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TSX REPORT: Paralympics not combining with Olympics any time soon; Paris 2024 opening down to 400,000? Fraser-Pryce does it again: 10.67!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Could Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone win four gold medals at Paris 2024? (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Paralympic inclusion in Commonwealth Games not an Olympic signal
2. Paris 2024 opening ceremony could be downsized … to 400,000?
3. Excellent Commonwealth Games close in Birmingham
4. Fraser-Pryce 10.67, McLaughlin 51.68, Kovacs 75-1 1/4 in Szekesfehervar!
5. Carrington, Harrison, Luzan star at ICF Sprint Worlds

The highly successful 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham came to a close on Monday and with 42 Paralympic events interspersed throughout the program, is a combined Olympic-Paralympic Games coming? No, says the International Paralympic Committee. Concerns over security for the Paris 2024 opening on the River Seine could see the allowed crowd cut from 600,000 to 400,000. Sensational track & field marks at the Gyulai Invitational in Hungary, with Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce winning in 10.67 again, American star Sydney McLaughlin running 51.68 for the 400 m hurdles and two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs reaching 75-1 1/4 in the men’s shot. New Zealand’s superstar kayaker Lisa Carrington won two events at the ICF World Sprint Champs and American Nevin Harrison, the Olympic champ in the C-1 200 won again as well.

1.
Paralympic inclusion in Commonwealth Games
not an Olympic signal

“Since 1988, we have seen exponential growth in Paralympic sport. We are on a strong ascendancy and growing the Games so combining both events would potentially stunt and jeopardise that growth, and we could potentially go backwards.

“This is a conversation that crops up regularly, but you have to look to see if it makes sense to bring both Games together and at the moment we believe it doesn’t. The current agreement works for us at the moment. It serves us well and we like it and are keen to keep it.”

That’s Craig Spence (GBR), the communications chief for the International Paralympic Committee, speaking to the BBC about the well-received inclusion of 42 Paralympic events into the program of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG).

“Our fear is if you were to bring both events together you would hear much less about Paralympic performances and you would jeopardise the impact of the Games being the most transformational sporting event on earth.

“Our ambition is to continue growing the Paralympics and there is so much more potential there to make the Games even better.”

The sheer size of a combined Games would also be a negative, as the Olympic Games has a quota of 10,500 athletes (and thousands of coaches and staff) and the Tokyo Paralympic Games had 4,403 athletes (plus coaches and staff); a combined program of 868 events (!) might go on for more than a month.

IPC President Andrew Parsons (BRA) told Reuters that the future participation of Russian and Belarusian teams in Paris could be decided in November:

“We will have to wait for extraordinary General Assembly. So we need the General Assembly to make decisions [in November] and give us a clear, clear indication of where the membership wants to go.

“What I can say is that we had a very strong positioning of our own membership during the Beijing [Winter Paralympic Games against Russian and Belarusian participation] and this to me was really impressive and really good to see how the movement will get in that direction. …

“If our movement decided they [Russia and Belarus] will not be at the [Paris] Games, yes, we will miss some athletes but sport will survive.”

2.
Paris 2024 opening ceremony could be downsized … to 400,000?

The new Prefect of the Paris Police, Laurent Nunez, told Agence France Presse and the French all-sports newspaper, L’Equipe, that the plans for the Paris 2024 opening ceremony on the River Seine are progressing.

“The ceremony will take place, that’s clear,” he said in an interview, but noted that there are “still discussions on the gauge.” Translation: the projected crowd – paid and free – of 600,000 may be considerably smaller, perhaps 400,000. Still immense, but no doubt easier to secure.

Nunez took over as the head of the Paris police force on 21 July, following the embarrassing security failures at the Stade de France for the 28 May UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said at Nunez’s induction ceremony: “You will be the police chief in charge of the Olympic Games, and the entire police service must be focused on that task.” Nunez said he will personally lead the Olympic planning effort, under the authority of the Interior Ministry. He manages a force of 28,000 officers, plus 16,000 support staff.

3.
Excellent Commonwealth Games close in Birmingham

A musical festival disguised as the Closing Ceremony was held Monday evening at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham (ENG) to conclude a highly successful XXII Commonwealth Games.

Nearly two dozen groups performed in all, including Dexy’s Midnight Runners, UB40 and a finale that united Black Sabbath stars Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos.

The Games enjoyed more than 1.5 million ticket sales, with Alexander Stadium filled to its 30,000-seat capacity for all 12 sessions of Athletics. A total of 13,000 volunteers helped to make the Games work and stamped Birmingham as a future host for more events, with the inevitable chatter about a future Olympic bid already started.

The competition was absolutely fierce, with Australia winning the overall medal count by just 178-176 over England. The Aussies had 67 golds, 57 silvers and 54 bronzes to 57-66-53 for England. Canada was a clear third at 92 (26-32-34); a total of 43 countries won medals, equaling the all-time high from 2018.

One of the marks of a successful Games is the adoption of one or more icons, and the giant “Raging Bull” from the Opening Ceremony stood out. A massive adaptation of the local symbol of the historic Bull Ring Market that dates from the 12th Century, the 30-foot tall, 2.5-ton “machine” has been on display in Centenary Square. More than 10,000 petitioners asked to keep it on display beyond the end of the Games and it will remain through the end of the Birmingham 2022 Festival in September.

4.
Fraser-Pryce 10.67, McLaughlin 51.68, Kovacs 75-1 1/4 in Szekesfehervar!

Tremendous performances at the Bregyo Athletic Center in Szekesfehervar (HUN) on Monday at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet, with Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Americans Sydney McLaughlin and Joe Kovacs among the brightest stars.

In typical fashion, Fraser-Pryce ran away from field in the women’s 100 m and won in an astounding 10.67 (wind +1.3 m/s), meaning her five finals in 2022 have been 10.67, 10.67, 10.67, 10.66 and 10.67! It’s the equal-13th performance in history and well ahead of runner-up Tamari Davis of the U.S. (10.92); American TeeTee Terry was fourth in 11.02.

McLaughlin, in reportedly her last meet of the year, won the women’s 400 m hurdles by nearly 2 1/2 seconds in 51.68, the no. 6 performance of all-time, with McLaughlin owning five of the six. Jamaica’s Janieve Russell was second, in 54.14

Kovacs, the World Championships silver medalist in Eugene, equaled his Worlds performance of 22.89 m (75-1 1/4) and equaled the no. 2 throw of his career! He was nearly a meter better than New Zealand’s Tom Walsh – the Commonwealth Games winner – at 21.93 m (71-11 1/2).

In the men’s sprints, Worlds silver medalist Marvin Bracy reversed the Diamond League results from Saturday, beating Trayvon Bromell (USA) by 9.97 to 10.01, with Elijah Hall (USA) third, also at 10.01 (+1.3). Teen sensation Erriyon Knighton of the U.S. won the men’s 200 m at 19.88 (+0.8), but Olympic silver winner Kenny Bednarek pulled up mid-race and finished last. Vernon Norwood of the U.S. won the 400 m over World 400 m hurdles winner Alison Dos Santos (BRA) by 44.96-45.11.

Commonwealth Games winner Rasheed Broadbell upset World Champion Grant Holloway of the U.S. in the men’s 110 m hurdles, coming from behind on the final two hurdles to win with both timed in 13.12. American Daniel Roberts was third in 13.13 (+1.0). Olympic champs Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) and Mondo Duplantis (SWE) won the high jump and pole vault with modest clearances of 2.24 m (7-4 1/4) and 5.80 m (19-0 1/4). World Champion Kristjian Ceh (SLO) won the discus with an impressive 71.23 m (233-8) toss and Poland’s Olympic champ Wojciech Nowicki won the men’s hammer at 79.96 m (262-4).

Jamaica’s World Champion Shericka Jackson was an easy winner in the women’s 200 m (22.02; +0.6) with American Kayla White third in 22.46. Olympic gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won the women’s 100 m hurdles in a speedy – but wind-aided 12.27 (+2.4), ahead of five Americans: Keni Harrison (12.49w), Nia Ali (12.60w), Alaysha Johnson (12.62w), Chanel Brissett (12.87w) and Gabbi Cunningham (13.09w).

Just as at the Diamond League meet on Saturday, Americans Brooke Andersen and Janee Kassanavoid were 1-2 in the women’s hammer at 74.84 m (245-6) and 72.58 m (238-1).

A day off and the Diamond League resumes in Monaco on the 10th before it shuts down for another two weeks with the European Championships in Munich starting on the 15th.

5.
Carrington, Harrison, Luzan star at ICF Sprint Worlds

It’s the time for world championships and the International Canoe Federation’s World Sprint champs were held on Lake Banook in Dartmouth, Canada, with the biggest star once again from New Zealand.

Lisa Carrington, the triple-gold-medalist from Tokyo, won her 11th and 12th World Championships golds in the women’s K-1 200 m and K-1 500. It’s her eighth world title at 200 m and third at 500 m, and neither was close. She won the 200 m final by a full second and the 500 m final by 1.28 seconds.

Also impressing was American Nevin Harrison, the Tokyo Olympic champ in the C-1 200 m and the 2019 World Champion in the same event. She won her second Worlds gold with a decisive 49.87-50.54 victory in the final over Maria Corbera of Spain.

Ukraine’s Liudmyla Luzan also won two individual golds, taking the C-1 500 and C-1,000 m titles, as well as a silver in the C-2 500 m with Anastasiia Chetverikova.

Canada’s Katie Vincent won her fourth Worlds gold in the C-1 5,000 m by nearly five seconds, then came back to help with Canadian wins in the women’s C-4 500 m and the Mixed C-2 500 m with Connor Fitzpatrick for three total victories.

In the men’s races, Brazil’s Isaquias Querioz won his fourth world title in the C-1 500 m, with Czech veteran Martin Fuksa third. Fuksa also won the C-1 1,000 m bronze and now has 12 World Championships medals in his career. Teammate Josef Dostal won the K-1 500 m for the third time in his career and now has 11 total Worlds medals. Hungary’s Olympic champ Balint Kopasz won two kayaking golds, in the K-1 1,000 m and with Bence Nadas in the K-2 500 m. Spain’s Carlos Arevalo won the men’s K-1 200 m and with winners of the K-4 500 m.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Figure Skating ● The Russian Anti-Doping Agency said that the investigation into the doping violation of Kamila Valieva – which caused so much consternation during the Beijing Winter Games in February – “is in the final stages” and is expected to be completed “in the coming weeks.”

Of special interest are the people surrounding Valieva – she was 15 years old at the time of the Games – and “The case of a protected person … requires a thorough investigation involving Athlete Support Personnel.”

Valieva competed in Beijing in the Team Event, won by Russia; the medal ceremony was never held and the final results have been in limbo pending the inquiry and outcome of the investigation into Valieva’s December doping positive that was overturned by the RUSADA appeals panel.

● Water Polo ● The U.S. women’s dominance in international competitions extends down to the youth level as the American team triumphed over Greece, 10-8, in the final of the FINA Women’s World Youth Championship in Belgrade (SRB).

The teams were limited to players under age 18 and the U.S. and Greece were the class of the tournament from the start. Greece defeated the Americans, 15-14, in group play, the only U.S. loss of the tournament. After that, the U.S. smoked Kazakhstan by 17-3 to reach the quarterfinals, edged Spain by 13-9 and doubled up Italy, 18-9 in the semis.

The U.S. got out to a 5-2 lead after a quarter in the final, but the Greeks came back with a 4-1 second period to even the score at 6-6 at half. But the U.S. outscored Greece by 2-1 in the third and fourth periods to finish with a 10-8 win. Jenna Flynn, the tournament’s leading scorer, got key goals to put the U.S. up 8-7 at the end of the third period and scored the 10th goal for the final margin. She finished with 29 total goals.

The American youth squad won the FINA title for the second time (also in 2014) and joins the National Team as FINA World Champions in 2022.

● Wrestling ● With the conclusion of the United World Wrestling Ranking Series, the potential for high seeds in next month’s World Championships are good for eight American wrestlers ranked no. 1 or no. 2 worldwide in their classes.

The six top-ranked Americans include men’s Freestylers Tom Gilman (57 kg), Kyle Dake (74 kg), Jordan Burroughs (79 kg) and Kyle Snyder (97 kg) and women’s Freestyle stars Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg) and Helen Maroulis (57 kg).

Olympic champs David Taylor (men/86 kg) and Tamyra Mensah-Stock (women/68 kg) are ranked no. 2.

Such is the depth in the U.S. that two women who will not be wrestling at the Worlds are also highly ranked: Forrest Molinari, no. 1 at 65 kg and six-time World Champion Adeline Gray, no. 2 at 76 kg.

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TSX REPORT: Fraser-Pryce flies to 10.66 world leader in Chorzow; two world champs win Commonwealth gold; little chance for Griner appeal

By
Rich Perelman
-
Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce celebrates her 200 m win at the Pan American Games in Lima (Photo: Lima 2019)

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

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

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Fraser-Pryce zooms 10.66 for world leader in Chorzow
2. World Champs Amusan and Barber win at Commonwealth Games
3. Griner appeal to take three months, but has little chance
4. WADA chief Banka says NCAA could sign on to international rules
5. Low interest in Modern Pent obstacle test events?

The amazing Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, five times the World Champion at 100 m, wrote another headline at the Diamond League meet in Poland on Saturday, winning in a world-leading 10.66, at age 35! U.S. athletes got six wins, including three from Eugene world champs Michael Norman (men’s 400 m), Chase Ealey (women’s shot) and Brooke Andersen (women’s hammer). At the Commonwealth Games, only two Eugene champs won in Birmingham, including Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (women’s 100 m hurdles) and Australia’s Kelsey-Lee Barber (women’s javelin), with Australia leading the medal count over England with the event ending on Monday. American basketball star Brittney Griner’s appeal will take three months, said her Russian lawyers, but has almost no chance to succeed. World Anti-Doping Agency chief Witold Banka of Poland told Reuters that the NCAA might consider adopting the World Anti-Doping Code, but not the U.S. professional leagues. The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne is continuing its plan to use obstacle-course racing as a new, fifth discipline, but its touted test events have drawn only modest interest and participation.

1.
Fraser-Pryce zooms 10.66 for world leader in Chorzow

The Wanda Diamond League resumed on Saturday in Chorzow (POL), with Jamaican star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce claiming the only world-leading performance with a startling 10.66 win in the women’s 100 m.

Matched against a good, but not great field, Fraser-Pryce got her patented super start, but no one could make up any ground against and she won easily in 10.66 to 10.94 for American Aleia Hobbs (wind +0.5 m/s). Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) was third in 11.00 and Americans Kayla White, Melissa Jefferson and TeeTee Terry were 6-7-8 in 11.15-11.18-11.20.

It’s the no. 12 performance in history for Fraser-Pryce, and her third-fastest ever, after her 10.60 and 10.63 in 2021. In her four finals in 2022, she has run 10.67, 10.67, 10.67 and 10.66!

Fellow Jamaican star Shericka Jackson likewise dominated the 200 m, winning in a runaway in 21.84, the no. 9 performance of the year (+0.2; Jackson has four of the nine). World 400 m champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo founded a late charge from lane nine to get second in 22.35, with American Jenna Prandini third in 22.39. Fellow Americans Tamara Clark and Gabby Thomas finished 6-7 in 22.82-22.86.

Americans won six events on the lengthy, 21-event program. Worlds bronze medalist Trayvon Bromell got out best and was never headed in a tight men’s 100 m, winning in 9.95 to 10.00 for Marvin Bracy, with Christian Coleman fourth (10.13), Elijah Hall sixth (10.14) and Kyree King ninth (10.29). World 400 m champ Michael Norman pulled away on the final straight to win his event in 44.11 over Kirani James (GRN: 44.55) in a re-run of the Worlds final. Americans Bryce Deadmon, Vernon Norwood and Champion Allison were 3-4-5 in 44.68, 45.20 and 45.35; Michael Cherry was seventh in 45.45.

Joe Kovacs won the men’s shot at 21.79 m (71-6) ahead of New Zealand’s Tom Walsh (21.70 m/71-2 1/2) and Worlds bronze medalist Josh Awotunde (21.35 m/70-0 1/2).

World Indoor 800 m Champion Ajee Wilson finished last in the Worlds final in Eugene, but she was strongest on the home straight and won the women’s 800 m over fellow American Sage Hurta, 1:58.28-1:58.40. American Allie Wilson was fifth in 1:59.35.

World Champion Chase Ealey took the lead in the women’s shot with her first throw of 19.84 m (65-1 1/4) and then improved to her winning throw of 20.38 m (66-10 1/2) in round three. Americans Maggie Ewen and Jessica Ramsey were seventh (18.50 m/60-8 1/2) and eighth (18.22 m/59-9 1/2). Fellow World Champion Brooke Andersen led a U.S. 1-2 in the women’s hammer with Worlds bronze medalist Janee Kassanavoid, 75.76 m (248-7) and 74.89 m (245-8).

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis have the crowd a thrill in the early part of the program, winning at 6.10 m (20-0); American Worlds silver winner Chris Nilsen was fifth (5.53 m/18-1 3/4). Fellow World champ Alison Dos Santos (BRA) was a clear winner in the 400 m hurdles (47.80) over Khallifah Rosser (USA: 48.30); fellow Americans Amere Lattin (48.79) and C.J. Allen (49.01) were fourth and sixth.

In the men’s long jump, Steffin McCarter of the U.S. was second (8.09 m/26-6 1/2) to World silver medalist Miltiadis Tentoglu (GRE: 8.13 m/26-8 1/4).

The women’s 400 m was an impressive win for Dutch 400 m hurdles star Femke Bol in a national record 49.75, equal-third on the world list for 2022. Equally imposing was Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, fourth in the Worlds 800 m, charging past star Gudaf Tsegay to win the women’s 1,500 in 3:56.91, now no. 4 for 2022; Tsegay was second in 3:58.18, with American Heather MacLean fourth in a lifetime best 4:01.38. Double Olympic winner Sifan Hassan took the lead on the final straight to win the women’s 3,000 m in 8:39.27, with American Alicia Monson fourth in 8:41.61.

Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) was a decisive winner in the women’s 100 m hurdles on 12.34 (+0.8) over Keni Harrison and Tia Jones of the U.S. (12.37 and a lifetime best 12.49). It’s the equal-fifth-best performance of the year for Camacho-Quinn and equal-eighth for Harrison.

The show goes on in Szekesfehervar (HUN) on Monday for a Continental Tour Gold meet, in Monaco on Wednesday (10th) with another all-star cast, then takes two weeks off for the European Championships.

2.
World Champs Amusan and Barber win at Commonwealth Games

The XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will conclude on Monday (8th), but with most of the competitions finishing on Sunday. The event has been a popular success, especially with full houses of 30,000-plus at the Alexander Stadium for track & field.

It looked like none of the 2022 Eugene World Champions entered in the meet would win a Commonwealth title, until Sunday. Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, the women’s 100 m hurdles winner and world-record setter, dominated the final, winning on 12.30 (-0.2) and javelin World Champion Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS) won on her last throw, defeating teammate Mackenzie Little, 64.43 m (211-4) to 64.27 m (210-10).

It looked like Scotland’s Jake Wightman might be able to pull off a World Championships/Commonwealth double, leading into the final straight of the men’s 1,500 m. But he was overhauled by Australia’s Olli Hoare (3:30.12) and Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN: 3:30.21), all breaking the famed 3:32.16 meet record by Tanzania’s Filbert Bayi from 1974! Wightman won the bronze in 3:30.53.

Same in the men’s javelin, with Grenada’s Anderson Peters a big favorite. But despite an impressive 88.64 m (290-10) effort in the fifth round, he was passed by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem – fifth at Eugene – who scored a national record 90.18 m (295-10) in the fifth round and won in a total shocker. Among the other highlights:

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo completed a 5/10 double with a final sprint to win Saturday’s 5,000 m in 13:08.08, ahead of Kenyans Nicholas Kimeli (13:08.19) and Jacob Krop (13:08.48). Jereem Richards moved to no. 5 on the 2022 world list with his 19.80 win in the 200 m. Kenyan Abarham Kibiwot won the 3,000 m Steeple in 8:11.15 and Kyron McMaster (IVB) took the 400 , hurdles in 48.93.

New Zealand’s Tom Walsh won the men’s shot at 22.26 m (73-0 1/2), followed by a lifetime best from teammate Jacko Gill (21.90 m/71-10 1/4). Grenada’s Lindon Victor, fifth at the Worlds, defended his 2018 Commonwealth title with a win with 8,233 points.

Jamaican sprint star Elaine Thompson-Herah completed her double, following up her 100 m win with a victory in the women’s 200 m in 22.02, way ahead of Favour Ofili (NGR: 22.51) and Christine Mboma (NAM: 22.80). Sada Williams of Barados, third at the Worlds, won the women’s 400 m in a meet record of 49.90.

Kenyan Mary Moraa won an seemingly impossible, come-from-behind win in the 800 m on Saturday, sprinting from a well-back fourth with 140 m to go to pass favored Kelly Hodgkinson (ENG), 1:57.07-1:57.40, as Scotland’s Laura Muir out-leaned Natoya Goule (JAM), 1:57.87-1:57.88 for the bronze. Muir came back on Sunday to win the 1,500 easily, in 4:02.75. Fellow Scot Eilish McColgan lost out on a 5/10 double, settling for silver in the 5,000 m (14:42.14) behind Beatrice Chebet (KEN: 14:38.21).

Meet records were set in the women’s steeple and the triple jump on Friday, by Jackline Chepkoech (KEN: 9:15.68) and Shanieka Ricketts (JAM: 14.94 m/49-0 1/4). On Saturday, Jamaica’s Lamara Distin upset World Champion Eleanor Patterson (AUS) in the high jump, 1.95 m (6-4 3/4) to 1.92 m (6-3 1/2). Worlds silver medalist Cam Rogers (CAN) won the hammer easily, at 74.08 m (243-0). On Sunday, Nigeria’s Worlds bronze medalist Ese Brume won the long jump at 7.00 m (22-11 3/4), a mark only she and three others have reached this season.

In beach volleyball, the women’s final was a rematch of the 2018 Commonwealth final between Canada’s Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes (also 2019 World Champions) and Australia’s Mariafe Artacho and Taliqua Clancy (also Tokyo silver medalists). This was a battle royal, with the Australians taking the first set, 24-22, but the Canadians tied it with a 21-17 second-set win. The third set went from 9-9 to a 14-10 lead for the Canadians en route to a 15-12 win and a second Commonwealth Games gold.

In the tightly-contested men’s final, Paul Burnett and Chris McHugh (AUS) defeated Canadians Dan Dearing and Sam Schachter, 21-17, 17-21, 20-18.

In cycling, Australia’s Georgia Baker won the mass sprint to take the 112 km women’s Road Race in 2:44:46 over Neah Evans (SCO) and Sarah Roy (AUS). The men’s race of 160 km was won by Aaron Gate (NZL) in 3:28:29, with Daryl Impey (RSA) and Finn Crockett (SCO) close behind.

In hockey, the women’s final pitted no. 3 Australia vs. no. 4 England, with the English scoring twice early, in the 22nd minute from Holly Hunt and in the 26th, by Tess Howard. The English defense and keeper Madeleine Hinch kept the Hockeyroos scoreless until an Ambrosia Malone goal with just 20 seconds left and England captured its first Commonwealth hockey title, 2-1.

With medal events in five sports remaining for Monday, Australia has a 174-166 lead on England. The Aussies have 66 golds (55-53) to 55 (59-53) for the English; Canada is an easy third with 91 (26-31-34).

3.
Griner appeal to take three months, but has little chance

“I talked to her after the meeting. Brittney is in a depressed state. We don’t agree with such a harsh sentence. In normal judicial practice, under this article, five to six years, and from a third to half of the cases, suspended sentences. This is an extraordinary sentence. in our jurisprudence.”

That was Alexander Boykov, one of the Russian lawyers for imprisoned American basketball star Brittney Griner, after a Moscow-area court sentenced her to 10 years for “drug smuggling.”

He added, “In practice, three months is considered normal. After such a strict verdict, there is little chance of satisfying the appeal, but it’s worth trying.”

With Griner’s conviction and sentencing, the way is clear from the Russian government point of view to discuss a prisoner exchange with the U.S. government. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week in Cambodia that Russia is ready, “but only within a channel”:

“If the Americans once again decide to resort to public diplomacy and to make loud announcements that they plan to take some steps, then that is their business, and I would even say, their problem. The Americans often do not comply with agreements on a quiet professional work on this and many other topics.”

4.
WADA chief Banka says NCAA could sign on to international rules

World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Banka (POL) told Reuters that he believes that the National Collegiate Athletic Association, not currently a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, could join in.

Interviewed during a visit to the Commonwealth Games, Banks told the news service:

“Maybe the major leagues are more problematic, a different animal, because they are private business but the NCAA is a good example of an institution that should be a co-signatory.

“We proposed some road maps for them. It was our initiative to encourage them and to start working the NCAA. It should be one of the main goals of USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency), it is their responsibility, it is their own backyard.”

Banka has regularly chided professional leagues such as Major League Baseball, the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and others that they do not follow the World Anti-Doping Code. But the vast majority of NCAA athletes compete in Olympic sports and therefore are already subject to the Code once their collegiate seasons are over and they compete in other meets – such as those held by USA Swimming and USA Track & Field – which are subject to the Code.

Said Banka, “I told them we are very open to start working with you but the ball is in their court now.”

Observed: The inclusion of NCAA programs with the World Anti-Doping Code makes a lot of sense, given the number of athletes participating in Olympic sports. However, Banka always omits one important point when needling the U.S.-based professional leagues: the “voice of the athlete.”

In all of the large U.S. pro leagues, the drug testing and sanctions policies are collectively bargained between the leagues and the player associations. That’s the “voice of the athlete” in action. So if WADA really wants to make inroads with MLB-NFL-NBA-NHL and others, perhaps it should be talking with the player unions in these leagues. If the unions are in favor – and they will not be happy about full-year, two-year and four-year bans for doping violations – then some agreement with the leagues will be forthcoming. But that’s not how it is now.

When Banka criticizes the U.S. pro leagues, he is complaining about the stance of the athletes as well as the team owners.

5.
Low interest in Modern Pent obstacle test events?

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne has controversially removed riding from its program and is testing two forms of obstacle-course racing as a replacement to try to be re-instated to the sports program for Los Angeles 2028. But it is continuing to draw harsh criticism from dozens of its own athletes, who are campaigning to retain riding, but under much different competitive conditions than currently used.

Undeterred, the UIPM completed its second “test” of an obstacle-course event over the weekend, this time in Manila (PHI), on the fringes of a non-UIPM Ninja World Cup event there. The participation in these test events was interesting:

● Test I followed the UIPM World Cup Final in Ankara (TUR) from 21-26 June, which had 35 men and 36 women participating for a total of 71 athletes. But only 36 stayed on for the obstacle test and of these, only 28 answered a UIPM survey, which – incidentally – did not ask them if they preferred riding.

● Test II in Manila was not attached an a UIPM event and had considerably less participation from pentathletes. According to the athlete group PentUnited – in favor of retaining riding – 38 athletes from nine nations were registered, but only 27 competed and 24 completed the fourth (18 men and six women, from seven nations). Their conclusion: “athletes didn’t want to attend/participate.” There were 59 obstacle-course racers who competed on the course.

PentUnited continues to promote its own survey of 213 pentathletes from 40 nations, of whom 92% want to retain riding.

Observed: With such small numbers on its test programs and a third test coming in September and aimed at youth athletes, can the UIPM really say it has athlete buy-in for the change? Will the International Olympic Committee be enthusiastic about admitting the sport for the LA28 program with this level of athlete dissent, as well as the cost of creating a Modern Pentathlon venue, including a temporary pool and a custom-built obstacle course for a week?

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● The World Athletics U-20 Championships finished in Cali (COL), with Jamaica winning 16 medals (6-7-3) to 15 for the U.S., with the American team having the most victories with seven (plus four silvers and four bronzes).

The Jamaican women’s 4×100 m team to Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Kerrica Hill and Tia Clayton set a World U-20 Record of 42.59, with the U.S. second (Jayla Jamison, Autumn Wilson, Iyana Gray and Shawnti Jackson) in 43.28, a national junior record. Japan won the men’s 4×100 m at 39.35, with the U.S. third (39.57).

The U.S. women’s 4×400 m team of Mekenze Kelley, Jackson, Akala Garrett and Roisin Willis won easily in 3:28.06, with Jamaica second at 3:31.59. The U.S. men did likewise, with Steven McElroy, Ashton Schwartzman, Charlie Bartholomew and Will Sumner finishing in 3:04.47, with Jamaica at 3:05.72.

A noteworthy field-event mark was the 17.27 m (56-8) win by Jaydon Hibbert (JAM) in the men’s triple jump, moving him to no. 8 on the 2022 year list.

In the eight-deep placing table, the U.S. was the top scorer at 166 points to 126 for Jamaica and 116 for Ethiopia. This was a large event, with 1,533 competitors from 145 countries, with an impressive 70 winning medals.

● Luge ● The Federation Internationale de Luge announced that the canceled World Cup season opener in November in Innsbruck (AUT) – due to the lack of television coverage availability due to the FIFA World Cup – has been replaced.

The end of the season has been extended by a week and the final FIL World Cup event will be in Winterberg (GER) from 24-26 February, following up on the prior Winterberg races from 10-12 February. No television broadcast issues are anticipated.

● Swimming ● Whether you’re a fan of swimming or not, the raw enthusiasm of three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines is infectious. Now 63, he shared once again the NBC clip of him going crazy – while on air – during the Tokyo Olympic men’s 4×100 m Freestyle Relay, an event in which he won an Olympic gold medal himself.

Gaines has been the principal swimming analyst for NBC from Atlanta 1996 forward and is still going strong. He’s now celebrating the 38th anniversary of his three 1984 golds in Los Angeles, in the 100 m Free, 4×100 m Free Relay and the 4×100 m Medley Relay.

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TSX REPORT: Cornelius Johnson home & Olympic Oak recommended as monument; IOC and LA28 to consider nine sports to add; Griner sentenced to 9 years

By
Rich Perelman
-
The former Johnson Family home and Olympic Oak (at right) in Los Angeles, now being considered for monument status (Photo: mls.com from a City of Los Angeles filing)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Cornelius Johnson home & Olympic Oak recommended as monument
2. Report: nine sports considered for LA28 additions
3. Brittney Griner sentenced to nine years in Moscow-area court
4. New stars from Jamaica and Kenya at the Commonwealth Games?
5. USA Gymnastics asking for bankruptcy case closure

The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission unanimously approved a recommendation to the Los Angeles City Council to declare the former home of Berlin 1936 men’s high jump gold medalist Cornelius Johnson, including the backyard Olympic Oak, as a Cultural-Historic Monument. But whether the oak can survive until a new owner is found is unknown. A report from Spain says that nine sports have been selected for final review for possible inclusion as added sports for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. American basketball star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison for “drug smuggling” as her trial ended in Russia; the closure of the trial could open the negotiations for her release with the U.S. government. The 2022 Commonwealth Games continued in England with new stars from Jamaica and Kenya on the track, and USA Gymnastics is asking for its bankruptcy – now almost four years old – to be declared over.

1.
Cornelius Johnson home & Olympic Oak recommended for monument status

The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission voted, 5-0, on Thursday to recommend to the City Council that the Cornelius Johnson home and Olympic Oak be declared a Cultural-Historic Monument.

The house and the tree, at 1156 S. Hobart Boulevard in what is now the Koreatown District, was built in 1903 and was the home of Johnson, who competed in the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles as a high schooler and then won the men’s high jump at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

He received, as did all gold medalists, an oak sapling as a gift to take home and plant. Johnson passed away in 1946, but his home remained in the family until its sale in 1994. The family who followed the Johnsons maintained the tree in good shape, but it has fallen into distress since the sale in 2019 to KLD Investment, LLC, which had plans to develop the property, but now wants to sell it.

Owner representative Simon Hong spoke briefly at Thursday’s meeting-by-Zoom, asking the Commission: “We want to know what kind of options do we have after you guys make a decision? That’s all we need to know.”

Commission President Barry Milofsky explained, “The process is, after we make a decision … it goes on to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee of City Council, and then to City Council for their final action.” He noted that the remainder of the process will likely take 6-8 weeks and referred Hong to meet further with the City’s Office of Historic Resources.

Hong added, “That property was on the market for sale. We cannot afford to hold it any more. We put it in the market for sale. But we also waiting for the final decision.”

An online check of the site status shows that the property is for sale for $1.29 million, but that a sale is pending: “The seller has accepted an offer, and this property is now pending or under contract.”

While the Johnson home is in reasonably good shape, the Olympic Oak is not. A presentation on the property noted that the tree has deteriorated badly during the last year and desperately needs a watering program to begin within 4-10 weeks, or it could die.

Milofsky told Hong, “I would also encourage you to do whatever is required to bring the tree back to health, in the process, as the process will probably take more than the 8-10 weeks that the presenter initially mentioned.”

During a visit by Commission members to the site, the owners were informed that the value of the property to preservationist organizations will be reduced if the tree dies, and were urged to begin a watering program, but nothing has apparently been done.

Ken Bernstein, a Principal City Planner and Manager of the Office of Historic Resources, added:

“There are a number of organizations who have expressed interest in participating in a potential purchase of the property, in order to preserve the tree and the residence. We have been in touch with a number of non-profit organizations, and most notably the organization the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, which is among a consortium of organizations and has expressed interest in taking a lead role in purchasing the property and holding it for a period of time until an ultimate plan and program for its re-use can be put forward.

“We would be happy to facilitate discussions with the owner, or the ownership team, with some of those organizations.”

There was no other opposition to the recommendation to have the home and tree designated for monument status and the vote was unanimous. Said Milofsky, “I think one of the important things about the historic designation in the city is the ability to tell stories. This isn’t about architecture, necessarily, this is about the stories of the people and the places that make the city of Los Angeles unique.”

Whether Johnson’s 86-year-old Olympic Oak will survive depends now on whether the owners will take actions to save it, or more likely, whether one or more organizations will acquire it in time for the tree to be saved.

2.
Report: nine sports considered for LA28 additions

The Spanish site Marca reported Tuesday:

“Nine international federations have been invited to bid for LA28, with the ICC cricket federation, for example, set to present its sport and competition model this month.

“But there are eight more in the running and they are: Breakdancing (World DanceSport Federation), Baseball/softball (WBSC), Flag football (IFAF), Lacrosse (World Lacrosse), Karate (WKF), Kickboxing (WAKO), Squash (WSF) and Motorsport (FIA).”

The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program has 28 sports already, with the International Olympic Committee reserving judgement on boxing, modern pentathlon and weightlifting – each of which have governance or competition format issues – which could bring the total to 31.

The LA28 organizers have the option to add sports which they wish to stage at the Games, with baseball and softball long expected to be added to the program in view of their local popularity. One of the issues that will play into the decisions will be the overall quota of 10,500 athletes for the 2028 Games.

If boxing, modern pentathlon or weightlifting are added back, the number of athlete spots will be reduced for everyone else. Same for any added sports.

Of the nine reported possible additions, baseball and softball have been part of the Olympic medal program multiple times, in 1992-96-2000-04-08-20, but will not be part of Paris 2024. Break dancing will debut in Paris 2024; cricket was played at Paris 1900 only; lacrosse was in St. Louis 1904 and London 1908 only; karate debuted at Tokyo 2020. Flag football, kickboxing, squash and motorsports have not yet been medal sports at the Olympic Games.

3.
Brittney Griner sentenced to nine years in Moscow-area court

The Russian “drug smuggling” trial of two-time American Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner concluded with the court in Khimki finding her guilty – she had entered a guilty plea – and sentencing her to nine years in prison plus a fine of one million rubles (about $16,700).

Her defense pointed out numerous flaws in her arrest, but the conviction and long sentence were widely expected. Her attorneys plan to appeal the sentence.

Griner, 31, was arrested on 17 February and has been held since then. The U.S. government considers her “unlawfully detained” and has been discussing her release with the Russian government.

The Russians have said that no negotiation of a prisoner swap or other arrangement could proceed until the court proceedings concluded, which has now taken place. The Associated Press reported:

“White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday that Russia had made a ‘bad faith’ response to the U.S. government’s offer, with a counteroffer that American officials don’t regard as serious.”

A joint statement from the NBA and WNBA included:

“Today’s verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected and Brittney Griner remains wrongly detained. The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not wavered and it is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States.”

In a fairly unbelievable comment, former Russian player and coach Vladimir Gomelsky told the Russian news agency TASS:

“At one time I carefully studied the criminal code. There is an article that describes the crime committed by Greiner, the same article provides for sentencing. I was not surprised at the verdict, a fine of a million rubles for her is nothing. As for the American players who remained in Russia, this story can frighten the stupid and illiterate, but it shouldn’t scare those who can read.”

Former Russian women’s coach Boris Sokolovsky told TASS: “Many drugs are allowed in the USA, but this does not mean that we must follow their rules. In addition to the fact that foreign athletes bring a new level of skill to our championship, many vices also come with them.”

4.
New stars from Jamaica and Kenya at the Commonwealth Games?

Perhaps a new Jamaican hurdles star? The Commonwealth Games men’s 110 m hurdles in Birmingham was won by 21-year-old Rasheed Broadbell, timing 13.08, a lifetime best and now no. 5 on the 2022 world list (wind: +0.9 m/s).

He easily defeated Shane Brathwaite (BAR: 13.30) and Britain’s Andrew Pozzi (13.37) for his first major international win.

Australia’s Matthew Denny scored a lifetime best of 67.26 m (220-8) to win the men’s discus, staying no. 8 in the world for 2022. He was well ahead of Lawrence Okoye (ENG), at 64.99 m (213-2). Laquan Nairn (BAH) and Sreesh Sreeshankar (IND) both jumped 8.08 m (26-6 1/4) in the men’s long jump, but Nairn had the better back-up and was awarded the gold medal.

Australia swept the cycling road time trials, with Rohan Dennis winning the men’s 37 km race in 46:21, 26 seconds up on Fred Wright (ENG) and 28 seconds ahead of 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas (WAL). Grace Brown won the women’s 29 km race in 40:05, way ahead of Anna Henderson (ENG: +0:34).

5.
USA Gymnastics asking for bankruptcy case closure

With the processing of abuse and related claims now well underway by an independent trustee, USA Gymnastics has filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern Division of Indiana for a final decree to close its bankruptcy case.

The matter will be heard on 17 August; there is still an open matter in a dispute between USA Gymnastics and Liberty Insurance Underwriters and there is a provision to re-open the case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

If agreed, it will bring to an end nearly four years of wrangling since 5 December 2018, when the federation filed for voluntary Chapter 11 protection in the wake of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal and related events. A total of 14 insurers agreed to fund a settlement program of $339.48 million plus attorney’s fees and ancillary costs, estimated to total about $380 million in all.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● More Jamaican sprint stars at the World Athletics U-20 Championships in Cali (COL), as Tina Clayton and Serena Cole went 1-2 in Wednesday’s women’s 100 m final in 10.95 and 11.14 (-0.1 m/s).

American Shawnti Jackson – the daughter of 2005 World 400 m hurdles champ Bershawn Jackson – tied for third with N’Ketia Seedo (NED) with a lifetime best of 11.17.

American Roisin Willis, the U.S. high school indoor record-setter from Stevens Point (Wisconsin) HS, won the women’s 800 m from the front, leading at the bell at 59.41 and holding off Audrey Werro (SUI), 1:59.13-1:59.53. That’s the second-fastest ever by an American prep, albeit after the high school season has concluded. High school record holder Juliette Whitaker (Mt. de Sales of Catonsville, Maryland) won the bronze in 2:00.18.

There’s a new Kenyan Cheruiyot to watch out for, as Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot dominated the men’s 1,500 m, winning in 3:35.83, with Ermias Girma (ETH) second in 3:37.24 and Daniel Kimaiyo (KEN) third in 3:37.43.

On Thursday, American Akala Garrett won the women’s 400 m hurdles in 56.16, with teammate Michaela Rose taking the bronze. Stephen McElroy of the U.S. won the men’s 400 m silver (45.65), behind Lythe Pillay (RSA: 45.28).

The shocker of the day was in the men’s 200 m final, as Israel’s Blessing Afrifa – born in Israel to parents from Guinea – upset Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, with both timed in 19.96! American Brandon Miller was fifth in 20.64. Afrifa and Tebogo moved to no. 3 all-time on the World Junior List, just 0.03 off Usain Bolt’s junior best from 2004.

● Football ● English enthusiasm for its women’s European Championship team was reflected in the selling of all available tickets for the friendly with the top–ranked U.S. women on 7 October within just one day.

The match, to be played at London’s Wembley Stadium, site of England’s 2-1 win over Germany in the UEFA 2022 final – before 87,192 – will kick off at 8 p.m. The English team’s Twitter feed noted: “A reminder that all available general admission tickets have sold out, with only limited hospitality options remaining on sale at this time.”

● Weightlifting ● Colombia and the U.S. led the medal parade at the 2022 Pan American Championships in Bogota (COL) that ended on 29 July, with the American squad winning five overall golds.

Host Colombia won seven class (five men, two women) and the U.S. got wins from Hampton Morris in the men’s 61 kg class, and four women’s golds: Hayley Reichardt at 49 kg; Shayla Moore at 55 kg; three-time Worlds medalist Mattie Rogers at 76 kg and 2017 World Champion Sarah Robles at +87 kg. The U.S. also won two women’s silvers, from Cicely Kyle at 45 kg and Jourdan Delacruz at 49 kg.

All together, counting only medals for the combined weight of both lifts, Colombia led with 16 medals (7-7-2), followed by the U.S. (10: 5-2-3) and Mexico with seven (1-2-4).

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TSX REPORT: FIG says most gymnastics fans are women; World Tri adopts strict transgender standard; McKeon scores 20th career Commonwealth medal

By
Rich Perelman
-
Who are fans of gymnastics? The first-ever FIG Yearbook answers the question! (Photo from the FIG Yearbook)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. First FIG yearbook shows most gymnastics fans are women
2. World Triathlon adopts stringent transgender policy
3. U.S. Women’s National Team books UEFA champs England
4. Future of the Rose Bowl under discussion in Pasadena
5. McKeon finishes with Commonwealth Games record 14 golds

According to the International Gymnastics Federation, 68% of its fans are women and it released a lot more data in its first-ever Yearbook, posted Tuesday, including better-than-expected financial results. World Triathlon joined the aquatics and cycling federations in announcing a strict standard for participation by transgender women, based on serum testosterone levels. The U.S. and English soccer federations wasted no time arranging a friendly between the newly-crowned European champions and the American women, for October. The future of the famed Rose Bowl, slated for football matched at the LA28 Games was discussed in depth by the Pasadena City Council this week; at issue is the $206 million debt the facility is dealing with. And Australia’s Emma McKeon wrapped her 2022 Commonwealth Games efforts with another gold medal, giving her eight medals for the event and a record career total of 20, of which a record 14 are gold.

1.
First FIG yearbook shows most gymnastics fans are women

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) published its first-ever Yearbook, covering the events of 2021, including the Tokyo Olympic Games, with the usual, heavy self-promotion and full-page ads given to federation sponsors.

Of considerable interest was a market research project completed in 2021 which broke down the audiences for the FIG disciplines:

● Artistic: 55% women, 45% men
● Rhythmic: 88% women, 12% men
● Trampoline: 67% men, 33% women
● Acrobatic: 71% women, 29% men
● Aerobic: 74% women, 26% men
● Parkour: 89% men, 11% women

Overall, 68% of all gymnastics fans were women, and in Artistic Gymnastics, the prized 18-34 age demographic comprised 62% of all fans (men and women combined). Interestingly, even with so many female competitors who are teenagers, only 16% of fans were aged 13-17.

The FIG saw a major increase in its social-media accounts in 2021 due to an athlete who stopped competing:

“The decision of USA’s Simone Biles to withdraw from five finals in Tokyo – including the Team and the All-Around finals – to focus on her mental health drew a spike in activity on the FIG Facebook account. It was also one of the three most popular posts of the year on the FIG’s Twitter account.

“According to a FIG media analysis, interest in Biles’s story also caused a surge in traffic on the governing body’s website with more than 350,000 users recorded in August. Biles’s withdrawal was the focus of 20% of the FIG’s online media mentions.”

At the end of 2021, FIG had 828,000+ followers on Facebook, 140,000+ on Instagram and 80,500+ on Twitter.

In terms of finances, FIG showed reasonable reserves of CHF 35.57 million and total assets of CHF 71.9 million For 2021, income was CHF 21.03 million vs. expenses of CHF 10.82 million for a surplus of CHF 10.21 million, much better than expected. It’s still a remarkably small financial footprint for one of the top-three federations in Olympic popularity.

2.
World Triathlon adopts stringent transgender policy

Following a wide survey of its own committees and outside experts, World Triathlon’s Executive Board adopted a transgender participation policy on Wednesday:

“To compete in the female category in an Elite or Age-Group triathlon competition, a Transgender athlete must demonstrate that the concentration of testosterone in the athlete’s serum has been less than 2.5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least 24 months. Also, at least 48 months must have elapsed since the Transgender athlete has competed as a male in any sporting competition.”

This is a pretty stringent policy, adopted with two votes against by the 17-member Executive Board. It follows the basic approach of the swimming (FINA) and cycling (UCI) federations in limiting serum testosterone in transgender women to 2.5 nmol/l. However, the time requirements for transition and maintenance are fairly long.

Said World Triathlon President Marisol Casado (ESP):

“The policy that we have just approved shows that we are prioritizing the fairness principle but showing inclusiveness. It is fully aligned with the IOC’s recommendation, and similar to what other IFs have done in the last months. We will of course monitor the situation and the evolution of this policy, and we are open to reviewing and discussing it as much as necessary over time, as this subject is still evolving and we need to be flexible.”

3.
U.S. Women’s National Team books UEFA champs England

The English women’s football team caused a national sensation with a 2-1 win in extra time over Germany on Sunday to win the 2022 UEFA Women’s Championship before 87,192 at Wembley Stadium.

Not wanting to miss out on a good thing, U.S. Soccer and the England Football Association announced on Tuesday that the no. 1-ranked American women will play the Lionesses at Wembley on Friday, 7 October, to be televised in the U.S. on FS1. The match is dependent on England qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but this seems a formality with matches against Austria and Luxembourg remaining.

The teams last met in 2020, a 2-0 U.S. win at the SheBelieves Cup in Orlando. There have been 18 games between the sides, but only two in England: a 2-1 England win in 2011 and a 1-0 U.S. win in 2015.

The U.S. will play one other match in Europe as a tune-up for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

4.
Future of the Rose Bowl under discussion in Pasadena

The iconic Rose Bowl, site of cycling at the 1932 Olympic Games, football at the 1984 Olympic Games and the memorable 1994 FIFA World Cup final and the 1999 Women’s World Cup final, is slated to once again host football matches at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

But the stadium and the City of Pasadena are struggling under the weight of $206 million in debt that the Rose Bowl absorbed from a huge renovation (completed in 2018), a lack of revenue due to Covid restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and poor attendance at UCLA football games for the past four seasons.

On Monday, the Pasadena City Council debated whether the stadium – which will celebrate its centennial on 28 October of this year – should be sold, or leased to a private operator. These options have been considered before, but the Council voted by 6-1 to direct the facility’s management to explore eight revenue concepts, including (1) a family golf center on adjacent grounds, (2) a campus marquee and sponsorship program, (3) signage on or near the 210 Freeway, (4) alignment of interests in contracts with UCLA and the Tournament of Roses, (5) a south end zone seating project, (6) analysis of a potential city-wide parking tax on paid parking spaces, (7) a potential increase of transient occupancy tax, and (8) third-party funding opportunities related to future capital improvements.

While the stadium is nearing its 100th birthday, and has had to deal with the defection of some events to the new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, it retains plenty of appeal, as evidenced by the massive crowd of 93,702 who came to see a friendly between European club powers Real Madrid and Juventus last Sunday (31st).

Verdict: it’s still a special place.

5.
McKeon finishes with Commonwealth Games record 14 golds

Australia’s Emma McKeon, 28, extended her career Commonwealth Games record for most medals won with a speedy third leg on the winning women’s 4×100 m Medley Relay on Wednesday, giving her 20 total medals and 14 golds.

She won six golds, a silver and a bronze in Birmingham to lead all medal winners so far with eight. That’s only one more than teammate Mollie O’Callaghan won (5-2-0) and two more than teammate Kaylee McKeown (4-1-1).

Aussie distance star Ariarne Titmus completed her triple, winning the 400 m Free showdown with Canadian teen (15) sensation Summer McIntosh, 3:58.06 to 3:59.32. Titmus’s mark is the eighth-fastest swim ever, in an event where she holds the world record.

World Champion Kylie Masse (CAN) won the women’s 50 m Back in 27,31, beating both O’Callaghan and McKeown.

Tokyo silver medalist Duncan Scott (ENG) won his second Birmingham gold in the men’s 200 m Medley (1:56.88) over teammate (and Tokyo 200 m Free winner) Tom Dean (1:57.01). Teammate Ben Proud won his third Commonwealth 50 m Free title in a row at 21.36, with teammate Lewis Burras second (21.68).

In the first major day of track & field finals, Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala – who had so much trouble with his visa for the Eugene Worlds – won the men’s 100 m in 10.02, well ahead of South Africa’s Akani Simbine. Jamaican star Elaine Thompson-Herah was the clear winner in the women’s 100 m in 10.95, beating Julien Alfred (LCA), who was one of those disqualified for a questionable false start in Eugene in the semifinals.

New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr won the men’s high jump at 2.25 m (7-4 1/2); Scotland’s Eilish McColgan won the women’s 10,000 m (30:48.60); Nina Kennedy (AUS) took the vault at 4.60 m (16-1); Sarah Milton of Canada won the women’s shot at 19.03 m (62-5 1/2); Chioma Onyekwere (NGR) took the discus (61.70 m/202-5) and England’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson defended her heptathlon title at 6,377.

Halfway through the Games, Australia and England are dueling as expected, with the Aussies at 123 medals (46-38-39) and the English at 105 (39-37-29) so far. Canada is a distant third with 57 (16-20-21). The Games continue through the 8th.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● On Screen ● More television viewing data from Sunday (31st), with the finale of the Tour de France Femmes drawing a small audience of 71,000 on CNBC at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.

Previously noted was the 573,000 viewers on NBC for highlights of the USA Swimming National Championships from Irvine, California. A re-run of the highlights show on CNBC at 5 p.m. Eastern drew 77,000 viewers.

● World University Games ● A three-person delegation from the International University Sports Federation (FISU) is in North Carolina this week to review the area’s bid for the 2027 World University Games.

In addition to the North Carolina legislature’s allocation of $25 million for the WUG if North Carolina is selected, the bid has now drawn 47 sponsors and supporters. Pretty impressive for an event most of these supporters had never heard of, but which might well come to the area, which also impressively hosted the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival (remember that?).

North Carolina and the ChungCheong region of South Korea are the two candidates for 2027, with the selection to be made later this year.

● Athletics ● The World Athletics U-20 Championships are underway in Cali (COL), with a World Junior Record in the books on day two.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo had already set the World U-20 men’s 100 m mark of 9.94 at the Eugene World Championships, but he did even better, winning in 9.91 (wind: +0.8 m/s) while celebrating the last 30 meters. How fast could he have run? He’s headed to the University of Oregon in the fall.

The U.S. team of Charlie Bartholomew, Madison Whyte, Will Sumner and Kennedy Wade won the Mixed 4×400 m in 3:17.69 to 3:17.76 for India, with anchor Rupal closing the gap on the final lap, but fell short of Wade at the tape.

● Figure Skating ● The International Skating Union issued its entry limits for the 2023 World Championships on Tuesday and if Russian skaters are allowed to compete at all, they will be limited to only one skater in each event: men, women, Pairs and Ice Dance.

By virtue of performance, Russia would normally have been entitled to three skaters in each division, but “protective measures” instituted by the ISU as of 1 March limit its participation. Same for the World Junior Championships as well.

Said famed Russian coach Tatyana Tarasova, who has choreographed routines for champion skaters including Americans Michelle Kwan, Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir: “They want to see the death of figure skating in Russia.”

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TSX REPORT: Utah likes Salt Lake’s 2030 bid by 79-16%; record 33 sports apply for LA28 Paralympics; McKeon gets career Commonwealth medals mark

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Deseret News poll shows 79-16% favor Salt Lake 2030 bid
2. Paralympics receives bids for 33 sports to be held at LA28
3. McKeon sets career Commonwealth Games medals mark with 19
4. Cheptegei withdraws from Commonwealth 10,000 by letter!
5. Swimming breaks through: 572,000 watched Nationals highlights

Costs less. Tastes great. That’s essentially the pitch of the Salt Lake City bidders for 2030 or 2034, especially after an independent poll found Utahans were in favor of the Winter Games returning by 79-16%. Wow. The International Paralympic Committee reported that a record 33 federations have asked to be on the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic program; the decision will be made next year. At the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Australian swim star Emma McKeon became the most-medaled athletes in Games history, winning her 18th and 19th medals on Tuesday. But not everyone is happy, as six Gambian athletes missed their first events with visa troubles, and the head of one delegation told his team to do better. USA Swimming can smile, as after seeing very little viewership of its Nationals on the to-be-shuttered Olympic Channel, a highlights show on NBC drew 573,000 viewers on Sunday!

1.
Deseret News poll shows 79-16% favor Salt Lake 2030 bid

A new poll released Monday by the Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah showed that 79% of the state residents favor the return of the Olympic Winter Games to Salt Lake City in 2030 or 2034.

The survey was taken from 13-18 June from 801 registered Utah voters with a margin of error of 3.46%. The results showed 44% strongly in favor of the bid to just 8% strongly against, and 35% somewhat-in-favor vs. 8% somewhat against. That’s 79-16 in total, with 5% having no opinion.

That’s impressive and backs up polls previously done by the bid committee and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. It also separates Salt Lake City from the tepid bid support in Sapporo (JPN: 52-57% in March) and Vancouver (54% in July); the proposed Salt Lake City budget is also lower than the projections for Sapporo or Vancouver.

The Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games expects to spend just $2 million or so in private funds on its bid effort. Said bid chief Fraser Bullock, who served as the Chief Operating Officer of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games:

“I still strongly believe that we’ll be awarded either ’30 or ’34. We are one of the best cities in the world to host a Games, for all the reasons we all know about, whether it’s compact Games, whether it’s the unified support, whether it’s excellent economics — or just the love of the Games in Utah.”

2.
Paralympics receives bids for 33 sports to be held at LA28

The first-ever Paralympic Games to be held in Los Angeles is already a hit with the Paralympic sport federations, with a record 33 sports signaling their interest to the International Paralympic Committee in being part of the Los Angeles 2028 sports program.

For Paris in 2024, 22 sports will be part of the program and all have requested to continue: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Blind Football, Boccia, Cycling, Equestrian, Goalball, Judo, Paracanoe, Paratriathlon, Powerlifting, Rowing, Shooting, Sitting Volleyball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Tennis. Potential new sports for 2028 include:

● Arm wrestling
● Beach ParaVolley
● Climbing
● CP (cerebral palsy) Football
● Golf
● Karate
● Para Dance Sport
● Powerchair Football
● Sailing
● Surfing
● Wheelchair Handball

Next up: “Over the summer the IPC will review the applications in accordance with the IPC Handbook and identify areas for further clarification from applicants where needed. The IPC will also work closely with LA28 to analyse the potential impact of sports on the programme. A final decision on which sports make up the LA28 Paralympic Games sport programme will be taken by the IPC Governing Board by the end of January 2023.”

The 2028 Paralympic Games is scheduled for 15 to 27 August 2028.

3.
McKeon sets career Commonwealth Games medals mark with 19

The swimming competition at the new Sandwell Aquatics Centre at the 2022 Commonwealth Games has turned out to be not only about this year, but the all-time lead in career medals.

On Tuesday, South Africa’s Chad LeClos missed a chance for a 19th career Commonwealth Games medal, which would have broken a tie he had with shooters Philip Adams (AUS) and Mick Gault (ENG). But he finished fourth in the men’s 100 m Butterfly, with rising Canadian star Josh Liendo winning in 51.24.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Emma McKeon – already the all-time Commonwealth Games record holder with 12 career golds – won a bronze in the women’s 100 m Free (52.94) to also get to 18 career medals. (Fellow Australian and World Champion Mollie O’Callaghan won in 52.63).

But McKeon closed the session with a win – on anchor – in the Mixed 4×100 m Medley Relay, giving her 19 career medals (13 gold) and the all-time Commonwealth Games career mark. South Africa, with LeClos on third leg, finished fourth.

Also, South Africa’s Lara van Niekerk won the women’s 100 m Breaststroke to add to her 50 m Breast title and England’s Adam Peaty – coming back from a broken foot – won the 50 m Breast in 26.76 after finishing a disappointing fourth in the 100 m Breast (in which he is the world-record holder). Australian distance star Ariarne Titmus won the women’s 800 m Free in 8:13.59 to give her three golds for the meet with one day left.

The Track Cycling program closed with New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews the women’s star, winning the Sprint, Keirin and Team Sprint for three golds. Fellow Kiwi Aaron Gate won three golds on the men’s side, in the Individual Pursuit, Points Race and Team Pursuit.

4.
Cheptegei withdraws from Commonwealth 10,000 by letter!

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei is the world record holder in the men’s 10,000 m, the 2019 and 2022 World Champion at the distance and the defending Commonwealth Games champion from 2018. But he did not contest the event in Birmingham, withdrawing by letter sent to the President of the Uganda Athletics Foundation on 28 July and posted on Twitter on Tuesday.

A phone call, text or e-mail wasn’t enough? In his letter, typed, signed and stamped on his personal letterhead, Cheptegei writes, inter alia:

“Since the 10,000m gold achievement at the Worlds, my body has demanded and requires some rest and recovery if I am to embark on future prospects and plans including the World Cross Country Championships early next year and World Championships in Athletics again later in the summer next year.

“I am really sad to have to withdraw from the Games. I was really looking forward to defending my title, especially at the 5000m event. I have endured some illness which has set back my training program and would not love to aggravate it.”

He expressed full confidence in Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, the Tokyo Olympic and Eugene Worlds bronze medalist and Kiplimo came through, winning Tuesday’s 10,000 m final in 27:09.19, ahead of Daniel Ebenyo (KEN: 27:11.26) and Kibiwott Kandie (KEN: 27:20.34).

There have been other disappointments in Birmingham:

● The BBC reported that five sprinters from Gambia missed the heats of the men’s and women’s 100 m due to visa issues, as well as a judoka. All six were coming from France, but were not able to enter Great Britain in time for Tuesday morning’s heats.

● The head of the Sierra Leone National Olympic Committee, Dr. Patrick Coker, had some unhappy words for his athletes after watching swimmers Joshua Wyse and Isha Kanu finish 52nd in the men’s 50 m Fly and 33rd in the women’s 50 m Breaststroke, respectively, in Birmingham:

“Let me start by congratulating you and the team so far for disciplinary behaviour. I know it is difficult for us to compete against big nations like Australia and England in the pool but we have to do more. The performance so far tells us we need to do more and with the support we are getting from the government we need to be on the right track.”

It’s not all about hugs and orange slices when government funding is involved in Sierra Leone.

5.
Swimming breaks through: 572,000 watched Nationals highlights

Swimming has had a tough time on U.S. television this year, with no discernible ratings for the FINA World Championships on the soon-to-be-shuttered cable Olympic Channel. Same for the five-day USA Swimming National Championships in Irvine last week, also shown on the Olympic Channel.

But the sport did get a pretty good viewership on Sunday, 31 July, with a highlights show of the event drawing 572,000 viewers on NBC at noon Eastern. In case you missed it, it will be on again on Saturday (6th) at 3 p.m. Eastern.

Also doing well as the UEFA Women’s Championship between England and Germany, which drew 885,000 viewers on Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN. The semifinals did not do nearly as well: 278,000 for England-Sweden and 292,000 for Germany-France.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● USA Triathlon’s Chief Executive Officer Rocky Harris has been hired as the USOPC’s Chief of Sport and Athlete Services, in charge of a large portfolio that includes athlete care, competition support including international Games operations, the USOPC training centers, sports medicine, and liaison with the National Governing Bodies.

Harris has long experience in these areas, serving as the head of USA Triathlon since mid-2017. He previously was the Chief Operating Officer for Arizona State’s athletics department and the Senior Vice President of the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.

It’s a big job; Harris will begin in September.

● Athletics ● Russian Anzhelika Sidorova, the 2019 World Champion, won her sixth national women’s pole vault title in Cheboksary on Tuesday (2nd), clearing a world-leading 4.91 m (16-1 1/4) on her third try. She already had the highest vault, at 4.86 m (15-11 1/4) from a meet in Moscow on 19 July.

● Basketball ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow-area court on Tuesday for the seventh time in her trial for “drug smuggling,” with her attorneys citing errors and omissions in her detainment process and prosecution.

Griner is expected back in court on Thursday and the trial could go to closing arguments by the end of the week.

In all of the tributes to the late, great Bill Russell, the two-time NCAA Champion at USF and 11-time NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics, his gold-medal performance at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne is mostly overlooked.

Russell dominated the Olympic basketball tournament just as he dominated everywhere else. Although not known for his scoring, he led the team at 14.1 points per game and the U.S. was a stunning 8-0, outscoring its opponents by 793-365 or an average of 99-46. Russell shot 48% from the floor at the Games, better than his NBA career average of 44%.

And in the showdowns with the USSR, the European Champions in 1951 and 1953, and 1955 runners-up? Russell and the U.S. won by 85-55 in the quarterfinal pool round and then in the final by 89-55. Rebounds were not kept in those days, but a sign of Russell’s defensive prowess was that he was called for just five total fouls in eight games, while playing center.

Dominant and dignified, just as he was during his NBA career and afterwards.

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TSX REPORT: Luge fed calls off World Cup event due to Qatar 2022; terrible Commonwealth Games crash; monument hearing on ‘36 Olympic Oak Thursday

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Power of the FIFA World Cup: Innsbruck Luge World Cup canceled
2. Horrific crash at Commonwealth Games as LeClos equals medal record
3. Cornelius Johnson’s home and Olympic oak monument hearing Thursday
4. Mongolian Olympic judo champion sentenced to 16 years for killing
5. Doing it differently: Norway’s sports culture

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is now impacting luge. Yes, you read that right, as the International Luge Federation called off its first World Cup of the coming season in late November because it could not be televised due to the FIFA World Cup. At the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, a horrific crash in a men’s Scratch qualifier sent seven riders flying, but no one was hurt seriously. In happier news, South African swimmer Chad LeClos equaled the record for most career medals, but Australia’s Emma McKeon set the record for the most career golds with 12 (and neither is done yet). The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission will consider monument status for 1936 Berlin high jump winner Cornelius Johnson’s home and the Olympic Oak in his yard on Thursday. In Mongolia, a national hero who won two Olympic medals in judo was sentenced to 16 years in prison for killing a childhood friend in a drunken brawl last year. And Norway’s youth sports system is contrasted with the U.S. in a fascinating review from last week.

1.
Power of the FIFA World Cup: Innsbruck Luge World Cup canceled

A demonstration of the impact of the FIFA World Cup on other events came Monday, with the International Luge Federation (FIL) posting:

“The International Luge Federation, FIL recently received the final information that the 1st EBERSPACHER Luge World Cup of the 2022/2023 season, which was scheduled to take place in Innsbruck (AUT) on the weekend of November 26 and 27, 2022, will not be televised. The November 2022 event in Innsbruck (AUT) will hardly be able to be broadcasted on television live due to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which commences 21 November.

“Therefore, the FIL Executive Board intends to revise the Luge World Cup calendar. The exact date and venue of the missing World Cup will be announced as soon as possible.”

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar runs from 21 November to 18 December, with a heavy schedule during the group stage through 2 December and then the round of 16 playoffs on 3-6 December.

The Luge World Cup had scheduled two consecutive events in Innsbruck on 26-27 November and 3-4 December and the second event is still on. The remainder of the FIL World Cup schedule, which moves to North America for the next two weeks – in Whistler and Park City – is not expected to be impacted.

Yes, the FIFA World Cup is a pretty big deal.

2.
Horrific cycling crash at Commonwealth Games as LeClos equals medal record

The XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG) are rolling on with multiple all-time medal records, but worldwide attention was paid to a terrible crash in track cycling at the Lee Valley VeloPark.

In the men’s 15 km Scratch Race qualifying on Sunday morning, Mathias Guillemette of Canada was disqualified for causing a major pile-up with England’s Matt Walls – the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist in the Omnium – and Derek Gee (CAN) careening over the outside barriers into the spectator seats and five others sprawled on the track!

Walls, Gee and Matt Bostock from the Isle of Man did not finish the race and received medical treatment, but were not seriously injured. George Jackson (NZL), Jamol Eastmond (BAR) and Josh Duffy (AUS) returned to the race and qualified for the final! Two spectators were injured, but apparently not badly.

The rest of the morning session was canceled and picked up in the evening; the Scratch Race was eventually won by New Zealand’s Corbin Strong.

At the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, South Africa’s Chad LeClos took the silver in the 200m Butterfly on Sunday, winning his 18th career Commonwealth Games medal (7-4-7) to tie for the most total medals ever, also won by shooters Philip Adams (AUS: 7-9-2 from 1982-2002) and Mick Gault (ENG: 9-4-5 from 1994-2014). LeClos will have more chances to get the record for himself; next up is the 100 m Fly.

Australia’s Emma McKeon has won the women’s 50 m Free, 50 m Fly and golds on the Mixed 4×100 m Freestyle relay and women’s 4×100 m Free Relay to give her a career total of 12 Commonwealth Games golds, the most in history. She surpassed fellow Australian swim star Susie O’Neill (11 from 1990-98) for the most ever and is still going. McKeon has 17 career Commonwealth Games medals (12-1-4), and has the 100 m Free coming, so she is in the chase after LeClos, Adams and Gault!

On Monday, Rio 2016 men’s 100 m Free champ Kyle Chalmers (AUS) won his specialty in a speedy 47.51, after swimming 47.36 in the prelims, no. 2 in the world for 2022.

Australia’s Tokyo Olympic champ in the women’s 200 m Back, Kaylee McKeown, won that event over Canada’s Kylie Masse, 2:05.60-2:07.81, to add to her 100 m Back gold. Canada’s 15-year-old phenom Summer McIntosh beat McKeown, however, in the 200 m Medley, 2:08.70-2:09.52 for another World Junior Record.

3.
Cornelius Johnson’s home and Olympic Oak monument
hearing Thursday

The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission will consider whether to declare the home of 1936 Olympic high jump champion Cornelius Johnson – including the Olympic Oak from the sapling presented by the Berlin organizers – as a Historic-Cultural Monument this Thursday at its 10 a.m. meeting by videoconference.

The staff report on the property recommends that the property receive monument designation in view of:

“The Cornelius Johnson Residence and Olympic Oak ‘is associated with the lives of historic
personages important to national, state, city, or local history’ as the residence of Cornelius
Johnson, two-time Olympic athlete and gold medalist in the high jump in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, for which he received the oak tree planted in the rear yard.”

The home, at 1156 S. Hobart Boulevard in Los Angeles, was built by Johnson’s father in 1903. Johnson, who was fourth at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and won the high jump at Berlin in 1936, was presented – as were all gold medalists – with a German oak sapling as a gift of the organizing committee. Per the staff report:

“Cornelius resided at the subject property until 1945, one year prior to his passing, and the Johnson family continued to live at the residence until it was sold in 1994. The oak tree is one of 25 known remaining oaks worldwide that the German Olympic Committee presented to all 129 gold medalists at the 1936 Olympics.”

Johnson, it should be noted, was the Black American snubbed by German dictator Adolf Hitler. Johnson won the high jump on the first day of the track & field events in Berlin and while Hitler greeted the winners of the men’s 10,000 m (from Finland) and the men’s shot and women’s javelin (both German), he left rather than greet Johnson and did not meet with any of the subsequent Black Americans who won events, including Jesse Owens, Archie Williams and John Woodruff, among others.

The report does not indicate the view of the current owner, KLD Investment, LLC, who was unaware of the history of the home when purchased and plans to tear it down and build a multi-story residential complex. The final decision on the status of the Johnson home and Olympic oak – which is in distress – rests with the City Council once the Cultural Heritage Commission has made its determination.

4.
Mongolian Olympic judo champion sentenced to 16 years for killing

Mongolian judoka Naidangiin Tuvshinbayar was the toast of his country after winning the Olympic gold at 100 kg at Beijing 2008 and a silver at the London 2012 Games.

Now 38, he is in disgrace. Elected as President of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee in 2020, he is now a convicted criminal, sentenced to 16 years for the killing of a childhood friend during a drunken brawl in April 2021. Erdenebilegiin Enkhbat, 37, was himself a World Tour medalist in judo and later turned to wrestling; after being struck by Tuvshinbayar in April, he never recovered and died in December 2021.

The trial of Tuvshinbayar carried on for a year, with the sentence announced on 9 June. He paid reparations to Enkhbat’s family of 2.78 billion Mongolian Tugriks (~$873,675).

5.
Doing it differently: Norway’s sports culture

An important story from Mark Ziegler of the San Diego Union Tribune, posted during the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, passed on by 1976 Olympic basketball silver medalist and four-time UCLA All-American Ann Meyers Drysdale: “Norway’s hands-off approach to youth sports might explain why they’re so good when they get older”

Ziegler explains that while the U.S. model has been for kids to find a sport they excel in at a young age and concentrate on it to the exclusion of others:

“Youth sports in Norway: Your kid tries multiple sports at the local club whether or not they’re any good at them, you pay a nominal fee but only if you can afford it because it’s subsidized by the national lottery, coaches are volunteers, there are no scores or standings or regional competitions until age 11 and sometimes older, children are encouraged to pick their sports and decide amongst themselves what they want to do in practice (“Scrimmage!”), most kids don’t specialize until late in high school.

“Youth sports in the U.S.: driven by egos and money.

“Youth sports in Norway: driven by fun.”

This system is actually protected by law in Norway, with a children’s sports rights statute passed in 1987. It’s radically different than the U.S. approach and worth considering.

Do we really need national competitions for kids as young as six and seven, as in the Dragon Division of the just-completed USA Taekwondo National Championships?

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 1984: Los Angeles ● Remember who carried the American flag at the head of the U.S. delegation during the Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles?

It was hammer thrower Ed Burke, in his third Olympic Games – also in 1964 and 1968 – who placed 18th. Now 82, Burke is in the news again, this time for setting an American Masters Record in the 80-84 age category at the USA Track & Field National Masters Championships in Lexington, Kentucky on Sunday. He reached 43.33 m (142-2), adding nine inches to the old mark despite still being in recovery from long Covid.

“I’m a Masters advocate. It’s amazing to be in a competition like this. Your heart jumps as you get ready to compete. It’s like the Olympics,” said Burke. Pretty impressive.

● World University Games ● Good news for the Lake Placid Winter World University Games coming up in January 2023, with ESPN contracted as the “Official Television and Digital Distributor” of the event.

More than 140 hours of the event, with 12 sports and 86 events, will be shown on the ESPN+ streaming service and 20 hours on the cable channels ESPN2 and ESPNU, between 12-22 January. For an event designed to showcase Lake Placid and its facilities for sports tourism, this is a major step toward realizing the goals of the Adirondack Sports Council, which is serving as the organizing committee.

In addition, TSN will have coverage of the event on both broadcast and streaming platforms for Canada.

● Gymnastics ● U.S. All-Around champ Brody Malone was the men’s winner at the U.S. Classic in West Valley City, Utah on Sunday, scoring 88.588 points to best Stanford teammate Colt Walker (85.264).

Malone placed in the top four on five of the six apparatus and won on High Bar (16.016). Walker won on Parallel Bars (15.860), while two-time Worlds medalist Donnell Whittenburg won on Rings (15.522) and Vault (16.780). Penn State’s Matt Cormier won on Floor (15.222) and teammate (and World Champion) Stephen Nedoroscik won on Pommel Horse (14.743).

● Rowing ● World Rowing announced that its fund-raising campaign to assist Ukrainian athletes surpassed its original CHF 50,000 goal, and the CHF 60,000 raised so far has been allocated to the Ukrainian senior national team to relocate to Plovdiv (BUL) for training from June through August (37,000); to the Ukrainian Paralympic rowing squad to move to Nancy (FRA) for training (21,000) and an additional CHF 2,000 for transportation assistance. The campaign to support these rowers continues.

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TSX REPORT: Remembering the Games that changed everything: Los Angeles 1984; strong start for Commonwealth Games; world BMX title for USA’s Stancil

By
Rich Perelman
-
The magnificently-decorated peristyle end of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Opening Ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games (Photo: Wikipedia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Now 38 years since the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
2. Commonwealth Games start strong in Birmingham
3. Doping control: 56% of Beijing 2022 athletes tested
4. Catalonia ready for 2030 Winter Olympics bid without Aragon
5. The first FIFA World Cup was in South America; and 100 years later?

The 38th anniversary of the opening of the revolutionary 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles was barely noticed last Thursday, but absolutely worth remembering. The XXII Commonwealth Games is underway in Birmingham, England, with more than 1.3 million tickets sold and a world record in the pool already. At the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, 3,100 doping control tests were made, with four positives; some 56% of all athletes were tested at least once. In Spain, the Catalonia region wants to make it own bid for the 2030 or 2034 Winter Games, but is running out of time. And will the centennial FIFA World Cup return to South America, where it began? Plus world-championship results in BMX cycling (with a U.S. gold medalist!), canoe-slalom and modern pentathlon!

1.
Now 38 years since the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles

Munich is staging a comprehensive 50th-year retrospective of its 1972 Olympic Games, with the European Championships in track & field returning to the Olympiastadion on 11 August. The 10-year memory of the London 2012 Games was quietly noted in Britain.

No such program was planned for the 38th anniversary of the Games that changed everything: Los Angeles 1984.

A modest celebration at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was planned for last Thursday (28th), but had to be canceled due to illness of some of the presenters. So the anniversary of the Opening Ceremony – the Rocketman, the 84 grand pianos, the startling national flag card stunt – passed without notice.

The Los Angeles Games were the third in a row to be boycotted by a group of nations, after Montreal in 1976 and Moscow in 1980. But it also created and extended iconic Olympic figures like Carl Lewis, Joan Benoit Samuelson in the first-ever Olympic women’s marathon, Edwin Moses, Mary Lou Retton, Rowdy Gaines, the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams, and many more.

Los Angeles got its second Games – following the success of the 1932 Games, held during the Great Depression – because no other country submitted a bid. Further, the organization of the Games was controversially handed to a private committee after the City of Los Angeles refused to take financial responsibility for the Games following the C$1 billion deficit in Montreal.

So, in 1979, the wholly-private Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee hired Peter Ueberroth, a 42-year-old travel industry entrepreneur who had built the second-largest agency in the country, to put the project together. Five years later:

● The Los Angeles Games changed the way television rights are sold, signing a then-staggering $225 million cash rights deal (plus $100 million in host broadcast services) with ABC in late 1979, and sports marketing with a program of exclusive categories and limited availability (35 Official Sponsors, 64 Official Suppliers).

● The original budget projections were for $368 million in revenues, $347 million in expenses and a $21 million surplus. But revenues skyrocketed to more than $769 million (209%) and a surplus of $232.5 million was realized, with 60% going to the U.S. Olympic Committee and the National Governing Bodies and 40% to what is now the LA84 Foundation.

● Of the 27 competition venues, only three were built: the McDonald’s Olympic Swim Stadium at the University of Southern California; the 7-11 Eleven Velodrome at Cal State Dominguez Hills and the Olympic Shooting Range in Chino. Everything else was existing or temporary; the USC swimming facility and Chino shooting range are still in operation; the velodrome was removed to create the Dignity Health Sports Park, which includes a new, indoor velodrome.

● Games staffing was founded on the use of volunteers, a concept already part of the Los Angeles culture, but completely new elsewhere. The 1984 Games were staged with a workforce of more than 81,000, with 45,450 from the LAOOC, of which ~33,500 were volunteers. Another 36,000 contract workers were also used, primarily from suppliers and vendors.

● New concepts were introduced in multiple sectors: a 10-week Olympic Arts Festival instead of a Games-period-only program; a four-year youth sports program replaced the Games-period Youth Camp; a national torch relay that raised funds for youth; today’s accreditation system that separates who-you-are from where-you-can-go … all of these were created by the LAOOC. New technologies such as electronic mail and accessed-from-anywhere voice mail were introduced at LA84.

The result was a record-breaking Games on many levels, not least of which was 140 nations in attendance, shattering the Munich mark of 122. And it proved that the Games need not be a financial loser if existing venues are emphasized, a concept at the center of the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Agenda 2020, adopted 30 years after the Los Angeles Games, in 2014.

All of which makes the 1984 Games worth remembering, 38 years later.

2.
Commonwealth Games start strong in Birmingham

The 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG) began with a bang on Thursday with a big crowd of 30,000 at the renovated Alexander Stadium, as the event was opened by Prince Charles and featured musical entertainment from local legends Duran Duran and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. The ceremony notably included a historical review which included a 33-foot tall “Raging Bull” that referenced Birmingham’s Bullring Market that opened in the 1100s and became one of the epicenters of the Industrial Revolution; a sculpture of a large bull sits in the market center today.

The response to the Commonwealth Games has been quite good, as the organizers announced that more than 1.3 million tickets have been sold to the events, the most ever among the seven Commonwealth Games to take place in Britain (1934: London; 1958: Cardiff; 1970: Edinburgh; 1986: Edinburgh; 2002: Manchester; 2014: Glasgow).

The first gold medal of the Games came in Triathlon Sprint, where Tokyo silver medalist Alex Yee (ENG) claimed a dramatic win over Hayden Wilde (NZL), 50:34 to 50:37. In the afternoon, Olympic champ Flora Duffy (BER) repeated her Tokyo win over Georgia Taylor-Brown (ENG), 55:25 to 56:06.

The swimming events feature multiple match-ups of interest, especially between Australia’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus and 15-year-old Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh. Both have been busy already, with Titmus winning the women’s 200 m Free in a fast 1:53.89 and McIntosh winning the 400 m Medley in a world-leading 4:29.01, a World Junior Record. They are slated to meet in the 400 m Free, won by Titmus in Tokyo.

Titmus anchored a world-record effort in the women’s 4×200 m Freestyle, with Madison Wilson (1:56.27), Kiah Melverton (1:55.40) and Mollie O’Callaghan (1:54.80), in 7:39.29. Titmus swam the fastest split in history at 1:52.82.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Emma McKeon (AUS) won the 50 m Free in 23.99, no. 2 in the world for 2022, but was beaten by Canada’s Maggie MacNeil in the 100 m Fly, 56.36-56.38. Tokyo winners Kaylee McKeown (AUS) and Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA) won the 100 m Back and 200 m Breast events, respectively.

Olympic silver winner Duncan Scott (SCO) defeated Tokyo champ Tom Dean (ENG) in the men’s 200 m Free; Australia’s Tokyo gold medalist Zac Stubblety-Cook won the 200 m Breast, and Lewis Clareburt (NZL) won both the 200 m Fly and the 400 m Medley. English superstar Adam Peaty, the two-time Olympic champ in the 100 m Breast, returned from a broken foot, but could only manage fourth as teammate James Wilby won in 59.25; it was Peaty’s first loss in a final in this event since 2014!

The Games continue through the 8th.

3.
Doping control: 56% of Beijing 2022 athletes tested

The International Testing Agency announced its testing statistics from February’s Olympic Winter Games in Beijing (CHN), with 3,100 specimens – blood and urine – collected from 1,600 athletes from all 91 delegations.

That means that 56% of the 2,871 participating athletes were tested at least once, with extra testing done on the largest delegations (Russia, Canada and the U.S.) and on those with high performance in winter sports (Italy, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Russia). The most-tested sports were cross-country-skiing, ice hockey, biathlon, speed skating and alpine skiing.

There were four doping violations: one from Iran (alpine skiing), one from Spain (figure skating) and two from Ukraine (bobsled and cross-country).

All of this was done in coordination with the strict anti-Covid protocols of the host Chinese authorities. The doping test team included 17 supervisors from the ITA, 150 doping-control officers and 300 doping-control chaperones.

Observed: Although this may have been too difficult in the anti-Covid situation in Beijing, why isn’t every athlete tested? Especially with the advances in dried-blood-spot technologies, there is no reason why every athlete at an Olympic Games cannot be tested in this way, with samples stored for 10 years.

4.
Catalonia ready for 2030 Winter Olympics bid without Aragon

The Spanish region of Catalonia, which includes Barcelona and a portion of the Spanish Pyrenees, has announced it is ready to proceed with a bid for the 2030 or 2034 Olympic Winter Games on its own. The Spanish Olympic Committee had been proposing a joint bid for the regions of Aragon and Catalonia, but this concept imploded as the two governments could not agree on the distribution of site.

The new Catalonia bid would have everything except ski jumping, which would be held in Sarajevo (BIH), site of the 1984 Winter Games. One new facility would be built, for curling.

Aragon has its own concept for a standalone bid for 2034. The next step, if any, is up to the Spanish Olympic Committee. The details for a Catalonia bid would have to come fast, as the International Olympic Committee’s Future Hosts Commission is looking to decide on its preference for 2030 by the end of the year. Sapporo (JPN), Salt Lake City and a still-developing bid from Vancouver are the existing candidates.

5.
The first FIFA World Cup was in South America;
and 100 years later?

Uruguay was the host for the first-ever FIFA World Cup, back in 1930. Now, a group of four South American nations – Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay – have announced their intention to bid for the centennial World Cup in 2030. The 1930 World Cup had 13 teams; now there will be 48.

FIFA had expected to choose a host for 2030 in 2024, but could move early. Spain and Portugal have been busy with their own bid for the Iberian Peninsula, even identifying the stadiums to be used. And, the World Cup has not been held in the same area for consecutive editions – if you consider the Americas a single area – since Switzerland and Sweden in 1954 and 1958.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

Lots of results, including three world championships over the weekend:

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● This is only for those interested in press operations, public relations and/or devotees of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020. The Main Press Center for the Paris Games has been moved and shrunk by a third or more.

The Paris 2024 bid placed the Main Press Center and the International Broadcast Center together at the massive Parc des Expositions du Bourget in the Seine-Saint-Denis area, with 80,000 sq. m of exhibit space (about 861,000 sq. ft.) and an expansion underway. The IOC’s evaluation of the facility noted that “A 24,000 sq. m temporary hall would be added for the Games” at a cost of $48 million.

Now, the IBC is staying put, but the Main Press Center is being moved about 10 miles southwest to the new Palais des Congres building at Porte Maillot, with 18,000 sq. m of exhibition space (~194,000 sq. ft.), chopped up among seven different halls. Why: “This change came out of the Organising Committee’s wish to reduce the cost and time required to build and assemble temporary facilities by using instead an existing infrastructure and venue.”

This is the Paris 2024 budget crunch in action. It’s also a sea change for future organizers as the IOC’s “minimum requirement” for the Main Press Center was 30,000 sq. m, which the Palais de Congres meets only if you include the four theaters on the site and its 104 conference and meeting rooms. That requirement no longer applies, and more creative spaces can be used. That’s good.

A negative of the change is that those who will stay at the under-construction media village in Seine-Saint-Denis are now further from their first-stop work space, creating new issues in media transportation … but expected to cost less. The IOC must still give its approval, but given this demonstration of Agenda 2020 in action, can there be any doubt?

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The 2026 Winter Games organizing committee announced its first major sponsor, the Italian retailer Esselunga. Critics have decried the slow pace of the domestic sponsorship program, which is to provide more than a third of its budget: €550 million out of €1.58 billion (35%). But here is the first.

● Athletics ● Sensational running at the American Track League’s Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday, including a World Junior Record.

TeeTee Terry, the anchor on the U.S.’s surprise Worlds 4×100 m victory, ran a lifetime best of 10.82 (wind: +0.6 m/s) to win the women’s 100 m final, just ahead of 19-year-old Tamari Davis, who set her second World U-20 Record of the day in second (10.83), and Shania Collins (10.92).

Davis had broken the ancient U-20 mark of 10.88 by Marlies Gohr of East Germany from 1977 in the prelims, running 10.87, then improving in the final (Sha’Carri Richardson’s 10.75 from 2019 has still not been ratified). Terry moved to equal-6th on the 2022 World List with her win in the final, with Davis at equal-8th.

The next shocker came in the women’s 100 m hurdles, where Alaysha Johnson, who didn’t finish in her heat at the Worlds, stormed to a win in 12.43 (+2.0), ahead of Tia Jones (12.52). Johnson’s time would have made the Worlds final and placed her sixth, a fine return to form after her disappointment in Eugene.

Joe Kovacs won the men’s shot at 21.88 m (71-9 1/2). The next Diamond League meet is on 6 August in Chorzow (POL).

What about the impact of the Oregon22 World Championships on the local community?

Depends who you ask. The Eugene Weekly’s 21 July story – more than halfway through the meet – was headlined, “Oregon22’s Restaurant Flop” and started:

“The starting gun has fired, but Oregon22’s track and field-loving visitors from around the globe are nowhere to be found in Eugene restaurants.

“In preparation for the track and field competition that has drawn athletes, media and spectators from around the world, local restaurants stocked up on food and scheduled workers for shifts during the 10-day event. But so far turnout at restaurants has been nonexistent, some restaurant owners say, especially with locals staying at home out of fear of crowded establishments.”

Explained Andy Vobora, Vice President of Stakeholder Relations for Travel Lane County. “We saw kind of mixed results throughout the community. With some restaurants doing extremely well and setting records. While others not seeing as many people as they anticipated.”

Essentially, the further away a spot was from Hayward Field, the less business it saw, a lesson rarely learned by communities which host such events and which are bombarded by pre-event promotional campaigns by organizers. Accommodations tax data comes in September and is expected to see a surge in housing revenue from the event.

● Canoe-Kayak ● The ICF World Slalom Championships took place in Augsburg (GER), with home favorite Ricarda Funk picking up from her Tokyo performance.

Funk, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist in the women’s K-1, won her second consecutive world title, finishing in 105.50 seconds, with no penalties. Spain’s Maialen Chourraut, the Rio 2016 winner, finished second (106.63; 0), just ahead of Australia star Jessica Fox (106.73, with four penalties), who won her fifth career Worlds medal in the event. Funk then won a second gold in the K-1 Team event for Germany.

Czech star Vit Prindis won his first men’s K-1 individual title and second Worlds medal in the K-1 in 94.78, edging Giovanni De Gennaro (ITA: 95.49). Germany won the team title.

Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Andrea Herzog moved up to gold in the women’s C-1 final on Sunday, finishing in 111.72 to edge Tokyo winner Fox (112.64) and Tokyo runner-up Mallory Franklin (GBR: 117.05). Fox did win the Extreme Slalom, ahead of Kimberley Woods (GBR) and Monica Doria Vilarrubla (ESP).

Two-time Olympic medalist Sideris Tasiadis (GER) won the men’s C-1 (101.05) over Slovakian star Alexander Slafkovsky (102.23), who won his fourth Worlds silver and second in a row. German Franz Anton (102.66) was third. Britain’s Joseph Clarke won the Extreme Slalom with France’s Anatole Delassus second.

● Cycling ● The revived Tour de France Femmes concluded on Sunday, with favorite Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) taking charge in the difficult seventh stage.

Fellow Dutch star Marianne Vos had been the race leader from Stage 2, maintaining the lead when Lorena Wiebes (NED) won her second stage last Thursday, but then struck for her own stage win on Friday in the Vosges Mountains with a final sprint in Rosheim. But on the triple-climb, 127.1 km seventh stage, van Vleuten struck.

She destroyed the field with a brilliant, 62 km solo attack and finished a startling 3:26 ahead of Demi Vollering (NED) and 5:16 up on Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (DEN). She entered Sunday’s 123.3 km double-climb to La Super Planche des Belles Filles with a 3:14 lead on Vollering, with Vos dropping 20 places and now 23:29 out of the lead.

Just to put an exclamation point on her victory, van Vleuten won Sunday’s final stage, attacking with 5 km remaining and winning in 3:37:23, 30 seconds up on Vollering and 1:43 ahead of Silvia Persico (ITA). Van Vleuten’s final winning margin was 3:48 over Vollering and 6:35 over Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma.

The UCI BMX Racing World Championships were on in Nantes (FRA), and after three top-10 finishes in the last five editions, American Felicia Stancil rose to the top of the podium.

Fourth at the Tokyo Games last year, Stancil rode to victory in 33.144 seconds, ahead of Zoe Claessens (SUI: 33.154) and 2018 silver medalist Merel Smulders (NED: 33.260) with fellow American – and two-time winner – Alise Willoughby fourth (33.523). Between Post and Stancil, American women have won three of the last five world titles!

Swiss Simon Marquardt, only 19th in Tokyo, was a first-time Worlds medalist with his victory in the men’s division. He crossed the finish in 29.525 seconds, just ahead of Britain’s Tokyo silver medalist Kye Whyte (29.657) and France’s 2018 runner-up Joris Daudet (30.110).

It was the first-ever Worlds win for Switzerland, men or women!

● Gymnastics ● U.S. Olympic alternate and 2021 Worlds All-Around silver medalist Leanne Wong triumphed in the All-Around at the U.S. Classic in West Valley City, Utah.

Wong scored 54.400 to best Shilese Jones (54.050), a member of the 2018 Pan Am Games Team gold medalists. Wong and Jones tied for the best mark on Vault (14.400); Wong won on Beam (13.550) and was third on Floor (13.600). Jones won in Uneven Bars (14.500) and Katelyn Rosen was tops on Floor (13.700).

● Modern Pentathlon ● The 2022 UIPM World Championships concluded in Alexandria (EGY) with Britain’s Joseph Choong confirming his Olympic triumph in Tokyo with his first world title.

He won the fencing section, was third in swimming and won riding, and started the Laser Run with a 20-second lead. Egypt’s Mohamed Elgendy started 24 seconds back, but made up ground on Choong with every lap, coming as close as four seconds behind. But Choong had plenty of reserve and finished with the win, scoring 1,514 to 1,512 for Elgendy. The Egyptian’s older brother, Ahmed, won the Tokyo silver behind Choong and finished fifth in Alexandria. Hungary’s Balazs Szep came from 36 seconds behind to win the bronze, with 1,507 points.

In the women’s division, Italy’s 2019 Worlds silver medalist Elena Micheli was second in fencing, won the swimming and finished 10th in riding and entered the Laser Run with an 18-second lead on France’s Rio 2016 silver medalist Elodie Clouvel. The 2021 Worlds bronze winner, Hungary’s Michelle Gulyas, shot brilliantly and was moving up to challenge Micheli, who had enough in reserve to cross the line first, scoring 1,416 points to 1,412, for her first Worlds Championships gold. Turkey’s Ilke Ozyuksel had the fastest time in the Laser Run to pass Clouvel for the bronze, 1,405-1,397.

Korea’s Woongtae Jun and Sunwoo Kim won the Mixed Relay, winning the fencing, placing fourth in swimming and second in riding and finished with 1,393 points to 1,380 for Choong and Jessica Varley of Great Britain.

● Swimming ● The USA Swimming National Championships concluded in Irvine with Shaine Casas delivering two brilliant, national-title swims that mark him as a star-in-the-making.

The World Championships bronze medalist in the 200 m Back in 2022, Casas dominated the men’s 100 m Butterfly on Thursday, crushing the field in 50.40, moving him to equal-third all-time U.S.. His time would have won the Worlds bronze this year.

Then on Saturday, Casas won the 200 m Medley in 1:55.25, making him no. 2 for 2022 in a time that would have won the Worlds silver medal! He’s now no. 7 all-time and no. 3 among Americans; only two guys named Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps have gone faster!

Olympic 800 and 1,500 m gold medalist Bobby Finke was ill prior to the meet, but still managed to put on his patented late charge to win the men’s 800 m Free in 7:51.21. World 50 m Back champion Justin Ress took the men’s 100 m Back event in 53.55. Matt King, who tied for the 100 m Free win, got a solo gold in the 50 m Free in 21.83, with Ress second (22.01) and Michael Andrew fourth in 22.20.

Jake Magahey won the men’s 400 m Free in 3:46.36; Josh Matheny won the 100 m Breast in 59.44 and Kevin Vargas won the 400 m Medley in 4:11.45.

Katie Ledecky had to come from behind to win the women’s 400 m medley in 4:36.77, no. 9 on the world list for 2022 and just ahead of Leah Smith (4:36.66). It was a lifetime best for Ledecky, who says she has no plans to compete in this event internationally (even though her mark would have won a Worlds bronze in Budapest this year!). Smith won the 200 m Medley in 2:11.67, equaling her lifetime best from 2021.

There were numerous guest entries from foreign counties and Poland’s Kasia Wasick – the Worlds silver medalist – won the women’s 50 m Free in 24.17, ahead of Gretchen Walsh of the U.S., whose 24.47 time moved her to no. 7 on the world list. Australia’s Maddy Gough won the 1,500 m Free in 16:07.34, moving to no. 8 on the year. Walsh came back later to win the 100 m Butterfly in 57.44, now no. 9 for 2022.

Erin Gemmell, 17, won the women’s 400 m Free impressively in 4:06.17; Tokyo fourth-placer Rhyan White won the 100 m Back over Dutch star Kira Toussaint, 58.91-59.24, and Kaitlyn Dobler won the 100 m Breast final in 1:06.88.

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TSX REPORT: U.S. has offered proposal to release Greiner, Whelan; is France excited about 2024 or not? Felix appointed to IOC Athletes Commission

By
Rich Perelman
-
First step toward IOC membership? Track & field star Allyson Felix (with daughter Camryn) was appointed to the IOC Athletes Commission on Wednesday. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. U.S. offered deal to release detainees Griner and Whelan
2. France is excited about the Paris 2024 Olympic Games … or not?
3. Allyson Felix among four appointed to IOC Athletes’ Commission
4. Commonwealth Games open in Birmingham.
5. Ledecky wins 20th and 21st titles at USA Swimming Nationals

The U.S. Department of State has made, and is pursuing, an offer to Russia for the release of basketball star Brittney Griner and security executive Paul Whelan, even as Griner testified in a Moscow court on Wednesday. In France, a survey published Monday showed 47% of respondents across the country are “indifferent” to the 2024 Games in Paris, with 26% interested and 19% “worried” with the Games two years away. U.S. track star Allyson Felix is one of four athletes to join the International Olympic Commitee’s Athletes’ Commission, a positive for American representation. In Birmingham, England, the 22nd Commonwealth Games begin on the 28th, with more than 5,000+ athletes competing in 20 sports. Swimming superstar Katie Ledecky continued winning, scoring her 20th and 21st career victories at the USA Swimming nationals in Irvine, California. And physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson weighs in on whether Tobi Amusan’s 12.12 world record in the women’s 100 m hurdles is legit.

1.
U.S. offered deal to release detainees Griner and Whelan

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Wednesday that the U.S. had made a proposal to Russia for the release of detainees Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan:

“In the coming days, I expect to speak with Russian Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov for the first time since the war began. I plan to raise an issue that’s a top priority for us: the release of Americans Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner, who’ve been wrongfully detained and must be allowed to come home.

“We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal. And I’ll use the conversation to follow up personally and I hope move toward a resolution.”

Griner has been detained since mid-February and is on trial for “drug smuggling.” Whelan, a corporate security director, was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison for “spying.”

Two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Griner testified at a Moscow courthouse on Wednesday that she did not intend the break any laws when the returned to Russia to play for her team, UMMC Ekaterinburg:

“I do plead guilty because of the actions that have happened, but again I did not intend to smuggle or bring any substance into Russia.”

She explained that the small amount of cannabis oil she brought in vape cartridges was purchased under a doctor’s supervision in Phoenix:

“I still don’t understand to this day how they ended up in my bag. If I had to speculate, if I had to guess on how they ended up in my bags, I was in a rush packing. I was recovering from COVID, the stress of packing, making sure I had my COVID tests. Jet lag. And I was in a rush, throwing my stuff into my bag.

“In the seven years that I came back and forth (to Russia), I never brought any substance that needed to be declared. And I didn’t plan on bringing any substance when I came on Feb. 17.

“The rules change everywhere on what you can and can’t bring into the country. And our team is always giving us updates and making sure that we know all the rules for whatever border we’re crossing or country we’re going into.”

Griner said she never had any information given to her on her legal rights: “No one explained any of it to me.” Her attorneys are asking for a light sentence in light of the “imperfections” in her arrest and the small amount of oil she was carrying. The trial is expected to continue well into August; the Russian government has said that her release is not possible until the trial is over.

2.
Paris is excited about the 2024 Olympic Games … or not?

The International Olympic Committee’s Monday report of the meeting between President Thomas Bach (GER) and French President Emmanuel Macron included Bach’s comment:

“He also noted the enthusiasm of the French people for the Olympic Games, and the great inclusivity of the project. A recent report found an approval rating of 80 per cent for the Games, rising to 90 per cent among young French people.”

Directly contrary was a survey published Tuesday in Le Parisien, titled – per a computer translation – “Paris 2024: the French are not against the Games, but we will have to convince them.” The story explained the results:

● 47% are “indifferent”
● 26% are “interested”
● 19% are “worried”
● 7% are “impatient”
● 1% did not have an answer

The poll was taken of 1,019 French aged 18+ on 20-21 July, and also found that 54% expect to follow the Games in the media, 12% said they wanted to buy tickets and 6% indicated they wanted to work on the Games or volunteer.

And, showing that concerns over costs are ever-present, 75% thought the existing budget for the event will be exceeded.

Some 65% are positive on the concept of staging the Opening Ceremony on the River Seine.

Bach and LeParisien can’t both be right. The actual answer will begin to be apparent in December and early 2023, when ticket sales will begin.

3.
Allyson Felix among four appointed to IOC Athletes’ Commission

Another honor for the most decorated athlete in World Athletics Championships history, as 20-time medalist Allyson Felix (USA) was one of four appointees announced on Wednesday for the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

Also joining are two-time Olympic Triathlon winner Alistair Brownlee (GBR), Canadian sprinter and bobsledder Seyi Smith, and Tokyo Olympian cyclist Masomah Ali Zada, originally from Afghanistan, but now part of the Olympic Refugee Team and living in France.

According to the International Olympic Committee:

“The four athletes were appointed by IOC President Thomas Bach, in consultation with IOC AC Chair Emma Terho [FIN], and in accordance with IOC AC regulations, which are aimed at ensuring a balance between genders, regions and sports within the Commission. They can each serve a term of up to eight years.”

Felix’s appointment is especially important for the U.S., as it lost Olympic Winter gold medalist Kikkan Randall from the Athletes’ Commission in 2021 to health issues after she was elected in 2018. It also opens the possibility for Felix to become an athlete member of the IOC in the future.

4.
Commonwealth Games open in Birmingham

Overcoming a lack of interest and possibly developing a significant competitor to London for major sporting events in England, the XXII Commonwealth Games will open in Birmingham on Thursday and run through 8 August.

First held in 1930 as the British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games now bring together 72 countries, with 5,054 athletes expected and contesting 280 medal events in 20 sports. Some athletes, especially from Australia – with a huge team of 433 – have chosen the Commonwealth Games over the world championships in their sports, notably in swimming.

For others, the Commonwealth Games is a nice, but no longer vital event. However, it is a major step forward for Birmingham, which has reportedly put the event to together for about £778 million (now ~$938 million U.S.), with the British government paying 75% and the Birmingham City Council responsible for the other 25%.

The use of existing facilities has been emphasized, with three universities providing the athlete accommodations Of the 16 competition venues, 13 are existing, one is temporary, the Alexander Stadium – expanded from 18,000 to 32,000 for athletics and ceremonies – was extensively renovated and one new facility, the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, was built.

Australia was the top medal winner at the 2018 edition in Gold Coast (AUS), collecting 198 total to 136 for England; the English team topped the table in 2014 in Glasgow (SCO), 174-137.

5.
Ledecky wins 20th and 21st titles at USA Swimming Nationals

USA Swimming’s national championships have returned to the familiar surroundings of Irvine, California at the Woollett Aquatics Center for the sixth time in the last 17 years, and Tuesday’s opening day saw another familiar winner: Katie Ledecky.

She won the women’s 800 m Freestyle in 8:12.03, some 19 seconds ahead of Mariah Denigan (8:31.12) for her 20th U.S. summer national title. She added the 200 m Free on Wednesday in a seasonal best 1:54.50, ahead of 17-year-old Erin Gemmell  (1:56.14); Ledecky remains no. 2 on the world for 2022 and Gemmell moved to no. 10! Ledecky also plans to contest the 400 m Medley and will swim time trials in the 200 m Fly and 200 m Medley.

Tuesday’s other winners included Olympic relay bronze medalist Natalie Hinds in the women’s 100 m Free in 53.53, and Dakota Luther in the women’s 200 m Butterfly (2:07.02, no. 7 worldwide in 2022). In the men’s 100 m Free, Zach Apple and Matt King tied at 48.44; Will Gallant won the men’s 1,500 m Free in 14:57.08, and Gabriel Jett won the men’s 200 m Butterfly in 1:54.37 (world no. 8 in 2022).

On Wednesday, Luke Hobson upset Tokyo 400 m Free bronze winner Kieran Smith in the men’s 200 m Free (1:46.14-1:46.32); Matt Fallon used a hot last 50 m to win the 200 m Breast in a lifetime best of 2:07.91, now no. 3 on the world list for 2022 (!), and Virginia frosh Jack Aikins took the 200 m Backstroke in 1:57.52.

Mackenzie Looze used a lifetime best of 2:25.35 to win the women’s 200 m Breast title, then 2019 Pan Am silver winner Isabelle Stadden upset Worlds bronze medalist Rhyan White to win the 200 m Back in 2:07.29-2:07.51, moving Stadden to no. 6 in the world for 2022.

The meet is being broadcast live by NBC, mostly on the Olympic Channel, at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with highlights on Sunday at noon on NBC and 5 p.m. on CNBC.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 1972: Munich ● The German government is proposing further payments to the families of the 11 Israeli athletes and officials who were murdered by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Games. However, family members of the victims have characterized the new offer as “degrading.”

No figures have been released; the Associated Press reported that a first settlement was paid in in 1972 of 4.19 million German marks (~$2.09 million U.S.) and a further amount of €3 million in 2002 (~$3 million at that time). The German Ministry of the Interior is in discussions with the families.

● National Olympic Committees ● The International Olympic Committee is warning the Indian Olympic Association that it may be suspended if it does not hold elections soon.

The IOA has had governance issues before and was suspended in 2012; its President, Narinder Batra, resigned as he is being investigated for possible misappropriation of public funds. Elections were to have been held in December, but have been held up by litigation over its constitution and national sports regulations.

India was recently considered a rising power in sports hosting and plans for bids for the Youth Olympic Games and a future Olympic Games have been widely discussed. The country planned to showcase itself during the 2023 IOC Session to be held in Mumbai in May or June, but if the IOA is suspended, the Session will likely be moved.

● Athletics ● World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) was asked last Sunday about a possible format change for the World Athletics Championships from the present 10-day program:

“I don’t think we should ever feel that existing formats are absolutely sacrosanct. We know the existing challenges of having 10 days. Morning sessions; you want flow, you want content, you want people in the stadium that are actively engaged and maybe looking at the 10 days, you’re just not going to arrive at that that easily.

“So I’m not sitting here saying there’s an imminent change. We have our championships that are contracted and agreed up until ‘25. But I instinctively think that there are lots of things that we want to achieve in our sport and 10 days is quite a challenge.

“It’s quite a challenge for broadcasters. It’s quite a challenge for the public. It’s quite a challenge for the fans and it’s quite a challenge for organizing committees. So that’s sort of where my head is at the moment and I don’t have a tidy prescriptive view, but it has been my view for some time and are going to have to address that.”

As for the controversy – in some quarters – about the validity of Nigerian Tobi Amusan’s 12.12 world record in the first semifinal at the Worlds, here’s the view of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson on Twitter:

“I timed the race video with a digital stopwatch, of course taking multiple measurements. The data easily averaged the reported world record. So either the race clock & race video are both wrong or there was a tail wind nobody noticed – or they simply kicked ass.”

NBC released its ratings data for the Eugene Worlds, reporting a total audience of 18.7 million across all platforms for the 10-day event. The network ratings on NBC (reported at 1.934 million on average) didn’t set any records, as the 2007 Worlds in Osaka (JPN) drew an average of 2.08 million. NBC has rights to the World Athletics Championships into 2029.

American 1,500 m and 5,000 m record holder Shelby Houlihan is serving a four-year ban into 2025. But some sharpies on Twitter noticed that she is still active, winning the University of Okoboji Homecoming Half Marathon in Iowa on 16 July in 1:16:18. Wrote USATF activist and @PoleVaultPower poster Becca Peter:

“Ah I see Shelby and [coach] Jerry [Schumacher] have discovered one of the largest loopholes in the WADA code… many road races in the US are open to banned athletes because they are not USATF sanctioned.”

● Cycling ● Stage four of the revitalized Tour de France Femmes saw the fourth different winner, as Swiss Marlen Reusser attacked with 23 km remaining on the 126.8 km, modestly hilly ride from Troyes to Bar-Sur-Aube and went unchallenged. She won by an impressive 1:24 over Evita Muzic (FRA), Russian Alena Amialiusik (competing as a neutral) and American Veronica Ewers.

Race leader Marianne Vos was fifth (+1:40) and continued with a 16-second edge on Silvia Persico (ITA) and Kasia Niewiadoma (POL). The race continues through Sunday, with the final three stages all in the Vosges Mountains.

● Water Polo ● World Championships silver medalist Italy pounded the U.S. by 6-1 in the third quarter and won the FINA men’s World League Super Final by 13-9 in Strasbourg (FRA).

The teams were tied, 4-4, at halftime, but Italy’s overwhelming third quarter left the U.S. down five goals entering the final period. The American squad managed four goals in the period, but Italy scored three for the 13-9 final. Alex Bowen led the U.S. with four goals, while Luca Damonte, Giacomo Cannella and Eduardo Di Somma each scored three times for the winners.

The FINA Water Polo World League has been dominated by Serbia and Montenegro, which have won 15 of the 20 seasonal titles, and the last eight in a row. Italy’s win is its first, after three silvers and a bronze. The U.S. finished second for the fourth time, and for the second straight year.

Spain, the 2022 World Champions, won the bronze medal over France, 11-8.

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TSX REPORT: World T&F Champs average 2 million U.S. viewers on NBC; is that good or bad? Lochte medals bring $166,779 at auction

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (GBR): no excuses in Eugene, focused solely on the future. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. World Athletics Champs averages 2 million viewers on NBC
2. Give credit to Coe, but there are more questions
3. Paris 2024 announces sports schedule, ticket offers
4. French President Macron to offer free tickets but no taxes
5. Lochte medals highlight Olympic memorabilia auction

Quite a few U.S. television viewers took in the World Athletics Championships on NBC over the past two weeks: about two million per show on average. That’s much better than other meets, but still more than a third less than the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. World Athletics President Coe made no excuses and was forthcoming about the challenges for track & field in the U.S. in the future; that was refreshing and welcome. Paris 2024 celebrated the two-years-to-go mark on Wednesday and revealed the detailed sports schedule and some ticketing details; the least-expensive tickets will apparently cost €24. French President Macron promised no Olympic taxes, but the government will distribute tickets to some who would not otherwise be able to go. And a major Olympic memorabilia auction ends with the sale of Ryan Lochte’s silver and bronze medals from the 2004-08-12 Games, and a lot more.

1.
World Athletics Champs U.S. TV viewership
averages 2 million on NBC

Television ratings data for the just-completed World Athletics Championships came in on Tuesday and showed that interest in the meet was solid on NBC and showed promise on cable:

World Champs on NBC:
● Jul. 16 (Sat.): 2,129,000 (3:00 p.m. Eastern)
● Jul. 16 (Sat.): 1,575,000 (9:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 17 (Sun.): 2,235,000 (2:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 17 (Sun.): 1,925,000 (10:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 23 (Sat.): 1,733,000 (9:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 24 (Sun.): 2,362,000 (9:00 p.m.)

So, NBC’s seven shows – across 12 hours – averaged 1.993 million viewers, with the best audience of the meet on the final Sunday.

This is almost double the audience from the USA Track & Field Championships in June, which averaged 1.051 million viewers on NBC and more than double the Pre Classic and NYC Grand Prix invitationals in May and June, which averaged 906,000 viewers.

But the World Championships paled in comparison to the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, also held at Hayward Field in Eugene, down 37% from the six-show NBC average of 3.183 million viewers.

The Worlds on cable was a mixed picture:

● Jul. 15 (Fri.): 430,000 on USA Network (8:00 p.m. Eastern)
● Jul. 16 (Sat.): 160,000 on CNBC (1:30 p.m.)
● Jul. 16 (Sat.): 247,000 on CNBC (8:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 17 (Sun.): no data (<200,000) on CNBC (9:00 a.m.)
● Jul. 17 (Sun.): 368,000 on CNBC (8:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 18 (Mon.): 210,000 on USA Network (9:00 a.m.)
● Jul. 18 (Mon.): 272,000 on USA Network (11:30 p.m.: delayed)
● Jul. 19 (Tue.): 249,000 on USA Network (11:35 p.m.: delayed)
● Jul. 20 (Wed.): 647,000 on USA Network (7:30 p.m.)
● Jul. 21 (Thu.): 732,000 on USA Network (8:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 22 (Fri.): 783,000 on USA Network (8:30 p.m.)
● Jul. 23 (Sat.): 353,000 on CNBC (8:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 24 (Sun.): 384,000 on CNBC (8:00 p.m.)

Across 12 shows and 27 1/2 hours, the cablecasts averaged 403,000 viewers. The four live evening shows on USA Net did well, with an average of 648,000, but the two delayed, mid-week evening programs averaged just 261,000. The five shows on CNBC that had results measured (one was too small) averaged 302,000.

The cable average of 403,000 is down 30% vs. the 2021 Olympic Trials cable average of 573,000 across six shows on the now-closed NBCSN. But the live, mid-week shows on USA Net did better than that and rivaled the top audiences from the 2021 Trials.

In terms of the World Championships in competition with other sports, the final Saturday NBC audience of 1.733 million was second in the same time frame to FOX Saturday baseball (1.751 million), and the Sunday audience of 2.362 million led all sports programs, but was third vs. other prime-time programming on CBS (Big Brother: 3.359 million) and ABC (Final Straw and $100,000 Pyramid: 2.785 million average).

What does this tell us? That there is an audience for track & field in the U.S., potentially larger than that for the smaller leagues such as Major League Soccer and the WNBA, which have drawn multi-million and even billion-dollar contracts for broadcast rights. But creating a consistent stage for the sport in the era of all-controlling coaches and agents will be difficult.

NBC reported that the first seven days of the Worlds had drawn a cumulative audience of 13.7 million people, which may also include its streaming programs on Peacock. But that’s not the way television is sold; advertisers want to know what kind of audience they can count on, day in and day out.

2.
Give credit to Coe, but there are more questions

For those who knew the history behind the award of the 2021 World Championships – postponed to 2022 – to Eugene, it was fascinating to see how the event played out and the positioning that was taken by World Athletics and USA Track & Field.

Credit to World Athletics and its President, Sebastian Coe (GBR), for never once even hinting at the history, that the direct award to Eugene without a bid process or a formal vote, was the doing of the late, convicted criminal Lamine Diack of Senegal, during his ill-fated tenure as IAAF President.

Coe and Co. never mentioned Diack’s folly in pushing for the 2019 Worlds to go to Doha, either, trying to make the best of a difficult situation and positioning the event as a way to expand exposure to the sport. Same for Eugene. No excuses, always looking forward.

And at his wrap-up news conference, Coe was forthright:

● “I’m probably not going to be Mr. Popular for saying this but I don’t think in years past the sport has been marketed as well as it could have been in the U.S. I think there was a complacency for many years that believed it was just enough to come back from an Olympic Games or a world championships on top of the medals table. I think there’s now a much greater recognition that that in itself is important, but it’s not enough.”

● “We need to be in this market. It’s important. It’s not punching its weight.”

● “We want to be back here. It won’t be Eugene. I want to be back into L.A. or Miami or Chicago.”

Good for him. Now let’s see what happens as the excitement of Eugene cools.

Viewers also did not see any mention of the man most responsible for bringing the Worlds to Eugene: former Oregon coach and TrackTown USA chief Vin Lananna, now the head coach at Virginia. Lananna is the President of USA Track & Field, but has been demoted to Vice Chair by its Board of Directors in a direct slap at the membership, which has elected him twice.

The next question following the Worlds in Eugene will be about finances. The Oregon22 organizing committee never released a budget, which included a $10 million contribution from USA Track & Field, and received $40 million in State of Oregon and U.S. government subsidies. With the less-than-full attendance at the event, will it break even?

If there is a deficit, who picks it up?

3.
Paris 2024 announces sports schedule, ticket offers

Marking two years to go to the Paris 2024 Games, the detailed sports schedule was announced Tuesday, as well as the outlines of the ticketing program.

A total of 329 events across 32 sports will take place in 762 sessions, with tickets apparently priced from a low of €24 (currently $24.29 U.S.) to about €950 (~$964), with the Opening Ceremonies higher:

“[M]ore than 1 million tickets across all sports on the Olympic Games programme will
cost just €24. Nearly half the tickets on sale to the general public will cost €50 or less and almost a third of general public tickets for finals will be priced at €100 or under. Over 90% of the general public tickets are priced at €200 or less.

“These prices, which are extremely affordable for an event the size of the Olympic Games, have been made possible thanks to the adoption of a special pricing structure: the highest-priced tickets, which make up 15% of the tickets on sale to the general public, will generate almost 50% of Paris 2024 ticketing revenue. Individual tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will cost between €24 and €950 (excluding the ceremonies). The highest fares will be €950 and represent about 0.5% of the total volume of tickets to the general public.”

The full details of the ticketing program are expected in December, with sales to start shortly thereafter. The 91-page sports schedule, by session, is available here.

The Games slogan was also announced “Ouvrons Grand Les Jeux” or “Games Wide Open,” for the possibilities of a post-Covid Games and new opportunities for athletes and participants.

4.
French President Macron to offer free tickets but no taxes

A series of announcements came from the French President Emmanuel Macron on the 25th, a day before the two-years-to-go celebrations, which included a clear refusal to implement any kind of added tax to help pay for the 2024 Games in an interview with the French all-sports daily, L’Equipe:

“I reaffirmed a simple principle: there will be no Olympics tax. The Games must finance the Games.”

There is considerable concern over the budget and the impact of both inflation and supply-chain issues.

Macron did say, however, that the government will purchase 400,000 tickets for the Games. According to FrancsJeux.com:

“They will be distributed to young people and schoolchildren, in priority those under the age of 16, but also to volunteers from the sports movement, people with disabilities, state officials and local authorities who contribute to the preparation of the event. This so-called ‘popular ‘ ticket office will be intended to make the Paris 2024 Games accessible to a public that would not necessarily have the means to buy tickets for the competitions.”

Macron also met with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER), who enthusiastically commended the preparations so far, noting especially:

“Sustainability, legacy and inclusion are at the heart of their strategy, which, with two years to go, is already contributing to the positive impact the Games are having before competition has even begun.”

The IOC noted specially – in view of the security problems at the UEFA Champions League final match in Paris in May – Bach’s expression of “full confidence in the security provided by the French authorities, which had been evident again during the very successful final stage of the Tour de France along the Champs-Elysees,” which Bach attended on Sunday.

Concerns continue to be expressed within the French government on the security arrangements and cost of the Opening Ceremony, to be spectacularly held on the River Seine and to be watched live by 600,000.

5.
Lochte medals highlight Olympic memorabilia auction

The massive RR Auction of Olympic memorabilia closed on Sunday, with 15 items selling for $10,000 or more, including the buyer’s premium. The Ryan Lochte collection of silver and bronze medals and other personal items was popular (prices include buyer’s premium):

● $89,423 for his pair of Beijing 2008 bronze medals
● $56,348 for his three London 2012 silver and bronze medals
● $21,008 for his Athens 2004 silver medal
● $16,143 for his Breitling watch purchased after the 2012 Games

Lochte has said he will donate the proceeds to the Jorge Nation Foundation, which arranges special trips for terminally-ill children.

There were plenty of other items which did well:

● $50,000 for a 1924 1st Winter Games gold medal
● $45,000 for a 1936 Berlin gold medal
● $40,206 for a 1948 London gold and silver medal pair
● $19,899 for a 1904 St. Louis athlete participation medal
● $15,625 for a 1900 Paris silver medal
● $12,501 for a 1972 Munich gold medal
● $10,981 for a 1952 Helsinki gold medal

An excellent selection of Olympic torches was also on offer; the top offers:

● $48,721 for a 1992 Albertville Winter Games torch
● $20,625 for a 1972 Sapporo Winter Games torch
● $18,996 for a 1988 Calgary Winter Games torch
● $12,501 for a 1956 Melbourne Games torch
● $11,688 for a 2020 Tokyo Games torch

There were lots of other interesting sales. An excellent collection of official’s badges for the 1972 Sapporo Winter Games sold for $9,371 and two posters for the never-held Helsinki 1940 Games sold for $1,751. A 1980 Lake Placid Winter Games cowboy hat, used for the Opening Ceremonies, sold for $250.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● World Athletics adopted a policy of introducing “repechage” races into the Olympic program for Paris 2024, giving athletes eliminated early the possibility of advancing back into the medal round.

The details are not all in place yet, but the repechage round will be used for events from 200 m to 1,500 m, including the hurdles:

“[A]thletes who do not qualify by place in round one heats, will have a second chance to qualify for the semi-finals by participating in repechage heats.

“This will replace the former system of athletes advancing through fastest times (q) in addition to the top placings in the first round heats (Q).”

Why? This protocol will give athletes in these distances at least two races at the Games, instead of instant elimination in the heats. This concept is widely used in other sports, with the same rationale.

The five semi-finalists for the International Fair Play Award have been announced and fans can vote for their favorite on World Athletics social-media platforms this week, to help cut the finalist list to three. Nominated:

● Katie Nageotte (USA) assisting Holly Bradshaw (GBR) after an injury at the women’s vault and then defending her decision to withdraw.

● Ukrainian high jump stars Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Andriy Protsenko for their silver and bronze-medal performances against the backdrop of the Russian invasion.

● American Noah Lyles, who “lost his spikes” in a rock-paper-scissors duel with a young fan.

● British hurdler Andrew Pozzi, who came to the aid of injured Petr Svoboda (CZE) after their race and helped get him to medical aid.

● British heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, supporting devastated German competitor Sophie Weissenberg after the latter suffered three fouls in the long jump and did not score any points.

Voting is available on the World Athletics Twitter and Instagram pages.

● Basketball ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner was back in a Moscow court on Tuesday as her trial for “drug smuggling” continued. She has pled guilty to bringing a small amount of hashish oil into Russia in a vape cartridge, but said she did not mean to break the law. Griner may testify on Wednesday.

The U.S. continues to consider her illegally detained, since February, and has been working to secure her release.

● Cycling ● The revived Tour de France Femmes rolls on this week, with Dutch star Marianne Vos taking Monday’s flat, 136.4 km Stage 2 in a final sprint over Silvia Persico (ITA) and Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma, in 3:14:02.

On Tuesday, another fairly flat, 133.6 km ride from Reims to Epernay, it was Denmark’s Cecile Uttrup Ludwig winning the final sprint over Vos, Persico (4th), Niewiadoma (6th) and two others in 3:22:54. Vos retains the lead, with a 16-second edge over Persico and Niewiadoma.

There are two more hilly stages and then the final three stages in the Vosges Mountains, where the race will be decided.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The UIPM World Championships have started in Alexandria (EGY), with the host team winning the women’s relay via Haydy Morsy and Amira Kandil. They won the fencing event, were fifth in swimming and fourth in riding to start the Laser Run with a 14-second advantage. That proved to be enough to finish ahead of Mariana Arceo and Mayan Oliver of Mexico, who had the fastest time on the course (13:50), but with the Egyptian second (14:05). Korea won the bronze medal, with the final scores at 1,298-1,291-1,260.

The Koreans had already won the men’s relay, with 2017 World Champion Jinhwa Jung and 2019 Worlds bronze medalist Woongtae Jun winning the fencing and swimming and with a third in riding, started 21 second ahead in the Laser Run. They held on to win, 1,427 points to 1,419, over Eslam Hamad and Ahmed Hamed of Egypt, who had the sixth-fastest time in the Laser Run. Czechs Matous Tuma and Filip Houska (1,408 points) won the bronze.

The championships continue through Sunday.

● Volleyball ● The FIVB Nations League tourneys for men and women finished over the last 10 days, with Italy and France winning their first titles in the women’s and men’s events.

The Italian women defeated Brazil, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22, in Ankara (TUR) in the final, finishing with a 13-2 overall record. Serbia defeated Turkey in straight sets to win the bronze; Serbia had eliminated the Olympic champ U.S. team in the quarterfinals in a five-set marathon.

France, the Tokyo 2020 gold medalist, won the men’s final over the U.S. men by 25-16, 25-19, 15-25, 21-25, 15-10 in a five-setter in Bologna (ITA). The U.S. had won their round-robin match – also in five sets – and both teams finished with a 12-3 overall record. It was a major improvement for the U.S. men, who finished 10th at the Tokyo 2020 tournament.

● Water Polo ● The FINA men’s Super League Final tournament in Strasbourg (FRA) will end with a gold-medal rematch between the United States and Italy on Wednesday.

The U.S. – sixth at the recent World Championships in Hungary – won their group-stage match-up, 13-9, and the two teams have pushed to their playoffs to the re-match. Both teams were 2-1 in group play, then the American squad defeated Australia, 12-11, in the quarterfinals and host France, 16-15, in the semis. Italy defeated Serbia by 14-17 and then Spain, 9-8, to reach the final. Max Irving leads the U.S. in scoring with 14 goals so far.

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LANE ONE: Eugene World Championships were inspiring and brilliant, but leave more questions than answers

By
Rich Perelman
-
World record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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“Surely, surely Gail, and this is one of the reasons why we have come here to Eugene; surely a 1-2-3 in a home World Championship will generate front-page headlines in the United States tomorrow. Tell me that’s the case.”

At the end of the second day of the 2022 World Athletics Championships at the new Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, veteran British commentator Rob Walker, the long-time primary voice of the World Athletics international television feed asked his analyst, triple Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers of the U.S. if the medal sweep of the men’s 100 m was going to be big news in America. Said Devers, with a hint of weariness at a question she has heard for decades:

“I’m hoping, all I can do is hope like you. It should be everywhere, because that was big.”

The next day, the Los Angeles Times carried a 2,346-word dive on future plans to revitalize interest in track & field in the U.S. The actual coverage of the men’s 100 victory by Fred Kerley was given 10 single-column lines – 44 words – in the miscellaneous news section, one more line than for 400 m star Randolph Ross’s disqualification for a doping violation. No other results were noted.

That’s the paradox presented by the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, the first ever held in the U.S. and in the smallest facility ever to host the event.

Walker doubled down on the final day of the meet last Sunday, as the U.S. squad was handed the first-ever World Championships team trophy:

“The team champions are USA, and we can only hope – from a neutral, global perspective – that these images will be in newspapers in the United States tomorrow. That, after all, has been the ultimate goal of bringing the World Championships to Tracktown USA. We want these people to become stars, not just in Europe, where we love them, but in your country.”

His fellow commentator, Olympic and World Decathlon champion Dan O’Brien of the U.S. didn’t take the bait, replying, “This World Championships will be remembered for a long time.”

On the field, the Eugene Worlds were spectacular and the numbers are worth listing:

● From 1,972 entered, there were 1,705 athletes from 179 countries competing, with a record 29 countries winning events and 81 countries reaching the top eight (essentially a final), the most ever.

● There were world-leading performances in 24 of the 49 events, and 30 world leads in all.

● World Championships meet records were set in 13 events and there were 92 national records set.

● There were three world records, by Sydney McLaughlin (women’s 400 m hurdles), Tobi Amusan (women’s 100 m hurdles) and Mondo Duplantis (men’s vault), all in the final three days of the meet.

● Tom Lewis of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association compiled some impressive documentation of the impact of the U.S. collegiate system: 21.2% of all athletes (363) competed for a U.S. collegiate program (from 71 countries), winning 37 individual medals (14-12-11), more than the United States (33), without counting relays!

There was no shortage of stars, including a lifetime memory for a hometown hero in Eugene.

● The world records by McLaughlin and Duplantis were not surprises, but Amusan’s 12.12 in the first semi on Sunday was a complete shocker, even leading some folks to doubt the timing equipment.

However, she came back about 90 minutes later and won the final in a wind-aided 12.06! Another malfunction? Comparing the times using the wind-aid tables in the authoritative Big Gold Book by Track & Field News:

= Semi: 12.12 ~ wind +0.9 m/s saved 0.05 seconds
= Final: 12.06 ~ wind +2.5 m/s saved 0.14 seconds

So, the 12.06w final was “worth” 12.15 if the wind had been the same as the semi. Amusan was great, twice.

● How good were the Amusan, Duplantis and McLaughlin records vis-a-vis other world records? World Athletics sponsors a scientific study which assigns points to performers, separately for men and women. The comparison:

Men:
1. 1,365: Javelin ~ 98.48 m (323-1) by Jan Zelezny (CZE)
2. 1,358: 100 m ~ 9.58 by Usain Bolt (JAM)
3. 1,351: 200 m ~ 19.19 by Usain Bolt (JAM)
4. 1,346: Long Jump ~ 8.95 m (29-4 1/2) by Mike Powell (USA)
5. 1,341: 400 m hurdles ~ 45.94 by Karsten Warholm (NOR)
6. 1,325: Pole Vault ~ 6.21 m (20-4 1/2) by Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
7. 1,323: Shot ~ 23.37 m (76-8 1/4) by Ryan Crouser (USA)
8. 1,321: 400 m ~ 43.03 by Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)
9. 1,320: Discus ~ 74.08 m (243-0) by Jurgen Schult (GDR)
10. 1,314: High Jump ~ 2.45 m (8-0 1/2) by Javier Sotomayor (CUB)

Women:
1. 1,382: Discus ~ 76.80 m (252-0) by Gabriele Reinsch (GDR)
2. 1,372: Shot ~ 22.63 m (74-3) by Natalia Lisovskaya (URS)
3. 1,333: Long Jump: 7.52 m (24-8 1/4) by Galina Chistyakova (URS)
4. 1,331: Heptathlon: 7.291 by Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA)
5. 1,314: 100 m ~ 10.49 by Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA)
6. 1,312: 400 m hurdles ~ 50.68 by Sydney McLaughlin (USA)
7. 1,309: High Jump ~ 2.09 m (6-10 1/4) by Stefka Kostadinova (BUL)
8. 1,308: 200 m ~ 21.34 by Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA)
9. 1,306: Javelin ~ 72.28 (237-2) by Barbora Spotakova (CZE)
10. 1,304: 400 m ~ 47.60 by Marita Koch (GDR)

Amusan’s 12.12 is worth 1,272 points, ranking her 19th. McLaughlin would rank higher if marks made by chemically-enhanced competitors from East Germany and USSR were removed, but those are the ratified world records.

● Another all-time mark set by Duplantis was his clearance of 6.00 m (19-8 1/4) or more on 48 occasions, including three times en route to his world record in Eugene. That passes Ukraine’s Sergey Bubka, who cleared 6.00 m 45 times, a mark long thought to be untouchable. Mondo has touched and surpassed.

● Allyson Felix won a bronze medal on the Mixed 4×400 m, then went home to Los Angeles, but was recalled to run a leg in the heats of the women’s 4×400 m at the end of the program. As the U.S. won the event, she earned a gold medal, giving her an all-time record of 20 World Championships medals – the most by anyone – with 14 golds, three silvers and three bronzes from 2005-22.

● The conventional wisdom is that the long collegiate season in the U.S. argues against success in the World Championships. But four U.S. collegians beat the odds and ran brilliantly in Eugene.

The list starts with sprinter Abby Steiner (Kentucky), who finished fifth in the 200 m and ran legs on the winning 4×100 m and 4×400 m relays. Including the Worlds, she has run in 56 total races during the 2022 season: 10 at 60 m, eight at 100 m, 20 at 200 m, one at 300 m and 17 on relays!

Britton Wilson (Arkansas), who finished fifth in the women’s 400 m hurdles and ran on the winning 4×400 m team, has run 45 races during 2022, in the 400 m, 400 m hurdles and relays.

Not quite as busy were men’s 400 m stars Elija Godwin (Georgia) and Champion Allison (Florida), who have contested 33 and 27 races, respectively in 2022.

● If there is a “I finally made it” story on the U.S. team, it has to be sprinter Jenna Prandini. A star at Oregon and running on her “home track,” Prandini has been a fixture on U.S. teams, but never a finalist. She reached the semis of the women’s 100 m at Rio 2016 and in the 200 m at the Worlds in 2015 and 2022 and the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, but no finals.

She won silvers on the 4×100 m at the 2015 Worlds and Tokyo 2020 Games, but broke through with a brilliant turn on Saturday against Jamaican superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, to give TeeTee Terry the lead she required to hold off the Jamaicans and win the 4×100 m gold in Eugene.

There was impressive new technology on display on the television broadcast, including an unbelievable live scoring display during the final events of the men’s decathlon (1,500 m) and women’s heptathlon (800 m).

Thanks to computer chips embedded in the identification bibs worn by all competitors, a graphic showed the “running” final scores of the top competitors as they ran on the track!

This was a mind-blower! There was also a wide use of graphics showing the relative speed of the competitors, but this was hard to absorb since the races themselves commanded all the attention. Same for the artificially-inserted lines that showed the world records and the final qualifying times. Good ideas, but hard to follow.

Same for the graphic at the end of each race on the left-hand side that showed how far behind placers 2-8 were, but leaving out the winning time, which was on the right side of the screen! The idea was good, but the execution was busy and confusing.

One improvement from Doha was the elimination of the on-the-field light show for the sprint finals. These were spectacular lighting effects, but were only done for a couple of events, a clear show of disrespect to other athletes.

Speaking of disrespect, there will be plenty of discussions to come about the false starts – by tiny margins – in the women’s 100 m semis and of Devon Allen of the U.S. in the men’s 110 m hurdles final.

All credit to The Oregonian, which did a masterful job of obtaining daily figures on the numbers of tickets sold at the Worlds, with none of the sessions approaching the expected availability of about 15,000 spectator seats:

● 15 Jul: 13,646 (Fri.: 2 sessions)
● 16 Jul: 19,543 (Sat.: 2 sessions)
● 17 Jul: 21,065 (Sun.: 2 sessions)
● 18 Jul: 10,990 (Mon. evening only)
● 19 Jul: 11,865 (Tue.)
● 20 Jul: 10,881 (Wed.)
● 21 Jul: 11,253 (Thu.)
● 22 Jul: 12,054 (Fri.)
● 23 Jul: 12,132 (Sat. evening only)
● 24 Jul: 12,143 (Sun. evening only)

This totals 136,572 across 13 sessions or 10,506 on average; the evening-only average was more like 11,849. At the Doha 2019 Worlds, the stadium capacity was reduced to 21,000 and the announced attendance of 13,288 and 11,300 for the first two days was so awful that no further figures were ever provided, even with the stadium fairly full for the last weekend.

Eugene barely rivaled even those figures, and while the new Hayward Field is small for a Worlds, it was also engineered to be loud. So the athletes had people back in the stands cheering after the empty stadiums at Tokyo 2020 and it was especially loud for the home-standing American team.

Make no mistake, World Athletics is not expecting crowds of this size in the 36,000-seat facility in Budapest in 2023 or for the return to the 68,000-seat National Stadium in Tokyo in 2025. But it is boasting now of how full the stands were, in the smallest facility to ever host a World Athletics Championship.

The U.S. television ratings will be out on Tuesday and will tell even more about the impact – or lack thereof – that the Eugene Worlds had across the country.

There’s no doubt that the U.S. should get a future World Athletics Championships, but where? Kerley was on Twitter mid-meet and suggested:

“We need to have world champ in Miami.”

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: World records for Amusan and Duplantis and U.S. sets all-time medal record as Eugene T&F Worlds close brilliantly

By
Rich Perelman
-
This is what a world record looks like: Nigerian Tobi Amusan's stunning 12.12 win over Keni Harrison (USA: 12:27) in the semifinals of the World Athletics Championships (Official Seiko finish photo)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 16 ~ Sunday, 24 July 2022

The final session of the 2022 World Athletics Championships at a sold-out Hayward Field in Eugene was hot – 89 F at the start – and started with a world record in the women’s 100 m hurdles! From there, it got better!

No one expected to see a world mark from Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, but a world record from Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis was widely hoped. And once again, the U.S. showed its power by winning three events on the day and finishing with more medals than any nation has ever won before. Here’s what happened:

● Women/100 m hurdles ● A bolt of lightning from the first race of the evening session as Nigeria’s Amusan got out well and ran perfectly in semi one, moving ahead of world-record holder Keni Harrison of the U.S. and flying to the line … in a world record of 12.12!

The wind was legal at +0.9 m/s and she displaced Harrison as the fastest ever (12.20 in 2016). Harrison was second in 12.27, the no. 4 performance in U.S. history and 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams (JAM) was third in 12.41.

There were still two semis to go, and semi two was a three-way fight with Alia Armstrong of the U.S., Devynne Charlton (BAH) and Olympic bronze medalist Megan Tapper (JAM), finishing 1-2-3 in 12.43-12.46-12.52 (-0.1), with lifetime bests for all three! Tokyo Olympic finalist Britany Anderson (JAM) got a lifetime best and national record of 12.31 (+0.3) to beat Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR: 12.32) in semi three. Wow: a world record and the four fastest times of the year in the semis!

The final came at 7 p.m., with Harrison in three, Amusan in four and Anderson in five and Camacho-Quinn in an unexpected lane seven. Off the gun, Armstrong got the best start and was over the hurdles first, with Anderson and Amusan both pressing for the lead. By hurdle five, Amusan was on the gas and moving away from the field, winning in the fastest time ever run, a wind-aided 12.06 (+2.5 m/s). There was no doubt.

Anderson was second for most of the last half of the race, with Armstrong third, but Camacho-Quinn moved hard over the last three hurdles and was barely third, with Anderson and Camacho-Quinn both timing 12.24w.

Anderson was fourth in 12.31w, and Harrison, pressing hard, hit a hurdle and stopped.

Amusan had always been the one to be disappointed, finishing fourth at the 2019 Worlds in Doha and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Not any more: she is the World Champion and the world-record holder, worth $170,000 in prize money.

● Men/Pole Vault ● The serious jumping started at 5.87 m (19-3), with Rio 2016 gold medalist Thiago Braz and Ernest John Obiena (PHI) clearing right away, but Olympic champ Duplantis and Olympic silver winner Chris Nilsen (USA) both missed.

Nilsen was way over on his second try, as did Duplantis, 2012 Olympic winner Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) and Oleg Zernikel (GER), who scored a lifetime best; those six were in the fight for medals.

At 5.94 m (19-5 3/4), the medalists were decided, Duplantis and Nilsen both cleared right away, with Obiena over on his second try. Braz missed twice, then missed once at 6.00 m (19-8 1/4) and ended up fourth. Zernikel was fifth and Lavillenie sixth.

At 6.00 m, Nilsen and Obiena both missed three times, while Duplantis cleared brilliantly and the medal standings were determined. At 6.06 m (19-10 1/2), Duplantis was over easily, and asked for the bar to go to an absolute world record of 6.21 m (20-4 1/2).

The first try missed. But Duplantis, jumping after the women’s 4×400 m and the last athlete to compete in the World Championships, cleared majestically for the second world mark of the day and third of the Championships. He jumped out of the pit, sprinted down the backstraight and did a somersault as the crowd applauded.

Like Amusan, he will collect $170,000 for winning and for the world mark. The best-possible – even if hoped for or even expected – end to the meet.

● Men/5,000 m ● World-record holder Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) decided to set an honest pace and led through laps of 62.05, 63.19 and 62.73 , giving way to Kenya’s Jacob Krop. He took the lead with nine laps left, with teammates Nicholas Kipkorir and Daniel Ebenyo, who slowed the pace to 65.12 and 64.79 and the race bunched up and Cheptegei allowed it, passing 3,000 m in 8:04.51.

The field stayed together, with no attacks, and Norway’s 1,500 m runner-up Jakob Ingebrigtsen took the lead with two laps to go and nine in contention. Ingebrigtsen continued to lead and took the bell in front of Kipkorir, Krop, Grant Fisher of the U.S. and Cheptegei.

The top three remained that way through 4,800 m and around the bend came Canada’s Moh Ahmed to pressure Fisher, who appeared to step on the rail with his left foot and almost fell down, losing his momentum and a shot at a medal. Into the last 100 m, Ingebrigtsen moved away from Krop to win in 13:09.24 to 13:09.98, Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo racing past everyone else for bronze in 13:10.20. Ahmed was fifth in 13:10.46, Fisher recovered for sixth in 13:11.65 and Abdi Nur of the U.S. was 11th in 13:18.05

Redemption for Ingebrigtsen, the Olympic 1,500 m champion, who was upset earlier in the week, but proved he had both the pacing and sprint skills to win at 5,000 m.

● Women/800 m ● A brilliant field, with the Olympic gold and silver winners in Athing Mu (USA) and Kelly Hodgkinson (GBR). But it was Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji taking the lead over Mu after 200 m and holding the lead at the bell at 57.11.

There were a half-dozen in contention around the turn, but Mu moved hard at 500 m and Hodgkinson went with her with Kenyan Mary Moraa and Welteji giving chase. In the straight, it was Mu leading, but Hodgkinson moving hard on the inside and trying to pass. But Mu gave no quarter, stayed calm and pushed to the line, winning in an emotional and world-leading 1:56.30-1:56.38.

Moraa and Welteji stayed 3-4 in 1:56.71 and 1:57.02. Americans Raevyn Rogers and Ajee Wilson never challenged for the medals and ended up sixth and eighth in 1:58.26 and 2:00.19.

● Women/Long Jump ● Olympic champ Malaika Mihambo (GER) fouled on her first two jumps, but came through in round three to take the lead at 6.98 m (22-10 3/4), but was immediately passed by Nigeria’s Ese Brume, out to a seasonal best of 7.02 m (23-0 1/2).

No concern for Mihambo, who responded in round three with 7.09 m (23-3 1/4) to re-take the lead. Behind the top two were Brazil’s Leticia Oro Melo with a lifetime best of 6.89 m (22-7 1/4) in round one and American Quanesha Burks, who also got a seasonal best at 6.88 m (22-7), with two more behind her at 6.87 m (22-6 1/2).

That was the order right to the end, as no one improved … until Mihambo on the final jump of the event, reaching 7.12 m (23-4 1/2) for her final, winning mark. That’s the Olympic and world title for the German in consecutive years; Brume was third in Doha in 2019 and scored the Olympic bronze last year, but moved up to silver.

American Tiffany Flynn jumped 6.48 m (21-3 1/4) and was 12th.

● Men/Decathlon ● The second day began with a 110 m hurdles win for Canada’s Pierce LePage in 13.78, ahead of first-day leader Ayden Owens-Delerme (PUR: 13.88), and Daniel Golubovic (AUS) and world-record holder Kevin Mayer (FRA), both in 13.92. Americans Kyle Garland and Zach Ziemek were seventh and 13th in 14.18 and 14.47. Steve Bastien was 16th in 14.75.

Czech Jiri Sykora won the discus at 54.39 m (178-5), followed by Lindon Victor (GRN: 53.92 m/176-11) and LePage at 53.26 m (174-9), a lifetime best! That gave the lead back at LePage, at 6,427, with Owens-Delerme second (6,309) and Ziemek third (6,221).

The pole vault started in 77 F temperatures, but Mayer and Ziemek both got seasonal bests of 5.40 m (17-8 1/2) to lead the field. LePage managed 5.00 m (16-4 3/4) and maintained the lead at 7,337 to 7,256 for Ziemek and 7,251 for Mayer. Garland cleared only 4.60 m (15-1: 6,930 for 7th) and Bastien did 4.70 m (15-5: 6,589 for 16th).

Mayer kept climbing in the javelin, reaching 70.31 m (230-8) for 894 points, moving into the lead, while Ziemek got a lifetime best of 62.18 m (204-0). Niklas Kaul (GER) was next-best at 69.74 m (228-10) and Victor reached 66.20 m (217-2).

The 1,500 m started with Mayer at 8,145, LePage at 8,038 and Ziemek at 8,027; Victor was well back at 7,838. Owens-Delerme won the race in a lifetime best of 4:13.02 and Mayer ran home in 10th and LePage had enough to finish ahead of Ziemek to clinch the silver, 4:42.77 to 4:44.97.

Mayer finished at 8,816, ahead of LePage (8,701 lifetime best), Ziemek (8,676 lifetime best) and Owens-Delerme (8,532 lifetime best). American Kyle Garland finished at 8,133 for 11th and Steve Bastien was 16th at 7,939.

Mayer, 30, battling injuries, has only contested one decathlon in each of the last four years, failing to finish at the 2019 Worlds and winning silver in Tokyo last year. Now he has won his second world title, after his victory in 2017.

● Men/35 km Walk ● The 6:15 a.m. start saw 50 men begin the first World Athletics Championships 35 km walk in sunny and cool conditions at 52 F. And from the very first steps, it was Japan’s Daisuke Matsunaga who had a big lead.

The Rio 20 km seventh-placer in 2016, he was up by 48 seconds at 5 km and 1:03 ahead by 13 km. But led by Sweden’s 2019 and 2022 20 km bronze medalist Perseus Karlstrom, the pack caught up and passed Matsunaga after 20 km. A lead group of seven pushed ahead and it became clear the medalists would come from those athletes, including Italy’s Tokyo 2020 20 km gold medalist Massimo Stano and Japan’s Masatora Kawano, the 2022 world leader at 2:26:40.

By 30 km, the lead group was down to five, with China’s Xianghong He dropped soon afterwards. Ecuador’s Brian Pintado fell back after 32 km, with Stano continuing to press the pace over Kawano and Karlstrom.

Stano was relentless, churning out kilometers after 30 km of 4:03, 4:04, 4:00 and 3:53 at 34 km to drop Karlstrom and forge a lead over Kawano, who was straining badly and received two warnings.

Stano took a 5 m lead over Kawano right after the bell and could not be headed, finishing with a brilliant 3:50 final km to win in 2:23:14, the second-fastest time ever walked (there is no official world record yet). Kawano gained ground at the end, pumping his arms furiously and lunging across the finish line to finish just one second behind Stano (2:23:15), then pounding his fist into the ground in frustration, but later smiling at having won the silver medal.

Karlstrom, the bronze medalist at 20 km, won the 35 km bronze and was satisfied enough to don his trademark Viking hat on the way to the finish line in 2:23:44. Pintado was fourth in 2:24:37. Matsunaga finished in 26th place in 2:33.56; American Nick Christie finished 36th in 2:41:08.

● Men/4×400 m ● The favored U.S. fielded a team of Elija Godwin, Michael Norman, Bryce Deadmon and Champion Allison, starting in lane six. And it was no contest.

Godwin, who was stellar on the Mixed 4×400 m and in the heats, made up the three staggers ahead of him and handed to Norman with a big lead after a 44.28 opener. It was over.

Norman had a 12 m lead after a 43.64 leg and handed to Deadmon, who extended the lead to more than 20 m (43.82). Allison, who was part of a collegiate record team at Florida this season, finished with a 44.43 leg for a world-leading 2:56.17, the no. 10 performance in history.

Behind the U.S., Jamaica and Belgium dueled for the silver and a 43.98 anchor for Christopher Taylor outlasted Kevin Borlee (44.07), 2:58.58 to 2:58.72. Japan was fourth at 2:59.81.

● Women/4×400 m ● The U.S. brought out a team of Talitha Diggs, Abby Steiner, Britton Wilson and Sydney McLaughlin, starting in lane five, with Jamaica behind them in four and Britain ahead in six.

Diggs was in a tight battle with Britain’s Victoria Ohuruogu, but passed first, 50.50-50.59. Steiner, an experienced 4×4 runner at Kentucky, ran 49.99 and nursed a small lead over Jamaica’s Janieve Russell (49.90) at the exchange. Then the race broke open.

Wilson, also a sensational relay runner at Arkansas, stormed the turn and opened a 10 m lead on the field, finally passing to McLaughlin with a 5 m lead after a 49.39 leg. The result was not in doubt with the stick in McLaughlin’s hand and she exploded for a 47.91 leg, one of the fastest ever, to finish in a world-leading 3:17.79, the no. 8 performance of all time.

Jamaica finished second in 3:20.74, ahead of Britain (3:22.64) and Canada (3:25.18).

With the counting completed, the U.S. finished with 33 medals (13-9-11), two more than the previous high of 31 from the doped-up East German team in the 1987 Worlds in Rome. Ethiopia (4-4-2), Jamaica (2-7-1) and Kenya (2-5-3) all finished with 10.

The placing table, with scoring to eight places, revealed the U.S. dominance even further. The American team piled up 328 points to 110 for Jamaica, 106 for Ethiopia and 104 for Kenya. Great Britain scored 68 for fifth, with Canada and China in sixth at 63.

The U.S. won the first-ever recognized team title, celebrating with a massive trophy on the home straight.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Cycling ● The 109th Tour de France concluded on Sunday with the grand entrance into Paris and Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard moving up from second in 2021 to the top of the podium in 2022.

The final, 115.6 km stage finished in the usual sprint, with Jasper Philipsen (BEL) winning his second stage with a powerful surge ahead of Dylan Groenewegen (NED) and Alexander Kristoff (NOR), all in 2:58:32.

The victorious Dutch Jumbo-Visma team crossed together, with Vingegaard in 75th and ending in 79:32:29, with a margin of 3:34 over two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) and 8:13 over 2018 winner Geraint Thomas (GBR). Neilson Powless was the top American finisher, in 13th, 47:48 behind the winner; the U.S. had three more inside the top 21: Sepp Kuss (18th for Jumbo-Visma), Brandon McNulty in 20th and Matteo Jorgenson in 21st.

Vingegaard, 25, won stages 11 and 18, and second in stages 7, 17 and 20, with five other top-10 finishes. He’s only the second Dane to win cycling’s greatest race, after Bjarne Riis won in 1996. Pogacar, still just 23, won his first two Tours and was second this year.

The secondary winners included Wout van Aert (BEL) in the Points Division (for sprinters) and Vingegaard as King of the Mountains, a key to his winning the overall title.

Worth noting was the start of the revived Tour de France Femmes, an eight-stage race that began in Paris with an 81.7 km, flat course, with Dutch riders Lorena Wiebes and Marianne Vos finishing 1-2 at the head of a mass sprint in 1:54:00. Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky was third, with race favorite Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) in 21st (same time).

The race starts with two flat stages, then three hilly stages and the final three stages in the Vosges Mountains of eastern France, where the winner will be decided.

Various forms of a women’s Tour were organized from 1984 through 2009, but the new race is run by the same group – Amaury Sports Organisation – which owns the Tour de France.

● Fencing ● The 2022 FIE World Fencing Championships concluded in Cairo on Saturday, with France and Italy dominating the competition, finishing with eight medals apiece.

In the final team events, France won the men’s Team Epee over Italy, 45-42, with individual winner Romain Cannone getting his second gold medal of the tournament. Japan finished third, defeating Hungary. 45-30.

Italy won the men’s Team Foil, 45-39, over the U.S. team of Nick Itkin, Chase Emmer, Alex Massialas and Gerek Meinhardt. Itkin had previously won the individual bronze medal.

The women’s Team Foil was another Italian win over the U.S., with individual silver medalist Arianna Errigo lead a 45-27 win over Jackie Dubrovich, Olympic winner Lee Kiefer, Zander Rhodes and Maia Weintraub. France won the bronze, 40-34, against Japan.

Hungary defeated France in the women’s Team Sabre final, 45-40. Japan got another bronze, 45-43, over Spain.

France won four gold, two silver and two bronze for eight total to lead the medal table; Hungary also won eight (2-4-2). Japan (1-1-2) and the U.S. (0-2-2) both won four.

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TSX REPORT: U.S. women upset Jamaica in 4×1; Canada upsets U.S. men in 4×1 and Peters and Pichardo supreme at Worlds in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-
Upset! The U.S. women celebrate after winning the 4x100 m relay at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene.

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 14 ~ Saturday, 23 July 2022

(Coverage of Saturday morning’s events, with the men’s decathlon and women’s hurdles and long jump qualifying is here.)

There were exciting finals in six events on Day 9 of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, but it was really about the 4×100 m relays. And they were great.

The difference was passing and running at full speed with the stick in two memorable races:

● Women/4×100 m ● The U.S., with Melissa Jefferson, Abby Steiner, Jenna Prandini and TeeTee Terry, drew lane three, with favored Jamaica – Kemba Nelson, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson – in five.

Off the gun, both Jefferson and Terry were excellent and the pass to Steiner had her and Thompson-Herah close at the second exchange. Then came the crucial moment in the race, as Prandini got a near-perfect pass and stormed the turn to take the lead from Fraser-Pryce going into the final leg. This was decisive.

Prandini made a solid pass to a full-speed Terry and although Jackson was motoring, closing with every stride, Terry was strong enough and held on to take the upset win with the no. 5 time in history (and no. 3 U.S.), 41.14 to 41.18.

Britain was in contention until Dina Asher-Smith pulled at the end of the third leg and barely made the pass to anchor Daryll Neita. Germany took advantage and won the bronze in 42.03.

● Men/4×100 m ● The U.S. team of Christian Coleman, Noah Lyles, Elijah Hall and Marvin Bracy – same as in the heats – was in lane three, one ahead of Jamaica and one behind Canada.

Coleman was hot from the start and handed off to Lyles in good shape, and Lyles stormed to the lead on the backstraight. His pass to Hall was good, but Canada was flying with Brendon Rodney and handed first to Olympic 200 m champ Andre De Grasse.

The U.S. pass from Hall to Bracy was poor and barely within the zone and De Grasse was flying. Bracy closed, but De Grasse crossed first in a world-leading 37.48, a national record. The U.S. was timed in 37.55 and Britain got the bronze in 37.83, over Jamaica (38.06).

Upset? Yes, but well deserved, especially with the legs by Rodney and De Grasse.

● Men/800 m ● The pace was slow to start, so Canada’s Marco Arop decided to lead, passing 400 m in 52.03 with France’s Gabriel Tual and Algerian Slimane Moola close behind. On the backstraight, Arop stayed in front, but Kenya’s Wyclife Kinyamal moved up to challenge with Tual. But Olympic champ Emmanuel Korir unleashed a fierce kick with 150 m to go, moving quickly to second and then passing Arop on the home straight to win going away in 1:43.71.

Behind Arop was Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, who close with a rush to win silver in 1:44.14 to 1:44.28 for Arop. Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi sprinted home for fourth in 1:44.54.

● Men/Triple Jump ● Portugal’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo, the Olympic champion, exploded in the first round, landing at a world-leading 17.95 m (58-10 3/4) and taking the air of the event after two jumps. Olympic bronze winner Hugues Zango (BUR) tried to match, getting out to 17.55 m (57-7) and then Italian Andrea Dallavalle reached 17.25 m (56-7 1/4) to stand third after round one.

But that didn’t hold, as Olympic silver winner Yaming Zhu blasted out to 17.31 m (56-9 1/2) to grab third, in round two, while Pichardo backed up his leading effort with another bomb: 17.92 m (58-9 1/2). And that’s how it ended, with the same medalists as in Tokyo, but with Zango second and Zhu third this time.

U.S. champ Donald Scott was in the mix at 17.14 m (56-2 3/4) on his first try, standing fifth after the first three rounds, but did not improve and finished sixth. Fellow American Will Claye managed 16.54 m (54-3 1/4) and finished 11th.

● Men/Javelin ● Grenada’s Anderson Peters, the 2019 World Champion, has been the best thrower this season and he stamped his name on the gold medal in round one at 90.21 m (295-11), a distance only he and one other man have reached in 2022.

Czech Jakub Vadlejch, the other 90m-plus thrower this season, moved into second right away at 87.23 m (286-2) in the second round, with German Julian Weber third (86.86 m/285-0).

Then Peters extended to 90.46 m (296-9) in round two and Vadlejch answered in round three, but was still short at 88.09 m (289-0). Olympic champ Neeraj Chopra finally got untracked in round four, moving from fourth to second at 88.13 m (289-1). But no one could handle Peters, who defended his title in style, with three throws that would have won the competition, tacking on a final 90.54 m (297-0) – best of the day – to end the event.

American Curtis Thompson threw 78.39 m (257-2) and finished 11th.

● Women/5,000 m ● The race started slowly, with Ethiopia’s 1,500 m runner-up Gudaf Tsegay picking up the pace on the third lap and then 10,000 m winner Letsenbet Gidey took the lead after 2,000 m. By the 3,000 m mark, there were 11 in the lead pack, with Gidey leading at 9:02.80.

Gidey and Tsegay ran together at the front, alternating the lead, but not fast enough to shake Hassan. With two laps left, Gidey and Tsegay were in front of Beatrice Chebet (KEN) and Dawit Seyaum (ETH). The pack shrunk to nine by the bell, with Hassan coming up to challenge Tsegay and Hassan had the lead on the final backstraight, but in a tight group of a half-dozen potential winners.

But on the turn into the home straight, it was Tsegay and Chebet racing past Hassan and running to the line 1-2 in 14:46.29 and 14:46.75. Ethiopian Seyaum and Margaret Kipkemboi (KEN) raced for the bronze and ended 3-4 in 14:47.36 and 14:47.71. Gidey finished fifth and Hassan sixth.

Tsegay was known as a 1,500 m star, winning the 2022 World Indoor title, but now she is the World 5,000 m gold medalist, in her third Worlds after a 1,500 m bronze in Doha and silver in Eugene.

Elise Cranny was the top American in ninth (14:59.99), with Emily Infeld 14th in 15:29.03; Karissa Schweizer didn’t finish.

● Women/4×400 m heats ● The U.S. fielded a team of Talitha Diggs, Allyson Felix, Kaylin Whitney and Jaide Stepter Baynes in heat one and Diggs – the NCAA champion for Florida – got off to a solid lead (51.01) and made the pass first to Felix. The veteran star took off hard and forged a 7 m lead over Great Britain (Laviai Nielsen) heading into the third leg (50.61). Whitney (51.01) and Britain’s Victoria Ohuruogu separated from the rest of the field and Stepter Baynes (50.75) held off Nicole Yeargin on the home straight for a 3:23.38-3:23.92 win. The Dutch dropped the stick on the second hand-off, but anchor Femke Bol – as with the Mixed 4×400 m – brought her team home in third (49.38) in 3:28.58, but was disqualified for the illegal pass.

Felix says she was back in Los Angeles and got a call to help with the relay prelims, and zipped back to Eugene to run on Saturday.

Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield broke open the second heat with a brilliant first 200 m and giving third leg Tiffany James a 10 m lead that was opened to 20 m lead for Charokee Young, winning in 3:24.23. Belgium’s Camille Laus stormed past Canada for second in 3:28.02.

● Men/4×400 m heats ● The U.S. team of Elija Godwin, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon and Trevor Bassitt drew lane six in heat one, and Godwin (44.46) destroyed the field, handing Norwood a solid lead that was quickly extended. Norwood held the lead (44.73) and had a 6 m lead with the exchange to Deadmon, who ran a 44.48 leg to extend the lead. Bassitt was not challenged and won easily in 2:58.96 (leg 45.29).

Behind him, there was a furious race between Japan, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, with Yuki Nakajima passing Jamaica’s Anthony Cox in the final straight for second, 3:01.53-3:01.59.

In heat two, Botswana and Belgium were coming in together for the final exchange, with the Belgians leading and Botswana dropping the baton and falling out of contention. Veteran Kevin Borlee maintained the lead and brought Belgium home in 3:01.96, with the Czech Republic second in 3:02.42.

● Men/Decathlon ● The afternoon program began with the high jump, and Norway’s Sander Skothein scored a lifetime best of 2.17 m (7-1 1/2) to lead the field, ahead of American Kyle Garland’s 2.14 m (7-0 1/4). American Zach Ziemek was fourth overall at 2.08 m (6-9 3/4) and stood second to Olympic champ Damian Warner (CAN) in the overall score, 3,696 to 3,634, with Garland third (3,582).

In the 400 m, Warner grabbed his left leg after 100 m and crashed to the track, ending his competition suddenly and tragically. On the track, Ayden Owens-Delerme (PUR) raced brilliantly, setting a lifetime best with a world-class time of 45.07! LePage was second at 46.84 and with Warner out, the event is suddenly wide open. After five events: Owens-Delerme leads with 4,606, followed by LePage (4,485), Ziemek (4,469) and Garland (4,413).

The U.S. medal count is up to 28 (10-8-10), with the all-time record of 31 possibly in sight on Sunday. Ethiopia is the second to get to double digits, at 10 (4-4-2), with Kenya third with eight (2-4-2).

On the placing table, the U.S. leads the eight-place scoring, 274-100 over Ethiopia, ahead of Kenya (89), Jamaica (82) and China (59).

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TSX REPORT: Olympic champ Warner leads decathlon early as two U.S. hurdlers fall in heats at Worlds in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 13 ~ Saturday, 23 July 2022

● Men/Decathlon ● Olympic champ Damian Warner of Canada was – as expected – fastest in the opening event, the 100 m, finishing in 10.27 for 1,030 points, ahead of teammate Pierce LePage (10.39).

There was another false start moment, in heat two, as Australia’s Cedric Dubler was called for a false start and the computer showing he left in 0.099 seconds, same as Devon Allen of the U.S. in the men’s 110 m hurdles. But as this was the decathlon, the false start was charged against the field and everyone – including Dubler – got to continue.

In the long jump, Warner led again, at 7.87 m (25-10/1,027 points), ahead of Zach Ziemek of the U.S. (7.70 m/25-3 1/4 for 985 points). In the shot put, Lindon Victor (GRN) reached 16.29 m (53-5 1/2) to lead the field, ahead of Leo Neugebauer (GER) at 15.83 m (51-11 1/4) and Ziemek with a lifetime best of 15.37 m (50-5 1/4).

So, after three events, it’s Warner in front of Ziemek, 2,846 to 2,756 with Puerto Rico’s NCAA champ Ayden Owens-Delerme third with 2,728.

● Women/100 m hurdles heats ● Defending World Champion Nia Ali of the U.S. got out well and was the clear leader, but pressed by Brittany Anderson (JAM), caught her trail leg (left knee) going over the ninth flight and crashed into the 10th hurdle and fell. Anderson won in 12.59 (-0.3 m/s); Ali walked in seventh and last.

Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) came on strong over the last three hurdles and won heat two in 12.52 (-0.4), just ahead of Devynne Charlton (BAH: 12.69). Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan looked sensational in heat three, winning impressively in 12.40 (+1.5), an African Record, ahead of 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams (JAM: 12.87).

In heat four, American Alaysha Johnson, no. 2 on the 2022 world list at 12.35 and a clear medal contender, stutter-stepped the first hurdle and stopped after two and was eliminated. Australia’s Liz Clay also crashed in mid-race, leaving Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska as the winner in 12.70 (+0.7). Johnson told NBC afterwards, “I have no words. This is crazy.”

American Alia Armstrong – the NCAA champ from LSU – powered through heat five, winning in 12.48 (+0.5), ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Megan Tapper (JAM: 12.73). There was another fall, with Haiti’s Mulern Jean falling over the first hurdle; she did not finish. World-record holder Keni Harrison of the U.S. got an ordinary start, but came on strongly over the final three hurdles to move away from Cindy Sember (GBR) in 12.60 to 12.67 (-0.4).

● Women/Long Jump qualifying ● The auto-qualifying distance was 6.75 m (22-1 3/4), reached by four women on their first tries, all medal contenders: Olympic champ Malaika Mihambo (GER: 6.84 m/22-5 1/4), 2019 Worlds silver medalist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR: 6.81 m/22-4 3/4), Sweden’s Khaddi Sagnia (6.78 m/22-3) and Brooke Buschkuehl (AUS: 6.76 m/22-2 1/4).

American Quanesha Burks joined the club in the third round with the best jump of the day at 6.86 m (22-6 1/4) and Ese Brume (NGR) got out to 6.82 m (22-4 1/2) for six auto qualifiers.

The other Americans: Tiffany Flynn was seventh and qualified at 6.73 m (22-1), while Jasmine Moore was 13th and did not qualify at 6.60 m (21-8).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Cycling ● The 109th Tour de France will conclude on Sunday with the finish in Paris, but it will be Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard who will win, only the second Danish winner in the event’s history.

Friday’s Stage 19 was a modestly hilly, 188.3 km ride to Cahors, with France’s Christophe Laporte winning the final sprint with Jasper Philipsen and Alberto Dainese (ITA). Vingegaard remained 3:26 ahead of two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar (SLO).

On Saturday, the 40.7 km time trial was Pogacar’s last chance, but it was Jumbo-Visma teammates Wout van Aert (BEL) and Vingegaard who went 1-2 in 47:19 and 47:38. Pogacar was third in 47:46, so Vingegaard enters the final stage with a 3:34 lead on Pogacar and 8:13 on Geraint Thomas (GBR).

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TSX REPORT: Staggering 50.68 WR for McLaughlin in Worlds 400H as Norman, Miller-Uibo and Barber also win in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-
Double Olympic gold medalist and world-record setter Sydney McLaughlin (USA) (Photo: Tim Healy for TrackTown USA)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 12 ~ Friday, 20 July 2022

The track & field intelligentsia would say that the most likely world-record breakers at the 2022 World Athletics Championships were American Sydney McLaughlin in the women’s 400 m hurdles and Mondo Duplantis of Sweden in the men’s vault. Both are the existing world-record holders and both were in action on Friday evening at Hayward Field.

Duplantis was only in qualifying, but McLaughlin etched her place in history more deeply with one of the greatest runs in history. The details:

● Women/400 m hurdles ● The race was in the middle of the track, with Olympic bronze medalist Femke Bol (NED) in lane four, world-record holder and Olympic champ McLaughlin in five and defending champ Dalilah Muhammad (USA) in six.

Off the gun, McLaughlin was off like never before and made up the stagger on Muhammad – herself always a brilliant starter – on the back straight and was moving away. McLaughlin was in a place no other women’s 400 m hurdler has ever been, and continued to gain ground on the field right through the tape, stopping the clock in a world record 50.68!

She didn’t set the world record, she obliterated it with an improvement of 0.73 in a single race! McLaughlin herself could hardly believe it, sitting on the track and shaking her head at what she had done. At 22, she now owns five of the top six times in history. And in the past two seasons, she has set world records of 51.90 and 51.46 in 2021 and 51.41 and now 50.68.

Behind her, Muhammad was a clear second coming into the straight, but Bol came on over the turn and ran away on the straight for the silver in 52.27 and Muhammad third in 53.13. The U.S. was 4-5 with Shamier Little and Britton Wilson, in 53.76 and 54.02.

McLaughlin’s coach, the legendary Bobby Kersee, has said that she will soon move to the 400 m, where the world record is an other-worldly 47.60 by East German Marita Koch from 1985. If anyone can challenge that mark, she can.

● Men/400 m ● Favored Michael Norman of the U.S., who called his Tokyo fifth a “slap in the face,” lined up in lane four, with 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James (GRN) behind him in three and Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith ahead in lane five.

Norman started well, moving up on Hudson-Smith on the back straight, but with James moving smartly behind him. On the far turn, Norman moved smoothly, but was close with James – who was slightly in front – and Hudson-Smith coming into the final straight.

But Norman had the speed he needed on the home straight, moving ahead of James, with Hudson-Smith not quite able to keep up and challenged by world-record holder Wayde van Kiekerk (RSA). Pumping his arms hard, Norman held off James and won his first global title, 44.29-44.48. Hudson-Smith took the bronze in 44.66, and Champion Allison of the U.S. passed van Kiekerk late to finish fourth in 44.77 (to 44.97).

The win gives the U.S. men the World titles at 100, 200 and 400 m in 2022, a far cry from the results in Tokyo last year, when the U.S. men didn’t win an individual event on the track.

● Women/400 m ● Olympic champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) had all of her challengers in front of her from lane three, but it hardly mattered as she flew around the turn and made stagger after stagger, forging a clear lead through 200 m. There was no let-up on the turn, but Sada Williams (BAR) was running brilliantly in lane seven and came across 300 m just slightly behind Miller-Uibo.

On the final straight, Williams was pushing, but Olympic silver winner Marileidy Paulino (DOM) made her usual late charge and ended up second, 49.11-49.60. Williams was third in a national record 49.75.

Miller-Uibo’s time was the fastest in the world for 2022 and she finally won a Worlds gold in the event to go along with her silvers in 2017 and 2019. She also completes the indoor-outdoor double after winning the World Indoor Championships gold at 400 m in March.

● Women/Javelin ● Defending champion Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS) broke open the event with her third-round 66.91 m (219-6) and everyone had to chase her. Olympic champ Shiying Liu (CHN) reached 63.25 m (207-6) in round four and moved to second, but that did not last.

The sixth round got crazy. Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi – the leader in qualifying – armed a strong throw to her best throw of the day, and into second place at 63.27 m (207-7), pushing Liu to third. Then came American Kara Winger – in her final competitive season and sixth Worlds – who was standing fifth and got ahold of her final throw, sailing out to a stunning 64.05 m (210-1) and into second place!

Barber had only one big throw, but one was all she needed. She defended her title and moved up from a disappointing Olympic bronze in Tokyo.

● Women/35 km Walk ● The 20 km Walk medalists were Kimberly Garcia Leon of Peru, Poland’s Katarzyna Zdzieblo and China’s Shijie Qieyang. Same in the 35 km, held Friday morning in cool, 60 F conditions on a 1 km course outside Oregon’s Autzen Stadium.

But the race developed differently, with Garcia Leon and Zdzieblo walking together in the lead from the second km. They had a 5-second lead on Qieyang by 5 km, seven seconds by 13 km and 28 seconds by the 10 km split.

Garcia Leon pushed into the lead for good after halfway, building an 11-second edge by 20 km. The Pole got closer by 25 km, but Garcia Leon’s lead was 21 seconds by 30 km and she strode home in 2:39:16, equaling the no. 2 mark in the world for 2022. Zdzieblo finished in 2:40:03, a lifetime best.

Behind the two leaders, Qieyang, 31, was unchallenged for third. She had nearly a minute’s lead over the rest of the field by 15 km and finished in an Asian Record 2:40:37, winning her fourth World Championships medal to go along with her 2012 London 20 km gold. Greece’s Antigoni Ntrismpioti was fourth in a national record 2:41:58.

Maria Michta-Coffey was the top American, finishing 22nd in a lifetime best of 2:58:51, followed by Stephanie Casey in 24th (3:00:54 lifetime best) and Miranda Melville (29th: 3:05:31).

● Women/800 m semis ● Kenya’s national champion, Mary Moraa, went to the lead and was in front of a bunched field through 400 m in 59.00 and then pushed hard on the backstraight to gap the field. American (and World Indoor Champion) Ajee Wilson moved into second at 600 m and stuck close to Moraa into the straight, out of traffic. Those two had more speed than the rest, with Moraa winning at 1:59.65 and Wilson at 1:59.97 as the automatic qualifiers.

Australia’s Catriona Bisset, advanced to the semis after being pushed down in her heat, took off on the first lap and led at the bell in 57.37. She was caught on the back straight by Olympic silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson (GBR), who led around the turn and into the straight, being chased by Jamaica’s Natoya Goule and American Raevyn Rogers. Those three separated from the rest and finished in that order in 1:58.51-1:58.73-1:58.77; Rogers qualified for the final on time.

Semi three had Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji go to the lead and pass 400 m in the quickest time yet, in 57.09. Olympic champ Athing Mu of the U.S. was an easy second and those two broke away on the backstretch and extended their lead all the way to the finish. Mu had the most speed on the run-in and won in 1:58.12 to 1:58.16. Defending champ Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) faded to eighth and did not advance.

● Women/4×100 m heats ● In heat one, Jamaica ran a second team of Briana Williams, Natalliah Whyte, Remona Burchell and Kemba Nelson, starting on the outside in lane eight and starting well, with a sizable lead on the back straight. But Britain’s Ashleigh Nelson stormed the turn to pass first to anchor Daryll Neita, who outclassed Nelson on the run-in to win in a world-leading 41.99 to 42.37.

The U.S. fielded a very good team of U.S. champ Melissa Jefferson, Aleia Hobbs, Jenna Prandini and TeeTee Terry in lane two, starting in heat two, and Jefferson was out like a shot. The pass to Hobbs was good and she stormed down the straight and handed to Prandini, who blew the race completely open on the turn. The pass to Terry was smooth and the time was another world leader: 41.56, equal-seventh-fastest in U.S. history. Spain was second at 42.61. Impressive.

● Men/4×100 m heats ● Question no. 1 was “Did the U.S. get the stick around the track?”

Yes!

The team of Christian Coleman, Noah Lyles, Elijah Hall and Marvin Bracy started in lane seven in heat one, with Lyles replacing the injured Fred Kerley on the second leg. Coleman got his usual excellent start and got the stick to Lyles on the backstraight, who forged a solid lead. The pass to Hall was solid and he opened a big lead and Bracy finished in a world-leading 37.87.

Heat two had Canada and Jamaica as favorites in lanes seven and eight, but France’s Ryan Zeze passed to anchor Jimmy Vicaut in the lead and Vicaut held off Canada’s Tokyo 200 m champ Andre De Grasse, 38.09 to 38.10. South Africa edged Jamaica, 38.31-38.33 for third, but the Jamaicans qualified on time.

● Men/Pole Vault qualifying ● The auto-qualifying height was 5.80 m (19-0 1/4), a mark cleared by 14 men this season, but it only took 5.75 m (18-10 1/4) to separate the top 12. The stars were all included: Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis, Olympic silver winner Chris Nilsen of the U.S., London 2012 winner Renaud Lavillenie (FRA), Rio 2016 champ Thiago Braz (BRA), NCAA champ Sondre Guttormsen (NOR) and E.J. Obiena of the Philippines. The final is Sunday.

American Luke Winder cleared 5.65 m (18-6 1/2) and finished 17th; Andrew Irwin did not clear a height.

American decathlete Garrett Scantling claimed a world-leading mark of 8,867 in winning the U.S. Nationals in May, moving to no. 7 on the all-time list. But he was left off the team for the World Championships and now we know why, per the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency:

“USADA announced today that Garrett Scantling, of Jacksonville, Fla., an athlete in the sport of track and field, has accepted a provisional suspension, effective July 21, 2022, following notification of possible Whereabouts and Tampering Anti-Doping Rule Violations. The potential Tampering violation stems from Scantling’s conduct during an investigation into his third potential Whereabouts Failure.”

Scantling, 29, could face a years-long suspension. The Worlds decathlon begins Saturday and the U.S. will field Nationals runner-up Kyle Garland (8,720), Zach Ziemek (8,573) and Steve Bastien (8,135); Garland and Ziemek stand 3-4 on the 2022 world list.

Errata: Last night’s post stated that the U.S. sweep in the men’s 200 m was the first in Worlds history. No. SpainSports’ Phil Minshull notes that the U.S. went 1-2-3-4 back in 2005, with Justin Gatlin, Wallace Spearmon, John Capel and Tyson Gay. So the 1-2-3 sweep in Eugene was the first since 2005. Thanks, Phil!

With a couple of days left and 15 finals remaining, the U.S. medal count has reached 26 (9-7-10), ahead of Ethiopia (8: 3-4-1) and Jamaica (2-3-1) and Kenya (1-3-2) with six. On the placing table, scoring 1-8 for a better representation of team strength, the U.S. leads Ethiopia, 256-82.

The all-time medals record at a World goes back to the chemically-enhanced East German team of 1987, which won 31. The best U.S. performance came in 2017 in London, at 30. Both those marks are in jeopardy.

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TSX REPORT: Vancouver 2030 bid continues in confusion; Russia not planning “alternative” to Olympics; Vingegaard ready to win Tour de France

By
Rich Perelman
-
Two-time winner Tadej Pogacar (SLO; in white) leading 2022 Tour de France leader Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) during Thursday's Stage 18 (Photo: A.S.O./Pauline Ballet)

★ The Sports Examiner: Surveying, monitoring and explaining the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. This site is free to view, with donations gratefully accepted to support our operating costs.
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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Doubt expressed on 2030 Vancouver bid, but it’s still alive
2. Russian sports minister: no need to challenge Olympics?
3. Vingegaard all but clinches Tour de France win
4. Devon Allen consistently the quickest starter
5. Rare insight into costs of elite sailing

Concern over the details of a Vancouver bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games were laid out by city staff on Wednesday over familiar issues of governance, money and risk, with little time remaining to work things out. But the City Council voted to keep going. In Russia, the sports minister said there were no plans to offer new competitions as alternatives to the Olympic Games. In France, Jonas Vingegaard won Stage 18 and has essentially wrapped the first Tour de France win by a Danish rider in 56 years. At the World Athletics Championships, three false-start disqualifications have roiled fans, but American Devon Allen was a known fast starter who got no break from officials. And it costs a lot of money to outfit and enter a boat in the 2022 49erFX (Olympic) class World Championship; a U.S. duo is raising money online.

(Errata: Some readers saw a version of last night’s post on the World Athletics Championships with a typo. Noah Lyles’s winning time of 19.31 makes him the no. 3 performer in history, with the no. 4 performance ever. Only Jamaicans Usain Bolt (19.19 and 19.30) and Yohan Blake (19.26) have ever run faster. Shericka Jackson‘s winning time in the women’s 200 m was rounded down from 21.46 to 21.45.)

1.
Doubt expressed on 2030 Vancouver bid, but it’s still alive

A 47-page report delivered Wednesday by Vancouver City Manager Karen Levitt expressed significant doubts on the ability of the region to compile and submit a quality bid for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games on the reported timeline preferred by the International Olympic Committee.

The staff report identifies significant concerns over multiple areas, starting with formal approval of the bid from the four First Nations designated to lead the effort. Then there are issues of money and risk:

● “The proposed financial, indemnification and governance model for the Games is not yet known. The Province of BC has stated that the municipalities and First Nations should not assume that the Province will be responsible for the cost of services and/or risks incurred, and that their participation in a bid would be contingent upon a commitment to share the costs and risks of hosting the 2030 Winter Games by each of the municipal and First Nation bid participants, stated publicly by mid-August 2022.”

● “The federal government as a matter of policy does not indemnify international sporting events. The Province of BC has stated that the municipalities and First Nations involved in the bid should not assume that the Province will be responsible for indemnities. The absence of a clear senior government commitment to indemnify the event represents a material difference in context for Vancouver, relative to the 2010 Games. Given the magnitude of the potential liability, it would not be feasible for the City to sign on as Host City for the 2030 Winter Games without being appropriately indemnified.”

● “The timeline for the [Canadian Olympic Committee] to submit a BC bid with Vancouver as an official Host City is extremely compressed, and it is staff’s view that there is insufficient time for the requisite work to be done by staff to evaluate the potential benefits, costs and risks to the City, and to negotiate the necessary legal agreements by the COC’s deadline of December 2022.”

In other words, it’s getting late, and the City staff is not sure it has the resources to pull things together in time: “It is the view of staff that the proposed timeline to submit a bid as currently constituted is not achievable.”

Moreover, the question of who is ultimately responsible to pay for the Games is not resolved, and the City staff do not recommend assuming “unlimited financial risk” to put on the event. A comprehensive agreement to bid for (and stage) a 2030 Winter Games likely has 12 signatories, including First Nations, three levels of governments and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees.

Canadian Olympic Committee President Tricia Smith noted that the 2030 Games is a better fit for Vancouver since the cost to refurbish the venues for 2034 will cost more. The GamesBids.com site reported:

“The COC feasibility team hopes to get First Nation stakeholders to back the project in August leading to a multiparty agreement by November and meeting a proposed IOC deadline. But standing in the way are October 15 municipal elections across British Columbia that could change the face, and minds, of Vancouver city council. Only weeks would be available for the council and staff to move forward with important negotiations and decision making.”

On Wednesday, the Vancouver City Council voted 8-2 to continue the bid development process, with the urging of the four First Nations, the city of Whistler and the Canadian Olympic Committee. The Council also rejected, by 10-1, a request for a public referendum on the bid in October, again suggested by Council member Colleen Hardwick, who has floated this idea before.

2.
Russian sports minister: no need to challenge Olympics?

Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin told reporters on Thursday that he does not see the new Friendship Games as a challenge to the Olympic Movement:

“We are ready to develop in any format, today I do not see the need to create alternative games.

“We have enough formats – these are the BRICS, [Shanghai Cooperation Organization], [Commonwealth of Independent States] countries to enable our athletes not to lose the feeling of a competitive environment. Time will tell, I hope that it will triumph reason in international federations, in the International Olympic Committee.

“Without Russia, the development of world sports is impossible, depriving athletes of the right to participate in the Olympic Games will be a crime and will only lead to greater discord within the Olympic Movement.”

Speaking at the opening of the new Friendship Games in Kazan, Matytsin explained:

“Friendship is not calculated in money, we have sufficient financial potential to hold the largest competitions in Russia. This is the position of both the President of Russia and the government. Financing is important, but happiness is not only in money.

“Today we see that Kazan has the potential, we are planning to host these games here. I see no obstacles for them to be held every year. We hope that this will not disrupt the international calendar and will become an additional incentive for athletes.”

The Friendship Games as held in 2022 will take place in three stages through December and include only aquatic sports: swimming, diving and artistic. TASS reported that “more than 1,300 athletes from 16 countries will perform in Kazan as part of the Friendship Games: Russia, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Venezuela, Vietnam, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Syria, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ecuador, South Africa, [Donetsk People’s Republic] and [Luhansk People’s Republic].”

The Donetsk and Luhansk “republics” are territories taken from Ukraine in the current invasion.

3.
Vingegaard all but clinches Tour de France win

In the second straight day of one-on-one competition between the two contenders for the 109th Tour de France, it was Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard who – barring a disaster – essentially clinched victory on the final climbing stage on Thursday.

Stage 18 was the last day in the Pyrenees and the 143.2 km route included two major climbs and then an uphill finish on the Hautacam ski resort. Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar (SLO) was all-out to break Vingegaard and wipe out most of the 2:18 deficit at the start of the day.

But despite attack after attack, Vingegaard was right on Pogacar’s wheel, and then, in a remarkable display of sportsmanship, slowed to allow Pogacar to catch up after he slid off the road on a graveled section on the furious descent after the second climb, on the Col de Spandelles. Once together again, they dueled together and finally caught the front-runner, Belgian star Wout van Aert, a teammate of Vingegaard on the Dutch Jumbo-Visma team.

Van Aert had been leading over the final climb, but was caught by Pogacar and Vingegaard with about 5 km left, on the final ascent. At this point, he was helping his teammate and with 4 km to go, Pogacar broke. Van Aert eased back into third (+2:10) and Vingegaard steamed to the finish with a 1:04 win over Pogacar in 3:59:50 and took a seemingly insurmountable 3:26 lead into the final three stages.

Pogacar is a solid second, with 2018 winner Geraint Thomas (GBR) third, but 8:00 back of the leader. Vingegaard was second last year and a win in 2022 would be the first for a Dane since 1996.

The remaining stages are fairly flat, but with a dangerous, 40.7 km time trial on Saturday. But Vingegaard would have to be injured now to lose, and he shows no signs of slowing.

4.
Devon Allen consistently the quickest starter

One of the discussion points of the 2022 World Athletics Championships will be the current rules for false starts. Three disqualifications stand out already as controversies:

● Women/100 m semifinals: Julien Alfred (LCA) in semi one, starting in 0.095 seconds.

● Women/100 m semifinals: Tynia Gaither (BAH) in semi three, starting in 0.093 seconds.

● Men/110 m Hurdles final: Devon Allen (USA), starting in 0.099 seconds.

The rules say that any start faster than 1/10th of a second (0.10 seconds) is suspect and subject to disqualification. And all three were; no discretion was shown to these three athletes.

NAL Athletics coach George Perry compiled some revealing data from 10 Diamond League meets from 2017-19, eight U.S. indoor and outdoor championship meets (as available) and four NCAA Championships between 2016-22 on sprinters and hurdlers who started fastest on average (minimum 10 races):

● 0.138 seconds: Devon Allen (USA/hurdles)
● 0.145 seconds: Tonea Marshall (USA/hurdles)
● 0.151 seconds: Mike Rodgers (USA/sprints)
● 0.151 seconds: English Gardner (USA/sprints)
● 0.153 seconds: Andrew Hudson (JAM/sprints)

Moreover, Allen’s super-fast start really stands out. Of the 1,044 athletes in Perry’s study, only 38 had reactions of less than 0.12; Allen had four, three others had two and 34 had one each.

Under 0.15? There were 361 athletes who did that at least once; Allen did it 22 times! Next best were Ronald Levy (JAM/hurdles), Orlando Ortega (ESP/hurdles), Dafne Schippers (NED/sprints) and Marshall, with seven each.

All of this bodes well for Allen in his NFL career as a wide receiver for Philadelphia, since speed off the snap is critical. But he was too good in Eugene and the starter offered no dispensation to those who crossed below the 1/10th of a second line on the computer read-out.

Long-time Los Angeles-area coach Ron Brumel makes the case that these kinds of disqualifications “cheats not only the athletes, but PAYING fans who travel long distances at great expense to see great athletes run, not get dq’d for what may (or probably was not) a false start by .001 seconds, undetectable by the ‘naked eye’. “

World Athletics issued a statement that the block sensors and timing system were “functioning as normal” for the race and:

“The 0.1 sec threshold to measure a false start was established based on the science on standard reaction times. It is standard procedure after each world championships for the World Athletics Competition Commission to review the championships and recommend any rule changes.”

The false start rule was changed from one allowed against the field to none in 2010 after some athletes tried to game the one-free option. That rule might come back.

Allen is off to training camp, which begins next week. World Athletics’ competition director, the very capable Jakob Larsen (DEN), has another issue to deal with once the shouting is over in Eugene.

5.
Rare insight into costs of elite sailing

It costs money to compete at the world-class level in sailing and the American duo of Lucy Wilmot, 23, and Erika Reineke, 27, are raising funds to be able to sail at the upcoming World 49erFX Championships off Halifax, Nova Scotia beginning 31 August.

SailingScuttlebutt.com reported on a letter sent by the sailors, who are trying to raise $22,000 to get to the Worlds:

● $9,000 for mast and sail upgrades
● $8,000 for coaching fees
● $2,400 for housing
● $1,800 for boat transportation
● $500 for registration and entry fees
● $300 for food and incidentals

The GoFundMe page appeal includes: “We appreciate your encouragement and support up to this point and are thankful to have so many of you rooting for us! Now more than ever, we are asking for your help so we can represent the United States of America at this year’s World Championship.”

They are making some progress, raising $4,250 in the first day of asking. The 49erFX class debuted at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as a women’s class for the two-person skiff and is a 16-foot-long, 207 lb., three-sail boat that can move at 25 miles an hour or more.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Athletics ● The women’s vault at the World Championships in Eugene was won by Olympic gold medalist Katie Nageotte of the U.S., with fellow American Sandi Morris second, both with a world-leading clearance of 4.85 m (15-11) on the 17th.

But Russian Anzhelika Sidorova – the defending champ from 2019, but currently banned – competed just a couple of days later at the coincidentally-timed Moscow Championships and claimed the world lead at 4.86 m (15-11 1/4). So there.

● Fencing ● Big day for Korea at the FIE World Fencing Championships in Cairo (EGY) with wins in the men’s Team Sabre and women’s Team Epee.

The Koreans were the Tokyo gold winners in Team Sabre and the same team – Bon-gil Gu, Sang-uk Oh, Jun-ho Kim and Jung-hwan Kim – defeated Hungary in the final, 45-42. The women’s Epee team – silver medalists at Tokyo 2020 – was led by individual gold medalist Se-ra Song and out-pointed Italy, 45-37.

● Figure Skating ● The International Skating Union announced that the sixth Grand Prix event for the 2022 season will take place in Sheffield (GBR). This completes the schedule, with the events in Russia and China replaced by Espoo (FIN) and Sheffield. Of the six “regular” Grand Prix events, two will be in North America, one in Asia and three in Europe. The Grand Prix Final will be in Turin (ITA).

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For our updated, 620-event International Sports Calendar for 2022 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Sensational Lyles (U.S. record 19.31) leads U.S. 200 m sweep, while Jamaica’s Jackson storms to 21.45 win in women’s 200 m in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-
American Noah Lyles silenced all doubters with a brilliant 19.31 victory in the men's 200 m at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 11 ~ Thursday, 21 July 2022

/Updated/A more comfortable setting on Thursday at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, with temperatures at 82 F at the start of the session, but plenty of hot running to come. And the 200 m finals were just as sensational as advertised. Better than that, they were historic.

Consider this: the 21.45 win by Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson and Noah Lyles’ 19.31 victory are the no. 2 and no. 4 performances in 200 m history, for women and men. Here’s what happened:

● Men/200 m ● The long-awaited rematch between defending champ Lyles and teen star  (and world leader) Erriyon Knighton started with Knighton in lane three and Lyles in six, with Olympic silver winner (and fellow American) Kenny Bednarek in four.

Off the gun, it was Lyles – the guy who always needed to run better turns – who stormed the curve and stunningly led into the straight and was gone. He was never challenged and ran hard through the tape and stopped the clock at a fabulous 19.31 (wind +0.4 m/s), an American Record and the no. 4 time in history. Lyles displaced, 26 years later, Michael Johnson’s Atlanta 1996 then-world record of 19.32 as the American Record in winning the gold medal.

And Johnson watched it all unfold in front of him, as a commentator in Eugene for the BBC!

Knighton did not run the turn as he did in the rounds, and Bednarek came into the straight in second and held on as Knighton closed, 19.77-19.80 for a U.S. sweep, the first in the event since the 2005 World Championships, when the U.S. went 1-2-3-4. The U.S. has now swept the 100 and 200 at the 2022 Worlds!

Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh, the NCAA champ for Florida, was fourth with his usual late rush in 19.84. The top six all broke 20 seconds.

● Women/200 m ● World leader and favorite Shericka Jackson started in lane four, ahead of defending champ Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) in three. But off the gun, it was Jamaican icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – in six – who zoomed to the lead and was in front through the turn.

But Jackson flew down the straight, overtook Fraser-Pryce and ran away with the race in the second-fastest time in history in 21.45 (+0.6; changed from the initial 21.46); only Florence Griffith-Joyner’s world record of 21.34 from 1988 is faster. Wow.

Fraser-Pryce was a clear second in 21.81 (0.02 off her best ever) and Asher-Smith was strong down the straight for third in 22.02, with Niger’s Aminatou Seyni fourth (22.12). Americans Abby Steiner and Tamara Clark were fifth and sixth in 22.26 and 22.32. Double Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah was seventh in 22.39.

● Women/800 m heats ● Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, 20, ran away from the pack and had a 5 m lead at the bell and was really never challenged on the way to a 1:58.83 win. Britain’s Jemma Reekie came on during the far turn and was second in 1:59.09. In heat two, six were in contention at the 600 m mark of heat two and then Catriona Bisset (AUS) had her heel clipped by Anita Horvat (SLO) on the turn and fell; Britain’s Olympic silver winner Kelly Hodgkinson rolled ahead and won easily in 2:00.88, with Horvat second. Bisset was advanced to the semis on a protest.

Olympic champ Athing Mu of the U.S. led heat three at the bell in 60.38, just ahead of 2019 World Champion Halimah Nakaayi (UGA). Mu nursed a small lead right through to the finish, winning in 2:01.30 with Nakaayi second (2:01.41). World Indoor Champion Ajee Wilson (USA) took the lead in the fourth heat, passing 400 m in 58.95, but fell to third on the final turn behind Renelle Lamote (FRA) and Freweyni Hailu (ETH), but that was good enough to advance, 2:00.71-2:00.93-2:01.02.

The crowd cheered Oregon icon Raevyn Rogers at the start of heat five, but it was Habitam Alemu (ETH) who came through in 60.73. The pack remained tight through 600 m, with Alemu and Prudence Sekgodiso (RSA) at the front and Rogers in fifth coming off the turn. Then came Rogers’ patented charge down the straight and she won at the tape in 2:01.36, with Alemu at 2:01.37. Kenya’s Mary Moraa rocketed out from the start in heat six, but was back with the pack by the 400 m, with Natoya Goule (JAM) leading at 58.97. Goule moved hard at 600 m and led into the turn, winning cleanly in 2:00.06 with Moraa second (2:00.42).

● Men/800 m semis ● The first heat was tight through 400 m (52.92) and then the sprinting started. Kenyan Wyclife Kinyamal took the lead with 200 m to go, with Australia’s Peter Bol close and they were 1-2 into the final straight. But Olympic champ Emmanuel Korir (KEN) flew over the last 60 m and got to the line first in 1:45.38 to 1:45.49 for Kinyamal and 1:45.58 for Bol, who qualified for the final on time.

Swede Andreas Kramer led through 400 m in semi two, but Kenyan Noah Kibet took charge down the backstraight, but there were seven in contention round the far turn. On the home straight, it was Djamel Sedjati (ALG) charged down the final straight and won going away in 1:45.44, with France’s Gabriel Tual also sprinting into second (1:45.53); Kibet faded to eighth in 1:47.15.

Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi led the third semi at 400 m (52.07), with Canada’s Marco Arop moving up to second at 500 m and then pushing hard at 600 m, moving smartly ahead of the field. He led into the straight and looked like the winner, but Algeria’s Slimane Moula sprinted to the line and won in 1:44.89, with Arop in 1:45.12. Wanyonyi was third in 1:45.42 and advanced as well.

● Men/5,000 m heats ● The first heat had Olympic champ Joshua Cheptegei, Olympic 10,000 m winner Selemon Barega (ETH) and American Grant Fisher, among others, with five to qualify automatically. From a slow pace, Barega went to the front at 1,200 m and started to quicken the race. At 3,000 m, it was Fisher in the lead at 8:18.47, but with a modest pace and 15 of the 21 starters still in contention. The lead group was down to nine by 4,200 m, with Barega and teammate Telahun Bekele in front and Fisher close. The sprinting started at the bell with Cheptegei moving up and turned into a mass finish of eight men for five auto-qualifying spots in the final 100 m. Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo won with a dash to the line in 13:24.24, with Fisher getting second with his own surge in 13:24.44. Barega and Cheptegei were 3-4 and then American Abdi Nur got in for fifth at 13:24.48.

Guatemala’s Luis Grijalva broke away at 2,000 m, while American Woody Kincaid fell at the back of the pack, then resumed contact within a lap. Grijalva was up by three seconds at with five laps to go and while his lead collapsed, he strung out the race, with Kenyan Daniel Ebenyo coming up to challenge. Ebenyo led with three laps left, with teammate Jacob Kirop and Canada’s Moh Ahmed close in a breakaway pack of six that were sure qualifiers. At the bell, Kirop led and in the final 200 m, it was Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen trailing Kirop down the straight and waving to the crowd for more cheers. Kirop won in 13:13.30, with Ingebrigtsen in 13:13.92 and Grijalva third – also waving – in 13:14.04. Kincaid could not hang with the lead pack and was a non-qualifying 11th in 13:25.02.

● Men/Triple Jump qualifying ● Olympic champ Pedro Pablo Picardo (POR) jumped 17.16 m (56-3 3/4) in the first round, exceeding the auto-qualifying distance of 17.05 m (55-11 1/4) and going home. Four others reached the required distance: Olympic bronze medalist Hugues Zango (BUR) 17.15 m (56-3 1/4), Emanuel Ihemeje (ITA) 17.13 m (56-2 1/2), Tokyo silver winner Yaming Zhu (CHN) at 17.08 m (56-0 1/2) and Lazaro Martinez (CUB) 17.06 m (55-11 3/4).

Four Americans were in the field, with Donald Scott reaching 16.84 m (55-3) for eighth and advancing to the final. World and Olympic medalist Will Claye got out to 16.70 m (54-9 1/2) and made the final in 10th. Chris Benard was 16th at 16.53 m (54-2 3/4), while defending champ Christian Taylor, still coming back from injury, jumped 16.48 m (54-1) and was 18th.

● Men/Javelin qualifying ● The auto-qualifying distance was 83.50 m (273-11) and Olympic champ Neeraj Chopra (IND) bombed away on the opening throw at 88.39 m (290-0), with Czech star Jakub Vadlejch reaching 85.23 m (279-7) on his first try to secure places in the final. American Curtis Thompson reached 81.73 m (268-1) and ended up eighth and advanced.

World leader Anderson Peters (GRN) exploded with an 89.91 m (294-11) bomb on his first try in Group B, best of the day. German Julian Weber also got an auto-qualifier at 87.28 m (286-4).

Americans Tim Glover and Ethan Dabbs managed 75.68 m (248-3) and 72.81 m (238-10), finishing 24th and 27th.

With the men’s 200 m sweep, the U.S. now has 22 medals (7-6-9) to eight for Ethiopia (3-4-1) and six each for Jamaica (2-3-1) and Kenya (1-3-2). On the placing table, scoring eight places, the U.S. now leads, 213-82 over Ethiopia, with Kenya at 63 and Jamaica up to 59.

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TSX REPORT: Modest attendance in Eugene, but lots of nonsense; Lake Placid inherits U.S. visa mess; figure skating star Hanyu retires

By
Rich Perelman
-
Eugene's Hayward Field has been about 80% full for the 2022 World Championships during the evening sessions; this was from Monday, 17 July.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Eugene Worlds show modest attendance and lots of craziness
2. A Eugene legacy will be U.S. visa issues; Lake Placid is on the clock
3. Double Olympic gold medalist Hanyu retires
4. “Olymp’Arts” competition to be held in 2023?
5. Vingegaard maintains lead as Tour de France end nears

Halfway through the first World Athletics Championships to be held in the U.S., the competition has been sterling, with world-leading performances in 10 events, but the attendance has hardly been the sell-out that had been hoped for. And there has been some strange stuff going on, on and off the track. The issue of athletes being able to get U.S. visas to attend the Worlds will continue and the Winter World University Games in Lake Placid next January is next up. There is a strange “Olymp’Arts” event coming in 2023, and the International Olympic Committee is not involved. In the Tour de France, Dane Jonas Vingegaard is maintaining his lead and trying to become the first winner from his country in 56 years on Sunday. Plus, $3.05 million in grants made to 150 U.S. track & field athletes this week!

1.
Eugene Worlds show modest attendance and lots of craziness

The ongoing World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon is, as SFGATE.com sports editor Dennis Young points out, “really is the first fully normal track meet since covid (hilariously stupid [s—] happening all the time for no reason).”

He was specifically referring to the oblivious triple jump cameraman standing in lane two while the men’s Steeplechase finalists had to run around him on Monday, but things got crazier on Tuesday.

Britain’s Jake Wightman won a shocker in the men’s 1,500, defeating Olympic champ Jakob Ingebtigtsen (NOR), 3:29.23-3:29.47, while Wightman’s father and coach – Geoff Wightman – was the public address announcer! Per Reuters:

“Wightman’s father and coach, used to the combination by now but never previously seeing such a victory, somehow kept his emotion in check as he called his son home, though he did allow himself a moment to announce to the Hayward Field fans: ‘That’s my son and he’s world champion’.”

It was Britain’s first men’s 1,500 world title since Steve Cram – at Hayward Field as a BBC analyst – won at the inaugural Worlds in Helsinki in 1983. Said Jake Wightman afterwards:

“I had such a disappointing year in Tokyo last year. I don’t think people realize how crushing it was to go in with such high expectations and come away hoping for a medal but end up tenth. I had to take the pressure off and the only thing that could happen was that it was a better run than last year.”

Lots of emotions in a high-stake meet like the Worlds; American vault silver winner Sandi Morris won her third Worlds outdoor silver to go along with Olympic silver last year and wrote on Twitter:

“Over the last 15 or so hours I think I’ve experienced just about every emotion the human brain is capable of. Happiness, sadness, pride in what I’ve accomplished but also a lot of dissatisfaction. I went out there to fight for gold, and that’s what I did, but I have to walk away with silver yet again. The Outdoor title continues to elude me. When I missed by last attempt at 4.90m [16-0 3/4], I walked straight to my husband and hugged him, a little bit tearfully, and said ‘it’s ok. I’m ok.’ Because, I AM!”

World 110 m hurdles champ Grant Holloway is done for the meet … or is he? He wrote on Twitter:

“I firmly believe I can be one of the most decorated athletes in Track & Field if I was on relays. Respectfully.”

Holloway was a demon on relays at the University of Florida, but high hurdlers are rarely considered for either 4×100 or 4×400 m duty. But he’s asking.

Then there is NBC reporter Lewis Johnson, who does the mixed-zone interviews, getting ripped on Twitter for his interview with women’s 100 m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM):

“I think it disrespectful to ask woman about her hair in public let alone on national TV… Shelly may have answered your question with grace and class… but it is disrespectful…you went to far in asking how many [wigs she brought].”

Johnson replied with his typical grace and coolness:

“I typically don’t reply to criticism/praise, but as a husband w/2 sisters…I must. Please know I asked Shelly-Anne BEFORE the intv if she wanted to have a fun chat about her fashion/hair and she said, “sure!” Disrespecting women not in my DNA. Wishing you the best.”

In fact, Johnson was – without mentioning any names – helping Fraser-Pryce promote her hair products business, a remarkably supportive gesture by an American television reporter for the five-time World Champion.

Oh yes, and mascot Legend the Bigfoot had his “head” stolen and was using a replacement head on Tuesday. The original head has apparently been recovered, but showed up in multiple social-media feeds while at large. World Athletics statement: “We can confirm that an accredited photographer was removed from Hayward Field in connection to the investigation of a theft at the venue. This is now a police matter, and we won’t have further comments at this time.”

Folks, we’re only halfway through the meet.

The Oregonian reported on attendance at the Worlds through the first three days: “Ticketed attendance totaled 13,646 for the championships’ first day Friday, 19,543 on the second and 21,065 on Day 3, according to Oregon 22 organizers.”

That’s 54,254 in total, and with about 15,000 seats to sell per session, about 60% of capacity. However, assuming that twice as many people attended the evening sessions as came for the mornings – it sure looked that way – the three evening sessions averaged 80% full, which looked about right. Tuesday’s ticketed attendance was reported at 11,865, right around the 80% mark, with Wednesday less at 10,881 (73%).

Whether 12,000 fans in a 15,000-seat venue for the World Championships bodes well for the sport or not is a debate for next week.

2.
A Eugene legacy will be U.S. visa issues;
Lake Placid is on the clock

One of the enduring issues that will come out of the Eugene Worlds is the process of getting entry visas to the U.S. for foreign athletes, coaches and officials, not to mention fans.

A total of 374 visa cases required intervention, with 255 reported resolved, 20 denied and 99 others in process as of last week.

Those concerned that the issue will crop up again at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games should know that the entry process is different and that athletes and legitimate coaches and officials – not known terrorists on the State Department’s no-admit lists – will be able to get into the U.S. without too much difficulty. Spectators are another story, as are news media.

Same for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that will be held in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

But the immediate worry has to be for the folks in Lake Placid, New York, site of the January 2023 Winter World University Games. It’s a much smaller event, with most of the athletes and officials from Europe, but there will be questions about Chinese competitors and possibly Russians, if the International University Sports Federation (FISU) allows them to compete.

The Winter WUG is not a “National Special Security Event” as designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and therefore is on the clock to ensure its coordination with the U.S. Government is smoother than was seen for the World Athletics Championships in Eugene. This won’t be easy.

Also on the horizon, but a smaller event with some history and protocol behind it is the fifth World Baseball Classic, which will take place in Japan, Taiwan and the U.S. next March.

3.
Double Olympic gold medalist Hanyu retires

Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu thrilled crowds for more than a decade with his artistry, technical skills and emotive presence on the ice, winning Olympic Winter figure skating golds in 2014 and 2018, but after a series of injuries, announced his retirement from competitive skating on Tuesday.

Still just 27, he told a news conference in Tokyo, “I’ll no longer be able to be compared with other competitors. But I’ll keep fighting my weaknesses and my past self.

“In terms of results, I’ve achieved everything I could achieve. I stopped wanting to be evaluated. …

“There are plans in progress but I’m holding back from giving you details. … I think there are more ways to exhibit figure skating befitting this time and age. I hope to make the fans who never came to watch want to come.”

He does have one more goal, however:

“I carried on until [Winter Games in] Beijing in pursuit of the quad axel, but I feel I can do it, not necessarily in competitions.”

In addition to his two Olympic golds, and a fourth-place finish in Beijing despite a right ankle injury, he won World Championship titles in 2014 and 2017, plus three silvers and two bronzes. He won four straight Grand Prix finals from 2014-17.

Hanyu also leaves behind a unique cultural legacy. His fans, having seen him in 2010 with a tissue box that featured Winnie the Pooh, famously threw Pooh dolls on the ice at the end of his routines at both national and international championships, which were collected and given to charities.

4.
“Olymp’Arts” competition to be held in 2023?

To quote Stephen Stills, “there’s something happening here; what it is ain’t exactly clear …”

A group called the “International Olymp’Arts Committee” announced on 30 June that “it will launch the first Olympic Arts competition in Geneva, Switzerland, from 11-23 July 2023, hoping to provide an opportunity for talented artists worldwide to spread their message and become recognized global artists.

“With the theme of ‘Environment and Energy,’ ‘OLYMP’ARTS 2023′ plans to stage a ‘feast for the art’ that will gather the participants from all over the world in Geneva with their works of various forms, including dance, music, painting and photography, for exhibitions, Qin Wen [CHN], executive president of IOAC’s Executive Committee, told a press conference.

“She added that the Olympic Arts trophy will be awarded to the best works selected by the public.”

The “IOAC” was formed in 1995 as a French initiative through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by orchestra director Marc Verriere, but the 2023 event is apparently its first significant public program.

Asked about the IOAC, the International Olympic Committee’s press office replied: “This organisation and its current activities are not endorsed by the IOC.”

Arts competitions were held as part of the Olympic Games in 1912, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936 and 1948, but discontinued as artists were – or were trying to be – professionals, then against the Olympic code. This 2023 festival concept is clearly separate from the Olympic Games, but is it a shade too confusing?

5.
Vingegaard maintains lead as Tour de France end nears

Two-time defending Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar (SLO) was determined to make up time on race leader Jonas Vingegaard on Wednesday, but despite multiple attacks on the 129.7 km triple-climb-and-uphill-finish Stage 17, he gained just four seconds.

The two leaders battled together, one-on-one, on the final ascent up the Peyragudes in the Pyrenees Mountains with Pogacar getting the win in 3:25:51 and the Dane right behind. They both received the same time, but Pogacar received a 10-second time bonus for winning and Vingegaard a six-second bump for second. Net change: four seconds, with Pogacar now down 2:18 with four stages left.

He will attack again on Thursday, the last major mountain stage, with two major climbs and another uphill finish to Hautacam, over 143.2 km. Friday’s stage is fairly flat and then Pogacar will try for some magic in Saturday’s mostly-downhill Individual Time Trial (40.7 km). But he has a lot of time to make up before Sunday’s ride into Paris.

Third-place Geraint Thomas (GBR) is well back, now 4:56 behind Vingegaard and fourth-place Nairo Quintana (COL) is 7:53 behind.

Vingegaard – the 2021 runner-up – would be the first Dane to win since 1996, when Bjarne Riis won, Denmark’s only triumph in the first 108 editions of the race.

He and the other riders were relieved to hear from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) that through the first 15 stages, 712 checks on bikes revealed no technical cheating. The test program included scans prior to the start of the races and 119 post-race X-ray inspections.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2020: Tokyo ● Kyodo News reported that a former member of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee’s Executive Board was paid ¥45 million (~$326,000) by a Games commercial partner, clothing manufacturer Aoki Holdings, from 2017-21.

Hiroyuki Takahashi, a former senior managing director at Japan’s Dentsu advertising agency, was contracted by Aoki Holdings to work on new business plans for the company as a consultant. Takahashi claims there was no conflict of interest, but prosecutors are inquiring about the relationship between the agreement and Takahashi’s status as a member of the Tokyo 2020 Executive Board.

It never ends.

● Asian Games 2022: Hangzhou ● The massive 19th Asian Games, an event larger than the Olympic Games, was scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China this year, but has been delayed due to anti-Covid measures in the country until 2023.

Dates have been announced as 23 September to 8 October with more than 11,000 athletes expected to compete in 482 events in 40 sports. That compares to 10,500 athletes and 329 events in 32 sports for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

● Aquatics ● FINA announced its qualification program for the Paris 2024 Games, which will see 1,392 athletes qualify in swimming, diving, artistic swimming and water polo, across 49 events. The number of participants is second only to track & field on the Olympic program.

Swimming has the largest share at 852 athletes, followed by 264 in water polo, 136 in diving, 96 in artistic swimming and 44 in open-water swimming. As had been predicted, relay qualifications will primarily come – 13 of 16 qualifiers – from the February 2024 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Doha (QAT), rather than from the year-before FINA Worlds, which in 2023 will be held in Fukuoka (JPN) and qualify only the top three.

● Athletics ● At the World Athletics Council meeting prior to the Eugene Worlds, Olympic relay qualifications were also determined to be fed through a federation-controlled event, the World Athletics Relays:

“Fourteen of the 16 places in the relay fields for the Paris Olympic Games will be filled at the World Athletics Relays 2024, with the remaining two teams to be identified from the performance list during the qualification window.”

This again is to put pressure on national federations to send their best athletes to the Relays and increase interest and value in the event.

On the Russian Athletics Federation, which has been on suspension since 2015, “the Council approved the recommendation that an independent audit of RusAF’s processes and progress against the reinstatement plan and [key performance indicators] should be conducted mid to late October 2022.”

The USA Track & Field Foundation announced, over two days, a total of 150 grants totaling $3.05 million to athletes: 50 will receive an $8,000 grant, and 100 will receive either $30,000 (65) or $20,000 (35) as Stephen A. Schwartzman grantees. The announcement noted that “Mr. Schwarzman has donated over $14 million to the grant program and with this year’s grants has distributed $8.4 million to support 455 elite athletes over the last 10 years.”

● Fencing ● At the FIE World Championships in Cairo (EGY), France won three titles in two days, taking the men’s Epee and Foil and the women’s Foil golds.

Two-time Worlds individual medalist Ysaora Thibus took her first Worlds gold in the women’s Foil, edging two-time World Champion Arianna Errigo (ITA) in a 15-10 final. Errigo had defeated Olympic champ Lee Keifer of the U.S. in a taut, 15-14 thriller in the semis; Kiefer and Maria Boldor (ROU) shared the bronze.

The men’s Foil final was another France-Italy contest, with Enzo Lafort winning his second Worlds gold – also in 2019 – with a 15-14 win over Tammaso Marini, winning his first Worlds medal. Lafort had barely gotten by American Nick Itkin (a Tokyo Team bronze medalist) in the semis, 15-14, while Marini edged Olympic champ Ka Long Cheung (HKG), 15-12.

France’s third win came from Tokyo Olympic champ Romain Cannone, who won the men’s Epee with a 15-12 win over Japan’s Olympic team gold winner Kazuyasu Minobe. Romania’s Neisser Loyola and Ukraine’s Igor Reizlin shared the bronze.

Japan did get a gold in the women’s Sabre, with first-time Worlds medalist Misaki Emura taking out European champ Anna Bashta (AZE) in the final by 15-10. Araceli Navarro (ESP) and Despina Georgiadou (GRE) won the bronzes. The tournament continues through the 23rd.

● Hockey ● The Netherlands women continued on top of the field hockey world, winning their ninth FIH World Cup last Sunday in Terrassa (ESP) over Argentina, 3-1, in a re-match of the 2020 Olympic final. That was also won by the Dutch, extending their dominance: three World Cups in a row and four of the last six, making the finals in all six, but losing to Argentina twice. No one else has won the World Cup title this century.

Australia won the bronze over Germany, 2-1, with the Aussies claiming their seventh World Cup medal and third in the last five tournaments.

Off the field, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) saw second-term President Narinder Batra (IND) resign, following his resignation as head of the Indian Olympic Association and as a member of the International Olympic Committee. He listed “personal reasons,” but has been under investigation for potential misappropriation of public funds. Batra has been leading the charge in India for a possible bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games.

Egypt’s Seif Ahmed, a member of the FIH Executive Board, was approved as Acting President with elections to be held in November. Batra was an emerging force in the Olympic Movement, but not now.

● Upcoming ● As if the 2022 World Games and then the World Athletics Championships – both in the U.S. – were not enough, there’s a lot more action ahead next week, with the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG) from 28 July to 8 August, the USA Swimming National Championships from 26-30 July in Irvine, California and the Modern Pentathlon World Championships from 24-31 July in Alexandria, Egypt.

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, 620-event International Sports Calendar for 2022 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Jeruto wins fastest-ever women’s Steeple, but Feng shocks Allman for women’s disc win in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-
400 m hurdles star Sydney McLaughlin (USA)?

★ The Sports Examiner: Surveying, monitoring and explaining the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. This site is free to view, with donations gratefully accepted to support our operating costs.
Comments? Click here. ★

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 10 ~ Wednesday, 20 July 2022

Just two finals, but the conditions were now a challenge at the World Athletics Championships with temperatures over 90 F when the session began at Hayward Field. Both winners were outstanding, with Steeple winner Norah Jeruto winning as expected, but there was a shock in the women’s discus:

● Women/Steeple ● It was 87 F at the 7:45 p.m. start and the race started hot – on world-record pace – with Norah Jeruto (KAZ) leading at 1,000 m, ahead of Winfred Yavi (BRN) and American Emma Coburn. With three laps to go, Yavi, Jeruto and Werhuka Getachew (ETH) pushed hard and broke away from the rest of the field.

With two laps left, it was Jeruto in front, with 3 m on Yavi and Getachew, and Ethiopian Mekides Abebe trying to regain contact and get into the medal race. Abebe joined the leaders following the penultimate water jump and the four were together at the bell.

Yavi took the lead on the backstraight, but lost all momentum on the final water jump, while Jeruto blew past everyone and entered the straightaway with the lead, which she extended to the line. Her time of 8:53.02 is the no. 3 performance in history, and she celebrated with a bath in the water jump, where she took the lead for good.

Behind the winner, Getachew set a national record of 8:54.61, followed by Abebe at 8:56.08; Getachew is now the fourth-fastest in the event ever and Abebe is no. 5. It’s the first time that three women have run under 9:00 in the same race.

Yavi finished fourth in 9:01.81; the American finishers were Courtney Frerichs in sixth (9:10.59), Coburn in eighth (9:16.49) and Courtney Wayment in 12th (9:22.37).

● Women/Discus ● China’s Bin Feng, no. 4 on the year list, shook up the first round with a lifetime best of 69.12 m (226-9), moving to no. 2 for 2022 and putting enormous pressure on the rest of the field. As it turned out, no one could respond.

Two-time Olympic champ Sandra Perkovic (CRO) moved into second place with her first toss of 67.74 m (222-3) and Tokyo Olympic winner Valarie Allman of the U.S. took third at 67.62 m (221-10).

Perkovic gave chase in round two, improving to a seasonal best of 68.45 m (224-7), and Allman advanced to 68.30 m (224-1), but remained in third place in the third round. None of the top three could improve in the next two rounds, and in the sixth, none were close to their bests and Feng won a surprise gold.

For Perkovic, it was her fifth Worlds medal (2-2-1) and she beat Allman for the second time this year. Olympic champ Allman suffered only her second defeat of the year, but had the bronze medal to show for it.

American Laulauga Tausaga threw 56.47 m (185-3) and finished 12th.

● Men/400 m semis ● American Michael Norman ran easily in the first 200 m, but found himself behind Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) into the straight. Norman pushed and got to the line first in 44.30 to 44.38, but did not look convincing.

London 2008 Olympic champ Kirani James looked smooth and confident and won in 44.74, with Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori second in 44.94. Michael Cherry of the U.S. faded in the final 50 m to fourth in 45.28.

Two-time World Champion Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) blew away the field in the first 200 m and was leading Jonathan Jones (BAR) into the home straightaway. But van Niekerk faded slightly in the last 70 m, as Jones came up, but then American Champion Allison was pushing hard and somehow got to the line first in 44.71 to 44.75 for van Niekerk and 44.78 for Jones. Wow!

● Men/800 m heats ● Britain’s Max Burgin, the world leader at 1:43.52, did not start in heat one, and the race was slow – really slow – with Kenya’s Olympic champ Emmanuel Korir coming on over the final 100 m to win in 1:49.05. Defending World Champion Donavan Brazier (USA) headlined heat two, and was third in a bunched pack at the bell in 52.3, but Peter Bol (AUS) took over with 200 m and was never headed and won in 1:45.50, ahead of Kyle Langford (GBR: 1:45.68); Brazier – with foot surgery coming next week – faded to seventh in 1:46.72.

Heat three nearly had a mass fall and Canada’s Brandon McBride did go down, but it was NCAA champion Mouad Zahafi (MAR and Texas Tech) who had the lead with 200 m to go and won decisively in 1:46.15. France’s Gabriel Tual was second in 1:46.34 and American Bryce Hoppel was third into the straight, but faded to fifth in 1:46.98. The fourth heat saw the pack run together through 600 m, but Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati sprinted down the straight to win in 1:46.39; American Brandon Miller faded in the final 120 m and was fifth in 1:47.29.

Again, the pack was bunched in heat five, with 400 m crossed in 51.4, led by Andreas Kramer (SWE). Canadian star Marco Arop got to the lead with 150 m left and held the lead and won in a quick 1:44.56, while USATF runner-up Jonah Koech was only fourth around the turn and sprinted to second at the line in a lifetime best 1:44.62. He was later disqualified for some pushing on the final backstraight.

The final heat saw Daniel Rowden (GBR) crossed 400 m in 50.8, with Kenyan Wyclife Kinyamal second, but on the final straight, it was Slimane Moula (ALG) sprinted from fifth to first in 1:44.90, with Kinyamal second (1:45.08) and Rowden fading to fourth (1:45.53).

● Women/400 m semis ● Double Olympic champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) ran away with semi one in 49.56, ahead of Jamaica’s Candice McLeod (50.05). American Lynna Irby faded to sixth in 51.00 and did not advance.

Dominican star Fiordaliza Cofil, who ran down everyone to win the Mixed 4×400 m, held off surprising Lieke Klaver (NED) and Jamaican Stephenie Ann McPherson to win semi two in 50.14 – a lifetime best – with a national record 50.18 for Klaver. McPherson finished in 50.56 and advanced on time.

World leader Marileidy Paulino (DOM) took the lead by the 200 m mark, and cruised home in 49.98, with Sada Williams (BAR) second in 50.12. Talitha Diggs of the U.S. was third in 50.84, but did not advance.

● Women/400 m Hurdles semis ● Defending champ Dalilah Muhammad of the U.S. was out like a shot – as she usually is – and ran away with semi one with a seasonal best of 53.28, now fourth on the 2022 world list. She said afterwards that she needs to run two seconds faster in the final; that would be a world-record 51.28!

The second semi had Dutch star Femke Bol run hard from the gun, but was challenged by Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton, even over the eighth hurdle. Bol was strongest down the straight and won in 52.84, but American Shamier Little – the 2015 Worlds silver medalist – surged hard to get second, 53.61-53.63, over Clayton. American Britton Wilson was fourth in 53.72, but made it to the final on time.

World-record holder Sydney McLaughlin got out hard in the third semi, ran down the two runners outside of her by the 200 m mark, and cruised home in 52.17, the no. 8 performance of all-time! She now owns five of the top eight times in history. Wow.

The final is Friday; McLaughlin’s 51.41 world record is definitely under siege.

● Women/5,000 m heats ● It was hot for the heats, with 92 F temps when the first race started at 4:30 p.m., so the pace was happily modest. Japan’s Ririka Hironaka led through 3,000 m in 8:59.90, with Karissa Schweizer (USA) and Konstanze Klosterhalfen (GER) leading a lead group of nine. With two laps to go, Schweizer had the lead, ahead of 1,500 m runner-up Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) and 10,000 m bronze winner Margaret Kipkemboi (KEN), and then Tsegay took the lead with 600 m to go, leading at the bell. Five qualified automatically, and five moved away, with Tsegay sprinting home ahead of teammate Dawit Seyaum in 14:52.64 to 14:53.06. Kenyans Beatrice Chebet and Kipkemboi went 3-4, with Schweizer fifth (14:53.69). Fellow American Emily Infeld was sixth in 15:00.98

The second heat had Britain’s Eilish McColgan at the front at 3,000 m in 8:58.00, ahead of Caroline Kipkirui (KAZ) and Norway’s Karoline Grovdal, leading a group of nine. McColgan still had the lead with two laps to go, then Jessica Judd (GBR) took over with 600 m to go and at the bell. Grovdal had the lead with 200 m to go, followed by Gidey and Kipkirui and then on the final straight, 10,000 m winner Letsenbet Gidey sprinted home in 14:52.27, with Kipkirui second and Olympic champ Sifan Hassan (NED) flying past Grovdal to get third. American Elise Cranny was fifth (14:53.20) and will make the final on time.

● Women/Javelin qualifying ● The automatic qualifying mark was 62.50 m (205-1) and only Lithuania’s Liveta Jasiunate surpassed it in the first group at 63.80 m (209-4). China’s Tokyo Olympic winner Shiying Liu threw 63.86 m (209-6) on her first toss in Group B to qualify, but ended up second overall as Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi unloaded a seasonal best of 64.32 m (211-0) to lead all qualifiers.

The Americans: Kara Winger threw 61.30 m (201-1), ended up forth overall and advanced; Ariana Ince threw 57.24 m (187-9) for 18th and Maggie Malone, the world leader, managed only 54.19 m (177-9) and was 22nd.

American sprint star Fred Kerley, the World 100 m champ, strained a quad during the 200 m semifinals and is out for the 4×100 m for the U.S. The American team has lots of options, but won’t have its top sprinter.

The medal table shows the U.S. with 19 medals total (6-5-8) and continuing to lead, with Ethiopia second with eight (3-4-1) and Kenya still third (1-3-2). China’s win in the discus makes them the third country to have won at least two golds.

In the placing table, using the top eight places to measure overall strength, the U.S. now leads Ethiopia by 185-82, with Kenya at 63, Jamaica at 42 and Poland at 41.

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TSX REPORT: Dos Santos beats Benjamin, 46.29-46.89 in 400H, while Wightman scores sensational upset over Ingebrigtsen in men’s 1,500 at Eugene Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
Brazil's Alison Dos Santos won the 400 m hurdles at the Pre Classic in Eugene in May and the Worlds gold in July! (Photo: Diamond League AG)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 9 ~ Tuesday, 19 July 2022

Day five of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene had a short program of seven events, but had no lack of drama.

Tense competitions in the women’s high jump and men’s discus saw Eleanor Patterson of Australia and Kristjian Ceh of Slovenia victorious ahead of their better-known competitors, but no one was ready for the shock of the men’s 1,500 m and then what happened in the second-fastest 400 m hurdles race of all time:

● Men/400 m Hurdles ● The titanic showdown between Olympic champ Karsten Warholm (NOR), American silver winner Rai Benjamin and Tokyo bronze medalist Alison Dos Santos delivered again. Benjamin drew lane three, with Warholm in front of him in four and Dos Santos in six.

As expected, Warholm blasted off from the start, taking the lead, but with Dos Santos close and Benjamin trailing. Warholm and Dos Santos were clear of the field at 200 m, but Benjamin poured it on around the turn and got into contention at the eighth hurdle and entering the straight.

Warholm, however, blew up, betrayed by his lack of training and racing due to injury and faded badly on the straight, ending up seventh in 48.42. Meanwhile, Benjamin was chasing Dos Santos, who did not fade and maintained a steady rhythm right to the line to win in the third-fastest time in history, 46.29. Benjamin was second – as in Tokyo – in 46.89, the no. 10 performance ever. This was not an upset; Dos Santos had been the best all year and proved it when given the chance. This isn’t over: there’s the Budapest Worlds in 2023 and Paris in 2024.

With Warholm out of the picture, American Trevor Bassitt dueled with France’s Wilfried Happio for the bronze and won it at 47.39 to 47.41, a massive personal best. American Khallifah Rosser finished fifth in 47.88.

● Men/1,500 m ● Olympic champ Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway and defending champ Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya were expected to face off in another epic battle and it looked that way from the start.

World leader Abel Kipsang (KEN) took the lead and set a fast pace at 55.5 for the first 400 m, and Ingebrigtsen did not dawdle at the back as he often does, moving to the lead with two laps to go. Cheruiyot and Kipsang were close by, as were Britain’s Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman.

At the bell, Ingebrigtsen, Cheruiyot, Wightman, Kipsang and Kerr were close and pushing the pace. But it was Wightman pushing hardest on the backstraight, passing Cheruiyot and then challenging Ingebrigtsen on the far turn and getting to the lead into the straight. The Norwegian was game, but Wightman was not to be denied and won in the shock of the meet – so far – in a world-leading and personal best of 3:29.23. Ingebrightsen was disappointed in second in 3:29.47, with Spain’s Mohamed Katir passing the Kenyans on the straight for the bronze in 3:29.90 and teammate Mario Garcia fourth in 3:30.20.

Cheruiyot faded to sixth (3:30.69) and Kipsang was seventh in 3:31.21. American Josh Thompson was 12th in 3:35.57.

This was a shock, make no mistake. Wightman was the 2018 European bronze medalist and fifth at the 2019 Worlds, but Ingebrigtsen was considered almost unbeatable. Not in Eugene in 2022.

● Men/Discus ● After an uneventful first round, co-favorite Ceh unloaded, reaching 69.02 m (226-5) to take the lead and then exploded to a World Championships meet record of 71.13 m (233-4) in round three. Could anyone match him?

Through three rounds, Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna and Andrius Gudzius – the 2017 World Champion – were 2-3 at 67.87 m (222-8)) and 67.31 m (220-10). Olympic champ Daniel Stahl of Sweden was fifth at 66.59 m (218-5).

Gudzius improved in round four to 67.55 m (221-7) and then Alekna erupted to 69.27 m (227-3) to strengthen his grip on second. Stahl moved up to fourth at 67.10 m (220-2), but could do no better. Ceh, just 23, put an exclamation point on his world title with a 70.51 m (231-4) bomb in round five, finishing with four of the top five throws in the competition.

Alekna, just 19, was the NCAA runner-up for Cal in June and is now the Worlds silver medalist in July. Gudzius won his second career Worlds medal and Lithuania celebrated an unexpected 2-3. American Sam Mattis managed only 63.19 m (207-3) and finished 11th.

● Women/High Jump ● Ten got over 1.93 m (6-4) and eight cleared 1.96 m (6-5), but the sorting started at 1.98 m (6-6), when the Ukrainian stars Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Iryna Gerashchenko sailed over on their first tries, as did Italy’s Elena Vallortigara. It took three tries for Patterson, the World Indoor runner-up, to join them.

At 2.00 m (6-6 3/4), Vallortigara took the lead with a first-time clearance, but the other three all cleared on their second tries. Patterson then took over, clearing 2.02 m (6-7 1/2), matched by Mahuchikh on her second try, but Vallortigara and Gerashchenko missed three times. Vallortigara took the bronze thanks to her perfect record through 2.00 m.

The bar was raised to 2.04 m (6-8 1/4), but neither Patterson or Mahuchikh could clear, leaving Patterson moving up from silver at the World Indoors to the top of the podium, and Mahuchikh winning the silver, as she did in Doha in 2019.

● Men/200 m semis ● Dominican star Alexander Ogando – already a gold medalist on the Mixed 4×400 m – held off the late-finishing Joseph Fahnbulleh (LBA), 19.91-19.92 (wind: -0.1 m/s). World 100 m champ Fred Kerley of the U.S. was gritting his teeth on the straight and said he suffered a cramp on the turn, finishing sixth in 20.68. He said he will be fine for the 4×100 m.

Semi two saw defending champion Noah Lyles of the U.S. run an excellent turn – especially for him – and came into the straight on the lead and held it to win in 19.63 (+1.1), the equal-third-fastest time of the year. Teammate (and Olympic silver winner) Kenny Bednarek held off Jereem Richards (TTO), 19.84-19.86 for second.

Teen star Erriyon Knighton (USA) blasted the turn and won easily in 19.77 (+0.3), with Canada’s Aaron Brown second in 20.10. The Lyles-Knighton showdown is on and an American sweep is a possibility on Thursday night.

● Women/200 m semis ● World leader Shericka Jackson (JAM) cruised home after leading off the turn and won in a sizzling – frightening, really – 21.67 (+2.0), a time no one else has run this year and the no. 12 performance ever! Niger’s Aminatou Seyni, who made a late charge in the heats, did it again, coming from fourth to second in the last 40 m in 22.04, followed by Mujinga Kambundji (SUI: 22.05 national record) and American Jenna Prandini (22.08).

Rio and Tokyo Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah and defending champ Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) were in semi two, and Thompson-Herah led off the turn, with Asher-Smith challenging down the straight, but American Tamara Clark powered to the tape and passed both in the final 10 m, in 21.95, to season’s bests of 21.96 for Asher-Smith and 21.97 for Thompson-Herah (+1.4). Wow!

Five-time World 100 m Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce stormed the turn and ran away with heat three over American Abby Steiner, 21.82 (season’s best, no. 3 in 2022) to 22.15 (-0.1). All three Jamaicans made the final, as did Clark and Steiner. Prandini missed by 0.03.

● Women/400 m Hurdles heats ● World-record holder Sydney McLaughlin of the U.S. ran a controlled 53.95 to win the first heat, trailed by Ukraine’s Anna Ryzhykova (54.93), who got a warm welcome from the crowd. American Shamier Little, like McLaughlin, had lane eight in the first round and ran hard from the start, leading after 300 m, but was passed by Tokyo fourth-placer Janieve Russell (JAM), who won in 54.52. Little was a clear second in 54.77.

Dutch star Femke Bol, the Tokyo bronze medalist, was also in lane eight for heat three and won easily in 53.90. Rio 2016 gold medalist and former world-record holder Dalilah Muhammad (USA) won heat four in 54.45, challenged on the home straight by Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon (54.91). The fourth American, NCAA champ Britton Wilson, came on over the final turn and down the straight to win heat five in 54.54. The semis are on Wednesday.

After five days, the U.S. now has 18 medals (6-5-7) to six each for Ethiopia (3-3-0) and Kenya (1-3-2). On the placing table, a points-scoring program for places 1-8, the U.S. dominance is now 175-69 over Ethiopia, with Kenya at 63, Jamaica at 42 and Poland at 41.

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LANE ONE: Track & field worlds draw 1.97 million average audience on NBC; excellent World Games close in Birmingham; LA28 dates fixed

By
Rich Perelman
-

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Yes, the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon has drawn more interest from U.S. television viewers. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that it’s not even the Olympic Trials.

Television ratings figures released by Nielsen this morning show that the four Saturday and Sunday showings of the first weekend of the Worlds on NBC drew an average of 1.966 million viewers, very good by track & field standards:

World Champs on NBC:
● Jul. 16 (Sat.): 2,129,000 (3:00 p.m. Eastern)
● Jul. 16 (Sat.): 1,575,000 (9:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 17 (Sun.): 2,235,000 (2:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 17 (Sun.): 1,925,000 (10:00 p.m.)

The afternoon shows did better than the evening finals, but the average is nearly double of NBC-aired track meets from the late spring and early summer:

● May 28 (Sat.): 977,000 for Prefontaine Classic on NBC
● Jun. 12 (Sun.): 835,000 for NYC Grand Prix on NBC
● Jun. 25 (Sat.): 1,050,000 for USATF Champs on NBC
● Jun. 26 (Sun.): 1,052,000 for USATF Champs on NBC

However, 1.966 million viewers on average is well short of the ratings for the Tokyo Olympic Track & Field Trials, also held in Eugene, in 2021. The eight hours of coverage on NBC last year averaged 3.183 million viewers average across eight hours, so the 2022 Worlds – so far – is down 38%.

The Worlds on cable is a mixed picture:

● Jul. 15 (Fri.): 430,000 on USA Network (8:00 p.m. Eastern)
● Jul. 16 (Sat.): 160,000 on CNBC (1:30 p.m.)
● Jul. 16 (Sat.): 247,000 on CNBC (8:00 p.m.)
● Jul. 17 (Sun.): no data (<200,000) on CNBC (9:00 a.m.)
● Jul. 17 (Sun.): 368,000 on CNBC (8:00 p.m.)

So, the opening program on USA Network did well, drawing almost double what the USATF Championships drew last month:

● Jun. 24 (Fri.): 214,000 for USATF Champs on CNBC
● Jun. 26 (Sun.): 208,000 for USATF Champs on USA Network

But the three CNBC shows that drew a rating – the men’s marathon on Sunday had less than 200,000 viewers and was not shown in the data release – averaged 258,333, just marginally better than the USATF Championships and not as good as the last two days of the NCAA Championships in June, which drew 263,000 (Friday: ESPN2) and 603,000 (Saturday: ESPN).

And these early cable figures, averaging 301,000 across four shows, are down 47% to the 2021 Olympic Trials cable average of 573,500 across six hours on the now-defunct NBCSN.

How did the NBC viewership compare with other sports on television? Fifth for the week, behind the British Open (4.55 million on Sunday and 3.31 million on Saturday), The NASCAR Cup in New Hampshire (2.40 million on Sunday) and FOX Saturday Baseball, which drew 2.38 million on Saturday. Two of the NBC Worlds broadcasts beat the WWE Friday Night Smackdown on FOX (2.08 million).

There are things to cheer about in these numbers and you can make the case that track & field is a slumbering giant, waiting – for decades now – to be awakened. But let’s wait; we’ll know more when the figures for the rest of the Worlds come in, seven days from now.

Rich Perelman
Editor

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The dates of the LA28 Games were officially announced as 14-30 July, with the Paralympic Games from 15-27 August.

This is earlier than the prior Los Angeles Games, held from 30 July to 14 August in 1932 and 28 July-12 August in 1984. The earlier dates will be a help for the conversion back to normal use of the student residences and venues at UCLA and USC, especially, as well as for football venues such as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Bowl.

● World Games 2022: Birmingham ● Lionel Ritchie capped a musical serenade for about 1,000 athletes and staff of the 2022 World Games with “Dancing on the Ceiling,” “You Are” and “All Night Long” at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium on Sunday evening at the closing of the 2022 World Games.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin told the athletes, volunteers and the audience of about 20,000, “The past 11 days have brought us all a little closer. Tonight may be the closing of a historic event, but it’s far from the finale. Know that like every good Southerner, we don’t see strangers, we only see family. You are family now.”

International World Games Association President Jose Perurena (ESP) celebrated the return of the event – the 11th World Games – after a year’s postponement:

“The athletes all got Back on Stage, after such a long wait in the wings, and performed brilliantly. Well done, Birmingham!

“The World Games 2022 was a great festival of sport and also a demonstration of the ability of human beings to compete hard, while still living together in peace and harmony.”

Jefferson County Commission and organizing committee Board member Joe Knight told reporters during the closing news conference, “The athletes have put on a first-class show. … The athletes tell us this is the best city in which they have participated.”

World Games chief executive Nick Sellers:

“The World Games 2022 will go down in history as a big gold medal success. The athletes went for gold in this moment, and so did our city, our county, our region, all of our people. And we won. We won, y’all, by any measure.

“I believe we’ve helped to change the trajectory of this area forever, and for the better, because we built some new confidence in who we are.

He reported that 375,000 tickets were sold or distributed through sponsors, and that a half-dozen venues were sold out, with others near capacity, noting especially the crowds at Mixed Ultimate Flying Disc, Gymnastics and Breaking. The organizing committee had 3,300 volunteers involved in supporting the Games. Sellers remembered a special moment at the Games:

“When I walked into that Breaking competition, and I saw venue that was overflowing its capacity, in a sport that many of us had never seen before – so many of these sports we’ve never seen before – and it gave us a new way of seeing the world.

“And in that moment, in Sloss Furnaces, when I looked around at an incredibly diverse crowd of people, and that music was playing and everyone was together, I think it was a moment where we started to see each other differently, too, in the community. And that’s what this was all about: making it a once-in-a-lifetime moment for these athletes, but also a moment where we start to realize that it is from our diversity that our strength comes from in this community. And I think it’s going to set us up for many big things in the future.”

Perurena also offered a special thanks and commendation for the repair and rearrangement of the venues after a bad storm hit the Birmingham area on the third day. “The storm destroyed the majority of the venues. … When we arrive the [next] day in the morning, the venues [were] ready. This is my congratulations … the Plan B went perfect, all the venues [ready] in time.”

On the field, Italy collected the most medals with 49 (13-24-12), followed by Germany (47: 24-7-16), Ukraine (45:16-12-17), the United States (44:16-18-10) and France (42: 11-15-16). Three athletes won four golds: Johana Viveros (COL: road and track speed skating), Nina Holt (GER: Life Saving) and Belgian Bart Swings in road and track speed skating (to go along with his Winter Olympic speed skating gold in February!). Those three all won a fifth medal and two others won five total medals: Petra Senanszky (HUN: 3-2-0 in Finswimming and Life Saving) and Italy’s Duccio Marsili (3-1-1) in road and track speed skating.

In the much-anticipated finals in Tug of War, Great Britain won the Mixed 580 kg final by 3:0 over Germany, and the U.S. won a tightly-contested Flying Disc final against Australia by 13-11, with Jack Williams throwing for four goals and catching two.

● Cycling ● The 109th Tour de France has moved from the Alps to the Pyrenees, with Stage 16 the first of three mountain stages that will likely determine the overall winner. On Tuesday, the leaderboard remained the same as Canadian Hugo Houle attacked with 45 km remaining on the 178.5 km, twin-peak stage from Carcassonne to Foix, to win in 4:23:47. That was 1:10 better than Valentin Madouas (FRA) and Michael Woods (CAN) and 1:12 up on American Matteo Jorgenson in fourth (+1:12).

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard continues to lead defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) by 2:22 and 2018 winner Geraint Thomas (GBR) by 2:43.

● Fencing ● The FIE World Championships are ongoing in Cairo (EGY), with the men’s Sabre and women’s Epee decided on Monday, with a three-time Olympic champion getting his first Worlds gold.

Hungary’s Aron Szilagyi, 32, defeated surprise finalist Maxime Pianfetti (FRA) in a tight, 15-14 final to win his first-ever World Championship title, itself a surprise since he is the 2012-16-20 Olympic Champion. He had won a bronze in 2013, but had to earn his first Worlds in a difficult battle with a fencer who won his first career international medal!

Both semis ended in 15-11 scores: Pianfetti won his semifinal against another first-time international medalist in Iulian Teodosiu (ROU), while Szilagyi overcame Sandro Bazadze (GEO), a four-time medalist in World Cup action; they shared the bronze.

Korea’s Sera Song, 28, won her first World Championships medal with an 11-10 victory over Alexandra Ndolo (GER), 35, in the women’s Epee final.

Neither had any prior major medals; Song had won a couple of World Cup and Grand Prix medals previously and Ndolo had a World Cup silver from 2017. But Song got past Hong Kong’s 2019 Worlds bronze winner Man Wai Vivian Kong, 14-9, and Ndolo dispatched Italy’s two-time World Champion Rossella Fiamingo, 15-10.

● Football ● The final of the CONCACAF W Championship in Guadalupe (MEX) saw another taut battle between the U.S. and Canada, with plenty of chances for the Americans, but neither side able to score until the 78th minute.

American midfielder Rose Lavelle was fouled by Allysha Chapman in the box, resulting in a penalty that was converted by Alex Morgan for a 1-0 lead, and that’s how it ended.

As usual, the U.S. had the edge in possession (55%) and shots (17-10), but defense prevailed and Alyssa Naeher got another shutout in goal. With the victory, the U.S. won its third straight CONCACAF W title and, with it, a place in the Paris 2024 women’s football tournament. The U.S. out-scored its five opponents by 13-0 in the tournament.

Canada will get another shot at Paris 2024 and will play third-place Jamaica – a 1-0 winner over Costa Rica – for an Olympic slot.

Fans can be forgiven for missing the game; it was shown only on steaming channels Paramount+ and the Spanish-language ViX.

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TSX REPORT: Defenders Barshim and Rojas win again, as do Olympic champs El Bakkali, Kipyegon and Thiam at Athletics Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
The best ever: another Worlds gold for triple jump star Yulimar Rojas (VEN). (Photo: Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 8 ~ Monday, 18 July 2022

Champions shined on the fourth night of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene. From the 2019 Worlds in Doha, men’s high jump superstar Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar was supreme again as was Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas, both with world-leading performances.

Similarly brilliant were Tokyo Olympic gold-medal winners who took the honors Monday: men’s Steeple star Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, Faith Kipyegon (KEN) in the women’s 1,500 m and heptathlon star Nafi Thiam of Belgium. Five finals and five winners who know what victory is about. The evening in review:

● Women/1,500 m ● The pace was hot from the gun, with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay – the 2022 World Indoor Champion – moving hard and double Olympic champion Kipyegon, Ethiopian Hirut Meshesha and British Olympic silver medalist Laura Muir staying with her through a 58.9 opening lap.

This was too much for the rest of the field, which could only watch as these four dueled for the medals. Kipyegon and Tsegay exchanged the lead a couple of times, with Tsegay leading at the bell, with Kipyegon and Muir close and Meshesha falling back.

The race was decided with 250 m to go, as Kipgeyon attacked and forged a clear lead into the final turn and ran away on the home straight to finish in 3:52.96, no. 2 on the year and the no. 10 performance in history.

Tsegay took the silver in 3:54.52 and Muir the bronze (3:55.28), with Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu coming up for fourth in a distant 4:01.28. American Sinclaire Johnson was sixth (4:01.63) and Cory McGee was 10th in 4:03.70.

Kipyegon won her second Worlds (also 2017) in addition to two silvers, to add to her 2016 and 2020 Olympic triumphs; she now owns five of the top 12 performances ever and at 28, shows no signs of slowing.

● Men/Steeple ● The field just jogged through the first four laps, with Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma leading rather reluctantly. No one moved hard and fellow Ethiopian Getnet Wale had the lead over a bunched field with two laps to go, but then Eritrea’s Yemane Haileselassie stormed to the lead with 500 m to go and took the bell in front.

Now this was a sprint, with Girma and Wale chasing and taking the lead, with Kenya’s two-time World Champion Conseslus Kipruto in the hunt for a third straight title with 200 m to go. But Olympic champ El Bakkali moved smartly into contention and then burst by the three ahead of him on the final water jump and into the lead into the home straight.

Girma was chasing hardest, but could not match El Bakkali’s speed and had to settle for second, 8:25.13-8:26.01. Kipruto came back from injuries and legal trouble to win a remarkable bronze in 8:27.92 with Wale fourth in 8:28.68.

Americans Evan Jager was sixth in 8:29.08 and Hillary Bor finished eighth in 8:29.77.

There was a bad incident on the first lap, when the pack had to split to run around an oblivious cameraman, shooting the women’s triple jump from lane two. No one fell or was hurt, but this was stupid and unforgivable.

● Men/High Jump ● The serious jumping came at 2.30 m (7-6 1/2), with defending champion Barshim, Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo, Andriy Protsenko (UKR) and American Shelby McEwen clearing on their first tries and Olympic co-champ Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) on his third.

At 2.33 m (7-7 3/4), Barshim and Protsenko cleared right away, then Tamberi made it on his second try and Woo on his third. McEwen missed twice, then passed to 2.35 m (7-8 1/2). Barshim cleared right away, and only Woo could also clear, on his second try. Protsenko won the bronze over Tamberi based on earlier misses and McEwen ended up fifth.

But Barshim was supreme, clearing a world-leading 2.37 m (7-9 1/4), with Woo missing once and then retired, settling for silver. It’s Barshim’s third straight world title to go along with his Olympic co-gold in Tokyo. He jumped six times during the competition and cleared all six.

American JuVaughn Harrison cleared 2.27 m (7-5 1/4) and finished ninth.

(Thanks for sharp-eyed reader Brian Russell for the correction on place.)

● Women/Triple Jump ● Olympic champ and prohibitive favorite Rojas jumped to the lead at 14.60 m (47-10 3/4) in the first round, but was passed by Jamaica’s 2019 Worlds silver medalist Shanieka Ricketts, who claimed an outdoor world-leading 14.89 m (48-10 1/4). American Tori Franklin popped out to 14.53 mw (47-8w) to stand third after round one.

Unfazed, Rojas bounded out to 15.47 m (50-9 1/4) on her second jump to re-take the world lead for 2022 – the no. 6 jump of all time – and move Ricketts to second. Cuba’s Leyanis Perez displaced Franklin from the top three, jumping 14.70 m (48-2 3/4) in the second round to take third. American Keturah Orji moved up to fifth in round three, with 14.49 mw (47-6 1/2).

The order did not change until the fifth round, when Franklin got a seasonal best of 14.72 m (48-3 1/2), the equal-6th best jump in U.S. history. That moved her into third by 2 cm and Perez could not respond. It’s the first-ever Worlds triple jump medal for the U.S.

Rojas and Ricketts stayed 1-2 and Rojas now has three straight world outdoor titles to go along with three World Indoor titles and her Olympic gold in Tokyo and both the indoor and outdoor world records. The best ever.

Orji did not improve and finished sixth.

● Women/Heptathlon ● Olympic silver medalist Anouk Vetter (NED) entered with a 6,045 to 6,026 lead on two-time Olympic champ Thiam, with American Anna Hall third with 5,741.

And as the best 800 m runner in the field, Hall outlasted Noor Vidts (BEL) and Adrianna Sulek (POL) on the home straight to win in 2:06.67, scoring 1,014 points to finish with 6,755, now no. 3 all-time U.S. and the bronze medalist.

Thiam finished fifth in a lifetime best of 2:13.00 and Vetter was 11th (2:20.09), so Thiam won the gold with a massive world-leader 6,947 to 6,867 for Vetter, repeating their 1-2 from Tokyo. Sulek finished fourth with 6,672. Americans Ashtin Zamzow-Mahler and Michelle Atherley finished 11th and 12th at 5,974 and 5,959. Kendell Williams had to retire with an injury.

● Men/200 m heats ● Florida’s NCAA champ Joseph Fahnbulleh (of Liberia) came on on the straightaway and won the first heat in 20.12 (wind +1.0 m/s); Jereem Richards (TTO) cruised to a 20.35 win (0.0) in heat two and then co-favorite Erriyon Knighton of the U.S. stormed the turn and jogged home in 20.01w (+2.1) in heat three.

Alexander Ogando (DOM) won heat four, in a national record 20.01 (+0.5), well ahead of Olympic silver winner Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. (20.35), who jogged the last 50 m. World 10 m champ Fred Kerley (USA) powered down the straight and won heat five in 20.17 (+0.4), then Filippo Tortu of Italy won heat six in 20.18 (+1.0). World Champion Noah Lyles celebrated his 25th birthday with an easy win in heat seven and posting the fastest time of the day in 19.98 (-0.3). The semis are on Tuesday.

● Women/200 m heats ● World leader Shericka Jackson (JAM) ran away with heat one in 22.34w (+2.5), then teammate Elaine Thompson-Herah – twice Olympic champ – cruised to a second-place finish behind Beatrice Masilingi (NAM), 22.27-22.41 (-0.2) in heat two. Next was Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, fresh from her 100 m triumph, running an easy second to Aminatou Seyni (NIG), 21.98-22.26 (+1.1) in heat three.

American Tamara Clark won heat four over defending champion Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), 22.27-22.56 (+1.1), then U.S. champ Abby Steiner flew around the curve and won the fifth heat in 22.26 (+0.9). Heat six featured American Jenna Prandini, but she let Favour Ofili (NGR and LSU) go by for the win in 22.24-22.38 (+1.9).

● Women/Discus qualifying ● Lots of drama in the first group, as co-favorite Valarie Allman of the U.S. – the Olympic champ – fouled her first two throws, but then bombed her third throw, reaching 68.36 m (224-3) and celebrating with the crowd. The auto-qualifying standard of 64.00 m (210-0) was reached by two others in Group A and five in Group B, led by Jorinde van Klinken (NED and Arizona State) at 65.66 m (215-5).

American Laulauga Tausaga qualified at 62.85 m (206-2) in 10th place overall, but Veronica Fraley was a non-qualifier at 58.32 m (191-4).

Now at the halfway mark of the Championships – eight sessions out of 16 – the U.S. team is, as expected, running away with the medal count and the team scoring.

Americans have won 16 medals (6-4-6), placing the all-time record of 31 by East Germany from 1987 within some jeopardy. Next up are Ethiopia (3-3-) and Kenya (1-3-2) with six each and 26 nations have won medals so far.

On the placing table, scoring 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 for the top places, the U.S. has a staggering 168 points to 68 for Ethiopia, 58 for Kenya, 41 for Poland and 39 for Jamaica. Wow.

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TSX REPORT: Gebreslase completes Ethiopian Worlds marathon sweep in record 2:18:11; three Americans in the top eight!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich was the favorite at the start of the women's marathon, but Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia won it, in Eugene this morning.

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 7 ~ Monday, 18 July 2022

● Women/Marathon ● Los Angeles 1984 Olympic winner and road-running icon Joan Benoit Samuelson (USA) was the starter for the 40 women who began World Championships marathon from Oregon’s Autzen Stadium at 6:15 a.m. on Monday.

The race broke apart from the start, with defending champion Ruth Chepngetich and her Kenyan teammates pushing a hot, 2:17 pace that saw a lead group of 11 at 3 km and just eight by the 5 km mark. They maintained a lead of 30 seconds through the first 10 km, but eased off the pace and a chase pack of six that included all three Americans – Keira D’Amato, Sara Hall and Emma Bates – closed to 11 seconds back by the 14 km point, the end of the first loop.

The leaders pushed again and was ahead by 33 seconds by 17 km and then the race broke apart after 18 km, with Angela Tanui (KEN: 2021 Amsterdam Marathon winner), Judith Korir (KEN: 2022 Paris winner), Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH: 2022 Boston runner-up) and Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH: 2021 Berlin winner) moving ahead, with Chepngetich leaving the course and dropping out, and Nazret Weldu (ERI), Lonah Salpeter (ISR) and Ashete Bekere (ETH) dropping back.

Tanui fell back a bit and was down three seconds at 20 km, and the top three charged ahead; the second chase group with the three Americans and Britain’s Sara Piasecki 66 seconds further behind.

The lead trio passed the half at 69:01, with the second group 20 seconds behind and the Americans and Piasecki 1:16 behind. The leaders backed off slightly and Tanui joined the group at 23 km. Korir pushed the pace again and dropped Tanui after 26 km, and Korir and Gebreslase dropped Yeshaneh – gritting her teeth and rubbing her right side – at 27 km. At the end of the second loop, Korir and Gebreslase had a six-second lead on Yeshaneh, with Tanui 12 seconds back. Hall was the top American, running alone, 1:45 behind the leaders, in eighth.

Tanui caught Yeshaneh by 30 km in the race for the bronze, but still 37 seconds behind the leaders. The conditions were good: although sunny, the temperature was only 53 degrees on the final loop. Salpeter and Weldu were 21 seconds behind Tanui and Yeshaneh in fifth and sixth, but caught both by 35 km, with Tanui falling back and Yeshaneh dropping out with cramps.

Salpeter pushed ahead of Weldu after 39 km and ran away in the race for third, then Gebreslase made her move at the front to drop Korir just before 40 km. The surge was decisive and the race for gold was determined with Gebreslase, 27, winning her second marathon in three career races in 2:18:11, destroying the Championships record of 2:20:57 by British legend Paula Radcliffe from 2005.

Korir was a clear second in a lifetime best of 2:18:20, and Salpeter won Israel’s second-ever World Championships medal (in any event) in 2:20:18, with Weldu fourth in 2:20:29. Hall caught Tanui for fifth in 2:22:10, then Bates and D’Amato finished in 2:23:18 (lifetime best) and 2:23:34 in seventh and eighth; three in the top eight is an outstanding showing for the U.S.

Ethiopia swept the Worlds marathons with Tamirat Tola and Gebreslase; Gebreslase is the first Ethiopian Worlds women’s winner since Mare Dibaba in 2015 and only the second ever.

● Women/Heptathlon ● Day two began with the long jump, with Olympic champ Nafi Thiam (BEL) extending her lead, jumping 6.59 m (21-7 1/2) to lead the field. Dutch star Anouk Vetter, second overall, got a lifetime best of 6.52 m (21-4 3/4) in third and American Anna Hall was fifth at 6.39 m (20-11 3/4). Poland’s Adrianna Sulek passed Hall for third overall, 4,967-4,963.

The first javelin group saw Hall get a lifetime best of 45.75 m (150-1) to pass Sulek (41.63 m/136-7) for third going into the 800 m. Vetter led the second group and took the overall lead with a 58.29 m (191-3) toss, with Thiam reaching 53.01 m (173-11). Thus, Vetter stands with 6,045 points to 6,026 for Thiam with the 800 m remaining; Hall has 5,741 to 5,666 for Sulek and 5,606 for Swiss Annik Kalin.

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TSX REPORT: Crouser leads U.S. shot sweep, Fraser-Pryce leads Jamaican 100 sweep; Nageotte-Morris and Holloway-Cunningham both 1-2 for U.S.!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Twice Olympic Shot Champion and World Champion: Ryan Crouser of the U.S. (Photo: Adam Eberhardt for Tracktown USA)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 6 ~ Sunday, 17 July 2022

An emotional night of finals saw wins for the home team in the men’s shot, women’s vault and men’s 110 m hurdles, and a historic Jamaican sweep in the women’s 100 m, with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce winning an astonishing fifth World Championships gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

It was an astonishing night for U.S. fans at Hayward Field in Eugene, as the U.S. won seven medals and qualified a bunch of athletes for future finals. The crowd was loud and the scene was electric:

● Men/110 m Hurdles ● Defending World Champion Grant Holloway (USA) blew out of the blocks in semi one and went unchallenged to win in 13.01 (wind: -0.6 m/s), with Britain’s Josh Zeller second in 13.31. Semi two was another blow-out, this time for NCAA champ Trey Cunningham of the U.S., finishing all alone in 13.07 (+0.3), ahead of Spain’s Asier Martinez (13.26). Olympic champ Hansle Parchment (JAM) got control of the third semi in mid-race and won in 13.02w (+2.5), with American Devon Allen at 13.09w.

Parchment was hurt during warm-ups for the final and had to withdraw, with the Americans arrayed in lanes 3 (Allen), 4 (Holloway) and 6 (Cunningham). Then, Allen was called for a false start, just 1/1000th faster than the allowed 1/10th of a second, leaving only six to run.

Off the gun, Holloway reacted slowly, but got to the lead quickly and was never headed, in 13.03 (+1.2). Cunningham was strong in the middle of the race, then held off Martinez, 1308-13.17 for the silver. Poland’s Damian Czykier was fourth in 13.32.

● Women/100 m ● The semis were tense, starting with St. Lucia’s (and NCAA champ for Texas) Julien Alfred being disqualified for a false start in semi one. On the re-start, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson had the lead in mid-race, but Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) led at 90 m, but Jackson surged again in the final 10 m to win in 10.84 vs. 10.89 (-0.2), with TeeTee Terry of the U.S. third in 11.04. Jamaican star Elaine Thompson-Herah was challenged by Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) right to the tape, but won 10.82-10.87 (-0.2), with American Melissa Jefferson getting third with a lunge at the line in 10.92. Former USC sprinter Tynia Gaither (BAH) suffered a false start in semi three; four-time champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce started well and zipped through in 10.93, with American Aleia Hobbs charged from fourth to second in 10.95. Jefferson advanced to the final, but Terry did not.

In the final, it was Fraser-Pryce got out with Asher-Smith, but the Jamaican was unmatched in the middle of the race, storming to a fifth Worlds gold in 10.67 (+0.8), ahead of teammates Jackson (lifetime best 10.73) and Thompson-Herah (10.81), with Jackson getting and staying ahead by mid-race. Asher-Smith was fourth in 10.83, equaling her lifetime best; Hobbs ran 10.92 for sixth and Jefferson was eighth in 11.03.

Jamaica celebrated a sweep, just as in Tokyo, but with Fraser-Pryce winning instead of Thompson-Herah.

● Women/Pole Vault ● The real jumping started at 4.60 m (15-1), with eight clearing, and then only Sandi Morris (USA), Nina Kennedy (AUS) and Tina Sutej (SLO) clearing 4.70 m (15-5) on their first try. Olympic champ Katie Nageotte of the U.S. cleared on her second try, and Rio 2016 gold medalist Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) made on her third. Those five moved to 4.80 m (15-9) with Morris and Kennedy clearing on their first try and Nageotte on the second.

But Nageotte got a world-leading, first-try clearance at 4.85 m (15-11), but then Kennedy missed twice, but Morris cleared on her second try. Stefanidi missed twice and after an earlier miss, was eliminated. So the medalists were set and Kennedy passed to 4.90 m (16-0 3/4).

Nageotte missed, then Kennedy had her third try (but first at 4.90) and missed, clinching the bronze. Morris missed twice, Nageotte missed all three and on her final try, Morris fell short and the U.S. 1-2 had Nageotte adding a world title to her Olympic gold and Morris won a third straight Worlds silver after 2017 and 2019.

The third American, NCAA champ Gabriela Leon cleared 4.30 m (14-1 1/4) and finished 12th.

● Men/Shot Put ● World-record holder Ryan Crouser was fifth in the order in the first round and methodically reached 22.21 m (72-10 1/2) to take the lead, but only for a few minutes as defending champ Joe Kovacs (USA) reached 22.63 m (74-3) to take over. Then the no. 3 American, Josh Awotunde, shoved Crouser into third with a lifetime best of 22.24 m (72-11 3/4) to move into second place!

What would Crouser do? Into the lead at 22.71 m (74-6 1/4), with the order maintained into the fifth round. Then New Zealand’s Tom Walsh, the 2017 champion, moved into fourth at 22.08 m (72-5 1/4) and started a chain reaction. Awotunde got another lifetime best at 22.29 m (73-1 3/4), then Kovacs took the lead at 22.89 m (75-1 3/4)!

Crouser was game and exploded with another huge throw, measured at 22.94 m (75-3 1/4)!

In the final round, Kovacs managed 22.42 m (73-6 3/4), leaving Crouser with the Worlds gold, his first after his silver in Doha in 2019. Awotunde’s third place completed the American sweep; the fourth American, Tripp Piperi, was eighth at 20.93 m (68-8).

● Men/Discus qualifying ● In Group A, Slovenian star Kristjian Ceh got his auto-qualifier on his first throw at 68.23 m (223-10) and Simon Pettersson got it on his second (68.11 m/223-5), as did Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna (68.91 m/226-1) and Matthew Denny of Australia (66.98 m/219-9).

In Group B, 2017 World Champion Andrius Gudzius (LTU) qualified at 66.60 m (218-6) and Lukas Weisshaidinger (AUT) reached 66.51 m (218-2).

Olympic champ Daniel Stahl (SWE) didn’t make the auto-qualifier, but advanced at 65.95 (216-4). American Sam Mattis reached 65.59 m (215-2) and qualified eighth; the other Americans did not advance: Andrew Evans in 18th (62.20 m/204-1) and Brian Williams in 28th (58.25 m/191-1).

● Men/400 m Hurdles semis ● Olympic silver medalist Rai Benjamin moved strongly on the second turn and led into the straight, loafing on the run-in but winning in 48.44, with Jaheel Hyde (JAM: 49.09) second. Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos cruised through the second semi in 47.85, with Trevor Bassitt of the U.S. a solid second in 48.17. In semi three, Norway’s world-record holder Karsten Warholm ran hard for eight hurdles and cruised home in 48.00, with France’s Wilfried Happio second with a lifetime best of 48.14 and American Khallifah Rosser qualifying for the final in third in 48.34.

● Men/1,500 m semis ● All three Tokyo medalists – Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), Tim Cheruiyot (KEN) and Britain’s Josh Kerr – were in semi one and Ingebrigtsen had the lead at the bell, running with World Indoor Champion Samuel Tefera (ETH). Cheruiyot came up to challenge for the lead on the final turn, and he and Ingebrigtsen led into the straight and then Kerr surged to take the win in 3:36.92, with Mario Garcia (ESP: 3:37.01) also flying to the line and Ingebrigtsen and Cheruiyot in 3-4 (3:37.02-3:37.04). American Johnny Gregorek finished eighth in 3:37.35.

Semi two saw Stewart McSweyn (AUS) taking it out, with world leader Abel Kipsang following closely and they led at the bell. Britain’s Jake Wightman fought his way into second with 200 m left and Kipsang took the lead. Spain’s Mohamed Katir charged past McSweyn and ended up second, edging Wightman, with Kipsang winning, 3:33.68-3:34.45-3:34.48. McSweyn qualified in fifth in 3:35.07; American Josh Thompson was seventh in 3:35.55, but qualified for the final on time.

● Women/Heptathlon ● Things heated up in the shot, where world leader Anouk Vetter (NED) got a lifetime best of 16.25 m (53-3 3/4), but with Belgium’s twice Olympic champ Nafi Thiam got a season’s best of 15.03 m (49-3 3/4). American Anna Hall got a lifetime best of 13.67 m (44-10 1/4). After three events, Thiam had 3,127 points to 3,003 for Vetter.

In the 200 m, Hall dominated with a win in 23.08, a lifetime best, moving her to third overall at 3,991. Thiam is the leader at 4,071 and Vetter stands second at 4,010. Defending champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) stands sixth at 3,798.

The meet continues Monday at 6:15 a.m. with the women’s marathon.

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TSX REPORT: Tola surges to marathon gold, Andersen hammers U.S. gold and Cheptegei wins 10,000 m in Worlds morning session

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Champion: Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola!

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 5 ~ Sunday, 17 July 2022

Sunday’s program began with the men’s marathon at 6:15 a.m., then will continue at 10:35 a.m. with the 100 m hurdles of the women’s heptathlon. This post will be added to later …

● Men/Marathon ● The flat, three-loop course started in 57 F temperatures and overcast skies just after 6:15 a.m. with 62 men on the line at Autzen Stadium, with Olympic marathon legend Frank Shorter the actual starter.

Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono, the 2019 Boston and Chicago Marathon winner, did not start as he was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit as he “tested positive for trimetazidine, a substance that is prohibited under the 2022 WADA Prohibited List as a metabolic modulator. Substances in this category modify how the body metabolizes fat.” He tested positive during a 23 May 2022 out-of-competition test, but the result was received 47 days later from the lab in Lausanne (SUI) instead of the usual 20 days: “The AIU has made a formal complaint to the laboratory in relation to this unacceptable delay, which has denied the opportunity for another Kenyan athlete to take the place of Mr Cherono in the marathon.”

(Remember that a long delay in the result for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva from the Stockholm lab caused the still-unresolved issues with the Beijing 2022 Team Event. This is a problem.)

In the race, the contenders ran together in a lead pack of 30, passing the half in 64:08 with Shumi Dechasa (BRN) leading most of the time. At the end of the second loop – 28 km – Dechasa had the lead at 1:25:11, but with 31 others still in contact.

The pace began to grind on the pack, with Dechasa and Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola – the 2017 Worlds runner-up – leading after 31 km, with 22 still in contention. The group was down to 14 by 32 km, with Tola pushing and Kenya’s three-time World Half Marathon champ Geoffrey Kamworor and Belgium’s Olympic bronze medalist Bashir Abdi closest.

Tola attacked after 32 km and broke away, with six chasing but seven seconds behind by 34 km after Tola threw in a 2:43 kilometer and found no challengers to his surge. Abdi, Mosinet Geremew (ETH), Kamworor and Cam Levins (CAN) were closest, but Tola was moving away smartly, up 12 seconds by 35 km and 17 seconds at 36 km, running kilometers in about 2:46.

Abdi and Geremew moved ahead of Kamworor and Levins with 6 km left, but the four were together by 38 km. Abdi and Geremew forged an expanding lead by 40 km and then fought each other for the silver and bronze.

Tola was 39 seconds up by 38 km and cruised to the win – accompanied by a group of bike riders on the other side of the road – in a brilliant 2:05:36, shattering the World Championships meet record of 2:06:54 by Kenyan Abel Kirui from 2009. Tola won by 1:08!

Geremew moved ahead of Abdi after 40 km and won his second consecutive Worlds silver (2:06:44) and Abdi got third in 2:06:48. Levins was sensational, taking more than two minutes off his lifetime best and set the Canadian record at 2:07:09. Kamworor was fifth in 2:07:14.

It was the second straight 1-2 for Ethiopia after Lelisa Desisa and Geremew went gold-silver in Doha in 2019. The Americans: Galen Rupp, suffering from back pains during the race, finished 18th in 2:09:36; Elkanah Kibet was 24th in 2:11:20 and and Colin Mickow was 46th in 2:16:37.

● Men/400 m heats ● South Africa’s Rio 2016 gold medalist Wayde van Niekerk is back from injury and won the first heat impressively in 45.18. In heat two, world leader Michael Norman of the U.S. worked the far turn and came into the home straight with a lead and cruised in at 45.37. Fellow American Michael Cherry ran hard early and won heat three in 45.81.

The third American, Champion Allison, took over the fourth heat in the final 75 m and won in 45.56. Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori won heat five in 44.87 over Grenada’s London 2012 gold medalist Kirani James (45.29). The final heat went to Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) in 45.49. The semis are on Wednesday.

● Women/400 m heats ● Olympic champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) had no trouble in heat one, winning easily in 51.10, but American Kendall Ellis was sixth (52.55) and was eliminated. Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann McPherson was a comfortable winner in the second heat in a seasonal best of 50.15, moving to no. 6 on the 2022 world list. Sada Williams (BAR) won heat three in 51.05.

Olympic silver winner Marileidy Paulino (DOM) dominated heat four (50.76), with American Lynna Irby third in 51.78. Fiordaliza Cofil – the Dominican anchor on the Mixed 4×400 m team – won heat five in 51.19, with Talitha Diggs (USA) second in 51.54. The final heat went to Poland’s Anna Kielbasinka in 50.63. The semis are on Wednesday.

● Women/Hammer ● American Brooke Andersen entered as the world leader and favorite and took command immediately at 74.81 m (245-5) in the first round, only to lose the lead to fellow American – and world no. 2 – Janee’ Kassanvoid in the second round at 74.86 m (245-7).

Canada’s Cam Rogers, the collegiate record holder at Cal, got into her third-round throw and took the lead at 75.52 m (247-9). But then Andersen got unstuck and sent the ball-and-chain to 77.42 m (254-0) in the fourth round and re-took the lead. And Andersen was hot, extending her lead to 77.56 m (254-5) in the fifth round.

No one could challenge the top three and Kassanavoid did not improve in round six, clinching the bronze. Rogers also did not improve on her sixth throw, settling for silver and Andersen won the second straight World title for the U.S. by bombing her final throw out to 78.96 m (259-1), a third straight improvement, the no. 2 throw in the world this season and the no. 4 in U.S. history!

American Annette Echikunwoke managed only 68.12 m (223-6) and finished 12th.

● Men/10,000 m ● It was 75 F for the 24 starters at 1 p.m. with Olympic champ Selemon Barega (ETH), world-record holder Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) and world leader Grant Fisher (USA) on the line.

The first half saw the runners strung out in a line, but with a dozen in contact with the leaders. Nothing changed until two laps to go, with Barega pushing the pace against seven others, and being challenged by Stanley Mburu (KEN), Olympic fourth-placer Berihu Aregawi (ETH) and Cheptegei. Barega had the lead at the bell, but Cheptegei got the lead heading into the backstretch and was working hard to maintain it against Barega, Aregawi and Mburu with Canada’s Moh Ahmed and Fisher both closing.

The all-out sprint from 200 m out saw Cheptegei maintaining the lead and no one could catch him, winning in 27:27.43 and moving up from silver in Tokyo. Mburu, who fell on the first lap and was shoved a few laps later, got the silver in 27:27.90 and Jacob Kiplimo (UGA), one of the early leaders, sprinted up for the bronze (27:27.97). Fisher surged in the final 75 m and passed two, but ended up fourth in 27:28.14, ahead of Barega (27:28.39) and Ahmed (27:30.27).

Cheptegei defended his 2019 Worlds gold in this event and will now go for the double in the 5,000 m, where he is Olympic champ from Tokyo.

● Women/Heptathlon ● American Michelle Atherley led the 100 m hurdles, running 13.12 in the second section, ahead of a 13.17 lifetime best from Annik Kalin (SUI). Double Olympic champ Nafi Thiam (BEL) scored a lifetime best of 13.21 in the first section, smashing her 2017 mark of 13.34.

Thiam was sensational in the high jump, winning at 1.95 m (6-4 3/4), ahead of Adrianna Sulek (POL: 1.89 m/6-2 1/4) and American Anna Hall (1.86 m/6-1 1/4). The shot put and 200 m will follow this afternoon.

American 400 m star – and two-time NCAA champ – Randolph Ross was also tossed from the World Championships by the Athletics Integrity Unit. He received a Notice of Allegation – and a provisional suspension – “for tampering with the doping control process. The allegation arises out of the athlete’s conduct during the course of an investigation into a potential whereabouts violation. There was an unsuccessful attempt by the AIU to test Mr Ross on 18 June 2022 and the investigation into this matter concluded when Mr Ross was interviewed by the AIU in Eugene on 14 July.”

This not only eliminates Ross from the men’s 400 m, but impacts the U.S.’s 4×400 m relay plans.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Cycling ● Stage 15 of the Tour de France was decided by an all-out sprint at the end of a 202.5 km ride in 100 F heat with Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen edging countryman Wout van Aert for his first career Tour stage win in 4:27:27. Dane Mads Pedersen was just behind in third.

The route from Rodez to Carcassonne included a couple of crashes – one of which involved race leader Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) – more protesters on the road and other antics, but after breakaway attacker Benjamin Thomas (FRA) was caught with 800 m to go, it was a flat-out sprint for the line.

The leaderboard remained unchanged as Vingegaard rejoined the race after his fall and finished 23rd. He retained his 2:22 lead on two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) and 2:43 on Britain’s Geraint Thomas. Monday is a rest day, followed by three straight mountain stages in the Pyrenees that may well decide the race.

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TSX REPORT: Kerley leads U.S. men’s 100 m sweep, plus Ealey takes shot and Wang scores a shock gold at Eugene Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley is now 2022 World Champion! (Photo: jenaragon94 via Wikipedia)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 4 ~ Saturday, 16 July 2022

The “world’s fastest man” title went to American Fred Kerley as part of a U.S. sweep in the final of the men’s 100 m at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene. The U.S. got a second gold from women’s shot star Chase Ealey and China took a shocking long jump gold on the second day.

Attendance was much better on Saturday evening, although not completely full, but the crowd at the new Hayward Field was loud and appreciative. Here’s what happened:

● Women/100 m heats ● Seven heats, with the all-Jamaica Tokyo podium sweeping the first three.

Tokyo bronze medalist Shericka Jackson won heat one in 11.02 (wind: +0.7), four-time World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce cruised – now 35 – to a 10.87 win in heat two (-0.2) and double Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah took heat three in a very relaxed 11.15 (+0.2).

Lots of stories in heat four, as Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) came on late to edge American TeeTee Terry 10.92-10.95 (+0.8), with the fourth Jamaican, Oregon star Kemba Nelson, third in 11.10. South Africa’s Carina Horn was one of those with visa trouble, but got to Eugene and was fourth in 11.29.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith ran away with heat five in an impressive 10.84 (+1.2), just 0.01 from her lifetime best! Aleia Hobbs of the U.S. won heat six easily in 11.04 (+0.1) and Swiss star Mujinga Kambundji won heat seven in 10.97 (-0.1), with American Melissa Jefferson second in 11.03. Four Jamaicans and three Americans all advanced.

It didn’t impact the semifinals, but there was an important subtext to heat three, as Saudi sprinter Yasmeen Aldabbagh lined up next to, and ran against, Israeli Diana Vaisman. It wasn’t close, as Vaisman was fifth in 11.29 and Aldabbagh was seventh in 13.21, but there was a time not long ago where Saudi authorities would never have permitted one of their athletes to compete head-to-head with an Israeli. The Iranians still don’t. So a small, but noteworthy, show of co-existence on the track in 2022.

● Women/Shot Put ● World leader Ealey of the U.S. threw first and put the field on notice with the no. 2 throw of the year at 20.49 m (67-2 3/4), with defending World and Olympic champ Lijiao Gong (CHN) responding with a 19.58 m (64-3) to move up to second.

Ealey reached 19.82 m (65-0 1/2) to start the second round, but Gong got closer at 19.84 m (65-1 1/4) and hunted Easley with a third-round 20.23 m (66-4 1/2) in round three. Neither improved in round four, then Gong got into her fifth round toss at 20.39 m (66-10 3/4), closer, but still second.

But Gong could not improve in the sixth round and after Ealey’s foul, the American celebrated a world title based on her first-round throw. It’s Gong’s seventh Worlds medal, after two golds in 2017 and 2019 (now 2-2-3) across 13 years.

Jessica Schilder (NED) moved to third with a national record of 19.77 m (64-10 1/2) in the second and fifth rounds. Canada’s Sarah Mitton also got out to 19.77 m in the sixth round, but was fourth since Schilder did it twice.

American Jessica Woodard was eighth at 18.67 m (61-2) and teammate Maggie Ewen finished ninth at 18.64 m (61-2).

● Men/Long Jump ● Olympic champ Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE) stomped on the field in the second round at 8.30 m (27-2 3/4), and appeared to be cruising in the lead. World leader Simon Ehammer – the Swiss decathlete – jumped up to second at 8.16 m (26-9 1/4) and then Cuba’s Maykel Masso reached 8.15 m (26-9) for third. Tentoglou stretched to 8.29 m (27-2 1/2) in round three to consolidate his lead, with American Steffin McCarter fourth (8.04 m/26-4 1/2) and teammate Marquis Dendy (8.02 m/26-3 3/4) fifth.

Tentoglou got to 8.24 m (27-0 1/2) in round four and then extended his lead at 8.32 m (27-3 3/4) in round five. But then China’s Jianan Wang dropped a bomb with a season’s best of 8.36 m (27-5 1/4) finale, improving from 8.03 m (26-4 1/4) in the third and fifth rounds.

Tentoglou was strong on his final jump, but got only to 8.20 m (26-11) and had to settle for silver, with Ehammer third. Masso, McCarter and Dendy finished 4-5-6.

● Men/1,500 m heats ● Three heats with the top six to go through and six more on time, with Ethiopia’s two-time World Indoor Champion Sam Tefera leading at the bell and passing Charles Grethen (LUX) on the home straight to take the lead before being passed late by Ollie Hoare (AUS), 3:36.17-3:36.35. Defending champ Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) qualified in fourth, but American Cooper Teare was 13th (3:41.15).

Norway’s Olympic champ Jakob Ingebrigtsen was the headliner in heat two, and he settled in behind Stewart McSweyn (AUS) in the early going. McSweyn towed the field through the bell and won just ahead of Charles Philbert-Thiboutot (CAN) and Ingebrigtsen, 3:34.91-3:35.02-3:35.12. American Johnny Gregorek was a qualifying sixth in 3:35.65.

World leader Abel Kipsang (KEN) was the focus of the final heat, but the race was controlled by Britain’s Josh Kerr, who took the bell and then led all the way around to win in 3:38.94. Kipsang, New Zealand’s Sam Tanner and Spain’s Mohamed Katir were 2-3-4 coming into the final straight, but American Josh Thompson stormed up on the inside to get second at 3:39.10, then Kipsang (3:39.21) in the mass finish with William Paulson (CAN: 3:39.21), Tanner (3:39.33) and Katir (3:39.45).

● Women/1,500 m semis ● World Indoor Champion Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) tired of the slow pace in the first half of semi one, then moved to the lead and was never headed on the way to a 4:01.28. Behind her, Britain’s Olympic silver medalist Laura Muir and Australia’s Jessica Hull cruised home 2-3 in 4:01.78-4:01.81. American Cory McGee ran into an auto-qualifying fifth on the final straight in 4:02.74, but Elle St. Pierre was 11th in 4:09.84.

All eyes were on Olympic champ Faith Kipyegon (KEN) in semi two, and she went to the front right away, only to be passed from frontrunner Nozomi Tanaka (JPN). Kipyegon got serious with 500 m to go, with American Sinclaire Johnson and Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha trailing. Kipyegon led at the bell and was unchallenged, winning in 4:03.98, with Meshesha and Johnson qualifying comfortably in 4:04.05 and 4:04.51.

● Men/100 m ● The semifinals saw South Africa’s Akani Simbine just edge American Trayvon Bromell, with both in 9.97 (+0.3) in the first race, then a U.S. 1-2 in semi two with Christian Coleman starting well, but then passed by Kerley in the last 40 m, 10.02-10.05 (+0.1). Olympic champ Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA) withdrew from semi three due to injuries; Jamaica’s Oblique Seville won in 9.90 to 9.93 for Marvin Bracy (USA; wind -0.1), placing all four U.S. entries in the final.

Bracy was in lane three, Kerley in four, Coleman in seven and Bromell in eight, with Simbine in five and Seville in six. Off the gun, Coleman got the best start – as expected – but Kerley and Bracy moved best in mid-race and Bracy had the lead at 70 m and 80 m. But Kerley closed and then moved hardest in the final 5 m and just edged Bracy at the line, timing 9.86 to 9.88.

Meanwhile, Bromell was revving in lane eight and moving toward the lead at the tape and got third (9.88) by 0.002 to Bracy. Seville was fourth in 9.97; Coleman finished sixth in 10.01.

It’s the first U.S. sweep at the Worlds since 1991, when Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell and Dennis Mitchell took the medals in Tokyo. Wow!

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TSX REPORT: Fajdek hammers down fifth Worlds gold, and Gidey wins three-way sprint in women’s 10,000 at Eugene World Champs

By
Rich Perelman
-
Just THIS CLOSE in the women's 10,000 m World Championship, with Ethiopia's Letsenbet Gidey winning ... barely (Official Seiko Photofinish)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 3 ~ Saturday, 16 July 2022

Friday’s bright sunshine gave way to clouds and 65 F temperatures on Saturday morning and early afternoon at a half-filled Hayward Field in Eugene for the second day of the 2022 World Athletics Championships. There were two finals, with brilliant wins by Ethiopian star Letsenbet Gidey at 10,000 m and a Polish 1-2 in the men’s hammer. Event by event:

● Women/Triple Jump qualifying ● Venezuela’s world-record holder Yulimar Rojas was the first jumper in the order and auto-qualified even with a take-off way behind the board at 14.73 m (48-4). One and done.

Four others reached the 14.40 m qualifying mark: Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk (UKR: 14.54 m/47-8 1/2), Dominican Ana Jose Tima (14.52 m/47-7 3/4), Finland’s Kristiina Makela (14.49 m/47-6 1/2) and Shanieka Ricketts (JAM: 14.46 m/47-5 1/4). Americans Keturah Orji (14.37 m/47-1 3/4) and Tori Franklin (14.36 m/47-1 1/2) qualified seventh and ninth and Jasmine Moore reached 14.24 m (46-8 3/4) and missed out in 13th.

● Women/High Jump qualifying ● It took only 1.90 m (6-2 3/4) to qualify with world leader Yaroslava Manuchikh (UKR) as one of nine to clear 1.93 m (6-4) and move on to the final. Teammate Iryna Gerashchenko and Australia’s Eleanor Patterson also cleared 1.93 m, but no Americans qualified. Vashti Cunningham cleared 1.86 m (6-1 1/4); Rachel Glenn only 1.80 m (5-11 1/4) and Rachel McCoy managed 1.90 m, but finished 17th.

● Women/Steeple heats ● Ex-Kenyan Norah Jeruto, now running for Kazakhstan, ran away with heat one, taking charge from the start and creating a huge lead, winning by almost 10 seconds in stunning 9:01.54, the no. 4 performance of 2022! Ethiopia’s Werkuha Getachew and Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani (lifetime best) ran away from American star Emma Coburn, 9:11.25-9:12.14-9:15.19, for the auto-qualifying spots.

The second heat was led by Olympic champ Peruth Chemutai (UGA) for most of the race, but Britain’s Aimee Pratt took the lead at the bell, with NCAA champ Courtney Wayment (USA) on her shoulder into the backstraight. Chemutai drove hard to get to the lead, followed by Mekides Abebe (ETH), then Abebe took the lead into the far turn, with six running for the three auto-qualifying spots. Abebe had the lead into the final straight, but could not hold off France’s Alice Finot, who won in 9:14.34, with Abebe second (9:14.83) and a mad dash for third won by Albanian Luiza Gega over Wayment, 9:14.91 to 9:14.95. Chemutai faded to a stunning fifth in 9:16.66 and Pratt was sixth in 9:18.91, a national record.

The final heat had six women together at the bell, with Kenya’s Celliphine Chespol and Slovenian Marusa Zrimsek leading on the backstraight, with Winfred Yavi (BRN) and American Courtney Frerichs separating from the rest of the field. The final sprint had Chespol winning in 9:16.78, Zrimsek a surprise second in 9:17.14, then Yavi (9:17.32) and Frerichs (9:17.91)

All three Americans finished fourth, but all advanced to the final on time.

● Men/110 m Hurdles heats ● NCAA champ Trey Cunningham of the U.S. took the first heat in 13.28 despite hitting hurdles six and 10 (wind: -0.5 m/s). Defending champ Grant Holloway of the U.S. drew lane one, but blew away the field in heat two, winning in 13.14 (+0.4).

U.S. champ Daniel Roberts had control of heat three, but hit hurdle seven and then crashed into the eighth hurdle and did not finish. Spain’s Asier Martinez won in 13.37 (-0.3). Olympic champ Hansle Parchment (JAM) came on in mid-race to win heat four in 13.17 (+0.2) and American Devon Allen labored through the fifth heat, hitting most of the hurdles, but managed to win in 13.47 (+0.4).

● Men/Hammer ● Olympic champ Wojciech Nowicki of Poland got the ball rolling – so to speak – at 80.07 m (262-8) in the second round and was joined by teammate and four-time World Champion Pawel Fajdek, who took the lead at 80.58 m (264-4), only to be passed by Norway’s Elvind Henriksen at 80.87 m (265-4).

Nowicki upped the ante in round three, reaching 81.03 m (265-10), but Fajdek would have none of it, spinning out to a world-leading 81.98 m (268-11) to take the lead. But that was it. Fajdek won his fifth Worlds gold leading a Polish 1-2, with Nowicki taking a fourth Worlds medal, but first silver after bronzes in 2015-17-19. Henriksen stayed third, with Quentin Bigot (FRA) fourth at 80.24 m (263-3).

Among men’s field eventers at the Worlds, only Sergey Bubka (UKR/vault) has more golds than Fajdek, with six from 1983-97; Germany’s Lars Reidel also has five, in the discus, from 1991-2001.

American Rudy Winkler was sixth at 78.99 m (259-2), with Daniel Haugh in eighth (78.10 m/256-3) and Alex Young 12th in 73.60 m (241-6).

● Women/10,000 m ● Japan’s Ririka Hironaka, Britain’s Eilish McColgan and Kenyan Olympic 5,000 m winner Hellen Obiri towed the field through the half in 15:19.31, but gave way to Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye and Letsenbet Gidey by 7,000 m, with Obiri going nowhere.

Those three were at the head of a lead pack of nine which slowly shrank to seven with two laps to go and included defending champ and the Tokyo Olympic winner, Dutch superstar Sifan Hassan. After injuries and a lack of training, did she have the devastating kick that won two golds last year?

At the bell, it was Gidey and Obiri in the lead, but any of the top six could win it. Gidey and Obiri led into the far turn, but now Hassan was coming, and coming hard. She moved into third with 100 m to go, but her sprint gave way to Kenyan Margaret Kipkemboi in the last 20 m, who got third.

At the front, Gidey had the lead, but only by a step on the charging Obiri. Gidey, the world-record holder, gritted her teeth and looked behind at Obiri three times in the final 50 m, but held on to win in a world-leading 30:09.94, to Obiri’s lifetime best of 30:10.02. Kipkemboi was third in 3:10.07, a lifetime best, with Hassan at 30:10.56.

American Karissa Schweizer, with the lead pack for most of the race, was ninth in 30:18.05 – a huge lifetime best and now no. 3 all-time U.S. – ahead of McColgan (30:34.60). Americans Alicia Monson and Natosha Rogers were 13th and 15th in 30:59.85 and 31:10.57.

● Men/400 m Hurdles heats ● American Rai Benjamin led off with a win in heat one in 49.07 with a surge on the far turn, despite an NBC report that he has right-leg hamstring issues.

World leader Alison Dos Santos (BRA) toyed with the field in heat two, jogging home in 49.41. World-record holder Karsten Warholm (NOR) blew away the field from the start as usual, winning heat three in 49.34. Estonia’s Rasmus Magi won heat four in 48.78, with American Trevor Bassitt fading to a qualifying fourth in 49.17. American Khallifah Rosser dominated the fifth heat – from lane two – winning by a full second in 48.62, the fastest of the day!

Splits from Friday’s Mixed 4×400 m final showed that Americans Elija Godwin and Vernon Norwood had the fastest splits on the first and third legs – 44.71 and 44.40 – but that Allyson Felix (50.15) was nearly caught by Dominican star Marileidy Paulino (48.47) and anchor Kennedy Simon (50.90) was passed by Fiordaliza Cofil (49.92) and Dutch star Femke Bol, who timed 48.95 on her leg, fastest of the anchor runners.

On the visa saga, Athletics Kenya said that all of its athletes received a U.S. entry visa within a week except for sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, whose application was incomplete. He arrived just hours before his heat in the 100 m and qualified to today’s semifinals. A criminal investigation is being opened concerning the alleged inclusion of 32 non-athlete “joyriders” on the visa request list submitted by Athletics Kenya, which the federation says it has no knowledge of.

Good news from the Athletics Integrity Unit, reporting that no positives were found from testing of athletes in “high-risk” countries for doping, including Belarus, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Ukraine. Belarus is banned, of course, for collusion with Russia on its invasion of Ukraine, but 1,206 out-of-competition tests were carried out on athletes from the six other countries, including 378 for Kenya, 267 for Morocco and 241 for Ethiopia.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 1912: Stockholm ● The International Olympic Committee’s announcement that Jim Thorpe has been recognized as the sole winner of the pentathlon and decathlon events acknowledged the efforts made on Thorpe’s behalf:

“This development has been made possible by the engagement of the Bright Path Strong organisation, supported by IOC Member Anita DeFrantz [USA]. They contacted the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOC) and the surviving family members of Hugo K. Wieslander, who was named as the gold medallist in decathlon when Thorpe was stripped of his medals in 1913. They confirmed that Wieslander himself had never accepted the Olympic gold medal allocated to him, and had always been of the opinion that Jim Thorpe was the sole legitimate Olympic gold medallist. When contacted by the IOC, the SOC also declared that Thorpe should be acknowledged as the sole Olympic champion in decathlon at the Olympic Games Stockholm 1912.

“The same declaration was received from the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports, whose athlete, Ferdinand Bie, was named as the gold medallist when Thorpe was stripped of the pentathlon title.”

As to the rest of the results of the two events:

“With this decision, Thorpe’s name will now be displayed as the sole gold medallist in pentathlon and decathlon, with the silver going to Bie in the pentathlon and Wieslander in the decathlon. However, James Donahue, from the US, and Frank Lukeman, from Canada, will keep the silver and bronze medals in pentathlon that they were awarded when the results were amended in 1913. The same applies to Charles Lomberg (silver) and Gosta Holmer (bronze), both from Sweden, in the decathlon.”

● Cycling ● Australia’s Michael Matthews won his fourth career Tour de France stage on Saturday with an attack in the final 2 km of the hilly, 192.5 Stage 14 ride from Saint Etienne to Mende. He finished 15 seconds up on Alberto Bettiol (ITA) and 34 seconds ahead of Thibaut Pinot (FRA). There was a modest change in the overall leaderboard, with Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) continuing with a 2:22 lead over two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO), but now 2:43 over 2018 winner Geraint Thomas (GBR).

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TSX REPORT: U.S., Felix score bronze on Mixed 4×4 to close World Athletics Champs opening day in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-
This is what a 9.79 win in a 100 m HEAT looks like for American Fred Kerley (Official Seiko Finish Photo)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 2 ~ Friday, 15 July 2022

Just three finals on the first day of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, finishing with the Mixed 4×400 m and a 19th career Worlds medal for Allyson Felix, but it was bronze and not gold.

A formal, but quick Opening Ceremony was held at 4:50 p.m., with Oregon Governor Kate Brown welcoming the event, along with Douglas Imhoff, husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR). Plus a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Duane Reno.

After the women’s 20 km Walk in the morning, the men’s 20 km Walk started at 3:13 p.m. on a 1 km course adjacent to Autzen Stadium, with the Mixed 4×400 m to end the program. Here’s what happened:

● Men/20 km Walk ● The race went off at 81 F temperatures, with Japan’s Toshikazu Yamanishi – the defending World Champion – leading from the start, but the walkers were bunched at 5 km, with 2019 Worlds bronze medalist Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) leading at 20:11. Yamanishi led a group of 20+ across the 10 km split in 40:34, then picked up the pace and strung out the field, with 10 in the lead pack by 12 km. By the 15 km mark. Yamanishi pulled Kenya’s Samuel Gathimba and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Koki Ikeda (JPN) to a three-second lead over the rest at 59:57.

Karlstrom pushed back and got to the lead before 16 km, bringing the lead pack down to four. But he fell back at 17 km as Yamanishi pushed the pace again, with Ikeda and Gathimba close. The two Japanese walked together and had a nine-second lead over Hathimba and Kallstrom at the bell, but Yamanishi then stormed away and opened an enormous lead right after 19 km, leaving the silver to Ikeda, and winning his second straight world title in 1:19:07 with a final km of 3:40! Ikeda was at 1:19:14 and Karlstrom – third in 2019 – passed Gathimba for third on the final turn, 1:19:18 to 1:19:25.

The temperature at the finish was 83 F. Yamanishi is the third to win multiple Worlds gold in this event after Maurizio Damiliano (ITA: 1987-91) and Jefferson Perez (ECU: 2003-05-07).

Nick Christie was the top American finisher in 31st in 1:28:28.

● Women/Shot Put qualifying ● Two-time World Champion and Tokyo Olympic winner Lijiao Gong (CHN) led the qualifying with a seasonal best of 19.51 m (64-0 1/4), with world leader Chase Ealey an automatic qualifier at 18.96 m (62-2 1/2). Americans Jessica Woodard (19.08 m/62-7 1/4) and Maggie Ewen (also 18.96 m) also scored auto qualifiers on their third tries.

Adelaide Aquilla of the U.S. got out to 18.33 m (60-1 3/4) on her final try, finishing 14th.

● Men/3,000 m Steeple heats ● Tokyo Olympic champ Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) took control in the final 300 m of the first heat to win in 8:16.65, with Kenyans Leonard Bett and Abraham Kibiwot passing Getnet Wale (ETH) on the final straight, 8:16.94-8:17.04-8:17.49. American Benard Keter passed on the final half-lap, was seventh in 8:21.94 and did not qualify.

Ethiopia’s Olympic silver winner Lamecha Girma led at the bell of the second heat and into the final straight and ran away to win in 8:19.64. Comebacking Rio 2016 gold medalist Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) moved from fourth to second in the final 50 m to edge American Hillary Bor, 8:20.12-8:20.18, with Mehdi Belhadj (FRA) fourth in 8:20.47.

The final water jump was decisive in the final heat, with Haile Amare of Ethiopia taking it cleanly and American star Evan Jager moving from third to second ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Ben Kigen (KEN), who was flailing in the deep end of the water and fell back. Amare won in 8:18.34 with Jager at 8:18.44 and Avinash Sable (IND) third in 8:18.75; Kigen was seventh in 8:22.52.

● Women/Pole Vault qualifying ● The auto qualifying height was 4.65 m (15-3), but the bar didn’t get past 4.50 m (14-9), as 11 cleared, including Olympic champ Kate Nageotte and World Indoor Champion Sandi Morris of the U.S. The third American vaulter, Gabriela Leon, cleared 4.35 m (14-3 1/4) and tied for 12th and made the final as well.

● Men/Long Jump qualifying ● Japan’s Yuki Hashioka was the first to get an auto-qualifier with his second-round leap of 8.18 m (26-10) and was joined by American Marquis Dendy at 8.16 m (26-9 1/4). Sweden’s Thobias Montler was third in Group A at 8.10 m (26-7). Olympic champ Miltiadis Tentoglu (GRE) led the second group at 8.03 m (26-4 1/4) and tied for fifth overall; American Steffin McCarter reached 7.93 m (26-0 1/4), finishing 11th and advancing to the final.

● Women/1,500 m heats ● The top six in each of three heats made it to the semis, plus the next six fastest on time. Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha and Britain’s Tokyo silver medalist Laura Muir led at the bell of heat one and controlled the race from the front. Five runners separated on the home straight, with Meshesha winning in 4:07.05, Muir second at 4:07.53 and American Sinclaire Johnson a clear fourth in 4:07.68.

Olympic champ Faith Kipyegon (KEN) had no trouble winning heat two, maintaining control of the race throughout and winning in 4:04.53. But behind her, it was a sprint down the final straight with Australian Jessica Hull crossing second (4:04.68), Freweyni Hailu (ETH: 4:04.85) third and American Elle St. Pierre fourth (4:04.94).

Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay – the 2019 Worlds bronze medalist – took charge of the third heat at the 800 m mark and cruised home in an impressive 4:02.67. Kenya’s Winny Chebet charged down the straight to get second in 4:03.12, with Linden Hall (AUS: 4:03.21) third. American Cory McGee got the last auto qualifier in sixth (4:03.61).

● Men/100 m heats ● Seven heats, with the top three moving through, plus the next three fastest on time. American Marvin Bracy looked easy in winning heat one in 10.05. But Fred Kerley breezed to the win in heat two, winning in 9.79 (wind: +0.1), the no. 3 performance of 2022 … all of which are his! His last four races have been wins in 9.83, 9.76, 9.77 and 9.79. Wow!

Trayvon Bromell easily won heat three, moving away at the finish in 9.89 (+0.6), then Jamaica’s Oblique Seville won heat four in 9.93, ahead of a comebacking Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA: 10.04). Letsile Tebogo (BOT) won heat five over 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake (JAM) in a World U-20 Record of 9.94 to 10.04.

Defending World Champion Christian Coleman of the U.S. exploded out of the blocks and shut it down with 10 m to go and won in 10.08 (+0.5), and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala – who barely got to Eugene after a visa hassle – made it through the final heat, third in 10.10, with Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown winning in 9.98.

● Men/Shot Put qualifying ● Olympic champ and world-record holder Ryan Crouser of the U.S. qualified easily with his opening throw of 22.28 m (73-1 3/4) and teammate Josh Awotunde threw 21.18 m (69-6), close enough to the auto-qualifying distance of 21.20 m (69-6 3/4) to assure getting to the final. In Group B, defending champion Joe Kovacs of the U.S. got his auto-qualifier in the first round at 21.50 m (70-6 1/2), as did former American Nick Ponzio (ITA: 21.35 m/70-0 1/2).

The fourth American, Adrian Piperi, got to 21.03 m (69-0) and also advanced in eighth, so all four Americans will be in the final.

● Mixed/4×400 m ● The U.S. led the qualifying by almost a second at 3:11.75, the no. 9 performance of all time and added Felix on the second leg for the final.

Elija Godwin got the U.S. off to a strong start, handing to Felix with the lead and Felix moved out smartly to a big lead on the backstraight. But Dominican Olympic 400 m silver medalist Marileidy Paulino finished like a rocket and essentially ran Felix (50.1) down on the home straight.

Alexander Ogando had the lead for the Dominicans on the third leg, but was passed by American Vernon Norwood on the home straight and Kennedy Simon had the lead on the final lap. She looked strong through 200 m, but was losing the lead to Dominican anchor Fiordaliza Cofil on the turn and faded to third as Dutch 400 hurdles star Femke Bol got the silver, 3:09.82-3:09.90-3:10.16.

It’s the no. 2 time in history for the Dominicans and no. 4 for the Netherlands. For Felix, she extends her record total of World Championships medals to 19 (13-3-3) in what was likely her final race in a major championships.

The crowd at Hayward Field was disappointing, with plenty of open seats; a full house is expected for the evening sessions for the rest of the week.

The meet is being televised in the U.S. by NBCUniversal, mostly on USA Network, but also on NBC and CNBC on the weekends and on the Peacock streaming service.

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TSX REPORT: Peru’s Garcia Leon upsets China in women’s 20 km Walk for opening gold in World Athletics Champs in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Session 1 ~ Friday, 15 July 2022

The first World Athletics Championships to be held in the United States opened at 9:06 a.m. Pacific time on Friday in front of a few hundred fans at the new Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Canada’s Adam Keenan was the first competitor, in the men’s hammer qualifying, reaching 74.38 m (244-0), but he did not qualify for the final. Poland’s Olympic champ Wojciech Nowicki reached the automatic qualifying distance on his first try of 79.22 m (259-11) and American Daniel Haugh led the first group at 79.34 m (260-4).

We’re underway.

The “opening ceremony” appeared to be a 10-minute march of 200 school children around the track at 10 a.m., waving flags of the 192 participating countries.

In the first session:

● Men/Hammer qualifying: Four-time World Champion Pawel Fajdek led all qualifiers at 80.09 m (262-9), ahead of Haugh and Nowcki. Americans Rudy Winkler qualified fifth at 78.61 m (257-11) and Alex Young was the final qualifier at 74.67 m (244-11).

● Men/High Jump qualifying: Eleven jumpers cleared 2.28 m (7-5 3/4), including Olympic co-champs Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) and Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT). Americans JuVaughn Harrison and Shelby McEwen both qualified, as did Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo, who – with McEwen – have the best seasonal best in the field at 2.33 m (7-7 3/4).

● Mixed/4×400 m heats: The U.S. team of Elija Godwin (44.89), Kennedy Simon (50.64), Vernon Norwood (44.74) and Wadeline Jonathas (51.48) won heat one with a world-leading 3:11.75, easily ahead of the Dutch (3:12.63) and Poland (3:13.70). The Dominican Republic won heat two in 3:13.22, beating Ireland (3:13.88) and Jamaica (3:13.95). The U.S. is the defending champ from the 2019 Worlds, but was third to Poland in Tokyo in 2021.

● Men/100 m prelims: The “run-in” races were led by Emanuel Archibald (GUY) at 10.31, ahead of Ebrahima Camara (GAM: 10.37).

● Women/Hammer qualifying: American Janee Kassanavoid led the first group with an auto qualifier of 74.46 m (244-3), and teammate Brooke Andersen – the world leader – also got the automatic qualifier at 74.37 m (244-0) to lead the second group. They were 1-2 overall, with fellow American Annette Echikunwoke qualifying fifth at 72.60 m (238-2).

● Women/20 km Walk: The first final of Oregon22 started in 80 F temps, with China’s London 2012 gold medalist Shijie Qieyang and Peru’s Kimberly Garcia Leon sprinting to the lead and dumping the field after 3 km, forging an 11-second lead after 4 km and 14 seconds after 5 km (21:42) on the 1 km loop outside of Oregon’s Autzen Stadium. The pair passed 10 km in 43:41 with a 20-second edge on the field, walking about 4:22 per kilometer. Poland’s Katarzyna Zdzieblo, 10th in Tokyo, was all alone in third, with a 36-second lead by 12 km.

At 14 km, Garcia Leon moved ahead and had a two-second edge at 15 km, but then six at 16 km and 18 at 17 km, with Zdzieblo passing a slowing Qieyang at the 17.5 km mark. Garcia Leon won easily in a national record 1:26:58, followed by Zdzieblo, also in a national mark of 1:27:31. Qieyang won the bronze in 1:27:56, her third career Worlds medal (0-1-2). Americans Robyn Stevens finished 24th (1:36:16) and Miranda Melville was 35th (1:39:58).

Garcia Leon – whose best finish was a third at the 2022 World Team Championships – won Peru’s first-ever medal at the World Championships and stopped a five-Worlds winning streak for the Chinese. She also won $70,000 for the victory.

The men’s 20 km Walk follows at 3:10 p.m.

More visa issues, as Britain’s Curtis Thompson “will not compete in the World Athletics Championships men’s marathon this weekend after significant delays in the processing of his US visa.

“UKA had been in close liaison with World Athletics and enlisted help of the UK Government to solve a last minute hold up, however, due to the close proximity to the marathon on Sunday 17 July, Thompson is now unable to travel and compete.”

The BBC reported:

“The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Oregon22 organisers and World Athletics have dealt with 374 cases, with 255 resolved and 20 refused [99 unresolved].

“In some cases, athletes have had delays in getting interviews, or applications have either been late or contained incorrect information.”

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Basketball ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow court again on Thursday and Friday, but with no verdict announced in her trial for “drug smuggling.”

Griner has pled guilty with hopes to obtain a reduced sentence. During Thursday’s hearing, she was praised by members of her Russian club, UMMC Ekaterinburg. Griner’s attorneys expect the proceedings to continue into August; she has been detained since mid-February. U.S. authorities consider Griner to be unlawfully detained.

● Bobsled & Skeleton ● The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation elected Italian Ivo Ferriani, 62, for a fourth term as President, which he says will be his last. He ran unopposed. Also:

“The delegates of the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton (IBSF) 2022 Congress in Lausanne (SUI) have voted to suspend all athletes of the Bobsleigh Federation of Russia (BFR) or otherwise affiliated to the BFR from participating in IBSF bobsleigh or skeleton competitions until further notice.”

The Congress also made a change that multiple federations are adopting, allowing its Executive Board to take “protective measures” in case of unforeseen events, allowing the suspension of “federations or persons for the necessary time or cancelling/relocating events.”

● Cycling ● Stage 12 of the Tour de France, on a hilly, 192.6 km route ending in Saint-Etienne, saw a final sprint won by Dane Mads Pedersen from Fred Wright (GBR) and Hugo Houle (CAN) in 4:13:03. American Matteo Jorgenson was fifth (+0:30). The overall leader finished in a pack, 5:45 behind; Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) continues to lead two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) by 2:22 and Geraint Thomas (GBR) by 2:26.

● Football ● Six appeals made by Russian football clubs against decisions by FIFA and UEFA which suspended the clubs indefinitely were rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Football Union of Russia and clubs FC Zenit, FC Sochi, PFC CSKA Moscow and FC Dynamo Moscow appealed and lost:

“[T]he Panel determined that the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the public and government responses worldwide, created unforeseen and unprecedented circumstances to which FIFA and UEFA had to respond. In determining that Russian teams and clubs should not participate in competitions under their aegis while such circumstances persisted, the Panel held that both parties acted within the scope of the discretion granted to them under their respective statutes and regulations. …

“The Panel finds it unfortunate that the current military operations in Ukraine, for which Russian football teams, clubs, and players have themselves no responsibility, had, by reason of the decisions of FIFA and UEFA, such an adverse effect on them and Russian football generally, but those effects were, in the Panel’s view, offset by the need for the secure and orderly conduct of football events for the rest of the world.”

● Skating ● The International Skating Union announced the figure skating Grand Prix schedule – at least most of it – for 2022 on Thursday, with four events set in the U.S., Canada, France and Japan, plus the final in Italy. However, the stops in Russian and China will have to be replaced, with the ban on Russian events and China withdrawing in view of continuing Covid uncertainties. One of the events has been replaced and will be held in Espoo (FIN), with one still to be determined.

The schedule will open, as usual, in the U.S. with Skate America, to be held in Norwood, Massachusetts on 21-23 October, followed by Skate Canada International on 28-30 October in Mississauga, Ontario.

● Weightlifting ● The newly-elected International Weightlifting Federation Executive Board met for the first time on Thursday, in Lausanne (SUI). Despite reports of legal challenges to the elections, the Board considered actions to try and retrieve its place on the Los Angeles 2028 program:

“[C]oncrete steps were agreed including commissioning the International Testing Agency (ITA) to increase the number of out-of-competitions tests. Additionally, an international auditing firm will now be appointed to perform a detailed financial, governance and operational due diligence of the IWF covering the past ten years.”

This is yet another report on the IWF’s sordid past, adding to the 2020 report by McLaren Global Sport Solutions and the ITA’s 2021 report of doping issues from 2009-19. Whether this will help satisfy the International Olympic Committee’s concerns is open to question.

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TSX REPORT: Eugene World T&F Champs open today; Thorpe declared sole 1912 winner!; U.S. women vs. Canada in CONCACAF W final

By
Rich Perelman
-
Jim Thorpe at the 1912 Stockholm Games, where he won (then and now) the pentathlon and decathlon (Photo Agence Rol - Gallica, via Wikipedia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. World Athletics Champs open Friday, plagued by visa issues
2. IOC recognizes Thorpe as sole winner of 1912 multi-events
3. British Olympic stars pan pre-Paris 2024 FINA Worlds
4. Paralympic control ceded to IFs for biathlon and skiing
5. U.S. women top Costa Rica, 3-0, on to CONCACAF W final

The long-awaited first World Athletics Championships in the United States starts today in Eugene, Oregon, amid controversy over visa issues to enter the U.S. and in the smallest venue to ever host the Worlds, the new Hayward Field. But the competition is expected to be great. The International Olympic Committee has, after 110 years, recognized American icon Jim Thorpe as the “winner” – and not co-champ – of the 1912 Olympic pentathlon and decathlon. Three of Britain’s swimming stars are criticizing the dates of the just-announced 2024 FINA Worlds just months before the Paris Games and may not compete. In a sign of the continuing evolution of Paralympic sport, biathlon and skiing are now under the control of the IBU and FIS and no longer managed by the International Paralympic Committee. And the U.S. and Canada will face off next Monday for the CONCACAF W Championship and a berth in the Paris 2024 Games.

1.
World Athletics Champs open Friday, plagued by visa issues

“The Oregon22 organising committee and World Athletics are working closely with the USOPC to follow up on Visa applications, the majority of which have been successfully resolved.

“We continue to follow up with those outstanding visa issues.

“International travel in general has become more challenging due to the pandemic and we are extremely grateful for the help and experience of the USOPC in helping to resolve issues that have come up in the last few weeks.”

That’s the statement coming from the Oregon22 organizers of the first-ever World Athletics Championships in the United States after waves of stories and tweets on Tuesday and Wednesday by athletes unable to obtain entry visas in time to compete.

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, no. 3 on the men’s world 100 m list for 2022, finally got his travel permit on Thursday and will be traveling overnight to Eugene, where the heats of the men’s 100 m begin at 6:50 p.m. Pacific time; he’s expected to arrive just a few hours prior. No heat sheets were posted for the men’s 100 m by 10 p.m. Pacific time Thursday; watch for Omanyala to somehow be in a later race.

And the complaints have started about the athlete housing at the University of Oregon. Belgian 400 m star Kevin Borlee, who ran for Florida State and is competing in his sixth Worlds, told RTBF Belgium:

“Frankly, it’s disrespectful and unworthy of an event like this, world championships that are still aimed at top athletes. All year round, we make efforts to take care of recovery, sleep, these important little things that make the difference in the life of an athlete. And there, we land in the United States, we expect everything is big and on top and we find ourselves in a tiny room with really uncomfortable mattresses. Fortunately, we are all housed in the same boat, except the team from the United States who live elsewhere.”

All the noise takes away from the action on and inside the track, which is expected to be sensational:

● The weather is expected to be good but warm: 84 F high for Friday and only one day projected at 90 F, on Tuesday; otherwise, highs of 81-87 F and very little chance of rain. Wind could be an issue, projected at 8-10 miles per hour (3.6 to 4.5 m/s).

● NBC has strong coverage on its Peacock streaming service and weekday coverage on USA Network and weekend broadcasts on CNBC and NBC.

● Track & Field News has posted its formcharts for men and women, projecting 33 total medals for the U.S. and 14 wins, which would be far more than any other country. The all-time medals record is 31 by the doped-up East German team in 1987, followed by 30 for the U.S. in London in 2017.

The award of the Worlds to be U.S. and to the smallest facility it has ever been held in – the rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene – was based on the belief that it would be a catalyst for the sport in the United States, but that is yet to be seen. What is true is that you will see a lot of carping in the press about the conditions, but brilliance on the field.

(Long-time British journalist Pat Butcher has already complained, “Doha [2019] was bad enough, ridiculously high temperatures and pathetically low crowds; following that with Eugene, aka Nowheresville, Oregon is compounding a felony, and is a further measure of the decline in interest and importance of Track & Field Athletics, whose heyday is getting increasingly distant.”)

The Sports Examiner will post session-by-session coverage of the Worlds; sign up here to receive our reports by e-mail shortly after each session concludes.

2.
IOC recognizes Thorpe as sole winner of 1912 multi-events

Completing a process which took 110 years, the International Olympic Committee has declared American Jim Thorpe as the formal winner – again – of the 1912 Olympic decathlon and pentathlon in Stockholm.

Thorpe won both events and was saluted as the “greatest athlete in the world,” but was disqualified in 1913 by the Amateur Athletic Union of the U.S. and the IOC for having played minor league baseball in 1909 and 1910, making him a professional athlete. Thorpe passed in 1953, but his family continued the effort to have him reinstated. The IOC, under Juan Antonio Samaranch, reinstated Thorpe in January 1983 and his family was presented with replica medals at a colorful ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

However, he was only declared a “co-champion” with Ferdinand Reinhardt Bie (NOR) in the pentathlon and Hugo Weislander (SWE) in the decathlon. The IOC’s new decision, first reported by the Phoenix-based IndianCountryToday.com, now shows Thorpe as the winner in both events, with Bie and Weislander as the silver medalists, as they were in 1912.

ESPN quoted IOC President Thomas Bach (GER): “This is a most exceptional and unique situation. It is addressed by an extraordinary gesture of fair play from the concerned National Olympic Committees.”

Thorpe, a Sac and Fox, was one of the greatest athletes in history. He was a legendary All-American college football player at Carlisle Academy and went on to careers in the National Football League (a 1923 All-Pro) and in Major League Baseball from 1913-19. He was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame.

3.
British Olympic stars pan pre-Paris 2024 FINA Worlds

“I ain’t going.”

“It’ll be interesting to see what athletes thought having a World Championships after 3 years in a row of them that it would be a good idea with the Olympics that year too. January just isn’t the right time [in my opinion].”

“I’d love to which (if any) athletes were asked about this decision: July 2023 Worlds … 6 months later … Jan 2024 Worlds and then July 2024 Olympics. A totally bizarre decision and one I hope gets reconsidered! Surely just move it to 2025?”

Those were the reactions of British Olympic swimming medalists (1) James Guy (two relay golds), (2) Adam Peaty (100 m Breaststroke gold) and (3) Duncan Scott (200 m Free, 200 m Medley silvers) to the FINA announcement that a 2024 World Championships would be held in Doha (QAT) from 2-18 February, six months ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Due to chaos caused by the Covid pandemic, the regular cycle of FINA Worlds for 2019-21-23-25 has been completely disrupted, with Worlds in 2022 (Budapest as a replacement), Fukuoka (2023), now Doha in early 2024 and, supposedly, Kazan (RUS) in 2025, although with the war in Ukraine, the latter event is in doubt.

The tug-of-war over athlete schedules and preferences will continue, with wide reporting of a FINA plan to qualify relay teams for Paris via the Doha Worlds except for the top three placers in the relays at the 2023 Worlds in Fukuoka. In contrast, for Tokyo, the 12 top teams from the 2019 Worlds qualified and the next-fastest four countries also qualified on time.

Swimming is a sport which has traditionally not raced that much, although the experience of the International Swimming League has changed some attitudes. But when it comes to training for the Olympic Games, nothing – not even World Championships – has stood in the way. And what of the ISL is able to re-start its program in 2023, which runs in the late fall and into January?

4.
Paralympic control ceded to IFs for biathlon and skiing

Demonstrating the continuing integration of Paralympic sport, governance of four of the 10 sports now managed by the International Paralympic Committee have been handed over to the International Biathlon Union (IBU) and the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS).

This is a sea-change for the IBU and FIS, which will oversee Para Biathlon (IBU and FIS jointly) and Para Alpine Skiing, Para-Cross Country Skiing and Para Snowboard (FIS), with transition meetings now underway. The FIS Congress approved the move with 94% in favor at its May Congress.

A 2019 governance report, agreed to by the IPC’s General Assembly, determined that the sports currently under IPC control – Alpine Skiing, Athletics, Biathlon, Cross Country Skiing, Dance Sport, Ice Hockey, Powerlifting, Shooting, Snowboard and Swimming – should be either handed over to the International Federation for the able-bodied section of the sport, or a separate governing body should be created. Said IPC President Andrew Parsons (BRA):

“At the 2021 IPC General Assembly, IPC members provided a strong mandate for the IPC to cease acting as the international federation for 10 sports by the end of 2026. Para alpine skiing, Para cross-country and Para snowboard will be the first sports to depart the IPC, alongside Para biathlon, while good progress is being made on the remaining six.”

The remaining six include the summer Olympic sports of Athletics, Shooting and Swimming, the winter sport of Ice Hockey, and Powerlifting and Dance Sport.

5.
U.S. women top Costa Rica, 3-0, on to CONCACAF W final

It was a struggle early in 95 F heat in San Nicolas de la Garza (MEX), but the U.S. Women’s National Team struck twice in the first half and stopped Costa Rica, 3-0, in the first semifinal of the CONCACAF W Championship.

Although the Americans had the best of the play in the first half, and almost completely controlled the last 25 minutes, it was 0-0 after multiple missed chances for most of the half. But the ball possession and the pressure paid off; after a corner in the 34th minute, an Andi Sullivan shot was blocked, rolled on the ground and was popped into the goal by Emily Sonnett for a 1-0 lead and Sonnett’s first international goal.

The U.S. continued looking for chances and in the third minute of stoppage time, a brilliant backheel pass by Rose Lavelle in the box found Mallory Pugh for a left-footed score for a 2-0 halftime lead. The Americans had 61% of the possession – it looked like more – and a 8-0 edge in shots.

The second half was more U.S. offense, but better Costa Rican defense and offense (thanks to subbing in some of its better players) that actually made U.S. keeper Casey Murphy handle the ball a couple of times under pressure. The U.S. had some chances, but didn’t score until 90+4 when a Kristie Mewis lead pass was brought down by Alex Morgan, who couldn’t get a shot, but Ashley Sanchez was in position for a right-footed laser for the 3-0 final. The Americans ended with 64% possession and a 15-2 final total on shots.

In the second semi, Canada outclassed Jamaica, 3-0, on goals by Jessie Fleming (18th minute), Allysha Chapman (64th) and Adriana Leon in the 76th.

That brings up a rematch of Canada’s iconic 1-0 win over U.S. in the Tokyo Olympic semifinals on a Fleming penalty in the 75th minute, on the way to the gold medal in 2021; the U.S. took the bronze.

The medal matches will come on Monday (18th) in Guadalupe, with the winner qualifying for the Paris 2024 Games and the runner-up and third-place team playing at a later date for the second Olympic berth from CONCACAF.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● World Games 2022: Birmingham ● The 11th World Games is heading toward the close this weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, with champions crowned in several sports that have featured as standard or “added” events at the Tokyo Games.

The U.S. women won the Softball title, defeating Japan, 3-2, in the final, with two-time Olympic silver winner Monica Abbott, 36, getting the win, and Veddriq Leonardo (INA) and American Emma Hunt winning the Sport Climbing Speed titles.

In Rhythmic Gymnastics, individual events were featured – only the All-Around is an Olympic event – with Daria Atamanov of Israel winning Ball and Ribbon. Bulgaria’s Boryana Kaleyn won on Hoop and Italy’s Sofia Raffaeli won on Clubs.

With 143 of 223 events complete, Italy leads all medal-winners with 42 (10-20-12), followed by Ukraine (32: 9-9-14) and Germany (30: 18-2-10). The U.S. is seventh with 21 (8-9-4).

Still to come are the much-anticipated Flying Disc Mixed Ultimate tournament, and the three divisions of Tug of War, at one time an Olympic event itself.

A highlight was the debut of Flag Football in the World Games as an invitational sport, under the direction of the International Federation of American Football, supported by the National Football League. The U.S. won the men’s final, played with five-a-side teams, by 46-36 over Italy, while Mexico won the women’s gold over the U.S., 39-6.

The IFAF announced a “Vision28″ program to lobby for inclusion as an added sport at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games; the pitch:

“Flag football is a short, non-contact format of American football, which is the United States’ most popular sport. Flag is played by teams of five and prioritizes speed, creativity and athleticism – qualities that align with modern sports consumption habits and are popular with Gen Z audiences. It is also adaptable to a wide range of venues – stadiums, indoor arenas and temporary urban sports parks – making it a flexible and low-cost proposition for multi-sport event organizers.”

The IFAF claims active federations in 72 countries, and promotes flag football as an effective way to extend the game to women without the violence of the 11×11 tackle format.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● A follow-up to Tuesday’s story on the finances of the USOPC, that even with $898.6 million in total assets, it isn’t enough.

The USA Deaf Sports Foundation announced Tuesday that Boston-area designer Jeff Mansfield, a three-time Deaflympian in ice hockey, was elected as the organization’s new president. He had previously served two terms on the USADSF Board and been the liaison with the USOPC.

Mansfield left no doubt of one of his top priorities:

“Deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes deserve more. Today, we are seeing widening disparities between the Olympics and Paralympics on one side and Deaflympics on the other. The time to build a broad movement to invest in Deaf sports is now. Such a movement is necessary to champion the rights, justice, and dignity of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people everywhere.”

No matter how much money the USOPC apparently has, it’s not enough. Not even close.

● Athletics I ● There was lots of talk about taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa and especially Nairobi in Kenya, but the lure of a celebration in front of a full house in Tokyo’s new, 68,000-seat National Stadium was too much to pass up as Tokyo was awarded the 2025 Worlds by the World Athletics Council on Thursday. Per the announcement:

“The other candidates for the event were Nairobi, Silesia [POL] and Singapore, all of which were deemed strong enough and experienced enough to host the event. Tokyo scored the highest of the four candidates in the bid evaluation across the four focused areas: the potential for a powerful narrative; revenue generating opportunities for World Athletics; a destination that will enhance the international profile of the sport; and appropriate climate.”

It will be the second time in Tokyo after the 1991 Worlds, immortalized by the men’s long jump final in which American Mike Powell set a world record of 8.95 m (29-4 1/2) to edge countryman Carl Lewis (8.91 mw/29-2 3/4w), with Lewis winning the men’s 100 m in a world record of 9.86.

The U.S. was also recognized with another Worlds award, this time for cross country. The 2024 cross-country Worlds will be in Medulin and Pula in Croatia and the 2026 Worlds in Tallahassee, Florida. It will be the first cross country Worlds in the U.S. since Boston hosted in 1992.

● Athletics II ● World Athletics confirmed that a total prize purse of $8.498 million will be available for the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, with a $100,000 world-record bonus sponsored by TDK and World Athletics.

The prizes for each event have been upgraded thanks to the use of $2 million in fines paid by the Russian Athletics Federation for anti-doping violations. The top eight finishers will receive $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000, with $80,000-40,000-20,000-16,000-12,000-8,000-6.,000-4,000 for relays.

Another award to be decided at the Worlds – as has been the case since 2003 in Paris – will be from the International Fair Play Committee. Its award for an action or moment which epitomizes fair play will be chosen from a list of five nominated by an eight-member jury. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite on World Athletics social media channels in the week following the Worlds to help determine the winner.

● Cycling ● Only a minor change at the top of the 109th Tour de France from Thursday’s 12th stage, a misery-inducing, 165.1 km, triple climb with an uphill finish to the Alpe d’Huez. Five riders ascended the Alpe d’Huez with six minutes on the rest of the peloton, then Britain’s Tom Pidcock moved away with 10 km remaining – all uphill – and won the stage by 48 seconds over Louis Meintjes (RSA), 2:06 over four-time Tour winner Chris Froome (GBR) and 2:29 ahead of American Neilson Powless.

Leader Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) stuck like glue to two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) and they finished 6-5, with Geraint Thomas (GBR) seventh. After 12 stages, Vingegaard still leads by 2:22 over Pogacar, 2:26 over Thomas and 2:35 over Romain Bardet (FRA), who fell from second to fourth. The next three stages are hilly, but challenging, through Sunday.

The 2022 Tour de France has made only a modest impression on the U.S. TV audience, with last week’s stages topping out at 411,000 viewers last Saturday and averaging 350,000 viewers across six shows on USA Network from Tuesday through Sunday (5th-10th).

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TSX REPORT: Russian participation in Paris ‘24 looking bleaker; Sant-Price tries to get a sponsor on Twitter; visa issues keeping athletes out of Eugene?

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ The Sports Examiner: Surveying, monitoring and explaining the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. This site is free to view, with donations gratefully accepted to support our operating costs.
Comments? Click here. ★

★ Tell your friends to sign up for The Sports Examiner e-mails now, just in time for session-by-session coverage of the World Athletics Championships
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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. The new obsession: will Russia compete in Paris ‘24?
2. Vingegaard displaces Pogacar as Tour de France leader
3. London 2012 800 m silver winner Amos hit for doping
4. A moment in the life of an unsponsored athlete
5. Visa issues dogging athletes trying to get to Eugene

Former World Anti-Doping Agency head and IOC member Craig Reedie spoke openly about Russia not competing in Paris in 2024 as qualification event entry is closed to their athletes. At the Tour de France, two-time champ Tadej Pogacar was supplanted, somewhat unexpectedly, by 2021 runner-up Jonas Vingegaard, but with 10 stages to go. At the Athletics Worlds coming up, 800 m star Nijel Amos was suspended for doping and more than a dozen athletes may miss the event due to U.S. visa issues. U.S. sprinter Marybeth Sant-Price needs a sponsor and tried to get Lululemon interested via Twitter!

1.
The new obsession: will Russia compete in Paris ‘24?

Close observes of the Russian situation within international sport are now openly questioning whether the continuing Russian war on Ukraine will eliminate Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The most explicit explanation came from International Olympic Committee Honorary Member Craig Reedie (GBR), a power player for a quarter-century and the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency when it suspended Russia for its state-sponsored doping program from 2011-15.

Making the rounds with British media on Monday to promote his autobiography, Reedie said:

“A decision is going to have to be taken on what happens to each of these two countries, and my guess is that the general feeling would be that they should not qualify.

“Most people are struggling with how we could achieve some degree of representation, but at the moment, there is no clear way to do it. Therefore, you maintain the status quo.”

The IOC asked international federations not to allow Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete in their sports and most have done so, although cycling, judo and tennis have allowed to participate as neutrals.

“So there’s a real issue for the federations, who have a clear instruction which they’ve agreed to that they won’t invite Russians and Belarusians to take part in events.

“On the face of it, it’s unlikely that anybody would qualify other than those three sports which don’t do it that way. And will they be able to qualify [from those three sports]? I’m not sure.”

The clock is beginning to tick against Russia and Belarus as the qualifying events for Paris 2024 are beginning in earnest in the fourth quarter of 2022 and then in 2023. However, some sports such as swimming and track & field qualify according to performances and those deadlines go well into 2024.

Russian Wrestling Federation head Mikhail Mamiashvili told the Russian news agency TASS, “I am ready to admit that the formation of this position is unprecedented pressure on international federations.

“Olympic selection in wrestling will begin with the 2023 World Championship, it was planned in Krasnoyarsk, and so far everything is on standby. But what kind of selection can there be if the best team in the world is absent? Wood is cut, chips fly.”

The same from Russian Fencing Federation chief Ilgar Mammadov: “Reedie creates public opinion so that we are not allowed to the Games. Today, he; tomorrow, another; the day after tomorrow, the third; this is just the beginning. They understand that the Olympic qualification will begin at different times, with us, in the spring of 2023. And they do [so] so that by this time we will not return.”

2.
Vingegaard displaces Pogacar as Tour de France leader

Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia had looked just invincible in the opening half of the 109th Tour de France. He won stages 6 and 7 and had worn the famed yellow jersey for five straight stages.

But he had some difficulty in Tuesday’s Stage 10 triple climb in the Alps, as the contenders finished 8:54 back of winner Magnus Cort (DEN) and Pogacar’s lead was sliced to 11 seconds over Lennart Kamna (GER) with 2021 runner-up Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) still 39 seconds back.

On Wednesday, it got tougher, on the nasty, 151.7 km ride from Albertville to the top of the Col du Granon, with half the route consumed with a 61 km climb from 493 m to 2,630 m at the Col du Galibier, then down and finally a 12 km, 1,061 m rise to the finish. And Vingegaard was ready, taking charge with an attack on the last 4 km that earned him the victory in 4:18:02, 59 seconds up on Colombian climber Nairo Quintana.

Pogacar could not respond and finished seventh, 2:51 behind the winner and fell to third place, with France’s Romain Bardet a full 2:16 behind the leader now and Pogacar +2:22. Britain’s 2018 Tour winner Geraint Thomas is fourth (+2:26) with Quintana fifth (+2:37).

This was Vingegaard’s first career Tour de France stage win and he has a big lead, but with 10 stages to go, including four more mountain stages, starting with Thursday’s triple climb, 165.1 km ride from Briancon to L’Alpe de Huez. This was the breakthrough that Vingegaard has been looking for, but can he maintain his advantage in the Alps, and then the Pyrenees next week?

3.
London 2012 800 m silver winner Amos hit for doping

Botswana’s Nijel Amos has been among the best men’s 800 m runners in the world since his brilliant, 1:41.73 silver-medal performance at the London 2012 Games, ranking no. 3 all-time.

After being the world leader in 2021 at 1:42.91 and with a seasonal best of 1:44.92, he was ready to run for a medal again at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, but was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit on Tuesday (12th).

Amos tested positive on 4 June from an out-of-competition test for “Metabolites of GW1516, a substance that is prohibited under the 2022 WADA Prohibited List as a metabolic modulator. 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. GW1516 is not an approved substance for human use and WADA has advised of its health risks for athletes.”

Amos was in Eugene “and a provisional suspension is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such substance under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.” He also had to abandon the 2019 Worlds in Doha (QAT) due to injury, and was eighth at the Tokyo Games after being advanced following a pile-up with American Isaiah Jewett in the semis. Now he’ll be – at best – a spectator in Eugene.

4.
A moment in the life of an unsponsored athlete

Damian Warner, Canada’s Olympic Champion in the decathlon, announced on Twitter on Tuesday his new sponsorship agreement with apparel brand Lululemon:

“It’s official. I couldn’t be happier to announce that I’ll be wearing @lululemon from here on out.

“The gear – and the team – are providing all the support I need both on and off the track. Stoked to see what we’ll achieve with this partnership. Let’s get started!”

Five and a half hours later, American sprinter Marybeth Sant-Price tweeted:

“Hey @lululemon, I’m a professional track and field sprinter. I have an indoor world championship bronze medal & a pr of 10.95 in the 100m. I’m currently unsigned and would love the opportunity to represent you!!”

This set off a storm of replies, including, but not limited to:

● “10.95 100m and you’re willing to settle for a third-tier apparel company like
@lululemon? Heck, @ChampionUSA could easily make you a better offer. Surprised neither
@ASICSamerica nor @PUMARunning haven’t made offers. Maybe what you really need is a good agent (try @TrackDiddy).”

● “These are endorsement contracts, it’s not like the NBA or NFL. Companies need to get a return on their investment and, yes, it’s subjective. They have budgets that are typically set in October- November for the following year. Track & Field needs better agents and more prize money.”

● World 110 m hurdles champ Grant Holloway: “I had the opportunity to meet @mb4_price this March & she is nothing but the definition of an individual who is hardworking & dedicated to her craft. Any company will be lucky to have her a part of their team.”

Sant-Price replied to Holloway, “I appreciate this to no end! It’s been a wild, discouraging at times, crazy journey. Waiting (and working) for my moment.”

To some silly replies that criticized Lululemon, Atlanta 1996 star Michael Johnson tweeted:

“Very successful company expands its involvement in this sponsor desperate sport. Athlete reaches out via Twitter asks company to sign her too. People in track start shaming the company on Twitter. This is NOT the way!”

But Lululemon didn’t help, responding minutes later to Sant-Price:

“We love the hustle – both on and off the track. That said, we’re unable to accept NCAA athletes into our programming at this time. Be sure to hit us up when you graduate though!”

Replied Sant-Price:

“I am a professional athlete. No longer in the NCAA. I was injured in college and told to completely retire from the sport. I came back after 3 years of being out and got a WORLD championship medal and am currently one the top US 100m sprinters.”

Lululemon did better, responding:

“That’s awesome to hear – send us a DM to chat more about what opportunities might be available for you.”

Nothing is easy. Nothing.

5.
Visa issues dogging athletes trying to get to Eugene

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, no. 3 on the world men’s 100 m list for 2022 and South Africa’s Luxolo Adams, no. 5 on the world 200 m list, are among multiple athletes who may not make it to the World Athletics Championships in Eugene due to visa issues for entry into the United States.

Omanyala wrote on Instagram Wednesday, “I haven’t travelled to Oregon yet and the 100m is in two days.” He joins a reported 10 South African athletes who have visa issues, including Adams, Clarence Munyai (10.04/20.33 in 2022), Zakhiti Nene (44.92 400 m), Sokwa Zazini (49.17 400H), women’s sprinter Carina Horn (11.07) and others.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Syria’s Majd Eddin Ghazal, the 2017 Worlds high jump bronze winner – and Syria’s only entrant this year – has withdrawn due to visa problems.

It’s not a good look for the U.S., for the Eugene organizers or World Athletics.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Commonwealth Games ● The XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG) will open on 28 July, but Northern Ireland (and former British) sprinter Leon Reid has been refused entry after a “security risk assessment.”

Reid, 27, was convicted in February for allowing his apartment to be used in the production of crack cocaine. He received a suspended sentence and 220 hours of community service.

Reid had been selected to run the 200 m (20.82 this year), was a Tokyo Olympian and competed in the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. According to Northern Ireland officials:

“Commonwealth Games NI is currently seeking clarity on any potential appeal mechanism, and the athlete has been offered well-being support as he deals with this news.”

● Aquatics ● The first FINA World Championships was held in 1973 and held two, three or even up to five years apart before starting a two-year cycle in 2001. Thanks to Covid and the massive chaos it has caused in the worldwide sports schedule, it will now hold three Worlds in 21 months.

Tuesday’s announcement that a Worlds will be held – for the first time – in an Olympic year, in Doha (QAT) from 2-18 February, places three in consecutive years:

● 2022: 18 June to 3 July in Budapest (HUN)
● 2023: 14-30 July in Fukuoka (JPN)
● 2024: 2-18 February in Doha (QAT)

The original schedule had Fukuoka hosting the 2021 Worlds, pushed aside by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games. Covid killed a 2022 Worlds in Fukuoka, but Budapest stepped in and Fukuoka was handed a 2023 Worlds, which was the year that Doha was supposed to host.

The next Worlds is also in doubt, as it was handed to Kazan (RUS) – host in 2015 – but with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, who knows? Back to Budapest again?

● Basketball ● Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid, born in Cameroon, received French citizenship last week, potentially clearing the way for him to compete with the French team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. France defeated the U.S. in group play in Tokyo and lost a tight, 87-82 gold medal game last summer; Embiid could be a difference-maker.

● eSports ● Russia has announced a “Games of the Future” to be held in Kazan in 2024, featuring “new disciplines using modern technologies, digital environment and physical activity. The format of the competition involves the use of the latest developments in the field of e-sports, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, information technology and artificial intelligence.”

Teams from clubs from 16 countries are expected to be invited, but will not be “national teams.” A first test of the concept comes on 21 September in “football combined (EA FIFA + futsal), basketball (EA NBA + 3v3 basketball), drone racing (DCL The Game simulator + drone piloting) and Beat Saber – VR rhythm game.”

A project to watch carefully.

● Weightlifting ● Another doping sanction, this time handed down by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to Gennady Muratov, now 35, the 2015 European Championships 105 kg bronze medalist, extending his ban from 2024 to 2028.

He was originally suspended from September 2021 to May 2024, but was penalized again for “prohibited participation during the period of Ineligibility.”

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For our updated, 620-event International Sports Calendar for 2022 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Latest push to popularize T&F in the U.S.; Paris 2024 still fighting over basketball venue; great fencing worlds logo for Cairo!

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe (Photo: Leaders Business Summit)

★ The Sports Examiner: Surveying, monitoring and explaining the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. This site is free to view, with donations gratefully accepted to support our operating costs.
Comments? Click here. ★

★ Tell your friends to sign up for The Sports Examiner e-mails now, just in time for session-by-session coverage of the World Athletics Championships
coming this Friday. ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. T&F leaders promise again to raise sport’s profile in U.S.
2. Paris 2024 settles vexing venue issues, but not basketball
3. Cycling shows €21.3 million surplus thanks to IOC TV money
4. World Games: Halfway home, the magic is happening
5. U.S. Women out-fight Mexico, 1-0, in CONCACAF W

The leaders of World Athletics, USA Track & Field and others all agree that having the World Championships in the U.S. – in Eugene, Oregon starting on Friday – is a must-succeed opening to re-ignite interest in the sport nationwide. How to get there is another question. The Paris 2024 organizers announced their re-arrangement of venues for three sports, but are still tussling with the basketball federation on preliminary games. Compared to athletics, cycling is a richer federation, but its 2021 finances were saved by the International Olympic Committee’s television rights share. The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, are continuing and are spreading the magic that only a multi-sport event can bring. At the CONCACAF W Championship, the U.S. women struggled to a 1-0 win over Mexico and advanced to the semifinals, perhaps to meet old foe Canada in the final?

1.
T&F leaders promise again to raise sport’s profile in U.S.

“This is a very important market place for us, it’s the largest sports market in the world and we need to be there in higher profile,” World Athletics President Seb Coe (GBR) told Reuters for a Monday story.

Former British hurdles star Jon Ridgeon, now the World Athletics chief executive noted of the World Athletics Championships that start Friday in Eugene, “We have great live TV slots every evening on NBC and the U.S. team should perform spectacularly and I think that alone will really help grow audiences and our fan base in America.”

Coe further told Scott Reid of the Southern California News Group:

“Every sport is wanting to get into the U.S. It is still the most potent of the sports marketing environments. Every member federation I sit down with is doing everything it can to get into the U.S. and for good reason. We have that opportunity this year. I see this as very much a runway through to [the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics] and in simple terms, we have to do everything we possibly can to create a greater perception and penetration of track and field not just in the U.S. but globally.

“But if you create that in the U.S., which is still the powerhouse of track and field, but perversely you still have athletes who are known globally but can still walk through their own towns in anonymity. We have a really important role and job to play here, and in my latest communication to member federations at the end of the year I have talked about the importance for all of us of making the most out of Oregon ’22.”

Reid spoke to multiple voices about the state of professional track & field in the U.S., including the usually-invisible Max Seigel, chief executive of USA Track & Field; World Athletics Council member Willie Banks, U.S. 800 m Olympian Nick Symmonds, 1996 Olympic icon Michael Johnson and NBC commentators and Olympic stars Ato Boldon (TTO) and Kara Goucher. Said Symmonds:

“Everybody always says the sport of track and field is dying. I just think that’s silly. The sport of professional track and field is dying. But the sport of track and field is alive and vibrant and healthy as I’ve ever seen it. It’s incredible.”

Banks pointed to more meets with prize money being added and perhaps a betting aspect. Siegel promised 4-5 meets in an eight-week window in the future, with prize money on par with the current Diamond League international circuit.

Said Johnson, the Atlanta triple gold medalist in the 200-400 m and 4×400 m: “All of these things are the equivalent of putting a band-aid on a catastrophically broken leg,” suggesting instead a private-equity play for the professional aspect of the sport; he cited the role of the PGA as tournament provider and promoter vs. the governing-body position of the U.S. Golf Association.

2.
Paris 2024 settles vexing venue issues, but not basketball

The 2024 Olympic venue merry-go-round has mostly been settled, with the Paris 2024 organizing committee agreeing to stage preliminary rounds of boxing and the modern pentathlon fencing segment in Hall 8 of the Parc des Expositions de Villepinte, near the Charles-de-Gaulle Airport northeast of Paris. The shooting competitions will be staged at the national shooting center in Chateauroux in central France, about 270 m km (~ 168 miles) south of Paris. These were fixed quickly and quietly.

The remaining tug-of-war is on preliminary basketball matches. The international federation (FIBA) rejected use of a technically sound exhibition hall in Paris, based on condemnations of some of the French national team players. Paris 2024 has now approved moving the early basketball games to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, 225 km north of Paris (~140 miles). It’s a retractable-roof facility which can seat up to 50,186, but has been very successfully used for EuroBasket 2015 and the Volleyball World League. FIBA wants to stay in Paris and neither side is budging; the International Olympic Committee will end up with the final say.

Is this a crisis? No; there is plenty of time. But it’s a good illustration of the kinds of problems that organizing committees deal with constantly, working with the IOC, the federations and the National Olympic Committees, which sometimes get much more than annoying. As the FrancsJeux.com site notes, “[T]he soap opera drags on. Above all, it gives the impression of [Paris 2024] as a ship struggling to stay on course.”

Not true for Paris so far, but then perception is reality, yes?

3.
Cycling shows €21.3 million surplus thanks to IOC TV money

With so much debate this week about the future of track & field in the U.S., it’s worth a look at another high-profile federation is doing. The UCI is doing quite well, thank you.

The Union Cycliste Internationale, founded in 1900, is one of the oldest and most respected of the International Federations, with cycling on the Olympic program since 1896. For years, it consisted of road cycling and track events, but added mountain biking in 1996, BMX in 2008 and BMX Freestyle in 2020.

And it’s a strong federation financially, with CHF 102.9 million in assets (~$104.7 million U.S.) and CHF 62.6 million (~$63.8 million U.S.) in reserves. Where its revenues came from describes the level of commercial (if not fan) interest in the various types of cycling:

● CHF 13.527 million: Road cycling (52.6%)
● CHF 5.354 million: Mountain biking (20.8%)
● CHF 2.600 million: Track cycling (10.1%)
● CHF 2.392 million: Cyclo-cross (9.3%)
● CHF 1.268 million: BMX Racing (4.9%)
● CHF 0.584 million: BMX Freestyle (2.3%)

Dwarfing all of this is the once-every-four-years receipt of a share of the IOC’s television rights sales money, which for Tokyo was CHF 22.333 million or $24.5 million U.S. The UCI is a tier 2 federation, receiving the same amount as basketball, football, tennis and volleyball and behind the tier-one sports of athletics, gymnastics and aquatics.

Thanks to the Olympic TV money, the UCI showed a surplus of €21.256 million (~$21.65 million) for 2021, much better than the €1.01 million (~$1.03 million) loss for 2020.

The UCI receives very significant money from the hosts of its World Road Cycling Championships, a major tourist draw, and the federation is rolling the dice on multiplying its impact by the creation of a once-every-four-years grand World Championship, to first be held in Glasgow (GBR) from 3-13 August 2023. This will include road, track, mountain biking, cyclo-cross, BMX, artistic cycling and para-cycling events, with significant financial support from the Scottish government and the City of Glasgow. This could be a huge upgrade for the UCI, or a bust, but a forward-looking gamble from a fairly stable federation to try and leverage fan interest clustered primarily in one part of the sport to all parts of the sport.

4.
World Games: Halfway home, the magic is happening

Comprised of sports and events which are not on the Olympic program, the World Games attracts the top athletes in sports like Compound and Field Archery, Floorball, Finswimming, Lifesaving and a lot more.

Would anyone in Birmingham, Alabama care? Would it make any difference? It may be.

Dennis Pillion is the statewide natural resources reporter for Alabama.com and filed a Monday story that veterans of multi-sport events will instantly recognize. Titled “The World Games are turning Birmingham into a weird, wonderful melting pot,” Pillion noted the commotion a group of five Ukrainian gymnasts caused when they walked to the Starbucks counter inside a Target store:

“The random Starbucks sighting is something repeating across Birmingham this week, as the city rolls out its welcome wagon for thousands of athletes, coaches and officials from 63 countries.

“[Gymnast] Dima [Lovusov] may have been just being polite, or using the only English words he knew, but it’s hard to think that the city isn’t making a good impression on its visitors from all over the world, even south of Homewood on I-65 who haven’t ventured downtown in a while.”

On a walk with his wife, Pillion saw the impact of the Games:

“You can tell almost instantly which people were there from the United States and which ones weren’t. For the athletes, team jerseys that read Chinese Taipei or Finland, are a dead giveaway, and it’s got to be one of the rare moments in Birmingham’s recent history where you’re more likely to see the flag of Finland than the Bass Pro Shops logo. …

“We didn’t actually go into any events on Sunday, but in a way we didn’t need to. Birmingham still had the air of a city of the world more than a city of the South, and was filled with locals looking to experience new and different cultures, events and sports and to reflect the famous Southern hospitality back to the world.”

This is what an international multi-sport event does, especially in towns and cities which have not held them before. It is one of the hidden legacies of these kinds of events, something different and memorable.

On the fields of play, the competitions continue, with 116 of the 223 medal events completed. Keen fans of Olympic sport will see some familiar names, like Bart Swings (BEL), winner of the Beijing 2022 Mass Start events in speed skating, winning golds in the inline track skating men’s 10,000 m eliminations and 10,000 m points eliminations and then two more in the road speed skating 10,000 m points and 15,000 m eliminations. Olympic archery medalist Brady Ellison of the U.S. won silver in the Men Field Archery, and Paige Pearce won a bronze in the women’s Compound, a potential event for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Break dancing, which will be on the Olympic program for Paris 2024, saw Americans Victor Montalvo and Jeffrey Louis go 1-2 in the men’s division and Ami Yuasa (JPN) win the women’s contest, ahead of American Sunny Choi.

The biggest winners so far include Swings, with four golds, matched by Germany’s Nina Holt (4 in Lifesaving) and Johana Viveros (COL: 4 in track and road speed skating). There’s more to come, with Mixed Ultimate Flying Disc still to come; American Flag Football, sponsored in part by the NFL, with the U.S., Mexico, Austria and Italy into the men’s semis and Mexico, Austria, Panama and the U.S. in the women’s semis.

Italy has won the most medals so far with 36 (8-16-12), followed by Germany (27: 16-2-9) and Ukraine (24: 9-6-9); 61 countries have won medals so far, with the U.S. scoring three golds, eight silvers and four bronzes so far. The Games conclude Sunday; highlights air nightly on the CBS Sports Network.

5.
U.S. Women out-fight Mexico, 1-0, in CONCACAF W

The final game of the CONCACAF W Championship Group A was a battle – a true battle – between the undefeated U.S. women and host Mexico, which had lost both of its games, at San Nicolas de la Garza.

Neither team could score, despite the U.S. holding 70% of the possession in the first half, but only generating five shots to three for Mexico. The second half saw more Mexican possession, but also more aggression, with substitute midfielder Lizbeth Ovalle red-carded in the 73rd minute for stomping on Rose Lavelle’s ankle, that was confirmed by video review.

Even playing 11×10 didn’t help the U.S., as it could not get the ball into the net, despite a good chance for Alex Morgan in the 79th. But in the 89th minute, an Emily Sonnett header could not be cleared, bounced in front of the Mexican goal and sub Kristie Mewis hit the ball with her stomach and it bounded in for the only goal of the game. The fouls, a yellow and a red card for Mexico in the second half added 10 minutes of stoppage time, but the U.S. did finally prevail, 1-0. The Americans had 67% of the possession and a 15-5 edge on shots for the game.

Added to Jamaica’s 4-0 win over Haiti, the U.S. won Group A with a 3-0 record and a 9-0 goals-against total, ahead of Jamaica (2-1). Canada (3-0, 8-0 goals-against) won Group B, in front of Costa Rica (2-1). These semifinalists all advance to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but Olympic qualification for Paris 2024 will only be available to the winner. The semis – U.S. vs. Costa Rica and Canada vs. Jamaica – will be on 14 July, with the finals in 18 July.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2012: London ● In some ways, a Games never ends, especially when lots of new construction was part of the process. In a lengthy article, The Guardian’s architecture and design critic Oliver Wainwright argues that the Olympic renovation of the East End is a failure in that it does not deliver the promised improvements in affordable housing and has instead been filled by luxury homes and apartments and businesses that cater to them.

It’s long and detailed and entirely worth reading, especially to see how the project evolved from Mayor Ken Livingstone’s bid concept, to building and operations under the next Mayor, Boris Johnson, and now Sadiq Khan, and the economic forces which have inexorably influenced its direction.

● Athletics ● The list of who won’t be at the 2022 World Championships continues to grow, with defending champions Steven Gardiner (BAH: 400 m) injured and women’s hammer champion DeAnna Price of the U.S. out with Covid. London 2017 javelin champ Johannes Vetter (GER) is also out with injuries.

Tokyo women’s Olympic marathon winner Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) is out with a hip injury and Burundi’s 2021 Diamond League 5,000 m winner Francine Niyonsaba withdrew due to a stress fracture in a foot.

While Niyonsaba, a medal favorite at the Worlds, cannot compete, South Africa’s double Olympic 800 m champion, Caster Semenya (RSA) is entered in the 5,000 m. Although she did not meet the 15:10.00 qualifying standard, her seasonal best of 15:31.50 did qualify her on the descending order list for the field of 41. Both Niyonsaba and Semenya were moved out of events from the 400 m to the mile due to their elevated testosterone levels under the World Athletics rules for athletes with Differences in Sex Development.

An athlete who put up a big mark that makes him a contender in Eugene is American men’s javelin thrower Curtis Thompson, who got a huge lifetime best at the American JavFest in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania on 9 July. His win at 87.70 m (287-9) moves him to no. 7 on the 2022 world list and no. 3 on the all-time U.S. list (with the no. 7 throw in U.S. history, the longest since 2007). Fellow American Avione Allgood-Whetstone won the women’s jav with a lifetime best of 62.13 m (203-10), now no. 6 all-time U.S., but is not on the U.S. team since she didn’t get a qualifying mark by the deadline.

● Cycling ● The 109th Tour de France resumed on Tuesday, on a hilly, 148.1 km course with an uphill climb to the finish in Megeve in the southeastern French Alps that had to be stopped for 10 minutes about 35 km from the finish due to a half-dozen climate protesters blocking the road.

Once the racing resumed, the stage was a four-way fight to the finish, with Dane Magnus Cort throwing his bike across the line to beat Australian Nick Schultz, with Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) seven seconds behind and American Matteo Jorgensen fourth (+0:08).

The big news was further back, as the main contenders finish 8:54 back, meaning German Lennard Kamna moved to within 11 seconds of leader Tadej Pogacar (SLO), with last year’s runner-up, Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) still 39 seconds behind, now third. Wednesday brings another big climb up the Col de Galibier and another uphill finish to the Col de Granon.

● Fencing ● You may not have noticed that the 2022 FIE World Championships are coming up this weekend in Cairo (EGY), with a logo which is too good to pass up:

● Football ● Much is written about the long qualifying and preparation period for teams to get to and compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Less well known is the behind-the-scenes prep for team officials, which include physicians and sports medicine staff.

FIFA held a special, two-day seminar last week for all 32 of the team physicians for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar, including the FIFA Tournament Emergency Medicine Course and an overview of all medical services that will be offered on-site during the tournament:

“The latter included the new FIFA standard for field-of-play emergency medical services, specific concussion and cardiac assessment services and the designated hospitals, in addition to a tour of the player medical facilities and an inspection of the dedicated critical care ambulances.”

The new concussion protocol was also explained: “For the first time at a FIFA World Cup, an independent Concussion Assessment and Rehabilitation Service will be offered in Qatar to provide an evidence-based assessment of any player who has suffered a brain injury, including recommendations from concussion experts regarding the player’s return to play.” A “concussion substitute” will be allowed for the first time, aside from the allowed subs during a game.

Similar to the NFL, an “injury spotter” will be employed at all games, to bring attention to the in-stadium FIFA Medical Coordinator of any possible injuries which do not stop play.

All good ideas.

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LANE ONE: USOPC nears $900 million in total assets, spent $200 million on athlete support, with $81 million to athletes in 2021, but needs more

By
Rich Perelman
-

★ The Sports Examiner: Surveying, monitoring and explaining the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. This site is free to view, with donations gratefully accepted to support our operating costs.
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The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee is big. Really big. Bigger than all but one of the International Federations, and likely the third-richest Olympic Movement organization in the world.

The USOPC’s financial statements for 2021 were released at the end of June and show a complex, multi-layered organization that has come out of the most devastating period of the worldwide Covid pandemic with impressive total assets of $898.6 million.

With operations slowly returning to normal and the promotional push in advance of the 2028 Los Angeles Games and a possible Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2030, it is possible to imagine the USOPC as a billion-dollar enterprise – on paper, anyway – by the end of this decade.

How does this 525-employee, 795-volunteer behemoth compare with the largest players in the Olympic Movement? Very well indeed; by total assets from audited financials (* = converted to U.S. dollars, from Swiss Francs):

● $5.609 billion: International Olympic Committee (end 2021)

Selected International Federations:
● $5.492 billion: FIFA (football; end 2021)
● $295.4* million: ISU (skating: end 2021)
● $221.6* million: FINA (aquatics: end 2021)
● $160.8* million: FIBA (basketball: end 2020)
● $133.0* million: FIVB (volleyball: end 2020)
● $132.2* million: FIS (ski & snowboard: end 2021)
● $104.7* million: UCI (cycling: end 2021)
● $55.6 million: World Athletics (end 2020)
● $49.0* million: IIHF (ice hockey: mid-2020)
● $45.3* million: FIG (gymnastics: end 2020)

Financial information for other National Olympic Committees was hard to come by, but the Canadian Olympic Committee had total assets of U.S. $174.7 million at the end of 2021 and the Japanese Olympic Committee had U.S. $72.2 million in assets (converted from yen) at the end of 2020. It’s worth noting that in Japan, 41.3% of its budget for fiscal year 2020 consisted of governmental subsidies.

The USOPC gets no government funding and is still bigger than everyone except the IOC and FIFA. Lots of numbers to show, so go slow. But it’s interesting.

The USOPC’s financials show a three-part organization: the USOPC’s operating division, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation, which carries out fund-raising, and the U.S. Olympic Endowment, which has invested the $111.4 million the then-USOC received as its 40% share of the surplus from the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and makes grants back to the USOPC itself off the investment income. The stated assets as of the end of 2021:

● USOPC: $497.9 million (operating)
● USOPF: $53.4 million (fund-raising)
● USOE: $492.4 million (endowment)

Of the USOE’s total, some $101.0 million is held on behalf of National Governing Bodies who placed their 20% share of the LA84 surplus with the USOC’s share for joint investment. And the USOPC itself borrowed $133 million during the pandemic and owes $131.1 million, with the notes due to mature in 2031.

Taking out all of the liabilities and holdings for others and the USOPC’s net assets are still a very healthy $568.1 million through the end of 2021. Wow.

So why can’t it spend what it wants on anything it wants?

Once you boil out the USOPC Foundation and the U.S. Olympic Endowment, the USOPC itself has assets of $265.2 million, and had income in 2021 of $459.9 million and expenses of $353.1 million for a net gain of $106.8 million in an Olympic Games year in 2021. The money came mostly from two sources:

● $205.5 million: IOC TOP sponsors and USOPC sponsors
● $191.0 million: IOC TV share and Olympic Trials TV sales

That’s 86.2% of all USOPC revenue for 2021. Contributions were $14.8 million to the USOPC and another $36.0 million to the USOPC Foundation, and there was investment income across all three entities of $50.9 million. Looking at the combined entities, 80.5% of all revenue came from sponsors and TV, with 18.4% from donations and investments; that’s 98.9%.

The money doesn’t come in so quickly in non-Olympic years: $208.2 million in revenue for 2020 and $205.2 million in 2019. So the IOC’s money makes a big difference, perhaps $250 million in an Olympic year and $135 million or more in a Winter Games year!

The USOPC is well aware of the interest in how much it pays athletes, and for athlete-support services. Beginning with the 2020 financial statements, a chart was added to break out the USOPC’s spending on direct-to-athlete payments, athlete support, direct-to-National Governing Bodies payments and NGB support services:

● 2020: $107.7 million, $31.8 million in athlete grants and $57.2 million in NGB grants
● 2021: $158.9 million, $46.1 million in athlete grants and $68.1 million in NGB grants

That’s a 48% increase in a year and a 45% increase in direct-athlete grants; it’s also important to note that some of the NGB grant money also ended up going directly to athletes. The biggest NGB payments for grants went to:

1. $6.8 million: U.S. Ski & Snowboard
2. $5.4 million: USA Track & Field
3. $5.1 million: USA Swimming
4. $3.3 million: USA Gymnastics
5. $2.3 million: USA Bobsled & Skeleton

The biggest recipients of direct-athlete-grant money:

1. $5.5 million: USA Track & Field athletes
2. $4.5 million: USA Swimming athletes
3. $2.9 million: USA Volleyball athletes
4. $2.8 million: U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes
5. $2.7 million: U.S. Paralympic track & field athletes

So, for the clenched-teeth critics who scream that the USOPC spent only 10% on athlete payments ($46.1 million out of $459.9 revenue), the truer figure starts at 34.5% with the $158.9 million in payments to athletes, for athlete services and to the NGBs in cash and services.

Another chart shows the breakdown of $200.1 million (43.5%) spent on “Athlete Excellence” with $80.8 million shown for all athlete grants (18%), plus $40.9 million on Games Support, $23.1 million on Sports Medicine, $22.5 million on training facilities, $6.6 million on Sport Science and so on. This is the figure the USOPC shows as its funding commitment to athlete programs in 2021. And they did spend the money.

And let’s not kid ourselves: athletes need coaches, places to train, sports medicine help and that $40.9 million in support to get to Tokyo and other competitions and back safely.

The USOPC’s top executives are well paid for what they do. The final page of the 2021 financials shows the top 20 staff members by compensation, all of which had total pay (including benefits) of $285,159 or more.

Even with all this wealth, it’s not enough. The 2019 Borders Commission report, which reviewed the USOPC’s structure in the aftermath of the Nassar abuse scandal in gymnastics, noted:

“Elite athletes from other countries often receive significant government funding. The USOPC must establish some program of baseline financial support directly to Athletes, although the Commission realizes that different categories of Athletes will receive different levels of support. The Commission further recognizes that any significant source of such funds must be creatively sourced beyond the current revenue streams.”

The USOPC’s 2019 financials showed direct athlete and NGB support of $96.6 million, which has increased by 22.3% to $121.5 million for 2021. The soon-to-meet Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics will be scrubbing these numbers to better understand what they mean and former USOPC Athletes Advisory Council chair Han Xiao is a Co-Chair and was also a member of the Borders Commission, which provides continuity between these review efforts.

Also looking carefully, not so much at what has happened in the past, but what can happen in the future, will be new USOPC Board Chair Gene Sykes, who will take over in January 2023.

Even with so much money on paper, the USOPC needs more money to create annual athlete stipends and closer cooperation with the National Governing Bodies to develop well-defined competition and training environments that lead to success on the field and create new enthusiasm for Olympic sports as the U.S.’s unequaled NCAA training system teeters on collapse.

The USOPC is rich, but although the rest of the world does not want to hear it, it needs to get richer.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: World Athletics confirms no Russians in Eugene; World Games under way in Birmingham; $3 billion for a 2030 Vancouver Winter Games?

By
Rich Perelman
-
More Worlds medal than anyone else: American sprint icon Allyson Felix (Photo: Wikipedia)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Athletics Worlds: 1,972 athletes, 192 nations, Russians “excluded”
2. Postponed World Games 2022 open in Birmingham
3. Vancouver 2030 Winter Games cost could be $3 billion U.S.
4. Sykes elected USOPC chair for 2023-26 term
5. World Baseball Classic returns for 2023 in Asia and U.S.

After all the build-up, the World Athletics Championships in Eugene start on Friday, but without any Russian athletes, as World Athletics confirmed that they are being excluded due to the war in Ukraine. The World Games, first held in Santa Clara, California in 1981, returned to the U.S. after 41 years, with the opening in Birmingham, Alabama last Friday; competitions continue through the 17th. A feasibility report projects the cost of a 2030 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver at about $3 billion U.S., more expensive than other contenders Salt Lake City and Sapporo. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board elected Goldman Sachs executive Gene Sykes as its new chair, beginning in 2023; Sykes served as the chief executive of the successful Los Angeles bid for the 2028 Games. The always-exciting – but underrated – World Baseball Classic will return for its fifth edition in March 2023, with 20 teams in four pools in Japan, Taiwan, Phoenix and Miami and the semis and finals in Miami. And plenty of results from a busy weekend of sports worldwide.

1.
Athletics Worlds: 1,972 athletes, 192 nations,
Russians “excluded”

The actual entry lists for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene were posted on Friday, with the event set to welcome athletes from 192 nations … but not Russia.

Also posted Friday was a list of 18 Russian athletes who have been approved by the federation’s Doping Review Board to compete as neutrals – the Russian federation continues on suspension – bringing the total to 73 for the year. But:

“In approving these 18 applications, the Doping Review Board noted that, according to World Athletics’ decision of 1 March 2022, all athletes, support personnel and officials from Russia were excluded from all World Athletics Series events for the foreseeable future as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

So, no Russian athletes are on the entry lists for Eugene, eliminating – among others – the six medal winners from the Doha 2019 Worlds, including gold medalists Mariya Lasitskene (women’s high jump), Anzhelika Sidorova (women’s vault), men’s 100 m hurdler Sergey Shubenkov (silver), men’s high jumpers Mikhail Akimenko (silver) and Ilya Ivanyuk (bronze) and 20 km walk silver medalist Vasiliy Mizinov. Out; there are no Belarusian entries either.

Of the folks who are entered:

● There are 1,972 athletes from 192 countries in all
● Men: 1,000 from 164 countries
● Women: 887 from 116 countries
● Mixed: 85 from 16 countries for the Mixed 4×400 m

The most “popular” event in the men’s program is the 100 m, with 76 entries; the smallest event is the decathlon (23) followed by the 10,000 m (27). Same for the women, with 54 in the 100 m, 19 in the heptathlon and 25 in the 10,000 m.

The U.S. team expects to win a lot of medals and there’s a good reason why; look at the largest teams:

Men:
● 87: United States
● 41: Germany and Japan
● 36: Great Britain
● 33: Australia, Brazil and Spain

Women:
● 86: United States
● 42: Germany and Great Britain
● 34: Canada
● 32: Australia and Jamaica

There are 84 countries with one men’s entrant and 49 single-entry countries in the women’s competition. Sometimes, one is enough. The lone Philippine entrant is men’s vaulter Ernest John Obiena – entered after months of infighting between he, his federation and the Philippine Olympic Committee – who stands fourth on the 2022 world outdoor list at 5.92 m (19-5) and is a definite medal contender.

World Athletics reported that 37 of the 43 individual-event gold medalists from the 2019 Doha Worlds will return, as well as 42 of the 43 individual-event winners from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (Russian high jumper Lasitskene is the only one missing). Also:

● “Allyson Felix, the most decorated athlete in World Championships history, will have the opportunity of increasing her record tally. The US sprinter has 18 World Championships medals (13 gold, three silver and two bronze) and has been named as part of USA’s mixed 4x400m squad.

● “The Australian team features the oldest and youngest athletes of the entire championships. 49-year-old Kelly Ruddick is entered for the 35km race walk, while 17-year-old Claudia Hollingsworth will contest the 800m. Ruddick will become the oldest ever athlete to compete in a women’s discipline at the World Championships.”

The meet begins Friday and will be televised in the U.S. by NBCUniversal, mostly on USA Network, but also on NBC (seven of the 10 days), CNBC and on the Peacock streaming service.

2.
Postponed World Games 2022 open in Birmingham

Delayed a year by the pandemic, the 11th World Games opened in front of an enthusiastic crowd of about 27,000 at Birmingham, Alabama’s Protective Stadium, with Mayor Randall Woodfin telling the crowd:

“We’re ready to put the world on notice: Birmingham is here, and we’re ready once again to change the globe. Over the past few years, our world has seen so much division. From global pandemics to political strife, and to social unrest. But as I look out into this crowd, what I see is a world united, right here in Birmingham.”

The event, which was first held in 1981, is a showcase for sports which are not on the Olympic program, but want to be – Flying Disc for example, which was invented in Southern California and wants to be an added for LA28 – and for Olympic federations to demonstrate events they would like to add to the Olympic program.

The Opening Ceremony included a warm welcome for the large Ukrainian delegation and a heavy musical presence that included a 75-piece orchestra, a 120-member youth choir, a 120-member gospel choir, the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners tuba section and singing stars Nelly, Sara Evans, Shariff Simmons, Sheila E., Tony! Toni! Toné! and Yolanda Adams.

International World Games Association President Jose Perurena (ESP) told the athletes and the audience, “The global pandemic has affected us all, and continues to affect us. We have had to delay the Games by a year and put in place many additional measures. The Organizing Committee, the public authorities, the medical staff and the people of Birmingham have risen to the challenge, enabling us all to be here today. …

“The World Games must serve as bridge-builders. The only walls you will see here in Birmingham are those used by our wall-climbing athletes.”

The competition began on Saturday, with 3,600 athletes from 104 countries competing in 34 sports and 223 events. The first medals were handed out early, with the finals of the outdoor Speed Skating women’s 200 m time trial, won by Colombia’s Geiny Pajaro Guzman in 18.894 at 9:40 a.m. She was followed by men’s winner Duccio Marsili of Italy (17.835).

With the Games in Alabama, American Football has to be on the program, right? And it is, with the NFL partnering with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) to debut five-a-side Flag Football in 2022. Eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams are playing from 10-14 July in 40-minute games, with Mexico and Austria in the first men’s match and the U.S. women defeating Panama, 31-25 (five passing touchdowns for the U.S.’s Vanita Crouch!), in the inaugural games.

The World Games continues through the 17th; nightly highlights programs are shown on the CBS Sports Network.

3.
Vancouver 2030 Winter Games cost could be $3 billion U.S.

A Friday report by the British Columbia 2030 Feasibility Team showed that a Vancouver 2030 Winter Games could cost C$3.5 to 4.0 billion or U.S. $2.7 to $3.1 billion:

● Organizing Committee: C$2.5 to $2.8 billion (U.S. $1.9 to $2.2 billion)
● Public (Governments): C$1.0 to $1.2 billion (U.S. $774 to $929 million)

The organizing committee funds are assumed to come from the IOC’s contribution, domestic sponsorships, ticket sales, merchandising and other revenue.

The government funding is for “renewing venues for another 20 years”; for building new housing in the area to be initially used as the Olympic Villages and C$560 million or more (U.S. $433 million) for security.

This is in contrast to the 2010 Vancouver Games cost of C$3.6 billion (in 2022 dollars, about U.S. $2.8 billion), thanks to having to build multiple venues. The governmental costs for 2030 are essentially to use the Games as a reason to refresh the competition sites, which are already busy with domestic and World Cup competitions, and to build more local housing, plus the inevitable security costs.

And the Vancouver projected total is higher than the 2030 budgets proposed by Salt Lake City of $2.2 billion (not including security) and $2.4-$2.6 billion for Sapporo (JPN). The next step is approval within the Vancouver bid groups this summer and then regional and national governmental reviews in the fourth quarter.

4.
Sykes elected USOPC chair for 2023-26 term

The former chief executive of the Los Angeles 2028 bid, Gene Sykes, was elected as the new Chair of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, effective 1 January 2023.

Sykes, 64, was selected in a vote last Friday by the USOPC Board over former, two-term Federation Internationale de Ski Council member Dexter Paine, also a member of the USOPC Board as a representative of the National Governing Bodies Council since January 2021.

Both men are in finance, Sykes as co-chairman of Global Mergers and Acquisitions and co-chairman of the Global Technology, Media and Telecom Group at Goldman Sachs & Co., working out of Los Angeles, and Paine as the founder and chair of Paine Schwartz Partners, a leading global private equity firm.

Observed: Their expertise in finance and especially in investments says a lot about why they were the final candidates, replacing Susanne Lyons, a former marketing executive at Visa, who has served as Chair since January 2019.

The USOPC needs more money to do the things (1) athletes, officials and National Governing Bodies want funding for and (2) the USOPC hopes to do. The recently-released USOPC financial statements for 2021 showed the organization was nearing $1 billion in assets – $898.6 million – and had reserves of $568.1 million. But it’s not enough.

For 2021, the USOPC had revenue of $492.7 million, which includes its share of revenue from the International Olympic Committee’s Tokyo 2020 television rights and sponsorship sales (and its own domestic sponsorships) of $396.5 million (80.5%). There was also $39.8 million in donations (8.1%) and $50.9 million in investment income (10.3%).

But that’s more than twice as much as in 2020 ($208.2 million) or in 2019 ($205.2 million). More athlete funding? More NGB funding for coaching education, sport safety and events? That means more money, something Sykes knows a lot about.

Could a private equity partnership to create more nationally-relevant events be on offer?

5.
World Baseball Classic returns for 2023 in Asia and U.S.

The World Baseball Classic is back! The springtime, national team tournament – featuring major-league players – was last held in 2017, with the planned 2021 edition postponed by the Covid-19 pandemic to 2023.

After Japan won the first two editions in 2006 and 2009 and the Dominican Republic won in 2013, the U.S. finally won in 2017 at Dodger Stadium. The 2023 schedule is once again compact, with the tournament taking place from 8-21 March 2023, in Chinese Taipei, Japan and the U.S. The first-round sites, scheduled for 8-15 March:

Pool A: Taichung (TPE)
● Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Italy, Netherlands + a qualifier

Pool B: Tokyo (JPN)
● Australia, China, Japan, Korea + a qualifier

Pool C: Phoenix (USA)
● Canada, Colombia, Mexico, United States + a qualifier

Pool D: Miami (USA)
● Dominican Republic, Israel, Puerto Rico, Venezuela + a qualifier

The top two teams in each pool will move on to the quarterfinals in Tokyo and Miami, with the semis and final (21 March) in Miami. While it takes place during spring training for the Major Leagues, the intensity of national team play makes the WBC a compelling event which continues to have unrealized potential.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

Lots of results after a busy weekend of events around the world:

● World University Games ● The North Carolina bid for the 2027 World University Games got a boost from the North Carolina State Legislature, which approved a grant of $25 million toward the organization of the WUG if North Carolina should be selected as host over Korea’s Chungcheong Megacity bid.

The bid committee estimates the total cost of the event at about $100 million, with the remainder to come from sponsorships, media rights, ticket sales, donations and merchandise. Depending on how the funding is delivered, the state funds could help solve  one of the challenging aspects of a winning bid: having the money to start up the organizing committee and gather staff to begin the planning process.

● Athletics ● Sometimes, your timing is off. Tara Davis, the NCAA indoor and outdoor women’s long jump champion in 2021 and the Olympic sixth-placer in Tokyo, suffered three fouls at the USATF Nationals this year and didn’t make the World Championships team for Eugene.

But at 23, she’s not going anywhere, and won impressively in a high-performance meet at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center on Saturday at 7.24 mw (23-9w) with a wind-aid of 2.8 m/s. Only one other woman had jumped 7 m this season, but Davis got three in a row! She began with a foul, then got out to 7.01 mw (23-0w), got a wind-legal jump of 7.03 m (23-0 3/4) – now the no. 3 mark in the world for 2022 – before her winning jump of 7.24mw. She passed her last two rounds; she’s already thinking about Budapest in 2023 and Paris in 2024.

Behind her was Australia’s Brooke Buschkuehl at 7.13 m (23-4 3/4), a national record and – with legal wind – and now the new world leader for 2022, replacing her 2016 best of 7.05 m (23-1 3/4). She’s headed to Eugene.

● Cycling ● If two-time defending Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar (SLO) doesn’t win a stage, he isn’t far back. He concluded the first full week of the most famous race in cycling with a 39-second lead after finishing 7-1-1-3-5 in the last five stages.

In the first climbing stage of 2022 – Stage 7 on Friday – Pogacar showed brilliant form as he won a final sprint over 2021 runner-up Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) on the uphill finish to La Super Planche des Belles Filles in 3:58:40; with a second stage win in a row, he increased his overall lead to 35 seconds over Vingegaard. Saturday’s stage was a hilly, 186.3 km route to Lausanne with Belgian Wout van Aert winning his second stage in 2022 in 4:13:06, out-sprinting Michael Matthews (AUS) and Pogacar, whose lead increased to 39 seconds.

On Sunday, Luxembourg veteran Bob Jungels won his first stage ever at the Tour, riding away in the final 60 km of the 192.9 km, triple climb route for 22-second victory over Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP) and 26 seconds over fellow Spaniard Carlos Verona. Pogacar was fifth (+0:49), with Vingegaard right alongside. Third overall is Britain’s Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour winner, now 1:17 back. Le Tour continues through the 24th.

At the 33rd Giro Donne in Italy, Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten rode away from the field on the challenging, double-climb eighth stage on Friday and claimed a 59-second win that answered the question of whether she could be a three-time winner of the biggest race in women’s cycling. The victory increased her lead to 2:13 over Italian Marta Cavalli. Van Vleuten was fourth in Saturday’s difficult, triple-climb ninth stage, won by American Kristin Faulkner by 59 seconds over Cavalli, in 3:36:36 over 112.8 km.

On Sunday, she finished a casual 64th in the flat, 90.5 km final stage, with the final sprint won by Italy’s Chiara Consonni (2:12:04). Van Vleuten (27:07:26) won the overall title by 1:52 over Cavalli and 5:56 over Spain’s Mavi Garcia; Faulkner was 11th (+18:31). With wins also in 2018 and 2019, Van Vleuten joins four others who have won the Giro Donne three or more times.

The third of three stages of the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup concluded in Cali (COL), with American Jennifer Valente the star. The gold medalist in Tokyo in the women’s Omnium, Valente won the Elimination Race, then the Omnium and finally the Madison, teaming up with Colleen Gulick! The other multi-event winners were Nicholas Paul (TTO), who took the men’s Sprint and Keirin; Italy’s Jonathan Milan, in the men’s Pursuit and the Team Pursuit, and Martha Bayona Pineda (COL), winner of the women’s 500 m Time Trial and Keirin.

● Football ● It’s a story which grabbed the world’s attention in May 2015, when seven arrests were made before a FIFA meeting in late May in Zurich on corruption charges. Over the next seven years, many more arrests and convictions were made, but two of the highest-profile executives won their day in court last week.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter (SUI) and former French star and later UEFA President Michel Platini (FRA) were both acquitted of fraud in a Swiss court in Bellinzona. The case revolved around a 2011 payment by FIFA to Platini of CHF 2 million ($2.64 million at the time) for advisory services from 1998-2002, which the court found to be legitimate.

The Swiss prosecution had called for Blatter, 86, and Platini, 67, to receive suspended jail sentences for “criminal mismanagement” and “misappropriation,” but could not prove their case.

● Judo ● The Budapest Grand Slam was seen as a major tournament, and the results showed it, with Japan winning eight of 14 divisions (!) and France’s 10-time World Champion Teddy Riner serving notice that he is planning for a fifth Olympic Games and a fourth Olympic gold in 2024.

Japanese judoka won three men’s classes, with Olympic champ Hifumi Abe taking the 66 kg, Sanshiro Murao winning at 90 kg and Kentaro Iida collecting the 100 kg gold. Japan won five of the seven women’s divisions: Funa Tonaki (48 kg), Haruka Funakubo (57 kg), Megumi Horikawa (63 kg), Saki Niizoe (70 kg) and Wakaba Tomita (+78 kg).

Riner, who won the +100 kg Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016 and was third in Tokyo, won the men’s title in his first post-Olympic appearance. None of his four bouts took longer than 2:49 and he won by ippon in the final against Jelle Snippe (NED) in 40 seconds.

In the 81 kg division, former Iranian World Champion Saeid Mollei, who left under threat from the regime if he didn’t throw his matches at the 2019 Worlds to avoid facing eventual winner Sagi Muki of Israel, finished second to Brazil’s Guilherme Schmidt. Now 30 and fighting for Azerbaijan, Mollaei faced Muki in the third round and won a tense battle with an ippon 47 seconds into overtime. A battle between friends, who are both winners.

● Sport Climbing ● Indonesia speed-climbing ace Kiromal Katibin stunned the crowd at the IFSC World Cup at Chamonix (FRA) with another world record in the Speed qualifying, flying up the 15 m (49 feet) course in 5.00 seconds!

It’s his fifth world mark since May 2021, posting new records of 5.25, 5.17, 5.10, 5.09 and 5.04, the last two a week ago in Villars (SUI). But it didn’t help in the final, as Jinbo Long of China won the event at 5.11. Katibin was eliminated in the round of 16 and finished ninth in 5.89.

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TSX REPORT: Griner enters strategic guilty plea in Moscow; Ukraine welcomed in Chula Vista; Canadian swimmer Harvey drugged at Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-
Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine celebrates after winning the Women's High Jump on day two of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 2022 (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images for World Athletics)

★ The Sports Examiner: Surveying, monitoring and explaining the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. This site is free to view, with donations gratefully accepted to support our operating costs.
Comments? Click here. ★

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Griner enters strategic guilty plea to Russian drug charges
2. Ukraine World Athletics team welcomed in Chula Vista
3. Athletics: Cubans defecting, wrong shoes, no hope for the sport?
4. Canadian swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey drugged at FINA Worlds
5. U.S. women stop Jamaica in CONCACAF W group play, 5-0

American basketball star Brittney Griner entered a guilty plea to “drug smuggling” charges in Moscow in a move to receive a light sentence and set up her eventual release. Ukraine’s nearly-40 member team for the World Athletics Championships, with three strong medal contenders, is training at the Chula Vista Elite Training Center, along with athletes from nine other countries. In the meantime, Cuba has seen three stars – in the men’s 200 m, long jump and triple jump – all withdraw, possibly to defect to other countries, while Venezuela’s Olympic triple jump champ Yulimar Rojas was refused entry in the long jump for wearing the wrong shoes. Canadian swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey recounted on Instagram the horror of being drugged and unconscious for 4-6 hours at a party following the FINA Worlds in Budapest last month. The U.S. Women’s National Team sailed past Jamaica in CONCACAF W Championship group play by 5-0 and qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

1.
Griner enters strategic guilty plea to Russian drug charges

Two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner, 31, pled guilty to drug smuggling charges in court in Moscow, a strategic move aimed at reducing any sentence and possibly expediting her freedom. She told the court, “I’d like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law.” According to CNN:

“Griner’s plea came on the second day of her trial, at which a prosecutor accused her of smuggling less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. Prosecutors argue Griner intended to import the drugs into Russia’s territory and put the prohibited substances into a backpack and a suitcase, according to TASS, another state news agency.”

One of her Russian attorneys, Maria Blagovolina, told reporters on Thursday: “We, as her defense, explained to her the possible consequences. Brittney stressed that she committed the crime out of carelessness, getting ready to board a plane to Russia in a hurry, not intending to break Russian law.” The next hearing is scheduled for 14 July and the plea is hoped to result in a light sentence.

Griner has been held since 17 February and is considered unlawfully detained by the U.S. government. It has been widely speculated that she could be part of a prisoner exchange for a Russian national held in U.S. prison.

2.
Ukraine World Athletics team welcomed in Chula Vista

Ukraine’s 37-member team of athletes and coaches is getting ready for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene at the Chula Vista Elite Training Center – south of San Diego – through 13 July before leaving for Oregon.

While the first arrivals came on 30 June, a welcome reception was held on 7 July with Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas and representatives of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Yes, Chicken Kiev was served.

Ukrainian head coach Oleskii Serdiuchenko said, “We are very grateful for your kind and very important support and assistance in these difficult times for Ukraine.

“In spite of the war in Ukraine, with the help of our international friends, we continue to prepare our team and still willing to take part in the World Athletics Championships.”

Ukraine has high hopes for medals in Eugene, especially in the women’s high jump, where World Indoor Champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Tokyo Olympic fourth-placer Iryna Herashchenko are 1-2 on the 2022 world high jump list at 2.03 m (6-8) and 1.98 m (6-6), respectively. Long jumper Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, the 2019 Worlds silver medalist, is also a medal contender, currently sixth on the world list at 6.86 m (22-6 1/4).

Although no longer operated by the USOPC, the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center continues as an official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site and has multiple teams preparing there for the Eugene Worlds including Brazil, Chile, Estonia, India, Israel, Norway, Portugal, Singapore and the U.S.

3.
Athletics: Cubans defecting, wrong shoes, no hope for the sport?

Track & field is a crazy sport, with 44 different individual events coming up at the World Championships starting 15 July in Eugene. Here’s the latest chaos with the Worlds a week away:

● Women’s Olympic triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela will not be allowed to compete in the long jump, even though her 6.93 m (22-9) mark from 8 June would be number four on the world list for 2022.

The issue was that Rojas was wearing triple jump shoes during that competition in Guadalajara (MEX), a violation of the new World Athletics rules on sole thickness. Long jump shoes are limited to 20 mm sole thickness, while triple jump shoes may have 25 mm soles. Tweeted Rio 2016 women’s vault champ Katerina Stefanidi (GRE):

“I competed in 1 comp (only) this year that did an actual spikes check. They randomly selected 1 athlete from wPV. She showed them a different set of spikes and competed in the TJ shoes that aren’t allowed for PV. Rules are rules but are they being enforced the same for everyone?”

Said a Scottish commenter of the shoe rules:

“I knew that, and I’m not a professional athlete. Boggles the mind that she didn’t.”

● Things are tough in Cuba. Reynier Mena, who moved to no. 3 on the world list for 2022 in the men’s 200 m with his sensational 19.63 win in La Chaux-de-Fonds (SUI) last week, is shown on the qualification list for the Worlds, but was reported not to be competing due to filing for a change of allegiance to Portugal, where he lives.

If true, Mena is following the same path as Olympic triple jump champ Pedro Pablo Pichardo, who switched to Portugal in 2018; Olympic long jump silver medalist Juan Miguel Echevarria – who has not competed in 2022 – is also mentioned as transferring to Portugal and has withdrawn from the Worlds.

Andy Diaz, the world’s no. 2 triple jumper at 17.68 m (58-0 1/4) also withdrew from the Worlds and staying with his Italian club, Livorno Libertas.

● Rachel Bachman’s 23 June Wall Street Journal story “Track and Field Aims to Capture an Emerging Market: The USA“ was summarized in her tweet:

“The United States has the world’s best track and field athletes.

“But the sport lags way behind No. 1 in popularity.

“Track and field leaders plan to change that. They aim to make it a top-five sport in the US by the LA 2028 Olympics”

Replied Stefanidi – a Stanford grad – sarcastically on Twitter:

“In 2017 they were aiming to make it a top-five sport in the world in 5 years. Big success.”

4.
Canadian swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey drugged at FINA Worlds

A terrible incident, and a warning to always – always – be on guard. Canadian swimmer Mary-Sophie Harvey, 22, who won a women’s 4×200 m Free relay bronze as a prelim swimmer and was eighth in the 200 m Medley at the recent FINA World Aquatics Championships, wrote a poignant, eight-panel post on Instagram, explaining that she was drugged – possibly by a spiked drink – at a party following the end of the swimming events on 25 June:

“I’ve debated for awhile on if I should or if I shouldn’t post anything. But I’ve always been transparent with ya’ll and these situations sadly happen too many times for me to stay silent.”

The panels were illustrated with photos of bruises she received and she explained:

“On the last night of the World Championships, I got drugged.

“At the time I wasn’t aware of what got inside of me, I just remember waking up completely lost; with our team manager and doctor at my bedside. I remember celebrating my competition while also being reasonable and aware of my next objective, which is the Commonwealth Games. But, then, I don’t remember anything. There’s this four-to-six-hour window where I can’t recall a single thing. …

“Some friends told me afterwards that they had to [carry] me while I was unconscious…”

She said that beyond the bruises, she suffered a rib sprain and a small concussion. “To anyone reading this, please be careful. I thought I was safe, that it would never happen to me, especially while being surrounded by friends. But it did … and I wish someone had educated me on the matter prior to that night.”

Swimming Canada spokesman Nathan White told the Canadian Press, “We are aware there was an incident the night before departure from Budapest. As soon as team staff became aware, Mary received excellent medical treatment from our team physician on site, and was cleared to travel home.

“Staff have been in contact with Mary since her return and we are offering her support. We continue to gather information on the situation, and the file has been forwarded to our independent Safe Sport officer.”

5.
U.S. women stop Jamaica in CONCACAF W group play, 5-0

After beating Haiti by 3-0 last Sunday, the U.S. Women’s National Team took a firm grip on Group A of the CONCACAF W Championship with a 5-0 victory over Jamaica in Guadalupe (MEX).

The game opened quickly with Jamaican midfielder Jody Brown getting a shot on U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher in the second minute and then the U.S. struck, with Sophia Smith scoring from right to left past Jamaican keeper Rebecca Spencer for a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. Smith struck again just three minutes later, with a shot from the right side for a 2-0 lead. Mallory Pugh scored in the 27th minute, but the goal was overturned on video review. The U.S. had 67% of the possession and led in shots by 10-2.

U.S. star Rose Lavelle got the third goal in the 59th minute, taking a cross from midfielder Ashley Sanchez and finishing with a right-footed shot across the goal. After a foul on striker Midge Purce in the box, Kristie Mewis converted a penalty shot in the 83rd minute; Trinity Rodman scored in the 86th for the 5-0 final. The U.S. finished with 68% possession and up 20-4 on shots.

The U.S. is now the only unbeaten in the group (8-0 goals-against total) and will finish against Mexico on the 11th (Monday), with the semifinals beginning on the 14th. The American women are now qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup; the tournament winner qualifies for the Paris 2024 Games.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Games ● The World Games 2022 began Thursday night in Birmingham, Alabama, to be followed on 28 July by the XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. In between will be the 21st Maccabiah in Israel, from 12-26 July, and in August comes the second European Championships.

Just completed were the Mediterranean Games in Oran (ALG), the 24 June-5 July Bolivarian Games in Valledupar (COL), the first Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe (FRA) and the Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas in June. The 2022 World University Games in Chengdu (CHN) was re-scheduled for 2023, but coming up on 9 August is the fifth Islamic Solidarity Games. Now you know.

Lots more than just the Olympic Games, which started the entire multi-sport movement, but was not followed up with another new event until the 1923 International Universities Championships in Paris.

● Athletics ● Now 75, Bob Beamon’s legacy is secure as the 1968 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s long jump and his stunning world-record leap of 8.90 m (29-2 1/2) in Mexico City, which created the term “Beamonesque” for an achievement almost beyond comprehension.

Originally from New York, he competed at UTEP and was inducted into the Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame in January as a member of the Class of 2021. He is now lending his expertise and prestige to RunRite Track & Field, which under the brand of The Indoor Track, is opening a series of indoor facilities, with the first to open in Plano, Texas on 6 September, with locations in Allen and McKinney also slated.

Beamon, who spent most of his professional career working with youth in the Miami area, is interested in giving youngsters the opportunity to learn about track & field and explore their abilities.

● Cycling ● Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar is putting his stamp on the 109th Tour de France early, with a final-sprint victory on the hilly, 219.9 km Stage 6 ride on Thursday, taking the overall lead in the race. He burst away from Michael Matthews (AUS) and David Gaudu (FRA) and now owns a four-second lead over American Neilson Powless and 31 seconds on last year’s runner-up, Jonas Vingegaard (DEN). Friday will be the first climbing test, with an uphill finish to La Super Blanche des Belles Filles.

The sixth stage of the 33rd Giro Donne in Italy featured a tough, uphill finish on the Passo del Maniva, won by France’s Juliette Labous in an 8 km solo attack that routed the field. Race leader Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) was second (+1:37) and second-place Mavi Garcia (ESP: +1:41) was third. Two-time winner Van Vleuten continues to lead, now by 0:31 over Garcia and 1:10 ahead of Marta Cavalli (ITA) with three stages left.

● Modern Pentathlon ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed an appeal by the Danish Modern Pentathlon Association against the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), allowing the UIPM to proceed with its plan for a new fifth discipline to replace riding.

“The present CAS decision only means that a proposal may be submitted by the UIPM EB to the IOC in view of the possible replacement of the equestrian discipline at the 2028 Olympic Games. Any subsequent format change of the modern pentathlon event would have to be adopted by the competent bodies according to the procedures set by the UIPM Statutes.”

● Triathlon ● “Our policy outlines that Triathlon is a sport for everyone and that transphobic behaviour will not be tolerated. It confirms that Triathlon is a gender-affected sport and so for competitive events (those races that have prizes, times, and/or rankings) for athletes over the age of 12, there will be two categories; a Female Category, (for those who are the female sex at birth), and an Open Category, (for all individuals including male, transgender and those non-binary who were male sex at birth.”

That’s from British Triathlon’s Wednesday announcement of its new policy (operative 1 January 2023) concerning transgender athletes in “competitive activity,” defined as an event “run under the auspices of British Triathlon or the Home Nations involving any or all of official timing/results, qualification, or rankings and involving participants of 12 years of age or greater.” For recreational events, entrants may compete “in their self-identified Gender, without providing any additional evidence.”

The federation consulted with its members, receiving 3,167 responses – about 10% of the entire membership – with “approximately 8 out of 10 members” approving of the policy that was issued this week. It’s a stiff policy, but follows up on the approach announced by the International Aquatics Federation (FINA) and others; World Triathlon has not announced its policy yet.

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For our updated, 620-event International Sports Calendar for 2022 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!

TSX REPORT: Giant U.S. team named for T&F Worlds; sprint star Steiner angry about leaked (?) contract terms; Paris 2024 finances OK for now

By
Rich Perelman
-
The medals for the World Athletics Championships in Eugene starting 15 July. (Photo: Oregon22)

★ The Sports Examiner: Surveying, monitoring and explaining the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. This site is free to view, with donations gratefully accepted to help support our operating costs. Comments? Click here. ★

★ Tell your friends to sign up for The Sports Examiner e-mails now, just in time for session-by-session coverage of the World Athletics Championships
coming 15-24 July. ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. USA Track & Field confirms giant, 151-member Worlds team
2. Was sprinter Steiner’s Puma contract leaked, or not?
3. Paris 2024 audit says finances are manageable … for now
4. Vancouver 2030 bid climbs over 50% support in poll
5. Brisbane 2032 CEO search begins with 18-page brochure

An enormous team, loaded with talent was announced for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene by USA Track & Field; the all-time medals record of 30 by the U.S. in 2017 could be in jeopardy. One star, sprinter Abby Steiner, was offended by a tweet “reporting” her sponsorship deal with Puma which was widely repeated, but has not been confirmed. The Paris 2024 organizers were reported to have received an encouraging, passing grade on budget stability from its independent audit committee. A public poll shows increased support for a Vancouver 2030 Winter Games bid, but barely over the 50% mark. Brisbane 2032 is looking for its chief executive; the job is explained in a gaudy, 18-page brochure! And here comes the 11th World Games in Birmingham, Alabama that kicks off Thursday night.

1.
USA Track & Field confirms giant, 151-member Worlds team

A monster, 151-member American team for the 2022 World Athletics Championships was named by USA Track & Field on Tuesday, including the Lyles brothers in the sprints and relays.

The roster includes nine 2019 Worlds gold medalists Christian Coleman (men/100 m), Noah Lyles (men/200 m), Donavan Brazier (men/800 m), Grant Holloway (men/110 m hurdles), Christian Taylor (men/triple jump), Joe Kovacs (men/shot), Nia Ali (women/100 m hurdles), Dalilah Muhammad (women/400 m hurdles) and DeAnna Price (women/hammer). Doha winner Sam Kendricks (men/pole vault) has been battling injuries and was not listed.

Tokyo Olympic gold medalists on the team include Ryan Crouser (men/shot), Athing Mu (women/800 m), Sydney McLaughlin (women/400 m hurdles), Katie Nageotte (women/vault) and Valarie Allman (women/discus).

Sprint icon Allyson Felix qualified for the relay pool in the Mixed 4×400 m and will compete in her 10th World Championships.

Thanks to Diamond League seasonal championships in the men’s 400 m, women’s shot and women’s discus, plus the women’s Combined Events Challenge, the U.S. has four entries in 14 events for 2022. At present, U.S. athletes are world leaders in 16 of the 44 individual events to be contested.

Even some athletes who finished in the top three at the USATF Nationals, but did not have the requisite qualifying standard got in thanks to their standing in the World Athletics World Rankings. A few top-three finishers did not have the Worlds qualifying mark and were replaced with lower-placed athletes. Injuries also played a part; decathlon medal contender Garrett Scantling was not named, and Tokyo women’s marathon bronze medalist Molly Seidel is hurt and was replaced by American record holder Keira D’Amato.

Perhaps the happiest story from the announcement was the listing of Josephus Lyles – Noah’s young brother – in the men’s 4×100 m replay pool after his fifth-place finish in the 200 m in 19.93.

The U.S. set the all-time record with 30 total medals at the 2017 Worlds in London and with a formidable team, could challenge or surpass that total at the first Worlds ever held in the U.S., beginning 15 July.

2.
Was sprinter Steiner’s Puma contract leaked, or not?

University of Kentucky sprint star Abby Steiner is one of 2022’s brightest stars, winning the NCAA 200 m title in a world-leading 21.80 and then taking the USA Track & Field championship in a then-world-leading 21.77. She’s heading to the World Championships as a medal favorite.

She announced that she was skipping her senior season and turning professional, leading to a 4 July tweet by Sacramento State coach Kenny McDaniel:

“Abby Steiner just signed a 2 million $ deal with Puma!!!

“Biggest contract signed by a female in track and field out of college. Congratulations #! Good for the sport.”

No other confirmation was forthcoming and some outlets reported it as fact and some as rumor. Steiner was not amused, writing on Twitter, in pertinent part:

“[P]eople trying to leak my deal and contract have been some of the most invasive and bothersome narratives I have seen. This information is between my sponsor and me. Any source outside of that is simply speculation. …

“It is common knowledge that contracts are not public. My income is not public record, nor should be reported as such. Any reporter should know this, and reporting otherwise is extremely harmful in a time period of life that is already stressful.

“Please keep in mind that athletes are human. We are worth more than being used in attempts to gain social media likes. A simple DM to me could have prevented false narratives in our track community. As reporters, former athletes, and coaches who should understand the pressures athletes face, I urge you to be mindful of this for the next athlete.”

Puma is no stranger to major-league athlete deals in track & field as the long-time sponsor of Jamaican icon Usain Bolt and current men’s vault world-record holder Mondo Duplantis, among others. But McDaniel’s statement is unconfirmed and he has not commented further.

Observed: True or not true, assertions such as McDaniel’s are commonplace in all areas of reporting and Steiner will not be the last to have such personal details stated publicly, regardless of her feelings in the matter. She’s a professional now, and in the public eye; this type of scrutiny comes with fame … and fortune, of whatever size.

3.
Paris 2024 audit says finances are manageable … for now

The Paris 2024 organizers have sounded the alarm on the costs of the upcoming Olympic Games and have made clear their concerns and a need for all stakeholders to minimize costs wherever possible. But there are positive signs.

The French-language FrancsJeux.com site reports an internal Paris 2024 audit review shows a clear understanding that the costs of the event must be controlled. Expected to be presented to the Paris 2024 Board on 12 July, the report notes “a structured and effective system for managing and controlling its expenses” that “is based on competent personnel, robust tools and proven procedures.”

Suggestions for better control include isolating the areas which are specifically subject to inflationary pressures and inserting indexes into contracts which pin inflationary increases to known financial references. And, while the domestic sponsorship program remains targeted to bring in €1.1 billion (~$1.12 billion U.S.), it would not hurt to surpass this if possible. The fashion and wines and spirits group LVMH – Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Tiffany, Moet Hennessey and many more – is seen as a possible new top-tier partner.

The Paris 2024 annual report for 2021 showed that 60% of the revenues for the €3.979 billion (~$4.05 billion U.S.) organizing committee budget have been secured, including 65% of the €1.099 domestic sponsorship projection, with three years remaining (and not including the just-announced CarreFour sponsorship).

The budget contingency was raised slightly from €300 million to €315 million.

In an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche, Paris 2024 head Tony Estanguet said that the Games security force would comprise 22,000 people in all, expected to be contracted by the end of 2022.

4.
Vancouver 2030 bid climbs over 50% support in poll

GamesBids.com reported that an online survey in British Columbia showed that support for a Vancouver bid for the 2030 Winter Games has crawled over 50%, a significantly better result than last December.

Then, the poll found 45% against and 43% in favor; the new poll showed 54% in favor or strongly in favor of the bid, to be led by Four Host First Nations – Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Lil’wat – and the municipal governments of Vancouver and Whistler. The leadership of the First Nations made a significant difference in attitudes toward the bid.

The report noted that enthusiasm for the bid was similar to that of Sapporo (JPN), where polls have shown from 52% to 65% in favor of the bid. This is in stark contrast to the 87% approval for the Salt Lake City bid, with only 11% opposed.

The International Olympic Committee is expecting to narrow its focus to one potential host by the end of the year.

5.
Brisbane 2032 CEO search begins with 18-page brochure

The Brisbane 2032 organizing committee is looking for a Chief Executive Officer, with the position and situation described in an illustrated, 18-page brief on what the job is and what the Board is looking for. The position profile includes:

“As Chief Executive Officer (CEO), you will have overall responsibility for the strategic direction and operations as well as accountability for the financial goals of Brisbane 2032.

“The CEO will be accountable to the President and the Board for delivery of the overall outcomes and results of Brisbane 2032. You will be responsible for the creation of the organisation and oversee the planning and implementation of a wide range of Olympic and Paralympic programs. The initial focus will be on strategic, financial, and business planning, stakeholder engagement, and the establishment of the organisation in consultation and collaboration with the President and Board.”

The Board President, former Dow Chemical chair Andrew Liveris, wrote of the position:

“I’m looking for someone visionary that understands how to turn innovative ideas into
a reality that will revolutionise the visitor and spectator experience for mega-sporting
events to come.

“I’m looking for someone with financial acumen who has demonstrated experience in
managing the fiduciary responsibilities of a multifaceted, multibillion-dollar business
operation, while respecting our contractual commitments for cost-neutral Organising
Committee deliverables.

“I’m looking for the person that knows how to ensure Brisbane 2032 showcases our
region, state and nation to the world.

“All of which begs the question – Is this you?”

The 2032 Games project is expected to cost $4.5 billion U.S. The search is being coordinated by the Odgers Berndtson search firm, with applications due by 19 August.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizing committee committed to the City of Los Angeles to work cooperatively on business procurement, local hiring and sustainability and is actively reaching out to community organizations and stakeholders. A new report shows that LA28’s first round of discussions included 79 organizations, with recommendations from the City to expand the list by another 217 groups.

The groups cover a wide range of communities and interests, including, but not limited to Arts for LA, the Black Cooperative Investment Fund and Heal the Bay to the Byzantine Latino Quarter Pico Business Improvement District and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. Selections for the working groups are slated to be completed by the end of the year.

● Mediterranean Games ● The 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games in Oran (ALG) concluded on Wednesday, with 24 of the 26 entered countries winning at least one medal. Italy led the parade with 159 medals (48-50-61) in the 234 events in 24 sports, followed by Turkey (108: 45-26-37) and France (81: 21-24-36).

● World Games 2022 ● Ready or not, the 11th World Games, comprising 30 sports with 3,600 athletes from 110 countries, is ready to launch in Birmingham, Alabama. The opening comes at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium on Thursday evening and continues through the 17th.

The U.S. will have the largest team at 373, with 160 from Japan and Ukraine will send a large delegation of 140. A bevy of sports angling for inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games will be on display, including Archery (Compound), Flag Football, Flying Disc – which originated in the L.A. area – Lacrosse, Orienteering and many more. The opening program on Thursday will include performances musical guests Sara Evans, Nelly and (of course) Alabama.

The CBS Sports Network will show World Games highlights – in one-hour packages – each day beginning on Friday (8th), with added highlights program on Paramount+ Premium.

● Cycling ● Stage 5 of the 2022 Tour de France was only decided at the line with Simon Clarke (AUS) throwing his bike across the finish to edge Taco van der Hoorn (NED), Edvald Boasson Hagen (DEN: +0:02) and American Neilson Powless (+0:04) in 3:13:35 for the flat (but partially cobbled), 157 km route from Lille to Wallers-Arenberg. The overall leaderboard tightened up considerably with Wout van Aert (BEL) remaining in the yellow jersey by 13 seconds over Powless, but now with 11 riders within a minute of the leader.

The Tour made a modest impression on U.S. television viewers last week, with Stage 1 drawing 224,000 on USA Network Friday morning, 345,000 on Saturday morning (Stage 2) and 347,000 on Sunday (Stage 3). A highlights program on Saturday on NBC did best, with 541,000 watching.

The Giro Donne in Italy completed Stage 5 (of 9) with Dutch star Marianne Vos winning for the second time and for the 32nd time in her career in this race. She won a final sprint from Lotte Kopecky (BEL), Silvia Persico (ITA) and American Kristin Faulkner in 2:58:30 for the 114.7 km ride from Sarnico to Bergamo. Two-time winner Annemiek van Vleuten maintained a 25-second lead over Mavi Garcia (ESP) on the overall leaderboard.

● Football ● While the European Super League of the top clubs from England, Spain and Italy famously imploded in 2021, the concept is alive and well in Africa, where the African Super League will commence in August 2023 with the continent’s top 24 teams – per their FIFA rankings – and a prize purse of $100 million.

In contrast to the purely private European venture, the African version has the backing of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and will exist alongside the ongoing African Champions League program which will be open to all club teams on the continent.

● Tennis ● The Women’s Tennis Association levied fines of just over $1 million against the British Lawn Tennis Association and All England Lawn Tennis Association – organizers of Wimbledon – for refusing to allow Russian and Belarusian players in the 2022 tournament.

The fines of £620,000 (~$753,000 U.S.) against the LTA and £207,000 (~$250,000) against the AELTA are being appealed. Said AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton, “We stand by the decision we made, we are deeply disappointed at the reactions of the tours to that decision,” noting that the tournament had little choice in view of the British government’s insistence on the bans. The WTA and the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals removed the tournament’s ranking points for 2022, but the tournaments are progressing anyway.

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TSX REPORT: Why Mondo didn’t try for a world record at Stockholm; 29% of USATF top-3 are unsponsored; 35 nations call for Russian bans

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic champ and world-record holder Mondo Duplantis of Sweden (Photo: Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Duplantis had 160,000 reasons to skip a WR try at Stockholm
2. Study shows 29% of USATF top-3 open aths unsponsored
3. Edwin Moses on his 1980 world record and the boycott
4. Reps of 35 nations call for Russian suspension in sport
5. U.S. women shut out Haiti, 3-0, in CONCACAF W opener

For those who are track & field professionals, it not only a sport, but their business. This was underlined by Swedish vault star Mondo Duplantis, who made a good business decision not to go for a world record in front of home fans last week. For others who finished in the top three at the USATF Nationals, business isn’t a good as almost a third do not have a lead commercial sponsor. Then there is Edwin Moses, who was not allowed to compete at the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to the U.S. boycott, but set a world record just two weeks before to show who would have won. A statement by ministers of 35 nations calls for Russian and Belarusian athletes to continue to be suspended due to the war on Ukraine. The U.S. women’s team won its opener in the important CONCACAF W Championship in Mexico.

1.
Duplantis had 160,000 reasons to skip a WR try at Stockholm

It’s a business, baby.

Mondo Duplantis, on only his sixth jump of the competition, cleared 6.16 m (20-2 1/2), the highest vault ever outdoors. Would he try for an absolute world record of 6.21 m (20-4 1/2)?

No, and there are good reasons why. Said the winner afterwards:

“I wanted to come here today and try to do something special. … I just remember I was trying to focus really hard to not hitting the bar. And once when I did, I was over the bar and then I just started to run like an idiot. … I feel like I am definitely in shape to win my title and maybe to do something special in Eugene.

“I am in a great shape and it is all about building to the world champs. I don´t really feel the pressure; only the pressure I put on myself. I think I could go high in Oregon and it is important to be in my best shape there. Today was a confirmation that I can do it.”

He’ll be looking forward to the Worlds in Eugene for many reasons, including winning a world title, the only major championship he has not won. He was ninth in his debut in 2017 and second in 2019. Now he’s the favorite.

But there are other things at stake, like money. The Diamond League pays $10,000 for a win, with no mention of a world-record bonus. At the World Championships in Eugene:

● Prize money is $70,000-35,000-22,000-16,000-11,000-7,000-6,000-5,000 for the top eight places, and

● World records earn a $100,000 bonus!

So, with a win in Eugene and a world record, Duplantis would earn $170,000 vs. $10,000 for his win in Stockholm (and no bonus).

No wonder he didn’t try for the record in Stockholm. And he had 160,000 reasons why.

2.
Study shows 29% of USATF top-3 open aths unsponsored

An intriguing review of athlete sponsorship by former 3:34.54 1,500 m man Kyle Merber, writing for Citius Magazine, showed that among post-collegians, 24 of the 83 top-three finishers at the recent USATF Championships are unsponsored.

Merber broke down the top-three finishers in the 34 events – 102 medalists in total – and found:

● 59 were sponsored (40 track; 19 field)
● 24 were unsponsored (5 track, 19 field)
● 19 were collegians (9 track, 10 field)

So, 59 of the 83 top-three finishers who were post-collegians were sponsored (71%) and 29% were not. By group, 40 of 45 track athletes were sponsored, but only 19 of 38 field athletes.

Of the 59 sponsored athletes, Nike supports 29, followed by adidas (10), New Balance (6), Tracksmith and Puma (4 each).

Merber further notes the continuing difficulties for athletes using the one college-style facility available to professionals:

“USATF is cutting the budget of many athletes who are currently based out of the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista — the closest thing to a college environment that most top-level athletes, particularly field eventers, have available. …

“[D]espite this arrangement being incredibly effective at producing medals, those who benefitted from the stability will now be forced to relocate and find new and likely less ideal situations. Rather than taking away the Olympic Training Center, we should be replicating it.”

3.
Edwin Moses on his 1980 world record and the boycott

“I decided to cut a big race loose that day. We didn’t get a chance to go to the Moscow ‘80 games because of the US boycott of the event. I was mad as a mugga mugga that summer knowing that my 2nd gold medal was going to an inferior runner.

“2nd place was 49.02 and third was 50.13 ([German Harald] Schmid and [American Andre] Phillips). This was 42 years ago and the race was two weeks before the Olympics final in the 400 hurdles. It was an exhibition, solo effort.”

So remembered Edwin Moses of his world-record 47.13 on 3 July in Milan, Italy, just 16 days prior to the opening of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, which the U.S. did not attend as the leader of a 65-country boycott.

This was the third of his four world records, and it was East Germany’s Volker Beck who won the cheapest gold medal in Olympic history in 48.70, which would likely have won him a bronze, behind Moses and Schmid, but for the boycott.

Moses went on to set his fourth world mark at 47.02 in 1983 and finished not only with Olympic golds in 1976 and 1984 and two World Championships, but an unforgettable 122-race win streak from 1977-87.

4.
Reps of 35 nations call for Russian suspension in sport

A 1 July statement signed by governmental representatives of 35 nations, including the U.S., called for more sanctions on Russia and Belarus in view of the continuing war against Ukraine:

“● Russian and Belarusian sport national governing bodies should be suspended from international sport federations.

“● Individuals closely aligned to the Russian and Belarusian states, including but not limited to government officials, should be removed from positions of influence on international sport federations, such as boards and organising committees.

“● National and international sports organisations should consider suspending the broadcasting of sports competitions into Russia and Belarus.”

“We call on all international sport federations to take account of these principles, applaud all those that have taken action already, and encourage our own domestic sporting bodies to engage with their international federations to do so.”

The statement noted that where Russians or Belarusians are allowed, they should be noted as not representing their country and the flags and anthems of these countries should be prohibited. The 35 signatories included 29 European countries, plus Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States, and was presented by Polish Sports and Tourism Minister Kamil Bortniczuk.

The reaction from the Russian Olympic Committee was swift and furious:

“Unfortunately, the forced escalation of anti-Russian hysteria continues, this is happening in the absence of any reaction to the widespread interference of Western state structures in the affairs of the National Olympic committees, which are ordered to support restrictions and suspensions on a national basis, are forbidden to participate in competitions where Russians compete.”

TASS further noted a report last week from Kurafin Moscow State Law University Rector Viktor Blazheev:

“If you take the big picture, then, according to the latest information from the Ministry of Sports, the IOC, the IPC and 95 other international organizations have applied sanctions against our athletes and sports organizations. 12 international federations have decided to suspend the membership of Russian national federations or to exclude them from their membership, 19 international organizations have removed representatives of Russia from their managerial positions.

“At the same time, 14 sports federations allow Russian athletes to participate in competitions in a neutral status.” He noted especially the permission for Russian participation in chess, judo and tennis as neutral athletes.

On Tuesday, the International Ice Hockey Federation appeals board dismissed Russian and Belarusian appeals against the IIHF suspension from international tournaments; Russia is considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The European Table Tennis Union barred Russian or Belarusian participation for the 2022-23 season, and the Federation Internationale de Ski extended the Russian and Belarusian ban through the summer season.

5.
U.S. women shut out Haiti, 3-0, in CONCACAF W opener

The CONCACAF W Championship for women is pretty important, as the top two teams in each group qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the winner advances to the Paris 2024 Olympic tournament. The second- and third-place teams will qualify for a play-off to go to Paris.

So, the no. 1-ranked U.S. women – two-time defending champions – opened play on Monday in Group A with a 3-0 victory in 99 F heat over Haiti at San Nicolas de los Garza (MEX). Alex Morgan got two first-half goals, on a feed from Mallory Pugh in the 16th minute and on a header off a cross from Kelley O’Hara in the 23rd for her 117th career goal for the U.S. and a 2-0 lead.

However, Haiti applied pressure later in the half and midfielder Melchie Dumornay slammed a shot toward the net in the 27th minute that was stopped by U.S. keeper Casey Murphy. In the 42nd minute, Haiti was awarded a penalty, but striker Roselord Borgella hit the crossbar.

The U.S. lost two second-half goals to offside calls, then Midge Purce got a goal in the 84th minute to make the final 3-0, with the U.S. owning 69% of the possession and a 17-7 edge on shots. Hardly artistic, but convincing.

The U.S. plays Jamaica next on 7 July, then Mexico on 11 July to finish group play.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● International Olympic Committee ● IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) visited the capital of Kyiv at the invitation of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee on Sunday (4th), meeting more than 100 athletes at the National Training Center, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Bach announced that the IOC’s aid fund for Ukrainian athletes will be tripled to $7.5 million to help with preparations for Paris 2024 and Milan Cortina 2026. In addition, he committed to the staging of a Ukrainian Sport Recovery Conference of the Olympic Movement to be held in Lausanne.

● Caribbean Games ● The first Caribbean Games, an under-23 event with 800 athletes competing in seven sports, with 29 nations attending in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe. Cuba led all countries with 44 medals (18-12-14), followed by Puerto Rico (32: 15-10-7) and the Dominican Republic (13: 6-4-3).

This is a separate competition from the Central American & Caribbean Games, which will next take place in June 2023 in El Salvador.

● Athletics ● A new contender in the already-hot men’s 200 m: Cuba’s Reynier Mena, who won the Resisprint International in a national record of 19.63 (+1.2) at La Chaux-de-Fonds (SUI) on Sunday. That moves him to no. 3 on the 2022 world list, beyond Americans Erriyon Knighton (19.49) and Noah Lyles (19.61).

A very encouraging win for Rio 2016 400 m champ (and world-record holder) Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) in 44.58 at the Stars & Stripes Classic in Marietta, Georgia on Saturday. Battling back from injuries, he’s now 14th on the 2022 World list.

China’s zero-tolerance Covid policy has caused the cancellation of November’s World Half Marathon Championships. World Athletics did, however, award the second World Athletics Road Running Championships to Yangzhou for 2027.

● Baseball-Softball ● Italy’s Riccardo Fraccari was re-elected for a second term as President of the World Baseball-Softball Confederation by 100-43 over France’s Didier Seminet; Fraccari will serve into 2028 and is leading the federation’s efforts to place baseball and softball on the program of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Secretary-General Beng Choo Low of Malaysia was also re-elected.

● Basketball ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner wrote to U.S. President Joe Biden, asking for help from her detainment in Russia on “drug smuggling” charges. The U.S. government considers Griner to be unlawfully held by the Russians; her trial began last Friday.

“I realize you are dealing with so much,” she wrote, “But please don’t forget about me and the other American detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home.” She also noted, “I’m terrified I might be here forever … It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate [Independence Day] because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”

● Cycling ● Back on French soil, Belgium scored its second 1-2 of the 2022 Tour de France, with race leader Wout van Aert breaking away in the final 12 km for an eight-second win in the flat, 171.5 km Stage 4 over Jasper Philipsen in 4:01:36. Van Aert now has a 25-second lead over countryman Yves Lampaert and 32 seconds over two-time defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO).

At the Giro Donne in Italy, Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten took over the race lead on Sunday, winning the hilly 126.1 km Stage 3 over Mavi Garcia (ESP) and forging a 25-second over the Spaniard as Italy’s Elisa Balsamo fell and finished well back in 36th. On Tuesday, Balsamo won her second stage over the flat, 126.1 km course in a mass sprint, just ahead of Dutch stars Charlotte Kool and Marianne Vos. Van Vleuten continues to lead Garcia by 0:25 and Marta Cavalli by 0:57 with the race concluding on Sunday.

● Football ● The U.S. Department of Justice announced last week that a further $92 million in funds forfeited from corruption in international football will be sent to FIFA and the CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean) and CONMEBOL (South America). This is on top of the $201 million already sent. According to the DoJ statement:

“To date, the prosecutions have resulted in charges against more than 50 individual and corporate defendants from more than 20 countries, primarily in connection with the offer and receipt of bribes and kickbacks paid by sports marketing companies to soccer officials in exchange for the media and marketing rights to various soccer tournaments and events and the laundering of those payments.”

● Errata ● Some readers of Monday’s post saw the Olympic memorabilia auction now ongoing as offered by “RRM Auctions.” It’s RR Auctions and the lots can be viewed here; the auction continues through 21 July.

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LANE ONE: Eugene World Athletics Championships nearing evening sell-outs, with an estimated 86% of tickets sold with 10 days to go

By
Rich Perelman
-
The new Hayward Field, with the giant, north-end scoreboard (Photo: University of Oregon)

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Remember the sparse crowds at Eugene’s new Hayward Field for the Prefontaine Classic, NCAA Championships and the USA Track & Field National Championships? They won’t be repeated for the World Athletics Championships beginning on 15 July.

An examination of the online ticket availabilities for the Worlds by TheSportsExaminer.com shows that about 86% of all seats have been sold so far, with most of those in the morning sessions. The evening sessions show sales of about 90% of all available tickets, so Hayward will be rocking in a couple of weeks.

Back in April, TSX exclusively calculated that Hayward will seat about 17,000 in total for the Worlds, with perhaps 14,500 tickets available for sale and the rest used for news media and officials. A shift of some sections appears to have added some seats for sale since then, for about 15,000 tickets available per session.

Over 15 sessions – five morning and 10 evening – that’s 225,000 tickets and our July 4 survey shows that about 31,000 tickets remain, with 21,500 or so in the five morning sessions. That’s a sales rate of 86% overall and 90% for the evening sessions. Excellent and sales are continuing.

The new Hayward Field has 72 seating sections for the Worlds, with 38 on the lower level and 34 on the upper level and temporary seating around the second turn. Let’s check on the day-by-day, session-by-session sales so far:

● 15 July (Fri. a.m.):
Tickets are available in 29 of 72 sections, with an estimated 4,000 seats still available, with prices from $10 and promotional pricing of many backstretch seats for the 4th of July only at $17.76; these were the $35 lowest-price seats in April. Seats right on the finish line in sections 121-221 are available for $95.

● 15 July (Fri. p.m.):
There are seats available in 50 sections for the first evening session, with the Mixed 4×400 m the only final. Available tickets are $295 and $175 on the home straight, $130-150-175 on the turn, $150 on the backstraight and $70-95 on the far turn. A little more than 3,000 tickets are shown as available.

● 16 July (Sat. a.m.):
The men’s hammer and women’s 10,000 m finals are in this session with seats available in 33 sections, priced from $17.76 (on Monday) but otherwise as low as $45 and up to $135. About 1,500 tickets are left.

● 16 July (Sat. p.m.):
The men’s 100 m, women’s shot and men’s long jump finals are on this program, with seats in 20 sections, but less than 500 tickets remaining in the house. There are a few seats close to the finish line, priced at $315, $375, $520 and $910, with seats around the turn at $115-195 and the backstraight and far turn at $85 to $165. Should be loud!

● 17 July (Sun. a.m.):
The women’s hammer and men’s 10,000 m final on are Sunday morning, with tickets available in 34 sections. Seats on the home straight are available for $125-135, from $65-95-125 on the turn and $45-95 on the backstraight and the far turn. About 1,500 tickets are left.

● 17 July (Sun. p.m.):
Terrific program with finals in the women’s 100 m, women’s vault, men’s shot and men’s 110 m hurdles. Tickets are shown to be available in just 18 sections, at $195-315-375-725 and $115-165 and $85 on the far turn. Barely more than 400 tickets are still available.

● 18 July (Mon. a.m.):
The women’s heptathlon continues, with the long jump and javelin only and only 13 sections sold out. Tickets range from $25-95, with more than 4,500 seats still available.

● 18 July (Mon. p.m.):
Five finals, with the women’s hep, women’s 1,500, women’s triple jump, men’s high jump and Steeple, with tickets available in 33 sections. Pricing for the best seats is at $150-175-295, or $130-150-175 around the turn and $70-95 on the far turn. About 1,500 seats are left.

● 19 July (Tue. p.m.):
Four finals, with the women’s high jump and the men’s 400 m hurdles, discus and 1,500 m. This is heading toward a sell-out, with tickets in only 16 sections available. Home straight tickets are $150-175-250-295-680, $150 and $175 on the turn and back straight and $70-95 on the far turn. Barely more than 500 seats remain.

● 20 July (Wed. p.m.):
Just two finals, with the women’s discus and women’s Steeple, and more tickets available, in 44 sections. Home straight seats are $150-175-250-295-425 and $130-150-175 on the turn and backstraight and then $70-95 on the far turn. More than 2,000 seats appear to be available.

● 21 July (Thu. p.m.):
The much-anticipated 200 m finals for both men and women are on this day, with seats in 40 sections shown available. Home straight seats are $195-315-375-575, going down to $145-165-195 on the turn and backstraight and $85-115 on the far turn. A little over 1,600 seats are shown available.

● 22 July (Fri. p.m.):
The men’s and women’s 400 m, the women’s 400 m hurdles and women’s javelin are the finals, with heats in the 4×100 m relays. This session has been essentially sold out for months and seats are only shown in eight sections, with home straight seats for $255-315-375-885-1,450 and just a few other seats available. Monday’s inventory shown just 74 seats remaining.

● 23 July (Sat. a.m.):
This is day one of the decathlon, with no other events, so no surprise that seats are available of 57 of the 71 sections. Pricing $55-75-95 except for the far turn and as low as $25 on the far turn. Looks to be about 5,000 tickets available.

● 23 July (Sat. p.m.):
The 4×100 m relay finals and heats of the 4×400 m, plus the men’s 800 m, triple jump and javelin, plus the women’s 5,000 m. It’s a near sell-out, with tickets in just four sections shown and a total of 41 tickets shown. Almost all are on the home straight and cost $930 or $1,550 each.

● 24 July (Sun. a.m.):
Events 6-9 of the decathlon only, so lots of tickets available, in 60 sections, priced from $25 and up, with a top of $95 on the home straight. Just under 5,000 seats are available.

● 24 July (Sun. p.m.):
Just 46 seats shown for the final session, with the men’s vault, men’s 5,000 m, the decathlon 1,500m, women’s long jump, 800 m and 100 m hurdles finals and the 4×400 m relays. The available seats are right on the home straight, priced at $930 and $1,550.

So, fears of a feeble crowd can be dismissed, although there are a lot of tickets for the heptathlon and decathlon morning sessions available. In fact, 69% of all remaining available tickets are for the morning sessions; the 10 evening sessions are estimated to have just about 9,000 tickets left.

The high-end hospitality seating offered by Daimani has not sold out and some of these tickets, on the home straight or right on the finish line, have been returned to public sale, but with the VIP accoutrements included in the (elevated) price. The current daily offers have been price-reduced:

Cadence Club , in sections 123-124-125:
● Was $450-550-975-450-875-450-650-1,250-1,250-1,250 in April
● Now $395-495-695-395-650-400-550-850-895-895

Cadence Club Finish line, in sections 121-122:
● Was $950-1,050-1,450-950-1,770-950-1,150-2,250-2,250-2,250 in April
● Now $650-875-1,050-750-1,250-750-950-1,395-1,495-1,495

There is also now an option to upgrade from standard tickets and partake of the hospitality area, food and drinks for $195 per person for the evening sessions.

The new Hayward Field is a beautiful arena for the sport and after the disappointing crowds in 2022 – with the locals saving their money for the World Championships – the award of the Worlds to the U.S. promises to be at least an aesthetic and athletic success. Whether it is financially successful or leaves any legacy for track & field in the U.S. is a debate for another day.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: U.S. women’s water polo dynasty adds Worlds gold; NBC’s Olympic Channel shutters in September; 36 torches and 32 Olympic medal lots up for auction!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Four Worlds golds in a row for the U.S. women's water polo juggernaut after Saturday's 9-7 win over Hungary. (Photo courtesy FINA)

★ The Sports Examiner: Surveying, monitoring and explaining the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement. This site is free, with donations gratefully accepted to help with costs. Comments? Click here. ★

★ Tell your friends to sign up for free The Sports Examiner e-mails now, just in time for session-by-session coverage of the World Athletics Championships coming 15-24 July. ★

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. U.S. dynasty uninterrupted: women’s water polo wins Worlds again
2. FINA Worlds end with China’s diving sweep, U.S. tops in medals
3. NBC to cancel low-performing Olympic Channel on 30 September
4. U.S. U-20 men reach first Olympic tournament since 2008!
5. Massive Olympic memorabilia auction features 36 torches!

Water polo isn’t one of the most popular sports in the U.S., but that has not stopped the U.S. women’s national team, which won its fourth straight World Championships gold in Budapest to go along with the last three Olympic titles, with a 9-7 win over Hungary. The hastily-arranged 2022 FINA Worlds were a success, with 130,000 in attendance, a record 45 medals by the U.S. swimmers and China’s second sweep of every event in diving. Less happy is NBC’s cancellation of its cable Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA in September; this was supposed to be the catalyst for year-round visibility for Olympic sports. But the U.S. men’s U-20 team qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic field for the first time since 2008, and a mega-auction of Olympic torches, medals (six from Ryan Lochte) and memorabilia is ongoing.

1.
U.S. dynasty uninterrupted:
women’s water polo wins Worlds again

Three-time defending Olympic victors and three-time defending World Champions, the United States women’s water polo team defeated Hungary in front of a raucous house of 6,000-plus at the Hajos National Swimming Stadium in Budapest, 9-7, to win a fourth straight FINA World Championships title on Saturday.

Maddie Musselman scored five of the nine goals, as the American women led after one period by 2-1, at halftime by 4-3 and then by 7-4 at the end of three quarters. Hungary scored three times in the final period and closed to 8-7, but Musselman’s penalty shot with 49 seconds left made the final 9-7. Ryann Neushul scored three times for the U.S. and Maggie Steffens added one; Greta Gurisatti led Hungary with three scores.

The win was all the sweeter as Hungary had defeated the U.S. in Olympic pool play, 10-9, in Tokyo last year. Said U.S. coach Adam Krikorian:

“We never played in such circumstances, anything similar to that. In the first quarter it was like ‘this is incredible, I can’t hear myself thinking, my players can’t hear me…’ It was amazing, this is the Mecca of water polo, a world champion place. I was thinking, with all honesty, it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, it is an honor to be part of this. This result is a huge shot for [coach Attila Biro’s] team and I’m jealous to see this kind of support his team enjoys, to see how the Hungarians love water polo.”

Musselman was named the Most Valuable Player of the final and ended up no. 3 in scoring for the tournament with 20 goals. Stephanie Haralabidis tied for fourth with 18. Keeper Ashleigh Johnson was selected as the Most Valuable Goalkeeper.

The U.S. outscored its six opponents by 94-33 during the tournament and won its seventh FINA World Championship and fourth straight, previously in 2003-07-09-15-17-19 and now 2022.

Since Krikorian came from UCLA in 2009 to coach the women’s team, the American women have won all three Olympic golds and five Worlds in seven tries. In the unbroken streak of major tournament wins from 2015-22, the U.S. women have a combined Olympic and Worlds record of 36-2.

This is a dynasty, and the core of the team should be primed for another world title run in 2023 in Fukuoka and in Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games. Of the seven players who logged 20 minutes or more in the final, Musselman is 24, Haralabidis is 27, Johnson is 27 and Steffens is 29. Neuschul is just 22, Rachel Fattal, 28 and Kaleigh Gilchrist is 30. Not going anywhere.

2.
FINA Worlds end with China’s diving sweep,
U.S. tops in medals

A FINA World Aquatics Championships that looked like it might not happen instead ended Sunday with a show of Chinese diving power and the United States overpowering all other nations on the medal table.

With all 74 events completed, the U.S. ended with 49 medals (18-14-17), with 45 coming in a record-setting swimming performance. China was second with 28 medals (18-2-8), including 17 in diving, and Italy was third overall with 22 (9-7-6).

China completed a clean sweep of the diving events, winning all 13 and four more medals besides for a total of 17, followed by Britain with six and the U.S. and Canada with three each. Tokyo silver medalist Jian Yang repeated as World Champion in the men’s 10 m Platform and Yiwen Chen won the women’s 3 m Springboard. Qian Ren and Yu Duan won the Mixed Synchronized 10 m Platform with Americans Delaney Schnell and Carson Tyler third and Chen and Yani Chang won the women’s 3 m Synchro event.

China also swept the diving in 2011 (10-for-10) and came close a couple of other times; the U.S. won all four golds way back at the 1982 Worlds, with Greg Louganis sweeping the men’s titles.

The men’s water polo title went to Spain in a 15-14 thriller over Italy, in a 6-5 penalty shoot-out after the Italians came back from a 6-3 halftime deficit to tie the match at 9-9 in the final period. Greece won the bronze-medal match from Croatia, 9-7; the U.S. finished sixth.

The U.S. swimmers posted a dominant performance, winning a record total of 45 medals (17-12-16) to 17 for Australia (6-9-2) and 11 for Canada (3-4-4), but left some of the swimming intelligentsia unimpressed as multiple Australian and British stars opted for the Commonwealth Games and/or European Championships coming up this month. The U.S. lost Caeleb Dressel to a medical condition after only a couple of days.

So how good was the swimming Budapest compared to, say, the Tokyo Olympic Games? Good, but not quite as good.

In the individual events contested in both, the men’s winning times were better in seven of 14 events in Budapest, but in only four of 14 among the women. That means 11 of the 28 events (39%) were faster in Budapest. If you add in the non-Olympic events and compare them with the 2019 Worlds in Korea, four of six were better in Budapest, so the combined total of 15 of 34 (44%).

If we go back to the 2019 Worlds in Gwangju for all 34 individual events (including the 50 m sprints in Back, Breast and Fly), the men were better in 2022 in eight of 17 events and the women were better in 11 of 17, or 19 of 34 combined (56%).

Budapest was not quite as good – on the clock – as Tokyo, with much less fanfare, and better in more than half of the races vs. the 2019 Worlds.

As for 2022 itself, the Worlds produced world-leading times in 13 of 17 men’s events and eight of 17 women’s events, or 21 of 34 total (62%). Let’s see what happens at the Commonwealth Games and Europeans, but Budapest 2022 was an outstanding Worlds that included three world records (vs. six in Tokyo).

American Freestyle star Katie Ledecky led all swimmers with four golds, but the top multi-medalists stars, with six each, were Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan (3-3-0) and American Torri Huske (3-0-3). Four Americans won five each: Ryan Murphy (2-2-1), Claire Curzan (2-0-3), Erika Brown (2-0-3) and Michael Andrew (1-2-2).

There were prizes, too, with the top eight swimmers receiving $20,000-15,000-10,000-6,000-5,000-4,000-3,000-2,000, so Ledecky won $60,000 plus a share of the 4×200 m Free Relay in which six U.S. swimmers participated, including the prelims. The same pay scale applied to artistic swimming (except for the team events, which got more), diving and open-water swimming. Water polo teams received $80,000-70,000-60,000-50,000-40,000-30,000-20,000-10,000. In all, the prize pool totaled $5.72 million.

FINA announced that more than 130,000 spectators watched the competitions, with more than 2,000 athletes from 180 countries participating. With the between-Olympic Games rhythm still wrecked by Covid-19 and the postponement of Tokyo 2020, there will be a 2023 World Aquatics Championship in Fukuoka, Japan from 14-30 July.

3.
NBC to cancel low-performing Olympic Channel
on 30 September

It was supposed to be the means by which Olympic athletes and Olympic sports would be noted, promoted and celebrated all year round. That was when NBC’s cable Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA debuted in 2017.

On Friday, NBCUniversal announced that it will be ending the channel on 30 September, with a spokesperson telling The Hollywood Reporter:

“In order to best reach our target audiences, we are reevaluating our programming distribution strategy regarding the content that currently airs on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA with our partners at the IOC and USOPC. We will be announcing our exciting new plans for Olympic content in the fall.”

This follows the closure of NBCSN at the end of 2021, with much of the content moved to the Peacock subscription streaming service, USA Network and CNBC on evenings and weekends.

Truth be told, the Olympic Channel: Home of the Team USA had little impact. It was available in 47 million homes at the end of 2021 vs. 80 million for USA Network. Programs on the Olympic Channel were rarely (if ever) rated by Nielsen with 200,000 or more viewers for any program. This was true of the recent FINA World Championships in swimming, where the U.S. team set a record with 45 total medals … but none of the daily broadcasts on the Olympic Channel rated within the top 150 shows on cable on any day.

It was an experiment that failed. And that’s not a good thing for the Olympic Movement in the U.S.

4.
U.S. U-20 men reach first Olympic tournament since 2008!

The U.S. men’s U-20 team capped a brilliant tournament with a 6-0 shutout of first-time-finalist Dominican Republic in the final of the CONCACAF men’s U-20 Championship at San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Sunday evening.

The game opened slowly, but the Americans took a 1-0 lead on a Tyler Wolf goal in the 18th minute and then added a second in the 37th minute from striker Paxten Aaronson and third by Noah Allen in the 39th. The 3-0 lead was doubled in the second half with scores from Jack McGlynn (53rd), Aaronson (55th) and Niko Tsakiris (61st). The U.S. enjoyed 52% of the possession, but piled up an 18-5 edge in shots.

The true impact of the U.S. finish is that the finalists qualified for the Paris 2024 Games – a U-23 tournament with some added older players – the first time the U.S. men will compete in the Games since Beijing 2008!

The Americans defeated St. Kitts & Nevis (10-0), drew 2-2 with Canada and beat Cuba, 3-0, in group play, then skipped past Nicaragua (5-0), Costa Rica (2-0) and Honduras (3-0) in the playoffs before facing the Dominicans. Aaronson led all scorers in the tournament with seven goals and Quinn Sullivan had six, including all three vs. Cuba.

Aaronson won the Golden Ball Award as the top player, Golden Boot as top scorer and U.S. keeper Chris Brady took the Golden Glove. The U.S. outscored its opponents 31-2 in its six games and pitched shutouts in five of them.

It’s the third straight title for the U.S. in this tournament, after wins in 2017 and 2018. Besides the Olympic berth, the U.S., Dominican Republic and semifinalists Guatemala and Honduras all qualified for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia next May.

5.
Massive Olympic memorabilia auction features 36 torches!

Medals, pins, torches and many more items are now up for sale in a 341-item Olympic Memorabilia auction by RR Auctions through 21 July. The program includes a stunning 36 Olympic torches, from summer Games in 1936, 1948, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and Winter Games in 1956, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022. The Innsbruck 1976 Winter torch is expected to bring $20,000, the highest projected price of the group.

There are 32 lots of Olympic medals on auction, including six medals from U.S. swimming star Ryan Lochte, who won 12 medals in all (6-3-3) from 2004-16. Up for auction, to support the Jorge Nation Foundation, which funds vacations for seriously ill children:

● 2004 Athens silver from the 200 m Medley (estimated at $10,000);

● 2008 Beijing bronzes from the 200 m and 400 m Medley ($12,000);

● 2012 London silver from the 200 m Medley and 4×100 m Freestyle Relay, and bronze from the 200 m Backstroke ($60,000).

He’s holding on to his six golds. The other medals expected to bring high prices include a 1924 Chamonix gold ($50,000 estimate) 2020 Tokyo gold ($50,000), and a 2006 Turin Winter Games gold ($40,000) and silver ($25,000).

There are also all kinds of pins, medallions, publications and lots more, with the auction ending on Thursday, 21 July.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Mediterranean Games ● Did you know that the XIX Mediterranean Games are ongoing in Oran, Algeria? OK, you do now! The 3,390-athlete, 26-nation event is especially noteworthy this year for the first appearance in a multi-sport event by entrants from Vatican City.

The Vatican is not a recognized nation in the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG), but Sara Carnicelli ran as a guest the women’s Half Marathon, finishing in 1:17:21, ninth out of 12 entries. It’s a start.

● Athletics ● Remember Wilfried Happio, the French 400 m hurdler who was attacked before his national championship race in Caen and then – with a patch over his eye, covered by a headband worn diagonally across his face – won with a lifetime best of 48.57?

Le Parisien reported that there is more to the story. Turns out the attacker, apparently also an accredited athlete for the meet, was the brother of a woman – a triple jumper – who has now filed a sexual assault charge against Happio for actions dating back to October 2021. The matter is ongoing; the French Athletics Federation had no comment as it had not been officially informed of the complaint. Oh boy.

● Basketball ● Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner’s trial on “drug smuggling” charges began Friday in Moscow, with the hearing lasting three hours before being continued to 7 July. U.S. Charge d’Affaires Elizabeth Rood attended the hearing and said Griner was doing “as well as can be expected.”

● Cycling ● The opening stages of the 109th Tour de France held in Denmark concluded on Sunday, with Belgians Wout van Aert and Yves Lampaert (+0.07) sitting 1-2 in the overall standings with the event heading to France. Defending champ Tadej Pogacar (SLO) stands third (+0:14).

The racing opened with Belgium scoring a 1-2 in the 13.2 km time trial in Copenhagen with Lampaert winning in 15:17 and van Aert in 15:22. Pogacar was third at 15:24. The crash-filled second stage ended with Fabio Jakobsen (NED) stealing the win from van Aert with a late sprint in 4:34:34, with the first smash-up with 22 km left, then Lampaert was part of a pile-up with 19 km left and another, major crash just past the Great Belt Bridge amid strong winds with just 2.8 km left that spared only the top riders. On Sunday, Dylan Groenewegen (NED) won a bunch sprint from van Aert and Jasper Philipsen (both BEL) on the flat, 182 km course from Vejle to Sonderborg.

In Italy, the 10-stage Giro Donne – the top women’s race of the year – home favorite Elisa Balsamo (ITA) won Stage 1 from Dutch star Marianne Vos in a sprint, then Vos and Charlotte Kool (NED) were 1-2 over Balsamo in Stage 2. When racing resuming Monday, Balsamo leads Vos by 0:06 and Australia’s Georgia Baker by 0:12.

● Fencing ● USA Fencing has gone through considerable upheaval in recent months, with eight-year Executive Director Kris Ekeren leaving last September and the federation’s Board removing elected Chair Peter Burchard last October and substituting Treasurer David Arias.

Now, an impressive hire with former USA Weightlifting chief Phil Andrews (GBR) selected as fencing’s chief executive as of 16 August. In more than six years as the head of the weightlifting federation, Andrews saw significant increases in competitive success, athlete funding, coaching education and the international standing of the U.S. federation. He now takes over a federation which has enjoyed wide success in the piste, but need to raise its public profile.

● Figure Skating ● “This season, too, I want to do my best and aim even higher still.” That comment on the Japanese Skating Federation Web site from two-time Olympic men’s figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu, 27, of Japan is the first concrete indication that, despite injury setbacks over the last two seasons, he intends to continue competing. There has been speculation that he would retire, but perhaps not?

● Football ● With the FIFA World Cup coming up quickly in November and guaranteed controversy over offside calls, FIFA announced Friday that it will introduce a “semi-automated” system to warn officials of offside infractions. Using 12 tracking cameras, 29 data points on each player and a sensor inside the ball:

“By combining the limb- and ball-tracking data and applying artificial intelligence, the new technology provides an automated offside alert to the video match officials inside the video operation room whenever the ball is received by an attacker who was in an offside position at the moment the ball was played by a team-mate. Before informing the on-field referee, the video match officials validate the proposed decision by manually checking the automatically selected kick point and the automatically created offside line, which is based on the calculated positions of the players’ limbs. This process happens within a few seconds and means that offside decisions can be made faster and more accurately.” The system has worked well at test events over the past year, but the World Cup will be the ultimate test.

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TSX REPORT: Duplantis soars 20-2 1/2 for outdoor best in Stockholm; Tour de France starts today; Tokyo 2020 left little impression?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Sweden's Mondo Duplantis saluted by an adoring crowd in Stockholm after a world outdoor best of 20-2 1/2 in the pole vault on Thursday (Photo: Diamond League AG)

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. All Mondo, all the time at Diamond League Stockholm: 20-2 1/2!
2. Tour de France starts in Copenhagen (!) Friday
3. Japan: 40% say Olympics left little impression
4. Weightlifting stunner: Urso elected Secretary General
5. USA Gymnastics bankruptcy lawyers getting paid

A special day in Stockholm as home favorite – and now Swedish resident – Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.16 m (20-2 1/2), the highest outdoor vault of all time. The 109th Tour de France starts Friday, with two Slovenian stars as favorites, defending champ Tadej Pogacar and three-time Tour of Spain winner Primoz Roglic. A Japanese government survey last November showed a plurality of responded found the Tokyo Games didn’t impress them much. The initially “elected” Secretary General of the International Weightlifting Federation lost by one vote in a re-run of the election today. And the lawyers in the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case have had almost $18 million in fees approved.

1.
All Mondo, all the time at Diamond League Stockholm: 20-2 1/2!

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis thrilled the crowd at the Diamond League Bauhaus Galan at Stockholm Stadium with the greatest outdoor vault in history with second-try clearance at 6.16 m (20-2 1/2).

Duplantis had company early on, with Tokyo Olympic silver winner Chris Nilsen (USA) and Rio gold medalist Thiago Braz (BRA) both over 5.93 m (19-5 1/2). Duplantis easily cleared 6.03 m (19-9 1/4) – the outdoor world leader – while Nilsen and Braz missed.

So the bar went to 6.16 m, and on his second try, Duplantis had great speed to the box and projected himself to a staggering 10-12 inches over the bar with his hips and while touching it on the way down, left no doubt of the clearance. It’s the equal-fifth vault of all-time, with Duplantis owning four higher indoor clearances and France’s Renaud Lavillenie having cleared 6.16 m indoors in 2014. Said Duplantis:

“I wanted to come here today and try to do something special. I felt I was in shape and that I have a great support here in Stockholm, where I live now, so that means so extra more. I had a huge advantage of competing on my home turf. It is hard to describe it really. You kind of black out out there. I just remember I was trying to focus really hard to not hit the bar. And once when I did, I was over the bar and then I just started to run like an idiot. …

“I feel like I am definitely in shape to win my title and maybe to do something special in Eugene.”

There were two other world-leading performances, especially Tokyo 400 m hurdles bronze medalist Alison dos Santos (BRA), who stormed to a 46.80 win, the no. 6 performance in history and just 0.06 short of his Olympic bronze performance.

In the men’s 3,000 m, South Sudan’s Dominic Lobalu (on the Athletics Refugee Team) charged past a stumbling Jacob Kiplimo (KEN) to win in a world-leading 7:29.48, to 7:29.55.

In addition to Duplantis, there were five other world leaders in action, with two winning:

● American Chase Ealey, the world leader in the women’s shot, won with the no. 2 throw of the year at 20.48 m (67-2 1/4) in the final round. She had already thrown 20.30 m (66-7 1/4) in round two.

● World leader Anderson Peters (GRN) is showing no let-up in the men’s javelin, winning with the no. 3 throw of the year, 90.31 m (296-3), with Olympic champ Neeraj Chopra (IND) getting a national record at 89.94 m (295-1) in second.

● In the men’s discus, Olympic champ and world leader Daniel Stahl (SWE) gave way to Slovenian rival Kristjian Ceh, who grabbed the win at 70.02 m (229-9) in the fifth round. Ceh took over from 19-year-old Mykolas Alekna (LTU), the NCAA runner-up for Cal and son of 2000-04 Olympic discus winner Virgilijus Alekna. His first throw was his fifth lifetime best of the season at 69.81 m (299-0). Stahl finished third at 67.57 m (221-8).

● Ukraine’s women’s high jump world leader Yaroslava Mahuchikh finished fifth, with Australia’s emerging star Eleanor Patterson winning at 1.96 m (6-5).

● Long jump world leader Malaika Mihambo was only fifth, with Britain’s Lorraine Ugen getting a seasonal best of 6.81 m (22-4) in the fifth round to win.

The men’s 100 m was supposed to feature Tokyo Olympic winner Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA), but coach Paolo Camossi said “The situation is under control. He has a little pain in his glute muscle. It would have been too risky to run today.” So, South Africa’s Akani Simbine won in 10.02 (wind: -0.5 m/s). Algeria’s Slimane Moula had all the speed down the straight to win the 800 m in 1:44.60.

Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith held off Swiss Mujinga Kambundji, with both at 22.37 (-0.1). In a match-up of the no. 3 and no. 4 women’s 800 m runners this season, Kenya’s Mary Moraa beat Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson, 1:57.68 to 1:58.18, both close to their seasonal bests. Daisy Jepkemei (KAZ) won the women’s Steeple in 9:15.77.

Olympic champ Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) came on late to pass Tobi Amusan (NGR) in the women’s 100 m hurdles, 12.46-12.50 (-0.5), with 2019 World Champion Nia Ali (USA: 12.53) third. The Tokyo 400 m hurdles bronze medalist, Femke Bol (NED), tightened her grip on the no. 2 spot on the 2022 world list with a 52.27 win.

In the non-Diamond League men’s long jump, Greece’s Olympic gold medalist Miltiadis Tentoglou won at 8.31 m (27-3 1/4). The Diamond League will resume after the World Athletics Championships in Eugene.

2.
Tour de France starts in Copenhagen (!) Friday

The world’s most important bicycle race, the 109th Tour de France, starts with an individual time trial in Copenhagen on Friday and continues through 21 stages to the finish in Paris on 24 July. The “Grand Departe” this year is from Denmark for the first three stages before racing in France.

The favorite is two-time defending champion, 23-year-old Tadej Pogacar (SLO), along with countryman and three-time Vuelta a Espana winner Primoz Roglic. Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard was the 2021 runner-up and was a solid second in this year’s Tirreno-Adriatico in March and June’s Criterium du Dauphine. Also not to be underestimated: Britain’s Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour winner and the winner of the just-completed Tour de Suisse.

It’s a big production:

● 176 riders (22 teams of 8) and 450 team support staff
● 3,349.8 km (2,081.5 miles) across 21 stages to 39 towns
● 2 time trials, 6 flat stages, 7 hilly stages and 6 mountain stages
● 4 mountain ranges: Vosges, Alps, Massif Central and Pyrenees
● 28,000 police and firefighters deployed across the entire Tour
● 11 doctors, six nurses and seven ambulances
● 52 sponsors, suppliers, supporters and technical partners

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) issued a statement on its program against “technological fraud” at the Tour:

“Controls for the presence of any possible propulsion and energy accumulation systems hidden in tubes and other bike components will be carried out with the use of three tools: magnetic tablets, mobile X-Ray cabinet and portable devices using backscatter and transmission technologies.

“Before each of the 21 stages, a UCI Technical Commissaire will be at the team buses to check all bikes being ridden at the start of that day’s stage.” Post-stage tests will be carried out on the stage winner, all of the category leaders, 3-4 riders randomly selected and “riders who give rise to suspicion, for example following the pre-stage scan, an abnormally high number of bike changes (in which case the bikes on the team car can also be checked) or other incidents picked up by the UCI Video Commissaire.”

NBC will have coverage in the U.S., mostly on USA Network, with Phil Liggett covering his 50th Tour overall and 45th on television.

With curious timing, the top UCI Women’s World Tour race, the 33rd Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile – known as the “Giro Donne” – started on Thursday with its Prologue stage, won by American Kristen Faulkner. The 10-stage race started in Cagliari and will finish on Padua on 10 July. Dutch riders have won nine of the last 11 times, with 2018-19 winner Annemiek van Vleuten the favorite for 2022, along with Italian star Elisa Longo Borghini, Ashleigh Moolman (RSA), Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) and Demi Vollering (NED). Stages 6-7-8 are all challenging climbing stages that will likely determine the winner.

3.
Japan: 40% say Olympics left little impression

Kyodo News reported on a post-Olympic, 4,000-person survey in Tokyo and northern Japan that indicated the 2021 Olympic Games made little impression on the public.

The Japan Reconstruction Agency made a survey last November of 1,000 people each from Tokyo and three northern prefectures – Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima – with the results tucked into an appendix of a larger government report on the Games.

One question asked if respondents were “grateful for the reconstruction support, or believed the Olympics sent a message to the world that reconstruction is taking place.” Per Kyodo:

“Only 29.8 percent of the 4,000 people in the survey answered that question by saying either ‘I really think so’ or ‘I think so.’ A total of 38.8 percent answered ‘I don’t think it did much’ or ‘I don’t think so.’”

“Asked their opinion about the best thing from the Olympics, 20.7 percent said, ‘events held in the disaster-hit region,’ while 11.1 percent answered, ‘the torch relay.’ Nearly 40 percent, 39.6 percent, answered ‘nothing in particular.’”

Ouch.

4.
Weightlifting stunner: Urso elected Secretary General

The International Weightlifting Federation’s Electoral Commission improperly declared Peru’s Jose Quinones the winner of the ballot for Secretary General – essentially the federation’s chief executive – last weekend.

Instead of an absolute majority as required, Quinones was “elected” with 68 votes against 60 for Italy’s Antonio Urso and 16 for Iran’s Ali Moradi. Quinones identified the error and an online re-vote on Thursday saw Urso win by 64-63.

Both Quinones and Urso have ties to the IWF during its period of turmoil, as Quinones was an Executive Board member from 203-122 and Urso was a member of the Executive Board from 2008-20.

Observed: Urso’s election could be important for the IWF in that the International Olympic Committee may be more comfortable with him as Secretary General than the controversial Quinones, who has been subject to scrutiny in Peru. But both have been members of the IWF Executive Board while it skidded out of control under former President Tamas Ajan (HUN).

Weightlifting as a sport is not currently on the program for Los Angeles 2028 and whether it is added back will depend in large part on the IOC’s confidence in the IWF going forward. The top two officials in the IWF are now the former Secretary General (2017-22) and a former 12-year Executive Board member. On the surface, not promising.

5.
USA Gymnastics bankruptcy lawyers getting paid

The hundreds of abuse claimants in the USA Gymnastics bankruptcy case are being processed on the way to receiving $339.5 million in settlement funds from nine groups of insurers. In the meantime, the lawyers are getting paid.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana has now approved fee applications from:

Counsel for USA Gymnastics:
● $8,577,884 to Jenner & Block, the lead firm
● $3,472,427 to Plews Shadley Racher & Braun, LLP
● $2,466,911 to Miller Johnson Attorneys
● $452,887 to Rubin & Levin, P.C.

Counsel for the Additional Tort Claimants Committee of Sexual Abuse Survivors:
● $2,993,808 to Pachulski, Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP

That’s a total of $17,963,917 in fees – there were also more than $100,000 in expenses – with $14,970,109 (83%) going to the USA Gymnastics lawyers and the $2.99 million to the counsel for the survivors. No announcement yet on when the payments will be made to the survivors; the specific amounts are being evaluated according to a questionnaire provided to each claimant.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Aquatics ● At the 2022 FINA World Championships, China continued its perfect run in diving, now 9-for-9, with Zongyuan Wang taking his second gold, this time in the 1 m Springboard, over Jack Laugher (GBR). Yuxi Chen and Hongchan Quan won the Women’s Synchro 10m, with Chen getting her second gold. One of the world’s most grueling events is the open-water 25 km Worlds, with Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha winning in 5:24:15.0 (that’s hours, minutes and seconds), out-touching Lea Boy (GER) by 0.2 and Rio 2016 Olympic 10 km champ Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED) by 0.3! It’s Cunha’s fifth Worlds 25 m gold. Italy’s Dario Verani won the men’s 25 km in 5:02:21.5 to 5:02:22.7 for France’s Axel Raymond. In the women’s water polo semis, the U.S. juggernaut continued with a 14-6 semifinal win over Italy. Hungary edged the Netherlands, 13-12, and will meet the Americans for the gold medal on Saturday.

● Athletics ● Blessing Okagbare (NGR), the 2008 Olympic long jump silver medalist and the 2013 Worlds 200 m bronze winner, was suspended for doping violations for 10 years back in February. But that’s not all. The Athletics Integrity Unit has added a full year to her sanction for a new violations for evading sample collection and tampering with the doping control process. And because she competed in a national-team relay six days after skipping sample collection, Nigeria’s qualifying mark for the women’s 4×100 m for the 2022 World Championships was annulled.

● Biathlon ● The International Biathlon Union announced its candidate list for September’s Congress, with President Ollie Dahlin (SWE) running unopposed, as is Vice President Jiri Hamza (CZE). The highly-respected USA Biathlon President and Chief Executive Max Cobb is one of three candidates for Treasurer; if unsuccessful, he will then be a candidate for the IBU Executive Board.

● Fencing ● Russian athletes will miss the 2022 FIE World Championships in Cairo in July after a Swiss court postponed a trial between the Russian Fencing Federation and the International Fencing Federation (FIE) until September. This is one of 21 appeals made by Russian federations contesting competition bans, all as yet unsuccessful.

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TSX REPORT: FIS says “No understanding” of IOC decision on Nordic Combined; sanctions for insults to Chinese sports; indoor archery for 2028?

By
Rich Perelman
-
It's the Year of the Tiger and the Chinese National People's Congress will brook no insults to Chinese sports!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. China passes law allowing sanctions against perceived insults in sports
2. “We have absolutely no understanding of today’s decision by the IOC.”
3. Archery makes smart ask for Compound for LA28
4. Weightlifting requires a re-do on Secretary-General election?
5. Pole vault record watch for Duplantis in Stockholm?

Stuff is happening in China, as a new law was passed to provide for sanctions in case any outsider undermines its “dignity” in sport; there are long-arm implications to this. Shock from the International Ski Federation on Nordic Combined being placed on a death watch for the post-2026 Winter Games. World Archery, alternatively, is making an attractive proposal to expand its program for LA28. The Stockholm Diamond League will feature vault world-record holder Mondo Duplantis today, and U.S. volleyball star Jordyn Poulter got her stolen gold medal back.

1.
China passes law allowing sanctions
against perceived insults in sports

China’s brutal zero-Covid strategy may be spreading to sports via a new law adopted last Friday by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

The measure, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, allows “the country to take countermeasures to actions deemed to have undermined its dignity and interests in international sports events.”

What those actions might be are undefined, but apply “if any country, region or organization undermines the nation’s sovereignty, security, development interests or dignity in international sports events.” The new statute will become action on 1 January 2023.

Observed: This is an ominous development, with obvious parallels to the reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Beyond any application to a potential invasion of Taiwan (Chinese Taipei in Olympic-speak), watch for new, coordinated action with other so-called “BRICS” countries – Brazil [Russia], India, China and South Africa – which have refrained from criticizing the Russian aggression.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the online BRICS summit last week, and the Summit Declaration noted:

“We commend the progress in sports exchanges and the role it plays in the development of our athletes in a fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory fashion. We look forward to the successful holding of BRICS Sports Ministers Meeting in 2022.”

All part of a possible future alternate world order in sports? Yes, and bears close watching.

2.
“We have absolutely no understanding
of today’s decision by the IOC.”

The IOC’s knife is sharpening. One of the glaring issues for the International Olympic Committee in its drive for gender equity at the Olympic Winter Games has been the lack of a women’s division for the Nordic Combined. The combination of ski jumping and cross country has been part of the Winter Games program for men since the beginning, in 1924. But only for men.

The Federation Internationale de Ski got the message and introduced Nordic Combined for women, with the first World Championship in 2021. The federation expected that women’s Nordic Combined would be included in the 2026 Winter Games program for Milan Cortina.

Instead, the IOC Executive Board slapped the discipline in the face last Friday, not only passing on adding women, but challenging the place of Nordic Combined on the program altogether:

“The EB also discussed the status and challenges of Nordic Combined with regard to international representation, particularly outside Europe, at the last three editions of the Olympic Winter Games. This is demonstrated by the fact that, at the last three editions, the 27 medals available in Nordic Combined were won by athletes from only four NOCs. In addition, Nordic Combined had by far the lowest audience numbers during those Games.

“The decisive argument for keeping Nordic Combined on the Olympic programme for Milano Cortina 2026 was the situation of the male athletes, for whom the Olympic Games are only three-and-a-half years away and who have already been preparing for these Games for many years. This is not applicable for the women’s category as they have had only one World Championship to date, with the participation of athletes from only 10 National Federations. The inclusion of Nordic Combined in the Olympic Winter Games 2030 depends on a significant positive development, particularly with regard to participation and audience.”

In other words, if only a few countries compete and win medals, and no one watches, who cares?

The FIS responded with shock. Said Lasse Ottesen (NOR), the Race Director for Nordic Combined:

“It’s a sad day for Nordic Combined and the entire Nordic family. We have absolutely no understanding of today’s decision by the IOC.

“The development of the Nordic Combined women in recent years has been more than impressive, so that the next logical step would have been their participation in the OWG. The Executive Board’s lack of confidence in the further development of our discipline and the visible misjudgment of the achievements of our women is shocking. Especially since they are already part of the Olympic family through their participation in the Youth Olympic Games. We accept the decision with a heavy heart, but we are not giving up. FIS will now sit down together with the National Ski Associations to create a concept to convince the IOC of the value and attractiveness of our discipline.”

Observed: Although the FIS has serious work to do, the IOC is sending a very clear message to all federations: if no one cares about your sport – as reflected in the number of countries competing and winning medals, and the Olympic viewing audience – we don’t need you.

This is the message that was given to modern pentathlon: make your sport more relevant; it was dropped from the initial program list for the 2028 Games. Nordic Combined would have been dropped if this was 2021 and not 2022. Who else is on this list?

For the purposes of distributing shares of Olympic TV revenue, there are five tiers of international federations. Modern pentathlon is in the fifth tier, along with golf and tennis, which came back to the Games only in 2016. But on the fourth tier are Canoeing, Equestrian, Fencing, Handball, Hockey, Sailing, Taekwondo, Triathlon and Wrestling. Are any of these in danger?

3.
Archery makes smart ask for Compound for LA28

Over the last 30 years, one of the best-managed sports at the international level in archery. Once a sleepy sport which saw thousands of arrows shot without any discernible winner until all of the scores were tallied, it was changed under the stewardship of federation chief Jim Easton (USA) in the 1990s into a dramatic elimination-format event, with each match lasting a half-hour or less.

Building on this success, which saw archery move from the fourth tier in revenue distribution to the third, World Archery is proposing to add Compound Archery to the Los Angeles program for 2028.

Compound bows are complex instruments which use pulleys, cables and scopes and which demand different skills than those for the current (Recurve) format. But even more striking is the format being requested.

Instead of more days of shooting 70 m outdoor archery – as with Recurve – World Archery is proposing three days of indoor archery (!) at 18 m (59 feet), with a men’s, women’s and mixed team event.

This is already a wildly popular format in the U.S., notably at the annual Vegas Shoot, which drew 3,816 archers and 6,000 spectators in 2020 to the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The only facility requirements are a convention hall, and the L.A. area has plenty of those.

Inexpensive to stage. Easy to televise. Already popular, both in the U.S. and worldwide. Dramatic, elimination format. These are ingredients for a successful candidature for adding to the Olympic program in 2028. Compound may not make it, but the idea is well thought out.

4.
Weightlifting requires a re-do
on Secretary-General election?

You can’t make this up. The International Weightlifting Federation, already on the verge of being eliminated from the 2028 Olympic Games thanks to issues of doping, governance and mismanagement, elected new officers at a special Congress on 25-26 June.

But the winner of the Secretary General position, Peru’s Jose Quinones – who has been part of the IWF Executive Board for the past 10 years, while all of the shenanigans went on – pointed out that proper election procedures were not followed.

Instead of having the required majority vote for the position, the election was “decided” at 68-60-16 against Antonio Urso (ITA) and Ali Moradi (IRI). So the IWF announced:

“In the calculation of the final decision, it was found that the Electoral Commission inadvertently and by human error miscalculated the percentage required for an outright win.

“For complete transparency and to ensure the IWF Constitution is followed it has been determined by the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Manager to hold the second round of vote (online) between the top two candidates [Quinones and Urso] to determine the winner of the above mentioned position. As stipulated in the IWF Constitution, all formalities must be completed within 14 days of the Electoral Congress. Therefore, this second round of voting will take place online on Thursday 30 June 2022.”

Hardly a reassuring development for the IOC when considering whether to keep weightlifting on the program for 2028.

5.
Pole vault record watch for Duplantis in Stockholm?

Any time Mondo Duplantis, owner of the four highest vaults in history, is entered in a meet, he’s on world-record watch. But especially so in his “home stadium” in Stockholm (SWE), for the Wanda Diamond League Bauhaus Galan meet on Thursday.

The weather may not cooperate: 75 F temperatures are predicted, but with a 70% chance of rain. But he jumps well at the famed Olympic Stadium: his last three meets there have been victories at 6.00 m (19-8 1/4) in 2019, 6.01 m (19-8 1/2) in 2020 and 6.02 m (19-9) in 2021.

The meet also features home favorite and Olympic champ Daniel Stahl of Sweden in the discus. He’s the world leader with a mighty throw of 71.47 m (234-5) on 21 June, the no. 10 throw this century!

Also featured is Tokyo Olympic men’s 100 m champ Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA), returning from injury and world leaders in the men’s Javelin, Anderson Peters (GRN), and women’s world leaders Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR: high jump), Malaika Mihambo (GER: long jump) and American Chase Ealey (shot put).

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Court of Arbitration for Sport ● Here’s something you don’t hear often: the new Court offices in Lausanne was completed under budget! The CHF 37.2 million project took three years to complete and came in more than 11% under the CHF 42.0 million allocation. The new facility will allow for more hearings to take place concurrently; about 250 hearings are now held annually.

● World University Games ● The 2021 World University Games in Chengdu (CHN) was postponed due to Covid-19, but will now be held from 28 July to 8 August 2023. Maybe. The International University Sports Federation will decide whether Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete in FISU events in 2023 in October.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● Four annual awards were announced during the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Assembly in Colorado Springs last week. The Rings of Gold awards for individuals was co-awarded to 1984 Olympic swimming triple gold medalist Rowdy Gaines and Paralympian Melissa Stockwell, the Rio 2016 Paratriathlon bronze medalist. The Rings of Gold award for a program honored Ready, Set, Gold!, the Los Angeles-based program which brings Olympians into schools to improve student attitudes and wellness, a legacy of the Los Angeles bid to be the U.S. candidate city for the 2016 Games. The Jack Kelly Fair Play Award went to speedskating star Brittany Bowe and the Olympic & Paralympic Torch Award to four-time canoeing Olympian Andy Toro.

● Aquatics ● At the FINA World Championships in Budapest, the Artistic Swimming program concluded with China winning four events, Italy two, Japan’s Yukiko Inui taking both the Solo Technical and Solo Free golds. The powerful Ukrainian team won two events and won five more silver medals. U.S. performer Anita Alvarez, who was pulled from the water at the end of her Solo Free final routine on the 22nd after fainting, skipped the rest of the program to recover. In diving, China is now 7-for-7 after winning the women’s 1 m Springboard (Yajie Li), the men’s 3 m Springboard (Zongyuan Wang) and the men’s 3 m and 10 m Synchro and Mixed 3 m and Team golds. American Sarah Bacon won a silver in the women’s 1 m Springboard. Open-water superstars Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) and Rio 2016 champ Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED) won the 10 km finals (American Katie Grimes was fifth). In water polo, Italy, Greece, Spain and Croatia advanced to the men’s semifinals, while the three-time defending World Champion U.S. women’s team advanced to the semis to face Italy, with Hungary and the Netherlands in the other semi. The championships will conclude this weekend.

● Football ● The U.S. Women’s National Team scored a dull, 2-0 victory over Colombia Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah that was extended by a 48-minute lightning delay in the 75th minute. The only goal of the first half came when Sofia Huerta sent a shot from the right side that caromed off the face of Colombian defender Manuela Vanegas for an own goal in the 22nd minute. After the delay, U.S. defender Kelley O’Hara capitalized on a failed clearance and sent a seeing-eye shot across the goal and into the net in the 77th.

● Volleyball ● Good news for Jordyn Paulter of the U.S. women’s volleyball gold medalists from Tokyo, as her stolen gold medal was found. Anaheim police reported that medal was found in a bag thrown away outside a local barbershop, and delivered to the police. A suspect was already in custody and is being charged with residential burglary, vehicle burglary, identity theft and possession of narcotics.

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LANE ONE: Does terrible USATF Nationals attendance mean Eugene is no longer TrackTown USA?

By
Rich Perelman
-
The competition on the track was hot at the 2022 USATF Nationals at Hayward Field, but not many spectators were there to see it. (TSX photo)

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“Can one desire too much of a good thing?”

The answer to William Shakespeare’s question from As You Like It, around 1600, is yes. It applies more than 400 years later to last week’s USA Track & Field National Championships at the new Hayward Field.

With the World Athletics Championships coming to Hayward Field in a couple of weeks, Eugene – population 179,887, ranked 146th in the U.S. – is nearing the end of an unprecedented series of high-level track & field meets all held in one place:

● May: Pacific-12 Conference Championships
● May: Wanda Diamond League Nike Prefontaine Classic
● June: NCAA Track & Field Championships
● June: Nike Outdoor (High School) Nationals
● June: USA Track & Field Senior & Junior Nationals
● July: World Athletics Championships

So far, not one of them has filled the magnificent new facility. In fact, the decline in attendance has been widely noticed by the track & field cognoscenti, but the USATF meet was especially glaring.

The Pre Classic, which has dependably drawn crowds of more than 12,000, hosted 6,447 this year. The NCAA meet, in which the Oregon team has been a consistent feature, drew 8,466-8,451-9,258-9,162 for a total of 35,337 or an average of 8,834.

The official ticket sales figures announced by USA Track & Field:

● 23 June: 2,751
● 24 June: 3,314
● 25 June: 3,664
● 26 June: 3,577

That’s 13,306 or an average of 3,327 per day. And it didn’t look even that full. The last USATF Nationals held in Eugene – at the old Hayward Field in 2015 – drew 38,795 over four days, or 9,699 average per day. The 2016 Olympic Trials at Hayward averaged (!) attendance of 22,122 over eight days.

Wrote David Woods – who has followed the sport for more than 50 years – in the Indianapolis Star:

“Clearly, there is track fatigue in TrackTown because attendance over four days totaled 13,306, as announced by USA Track & Field. It was the lowest ever for a meet that was a world trials, according to official figures.

“Let’s face it: Indianapolis would do better, as long as IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium track were resurfaced. But there has not been a major meet here since the 2007 nationals, and USA Track & Field has taken no action to bring one to its home city.

“Maybe having the World Championships in Eugene, and the extensive NBC coverage, will expand the sport’s niche. More likely, it will not.

“That’s not on the athletes. Never have they been better.”

Tweeted Tokyo Olympic women’s shot put silver medalist Raven Saunders:

“Seriously though we had more fans in Tokyo and we weren’t even allowed to have fans !!! Thankful to everyone who did shore up (sic) and show love – we appreciate you guys still”

And it was too much to ask of Eugene fans, given the size of the market, to support all of these meets. Too much of a good thing, and they were taken for granted.

The Pac-12 meet will move on, and while the Pre Classic will return in 2023, the NCAA meet will go to Austin, Texas for a year before coming back for three straight years from 2024-26. The World Athletics Championships will go back to Europe, in a new facility being completed in Budapest, Hungary. No announcement on where the 2023 USATF Nationals will go yet; since 2008, it has only been held in three places: Des Moines (four times), Eugene (eight times) and Sacramento (twice).

Expect strong attendance at the World Championships, with added seating that will expand the Hayward Field capacity to about 17,000. The tickets are fairly expensive, and there is little doubt that Eugene fans voted with their wallets to see the first-ever Worlds in the U.S. vs. competing meets which come to their city all the time.

The question is really not whether Eugene is no longer “TrackTown USA,” but even worse. It’s whether there is any U.S. city which can any longer be called the sport’s hotbed in 2022.

While the stands at Hayward Field were mostly empty, television viewership for the USA Track & Field Nationals was up a little from recent NBC broadcasts of U.S. invitationals. The four hours of the USATF meet available on network and cable drew:

● Jun 24 (Fri.): 214,000 viewers on CNBC
● Jun 25 (Sat.): 1,050,000 on NBC
● Jun 26 (Sun.): 1,052,000 on NBC
● Jun 26 (Sun.): 208,000 on USA Network

Sunday’s USA Network hour turned out to be a delayed broadcast of the distance events moved to the morning due to high temperatures in Eugene. The two broadcasts on NBC were up slightly from the audience of NBC-telecast meets from the prior month:

● May 28 (Sat.): 977,000 for Prefontaine Classic on NBC
● Jun. 12 (Sun.): 835,000 for NYC Grand Prix on NBC

The USATF meet was far behind the PGA Tour Travelers Championship on CBS for both Saturday (1.95 million viewers) and Sunday (2.59 million). But the USATF meet did out-draw ABC’s MLS soccer matches on Saturday (427,000 for Seattle-Kansas City) and Sunday (460,000 for LAFC-New York).

In comparison to the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials held exactly a year earlier, and also at Hayward Field, the 2022 Nationals did poorly, down 67% from 2021 The eight hours of Trials coverage on NBC averaged 3.18 million viewers, more than triple the 2022 network audience.

Cable audiences for track continued to be dismal, with 214,000 on CNBC on Friday and 208,000 on USA Network, but in line with the NCAA Championships on ESPN’s networks two weeks earlier. The NCAA first-day program (8 June) drew 187,000 viewers on ESPN2; the Friday men’s finals had 263,000 on ESPN2 and Saturday’s women’s finals were better, with 603,000 on ESPN.

In comparison to the 2021 Olympic Trials, the 2022 USATF Nationals audience on cable was down by 63%, averaging 211,000 viewers vs. 573,500 on NBCSN in 2021.

None of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League meets, excepting the Pre Classic, have drawn even 200,000 U.S. viewers so far. As Woods noted, the year on the track and on the infield has been stellar, fabulous and inspirational. But not in the stands, or on television, at least so far.

The 2022 World Athletics Championships start on 15 July.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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TSX REPORT: Lyles’s finger-wag at Knighton means appointment viewing on 21 July; Griner on trial Friday; Ninja Warrior an Olympic event?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Noah Lyles setting the record straight on Twitter on what happened in the last 5 m of the USATF men's 200 m final.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. Lyles’s finger-wag at Knighton made an electric men’s 200 m final epic
2. Jamaica strikes back as Jackson steals women’s 200 m lead from Steiner
3. Brittney Griner trial set for Friday, but with detention extended again
4. Not sitting still, Russia now supports India’s ambitions for 2036 Games
5. Is Modern Pentathlon bringing the Ninja Warrior show to the Games?

The just-completed USA Track & Field nationals selected a brilliant U.S. team for the upcoming World Championships in Eugene in July, but now the men’s and women’s 200 m races have been elevated to must-see status. U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner will be in court on Friday, but her outlook is not good. Russia’s athletes may be mostly banned, but its sports diplomats are now stirring the pot for the 2036 Games. And modern pentathlon is trying out a Ninja Warrior set as a possible new discipline. This is progress?

1.
Lyles’s finger-wag at Knighton
made an electric men’s 200 m final epic

Sunday’s men’s 200 m USATF Nationals final that saw World Champion Noah Lyles come from well behind to overtake teen superstar Erriyon Knighton, 19.67-19.69, is now much more than a race for the ages.

It’s getting personal. Will it get crazy? Ugly? Happy?

The race itself was sensational. Knighton, 18, who emerged as an Olympic medal threat last year and finished fourth in Tokyo, came in as the world leader at 19.49, standing no. 4 in history. Lyles, 24, was coming back to his 2019 form when he ran 19.50, now no. 5.

The final started with Knighton destroying the field on the turn, taking a 3 m lead on Lyles going into the straightaway and looking like he was going to run away to his first national title. But Lyles got into an overdrive gear that he alone possesses today and ran Knighton down, actually turning to his left and wagging his finger as he passed him with 5 m to go, winning by 0.02.

While still panting, Lyles told NBC’s Lewis Johnson immediately afterwards:

“I do what it takes to win, and Erriyon got the best of me on the turn. I ain’t worried about that. I saw him reach his top speed , and mine’s faster. So I’m going to catch him and it’s going to take the whole rest of the 100. And that’s what I did.”

Knighton was having none of it, telling Johnson:

“I’m coming back [to the World Championships] to win. The job’s not finished. It’s never finished.”

And he walked away. Knighton is quiet and reserved, exactly the opposite of the gregarious Lyles, who expounded on the race in the mixed zone:

“Erriyon is an amazing competitor, I know he’s a little bit disappointed. I think he’s now getting that feel of what it is to have a target on your back, but to be honest, he’ll be fine.

“I know he’s going to come to Worlds and he’s going to bring it. I expect him to PR and I expect myself to PR as well.”

Now we’re creeping up on Michael Johnson’s 26-year-old American Record of 19.32 from the Atlanta Games and Jamaican icon Usain Bolt’s unapproachable (?) world record of 19.19 from the 2009 Worlds in Berlin. Rivalries make races and can push great athletes into history.

Lyles was asked if Knighton might have thought the finger-wagging was directed at him – and why wouldn’t he? – but said:

“He might have and I will definitely talk to him after this and let him know that it wasn’t, because I don’t need him to feel like that. That’s not how he should feel. It wasn’t for him. We are teammates. He’s an amazing guy.”

Lyles followed up with a tweet later in the day, picturing the finish:

“This point wasn’t for @ErriyonK

“It was for everyone who keeps counting me out just because a new player has entered the ring. Erriyon is an incredible talent and he has proven that. But that don’t mean I’m just going to lay down and die! Now let’s go sweep @WCHoregon22″

The U.S. has more medal contenders as well, with Fred Kerley third (19.83), Tokyo silver medalist Kenny Bednarek fourth (19.87), and there are other contenders such as Luxolo Adams (RSA: 19.82), NCAA champ Joe Fahnbulleh (LBR: 19.83) and Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards (19.83).

But now the Worlds has a signature, mano-a-mano match-up between the World Champion and the kid. Mark down the day and time for the Worlds men’s 200 m final: Thursday, 21 July at 7:50 in the evening, Oregon time.

This is why track & field will always have a future.

2.
Jamaica strikes back as
Jackson steals women’s 200 m lead from Steiner

One of the feel-good stories of the USATF Nationals was the women’s 200 m victory by 22-year-old Kentucky star Abby Steiner, who equaled her own world lead of 21.80 in winning the semifinals and then bettered it with a 21.77 win in the final

That moved her to no. 17 all-time, but her status as world leader didn’t last the day.

The Jamaican Championships in Kingston followed in the evening and the surprise winner of the women’s 100 m, Tokyo bronze medalist Shericka Jackson, blasted a brilliant field that included two-time Olympic champ Elaine Thompson-Herah, winning in 21.55, the no. 3 performance in history:

● 21.49, Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA), 1988
● 21.53, Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM), 2021
● 21.55, Shericka Jackson (JAM), 2022
● 21.56, Griffith-Joyner, 1988
● 21.61, Gabby Thomas (USA), 2021

Jackson had previously run 21.81, so the time was a shock, in addition to pulverizing Thompson-Herah (22.05) and two-time Olympic 100 m winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (22.14). And Jackson, 27, had already won the 100 m final in 10.77, with Thompson-Herah third (10.89) after a lengthy delay.

Jackson, Fraser-Pryce and Thompson-Herah will be favored to sweep the women’s 100 m at the Worlds in Eugene, but the Shericka vs. Steiner story is suddenly another reason to mark 21 July on your calendar. The women’s 200 m final will go at 7:35 p.m., 15 minutes before the men.

3.
Brittney Griner trial set for Friday,
but with detention extended again

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner appeared in a Russian court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, with her trial set to begin on Friday, 1 July. The Russian news agency TASS reported:

“The Khimki Court of the Moscow Region on Monday extended until December 20 the arrest of two-time Olympic basketball champion from the United States Brittney Griner, accused of drug smuggling,” which would be until 20 December.

The report further explained, “Greiner was arrested for trying to illegally import hash oil into the Russian Federation through Sheremetyevo Airport.”

Griner, 31, has been detained since 17 February and the U.S. government considers her unlawfully held. The Associated Press reported:

“Griner could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the U.S., acquittals can be overturned.”

TASS said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, asked about Griner as a part of a prisoner swap with the U.S., indicated that any further actions will have to wait until the trial is concluded.

4.
Not sitting still, Russia now supports
India’s ambitions for 2036 Games

The Russian Sports Minister, Oleg Matytsin, is well versed in the Olympic Movement, having been the well-respected President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) prior to being called to head the ministry. He knows how to operate and despite the widespread ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes, he is continuing to try to influence the future.

The latest move came in an interview with Russia’s RIA Sport, where he declared Russia’s willingness to help India with a bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, a recognized desire of the Indian Olympic Association.

“We are always open to interaction, and always ready to share our experience in organizing the Olympic Games. We have done it many times. If a decision was taken in this direction, Russian experts would be happy to help in the organization of the Olympic Games in India.”

India, to the irritation of the U.S. and NATO, has been mute on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, preferring to keep open ties with Moscow and increase its oil imports. And India – which has hosted the massive Asian Games twice but offered a very poorly-run Commonwealth Games in 2010 – will be front-and-center with the International Olympic Committee as host of its 140th Session in Mumbai on 30 May and 1 June 2023. Good timing.

Matytsin said that the IOC’s requested ban on events in Russia has removed 186 different competitions scheduled in 2022 and 2023 so far. But the Russian minister is already working on influencing a decision which will come in 2026 or much later.

5.
Is Modern Pentathlon bringing the
Ninja Warrior show to the Games?

From its development as a Greek religious festival in 776 B.C.E., the Olympic Games has always had an air of solemnity, even with the inclusion of events such as tug-of-war and, most recently, skateboarding.

So, how about taking Tokyo Broadcasting System’s SASUKE/Ninja Warrior production sets and placing them in the Olympic Games as the fifth discipline in the revised concept of the Modern Pentathlon for 2028?

That is exactly what’s happening in Ankara (TUR) on Monday and Tuesday, where the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne requested and TBS agreed “to provide a Ninja Warrior obstacle course for use as a demonstration of the event in Ankara. This obstacle course is currently used to film local versions of the SASUKE/Ninja Warrior format shown in France, Poland, and other European countries. The Wall Flip, Parallel Pipes, Wind Chimes and Tire Swing obstacles will be featured.”

“Ninja Competitions” is one of two obstacle programs being considered for the federation’s new fifth discipline, replacing riding, although being fought by many of the sport’s premier athletes.

TBS’s SASUKE/Ninja Warrior debuted in 1997 as a sports entertainment program, now seen in more than 160 countries and locally produced in more than 20 countries.

Observed: It’s hard to square a Ninja Warrior event with the Olympic Games in any case, and especially considering that it will be part of a sport that includes the classical disciplines of running, swimming, fencing and shooting. But it makes sense if the Olympics is no more than a television show now. Is it? Or is it something more?

It’s worth noting that Obstacle Racing isn’t even a part of the upcoming 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama and that the international federation – known as World Obstacle (FISO) – is not an IOC-recognized federation (as is American Football, now provisionally recognized!).

What’s the UIPM’s other idea? Is it any more credible?

≡ CALENDAR ≡

The U.S. Women’s National Team takes on Colombia in the second of two friendly matches on Tuesday in Sandy, Utah, with kickoff at 7 p.m. Pacific time on ESPN … The 109th Tour de France begins Friday (1st) in Copenhagen (!) with coverage on NBC, USA Network and Peacock through the finish in Paris on 24 July.

≡ PANORAMA ≡

● Aquatics: The pool is closed, but the FINA World Aquatics Championships roll on in Budapest. The Open Water events have started with Olympic 10 km champs Florian Wellbrock (GER) and Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha – possibly the fittest person on the planet – winning the 5 km races on Sunday. It’s Cunha’s sixth Worlds open-water gold. China – to no one’s surprise – won the first two diving events, with 2019 World Champion Yuxi Chen repeating on the women’s 10 m Platform.

● Archery: Americans Brady Ellison and teen Casey Kaufhold won the Recurve Mixed Team gold at the World Archery World Cup stage 3 in Paris, with Kaufhold winning her first-ever World Cup medal, a great sign for the future for the U.S.

● Gymnastics: The USA Gymnastics Championships in acro, rhythmic and trampoline were held in Des Moines with Evita Griskenas winning the All-Around (1st title), Hoop and Clubs, Lili Mizuno taking Ribbon and Alexandria Kautzman winning on Ball. Sarah Webster and Ryan Maccagnan won the individual Trampoline titles.

● Triathlon: The World Triathlon Series was in Montreal for the Sprint and Relay World Championships, with Britain sweeping the men’s and women’s Sprint titles (300 m swim, 7.2 km bike phase and 2 km run) with Tokyo silver medalists Alex Yee winning in 21:55 and Georgia Taylor-Brown winning the women’s race in 24:04.

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TSX REPORT: U.S. stars Benjamin, Steiner and Ealey shine at T&F nationals; French hurdler wins national title after beating beaten up!

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

(★ Dear readers: Our goal is to expertly survey, monitor and explain the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping international sport and the Olympic Movement, now in an easier-to-use format. Comments are welcome; please donate here if you would like to help with our support costs; thank you for continued interest and enthusiasm. ★)

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. World leads by Benjamin, Steiner, Ealey as hot USATF Champs closes
2. McDonald and Richardson won’t be at Worlds, for different reasons
3. French hurdler Happio beaten up, then wins 400H national title!
4. Ukraine boycotts as Russians win nine medals at Judo Grand Slam
5. Civil war inside Modern Pentathlon continues unabated

The U.S. track & field nationals concluded with brilliant performances at a hot Hayward Field in Oregon, with astonishing back stories from the performers. Things are not as happy elsewhere, with a track & field mugging in France, a Ukranian boycott in judo and the open civil war between the Modern Pentathlon federation and many of its star athletes.

1.
World leads by Benjamin, Steiner, Ealey
as fab USATF Champs closes

A forecast high of 93 degrees forced multiple schedule changes for the final day of the USATF National Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, but the competition matched the thermometer.

The women’s shot featured world no. 2 Chase Ealey, who has impressively emerged as the favorite for the Worlds. And she confirmed her status, getting all of her second-round throw, reaching a world-leading 20.51 m (67-3 1/2), the no. 2 throw in U.S. history (and the ninth-best performer world-wide this century)! Ealey closed with an excellent toss of 20.19 m (66-3) just to alleviate any doubt.

Behind her, Tokyo Olympian Adelaide Aquilla got second at 19.45 m (63-9 3/4) and Jessica Woodard was third with a lifetime best of 19.40 m (63-7 3/4). Tokyo silver medalist Raven “Hulk” Saunders ended up fourth at 18.95 m (62-2 1/4).

The much-anticipated men’s 200 m final had World Champion Noah Lyles in lane five, but with teen sensation (and world leader) Erriyon Knighton a lane inside him. And Knighton was off like a shot at the gun, sweeping past Lyles on the turn and into the straight, looking very much like a runaway winner. But Lyles found a gear that perhaps no one else has right now and not only closed a meter gap, but passed Knighton with 3 m left and wagged his finger at the tape: 19.67 to 19.69 (wind: -0.3 m./s)! This was trash running at a Bolt-like level, with a rematch coming at the Worlds. Said Knighton afterwards, “I’m coming back to win. It’s never finished.”

Behind them was 100 m winner Fred Kerley, storming into third on the straight to finish in 19.83, ahead of Tokyo silver winner Kenny Bednarek (19.87) and Josephus Lyles (19.93). Noah Lyles, Knighton, Kerley and Bednarek will all move on to the Worlds.

The questions in the women’s 200 m were about world leader Abby Steiner (21.80) and Tokyo bronze medalist Gabby Thomas, who was way off form in the semifinals and started in lane two. But Oregon alum Jenna Prandini and Olympic Trials fourth-placer Tamara Clark ran best on the curve and were 1-2 coming into the straight. Steiner didn’t reach top gear until just 50 m was left, but she flew to the finish and was running away from everyone to cross in a world-leading 21.77 (-0.3), moving her to no. 17 all-time and equal-6th all-time U.S. Clark got a lifetime best of 21.92 in second, Prandini ran a season’s best 22.01 in third. Thomas, looking anguished down the straight, finished last in 22.47.

Tokyo silver medalist Rai Benjamin was expected to breeze to the men’s 400 m hurdles title and took the lead right away. But he eased through the middle of the race and it was emerging star Khallifah Rosser who actually had the lead off the final turn. But Benjamin’s superior speed brought him back to the lead and he won going away in 47.04, fastest in the world for 2022 and the no. 14 performance of all time. Behind him, Trevor Bassitt, the NCAA Division II winner for Ashland, zoomed home for second with a huge lifetime best of 47.47 (no. 11 all-time U.S.), with Rosser also getting into the 47s for the first time at 47.65. The U.S. now stands 1-3-4 in the world for 2022.

The men’s 110 m hurdles saw World Champion Grant Holloway (13.03) and NCAA champ Trey Cunningham (13.09) win the semis, but Holloway – with a direct entry into the Worlds – decided to skip the final. Off the gun, ex-Kentucky star Daniel Roberts had the best start and was clearly in front at halfway, when Cunningham started to move hard and close. Cunningham leaned early, but Roberts kept his form and finish strong through the line in 13.03 (+1.2), with Cunningham at 13.08. Allen, the world leader at 12.84, was in a battle with Jamal Britt for third and got it, as both were timed in 13.09. Upset? Sure, but the U.S. now stands 1-2-3-4 on the world list and all four will be back to Eugene in July.

The men’s 800 m final was a wide-open affair, with no American in the top 35 in the world for 2022. Front-running Brandon Miller, third at the NCAAs for Texas A&M, led Tokyo Olympian Bryce Hoppel through the bell and onto the backstraight. But Hoppel pushed hard going into the turn and had the lead, being chased by Jonah Koech of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). Hoppel’s lead was small but steady and he crossed in a season’s best 1:44.60 (no. 18 for 2022) to Koech’s lifetime best of 1:44.74. Miller dove across the line to preserve third over Rio bronze medalist Clayton Murphy, 1:45.19-1:45.23.

The temperature on the track read 93 degrees for the women’s 800 m final, with hopes for an equally-hot time. Tokyo Olympic champion Athing Mu ran from the front, leading World Indoor Champion Ajee Wilson and Olivia Baker through 200 m, 400 m and onto the backstraight. But instead of running away, Mu was challenged hard by Wilson coming off the turn, with Raevyn Rogers making her patented late charge in lane two. Mu and Wilson were together with 50 m to go and Wilson even edged ahead, but Mu had a little more to give and got to the line first in 1:57.16, the no. 2 time in the world for 2022 (she’s the world leader), with Wilson at 1:57.23 (no. 3) and Rogers at 1:57.96 (no. 4). Allie Wilson ran 1:58.35, but only good enough for fourth.

The meet start was moved up to 10:30 a.m. with the women’s 5,000 m going off in 79 F temperatures, with 23 on the line. The 2022 U.S. Cross Country runner-up Weini Kelati and Karissa Schweizer — the 10,000 m national champ – running at the front of the pack on a slow pace, passing 3,000 m in 10:08.35. The running picked up with three laps to go as Schweizer threw in a lap in 67 to lead Elise Cranny and Kelati, with seven still close to the front. Schweizer ran 66.38 for the next lap, with Cranny and Emily Infeld closest and at the bell, it was those four running for the win. Schweizer, Cranny and Infeld sprinted away and then it was Cranny surging down the straight for the win in 15:49.15. Infeld, the 2015 Worlds 10,000 m bronze winner, passed Schweizer in the final 20 m, but Schweizer came back for second, 15:49.32-15:49.42, with Kelati fourth (15:52.57). Cranny and Schweizer repeated their 1-2 finish from the 2021 Olympic Trials.

The men’s 5,000 m also started modestly, with U.S. Steeple record holder Evan Jager and 10,000 m world leader Grant Fisher passing 3,000 m in 7:56.59. Jager dropped out with 3 1/2 laps to go – his Worlds spot already secured – and Fisher, Emmanuel Bor and Abdi Nur were rolling at the front with three laps to go. Fisher zoomed 59.71 and led with two laps to go, then breaking Nur and Bor in a three-man race. At the bell, Fisher had more than three seconds on Nur and was moving away, finishing with a meet record of 13:03.86. Tokyo Olympian Woody Kincaid put on an all-out sprint over the last 200 m to pass Nur for second in 13:06.70-13:08.63, with Connor Mantz passing Bor for fourth, 13:11.81-13:13.15. Fisher ran his last four laps in 4:03.11 to win his first national title; pretty good in 80-degree heat!

Women’s Steeple favorites Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs stayed near the front of the pack, running with BYU’s NCAA champ Courtney Wayment and former Furman All-American Gabbi Jennings. Coburn surged with a lap and a half to go and was unchallenged to the finish in 9:10.63, moving her to no. 8 on the world list. Wayment had the fastest final lap in the field and got second with a lifetime best of 9:12.10, with Frerichs third (9:16.18) and Jennings fourth (9:25.05). It’s Coburn’s 10th national title and she will be back to try for a third career Worlds medal next month.

On the infield, the men’s high jump was quickly down to two: Tokyo Olympians JuVaughn Harrison and Shelby McEwen. Harrison looked hampered in the long jump, but found his footing, taking the lead with a first-time clearance at 2.30 m (7-6 1/2). The bar went to 2.33 m (7-7 3/4), the Worlds qualifying standard and McEwen needed to clear it to make it back to Eugene in July. And he did make it on his second try and as Harrison did not, McEwen took his first national title.

The men’s triple jump saw the return of four-time World Champion Christian Taylor, but Donald Scott got out to 17.07 m (56-0) in the first round and no one could catch him and he took his third U.S. outdoor title. Two-time Olympic TJ medalist Will Claye reached 16.93 m (55-6 1/2), good enough for second and he’s on his way to the Worlds too. Taylor, as defending champion, has a direct entry to the Worlds and he came up with an encouraging 16.54 m (54-3 1/4) in the final round for fifth.

The men’s javelin was a final-round win for Virginia’s Ethan Dabbs – the NCAA runner-up – who reached 81.29 m (266-8) to win over Curtis Thompson (80.49 m/264-1).

The prelims are over; the first-ever World Athletics Championships will come to the U.S. next month, starting on 15 July, also at Hayward Field.

2.
McDonald and Richardson won’t be at Worlds,
for different reasons

There are hundreds of stories at the USATF Nationals, with different goals, hopes and dreams for different athletes, their coaches, families and friends. Even with the World Championships coming to the U.S. for the first time ever next month, not everyone was either excited or ready to accept a spot on the American team.

Little-known vaulter Alina McDonald, 24, eighth at the Olympic Trials in 2021, had the meet of her life and moved to 10th on the 2022 world list with her second-place finish at 4.65 m (15-3). Although short of the Worlds qualifying standard, her mark and world ranking would likely get her into the field. But she won’t be going.

She told Sarah Lorge Butler of Runner’s World that since the women’s vault final is scheduled for Sunday, 17 July, she will not participate:

“I won’t be going. I could request that they change it, but I won’t ask for something so large as switch the schedule for me. … I would love to go, it would be a dream come true, but I think it would only be fair to allow the fourth-place finisher – who could do prelims and then finals [on Sunday] – and actually compete in finals, it wouldn’t be right for me to go and then not jump in finals.

“It’s a religious belief and I plan to stick to it. I’m a Christian. I just remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. That’s my plan and I plan to stick to it.”

Gabriela Leon finished fourth at 4.60 m (15-1), but also does not have the 4.70 m (15-5) standard, but fifth-placer Emily Grove does.

On the other extreme was sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who failed to get into the final of either the women’s 100 m or 200 m, but asked on Friday on Twitter after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was announced:

“Why would I want to represent a country that has no respect for their women the only reason that all of them that make these ‘laws’ exist ?!!!”

In a completely different sphere was a little-noticed, but important gesture by USA Track & Field, which allowed two Ukrainian athletes to compete in the concurrently-held U.S. Junior Championships.

Valeria Sholommistska won the women’s 10 km Walk and Yuliia Petryk was sixth in the women’s 1,500 m, a welcome break from the conflict which has enveloped their homeland.

3.
French hurdler Happio beaten up, then wins 400H national title!

Even track & field isn’t safe. France’s Wilfried Happio was attacked during his warm-up for the 400 m hurdles final at the French national championships in Caen, being punched in the face before the attacker was finally stopped by police.

Happio, the 2017 European Junior Champion, was “coughing up blood,” but managed to finish his warm-up, improvised an eyepatch and a bandage around his head and won the final in a lifetime best of 48.57, his first time under 49 seconds! He qualified for the World Championships in Eugene in July.

The attacker, who actually asked Happio to confirm his identity before attacking him, was arrested. Happio was taken to a hospital for more attention after his win, but is expected to be fine. Wow.

4.
Ukraine boycotts as Russians win nine medals at Judo Grand Slam

The International Judo Federation is among the few federations which allow Russian athletes to compete as neutrals, as at its 30-nation Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam tournament in Mongolia over the weekend. The response was the withdrawal of the Ukrainian federation.

“Everybody who follows world sport in a small way understands that Russian athletes are a key part of this country’s aggressive propaganda politics,” wrote Ukrainian Judo Federation chief Mykhailo Koshliak in an open letter last week.

“Speaking of Russia and sport, it is by no means possible to say that ‘sport is out of politics.’ The silence of Russian and Belarusian athletes and coaches supports the war against Ukraine and kills thousands of Ukrainian citizens.”

The Russians did well, winning nine medals (5-2-2), the most of any entrant, ahead of seven (4-1-2) for Japan. Not sure that anyone but they were happy about it.

5.
Civil war inside Modern Pentathlon continues unabated

Following the Tokyo Olympic incident in which a horse refused to jump and was punched by a German coach, the sport of modern pentathlon has been in an uproar. And it’s getting worse.

The sport’s federation, the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), determined that it was necessary to replace riding as part of the event after the Paris 2024 Games, insisting this was at the request of the International Olympic Committee. After a very showy set of meetings with a star-studded advisory board, it decided on Obstacle Course Racing in early May.

But many of the sport’s current and past stars are having none of it. Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Joe Choong (GBR), Rio 2016 silver medalist Pavlo Tymoshchenko (UKR), Sydney 2000 bronze medalist Kate Allenby (GBR) and many others are pushing back – hard – against the removal of riding.

On Saturday, the PentUnited athlete group posted a four-page, 16-point program to reform the way riding is conducted within the modern pentathlon, essentially tying itself to the practices of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), which is well entrenched in the Olympic program. PentUnited contends that riding need not be replaced:

“IOC have never asked @WorldPentathlon to remove riding. Of course there are ways to reduce cost, complexity & participation of our equestrian discipline. Equestrian sports are safe in the O prog. It’s just UIPM EB who don’t want riding & that’s what they told IOC #savepentathlon”

For its part, Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL) said at last week’s news conference that the IOC is monitoring the UIPM’s activities and waiting on a final presentation on its fifth discipline proposal, importantly including the voice of the athletes, and how the changes will more widely popularize athlete and viewer interest in this tiny sport. In the meantime, the sport is not on the Olympic program for Los Angeles 2028, and if no unity within the sport is forthcoming, it may well be on the outside looking in when the program is finalized next year.

Casual observers can well ask: is a sport that had just 72 athletes from 27 countries at the Tokyo Games really be worth this much fuss?

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TSX REPORT: McLaughlin streaks to 400H world record; U.S. sets medal record at FINA Worlds; did weightlifting just end its Olympic history?

By
Rich Perelman
-
Double Olympic gold medalist and world-record setter Sydney McLaughlin (USA) (Photo: Tim Healy for TrackTown USA)

(★ Dear readers: We’re unveiling a new format, to make TSX easier to read, more impactful and less esoteric. The goal remains to cover the key competitive, economic and political forces in international sport and the Olympic Movement. Comments are welcome and we hope you enjoy it. Please donate here if you would like to help with our support costs; thank you so much for your interest and enthusiasm. ★)

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

1. McLaughlin’s world record highlights USATF Nationals in Oregon
2. Huge drama as U.S. sets medals record at swimming World Champs
3. Olympic sprint icon Thompson-Herah falls to third in Jamaican 100 m
4. Weightlifting federation elections may have ended its Olympic history
5. U.S. women’s footballers cruise past Colombia, 3-0, in friendly

The two sports which provide the U.S. with half or more of its medals at each Olympic Games are track & field and swimming. American domination was on full display on Saturday, at the U.S. nationals in track and the FINA World Championships in Hungary.

1.
McLaughlin’s world record highlights
USATF Nationals in Oregon

The final event of the third day of the USA Track & Field National Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon was focused on one question.

What would Olympic 400 m hurdles champ – and world-record holder – Sydney McLaughlin do? Win easy or go for broke?

The answer came quickly, as she pressed from the start, making up the stagger on NCAA champ Britton Wilson just outside her and storming the turn. She was going to win, but how fast? She charged the straight and flew through the tape in a sensational world record – her third – of 51.41!

Wilson, who has a great future in this event, came off the turn in a fight for second and passed Anna Cockrell to finish with a huge lifetime best of 53.08 – no. 10 all-time U.S. – and no. 3 in the world for 2022. Cockrell, meanwhile, lost ground to veteran Shamier Little in the final 50 m and Little got third, 53.92 to 53.98, seasonal bests for both.

As was forecast from her high school days in New Jersey, McLaughlin is becoming the Edwin Moses of the 21st Century. She has won a modest five straight finals in 2021 and 2022, but with world records in three of her last four races. She owns four of the five fastest times in history and five of the top eight. McLaughlin is now one of the faces of this sport, with an unlimited future.

That was the final thrill on a busy Saturday on the track, with additional world-leading performances in the men’s 400 m and women’s 110 m hurdles.

World leader Michael Norman was the clear favorite in the men’s 400 m and he took off hard, moving up on the field through 200 m. On the turn, Norman took control, but was being harassed by Florida’s Champion Allison into the straight. Allison would not go away and chased Norman home to a world-leading 43.56, with Allison enjoying a massive lifetime best of 43.70 (old: 44.29) from the NCAA Championships. Two-time NCAA winner Randolph Ross clinched third in the final 40 m in 44.17 to 44.34 for Georgia’s Elija Godwin and 44.35 for Vernon Norwood.

The women’s 100 m hurdles started with the semis, with 2019 World Champion Nia Ali winning impressively in a season’s best of 12.49, ahead of find-of-the-year Alaysha Johnson (12.60). World-record holder Keni Harrison moved to equal-2nd on the 2022 world list at 12.40 in winning the second semi and setting up a hot final.

Ali withdrew, as she has a direct entry to the Worlds as reigning champion. Off the gun, it was former LSU star Tonea Marshall who got out best, but Harrison took over in mid-race and dueled with Johnson to the tape. Harrison leaned best to win in a world-leading 12.34, with Johnson claiming a lifetime best of 12.35 and moving to equal-6th all-time U.S. Current LSU star Alia Armstrong – the NCAA champion – leaned hard to edge Marshall, 12.47-12.55.

All eyes were on icon Allyson Felix in the women’s 400 m final and she was out like a shot in lane nine, right with the leaders at 200 m. But Tokyo 4×400 m gold medalist Lynna Irby came hard on the turn to take the lead, with Tokyo teammate Kendall Ellis coming up to challenge. But NCAA champ Talitha Diggs moved best in the middle of the track in the final 70 m to win in 50.22, to 50.35 for Ellis and Irby in third (50.67). Felix faded on the turn and finished sixth in 51.24 and should be on the Worlds team on the 4×400 m or mixed 4×400 m relay. She said she will have a final race in the Los Angeles area on 7 August to end her competitive career.

The women’s 1,500 m final started slowly, with Elle St. Pierre at 72.81 after 400 m and then St. Pierre wanted to get out of traffic and threw in a 63.95 lap to lead Karissa Schweizer after 800 m. But at the bell, it was Schweizer leading St. Pierre, Cory McGee and Sinclaire Johnson as those four opened a gap on the rest. St. Pierre had the lead with 300 m left, but Johnson poured on the gas on the backstraight, passed St. Pierre and McGee to take the lead into the straight and ran away to win in 4:03.29 to 4:04.52. St. Pierre fought off Schweizer for third, 4:05.14-4:05.40.

The men’s 1,500 m was up for grabs, with the famous names absent and in 87 F temperatures at the start. The pace was slow and finally picked up at the bell, with all 12 in contention. Sam Prakel took the lead on the back straight, but the event ended in a dead sprint in the home straight, with former Oregon star Cooper Teare coming from fifth into a clear lane to the line in 3:45.86. NCAA sixth-placer Jon Davis of Illinois passed Josh Thompson in the final 20 m for a surprise second – 3:46.01 to 3:46.07 – with Eric Holt having to settle for fourth (3:46.15).

The men’s Steeple started slowly, but all eyes were on U.S. record holder Evan Jager, continuing his odyssey from injury. He took the lead after 2,400 m and was joined by two-time U.S. champ Hillary Bor down the penultimate straight and then charged to the lead at the bell. Jager and Benard Keter stayed close and had broken away from the rest, but could they hang with Bor? That answer was no, as Bor broke away after the final water jump, but Jager was strong and ran away from Keter on the straight to finish 1-2 in 8:15.76 and 8:17.29, with Keter at 8:19.16. Duncan Hamilton closed hard for fourth in 8:20.23. The top four all have the Worlds time standard.

In the field, Olympic silver medalist Chris Nilsen and former NCAA Division III champ Luke Winder were the only ones to clear 5.70 m (18-8 1/4) in the men’s vault and Nilsen won on fewer misses.

Tokyo 11th-placer Daniel Haugh got a lifetime best of 80.18 m (263-1) in the first round to take the lead in the men’s hammer final and move to no. 5 on the all-time U.S. list. It turned out that no one could do better; American Record holder Rudy Winkler ended up second at 78.33 m (257-0).

The first shock of the day came in the women’s javelin, as world leader and American Record-setter Maggie Malone fouled three times and did not place. But former American Record holder Kara Winger got a seasonal best of 64.26 m (210-10) to win her ninth U.S. title and qualified for the Worlds. Malone will likely also advance to the Worlds given her world ranking.

The women’s triple jump saw two-time Olympian Keturah Orji get out to 14.38 m (47-2 1/4) in the first round to take the lead, but was passed by former American Record holder Tori Franklin in round four (14.59 m/47-10 1/2). No problem: Orji re-took the lead on the next jump, reaching 14.79 m (48-6 1/4), a meet record and the no. 3 jump in American history. NCAA champ Jasmine Moore was a clear third at 14.15 m (46-5 1/4)

In the men’s 200 m qualifying, the reigning World Champion, Noah Lyles, led all qualifiers at 19.95, with teen sensation Erriyon Knighton (20.08), Christian Coleman (20.18) and Olympic silver winner Kenny Bednarek (20.10) the other heat winners. Fred Kerley, the 100 m winner, qualified easily in 20.29.

The heats of the 110 m hurdles produced four familiar winners: World Champion Grant Holloway (13.11), world all-time no. 3 Devon Allen (13.27), NCAA champ Trey Cunningham (13.13) and 2019 national champ Daniel Roberts (13.28). The amazing Rai Benjamin – the Olympic silver medalist – loafed the first 250 m of his 400 m hurdles semi, ran harder for about 100 m and then jogged in to win in 47.93, a time that only two others in the world have bettered this season! Yowsah! Khallifah Rosser won the second semi in 48.34.

The women’s 200 m showed that world leader and NCAA Champion Abby Steiner continues in shape, leading the qualifying at 22.14. Olympic bronze winner Gabby Thomas won her heat in 22.59, Jenna Prandini won heat three in 22.65 and Sha’Carri Richardson was runner-up in the first heat in 22.69.

The meet concludes tomorrow; broadcast coverage is on NBC from 1-2 p.m. Pacific time, switching to USA Network from 2-3 p.m.

2.
Huge drama as U.S. sets medals record
at swimming World Champs

The final day of the swimming portion of the FINA World Championships in Budapest (HUN) climaxed with the U.S. team setting an all-time medals record, including an American Record and a reversal of fortune … after medals had been handed out in the men’s 50 m Backstroke.

American Justin Ress and world-record holder Hunter Armstrong were 1-2 in the semis and they had the lead when they came up from the underwater start. Ress had the slimmest of leads at midway and the two Americans were clearly 1-2 and Ress extended his final stroke underwater and touched first at 24.12, with Armstrong just behind.

But a video review was signaled and Ress was ruled not to have any part of his body above the water at the finish and was disqualified. That left Armstrong as the winner at 24.14 for his second medal of the meet, but with a bitter taste for winning by disqualification. Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk was moved up to second (24.49) and 100 m Back winner Thomas Ceccon (ITA) to third in 24.51.

USA Swimming protested the disqualification, and the decision was – remarkably – reversed, giving Ress the gold, 24.12-24.14, with Masiuk third. It’s the first individual Worlds medal for Ress and his second gold of the meet. Ress did receive his medal in a specially-held ceremony after the revision of the final results.

Almost as dramatic was the men’s 1,500 m Free final, featuring top five finishers from the Tokyo Games, led by American gold medalist Bobby Finke. At the 500 m mark, Rio Olympic champ Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) had the lead – on world-record pace – over Finke by 2.40 seconds, with Germany’s Tokyo bronze medalist Florian Wellbrock just behind. And he did not let up.

At the half, Paltrinieri, 27, touched in 7:14.94 – still on world-record pace – with Finke bringing up the rest of the field, 4.14 behind. At 1,000 m, Paltrinieri was 1.96 seconds up on the record and then accelerated, up 2.69 by 1,200 m, 2.79 at 1,300 m, 2.81 at 1,400 m, and then he tired. He was only 1.23 seconds up on the record with 50 to go and then finished with the no. 2 mark of all time in 14:32.80. Dazzling, and while not a record, his third Worlds 1,500 gold to go along with his wins in 2015 and 2017.

Behind Paltrinieri, Finke and Wellbrock swam together for most of the race, with Finke making a late charge as usual to grab silver in 14:36.70, smashing Connor Jaeger’s 2016 mark of 14:39.48! Wellbrock was third in 14.36.94.

Italy’s day was made even better with a shocking win over the U.S. in the men’s 4×100 m Medley Relay. Cecchon had the lead on American Ryan Murphy at the turn by 0.58 and that turned out to be crucial. Nicolo Martinenghi increased the lead on the Breast leg, 57.47 to 57.86 for Nic Fink, but Michael Andrew got the U.S. to just 0.40 back with a brilliant 50.06 leg to 50.63 for Federico Burdisso.

Ryan Held actually took the lead on Alessandro Miressi on the Freestyle leg, but couldn’t hold and his 47.36 closer fell short. Miressi split 47.48 and Italy won the gold in a European Record 3:27.51, the equal-third-fastest performance of all time. The U.S. finished in 3:27.79, the fifth-fastest mark ever. Great Britain was third in 3:31.31.

Another upset came in the women’s 50 m Breast final. Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania, still just 25, was the London 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 100 m Breast, but had been in and out of the sport since 2019, when she suffered a doping whereabouts suspension. But she came back to the pool in 2021 and showed some of her old form with a bronze in the 100 m Breast. In the 50, she faced Italy’s world-record holder, Benedetta Pilato, the leading qualifier. Off the start, the two moved ahead of the field, but very close to each other. Meilutyte forged a small lead in the final 15 m and held it on the final stroke for a 29.70-29.80 win, with Lara van Niekerk (RSA: 29.90) third. American Lilly King, the Worlds winner in 2017 and 2019, could not generate her usual speed and finished seventh in 30.40.

One of the greatest sprinters in history – Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom – came in as the world leader in the women’s 50 m Free and a medalist in three straight Worlds – bronze-gold-silver in 2015-17-19 – and was out well and got to the lead at halfway. But she was being challenged by Poland’s 30-year-old Kasia Wasick, no. 2 on the world list this season. It was close, but Sjostrom had the best final stroke and touched in a world-leading 23.98 to 24.18 for Wasick. It looked like Australia’s Meg Harris got third, but American Erika Brown closed hard to tie in 24.38 and earned her first individual medal of the meet.

It was Sjostrom’s 20th career Worlds medal in individual events (10-7-3) and a second gold – also in the 50 m Fly – and third medal of the meet. The 20 medals in individuals events ties Michael Phelps (USA) for the most in FINA Worlds history; Phelps is the all-time leader with 33 total medals, including 13 on relays.

Another new sensation, Canada’s 15-year-old Summer McIntosh was the clear favorite in the women’s 400 m Medley, already having won the 200 m Fly and silver in the 400 m Free. She took the lead from the start and forged a solid lead over 16-year-old American Katie Grimes by the end of the Butterfly leg and was briefly on world-record pace.

These two separated themselves from the field and McIntosh kept churning, up 1.33 seconds on Grimes after the Backstroke and 1.93 seconds up after the Breaststroke leg. But Grimes charged home on the Freestyle finale and moved to no. 5 all-time U.S. at 4:32.67, not far behind McIntosh’s World Junior Record of 4:32.04. Behind them, Hungarian legend Katinka Hosszu was third for a while, but was passed by American Emma Weyant, 4:36.00 to 4:37.89, for the bronze.

The meet’s final event was a stirring fight between the U.S. and Australia in the women’s 4×100 m Medley. Canada’s Kylie Masse, American Regan Smith and Aussie star Kaylee McKeown were within 0.38 at the turn, but then 200 m Breast winner King took over for the U.S. and forged a clear 0.47-second lead at halfway over Australian Jenna Strauch. The key leg was Torri Huske’s 56.67 Fly segment, giving anchor Claire Curzan a 0.99-second lead over 100 m Free winner Mollie O’Callaghan. The Australian closed hard in the final 20 m, but Curzan’s 52.82 brought the Americans home in 3:53.78, the no. 10 performance in American history. Australia finished in 3:54.25, with Canada in bronze position (3:55.01).

The medal table, once revised for Ress’s reinstated win, showed the U.S. with an overwhelming performance and the greatest total ever in a swimming Worlds: 45 total medals (17-12-16) in 42 events, surpassing its total of 38 from the 2017 Worlds, also held in Budapest. This was with sprint superstar Caeleb Dressel having left the meet midway due to a medical condition, and, yes, while Australia and Britain did not field their best teams, this was a stunning performance. Australia was second with 17 medals (6-9-2) and Canada had a quality meet with 11 (3-4-4).

Amazing, epic and historic.

3.
Olympic sprint icon Thompson-Herah
falls to third in Jamaican 100 m

In Rio in 2016 and then in Tokyo in 2021, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah won both the women’s 100 m and 200 m, and she flirted with the iconic 10.49 world 100 m record of Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) from 1988 last season, running 10.54.

But at the Jamaican nationals in Kingston on Friday evening, a lengthy delay threw off her concentration and she ended up only third in 10.89, behind Tokyo bronze medalist Shericka Jackson (10.77) and Kemba Nelson (10.88). Said Thompson-Herah, “Honestly, I almost walked away, I only stayed because I wanted to qualify for the World Championships. I felt very flat after waiting so long, fought my way through the line, and was happy that I came third.”

World leader Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.67) had the top time in the heats at 10.70 and as she already has a direct entry into the Worlds, did not compete further. The men’s title was impressively won by 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake in 9.85, his best mark since 2012! Oblique Seville, 21, was second at 9.88.

4.
Weightlifting federation elections
may have ended its Olympic history

The International Weightlifting Federation held chaotic elections at a special Congress in Tirana, Albania on Saturday, with the sport’s future in the Olympic Games very much in the balance.

The IWF has been marred by years of doping positives, governance issues and corruption, but rather than turning to someone with a fresh background, the federation’s new head is a man who has been in the middle of the IWF as an Executive Board member and Secretary General since 2017.

That would be Iraqi Mohammed Jalood, 60. He wasn’t even nominated by his national federation, instead standing as an individual.

In a confused proceeding, nine of the 11 Presidential candidates withdrew before the vote, leaving only Jalood and friend Mohamed Yousef Al-Mana (QAT), but Al-Mana insisted that Jalood had also withdrawn, which would leave him as the sole candidate. The election was stopped, discussions were held and Jalood was ruled to still be a candidate. Then Al-Mana resigned, leaving Jalood to be elected by acclimation!

Further, in the elections for General Secretary and the Executive Board, three members of the existing IWF Board – all with long histories at the federation during its period of excesses – won seats. American Ursula Papandrea, running as a reformer, was one of those who withdrew for President, but was elected First Vice President.

With the election of Jalood and the other Board holdovers, the next step will be up to the International Olympic Committee, which will not be amused by the continuity of a core governance group that has failed so badly. It’s hard to see how the sport makes it onto the Los Angeles 2028 program now.

5.
U.S. women’s footballers cruise past Colombia, 3-0, in friendly

Competing for the first time since April, the U.S. Women’s National Team was an easy winner over Colombia in Commerce City, Colorado, 3-0, with all three scores in the second half.

There was no score in the first half, although the Americans had a 12-0 edge in shots. But Sophia Smith scored in the 54th and 60th minutes, both times with assists from star midfielder Rose Lavelle. Taylor Kornieck scored in the 90th minute (in her first game for the U.S.), as the Americans ended with 72% of possession and a 22-1 total on shots. The two teams meet again on Tuesday in Sandy, Utah.

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PANORAMA: IOC knocks Int’l Boxing Assn. out of Paris ‘24 role; U.S.’s Ledecky wins 19th career FINA Worlds gold; Kerley sizzles 9.76!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley is now 2022 World Champion! (Photo: jenaragon94 via Wikipedia)

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● Plus: Paris 2024: Nothing is easy as three sports will be moved to new sites = Milan Cortina 2026: IOC announces increase of events from 109 to 116, as ski mountaineering added and Nordic combined barely survives = Russia: 21 national federations have filed exclusion appeals ●

Key status updates on the urgent stories in Olympic sport:

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

“At the end, the IOC Executive Board felt that enough was enough and in the interests of the athletes and of the boxing community, the Executive Board of the IOC today decided that the boxing qualifying events and the competitions at the Olympic Games Paris 2024will not be run under the authority of the IBA.”

International Olympic Committee Sports Director Kit McConnell (NZL) told reporters on Friday that the International Boxing Association will not be involved in the administration of the Paris 2024 boxing qualifications or competitions. This extends the removal of the IBA (formerly AIBA) from the organization of the Olympic boxing competitions, as the IOC did for the Tokyo 2020 Games, forming its own organization to run the events quite successfully. McConnell further explained:

“This decision is centered on the athletes themselves and the need I referenced to provide certainty on the Olympic competitions and the Olympic qualifications leading up to Paris 2024. And it follows the continuing and very concerning issues that continue to go on within the IBA. And we’ve referenced any number of times the governance, the refereeing and judging and the financial concerns which remain.

“The IOC administration will therefore finalize, on an exceptional basis, alternative models for the organization of these boxing competitions, working closely with the organizing committee of Paris 2024, and, of course, with athlete representatives.

“And the outcomes of these discussions and suggested recommendations for the models to be put in place will then be presented to the IOC Executive Board. And, finally, whether or not boxing will be included in the sports program for Los Angeles 2028 will be discussed at a later stage.”

McConnell did note that some of the referees and judges who have been certified by IBA will likely be used, as there is a “limited pool” of such officials, but that they would be engaged under strict supervision, as for the Tokyo Games.

Asked if there is a timeline for the IBA to resolve its myriad, McConnell shot back:

“I think we’ve been looking for clarity from AIBA – now the IBA – for several years, and the concerns still remain, in exactly the same areas: governance, refereeing and judging and finance. And I think this is far from the first time I’ve said that … and talking about exactly the same things.”

As for Los Angeles 2028, boxing is not currently on the program, and a future decision will consider the forthcoming actions of the IBA. That’s not a promising outlook.

The IBA’s Board of Directors also met on Friday and issued a statement that it “is deeply disappointed by the IOC’s decision and will now take some time to carefully consider its next steps.”

In view of the recent decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport upholding the appeal of Dutch Boxing Federation President Boris van der Vorst against his disqualification from May’s elections, the IBA Board agreed to hold another Extraordinary Congress, between 24 September-1 October to authorize and hold a new election for President.

Observed: The IOC’s frustration with the IBA is now long and worn and the real question for Los Angeles is not whether that federation can be trusted or reformed by the middle of 2023 – it can’t – when the decision is to be made about 2028. The consideration will inevitably turn to whether boxing – as a sport – should be part of the Olympic Games, especially whether it is compatible with the IOC’s mission for sport as part of a peaceful society.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XXXIII Olympiad: Paris 2024 ● Demonstrating that the organization of an Olympic Games is neither straightforward or predictable, the Paris 2024 organizers announced that new sites will be designated for shooting, boxing preliminaries and part of the modern pentathlon.

The shooting events had been at the Terrain des Essences in La Courneuve, but will be moved, and the preliminary boxing bouts and the fencing portion of the Modern Pentathlon will be moved from the Suzanne-Lenglen court at the Roland-Garros Stadium to another site – not yet determined – in the same Seine-St.-Denis area.

The search is still on for a suitable site for preliminary basketball matches after an outcry over the use of a technically adequate, but “unsuitable” temporary arena inside the massive Arena Paris Sud Hall 6.

All this with two years to go. Not at all unprecedented, but an illustration of how difficult it is to organize such a massive event.

● XXV Olympic Winter Games: Milan Cortina 2026 ● The IOC announced the program for the 2026 Winter Games, expanding the event once more by adding eight events and removing one while maintaining the athlete limit at 2,900. The total number of events will rise from 109 at Beijing 2022 to 116:

● Alpine Skiing: removal of Mixed Team Parallel

● Freestyle Skiing: Men’s and women’s Dual Moguls added
● Luge: Women’s Doubles added
● Skeleton: Mixed Team event added
● Ski Jumping: Women’s Large Hill added
● Ski Mountaineering: a new sport with three events, men’s and women’s sprint and a mixed team relay.

Also, the Alpine Combined is still to be confirmed and could be dropped; the IOC has been trying to get this of this for years. A new format may be considered, with a decision due in April 2023.

Nordic Combined, held only for men and widely expected to be expanded with a women’s division, was instead almost eliminated, essentially due to the fact that it is barely recognized outside of Europe and Japan; the IOC put it this way:

“This is demonstrated by the fact that, at the last three editions, the 27 medals available in Nordic Combined were won by athletes from only four NOCs. In addition, Nordic Combined had by far the lowest audience numbers during those Games.”

Oh yes, the television audience! The future:

“The decisive argument for keeping Nordic Combined on the Olympic programme for Milano Cortina 2026 was the situation of the male athletes, for whom the Olympic Games are only three-and-a-half years away and who have already been preparing for these Games for many years. This is not applicable for the women’s category as they have had only one World Championship to date, with the participation of athletes from only 10 National Federations. The inclusion of Nordic Combined in the Olympic Winter Games 2030 depends on a significant positive development, particularly with regard to participation and audience.”

The IOC said that applications were made for 23 new events and 359 more athletes at the Games, but that the Beijing athlete total of 2,892 will be increased only to 2,900.

● Russia ● The Russian Ministry of Sport announced that 21 national federations have filed appeals against exclusion from international competitions, with 12 filings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Deputy Sports Minister Andrey Fyodorov said “There have been no CAS verdicts yet. All appeals have been accepted. Preparatory procedures are underway. According to our information, decisions on the appeals filed will be made in the second half of the year. We expect that some developments will begin there in August-September.”

Most Russian and Belarusian athletes have been barred from international competition, with a few International Federations allowing them to play as neutrals, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine since February.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Athletics ● Three world-leading performances headlined Friday night’s USATF National Championships from a lightly-attended Hayward Field in Eugene, with seven finals concluded.

The first mind-blower came in the men’s 100 m semis, where Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley stormed to a lifetime best, the world lead and moved to equal-sixth all-time at 9.76 (wind: +1.4 m/s). Second semi winner Trayvon Bromell wasn’t far behind in winning semi two at 9.81 (+1.5), with Marvin Bracy (9.86) and reigning World Champion Christian Coleman (9.87) in close attendance.

Coleman, who already has a direct entry into the Worlds in July, skipped the final, but Kerley was superb again, taking the lead at midway and winning in 9.77, with Bracy at 9.85 and Bromell third at 9.88. Wow!

While this was going on, two-time World Indoor Champion Sandi Morris was busy at the women’s vault, winning an eighth national title (indoors and out) at 4.70 m (15-5) and then raising her won world-leading mark to 4.82 m (15-9 3/4). Alina McDonald was second at 4.65 m (15-3, lifetime best), beating Olympic champ Katie Nageotte on misses.

Only a little later came one of the greatest exhibitions of shot putting in history. Olympic champ and world-record holder Ryan Crouser came in as the world leader at 23.02 m (75-6 1/4) from the Pre Classic in May, then went insane from his favorite ring. He opened at 22.42 m (73-6 3/4) and a foul and then went into orbit:

● 23.12 m (75-10 3/4), the equal-4th throw in history;
● 23.01 m (75-6), the equal-9th performance ever;
● 23.11 m (75-10), the no. 6 performance ever;
● 22.98 m (75-4 3/4), no. 12 ever.

Crouser now owns 12 of the top 15 throws in history and eight of 11 throws ever made at 23.00 m or beyond. Astonishing, brilliant and dominant. Two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs was overshadowed, of course, but was a solid second with a seasonal best of 22.87 m (75-0 1/2), with Josh Awotunde third (21.51 m/70-7).

That was the cream, but there was much more. The women’s 100 m was a shocker, with Coastal Carolina’s Melissa Jefferson – eighth at the NCAAs – winning in 10.69w (+2.9), ahead of Tokyo Olympian Aleia Hobbs (10.72w), Twanisha Terry (10.74w) and Tamari Davis (10.78w). Hobbs won her semi in a wind-legal lifetime best of 10.81, just ahead of Jefferson (10.82 lifetime best) and Tamara Clark (10.88). Terry won the second semi with a personal best of 10.87 (+1.8).

Those who worry about collegians and their workload will be startled to know that Jefferson’s national title came in her 12th 100 m of the season and her 35th individual sprint race from 60 m to 200 m.

On the infield, Olympic champ Valarie Allman had no trouble winning the women’s discus at 66.92 m (219-7) on her third throw, ahead of a 64.49 m (211-7) personal best by Laulauga Tausaga-Collins. Veteran Vashti Cunningham won her 10th U.S. high jump title at 1.93 m (6-4).

The men’s long jump was another head-scratcher, with 2019 NCAA Indoor winner Rayvon Grey of LSU authoring a lifetime best of 8.19 m (26-10 1/2) in the third round to edge Steffin McCarter (8.15 m/26-9). No one saw that coming; two-event Tokyo Olympian JuVaughn Harrison managed only 7.86 mw (25-9 1/2w) and was 11th.

In the qualifying, Olympic stars Rai Benjamin (48.41) and Sydney McLaughlin (52.90) led the 400 m hurdles heats. Alaysha Johnson (12.41) and Olympic silver winner Keni Harrison (12.47) had the top marks in the heats of the women’s 100 m hurdles.

The men’s 400 m semis were hot, with Michael Norman and Randolph Ross 1-2 in semi one in 44.28 and 44.36, followed by Elija Godwin in heat two (44.66). Texas A&M’s Brandon Miller and Olympian Bryce Hoppel were fastest in the men’s 800 m semis at 1:46.20 and 1:46.32.

The women’s 400 m had drama as Allyson Felix came from way back to finish fourth in the first semi, won by Talitha Diggs in 50.88. But with Kendall Ellis winning a slower second semi (51.06), Felix squeezed into the final as the no. 7 qualifier. Olympic champ Athing Mu looked completely in control in the women’s 800 m semis in 1:57.55, with Ajee Wilson (2:00.81) the winner of the other semi.

The meet continues through Sunday.

● Swimming ● The penultimate day of the swimming portion of the 2022 FINA World Championships was another demonstration of the greatness of American Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky.

There was no doubt that she was going to win a fifth straight Worlds 800 m title and she took off from the start, winning her 19th career Worlds gold, second only to Michael Phelps (26) all-time. Her final time of 8:08.04 is the world leader for 2022 and the no. 5 performance in history, and her fastest since 2018. She now owns the top 27 times in this event.

Behind her was Australian Kiah Melverton, second most of the way, but fell behind Italy’s Simona Quadarella in the late going, but charged in the final; 50 m to get silver in 8:18.77, a lifetime best. Quadarella was third in 8:19.00 and American Leah Smith was fourth (8:20.04).

This was Ledecky’s fourth gold of the week, taking the 400-800-1,500 m Freestyles and on the women’s 4×200 m Free relay. She now owns 22 career Worlds medals (19-0-3), the most ever among women and no. 3 all-time behind Phelps (33: 26-6-1) and Ryan Lochte (27:18-5-4). In Ledecky’s Worlds career, she won four golds in 2013, five in 2015, five in 2017, one in 2019 when she was ill and now four more in 2022. Amazing.

In the women’s 200 m Backstroke, Olympic champ Kaylee McKeown (AUS) was the favorite, but was going to get an argument from Americans Phoebe Bacon and Rhyan White, nos. 2-3 on the world list this season. Bacon was out well and had a clear lead at 100 m and 150 m, but with McKeown charging. The Australian’s last two laps were 31.87 and 31.70 to 32.18 and 32.07 for Bacon and that meant a 2:05.08-2:05.12 victory for McKeown. Whyte was a clear third most of the way, finishing at 2:06.96, to take the bronze.

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom – the world-record holder – was the clear favorite in the 50 m Fly final, but was in a fight midway through the race, especially with France’s Melanie Henrique to her right. Sjostrom got control of the event only in the final three strokes and touched first in a world-leading 24.95 for her fourth Worlds gold in this event (2015-17-19-22). Henrique got the silver (25.31), ahead of Chinese star Yufei Zhang (25.32). Americans Claire Curzan and Torri Huske were fifth and sixth (25.43, 25.45).

Sjostrom, now 28, won her 19th career Worlds medal, including nine golds and has medals in six Worlds, beginning way back in 2009.

In the men’s 50 m Free final, Britain’s Ben Proud won this event at the FINA Short-Course Worlds last December and was the favorite coming in. And he looked like it, getting the best start and forging a lead immediately, clearly taking charge by 30 m. But American Michael Andrew – racing in lane two – surged and was closing as they got to the wall in 21.32 for Proud and 21.41, a lifetime best for Andrew and his third individual medal of the meet. It’s Proud’s second career Worlds gold after winning the 2017 50 m Fly, also in Budapest. France’s Maxime Grousset was third in 21.57.

It’s worth noting that although he didn’t make the final, Brazil’s three-time Worlds medal winner Bruno Fratus has now compiled a stunning career total of 100 sub-22 second races in this event. He missed the final by 0.03 in a swim-off after the semis, where he tied for eighth.

Hungary’s Kristof Milak, already the winner of the 200 m Fly, was the obvious favorite in the men’s 100 m Fly final and he delivered in style. He grabbed the lead in the middle of the first lap and extended it continuously, winning by 50.14 to 50.94 over Japan’s Naoki Mizunuma, who won his first Worlds medal. Canada’s Joshua Liendo won his second bronze of the meet, in 50.97, just ahead of Andrew (51.11), coming back 35 minutes after the 50 m Free final.

The mixed 4×100 m Freestyle looked good for Australia, which not only had women’s 100 m Free winner Mollie O’Callaghan on anchor, but Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 relay gold medalist Madison Wilson and Rio 2016 men’s 100 m champ Kyle Chalmers added to the line-up. The U.S. got out best with Ryan Held swimming 47.93 on the first leg, but Chalmers buzzed the field with a 46.98 leg and the Aussies did not look back. Wilson’s 52.25 extended the lead over Huske (52.60) and then O’Callaghan charged to the touch in 52.03 for a world-record time of 3:19.38. That’s 0.02 faster than the U.S. at the 2019 Worlds.

Curzan held down second for most of the final leg, but was passed in the last half-lap by Canada’s 2016 co-gold medalist Penny Oleksiak, 52.11-52.94 for the silver, 3:20.61-3:21.09.

With one day left, the U.S. now has 37 medals (15-8-14), one short of its all-time best of 38 from 2017 (also held in Budapest). Australia has picked up considerably in the back half of the meet and is now a solid second at 15 total medals (6-8-1), with Canada (9: 2-4-3) third.

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THE TICKER: Salt Lake City 2030 bid solid, but what do the others offer? U.S.’s Alvarez saved from drowning at FINA Worlds

By
Rich Perelman
-

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● Plus: LA28: Olympic coin bill begins journey through Congress = Athletics: Vault champ Suhr retires = New rules allow road-race marks to count for track qualifying = Weightlifting: Three Russians allowed to run for IWF office this weekend = SCOREBOARD => Athletics: Richardson blows up, Kerley 9.83 world leader at USATFs = Swimming: U.S. stars Murphy and King score historic golds as Americans win three more at FINA Worlds ●

The latest news, notes and quotes from the worldwide Five-Ring Circus:

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

“They [the IOC] know that we have an absolutely terrific bid, and we are ready to have Salt Lake host the Winter Games as soon as 2030.”

That was U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee chair Susanne Lyons, speaking to reporters on Thursday about the status of the Salt Lake City effort to land the 2030 Olympic Winter Games.

A USOPC delegation had met with the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne last week and got a pretty clear picture of what they stood.

“I think the IOC was fairly candid with us about some of the challenges that are presented to them by the U.S. having back-to-back Games. Optically, they really do not have a precedent for giving the same country back-to-back Games.

“There’s some ill feeling, to some extent, about some of the geopolitical climate that surrounded the Beijing Games. You may recall that some of our sponsors were asked to testify in D.C., et cetera, and I think there’s still some unhappiness at the IOC – not directed at the USOPC, of course, or the Salt Lake bid commission – but towards the U.S. government in terms of what they perceive to be a lack of support for the IOC.

“And then I think it’s very realistic to say that given the inflationary situation that’s happening, the tough commercial markets we face, and certainly it’s more complicated for us to host a 2030 Games and try to raise monies that are needed for both L.A. and for Salt Lake, and of course, L.A. has a responsibility to ensure that they are successful, we all want that to happen.

“So, those are kind of the barriers to 2030, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the running for 2030. And by the way, I will say if we’re not 2030, I would say we got very, very favorable signs that we are certainly a leading candidate for 2034.”

So it looks like 2030 or 2034, but the decision may not rest on anything more that the U.S. can do:

“What could potentially still makes us a 2030 candidate, really, is dependent on the other bids. And that’s what I think the IOC now is waiting for; our bid is a bit ahead of the bids of Sapporo and Vancouver. They’re waiting to see what other countries can offer for 2030. So, I don’t think they will make any decision about whether they invite us or someone else to 2030 until they have those comparative bids to look at, and at the end of the year, that’s when they will make some determination as to whether they have another city that they prefer to host for 2030.

“But in any case, I will say that while we may still be 2030, we certainly got very favorable signs that indicated that the Games should come back to the U.S. and Salt Lake, very, very soon.”

Lyons explained further:

“Here’s what I left the IOC with: we want to be here when you need us. So, if they come to us and say, we need you for 2030 – this is largely a commercial issue, an issue that is solvable – so I think it is really going to be up to the IOC to decide if they want us or not. If they need us, and they may, this is a problem that can be solved. So, I don’t see huge barriers. It is more complicated for us to do back-to-back Games; it does make complications for L.A. and it is perhaps a little bit more difficult now than it might have been with easier [economic] tailwinds behind us a year or so ago, but certainly we are not out of the running yet.

“As a former marketer, I could argue this both ways. I could say that the package deal of the two Games back-to-back could be very appealing to a sponsor. On the other hand, having a little bit more runway and time to develop those commercial relationships absolutely is beneficial.

“If I had to really say which of those two is probably the most likely, it probably does help us to have some air between those Games, and it helps us have a longer period of time and commitment that we can negotiate with domestic sponsors. But again, if we are needed, if we are called upon, we will find a way to make that work.”

So, it’s now the difficult wait-and-see time for the USOPC and Salt Lake City.

Lyons touched on other issues, noting that chief exec Sarah Hirshland had come with with Covid on the return from Lausanne. The USOPC Board, which met in-person this week, spent a lot of time about future plans, now that the Tokyo and Beijing Games have been completed.

The priorities will be (1) elevating athlete performance and athlete support and welfare, especially as other countries continue to expand their programs, (2) expanding resources, and (3) growing fan support. Lyons explained:

“In order to accomplish that goal of elevated performance, we really need to work with our NGBs – large and small – to face this issue of meeting today’s challenges with the available resources. We have to be flexible and disciplined and we really can’t make do with what we have today. We have to learn to grow the pie, both commercially, philanthropically and through helping the NGBs themselves on ways to financially enhance the monies that they have to support themselves. …

“We need to have Americans engaged with the Olympic & Paralympic Movement. They need to want to hear about our athlete’s stories … We’ve been through kind of a tough patch with these Games – time zones were difficult in Asia, et cetera – we need to re-engage our audience that wasn’t able to connect with the athletes and the team, in Beijing or in Tokyo, and also the lack of fans certainly impacted us as well.”

The USOPC wants to expand the number of sports in which it wins medals, and to have more individual athletes win medals, improve the standards for excellence for sport administration, and it needs more public interest:

“It means increasing share of mind and ‘share of heart’ … bringing in new fans, engaging existing fans in new ways, and we also need to elevate our fund-raising success to new, never-before-achieved levels, and we have been growing our philanthropic success really, pretty astronomically, in recent years and we think there’s an opportunity not just on the major-donor side, but to engage broad bases of Americans, to really support in whatever way they are able – not just financially, but supporting financially even in small ways that engages people – with our movement.”

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Games of the XXXIV Olympiad: Los Angeles 2028 ● A slow journey has begun for the minting of Olympic coins commemorating the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

California senators Alex Padilla (D) and Dianne Feinstein (D), along with Utah Senator Mitt Romney (R), introduced S. 4392 last week, which would provide 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, according to 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 only 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.

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

● Artistic Swimming ● Two-time U.S. Olympian Anita Alvarez was saved from drowning at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest (HUN) by her coach, after fainting at the end of her Solo Technical routine.

Embed from Getty Images

Alvarez completed the routine, but sank to the bottom of the pool and American team coach Andrea Fuentes (ESP) – a four-time Olympic medal winner – dove in to retrieve here and bring her to the surface. Alvarez was attended to immediately and removed on a stretcher.

Sky Sports reported that “It was the second time Fuentes has had to rescue Alvarez after she leapt into the pool during an Olympic qualification event last year and pulled her to safety along with the American’s swim partner Lindi Schroeder.”

Fuentes told the Spanish newspaper Marca, “I jumped into the water again because I saw that no one, no lifeguard, was jumping in. I got a little scared because she wasn’t breathing, but now she’s fine. She has to rest.” Alvarez, 25, finished in seventh place (87.6333) and could compete again on Friday in the Women’s Team Free Final, but will obviously be carefully evaluated.

● Athletics ● Jenn Suhr, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the women’s vault, announced her retirement on Thursday.

Now 40, Suhr was hampered in recent years by injury, but was one of the greatest female vaulters in history. Beyond her London triumph, she won the 2008 Beijing Olympic silver, the 2013 Worlds silver, the 2016 World Indoor Championship, the 2008 World Indoors silver and 17 national titles.

Suhr set the still-standing world indoor record of 5.03 m (16-6) in 2016 and had an outdoor best of 4.93 m (16-2) from 2018.

The continuing lack of enthusiasm for longer distances on the track has resulted in a remarkable change in rules by the World Athletics Council.

For both the Budapest 2023 Worlds and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, qualifying times for the 5,000 m and 10,000 m on the track can be met by marks made in road-race events over the 5 km and 10 km distances.

The 10,000 m qualification program for Budapest next year will also provide automatic qualification for the top eight men and top eight women in the World Athletics Cross Country World Rankings. This is an evolution from the 2019 Worlds in Doha, where the top 15 finishers in the 2019 Cross Country Worlds were qualified.

All of this points to a movement of the 10,000 m – especially – from the track to the roads, possibly as part of public-participation road events. The idea is to make the events more accessible, but will it eventually mean the removal of these events from the track entirely?

● Weightlifting ● With the sport’s Olympic future hanging in the balance this weekend with elections at the International Weightlifting Federation, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Russian candidates Maxim Agapitov (President, Vice President and Executive Board), Dmitry Chernogorov (Coaching and Research Committee) and Aleksandr Kishkin (Technical Committee) are eligible to run for office.

The IWF’s Eligibility Determinations Panel had disqualified the three Russians, but the Court noted that the panel had no such power, but only the ability to certify eligibility per the IWF Constitution. So, they will be on the ballot this weekend.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Athletics ● The USATF National Championships in Eugene got underway on Thursday, with three field-event finals in the women’s hammer, women’s long jump and men’s discus, plus shocks in the men’s and women’s 100 m!

The U.S. women’s hammer throwers stand 1-3-7 on the world list for 2022, and world leader Brooke Andersen won her first national title with her fourth-round throw of 77.96 (255-9), followed by no. 3 Janee Kassanavoid at 76.04 m (249-6). Defending World Champion DeAnna Price finished fourth with a seasonal best of 73.07 m (239-8), while Annette Echikunwoke was third (73.76 m/242-0).

Tokyo Olympian Quanesha Burks got off a big first jump at 7.06 mw (23-2w) and no one could catch here in the women’s long jump. Jasmine Moore, no. 8 on the 2022 world list, also rode the winds to 6.80 mw (22-3 3/4w) and got second.

Rio Olympian Andrew Evans won the men’s discus at a modest 63.31 m (207-8), followed by Dailin Shurts (BYU: 62.32 m/204-5) and Tokyo Olympian Sam Mattis (62.25 m/204-5).

In the qualifying, the shocker came in the women’s 100 m. Tokyo relay silver medalist Aleia Hobbs won the first heat in a quick 10.88, followed by Twanisha Terry (10.92) in heat two. Tamari Davis won heat three in 11.04, but star sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson languished at the start and could not catch up, finishing a non-qualifying fifth in 11.31. Melissa Jefferson won the fourth heat in 11.04 (all wind-legal).

The men’s 100 m heats started with a win by Trayvon Bromell (10.10), but then Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley exploded to a world-leading 9.83 in heat two (wind +1.5 m/s), a lifetime best and moving him to equal-14th all-time and equal-6th all-time U.S.

Defending World Champion Christian Coleman was next, winning in 10.08, and Brandon Carnes and Olympic 200 m medal winner Kenny Bednarek were 1-2 in heat four, both in 10.10.

Many other big stars on the track advanced, including women’s Olympic 800 m champ Athing Mu and World Indoor Champion Ajee Wilson and Olympic women’s 400 m champ Sydney McLaughlin.

Donavan Brazier, the 2019 World Champion, was the leading qualifier in the men’s 800 m in 1:46.49, followed by prep sensation Cade Flatt (1:46.48). But Cole Hocker, sixth in the Tokyo Games, failed to qualify in his men’s 1,500 m heat, finishing sixth in heat one (3:39.57).

In the session-ending 400 m heats, the amazing Allyson Felix won the first race in 52.30, with Jaide Stepter the leading qualifier at 51.05 from heat two and Rosaline Effiong taking heat three (51.17). Michael Norman was the leading qualifier in the men’s heats at a speedy 44.72; Bryce Deadmon was next-fastest at 45.31.

Attendance was announced at 2,751. The meet continues tomorrow, and will be televised on CNBC from 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Eastern time.

● Swimming ● The FINA World Championships continued in Budapest, with two familiar American stars earning golds in events they had never won before.

American Ryan Murphy was the focus of the men’s 200 m Backstroke final. The Rio 100-200 m Backstroke gold medalist, he was second here in the 100 m Back and lost his world record, and had never won an individual World Championships gold. He ended that drought in style.

Murphy was the favorite, and moved from third to first on the second lap, leading by 0.66 at the half and then just sprinted away from the field, up by 0.96 at the final turn and winning, 1:54.52 – fastest in the world this year – to 1:55.16 for Luke Greenbank (GBR). American Shaine Casas was steady in third most of the way and won the bronze – his first Worlds medal – in 1:55.35.

American superstar Lilly King won the 50-100 m Breaststrokes at the 2017 and 2019 Worlds, but had never won a Worlds medal at 200 m. She got out well in the final, swimming with teammate Kate Douglass (Tokyo 200 m Medley bronze), Britain’s Molly Renshaw and Australia’s Jenna Strauch. It was Renshaw who had the edge at the halfway mark, with Douglass closest and then Douglass had 0.13 on Renshaw at 150 m. But on the final lap, King surged in the middle of the pool and stormed from fifth to first with 20 m to go and she touched first in 2:22.41 for her fifth Worlds Breaststroke medal, and a huge return from her fourth-place finish in the 100 m Breast, still suffering from illness. She joins Russian Yuliya Efimova as the only ones to win all three women’s Worlds Breast events during their careers.

Douglass faded slightly on the way home, but Strauch was strong and got second, 2:23.04-2:23.20.

In the women’s 100 m Free final, Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan, 18, was the qualifying leader and favorite, but Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom led at the turn. But then American Torri Huske (19) took over and had a solid edge halfway home … until O’Callaghan closed like a rocket, taking the lead only at the touch in 52.67, to 52.80 for Sjostrom and 52.92 for Huske, the winner of the 100 m Fly. Fellow American Claire Curzan was eighth in 53.81.

Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook came in not only as the Olympic champ, but the world-record holder in the men’s 200 m Breast final. But while he was eighth at the 100 m mark, he zoomed up to third at the final turn and sailed away to win in 2:07.07, easily ahead of Yu Hanaguruma (JPN) and Erik Persson (SWE: both 2:08.38). American Nic Fink, the 50 m Breast winner and 100 m bronze medalist, was fifth in 2:09.05.

The U.S. men mauled the field in the 4×200 m Freestyle relay, with Carson Foster taking the lead on the second leg (1:45.04) and forging a body-length lead on Australia. Trenton Julian expanded the advantage to 1.89 seconds (1:45.31) and Kiernan Smith finished with a brilliant 1:44.35 leg – fastest of the race – to finish with a win by 3.26 seconds in 7:00.24. That’s the no. 6 performance of all-time and the first American Worlds golds in this event since 2013. Australia was second at 7:03.50 and the British third at 7:04.00.

With 29 of 42 events completed, the U.S. has 32 medals (14-6-12), in sight of its team record of 38 from the 2017 Worlds, with two days remaining. Australia now has 12 medals (4-7-1), followed by Canada (7: 2-3-2).

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LANE ONE: Now it’s Milan Cortina 2026 which shows worries over the financing of its Olympic Games

By
Rich Perelman
-

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Please donate here if you would like to assist; thank you. ★)

“There is no money for the Olympics. Dear Prime Minister, there are four years left and we are worried.”

The headlines come from a letter sent to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and published by the Rome newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano this week.

In it, representatives of the governments of Lombardy and Veneto regions, the cities of Milan and Cortina and of the provinces of Trento and Bolzano complain of the lack of progress in the organization of the Games, especially in the sponsorship sales area.

The Milan Cortina 2026 Foundation – the organizing committee – is headed by former telecommunications executive Vincenzo Novari, and recently reported a loss for the second consecutive year, this time of of €21 million (~$22.2 million U.S.: €1 = $1.06 U.S.). Even more concerning, the letter notes, is that little has been done.

A total of €550 million in domestic sponsorship sales has been forecast, against the total budget of €1.58 billion, or about 35% of the total. But the reporting in Italy is that no sponsorship agreements have been signed, and that Novari mentioned in a recent interview that discussions are ongoing for sponsorships that would total about €280 million.

The International Olympic Committee is contributing $652 million in cash to the organization of the Games (about 39%) and there will be significant ticket revenues. But the domestic sponsorship piece is crucial to the financial health of the Milan Cortina project.

Earlier this month, Tony Estanguet (FRA), the head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, told the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations:

“Without going into too many details, the Covid crisis and the terrible conflict in Ukraine have caused major breakdowns in production, and supply chains. They have also generated an inflationary environment that was impossible to anticipate a few months ago.

“As a result, even though we have already secured most of our revenues, this challenging context puts the Paris 2024 overall budget at risk, since most of our expenses have not been incurred yet. This is why we have two main objectives for the months to come. The first one is to continue – thanks to your support – to push optimization and savings even further, behind the scenes, avoiding any risk for the Games delivery.

“And the second objective is to maintain the level of ambition, to best showcase your sport’s athlete performance and send to the world the best possible image of the Olympic Movement.”

The Paris 2024 budget is currently set at €3.98 billion (~$4.28 billion U.S.), with a sponsorship target of €1.1 billion, which is on track to be met. The French supermarket giant CarreFour was announced as a new, top-tier sponsor of Paris 2024 this week.

Nothing is easy. In the Milan Cortina situation, the management of the organizing committee is now a central focus and Novari had been rumored to be excused in May, but that did not happen. But the regional governments which came together to win the Winter Games do not want to make a request for public funds for the 2026 effort, and certainly do not want to fund the Games themselves any further.

Covid. Ukraine. Perhaps a global recession? Even after the ordeals of Tokyo and Beijing, still no time to relax for the International Olympic Committee and its organizing committees.

Rich Perelman
Editor

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Athletics ● One of the cruelest reasons to miss a chance for a world championship is getting injured while beating up on a thief trying to break into your car.

That’s what happened to Poland’s three-time Olympic hammer gold medalist Anita Wlodarczyk, who stopped the attacker, but severed a left thigh muscle and had to have surgery last week (13th). CBS reported:

“The 36-year-old Olympian said she was able to take care of the thief all by herself and then handed them over to the police when the arrived on the scene.”

While her season is over – she stands no. 2 on the world list at 78.06 m (256-1) – she posted on Instagram that she had knee surgery ahead of the Tokyo Games and recovered to win, and expects to do so again.

The USATF national championships are on this weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, with the meet to select most of the team for the 2022 Worlds to be held in Eugene in July. It should be great: the U.S. currently has 11 world-leaders – four men and seven women – in the events to be contested this week.

In addition, the U.S. has 14 athletes with a direct-entry into the World Championships based on their performances at the prior Worlds in Qatar in 2019 (if you can remember back that far!).

The meet will be broadcast:

● 24 June: 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Eastern on CNBC
● 25 June: 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Eastern on NBC
● 26 June: 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Eastern on NBC; 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Eastern on USA

The U.S. national junior championships will also be going on concurrently.

● Beach Volleyball ● Great excitement from Volleyball World, the global promotional partnership of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and CVC Capital Partners, announcing that the just-concluded 2022 World Beach Volleyball Championships in Rome (ITA) had drawn 16 million fans to the event’s digital platforms.

There were 17 rights-holding broadcasters televising the event, including ESPN, who saw Norway’s Olympic champs Anders Mol and Christian Sorum win their first men’s title by 21-15, 21-16 over Renato Calvalho and Vitor Felipe (BRA), with Brazil’s Andre Stein and George Wanderley taking the bronze over Chaim Schalk and Ted Brunner of the U.S. (15-21, 21-17, 15-11).

Brazil’s Duda Lisboa and Ana Patricia won their first women’s title, defeating Sophie Bukovec and Brandie Wilkerson (CAN), 21-17, 21-19. Germany’s Svenja Muller and Cinja Tillmann won the bronze.

The tournament was held from 10-19 June at the Foro Italico in Rome, and the tournament-long audiences were described as record-breaking. For comparison, a check of the U.S. television ratings from last week showed that the individual NBA Finals games nos. five and six between Golden State and Boston drew 13.0 and 14.0 million viewers, respectively. On Sunday (19th), the top-rated show was the final day of the U.S. Open golf tournament, at 5.3 million viewers on TV alone.

Mexico was announced as host of the 2023 Beach Volleyball World Championships, to be held sometime in the second half of the year, with the site(s) to be announced later.

● Cycling ● The Union Cycliste Internationale announced a significant change in its transgender eligibility rules, stiffening the rules from its March 2020 standards:

“The latest scientific publications clearly demonstrate that the return of markers of endurance capacity to [the normal] ‘female level’ occurs within six to eight months under low blood testosterone, while the awaited adaptations in muscle mass and muscle strength/power take much longer (two years minimum according to a recent study).

“Given the important role played by muscle strength and power in cycling performance, the UCI has decided to increase the transition period on low testosterone [for gender change to women] from 12 to 24 months. In addition, the UCI has decided to lower the maximum permitted plasma testosterone level (currently 5 nmol/L) to 2.5 nmol/L. This value corresponds to the maximum testosterone level found in 99.99% of the female population.”

This puts the UCI in line with the 2.5 nmol/L level endorsed by the International Aquatics Federation (FINA). Look for more announcements of this level of testosterone by other federations that could include World Athletics, the International Tennis Association and World Rowing.

● Football ● The U.S. Men’s National Team has arranged for its final two FIFA World Cup warm-up matches in September, both to be held in Europe and both against other World Cup teams.

The first match will be against Japan on 23 September, at a location still to be announced. The second will be in Murcia (ESP) against Saudi Arabia on 27 September. The U.S. met Japan as recently as 2006 and Saudi Arabia way back in 1999.

The U.S. will open World Cup play vs. Wales on 21 November in Qatar, in Group B.

In its warm-up matches so far, the U.S. defeated Morocco, 3-0, on 1 June and played Uruguay to a 0-0 draw on 5 June. In the CONCACAF Nations Cup, the American men stomped Grenada, 5-0, in Kansas City on 10 June and then played to a 1-1 draw at El Salvador on 14 June. Alexander Larin scored for the home team in the 35th minute, and then both teams suffered red cards in the 70th and 79th minutes. Jordan Morris got the equalizer for the U.S. on a header at 90+1 of stoppage time on a night where the Americans had 64% of the possession and a 10-5 edge on shots.

● Skating ● If you’re interested in skating, watch for new action from a federation on the cusp of possibly serious change.

Korean Jae Youl Kim, 53, was elected as the 12th President of the International Skating Union on 10 June, promising in his 26-page election brochure his focus on expand skating popularity, revenues and growth. The President of the Samsung Global Strategy Group, he served as the Executive Vice President of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games organizing committee.

He won on the first ballot, with 77 votes, to 24 for American Patricia St. Peter, 13 for Susanna Rahkamo (FIN) and five for Serbian Slobodan Delic. Kim is the first ISU President from outside Europe and the fourth straight to come from the speed skating side of the federation.

Kim’s concept is clear: “My vision for the ISU is centered on what I call the ‘ISU Cycle of Growth.’ Revitalizing skating’s popularity drives revenue opportunity, which enables development investment, which increases the quality of skating worldwide, and eventually produces more revenue and opportunity for the members of the ISU.”

Look for a renewed emphasis on marketing. The ISU Council approved new regulations which expand the number of advertising “markings” on the uniforms of both figure skaters and speed skaters (including helmets) for the future; this could create a much different look in competitions.

And while the ISU is a financially-well-off federation – with reserves of CHF 275.1 million – its new budget plan for 2022-24 needs help. The annual revenue from television rights sales to ISU events was CHF 15.1 million in 2021 and is expected to grow only modestly to CHF 17.6-19.4-18.2 million for 2022-24.

In addition, the share of IOC television rights from the Beijing 2022 Games is expected to be less than for PyeongChang in 2018 and more on the order of Sochi 2014 – about CHF 36 million in total – vs. CHF 44.2 million for 2018.

Expenses for championship events and prize money are scheduled to increase and the budget projects losses for each year from 2022-24 of CHF 4.95-1.90-3.78 million or a three-year total of CHF 10.6 million.

Two-time U.S. Pairs champions Ashley Cain-Gribble (26) and Timothy LeDuc (32) confirmed in a video last week that “For now, we’re saying goodbye to the competitive side of skating.”

They won national titles in 2019 and 2022, finished eighth at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games and competed in three World Championships, finishing ninth in 2019 and 2021. They were standing second at the 2022 Worlds after the Short Program, but Cain-Gribble fell three times during the Free Skate and had to stop and withdraw from their program.

≡ SCOREBOARD ≡

● Swimming ● The 2022 World Aquatics Championships are sailing on in Budapest, with five finals on Wednesday and Canada the big winner.

Summer McIntosh, 15, won her first world title with a stirring back-half performance in the women’s 200 m Butterfly, taking the lead on the third lap and finishing in a World Junior Record of 2:05.20. That was enough to hold off a charging Hali Flickinger of the U.S. (2:06.08) and China’s Olympic champ, Yufei Zhang (2:06.32). American Regan Smith was fourth (2:06.79).

Fellow Canadian Kylie Masse, the 100-200 m Back silver medalist from Tokyo, got a gold in the women’s 50 m Back, out-touching five others within 0.16! Masse’s 27.31 was just ahead of American Katharine Berkoff (27.39), with Smith finishing in a tie for fifth (27.47), just 27 minutes after her 200 Fly swim.

The men’s 100 m Free was a triumph for Romanian teen David Popovici, who won in 47.58, ahead of Maxime Grousset (FRA: 47.64) and Canada’s Joshua Liendo (47.71). American Brooks Curry was fifth (48.00).

American superstar Caeleb Dressel, who had earlier won the 50 m Fly and had swum the second-fastest 100 Free prelim time (47.95), withdrew from the meet on Wednesday in view of an undisclosed medical situation.

France’s Leon Marchand continued his sensational season with a 1:55.22 win in the 200 m Medley, taking control on the third leg and then racing home ahead of American Carson Foster (1:55.71; his second medley silver) and 2019 world champ Daiya Seto (JPN: 1:56.22). Chase Kalisz of the U.S., the 2017 World Champion, ended up fourth (1:56.43).

The U.S. had no trouble romping to a gold-medal win in the women’s 4×200 m Freestyle relay in 7:41.45 to 7:43.86 for Australia and 7:44.76 for Canada. Katie Ledecky blew the race apart with the fastest split of the day at 1:53.67 on the third leg and Bella Sims followed at 1:54.60 on anchor.

With three days to go, the U.S. now leads the swimming field with 26 medals (11-6-9) to eight for Australia (2-5-1).

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THE BIG PICTURE: FINA’s substitute Worlds in Budapest making quite a splash: 45% in and two world records, 14 world leaders and 22 U.S. medals? Crazy!

By
Rich Perelman
-
American swimming superstar Katie Ledecky: now a 17-time World Championships gold medalist!

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Let’s be clear, the international sports world is still reeling from the coronavirus and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games from 2020 to 2021. But in swimming, where the top athletes only see each other three times in four years, the 2022 FINA World Championships at Budapest’s Duna Arena are proving to be a showcase.

Remember, this event was supposed to be held in Fukuoka (JPN) in May, but the continuing pandemic knocked the event out, only to be quickly picked up by Hungary, trying to re-build its own tourism standing with more major events.

With just 19 of 42 swimming events completed (four days of eight), the quality of swimming measures up with Tokyo, or any other meet for that matter. Consider that so far, in individual events on both the Tokyo and Budapest programs::

● Men: of 6 completed events so far, five were faster in Budapest.
● Women: of 7 completed events so far, two were faster in Budapest.

Now look at the times from Budapest that are world-leading performances for 2022, and their rank if in the top-10 all-time performances list:

● Men/100 m Free: 47.60, David Popovici (ROU)
● Men/200 m Free: 1:43.21, Popovici [no. 5 performance ever]
● Men/400 m Free: 3:41.22, Elijah Winnington (AUS) [no. 10]
● Men/800 m Free: 7:39.36, Bobby Finke (USA) [no. 7]
● Men/100 m Back: 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (ITA) ~ World Record [1]
● Men/50 m Breast: 26.45, Nic Fink (USA) [no. 5 performer]
● Men/100 m Breast: 58.26, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA)
● Men/50 m Fly: 22.57, Caeleb Dressel (USA) [no. 4 performer]
● Men/200 m Fly: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (HUN) ~ World Record [1]
● Men/400 m Medley: 4:04.28, Leon Marchand (FRA) [no. 2]

● Women/1,500 m Free: 15:30.15, Katie Ledecky (USA) [no. 6]
● Women/100 m Back: 57.65, Regan Smith (USA) [no. 6]
● Women/100 m Fly: 55.64, Torri Huske (USA) [equal no. 5]
● Women/200 m Medley: 2:07.13, Alex Walsh (USA) [no. 10]

So of the 16 individual events at least partially contested so far, there have been 2022 world-leading performances in 14 and top-10 all-time performances in 12! There were two individual-event world records in Tokyo; there have been two already in Budapest:

● Men/100 m Back: 51.40, Thomas Ceccon (ITA); old, 51.95, Ryan Murphy (USA), 2016
● Men/200 m Fly: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (HUN); old 1:50.73, Milak, 2019

(And just for good measure, there have also been two American Records:

● Men/800 m Free: 7:39.36, Bobby Finke
● Women/100 m Fly: 55.64, Torri Huske)

This is crazy!

New stars like Romania’s 17-year-old Popovici are emerging, and there will be continuing focus on Canada’s 15-year-old sensation Summer McIntosh, who won a women’s 400 m Freestyle silver behind Ledecky and set a World Junior Record of 2:06.79 in the 200 m Fly semis.

Italy’s Benedetta Pilato – age 17 – scored an impressive win in the women’s 100 m Breast in 1:05.93, with American superstar Lilly King fourth in 1:06.07, suffering from the impact of a recent bout with Covid-19. This stuff happens in championships.

But the American team performance is another impressive show of domination by veteran and new swimmers. Yes, some of the top Australian and British swimmers are skipping the meet – the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (ENG) is a target for several – and there are the usual injuries and mishaps. But the continuing greatness of Ledecky and Dressel – who withdrew from the men’s 100 m Free semis with a medical issue, but might be back for other events – is being balanced by the youngsters like Katie Grimes (16: women’s 1,500 m Free silver), Claire Curzan (17: women’s 100 m Back bronze), Torri Huske (19: women’s 100 m Fly gold) and Alex Walsh (20) and Leah Hayes (16), who went 1-3 in the women’s 200 m Medley, sandwiching Australia’s triple Tokyo gold medalist Kaylee McKeown.

After 19 of 42 total swimming events, the U.S. already has 22 medals; next best is Australia with seven. The U.S. team record is 38 total medals from 2017.

It’s an impressive show of swimming strength in a year in which everything still seems a little off-kilter. And the 2023 meet in Fukuoka (JPN) should be even better.

Four more days to go in Budapest.

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HEARD AT HALFTIME: Tokyo 2020 cost $10.4 billion (could have been worse); Spain 2030 bid ends; USOPC review commission funded!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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● Plus: On Screen: Modest interest in NCAA Track, NYC Grand Prix on TV = International Federations: governance report shows improvement = Basketball: Griner hearing off to 2 July = Boxing: failure of aggressive new programs led to AIBA corruption; IBA board to consider new elections Friday = Weightlifting: Ajan and Vlad banned for life for doping violations ●

News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

It cost a lot more than it was supposed to and a lot less than it could have.

The final cost of the Tokyo 2020 Games to be announced publicly was confirmed on Tuesday at ¥1,423.8 billion or approximately $10.431 billion U.S. (at current exchange rates), for the first-ever Games to be postponed.

At the final meeting of the Tokyo Organizing Committee, some of the details were revealed and the Official Report of the Games – first since London 2012 – was handed over to the International Olympic Committee. A review of the total Games cost budgets over time showed:

● 2013/Bid: $5.38 billion U.S.
● 2016/Dec.: $14.0 billion U.S.
● 2018/Dec.: $12.6 billion U.S.
● 2019/Dec.: $12.6 billion U.S.
● 2020/Dec.: $15.4 billion U.S.
● 2022/Jun.: $10.4 billion U.S.

Compared to the bid projection of ¥734 billion, the final total of ¥1.42 trillion was up by ¥690 billion, or 48.5%, and was a disaster. Compared with the ballooning costs forecast in 2020 and then due to the pandemic, it could have been much worse. (The IOC’s announced figures are different, using an old, agreed-on exchange rate.)

On the revenue side, the Japanese organizers set an all-time record of $3.4 billion in domestic sponsorship revenues, which accounted for 59% of its revenues of $5.8 billion. It also received $1.3 billion from the IOC, $500 million in insurance due to the Covid-19 delay and $600 million in licensing and other revenues.

Costs related to the pandemic were ¥38 billion ($278.2 million).

The division of costs for the Games included 44.9% for the organizers (¥640 billion), 41.9% (¥597 billion) for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (including the new stadia) and 7.68% for the Japanese national government (¥187 billion).

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● XXVI Olympic Winter Games: 2030 ● The Spanish bid for 2030 has ended and will be reformed into a bid for 2034 or beyond.

A plan for a Games to be held in the Aragon and Catalonia regions dissolved into unsolvable bickering between the two, with no resolution possible in time to make a credible bid against Sapporo (JPN), Salt Lake City (USA) or Vancouver (CAN).

This is good for the other cities, which are pressing ahead with detailed bids, especially in the case of Sapporo and Salt Lake City.

● International Federations ● The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) published its fourth governance review, with 32 of 33 members meeting the minimum expected scores.

The goal was for the 27 full members to score 130/200 across the 50 indicators and 120/200 for the six associate members. All but one made it.

The top-scoring federations scored 175 or higher and included the federations for badminton, equestrian, football, cycling, table tennis, track & field and rugby. Another 10 scored from 150-170, and 12 between 130-149. The World Dance Sport Federation – an associate member – was the only one below 120.

All but one are publishing financial statements and 27 of the 33 had term limits on officials. Gender balance on boards of directors continued to increase, but slowly, with 18/33 having women comprising at least 25% of these bodies.

A clear observation is how small most of the federations are:

=> Employees: the 27 full-time members saw nine with less than 20, and nine with 20-49 – that’s 18/27 – then five with 50-119 and four with more than 120.

=> Finances: eight of the 27 full-time members had CHF 8 million or less in annual revenues, seven were from CHF 8-20 million, seven from CHF 20-50 million and five above CHF 50 million.

Small, indeed.

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● The long wait for the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics is just about over. Word has come that the Commission, co-chaired by former USOPC Athletes Advisory Council chair Han Xiao and University of Baltimore law professor Dionne Koller has its funding – requested at $2,078,860 in the FY2022 budget cycle with a 15-month timeline – approved.

The 16-member group was created by the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 and is designed to review all aspects of the organization and evaluate its effectiveness. At least one hearing will be held.

This may sound like the ultimate insiders conference, but there are many sharp agendas-in-waiting and possible fireworks ahead. At the core: how does the USOPC spend its money? Stay tuned.

● On Screen ● Some interest in track & field viewership over the last week or so:

=> 10 Jun.: 263,000 NCAA Champs on ESPN2 (men)
=> 11 Jun.: 603,000 NCAA Champs on ESPN (women)
=> 12 Jun.: 835,000 NYC Grand Prix on NBC

No other meets, or the FINA World Championships, drew an audience of 200,000 or more through last Sunday (19th); this would include the first two days of the NCAA Track & Field Championships from Eugene. .

The other Olympic-sport event to be mostly ignored was the USA at El Salvador 1-1 draw in a CONCACAF Nations League match on the 16th, which drew 394,000 on FS1.

NBA Finals games five and six both drew almost 14 million viewers each, on ABC.

● Basketball ● Double Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner continues to languish in Russian detention and now will not have her case heard until 2 July at the earlier. She has been held since mid-February after customs officials found hashish oil in a vape cartridge she was carrying.

● Boxing ● “Corruption was allowed to creep in and take hold of the organisation because of the senior management’s excessive focus on finding investments for unrealistic ventures. Insufficient attention was paid to the administration of the sport and its officials. When those enterprises never materialised, the sport suffered a huge financial burden that nearly caused its collapse. The singular focus of management became finding funds to repay the loans and pay the staff. The combination of attrition and the lack of financial resources ultimately resulted in the organisation being left with a skeleton staff to run itself.”

That’s the central finding of the 114-page report by McLaren Global Sport Solutions, investigating the implosion of the AIBA, now re-named as the International Boxing Association.

The federation’s downfall was laid at the feet of former President C.K. Wu (TPE), elected in 2006 and only dismissed in an internal revolt in 2017. Wu created aggressive new boxing programs and a marketing arm and then, when they were failing, drove AIBA into debt to continue to support them. In short, “The market thought to exist for fans to watch franchised boxing bouts as outlined in the business plan was in fact illusory and highly optimistic.”

Some $39 million was borrowed in all, and the federation likely would have collapsed without the Gazprom sponsorship – a gift, really? – that Russian President Umar Kremlev arranged after election in late 2020.

Along with the financial issues came pressure for favors and competition manipulation in refereeing and judging. The report suggests multiple future fixes, including education about bout fixing, very strict access to the field of play, an independent integrity unit and so on.

The report did not believe the situation in boxing is irretrievable, but a culture change is mandatory.

Last week’s decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, upholding the appeal against the IBA Extraordinary Congress election disqualification in May of Dutch Boxing President Boris van der Vorst also included candidates for the IBA Board, including Michael McAtee (USA), Steven Hartley (NZL) and Per-Axel Sjoholm (SWE):

“The CAS Arbitrator in charge of the matter found that the Appellants had committed only a minor breach of the regulations governing the IBA elections (early campaigning) which would have deserved a light sanction such as a warning or even no sanction, but not an exclusion from the election; furthermore, the Sole Arbitrator noted that the incumbent President had committed the same minor violation and had not been sanctioned for it.”

IBA chief Kremlev asked the federation Board to authorize new elections; the Board will meet on 24 June.

● Weightlifting ● Worth noting that in the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week against former International Weightlifting Federation President Tamas Ajan (HUN) and former long-time coach and official Nicu Vlad (ROM), both received the same penalty” lifetime bans.

For Ajan, his list of offenses included “tampering, which includes engaging in any fraudulent conduct to alter results or prevent normal procedure from occurring and complicity involving an anti-doping rule violation.” For Vlad, it was “only” the single charge of “complicity involving an anti-doping rule violation,” but it was the “seriousness of the ADRVs and the length of time over which they were committed” which made the sanction appropriate.

As the prosecutor of the cases, the International Testing Agency noted:

“The ITA was hampered by the depth and breadth of the IWF’s past years of inaction, which resulted into 29 unsanctioned doping violations being impossible to prosecute due to statute of limitation and/or destruction of evidence. The reasons why these cases were unprocessed and/or unsanctioned, ranged from mere administrative oversight, poor record keeping, chaotic organisational processes, or jurisdictional errors – on one end of the spectrum – to indifference, outright negligence, complicity, or – at worst – blatant and intentional cover-ups.”

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ATHLETICS: Steiner rolls to 21.80 collegiate record; Hall second in 400H and wins hep; Florida adds women’s title at NCAA Champs in Eugene

By
Rich Perelman
-
NCAA heptathlon winner and 400 m hurdles runner-up Anna Hall (Photo: University of Florida)

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The rainy final day of the 2022 NCAA Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene was all about the women’s events, with another world-leading performance.

Kentucky junior Abby Steiner equaled the NCAA Championships meet record in the semis (22.02) and had more to give in the final.

She got off well, but stomped on the gas to pass LSU’s Favour Ofili – the collegiate record holder at 21.96 – into the straight and ran away from the field to win in a world-leading 21.80 (wind: +1.3 m/s). That’s a collegiate record and now puts Steiner in position to challenge for the U.S. Worlds team in two weeks on the same track.

Ofili (NGR) couldn’t handle Steiner, but was strong on the straight to finish second in 22.05, with Ohio State’s Anavia Battle third in 22.33.

Then Steiner took the stick in the 4×400 m relay about 25 m back on the third leg, but she blazed a 48.92 split to take a 5m lead (yowsah!) and then handed off to Alexis Holmes, who finished off a 3:22.56 victory over Texas (3:23.35).

The next-most-amazing performances came from Florida’s Anna Hall, who breezed to the heptathlon title, but also contested the open 400 m hurdles final just 22 minutes prior to the heptathlon 800 m!

In the 400 m hurdles final – at 3:57 p.m. – it was Arkansas sophomore Britton Wilson, the collegiate leader, who took the lead right away and finished strong to win clearly in 53.86. Hall stormed down the straight and ran into second in 54.76, ahead of Lauren Hoffman (Duke: 55.58).

Hall then lined up for the 800 m at 4:19 p.m. and loped to a 10th-place finish in 2:21.23, finishing with a brilliant 6,385 points to 5,939 for Washington’s Ida Eikeng (NOR). Wow.

The rest of the meet was pretty good, too.

Julien Alfred (LCA) had the fastest time of the season at 10.81 and the Texas sophomore did not disappoint, holding off Kemba Nelson (Oregon/JAM) at the line, as both were timed in 11.02 (+0.2). Steiner was third in 11.08.

Florida’s Talitha Diggs looked like the favorite in the 400 m, but she was trailing Kentucky’s Holmes coming into the final straight. But she pumped her arms hard and took the lead with about 75 m left and finished in 49.99, no. 4 in the world for 2022.

That was just enough to beat Jamaica’s Charokee Young (Texas A&M), who surged at the end to pass Holmes, as did Texas junior Kennedy Simon, 50.65-50.69-50.71.

Baylor’s Aliyah Miller led the 800 m final for 700 m, but was passed by Boise State’s Kristie Schoffield in the home straight and – to her own surprise – won in 2:01.09, a lifetime best. Villanova’s McKenna Keegan and Gabija Galvydyte (Oklahoma State/LTU), 2:01.71-2:01.76.

LSU sophomore Alia Armstrong didn’t let the rain concern her, taking charge from the gun and leading from wire-to-wire, winning in 12.58 (-0.2). USC soph Jasmine Jones got a lifetime best of 12.66 for second.

BYU’s Courtney Wayment, fourth at the U.S. Olympic Trials last year, demolished the collegiate record in the Steeple, running away in 9:16.00. That moves her to no. 5 all-time U.S.! The record had been 9:24.41 by New Mexico’s Courtney Frerichs from 2016.

Texas A&M’s Lamara Distin (JAM) stood second on the world list coming into the meet at 1.97 m (6-5 1/2), and won at 1.95 m (6-4 3/4).

Jasmine Moore (Florida) won the triple jump with her third-round jump of 14.32 m (46-11 3/4), and moved to no. 9 on the world list for 2022. She’s the 2022 NCAA indoor and outdoor champ in the triple jump, to go along with her indoor and outdoor long jump titles in 2022!

North Carolina State’s Katelyn Tuohy took over the 5,000m with 600 m to go, winning in 15:18.39. Florida frosh Parker Valby finished second and clinched the team title for the Gators, finishing second in 15:20.10, a huge lifetime best.

Florida finished with 74 points to top Texas (64), Kentucky (50) and LSU and Texas A&M (39).

Next up for many of these athletes will be the U.S. Championships, again in Eugene, in two weeks.

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