia agreed to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in force in the upcoming Asian Games in China … maybe. There’s a lot of fine print behind the headline and the Russian Olympic Committee isn’t celebrating. A long-time member of the medical commission of the International Sport Climbing Federation says athletes in that sport are in crisis and resigned over his disagreement with the federation’s approach to its “RED-S problem.”

● Panorama: Badminton (Japan wins three at Canada Open) = Basketball (Brazil handles U.S. in women’s AmeriCup final) = Beach Volleyball (U.S.’s Partian & Benesh shock Norway’s Mol & Sorum) = Cycling (5: Vingegaard holds lead in Tour de France; van Vleuten wins Giro Donne again; China sharp in BMX Freestyle World Cup; Blevins and Blunk win U.S. Mountain Bike nationals; Valente dominates U.S. track nationals) = Gymnastics (Youngster Wang and veteran Page win Trampoline World Cup) = Rowing (Zeidler finishes World Cup sweep in Lucerne) = Sport Climbing (Indonesia sweeps World Cup Speed finals) = Table Tennis (Kumar and Wang take table tennis national titles) ●

● Errata: Friday’s post mentioned Maggie Malone as the American Record holder in the women’s javelin; she is the former record holder. Thanks to reader goatcabin for the correction, which has been made on the site. ●

1.
Richardson, Thomas, McLaughlin-Levrone, Benjamin headline USATFs

An outstanding edition of the USATF National Championships in Eugene, Oregon closed on Sunday with spectacular performances in more than a dozen events, and four world-leading performances during the meet:

● Women/100 m: 10.71, Sha’Carri Richardson (since surpassed)
● Women/200 m: 21.60, Gabby Thomas
● Women/400 m: 48.74, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
● Women/Vault: 4.90 m (16-0 3/4), Katie Moon

There’s a lot to talk about, starting with the world leads and the men’s sprints and hurdles.

When McLaughlin-Levrone decided to leave the 400 m hurdles after her world-record performance in the 2022 Worlds, and take up the 400 m flat, there was no doubt she would be great. The only question was how great and how long would it take. She’s knocking on the door.

She dominated the 400 m final, storming to the lead from the gun, passing 200 m in 23.24 and maintaining her form through the turn and into the tape for a runaway 48.74 win, just 4/100ths off the American Record in only her eighth career outdoor race since high school! She started the year with a best of 50.07. Then:

● 49.71 PR: 2nd in Paris Diamond League (9 Jun)
● 49.51 PR: 1st at NYC Grand Prix (24 Jun)
● 49.79: 1st in USATF Nationals heats (6 Jul)
● 49.60: 1st in USATF Nationals semi (7 Jul)
● 48.74 PR: 1st in USATF Nationals (8 Jul)

She’s now no. 10 all-time and no. 2 U.S., just behind American Record holder Sanya Richards-Ross. And consider that she’s the fourth-fastest in this century.

Arkansas’ Britton Wilson ran her own race from lane four, with McLaughlin-Levrone in front of her and was a decisive second at 49.79 and 2022 NCAA champ Talitha Diggs got a lifetime best in third at 49.79. They ran 1-3-7 on the 2023 year list.

Friday’s highlight was the men’s and women’s 100 m finals, with Richardson stealing the spotlight. After running a world-leading 10.71 on Thursday (since surpassed), Richardson won her semi easily in 10.75 (+0.7), with Tamari Davis taking semi two in 10.96 (+0.4). But in the final, Richardson’s start deserted her and she was dead last at 10 m. But she got going and finally was in the lead by 80 m and pulled away for a 10.82 win (+0.7) and made her first Worlds team.

Brittany Brown was strong throughout and got a lifetime best of 10.90 for second, with Davis – the mid-race leader – holding on to third in 10.99.

The men’s 100 m appeared to be more to form, with semifinal winner Christian Coleman getting his patented rocket start and appeared to be in control in lane three. But three lanes to his right, Cravont Charleston, 25, who had never advanced further than the semis at the nationals, was right with him and surged in the final meters to earn his first national title, 9.95 to 9.96 (+0.1). Noah Lyles was, typically, last at 10 m, but moved up to fourth by 80 m and had the fastest close to get third in 10.00 and move on to the Budapest Worlds.

Richardson then stunned everyone on Saturday in the heats of the women’s 200 m, taking heat two in a sensational 21.61, but wind-aided at 2.6 m/s. Still, only Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) and Jamaicans Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah have ever run faster under any conditions. In Sunday’s semis, it was Tokyo bronze medalist Gabby Thomas who sent a message, with her 21.86 win. In the final, Richardson was out fast, but Thomas grooved the turn and came into the straight in front. And she held it, right to the tape, posting a brilliant 21.60 (-0.4) to improve her best by 0.01 from 2021 and remain no. 4 on the all-time list. Richardson was good, too, scoring a lifetime best of 21.94, the 17th American woman under 22 seconds. Kayla White shocked everyone with a lifetime best of 22.01 for third and a trip to Hungary.

Lyles has a bye into the Worlds as the men’s 200 m winner from 2022, so the men’s 200 m field looked to be up to teen star Erriyon Knighton and he was up to the challenge. His start was excellent and he entered the straight in the lead and gave back nothing. He finished in a smooth and convincing 19.72 (-0.1), now no. 2 in the world for 2023 (behind Lyles), ahead of Tokyo runner-up Kenny Bednarek, who overcame injuries this season to run 19.82, with Texas Tech’s NCAA 100 m winner Courtney Lindsey holding off the fast-closing 100 m star Fred Kerley, 19.85 to 19.86 for third.

Even more impressive was Rai Benjamin’s domination of the 400 m hurdles. He set a hard pace from the start, but maintained a smooth cadence right through the far turn and came through the straight with purpose to win in a sensational 46.62, the no. 5 performance in history and a signal that the Benjamin-Warholm rematch will be epic. C.J. Allen and Trevor Bassitt were 2-3 as expected, in 48.18 and 48.26.

The men’s 400 m looked good for Vernon Norwood and Bryce Deadmon, who were 1-2 in the semis, and in the final, Deadmon was leading around the turn and coming for home. Norwood got close, but never in front and Deadmon – who won 4×400 m golds at Tokyo and in the 2022 Worlds – got his first national title with a lifetime best of 44.22 to 44.39 for Norwood, who made his first U.S. team as an individual entry in the 400 m. Quincy Hall, the NCAA 400 m hurdles winner in 2019, got third just ahead of Arizona State’s Justin Robinson, in 44.41 and 44.47, lifetime bests for both.

Yared Nuguse’s 3:29.02 at the Bislett Games made him the favorite in the 1,500 m final, but NCAA champ Joe Waskom bolted to the front with 200 m to go. Nuguse was game and flew on the straight to win in 3:34.90, with Waskom second (3:35.32 PR) and 2021 Olympic Trials winner Cole Hocker coming hard for third in 3:35.46.

BYU’s NCAA Steeple champ, Kenneth Rooks, was one of the favorites, but not after getting too close to Anthony Rotich on the second lap and essentially somersaulting over the barrier on the backstraight and falling to the ground. But the pace wasn’t too bad and he moved from 14th to ninth by 2,000 m and sixth with a lap and a half to go. He was third heading into the final water jump and vaulted into second and then ran away from the field to win in a lifetime best of 8:16.78, over Benard Keter (8:17.19) and Isaac Updike (8:17.69). Crazy, completely crazy.

On Sunday, the men’s 800 had plenty of pushing and shoving, but defending champ Bryce Hoppel managed to get free on the home straight and got to the line first in 1:46.20, ahead of Isaiah Harris (1:46.68) and Clayton Murphy (1:46.82), who all passed Isaiah Jewett, who led most of the race, but finished fourth in 1:47.02.

The 5,000 m final missed Grant Fisher, who withdrew, but former Northern Arizona star Abdi Nur pushed into the lead with two laps to go and ran 57.76 and 53.64 on his final two circuits to win in 13:24.37. Two-time Olympic medalist Paul Chelimo overpowered everyone else on the final straight – and almost caught Nur with a 53.54 last lap – in finishing second in 13:24.90.

World Champion Grant Holloway won his semifinal, but opted out of the final, as he has a bye into Budapest. That left defending national champ Daniel Roberts to deal with new sensation Cordell Tinch, and Roberts maintained a tiny lead in mid-race and nursed it to the line with an excellent lean to win in 13.05-13.08 (-0.2). Freddie Crittenden, who had been knocking on the door to make a U.S. team for years, got his ticket with a third-place finish in 13.23.

In the field, great things were hoped for from world-record setter Ryan Crouser, who was going to be the winner after his first-round throw of 22.82 m (74-10 1/2). But he did better, reaching 22.86 m (75-0) in the final round, ahead of a seasonal best of 22.10 m (72-6 1/4) for Josh Awotunde in second, a lifetime best of 22.09 m (72-5 3/4) by Payton Otterdahl and 21.90 m (71-10 1/4) for two-time Worlds winner Joe Kovacs. All are headed for Hungary.

No one was too surprised when Nia Akins won the USATF Indoor title in the 800 m, but she stunned an excellent field on Sunday with a fiery finish on the home straight to pass Raevyn Rogers and win in 1:59.50, with Rogers second in 1:59.83, missing the Worlds qualifying standard by 0.03! Ajee Wilson, a two-time Worlds bronze winner in 2017 and 2019, finished last in 2:05.88.

Just as McLaughlin-Levrone was exploring a new event this season, so was Olympic and World champ Athing Mu in the 1,500 m. She was in front and leading coming into the home straight, but not by much, fighting off Tokyo Olympian Cory McGee, but a finishing surge from indoor mile champ Nikki Hiltz was enough to get to the line first, 4:03.10 to 4:03.44, a lifetime best for Mu by almost seven seconds in her third 1,500 m race since high school! McGee got third in 4:03.48 ahead of defending champ Sinclaire Johnson (4:03.49). Mu’s post-high school 1,500 m races:

● 2021: 4:16.06 PR ~ 1st at Texas A&M at Texas dual
● 2023: 4:10.33 PR ~ 3rd in heat one at USATF Nationals
● 2023: 4:03.44 PR ~ 2nd at USATF Nationals

The women’s Steeple was even crazier, with Emma Coburn gunning for her 11th national title and ninth in a row. She took the lead with 700 m to go and looked in control, but was challenged into the home straight by emerging star Courtney Wayment and then – from nowhere – by Krissy Gear, best known as an NCAA 1,500 m scorer for Arkansas in 2021-22. Gear flew by and won in a nearly 11-second lifetime best of 9:12.81 to Coburn’s 9:13.60 and Wayment in third (9:14.63). Gear is now the sixth-fastest Steepler in U.S. women’s history!

Alicia Monson, the 10,000 m runner-up, was not going to let the pace dawdle too much in the 5,000 m, so she towed the field from the start and had broken away from everyone except 10,000 m winner Elise Cranny and Natosha Rogers with three laps to go. Rogers took the lead with 700 m left but it was Cranny who surged to the lead with 300 m left and ran away to win in 14:52.66, with Monson passing Rogers on the last turn to get second in 14:55.10 to 14:55.39, a lifetime best.

The ultra-competitive 100 m hurdles was too close to call, but 2019 World Champion Nia Ali – now a mother of three – was best over the final two hurdles and the run-in to win in 12.37 (+0.4) and move to no. 4 in the world for 2023. She was barely ahead of defending champ Keni Harrison (12.42), with Kentucky’s Masai Russell closing fastest on the run-in to edge Alaysha Johnson by 2/1000ths for third, with both in 12.46 (12.458 to 12.460).

Two-time national champion Shamier Little and Rio 2016 Olympic winner Dalilah Muhammad dueled in the 400 m hurdles and were right next to each other on the run-in, but Little was a little stronger and won her third USATF crown in 53.34 to 53.53, seasonal bests for both. Anna Cockrell was third in 54.24, also a season’s best and under the Worlds standard, to make the team.

Vashti Cunningham won her sixth straight outdoor national high jump title and 13th overall at 1.91 m (6-3 1/4). World and Olympic champ Katie Moon needed only three jumps to win the vault at 4.61 m (15-1 1/2), as third-place Hana Moll could not go higher and two-time World Indoor champ Sandi Morris had to retire with an injury after clearing 4.61 m for second. Moon went on to clear 4.90 m for the world lead, then missed three times at 5.01 m (16-5 1/4), which would have been an American Record.

Tara Davis-Woodhall was untouchable in the long jump after her second-round 6.87 m (22-6 1/2), but Quanesha Burks came close, at 6.82 m (22-4 1/2), with Jasmine Moore third (6.74 m/22-1 1/2) and all three made the team with qualifying marks. It’s Davis-Woodhall’s first national title.

World shot leader Maggie Ewen won easily at 19.92 m (65-4 1/4), nearly three feet ahead of the field; 2022 world champ Chase Ealey – who has a bye into Budapest – was fourth at 18.62 m (61-1 1/4). Olympic champ Valarie Allman handled the discus field with ease, winning at 67.66 m (220-0), but the surprise was Lagi Tausaga-Collins, who got a lifetime best of 65.46 m (214-9) to finish second, but also got the World Champs standard to make the team for Budapest.

The last two World Champions – world leader Brooke Andersen and 2019 Worlds winner DeAnna Price – were 1-2 in the hammer at 78.65 m (258-0) and 78.18 m (256-6), a seasonal best for Price. World heptathlon leader Anna Hall dominated and won easily with 6,677 points, winning the high jump, 200 m and 800 m. That was well ahead of Taliyah Brooks (6,319) and Chari Hawkins (6,053).

American record-setter KC Lightfoot suffered a right leg injury on his first try at 5.91 m (19-4 3/4) in the men’s vault and had to retire, finishing in a tie for fourth with former American Record man Sam Kendricks, at 5.81 m (19-0 3/4). Tokyo Olympic and 2022 Worlds runner-up Chris Nilsen won at 5.91 m, with Zach McWhorter clearing a lifetime best of 5.86 m (19-2 3/4).

The 2016 World Indoor Champion n the long jump, Marquis Dendy, led from the start, reaching 8.14 m (26-8 1/2) in the first round and was never headed. Jarrion Lawson, the 2017 Worlds runner-up, got second with a seasonal best of 8.13 m (26-8 1/4), and high jump star JuVaughn Harrison was third with a wind-aided 8.08 m (26-6 1/4w). Also versatile: 110 m hurdles star Tinch was fifth at 8.00 m (26-3)!

Harrison came back on Sunday to win the high jump, clearing 2.26 m (7-5) on his first try, then retiring. Shelby McEwen cleared 2.26 on his second and had three tries at higher heights, but missed one jump at the Worlds standard of 2.32 m (7-7 1/4).

Donald Scott repeated as the men’s national champ in the triple jump, reaching a World Championships-qualifying 17.22 m (56-6) on his fourth try. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Will Claye was second with a season-best 16.98 m (55-8 1/2), and Chris Benard, a two-time Olympian, was third 16.68 m (54-8 3/4); neither Claye or Benard have the Worlds qualifying mark as yet.

World no. 2 Rudy Winkler was the hammer favorite and won at 79.04 m (259-4); so was Curtis Thompson in the javelin, but he needed a final-round heave of 80.92 m (265-6) to get the win over Capers Williamson’s 78.91 m (258-10).

Harrison Williams moved to no. 3 on the world list for 2023 with his 8,630 win in the decathlon, ahead of Tokyo Olympian Zach Ziemek (8,508, no. 7) and surprise third-placer Austin West of Iowa (8,331 lifetime best, no. 13 in 2023).

Olympic Trials winner Nick Christie took his second title in the men’s 20 km Walk – his 14th national title overall – in 1:25:30.31, winning by more than six minutes. Maria Michta-Coffey won her fifth U.S. 20 km Walk title – and 21st overall – in a much tighter match, 1:38:37.44 to 1:40:48.72 for Stephanie Casey and 1:40:48.98 for Miranda Melville.

There’s a lot more to unpack from this meet, but it left no doubt about the astonishing depth and quality of the American track & field scene.

At the Jamaican National Championships in Kingston, World women’s 200 m champ Shericka Jackson took over the world lead in the 100 m, winning in 10.65 and moving to equal-fifth all-time. Next came Shashalee Forbes (10.96), Natasha Morrison (10.98) and Briana Williams (11.01). Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah was fifth in 11.06.

Rohan Watson lowered his best from 10.12 to 9.98 in the heats and then to 9.91 to win the men’s 100 m, beating Ryiem Forde, who lowered his best from 10.07 to 9.96, and Oblique Seville (10.00).

On Sunday, two more world leads, from Jackson in the women’s 200 m in 21.71 (-0.5), ahead of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (22.26). In the men’s 110 m hurdles, Rasheed Broadbell ran away from the field in 12.94 (+0.7) to move to equal-14th ever.

At the Norwegian nationals in Jessheim, world-record holder Karsten Warholm went crazy again, winning in 46.76, then the no. 6 performance in history. He owned four of the six, before Benjamin’s 46.62. 

2.
Kenyan T&F anti-doping testing to increase 7x in 2023

World Athletics has about had it with Kenyan doping. The Athletics Integrity Unit reported that Kenya has recorded the most doping violations of any country – 184 – since the AIU was founded in 2017, and 44 in 2022. So, the hammer has been dropped.

Said AIU Head of Testing Thomas Capdevielle:

“We are aiming at up to 5,000 tests in the coming year, combining [Anti-Doping Agency Kenya] and AIU testing programmes. This will be the new norm for Kenyan athletes – intensified, targeted and regular testing, both in and out of competition.

“We all know there is a major doping problem in Kenya and the government has committed to stamping it out. The AIU is working closely with ADAK, Athletics Kenya (AK) and other Kenyan authorities to implement a strong testing programme to catch cheaters and deter other athletes from doing likewise.”

So, where there were 55 total tests at the 2022 Kenyan nationals and Worlds trials, there will be 390 this year. Where 140 Kenyans were part of the International Registered Testing Pool, there were only 38 more who were part of the National Registered Testing Pool. That will swell to more than 300 this year.

The goal is 5,000 total tests on Kenyan track & field athletes in total, in during-competition and out-of-competition tests. The Kenyan government has committed to $5 million in added anti-doping funding for five years to stem the flow of doping among its athletes and stave off a possible suspension by World Athletics.

3.
Turner stars as U.S. men overcome Canada, 2-2 (3-2) on penalties

The last quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Gold Cup was in Cincinnati with the defending champion U.S. facing Canada for the second time in 22 days, after a 2-0 win in the CONCACAF Nations League final on 18 June. This one was a lot different.

The game started oddly, with assistant referee Christian Espinosa (MEX) hit in the head with a kick by Canadian defender Kamal Miller in the opening minute. He had to be replaced, causing a delay of about eight minutes.

Once the game got going, the U.S. was the attacker, with 68% of the possession, but both sides were stout on defense and the shots were just 3-2 for the U.S. across 57 minutes of action in the first half.

More of the same in the second half, a difficult, physical, tightly-played game with the U.S. continuing to try to manufacture offense and the Canadians counter-punching. But U.S. defender DeJuan Jones was bringing the ball up the left side, with space, and sent a left-footed rainbow into the middle of the box and 6-2 striker Brandon Vazquez – in the middle of the box – headed the ball down and into the left side of the net for a 1-0 lead.

But that was not the winner. Canada kept coming and a confused exchange in the box saw U.S. defender Miles Robinson called for a hand ball, allowing Steven Vitoria to slam a penalty home at 90+3 for a 1-1 tie. And then it was on to extra time; the U.S. had 66% possession in the first 90 minutes and a 12-3 shots advantage.

There was no score in the first extra period, with Canadian keeper Dayne St. Clair making an excellent save on a header from substitute defender Matt Miazga off a corner in the 104th minute. The U.S. had four shots to one for Canada, but no goals.

Canada turned the game on its head in the 109th, as substitute striker Jacob Shaffelburg slammed a left-footed shot from the left of the box for a 2-1 lead and now the U.S. had to chase. But the U.S. pressure paid off, as U.S. keeper Matt Turner came up to midfield and sent a beautiful rainbow to the left side of the box, which Miazga brought down and sent into the box. Striker Jordan Morris headed it towards midfielder Gianluca Busio, whose left-footed shot was kick-saved by St. Clair, but with such force that it hit Canadian defender Scott Kennedy in the chest and ricocheted right into the goal for the 2-2 tie in the 114th. At the end of 120 minutes, the U.S. had 21 shots to five, and on to penalties.

Turner was the hero, saving the first two Canadian penalties, while Vazquez missed the first U.S. try. Both teams made their next two, then striker Jesus Ferreira scored, bringing up midfielder Charles-Andreas Brym, whose shot slammed into the crossbar and the U.S. survived, 3-2.

Hardly a masterpiece, but winning is what counts. In the other quarterfinals, Jamaica beat Guatemala, 1-0 and Mexico sailed past Costa Rica, 2-0 in the upper part of the bracket, and Panama eliminated Qatar, 4-0. In the semis, Jamaica will meet Mexico on Wednesday (12th) in Las Vegas, and Panama will face the U.S. in San Diego.

The U.S. women had their final tune-up match prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, in San Jose, California against 30th-ranked Wales, winning 2-0 on two second-half goals from Trinity Rodman.

The first half was all U.S., but without a score. The Americans had 75% of the possession and an 8-0 lead in shots, but could not get a score despite some open looks against Welsh keeper Olivia Clarke.

The American pressure continued in the second half, but Wales stayed tight, with Kayleigh Green heading away an Alana Cook header off of a corner in the 68th minute. But in the 76th, Sophia Smith had a breakaway down the left side and sent a perfect cross to substitute striker Rodman, who finished into an open goal for a 1-0 lead.

The pressure continued and Rodman took a loose ball at the top of the box from a defender and right-footed a seeing-eye line drive to the top of the right side of the net for the 2-0 final in the 87th.

The U.S. ended with 72% possession and a 22-2 advantage on shots against the defense-minded Welsh. This was the first meeting between the sides.

On Saturday, U.S. Soccer announced that star midfielder and striker Megan Rapinoe will retire from professional football at the end of the 2023 NWSL season. Now 38, she debuted for the U.S. in 2006 and will play in her fourth Women’s World Cup later this month. She was a member of the 2012 Olympic gold medalists and the Women’s World Cup winners in 2015 and 2019.

She has 63 goals in 199 appearances, but her most memorable play might have been a long cross to the far side of the goal in the closing seconds of the 122nd minute of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal against Brazil. The pass was perfectly placed for striker Abby Wambach’s header to tie the score at 2-2 and the U.S. advanced on penalty kicks, eventually losing to Japan on penalty kicks in the final.

4.
Asian Games to welcome 500 Russians, Belarusians … maybe

“[T]he OCA General Assembly in principle agreed the guidelines for the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games as independent athletes, competing under a neutral flag, should the IOC approve their participation at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. These guidelines include a maximum quota of 500 athletes across no more than 12 individual sports, and that the athletes will not be eligible for medals.”

That was the next-to-last paragraph in a Saturday news release from the Olympic Council of Asia, mostly focused on elections, but also confirming what had long been expected: that Russian and Belarusian athletes might be able compete in some events at the XIX Asian Games in Hangzhou (CHN) beginning on 23 September. But not yet for sure.

The idea was first circulated publicly last December at the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Summit in December, with interim OCA President Randhir Singh (IND) volunteering the idea:

“In the course of the debate, the Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) stated that, on the Asian continent, the reasons for the protective measures no longer exist. The OCA offered to facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions in Asia under its authority, while respecting the sanctions in place.

“Representatives from the IFs welcomed this initiative, stating that, for some IFs and for hosts of their competitions, the same reasoning would apply, and that therefore there should not be a one-size-fits-all solution, but that each IF should carefully evaluate for its sport whether the reasons for the protective measures still exist.”

This was the springboard for the IOC to adopt its March “recommendations” to allow individual Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals. With the Asian Games in Russia-friendly China, the conditions for their participation is nearly optimal.

But note the language which appears to be a tripwire: “should the IOC approve their participation at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

The IOC has not made any determination on the status of Russian and Belarusian athletes for Paris 2024, and would not appear to be ready to make any prior to the 23 September start of the Asian Games, as the IOC Session in India will not be held until mid-October.

So, is this all for show? Russian Olympic Committee chief Stanlslav Pozdnyakov, thinks it might be:

“The statement of the OCA representative, saying that Russian and Belarusian athletes can be admitted to the Asian Games, reminds us of the March recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, following which many practical decisions have not been made even a few months later.

“The Russian Olympic Committee has not yet received any invitations to participate in the Asian Games, and without this, it makes no sense to consider and discuss any hypothetical options. There is not much time left before these completions kick off, and therefore questions arise about the prospects of athletes’ full-fledged training for the required result. To say nothing of all the organizational, financial, logistical and other conditions of such a journey.

“Over the past few months, we have heard quite a lot of speculation about allowing Russians and Belarusians to take part in various international tournaments. In most cases, the words remained words. Given the lack of required concrete details, we view today’s statement accordingly.”

Moreover, as the purpose of Russian and Belarusian participation is Olympic qualification, Singh has said this year that in sports where advancement in a bracket is needed for qualification – wrestling is an example – and a Russian or Belarusian athlete would displace an Asian athlete for a Paris 2024 slot, this would not be allowed. For sports which depend on time, such as athletics and swimming, this is less of an issue, but note the language “that the athletes will not be eligible for medals.”

The OCA statement also mentions that Russian and Belarusian entries are limited to 12 sports, out of 40 in the 2023 Asian Games. But this could all be a smokescreen.

5.
IFSC ex-Med Comm member says “climbing has a RED-S problem”

The International Federation of Sport Climbing announced last week that the volunteer head of its Medical Commission, Eugen Burtscher (AUT) and long-time member Volker Schoeffel (GER) had both resigned over differences in the diagnosis and treatment of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), essentially being too thin and weak to compete due to a desired for lower body weight.

The IFSC adopted new guidelines, using “a holistic approach not based solely on BMI [body-mass-index] parameters, which alone are not sufficient to determine critical health condition.”

Schoeffel, in an Instagram post last Wednesday reviewed on GearJunkie.com, accused the IFSC of medical mismanagement:

“As a consequence of the non-action of the IFSC I resign with immediate effect from my voluntary position in the IFSC Medical Commission.

“Hereby I am drawing the same consequence as our MedCom president. We share the opinion that as medical doctors we can no longer accept the non-action of the IFSC concerning the RED-S problems of our athletes.

“I have been a #MedCom member since the inauguration of the IFSC in 2009. During that time frame we achieved many goals for the well-being of our athletes. However, the current politics with regards to RED-S cannot be accepted. We have worked for more than 10 years on the topic. We have collected numerous data, have measured BMI/MI at every World Cup last year and have developed very profound plans how to detect and help athletes with such problems. We have spent many hours in meetings and on the desk establishing a new and better system of monitoring and decision making. As a consequence, we now have the most profound data on this matter of all sport disciplines. We have pointed out the problem and possible solutions to the sports director and board continuously and repeatedly. However, the only acknowledgment we have received has consisted of defamation and discouragement. In short, the IFSC may not be willing at all to undertake further action regarding this important health issue of its athletes and is actively delaying and slowing down any decisions that could lead to much needed action.

“As medical doctors we cannot accept this any longer.

“Sport climbing has a RED-S problem.

“Possible solutions to detect, evaluate and help critical athletes were developed through the Medical Commission. These solutions have been and are being ignored. No further action is taken by the IFSC.

“For the well-being of our athletes and the development of this sport, I cannot take any responsibility on this matter and am forced to resign. … I hope this step may help the cause and our athletes but I know it won‘t.”

Asked about Schoeffel’s comments by GearJunkie.com, writer Andrew Marshall was directed to the IFSC’s public statement.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Badminton ● Japan was the big winner at the Yonex Canada Open in Calgary, taking three of five titles.

In a match-up of the top two seeds, no. 1 Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) swept past Ratchanok Intanon (THA), 21-19, 21-16. Top-seeded Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida defeated Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara (JPN) in the Japan women’s Doubles, 22-20 and 21-16. Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito (JPN) had a battle with Mathias Thyrri and Amalie Magelund (DEN) in the Mixed Doubles final, but won in three sets, 21-17, 16-21, 21-13.

In the men’s Singles final, Lakshya Sen (IND) defeated Shi Feng Li (CHN), 21-18, 22-20.

In the all-Danish men’s Doubles final, Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen edged Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Sogaard, 23-25, 21-16, 21-12.

● Basketball ● The rematch that had to be came in the final of the FIBA women’s AmeriCup in Leon (MEX).

The two-time defending champion U.S. had to field an all-collegiate team with the tournament taking place during the WNBA season. That opened the door for Brazil, which won in the group stage, 67-54, holding on to a 35-25 halftime lead.

The two squads then moved through the playoffs, with Brazil smashing Mexico, 83-61, and edging Puerto Rico, 85-74. The U.S. sailed past Colombia, 68-49, and then got by Canada, 67-63 in its semifinal, hanging on to a 39-29 halftime lead and holding the Canadians to just 24 second-half points.

In the final, the U.S. had a 37-35 halftime lead, but the game changed in the third quarter. Brazil blitzed the Americans with a 25-10 surge and had control on the way to a 69-58 victory and the tournament title. Kamilla Soares, the 6-8 South Carolina center, scored 20 and was named Most Valuable Player. Forward Emanuely de Oliveira added 13 for Brazil, which shot 46.8% from the field and held the Americans to 29.6%.

Tennessee guard Rickea Jackson was the U.S. star with 22 points on 10-18 shooting, but no one else scored more than six. Removing Jackson’s efforts, the rest of the team was just 11-53 shooting for the game.

It’s Brazil’s sixth title in this tournament, the most of any country. Canada won the third-place game, 80-73, over Puerto Rico.

● Beach Volleyball ● A strong showing for U.S. entries at the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 in Gstaad (SUI), one of the top stops on the circuit, and a shocker from the Southern California duo of Miles Partian and Andy Benesh.

Benesh, 28, played collegiately as a middle blocker at USC, while Partain, 22, was a setter at UCLA. Both had some success with other partners, but took off when they started up together at the end of 2022. They won a Beach Pro Tour Challenge tournament last October, then finished third in the Ostrava Elite 16 in June.

And in Gstaad, they stunned Norway’s Olympic and World Champions, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, 19-21, 24-22, 15-12, reportedly the first U.S. team to beat them in five years!

The rematch came in the gold-medal match and it was another three-set battle, with Partain and Benesh winning again, 15-21, 21-11, 18-16. It’s the first victory by an American team in a top-tier FIVB/Beach Pro Tour tournament since November of 2019!

Michal Bryl and Bartosz Losiak (POL) won the bronze over George Waverley and Andre Stein (BRA), 21-18, 11-7 and the Brazilians had to retire due to an injury.

Brazil’s Ana Patricia Ramos and Duda Lisboa, the 2022 World Champions, defeated Americans Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng in the women’s final, 21-18, 21-18, their second Elite 16 win this season. Ramos and Lisboa have now medaled in four straight Elite 16 tournaments (2-1-1). For Hughes and Cheng, it’s their third top-four finish in Elite 16 events this season and their second medal (1-1-0)

The U.S. also picked up the bronze, as Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth defeated Svenja Mueller and Cinja Tillmann (GER), 21-19, 21-16.

● Cycling ● The 110th Tour de France is on its first rest day on Monday, after a trying, uphill finish to Stage 9 that saw the titanic battle between defending champ Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) and two-time winner Tadej Pogacar (SLO) get even closer.

The Friday and Saturday stages were for the sprinters and ended in the usual mass finish. Friday’s flat, 169.9 km route from Mont-de-Marsan to Bordeaux saw Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen claim his third stage win of this Tour, coming from behind in the final meters to edge Britain’s Mark Cavendish at the line in 3:46:28, with the first 93 riders given the same time.

Philipsen’s win became especially significant on Saturday as Cavendish, 38, riding in what he has said would be his final Tour, crashed with about 65 km remaining and suffered a broken right collarbone that will remove him from the event. He shares the all-time record for the most stage wins at Le Tour with Belgian legend Eddy Merckx at 34 and was a sentimental favorite to claim at least one more stage win to take the record for himself.

Saturday’s hilly, 200.7 km route to Limoges produced a win for Denmark’s Mads Pedersen, who attacked best and held off Pedersen for the win. Simon Yates (GBR), fourth at the start of the day, suffered a crash with 6 km left and fell from fourth overall to sixth (+4:01).

Defending champ Vingegaard maintained his 25-second lead over Pogacar into Sunday’s 182.4 km stage, which finished with a brutal 8.6 km climb from 777 m to 1,412 m to the top of the Puy de Dome. American Matteo Jorgenson attacked with 50 km left and had a minute lead heading up the final climb, with Matej Mohoric (SLO) in hot pursuit. But coming hardest was Canadian Michael Woods, who passed Jorgenson 450 m out for the win in 4:19:41. France’s Pierre Latour and Mohoric also got past Jorgenson at the finish, 25, 35 and 36 seconds behind.

The misery extended to the rest of the field, with Pogacar finishing 13th (+8:19), making up some time on Vingegaard (14: +8:27). So after nine of 21 stages, Vingegaard leads Pogacar by 17 seconds, with Jai Hundley (AUS) third (+2:40) and everyone else at least four minutes back.

Monday is a rest day and everyone needs it.

The 34th Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile finished on Sunday as expected, with Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten winning her fourth title and second in a row, almost four minutes ahead of her closest pursuer.

Saturday’s hilly, 125.7 km stage ended in a mass sprint, with Hungary’s Blanka Vas getting to the line first over American Chloe Dygert and Liane Lippert (GER). Sunday’s mostly downhill finale of 126.85 km into Olbia was won by Chiara Consonni (ITA) in 3:19:33 at the end of another mass finish, ahead of Marianne Vos (NED), Ally Wollaston (AUS) and Americans Dygert and Megan Jastrab.

Van Vleuten won at 24:26:25, some 3:56 ahead of Juliette Labous (FRA), 4:23 up on Gaia Realini (ITA) and 5:34 in front of American Veronica Ewers.

It’s hard to argue against van Vleuten as the top women’s rider of all time: four Giro Donne titles, four World Championships titles (two road, two time trials), the 2022 Tour de France Femmes and multiple wins in major one-day races such as the Strade Bianche, Tour of Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and a lot more. Pretty good for 40; she plans to contest the Tour de France Femmes and the UCI Worlds before her planned retirement.

An impressive 1-3 for Chinese teenagers at the BMX Freestyle Park World Cup in Brussels (BEL), as Huimin Zhou (18) took the women’s final at 91.40 over four-time World Champion Hannah Roberts of the U.S. (89.10), with 17-year-old Hong Lin Xia (CHN: 87.90) third.

In the men’s final, 2022 European Champion Anthony Jeanjean (FRA) took top honors, followed by World Champion Rim Nakamura (JPN), and Tokyo Olympic champ Logan Martin (AUS).

All-around star and Tokyo Olympic Omnium gold medalist Jennifer Valente dominated the 2023 USA Cycling Track Nationals in Carson, California.

Already the winner of more than 20 national championships golds, Valente added the Omnium (of course), Elimination Race, Points Race and Scratch Race for four wins. Chloe Patrick won three silvers behind Valente, in the Omnium, Points and Elimination events.

Sprinter Mandy Marquardt, the three-time defending U.S. Sprint champion, was defeated in the final by Mckenna McKee, 2-0, but won the Keirin for the third time in her career, and the 500 m Time Trial for the fifth time in a row! McKee was the Keirin runner-up.

Elizabeth Stevenson won the 3 km Women’s Pursuit, and also took the bronze in the Omnium.

The men’s program had double winners in Jamie Alvord in the Sprint and 1,000 m Time Trial (1:03:154), Colby Lange in the Scratch Race and Points Race, and Anders Johnson in the 4 km Pursuit and the Omnium (144, with Lange second at 138).

Eddy Huntsman won the Elimination Race and was second to Lange in the Points Race. Dalton Walters won the Keirin, but only by 0.060 over Geneway Tang and 0.061 over Evan Boone!

The USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships were in Mccungie, Pennsylvania at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort, with familiar faces on the top of the podium.

The 2022 national runner-up, Christopher Blevins won a tight men’s six-lap final, 21:15:0 to 21:17.4 over Riley Amos, with Bjorn Riley third (21:58.7). Blevins took over on the final lap, finishing in 3:35.1 to 3:38.4 to get to the line first.

Defending national champion Savilia Blunk soloed to the women’s title, taking the four-lap final in 16:24.1, 21 seconds up on Gwen Gibson (16:45.7) and former World Champion Kate Courtney a distant third in 17:32.8. Blunk had the lead on the second lap, but broke it open on the third and extended her lead to the finish.

● Gymnastics ● The Trampoline World Cup in Coimbra (POR) was a showcase for 32-year-old Bryony Page of Great Britain, the 2021 World Champion, with a 56.930 total, to best Xinyi Fan (CHN: 55.680). France’s Lea Labrousse (54.140), the 2022 World Synchro runner-up, was third.

China’s Zisai Wang, 17, took the men’s title in a tight, 61.640 to 61.350 final vs. 2021 World Champion Langyu Yan, with France’s 2022 Worlds silver medalist Allan Morante third (60.030).

In the non-Olympic events, Americans Ruben Padilla and Aliasksei Shostak won the men’s Synchro (52.410), and teammates Nicole Ahsinger and Cheyenne Webster finished second to Japan’s Ena Sakurai and Kiko Tanaka, 48.280 to 48.160. Padilla won the men’s Double Mini event at 30.100 and Jacqueline Kent was third (24.700), behind Kirsty Way (GBR: 26.600).

● Rowing ● The third and final World Rowing World Cup was in Lucerne (SUI), with the Dutch scoring four wins in the 12 open-weight classes.

The Double Sculls was a battle between Olympic stars with the Croatian brothers Martin and Valent Sinkovic – gold medalists at Rio 2016 – and the Tokyo runner-ups, Melvin Twellaar and Stefan Broenik (NED). The Dutch took control by mid-way and finished in 6:04.59, with the Croatians second in 6:06.53. The Netherlands entry in the Quadruple Sculls won easily in 5:37.17 to 5:39.35 for Great Britain.

The Dutch women won in the Single Sculls with World Champion Karolien Florijn at 7:27.15, defeating 2022 Worlds bronze winner Tara Rigney (AUS: 7:29.77) and Olympic winner Emma Twigg (NZL: 7:32.95). And the Netherlands took the trophy in the Quadruple Sculls in 6:19.91, with Great Britain second in 6:20.77.

The British took three wins, in the men’s Pairs with 2021 European Champions Oliver Wynne-Griffith and Thomas George (6:34.88) beating Marius Cozmiuc and Sergiu Bejan (ROU: 6:25.22), and then in the men’s Fours (5:49.47 over New Zealand), and the women’s Eights (6:02.82).

Australia won the men’s Eights over Britain, 5:23.92 to 5:24.33, and the women’s Pairs with Jessica Morrison and Annabelle McIntyre in 7:00.84, well ahead of Romania’s Ioana Vrinceanu and Roxana Anghel (705.80). The Romanians got wins from Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis in the Double Sculls in 6:41.96, and in the Fours (6:18.51, beating Australia).

Germany’s two-time Single Sculls World Champion Oliver Zeidler completed a sweep of three World Cup races, winning again over 2019 Worlds runner-up Sverri Nielsen (DEN), 6:42.60 to 6:50.09.

● Sport Climbing ● /Updated/The third Lead and fourth Speed IFSC World Cup was in Chamonix (FRA), with Indonesia sweeping the Speed races and veteran Ja-in Kim taking the women’s Lead title.

Rahmad Adi Mulyono won the men’s Speed final, 5.01-5.05 over Rishat Khaibullin (KAZ), with the bronze going to Raharjati Nursamsa (INA) by the slimmest of margins, 5.323-5.324 for Jun Yasukawa (JPN).

Countrywoman Rajiah Sallsabillah took her final, 6.97-9.59 against Victoire Andrier (FRA) and Indonesia won the bronze here as well, with Nurul Iqamah just edging Shaoqin Zhang (CHN), 7.16 to 7.17.

Korea’s 2014 World Lead Champion, Kim, took the women’s Lead title with 43+ holds to win over Japan’s Nonoha Kume (38+) and Tokyo Olympic silver winner Miho Nonaka (37+). It’s the first career World Cup medal for Kume, 19.

/Updated/Britain’s Toby Roberts, who won a Boulder World Cup this season, took the Lead title as the only climber to reach the top of the wall. Sam Avezou (FRA) was a clear second at 50 holds, followed by Sorato Anraku (JPN: 48).

● Table Tennis ● Amy Wang and Nikhil Kumar both won their second championships at the 2023 USA Table Tennis Nationals in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Wang defeated Sally Moyland, 4-1 (11-8, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-6), in the final to win her second national title in three years. She won her quarterfinal, 4-2, and semi, 4-2, before the final.

Kumar swept Jishan Liang, 4-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3), to win his second straight title, after being runner-up in 2020 and 2021. Kumar was dominant, winning 20 of his 21 games and taking his matches by 4-1, 4-0, 4-0, 4-0 and a sweep in the final.

Kumar and Wang teamed up to win the Mixed Doubles title over Dan Liu and Emily Tan, sweeping the final by 3-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-6). Wang got a third gold, with Rachel Sung, in the women’s Doubles – winning nine of 10 games – and by 3-1 (4-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-5) in the final over Xizi Sun and Isabella Su.

Jinxin Wang and Krishnateja Avvari won the men’s Doubles over Nandan Naresh and Liang, by 3-2 (6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 7-11,11-9).

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