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LOS ANGELES 2028: City Council’s Rodriguez asks LA28 to stimulate L.A. economy with small business spending, ASAP

By
Rich Perelman
-
Los Angeles City Council member Monica Rodriguez (Photo: Rodriguez Council Office).

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≡ RODRIGUEZ WANTS SPENDING ≡

“You’re giving me a lot of the word salad about all the great things we’re doing to check the box. I want, tangibly, show me, the list – and I’d like this next report – I want to see the tangible evidence of that work, in terms of the intentional engagements that have been initiated with small business, because I don’t want it to be a dynamic, and we saw this with the [February 2022] Super Bowl.

“I don’t want this to be a situation where you’re like, ‘well, we sent it all out, but no businesses responded. No one came. We tried.’ OK?

“So I’m just setting the table for the conversation that I want you guys to really take seriously, because we talk about it, and I don’t want it to be like ‘oh, we’re three weeks out, we don’t have this vendor, and someone’s friend is the one getting the contract.’ OK?

“So, if we’re really going to do this – particularly as we’re talking about an Olympic Games with venues; they’re a regional Games, not just purely in the City of Los Angeles – we need to make sure that local businesses who right now are struggling, particularly given all the potential for tariffs and whatnot, there’s an opportunity here for us to really work with intentionality to engage these entrepreneurs to figure out how can we innovate, and engage these business owners to be part – because we want to pay everybody lots of money and more wages and that’s all great – but there’s a lot of businesses that need to survive so that we can sustain the tax base, or they need to grow so they can help build it with us.

“So that’s what I want to next report to include, when we talk about it. I appreciate everyone’s commitment, everybody has a commitment, we’re writing commitments everywhere, it’s great. Show me. Show me in the action. Show me in the outcomes. Show me with the intentionality and that’s what I’d like to see, the next time we come together.”

That’s Los Angeles City Council member Monica Rodriguez, speaking at Wednesday’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with LA28 organizing committee Chief Operating Officer John Harper.

Rodriguez launched into her commentary after mentioning the Paris 2024 programming:

“It was impressive what Paris [2024] had done to incubate new businesses that have now become multi-million-dollar enterprises in Paris, but a lot of that was a sustained lead-up effort that was conducted with the City of Paris and Paris 2024, because there was intentionality behind small business incubation, small business procurement, workforce development.

“Like, there was a sustained effort. Right now, in the [City Council] Budget committee, there is a proposal to consolidate a lot of the workforce and economic development muscles that we have in this city, unfortunately, that would also compromise a lot of these efforts.

“That being said, I am really interested in knowing, because I have not seen – I’ve seen a lot of really flashy press moments – where we talk about our commitment to small businesses and everything in the city.

“I want to make sure: what is intentionally happening with trying to engage these small businesses now in the manner that Paris did? They were very intentional about helping to actively prepare these small businesses and create, basically, a new business model. I believe they were making the stadium seating, if I recall correctly out of recycled bottles, right, and it came from a small business incubation and a small entrepreneur to now becoming this multi-million-dollar entity.

“So, there hasn’t really seem to be this very authentic kind of intentionality behind this work. My question is, what are you all doing, aside from some of the flashy events, to intentionally start engaging these small businesses, particularly at a time when the City of Los Angeles, in the budget, has actually proposed [cutting] a lot of the very individuals that are important to this process, on our side.

“So I want to know what LA28’s commitment is to helping to fulfill that, because if we cut off those appendages from the City of Los Angeles in some of the budget actions that are before us, then that is going to fall off the face of this effort.

“And that is a real important legacy for a lot of businesses, that we talk about, and it means a lot to our tax base at a time when the City is already very strained for resources, as you know.”

Harper explained that the procurement strategy is in development, and promised more details at the next committee meeting.

Committee head – and City Council President – Marqueece Harris-Dawson then went further:

“We have to have a standard; to measure the outcome is too late, because the Olympic Games will be over if you measure just the outcome. We need a goal, a commitment: this much of the business is going to be done with small businesses in this region, period.

“And some levers to make sure that that actually happens, or creates some consequences if it doesn’t happen.”

Observed: Rodriguez and Harris-Dawson are going to be disappointed if they are looking for anything soon on major spending from LA28. The latest LA28 Annual Report to the City, filed on 31 March 2025, showed that 59% of all of LA28’s lifetime expenses will be incurred in 2028 itself, down from 67% projected in the 2024 Annual Report.

This is because no new venues are being built for 2028 and the temporary installations for the Games won’t happen until that year.

Council member Imelda Padilla asked about LA28’s outreach efforts:

“When will we start to see TV, social-media ads related to the Olympic coming? A lot of people are not aware of how close it is.”

Harper explained:

“That’s part of our marketing calendar; we have a new [Chief Marketing Officer] coming on board, and we’ve had a very focused approach to how we’ve been approaching the Games that are upcoming, not only for the Games in L.A., but what we’re doing with Team USA, leading up to Paris [2024] or the Milano Cortina [2026].

“So as we get closer and closer, that will start to ramp up more and more, not only with our own marketing assets, but with our partner’s assets as well.”

Harris-Dawson asked about when the already-announced sites – such as the Crypto.com Arena at L.A. Live – would have signage announcing themselves as a site of the 2028 Olympic Games (and Paralympic Games, if appropriate):

Replied Harper, “It’s something we’re working on now, now that we’re finalizing not only the venue plan, but the further agreements that we’re going to have with them.”

The new LA28 Chief Marketing Officer appears to be Alex Merchan, whose LinkedIn profile states that he joined in March, coming from venue management giant ASM Global, where he had been the Chief Marketing Officer for four years, and previously at Live Nation Entertainment, where he led marketing as Executive Vice President. He replaced Amy Gleeson, who had been the LA28 head of marketing since April 2019, and was moved to a Senior Strategic Advisor role in February.

LA28 is reaching out to National Olympic Committees with its first of a series of “NOC Open Week” meetings. About 30 NOCs were in Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday, with another group slated to visit in August.

The Ad Hoc Committee approved a flood of motions for City staff to review LA28’s performance in specific areas and report back and will head to the City Council for formal approval.

A brief mention of venue approvals was made and no discussion was had about the request of Council member Tim McOsker to have sailing moved from Long Beach to San Pedro. The issue may be dead, but only if McOsker decides to stop fighting for it.

McOsker filed another motion to ask about the progress of committees on sustainability, and further to Rodriguez’s questions, about local hiring and local procurement, which are to be discussed at the next committee meeting.

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PANORAMA: Ofili’s 150 world best vs. FloJo’s ‘88 200 WR; how many NFL players have been Olympians? Year off for swim star Ryan Murphy!

By
Rich Perelman
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Rio 2016 triple gold-medal winner Ryan Murphy (USA).

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

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

● Athletics ● Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, the 2022 Commonwealth Games women’s 200 m silver medalist, and sixth at the Paris Olympic 200 m, ran the fastest 150 m on record at 15.85 (+2.0) to win the Atlanta City Games “street meet” on 17 May.

TSX correspondent Karen Rosen noted some split-time data from French coach and historian P.J. Vazel about en route marks in two famous 200 m races:

● 1988 Olympic Games: American Florence Griffith-Joyner set a world record in winning the Olympic 200 m in 21.34 (+1.3), passing 100 m in 11.11 and 150 m in 16.10.

● 2021 Olympic Games: Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah moved to no. 3 all-time in winning the Tokyo Olympic women’s 200 m in 21.53, passing 100 m in 10.99 and 150 m in 16.06.

Clearly, 200 m is a lot further than 150 m, but 15.85 is pretty hot. Ofili’s 200 m best is 21.96 from 2022, so is she poised to drop that substantially?

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● From star statisticians Hilary Evans (GBR) and Bill Mallon (USA) comes this:

There have been 44 U.S. Olympians who have also been NFL players, across five sports. The five are bobsleigh (1: Herschel Walker), handball (1: Randy Dean), rugby sevens (1: Nate Ebner), wrestling (5) and track & field (36).

There will now be more with flag football added for 2028.

● Archery ● World Archery announced that in view of the addition of the Compound Mixed Team event for Los Angeles 2028 – with 24 athletes – but with the same athlete quota of 128, the number of Recurve teams at the L.A. Games will be reduced from 12 to eight for 2028 only, with the approval of the International Olympic Committee.

By reducing the number of teams, more individual archers can qualify, in a format to be confirmed, assuring a larger number of participating countries in 2028.

● Athletics ● Polish high jumper Norbert Kobielski was banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit for two years “from 23 July 2024 for Presence/Use of Prohibited Substances (Pentedrone norephedrine metabolite).” His results were nullified as from 26 May 2024.

He tied for sixth at the 2024 European Championships, a finish now wiped out. He’s 28 and has a best of 2.33 m (7-7 3/4) from 2022. He also had a three-month doping at the end of 2020 into early 2021.

The AIU also reported appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport of Japanese walk star Koki Ikeda, the Tokyo 2020 men’s 20 km silver winner, and Spain’s 2023 Worlds men’s 5,000 runner-up Mohamed Katir.

Ikeda was banned for four years over readings against his Athlete Biological Passport, and was suspended as of 1 November 2024. Katir was banned for four years from 7 February 2024 for tampering, offering faked travel documents to cover a “whereabouts” failure.

● Cycling ● The second Individual Time Trial of the 108th Giro d’Italia was on Tuesday, with Daan Hoole (NED) covering the flat, 28.6 km ride to Pisa in 32:30.48, with British riders Joshua Tarling (+6.90 seconds) and Ethan Hayter (+9.94) in second and third.

Race leader Isaac Del Toro (MEX) was 36th (+2:22) and lost some of his lead, now 25 seconds over Juan Ayuso (ESP) and 1:01 over Antonio Tiberi (ITA). Slovenian star Primoz Roglic moved back into contention in fifth place (+1:18); American Brandon McNulty is sixth (+2:00).

At Wednesday’s 11th stage, the 2019 champion, Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz, attacked with 9 km remaining on the 186 kg ride from Viareggio to Castelnovo ne’ Monti and won in 4:35:20, ahead of race leader Del Toro (+0:10) and Guilio Ciccone (ITA: +0:10).

Del Toro got a six-second time bonus for finishing second and extended his lead over Ayuso to 31 seconds, with Tiberi (+1:07) in third. Roglic remains fifth (+1:24).

● Ice Hockey ● Pool play concluded on Tuesday at the IIHF men’s World Championship in Sweden and Denmark, with Canada winning Group A after a 5-3 victory on Tuesday over Sweden in front of 12,530 at Stockholm’s Avicii Arena.

So, the Canadians finished at 6-1 and 19 points, trailed by Sweden (6-1: 18), Finland (6-1: 16) and Austria (4-3: 10).

The U.S. finished their Group B play with a 5-2 win over the Czech Republic, so Switzerland won the pool at 6-1 (19), with the U.S. second and the Czechs third (both 6-1: 17). Denmark (4-3: 11) by beating Germany, 2-1, in a shoot-out after a 1-1 tie after overtime!

In the quarters, Canada will face Denmark and Switzerland will play Austria in Herning, and the U.S. will meet Finland and Sweden will play the Czechs, both in Stockholm, all on the 22nd. A re-seeding will be done for the semifinals, on 24 May, both in Stockholm.

● Shooting ● In another step toward reinstatement, the International Shooting Sports Federation announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes under age 21 will receive “neutral status to all affected athletes under the age of 21 who apply, without the requirement of an examination on the applicant’s background.”

According to the ISSF:

“The ISSF would still be allowed to conduct a background check on any of these athletes if knowledge is obtained that may raise concerns that would not allow an AIN status to be granted.

“Amendments were proposed due to the cost attached to background examinations, which are carried out by an external specialist agency, with this recommendation coming from the IOC to save International Federations’ resources.”

● Ski Jumping ● Norway’s Robert Johansson, 35, noted for one of the great handlebar moustaches in sports history, announced his retirement on Tuesday, while still on suspension by the International Ski & Snowboard Federation for jump-suit irregularities at the 2025 Nordic World Championships, in Trondheim (NOR).

Johansson won a Team event gold at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, plus bronze medals in both individual events. He also won two World Championships silvers and a bronze, along with three World Cup victories.

● Swimming ● Nine-time Olympic Backstroke medalist Ryan Murphy of the U.S. is taking time off, writing on Instagram:

“I want to share an update that I won’t be competing this summer. Instead I’ll be able to spend more quality time with [wife] Bridget and [daughter] Eevi and dive into career interests beyond swimming.

“I’ve joined the Growth Equity team at Norwest focusing on sports investment opportunities. …

“I still have unfinished goals in the sport and will keep the door open for what’s next. Can’t wait to cheer on Team USA this summer!”

Now 29, Murphy has been a U.S. stalwart: a three-time Olympian in 2016-20-24 and a Worlds medalist in 2015-17-19-22-23. Sounds like a year off to recharge for the dash to 2028.

Another stunning swim for China’s 12-year-old Zidi Yu, who won the women’s 200 m Butterfly in 2:06.83, zooming up to no. 5 on the 2025 world list! She is also now in the top 60 all-time … at age 12!

● Wrestling ● Another Russia doping positive from data retrieved in 2019 from the Moscow Laboratory Information System of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency during the state-sponsored doping program from 2011-15, as the International Testing Agency is asserted a violation against Khadzhimurat Gatsalov. Now 42 and retired, he is provisionally suspended.

He won the Athens 2004 men’s Freestyle 96 kg gold and five Worlds golds from 2005-13, but is now alleged to have used the banned growth hormone ipamorelin, at a test in 2015.

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ENHANCED GAMES: Presentation introduces Enhanced Games to take place in three sports in Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend 2026

By
Rich Perelman
-
Enhanced Games founder Aron D’Souza announcing Las Vegas as the site of debut event in 2026 (Photo: Enhanced Games video screen shot).

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

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≡ ENHANCED GAMES ≡

A carefully-scripted and attractively-produced 32-minute show at Resorts World Las Vegas on Wednesday introduced the Enhanced Games, to be staged a year from now, at that site.

Founder Aron D’Souza (AUS) called his project “disruption by design” and introduced the project:

“When my colleagues and I started out, no one – not one institution, not one organization – had committed to normalizing and celebrating performance medicine. So I made it my cause. …

“In just over a year, we helped change the global conversation, not just about sport, but about health, and science and what it means to be human. Because this isn’t just a sporting event. We’re not just organizing competition. We are in the business of unlocking human potential.

“The idea for the Enhanced Games came to life in 2022, during a moment of reflection where I found myself asking why athletes are still bounded by outdated rules that ignored everything that we know about science. I imagined a new kind of competition, one where science and sport and society could evolve together, where we stop apologizing for progress and started to embrace it.

“We built the Enhanced Games, a platform that celebrates human innovation, rewards excellence and explored enhancements openly, responsibly and ethnically.”

Saying that in a half-century, “biology was never the ceiling, it was only just the starting line,” D’Souza enthused that the project will be “the vanguard of super-humanity.”

He talked about a “performance enhancement protocol,” a framework “to make sure all athletes are enhanced ethnically, safely and above all, with great safety and effectiveness,” via oversight from separate medical and scientific commissions. The medical commission will monitor athlete status and clearing those who will be allowed to compete. The scientific commission was described as making sure “that everything we do is grounded in evidence that meets the highest standards of scientific integrity.” D’Souza added:

“Not only are they working behind the scenes, they are leading a global conversation about what enhancement can be, both in sport and in life.”

And he noted that there is an already-defined commercial element to the project:

“We’re not exclusively in the business of delivering sport. We’re also in the business of science, and developing and marketing new drug compounds. I want to take a moment to also announce the launch of the Enhanced Performance Products brand. This summer, we’re bringing Enhanced to the American public with our new consumer products.

“This will be the embodiment of Enhanced’s core mission: to inspire humanity with the belief that we can all overcome our limits and become super-human, safely, with the right medical supervision.”

The event details from the presentation:

● The Enhanced Games will be held at Resorts World in Las Vegas, beginning on 21 May – a year from the announcement – and continuing over the Memorial Day Weekend.

● Three sports will be featured: track & field, swimming and weightlifting, with about 100 athletes total, in small venues, such as a four-lane pool and six-lane track.

● Participants, who do not need to take performance-enhancing drugs to compete, will be paid appearance fees, prize money and record bonuses, if achieved.

● The list of events was not provided, but will include the 50 m Freestyle in the pool and 100 m dash on the track. Each will have a $500,000 prize purse, with $250,000 for the winner; world-record bonuses will pay $250,000 except for the 50 m Free swim and 100 m dash, which will have $1 million payouts for records. There was no indication if events will be staged for men and women.

The second half of the show concentrated on snippets from a video which showed four-time Greek Olympic swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev, now 31, the 2019 Worlds men’s 50 m Freestyle silver medalist, in 50 m Freestyle time trials. He was shown swimming the 50 Free in a now-outlawed “super suit” in 20.89, slightly faster than the world record of 20.91 by Brazil’s Cesar Cielo from 2009, and then in another time trial with currently-allowed suits, in 21.03, a hundredth faster than American Caeleb Dressel’s 21.04 from 2019, the fastest in a currently-legal suit. Gkolomeev’s best during his international career was 21.44 from the 2018 European Championships, currently no. 22 on the all-time list, so his “enhancements” produced a 1.9% improvement in a current-use suit. 

An All-American at Alabama from 2014-16, Gkolomeev was shown being coached by former Austrian star Brett Hawke (AUS), a two-time Worlds relay silver medalist and later the coach at Auburn from 2009-18.

Gkolomeev came on stage to explain that the first race (20.89) was held after three months of training (so likely in March this year), but with only two weeks of “enhancements.” The 21.03 came after putting on an additional 10 pounds – from 203 to 213 lbs. – from a “full, two-month cycle” of enhancements.

Gkolomeev is the second athlete to publicly affiliate with the Enhanced Games. Retired Australian star James Magnussen, the two-time men’s 100 m Free World Champion in 2011 and 2013, has said he will come back to swim – aided by doping – to try and win $1 million for a world record. He last swam competitively in 2018.

Observed: While D’Souza trumpeted the enormity of the event, the Enhanced Games is starting small, with 100 athletes in three sports, each with easily-identified world records and deep statistical data available.

With a full year to go, there is also time for what will be relentless criticism of this project from the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee, all three of the International Federations whose sports will be included, national anti-doping agencies and medical and scientific groups who will voice their own doubts about the engineering of “super humans.”

The event itself, its athletic veracity and the ethics of human engineering will come under a microscope, but D’Souza and his team have planted their flag in Las Vegas and now will be expected to deliver an event in which anything short of a world record in every event will be a disappointment.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: NFL owners unanimously agree to allow players to participate in Olympic tournament, raising new questions

By
Rich Perelman
-
A rendering of Olympic Flag Football at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles (Image: LA28).

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≡ FLAG FOOTBALL ≡

The National Football League owners voted 32-0 at the Spring League Meeting on Tuesday in Eagen, Minnesota, to allow NFL players to participate in the 2028 Olympic Flag Football tournament, subject to conditions to be worked out with the NFL Players’ Association and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF):

● “The approved resolution authorizes the league to work with the NFL Players Association, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and the relevant Olympic authorities to implement rules governing the participation of NFL players in flag football, which makes its Olympic debut in 2028.”

● “As per the terms agreed to today, NFL player participation with their countries’ national flag football teams will begin with a tryout or qualification process in advance of the Olympic competition.”

● “A maximum of one player from each team will be allowed to participate and each club’s designated international player is also permitted to take part for his country.”

● Issues to be worked out include “injury protection and salary cap credit should a player get injured while engaged in flag football activities,” “certain minimum standards for medical staff and field surfaces” for NFL players, and scheduling so that flag football programming “does not unreasonably conflict” with NFL commitments.

The announcement included an enthusiastic endorsement from NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell, Jr.:

“Players have expressed to us a great desire for the honor of competing in the Olympics, and we’re excited that our members will be able to represent their country on the highest international stage.

“We look forward to working with the league, IFAF, and Olympic authorities on the terms of their participation to ensure players who compete will do so with protections to their health, safety, and job.”

Naturally, the IFAF was thrilled, with President Pierre Trochet (FRA) saying:

“I warmly welcome the outcome of this vote, which promises to add another dimension to what is already shaping up to be a game-changing debut for flag football at the Olympic Games.

“The National Football League is home to the biggest stars in American football, who come from more and more countries, and now have the opportunity to shine on the greatest stage in world sport, showcasing everything that makes flag football a genuine worldwide phenomenon. IFAF’s 75 national federations join me in thanking our NFL partners for this further demonstration of their commitment to flag football in the Olympic Movement.”

But the three biggest winners on Tuesday: the NFL, LA28 and NBC:

● Seeing the impact that soccer has had in the U.S., especially in terms of youth participation and the commercial growth of not only Major League Soccer, but by foreign clubs touring in the U.S., and FIFA, which has its 2025 Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the U.S. in part of whole, the NFL has identified flag football as a way to grow American Football globally, especially for women. The Olympic exposure will be key to this, and the NFL (men’s) stars are the publicity key.

Said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:

“It’s truly the next step in making NFL football and football a global sport for men and women of all ages and all opportunities across the globe. We think that’s the right thing to do, and this is a big step in accomplishing that.”

● The LA28 organizers now have NFL players in the Olympic Games, a long-treasured goal of Chair Casey Wasserman.

But the inclusion raises new questions as well. Flag Football has been targeted for the 22,000-seat BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, as well as lacrosse sixes.

But for the U.S. flag matches, is a 22,000-seater really the right size? Could the American men’s games be transferred to a larger stadium … say the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which will seat about 85,000 in 2028? Perhaps the semis and finals as well?

This could work if the flag tournament is held during the first week of the 2028 Games, as the Rose Bowl is slated for the men’s and women’s football (soccer) semifinals and finals, which will be during the second week. And if only the U.S. matches are played there, it won’t chew up the field too badly.

And earlier is better for the NFL as well, which will open its training camps on 16 July in 2025, and the 2028 Olympic Games will be held from 14-30 July. Since most teams barely play their starters in the pre-season anyway, an earlier schedule for flag football helps everyone.

● NBC might be the biggest winner of all, with a way to tie its strong NFL audience into its 2028 Olympic Games and expand the impact of its Games broadcasts even further.

Scheduling will be key, with track & field moved to the first week in 2028 and the swimming in the second week and artistic gymnastics also in the mix. It will be fascinating to see how these bedrock Olympic sports are treated by NBC with NFL stars playing flag football during the same time.

There are potential losers, of course, and first on the list are the American players who won their fifth straight IFAF World Championships gold in 2024, in Finland, led by quarterback Darrell Doucette, who completed 71 of 91 passes for 1,069 yards, 25 touchdowns and no interceptions in seven games. He said last year:

“I think it’s disrespectful that they just automatically assume that they’re able to just join the Olympic team because of the person that they are; they didn’t help grow this game to get to the Olympics. Give the guys who helped this game get to where it’s at their respect.”

Game on.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Added sports cricket and lacrosse posing issues for IOC and LA28 from unique national and multi-national teams!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

With considerable fanfare on 16 October 2023, the International Olympic Committee approved the five added sports requested by the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee, including baseball and softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash.

For cricket, it was the first time back as a medal sport since the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, its only previous appearance. For lacrosse, a medal sport in 1904 in St. Louis and 1908 in London, it had been a demonstration sport also in 1928, 1932 and 1948, but finally back once again.

Actually, neither sport is returning to the Games as they were in the past.

Cricket will play in its shortened Twenty20 (“T20″) format – created in 2003 – with each team having a single inning, limited to 20 overs and usually completed in about 3 1/2 hours.

Lacrosse will also play in a small format called Sixes, formally introduced in 2021. The field is smaller (70 x 36 m instead of 100 x 55 m), each team has six players instead of 10 for field lacrosse and each game has four quarters of eight minutes each, instead of four 15-minute quarters.

So, both are really new.

But along with these new sports and their new formats come new questions. And the unique background of both sports pose new questions for the International Olympic Committee, more so than for the LA28 organizers.

● Lacrosse: What about the Haudenosaunee Nationals?

The sport of lacrosse dates back to perhaps the 17th Century, played in North America by local tribes in what is now the eastern United States and Canada. Great respect in the game is therefore paid to today’s tribes, and in 1983, the Iroquois Nationals was formed by the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee to play in local, national and international competition.

The team was accepted by the International Lacrosse Federation (now World Lacrosse) in 1988 and the women’s team was recognized by the federation in 2008. The men’s team has had considerable success, winning World Championships bronze medals in 2014, 2018 and 2023, and the women’s team has had finished of seventh in 2013 and eighth in 2022.

In 2022, the team name was changed to Haudenosaunee Nationals, to better represent the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (its purple emblem is shown above).

However, from an Olympic point of view, there is a problem.

The geographic area of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy spreads across the U.S.-Canadian border in northern New York and southern Ontario, meaning the team is neither American nor Canadian. So, it is not under the jurisdiction – from an Olympic point of view – of either the Canadian Olympic Committee or the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Which means it can’t compete in the Olympic Games, as National Olympic Committees are the entities which field all entries for the Games, excepting the Olympic Refugee Team and the “neutral” athletes specially admitted from Russia and Belarus for the Paris 2024 Games.

In the late days of the Biden Administration, a “Joint Statement from the United States and Canada on Haudenosaunee Participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics” was issued by The White House (only) and included:

“The United States and Canada call on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a confederacy of Indigenous Nations in North America, to compete in lacrosse at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games as their own team under their own flag. …

“While participation in the Olympics is generally reserved for recognized countries, the Haudenosaunee are seeking a special exception from the IOC to field their own lacrosse team. Given the unique and exceptional circumstances of the Haudenosaunee’s historic connection to this sport, and their Men’s and Women’s teams continuously ranked participation in international competitive lacrosse for almost half a century, we believe that a narrowly scoped exception is appropriate.”

How that is supposed to happen is not specified, but the question will now fall to IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), who will take office on 23 June in Lausanne.

● Cricket: What about Cricket West Indies?

Parallel to the Haudenosaunee Nationals is the situation for Cricket West Indies – the Windies – a well-known force on the men’s side of the sport, which has been a member of the International Cricket Council since 1926!

At the T20 World Cup, the Windies are two-time champions, in 2012 and 2016 and were hosts in 2010, and co-hosted with the U.S. in 2024, finishing fifth.

But the players are from multiple countries. The 2024 T20 World Cup squad had players from Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Vincent & the Grenadines, with a total of 16 countries as part of the association.

So, Cricket West Indies is appealing to the International Cricket Council for special attention for 2028, but recognizing that it is not going to get its regular, multi-national team into the Games. Agence France Presse reported last week that Cricket West Indies instead asked the ICC for one of two options to allow some presence in the six-team LA28 tournament:

“The first would see an inter-Caribbean qualifying tournament should the West Indies men or women find themselves in a qualifying position, allowing the winner to take the region’s spot.

“In the second, a dedicated regional qualifying process involving each of the West Indies independent nations would take place.”

According to CWI chief executive Chris Dehring (JAM):

“All we are asking is that our individual nations’ exceptional Olympic legacy be considered in the conversation. …

“Now, with cricket’s inclusion, we must ensure that our cricketers are not shut out of history. We are ready to collaborate. We are ready to compete. But above all, we are asking for fairness.”

The Cricket West Indies, recognizing a multi-national squad would be too difficult to deal with, is making things easier for the International Cricket Council than the Haudenosaunee for the International Olympic Committee.

In the lacrosse case, it isn’t going to be easy. A statement from the IOC to Syracuse’ newspaper The Daily Orange, noted in February:

“Only National Olympic Committees (NOCs) recognised by the IOC can enter teams for the Olympic Games in accordance with the Olympic Charter.

“This means it is up to the two NOCs concerned (USA and Canada) – in coordination with World Lacrosse and the National Federations concerned – to decide if they include athletes from Haudenosaunee in their respective teams depending on the passport they hold.”

It’s another question that Coventry will be asked to take up.

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PANORAMA: USADA ups campaign vs. Enhanced Games; Paris 2024 gold sells for $70,150 at auction; Snyder pleads guilty

By
Rich Perelman
-
Part of Dutch Olympic gold medalist Eugene Omalla’s social post on why he sold his Paris 2024 Mixed 4x400 m gold at auction.

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The LA28 organizers and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced a sponsorship with luxury mattress maker Saatva, as the “Official Mattress and Restorative Sleep Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA.”

Founded in 2010, U.S.-based Saatva “will supply Olympic and Paralympic athletes with some of the most luxurious mattresses and bedding, and work closely with LA28 and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee to spotlight the essential role of sleep in recovery and performance.”

Saatva is the ninth company in the “Official Supporter” category, in the third tier of LA28 corporate partners, below “Founding Partners” Comcast and Delta Airlines and six “Official Partners.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● Recruiting has begun in earnest for the staffing giant Randstad, a Milan Cortina corporate partner, with a “recruiting day” on Wednesday, 28 May, at the company’s 270 offices, looking to fill 4,500 positions.

About 1,500 of these will be with the organizing committee and 3,000 spots with related companies, suppliers and vendors. The announcement noted needs in accreditation, staff management, help desks, data entry, audio-visual support, fleet managers and more. Positions with allied entities include logistics and operations support, maintenance, food service, transportation and multiple other positions.

Staff needs are spread across Milan, Cortina, Anterselva, Valtellina, and Val di Fiemme.

● Enhanced Games ● The campaign against the pro-doping Enhanced Games, which may be held in the U.S., has begun in earnest for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which debuted a focused Web page on the controversial concept last week. Highlights:

● “Simply explained, the Enhanced Games is a planned international sports event that may take place in 2025 where athletes are encouraged to enhance themselves and their performances by using performance-enhancing substances (PEDs) and methods. The idea was conceived by Australian businessman Aron D’Souza and has since garnered widespread media attention, as well the support of some and the condemnation of many.

“Why would someone support the Enhanced Games? D’Souza claims that the Enhanced Games will offer athletes financial incentives that they don’t receive through the current Olympic and Paralympic system. And with the help of PEDs, D’Souza argues that athletes will be able to feel better for longer and extend their careers.

“Critics point out that the concept is not only legally questionable, but actually very dangerous to athletes’ health. Critics also note that the Enhanced Games sets a terrible example for young athletes around the world who will witness the glorification of a doping arms race rather than sport based on integrity, fairness, and determination.”

USADA chief Travis Tygart’s view:

“While those behind the Enhanced Games might be looking to make a quick buck, that profit would come at the expense of kids across the world thinking they need to dope to chase their dreams. We desperately wish this investment was being made in the athletes who are currently training and competing the real and safe way. They are the role models this world so desperately needs and they are the ones who deserve our support – not some dangerous clown show that puts profit over principle.”

The Enhanced Games Web site promises information on dates and venues on Wednesday, 21 May.

● Memorabilia ● Heritage Auction’s Spring Sports Catalog Auction that closed Sunday had two Paris 2024 Olympic items, most notably a gold medal from the Mixed 4×400 m relay, won by the Netherlands thanks to a brilliant anchor leg by Femke Bol.

The gold was from lead-off leg Eugene Omalla, who then handed to Lieke Klaver, with Isaya Klein Ikkink on the third leg and then Bol. The sale came with considerable controversy in The Netherlands, with Omalla – now at Kansas State – needing to explain his intentions in a social-media post. He noted that most of the money will go to the Child’s Destiny of Hope (CDHope) charity in Uganda, started by his parents. Also:

● “It was never meant to be about greed or disrespect for that monumental moment. This decision is about something much more personal: securing the future and the well-being of my family and supporting those who need it.”

● “The proceeds will also be used to provide for my family. The struggles and sacrifices we have been through to get to where we are have shaped me in ways that many people perhaps don’t understand.”

The medal sold for $70,150 with the buyer’s premium. Also in the auction was a Paris 2024 Olympic torch, which sold for $12,200 with the buyer’s premium.

● Athletics ● Despite significant rain in Anapoima (COL), Peru and the U.S. battled for the Pan American Race Walking Cup over a hilly course, with Peru winning, but with three Americans in the top 11.

Peru’s Evelyn Inga took the women’s title in 2:56:17 over Johana Ordonez (ECU: 2:58:42), with Americans Maria Michta-Coffey in fifth (3:06:23), Kathleen Burnett in seventh (3:08:25) and Stephanie Casey in 11th (3:27:34).

The men’s 35 km race was won by Mexico’s Jose Doctor in 2:33:22, ahead of Cesar Herrera (COL: 2:33:42), with Nick Christie the top American finisher in 15th (3:02:57), then Michael Mannozzi in 20th (3:19:22) and Anthony Gruttadauro (3:26:47) in 21st.

The U.S. team members had to pay their own way to this event, as USA Track & Field withdrew support it had provided in previous years.

● Basketball ● The FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2025 was inducted in ceremonies in Manama (BRN), in the Bahrain National Theatre, including seven players – Alphonse Bile (CIV), Andrew Bogut (AUS), Leonor Borrell (CUB), Pau Gasol (ESP), Ticha Penicheiro (POR), Ratko Radovanovic (SRB), and Dawn Staley of the U.S. – and Duke University and U.S. Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski.

● Gymnastics ● At the Pan American Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in Santa Tecla (ESA), Americans Ryan Maccagnan and Cody Gesuelli went 1-2 in the men’s Trampoline final, scoring 58.110 and 57.470. Brazil’s Camilla Gomes won the women’s final at 53.430, with Leah Garafolo of the U.S. fourth (51.670) and Kennedi Roberts eighth (21.110).

Maccagnan and Elijah Vogel won the men’s Synchro at 50.420, ahead of Aldo Zuniga and Donovan Guevara (49.560), while Mexico’s Dafne Navarro and Mariola Garcia took the women’s title at 47.020. Avery Kroeker and Clare Bretscher finished seventh.

In the men’s Team final, the U.S. won with 26 points to 24 for Mexico and 19 for Brazil. Brazil edged the U.S., 26-25, for the women’s gold.

● Ice Hockey ● International Ice Hockey Federation chief Luc Tardif (FRA) is quite pleased with the 2025 men’s World Championship ongoing in Sweden (Stockholm) and Denmark (Herning), with a healthy average of 7,041 fans per game through 48 played so far. But the action is not only in the two arenas, as Tardif approvingly noted in an interview with FrancsJeux.com:

“The fan zone is a tradition, it goes with the World Championship. Some people don’t understand why we hold our World Championships in May, but there’s a small tourist element. And most of the time, in May, it’s sunny, it’s nice, so we combine business with pleasure.

“The fan zone is really a meeting place for supporters from different countries. It’s a very family-oriented crowd, a bit like rugby. It’s friendly, there’s no animosity. The first Friday, there were 3,000 people in the fan zone. It’s part of the folklore. You can watch the matches on the giant screens, and drink beer, of course! Ice hockey is primarily in the Nordic countries, and they drink beer!”

In Monday’s action, Finland surprised Canada in Group A with a 2-1 shoot-out win on Eeli Tolvanen’s score as the third Finnish shooter. Both teams are already qualified to the quarterfinals.

In Group B, the Czech Republic hammered Germany, 6-0, making the final quarterfinal spot from this pool to come from the Germany-Denmark match on Tuesday. The Czechs, Swiss and Americans are already through to the quarters.

● Swimming ● Some important action in the pool, as the hot spring times continue.

At the Chinese national championships in Shenzhen, Tokyo Olympic women’s 400 m Free bronzer Bingjie Li won her final in a lifetime best of 3:59.99, to move to third on the world list for 2025, behind American Katie Ledecky and Canadian star Summer McIntosh. Li becomes the sixth woman in history to break four minutes and is now no. 6 all-time.

Li also moved to no. 2 in the world in the women’s 1,500 m in 15:43.94.

Qianting Tang, China’s Paris 2024 women’s 100 m Breast silver medalist, moved to equal-second on the 2025 world list in her nationals semifinal, winning in 1:05.72. Only Britain’s Angharad Evans (1:05.37) is faster so far this year. Two-time Worlds 200 m Medley bronzer Yiting Yu won that event in 2:08.67, now third on the year list, ahead of 12-year-old Zidi Yu (2:10.63).

Haiyang Qin, the 2023 triple Breaststroke World Champion, won the men’s 100 m Breast final in a world-leading 58.61.

France’s Paris 2024 icon Leon Marchand is also getting into shape, taking the world lead in the men’s 400 m Medley at the Longhorn Elite Invitational in Austin, Texas last week, in 4:07.11 and moving up to no. 5 in the in the 200 m Breast in 2:08.25. Hungary’s Hubert Kos, the Paris 2024 men’s 200 m Back winner, moved up to no. 2 in the world at the Elite Invitational, in 1:55.50.

Italian star Benedetta Pilato scored a 50 m Breast world leader at 29.87 in the heats of the Mare Nostrum Monaco stop, on Saturday.

The 66-foot, 14,000-pound replica of the Eiffel Tower that was a centerpiece of the U.S. Olympic Trials fan zone in Indianapolis has moved, on the way to a permanent home at the International School of Indiana by the time school starts in the fall.

● Wrestling ● Rio 2016 Olympic Freestyle gold medalist Kyle Snyder pled guilty via video to one count of disorderly conduct and was fined $250 in a Franklin County (Ohio) Municipal Court, after being arrested in a prostitution sting on 10 May.

He also participated in an education program meant to deter solicitation. He said during the hearing:

“I’ve learned a lot through this process. It’s taught me a lot about myself, and I plan on making much better decisions.

“I learned about why I made the decision that I did, which was because I had too much pride. I learned about the impact that these decisions have on not just my family but the community.”

Snyder continues to be suspended by the U.S. Center for SafeSport; he is entered in the Final X card on 14 June to determine the American team for the 2025 World Championships, but if still suspended, will not be able to wrestle.

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MEMORABILIA: Jesse Owens on a German cigarette trading card in 1935, a year before the Berlin Olympics? Yes, one just sold at auction!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Amazing 1935 German cigarette card of Jesse Owens, ahead of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin! (Photo: PSA).

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

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≡ OWENS IN BERLIN IN ‘35 ≡

The brilliant story of Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympic Games in Nazi Germany, winning four gold medals and shattering the myth of Aryan supremacy in front of Adolf Hitler at the Berlin Olympiastadion is well known and rightly celebrated.

But that wasn’t Owens’ first appearance in the German capital. His picture was there a year earlier!

The Heritage Auctions Spring Sports Catalog Auction which concluded on Sunday (18th) included a remarkable collector’s/trading card of Owens from 1935, in which he was pictured as no. 49 in a large set of perhaps 300 cards of athletes to look for at the 1936 Berlin Games.

The cards were made by Berlin cigarette manufacturer, Muratti, and the brand is still produced, originally founded in 1821 in Turkey. Muratti was made in Germany and Britain in the 1880s, and the Berlin factory was eventually swallowed by the Nazi military. The brand is now owned by Philip Morris International.

But in 1935, Muratti was selling cigarettes with trading cards included in the packs, just like baseball cards in the U.S. It had three series going prior to the 1936 Berlin Games, with the second group of cards of athletes to watch for:

● On the front is a photograph of Owens from 1933 as a high schooler from East Technical in Cleveland, Ohio. By 1935, he was already at Ohio State and equaled the world record in the 100-yard dash (9.4) and set world marks in the 200 m and 220 yards of 20.3, the 200 m and 220-yard hurdles at 22.6 and the long jump at 8.13 m (26-8 1/4), a mark that would stand for 25 years!

● On the back (translated from the original German):

FOCAL POINTS OF GERMAN SPORT
A collected work in 3 volumes
Volume II:
“Sports people are preparing”
Picture 49
Jesse Owens,
America’s champion sprinter and long jump world record holder with 8.13 m. The Negro is considered the most visible man for the long jump in Berlin in 1936.

By classifying the pictures in the scrapbook we have issued, the collector receives a sports history of our time, which is connected in the text and pictures. The album “Sports people are preparing” is available at the price of 1 Reichsmark in all cigarette sales shops or can be obtained directly from us.

The pictures are enclosed with the packs of 10, 25 and 50 pieces of our brand “Muratti Privat.”

In preparation:
Volume III:”The XI Olympiad 1936, Berlin”

Cigarette Factory
Muratti Aktiengesellschaft
Berlin

Given that the card has Owens’ long jump mark from the 25 May 1935 Big Ten meet, the cards were produced in June at the earliest. And these cards were in circulation, despite the Nazi hatred for non-Aryans of all kinds. American star Eulace Peacock, the 1935 U.S. champion in the 100 m and long jump, both times over Owens, and also Black, was also part of the Muratti series, along with Finland distance star Paavo Nurmi and Norwegian skating star Sonja Henie.

The card, graded Excellent-Mint 6 by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), sold for $5,978.00 with the buyer’s premium. The PSA register shows the Owens card is not too rare, with 70 graded examples known. A 2022 sale of a grade-8 card went for $22,200, also by Heritage.

Quite astonishing that Owens – and Peacock – were already being promoted in Berlin a year ahead of the 1936 Olympic Games, despite being propagandized against by the Nazi regime.

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PANORAMA: Public swimming in Seine OK’d for July; Carl Lewis says split off college football & basketball; new trash-WADA hearing coming!

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart, at the June 2024 House Energy and Commerce sub-committee hearing on doping in sport (Image: C-SPAN screen shot).

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● Following through on promises made in advance of the Paris 2024 Games, the City of Paris announced last week that beginning on 5 July, public swimming will once again be allowed in the Seine River.

Outlawed in 1923 due to the pollution levels in the river, restoring swimming became a priority for the city government under Mayor Anne Hidalgo and an enormous tank installation to catch run-offs during rainy periods was completed in time for the Games. Despite some delays due to too-high pollutant levels early in the event, both the triathlon and open-water swims were held in the river.

There will be three points on the river where swimming will be allowed: Grenelle, west of Paris; Bras Marie in the city and Bercy on the east side. Swimming will be allowed until the end of August and a green-yellow-red flag system will provide a real-time indication of water quality.

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● Continuing his push against the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee in light of his continuing demand that the sailing competitions be moved from Long Beach to within his district in San Pedro, a motion filed on 4 April by Los Angeles City Council member Tim McOsker will be heard on Tuesday (20th).

The motion notes that an LA28 “Community Business and Procurement Program” plan and “Local Hire Program” plan were both due by 31 March 2025, but not delivered.

So, McOsker is asking City staff to report back in seven days with the status of both plans and “to provide a timeline for production and public release of this information.”

The motion was referred to the Ad Hoc 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games Committee, but is also being taken up by the Economic Development and Jobs Committee, which will meet on Tuesday (20th), chaired by 9th District Council member Curren Price, Jr. (McOsker is not a member of this committee).

Some L.A. City Council members are not the only ones unhappy with the LA28 venue moves and placements.

In an interview session with reporters last week, International Table Tennis President Petra Sorling (SWE) expressed concern with the assigned space at the Los Angeles Convention Center:

“In Los Angeles we think our venue is too small. The location is excellent but I am sad to say we can only be, maximum, seven thousand.

“We are selling out bigger venues than that. Let’s see what we can do. There is still time.”

Table tennis was held at the South Paris Arena 4 with a capacity of 6,500 per session, mostly full. A true test for the sport will come at the first World Table Tennis U.S. Smash from 3-13 July at the 9,500-capacity Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

● Anti-Doping ● The U.S. Senate is ready for another salvo in the continuing war of words with the World Anti-Doping Agency, with the Commerce, Science & Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy to hold a hearing on 22 May (Thursday) at 10 a.m. Eastern time titled, “WADA Shame: Swimming in Denial Over Chinese Doping.”

The panelists include U.S. Anti-Doping Agency head Travis Tygart, former director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy Dr. Rahul Gupta, Tokyo swimming Olympian and women’s 4×200 m Freestyle relay silver medalist Katie McLaughlin, and Prof. Dionne Koller, University of Baltimore School of Law and Co-Chair of the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics.

Subcommittee chair Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) said:

“The World Anti-Doping Agency has allowed Communist China and Russia to lie, cheat, and steal, putting American athletes at risk. When Congress used its oversight authority to investigate WADA’s blatant corruption, they acted like they were above the law. When the federal government investigated WADA’s inaction, they tried to strongarm the United States and threaten our hosting of the [2034] Salt Lake City Games. As one of the largest financial contributors to WADA, the United Sates deserves answers. My colleagues and I refuse to be silenced in our mission to make certain WADA does not turn a blind eye to corruption.”

● Memorabilia ● At the Ingrid O’Neil Auction 98, the top sellers were two Paris 2024 Olympic torches, which went for $24,000 and $20,000, the only items to top $10,000.

Also worth noting was the sale of a 1980 Congressional Gold Medal, given to members of the U.S. team which was not allowed to compete at the Moscow Olympic Games; it went for $1,200.

● Athletics ● “Olympic sports are going to have to be in one category. Let’s figure out how we do that.

“Football and basketball are in another category. That’s where I think the future is, or there will be no Olympic sports. If anyone thinks it can continue to go this way, they’re fooling themselves.”

That’s Carl Lewis, not just the nine-time Olympic gold medalist, but also the head coach of the University of Houston, speaking about the current turmoil over money in college sports. He told a news conference audience last week:

“The number one objective of these college athletes is to get a degree to get a job. Ultimately, we may have three people on our team out of 115, that may run post-collegiate. That’s probably the average, so think about that.

“Two percent; so 98% come here to ultimately get a job, so I think if we continue down this route, we’re going to continue to rob Peter to pay Paul and everyone is going to be broke.”

If the House vs. NCAA settlement receives Federal court approval, a formula will allow universities to pay their football and basketball players 90% or more of funding from media rights, sponsorships and ticket sales that come into an athletic department, imperiling all other sports. The question is how to achieve Lewis’s goal and what the structure – especially financial – would look like.

The Sports Examiner’s idea on how to do this is here.

● Wrestling ● In the aftermath of his arrest in Columbus, Ohio in a prostitution sting, Rio 2016 Olympic 97 kg Freestyle winner Kyle Snyder was temporarily suspended by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for “Allegations of Misconduct” on 14 May.

According to a WBNS 10TV report on Friday:

“Snyder’s attorney, Eric Hoffman, told 10TV on Friday that the wrestler plans to plead guilty to disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. He was initially charged with engaging in prostitution.”

Snyder is scheduled for a court appearance on Monday (19th) and is expected to be fined and required to receive counseling.

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Athletics ● A world record in the men’s 35 km walk from Tokyo Olympic 20 km walk winner Massimo Stano (ITA) highlighted the World Race Walk Tour Gold European Team Champs in Podebrady (CZE) on Sunday.

Stano took over at the 23 km mark and marched away with a huge win in 2:20:43, destroying the prior mark of 2:21:40 by Canada’s Evan Dunfee in March. German Christopher Linke was a distant second in 2:23:21 and Spain’s Miguel Angel Lopez was third (2:23:48), both national records.

Spain’s Maria Perez, the 2022 World Champion, won the women’s 35 km in a world-leading 2:38:19, ahead of Tokyo Olympic 20 km winner Antonella Palmisano (ITA: 2:39:35).

In the 20 km walks, Spain’s Paul McGrath won easily in 1:18:08 over defending champ Francisco Fortunato (ITA: 1:18:16), with Gabriel Bordier (FRA: 1:18:23) third. Ukraine’s Lyudmila Olynavovska won the women’s 20 km in 1:27:56, from Clemence Beretta (FRA: 1:28:05).

● Badminton ● Home fans got a thrill at the BWF World Tour Thailand Open in Patumwan in the men’s Singles as top-seeded Kunlavut Vitidsarn (THA) defeated no. 2 Anders Antonsen (DEN), 21-16, 17-21, 21-9.

China’s Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Yu Fei Chen won the women’s Singles over top-seeded Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA), 21-16, 21-12. Malaysian teams won the men’s and women’s Doubles and China took the Mixed Doubles.

● Canoe-Kayak ● The home team put on a strong performance at the ICF Sprint World Cup I in Szeged (HUN), winning seven events: four for the men and three for the women.

Two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Varga won the men’s K-1 500 m in 1:44.67, Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Balint Kopasz took the K-1 1,000 m in 3:29.65 and Levente Kurucz and Mark Opavszky took the K-2 500 m in 1:36.93. The Hungarian team also won a tight race with Germany to take the K-4 500 m by 1:20.32 to 1:20.53.

Zsofia Scorba won the grueling C-1 5,000 m in 28:11.39, with American Audrey Harper sixth in 30:41.16, and Agnes Kiss and Blanka Nagy won the C-2 500 m final in 1:57.12, ahead of China’s Mengya Sun and Yaran Ma (1:57.48). The Hungarian squad was an easy winner of the C-4 500 m final.

The only double winner was Poland’s six-time Worlds medal winner Anna Pulawska, who took the women’s K-1 200 m in 43.53 and the K-1 500 m in 1:50.77. The Poles added two more women’s wins, with Sylwia Szczerbinska and Dorota Borowska in the C-2 200 m (44.10) and Martyna Klatt and Sandra Ostrowska in the K-2 500 m (1:48.86).

Canada’s nine-time World Champion Katie Vincent won the women’s C-1 500 m, and 2021 World Champion Aimee Fisher (NZL) won the K-1 1,000 m final in 3:55.89.

Brazil’s seven-time World Champion Isaquias Queiroz took the C-1 500 m in 1:47.80, and C-1 1,000 m Olympic champ Martin Fuksa (CZE) won that race by daylight in 3:54.64.

● Cycling ● Things got crazy over the weekend at the 108th Giro d’Italia, starting on Friday with the first climbing stage of the race. It was expected that 2023 winner Primoz Roglic (SLO) would have the overall race lead by the end of the day, and he did.

But in a position to win the stage, Roglic was unable to master the uphill finish to Tagliacozzo at the end of 168 km and fell back to fourth as 22-year-old rising Spaniard Juan Ayuso – who won the Tirreno-Adriatico earlier this year – got away in the final 400 m to win in 4:20:25. Seven others were in the chase pack, including Roglic, finishing four seconds back.

So Roglic took over the “maglia rosa” leader jersey, but where he had an 18-second advantage over Ayuso coming into the stage, it was only four seconds going into Saturday’s 197 km, triple-climb stage to Castelraimondo.

Australia’s Luke Plapp, a six-time national road champion, attacked with 45 km to go and won his first Grand Tour stage in 4:44:20, leaving Wilco Kelderman (NED) and Diego Ulissi (ITA) – both +0:38 – in the dust. Ayuso and Roglic finished 11-12, but 4:49 and 4:50 back of the winner, so Ulissi took over the race lead over countryman Lorenzo Fortunato (+0:12), with Roglic third (+0:17) and Ayuso fourth (+0:20).

Sunday’s hilly course from Gubbio to Siena over 181 km, saw Belgian star Wout van Aert – in his first Giro – followed Mexico’s Isaac Del Toro on a late attack and then managed to cross first in 4:15:08, almost a minute ahead of the rest of the race. Ayuso finished 1:07 back in seventh and Roglic – after a fall on an early gravel sector and a later flat tire – ended up 19th in a pack that finished 2:22 behind the winner.

That completely scrambled the leaderboard and Del Toro – at age 21 and also in his first Giro – became the race leader by 1:13 over Ayuso, 1:30 over Antonio Tiberi (ITA) and 1:40 over Richard Carapaz (ECU). American Brandon McNulty is in eight (+1:59) and Roglic fell all the way to 10th (+2:25). Crazy.

Tuesday brings the second Individual Time Trial of the race, a flat 29.6 km course from Lucca to Pisa.

The three-stage UCI Women’s World Tour Itzulia Women in the Basque Country of Spain saw Mischa Bredewold (NED) win the mass-sprint finish of stage one and then repeat her win in stage two.

Sunday’s third stage had two moderate climbs on the 112.9 km course in and around Donostia, and Dutch star Demi Vollering put her foot down and crushed the field by 55 seconds, winning in 2:55:35, with Canada’s Sarah van Dam second.

That moved Vollering from sixth to first in 9:55:54, with Bredewold second by 48 seconds and van Dam third at +1:01.

At the UCI Mountain Bike World Series for the first Downhill of the season in Bielsko-Biala (POL), five-time World Downhill champ Loic Bruni (FRA) led wire-to-wire and won the men’s race in 3:04.867, ahead of Oisin O’Callaghan (IRL: 3:05.023) and France’s Amaury Pierson (3:05.675). American Richard Rude Jr. was fourth in 3:06.463.

Britain’s Tahnee Seagrave, a four-time Worlds medalist, won the women’s race in 3:34.340, also leading all the way, over Anna Newkirk of the U.S. (3:36.051).

● Diving ● The USA Diving National Championships finished Friday in Auburn, Alabama, with a sensational championship run from 13-year-old ElliReese Niday.

A seven-time U.S. junior champion, she won a tight battle with 19-year-old Bayleigh Cranford to take the women’s 10 m Platform title by 721.40 to 711.40! Said the winner, the youngest to win this event since 2016:

“It doesn’t feel real. I just tried to stay focused on my own dives and celebrate after.

“It’s really crazy. Maybe one day when I grow up, I’ll make the Olympic team possibly.”

Niday has the background: her mother, Lauryn McCalley Niday was a U.S. national springboard champion in 2000 and 2001.

First-time titles ran through the women’s events, as Sophie Verzyl won her first U.S. Nationals in the 3 m at 626.65, ahead of Lilly Witte (586.45), and Anna Kwong won her first individual national gold in the 1 m, scoring 534.85, beating Tokyo Olympian Hailey Hernandez (522.65) and Verzyl (518.30).

In the women’s Synchro events, Kwong and Verzyl tied with Witte and Bailee Sturgill in the 3 m at 534.12, with Taylor Fox and Hernandez third (515.88). Daryl Wright and Cranford won the 10 m at 569.43, beating Lanie Gulch and Anna Lemkin (554.40).

The men’s diving featured two wins for Joshua Hedberg, 18, who took his third individual national crown scoring 891.50 in the men’s 10 m final, beating Jordan Rzepka (866.45). He had already teamed with Carson Tyler to win the 10 m Synchro at 818.91, winning by more than 146 points.

Lyle Yost won the men’s 1 m at 766.70, ahead of Nicholas Harris (745.45) and Collier Dyer (740.70) and Max Flory took the 3 m title at 922.00, with Dyer at 894.70. Jack Ryan and Grayson Campbell won the 3 m Synchro decisively at 782.19.

In the Mixed Synchro events, Luke Hernandez and Kyndal Knight won the 3 m t 284.10, with Ryan and Krysta Palmer second (282.72). Cranford got a second synchro win in the 10 m, with Tyler Wills at 312.06; they had previously won this event at the 2023 USA Winter Nationals.

● Fencing ● At the FIE Foil Grand Prix in Shanghai (CHN), Hong Kong’s 32nd-ranked Chun Yin Ryan Choi took the men’s title from Italy’s 2023 World Champion, Tommaso Marini, 15-12, for his first major international victory.

In another women’s classic, 2023 Worlds bronze winner Martina Favaretto (ITA) managed another win over Olympic champ Lee Kiefer of the U.S., by 15-11. It’s Favaretto’s second straight win over Kiefer this month, but the American retains a 4-3 career edge in their one-on-one match-ups.

● Gymnastics ● At the second FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup, in Koper (SLO), Brazil, Chinese Taipei and Slovenia all scored two wins.

Slovenian women won both first-day events, with Teja Belak taking the Vault over Tijana Korent (CRO), 13.516 to 13.199. Lucija Hribar got the gold on the Uneven Bars, scoring 14.000 to 12.666 for Brazil’s Gabriela Barbosa.

Brazil got two wins on Sunday, with Julia Coutinho winning on Floor at 13.100, ahead of Barbosa (12.733), and then Lucas Bitencourt winning the men’s Horizontal Bar at 13.500, barely ahead of teammate Patrick Sampaio (13.466).

Chinese Taipei’s Min-Han Chiou won the men’s Floor title at 13.833 and Wei-Sheng Tseng won on Vault, scoring 13.883.

In the other men’s events, Diyas Toishybek (KAZ: 14.033) won on Pommel Horse, 2019 World Rings champ Ibrahim Colak (TUR: 14.033) won his specialty, and Cameron-Lie Bernard (FRA: 13.800) won on Parallel Bars, ahead of Colak (13.366). British Olympian Georgia-Mae Fenton on the women’s Beam, at 13.166.

● Ice Hockey ● Nearing the close of group play at the IIHF men’s World Championship in Denmark and Sweden, three of the four qualifiers from Group A are set, with Sweden (6-0), Canada (5-0) and Finland (4-1) all set to advance. Latvia (3-3) is in fourth position, but needs to beat Austria on Tuesday.

In Group B, the U.S. skated past Germany on Saturday, 6-3, and defeated Kazakhstan on Sunday, 6-1, to also clinch a berth in the quarterfinals. Switzerland leads the group at 6-1, with the Czech Republic at 5-0 and the U.S. at 5-1 all through to the playoffs. Germany and Denmark are tied on points, 9-9, and will play on Tuesday.

Group play will finish in Tuesday (20th) and the quarterfinals will begin on the 22nd.

● Sailing ● The 2025 Laser (ILCA 7) and Laser Radial (ILCA 6) World Championships in Qingdao (CHN) had light winds for most of the week, but then a howling squall on the final day on Saturday.

In the women’s tournament, it was Paris 10th-placer Louise Cervera (FRA) who surprised even herself with the victory, winning two races and finishing fourth twice to end with 11 net points, ahead of 2021 silver medalist Agata Barwinska (POL: 24) and Eve Mcmahon (IRL: also 24). Charlotte Rose was the top American, in eighth (39).

The men’s ILCA 7 regatta was a nail-biter, coming down to the wind-blown final race, with Willem Wiersema (NED) getting his only win of the week. But that was enough to give him just 11 net points, enough to win over two-time Olympic silver medalist Pavlos Kontides (CYP: 12) and Zac Littlewood (AUS) and Jonatan Vadnai (ITA: both also 13).

Wiersema’s best prior finish in a World was 50th, in 2021!

● Sport Climbing ● Olympic silver winner Sorato Anraku (JPN) won his third IFSC World Cup of the season in Curitiba (BRA), taking the Boulder title with 69.7 points in the final. That was good enough to win over France’s Mejdi Schalck (58.9) and two-time World Boulder champ Tomoa Narasaki (JPN: 39.0.

The women’s Boulder competition was a French 1-2, with 2021 World Youth champ Naile Meignan scoring 99.6 in the final to edge countrywoman and 2023 Worlds runner-up Oriane Bertone (99.5). American Nekaia Sanders finished eighth at 34.8.

● Triathlon ● Luxembourg isn’t one of the power countries in the World Triathlon Championship Series, but it was on Saturday in Yokohama (JPN), as Jeanne Lehair, 29, who formerly competed for France, won her first career WTCS race, beating three long-time stars, in rainy conditions.

She was second out of the water, but only 31st in the bike phase, nevertheless one of four leading into the run. Even in the presence of other excellent runners, Lehair – who transferred allegiance from France in 2023 – had the second-fastest run on the day, in 33:41, to finish at 1:51:34.

That was enough to hold off 2023 World Champion Beth Potter (GBR), who ran 33:38 and 1:51:38, and Paris Mixed Relay gold medalist Lisa Tertsch (GER: 33:47 and 1:51:40).

American star Gwen Jorgensen, the Rio 2016 Olympic champ, had her usual strong run in 33:48 to finish fourth in 1:51:52.

Australian Matt Hauser, seventh at the Paris Olympic Games, got his second career Championship Series victory in the men’s race, outlasting Vasco Vilaca (POR) in the closing stages of the run, winning in 1:41:08. Vilaca was a clear second in 1:41:14 over Miguel Hidalgo (BRA: 1:41.29).

Hauser earned the win with the fastest 10 km in the field at 29:43, with Vilaca exactly six seconds behind, which was the final margin. Chase McQueen was the top American, in 13th (1:43:29).

● Wrestling ● The next step in naming the U.S. Freestyle team for the 2025 World Championships was the USA Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge in Louisville, Kentucky, with wrestle-offs to determine the remaining contestants in the “Final X” selection meet on 14 June in Newark, New Jersey.

One of those trying to qualify was Olympic women’s 68 kg and two-time World 72 kg champ Amit Elor, in her first competition since Paris in 2024. Back at 72 kg, she fell behind 1-0 in the first period against U.S. Open runner-up Skylar Grote and had to win two second-period points to advance, 2-1.

At 59 kg, 2019 World Champion Jacarra Winchester moved on with a 7-3 win over Alexis Janiak. U.S. Open silver medalists who did advance to Final X included Erin Golston (50 kg), Felicity Taylor (53 kg), Everest Leydecker (55 kg) and Adaugo Nwachukwu (62 kg).

In the men’s bouts, two-time Olympic bronze medalist Kyle Dake won a high-profile battle at 86 kg with Carter Starocci on criteria after a 3-3 score.

At 79 kg, Levi Haines beat Dean Hamiti, the U.S. Open runner-up at 79 kg by 10-2, and U-20 Worlds runner-up Josh Barr won at 92 kg over Aeoden Sinclair, 7-3.

At 97 kg, Hayden Zillmer, a 2022 U.S. Worlds team member, won at 97 kg by beating U-23 Worlds bronzer Jonathan Aiello, 5-3. Trent Hillger took the 125 kg title over U.S. Open runner-up Demetrius Thomas, 10-4.

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FOOTBALL: FIFA under fire for Infantino’s late arrival, Club World Cup, and World Cup 2030, 2034 and more

By
Rich Perelman
-
The 75th FIFA Congress in Asuncion, Paraguay (FIFA video screen shot).

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≡ NOT EASY TO BE KING ≡

One of Shakespeare’s enduring truths came in Henry IV, Part 2, where he wrote “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

So it is for FIFA, which has been enjoying a tidal wave of attention, income and success, with the 75th Congress told that the revenues for the 2023-26 cycle are now estimated at a staggering $13 billion, with 62% of this amount already under contract. Of this, $11.67 billion has already been budgeted for re-distribution back into the football world, especially to its member associations. Some $1.23 billion will go for FIFA’s administration and commercial costs.

The increase from the previously-forecast $11 billion is another $2 billion from the Club World Cup, to be held next month in the U.S. Television rights account for about $1.5 billion and hospitality and ticket sales are forecast at $500 million.

Revenues for 2025 are projected at $2.436 billion, with $3.460 billion in expenses and an overall loss of more than $1 billion. For 2026 – a World Cup year – revenues are foreseen at $8.911 billion, with $6.394 billion in expenses for a surplus of $2.517 billion.

In March 2024, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber noted correctly, as FIFA well knows:

“There’s no question now that America has become the ATM for the soccer world. We have raised the commercial value of the sport in our country in ways where it now is perhaps the most valuable soccer market, commercially.”

But tempers are beginning to flare and there is distrust and disagreement in some corners of the empire. These came to a head last week.

● The FIFA Congress
The annual meeting of the football world was in Asuncion (PAR), but for the most part, FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) wasn’t there.

He was in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, organizers of the future World Cup in 2034 and the World Cup host for 2022, along with U.S. President Donald Trump, and Infantino spoke to a Saudi-U.S. investment forum, urging business leaders to invest in football.

So he missed all of the lead-up and committee meetings before the Congress itself on Thursday (15th), finally arriving two hours and 17 minutes after the planned start of the Congress at 9:30 a.m. local time, but pushed back to 12:30 p.m. to accommodate his private plane coming from Qatar.

He apologized in his opening remarks:

“As president of FIFA, my responsibility is to make decisions in the interests of the organization.

“I decided to be the last two days in the Middle East knowing the 2034 World Cup will be in Saudi Arabia and the World Cup in 2022 was in Qatar. The ’25 Club World Cup and ’26 World Cup will be in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Some important discussions took place in regard to the World Cup, and I felt that I needed to be there to represent football and all of you. We had an issue with our flight, which made this delay happen. Apologies. Sorry, and I am looking forward to spending time with you here.”

After that, there was a break and the eight members of the FIFA Council from Europe left in protest, and UEFA issued a statement that included:

“The last minute changes to the timings of the FIFA Congress are deeply regrettable.

“Our hosts, the Paraguay [Football Association] and our partners at CONMEBOL, had gone to considerable effort to accommodate so many delegates and we thank them for their hospitality.

“But to have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests, does the game no service and appears to put its interests second.

“The FIFA Congress is one of the most important meetings in world football, where all the 211 nations in the world’s game gather to discuss issues that affect the sport right across the world.

“We are all in post to serve football, from the streets to the podium, and UEFA members of the FIFA council felt the need on this occasion to make a point that the game comes first and to leave as originally scheduled.”

Others brushed off the protest, with CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani (CAN) saying, “if someone is late, they’re late.”

● FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Although FIFA forecasts $2 billion in revenue from the expanded Club World Cup, being held in the U.S. starting next month, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing.

Ticket sales have lagged; in February, Inside World Football reported:

“The cheapest tickets for the final were being offered at $300 instead of the original $890. For the semi-final, supporters can now buy a ‘cheap’ ticket for $140 instead of $526. In the round of 16, ticket prices for the lowest category have also dropped with FIFA insisting that the price drop is to reward loyal fans.

“Ticket sales have been sluggish, but FIFA has failed to provide any updates on sales figures.”

In April, a tie-in sales effort for the 2025 Club World Cup attached ticket availability for the 2026 World Cup to boost interest in the tournament. The opening game is on 14 June in Miami.

● FIFA World Cup 2030
The centennial World Cup was arranged oddly to create an opportunity to hand the 2034 World Cup to Asia or Oceania, and more directly to Saudi Arabia. While a combined bid by Morocco, Portugal and Spain was handed most of the event, three “centenary celebration” matches are scheduled to start the 48-team, 104-match tournament, in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, which hosted the first tournament in 1930.

That allowed FIFA to declare that the “turns” of Europe, Africa and South America had all been taken. But the South American confederation – CONMEBOL – was hardly impressed.

So, CONMEBOL chief Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay, continues to suggest that the tournament – only for the centennial year of 2030 – be specially expanded to 64 teams … which could allow the South American hosts to host many more matches and actually some benefit from being a “World Cup host” in 2030.

It’s a financial play for sure, but clever and makes about as much sense as anything else in the FIFA world. But others are against it, worried about a future permanent expansion of the tournament to 64 teams. But there is no reason for Dominguez to give up, and Infantino said in his closing comments:

“The 100-year celebration will be something special. And I want to underline the words of Alejandro in this speech. He told all of us to think on how we can really celebrate it in the way it deserves to be celebrated. So every idea is a good idea.”

● FIFA World Cup 2034
Infantino worked hard to arrange the 2030 award to have Saudi Arabia awarded the 2034 World Cup, and it was. But by doing so, he invited a continuation and expansion of the criticism from human rights advocates see in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was considered a success from an athletic point of view.

Last week, Human Rights Watch and the labor activist group FairSquare criticized FIFA’s lax oversight of the Saudi building effort, with Human Rights Watch Global Initiatives Director Minky Worden (USA) said:

“The 2034 Saudi World Cup will be the largest and most expensive ever, but it could also have the highest cost in human lives, as millions of migrant workers build infrastructure, including 11 new stadiums, a rail and transit network, and 185,000 hotel rooms.”

On Thursday, a group of British and Swiss lawyers filed a grievance through FIFA’s own channel, demanding that it follow its own regulations requiring host-country human-rights compliance. From the complaint:

“FIFA’s decision to approve Saudi Arabia as the next host country now places FIFA, in accordance with its own policy, under an obligation to ensure that internationally recognised human rights are upheld in Saudi Arabia.

“To date there is no evidence that such steps have been initiated, let alone that FIFA has any intention of doing so. This complaint highlights these failings so that they can be rectified without delay.”

The grievance cites areas needing support that include freedom of expression and association; arbitrary arrests, mistreatment and the death penalty; judicial independence; migrants’ rights; and women’s rights.

None of these issues threaten the tournaments, and Infantino can be elected for another term as FIFA President, through 2031, so he isn’t going anywhere.

But despite the enormous amounts of money coming in – especially with the Club World Cup and FIFA World Cup being held in the U.S. in 2025 and 2026 – this turmoil can make things uncomfortable.

Nothing is easy and FIFA will have challenges ahead of it, including with the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., and while there are predictions in some quarters of problems for fans getting into the U.S., especially, next year, Infantino can always turn to his friend, the President of the United States for assistance.

That was part of his investment in time in Saudi Arabia and Qatar last week, and if problems crop up, he’s betting on a critical payoff from Washington.

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ATHLETICS: Five-year slow for Richardson in Tokyo; Arkansas’ Anthony doubles in 9.95 and 19.93 at SEC Champs!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic women's javelin champion Haruka Kitaguchi (JPN) (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ SHA’CARRI’S SLOW START ≡

There were two world-leading performances at the Continental Tour Gold Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo (JPN) on Sunday:

● Men/3,000 m: 7:39.69, Jude Thomas (AUS)
● Women/1,500 m: 4:01.10, Georgia Griffith (AUS)

Thomas won a close race in the 3,000 m, needing his 7:39.69 to edge Ermias Girma (ETH: 7:40.42) and Brian Fay (IRL: 7:41.09). Griffith ran away in the women’s 1,500 m, winning by almost five seconds over Nozomi Tanaka (JPN: 4:06.08).

But the featured race was the women’s 100 m, with Olympic runner-up and 2023 World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. in her season debut. There was a recall as Richardson appeared to flinch but was green-carded and then another call-up by the starter.

On the third try, Richardson got an even start, was quickly behind Terry, but was coming on a little in mid-race. But she did not have her usual close and Australia’s Bree Rizzo came on from the outside and won over Terry, 11.38 to 11.42, into a 0.9 m/s headwind. Richardson eased up in the final meters and ended up fourth in 11.47, in her first race since last September. It was her slowest time in a 100 m since a heat in 2021 and her slowest in a final since 2020.

Japanese fans were thrilled with the final event, as home favorite Hiroki Yanagita won the men’s 100 m in 10.06 (+1.1 m/s) over Americans Christian Miller (10.08) and 2019 World Champion Christian Coleman (10.11). Pjai Austin of the U.S. was seventh in 10.20.

NCAA 200 m runner-up Robert Gregory scored an important win in the men’s 200 m in 20.24 into a 2.4 m/s headwind, ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ Andre De Grasse (CAN: 20.29).

Japan’s Rachid Muratake moved to no. 10 on the 2025 world list in the 110 m hurdles, winning in 13.16 into a 1.1 m/s headwind. American Dylan Beard was third in 13.38. Trevor Bassitt of the U.S., the 2022 Worlds silver winner, took the men’s 400 m hurdles in 48.50, now no. 6 in 2025, chased home by Ken Toyoda (JPN: 48.55).

Liam Adcock (AUS) won the men’s long jump at 8.20 m (26-11), moving to no. 4 on the 2025 world outdoor list. American Marc Minichello, a two-time NCAA champion, won the men’s javelin on his final throw, reaching 82.36 m (270-2)

In the women’s 100 m hurdles. American star Tonea Marshall won in 12.54 (+0.7) ahead of country woman Alia Armstrong (12.68). Olympic high jump champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh took only two jumps to win at 1.96 m (6-5), then missed once at 2.00 m (6-6 3/4) and retired.

Olympic javelin champ Haruka Kitaguchi thrilled the home crowd with a win at 64.16 m (210-6) in round five.

Collegiate conference meets were on this weekend, with – as usual – most of the highlights coming from the Southeastern Conference meet in Lexington, Kentucky:

● Arkansas sophomore Jordan Anthony, the NCAA Indoor 60 m champ, won the men’s 100 in a lifetime best of 9.95 (wind: 0.0) to move to no. 4 on the 2025 world list and then took the 200 in a lifetime best of 19.93 (+1.3), now no. 5 for 2025. Auburn senior Makanakaishe Charamba (ZIM) was the closest in 20.08.

● Texas junior Kendrick Smallwood won the 110 m hurdles in a tight battle with NCAA Indoor 60 m hurdle winner Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn, winning by 13.13 to 13.15 (+0.5), moving to nos. 7 and 9 on the world list.

● In the men’s 400 m hurdles, Tennessee frosh Saad Hinti (MAR) got a national record of 48.44 to win over Texas junior Kody Blackwood (48.78).

● South Carolina soph JaMeesia Ford overpowered the field in the women’s 200 m, winning in 22.01 (+1.9) to move to no. 3 in the world this year.

Arkansas won the men’s team title over Georgia, and the Georgia women won over Texas A&M.

At the Big XII in Lawrence, Kansas, Baylor senior and three-time NCAA scorer Nathaniel Ezekiel (NGR) moved to no. 3 in the world in the 400 m hurdles, winning in 47.89, a lifetime best and his fourth national record in the event.

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ATHLETICS: World straightaway bests from Ofili and dos Santos, and a windy long jump win for U.S.’s Bryant at Atlanta City Games

By
Rich Perelman
-
Brazil's World 400 m hurdles champion and Olympic medalist Alison Dos Santos (Photo: Diamond League AG)

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≡ ATLANTA CITY GAMES ≡

/Updated/The annual “street meet” on a five-lane, 230 m track in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia – the Atlanta City Games – was held on Saturday, with Olympic 100 m champ Noah Lyles to be the main attraction, but he had to take the day off.

He told NBC’s Lewis Johnson that he had some inflammation in an ankle a couple of weeks ago and wanted to “play it safe” and not risk any further injury.

On the track, there were still plenty of stars, starting with 2022 World men’s 400 m hurdles champ Alison dos Santos (BRA) in the straight 200 m hurdles. Two-time NCAA champ Sean Burrell was out best, but dos Santos took over by mid-way and run confidently to the line, winning in 21.85 (wind: +1.5 m/s). Burrell was a clear second in 22.30.

That’s a world best on a straight track, considerable faster than the 22.10 by Britain’s Andrew Turner from 2011. Burrell is now no. 6 all-time.

The next race was another record performance, with 2022 Commonwealth women’s 200 m runner-up Favour Ofili taking the lead early and storming to a decisive in the women’s 150 m in 15.85 (+2.0), also a world best, smashing to 16.23 by Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) from 2018. Candace Davis of the U.S. was a clear second in 16.14, an American best!

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala emerged after 50 m and run away with the featured men’s 150 m in 14.70 into a 1.1 m/s headwind, beating Terrence Jones (BAH: 14.93) and American Matthew Boling (15.15).

The best women’s outdoor long jump in 2025 saw surprise World Indoor champ Claire Bryant of the U.S. get her first-ever 7 m jump with a wind-aided 7.03 m (23-0 3/4: +2.4 m/s) on her final attempt to steal the event from Olympic bronze medalist Jasmine Moore, who reached a windy 7.02 m (23-0 1/4: +2.6 m/s) in round four with her all-time outdoor best! Quanesha Burks of the U.S. got a (wind-legal) seasonal best of 6.80 m (22-3 3/4) for third.

(Thanks to TSX correspondent Karen Rosen for the update on the wind readings, not immediately available while the meet was ongoing.)

In the men’s 100 m, South Africa’s world leader Akani Simbine produced another excellent race, pulling ahead in the second half and winning in 9.86w (+2.3 m/s). Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike was a distant second at 10.05.

The men’s 200 on the straight was a speedy 19.55w (+2.2) win for Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, the 2022 European champ, ahead of Jereem Richards (TTO: 19.83) and 400 m world-record holder Wayde van Niekerk (RSA: 20.03).

Trey Cunningham, the 2022 Worlds silver winner, took the lead at mid-race in the 110 m hurdles and won by daylight in 13.16 (+0.3), with Paris Olympian Freddie Crittenden in 13.33. Paris Olympian Matt Ludwig won the men’s vault at 5.83 m (19-1 1/2), with American Austin Miller second at 5.63 m (18-5 1/2).

The women’s 100 m had three coming across almost together, with 2021 NCAA champ Cambrea Sturgis moving up from third with 40 m to go to lean at the tape to win in 10.98 (+1.2), by 6/1000ths over 2024 NCAA champ McKenzie Long, also in 10.98. American Celera Barnes was third in 11.01. Sturgis and Long moved up to equal-2nd on the 2025 year list.

The women’s straightaway 200 m saw Tokyo Olympic relay gold medalist Lynna Irby-Jackson get a lifetime (straightaway) best in 22.22 (+1.7), pulling away from Tamara Clark (22.71) and Talitha Diggs (22.79).

Former world-record holder Keni Harrison of the U.S. emerged from a three-way battle in the final third of the 100 m hurdles to win in 12.30w (+2.1) over no. 3 all-time Tia Jones (12.36) and Olympic fifth-placer Grace Stark (also 12.36).

A terrific men’s long jump saw Jamaica’s World Indoor bronzer Carey McLeod move to no. 2 on the 2025 world outdoor list at 8.33 m (27-4), beating Italy’s World Indoor champ Matteo Furlani (8.28 m/27-2).

This meet was more about fun than nail-biting competition, but there were some compelling performances nonetheless. An evening session at Midtown High school will have 800 m and 1,500 m races beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

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ATHLETICS: Weber wins hot javelin showdown with Chopra among five world leads at Doha Diamond League

By
Rich Perelman
-
German javelin star Julian Weber got a lifetime best and world lead at the Doha Diamond League (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ DOHA DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡

A fabulous javelin showdown highlighted the annual Doha Diamond League meet on Friday, with world-leading marks in five events:

● Men/800 m: 1:43.11, Tshepiso Masalela (BOT)
● Men/Javelin Throw: 91.06 m (298-9), Julian Weber (GER)
● Women/100 m: 10.92, Tia Clayton (JAM)
● Women/Steeple: 9:05.08, Faith Cherotich (KEN)
● Women/Triple Jump: 14.39 m (47-2 1/2), Thea LaFond (DMA)

The men’s jav saw Tokyo Olympic and 2023 World Champion Neeraj Chopra of India get a national record of 90.23 m (296-0) in the third round that looked like a possible winner. But Germany’s Weber, the 2022 European champ, had been close at 89.84 m (294-9) in round five and then managed a lifetime best of 91.06 m (298-9) in the sixth and final round to move Chopra to second place. Said Weber:

“I don’t know what happened tonight, I think I’ll have to watch it!

“I just felt amazing today, I didn’t know how that happened because the previous weeks weren’t that good for me, but I was just feeling great, my physio gave me a really good massage. The crowd was amazing, there was a great background and also helped me throw beyond 90 meters for the first time. It also was the winning throw in the last round, so it came out really perfect.”

In the men’s 800 m, Botswana’s Masalela – seventh in the Paris Olympic 800 m – had to pass Kenya’s Wyclife Kinyamal on the home straight and charged to the line to win in a world-leading 1:43.11. American record holder Bryce Hoppel also passed Kinyamal in the final 50 m got second in 1:43.26 with Kinyamal third in 1:43.26.

The women’s 100 wasn’t close from the start, as Jamaica’s Tia Clayton, seventh in the Paris Olympic final in 2024, got a strong start and never let up, winning in a lifetime best of 10.92 (wind +2.0 m/s), with sister Tina Clayton second (11.02) and five-time World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce fourth in 11.05.

In the women’s Steeple, Kenya’s Olympic bronzer Cherotich trailed Olympic champ Winfred Yavi (BRN) into the final straight, but blew by in the final 15 m to get the world-leading win in 9:05.08, with Yavi at 9:05.26.

In a Paris Olympic rematch, it was Jamaica’s silver winner Shanieka Ricketts who owned the women’s triple jump, getting out to a wind-aided 14.72 m (48-3 1/2) in the second round and won easily. Olympic champ LaFord had to settle for second with a world-leading (legal) jump of 14.39 m (470-2 1/2) in round five.

The lone U.S. win of the day came from Olympic runner-up Shelby MacEwen in the men’s high jump, as the only one to clear 2.26 m (7-5), while Japan’s Ryoichi Akamatsu and Olympic winner Hamish Kerr (NZL) cleared 2.23 m (7-3 3/4) to finish 2-3.

The highly-anticipated men’s discus showed that Australia’s Matt Denny, the Olympic bronze medalist, will have to be reckoned with, winning at 68.94 m (226-2) over Tokyo Olympic champ Daniel Stahl (SWE: 67.06 m/220-0) and 2022 World Champion Kristjan Ceh (SLO: 66.92 m/219-7). American Sam Mattis was fifth at 54.24 m (214-0).

The men’s 200 had Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo in lane seven, taking the lead on the home straight and then holding off Courtney Lindsey of the U.S. in lane eight, even while turning to look at him in the final 5 m, 20.10 to 20.11 (+0.7). Kyree King of the U.S. was sixth in 20.61.

Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot outran European champ Dominic Lobalu (SUI) and Birhanu Balew (BRN) to take the men’s 5,000 m, in a lifetime best of 13:16.40, to 13:17.70 for both. Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell, the Paris bronzer, ran away with the 110 m hurdles in 13.14 (+0.7), ahead of American Jamal Britt (13.25), with Olympic runner-up Daniel Roberts seventh (13.49).

Italy’s Alessandro Sibilio came on late to win the 400 m hurdles in 49.32, ahead of Turkey’s Ismail Nezir (49.40); American CJ Allen was fifth (49.90).

Bahrain’s 400 m world leader Salwa Eid Naser dominated her race in 49.83, way ahead of Natalia Bukowiecka (POL: 50.92). Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir was a clear winner of the women’s 1,500 m, 4:05.00 to 4:06.27 for countrywoman Susan Ejore-Sanders (4:06.27).

The women’s vault went to European champ Molly Caudery (GBR) at 4.75 m (15-7), beating Roberta Bruni (ITA) and Tokyo Olympic champ Katie Moon of the U.S., both at 4.63 m (15-2 1/4) and tied for second. Americans Emily Grove and Sandi Morris tied for fourth, also at 4.63 m.

The Diamond League moves on to Rabat (MAR) next week.

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PANORAMA: NFL owners to consider ‘28 Olympic Flag participation; busy T&F weekend starts in Doha; Human Rights Watch upset with FIFA

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● LA28 announced Archer as its “Official Air Taxi Provider” for the 2028 Games and for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The company and the organizing committee

“will look to integrate Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft across the LA28 Games in a variety of ways, such as transporting VIPs, fans, and stakeholders, while electrifying vertiport take-off-and-landing hubs for key venues and providing support for emergency services and security.”

The Midnight is a four-passenger, piloted vehicle; as to destinations:

“Archer’s planned network in LA includes vertiports at key venues that are central to the LA28 Games, including the Stadium in Inglewood and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Additionally, the network is planned to include critical visitor hubs, including Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood, Orange County, and Santa Monica.”

The air taxi idea was floated for Paris 2024, but never took off.

The Los Angeles City Council approved, by a 12-3 vote, a motion for an ordinance to be drafted to increase the city’s Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance from the present $18 per hour for hotels with more than 60 rooms in steps to $30 by 2028.

The increased would be to $22.50 hourly by July 2025, then $25.00 in 2026, $27.50 in 2027, and $30.00 in July 2028. In addition, workers would be paid $8.35 per hour in health care costs, beginning in 2026, and a minimum of six hours of training time for all workers.

The existing ordinance also requires 96 compensated “off time” hours and 80 hours of uncompensated time off annually. The revised ordinance is expected to come back to the Council for approval on 23 May.

The LA28 organizing committee has already negotiated room blocks for use by officials, media and sponsors; it is not clear if the ordinance – when passed – will impact hotel participation or costs.

The National Football League team owners will consider a proposal next week to allow players to participate in the flag football competition at the 2028 Olympic Games.

Agreement on the resolution will not end the issue, but allow the NFL to negotiate with the NFL Players Association and the International Federation of American Football on entry standards and other details for 2028.

The proposal currently would have each team designate an “international player” and a maximum of one additional player per team to be selected for Olympic play.

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● The Queensland government is back asking for money, this time for transportation infrastructure improvements, but not directly to support the 2032 Games.

On Monday, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli told reporters:

“We are going to have to spend billions of dollars on transport infrastructure, and that’s not just for the Games. That’s for a growing region, and that does involve partnerships with Canberra.

“[The federal government] are working with us now to deliver the upgrades that the Bruce Highway haven’t had for a generation, and they’re paying 80 per cent of it. So they should. It’s a federal road, but we negotiated in good faith.

“I see 2032 as being a deadline that we can work to, but I’m very confident that people will see good partnerships between us and the federal government’s support.”

Queensland is looking for more rail lines and new roads; these are permanent improvements that are actually not part of the 2032 Games requirements, but naysayers will include the costs as “Olympic” no matter what.

● Anti-Doping ● The World Anti-Doping Agency placed Iran on its “watchlist” of possibly non-compliant countries for “non-conformities related to the area of testing that were identified through the Code Compliance Questionnaire (CCQ) exercise.”

The Iranian anti-doping agency provided WADA with a corrective plan within four months, which, if completed, will remove the country from the watchlist.

● Athletics ● The Athletics Integrity Unit provisionally suspended Ukrainian jumping star Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, 29, as of 14 May, for using testosterone.

She has not competed since the Paris Olympic Games, where she placed 11th in the triple jump. She’s a three-time Olympian, and the 2019 Worlds women’s long jump silver medalist and 2023 Worlds women’s triple jump silver winner. She was expected to compete at the Doha Diamond League meet on Friday.

Also banned was Kenyan Nehamiah Kipyegon (KEN), 27, a 60:34 half-marathoner from 2024, for three years for the use of trimetazidine. His results were nullified as of 15 February 2025. He failed an in-competition test on 15 February and said that he did not know that he used the substance, but accepted the consequences.

In what should be a busy weekend on the track, three major events stand out:

● The Diamond League resumes on Friday in Doha (QAT) with Olympic men’s 200 m champion Letsile Tebogo (BOT), five-time women’s World 100 m champ Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) and Tokyo Olympic men’s javelin winner Neeraj Chopra of India.

The men’s discus will be fascinating with Tokyo Olympic winner Daniel Stahl (SWE), 2022 World Champion Kristjian Ceh (SLO) and Paris Olympic bronzer Matt Denny, who is the no. 2 thrower all-time with his 74.78 m (245-4) toss in the wind tunnel in Ramona, Oklahoma last month. The meet is available in the U.S. only on the FloTrack streaming service. 

● In the U.S., the Atlanta City Games “street meet” will be held in Piedmont Park on Saturday (17th), with Paris Olympic men’s 100 m champ Noah Lyles scheduled to run in the men’s 150 m dash, in which he is the defending champion.

Part of the meet will be shown on NBC from 3-4 p.m. Eastern time.

● U.S. collegiate conference meets will be all over the place, with the Atlantic Coast Conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; the Big 10 at Eugene, Oregon; the Big XII in Lawrence, Kansas and the Southern Conference meet in Lexington, Kentucky, among many others.

Then, on Sunday comes a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet – the Seiko Golden Grand Prix – with Paris Olympic women’s 100 m silver medalist Sha’Carri Richardson of the U.S. expected to make her seasonal debut.

Olympic champions Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR: high jump) and Haruka Kitaguchi (JPN: javelin) are also expected to compete.

● Basketball ● The FIBA Basketball World Cup for women comes next in 2026 from 4-13 September in Germany, but the FIBA Central Board agreed to move the 2030 tournament and those following to the end of the year, from 27 November to 8 December in 2030.

Why? Consider that the WNBA season, with added teams and a 44-game schedule now, runs from 16 May to 11 September in 2025, plus the playoffs. With so many important players in this league, FIBA had to get out of the way.

The men’s FIBA World Cup will stay in the summer to avoid the NBA season.

● Cross Country Skiing ● A man in his 60s who stalked Sweden’s 13-time World Championships medal winner Frida Karlsson, 25, for 16 months was given a suspended sentence and fined SEK 40,000 (~$4,108 U.S.).

According to the Swedish news agency TT, the man called Karlsson 207 times and sent “masses” of voicemails and text messages, even seeking her out in public places, including outside her apartment in Oestersund.

Both the prosecutors and the convicted man have filed appeals, with the prosecutors still insisting on jail time. Said Karlsson:

“It has been a process. But I think he has gotten enough focus. Just this with stalking is something that affects many and it was one of the reasons why we reported it, says the skiing star.

“It affects not just public figures. It’s primarily women who are exposed and it’s also for them that I’m doing this now.”

● Cycling ● Australian sprinter Kaden Groves got his second career stage win at the Giro d’Italia in Thursday’s sixth stage, but only after a massive pile-up caused the race to be stopped.

The up-and-down, 227 km stage from Potenza to Naples had a lengthy final third which was flat, and when 2022 champion Jai Hundley (AUS) slipped due to the rainy conditions just entering the flatter part of the course, it caused a major crash. The race was stopped between 156 and 166 km and once re-started, no points or time gaps or bonuses were awarded.

Groves won the expected mass sprint to the line in 4:59:52 over Milan Fretin (BEL) and Paul Magnier (FRA), and all of the finishing riders given the same time. Hindley and three others did not finish; Hindley was taken to a hospital with a concussion.

Dane Mads Pedersen still leads 2023 winner Primoz Roglic (SLO) by 17 seconds with the first climbing stage coming on Friday.

● Football ● The activist Human Rights Watch organization sent a 5 May letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) criticizing U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump and alleging they “fundamentally undermine the inclusive spirit of the World Cup and the non-discrimination policies under FIFA’s Statutes.”

The letter, from Human Rights Watch Global Initiatives Director Minky Worden (USA) stated:

“FIFA should publicly acknowledge the threat US immigration policies pose to the tournament’s integrity and urge the US government to ensure that all qualified teams, support staff, media, and fans will have equal access to enter the US regardless of nationality, religion, or opinion.

“FIFA should also establish clear benchmarks and timelines for US immigration policy changes needed to ensure respect for the rights of players, fans, and other participants in the World Cup and be prepared to reconsider the hosting decision if such guarantees cannot be secured.”

Given the close relationship between Infantino and Trump, the letter will accomplish very little.

Worden and labor-rights activist group FairSquare also criticized FIFA for failure to monitor human rights and labor issues in Saudi Arabia, where the FIFA 2034 World Cup will be played, with multiple stadiums being built, along with many other non-sport-related projects.

The Associated Press reported:

“Human Rights Watch and another rights group, FairSquare, released separate investigations Wednesday detailing preventable deaths of migrant workers from job-site accidents and work-related illnesses.

“The reports accuse Saudi authorities of often misreporting such deaths and failing to investigate, preventing families from receiving compensation from the kingdom that they are entitled to and knowing how their loved ones died.”

● Ice Hockey ● At the IIHF men’s World Championship in Denmark and Sweden, Canada and Sweden both moved to 4-0 in Group A with comprehensive wins on Wednesday and Thursday.

Sweden stomped Latvia on Wednesday, 6-0, and the Canadians skated past Austria, 5-1 on Thursday. They each have one more game before meeting for the group win on the 20th, the final day of group play.

In Group B, Switzerland smashed Germany, 5-1 and the Czech Republic eased by Hungary, 6-1, so the Czechs now lead the group with 11 points (4-0), ahead of the Swiss (3-1: 10), then Germany (3-1: 9) and the U.S. (3-1: 8). The top four move on to the quarters; no other team in the group has more than three points.

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ATHLETICS: Grand Slam Track condenses Philadelphia schedule to two days, now with 12 races in the same time window!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK ≡

Showing a rarely-seen flexibility in track & field, Grand Slam Track announced Thursday that its schedule for the next-up Philadelphia Slam on 30-31 May and 1 June has been condensed into a two-day meet on Saturday (31st) and Sunday (1st) only.

Per Grand Slam Track founder Michael Johnson:

“[W]’ve taken time to celebrate the successes we’ve achieved in our inaugural season, but also have looked for ways to improve Grand Slam Track in real time.

“We’ve said all along we want to listen to our fans, athletes, and coaches, and having heard feedback from various key stakeholders, we’ve made the decision to condense our schedule in Philadelphia into two, high-octane, and intense days of combat racing. We want to be the most flexible, adaptive, and fan-first league in sports, and we believe making these changes will improve the Grand Slam Track experience for all.”

So, where there were eight races on each of the three days in Kingston (JAM) and Miramar, Florida, 12 races will take place each day at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field:

● Saturday: 400 m hurdles (men and women), men’s 800 m, 200 m (m+w), women’s 3,000 m, 400 m (m+w), women’s 1,500 m, men’s 110 m hurdles, women’s 100 m hurdles.

● Sunday: 400 m (m+w for long hurdles), women’s 800 m, 100 m (m+w for short hurdles), men’s 3,000 m, 200 m (m+w for long sprints), men’s 1,500 m, 100 m (m+w).

So everyone is competing on consecutive days, with the short-distance entrants running 800 m and 1,500 m over two days. For the long-distance groups:

“To ensure the most thrilling and competitive matchups, the Men’s and Women’s Long Distance Race Groups will each compete in a single 3000m race. As they will only be competing in one race at the Slam, Long Distance Race Groups will compete for an adjusted prize pool, with the winner taking home $50,000.”

Half as many races; half the payout. The presentation will also change:

● The Kingston and Miramar meets had Friday and Saturday competition slots beginning at 5:42 p.m. and finishing at 7:21 p.m., and Sunday timing with the same length, but moved up a couple of hours. That means the show blocks essentially looked like this:

0:00 to 0:42: Pre-event show (42 mins.)
0:43 to 2:21: 8 races (~1:40)
2:22 to 3:00: Post-event show (38 mins.)

● Now, for the Philadelphia Slam, more races in about the same time:

0:00 to 0:39: Pre-event show (39 mins.)
0:40 to 2:22: 12 races (~1:44)
2:23 to 3:00: Post-event show (37 mins.)

Translation: less chatter between races, which viewers on social media have been clamoring for.

Ticket buyers for Friday in Philadelphia will receive full refunds; if the program goes off successfully as now planned, there should be little doubt that the final Slam, at UCLA’s Drake Stadium from 27-29 June, will also be shortened to two days.

Grand Slam Track also announced new “Challengers” for Philadelphia, including World Indoor 800 m winner Josh Hoey of the U.S., Hobbs Kessler, the 2023 World Road Mile champion, Bella Whittaker, the NCAA Indoor women’s 400 m champ, Nia Akins, the U.S. Olympic Trials women’s 800 m winner, and Britain’s Georgia Bell, the Paris Olympic women’s 1,500 m bronzer.

Observed: This is a welcome and unexpected update of the Grand Slam Track formula, which should help the Philadelphia Slam.

Sometimes, “less is more” and the three-day format for a new competition is a lot for casual fans to absorb. The weekend format also does not compromise the linear broadcast agreement with The CW, which was only showing the weekend days anyway.

Good for Johnson and his team for re-arranging the event to make it better for the fans, who – in the end – will determine whether this project survives.

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PANORAMA: U.S.’s Sabharwal to be Int’l Fair Play President; study says retail meat in U.S. is safe vs. doping; Brazil cancels Beach Rowing worlds?

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Fair Play Committee Secretary General Sunil Sabharwal of the U.S. (Photo: CIFP).

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

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● International Fair Play Committee ● In December 1963, a meeting of representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), International Sports Press Association (AlPS), International Committee for Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) and the International Federations of basketball, football, rugby and wrestling established the “International Committee for the Organisation of the Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Awards.”

French tennis star Jean Borotra, who won titles at the Australian, French and Wimbledon in the 1920s and ‘30s was elected as the first President, and in January 1965, the first World Fair Play Awards Ceremony was held and has been a fixture since then.

Renamed as the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP) in 1973, it now sponsors fair play awards in multiple categories, with letters of congratulations, diplomas and four trophies:

● Pierre de Coubertin World Trophy: an athlete or team for an act of fair play
● Jean Borotra World Trophy: an individual career award
● Willi Daume World Trophy: person or organization promoting fair play
● Fair Play Trophy for the Youth: under the auspices of the IOC President

After a 10-year effort, the United Nations recognized 19 May as “World Fair Play Day” in 2024, and on Monday (19th), the CIFP will present International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) with the Jean Borota World Trophy.

In addition, the CIFP Congress is expected to elect former U.S. board member to the International Monetary Fund Sunil Sabharwal as only its fifth President, and first American; he’s the only candidate, and for good reason.

Sabharwal, 61, was a two-time fencing All-American at Ohio State and has been deeply involved in the Olympic world for decades. He was the chef de mission for the U.S. Olympic fencing squad at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and continues to serve as a member of the World Athletics Executive Board, its business advisory cabinet.

He has served the CIFP as Treasurer and Secretary General for nearly 20 years, and now has the opportunity to lead.

● Anti-Doping ● A new study over more than a year that analyzed beef, chicken and pork samples from retail grocery stories in eight U.S. cities showed the likelihood of purchasing contaminated meat that would lead to a doping violation were essentially zero.

Samples were purchased from six different stores each in Atlanta, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Lubbock, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Seattle, and West Lafayette, Indiana and, after inspection, sent to Texas Tech University and examined by Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Tests were mounted for 13 different anabolic agents and their metabolites; and “[t]he study found no evidence of prohibited substances like clenbuterol, stanozolol, boldenone, or SARMs in any meat samples.”

The study did not cover restaurants and issues with commercial meat providers.

● Cycling ● There have been only five stages of the 108th Giro d’Italia, but Danish sprint star Mads Pedersen has now won three of them!

He emerged again from the mass sprint finish after 151 km to Matera in 3:27:31, ahead of Edoardo Zambanini (ITA) and two-time Olympic Mountain Bike gold medalist Thomas Pidcock (GBR).

Pedersen holds a 17-second edge over 2023 champ Primoz Roglic (SLO) with American Brandon McNulty in fourth place (+0:31). The first climbing stage comes Friday.

Retired Australian star Rohan Dennis, 34, a two-time Worlds Time Trial winner and an Olympic medalist both on road (Tokyo 2020) and track (London 2012) received a suspended sentence for the an accident in which his wife died.

He had earlier pled guilty to committing an aggravated act likely to cause harm, after wife Melissa Hopkins, also an Olympic cyclist, had been struck by his car in front of their home on 30 December 2023, following an argument. She died shortly afterward.

Dennis was sentenced to nearly 17 months in jail, with the sentence suspended for two years, and was suspended for driving for five years.

● Football ● FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) spoke at the Saudi-U.S. investment forum in Riyadh on Tuesday, telling attendees:

“Women’s football and women in football are crucially important. The Women’s World Cup, the next one is in Brazil in 2027, and the following one, again, is in North America in 2031.

“It’s growing as well, and exponentially, and we are targeting that as well to have $1 billion revenue just with the Women’s World Cup to reinvest in the women’s game.”

Revenue from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand was reported at $570 million.

● Ice Hockey ● At the IIHF men’s World Championship in Denmark and Sweden, the U.S. moved up in Group B with a 6-5 overtime victory against Norway.

The Americans flew off to a 4-1 lead in the first period, out-shooting the Norwegians by 20-5 and getting scores from Cutter Gauthier (4:50), Clayton Keller (7:18), Tage Thompson (12:34) and Michael McCarron (17:50). The lead was extended to 5-1 with a power-play goal from Thompson, but Norway got two to score to 5-3.

In the third, it was 5-4 as Norway brought on an extra attacker with 2:21 to go and it resulted in a 5-5 tie as defender Stian Solberg got his second score with 1:27 left. The U.S. had wasted a 37-18 shots edge. But in the overtime, Norway suffered a penalty at 3:38 and Thompson got a hat trick at 4:09 to win it.

Germany leads the group at 3-0 (9 points), with the Czech Republic at 3-0 (8 points due to an overtime win) and the U.S. at 8 (3-1, one overtime win), in third place. Group play continues through the 20th.

● Rowing ● An unhappy posting from World Rowing, stating:

“World Rowing has been made aware of a letter, that has been made public, issued by the Brazilian Rowing Confederation (CBR) regarding their unilateral intention to cancel the 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Rio de Janeiro.

“World Rowing is surprised about this communication, and would like to clarify that this unilateral announcement was made without any consultation or prior agreement of World Rowing and, as World Rowing understands, of other relevant stakeholders, including the Brazilian Olympic Committee, the City of Rio de Janeiro and the Federal Government of Brazil. As such, it does not reflect the current position of World Rowing.”

The federation stated, “World Rowing considers the 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals to take place as planned,” with the dates set for 23-26 October 2025.

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ATHLETICS: Modest audiences for first two Grand Slam Track meets in person, and on television on The CW

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK ≡

Attendance at the first two Grand Slam Track meets, in Kingston, Jamaica and Miramar, Florida has been light and while the broadcast television audience has been better, it’s less than comparable meets in recent years.

The debut meet in Kingston in April was held in the 35,000-seat National Stadium and drew perhaps 4-5,000 on Friday evening, about 10,000 on Saturday and maybe 8,000 on Sunday.

At the 5,000-seat Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida in early May, about 3,500 turned up on Friday, more than 4,000 on Saturday and an estimated 3,500 or so on Sunday.

Grand Slam Track has broadcast agreements to cover 189 countries, with NBC’s Peacock streaming service showing all three days – and exclusively on Friday – with The CW showing the meets on broadcast on Saturday and Sunday.

Courtesy of SportsMediaWatch.com, figures are now in from The CW, for Saturdays and Sundays only:

● 5 April (Sat.) in Kingston: 246,000
● 6 April (Sun.) in Kingston: 241,000

● 3 May (Sat.) in Miramar: 250,000
● 4 May (Sun.) in Miramar: 248,000

No figures were available from Peacock, which are generally significantly less than broadcast.

Thus, a slight improvement for Miramar, with the next meet coming on 30-31 May and 1 June at famous Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As a debut, this is a reasonable start, but well behind comparable meets on NBC from 2023 and 2024:

2023 on NBC:
● 04 Feb.: 866,000 for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix
● 11 Feb.: 972,000 for the Millrose Games
● 18 Feb.: 954,000 for the USATF Indoor Nationals
● 21 May: 636,000 for the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix
● 27 May: 777,000 for the USATF L.A. Grand Prix
● 24 Jun.: 839,000 for the USATF NYC Grand Prix

2024 on NBC:
● 04 Feb.: 1.197 million for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix
● 11 Feb.: 1.087 million for the Millrose Games
● 17 Feb.: 1.051 million for the USATF Indoor Nationals
● 18 May: 846,000 for the USATF L.A. Grand Prix
● 25 May: 1.166 million for the Prefontaine Classic
● 09 Jun.: 1.371 million for the USATF New York Grand Prix

The Grand Slam Track numbers are comparable, however, to the ESPN2 audiences for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2023 from Eugene, Oregon, which totaled 948,000 across four days, or 237,000 per day on average.

So, we can say that Grand Slam Track has perhaps captured the “core” track & field audience in the U.S. in its first two meets, not a blockbuster, but already a reasonable achievement in its first season.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: L.A. Metro worried about 2028 Games funding, but the plan is “scalable”; 650 loaner buses committed so far

By
Rich Perelman
-
The L.A. Metro Ad Hoc Olympic & Paralympic Committee meeting of 14 May 2025 (Image: Metro video screen shot).

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

There was a lot of discussion about money, transportation and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games at Wednesday morning’s meeting of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A short presentation on the “Games Enhanced Transportation Service” – or “GETS” – included two mentions of funding the $2.015 billion project:

● Slide 4: “The funding for the GETS program is required from LA28, State/Federal government or other sources”

● Slide 7: “Confirm roles and responsibilities, funding sources and reimbursement with LA28″

During a detailed presentation to the six committee members, Metro Chief Innovation Officer Selita Reynolds explained the funding situation at present:

“What we have currently in our agreement with the organizing committee, in our term sheet discussions with them, it’s a description of roles and responsibilities. It describes Metro as taking ownership of the spectator and workforce transit and transportation system, pending funding.

“So we would absolutely need to be reimbursed and have certainty about that reimbursement before committing to take on that responsibility.” (Emphasis added)

Metro Board member and L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath followed up and asked:

“So would that include things like mobility hubs, first/last mile improvements, shade structures or pre-construction work?”

Reynolds:

“We consider all of that as part of this spectator and workforce transportation system, and it is included in our request to the Federal government. Both the pre-development work, the pre-design, environmental, all of that, as well as the construction of the facilities necessary to host the Games.”

Horvath noted that $17 million may be coming in the next budget cycle from the State of California. Metro Board member Ara Nazarian then asked:

“It’s a great plan, and I really appreciate the work that has gone into it. But, I am deeply concerned about the funding challenges. I’m a pessimist. What will we do if we only get $1 billion of this $2 billion estimate?

“Do we have a plan to melt down [the proposal]; I’m not saying shade structures aren’t important; clearly, they’re important. But do we have a core set of priorities that will be funded first and then as other money comes in, we fill out the entire picture?”

Reynolds:

“Yes, the request is very scalable. But I want to very clear about something: just because we don’t money to build a permanent mobility hub, let’s say, doesn’t mean there won’t be a necessary investment in that park-and-ride lot to make it function. It will just be temporary, instead of permanent and more lasting improvements.

“So there are those sorts of opportunities to kind of scale up and down and then the other thing I want to highlight is that as … the ops team are doing their work, it becomes really clear that with some partnership with the organizing committee, there are also opportunities to drive down the number of vehicles that we need by, for example, adjusting the start times of events, by 30 minutes, let’s say, in one direction or the other, or working collaboratively to share, for example, parking lots or real estate that they might have already been able to get under contract, and we’re also pursuing those kinds of conversations, and aggressive diplomacy in our term sheet discussions with them.”

That was the key section of the meeting, but there was a lot of back story detail which went around it.

Metro Office of Strategic Innovation Senior Executive Officer Ernesto Chaves explained:

“Over the past year, Metro and LA28 have been working on a term sheet that will serve as a foundation for an MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] with LA28, focused on addressing our funding issues as we advocate jointly with them for funding from the Federal government.

“We’ve made significant progress on defining the roles and responsibilities assigned to each of the parties. Throughout this process, we remain committed to ensuring that Metro avoids undue financial responsibility, again, advocating for funding from the Federal government, or outside funding for the Games Enhanced Transit Service.”

Senior Executive Officer for Operations Joe Forgiarini is leading the GETS planning effort, and underscored the nature of this system and what it is being designed to provide:

“It’s basically that temporary network established to support transport for spectators and Games workforce. Again, we have a number of different types of service within that program of GETS … the main two pieces of that [first] the designated shuttles between Metro’s rail and bus networks to the venues.

“Some of our venues are fortunate to be directly on our rail and bus networks, others are remote from them, so we definitely have a large program needed to support them.

“The second one is park-and-rides; essentially Metro is taking on the role of replacing parking lost at the venues. Normally, these venues support a lot amount of parking in property; that’s all gone for the needs of the LA28 event arrangements. So we will basically take on the role of not just the transport of people, but the actual provision of parking for them.”

Forgiarini noted the depth of the planning work so far:

“At this stage, each venue has what we call a venue profile, so behind the [presentation slide] is hours and hours of work, developing profiles, which is basically an operating plan for each venue going into great detail of ride alignments, number of vehicles required, all the assumptions on how much these GETS operations will convey to and from the venue and the other modes that will help. …

“Just as a reminder, we are taking on this planning responsibility; we don’t, as was already mentioned, have a formal agreement to do that, but we can’t wait. This is an enormous task; we are happy to stand up and take on this coordinating role, but we are not doing it in isolation. We will work with our local transit operators, not just even within our own county, but even in adjacent counties, with many resources that we will bring in to support the Games program.”

He noted that schools of all types can provide some of the best options for park-and-ride locations, and bus depots, and even summer workers to help out. He said the response from the many schools contacted has been excellent.

He reiterated the estimate of 2,700 buses needed, about 6,000 bus operators – two needed per bus per day due to the long hours – plus 15 depots for maintenance, and 25 or more park-and-ride locations, plus staff to handle people loading and unloading at the various venues.

As to the budget of $2.015 billion, Forgiarini deadpanned, “it’s a pretty big price tag,” but pointing to the $668.1 million for acquiring buses, he observed, “this may be somewhat higher than it ends up being, if we are able to secure a lot of buses through donations … this would be worst-case, based on leasing them on the market. We have a lot of strategies to try and obtain those even through things like donations from our various fleets around the state and the nation to help support the program.”

He said that the last batch of venue announcements from LA28 could result in some cost reductions, since some of the sites are near existing transit facilities.

Asked about the number of buses committed to the program so far – against the projection of 2,700 needed – Chief Innovation Officer Reynolds said:

“[Metro CEO Stephanie] Wiggins has been working with her fellow transit agency CEOs across the country for the last few years, soliciting interest and participating in the borrowed bus program, and I want to make something clear, that if we were to borrow to lease a bus from another transit agency, we would expect that the personnel to come with that vehicle. So we wouldn’t be hiring 6,000 new [drivers] here, some of them would be coming with the vehicles from their home transit agencies, if that makes sense, because they are going to be the ones that understand those vehicles best; they know how to repair them, they know how to operate them, etc., which is the model for previous Games, in Salt Lake [2002] and also in Paris [2024].”

So how many committed so far: “Around 650.”

There was discussion of needing up to 3,100 buses – not 2,700 – but Reynolds explained that’s an all-in contingency total and the real needs should be less:

“So, 2,700 is our estimate, which we continue to try and refine, for the peak day for the peak number of events, for the peak hour. Most of the time, during the Games, we don’t need all 2,700 in operation.”

A “Transportation Mobility Summit” with other regional transit agencies to develop more detailed plans for the Games Enhanced Transit Service is being put together for June.

Two motions for new programs were made, to research the costs and possibilities for a water taxi service between San Pedro (in the City of Los Angeles) and Long Beach, and yet another study of possible fan zone locations for 2028, preferably in area supported by public transit. These both passed by 6-0 votes for further study, with no commitments to action; the water taxi report is due back in 90 days, the fan-zone report in 120 days.

The discussions ran so long that the review and approval of a not-to-exceed contract of $42.04 million with the Mott MacDonald Group to provide engineering and support services related to the 2028 Games was approved with very little discussion, by 5-0.

It was noted, however, that the contract with Mott MacDonald is not for a defined list of services, but a task-based support program in which Metro can call on the company and its 27 subcontractors to provide services as needed.

The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be in September.

Observed: The meeting was scheduled for only an hour and should have taken at least two hours to get deeply into the funding issues, which are of clear concern to the committee. There are some things which Wednesday’s meeting clarified:

● The GETS system is not likely to cost $2.015 billion, and that cost was constructed as a worst-case scenario.

● Metro’s hope is to get $3.2 billion in Federal funding not only to take care of its Olympic and Paralympic Games responsibilities, but to build a series of permanent improvements for which the Games are simply the excuse for the Congress to pay for them.

● LA28 can significantly reduce the cost of Metro’s GETS service and related 2028 with good cooperation on not just scheduling, but also spaces it controls in and around venues. And as committee chair (and Los Angeles County Supervisor) Janice Hahn noted at the start:

“Originally we were even talking about making the Olympics and Paralympics car-less, but I think we’re now leaning into transit-first.”

The truth is that for some venues, driving a car will be the best solution, just as is done every day of the year for those sites. But those details will only finally be settled once the funding situation is known and the scope of what Metro can really do is agreed.

All eyes now are on the U.S. Transportation Department’s reply to Metro’s $3.2 billion request, apparently due by the end of May or in early June.

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MODERN PENTATHLON: Has the sport found its transformational star in a 14-year-old Egyptian?

By
Rich Perelman
-
New pentathlon star Farida Khalil (EGY) on her way to a world-record victory at the UIPM World Cup in Pazardzhik (HUN) (Photo: UIPM/Theo Kine).

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≡ MEET FARIDA KHALIL ≡

Modern Pentathlon has been one of the smallest Olympic sports since it was introduced at the Stockholm Games of 1912. It has barely survived multiple reviews to take it off of the Olympic program, including for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

It was essentially ordered by the International Olympic Committee to drop equestrian from its event program after a German coach hit a horse in anger at the Tokyo 2020 Games; eventually, obstacle course was substituted, with the hope that it would draw more interest.

If American sports fans can recall anything about pentathlon at all, it might be of an athlete who placed fifth in the first time it was in the Games, in 1912: George S. Patton, later to be a historic U.S. World War II general.

And the sport was so lightly thought of for 2028, the IOC shaved its total athlete quota from 76 to 68, to allow more participants in Sport Climbing. Only surfing is smaller.

Now, however, the sport may have a different issue. How to handle a possibly transformational athlete, who is 14 years old.

Yes, 14.

It’s Egypt’s Farida Khalil.

This isn’t an accident. Like other nations, for example South Korea in archery, Egypt found resources to concentrate in this sport, well-suited for members of its armed forces – the sport was invented to feature skills a 1910s solider would use – and has become a powerhouse. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, two Egyptian men made the final and Ahmed El-Gendy moved up from third at the Tokyo 2020 Games and won the Paris gold, over Taishu Sato (JPN) and Giorgio Malan (ITA). Malak Ismail made the women’s final, and finished 12th.

At the 2023 World Championships, Mohanad Shaban won the men’s bronze, and Egypt won the men’s Team gold, men’s Relay, women’s Relay and mixed Relay, and led the medal table with four golds and five total.

But Khalil is different. In her first season as a senior-level competitor:

● World Cup I: On home turf in Cairo (EGY) in late February, Khalil dominated the women’s competition, winning by 19 seconds in the final event – the Laser Run – and scoring 1,464 points, winning the new obstacle course event and swimming.

● World Cup II: In Budapest (HUN) in April, Khalil led the qualifying and led her semifinal, then started the Laser Run in first place with a three-second lead. But Paris Olympic champ – and home favorite – Michelle Gulyas passed her and won by 15 seconds, scoring a world-record – with obstacle – 1,476 to 1,462 for Khalil.

● World Cup III: Now in Pazardzhik (BUL), Khalil again led the qualifying, led her semifinal and won the obstacle and swimming to forge a 23-second lead in the Laser Run and she was not going to be stopped.

Despite being way in front, she had the eighth-fastest Laser Run, winning by 19 seconds, and finished with a world-record total of 1,485 points, surpassing Gulyas’ total from Budapest. Teammate Ismail won the bronze.

Said the winner and new world-record holder:

“I am very happy about this. I was very upset that I got the silver medal in Budapest, but I came here today and I felt that I would have to perform well in obstacle to get this gold.

“Even though the fencing round was not good, I told myself I needed to get a new world record in OCR to get the gold medal, and I did it three times in this competition, and also got the total world record today.

“I’m very happy and I want to thank my mom and my brothers, who did a good job in helping me get this gold medal.”

She’s off now until the World Cup Final from 4-6 July, back on home turf in Alexandria (EGY), and sure to draw a lot more attention than at the season opener in Cairo.

Now, the question is, what will the UIPM do?

After three World Cups, Khalil appears to be a legit star in the making. Is this the transformational pentathlete that can move the federation beyond survival mode in the Olympic Movement?

Is Egypt’s rise to one of the sport’s top powers a story that can be (1) promoted and (2) replicated by other countries?

Can the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), with new president Rob Stull from the U.S., break through after 100 years of trying to just hold on to its Olympic status?

Khalil’s success at 14 – she was born in January, so she’ll be 17 in 2028 – is not the answer, but raises questions.

The primary one is, will the UIPM be up to the opportunity presented by Khalil … without ruining her in the process?

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PANORAMA: Lake Placid told sliding sports in Cortina for 2026; NYC Marathon deemed most valuable; Stifel extends with U.S. Ski & Snowboard

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The International Broadcast Center for the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games will be housed as the first client in a newly-developed Hollywood Park Studios, part of the 300-acre mixed-use project that already includes SoFi Stadium, site of the opening ceremonies and swimming. According to the announcement:

“The first phase of Hollywood Park Studios will occupy 12 acres and will consist of five sound stages, each 18,000 square feet, two of which open to a single 36,000 square foot stage. In addition, HPS will have a three-story 80,000 square foot office building to support stage, production, and post-production activities. HPS will have a dedicated open base camp area, and a parking structure that can accommodate 1,100 cars. In addition, the ground level of the garage features a 20′ high bay area to accommodate sixty trailers with power to support movie production activities. Finally, HPS will have mill facilities and will provide full equipment rental services.

“The Hollywood Park campus provides for additional phased development of up to 20 build-to-suit stages and an additional 200,000 square feet of related office space with additional structured parking. The first phase and future development will be connected to the campus-wide fiber ring and power centers, delivering the highest level of service to ensure technology scaling, including current and future AI applications.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid, New York has been informed that the bobsled, luge and skeleton track at Mt. Van Hoevenberg – used for the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games – will not be needed for the 2026 Winter Games.

Lake Placid was chosen as a back-up site in case the reconstruction of Eugenio Monti track in Cortina d’Ampezzo was not finished in time. But the construction work is on schedule and the track has already been scheduled by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation for pre-season training from 7-16 November 2024 and for the opening World Cup of the season from 17-23 November.

ORDA Communications Director Darcy Rowe Norfolk said the decision was passed on from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, following the Olympic protocol channels. She added:

“To even get to a position where we were designated as plan B was an incredible honor. It really kind of showcases our region in terms of being entrusted within the Olympic movement to be able to fulfill such a high level of sport at an Olympic level.“

● Athletics ● The British Brand Finance valuation consultancy released its list of the “strongest” marathon brands, with the top 10 in their “Brand Strength Index” (score out of 100):

● 90.1: London Marathon*
● 89.7: New York City Marathon*
● 86.6: Paris Marathon
● 82.9: Berlin Marathon*
● 80.8: Boston Marathon*

● 80.0: Tokyo Marathon*
● 79.7: Rome Marathon
● 78.8: San Francisco Marathon
● 78.6: Sydney Marathon*
● 73.1: Los Angeles Marathon

Interestingly, the World Marathon Majors (shown by *) do not make up the top six, and the highly-regarded Chicago Marathon ranked only 27th at 67.3.

The study also projected that the top 50 marathons have a combined brand value of $5.2 billion, with the New York City Marathon the most valuable at $292 million.

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced a 22-month ban for “whereabouts failures” for Ukrainian shot putter Roman Kokoshko from 20 December 2024; his results from 29 October 2024 have been nullified. Kokoshko was the 2023 European Indoor bronze winner with a best of 21.84 m (71-8) indoors from 2023.

Also banned was Paris Olympic 100 m sprinter Dominique Lasconi Mulamba (COD) for four years for the steroid stanozolol from a test the day after his 100 m heat at the Olympic Games.

● Cycling ● The long, flat finish of stage four of the 108th Giro d’Italia guaranteed a mass sprint to the finish, with Tuesday’s race ending in a Dutch sweep, with Casper van Uden crossing first in 4:02:21 over 189 km, followed by Olav Kooij and Maikel Zijlaard, who rode for three different teams!

The first 103 riders received the same time, and Dane Mads Pedersen retained the “maglia rosa” with a seven-second edge on Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic, the 2023 winner. American Brandon McNulty stands fourth, 21 seconds behind.

● Handball ● The International Handball Federation was the first International Federation to pass on the International Olympic Committee’s offer of a loan during the Covid-19 pandemic that meant no Olympic television rights money was coming at the end of 2020.

It hasn’t posted financial statements for 2022, 2023 or 2024, but as of the end of 2021, it had CHF 201.99 million in assets and CHF 125.78 million in reserves (CHF 1 = $1.19 U.S.). It had CHF 31.90 million in income and had a surplus of CHF 6.27 million.

So, it can easily afford its new headquarters, a six-story 52,390 sq. ft. building in Basel (SUI) – which it is currently situated – which will be ready in October and incorporate the IHF Museum as well as the federation’s workforce.

● Ice Hockey ● Canada joined Sweden at the top of Group A at the IIHF men’s World Championship, being played in Denmark and Sweden.

Both are 3-0, with the Swedes skating past Slovakia (5-0), Austria (4-2) and Finland (2-1) so far, and the Canadians shutting down Slovenia (4-0), Latvia (7-1) and France (5-0). Group matches will continue through the 20th.

The U.S. (2-1) is in Group B and will be back in action on Wednesday against 0-3 Norway.

● Skiing ● U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced an eight-year extension of its agreement with Stifel Financial to “be the title partner of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, supporting the alpine, cross country, freeski, moguls, aerials, ski jumping, nordic combined and Para alpine teams, as well as the exclusive financial services partner of U.S. Ski & Snowboard.”

It is characterized as the largest partnership agreement in USS history, but no terms were disclosed; it will continue through the 2034 season that will include the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The announcement noted:

“The Stifel brand will remain prominently displayed on team uniforms and event signage at US events, along with a continuation of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team branding across digital and broadcast platforms. Stifel will also support a new performance bonus program for athletes and coaches based on key results during the season.”

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SKATING: Int’l Skating Union OKs 4 Russian figure, 18 speed skaters eligible for Olympic qualifiers, 6 Belarus figure and 5 speed skaters

By
Rich Perelman
-
Russian women’s champion Adeliia Petrosyan: the new Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic favorite? (Photo: Wikipedia via divmel ic).

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≡ OLYMPIC QUALIFIER “NEUTRALS” ≡

Following the format that the International Olympic Committee used for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the International Skating Union is trying to get ahead of a similar procedure to allow a limited number of Russian and Belarusian “neutrals” to compete at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina (ITA) in 2026.

To that end, the ISU Council announced Tuesday the names of skaters who have (1) been nominated by the Russian and Belarusian skating federations, (2) been approved by the ISU after review procedure, analogous to what was done by the IOC prior to Paris 2024. The results:

Russia:
● 4 figure skaters approved (two primary in 2 events, two substitutes)
● 18 speed skaters approved (8 in speed; 10 in short track)

Belarus:
● 6 figure skaters approved (four primary in 3 events, two substitutes)
● 7 speed skaters approved (across 9 events in speed and short track)

These are not approvals to compete in all ISU events, rather only specific events that create a pathway to Olympic qualification:

● Figure skating: Only the 17-21 September 2025 qualifier in Beijing (CHN).

● Speed skating: Four World Cup events in November and December 2025.

● Short Track: Four World Tour events in October and November 2025.

The announcement of the approvals as “independent neutral athletes” (“AIN”) took pains to further detail the deliberative process involved in screenings:

● “Following the process established by the ISU, the Russian Skating Union, the Figure Skating Federation of Russia and the Skating Union of Belarus nominated AIN skaters and their respective substitutes (in case of injury only) for each discipline in Figure Skating and each distance in Speed Skating and Short Track. These nominated AINs subsequently underwent a special screening process conducted by an ISU panel, in line with IOC guidelines and with the support of an experienced independent external provider.

“This process thoroughly examined public appearances and statements made by the nominated AINs since February 2022, to assess any active support for the invasion of Ukraine or any contractual links to Russian or Belarusian military and other national security agencies. While nominations were submitted for all the disciplines and distances open to AIN participation, not all nominated athletes passed the rigorous screening. By extension, their designated substitutes were also deemed ineligible, as substitution is permitted only in case of injury, not on grounds of ineligibility. Consequently, there are some disciplines or distances for which no AIN skaters will be entered.”

● “All assessments were based on objective criteria, including evidence of compliance with ISU neutrality standards and absence of any public support for the ongoing conflict.

“The current decision of the ISU Council on the AIN eligibility list is final with regard to all applicants and not subject to appeal. This reflects the exceptional and sensitive nature of the current process and aims to ensure procedural integrity and consistency across all applicants respecting their right to privacy.”

The ISU, regrettably, did not specify which skaters were eligible for which events.

As to which of the figure skaters will try to qualify, the Russian news agency TASS reported:

“The President of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (RFSF) Anton Sikharulidze told TASS that [Adeliia] Petrosyan and [Petr] Gumennik will participate in the competition” for Olympic qualifying in the women’s and men’s Singles. Who are they?

● Petrosyan, 17, won the Russian national women’s title in both 2024 and 2025, scoring – with national judges – 246.53 points in 2024 and 262.92 in 2025. Both of those scores were well past the winning mark of American Alysia Liu at the 2025 Worlds in Boston – with international judges – of 222.97.

● Gumennik, 23, was the Russian national silver medalist in 2023 and bronze winner in 2024, scoring a best of 295.07 in 2023, which would have been second at the 2025 Worlds, behind only American Ilia Malinin (318.46).

Translation: they appear to be true contenders for medals. No Russian Pairs or Ice Dance duos were approved to compete in the qualifier.

The Russian response to the limited approvals was, of course, exceedingly unhappy.

● Choreographer Ilya Averbukh, a 2002 Winter Games silver medalist in Ice Dance, told TASS:

“It’s absolutely a shame for [dancers Alexandra] Stepanova and [Ivan] Bukin, guys with such a difficult sporting fate. And, of course, for [Anastasia] Mishina and [Alexander] Galliamov, who were among the main contenders for Olympic gold. It’s impossible to explain, impossible to understand. At the moment, I think the most important thing is for us to support all the guys and believe in the best.

“It’s just a lump in my throat, I’m so offended that I cry, really. But I really hope that our time is so fleeting, so many events are happening, and everything is changing so quickly, both the situation and the situation, that we will believe and hope that everything we talk about today, tomorrow can be completely different. But at the moment, of course, this is the height of injustice, the height of bias. I don’t even know what words to find, to be honest.”

● Famed coach Tatyana Tarasova told TASS:

“There is no need to talk about any justice here, only about atrocities on the part of the ISU towards athletes and coaches who work their entire lives, developing the sport so that everyone in the world would look up to them.

“The main thing they wanted was to eliminate competitors, people who would definitely lay claim to leading positions.”

● Dmitry Svishchev, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, said:

“Of course, it’s good that our leading athletes have been admitted. But they haven’t been admitted in full, and this issue needs to be looked into further.

“These are extraordinary situations that actually create a precedent that if an athlete, in the opinion of an international federation, does not meet its admission requirements, it is impossible to replace him. I admit that with such a unilateral precedent, one can go to court and prove the right to replace the athletes who were not admitted. And then act within the legal framework.

“It is obvious that Russian pairs are the strongest in the world. And ill-wishers will be happy with such a decision. But we need to defend the interests of our athletes. This is the job of the federations.”

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PANORAMA: Crowley confirmed as U.S. mega-event rep; USOPC’s Hirshland finalist for Exec of the Year; big-money 2024 for table tennis!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Now confirmed: Assistant Secretary of State and U.S. major-event rep Dr. Monica Crowley (Photo: C-SPAN screen shot from CPAC 2024).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Trump Administration ● The U.S. Senate confirmed Monica Crowley, by 52-45, as Assistant Secretary of State and Chief of Protocol of the United States, with responsibilities for major events including the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

She was nominated on 4 December 2024 by President Donald Trump, “to serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol of the United States of America. Monica will be the Administration Representative for major U.S. hosted events, including America’s 250th Birthday in 2026, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

“During my First Term, Monica did an incredible job as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs. For her exceptional service, she received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Department.”

● Russia ● Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev, also head of the Russian Olympic Committee continued to rail against bans on Russian athletes, but said it is important to maintain positive contacts for the future:

“Of course, the assessment of the decision to disqualify our athletes from international tournaments in many sports is unambiguous: this is happening for political reasons, this is discrimination. It is unfair that we are deprived of the flag and anthem at the Olympics and at the European and World Championships. Nevertheless, slamming the door and burning bridges is the wrong way.

“Our main goal remains a full-fledged return to world sports. There is high confidence that the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee in the IOC will be restored in the near future, and in 2028 Russia will be able to compete in the Olympics under its own flag and anthem. This summer, our athletes will go to the Universiade in Germany, for the first time in six years.”

He added that there is no consideration of a boycott on Russia’s part against the IOC’s recommended sanctions:

“[T]he Soviet Union, despite all the international problems during the Cold War, consistently performed at the Olympics and did not refuse them. If we refuse, then in 1-2 generations of athletes, the level of our training will noticeably decrease and the return to the world sports arena will hardly be triumphant.”

● U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee ● /Updated/The influential Sports Business Journal named USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland as a finalist for its Sports Executive of the Year for 2025, reflecting the success of the U.S. team as the top medal-winner at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the award of the 2034 Olympic Winter Games to Salt Lake City.

Hirshland joined the USOPC in 2018 when the organization was in the depths of the Larry Nassar scandal and has overhauled the management team and worked to successfully expand its reach and funding, while maintaining the U.S. medal-winning performance.

● Artistic Swimming ● Paris 2024 Olympic Team silver medalist Anita Alvarez was in danger of drowning at the end of her Solo Free routine at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, but was rescued by coach Andrea Fuentes (ESP).

What next? Joining the Air Force, as People reported that Alvarez signed up last summer and completed her basic training in January at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. She is part of the military’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), which brings athletes into the service, allowing them to continue training, but also to serve. She’s the 15th Olympian in the WCAP and will prepare to compete at LA28, but with the Air Force beyond that.

● Ice Hockey ● At the IIHF men’s World Championship in Denmark and Sweden, Switzerland blanked the U.S., 3-0 on Monday, as keeper Leonardo Genoni turned away 23 shots.

The Swiss got up 2-0 in the first period, with goals from Damien Riat at 12:46, and defender Jonas Siegenthaler at 15:59. The second period was scoreless and then defender Dean Kukan added a third goal at 11:41 of the third for the final score.

The Czech Republic leads Group B at 3-0, followed now by the Swiss at 2-1 and the U.S. at 2-1. Germany is 2-0 and plays tomorrow against Norway. The top four in this group of eight will advance to the quarterfinals, with the final group match on 20 May.

● Table Tennis ● Positive news from the International Table Tennis Federation, which released its 2023 and 2024 financial statements, with a turn-to-profit from its commercial arm, World Table Tennis:

“In 2024, WTT recorded its first-ever profit, contributing towards the ITTF Group consolidated profit of USD 1.5 million.

“Most startups take several years to reach profitability as they build their operations and establish their market presence. That WTT has achieved this in under five years –and within the 2021-2024 quadrennial forecast approved by the ITTF Annual General Meeting– is a clear signal of the model’s viability. A true proof of concept. …

“In 2019, pre-COVID, our commercial and events revenue stood at 16 million USD. In 2024, this has grown in excess of 52 million USD. More than triple! A success achieved without diluting the ITTF reserve which remains stable at USD 6.8 million.

“This is not just growth; it is transformation.”

The report shows a surge in event-related income – not counting the federation’s share of Olympic television money – from $32.96 million in 2023 to $52.78 million in 2024. Total revenue – with a share of the IOC money parceled out over the years between Games – reached $61.16 million from $40.22 million in 2023.

Expenses went up as well; costs related to tournaments went up by $13 million, but the overall increase was from $49.21 million in 2023 to $59.64 million in 2024, leaving a $1.51 million surplus. Total assets rose to $49.13 million, with reserves of $6.80 million.

Solid and trending upward, and the ITTF will make a major commercial foray into the U.S. with its first WTT United States Smash from 3-13 July in Las Vegas, offering $1.55 million in prize money.

● Wrestling ● Police in Columbus, Ohio conducted a prostitution sting operation on Friday evening, arresting 16 men who responded to an online ad for escort services. Among them was Rio 2016 Olympic Freestyle champion Kyle Snyder, now 29, who is now alleged to have paid an undercover officer for a sex act. He was arrested at the scene and is to appear in court on 19 May.

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INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Bach and Coventry both appear at the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly

By
Rich Perelman
-
IOC President Thomas Bach and President-elect Kirsty Coventry (first row) at the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly (Photo: Olympic Council of Asia).

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≡ IOC TRANSITION ≡

Both current International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) and President-elect Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) attended the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in Kuwait City (KUW), with Bach noting that Asia hosted three consecutive Olympic Games: 2018 Winter in PyeongChang (KOR), 2020/21 in Tokyo (JPN) and 2022 Winter in Beijing (CHN), calling them “the defining chapter of my Presidency” and

“Each one took place under uniquely challenging circumstances, and each one rising to the occasion to become a historic success for the host countries and for the entire Olympic Movement …

“With an Asian Olympic host, we turned great adversity into a historic success for the entire Olympic Movement. We appreciate the Asian can-do spirit.”

He added:

“All this makes it emotional for me to address you today for the last time as IOC President. Today, I do not say ‘farewell.’ Today, I say ‘see you soon.’”

Coventry also addressed the OCA, underscoring her background as a five-time Olympian a seven-time medal winner and former head of the IOC Athletes’ Commission:

“As I begin my journey as IOC President, my first priority is to listen. I want to hear from you – from your [National Olympic Committees], from your athletes – about what you need, what you expect, and how you see your role in shaping the future of our Olympic Movement.

“Because it is only by listening that we can truly listen from one another, and move forward together.

“As a proud Olympian, I can promise you this: athletes will remain at the heart of everything I do. But the question is: how do we better support athletes on their journey to become Olympians?

“To do this, we need to listen carefully to the athletes themselves, and to the NOCs who work tirelessly to support them every step of the way. That is why I see the work of the IOC in two broad pillars – one at elite level, delivering the Olympic Games, and secondly at the community level, spreading our Olympic values among the people.”

Coventry will take office during a ceremony in Lausanne on Olympic Day, 23 June. The cycle of Asian hosts of Olympic events has slowed, with Olympic and Winter Games in 2024-26-28-30-32-34 in Europe, the U.S. or Australia, but India is among multiple nations seeking the 2036 Olympic Games.

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SALT LAKE CITY-UTAH 2034: Organizing committee forming; USOPC’s Hirshland confirms White House support for access and visas

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡

“We are off and running. We have an organization, we have a board with committees, we have a management team in place. We are off and running, and it’s going to be such a great journey over the next nine years.”

That’s Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 President Fraser Bullock during Monday’s SLC-Utah 2034 Steering Committee meeting in Salt Lake City, sharing details of the fledgling organizing committee effort now underway.

A series of Board committees were introduced, led by a six-member Executive Committee with many familiar faces:

● Fraser Bullock, Chair
● Sarah Hirshland, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee
● Chris Kinney, athlete (bobsled)
● Steve Starks, SLC-Utah Board Vice Chair
● Gene Sykes, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee
● Lindsey Vonn, athlete (alpine skiing)

Eight more committees were introduced, covering Ethics, Finance, Host Communities, Impact & Legacy, Nominating & Governance, People & Compensation, Sport & Venue and State of Sport. These will begin meeting immediately.

The organizing committee itself has started up, with offices in downtown Salt Lake City and eight staff members introduced, covering the key area of operations & planning, legal, international relations, finance, development, community relations, communications and athlete relations.

A six-step approach to the project was also shared by chief executive Brad Wilson:

● 2025-27: Transition from the bid to organizing
● 2028-29: Strategy, planning and stakeholder engagement
● 2030-31: Games planning at the functional department level
● 2032-33: Readiness build-up and testing
● 2034: Games operations, through March
● 2034: Dissolution and legacy, from April on

The working “purpose statement” is “Inspiring Impact and Unity,” incorporating four core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Service and Fun, the latter an element not always seen in organizing committees of prior Games, but an important element for success.

SLC-Utah 2034 is being funded via private donations for the time being; it will not have any national marketing rights until after the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games have concluded.

A “listening tour” of Utah communities is being started to ensure a viable understanding of what this project is, and the expectations and hopes of those where venues will be sited as well as those not directly involved. The first meeting will be in Ogden on 19 May.

The Steering Committee is an advisory group, but separate from the organizing committee’s Board, which met separately on Monday.

During a post-Board briefing with reporters, it was noted that the $163.05 million bid budget target for private donations to the organizing committee has been expanded to a target of $300 million through 2034.

Bullock explained, “We raised it to $300 [million], we believe that’s achievable … we want to raise money early and we think the reception … from people in Utah is very strong. So we think it’s possible.”

A modest $28 million is expected to be spent in the first three years.

Early in the Steering Committee meeting came a report from U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland, who commented on behalf of herself and USOPC President Gene Sykes on today’s hot-button issue of U.S. government cooperation on access and visas:

“Gene and I spent a good bit of time over the last month in Washington and had a lot of discussion with the State Department, and representatives from The White House directly, who have done nothing but embrace all that we’re doing – Team USA, LA28, Utah ‘34 – they are very excited for what’s to come over this next decade for the country.

“They understand the importance of it. They understand some of the challenges, particularly immigration, visas, access for athletes and individuals – certainly always a big concern for the international community – can I get the access I need in a timely way?

“And the Administration has been incredibly supportive and said all the rights thing, given us all the right assurances, to say ‘we want to be a great host country and we’re going to set up everything to ensure that we do that,’ and they’re working incredibly closely with us to do that.

“So I just wanted to offer that to you, and especially to the athletes on the call who are out in your communities. We’re feeling confident; there is always work to be done, but we know we have the support, both of the Administration and The White House directly, as well as the State Department, and have great contacts with consular services that are making really good progress to ensure that not just the Games, but all of the world championships and world cups and events which Utah hosts, I think, more than anybody, will have the support they need for individuals to be able to get the access and the support from our country that they need.

“So, we’re feeling really positive and hopeful about that.”

That not a chance from what she and Sykes have said repeatedly, but nevertheless will be welcomed amid the continuing national and international political turmoil.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: L.A. Metro Transportation Authority wants LA28 reimbursement for $2.015 billion in Games-only transit costs

By
Rich Perelman
-
L.A. Metro’s rough estimate of the 2028 “Games Enhanced Transit Service”: $2.015.5 billion (Photo: L.A. Metro presentation slide).

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≡ A $2.015 BILLION QUESTION ≡

“Building upon the precedent set in the Games Agreements between LA28 and venue cities, where LA28 commits to reimbursing for increased municipal services, Metro is pursuing a reimbursement agreement for the Games Enhanced Transit Service (GETS).

“This additional service represents a financial burden for Metro that would not otherwise be needed if not for the 2028 Games. This agreement will be part of the MOU that is executed between Metro and LA28.”

That’s the final paragraph in a five-page update on the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s effort to create a “Games Enhanced Transit Service” to specifically address its estimate of public transportation needs it will be required to address for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At issue is an estimated 10,500-staff, 2,700-bus, $2.015.5 billion program to haul spectators and LA28 volunteers to the Olympic and Paralympic venues.

It’s part of the agenda of a 14 May (Wednesday) meeting of Metro’s Ad Hoc 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games Committee, chaired by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as Vice Chair (all referenced documents can be accessed from the above link).

The update explains the project – Games Enhanced Transit Service – as including:

● 105 days of operations, from assembly to removal
● 10,500 people: 6,000 bus drivers + 4,500 operations staff
● 2,700 buses; 18 agencies already in support as loaners
● 15 new staging depots and 13 bus staging areas
● 25 park-and-ride sites

Funding has been requested by Metro, working with the LA28 organizers and officials from other local transit agencies:

● “Metro has requested $3.2 billion in the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Federal Budget which is expected to be released in late May of 2025″

● Toll revenue from Interstate 10 and 110 Freeways

● Incremental revenue from advertising on buses, a “Games transit pass” and an add-on fee to each ticket sold, currently moving through the California Legislature as Assembly Bill 1237.

The easiest solution for Metro would be Federal funding, but the agency did not get any Federal help during the Biden Administration, despite multiple requests. What it will get from the Trump Administration is apparently soon to be known for Fiscal Year 2026, that begins on 1 October 2025.

The Metro ask to the Department of Transportation is for $3.2 billion, but the specified cost – so far – for the Games Enhanced Transit Service is $2.015.5 billion, identified as an “Initial Rough Order of Magnitude Cost”:

● $668.1 million: buses
● $365.5 million: infrastructure
● $264.6 million: staff
● $129.8 million: planning and design (10%)
● $324.5 million: contingency (25%)
● $262.9 million: inflation to year of expenditure (3%)

There is also the “Games Route Network” of 210 highway miles and 100 surface miles over which priority – via signage and street painting – will be reserved for Olympic Family and Metro’s own Games-related uses.

To support the planning and design effort, the committee also includes a recommendation to award a four-year, $42,043,610 contract to the mammoth Mott MacDonald Group, a London-based management, engineering, and development consultancy with a Los Angeles office and significant, successful experiences with Metro. It beat out two other proposers to be the recommended contractor; it’s team includes 27 sub-contractors.

The Metro presentation on the contract explained that by hiring out significant parts of the planning, it “ensures Metro can remain responsive to shifting priorities while maintaining focus on delivering key transportation solutions in time for the Games.”

The Metro Ad Hoc Committee agenda also includes a portion of the $3.2 billion request to the Trump Administration for support, which includes the Games Enhanced Transit Service and other items. A partial list was offered in a presentation:

● $2.015.5 billion: Games Enhanced Transit Service
● $210.9 million: Games Route Network (dedicated lanes)
● $216.0 million: Key Stations (9 locations)
● $130.3 million: Integrated Transit Management (combine two centers)
● $115.6 million: Transportation Demand Management (fare system)
● $101.7 million: First/Last Mile Improvements (4 locations)
● $80.0 million: Light Rail Improvements (5 locations)
● $80.0 million: Metro Mobility Hubs (4-8 locations)
● $41.0 million: Bus Priority Improvements (12 miles)

This is $2.991 billion, short of the $3.20 billion request, but most of it. The Games Enhanced Transit Service and Games Route Network items appear to be targeted at the 2028 Games, but the actual need for the other items vs. long-term improvement opportunities would require more detail.

The committee agenda also includes a motion to work with local jurisdictions to establish “fan zones” for the 2028 Games that are near existing transit stops, and a potential water taxi service between San Pedro and Long Beach during and after the 2028 Games.

Observed: This appears to be the first time that Metro documents have publicly stated that funding for any excess services provided by the agency related to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games should be paid for by the LA28 organizers.

That’s not possible, and questions will be raised once the fate of the request for $3.2 billion in support from the U.S. Department of Transportation for Fiscal Year 2026 is known, possibly by the end of this month.

Quoting Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) to Dr. Gillian Taylor (Catherine Hicks) in 1986’s Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: “Hold on tight, lassie. It gets bumpy from here.”

Next up is Wednesday’s meeting of the Metro Ad Hoc 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games Committee.

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PANORAMA: Hardest LA28 race will start after Paralympics close! New stars coming to Grand Slam Philadelphia; FIFA Women’s World Cup to 48 in 2031

By
Rich Perelman
-
The FIFA Council expanded the 2031 Women’s World Cup to 48 teams. There is one reason why.

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The 2028 Paralympic races will be all finished when the closing ceremony concludes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on 27 August. But there will be another race that will start even before that ceremony begins.

That will be the re-conversion of the Coliseum back to football for the 2028 USC season, that will start with the removal of all of the track & field equipment and then the track itself!

The original track that was installed in the Coliseum from its opening in 1923 and refurbished many times up to the 1984 Olympic Games was completely removed in 1993 for the Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL, who installed 14 rows of seats closer to the field. For 2028, a raised floor will be installed for the Games.

TSX reader Brian Springer, part of the 1984 Olympic track & field management team, recalled:

“I remember in ‘84 after the closing T&F session and we were removing equipment from the field that at the same time the crew was laying plywood for the equipment to get ready for the transition for the closing ceremonies. The tunnel was full of activity. …

“[T]there will have to be some very fast work done to remove the track platform and restore the football field as the football season for USC will be on then. I’ll bet some 24-hour shifts will be employed there.”

USC’s schedule for 2028 shows a home game against Fresno State on 9 September, just 13 days after the Paralympic closing. That will be a race against time!

California State Senate leader Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) announced a special committee on international sporting events, to ensure “the state’s preparedness to host both the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.”

There will be 11 members, with 10 Democrats and one Republican (Democrats control 30 seats to 10 for Republicans in the Senate). In terms of actions, “The Senate Special Committee will be holding a series of hearings in the coming months.”

Like the City of Los Angeles, the State of California also has budget challenges; the Legislative Analyst’s Office review of the 2024-25 budget noted, “in addition to the $68 billion budget problem we have identified for 2024-25, the state faces annual operating deficits of around $30 billion per year.”

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The President of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Luc Tardif (FRA), confirmed once again that the decision of whether Russia can play in 2026 is up to the International Olympic Committee. He told SVT Sweden:

“The individual sports federations organize competitions and set the qualification rules. But the IIHF will not try to keep the Russian team out if the IOC recommends that Russians participate in team sports.

“They are going through a process of changing their president. But we had a meeting with them recently and I am pretty sure we will have clear recommendations from the IOC at the end of May or beginning of June.”

The IOC has asked the International Federations to maintain a ban on national teams from Russia and Belarus since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The diplomatic side of the Olympic Winter Games was on display in Stockholm (SWE) for the latest stop of the fifth of seven stops on its International Roadshow, explained Marco Rago, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has launched a structured line of initiatives focused on sports diplomacy, with the aim of promoting sport as a tool to project Italy’s image abroad.

“In 2026, the eyes of the world will be on Italy, and the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be an extraordinary showcase to display our cultural, technological, and environmental excellence, as well as a means to strengthen cooperation and dialogue with other countries.”

The tour started with programs in Munich (GER), then Paris (FRA), New York and Oslo (NOR) and will finish in June in Seoul (KOR) and Beijing (CHN).

● Russia ● “Whereabouts” violations are on the rise in Russia, with 34 incidents in April 2025 according to the Russian Anti-Doping Agency. Prior months this year had 25-18-21 from January to March; the total is 98 for the year through four months.

Prior year totals were 375 in 2022, 242 in 2023 and 282 in 2024.

● Athletics ● Superstar U.S. hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has confirmed that she will run the 100 m hurdles and 100 m – the “short hurdles” group – in the next Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia from 30 May to 1 June.

She has dominated the long hurdles group in the first two meets, winning both races (400 hurdles and 400 m) both times, including a world-leading 52.07 in the hurdles in Miramar on 3 May and a 49.69 400 m there, now no. 5 on the world list for 2025.

McLaughlin-Levrone is no slouch in the 100 m hurdles, with a best of 12.65 from 2021 and she’s only run the event in six meets since high school. She hasn’t run a 100 m since 2018, when she clocked a wind-aided 11.07 at age 18!

Grand Slam Track also announced some of the Challengers for the Philadelphia meet, with two-time World Champion Danielle Williams (JAM) and 2025 World Indoor 60 m hurdles runner-up Dita Kambundji (SUI) to join the short hurdles field.

Paris Olympic women’s 200 m champ Gabby Thomas will run in the short sprints again.

In the men’s short hurdles, Miami Slam winner Trey Cunningham will be back, and world leader Cordell Tinch of the U.S. (12.87) will compete for the first time in the series, along with Lorenzo Simonelli (ITA: 2024 European Champion) and Jakub Szymanski (SUI), the 2025 European Indoor winner.

The Philadelphia Slam will be on 30-31 May and 1 June.

● Boxing ● Aaron Waldron, the 2024 U.S. national champion at 154 lbs., was suspended for three years, per the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency:

“Waldon, 24, tested positive for GW1516 sulfoxide, a metabolite of GW1516 (also known as GW501516, cardarine and endurobol) as the result of a urine sample collected at the 2024 USA Boxing National Championships on December 21, 2024. GW1516 and its metabolites are Prohibited Substances in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. They are prohibited at all times.”

Waldron defeated Carlos Flowers, 3:2, in the Super Welter final on 24 December, but is now disqualified. His suspension started on 9 January 2025, meaning he will be eligible to compete for the U.S. team for the 2028 Olympic Games.

● Canoe-Kayak ● The International Canoe Federation announced a world-rankings system for its sprint disciplines: men’s and women’s canoe and men’s and women’s kayak.

Results from ranking competitions will earn points, with a maximum of five events per year, with the best-five results included. This is important because:

“From 2026, it is also set to provide an avenue for athletes to secure their place at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 under the revamped qualification process currently being drawn up by the ICF.”

However, don’t look for real-time point totals, as “The World Ranking tables will be updated and published within five days of the conclusion of each ranking competition.”

Points will be fractionalized for events with two or more competitors in the same boat (C-2, C-4, K-2, K-4).

● Football ● To the surprise of no one, the FIFA Council agreed to expand the 2031 Women’s World Cup from 32 teams in 2027 to 48 teams, a la the men’s World Cup expansion for 2026:

“The 48-team FIFA Women’s World Cup will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week. The hosting requirements for the 2031 and 2035 editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup have been adapted accordingly.”

It is not a coincidence that the 2026 (men’s) World Cup and the 2031 Women’s World Cup will both be – all or part – in the United States, which has dozens of stadiums which could be used and has become the largest single-nation football market in the world for international championship events. Also:

“The FIFA Council equally approved the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football, which foresees the establishment of the Afghan women’s refugee team (AWRT) and provides the FIFA administration with a mandate to organise and facilitate its operations to start its activities as soon as possible.”

● Gymnastics ● In its summary of the 10 May meeting of the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique Council in Malta, it was noted that there was no interest in hosting the federation’s main events for 2029:

“2029 World Championships in Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trampoline Gymnastics and the 2029 Junior World Championships in Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics and Rhythmic Gymnastics.

“In the absence of any bids for these events, the FIG Council delegated the authority to the FIG Executive Committee to allocate these events.”

Also no bidders for the 2026 FIG Council meeting. Interesting.

● Nordic Combined ● Still under threat to be removed from future Olympic Winter Games programs, the FIS Nordic Combined committee met on 8 May and approved the first ski-flying World Cup for men, to take place at Kulm (AUT) off the 235 m hill.

It’s a more spectacular event off the giant slope, to be part of an Individual Compact competition, with a 7.5 km cross-country race to follow the jumping. It will be the first World Cup to follow the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

More large-hill events for women were also approved and prize money will be equalized for men and women at CHF 1,500 per event (~$1,804 U.S.), distributed to the top three finishers only.

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Archery ● Paris 2024 men’s gold medalist Woo-jin Kim (KOR) won the men’s Recurve class at the World Archery World Cup II in Shanghai (CHN), defeating Mexico’s Matias Grande in the final, 7-1. Korea also won the team title over France, with the U.S. third.

Korea’s Gah-yun Lee won the women’s Recurve final, upsetting Paris Olympic winner, Si-yeon Lim, 6-2. Korea swept the women’s team title as well, defeating China, 6-2.

Dutch star Mike Schloesser, the 2013 World Compound champ, won his final, 147-144 over Yong-hee Choi (KOR), and Madhura Dhamangaonkar (IND) edged American Carson Krahe, 139-138, in the women’s final. India won the men’s team final and Mexico won the women’s.

Korea won the Recurve Mixed Team event, 6-2, over China while Britain won the Compound Mixed Team final, a new event for 2028, by 156-153 over Turkey.

● Athletics ● Two world-leading performances at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet, the “What Gravity Challenge” in Doha (QAT), with host star and Tokyo Olympic co-champ Mutaz Essa Barshim becoming the third man to clear 2.31 m (7-7) this season.

Korean Sang-hyeok Woo, the 2022 Worlds runner-up, cleared the same height for second – the fourth this outdoor season – and American 2023 Worlds runner-up JuVaughn Harrison was third at 2.28 m (7-5 3/4).

Olympic women’s champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) cleared a world-leading 2.02 m (6-7 1/2) to win, ahead of 2022 World Champion Eleanor Patterson (AUS: 1.96 m/6-5), and fellow Ukrainian Yulia Levchenko in third at 1.94 m (6-4 1/4).

The event had a $77,000 prize pool per gender ($154,000 total),

Fred Kerley, the 2022 World men’s 100 m champion and arrested twice in south Florida in 2025 for altercations with police and ex-girlfriend, hurdler Alaysha Johnson, must love turmoil. Having run poorly (10.30) in his only Grand Slam Track race in Jamaica on 4 April, he was much better at Azusa Pacific University in southern California, winning his heat in 9.95w (+2.3 m/s) and his semifinal in 9.87w (+2.9) on Friday and the final on Saturday in 9.98 (+1.8), moving to no. 7 in the world for 2025.

He skipped the Miramar Grand Slam, will he be in Philadelphia at the end of the month?

Two national records – subject to ratification, of course – at the USATF National 25 km Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as part of the Amway River Bank Run.

BYU’s Casey Clinger, the USATF 5 km road runner-up this year, broke away in the final stages of the race to win in 1:12:17, ahead of veteran U.S. Olympic stars Joe Klecker (1:12:32) and Hillary Bor (1:12:53), who had been with him at the half-marathon mark (21.1 km) in 1:01:04.

Clinger’s time is quite a bit faster than the American Record of 1:13:08 by Diego Estrada in the 2024 race and is his first national title.

The women’s race was won by 2025 U.S. Cross Country champion Carrie Ellwood, who took off after the 15 km mark and won easily, in 1:22:27, also ahead of the U.S. record set in this race in 2024 by Betsy Saina of 1:22:32.

Megan Hasz (1:23:52) and Kasandra Parker (1:24:26) finished 2-3.

● Cycling ● The 108th Giro d’Italia began in Durres (ALB) on Friday with a 160 km route with three moderate climbs that came down to a final sprint, won by Denmark’s 2019 World Champion Mads Pedersen in 3:36:24, ahead of Belgium’s Wout van Aert and Orluis Aular (VEN). The first 36 riders received the same time.

The second stage was an Individual Time Trial, won by Joshua Tarling (GBR) over 13.7 km, and ahead of Slovenian star (and 2023 winner) Primoz Roglic, 16:07.86 to 16:08.10. Australia’s Jay Vine was third (+2.66 seconds).

Sunday’s 160 km third stage also had three climbs and a flat finish, turning into another mass sprint, won again by Pedersen in 3:49:47 over Corbin Strong (NZL) and Aular with the first 85 riders given the same time. Pedersen leads the overall race by nine seconds over Roglic.

There is a travel day on Monday before resuming the race in Italy on Tuesday.

Defending champion Demi Vollering (NED) took the race lead on the uphill-finishing fifth stage and stayed in front to win the 11th Vuelta Espana Femenina on Saturday in 19:41:32, some 1:01 ahead of Swiss Marlen Reusser and 1:16 up on fellow Dutch star Anna van der Breggen.

Vollering has now won medals in this race four times running, third in 2022, second in 2023 and now two wins. She took not only stage five, but also the final stage seven – the other climbing stage – to post her final victory margin.

Italian Vittoria Bussi, 38, set her third career world record in the women’s one-hour on Saturday with 50.455 km (31.35 miles) the Velodromo Bicentenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

She had previously set records in 2018 (48.007 km) and 2023 (50.267 km), but smashed her own mark in a specially-arranged event by Swiss timing company Tissot.

● Fencing ● The FIE Epee Grand Prix in Bogota (COL) saw Japan’s Akira Komata defeat 2023 Worlds bronzer Ruslan Kurbanov (KAZ), 15-10, for Komata’s first career Grand Prix gold.

Italy’s Giulia Rizzi, a Paris 2024 Olympic Team gold winner, took the women’s title with a 15-11 win over American Hadley Husisian. Fellow American Catherine Nixon won one of the two bronze medals.

● Gymnastics ● At the first FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup of the season, in Varna (BUL), 20-year-old Ruby Stacey (GBR: 13.333) won the women’s Vault and Nola Mathews of the U.S. took the Uneven Bars (13.300) over Stacey (13.033).

On Sunday, Matthews followed up with a 13.300 win on Floor, and was fifth on Beam (12.366), won by Marianna Kiniuk (UKR: 12.866).

The men’s winners first-day winners included Eddie Penev (BUL: 13.900) on Floor, Ngoc Xuan Thien Dang (VIE: 14.266), and Turkey’s 2022 World Champion Adem Asil on Rings (14.100). On Sunday, Chinese Taipei’s Wei-Sheng Tseng won on Vault (14.183), Tokyo Olympic bronzer Ferhat Arican (TUR: 14.300) took the title on Parallel Bars, and Robert Tvorogal (LTU: 14.233) on Horizontal Bar.

At the FIG Rhythmic World Cup in Portimao (POR), Belarus’ Alina Harnasko, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic All-Around bronzer, won with 115.250 points, over American Rin Keys (110.550). Megan Chu of the U.S. scored 106.150 for sixth.

Harnasko swept the apparatus finals, winning Hoop at 29.250 with Chu third (28.100), then on Ball (27.950) with Keys second (27.300) and Chu sixth (26.300), on Clubs at 29.100 with keys second at 28.450, and on Ribbon at 27.000, with Keys fourth (26.650).

● Ice Hockey ● the 2025 IIHF men’s World Championship is on in Herning, Denmark and Stockholm, Sweden, with Sweden and Canada both 2-0 in Group A, and the U.S. and Germany both 2-0 in Group B. Group play will continue through the 20th.

The U.S. won their games by 5-0 over Denmark and 7-1 against Latvia.

● Judo ● Russian and Korean fighters each won three classes at the IJF World Tour Grand Slam in Astana (KAZ), with Paris Olympic bronze medalist Joon-hwan Lee taking the men’s 81 kg class by beating two-time Olympic champ Takanori Nagase (JPN) in the final.

● Modern Pentathlon ● At the UIPM World Cup III in Pazardzhik (BUL), Italy finished 1-2 in the men’s final, with Paris Olympic bronzer Giorgio Malan starting 14 seconds behind on the Laser Run, but crossing first, scoring 1.568 points. Teammate Matteo Cicinelli, the Cairo World Cup winner, started sixth but had the third-fastest Laser Run to move up to second (1,562).

Egyptian sensation Farida Khalil, 14, got her second World Cup of the season in the women’s final, winning on obstacle and in swimming and scoring 1,485 points for a clear win over Paris bronze medalist Seung-min Seong (KOR: 1,466) and fellow Egyptian Malak Ismail (1,453).

● Shooting ● At the ISSF World Cup for Shotgun in Nicosia (CYP), Spain’s 45-year-old Manuel Murcia won the men’s Trap final, 45-44, over Yannick Peeters (BEL), Italy’s 2018 World Junior champ Elia Sdruccioli took the Skeet title, 55-52 against 44-year-old Jesper Hansen (DEN), the Tokyo Olympic runner-up.

Russian “neutral” Lada Denisova won the women’s Trap final, 37-36, over Carey Garrison of the U.S. and Russian Arina Kuznetsova won the Skeet final with 54 hits to 52 for American Sam Simonton, the 2022 Worlds bronze medalist.

China won the Trap Mixed Team final, 42-39, over Poland.

● Wrestling ● The U.S. made a powerful showing at the Pan American Championships in Monterrey (MEX), taking all three team titles – men’s and women’s Freestyle and Greco-Roman – and 18 individual golds.

The American men’s Freestyle squad won three early classes, with Jax Forrest (61 kg), Ladarion Lockett (74 kg) and Zahid Valencia (86 kg), then four more on Sunday: Evan Wick (79 kg), Trent Hidlay (92 kg), Justin Rademacher (97 kg) and Wyatt Hendrickson (125 kg).

In the Greco-Roman finals, the U.S. earned six class titles at 55 kg (Jayden Raney), 60 kg (Maxwell Black), 72 kg (Alejandro Sancho), 77 kg (Kamal Bey), 82 kg (Beka Melelashvili) and 87 kg (Payton Jacobson). Cuba won three titles, including Tokyo Olympic champ Luis Orta at 67 kg and four-time Worlds medalist Oscar Pino at 130 kg, beating Cohlton Schultz of the U.S. in the final.

The women’s classes saw five American wins by Audrey Jimenez (50 kg), two-time Worlds medalist Macey Kilty (65 kg). Olympic silver winner Kennedy Blades (68 kg), Tiffany Baublitz (72 kg) and Worlds bronze winner Kylie Welker (76 kg).

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ATHLETICS: U.S. wins mixed 4×4, but South Africa and Spain star in World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou

By
Rich Perelman
-
The U.S. team of Johnnie Blockburger, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Courtney Okolo and Chris Robinson celebrate their Mixed 4x400 m at the World Athletics Relays (Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images for World Athletics)

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS RELAYS ≡

Medals, but more importantly, qualifying for the 2025 World Athletics Championships was on the line on the final day of the seventh World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou (CHN), with the U.S. getting its remaining qualifier in the men’s 4×400 m.

In the finals, it was South Africa and Spain as the stars on Sunday, with the U.S. finishing with a gold and two silvers. Conditions were much better, clear and dry with 76 F temperatures, with a better crowd of perhaps 25,000 at the 80,012-seat Guangdong Olympic Stadium.

● Mixed 4×100 m:
The debut of this event, which will be in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, had Canada as the favorite after a 40.90 time on Saturday. Jamaica had a small lead off the first leg with Serena Cole, but Canada’s Marie-Eloise Leclair and Duan Asemota were terrific on the second and third legs and a crisp pass to anchor Eliezer Adjibi gave him a small lead.

He held it under pressure from Jamaica’s Bryan Levell and won in 40.30 to 40.44 – which will be the first world record in this event – with Great Britain third in 40.88. The U.S. botched the second hand-off in its heat and didn’t make the final.

● Mixed 4×400 m:
The U.S. led the qualifying at 3:11.37 and ran the same team, but reversed the men, with Chris Robinson on lead-off this time and Johnnie Blockburger third. Robinson (44.97) passed first to Courtney Okolo (50.88), with Australia’s Ellie Beer (50.33) taking the lead. Blockburger was third on the backstraight as Kenya took the lead, but surged in front on the far turn. Blockburger zoomed to a 5 m lead (44.16!) and handed to Lynna Irby-Jackson (49.53!), who opened to an 8 m lead on the back straight and she ran away to win in 3:09.54.

It’s the no. 8 performance in history for the U.S. (it has five of the eight), and Robinson and Blockburger had the only sub-45 men’s legs and Irby-Jackson the only sub-50 women’s leg. Australia was second in 3:12.20 and Kenya was strong in third in 3:13.10.

In the second qualifying round, the top three in each of two races qualified for the 2025 Worlds. The first race had Spain getting a 48.85 anchor (!) from Blanca Hervas to win in 3:12.55, ahead of Germany and China in the top three, and another poor performance from Jamaica, in fourth at 3:14.42.

Italy, Canada and France were well clear of the field by the third leg, with Alice Mangione bringing the Italians in first in 3:12.53. France followed in 3:12.66 and Canada third in 3:12.95.

● Women’s 4×100 m:
Jamaica was the favorite with Natasha Morrison coming in on first leg, then the legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tina Clayton and two-time World 200 m champ Shericka Jackson. The U.S. was two lanes inside, with Mikiah Brisco, Caisja Chandler, Kayla White and TeeTee Terry, but Spain and Belgium ran faster in the heats.

Brisco was good on the opener, but Spain and Jamaica were strong on the second leg. The Spanish passed first onto the anchor, with Terry getting the stick in third place. Spain’s Maria Perez had the lead, but it was Success Eduan of Great Britain who surged in lane nine in the final 50 m to get to the line first in 42.21. Perez held on for second in 42.28, then Jamaica’s Jackson third in 42.33 and Terry brought the Americans home fourth in 42.38.

In the qualifying races, France go a strong finish from Chloe Galet to win in 43.06, over Italy (43.12) and Chile (43.74). China won the second race in 43.03, followed by the Swiss (43.35) and Poland (43.38).

● Men’s 4×100 m:
Japan, South Africa and the U.S. were within 0.02 in qualifying and the Americans fielded the same line-up, with Courtney Lindsey, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Brandon Hicklin.

Lindsey was strong and Bednarek and King were excellent and Hicklin had the lead on the anchor. But he could not hold off South African star Akani Simbine in the final 30 m and Simbine crossed first in a world-leading 37.61, to 37.66 for the U.S. Canada overcame a poor first pass to get third in 38.11.

It’s the no. 2 performance ever by a South African team, which also won silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In the three qualifying races, with two to advance to Tokyo, France got two strong finishing legs from Ryan Zeze and Aymeric Priam to win in 38.31, with Ghana at 38.32 and South Korea at 38.51. Belgium and Kenya went 1-2 in 38.49 and 38.51; Jamaica’s second leg, Julian Forte, pulled up and did not finish, so they’ll have to chase a world rankings entry to the Worlds.

China ran 38.03 to run away with the third race, ahead of Australia (38.31).

● Women’s 4×400 m:
The U.S. was the leading qualifier, with Paris Peoples leading off in the final (52.21), and passed second to Karmiah Davis (50.03), who moved smartly into the lead on the cut to the inside. She passed just ahead of South Africa’s Miranda Coetzee, to Maya Singletary (52.09), who was passed by Spain’s Daniela Fra, who gave anchor Blanca Hervas a 5 m lead at the last pass.

U.S. anchor Bailey Lear ran to the lead after 120 m and led around the turn and into the straight. But this was tight and Spain’s Hervas ran into the lead with 40 m to go and won with a national record of 3:24.13. Lear’s 50.39 leg was good for silver in 3:24.72. South Africa took the bronze in 3:24.84.

In the qualifying races (three to advance), Britain, Belgium and Poland had a substantial lead by halfway in race one and they all closed hard at the line, with Nicole Yeargin closing first for the British in 3:24.46, ahead of Belgium (3:24.52) and Poland (3:24.56).

Ireland’s Rashidat Adeleke broke away, along with Ellie Beer (AUS), on the second leg in the second race, and Sharlene Mawdsley (50.01) won it for the Irish on anchor in 3:24.69. Australia followed in 3:27.31 and then Switzerland in third (3:32.37).

● Men’s 4×400 m:
South Africa was the leading qualifier at 3:00.00 (the U.S. didn’t make the final), and passed with Belgium in front after the first leg. Botswana’s Justice Oratile took the lead on the second leg, and Kabo Rankgwe extended it, but died on the straight and South Africa’s Leendert Koekemoer (44.23) passed first.

It was Zakithi Nene leading, but the top three were close coming into the straight. But Nene won it with a brilliant 43.64 leg and South Africa celebrated in a world-leading 2:57.50. Alexander Doom brought Belgium up to second in 2:58.19 and Botswana settled for third in 2:58.27.

In the first qualifying race (three to advance), the Dutch led for most of the way, but Brazil’s Matheus Lima ran 45.04 on anchor to win in 3:01.14, with Netherlands second (3:01.32) and Jamaica punching their ticket in third (3:02.00).

The U.S. astonishingly did not qualify on Saturday (third in 3:01.23), and ran in the second race with two new legs: Justin Robinson (2nd) and Khaleb McRae (4th) and led off with veteran Elija Godwin, whose 44.45 anchor on Saturday was the only quality leg. Godwin was out like a shot but passed second behind Qatar, with Australia’s Reece Holder (44.16) taking the lead on the second leg. Robinson (44.21) moved up and passed even with Holder, then Kennedy Lightner took off and led into the turn and into the straight (45.11). But it was Australia’s Aidan Murphy (44.65) who passed first to Thomas Reynolds. McRae took the lead with 200 m to go and poured it on for a sizzling 43.86 leg to win in a then-world-leading 2:58.68. On to the Worlds.

Reynolds ran 45.25 for second (2:59.73) and 400 m hurdles star Abderrahmane Samba ran 44.37 for get Qatar into third (3:00.29), a national record.

This was a fun event – it always is – but it was a qualifying exercise, with very few of the sport’s top stars participating. That’s going to be a topic of discussion for World Athletics, with the event heading to Africa for the first time in early May 2026, in Gaborone (BOT).

The U.S. did what it came to do: qualify in all five World Championships events. With teams that will barely resemble the Worlds squads in September, the Americans won the mixed 4×4 and got silvers in the men’s 4×100 and women’s 4×400. That was it. But: both the men’s and women’s 4x100s got the stick around, although the mixed 4×100 botched the second handoff.

Jamaica was worse, missing qualification in the mixed 4×4, didn’t start a team in the final of the women’s 4×4 and pulled up due to injury in the men’s 4×1 final. They will have some work to do to qualify via world rankings for Tokyo.

But South Africa was great twice, and Spain – hardly a historical relay powerhouse – won an unexpected women’s 4×4 gold and a women’s 4×1 silver, possible springboards to glory in Tokyo in September.

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ATHLETICS: U.S. goes 4-for-5, Jamaica 1-for-5 in World Champs qualifying in rainy World Athletics Relays first day in China

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ WORLD ATHLETICS RELAYS ≡

It was rainy for the start of the seventh World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou (CHN), in comfortable, 75 F temperatures, with a modest crowd on hand at the 80,012-seat Guangdong Olympic Stadium.

Saturday’s events were strictly qualifying for Sunday’s finals, and while many of the teams did not feature many (any?) of their familiar stars, the racing was still intense.

● Mixed 4×100 m:
This was the debut of the new event, to be run by women on the first two legs and then two men to finish. The slick track didn’t help, bur the U.S. got off well in lane five in heat one of three, with Kennedy Blackmon on the first leg.

Jada Mowatt really took off on the second leg and had a clear lead, but the pass from her left hand to the right hand of Kendal Williams misfired – Williams couldn’t grab the stick – and the U.S. was out of it in yet another of a long history of 4×100 m disasters. Italy won the heat in 41.15, with France a close second (41.28).

Williams did continue and handed to Pjai Austin, who finished in 1:05.77. It was the worst possible start for new USA Track & Field national relays coach Darryl Woodson, but with no qualifying impact.

Jamaica’s Rasheed Foster held off Joe Ferguson (GBR) on the anchor of heat two to win in 41.05, and Canada’s Eliezer Adjibi stormed through the final leg to move from third to first in the final 50 m to win in 40.90, over Australia (41.15).

There was no World Championships qualifying in this event, but it is a new event for the 2028 Olympic Games.

● Mixed 4×400 m:
This is a Worlds qualifying event, run in a man-woman-man-woman format, with the top two in each heat getting a spot in Tokyo in September. Australia had a solid lead on the anchor leg with Alanah Yukich, but Belgium’s Helena Ponette moved up on the backstraight to challenge and zoomed into the lead on the home straight to win in a world-leading 3:11.83, to 3:12.34.

The U.S. was in heat two, with USC’s Johnnie Blockburger starting off well and passing well to Rio 2016 relay gold medalist Courtney Okolo. Poland’s Olympic 400 m bronzer Natalia (Kaczmarek) Bukowiecka had a small lead over Okolo at the exchange, then ex-NCAA 400 m hurdles champ Chris Robinson took over. He took the lead over the final 50 m and passed first to Tokyo 2020 4×400 relay gold medalist Lynna Irby-Jackson.

She took off and grabbed a 15 m lead on the backstraight and rolled to the line in 3:11.37, the world leader in 2025. Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdsley overtook Polish star Justyna Swiety-Ersetic for second in the final 5 m, 3:12.56 to 3:12.70.

Heat three came down to South Africa and Great Britain on the anchor, with USC’s Nicole Yeargin edging ahead on the final straight for the British, winning in 3:13.28, to 3:13.79 over Zeney van der Walt.

● Women’s 4×100 m:
Amy Hunt gave Great Britain the lead on the second leg and anchor Desiree Henry had the lead, but Belgium’s Delphine Nkansa ran her down and got to the line first in lane nine, 42.80 to 42.92.

Jamaica fielded a star-studded team in heat two with Tina Clayton, five-time World 100 m champ Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Olympic 100 m finalist Tia Clayton and two-time World 200 m champ Shericka Jackson. But Spain was even after the second leg and Paula Sevilla took the lead on the final turn and Maria Isabel Perez had no trouble handling Jackson on the anchor, 42.18 to 42.51. This was not expected.

The U.S. had Mikiah Brisco, Caisja Chandler, Kayla White and Olympic relay champ TeeTee Terry starting in lane five in heat three, and White made the difference, taking a clear lead and handing to Terry in front. The final pass was almost a disaster, with White grabbing Terry’s hand and trying to put the baton into it! But Terry finally got the stick and won without further difficulty in 42.86.

Canada’s Audrey Leduc ran hard to move up to second in 43.11, ahead of the Dutch (43.13).

● Men’s 4×100 m:
Britain was an easy winner in 38.18, with Eugene Amo-Dadzie flying away from the field on the anchor, with Poland’s Dominik Kopec strong on the anchor for second in 38.43.

Jamaica had Olympic 100 m runner-up Kishane Thompson on the anchor in heat two, but he never got the stick, as veteran star Yohan Blake never got the baton  on the third leg from Julian Forte. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Bradley Nkoana ran a brilliant third leg and handed to Olympic finalist Akani Simbine for an easy win in a world-leading 37.84. Germany was second at 38.33.

Japan’s Rai Atago ran a strong second leg and passed smoothly to Towa Uzawa, who ran an excellent third leg and Naoki Inoue brought it home on anchor, equaling the world lead at 37.84. Canada got a powerful anchor from Tokyo 200 m Olympic champ Andre De Grasse to get second in 38.15.

The U.S. was in heat four, with Courtney Lindsey, Kenny Bednarek, Kyree King and Brandon Hicklin on anchor. Bednarek was superb on the second leg and passed perfectly to King, who was well in the lead. But Hicklin left early and barely got the stick in time, but finished first in 37.86, that should have been faster. Italy’s Filippo Tortu came up for second in 38.16.

● Women’s 4×400 m:
The rain was back – hard – for heat one, with Maya Singletary leading off and passing fifth (53.26) to Karimah Davis, who took the lead by the 200 m mark. Davis passed in the lead (50.56) to Paris Peoples, who took off and had a 10 m lead by 200, that closed to about 3 m (51.76) by the final pass to Bailey Lear, a member of the World Indoor 4×400 m winners.

In heavy rain, Lear (50.47) led Canada’s Madeline Price around the turn and crossed first in 3:26.05. France’s Louise Maraval finished in 50.33 to pass everyone else for second (3:26.46).

Spain surprised with a wire-to-wire win in heat two, with Bianca Hervas finishing in 51.51 to hold off Italy’s Alice Mangione (51.17), in 3:26.25 to 3:27.03. South Africa was strong in heat three in a national record 3:28.01, over Germany (3:26.63). Jamaica’s Jodean Williams ran a stunning 56.85 on the first leg and they were never in it, finishing last in 3:40.54.

● Men’s 4×400 m:
South Africa controlled most of the race, with Zakithi Nene running 43.97 on anchor to win at 3:00.00. China’s Haoran Fu ran a 44.65 finale to hold off Spain’s Bernat Erta (45.30) for second in a national record 3:01.87, to 3:02.04.

Botswana, which won the Paris Olympic silver, needed a 44.61 anchor from Leungo Scotch to win in 3:01.23, ahead of Portugal, with a national record 3:01.78, thanks to the 44.45 third leg by Joao Coelho.

Qatar’s 400 m hurdles star Abderrahame Samba had the lead after the first leg (45.23), but Belgium got a great back half from Dylan Borlee (45.74) and 2024 World Indoor winner Alexander Doom (44.60) to win in 3:01.35. Britain’s Charles Dobson (44.66) was out-leaned at the tape and was second (3:01.38).

In heat four, the U.S. had Jevon O’Bryant, Lance Lang, Kennedy Lightner and Tokyo relay Olympian Elija Godwin, with the first three legs part of a then-world-leading 3:02.53 from the Texas Relays as part of a U.S. team-building exercise. O’Bryant (45.72) passed second, but Lang (45.57) was fourth passing to Lightner (45.49). Godwin took the stick in third, well behind France and Kenya.

He moved up (44.45), but couldn’t do better than third in 3:01.23, with France running away in 3:00.30 and Kenya getting a 44.87 final leg from Kevin Kipkorir to grab second in 3:00.88.

The U.S. qualified four of its teams for the 2025 World Championships, following the embarrassment of the opening Mixed 4×100 m. The surprise was Jamaica, which qualified only its women’s 4×100 m team and will try to recover in the second-round qualifiers on Sunday.

Sunday will have finals in all events and second-round Worlds qualifying for those teams which did not make it in Saturday’s heats.

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FOOTBALL: FIFA and On Location open 2026 World Cup hospitality sales with series buys, from $1,300 per game to $9,150!

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

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≡ HOSPITALITY OPTIONS ≡

FIFA and its hospitality partner for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, On Location, opened their sales program with three series options for those interested in high-priced attendance opportunities at the 11 U.S. sites.:

(1) Venue Series:
This group offers all of the matches at a specific venue, with a choice of one of four hospitality levels for pre- and post-match food service; each hospitality level has a “plus” level, apparently better seats:

● Pitchside Lounge, with premium sideline seating, with premium food and beverage service.

● VIP Lounge, with elevated sideline seating and food and beverage service.

● Champions Club, with preferred seating and a lounge with food and beverage service.

● FIFA Pavilion – at some sites – with preferred seating, with beverages and “Gourmet street eats infused with local flair.”

Parking availability varies by venue, but is available only to Pitchside and VIP levels. Venue Series options by site:

● Atlanta: 1 ticket to 8 matches, including 3 in playoffs (semifinal)
● $36,000-$40,400 Pitchside ~ $30,500-$34,400 VIP ~ $20,950-$23,200 Champions
● Average per-match pricing is $2,619 to $5,050.

● Boston: 1 ticket to 7 matches, including 2 in playoffs
● $24,000-$26,700 Pitchside ~ $20,800-$23,000 VIP ~ $14,000-$16,450 Champions
● Average per-match pricing is $2,000 to $3,814.

● Dallas: 1 ticket to 9 matches, including 4 in playoffs (semifinal)
● $41,400-$44,260 Pitchside ~ $36,275-$38,585 VIP ~ $23,700-$26,050 Champions
● Average per-match pricing is $2,633 to $4,918.

● Houston: 1 ticket to 7 matches, including 2 in playoffs
● $23,200-$24,900 Pitchside ~ $19,895-$21,440 VIP ~ $15,000-$16,125 Champions ~ $10,375-$11,150 FIFA Pavilion
● Average per-match pricing is $1,482 to $3,557.

● Kansas City: 1 ticket to 6 matches, including 2 in playoffs
● $21,300-$23,300 Pitchside ~ $18,700-$20,200 VIP ~ $13,000-$14,200 Champions ~ $9,375-$10,150 FIFA Pavilion
● Average per-match pricing is $1,563 to $3,883.

● Los Angeles: 1 ticket to 8 matches, including 3 in playoffs
● $32,350-$35,350 Pitchside ~ $28,650-$31,500 VIP ~ $20,300-$22,400 Champions
● Average per-match pricing is $2,538 to $4,419.

● Miami: 1 ticket to 7 matches, including 2 in playoffs (third place)
● $26,200-$30,000 Pitchside ~ $23,300-$25,200 VIP ~ $15,900-$17,300 Champions
● Average per-match pricing is $2,271 to $4,286.

● New York/New Jersey: 1 ticket to 8 matches, including 2 playoffs + final
● $68,150-$73,200 Pitchside ~ $56,875-$61,575 VIP ~ $35,630-$38,490 Champions ~ $25,800-$27,875 FIFA Pavilion
● Average per-match pricing is $3,225 to $9,150.

● Philadelphia: 1 ticket to 6 matches, including 1 in playoffs
● $19,700-$21,200 Pitchside ~ $16,900-$18,200 VIP ~ $11,600-$12,400 Champions ~ $8,650-$9,300 FIFA Pavilion
● Average per-match pricing is $1,442 to $3,533.

● San Francisco: 1 ticket to 6 matches, including 1 in playoffs
● $19,250-$20,600 Pitchside ~ $16,050-$17,550 VIP ~ $11,150-$12,500 Champions ~ $8,275-$8,900 FIFA Pavilion
● Average per-match pricing is $1,379 to $3,433.

● Seattle: 1 ticket to 6 matches, including 2 in playoffs
● $23,075-$26,000 Pitchside ~ $18,900-$21,000 VIP ~ $13,325-$15,050 Champions ~ $9,850-$10,625 FIFA Pavilion
● Average per-match pricing is $1,642 to $4,333.

Quarterfinals are in Boston, Kansas City, Los Angeles and Miami; semis are in Atlanta and Dallas, the third-place match in Miami and the final in New York/New Jersey.

(2) Follow My Team:
This series offers the three group-stage matches and a round-of-32 match (four total) and hospitality at the FIFA Pavilion, but no availability yet for the host countries of Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

For example, the Albania package was offered at $6,660 for “FIFA Pavilion Standard” and $7,200 for “FIFA Pavilion Plus,” or $1,665 to $1,800 per ticket and services per match. Same price for Zimbabwe. But the major football countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany and so on are not shown.

(3) 4Match Series:
This is for Group Stage matches only, with two of the four dates from Monday through Thursday and two weekend dates, with host-nation matches not available.

Pricing is $12,200-$13,200 for Pitchside ~ $10,400-$11,200 for VIP ~ $7,200-$8,000 for Champions $5,200-$5,600 for FIFA Pavilion where available. So, these are $1,300 to $3,300 per ticket and services per match.

An eight-match package and rentals of suites were not priced, but asked for those interested to register for future contact. There are also hospitality offerings for next month’s FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. and the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

These prices are not for the feint of heart (or wallet), but they are for multiple games with the highest levels of service available to paying customers. Yet to be announced are standard ticket prices, apparently to come in the fall.

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PANORAMA: Bach confident in Coventry as IOC chief; U.S. 800 star Murphy retires; Bird takes over U.S. women’s team; Giro d’Italia is here!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Can Slovenia's Primoz Roglic win a second Giro d'Italia?

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2024: Paris ● Seven people were found guilty of online abuse toward Olympic ceremonies director Thomas Jolly (FRA) and received suspended jail sentences, but were also fined up to €3,000 (~$3,369 U.S.).

The Monday verdicts followed a complaint made by Jolly shortly after the controversial opening ceremony, with the parade of nations held on the Seine River in Paris. All were also required to pay €1 to Jolly and to enroll in a five-day “civic training programme.”

A similar abuse case involving disc jockey and lesbian activist Barbara Butch (FRA) and five alleged abusers is to be heard in September.

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The Hellenic Olympic Committee announced that the torch relay for the 2026 Winter Games will begin on 26 November 2025 at ancient Olympia.

The lighting will be followed by a relay in Greece to 4 December, a nine-day route which will cover 1,367 miles and have 36 ceremonial stops, using 450 torchbearers, before the handover to the Italian 2026 Games organizers.

● Olympic Games: Future ● International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) told Japan’s Kyodo News Service that a bid for a future Olympic Games will be welcomed by the IOC “if we can be sure on the IOC side that these Japanese business practices, this kind of corruption, is over and has been addressed.”

He was referencing two Tokyo 2020 scandals, of rigged bids for test events and venue management, and of a bribery program to assure selections as sponsors. Bach added:

“We understand what happened there within Japan because of the business practices of some Japanese business people…We also hope that this leads to a clarification and adaptation of Japanese business practices.”

Bach also praised incoming IOC President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM):

“I know that she has this very clear compass of the Olympic values. She has been elected because she has the professional and the human qualities to be a very good president of the IOC and lead the Olympic movement in an even better future.”

“Therefore, I’m really very at ease and very, very confident.”

● Athletics ● U.S. 800 m star Clayton Murphy is done, posting on Instagram on Wednesday:

“Today, I’m officially retiring from professional track and field.

“I poured everything I had into this sport, and I’m walking away with pride, gratitude, and a heart full of memories.

“A decade on the global stage is more than most pros will ever get to experience and I’m so grateful for what every year has taught me.”

Murphy, now 30, won an Olympic men’s 800 m bronze in Rio in 2016, after taking the Pan American Games 800 gold in 2015 and then made the final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. He finished with brilliant lifetime bests of 1:42.93 for 800 m (2016), 3:36.23 in the 1,500 m (2016) and 3:51.99 in the mile (2017). He’s no. 5 on the all-time U.S. 800 m list.

● Basketball ● Five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird has been named USA Basketball’s first-ever Managing Director of the women’s National Team.

She retired in 2022, and USA Basketball explained:

“In this next chapter, it will mean assembling the U.S. Women’s National Team roster and coaching staff for international competitions, including the 2026 FIBA World Cup and the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.”

● Cycling ● The first of the annual Grand Tours, the 108th Giro d’Italia, will begin on Friday in Durres (ALB) and finish on 1 June in Rome. The 3,413 km route (2,121 miles) will include:

● 2 Individual Time Trials (stages 2, 10)
● 4 flat stages (4, 12, 14, 21)
● 8 hilly stages (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 18)
● 7 mountain stages (7, 11, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)

The 2025 route is especially challenging with four of the mountain stages in the final six days of the race. The first three stages will be in Albania; the final stage on 1 June will begin at the Vatican Gardens as a tribute to the late Pope Francis.

The race favorite is Slovenian star Primoz Roglic, the 2023 champion, who was also third in 2019. Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz won this race in 2019 and Spain’s Mikel Landa was third in 2017 and in 2022. Expect to hear a lot from sprint stars Mads Pedersen (DEN) and Wout van Aert (BEL).

● Fencing ● Former U.S. Olympic Sabre fencer and one-time Chair of USA Fencing, Ivan Lee, was sanctioned by two New York courts over sex offenses committed against a female fencer in 2023.

Now 44, he pled guilty to two misdemeanor counts in Kings County, New York and saw one count for forcible touching vacated after he completed a court-ordered treatment program. The guilty plea to the second count of harassment in the second degree, which is a non-criminal offense, remains in force.

In the Nassau County case, Lee was sentenced to six years probation and must undertake a program for sex offenders after pleading guilty to one count of sexual abuse in the third degree and one count of forcible touching.

Lee was a two-time NCAA champion in Sabre, 2003 Pan American Games gold medalist and a 2004 Olympian in Sabre. He was elected as USA Fencing Chair in September 2023, but suspended in December 2023 when abuse allegations surfaced. He was arrested in Kings County in February 2024 and Nassau County in March 2024, after having been banned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport on 31 January 2024.

● Football ● During the White House Task Force meeting for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told attendees and reporters that while fans are welcome, immigration controls will be enforced:

“I think that you will see the very best of the United States of America, both in athletic competition, but also in hospitality. Something our boss knows quite a bit about, so we are excited to have you.

“We are excited for this event, and we will do everything at the government level to make this thing as successful as we can, and I will say before I turn it over to the next speaker, that of course, everybody is welcome to come and see this incredible event.

“I know we will have visitors, probably from close to 100 countries. We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. We want them to watch the games. But when the time is up, they’ll have to go home. Otherwise, they’ll have to talk to Secretary [of Homeland Security Kristi] Noem, who I will turn it over to now.”

At the same event, FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) noted that Russia continues to be banned from international competition – including the World Cup – but added:

“We hope. We hope that something happens, and that peace will happen and then Russia can be re-admitted. So, that it what we hope.”

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been talking about trying to help end the Russian war against Ukraine, but did not know about the current ban, followed:

“That is possible. Hey, that could be a good incentive, right? We want to get them to stop. We want them to stop. … 5,000 young people a week are being killed; it’s not even believable.

“They are Russian soldiers and Ukrainian soldiers, mostly. Also people in towns, every once, every two weeks. Horrible things are going on over there. So we are going to get that war stopped, OK?”

The UEFA qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup have started, but will go on for months; Russia is not playing in any qualifiers due to its continuing ban. Ukraine is in Group D and will play its first match on 5 September.

● Gymnastics ● The summary of the FIG Executive Committee meeting in Malta on 7-8 May included a note indicating a name change looks to be coming to the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique:

“Branding, Marketing and TV Rights Commission: the EC agreed on the next steps of the rebranding project and approved the new master logo for World Gymnastics, which will be revealed in due course.”

No further information was provided, or any indication of a timetable.

● Weightlifting ● The International Weightlifting Federation made a change to the men’s weight classes due to the smaller number of classes to be available for Olympic competition in 2028:

“Following the recent decision of the IOC to include five (5) Women’s and five (5) Men’s Bodyweight Categories for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, the Men’s 98kg BW Category has been adjusted to 94kg. This change is intended to prevent significant gaps between the (soon to be selected) five (5) Olympic Men’s Bodyweight Categories.

“With this adjustment, the five (5) categories will be more evenly distributed, ensuring a fairer and safer qualification for all athletes for LA28.”

The men’s classes for IWF championships now include 60 kg, 65 kg, 71 kg, 79 kg, 88 kg, 94 kg, 110 kg, +110 kg. The women’s classes are unchanged: 48 kg, 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 77 kg, 86 kg, +86 kg.

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MEMORABILIA: Ingrid O’Neil’s Auction 98 now open, with unique 1972 Winter Games badge collection starting at $240,000!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Amazing complete set of Sapporo 1972 Winter Olympic badges, on action by Ingrid O’Neil (Photo: Ingrid O’Neil Auctions).

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≡ AUCTION 98 ≡

Ingrid O’Neil’s Auction 98 of unique Olympic and Olympic-sport memorabilia is now open and available for bidding, with 401 lots spanning the entire history of the modern Olympic Movement, from the first Games in Athens in 1896 to today.

As usual, most of the star attractions are Olympic medals and torches, but with a surprise item with the highest starting bid this time:

● $240,000: 1964 Sapporo Olympic Winter badge collection
● $180,000: 1968 Grenoble Olympic Winter torch
● $75,000: 1896 Athens Olympic winner’s medal, with case
● $55,000: 1992 Albertville Olympic Winter torch
● $45,000: 2012 London Olympic gold medal
● $35,000: 1896 Athens Olympic silver medal
● $35,000: 2012 London Olympic silver medal
● $30,000: 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medal, and pin
● $30,000: 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medal, with case
● $26,000: 1976 Montreal Olympic silver medal, with case

● $26,000: 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter gold medal, with case
● $25,000: 2012 London Olympic bronze medal
● $24,000: 1936 Berlin Int’l Olympic Committee Chain of Office
● $22,000: 1956 Melbourne Olympic torch
● $22,000: 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter silver medal, with case
● $20,000: 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympic Winter torch
● $20,000: 1956 Melbourne Olympic torch
● $20,000: 1964 Tokyo Imperial Family badge
● $20,000: 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter bronze medal, with case
● $20,000: 2016 Rio Olympic silver medal

● $20,000: 2024 Paris Olympic torch (2 available)
● $18,000: 1992 Albertville Olympic Winter silver medal
● $12,000: 1956 Stockholm Olympic equestrian bronze medal
● $12,000: 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter silver medal
● $11,000: 1964 Innsbruck Olympic Winter silver medal
● $10,000: 1904 St. Louis Olympic participation medal
● $10,000: 1964 Tokyo Olympic torch

The Sapporo badge collection is really unique, as described:

“Professionally displayed in a wooden glazed case, 110x97cm (43.3”x38.2”). The display also includes a full set of Official Badges, a full set of Team Official Badges and a full set of Competitor Badges. The collection comes from the Estate of the President of the Sapporo Games, and a metal plate with his title is included in the display. This is possibly the only full set of Sapporo 1972 badges worldwide. Perfect condition.”

Badges for the Imperial Family and the Japanese Prime Minister are included in the collection and although just medal and cloth, these items are desperately sought by collectors and such a complete, as-new set of an entire Games is exceptionally rare.

It would take some as stunning unique as the Sapporo badges to have a higher starting price than an ultra-rare 1968 Grenoble Winter Games torch, of which only 33 were made, and shared by runners along the route. A few samples of this torch have come up for auction and given the price, have sold only occasionally.

A Paris 2024 bronze medal and two Paris 2024 Olympic torches are also on auction.

Beyond the 28 star attractions with starting priced of $10,000 or more, there is an excellent selection of Olympic torched with starting prices of $5,000 or less from Berlin 1936 – the first torch relay – to Rome 1960, and then from 1968-72-76-80-84-88-92-96-2000-04 and 2016, all at $3,000 or less. Torches from 2008 and 2012 also have starting bids under $5,000.

And there are always some oddball items which bring a smile. Collectors of 1932 Los Angeles souvenirs might be interested in a pair of Tenth Olympiad fans, picturing the Los Angeles City Hall ($80 start), or a commemorative lighter ($130 start).

The canceled 1940 Games is also present, with the Tokyo bid book ($1,200 start) and then a log plaque and a pin set from the Helsinki organizers, given the Games after withdrawn from Tokyo, but ultimately not held due to World War II.

Two items from the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games are up: the commemorative medal presented to the U.S. team in 1980, and the Congressional Gold Medal later presented; each starts at $1,200.

Football fans can also bid on a participation medal from the first FIFA World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930, with the starting price at just $120.

A lot of fun stuff in this auction, which will close on Saturday, 17 May.

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LOS ANGELES 2028: Coliseum and SoFi Stadium confirmed for two-site Olympic opening ceremonies, and both for Paralympics ceremonies

By
Rich Perelman
-
Opening ceremony concept from the LA2024 bid book, showing both the L.A. Coliseum and SoFi Stadium as ceremony sites.

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≡ CEREMONIES ≡

Confirming the plan originally presented in the Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, the LA28 organizing committee said Thursday that the Olympic opening will be held at both the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, on 14 July 2028.

No details of the ceremonies were provided, but the concept was described in the LA2024 bid documents, before SoFi Stadium – then called the “LA Stadium at Hollywood Park” was even completed:

“LA 2024’s proposed opening ceremony will begin with the Olympic Torch Relay down the peristyle of the LA Memorial Coliseum, home to the ceremonies of both the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games. This will be filled with 70,000 spectators for a Hollywood-produced program of live entertainment, top musical performances and a live viewing and virtual-reality experience of all ceremony events at the LA Stadium at Hollywood Park.

“The Olympic Torch Relay will proceed past iconic landmarks on the streets of Los Angeles, connecting the City’s diverse neighborhoods, until it reaches the new LA Stadium at Hollywood Park.

“Simultaneously, the LA Stadium at Hollywood Park will stage the formal opening ceremony elements, including the Parade of Nations, the Olympic oath, and the official opening of the Games. This new USD 2.6 billion, 85,000-seat stadium — the future home of the NFL’s LA Chargers and LA Rams — is already under construction and due for completion in 2019.

“Produced by Academy Award winning directors and storytellers, the LA 2024 Olympic
Games Opening Ceremony will be designed to celebrate the Olympic Movement’s historic contribution to building a better world, while using our city’s unique creativity to both broaden and strengthen the Olympic brand’s connection to a new generation of youth around the world.

“The LA 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and the celebration will culminate with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron in the LA Stadium, then triggering a lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the Coliseum, where it will remain lit for the duration of the Games and the athletics competitions.”

The Thursday (8th) announcement also confirmed that the Olympic closing on 30 July 2028 would be in the Coliseum, which will be the only stadium in the world to have been the site for Olympic ceremonies in three Games: 1932, 1984 and 2028.

There was an announced change to the Paralympic ceremonies, with the opening on 15 August 2028, at SoFi Stadium, now termed the “Stadium in Inglewood” because the International Olympic Committee does not allow sponsor identification on facilities, unless a company is also a sponsor of the IOC (SoFi is not).

However, where the 2024 bid plan had specified that the Paralympic closing on 27 August would be at SoFi Stadium, it will now be at the Coliseum, which has a historical connection to the Paralympic Movement, as the first-ever wheelchair races held at the Olympic Games – exhibitions – were contested during the 1984 Olympic Games on 11 August.

The evolution of the Coliseum over more than 100 years can be seen in its Olympic roles, with the original seating plan for 76,000 when it opened in 1923.

It was expanded with seating in the Peristyle end to 101,022 for the opening of the Games of the Xth Olympiad in 1932, then saw the replacement of simple benches to individual seats for most sections by 1984, reducing the opening attendance on 28 July 1984 to 92,655.

That changed with multiple renovations, including in 1993 when the 1984 Olympic track was removed to install 14 rows of seats – about 8,000 – closer to the football field. From late 2017 to mid-2019, the University of Southern California, which operates the facility now, invested $315 million to remake the seating and install a Rose Bowl-like pavilion on the south side; those improvements reduced the seating capacity to 77,500 today.

For track & field at the 2028 Olympic Games, a new track will have to be installed on stilts, covering the 14 rows that were added in 1993. That will further bring the capacity down to perhaps 67,000 with the requirements for camera platforms and media seating.

SoFi Stadium’s listed capacity is 70,240, but was promoted during construction as being capable of expansion to 100,240 for major events, which would certainly be helpful for 2028.

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PANORAMA: Paris Olympic T&F gold up for auction; Maria Menounos named as Greek LA28 “ambassador”; FIS to promote Azerbaijan

By
Rich Perelman
-

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● The Russian news agency TASS reported a message from the International Olympic Committee regarding accreditation for the 2026 Winter Games:

“We would like to inform you that we have decided to confirm press accreditations at this stage only to organizations from Russia that focus exclusively on sports specific coverage.

“However please note that we will place your request on a wait list and will reassess the situation in the fall of this year.”

At Paris 2024, the organizing committee revoked four accreditation of TASS staff, citing a request of the French government.

● Greece ● The Hellenic Olympic Committee announced that Maria Menounos, “the renowned actress and television presenter, has been appointed Ambassador of the Hellenic Olympic Committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”

HOC President Isidoros Kouvelos explained, “Most notably, she will serve as Master of Ceremonies at the Flame Lighting and Handover Ceremonies in Ancient Olympia and at the Panathenaic Stadium. This is a deeply symbolic role, and Maria, I sincerely thank you for embracing it. We want the Greek community to rally behind our Olympic delegation, and Maria is the ideal person to unite and inspire them. She will also assist in raising financial support to strengthen Team Hellas’s presence at the Games.”

● Memorabilia ● Heritage Auctions’ Spring Sports Catalog Auction is ongoing and includes some interesting Olympic items, including a gold medal from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The medal, in its presentation case, was presented to Dutch runner Eugene Omalla, who ran the opening leg of the mixed 4×400 m relay, won by the Dutch off a fantastic anchor leg by women’s 400 m hurdlers star Femke Bol.

The projected sale price is expected to be $80,000 or more, with “normal” bidding ending on 17 May and “extended” bidding beginning 10 p.m. Central Time. Bidding reached $22,000 by Wednesday evening.

Also up is a Paris 2024 Olympic torch, projected to go for $40,000 and which has attracted a $10,000 bid so far.

● Athletics ● In case you’re considering getting up early this weekend to see the World Athletics Relays – a principal qualifier for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September – the meet will be on CNBC and Peacock beginning at 7 a.m. Eastern time on both Saturday and Sunday, from Guangzhou (CHN).

Worlds qualifying will attach to the heats of the men’s and women’s 4×100 m and 4×400 m and the mixed 4×400 m. The mixed 4×100 m will be run in a major meet for the first time.

More doping suspensions from the Athletics Integrity Unit, with marathoners Brian Kibiwott Kipsang (KEN) and Daniel Do Nascimento (BRA) both sanctioned.

Kibiwott Kipsang, 30, the Rome Marathon runner-up in 2024 (2:07:56 lifetime best) and 2025, was banned for two years from 1 May 2025 for the use of the corticosteroid Triamcinolone acetonide. His results from 16 March 2025, including his Rome runner-up finish, are nullified.

Do Nascimento, 26, a 2:04:51 marathoner who was eighth at the 2022 World Championships, took out-of-competition tests 4 and 7 July 2024 and tested positive for Nandrolone, Metenolone and Drostanolone, all classified as anabolic steroids and prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Code. So, the usual four-year penalty for a first offense was extended to five years as the triple use was considered to be an “aggravating circumstance.”

His sanction period began on 15 July 2024.

● Cycling ● The Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld a four-year ban imposed in 2022 on Colombian cyclist Miguel Angel Lopez, 31, a stage winner in both the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana.

He tested positive for the prohibited Menotropin fertility drug during the 2022 Giro d’Italia and his four-year ban which started on 25 July 2023, has been confirmed.

Australian sprint star Caleb Ewan, 30, announced his retirement on Instagram on Tuesday, writing:

“After much thought, I’ve decided to retire from professional cycling, effective immediately. This sport has been a major part of my life, shaping my path and offering experiences I’ll carry with me forever.”

He won 31 UCI World Tour races in a dramatic career, which included victories in all three Grand Tours: Giro d’Italia (5), Tour de France (5) and the Vuelta a Espana (1). He scored a final win on 8 April in the second stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, but did not start the remainder of the stages. He wrote that he’s fallen out of love with cycling:

“My experiences of the past two seasons, in particular the second half of 2024, has taken a significant toll on my relationship with the sport. I’m happy I didn’t let that period define the end of my career and I am proud of what I achieved in a short but successful time.”

● Football ● The White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup met on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with U.S. President Donald Trump noting, “This group will help plan the biggest, safest and most extraordinary soccer tournament in history.”

FIFA’s recap of the meeting added:

“FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, among other members of the U.S. Government and the FIFA Administration, also attended the meeting in Washington, D.C.

“The U.S. President confirmed Andrew Giuliani as the Executive Director of the Task Force, as well as the appointment of [former U.S. Soccer Federation President] Carlos Cordeiro, Senior Advisor to the FIFA President, as a Senior Advisor to the Task Force.”

Trump said, “I have directed my entire team to do everything within our power to make the World Cup an unprecedented success…It’s going to be very special. Together we will ensure that the 2026 World Cup will be the best-run soccer tournament the world has ever seen.”

U.S. Soccer and American Airlines announced a multi-year agreement “designed to enhance the travel experience for U.S. Soccer fans and member organizations across the country.”

A program of related benefits will be incorporated into the AAdvantage loyalty program, which may include access to players, hospitality experiences at the U.S. Soccer Insiders Lounge and match ball presentations.

● Skiing ● The International Ski & Snowboard Federation announced an agreement with the Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency “that positions the country as snow sports’ Global Destination Partner.” So:

“As of the 2025/26 season, Azerbaijan will be the premium partner of all FIS World Championships, as well as a title partner of the FIS World Cup in Moguls, Aerials, Ski Cross, and Snowboard Cross, and a presenting partner in Nordic Combined.”

This is the first FIS Global Partner, across all disciplines, with the goal of better promoting Azerbaijan as a winter sports destination.

● Wrestling ● Iakobi Kajaia (GEO), the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist in the Greco-Roman 130 kg class, has been banned for two years due to a “whereabouts” violation of three missed tests within a 12-month period.

The ban runs from 4 April 2025 and his results were nullified from 6 January 2024 onwards. Now 31, Kajaia’s last major result as a bronze at the 2023 European Championships, again in the Greco 130 kg class.

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TRANSGENDER: Acrimonious House sub-committee hearing on transgenders in sport mostly ignored affected women witnesses; one promise of legislative action

By
Rich Perelman
-
Fencer Stephanie Turner, testifying at the 7 May 2025 House sub-committee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (Photo: House video screen shot).

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≡ POLITICS & IGNORANCE ≡

As might have been expected in these aggressively divisive times, a hearing of the Delivering on Government Efficiency sub-committee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the place of transgender men in to women’s sports degenerated into a three-hour name-calling exercise.

The Democrats in the hearing essentially held a campaign rally, with each rep calling the hearing a waste of time and railing against President Donald Trump, his policies and accusing Republicans of targeting all transgender people in the country.

Republicans snapped back in kind, but were a bit more interested in fencing, questioning USA Fencing Chair Damien Lehfeldt at some length about the federation’s policies and some of his own social-media posts, but also cracking back against what they viewed as Democratic support for biological men participating in the women’s division in sports.

The tone was set by Chair Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), who noted in her opening remarks:

“USA Fencing makes a mockery out of women’s fencing, by allowing biological males to compete in its women’s fencing competitions.”

It got hotter from there, with Ranking Member Melanie Stansbury (D-New Mexico) stating that the hearing was simply “about spreading hate,” and then forced a roll-call vote on adjourning the hearing immediately (which lost on a party-line vote, 8-7). More pertinent to the actual issue were the statements of three of the four witnesses:

● Stephanie Turner, who was disqualified at the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland in April for refusing to compete against transgender competitor Redmond Sullivan, spoke about her experience:

“The [U.S. Fencing Association, now USA Fencing] has over 200 self-declared members who identify as ‘transgender.’ Each time a man competes in the women’s category, with USFA’s support, it removes fair sport and takes opportunities from women. …

“Athleticism is powerful in fencing and works in equal parts with strategy and technique. It’s unbelievably demeaning to female fencers to put down the differences between men and women and any woman’s loss to a man as a ‘skill issue’ or that a woman simply needs to work harder.

“Within the USFA authoritative body, there is a culture of intimidation toward women which demands that we be silent when men enter our tournaments. A culture that includes public humiliation, doxxing, social ostracism, dismissal, and even threats. I went from avoiding tournaments with known male athletes to reaching out to news outlets to get this story known. The USFA up until my protest has been unresponsive to women’s demands for fair fencing and instead doubled down on efforts to promote male inclusion in the female category.”

She added that since her protest:

“Speaking out on this issue has made me a target for harassment and violence, as well as cost me friends. I have decided to step away from the sport I love, at least for now as well because the USFA has fostered an environment where I am unwelcome in my own category.

“It is culturally acceptable to bully and shame women who speak up for women. I should not have had to make this sacrifice. Women deserve to be treated fairly in sport. We deserve opportunities to train, compete and win in a women’s category set aside for women. We deserve this at the lowest levels of sport all the way through elite Olympic competition. I hope that by taking a stand and raising awareness of the misogyny in our sport, I can help ensure other women and girls do not have to take such risks to receive the most basic protections in sports.”

● Payton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player in North Carolina, received a brain injury in September 2022 while playing volleyball from a spike by a transgender male hitter that knocked her unconscious. She no longer plays sports and said she suffers from “severe headaches, balance issues, vision impairment” and more. She noted:

“It is completely aggravating because the injury I suffered was 100% avoidable — if only my rights as a female athlete had been more important than a man’s feelings.”

● USA Fencing Chair Lehfeldt’s testimony walked a fine line on the question of where the responsibility for its transgender policies lie:

“Although it was adopted before I joined the Board, USA Fencing’s transgender participation policy had that same goal. At the same time, USA Fencing recognizes that the subject of transgender participation is complex and requires consideration of the viewpoints of numerous stakeholders. At all times, considerations of safety and fairness are paramount.

“I understand that, in developing its transgender participation policy, USA Fencing took stock of those diverse viewpoints and considerations and that it examined the scientific research and literature. It drew on its long experience with mixed-gender competition, where men and women have safely and fairly competed against each other for decades. And it consulted the practices and policies of other [National Governing Bodies] as well as those of the International Olympic Committee (‘IOC’), the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (‘USOPC’), and fencing’s international federation (‘FIE’).

“The polices of the IOC, the USOPC, and the FIE were particularly important. As an NGB, USA Fencing is governed by the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. That law includes provisions that forbid NGBs like USA Fencing from adopting participation requirements that are more strict than the requirements of their sport’s international federation. Fencing’s international federation, the FIE, permits transgender participation, consistent with the IOC framework. As a result, USA Fencing understands that it cannot ban transgender participation without the risk of
violating the Ted Stevens Act.”

He also spoke directly to the issue of male physical advantages over women, saying there aren’t any:

“Ultimately, fencing is a sport of strategy and technique. More than anything else, those elements will most frequently determine who prevails. And when it comes to strategy and technique, neither sex has any inherent advantage. For that reason, among others, transgender status does not confer any inherent advantage over a cisgender fencer.

“Indeed, cisgender women have beaten transgender women in 55% of the bouts for which USA Fencing has data.”

As for the future:

“USA Fencing recognizes that transgender participation has been the subject of great debate in recent years. USA Fencing welcomes that discussion. There can never be too much conversation about how to make our sport better.

“And so, I want to be crystal clear—with both the Subcommittee and with our fencing community – that if the research or the international consensus concerning transgender participation changes, USA Fencing is prepared to amend its participation requirements to reflect those new realities. Similarly, USA Fencing will always abide by its governing statute, the Ted Stevens Act. If Congress amends that statute in ways that affect USA Fencing’s transgender participation policy, USA Fencing will of course amend its policies to ensure compliance.

“Indeed, USA Fencing has been proactive in this area. After months of discussion, USA Fencing recently adopted a contingent transgender participation policy that will go into effect if Congress amends the Ted Stevens Act to ban transgender participation. It will also take effect if the bodies that regulate fencing and Olympic-Paralympic competition – such as the FIE, the IOC, or the USOPC – amend their regulations to ban transgender participation.”

The fourth witness, National Women’s Law Center President Fatima Goss Graves, was added to the panel at the request of the Democrats, and provided testimony which came down to this:

“Anti-trans extremists who claim trans women and girls have an overwhelming advantage in women’s sports, or must be banned from sports to protect cis women from injury, are regurgitating tired, sexist tropes.”

The questions and answers which followed for a ponderous two hours and 25 minutes were mostly political posturing and shouting. However, Rep. William Timmons (R-South Carolina) told Lehfeldt:

“We’re going to fix this. You’re lagging behind us fixing it and what’s going to happen is we’re going to amend the Ted Stevens Act … you’re going to lose your Federal Charter, and I appreciate that you did adopt a contingent policy, but why do we have to do this?

“You’re really creating a problem where no problem should exist.”

Turner was asked later about the response of USA Fencing to complaints from members about its transgender policies:

“I have known of other members of USA Fencing, a mother and a daughter who came to USA Fencing, saying that they did not approve of the transgender policy and they were told that they would be sanctioned.”

As for her own future in the sport, Turner said:

“I don’t think I’ll ever get a fair bout again, from a referee, or that I’ll be welcomed without harassment.”

Observed: This was pathetic from many sides. No one knew the real details of what was being discussed, most notably that the FIE – the international federation – has no transgender policy, and that the IOC has none either, only recommendations to the IFs. So USA Fencing can do as it pleases, but no one knew enough to point to that.

Further, the USA Fencing rules on transgenders (reviewed on 7 May 2025) specify:

● “To participate in a USA Fencing-sanctioned event, athletes are to register with USA Fencing as the gender in which they identify and wish to compete during registration/renewal. Please note, this selection will be logistically binding and athletes will not be permitted to modify their gender during the season. If the athlete registers as a gender other than their gender associated with the sex assigned at birth, they should adhere to the the following requirements.”

● “Transgender female (MTF) athletes: Athletes being treated with testosterone suppression medication, for the purposes of USA Fencing-sanctioned competitions may continue to compete in men’s events, but may only compete in women’s events after completing one calendar year (12 months) of testosterone suppression treatment. Proof of compliant hormone therapy must be provided prior to competition.”

There is no language stating that transgender women – male to female – are required to be undergoing testosterone suppression, so in fact, any male fencer can – under the current rules – simply register to compete in women’s competitions.

Lehfeldt’s written testimony stated:

“In October 2022, USA Fencing ultimately adopted a transgender participation policy that closely tracked those of other NGBs. That policy allows transgender female fencers to compete in the division that corresponds with their gender identity assuming certain conditions are met.

“Chief among these conditions is that the transgender athlete has undergone hormone therapy for at least a year. USA Fencing requests medical documentation of such therapy and reviews that documentation before allowing transgender fencers to fence in a division that does not correspond to their sex assigned at birth.”

That’s nowhere in their posted transgender policy statement currently in force.

All of this may become moot if the IOC acts under new President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), who has pledged to convene a panel after she takes office on 24 June to “protect the women’s category.”

In the meantime, the positions of U.S. National Governing Bodies are all over the place, with the larger federations such as athletics, aquatics, cycling and others adopting a very strict policy which essentially eliminates all transgender women who have entered male puberty. That is not where fencing is, but the studies on the subject are moving that way.

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ATHLETICS: Tinch knew he was going to run fast at the Shanghai Diamond League; stars Warholm and Duplantis were unimpressed with world-leading marks

By
Rich Perelman
-
American Cordell Tinch with a brilliant 12.87 high hurdles win at the Shanghai Diamond League (Photo: Diamond League AG).

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≡ WHAT THEY SAID ≡

The Wanda Diamond League meet in Shanghai (CHN), the second stop on the schedule, as a good one, with world-leading performances in five events, especially American Cordell Tinch’s eye-popping 12.87 win in the men’s 110 m hurdles, moving him to equal-fourth all-time.

Naturally, Tinch was thrilled; asked how it felt to be no. 4 all-time:

“It sounds pretty good.

“I felt like I was going to run something fast, but it is matter of trying to finish those races when I get out well. Because I get out well and I get a little relaxed towards the end. I didn’t know it would be 12.8 fast, but I thought it would be at least faster than 13.06 [from the Xiamen Diamond League].

“I just want to go out there and compete after winning last week. As I continue to go through the season I try and get better each week. I’ve changed a lot [over the winter] in my everyday life and the training.

“It takes a while in your first year as a pro, it is a learning process. Technically, last year was my first full season as a pro. I’ve learned a lot from the older people that I’ve been around and sometimes the younger people. There is a lot of things that I’ve added to be the best athlete I can.”

Norwegian star Karsten Warholm took the 400 m hurdles in a world-leading 47.28, but was hardly ecstatic:

“It was a very messy race. I hit a couple of hurdles, so actually 47.28 with such a messy race shows potential. I don’t think I learned anything from today I almost stopped and lost quite a bit of time. Still a win is a win and 47.28 is not too shabby.

“Now it is going back home to training and prepare for Oslo [12 June]. You always want to use every occasion to send a message, the message I sent is my potential is very good, once I clean up my races, which I’m sure I will.”

Similarly, Swedish vault superstar Mondo Duplantis wasn’t too pleased, even with an outdoor world leader of 6.11 m (20-0 1/2):

“The [6.11] jump did not feel that great, and the run did not feel that great either. So to have a good attempt while not feeling my best is actually a really good thing.

“I will keep working on my speed. I am going to take another month with no competitions; just train hard and make sure I can build up to a really good, healthy, and strong season leading into Tokyo [World Championships] in September.”

He did take three tries at a world record 6.28 m (20-7 1/4), but missed all three times.

A lot of attention was focused on Jamaican sprint star Kishane Thompson, in his first outdoor race since his Paris Olympic men’s 100 m silver, and barely finished second to Akani Simbine (RSA) by 9.98 to 9.99:

“I came to win in the beginning of the season and I am happy with the result. I have not been racing since Paris last year and I need the competition to positioning for the season.

“I know what I need to work on after this race and I just need to move on quickly. Just focusing on executing perfectly and same for the rest of the season. I would not say too much at this moment for the target, too early for the season, but after the race I can easily tell what I need to further work on and definitely we can do better and better.”

The U.S. got five more wins in Shanghai:

● Chris Bailey/men’s 400 m in a lifetime best of 44.17:

“I am happy about refreshing my personal best [44.17] after last week, it felt great. It was not my best race, but I cannot complain about the result. Everything has worked out pretty well right now.

“I have a lot of faith in my coach. Every time we step on the track together, there is always great competition. I expect everyone to run their best. For the rest of the season, my main goal is to stay healthy and maintain my momentum.”

● Anavia Battle/women’s 200 m, in 22.38:

“I am getting used to winning at the Diamond League. It is such a good feeling. I wouldn’t say that was the best execution for a race that I have had, I had to work today and I need to put some pieces together when I get back. It is a really good place to be in May.

“I really enjoy the Diamond Leagues in China. I hope to do the Rome Diamond League [6 June] and then work some things out with the [Los Angeles] Grand Slam meet. I’m willing to do both the 100 m and the 200 m at the U.S. Championships and hopefully make the team for the World Championships.”

● Chase Jackson/women’s shot, in a world-leading 20.54 m (67-4 3/4), the no. 5 performance in American history:

“I felt really good tonight. On Tuesday, I had a breakthrough in my training so I kind of knew either I could throw really far or I will not be able to hold the breakthrough, but I was able to hold it in, so I am happy with that.

“I have been working on using my left arm more, and I felt what I needed to feel during my training, and I was able to carry it over to the competition. I think I just got a little to excited, so I did not really get hold of the change that I wanted, but I was happy about where I went. I was hoping I could throw a little bit further to get a national record, but I know it will come soon though.”

● Valarie Allman/women’s discus, at 70.08 m (229-11) for her 20th win in a row:

“I feel so excited about this competition tonight. In my first meet in Xiamen last week my nerves got the better of me and today I just knew I was going to go for it. To see 70 meters pop up gives me a lot of confidence and momentum, so I’m leaving China happy and excited to go home.

“I go with a lot of good perspective of what these next few months need. I try not to think about the winning streak. I face my own nerves and worries whether it is time zones or travel and I try to take it just one meet at a time.

Unfortunately, no comments were shared from Grace Stark after her win in the women’s 100 m hurdles. The next Diamond League meet is in Doha (QAT) on 16 May.

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U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE: USOPC Hall of Fame to add 14 in July, including Felix, Walsh Jennings, DeFrantz, Krzyzewski, Knight

By
Rich Perelman
-
Now a Hall of Famer: 11-time Olympic track & field medal winner Allyson Felix (Photo: Adam Eberhardt for Tracktown USA).

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≡ HALL OF FAME ≡

The Olympic and Paralympic Games produce unforgettable moments, by athletes, teams and those who coach and support them, and on Tuesday (6th), the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced 12 individuals and two teams that will join the immortals in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame on 12 July in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

From an initial field of 119 nominees, a panel narrowed the finalists down to 42, which 14 were voted in by multiple groups, including U.S. Olympians and Paralympians, members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family and an online vote open to fans, with 300,000 votes cast across all platforms.

The 14 inductees were voted in across six groups:

Olympians (5):
● Gabby Douglas (artistic gymnastics)
● Allyson Felix (track and field)
● Bode Miller (alpine skiing)
● Kerri Walsh Jennings (beach volleyball)
● Serena Williams (tennis)

Douglas was a two-time Olympian and won three golds, taking the All-Around in 2012 and Team golds in 2012 and 2026. Felix won seven golds, three silvers and a bronze from 2008 to Tokyo 2020, including the London 2012 women’s 200 m; her 11 Olympic medals are the most by any American track & field athlete in history.

Miller competed in five Winter Games, winning six medals, including a gold in the Vancouver 2010 Super Combined. Walsh Jennings made the Sydney 2000 indoor team that finished fourth, then won 2004-08-12 beach golds with Misty May-Treanor and then a Rio 2016 bronze with April Ross. Williams was very much an Olympian, competing in four Games and winning four Olympic golds: Singles at London 2012 and three in Doubles with older sister Venus in 2000-08-12.

Olympic Team:
● 2010 Four-man Bobsled Team

This was the famous “Night Train” sled driven by Steven Holcomb which won Olympic gold in Vancouver, with brakemen Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curt Tomasevicz. It was the first U.S. gold in the event in 62 years. That followed their 2009 Worlds gold, the first for the U.S. in the event in 50 years.

Paralympians (3):
● Steve Cash (sled hockey)
● Susan Hagel (Para archery-track and field-wheelchair basketball)
● Marla Runyan (Para track and field)

Cash was a three-time gold medalist as the U.S. goalkeeper in four Paralympic, as his teams won bronze in 2006 and then golds in 2010-14-18; he was also a member of five World Championship teams. The amazing Hagel competed in six Paralympic Games from 1976-96 in three different sports, winning three archery golds, a basketball gold and a basketball bronze during her career.

Runyan was the first-ever visually-impaired athlete to compete in the Olympic Games, making the U.S. team in the women’s 1,500 m in 2000 and then again in 2004. She was the 1999 Pan American Games champion at 1,500 m as well. In Paralympic competition, she won five golds in 1992 (4) and 1996 (1) and a 1996 silver, all in track & field.

Paralympic Team:
● 2004 Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team

This was the first U.S. women’s wheelchair team to win in 16 years, and a six-player core continued to dominate, coming back to win gold again in 2008.

Legends (2):
● Anita DeFrantz (rowing)
● Flo Hyman (volleyball)

DeFrantz won an Olympic bronze in the women’s Eights in 1976, then made the team for Moscow 1980, but could not compete due to the U.S. boycott, against which she filed an unsuccessful lawsuit. She became a key member of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the pivotal 1984 Games, then was elected to the International Olympic Committee in 1986 and has served with great distinction, especially in the promotion of athlete rights.

Hyman was a brilliant, charismatic 6-5 outside hitter and made the 1980 U.S. team that was thwarted by the American boycott. She was one of the stars of the 1984 U.S. silver-medal team, playing an important role in the development of women’s volleyball in the U.S.

Coach:
● Mike Krzyzewski (coach: basketball)

When USA Basketball needed a coach who could turn a squad of ultra-talented NBA players into a cohesive Olympic team after a disappointing bronze finish in 2004, Krzyzewski proved to be the perfect selection. The already-legendary coach at Duke, he led the 2008, 2012 and 2016 American teams to a 24-0 combined record, outscoring their opponents by a combined 660 points!

Special Contributor:
● Phil Knight (Nike founder)

Much more than simply a corporate sponsor of major events, Knight’s insistence on supporting athletes made Nike one of the most important companies in the world in terms of apparel, shoes, promotion and payments to individual athletes in more than a dozen sports in countries around the world. Knight himself competed in track & field and he and his company have been key in bringing American track & field back to prominence after difficult times at the turn of the 21st Century.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame was established in 1979, with the first class inducted in 1983. The 2025 inductees will be the 18th such class, with the last in 2023.

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SWIMMING: If you don’t know who she is already, remember this name: Gretchen Walsh!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Unstoppable: American star Gretchen Walsh (Photo: USA Swimming).

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≡ THE NEWEST SWIM STAR ≡

“What a crazy time, I honestly shocked myself.”

That’s American sprint swim star Gretchen Walsh, after she lowered her own world 50 m Butterfly record for a second time on the same day last Saturday (3rd) on the final day of the Tyr Pro Swim Series meet in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The 22-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, who starred at the University of Virginia with 25 NCAA titles in her four seasons, had a meet for the ages. In order:

● 100 m Free: won in 52.90, world leader in 2025.

● 50 m Fly: led all qualifiers at 25.15 in heats, world leader in 2025. Won the final in 24.93, world leader in 2025, American Record, no. 2 performance in history, second woman ever under 25 seconds.

● 100 m Fly: led all qualifiers at 55.09 in heats, world leader in 2025, world record, breaking her own mark (55.18) from the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. Won the final in 54.60 for another world record!

● 50 m Free: won in 24.33, world leader in 2025.

Observers all knew Walsh was special. While still 21 she had already:

● Won four Paris 2024 Olympic medals, with golds in the women’s 4×100 m Medley relay and mixed 4×100 Medley relay and silvers in the 100 m Fly and women’s 4×100 m Freestyle relay. She was also fourth in the 50 m Free and eighth in the 100 m Free finals.

● Won seven – yes, seven – World Short-Course golds last December in Budapest (HUN), taking the 50-100 m Freestyles, 50-100 m Butterflys, 100 m Medley and the 4×100 m Freestyle and 4×100 m Medley relays!

Now she’s set three world marks in the 100 m Fly and is closing in on the 50 m Fly record as well. After breaking her own record in the morning heats, she was asked if she changed her approach for the finals in the evening:

“To be honest with you, I didn’t change any part of my race strategy going into tonight. It was still going to be the goal to take 17 strokes on the way out, hopefully one less stroke coming back home. I have found that taking one less stroke has given me that extra energy, so I just did the same exact thing tonight.

“I was long in my turn and my finish as well, which I’m kind of happy about because I can go faster. I look forward to perfecting that race. If it was perfect, I wouldn’t feel the confidence that I could go faster, so I’m excited for more, but definitely did not expect to drop that much in the race tonight.

“It has been a trend for me at this meet to go faster at night – every race I was able to do that. There’s something that happens with finals, maybe it’s the day of rest, maybe it’s the nap, but there’s just extra energy I find, and I just continue off the momentum of the morning. I was slightly nervous, but I think I’ve learned how to handle that pressure and look at the race as another opportunity to execute and do the plan that I talk about every day with [Virginia coach] Todd [Desorbo].”

Walsh also shared considerable surprise at her record performances exactly a month ahead of the USA Swimming nationals in Indianapolis in June:

“I need to set some new goals. It was shocking, I did not expect to be here doing this.

“I knew I was going to be having fun out here. I love swimming outside and getting to see my friends again. It’s been a long NCAA season where you don’t see everyone that is a pro, so I’ve had a great time, and it has helped that I’m going really fast.

“I think this bodes really well for everything to come this summer. I definitely need to keep working and finding new motivation because I have surpassed so many barriers I talked about prior to the season.

“I might have to get creative with goals, not make them time-based, I think that helps me see it more as an opportunity to execute, versus having to go by a time. I’m really happy with where I’m at. I’m looking forward to getting back to Charlottesville, graduating, and beginning this pro journey. It started on such a high note; this is going to be awesome.”

Walsh made a modest impact at her first World Aquatics Championships, in 2023, winning a 50 m Butterfly bronze, a Medley relay gold and Free relay silver. But if she is this dominant at the U.S. nationals, she will be a star to watch at the 2025 Worlds in Singapore from 11 July to 3 August.

She’s not really thinking about that now, however. After all, she had a great time in Ft. Lauderdale. After breaking her own record in the heats, she took time to relax:

“I’ve been going to the beach every day. I love the ocean. I’ve grown up by the ocean my whole life. I find a lot of comfort and peace when I’m by the beach, so I have been out there enjoying it every day. I love being here in Florida. I do that, then I get back to my room, take a two-hour nap, and then back to the pool. I have gotten the best sleep of my life; I have been so happy here.

“The overarching theme that a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer. I’ve always believed that, but at times it has been hard for me to do that. When I’m having fun, everything seems to be going my way, so I want to carry that throughout the rest of the summer and look at every race as an opportunity.”

Walsh and her one-year-older sister, Alex – the 2022 Worlds 200 m Medley gold medalist and 2024 Olympic runner-up – are going to be U.S. stars for quite a while. And while the debate over college athletes receiving name-image-likeness money continues, the sisters used some of their earnings at Virginia to start the Sporti x Alex + Gretchen Walsh swim apparel line – for men and women!

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PANORAMA: Asian Games ‘26 has 4,600 on a cruise ship; USADA says ‘21 China doping incident impacted 96 medals? Kerley says arrest not criminal!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Joy for the American men’s Foil team (l-r) of Alexander Massialas, Bryce Louie, Gerek Meinhardt and Nick Itkin for their win at the FIE World Cup in Vancouver! (Photo: FIE).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2032: Brisbane ● With the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission chair for the 2032 Olympic Games, Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), elected to become the 10th IOC President in June, a new head for the Brisbane Coordination Commission needed to be appointed.

That came Monday as Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski (PHI), an IOC member since 2013 and an IOC Vice President since 2020, as named as the new head of the Brisbane CoComm. She formerly trained as an equestrian in Australia, and has long experience with the work of Coordination Commissions, for Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024 and Brisbane 2032.

● Asian Games 2026: Aichi-Nagoya ● The Asian Games 2026 organizing committee briefed technical delegates in Nagoya last week on preparations, including the use of a giant cruise ship to house 4,600 athletes from 20 sports at the Port of Nagoya: archery, basketball/3×3, canoe/sprint, cycling/mountain bike, cycling/BMX Racing, men’s football, gymnastics, handball, judo, kabaddi, kurash, mixed martial arts, rowing, rugby, sepaktakraw, sport climbing, squash, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.

Of the total of 15,000 athletes and officials expected for the 2026 Asian Games, 8,200 will be accommodated in the Nagoya area: 4,600 on ship, 2,400 in Asian Games Villas – temporary container homes – at Garden Pier, and 1,200 in hotels.

Four other housing areas will be set up within the Aichi Prefecture and a final four in other cities: Tokyo, Shizuoka, Gifu and Osaka.

● Anti-Doping ● With its budget hurting from the continuing non-payment of dues from the United States government, the World Anti-Doping Agency welcomed an added payment from the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) and the Japanese government of ¥27,997,742 (about $194,570 U.S.) To support further anti-doping activities in Asia and Oceania.

This is in addition to the $1.5 million annual dues payment from Japan.

A new salvo in the continuing war of words over the 2021 Chinese swimming mass-doping incident from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which posted on X:

“Failure in the global anti-doping system has real and tragic consequences. As a result of the TMZ 23 cases, an unacceptable 96 medal results were potentially impacted across the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games.

“Clean athletes’ livelihoods depend on a level playing field where talent and hard work alone determine podium moments. When they are held accountable to the rules and others aren’t, clean athletes lose income and opportunities, as well as once-in-a-lifetime moments to celebrate their hard work and sacrifice alongside the family, fans, and community who supported their journey.

“Clean athletes deserve better and that’s why we will continue to fight for justice and accountability.”

An accompanying graphic stated, “96 medal results were potentially impacted across the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, with 42 of those medals coming from the Americas, 25 from Australia and 21 from the EU.”

● Athletics ● U.S. sprint star Fred Kerley, the 2022 World men’s 100 m champion, was arrested last Thursday in Dania Beach, Florida and charged with one count of “battery-touch or strike” by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office against ex-girlfriend, hurdler Alaysha Johnson. He was later released on $1,000 bond after a Friday hearing.

Kerley posted on X on Sunday:

“I would like to take a moment to directly address the recent situation that has garnered public attention and impacted my ability to compete in this weekend’s scheduled track meet.

“While there was a physical alteration, my arrest was not due to any criminal act. Rather, it resulted from my decision to exercise [my right to] remain silent until legal counsel was present. I chose not to speak to law enforcement without my attorney, and for that reason alone, I was booked. This experience caught me off guard, but I remain fully committed to clearing my name and cooperating with appropriate parties to resolve it. I take full accountability for placing myself in a situation that allowed for this misunderstanding, and I am taking active steps to ensure nothing like this happens again.

“To my fans, especially those who came out to support me this weekend, I sincerely apologize. I am deeply grateful for your continued support and understanding. I also extend my apologies to Grand Slam Track for bringing the wrong kind of attention to the event, and to those who believe in me and had to see the headlines.

“Thank you for your patience and trust as I work through this process.”

Kerley was arrested in another incident with police in January, in the company of another woman, trying to get to his car in Miami Beach and was tasered after ignoring police instructions to go around an active crime scene. Kerley is also facing a charge of domestic violence against his wife from a May 2024 strangling incident.

ASICS put together a special set of road races on a special loop course in Tokyo (JPN) on Saturday (3rd) for its Tokyo : Speed : Race, with excellent results, including an American Record.

In the men’s 5 km, Uganda’s Harbert Kibet was a runaway winner in 13:00, ahead of Mohamed Ismail (DJI: 13:10). Andrew Hunter was the top American in ninth (13:28). The 10 km a three-way race to the line for Jamel Yimer (ETH), Victor Kipruto (KEN) and Vincent Langat (KEN), with Yimer, twice fourth at the World Half Marathon Champs, winning in 27:10 to 27:11 for the Kenyans.

In fifth was American Biya Simbassa, who finished in 27:32, better than the ratified American Record of 27:48 by Mark Nenow back in 1985! Nenow also ran an unratified 27:22 in 1984.

Kenyan Caroline Nyaga took the women’s 5 km in a speedy 14:19, the 2025 world leader and moving her to equal-third on the all-time list! Behind her was Italian Nadia Battoclietti, who got a European Record 14:32 in second, now equal-10th all-time.

Uganda’s Joy Chepotek was a runaway winner in the women’s 10 km at 30:22, followed by Samia Hassan Nour (DJI: 30:40), with Makenna Mylar the top U.S. finisher in 17th (33:25).

● Swimming ● The incredible Tyr Pro Swim Series in Ft. Lauderdale, in an outdoor pool, produced astonishing performances from two historic American swimmers, Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh.

Ledecky, who won the inaugural women’s Olympic 800 m Free in London in 2012 to start her Olympic career at age 15, contested four events and was sensational in all four (in order):

● 1,500 m Free: 1st in 15:24.51, world leader in 2025, no. 2 performance all-time, her fastest since 2018.

● 400 m Free: 1st in 3:56.81, world leader in 2025, no. 7 performance all-time, fastest since 2016.

● 200 m Free: 2nd in 1:55.51, no. 3 performer in 2025

● 800 m Free: 1st in 8:04.12, world leader in 2025, world record, breaking her own mark from 2016!

Ledecky, now 28, was overwhelmed by her own time-travel magic, especially in the 800 Free, saying afterwards:

“I can’t stop smiling, it’s been like that all week though, so it’s not really new.

“It’s been so many years in the making to do it tonight. It’s been an incredible night. There is always a story to each world record that I set. I think tonight is the first one I’ve done when another American has done it [also]. Hats off to Gretchen for getting us rolling this morning and starting a world record party.

“The crowd was amazing tonight; I couldn’t have done it without that. I flipped at the 750, and it was loud in here, and I just told myself I’m not letting this opportunity go to waste and started sprinting.”

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LANE ONE: Improvements for Grand Slam Track in second meet, and the performances remained terrific

By
Rich Perelman
-
Grand Slam Track hosts (l-r) John Anderson, Sanya Richards-Ross and Chris Chavez at the Miramar meet on 2 May 2025 (Image: GST broadcast screen shot).

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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK II ≡

The debut season of Olympic icon Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track is at the halfway mark, with meets in Kingston (JAM) and Miramar, Florida and excellent performances at both.

There were nine world-leading performances in Kingston and six more in Miramar, with Grand Slam Track marks accounting for eight current world leaders:

● Men/200 m: 19.84, Kenny Bednarek (USA)
● Men/400 m: 43.98, Jacory Patterson (USA)
● Men/800 m: 1:43.69, Marco Arop (CAN)

● Women/400 m: 48.67, Salwa Eid Naser (BRN)
● Women/3,000 m: 8:22.72, Hirut Meshesha (ETH)
● Women/5,000 m: 14:25.80, Agnes Ngetich (KEN)
● Women/100 m hurdles: 12.17, Masai Russell (USA)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 52.07, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Grand Slam Track performances also account for the no. 2 marks in the men’s 110 and 400 m hurdles and the women’s 200 m, plus the fastest all-conditions 100 m with American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s 10.75 (+2.4) in Miramar.

So the competition has been great. Unlike in recent seasons, American stars like Bednarek, Grant Fisher, Gabby Thomas, McLaughlin-Levrone and more are racing twice in a weekend and once a month right through their training blocks and producing interesting, quality performances when they would normally not be seen or all, or might only drop in for one of the early Diamond League meets.

That’s good.

And it hasn’t been easy, especially for Director of Athletes and Racing Kyle Merber, who was working overtime in Miramar. The circuit is designed to have 48 seasonally-contracted “Racers” and 48 invited “Challengers” in each meet. But due to injuries and other issues, the Miramar meet – by my count – had only 42 “Racers” and 54 “Challengers.” That included having to replace U.S. star Fred Kerley, who was arrested on Thursday, with fellow American Brandon Hicklin in the men’s short sprints, on very short notice.

The circuit is being promoted hard on social media, although there is also a modest Web presence, and there has been interest. As of 5 May 2025, the follower counts show:

● 118,000+ on Instagram
● 39,000+ on Facebook
● 24,800 on TikTok
● 16,000+ on YouTube
● 15,540 on X

As Nielsen no longer makes its television audience measurements public, there’s no data on viewership on The CW, or on the NBC streaming service Peacock.

Attendance has been modest. Although no official figures have been given, crowds looked to range between 4-10,000 in the 35,000-capacity National Stadium in Kingston and the stands at the 5,000-capacity Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar appeared to have 3-4,000 each day over the 2-4 May weekend.

But the fans have been noisy, which the athletes have enjoyed and commended.

As a commercial entity, the question of whether the response to the circuit is doing well or poorly is really between Johnson and his investors, and the various broadcasters carrying the meets to 189 countries. Those discussions will happen after the schedule concludes on 27-29 June at UCLA’s Drake Stadium in Los Angeles.

But there was significant improvement in the “show” from Kingston to Miramar:

● Johnson promised that athletes could wear their own uniforms and would not have to worry about “bibs” – the numbers or names – worn on the front for identification. Kingston showed that if an athlete didn’t have a bib, no one knew who they were. This improved for Miramar and the bibs stayed on and everyone had one. Good.

● The broadcast concept got better as expected with more experience. Former ESPN anchor John Anderson and Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross were equal parts hosts and promoters of the league – that’s their job – and Citius Magazine founder Chris Chavez was much more engaged in Miramar than Olympic 1,500 m gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz was in Kingston.

Coordination between the host desk and the race calls with Steve Cram (GBR), Anson Henry (CAN) and American Carrie Tollefson needs to improve, and as Grant Slam Track has a relationship with StatsPeform, it’s a surprise that betting information is not more prevalent.

It’s also a little strange that as the circuit loves fan support that the host position is away from the spectators, in contrast to ESPN and FOX college football programming which has the fans close (but not too close to upset the show).

● With the exception of the always dressed-to-impress Richards-Ross, the rest of the broadcast crew is ultra-casual, giving the meets an ultra-informal air that belies the quality of the competitors and the stakes they are running for.

Is Grand Slam Track important enough to dress up its announcers in a way which demonstrates its importance?

● The very slow results posting from the Kingston meet on the GST Web site was dramatically improved for Miramar, although it’s still hard to read on the Web site with small white numerals and letters against the black background. Expect this to better still in Philadelphia at the end of May.

The television graphics have the same issues and the split times are inconsistently shown, but can also be improved with more experience. The overhead replay shots, however, especially for the lane races, show acceleration beautifully, and are great!

● Although some on social media complain about the time between races, this is also a benefit when there are technical problems like the speaker feedback from the (electronic) starting gun in Miramar. The issue was solved without any panic over running out of time at the end of the telecast.

One very good element of the Kingston and Miramar events, and expected to continue for Philadelphia, was keeping the show times the same for each day: 5-8 p.m. Eastern time on Friday and Saturday and 3-6 p.m. Eastern on Sunday.

That would mean show times for Los Angeles from 2-5 p.m. Pacific on Friday and Saturday and 12-3 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, which will affect the crowd. But it’s much better for meets at UCLA’s Drake Stadium, which has lighting designed for football on the infield and not for the track.

Johnson’s goal was to present compelling track & field to primarily American audiences in a compact schedule, showcasing as many of the brightest stars that he could get, who are being paid significant money, especially for meets in North America. For a first-year project, there was the needed improvement in the “show” from the first to second meet, and an expectation that Philadelphia will be better yet.

But a crowd of even 10,000 each day will look fairly lost in 52,593-seat Franklin Field, so the promotional effort will have to be in high gear throughout the rest of the month.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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LOS ANGELES 2028: L.A. deputy mayor says city’s budget crisis risks not having “workforce that we need to deliver on those Games” in 2028

By
Rich Perelman
-
Los Angeles City Council member Katy Yaroslavsky and Deputy Mayor Matt Hale at the 29 April 2025 budget hearings (Image: L.A. City video screen shot).

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≡ L.A. BUDGET HEARINGS ≡

In March, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass explained that the City’s finances were in trouble:

“Downward economic trends make it so revenues to the City’s budget in 2025-26 are now projected to be hundreds of millions of dollars less than previously projected.”

The $13.95 billion budget plan for 2025-26 submitted by the City showed a nearly $1 billion gap between revenues and expenses that had to be closed, most urgently $315 million less in revenues than were expected and $275 million in restoration of reserves to meet the City’s reserves policy of 5% of its general fund.

And the City has paid $504 million in liability claims in fiscal 2022 ($91 million), 2023 ($147 million) and 2024 ($247 million), primarily from issues dealing with police ($222 million), public works and street services ($74.8 million) and sanitation ($74.3 million). So, an additional $100 million was added to the budget to handle a continuing increase in lawsuit losses and settlements.

All of this has lead to the City’s budget proposal to save $282 million via1,647 position layoffs and the cancellation of 1,076 vacant positions, and another reduction of $154 million in overtime and as-needed hires. Another $86 million in capital projects will be deferred and so on.

The impact of these proposed cuts are being discussed at City Hall with the City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, which heard about choices that City executives and department managers are having to make that impact planning for City services for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games:

● On 29 April, Council member Katy Yaroslavsky asked Deputy Mayor Matt Hale:

“Some resources are provided for work associated with the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. What’s the overall plan, and what are the resource needs so we can be ready for the ‘28 Games? Is there an official strategic plan? Can you talk a little bit about that?”

Hale’s reply: “I think the investments we’re making this year are headed in the direction of developing that plan. I’m not going to speak to a plan that I have not seen, but I think what we are trying to accomplish is laying at least a foundation and a groundwork to begin having the totality of that.

“I think one of the risks in this budget and especially with as many proposed position cuts is just having the workforce that we need to deliver on those Games. And it sort of reinforces the need for us to have a very robust volunteer program, and a very robust strategic plan that decides where we need to go outside for help and where we need to bring in restorations in between now and the implementation of the Games.”

Replied Yaroslavsky:

“Query whether reducing all these positions will allow us to be ready for the ‘28 Games. Volunteers are going to be great, but they’re not going to design projects and do the planning and engineering.”

● On 30 April, Emergency Management Department General Manager Carol P. Parks was asked by Council member Eunisses Hernandez:

“Is the department’s proposed budget able to maintain operational readiness for both routine emergencies and high-profile international events on the horizon?”

Parks, who had already stated that her department was desperately understaffed, replied, “The answer is no” and added later:

“Here in Los Angeles, we just don’t do one thing at a time. So we can’t ‘rain today’ and tomorrow, ‘don’t rain,’ because we have another event. But the past few weeks, and months have shown us that we need to respond to planned events, we need to be ready for no-notice events and then we need to ensure that we are ready for anything that comes up unexpectedly.”

She said that her department has 31 staff now, compared to about 200 for a similar office in New York City.

● On 2 May, Department of Transportation General Manager Laura Rubio-Cornejo explained that 150 filled and vacant traffic officer positions are proposed to be eliminated in the budget, with additional cuts in dispatch center positions (61%) and a 24% cut in engineering staff, noting:

“Taken together, this budget will make it impossible for us to deliver on the city’s 2028 Games Mobility Objectives, whether that is achieving a car-free event or facilitating safe and orderly vehicle access through planned road closures and traffic-control services.”

She proposed a series of changes, then was asked by Council member Bob Blumenfield:

“Exhibit H includes an instruction to have DOT and every department prioritize projects near the venues for the 2028 Games. If this instruction is included and this budget is adopted, what capacity will DOT have to implement safety projects in the Third District or in every other part of the City that is not actually near a venue?”

Rubio-Cornejo explained:

“What I will note is what is helpful about that direction, what would be helpful about that direction is ensuring that every single department is prioritizing whatever resources they have towards delivering for the Games.

“And while every Council district does not have a Games venue in their district, there’s two components of this.

“There’s the Games venues, the first-last mile, the assets and infrastructure that should be addressed around the Games venues.

“Then there’s also the regional aspect, that these are regional Games that go well beyond even Los Angeles County. And from that perspective, and working closely with Metro, we are delivering and supporting them on delivering bus-only lanes and they are working towards delivering rail projects.

“And so in essence, when we look at the map, every single Council district does receive some mobility improvement as part of the Games, whether it’s being built and delivered by the City of Los Angeles or by Metro’s own regional agency.”

Blumenfield, whose Third District does not have a 2028 venue:

“I understand that we all get a benefit from the Olympics, they’re regional and all that’s great. But in terms of telling my constituents that this budget, some of the critical transportation projects in their district, can I say that any of them will get funded, or does this prioritization mean that none of them get funded?”

Rubio-Cornejo:

“What I would say is that at reduced staffing levels as proposed within the budget, if we were directed only to focus on Games delivery, that is likely the only thing we would be able to do.”

Blumenfield:

“That’s my fear, is that doing this is telling my constituents that there will be no projects within the district, they just have to enjoy the benefits of this regional everything, but forget the streets that are broken in their area.”

Budget hearings are continuing; the L.A. City budget is required to be voted on by 1 June.

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OLYMPIC GAMES: IOC replaces Gary Hall Jr.’s 10 Olympic medals in emotional ceremony in Lausanne

By
Rich Perelman
-
IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) presenting replacement Olympic medals to U.S. swim star Gary Hall Jr. (Photo: IOC/Greg Martin).

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≡ A 10-MEDAL CEREMONY ≡

It had to be the biggest one-person awards ceremony in history, as a 6-6 former American swimmer received 10 Olympic medals at one time.

It was Gary Hall Jr., whose medals across three Games in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, were destroyed when his home – along with many others – was burned to the ground in the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles in early January.

The International Olympic Committee promised to replace his medals and on Monday, at Olympic House, Hall Jr. received a full set of medals from IOC President Thomas Bach (GER):

● Atlanta 1996 (4): 4×100 m Free relay gold, 4×100 m Medley relay gold, 50 m Free silver, 100 m Free silver.

● Sydney 2000 (4): 50 m Free gold, 4×100 m Medley relay gold, 4×100 m Free relay silver, 100 m Free bronze.

● Athens 2004 (2): 50 m Free gold, 4×100 m Free relay bronze.

That’s five golds, three silvers and two bronzes. After each Games, the IOC is given all of the unawarded medals made by the organizing committee, which it keeps for circumstances just like this one, although never before to award 10 medals to one athlete at one time!

Hall Jr. is one of 43 athletes who have won 10 or more career Olympic medals, 14 of which have been in swimming, tied for the most with gymnastics.

Said Bach:

“We really appreciate your presence here. I cannot tell you how much we admire you, not only because of the medals, but because when we were reading your tragic story of losing your house, your possessions and all your worldly properties, this went straight to our heart.

“But even more so, when we learned how you overcame this tragedy in the style of a true Olympic champion, showing all the resilience, courage and confidence that you were known for as an athlete at the time, but you displayed under very different circumstances once more.”

Hall Jr. commented:

“I’m emotional, it’s hard for me to put words together in this time. I would like to express my gratitude first and foremost.

“I cannot thank the Olympic Movement enough for their support through this very difficult time. Their realizations through this process that outweigh the sense of loss and that is this word of solidarity and what it means: the value of friends outweighs the value of objects, and character cannot be taken away, it cannot be burned, it cannot be lost and what is inside of us, our spirit, our being, our soul – that is important.

“We live in a time of capitalism, consumerism and you realize when you lose everything how little of it you truly need.”

Hall Jr. also displayed a brutal, poignant souvenir of his former home, a scrap of metal which was two medals – from Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004 – which had been melted together during the fire.

American swim star Gary Hall Jr. with his replacement Olympic medals and two of his original medals which melted together during the Palisades Fire (Photo: IOC/Greg Martin).

A GoFundMe effort has raised $94,650 to help as he starts again; he has the idea to try and introduce sports betting to swimming, with the intention “to use a percentage of revenue from sports betting to fund the rebuilding of youth sport programming in Los Angeles and relaunch Sea Monkeys Swimming.” He found a new place to live and wrote on Instagram last month:

“And lose, and start again at your beginnings
“And never breathe a word about your loss

“Striving for stoicism, I’ll post this and punt the recent tragedy towards the past. What a topsy turvy time since the Palisades Fire took my home, business and all worldly possessions. Tough hit.”

Thanks to the IOC, it may hurt a little less now.

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PANORAMA: New Zealand eyes Culver City for LA28 team hub; Fred Richard gets world back-flip record; Taylor gets prep 100 record: 9.92!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Proposed site plan for New Zealand to mount its 2028 Games headquarters and fan zone in Culver City (Image: City of Culver City).

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering (BOE) is beginning the effort to create a construction “moratorium” within the City during the time of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In a report filed on 30 April, City Engineer Ted Allen asks for City Council approval so that:

● “BOE will work with partner agencies to define 2028 Games impact zones where restrictions are necessary and appropriate, including a perimeter around each event venue, as well as the Games Route Network and other critical venue access routes. BOE may also include other areas with high visitation or visibility, such as major tourist destinations, hospitality locations, Cultural Olympiad sites, or remote fan zone locations.”

● The report “initiates an ordinance to regulate additional private property  construction activity that may impair the Games operations and visitor experience. It also authorizes the Bureau of Street Services to implement a special events  moratorium during the same period. The report further directs all City permitting and construction agencies to implement restrictions consistent with the moratorium.”

● The moratorium will include “a perimeter around each event venue, as well as the Games Route Network and other critical venue access routes. BOE may also include other areas with high visitation or visibility, such as major tourist destinations, hospitality locations, Cultural Olympiad sites, or remote fan zone locations” and will be in effect no later than 13 June 2028 “when the event venues become operational.”

The report was referred for review to the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the Public Works Committee. The proposal is similar to measures usually taken for the year-end holiday period.

Culver City announced a memorandum of understanding with the New Zealand Olympic Committee to host the New Zealand “Fan Zone” in 2028 with the historic Culver Hotel to serve as the “New Zealand House” for the Games period.

The hotel will be used for hospitality as well as for some athlete and staff housing in 2028. The Culver Steps corridor behind the hotel will be renamed “New Zealand Boulevard” during the Games period and host the fan zone, complete with giant television screens to view the Games.

A more detailed, formal agreement is still needed and police and fire support and other expenses are estimated at $527,763; the New Zealand Olympic Committee is expected to spend more than $1 million on the program.

The next step is for the City Council’s Ad Hoc 2025 and 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics Preparation Subcommittee to review the proposed agreement.

A bill to allow better law enforcement coordination for the 2028 Olympic period in Oklahoma City passed the Oklahoma House by 81-0 and the Oklahoma Senate by 43-3 and is expected to be signed by Governor Kevin Stitt.

S.B. 523 “authorizes sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, and reserve deputy sheriffs, when
assigned to perform duties in counties outside of their jurisdiction, to have the same powers and duties as they do in their original jurisdiction. Liability for the conduct of any sheriff, deputy sheriff, and reserve sheriff remains with the county of original jurisdiction.”

Senate bill author Darrell Weaver explained:

“As Oklahoma prepares to host Olympic events in 2028, this legislation will ensure we can effectively utilize interagency partnerships to uphold public safety during these large-scale gatherings. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law, giving Oklahoma law enforcement agencies the necessary tools to provide seamless, unified coverage for the Olympic events and beyond.”

Oklahoma City will host canoe slalom events and softball in 2028.

● Anti-Doping ● Fascinating cooperative agreement announced between the International Testing Agency and the Swiss sportswear brand On, with the ITA declaring, “This collaboration marks the first-ever partnership between the ITA and a commercial sportswear brand, underscoring On’s commitment to the protection, health, and integrity of its athletes.”

Moreover:

“[T]he ITA will oversee anti-doping efforts for On’s triathlon athletes, leveraging its existing collaboration with World Triathlon to provide a seamless extension of its programs in the sport and within the framework of the World Triathlon Anti-Doping Rules, as well as the World Anti-Doping Code and all relevant International Standards. For On athletes competing in other disciplines, additional anti-doping measures will be implemented in close cooperation with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).”

The goal: “ensuring that On’s roster benefits from the most professional and independent anti-doping measures available today.”

● Gymnastics ● Fred Richard, the 2023 Worlds All-Around bronze medalist and a member of the U.S. Olympic men’s Team bronze medalists from Paris, was all-out on Friday to raise money for gymnastics equipment and facilities for African youth.

Richard was in a contest to set a Guinness World Record for the most backflips in a 24-hour period, at Premier Gymnastics in Stoughton, Massachusetts, starting at 8:30 a.m. The record was 1,001 in 24 hours by Austrian Nico Scheicher, but Richard shattered the mark in about 15 hours, finishing past midnight with 1,111!

By Sunday, he had raised almost $42,000 in donations, with more coming in. Richard just finished his junior year at Michigan, but is originally from Boston.

The Russian news agency TASS reported that the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique has granted “neutral status” to 43 Russian gymnasts and 30 Belarusians.

The Russian approvals include 14 artistic, 17 rhythmic and 13 trampoline athletes; another 44 coaches, trainers and staff were also approved by the FIG.

● Rugby ● World Rugby announced a new format for the HSBC SVNS Series beginning next season, with three divisions: Division I with eight teams each for men and women (six tournaments), Division II with six teams each for men and women (three tournaments) and Division III with eight men’s and women’s teams as a “challenger” division (one tournament).

The SVNS title tournament would be contested with 12 men’s and women’s teams, with the eight from Division I and the top four from Division II. The total calendar for the sport will expand to 13 tournaments, allowing for more exposure.

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Artistic Swimming ● Spain collected five wins to highlight the World Aquatics World Cup III in Markham (CAN), with China also strong with three golds.

China’s 2024 Worlds women’s Solo Tech bronze medalist Huiyan Xu won both the women’s Solo Technical (252.311) and Solo Free (218.8438), with Spain’s Paris Olympic Team bronzer Iris Tio Casas second in the Solo Tech at 246.4850. In the Solo Free, a noteworthy third was Aruba’s Kyra Hoevertsz (192.9276), the daughter of IOC member Nicole Hoevertsz.

In the Duet Technical, sisters Anna-Maria and Eirini-Marina Alexandri (AUT) won at 290.3009, followed by Spain’s Txell Ferre Gaset and Lilou Lluis Valette (284.2959). Lluis Vallete and Tio Casas teamed up to win the Duet Free at 257.9868, beating China’s Yanhan Lin and Yanjun Lin (253.0640).

In the Mixed Duet Technical, Spain scored with Worlds silver medalists Dennis Gonzalez and Mireia Hernandez (212.3391), ahead of China’s Sitong Guo and Haoyue Shi (209.6841), and Gonzalez and Tio Casas took the Mixed Duet Free at 294.6284, with Muye Guo and Jinhan Lin (CHN) second at 276.9909.

Ranjuo Tomblin (GBR) won the Men’s Technical (218.1667) over Diego Villalobos (MEX: 214. 8667), but China’s Guo took the Men’s Free title at 192.7988, with Villalobos second at 190.9475.

Italy won the Team Acro over Spain (199.4300 to 181.6612), but the Spanish took the Team Technical event at 279.4640, with the U.S. in third at 266.6599, and Spain scored 312.9363 to win the Team Free, with the U.S. again third (291.1363).

● Athletics ● Olin Hacker and Josette Andrews scored their first career national titles at the USATF 5 km National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday.

Hacker, 27, the 2022 NCAA 5,000 m champ for Wisconsin, had to push late to get away from Casey Clinger and 2024 winner Ahmed Muhumed to win in 13:31.93 (to 13:33.04 and 13:36.08).

Andrews, the world outdoor lead at 1,500 m in 4:01.76 from the Penn Relays, ran away from Bailey Hertenstein and a comebacking Courtney Frerichs to win the women’s title in 15:05.55, to 15:15.52 and 15:17.28. Defending champ Annie Rodenfels was seventh (15:32.24).

The wins would have qualified the top two for the World Athletics Road Running Championships, but the event was removed from San Diego for financial reasons and then canceled altogether.

The U.S. high school record was lowered to 9.92 on Saturday, as San Antonio Harlan junior Tate Taylor (17) won the boys’ Texas UIL Class 6A State Championships in Austin, with legal 1.1 m/s wind, pulling ahead of favored Brayden Williams (Duncanville HS: 10.01) with 40 m to go.

The old best was 9.93 for Christian Miller of St. Johns Creekside (Florida) in April 2024. Taylor had run 10.23 in 2024 as a sophomore and a windy 10.08 in April, coming on strongly this season. Now, at age 17, he’s no. 2 on the world list for 2025. Williams moved to equal-fourth all-time at 10.01 with Jeff Demps from 2008.

Taylor wasn’t done, either, winning the 200 m in 20.14, moving to equal-third on the all-time high school list with Tyreek Hill (2012) and Michael Norman (2014), and the fastest ever by a junior. And no. 3 on the U.S. list for 2025!

At the World Race Walk Tour Gold in Warsaw (POL), Japan’s two-time World 20 km Champion and world-record holder Toshikazu Yamanishi scored a clear win over Brazil’s Olympic silver winner Caio Bonfim, 1:20:50 to 1:21:34, with Kazuki Takahashi (JPN: 1:22:55) in third.

The women’s race was a duel between Paula Torres (ECU), ninth in Paris, and Peru’s two-time World Champion Kimberly Garcia, racing each other for the third time in 2025. As in Dudince (35 km in March) and Rio Maior (20 km in April), it was Torres who got to the line first, in 1:28:29 to 1:28:30 for Garcia. They’re now 13th and equal-14th on the world list for 2025. Viviane Lyra (BRA) was third in 1:28:54.

The Athletics Integrity Unit banned Ugandan women’s distance Olympian Belinda Chemutai for three years and 11 months from 11 April 2025 for the use of the steroid testosterone. Her results are nullified from 1 October 2023, which includes her appearance at the Paris Olympic Games in the heats of the 5,000 m.

● Badminton ● In the last 17 editions of the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals, only two countries have won the trophy: China with 13 wins and South Korea with four. And they faced off in the final once again, for the seventh time, this year in Xiamen (CHN).

China had won four of the prior six finals between the two, and they qualified to meet again, as China swept aside Malaysia (3-0) and Japan (3-0) in their playoff matches, and the Koreans sailed past Denmark, 3-1, and edged Indonesia, 3-2.

In the final, China won by 3-1, for its 14th title. Yu Qi Shi taking the men’s Singles, Yan Zhe Feng and Dong Ping Huang took the men’s Doubles, and Sheng Shu Liu and Ning Tan won the women’s Doubles. Korea’s win came from Se Young An in the women’s Singles.

● Curling ● At the World Curling Mixed Doubles Championship in Fredricton, Canada, Italy and Scotland, which finished 1-2 in Group A, met for the title on Sunday, the first time Italy played for a medal in this event, but the third final in the last five for the Scots.

Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner slid past Estonia, 7-6 in its semifinal while Scots Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds – the 2021 World Champions – had to defeat Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin of the U.S. by 7-5 in a play-in match and then got past Australia, 9-6 in their semi. The U.S. ended up fifth overall and qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The final saw Italy go up 2-1 after three ends, then score two in the fourth and one in the fifth for a 5-1 lead. Dodds and Mouat struck back with three in the sixth to close to 5-4, but Constantini and Mosaner completed an undefeated, 11-0 title run with four in the seventh for a 9-4 victory.

In their 11 wins, Constantini and Mosaner outscored their opponents by 89-45! Australia took the bronze medal match by 9-6 over Estonia.

● Cycling ● The six-stage Tour de Romandie in Switzerland finished Sunday, with a 17.1 km Individual Time Trial to decide the race winner.

The Prologue and the first four stages all had different winners, and France’s Lenny Martinez won the uphill-finishing Stage 4 over Portugal’s Joao Almeida in 3:43:46 to upset the standings and take the lead by two seconds overall, ahead of stage two winner Lorenzo Fortunato (ITA) and three seconds up on Almeida. Australia’s Jay Vine was 32 seconds back.

On Sunday, two-time World Time Trial champ Remco Evenepoel (BEL) won in 20:33.22, with Almeida second (+0:12) and Martinez 13th (+0:41). That gave Almeida the race crown at 16:50:44, ahead of Martinez (+0:26) and Australian Jay Vine (+0:41). It’s Almeida’s second important win of the year; he took the Itzulia Basque Country six-stager in April.

The 62nd Eschborn-Frankfurt race last Thursday (1st) saw Australian star Michael Matthews score his 30th career UCI World Tour win, executing a patented finishing sprint to complete the 198.7 km course in 4:38:33, ahead of Magnus Cort (SUI), Jon Barrenetvea (ESP) and American Neilson Powless. The top 24 riders received the same time.

It was the first Australian win in this race since 1985! It also completed a medal sets for Mathews, who had been third in 2001 and second in 2018.

● Diving ● The World Aquatics World Cup Super Final was in Beijing (CHN), with the team events held in traditional style, but the individual events held in an experimental knock-out-style bracket to narrow from 12 entrants to four finalists.

In the team events, China’s Yukang Wu and Jiyuan Zheng won the men’s 3 m Synchro with 448.65 points, in a close decision over Britain’s Anthony Harding and Jack Laugher (434.88). The men’s 10 m Synchro was a clear win for China’s Zilong Cheng and Zifeng Zhu (460.92) over Russians Nikita Shleikher and Ruslan Ternovoi (426.69).

China’s Olympic champs Yani Chang and Yiwen Chen won the women’s 3 m Synchro at 323.13, beating Maddison Keeney and Alysha Koloi (AUS: 297.75), with Americans Anna Kwong and Sophie Verzyl in seventh (262.05). In the 10 m Synchro, Olympic champs Yuxi Chen and Hongchan Quan won at 350.88, well ahead of Russians Aleksandra Kendrina and Anna Konanykhina (302.94).

And China won the Mixed Team for a five-event sweep, 507.20 to 423.70 for Ukraine.

In the individual finals, Olympic silver man Zongyuan Wong won the men’s 3 m with 519.25 to 505.05 for teammate Jiuyuan Zheng; Sunday’s 10 m Platform results had Zifeng Zhu at 571.90, a clear winner over teammate Zilong Cheng (542.30).

The women’s 10 m title went to Paris silver winner Yuxi Chen (431.25) over teammate (and Olympic champ) Hongchan Quan (409.80); the 3 m Springboard final on Sunday had Jia Chen winning at 382.05 and Paris Olympic champ Yiwen Chen second (368.40).

Nine events, nine wins for China.

● Fencing ● American star Alexander Massialas, now 31, scored a big win at the FIE Foil World Cup in Vancouver (CAN), taking the men’s title with a 15-8 victory in the final over Davide Filippi (ITA). For Massialas, the 2016 Olympic silver winner, it was his ninth career World Cup gold and 19th medal.

The women’s Foil title went to no. 1-ranked Martina Favaretto (ITA), who defeated Olympic champ Lee Keifer of the U.S. by 15-11 in the final. It’s Favaretto’s fifth career World Cup gold, all in the last three years. For Keifer, it was her 24th (!) career World Cup medal.

Both of the team events came down to Italy vs. U.S. finals, with Italy taking the women’s title, 45-42, over the American trio of Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs and Jaelyn Liu. The men’s match came down to the final face-off, with Massialas winning his bout to give the U.S. – also Nick Itkin and Bryce Louie – a 43-41 win. 

At the Sabre Grand Prix in Seoul (KOR), Hungary’s Krisztian Rabb won his first major international gold with a 15-14 victory over France’s Jean-Philippe Patrice in the men’s final. The all-Korean women’s final had Ha-young Jeon winning over Jeong-mi Kim, 15-13. It was Jeon’s second career Grand Prix win and the first international medal for Kim.

● Ice Hockey ● Defending champion Canada reached the final of the IIHF men’s U-18 World Championship in Frisco, Texas for the seventh time, but faced a new opponent: Sweden.

While the Canadians whizzed by Slovakia, 4-0, in its Friday semifinal, the U.S. and Sweden were locked in a tight battle in the second semi. After a scoreless first period, both teams scored twice in the second and then the Swedes got goals from Viggo Bjorck (7.27) and Torkel Jennersjo (13:22) for a 4-3 lead and a late U.S. score only made the final closer at 4-3. The U.S. out-shot the Swedes by 41-23, but it didn’t help.

In the final, Canada swamped Sweden by 7-0, up 2-0 after the first period and 5-0 after the second. It’s the sixth win in this tournament for Canada; Sweden finished second for the seventh time.

The third-place game went to the U.S. in overtime by 4-3, with Slovakia up 2-1 after two periods, but the game tied at 3-3 after regulation time. Ben Kevan scored the medal-winner for the Americans at 5:37 of the overtime period.

Sweden’s Filip Ekberg finished as the top scorer with 18 points and had the most goals with 10.

● Judo ● The Dushanbe Grand Slam in Tajikistan attracted 226 judoka from 27 nations, with the hosts enjoying great success, including four wins by Nurali Emomali in the men’s 66 kg class, Muhiddin Asadulloev at 73 kg, Somon Makhmadbekov at 81 kg and Olympic bronzer Temur Rakhimov at +100 kg.

Azerbaijan got two men’s wins, from Balabay Aghayev at 60 kg and Eljan Hajiyev at 90 kg.

France had two women’s champions, with Amandine Buchard, the Tokyo silver medalist, winning at 52 kg and fellow Tokyo runner-up Sarah Leonie Cysique taking the 57 kg class. So did Mongolia, with Anudari Jamsran taking the 48 kg class and Gankhaich Bold winning at 63 kg.

● Rugby Sevens ● The HSBC SVNS Series Grand Final was in Carson, California, at the same venue which will host the 2028 Olympic tournaments, Argentina (men) and New Zealand (women) having won the seasonal points titles.

South Africa (3-0) and Spain (2-1) won the men’s championship pools, with New Zealand and Australia both 3-0 in the women’s pools.

On Sunday, the women’s semis were easily won by New Zealand (34-7 over the U.S.) and Australia (33-7 over Canada), with Canada defeating the U.S., 27-7 for the bronze medal.

In the final, the New Zealanders had no trouble, breezing past Australia, 31-7 to win their third straight title and ninth in the 13 seasons of the league.

The men’s semis had Spain spanking Argentina, 29-5 and South Africa running past New Zealand, 31-5. The third-place match went to the Kiwis by 38-17.

The men’s final had South Africa up 7-0 at halftime and clamping down on the Spanish offense to finish with a 19-5 victory and their fifth seasonal SVNS title.

● Sport Climbing ● A sensational double world record for American Sam Watson at the IFSC World Cup in Bali (INA), giving him four world marks in a row.

Watson set two world marks of 4.75 and 4.74 on his way to the bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but lowered the time to 4.67 in his semifinal. Japan’s Ryo Omasa false-started out of the final, so Watson was unchallenged, but topped the 15 m wall in another world record of 4.64! He said later:

“The qualifiers and practice were boiling. I came back and put an ice pack on my head. But I am a competitor and the conditions affect everybody. I was lucky we got a bit of overcast so there was a little bit of shade, and I am really happy now. I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

The women’s final had world-record holder Aleksandra Miroslaw (POL) as an easy winner over China’s Yafei Zhou in the final, 6.37 to 8.12.

The Lead finals on Sunday saw Japan’s Satone Yoshida, 20, on a mission. He led the qualifying round, led the semifinal round and won the final for his first career Lead World Cup gold with a 42-41 win over first-time World Cup medalist Max Bertone (FRA), with Alberto Gines Lopez (ESP: 39+) in third.

Britain’s Erin McNeice got her second win of the season in the women’s Lead final, getting to the top, along with Korean Chae-hyun Seo, but the tie was broken by McNeice’s better qualifying score and earned the victory. Japan’s Ai Mori was third at 45.

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ATHLETICS: World leads for Bednarek and Meshesha in Miramar as five repeat as Grand Slam Track winners from Kingston

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. star Grant Fisher taking the 5,000 m at Grand Slam Track II (Photo: Grand Slam Track).

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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK II ≡

A very good second stanza of the new Grand Slam Track project that concluded in Miramar, Florida, with two more world-leading performances:

● Men/200 m: 19.84, Kenny Bednarek (USA)
● Women/3,000 m: 8:22.72, Hirut Meshesha (ETH)

Conditions were generally good at 80 F, but with some cloud cover and high humidity at 68%, and the crowd was loud. In a 5,000-seat facility, attendance was a little more spotty on the home straight than on Saturday and better on the backstraight, perhaps 3,500 or so after about 4,000 on Saturday.

The competition was good once again, with some surprises:

● Women/800 m (short distances):
American Nikki Hiltz won in Kingston with a then-world-leading 1:58.23, but 2024 World Indoor 1,500 m champ Freweyni Hailu won the 1,500 m on Saturday and Diribe Welteji (ETH) was third and won the Kingston Slam.

World Champion Mary Moraa (KEN) went to the lead, but wasn’t pressing the pace. Moraa took the bell, and led into the turn, but with Hailu coming up on the turn. Into the straight, Moraa and Hailu were side-by-side, but Moraa wanted the win and got to the line first in a seasonal best of 1:59.51.

Hiltz made another finishing charge from fourth and got second past Hailu, 1:59.85 to 1:59.84 and Welteji fourth (1:59.94).

Hailu took the Slam with 18 points, with Hiltz at 16 and Moraa at 13; Welteji was fourth with 11.

● Men/100 m (short hurdles):
Trey Cunningham won the 110 hurdles race at 13.00, no. 2 in the world for 2025, and was looking to improve on his 10.27 lifetime best in the 100 m from last year. France’s Sasha Zhoya stole the Slam in Kingston with a 10.55 100, but into a 2.0 m/s headwind.

Cunningham was off well in lane three, but Olympic hurdles silver winner Daniel Roberts and Zhoya were off best by 10 m. But Cunningham took the lead by 25 m and it was Jamal Britt in lane one who was the primary challenger. Cunningham broke the tape in a personal best 10.17 (+0.7 m/s wind), followed closely by Britt, who equaled his lifetime best at 10.20. Zhoya and Roberts were 3-4, both with lifetime bests of 10.36 and 10.40.

Cunningham swept the Slam with 24 points, with Zhoya second at 14, followed by Britt (13); Crittenden and Roberts were 4-5 with eight each.

● Women/3,000 m (long distances):
Agnes Ngetich (KEN) and Medina Eisa (ETH) had a memorable battle on Friday in the 5,000 m with world-leading times of 14:25.80 and 14:25.92, and Ngetich was second in the Kingston Slam. What would they have left?

Kenyan Janeth Chepngetich took it out at 62.98, with Ngetich taking over by 600 m, followed by Eisa. The pace was strong with six in contention by 1,500 m, down to four by 2,000 m (6:27.79), with Ngetich continuing to push, with Eisa still her shadow.

At the bell, it was still four, with Ngetich, Eisa, two-time 10,000 m Olympian Tsige Gebreselama (ETH) and 2022 World Indoor 1,500 m bronzer Hirut Meshesha (ETH). On the backstraight, Gebreselama attacked first but fell back, Meshesha took the lead into the turn, with Ngetich trying to keep up.

Into the straight, Meshesha and Eisa were 1-2 with Ngetich in a full sprint but Meshesha had the best speed to the line and won in a lifetime best of 8:22.72, with Eisa at 8:23.08 and Ngetich at 8:23.14, all lifetime bests and 1-2-3 on the 2025 world outdoor list. Gebreselama got a seasonal best at 8:24.47, no. 4 in the world this season.

It came down to combined times, but Ngetich won the Slam with 18 points, with Meshesha second (also 18) and Eisa third with 16.

● Men/400 m (long hurdles):
Brazil’s 2022 World 400 m hurdles champ Alison dos Santos won the Kingston Slam and took the hurdles over former NCAA champ Chris Robinson by 0.95, and with Robinson having run a then-world-leading 44.15, dos Santos had to stay close.

But dos Santos in lane five could see Robinson ahead of him in seven, and tracked him down the back straight. Robinson could not get away and dos Santos was the leader into the final straight and pulled away to win in a lifetime best of 44.53!

Robinson was a solid second in 44.86, NCAA champion Caleb Dean was third in 45.18 and then American Trevor Bassitt in 45.31.

Dos Santos won the Slam, as in Kingston, with 24, ahead of Robinson (16) and then Dean (10), with a better combined time than Malik James-King (JAM: 8).

● Women/200 m (long sprints):
Olympic champ Marileidy Paulino (DOM) and 2019 World Champion Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) were 1-2 in the 400 m and looked to be the favorites.

This wasn’t close, as Paulino started slowly out of the blocks, but she was much better than everyone else and stormed into the straight in the lead and won easily in 22.30, a national record and no. 6 in the world for 2025 (wind: +1.0 m/s).

Naser and American Alexis Holmes dueled for second down the straight and Holmes faded, and Naser finished in a solid 22.53. American Bella Whittaker was third in 22.76; Holmes was fifth in 22.83, a lifetime best.

Paulino won the Slam with 24, with Naser second at 16, then Whittaker (11) and Holmes fourth (10).

● Men/5,000 m (long distances):
Double Olympic bronze winner Grant Fisher of the U.S. won the Kingston Slam (barely) and was second in the 3,000 m, so he was the man to watch, but would the race devolve into another jog-and-kick affair?

Dawit Seare (ERI) was in front early, but the pace was slow, with Cooper Teare of the U.S. taking over by the 800 m mark, and George Mills (GBR) by 1,400 m. Fisher was steady in third or fourth, waiting. The 2,000 m mark was passed in 5:51.72 for Mills, with Sam Atkin (GBR) just behind, still slow.

Atkin took a turn in the lead and passed 3,000 m in 8:36.38. Mills took back the lead but Fisher got in front by 3,500 m and started to surge. With three laps to go, he moved away and ran a 58.6 lap to break up the race. He passed 4,200 m with an enormous lead (59.6 lap) and took the bell with a 50 m edge (5 1/2 seconds, off a 60.3 lap).

Fisher cruised home to win, waving to the crowd in 13:40.32, finishing his final four laps (1,600 m) in 3:57.57!

Behind him, there was a fight for second down the final straight with Teare winning the sprint (13:46.25) ahead of 3,000 m winner Andrew Coscoran (IRL: 13:46.30) and Ronald Kwemoi (KEN: 13:46.35).

Fisher took his second straight Slam with 20 points, Coscoran was second with 18, then Teare (13) and Mills and Kwemoi (8 each for fourth and fifth).

● Women/400 m (long hurdles):
No doubt about the favorite with U.S. star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the race, winner of the first Slam and who took the 400 m hurdles in a world-leading 52.07. She started in lane five, with fellow American Shamier Little just outside of her, a 49.68 performer at her best from 2023.

McLaughlin-Levrone moved well, as did Little, on the backstraight. McLaughlin-Levrone came on around the turn and was in front by 5 m and ran away to win in 49.69, now no. 5 in the world for 2025 and her sixth-fastest ever.

Behind her, it was a three-way battle in lanes 6-7-8 with Little, Andrenette Knight (JAM) and U.S. heptathlete Anna Hall, and Hall got to the line in 51.68, then Knight in 51.80 and Little in 51.84.

McLaughlin-Levrone won the Slam with 24 points, ahead of Knight (14) and Hall (14), with Knight getting second on combined time. Hall ran her two races out of lanes one (400H) and eight (400)!

● Men/200 m (short sprints):
“Kung Fu Kenny” Bednarek won her first three Grand Slam Track races and was the overwhelming favorite in this race given his two Olympic 200 m silvers. He started in lane six, with Tokyo 2020 Olympic champ Andre De Grasse (CAN) right ahead of him.

It wasn’t close. Bednarek pulled up on De Grasse by the middle of the turn, had a 2 m lead onto the straight and stormed home in a world-leading 19.84 (+0.2). He looked very relaxed and there is a lot more to come from him.

The race for second was between Britain’s Zharnel Hughes in lane eight and Oblique Seville (JAM) in six, with Hughes getting second as both were timed in 20.13. De Grasse was fourth in 20.23.

Bednarek had 24 points to win the Slam, with Seville second (14), Hughes third (13) and Brandon Hicklin of the U.S. was fourth overall (8) as the late replacement for Fred Kerley, earning $25,000 for the weekend!

Scoring in each event group (two races) was 12-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 and the placers in each group will win $100,000-50,000-30,000-25,000-20,000-15,000-12,500-10,000.

Repeaters from Kingston included Bednarek (short sprints), dos Santos (long hurdles) and Fisher (long distances) for the men; Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (short sprints) and McLaughlin-Levrone (long hurdles) doubled for the women.

Next up is the third Grand Slam Track weekend, at historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia, on 30-31 May and 1 June.

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TABLE TENNIS: Sorling running for re-election as ITTF chief to continue the sport’s expansion, especially in the U.S.!

By
Rich Perelman
-
International Table Tennis Federation President Petra Sorling (SWE) (Photo: ITTF).

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

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≡ ITTF ELECTIONS ≡

The International Table Tennis Federation will have elections at its Annual General Meeting on 27 May 2025, with three candidates for President confirmed:

● Mohamed El Hacen Ahmed Salem (MTN), the former Secretary General of the Mauritanian federation and its current President.

● Khalil Al-Mohannadi (QAT), a member of the ITTF Board since 1997, having served as Deputy President twice, Executive Vice President twice and Senior Executive Vice President since 2022.

● Incumbent Petra Sorling (SWE), a Board member of the Swedish member association since 2000 and President of the association from 2013-22, leaving after she was elected ITTF President in 2021. The first ITTF officer ever to be elected to the International Olympic Committee (in 2023), she has had a long career in real estate management and urban planning, but is now concentrating on table tennis.

Sorling took time out last week to participate in a forum with reporters, explaining her enthusiasm for continuing as the ITTF President.

Like many other sports, table tennis enjoyed a brilliant 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, with big crowds at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. During her tenure, a separate commercial arm has been set up – World Table Tennis – to run the high-end tournaments, which are showing strong interest in multiple European countries and in Asia.

Even better, says Sorling, “when we look at our spectators – we have data on that – it is mainly young fans, 18 to 24 years, females. … I think we are unique in that, in table tennis.”

She noted that the sport has been granted a sixth event for the 2028 Olympic Games – a Mixed Team event – with the Mixed Doubles added for Paris 2024, which will increase the sport’s footprint and visibility at the Games:

“I believe table tennis can be a top-8 sport in LA2028. It’s not something that is impossible if we continue to move in the speed that we have in the moment.”

The ITTF, like at least half of the Olympic-sport federations, is deeply dependent on a share of the IOC’s television revenue from the Games. It received $16 million from the IOC related to Paris 2024, in the third tier of payouts; the top two tiers consist of eight sports – aquatics, athletics and gymnastics in tier one and basketball, cycling, football, tennis and volleyball in the second – thus the reference to “top eight” … and more of the IOC’s television money.

The federation’s 2022 financial statements showed assets of $36.8 million with reserves of $14.2 million; 2022 revenue was $36.8 million with $39.8 million in spending for an annual loss of $2.95 million.

The new events are also helping the federation grow, as both the Mixed Doubles and Mixed Team results count for ranking points, putting pressure on member associations to increase the number of female players in order to field competitive teams in these events (and score points).

The ITTF is also involved in artificial intelligence in judging and for player performance and has undertaken e-sports action using virtual-reality glasses, “to meet the new generation where they are” and to get involved in the Olympic Esports Games to debut in 2027.

Asked how the federation can improve its finances to lessen reliance on the IOC, Sorling noted that the formation of the for-profit World Table Tennis entity came only in 2019, 85% owned by the federation and 15% by investors:

“Up ‘til now it has been a start-up phase, but already in 2024 we have done the turnaround. We have reached beyond break-even and I am looking forward to the next years that can also be profitable for the federation itself.”

She explained her view that the ITTF is poised for growth now:

“When I go back one year before the Olympic Games in Paris, I was more thinking on what will be the next term program and so on, but now that I have seen the result of what we have done in the first term and having seen, more or less, a full four years, I feel that we are on track, we have momentum, we have to keep table tennis ahead, so we have to do a little bit more of everything, but we also to show the member associations what it brings back on them.

“We were starting everything after the pandemic, that is what I did when I took office. We started a for-profit company, we were coming into a period of time [where] there was no events, we have to beg the organizers to come up and organize. Now we have the other [way] as a problem: it’s a full calendar, we still only have 52 weeks.

“So it’s a positive problem, but it’s also for the member associations; 227 have to understand ‘what‘s in it for me.’ It’s good that they have these events, it’s good that they were sold out, but if I’m sitting as a president in Uruguay, what does it bring me? So that is what I have now … for them to feel that they are part of this journey.”

Beyond the annual ITTF World Championships, World Table Tennis has created a series of ultra-high-level tournaments to focus more attention on the sport called the “Smash.” And, in 2025, the first United States Smash will arrive in Las Vegas, Nevada from 3-13 July at the Orleans Arena.

Sorling noted that this event is not strictly about building momentum just for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles:

“We are coming there because of a strategy.

“First of all, during the pandemic, every table tennis table in the U.S. market was sold out. So table tennis a popular sport in the U.S., on the leisure level. So how can we make table tennis also more interesting on the elite level?

“From my perspective, we need to have table tennis in the schools and that is where we are working, and we elected to have in 2016, we came for the first time with a women’s World Cup to Philadelphia. When I was there, I had the privilege of giving some medals at the end of this Women’s World Cup and the CEO of [U.S.] table tennis at that time, he said something like ‘this is the one who took this event to here.’ So actually, when I got out to my transport, I got some fans coming after me, saying ‘thank you, you are the one!’ I mean I was not the one, there were many bringing it there.

“However, they were telling me, ‘oh, I have traveled from San Francisco to watch this event.’ That is when I realized that, wow, even if table tennis is not the biggest sport here, there is an appetite, because if you go from San Francisco to Philadelphia, you go across a big country.

“So, with that said, we went back to the drawing board and said, what can we do in the U.S.? So when the U.S. and China actually went together and were bidding for the world championships, back-to-back as an anniversary of the ‘ping-pong diplomacy’ 50 years [after], so we had Chengdu 2022 and Houston 2021, they were actually bidding, let’s say, together.

“So we said at that time that’s a perfect event to have there and we convinced the [ITTF Annual General Meeting] to vote them forward … But in 2021, luckily in Texas, during the pandemic, we could have spectators, so we had actually a very good [event] – spectators and the atmosphere – they really got it. It was a show and it was really very good.

“We had taken also learnings from the world championships in Houston, so the main table and how it is presented now in our high-level Smash events is actually inspired from the Houston event.”

So the U.S. has been a springboard of sports out of the pandemic for the ITTF, and Sorling added:

“In the last two years, in December, I have been to U.S. Open, [2023] in L.A. and [last] year in Las Vegas and it’s very crowded. There is, I can see, a big push and that there is also better results from the players, so we are actually investing in U.S. as one of our most important markets with big potential.

“We are happy that LA2028 takes place; but it’s not, let’s say, the reason [for the U.S. Smash]. We saw already in ‘16 when we went to Philadelphia, we have also very big Asian communities. Around L.A. there is a lot of China associations, but not only about China, but let’s say the platform, we know that we will have spectators there. We know that table tennis is a sport that is for everyone and we are also now trying to build up, to have events. Because what we do now with the Smash, it’s every year. It’s not coming there once, like the world championships, or the World Cup, but with the Smash we go back.

“So the plan is to go, we will have the Smash in Las Vegas and the only one challenge we have is we wanted to stay in Vegas or go to L.A.? That’s what we are discussing and we will try now and see how in July it is in Vegas, but it’s a priority market … it’s a market where we have a lot of potential.”

Sorling knows she has more campaigning ahead and will release her campaign manifesto in the coming week. But she is confident: “I think we have done a lot, but there is much more to do.”

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SWIMMING: U.S. stars Gretchen Walsh (100 Fly twice!) and Katie Ledecky (800 Free) crush world records at Tyr Pro Swim Series!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Another big splash for world-record holder Gretchen Walsh of the U.S.! (Photo: University of Virginia).

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≡ TYR PRO SWIM SERIES ≡

After a brilliant Friday session that saw an American Record from ascending superstar Gretchen Walsh in the women’s 50 m Butterfly, it was a record Saturday on the final day of the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida as the meet finished on Friday and Saturday with seven world-leading performances and three world records:

● Women/50 m Free: 24.33, Gretchen Walsh (USA) ~ World Leader
● Women/200 m Free: 1:54.93, Claire Weinstein (USA) ~ World Leader
● Women/800 m Free: 8:04.12, Katie Ledecky (USA) ~ World Record
● Women/100 m Back: 57.46, Regan Smith (USA) ~ World Leader
● Women/50 m Fly: 24.93, Gretchen Walsh (USA) ~ American Record
● Women/100 m Fly: 55.09, Walsh ~ World Record (heats)
● Women/100 m Fly: 54.60, Walsh ~ World Record

Walsh, 22, got a world record in 2024 at the U.S. Trials in the women’s 100 m Butterfly, then finished second at the Olympic Games to teammate Torri Huske. Then she won seven golds at the 2024 World 25 m Championships in Budapest, but headed into history in Ft. Lauderdale:

● On Friday, she won the women’s 50 m Fly final in 24.93, an American Record and the no. 2 performance of all time. She said afterwards:

“I think that going into the season I have been really close to a lot of different barriers. There’s the 55 mark in the 100 Fly, the 53 mark in the 100 Free, and the 25 mark in the 50 Fly. It’s been cool to surpass two of those here, and I am really happy about that.

“I love following in the footsteps of Sarah Sjoestrom [SWE: 24.43 world record in the 50 m Fly]. She’s such an idol to me, and it’s cool to be in the same sentence as her. She’s an incredible person to race and follow in her footsteps.”

Behind Walsh in the race were Olympic stars Kate Douglass (25.39, no. 2 in 2025) and Regan Smith (25.63, no. 4).

● On Saturday, Walsh went wild. In the morning heats, she blew up her own world record in the 100 m Fly in 55.09, shaving 0.09 from her 2024 world mark at the Trials.

● In the final, Walsh did it again, winning in 54.60 (!), and the first sub-55, giving her the top five swims in history at the distance! Huske, the Olympic gold medalist, was second in 56.59, now no. 3 in the world this year.

● Walsh finished the day with a win in the 50 m Free in 24.33, the 2025 world leader, ahead of Kasia Wasick (POL) and Huske at 24.47, tied for world no. 5 now. She had already won the 100 m Free on Thursday in 52.90, also the world leader in 2025 and finished with four world leads in the 50-100 Frees and 50-100 Flys.

Ledecky had already had a brilliant meet, swimming the no. 2 women’s 1,500 m Free ever on Wednesday (15:24.51) behind only her own world record, then beating Canadian star Summer McIntosh in the women’s 400 m Free in a world-leading 3:56.81 on Thursday. Ledecky said afterwards, “I didn’t know if I ever was going to be 3:56 again. All the credit to Summer, it’s always a great race when we’re next to each other. I’m just really happy with all the work I’ve put in to get to this point. I just have to thank all my coaches and teammates at Florida.”

On Friday, it took a world-leading 1:54.93 from 18-year-old Paris relay silver medalist Claire Weinstein to beat Ledecky in the 200 m Free, with Ledecky’s 1:55.51 now no. 3 in 2025.

Saturday was another Ledecky special, in the 800 m Free in which she is the four-time Olympic champion. And she turned back the clock again, taking down her own 8:04.79 world record from 2016, finishing in 8:04.12! She now has the top 10 performances ever in the event and 32 of the top 36! All this at age 28!

Let’s not forget eight-time Olympic medalist Smith, who won the 200 Fly on Thursday (2:05.38: no. 2 in 2025), the 200 Back on Friday in 2:06.32, no. 2 in 2025 and won the 100 Back on Saturday in 57.46, the world leader, ahead of Katharine Berkoff in 58.79 (no. 3) and Canadian star Kylie Masse (no. 4).

A little lost among all the glitter were Friday wins by Americans Skyler Smith in the 50 m Breast (30.49, no. 3 in 2025) and Emma Weyant in the 400 m Medley (4:33.95, no. 2 in 2025).

On Saturday, Paris 200 m Breast gold medalist Douglass won that race in 2:20.78 to move to no. 2 in 2025, ahead of Alex Walsh (Gretchen’s sister) in 2:22.91. Tokyo silver medalist Alex Walsh then won the 200 m Medley in 2:08.84 for no. 3 in 2025, just ahead of Smith (2:10.25, no. 9).

What about the men? They swam too, with strong results, but less spectacular than the women.

Olympic 800-1,500 gold medalist Bobby Finke tripled, adding to his 1,500 m Free win on Wednesday with the 400 m Medley on Friday in 4:13.67, ahead of Olympic winner Leon Marchand (FRA: 4:13.86), who made his first return to the pool since Paris. Finke was an easy winner in the 800 m Free on Saturday at 7:50.79.

Breaststroke star Denis Petrashov (KGZ) took the 50 m win in 26.94 on Friday (no. 5 in 2025) ahead of Michael Andrew of the U.S. (27.01, no. 6), and then the 200 m Breast on Saturday in 2:10.29, giving him a sweep.

Versatile American star Shaine Casas added to his 100 m Free win on Thursday with the 200 Medley title in 1:56.52, no. 4 in 2025, beating Marchand (1:57.27) and two-time Worlds silver winner Carson Foster of the U.S. (1:58.78). Foster won the men’s 200 m Free in 1:46.46, with Casas winning the B final in 1:46.49, the second-fastest time of the meet!

Canada’s Ilya Kharun won the 50 m Fly (23.09) and 100 m Fly (50.42) to move to no. 3 and no. 2 in the world in those events. Hungary’s Hubert Kos, the Paris Olympic 200 m Back winner, took the 100 Back (53.14) and 200 Back (1:56.45).

Noticed, but a little lost in all the excitement was the return of nine-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel in the sprints. He skipped the 100s, but finished fifth in the 50 m Free in 22.21 (Andrej Barna/SRB won in 21.83) and fourth in the 50 m Fly (23.32), won by Kharun.

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ATHLETICS: World leads for McLaughlin-Levrone and Jacory Patterson at Grand Slam Track II in Miramar

By
Rich Perelman
-
Another win and another world-leading performance from U.S. superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Photo: Grand Slam Track).

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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK II ≡

Day two of the second Grand Slam Track meet at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, with warm weather once again at 84 F and 60% humidity, good once again for the sprinters.

Concerning a high-profile off-the-track incident, Grand Slam Track issued a short statement on its Friday broadcast about sprint star Fred Kerley of the U.S. – a Racer for Grand Slam Track – who was arrested on Thursday evening in an altercation with hurdler and ex-girlfriend Alaysha Johnson, explaining “Fred Kerley was arrested last night. The matter is under investigation, and all inquiries should be directed to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Fred will not compete this weekend.”

Johnson ran the women’s 100 m hurdles on Friday (sixth), but did not start in the women’s 100 m on Saturday.

On the track, there were world leaders in three events on Friday; and two more on Saturday:

● Men/400 m: 43.98, Jacory Patterson (USA)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 52.07, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)

Race-by-race:

● Women/400 m hurdles (long hurdles):
The program started with U.S. superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on the track in lane six, already the world leader at 52.76.

McLaughlin-Levrone was out well and steamed down the backstraight, coming up so quickly on a couple of hurdles that she had to chop her step, and running away from the field. She was all alone off the second turn and stormed home in a world-leading 52.07.

Jamaican Andrenette Knight was a distant second in 54.08 and U.S. heptathlon star Anna Hall, the 2022 NCAA runner-up, was third in 54.43, just 0.01 from her best in 2023.

● Men/400 m (long sprints):
Olympic and World Champion Steven Gardiner (BAH) is a new Racer, but was chasing Jereem Richards (TTO) and Alexander Ogando (DOM) from the 200 m on Friday.

Richards started off well, with Gardiner appearing to be hurt and did not finish. Into the turn, Richards had a slight lead, with Britain’s Olympic 400 m silver man Matthew Hudson-Smith challenging. But off the turn, ex-Florida star Jacory Patterson – in lane eight – came back on Richards in seven and got past in the final 50 m and won in a lifetime best and world-leading 43.98!

Patterson’s prior best was 44.27; Richards, better known in the 200, was second in his fourth-fastest lap ever in 44.32, with Hudson-Smith at 44.37 in third. They’re now 1-7-8 in the world for 2025.

In the Slam, Richards scored 20 for the win, with Patterson at 15, and Ogando (who was fifth in 44.78) at 12. Patterson won $50,000 for second and said in his interview, he’s now thinking about quitting his UPS overnight job and just concentrate on track!

● Women/100 m (short hurdles):
After Masai Russell’s American Record of 12.17 on Friday, what could she do in the 100 m? Her best coming in was 11.54 from 2022 and Saturday was only her fourth career race at the distance.

Off the gun, however, it didn’t take long for Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent to take charge and by mid-race, she was gone and won, equaling her lifetime best of 11.09 (+0.9 m/s).

Fellow Jamaican Megan Tapper was a clear second in a lifetime best of 11.33, then Keni Harrison of the U.S. in 11.35. Russell was fourth in a lifetime best 11.40. That all meant that Nugent won the Slam with 18, followed by Russell with 17, and Tapper third at 12.

● Women/1,500 m (short distance):
Olympic 1,500 m seventh-placer Nikki Hiltz of the U.S. dominated this group in Kingston, and started off in the lead, but with a very slow pace of 73.97 at 400 m.

Kenya’s Mary Moraa, the 2023 World 800 m champ, took over at 800 m and the 1,500 specialists figured out they needed to pick up the pace. Freweyni Hailu (ETH) and Hiltz took over at the bell and there were four in contention with 200 m to go, with Diribe Welteji (ETH) and Olympic silver winner Jess Hull (AUS) in attendance.

Haliu came into the straight in front of Welteji, and a Hiltz surge in the final 50 m from fourth came up just short, in 4:06.96 and 4:07.08. Welteji and Hull were 3-4 in 4:07.46 and 4:07.87. Moraa, in her first 1,500 ever, paid for her early effort and was eighth in 4:24.44.

● Men/110 m hurdles (short hurdles):
Five Americans in this race, with 2022 Worlds silver winner Trey Cunningham as a new Challenger and Paris Olympic silver winner Daniel Roberts looking for better results than in Kingston (fourth).

Cunningham was sharp and got to the front quickly and stayed calm and consistent, holding on off the 10th hurdle and leaning for the win at a fast 13.00 (+1.4), equaling his lifetime best! France’s Sasha Zhoya, who won the Slam in Kingston, got a lifetime best of 13.06 in second and was pressed by Crittenden at 13.09 in third. American Jamal Britt was fourth in 13.10.

The top three are now 2-3 and equal-4th in the world for 2025.

● Men/100 m (short sprints):
American Brandon Hicklin, who ran a lifetime best of 9.93 in April, replaced Kerley in this race, with Olympic 100 seventh-placer Kenny Bednarek looking to win again after Kingston.

Off the gun, it was Jamaicans Ackeem Blake and Oblique Seville and Bednarek at the front, but by mid-race, Bednarek took over and flew to the line in a brilliant 9.79, with just-over-the-allowable 2.4 m/s wind! A major statement and his fastest ever under all conditions.

Seville was second in 9.84w, Blake in 9.85w and then Zharnel Hughes (GBR) in 9.87w. Wow!

● Men/800 m (short distances):
The 1,500 m men asserted their authority over their own distance on Friday, with Josh Kerr (GBR) and Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker of the U.S. going 1-2-3. Dealing with 2023 World Champion Marco Arop (CAN) and world leader Peter Bol (AUS) was the challenge.

Arop got to the lead first and took the bell at 51.63, with Nuguse following. Arop pushed hard down the backstraight and had 2 m with 200 m to go. Arop was smooth and barely got to the line first in 1:43.69, barely ahead of 2024 African Champs silver winner Kethobogile Haingura (BOT: 1:43.75 lifetime best) and Bol (1:44.13).

Behind them was Nuguse with a lifetime best of 1:44.77, then Kerr with a PR of 1:45.01. That gave Kerr the Slam with 16 points, with Arop second (14) and then Haingura (13) winning on combined time with Nuguse (also 13).

● Women/200 m (short sprints):
Olympic 100 m bronzer Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the 100 on Friday in a windy 10.75, now facing Olympic champion Gabby Thomas in her prime event, who was fourth in the 100.

Off the start, Thomas was terrific, making up the stagger on lane five outside of her, but Jefferson-Wooden was right there with her into the straight! Outside of Jefferson-Wooden in lane eight was Tamari Davis, who was right there with 50 m to go.

Thomas surged again in the final 10 m and won in 21.95, with a legal 1.1 m/s wind, just ahead of Davis, who got a lifetime best of 22.05, then Jefferson-Wooden with a major lifetime best of 22.15. Thomas moved up to no. 2 in the world in 2025, with Davis and Jefferson-Wooden now 3-4.

The third place gave Jefferson-Wooden 18 points to defend her Slam from Kingston, with Thomas at 17 and Davis at 16.

Scoring in each event group (two races) is 12-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 and the placers in each group will win $100,000-50,000-30,000-25,000-20,000-15,000-12,500-10,000.

Sunday’s finale in Miramar will be from 3-6 p.m., on The CW and Peacock.

Around the track, Saturday’s crowd at the 5,000-capacity facility looked full on the home straight again, with much better coverage on the backstraight, perhaps 4,000 in the house.

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ATHLETICS: Sensational 12.87 hurdles win for Tinch at Shanghai Diamond League, among five world leaders!

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

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≡ SHANGHAI DIAMOND LEAGUE ≡

Shanghai was the second stop for the 2025 Wanda Diamond League, in an exciting meet that included world-leading (outdoor) marks in five events:

● Men/5,000 m: 12:50.45, Berihu Aregawi (ETH)
● Men/110 m hurdles: 12.87, Cordell Tinch (USA)
● Men/400 m hurdles: 47.28, Karsten Warholm (NOR)
● Men/Vault: 6.11 m (20-0 1/2), Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
● Women/800 m: 1:56.64, Tsige Duguma (ETH)

Tinch, who had a disappointing 2024 after making the American team for the 2023 World Championships, already had a windy sub-13 this season at 12.97 (+3.4) in April and won in Xiamen. This time he was in front by the second hurdle and poured it on to finish in 12.87, not only improving his world-leading mark from 13.06, but moving him all the way up to equal-fourth all-time! The wind was only +0.6 m/s. The all-time list:

● 12.80, Aries Merritt (USA), 2012
● 12.81, Grant Holloway (USA), 2021
● 12.84, Devon Allen (USA), 2022
● 12.87, Dayton Robles (CUB), 2008
● 12.87, Cordell Tinch (USA), 2025

The race wasn’t close, with Japan’s Rachid Muratake second in 13.10 and Olympic bronze winner Rasheed Broadbell third in 13.24. Eric Edwards of the U.S. was ninth in 13.90. Wow.

In the men’s 5,000 m, the Ethiopian trio of Paris Olympic silver winner Berihu Aregawi and 19-year-olds Kuma Girma and Mezgebu Sime broke away with 500 m to go and ran away to a fast 1-2-3 finish, with Aregawi getting an outdoor world leader at 12:50.45, with Girma second (12:50.69) and Sime third (12:51.86). Kenyan Nicholas Kipkorir was fourth in 12:56.81.

Warholm, fresh off of his 300 m hurdles world best in Xiamen, scored an easy win in Shanghai, rocketing out of the blocks from his preferred lane seven and running a world-leading 47.28, ahead of Matheus Lima (BRA: 48.08). American CJ Allen finished sixth at 49.24.

After some difficult wind conditions in Xiamen kept his winning height down, vault superstar Duplantis increased his world outdoor lead to 6.11 m (20-0 1/2), clearing 5.62 m (18-5 1/4), then 5.92 m (19-5) and 6.01 m (19-8 1/2) on his first tries. But Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis also cleared 6.01, but failed three times at 6.11, while Duplantis sailed over on his first attempt. He did not try a higher height. Two-time World Champion Sam Kendricks of the U.S. was sixth, clearing 5.72 m (18-9 1/4).

Olympic silver winner and 2024 World Indoor champ Tsige Duguma was only fifth at the bell in the women’s 800 m, but was a close third heading into the final turn and then blasted past countrywoman Nigist Getachew and Addy Wiley of the U.S. into the straight to win in a world-leading 1:56.64, also a lifetime best and national record! Australian Sarah Billings came up for second (1:57.83), while Wiley faded to fifth (1:58.59). Fellow American Sage Hurta-Klecker was seventh (1:59.11).

There was a lot more:

South Africa’s Akani Simbine won his third men’s 100 m this season without a loss, edging Olympic silver winner Kishane Thompson (JAM), 9.98 to 9.99 (+0.5), with Olympic 200 m champ Letsile Tebogo (BOT) in third (10.03). Thompson had the lead for most of the race, but was caught in the final steps. American Christian Coleman, the 2019 World Champion, started poorly and finished fifth in 10.13.

American Chris Bailey, the World Indoor 400 m champion, was only sixth at 200 m, then moved hard around the turn for second behind Bayapo Ndori (BOT) coming into the straight, and then moved away for a lifetime best of 44.17, now no. 2 for 2025. Ndori, passed only in the final 40 m, was second in 44.32; Olympic relay gold medalist Vernon Norwood of the U.S. was fourth in 44.93 and Olympic champion Quincy Hall, coming off of an injury, opened his season at 45.99, finishing eighth.

Ethiopia’s Abrham Sime had the lead by 2,000 m in the 3,000 m Steeple and would not let go, winning in 8:07.92, now no. 4 for 2025, ahead of Kenyans Edmund Serem (8:08.68) and Simon Koech (8:09.05).

In the non-Diamond League long jump, China went 1-2 with 2023 Asian Games bronzer Yuhao Shi and Heng Shu, at 8.21 m (26-11 1/4) and 8.18 m (26-10), with Olympic silver winner Wayne Pinnock (JAM: 8.10 m/26-7) in third. Americans Marquis Dendy and Jeremiah Davis were 8-9 at 7.79 m (25-6 3/4) and 7.49 m (24-7).

Tokyo Olympic champ Pedro Pichardo (POR) got out to 17.03 m (55-10 1/2) in the first round of the men’s triple jump and no one could catch him. Jamaica’s Jordan Scott got closest at 17.00 m (55-9 1/4) in the third round; Americans Donald Scott (16.88 m/55-4 3/4) and Salif Mane (16.42 m/53-10 1/2) finished fourth and eighth.

American Anavia Battle, a Tokyo Olympian, got a second straight Diamond League win with a runaway 22.38 victory in the women’s 200 m (+0.5), over Rhasidat Adeleke (IRL: 22.72). U.S. Olympic relay gold medalist Jenna Prandini was fifth at 22.88 and fellow relay star TeeTee Terry finished ninth (23.49).

Paris Olympic fifth-placer Grace Stark of the U.S. continued her busy 2025 with a win in the women’s 100 m hurdles in 12.42 (+0.3), ahead of two-time World Champion Danielle Williams (12.55). Fellow American Tonea Marshall was fifth (12.70) and 2019 World Champion Nia Ali was ninth (13.01).

Ukraine’s Olympic champ Yaroslava Mahuchikh scored another win over her Australian challengers, Olympic runner-up Nicola Olyslagers and 2022 World Champion Eleanor Patterson. Mahuchikh cleared 2.00 m (6-6 3/4), while Olyslagers managed 1.98 m (6-6) and Patterson cleared 1.95 m (6-4 3/4).

Two-time World Champion Chase Jackson of the U.S. dominated the women’s shot, getting a seasonal best of 20.54 m (67-4 3/4) and moving to no. 2 on the 2025 world list. She had four throws that would have won, all ahead of world leader Jessica Schilder (NED) at 19.77 m (64-10 1/2). Americans Maggie Ewen and Jaida Ross finished fifth and sixth at 19.28 m (63-3 1/4) and 18.80 m (61-8 3/4).

Olympic champ and world leader Valarie Allman of the U.S. won her 20th straight final in the non-Diamond League women’s discus, reaching 70.08 m (229-11) in the fifth round, well ahead of Jorinde van Klinken (NED: 66.22 m/217-3). American Lagi Tausaga-Collins, the 2023 World Champion, was sixth at 61.34 m (201-3).

Greece’s Elina Tzenggo, the Xiamen meet winner, scored again, sending the javelin out to 64.90 m (212-11) on her fourth throw, good enough for the victory. China’s Qianqian Dai got close in the sixth at 64.38 m (211-3), a lifetime best. American Maggie Malone-Hardin finished eighth at 58.38 m (191-6).

Next up on the Diamond League slate is the Jetour Doha meet on 16 May; there is one more important meet in China as the World Athletics Relays are in Guangzhou on 10-11 May.

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ATHLETICS: Hot temps and hot racing at Grand Slam II in Miramar, as Russell gets U.S. 100 hurdles record in 12.17! Yes!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Masai Russell broke the American Record at Grand Slam Track II in Miramar (Photo: Grand Slam Track).

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≡ GRAND SLAM TRACK II ≡

The second of four legs of the debut season of Grand Slam Track was at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, with warm, 82-degree (F) temperatures and the racing was predictably fast … really fast, with three world leads:

● Men/200 m: 19.86, Jereem Richards (TTO) and Alexander Ogando (DOM)
● Women/5,000 m: 14:25.80, Agnes Ngetich (KEN)
● Women/100 m hurdles: 12.17, Masai Russell (USA) ~ American Record

Here’s what happened in the races:

● Women/100 m hurdles (short hurdles):
The weather was warm at 82 F at the start, but this race was historically hot!

The Olympic silver medalist, Cyrena Samba-Mayela (FRA) couldn’t go, so Olympic champ Masai Russell of the U.S. had an open lane to her right. Off the gun, Russell in four and fellow American Tia Jones in lane one – the world leader at 12.49 – were both terrific and in rhythm.

They edged ahead of the field and were clear of all others by the eighth hurdle, but kept close and Russell only gained a definitive edge off the final hurdle and crossed in a brilliant 12.17, with legal wind of 2.0 m/s!

It’s the no. 2 performance of all time and an American Record, taking down Keni Harrison’s 12.20 from 2016; Harrison was in the race as a Challenger and was fourth in 12.40.

Jones was a sensational second in 12.19, the no. 3 performance all-time and now no. 2 all-time U.S. Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent was third in 12.34. Wow.

● Men/1,500 m (short distance):
The 800 m runners embarrassed the milers in the first Slam in Kingston, but made sure they were going to be at or near the front in Miramar.

Olympic 1,500 m bronze medalist Yared Nuguse of the U.S. had the lead, with Britain’s 2023 World Champion Josh Kerr on his shoulder and Canadian Olympic 800 m silver winner Marco Arop and Olympic 1,500 m champ Cole Hocker (USA) in fourth. The pace was reasonable – 60.96 and 1:58.03 – but no one was getting away.

At the bell, Nuguse still led with Kerr close, but Arop came hard on the outside to challenge for the lead with 200 m to go. Coming into the final straight, Nuguse barely had a lead over Hocker coming on hard the inside, but Kerr was flying in lane two with Arop chasing.

Finally, Kerr had too much for everyone else and got to the line in 3:34.51, ahead of Nuguse (3:34.65), who held off Hocker (3:34.79). Arop faded to seventh in 3:35.95.

● Men/400 m hurdles (long hurdles):
Everyone expected Brazil’s 2022 World Champion, Alison dos Santos, to win and he did.

But he was behind NCAA champ Caleb Dean of the U.S., who was rolling in the lead through hurdle seven, but then clubbed the eighth hurdle and dos Santos took a clear lead and won in 47.97, just behind his 47.61 in the Kingston Slam.

Dean clobbered the 10th hurdle and veered into an adjacent and Chris Robinson – the 400 m world leader at 44.15 and the 2023 NCAA winner – came up for second at 48.92, with Malik James-King (JAM: 49.43) in third. Dean lost stride and ended up fifth in 49.90.

That’s two in a row for dos Santos, who won the Slam in Kingston

● Women/5,000 m (long distances):
Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich, the 10 km road world-record holder, had the lead through the first 1,000 m, ahead of Medina Eisa (ETH), and after 1,400 m, Ngetich and Eisa had broken away with a 25 m lead by seven laps left.

Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha moved up to within 15 m as the pace slowed at 3,000 m. With three laps left, Ngetich and Eisa were comfortably ahead and although Ngetich asked Eisa to share some of the leading effort, but Eisa was completely uninterested.

They were 1-2 right into the final straight and Eisa went to a full sprint, but Ngetich was having none of it, pumping her arms furiously and getting to the line a well-deserved win in a lifetime best of 14:25.80, the world leader in 2025.

Eisa, the 2024 Olympic finalist, was second in 14:25.92, then Meshesha well back in third (14:40.46); American Elise Cranny was eighth in 15:15.31.

● Men/200 m (long sprints):
Off the gun, it was Dominican star Alexander Ogando who stormed to the lead on the turn, but was challenged on the straight by Jereem Richards (TTO), and they were rolling to the line together.

Maybe Richards had a tiny edge in the final 3 m, but Ogando came back and they were both timed in a world-leading 19.86 (+1.7), with Ogando equaling his national record. Richards was awarded the win.

Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga came up for third in 20.23 and Tokyo Olympic 400 m champ Steven Gardiner, a new Racer, got fourth at 20.37.

● Women/100 m (short sprints):
A strong field, with Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, the Kingston Slam winner, and she was out well with Tamari Davis, the 2023 Worlds finalist, following close. Jefferson-Wooden was exceptional in the middle of the race and got away from everyone except Davis by 70 m.

Jefferson-Wooden got to the line is a sizzling in 10.75, with an over-the-allowable 2.4 m/s wind, with Davis at 10.79w, then Favour Ofili (NGR) at 10.94w.

Olympic 200 m champ Gabby Thomas of the U.S. came down to the short sprints and had a poor start, but came up for fourth in 10.97w, ahead of Jacious Sears (USA: 10.98w).

● Men/3,000 m (long distance):
Kenyan Ronald Kwemoi went right to the front, with George Mills (GBR) close, but the pace slowed that kept everyone in contention with three laps to go.

Sam Atkin (GBR) got going with two laps to go to try and break the race up, with Mills and American star Grant Fisher moving up. Mills took the bell with Fisher chasing now and fellow American Cooper Teare third.

Fisher pulled past Mills in a dead sprint on the final straight, but it was Ireland’s Paris 1,500 m Olympian Andrew Coscoran who had the most speed and got to the line first in a slow 8:17.56 (25.78 last 200 m), moving up from fourth with 80 m left. Fisher got second in 8:17.60, Mills ended up third in 8:17.77 and Teare was fourth in 8:18.08.

● Women/400 m (long sprints):
The field was strong, with world leader Salwa Eid Naser (BRN) and Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino (DOM) back and World Indoor Champion Amber Anning (GBR) and NCAA champ Bella Whittaker of the U.S.

Off the gun, Naser was out like a shot and had a definite lead at 200 m in lane seven. But Paulino had her in full view in lane six and was marking Naser on the final turn. Into the straight, they were even and Paulino had the momentum and got to the tape with the win in 49.21, with Naser in 49.33.

American Alexis Holmes was a solid third in 50.36 with Whittaker fourth at 50.38.

An exciting end to a strong first day, with two more to go.

Unfortunately, 2022 men’s 100 m champion Fred Kerley, a Racer, was arrested on Thursday in Dania Beach, Florida, on battery charges against U.S. hurdles star Alaysha Johnson; he was released on bond. Johnson ran Friday and was sixth in the women’s 100 m hurdles. Kerley will now not be running in the Miramar Slam in the short sprints. 

Scoring in each event group (two races) is 12-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 and the placers in each group will win $100,000-50,000-30,000-25,000-20,000-15,000-12,500-10,000.

Saturday’s meet is also from 5-8 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday (on The CW and Peacock) and earlier on Sunday, 3-6 p.m., also on The CW and Peacock.

Off the track, the crowd at the 5,000-capacity facility was mostly full on the home straight and maybe 1,000 folks on the backstraight.

The broadcast changed analysts with Citius Magazine founder Chris Chavez replacing Matthew Centrowitz, with Chavez having plenty to say on everything, where Centrowitz limited his comments to the distance races.

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PANORAMA: Brazil and Paraguay vying for 2031 Pan Ams; FIE tabs Egypt’s El Husseiny as interim chief; fab Ledecky win in Tyr Pro Swim 400 Free!

By
Rich Perelman
-
Back on ice: U.S. Ice Dance stars Maia and Alex Shibutani!

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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Pan American Games ● Panam Sports happily confirmed two candidates for the 2031 Pan American Games: Asuncion (PAR) and Rio de Janeiro-Nitroi in Brazil.

Paraguay has been on a mission to land important continental events and lost a close, 28-24 vote last year to Lima (PER) to host the re-awarded 2027 Pan American Games. Rio, of course, was the 2007 Pan American Games site, hosted the 2016 Olympic Games, and is now partnering with Nitroi for a third major multi-sport event in 24 years!

Asuncion will host the II Junior Pan American Games — 333 events, 4,000 athletes – in August of this year.

Panam Sports has yet to form an evaluation committee or specify the dates in the process to select a host, but is expected to do both quickly.

● Curling ● At the World Curling Mixed Doubles World Championship in Fredericton, Canada, Italy and Australia led the groups through the round-robin pools, heading into the playoffs on Friday.

In Group A, Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner finished a perfect 9-0 by a combined score of 73-35! Scotland (7-2) and Canada (7-2) followed and qualified for the playoffs.

In Group B, Australia’s Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt won at 8-1, ahead of Estonia (6-3) and the U.S. team of Corey Thiesse and Korey Dropkin (also 6-3). The Americans needed to beat Spain in their final pool match to qualify, and did, 10-2.

In the playoffs, Canada and Estonia will face off for the right to meet Italy in the semis, while the U.S. and Scotland will play, with the winner to play Australia. Thiesse and Dropkin won this title in 2023.

● Fencing ● The International Fencing Federation (FIE) posted minutes of its Executive Committee meeting of 30 April, including the leadership change:

“In accordance with article 5.1 of the FIE Statutes, under which the management of the FIE is entrusted to the Executive Committee between Congresses, and in order to ensure the smooth running of the FIE, the Executive Committee has appointed Mr Abdel Moneim El Husseiny (EGY) as interim President.

“Mr El Husseiny has accepted and will therefore assume all the functions of the President of the FIE as provided for in the Statutes of the FIE and other regulations.

“The Executive Committee’s decision will be submitted to the FIE Congress for ratification at its next meeting.”

A banker by trade, El Husseiny, 58, is a former Foil fencer who represented Egypt at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games and became a referee following his competitive career.

He joined the FIE marketing commission in 2004 and was elected to the Executive Committee in 2021 and re-elected in 2024. The question now is how much leeway he will be given by the elected – but silent – FIE President, Russian Alisher Usmanov. The FIE Congress is not until November.

● Figure Skating ● The brilliant U.S. Ice Dance siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani announced their return to competitive skating.

She’s 30 and he’s 34 now, but are coming back for the Olympic season, to be coached by Russian Marina Zoueva and Italian Massimo Scali.

The Shibutanis last competed in 2018 and have twice been Olympic bronze medalists in 2014 and 2018 and three-time Worlds medal winners, in 2011 (bronze), 2016 (silver) and 2017 (bronze). They won eight straight medals in the senior division of the U.S. championships, with victories in 2016 and 2017 and four more silvers and two bronzes.

They haven’t been off the ice entirely, busy with ice shows and exhibitions. They will have to compete with World Champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates, but can certainly contend for a second U.S. spot in Milan Cortina vs. Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, Christina Carrera and Anthony Ponomarenko and Emily Bratti and Michael Somerville.

● Football ● FIFA announced a fund-raising program with the anti-poverty Global Citizen group, to collect $100 million over four years for the new FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, with the goal of providing access to education and football for children.

For openers, FIFA has pledged $1 from every ticket sold for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, to kick off on 14 June and including 63 matches in the U.S. over the following month. Global Citizen was founded in Australia in 2008 and is now headquartered in New York. According to the announcement:

“The new fund, announced by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino [SUI] and Global Citizen CEO, Hugh Evans [AUS], will provide targeted support to organisations across the globe dedicated to improving education for children.”

● Swimming ● More star performances on the second day of the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with two world-leading swims on Thursday:

● Women/100 m Free: 52.90, Gretchen Walsh (USA)
● Women/400 m Free: 3:56.81, Katie Ledecky (USA)

Walsh, who won seven golds at the World Aquatics 25 m Championships late last year, started off strong with a world-leading 52.90 in the women’s 100 m, barely holding on from a late charge by five-time Olympic medal winner Torri Huske (52.95), now world no. 2.

Ledecky, coming off the no. 2 performance in history in the women’s 1,500 m Free, out-dueled Canadian star Summer McIntosh, 3:56.81 to 3:58.28 in the 400 m Free, the top two performances of 2025. Unusually, it was McIntosh who led for most of the race with Ledecky turning in a 29.50 last lap to 31.15 for McIntosh for the win.

It’s the no. 7 performance in history for Ledecky, and no. 14 for McIntosh; Ledecky now has three of the top nine ever. Claire Weinstein of the U.S. got a lifetime best of 4:01.26 in third, now no. 3 performer in 2025 and no. 12 all-time.

Olympic relay gold medalist Emma Weber took the women’s 100 m Breast, out-fighting star Lilly King, 1:06.63 to 1:06.67, with Olympic 200 m Breast gold medalist Kate Douglass third in 1:06.76.

Canada’s four-time Olympic Backstroke medalist Kylie Masse was fastest in the heats of the women’s 50 m Backstroke, moving to no. 3 in the world for 2025 at 27.13, but was only third in the final at 27.53. Instead, it was American Katharine Berkoff who won at 27.38, after moving up to world no. 4 in the morning heats at 27.34. Regan Smith of the U.S., the two-time Backstroke silver winner in Paris, was second in the final at 27.43, now world no. 5.

Smith came back quickly to win the 200 m Butterfly in 2:05.38, now no. 2 in 2025, easily ahead of fellow U.S. Olympian Alex Shackell (2:06.13).

In the men’s 100 m Free, Shaine Casas led from wire-to-wire in 48.47, just ahead of Olympic relay gold medalist Chris Giuliano (48.49), and came back to win the 50 m Back in 24.41, just behind his world-leading 24.23 in March. Hungary’s 200 m Back Olympic champ Hubert Kos was third at 24.81.

Tokyo Olympic 400 m Free bronze medalist Kieran Smith won that event in 3:47.01, ahead of Florida prep Ryan Erisman (3:48.57). Triple Olympic champ Leon Marchand of France (3:48.97) and Tokyo 800-1,500 m Free champion Bobby Finke (USA: 3:49.01), not swimming their primary events, finished 3-4.

Kyrgyzstan’s three-time Olympian Denis Petrashov won the men’s 100 m Breaststroke in 59.23, moving to no. 5 in the world for 2025. Lithuanian Aleksas Savickas was a close second at 59.72, now 14th in 2025. Austria’s Martin Espernberger – who swims at Tennessee – the 2024 Worlds bronze winner in 200 m Fly, won that event in 1:55.71, now no. 10 worldwide this year. Two-time Olympic medalist Carson Foster of the U.S. was second in 1:55.84.

The meet continues through Saturday.

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MODERN PENTATHLON: UIPM Secretary General explains pentathlon loss of eight quota places (11%) for Los Angeles 2028

By
Rich Perelman
-
Is this the future of pentathlon? The awards ceremony at the T1 Indoor World Cup triathlon on 21 March 2025 in Lievin (FRA) (Photo: World Triathlon).

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≡ THE LA28 QUOTA LOSSES ≡

While modern pentathlon survived once again and continues on the Olympic program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the sport saw the number of athletes allowed to compete in 2028 shaved from 72 to 64.

Among the 31 sports on the continuing Olympic program for 2028, only surfing (48) is smaller, and pentathlon has been on the program since 1912.

Why?

Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) Secretary General Shiny Fang (CHN) offered an explanation in a Web post on Thursday, providing a unique look into the calculus of the International Olympic Committee that ended up with the loss of eight athletes for the sport.

In pertinent part:

● “How do we feel?

“Shocked, yes – we did everything that the IOC wished us to do in reforming our sport to be more compatible with the future direction of the Olympic Games, and even went beyond expectations – although we do understand that the numbers that will provide a full justification for the change take time to achieve.

“Sad, yes – because the decision will have a negative impact on our development programme for new countries, with only 64 pentathletes able to compete in LA28 (although we hope for many more in future Games).

“Unfairly treated, yes – Pentathlon was already the sport with the least medals and the lowest athlete quota based on Paris 2024 numbers.”

● “But why did this happen?

“It is necessary to disclose the reasons, and we urge the whole community to work with us to enhance the position of Pentathlon within the Olympic Games!

“The IOC conducts an evaluation entitled ‘Games Time Data Collection’ for each edition of the Olympic Games, and then uses the data to make decisions about future programmes. The list of indicators for Paris 24 comprised:

“1. Viewer hours
“2. Total maximum audience
“3. Average audience
“4. Digital viewership
“5. Number of internet searches
“6. Page views on most popular websites
“7. Unique visitors on most popular websites
“8. Social media sharing of articles
“9. Social media conversations
“10. IF-owned social media performance
”11. Page views on IOC website and mobile app
“12. Favorite sports among general public and youth
“13. Percentage of available tickets sold
“14. Number of press articles”

This may be the first time that all of the evaluation categories used by the IOC have been publicly disclosed.

● Fang noted that the small size of the sport has worked against it in the IOC’s metrics:

“With the exception of four indicators (3, 10, 12 and 13), all the results are highly reliant on the number of days and hours allocated to each sport during the Olympic period, as well as the number of medals. The four mentioned indicators provided a fairer assessment of performance, in some cases looking at averages, and in other cases with metrics applied to the relative size of the sport and federation.

“Unfortunately, with only two medals across four days of the Games, and only three broadcasting days, Pentathlon is not able to compete with the vast majority of sports across the other 10 indicators.”

So, how did pentathlon do? Fang explained:

● “For No.3, the average TV audience, our Women’s Final day had a little more than the median (34.016 million), reaching 34.347 million, with the Men’s Final achieving 22.330 million, which was also way above the minimum (5.355 million).”

● “For No.10, IF-owned social media performance, we reached exactly the median level metric of 218 across our own platforms, while the minimum was 84.”

● “For No.12, favorite sport among public and youth, we scored slightly higher (5.48) than the minimum (5.26). It clearly tells that we need to attract more youth and create more public awareness, while we know that we are going in the correct direction with our innovations.”

● “For No.13, percentage of available tickets sold, this was the best result for our sport, since we reached almost the top performance with 98.13%. The maximum was 99.28% and the minimum was 72.92%.”

Fang asked for help from athletes, coaches and fans to help the sport improve its standing.

Observed: It should first be noted that this kind of disclosure is helpful, as it offers much more detail than has been seen previously into the IOC’s review of sports on the program.

There is no magic bullet, and while the UIPM has promoted the inclusion of obstacle racing in place of equestrian, part of its appeal in Paris was being paired with equestrian, held at the picturesque gardens of Versailles. That’s over.

However, new UIPM President Rob Stull (USA) posted a story on Tuesday (29th), praising the work of the Budapest organizers of the last UIPM World Cup, noting:

“In case you missed it, UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest was an extraordinary spectacle. Having looked at venue options to accommodate the new format, and considered the reliability of the weather in Hungary in April, they took a chance on a primarily indoor competition and it paid off spectacularly. …

“I’ve always felt that our sport has the potential to be more appealing to audiences, and in turn to broadcasters and sponsors. This competition marked the beginning of a new chapter of commercial potential in Modern Pentathlon.”

In a parallel with a sport on the rise in the Olympic Movement, triathlon is also noodling with indoor competitions, with a temporary pool and cycling and running on an indoor, 200 m track, most recently a T1 Indoor Triathlon World Cup at the Arena Stade Couvert in Lievin (FRA) that drew 5,000 spectators!

The format was short: 200 m swim, 2.8 km bike and 1,000 m run, with Henry Graf (GER) winning the men’s race in 9:36 and Olympic champ Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) winning the women’s final in 10:19.

Is this the future for pentathlon, which is really a four-event program of fencing, obstacle, swimming and the Laser Run?

An indoor competition would create almost infinite possibilities for the sport to be held in arenas anywhere, especially where an indoor track exists. Bring in a temporary pool – probably 25 m – and there should be room for everything. A convention center would also work.

And like triathlon, an indoor format can coexist with an outdoor format: triathlon has Sprint, Olympic, 70.3, T100, Ironman and other competition events, all of which seem to coexist reasonably well.

Stull, Fang and the UIPM are going to have to get creative and re-think the sport of it is going to have any Olympic future. Perhaps their Budapest experience and seeing what triathlon has done might be a way forward.

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ATHLETICS: Circuits clash as Grand Slam Track II arrives in Miramar, while Diamond League Shanghai comes on Saturday only

By
Rich Perelman
-
Practice time in Miramar as Grand Slam Track readies for its second meet (Photo: Grand Slam Track).

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≡ HEAVY WEEKEND AHEAD ≡

The new Grand Slam Track circuit of four meets in the spring was arranged to mostly avoid the Diamond League calendar in 2025, but this is the one weekend with both will be going, with the second Slam in Miramar, Florida and the second Diamond League stop in Shanghai, China.

Both meets have quite a lot going for them, with the Grand Slam over three days, with seven world leaders competing, including four challengers brought in for this weekend:

Racers:
● Men/400 m hurdles: 47.61, Alison dos Santos (BRA)
● Women/400 m: 48.67, Salwa Eid Naser (BRN)
● Women/800 m: 1:58.23, Nikki Hiltz (USA)
● Women/400 m hurdles: 52.76, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)

Challengers:
● Men/400 m: 44.15, Chris Robinson (USA)
● Men/800 m: 1:43.79, Peter Bol (AUS)
● Men/3,000 m: 7:45.14, Tshepo Tshite (RSA)
● Women/100 m hurdles: 12.49, Tia Jones (USA)

Robinson will be running in the long hurdles group, in his better-known 400 m hurdles event and then the 400 m; he said, “The Grand Slam, when I saw it, I was like ‘This is literally made for me.’ I think I’m one of the best people who can do both events [400H/400] and I thought it could give me the opportunity to train and show that.”

Tshite will be in the short distances, running the 800 m and 1,500 m.

In the men’s six event groups, five Kingston winners will be back: Kenny Bednarek (USA/short sprints), Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR/long sprints), Grant Fisher (USA/long distances), Sasha Zhoya (FRA/short hurdles) and Alison dos Santos (BRA/long hurdles).

Four of the women’s group winners return: Gabby Thomas (USA/long sprints), Salwa Eid Naser (BRN/long sprints), Diribe Welteji (ETH/short distances) and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA/long hurdles). Thomas will be moving down to the short sprints for this week’s Slam.

Scoring in each event group (two races) is 12-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 and the placers in each group will win $100,000-50,000-30,000-25,000-20,000-15,000-12,500-10,000.

The meet runs three days, with events from 5-8 p.m. Eastern time on Friday (shown on Peacock only) and 5-8 p.m. on Saturday (The CW and Peacock) and earlier on Sunday, 3-6 p.m., also on The CW and Peacock.

The Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, about 22 miles north of Miami, seats about 5,000 and the three-day ticket packages for the finish line (one section) and grand stand (two sections) are shown as sold out; single-day tickets in all categories (all 14 sections) are shown as available. Clouds are expected on Friday and Saturday and possible drizzles on Sunday.

In Shanghai, the one-day line-up includes field events – which Grand Slam Track does not – and has six outdoor world leaders expected to compete:

● Men/100 m: 9.90, Akani Simbine (RSA)
● Men/3,000 m Steeple: 8:05.61, Samuel Firewu (ETH)
● Men/110 m hurdles: 13.06, Cordell Tinch (USA)
● Men/Pole Vault: 5.92 m (19-5), Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
● Women/High Jump: 2.01 m (6-7), Nicola Olyslagers (AUS)
● Women/Shot Put: 20.47 m (67-2), Jessica Schilder (NED)

Danielle Williams (JAM), a two-time World Champion in the women’s 100 m hurdles and the Slam winner as a Challenger in the women’s short hurdles, will line up in Shanghai in the 100 m hurdles race.

Norway’s men’s 400 m hurdles world-record holder Karsten Warholm, who set a world best for the 300 m hurdles in Xiamen last week, is in the field for the 400 m hurdles. World Indoor 400 m champ Chris Bailey and Olympic champ Quincy Hall of the U.S. are in the 400 m field; Hall left Grand Slam Track and was replaced by Tokyo Olympic champ Steven Gardiner.

The men’s 100 m has 2019 World Champion Christian Coleman of the U.S., fourth last week in Xiamen, Paris 200 m gold medalist Letsile Tebogo (BOT), seventh last week, and Paris 100 m silver medalist Kishane Thompson (JAM) in his season opener, all challenging world leader Simbine.

This should be an interesting meet: it’s still early in the season, but the main players who are not part of Grand Slam Track are starting to get going.

Excellent reporting from Jonathan Gault of LetsRun.com, speaking with agent John Regis (GBR), who explained that Hall withdrew from Grand Slam Track as the long-sprint format of running the 400 m and 200 m over three days didn’t work well for him.

The format has also been an issue for hurdles stars Grant Holloway and Rai Benjamin, both of whom have passed on Grand Slam Track, for this year anyway.

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