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THE BIG PICTURE: McLaren estimate right on target as 298 possible new Russian doping cases confirmed by WADA

By
Rich Perelman
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In the aftermath of January’s disclosure that the Russians had finally provided the raw data from the infamous Moscow laboratory that was the center of the state-run doping scandal from 2011-15, Canadian law professor Richard McLaren – whose work had uncovered the depth of the cheating – was asked how many more dopers might be found.

“My thinking would be in the 300-600 possible range,” he told Agence France Presse.

He had it right on the nose. The World Anti-Doping Agency posted a notice on Tuesday, stating that the analysis of the Moscow Lab data indicated 298 possible positives, with more to come.

The WADA release noted that “The raw data are the result of sample analysis and indicate whether a substance or metabolite was detected,” a first indication of a possible doping positive.

The statement gave the following specifics:

“WADA confirms that the relevant IFs’ results management process has begun. To date, of those 298 athletes identified by WADA I&I, the data of 43 athletes (150 samples) have been reviewed and evidentiary packages compiled. These packages have now been sent to the relevant IFs, which have commenced assessment of the evidence with a view to identifying those cases to take forward as Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Assessment will include review of the raw data by laboratory experts, which will take some time. In the near future, WADA aims to provide more packages to the relevant IFs. It is estimated that by the end of 2019, all priority cases will have been investigated by WADA.”

The next question, of course, is what happens if an International Federation chooses to do nothing:

“In cases where an IF chooses not to act, WADA will review and discuss the facts with the IF. WADA reserves the right to bring cases forward to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as appropriate, and will also monitor the decisions rendered by the respective IFs and CAS to adjust its strategy.”

The statement also noted that the raw data concerning track & field athletes has been provided to the independent Athletics Integrity Unit for its own analysis, which the AIU noted will take some time.

The WADA statement continuously defended its still-controversial decision of last September, in which it provisionally reinstated the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, signaling that the hard feelings within the WADA community have still not healed (a bad sign for the future).

But the closure of the Russian doping cases has begun, and could be closed by the time the 2020 Games begin in Tokyo, ending a six-year ordeal that has shaken worldwide confidence in the integrity of Olympic sport.

LANE ONE: The IOC’s glowing financial statements, and how they might go up in smoke

By
Rich Perelman
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The International Olympic Committee released its 2018 Annual Report last week, with a complete set of financial statements that provide a fascinating look at just how much money it has, and just as importantly, what it does with it.

The IOC is doing pretty well. As it noted, “The IOC’s strong financial foundation is driven by its partnerships with sponsors and broadcasters, which provide sustainable revenue streams to ensure the independent financial stability of the Olympic Movement.”

The total revenue from the four-year Olympiad from 2013-16 was $5.7 billion U.S., but it appears that will rise considerably for the quadrennial from 2017-20.

In just the calendar year of 2018, the IOC took in $2.21 billion in revenue, including:

● 73% ($1.44 billion) from broadcasting rights
● 18% ($550 million) from sponsorships
● 9% ($230 million) from licensing and other broadcasting rights

It distributed most of it to others and spent about 8% on its own costs, in line with the IOC’s consistent boast that it redistributes 90% of its income to others. The expenses included:

● $1.15 billion in distributions to Olympic organizing committees, IFs and NOCs
● $604 million on Olympic Games-related projects and Olympic Solidarity programs
● $133 million on promotions, notably including the Olympic Channel ($85.6 million)
● $178 million on staff and administration

The Olympic-related projects included $246 million for the Olympic Broadcasting Service production at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, and almost $13 million for insurance against any possible cancellation of the Games. There were also grants to the World Anti-Doping Agency ($16 million), Court of Arbitration for Sport ($7.5 million), the International Paralympic Committee ($6 million) and $15.4 million to other organizations.

(In case you were wondering, the distributions to the National Olympic Committees included almost $214 million to the United States Olympic Committee. The Los Angeles 2028 organizers received $14.76 million in 2018, the same as in 2017.)

The result was a $138 million surplus for the year, bringing the IOC’s total assets to $4.15 billion, including $1.88 billion in unrestricted reserves.

Great, right?

The IOC is doing brilliantly for an organization that essentially puts on one event every two years. But there are danger signs – which the IOC is well aware of – if you look a little deeper.

The biggest concern won’t surface until after 2032, when the American television rights package – held by NBC – expires. As noted above, television rights sales account for 73% of all IOC revenue and the “Americas” rights – NBC and whatever the IOC gets from the rest of the hemisphere – make up a staggering 71% of that, or 46% of all of the IOC’s revenue.

Translation: without the billions from the U.S. broadcaster, the IOC could be in rough shape pretty quickly. And the IOC’s sponsorship revenues are also tied in many cases to the availability of television advertising in the U.S. to promote those Olympic ties.

So, what happens going forward as more and more U.S. consumers cut their ties with broadcast and cable companies? NBC has already forecast this into their revenue projections going forward to 2032 vs. their rights fees, but what about after 2032?

Moreover, the IOC’s financial strength supports the entire Olympic Movement, which sounds great. But it also hides the reality – recently confirmed by a study from the Global Assembly of International Sports Federations (GAISF) – that as many as half of the International Federations with sports on the Olympic program are financially dependent on the IOC’s distribution of shares of the television rights sales to the Games.

With a review of the Olympic program – sports and events – coming up in the second half of this year, will be IOC ask itself the hard question of “Why are we propping up sports which can’t support themselves on an ongoing basis?”

Adding niche sports like sport climbing, surfing, skateboarding and break dancing isn’t going to help, either. In fact, the IOC is a pauper compared to just the four major U.S. team sports, based on recent annual revenues. Remember, the IOC took in $2.21 billion in revenue in 2018.

Check out these single-year revenue numbers for the big four American sports:

● 2017: $13.7 billion: National Football League
● 2018: $10.3 billion: Major League Baseball
● 2018: $7.4 billion: National Basketball Association
● 2018: $4.5 billion: National Hockey League

That’s right, the IOC took in less than half of what the National Hockey League did for its fiscal year in 2017-18. And let’s not even start talking about the income for the major soccer leagues in Europe.

All of this shows the underlying financial weakness of the Olympic Movement and with the IOC’s recent conversion to insisting on good governance, how long can it stomach having sports on its program which exist significantly to be part of the Olympic Games and not much else.

FIFA is doing well, of course, and the aquatics federation – FINA – has smartly put away reserves in case of future problems. No one knows the financial condition of the IAAF for track & field – it has never publicly posted its financial statements – and the same is true of the FIG for gymnastics, although there have been disclosures that indicate its finances are in rather poor condition.

IOC chief Thomas Bach will be term-limited out of office in 2025 and a new president will have to deal with the questions of what happens with the next U.S. television contract, beyond 2032. Bach could help by continuing his reform programs to renovate the Games program to include sports which actually have some public interest and are not simply content for a worldwide spectacle which has charmed athletes, coaches, news media and the public for 125 years.

For better or worse, the continued existence of the Olympic Games – and all those sports that depend on the IOC’s money – still depends on American television, or whatever consumption system will be in place to watch the 2034 Winter Games (perhaps in Salt Lake City?) and beyond.

That’s as true for the Olympic Movement as it is for baseball, the NFL, NBA and NHL. But those sports have hundreds of events annually which could be distributed on a pay-per-view/direct-to-consumer basis that could generate even more money than the television networks pay today.

Is that true for a once-every-two-years event which will likely be held in an inconvenient time zone? The IOC is quite rich, thank you, but not rich enough not to worry about its future, regardless of its current bank balance.

Rich Perelman
Editor

VOLLEYBALL Preview: U.S. women set to defend Nations League title in final round in Nanjing

By
Rich Perelman
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Annie Drews (11) and Tori Dixon (6) on the block for the U.S. vs. Brazil in Nations League play (Photo: FIVB)

The United States women’s National Team won the inaugural FIVB Nations League with a come-from-behind, 3-2 win over Turkey, completing a 17-2 season with six straight wins.

They have a chance to do almost exactly the same this season, sporting a 12-3 record, equal-best with China during round-robin play and will now defend their title in the Nations League final at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Nanjing (CHN).

The final round is played in pools of three teams, with the top two to advance to the semifinals. The schedule:

● 3 July: Pool A ~ China (12-3) vs. Turkey (11-4); Pool B ~ U.S. (12-3) vs. Poland (9-6)
● 4 July: Pool A ~ Italy (11-4) vs. Turkey; Pool B ~ Brazil (11-4) vs. Poland
● 5 July: Pool A ~ China vs. Italy; Pool B ~ U.S. vs. Brazil

The semis will be played on 6 July and the medal matches on 7 July. Look for the match scores here.

Against the other finals teams in round-robin play, the U.S. beat Poland (3-1) and lost to Brazil (0-3) in Group B match-ups; beat China (3-0), beat Italy (3-2) and lost to Turkey (0-3).

U.S. coach Karch Kiraly has five players back from last season’s champs, including captain Jordan Larson, 2018 Most Valuable Player Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Tetori Dixon, Kelsey Robinson and this season’s leading scorer, Andrea Drews.

GYMNASTICS Preview: Laura Zeng tries to get closer to history at 2019 USA Gymnastics Rhythmic Champs in Des Moines

By
Rich Perelman
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Although Artistic Gymnastics dominates the headlines, the other elements of the sport – Rhythmic, Trampoline & Tumbling and Acrobatic – have brought more than 1,600 athletes to the Iowa Events Center for competitions through Saturday at the USA Gymnastics National Championships.

More than half – about 817 – are in Trampoline & Tumbling, in which only Trampoline is an Olympic event. The Rhythmic program includes about 240 competitors, and is also on the Olympic program.

The headliner this week will likely be Rhythmic star Laura Zeng, who has won four straight U.S. All-Around titles, the first to do that since Sue Soffe won six in a row from 1976-81. In addition to her All-Around wins, she has been a national title machine since debuting on the senior level at the 2015 Nationals:

● 2015: All-Around, Hoop, Clubs, Ribbon
● 2016: All-Around, Hoop, Ball, Ribbon
● 2017: All-Around, Clubs
● 2018: All-Around, Hoop, Clubs, Ribbon

That’s 13 national titles in four years, and Zeng is still just 19!

The one event she didn’t win last year was Ball, and defending champion Evita Griskenas is back as well. She also finished second in Hoop and tied for second in Ribbon last year.

In Trampoline, five-time national champion Jeffrey Gluckstein is back once again, having won in 2011-13-14-17-18, and trying for three in a row. Nicole Ahsinger, the 2017 women’s champ and Charlotte Drury, who won in 2014, are the returning women’s titlists.

The competition is for more than pride; the U.S. teams for the Pan American Games and FIG World Championships will be selected based on the results.

The event includes competitions for athletes even under 10 years old and will finish on Saturday. Look for results here.

SAILING Preview: Men’s Laser Standard Class holds World Championships this week in Japan

By
Rich Perelman
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Laser Standard World Champion in 2017 and 2018: Pavlos Kontides (CYP)

Another dress rehearsal for the Tokyo 2020 Games comes this week, this time for the men’s Laser Standard class with the 2018 World Championship getting ready off Sakaiminiati-City.

Two races are planned – weather permitting – on 4-5-6-7-8-9 July. A total of 159 boats from 57 countries have entered, with an excellent field, including all three medals winners from Rio 2016 and the 2018 World Sailing Championships. The headline entries:

● Tom Burton (AUS) ~ 2016 Olympic Champion; 2014-17 Worlds silver
● Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) ~ 2016 Olympic silver; 2012 Worlds silver
● Sam Meech (NZL) ~ 2016 Olympic bronze medalist
● Robert Scheidt (BRA) ~ 1996-2004 Olympic Champion; 9-time World Champion
● Pavlos Kontides (CYP) ~ 2017-18 Worlds golds; 2012 Olympic silver; 2013 Worlds silver
● Matthew Wearn (AUS) ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalist
● Philipp Buhl (GER) ~ 2018 Worlds bronze; 2015 Wolds silver medalist
● Nick Thompson (GBR) ~ 2014 Worlds bronze medalist; 2015-16 World Champion
● Jean-Baptiste Bernaz (FRA) ~ 2016 Worlds silver medalist

The amazing Scheidt is now 46 and has won a career total of 12 World Championships medals in this class, with his last world title coming in 2013. Great Britain’s Thompson has tied for the second-most medals in the Laser Worlds, with six (2-2-2). Look for results here.

CYCLING Preview: Valente starts on her second dozen as U.S. Track Cycling Nationals underway in Carson

By
Rich Perelman
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U.S. track superstar Jennifer Valente (Photo: Felt Bicycles)

For the third year in a row, the USA Cycling National Track Championships are being held at the VELO Sports Center velodrome at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, with a lengthy program of events in divisions including 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, Junior and Senior divisions.

The big winner in 2018 was Jennifer Valente – still just 24 – who won four events to give her 12 national titles on the track and seven at the VELO Sports Center in 2017-18. She’s entered in at least the Points Race and the Madison. The defending champions:

Men:
● Sprint: Sandor Delgado
● 1 km Time Trial: John Croom ~ also in 2017
● Indiv. Pursuit: Ashton Lambie ~ also in 2017
● Keirin: Joe Christiansen
● Points: Daniel Holloway
● Scratch: Justin Butsavage
● Omnium: Daniel Holloway
● Madison: Adrian Hegyvary/Daniel Holloway

Women:
● Sprint: Madalyn Godby
● 500 m Time Trial: Mandy Marquardt ~ also in 2017
● Indiv. Pursuit: Jennifer Wheeler
● Keirin: Madalyn Godby ~ also in 2017
● Points: Jennifer Valente ~ also in 2017
● Scratch: Jennifer Valente ~ also in 2017
● Omnium: Jennifer Valente ~ also in 2017
● Madison: Christina Birch/Jennifer Valente

Triple winner Holloway is also back on the men’s side and five riders are going for three-year sweeps in Carson. Look for results here.

ARCHERY Preview: Ellison tries for another record as Fourth World Cup starts in Berlin

By
Rich Perelman
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Archery World Cup Berlin starts with qualifying outside the Olympiastadion (Photo: World Archery)

The World Archery Championships are over, but the archery season is not.

The fourth World Archery World Cup has started in Berlin (GER) with the qualification rounds held just outside the famed Olympiastadion, and spots in the World Cup Final still at stake. A strong field of 265 shooters from 50 countries are in competition, including five of the 12 individual medal winners from the 2019 Worlds:

Men:
● Brady Ellison (USA) ~ Recurve World Champion
● Ruman Shana (BAN) ~ Recurve bronze medalist

Women:
● Chien-Ling Yei (TPE) ~ Recurve World Champion
● Paige Pearce (USA) ~ Compound silver medalist
● Jyothi Surekha Vennam (IND) ~ Compound bronze medalist

Ellison has been on fire this season, winning two World Cup stages already in addition to the world title. No one has won three stages in a single season since 2016, but he could do it in Berlin.

Three of the four winners from last season’s Berlin stage are also in: Mete Gazoz (TUR: Men/Recurve), Mike Schloesser (NED: Men/Compound), and Sophie Dodemont (FREA: Women/Compound).

The Compound final will be on Saturday and the Recurve finals on Sunday at the Lilli-Henoch Sportplatz in the center of Berlin. Look for results here.

FENCING: Five first-time champions at 2019 USA Fencing Nationals in Columbus

By
Rich Perelman
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U.S. Epee champ Alex Tsinis, winner of the 2019 Summer Nationals

With the top American fencers at the Pan American Championships, there was no doubt that there would be new champions at the 2019 USA Fencing Summer Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.

In fact, five of the six winners were at the top of the podium for the first time, with only men’s Epee winner Alexander Tsinis a familiar face, claiming a national gold after winning back-to-back titles in 2012-13.

In the women’s Epee, Emily Vermuele claimed a tight, 15-14 win over 2014 national titlist Margherita Guzzi Vincenti.

Women’s Foil champ Iman Blow, a four-time U.S. national team member in the Cadet and Junior ranks, won for the first time at the senior level. Summaries:

USA Fencing National Championships
Columbus, Ohio (USA) ~ 27 June-2 July 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Epee: 1. Alexander Tsinis; 2. Stephen Ewart, Jr.; 3. Justin Yoo and Dylan Nollner. Semis: Tsinis d. Yoo, 15-14; Ewart d. Nollner, 15-14. Final: Tsinis d. Ewart, 15-11.

Foil: 1. Daniel Zhang; 2. Dmitri Trifimov (RUS); 3. Adam Mathieu and Sidarth Kumbla. Semis: Zhang d. Kumbla, 15-11; Trifimov d. Mathieu, 15-11. Final: Zhang d. Trifimov, 15-14.

Sabre: 1. Jonah Shainberg; 2. Peter Souders; 3. Daniel Kwak and Josef Cohen. Semis: Souders d. Cohen, 15-14; Shainberg d. Kwak, 15-12. Final: Shainberg d. Souders, 15-11.

Women

Epee: 1. Emily Vermuele; 2. Margherita Guzzi Vincenti; 3. Natalie Vie and Elizabeth Wang. Semis: Vermuele d. Wang, 15-10; Guzzi Vincenti d. Vie, 15-9. Final: Vermuele d. Guzzi Vincenti, 15-14.

Foil: 1. Iman Blow; 2. May Tieu; 3. Sabrina Massialas and Sylvie Binder. Semis: Tieu d. Binder, 15-7; Blow d. Massialas, 15-13. Final: Blow d. Tieu, 15-12.

Sabre: 1. Sada Baby; 2. Edith Johnson; 3. Chloe Gouhin and Elizabeth Tartakovsky. Semis: Baby d. Tartakovsky, 15-13; Johnson d. Gouhin, 15-12. Final: Baby d. Johnson, 15-12.

FOOTBALL: U.S. squeezes by England to reach Women’s World Cup final, 2-1

By
Rich Perelman
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Alyssa Naeher's save of Steph Houghton's penalty kick turned out to be the different in the U.S.'s 2-1 win over England (Photo: FIFA)

The gap between the top-ranked U.S. and the rest of the world has been closing and the taut semifinal in Lyon between the Americans and England was a prime exhibit.

A brilliant opening goal on a header by Christen Press off a Rose Lavelle cross in the 10th minute and an Alex Morgan score in the 31st minute from Lindsey Horan proved to be barely enough against a spirited English team in a 2-1 victory that sends the Americans to their third straight Women’s World Cup final on Sunday.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with the U.S. attacking early, but without striker Megan Rapinoe, out with an apparent hamstring injury. England had to use backup keeper Carly Telford due to a hamstring injury to starter Karen Bardsley.

The U.S. got the early goal and was pressing with great play from midfielder Lavelle, who was unstoppable in the first 25 minutes. But England came back and Ellen White converted a cross to the front of goal from Beth Mead in the 19th minute to tie the game at 1-1.

Morgan’s header off a perfect pass from Horan gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead and the half ended that way, with U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher at full extension to save a rocket from Keira Walsh in the 32nd minute.

But England roared back and mounted challenge after challenge to the U.S. in the second half. White scored on a breakaway through the center of the U.S. defense in the 66th minute, but was offsides by an inch; no goal.

Another White try, where she missed a cross right in front of the U.S. goal in the 83rd minute, resulted in a video review and a penalty shot for England. But Steph Houghton took a poor penalty, sending a bounder toward the left of goal and Naeher – who guessed correctly – going to the ground to make the save.

There were seven minutes of extra time, but the English could not get close again and the game ended with both sides exhausted and the U.S. moving on to face the Dutch or Swedes for the title.

The U.S. ended with 10 shots to seven for England and the English had 53% of the possession. But the game was much closer than that. It was the 11th straight win for the U.S. in World Cup play, and extended their unbeaten streak to 13. The last team they did not defeat? Sweden, in a 0-0 tie in the group stage in 2015 …

On her 30th birthday, Morgan proved to be a continuing good-luck charm for the U.S. When she has scored a goal, the U.S. is now 63-0-10.

HEARD AFTER HALFTIME: Diack indictment shows corruption on a grand scale; USA Synchro tries to keep its swimmers’ heads safe

By
Rich Perelman
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News, views and noise from the non-stop, worldwide circus of Olympic sport:

● Athletics ● The German ARD network managed to obtain a copy of the indictment brought by the French authorities against former IAAF President Lamine Diack, his son Papa Massata Diack and four others associated with them, including the IAAF’s own anti-doping chief, Gabriel Dolle (SUI), and the IAAF’s Russian Treasurer, Valentin Balakhnichev.

Its report details corruption on a grand scale, including €3.45 million (~ $3.9 million U.S. today) in extortion payments from athletes who had tested positive for doping, “crooked” licensing and sponsorship deals, vote-buying in national federation elections and more.

Three members of the International Olympic Committee have stepped down from involvement with the Diacks, and receipt of money from Papa Massata Diack. From the story: “‘The roles were clearly defined: the father led the organisation, and the son negotiated contracts on his father’s behalf. This interaction between father and son alone enabled the son to get rich over the years with this father’s support,” the investigators wrote in their report.”

There is also mention of possible doping by British athletes, and questions raised about the selection of Qatar to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the upcoming 2019 IAAF World Championships.

How ridiculous did it get? The story says Papa Massata Diack spent about €1.7 million (~$1.9 million U.S. today) buying fancy watches at a chic Paris boutique! The trial is expected to begin before the end of the year, with Papa Massata Diack still in Senegal, with the government there refusing to extradite him to France.

● Basketball ● Los Angeles lost the World Urban Games over a disagreement with the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) on the scope of the event. Last week, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) confirmed that Los Angeles will be the host of the 3×3 World Cup – the world championship – from 2020 to 2023.

That’s really what the Los Angeles Times – the proposed organizer of the World Urban Games – wanted, as the centerpiece of a planned L.A. Street Festival that will be held for the first time from 20-21 September in El Segundo, California, near the new Times facility. According to the announcement, “The festival will feature FIBA 3×3 basketball, esports competitions, side contests, dunking, music, break dancing, gaming activations and kids play zones to entertain the public at the event and through digital platforms and broadcast.”

The FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters will be held during the event.

● Cycling ● The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced a major change in its World Cup program for track cycling, including:

“[T]he number of rounds of the series will go from six to three, and these will no longer be organised from October to January but between July and September, starting in 2021. Moreover, the World Cup will change its name to the UCI Track Cycling Nations’ Cup. As the name suggests, participation will be reserved uniquely for national teams.”

The World Track Cycling Championships will move as well, from March to October. A new track series will be created from November to February in 2021-22, again based on national teams.

These changes were met with a storm of protest from non-national cycling teams which have had considerable success on the existing Track World Cup circuit, such as the British Huub-Wattbike team. In an open letter to the UCI, the club wrote that “putting our personal situation aside, we feel the changes are brutally destructive to the sport we know and love,” by eliminating trade teams and bringing the road and track calendars into conflict. The Beat Cycling Team similarly complained that the new approach will lose sponsors, become less visible and will have fewer opportunities for athletes.

So far, the UCI hasn’t budged, but as the changes won’t start until 2021, the talking is far from over. (Hat Tip to reader Jan Palchikoff for referrals to the team letters.)

● Equestrian ● The World Equestrian Games appeared to be doomed after the event was abandoned by Bromont (CAN) in advance of the 2018 edition, and then the event as organized in Tryon, North Carolina (USA) was less than satisfactory to some.

It’s not cheap to organize, bringing together all seven disciplines of the equestrian world, but it may not be dead after all.

Italy (for Rome and Verona) and Saudi Arabia (for Riyadh) filed proposals to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) to host the complete World Equestrian Games in 2022. The FEI decided it would accept bids for individual championships, or multiple events, short of the complete World Equestrian Games, and got an excellent response.

Bids for one or more FEI world championships were filed by Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, the UAE and the U.S. (Reining and Vaulting in Scottsdale, Arizona).

The FEI Board will decide who gets what at the FEI General Assembly in Moscow (RUS) in November.

● Synchronized Swimming ● You may not think that concussions and synchronized swimming are all that related, but the U.S. National Governing Body for the sport is undertaking a wide-ranging initiative to ensure any risk is well covered.

USA Synchro revealed a first-of-its-kind partnership with TeachAids to promote its CrashCourse concussion education program. It will be taught to coaches and presented to synchro competitors in-person at national competitions, and online, allowing athletes to earn a certificate of completion. The program is available here.

≡ REAX ≡ This is pretty serious stuff and USA Synchro is to be commended for bringing this program to its members. What we are seeing – slowly – is the formation of a comprehensive personal safety and anti-abuse curriculum for athletes in the Olympic sports that will eventually accompany athletic training as part of the experience of participating in organized Olympic-sport youth programs in the country.

If successful, this kind of instruction will inevitably spread to schools and non-governmental youth organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs, and non-Olympic programs like Little League and AAU basketball. It’s a good idea if done well and it will take time to develop. It’s a concept that – if picked up and promoted nationally – could help the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and its National Governing Bodies become leaders in preventive safety for athletes instead of breeding grounds for predators.

● Swimming & Triathlon ● USA Swimming and USA Triathlon announced a partnership to allow open-water swimmers to race in the swimming portion of the new Legacy Triathlon on 19 July in Long Beach, California and the Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships in Cleveland, Ohio on 9 August.

≡ REAX ≡ This furthers the ties between USA Swimming and USA Triathlon and creates more opportunities for both NGBs, as well as U.S. Masters Swimming. In other words, this is a smart idea, since, as the announcement noted, “USA Triathlon, USA Swimming and U.S. Masters Swimming share many of the same members, making the partnership a natural fit.”

● At the BuZZer ● USA Swimming disclosed the start of ticket sales for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska next 21-28 June. A pass for all 15 sessions – prelims and finals – costs from $375-575 depending on location, with 100 “Victory Row” passes on the pool deck available for $1,300 each.

That’s $25.00-38.33 per session for all-Trials ticket, which is a lot less than you’d pay for a bad seat for a game between two awful NBA or NHL teams. Even the pool-deck seats are $86.67 per session, which is about what you’ll pay for parking at some MLB or NFL stadiums!

HOCKEY: Australia and Netherlands win inaugural FIH Pro League in Amsterdam Grand Final

By
Rich Perelman
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Happy Australia, winners of the inaugural men's FIH Pro League (Photo: FIH)

The new Hockey Pro League, designed to promote the sport with matches between the top teams in the world, concluded with the Grand Final for men and women in Amsterdam (NED) and victories by the Australian men and Dutch women.

Only the top four teams from the six months of round-robin play made it to the Grand Final. On the men’s side, Australia was clearly the best team during the round-robin, winning 10 games, losing two in shoot-outs and two outright losses for 32 points. Belgium was second with 28 points (eight wins), with the Dutch third (23) and Great Britain fourth (22).

In the semis, Australia dispatched the British by 6-1 and Belgium defeated the Dutch, 3-1. The final was a showcase for the Kookaburras in the first half, with goals from Trent Mitton, Flynn Ogilvie and Blake Govers for a 3-0 lead. Late goals from Loick Luypaert and Alexander Hendrickx made it close, but were not enough to keep the Aussies from celebrating.

Australian midfielder Aran Zalewski was selected as Best Player of the FIH Pro League, and Govers ended with 12 goals, the most in the league.

All four of the semifinalists qualified for the 2020 Olympic Qualification matches in October and November.

The women’s round-robin had a clear-cut winner in the Dutch, who won 15 of their 16 matches (45 points), finishing far ahead of Argentina (10-2 plus four shoot-out wins for 38). In the semis in Amsterdam, the home favorites squeezed by Germany, 2-1, while Australia won a shoot-out to defeat Argentina, 4-3, after a 1-1 tie in regulation time.

The final was just as close, ending in a 2-2 tie and decided by penalties. The Dutch won, 4-3, after a disallowed penalty by Australia’s Brooke Peris gave Lauren Stam the chance to win it for the home team, and she did just that.

Dutch forward Frederique Matla was selected as the Best Player of the FIH Pro League, with New Zealand’s Olivia Merry topping the scoring charts with 15 goals.

The top four women’s teams advanced to the Olympic Qualifiers later this year. Summaries:

FIH Pro League/Grand Final
Amsterdam (NED) ~ 27-30 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Round-robin Standings: 1. Australia, 32 points (won 10, 0 shoot-out wins, 2 losses, 2 shoot-out losses); 2. Belgium, 28 (8-1-3-2); 3. Netherlands, 23 (5-3-4-2); 4. Great Britain, 22 (6-1-5-2); 5. Argentina, 22 (6-1-5-2); 6. Germany, 20 (4-3-5-2); 7. Spain, 16 (2-5-7-0); 8. New Zealand, 4 (0-0-10-4).

Grand Final: 1. Australia; 2. Belgium; 3. Netherlands; 4. Great Britain. Semis: Australia d. Great Britain, 6-1; Belgium d. Netherlands, 3-1. Third: Netherlands d. Great Britain, 5-3. Final: Australia d. Belgium, 3-2.

Women

Round-robin Standings: 1. Netherlands, 45 points (15-0-1-0); 2. Argentina, 38 (10-4-2-0); 3. Australia, 30 (9-1-5-1); 4. Germany, 29 (9-0-5-2); 5. Belgium, 21 (6-1-8-1); 6. New Zealand, 18 (6-0-10-0); 7. China, 14 (4-0-10-2); 8. Great Britain, 14 (3-2-10-1); 9. United States, 7 (1-1-12-2).

Grand Final: 1. Netherlands; 2. Australia; 3. Germany; 4. Argentina. Semis: Netherlands d. Germany, 2-1; Australia d. Argentina, 1-1 (shoot-out: 4-3). Third: Germany d. Argentina, 1-1 (shoot-out: 3-1). Final: Netherlands d. Australia, 2-2 (shoot-out: 4-3).

SHOOTING: Lagan and Thrasher dominate U.S. Pistol/Rifle Nationals with two wins each

By
Rich Perelman
-
Olympic Rifle champ Ginny Thrasher of the U.S. (Photo: USA Shooting)

The USA Shooting National Championships in Pistol and Rifle concluded over the weekend, with Olympic gold medalist Ginny Thrasher and emerging Pistol star Lexi Lagan taking the top step on the podium twice.

No one else won two events, but Thrasher took an unusual double, winning the 50 m Prone title and the 50 m/3 Positions gold, but skipped the 10 m Air Rifle event in which she won the Rio gold medal. But she did defend her 2018 title in the 50 m/3 Positions event, one of four repeat champions from last year.

Lagan won both the 10 m Air Pistol and the 25 m Sport Pistol events, defending her Air Pistol crown from 2018. Lagan was a clear winner in the Air Pistol, 1,165-1,141 over Sarah Choe, but had to win a shoot-off with multi-time national champion Sandra Uptagrafft to take the Sport Pistol event. Both shot 32 in the finals and Lagan won the shoot-off, 4-3.

In her Air Pistol win, Lagan shot a national record of 580 on the first day of competition last Tuesday and followed up with a 577 on Wednesday, which also surpassed the previous mark of 574; the 60-shot round for women in Air Pistol was introduced in 2018.

The eight men’s events all had different winners; closest to a double were Michael McPhail with a win in the 50 m Prone and runner-up in the 50 m/3 Positions events, and Tim Sherry, who won the 50 m Rifle/3 Positions and was second in the 10 m Air Rifle event.

There were four winners who successfully defended their 2018 wins:

● Men/10 m Air Pistol: Nick Mowrer
● Men/50 m Rifle/Prone: Michael McPhail

● Women/10 m Air Pistol: Lexi Lagan
● Women/50 m Rifle/3 Positions: Ginny Thrasher

Summaries:

USA Shooting National Pistol/Rifle Championships
Ft. Benning, Georgia (USA) ~ 22-29 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

10 m Air Pistol: 1. Nick Mowrer, 1,165; 2. Jay Shi, 1,146; 3. Anthony Lutz, 1,139; 4. Luke Simon, 1,138; 5. James Hall, 1,136; 6. Hunter Battig, 1,133; 7. Samuel Gens, 1,131; 8. Paul Kang, 1,125. Final: 1. Mowrer, 241.3; 2. Battig, 238.7; 3. Hall, 218.1.

25 m Center-Fire Pistol: 1. Gerry Sverdin, 1,044; 2. Konstantin Pitsoulis, 1,039; 3. Christof Kreb, 1,026; 4. Bernard Melus, 1,019; 5. Manuel Snyderman, 934.

25 m Rapid-Fire Pistol: 1. Keith Sanderson, 1,168; 2. Henry Leverett, 1,157; 3. Jack Leverett III, 1,156; 4. Brian Kim, 1,127; 5. Ryan Yi, 1,126; 6. Kang, 1,112. Final: 1. Sanderson, 26; 2. H. Leverett, 26 (Sanderson won shoot-off: 5-4); 3. Yi, 21.

25 m Standard Pistol: 1. R. Yi, 1,082; 2. Kang, 1,071; 3. Bernard Melus, Jr., 1,056; 4. Vadim Nikitin, 1,051; 5. Jason Mathis, 1,047; 6. Betterly, 1,033; 7. Pitsoulis, 1,030; 8. Melus, 1,026.

50 m Free Pistol: 1. Gens, 1,069; 2. Lutz, 1,047; 3. Sverdin, 1,022; 4. David Betterly, 1,018; 5. R. Yi, 1,018; 6. Kreb, 998; 7. Kang, 997; 8. Pitsoulis, 991.

10 m Air Rifle: 1. Lucas Kozeniesky, 1,257.5; 2. Timothy Sherry, 1,256.4; 3. Will Shaner, 1,248.5; 4. Matthew Sanchez, 1,247.9; 5. Dempster Christensen, 1,247.5; 6. Patrick Sunderman, 1,246.8; 7. Matthew Rawlings, 1,245.8; 8. Brandon Muske, 1,245.5. Final: 1. Kozeniesky, 248.9; 2. Sherry, 248.8; 3. Shaner, 225.6.

50 m Rifle/Prone: 1. Michael McPhail, 1,251.9; 2. Christensen, 1,245.2; 3. Sunderman, 1,243.2; 4. Sherry, 1,243.3; 5. Kellen McAftery, 1,240.6; 6. Chance Cover, 1,239.7; 7. Jared Eddy, 1,236.2; 8. Muske, 1,234.9.

50 m Rifle/3 Positions: 1. Sherry, 2,355; 2. McPhail, 2,353; 3. Sunderman, 2,351; 4. Mowrer, 2,342; 5. Eddy, 2,331; 6. McAferty, 2,329; 7. Kozeniesky, 2,327; 8. Jared Desrosiers, 2,326. Final: 1. Mowrer, 457.0; 2. McPhail, 456.0; 3. Sunderman, 445.8.

Women

10 m Air Pistol: 1. Lexi Lagan, 1,165; 2. Sarah Choe, 1,141; 3. Sandra Uptagrafft, 1141 (Choe won shoot-off: 10.2-9.9); 4. Helen Oh, 1,140; 5. Nathalia Tobar, 1,140 (Oh won shoot-off: 10.6-9.2); 6. Katelyn Abeln, 1,125; 7. Miglena Todorova, 1,125; 8. Rachel Cantrell, 1,124. Final: 1. Lagan, 239.8; 2. Oh, 236.1; 3. Choe, 215.2.

25 m Sport Pistol: 1. Lagan, 1,167; 2. Uptagrafft, 1,162; 3. Choe, 1,155; 4. Abeln, 1,154; 5. Tobar, 1,147; 6. Kellie Foster, 1,142; 7. Oh, 1,140; 8. Abbie Leverett, 1,137. Final: 1. Lagan, 32; Uptagrafft, 32 (Lagan won shoot-off, 4-3); 3. Leverett, 23.

10 m Air Rifle: 1. Ali Weisz, 1,256.1; 2. Angeline Henry, 1,255.2; 3. Mary Tucker, 1,251.1; 4. Kristen Hemphill, 1,250.2; 5. Mindy Miles, 1,249.6; 6. Sarah Beard, 1,248.9; 7. Elizabeth Marsh, 1,248.6; 8. Macey Way, 1,248.4. Final: 1. Weisz, 251.6; 2. Henry, 249.9; 3. Marsh, 226.0.

50 m Rifle/Prone: 1. Ginny Thrasher, 1,246.3; 2. Beard, 1,244.4; 3. Hannah Black, 1,238.7; 4. Weisz, 1,237.3; 5. Rachel Garner, 1,235.9; 6. Sarah Osborn, 1,235.1; 7. E. Marsh, 1,233.2; 8. Morgan Kreb, 1,225.6.

50 m Rifle/3 Positions: 1. Thrasher, 2,364; 2. Beard, 2,349; 3. E. Marsh, 2,336; 4. McKenzie Martin, 1,334; 5. Rachel Martin, 2,330; 6. Katie Zaun, 2,323; 7. Weisz, 2,317; 8. Garner, 2,317. Final: 1. Thrasher, 460.7; 2. Marsh, 455.4; 3. Zaun, 442.3.

STAT PACK: Results for the week of 24-30 June 2019

By
Rich Perelman
-

The Stat Pack: a summary of results of international Grand Prix, World Cup and World Championships events, plus U.S. domestic events and Pan American championships events of note.

In this week’s issue are reports on 10 events in eight sports:

● Athletics: IAAF Diamond League 7: Pre Classic at Stanford
● Athletics: IAAF Combined Events Challenge at Ratingen
● Athletics: IAAF Race Walk Challenge: Oceania 10 km Champs at Townsville
● Canoe-Kayak: ICF Slalom World Cup III at Ljubljana
● Cycling: USA Cycling Elite Pro Road Championships at Knoxville
● Gymnastics: FIG World Junior Championships in Gyor
● Hockey: FIH Pro League Finals at Amsterdam
● Modern Pent.: UIPM World Cup Final at Tokyo
● Shooting: USA Shooting Rifle/Pistol National Champs at Ft. Benning
● Triathlon: ITU World Series 5 at Montreal

plus our calendar of upcoming events through 11 August. Click below for the PDF:

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ATHLETICS Panorama: NBC’s Masback says Swiss unlikely to overturn Semenya decision

By
Rich Perelman
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Caster Semenya (RSA) winning the 800 m at the Pre Classic (Photo: Screenshot of the NBC telecast)

During Sunday’s Prefontaine Classic telecast on NBC, host Leigh Diffey asked analyst Craig Masback what he thought the outcome of Caster Semenya’s appeal of the IAAF’s female eligibility rules for the 400 m-to-the-mile events to the Swiss Federal Tribunal might be:

DIFFEY: “When you were studying your law degree, you did your thesis on the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, you lived in Switzerland, you know a lot about this topic; how do you see this playing out?”

MASBACK: “I think the most likely outcome is, given that arbitration is a big business in Switzerland, that the Swiss Supreme Court will not overturn the CAS ruling, which means that Semenya will have to follow the rules as set out by the IAAF.

“In Switzerland, they would have to find corruption or fraud, some kind of unfairness in the process to overturn the decision. They normally would never even get to the merits of the case, and the reason they wouldn’t want to overturn is it would undermine faith in Switzerland as a site for arbitrations.

“So, with this in mind, I mean, we might be witnessing the last 800 meters that Caster Semenya ever gets to run, and I’m told she’s asked for world-record pace, that’s why we’re talking about the world record.”

Semenya won in 1:55.70, and had her own take in her interview with NBC’s Lewis Johnson afterwards. Asked if she was trying for the world record, she said “No, not really. Flying to U.S., it’s not easy to run here. I’m still sleeping at home, so even for this race, a little sleepy. Yeah, but being able to run sub-1:56, 1:55, that’s good. So, it’s not a bad race, it’s just a bad time zone. You understand that as an athlete, you know, traveling out of Africa, you come here, you sleep at home, you feel blessed.”

Johnson also asked if this might her last run at 800 m; Semenya said: “Not really. I don’t think about that. I think in life, we have 50/50. IAAF, they want to win. I want to win, so it’s a legal battle. You cannot really tell what’s going to happen. At the end of the day, we will see if we go to court or what. But as for me, I am an athlete, I focus on my performance all of the time, so yeah, I’m quite happy with what I am doing at the moment. The forecast is great, so, yeah, we focus on what we can control, which is training and winning races. So, other things are just nonsense, so I’m not going to focus on the stupidity.”

Athletics International reported that Semenya said later, “If I’m not running 800 m, I’m not running World Championships. No 1,500 m, no nothing. I’m just going to take a vacation and then come back next year. I expect to be in Tokyo [2020]. I expect to be in Paris [2024]. I expect to be in Los Angeles [2028].”

Several athletes who starred at the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas early in June made their professional debuts at the Pre Classic, with mixed results:

● Mondo Duplantis (ex-LSU): Won the men’s pole vault at 5.93 m (19-5 1/2)

● Kahmari Montgomery (ex-Houston): Second in the men’s 400 m in 45.12.

● Wil London (ex-Baylor): Fifth in the men’s 400 m in 45.57.

● Cravon Gillespie (ex-Oregon): Fourth in the men’s 100 m in 10.05.

● Sha’Carri Richardson (ex-LSU): Fourth in the women’s 100 m in 11.15.

● Payton Otterdahl (ex-North Dakota State): Eighth in the men’s shot at 20.58 m (67-6 1/4)

Belgium’s Olympic and World Champion heptathlete Nafi Thiam injured her right elbow throwing the javelin while winning the Decastar in Talence (FRA). She said at the time, “I hurt my elbow six weeks ago but the doctor said it would be OK. I am afraid I’ve worsened the injury.”

She says now that she can’t move her elbow, “so we know that it’s serious.”

Qatar’s high jump hero Mutaz Essa Barshim returned to competition for the first time in almost a year at the Sopot Grand Prix in Poland on 23 June and won the high jump at 2.27 m (7-5 1/4).

He missed twice at 2.30 m (7-6 1/2) and once at 2.33 m (7-7 3/4). But he is back jumping and in a year where the world lead is only 2.31 m (7-7), he has ample opportunity to reach his gold-medal goals at the World Championships in his home country.

Eliud Kipchoge’s second attempt to run a marathon under two hours will be – probably – on 12 October in Vienna (AUT).

This is a second time trial event, this time called the INEOS 1:59 Challenge, and will be run on 9.6 km loops at the Prater, an enormous park in Vienna that was opened to the public in 1766.

If the weather is bad, the set-up has been reserved through the 20th.

SPEED READ: Headlines from The Sports Examiner for Monday, 1 July 2019

By
Rich Perelman
-

Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened over the last 72 hours in Olympic sport:

LANE ONE

Monday: Sunday’s Prefontaine Classic was terrific, with six world-leading marks and a magnificent run by Christian Coleman in the 100 m in 9.81. But on Saturday, 2012 long jump Olympian and 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin won $1 million for beating a bunch of other NFL players in a made-up event in Florida. That’s 256% of the whole Pre Classic prize purse of $390,000; something is very wrong here.

ATHLETICS

Sunday: Sensational Prefontaine Classic, with a sell-out crowd of 8,128 at Stanford to see six world-leading marks, including Christian Coleman’s 9.81-9.87 win over Justin Gatlin, what might be Caster Semenya’s last “un-medicated” race at 800 m and what should be considered a world record by Sifan Hassan in the women’s 3,000 m.

Sunday: On Saturday, former Florida star Will Claye exploded to reach 18.14 m (59-6 1/4) in the triple jump in Long Beach, California, moving him to no. 3 all-time, while earlier, in Sweden, Daniel Stahl spun the platter 71.86 m (235-9) to reach no. 4 all-time in that event. Must be a World Championships or Olympic year …

CANOE-KAYAK

Sunday: No American had won a Slalom World Cup medal in two years. No American woman had won a Slalom World Cup medal in 16 years. And no American woman had ever won a Slalom World Cup medal in the C-1 boat until 15-year-old Evy Leibfarth did it in Slovenia! And that wasn’t the only surprise at the Tacen Whitewater Center!

CYCLING

Sunday: Here’s another one for those who tell you that age is only a number. Amber Neben, now 44, won her fifth career – and third consecutive – USA Cycling National Time Trial Championship, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Amazing.

FENCING

Saturday: The U.S. – as expected – dominated the Pan American Championships, winning five of the six individual events. In the men’s and women’s Sabre, the U.S. went 1-2 and won three of the four medals in the men’s Foil.

FOOTBALL

Saturday: A surprisingly listless Germany fell to Sweden, 2-1, in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the Netherlands eliminated Italy, 2-0; the two winners will meet in the semis. The oddsmakers now have the U.S. as overwhelming favorites.

Sunday: The favorites to meet in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final – Mexico and the U.S. – have made it to the semifinals, to meet Haiti (!) and Jamaica, respectively. But both struggled; in fact, all four semifinalists had a rough time in their weekend quarterfinals. The U.S. was largely asleep in its second half against Curacao, but win, 1-0.

GYMNASTICS

Sunday: The first FIG World Junior Championships finished up in Gyor (HUN), with Russia and Japan leading the medal table. The Japanese were strongest in the men’s events and the Russians dominated the women’s competition. But Kayla di Cello was a star for the U.S., finishing fourth in the All-Around and earning two individual medals, including one gold!

MODERN PENTATHLON

Sunday: The UIPM World Cup Final was held in Tokyo as the first test event in advance of the 2020 Olympic Games. Two Olympic champs – from 2016 and 2012 – looked ready to win, but only Lithuania’s Laura Asadauskaite actually made it to the finish line first and won a place in the Tokyo 2020 field.

TRIATHLON

Saturday: Can American star Katie Zaferes be stopped? She ran away from the world-class field at the ITU Montreal World Series Sprint and has now won four of five races this season (plus one silver). The men’s Sprint was a huge upset, plus a comeback performance for a superstar who had lost his way.

VOLLEYBALL

Sunday: The men’s Nations League round-robin was completed, with Brazil easily posting the best record at 15-1. But the U.S. finished sixth and now readies to host the Nations League Final in Chicago in a couple of weeks, and with a favorable draw in the group without Brazil!

UPCOMING

Highlights of the coming week, with previews in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:

● Athletics: IAAF Diamond League returns to Europe with Athletissima in Lausanne

● Cycling: The Tour de France begins its three-week adventure on 6 July!

● Volleyball: The U.S. women are co-favorites to defend their Nations League title at the finals in China.

And a look at the IOC’s finances as revealed in its annual report.

LANE ONE: On one of track’s best weekends, the sport was humiliated by some NFL players

By
Rich Perelman
-
"40 Yards of Gold"'s million-dollar man: Marquise Goodwin (Photo: Wikimedia)

Sunday was a great day for track & field fans, who got to watch two hours of brilliant competition at the Prefontaine Classic, including six world-leading marks, led by a powerful 9.81 100 m by American Christian Coleman over reigning World Champion Justin Gatlin.

Moreover, in a meet which was transferred – due to construction – from Oregon’s Hayward Field to the modest, 2,158-seat Cobb Track & Angell Field at Stanford, temporary bleachers with a terrible view around the second turn were added and the meet sold out at 8,128 spectators.

And there was a live, national television broadcast on NBC.

This was an IAAF Diamond League meet, the highest level of non-championship competition in the world, with $30,000 paid in prize money for each event: $10,000-6,000-4,000-3,000-2,500-2,000-1,500-1,000 for the top eight places. There were 13 Diamond League events, which paid a total of $390,000 in prize money, and three non-Diamond League events in which the promoters paid less to the participants.

On Saturday, there was a much smaller event held at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida (outside of Miami) called “40 Yards of Gold” in which 16 “speedy” players from the National Football Players competed against each other on artificial turf in an elimination format, with San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin defeating Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson by 0.05 seconds to win the title … and $1 million!

Now, let’s not rag on Goodwin. He was a 2012 Olympian in the long jump, finishing 10th in the final, twice NCAA long jump champ at Texas, with a best of 8.45 m (27-8 3/4) from 2016, and a 100 m best of 10.38 from way back in 2008. He’s legitimately fast … for a football player. His best indoor 60 m time – comparable in format to the 40 Yards of Gold program – was 6.67 back in 2016. For comparison, Coleman is the world-record holder at 60 m at 6.34 from 2018.

The other finalist, Jackson, ran for LSU and had bests of 6.63 for 60 m (2016) and 10.22 for the 100 m (2017).

Big difference, and so was the paycheck.

David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported, “Hosted by former All-Pro Cincinnati Bengals wideout Chad Johnson, along with ex-NFL 2,000-yard rusher Chris Johnson and DJ Irie and with a performance by rapper Rick Ross that preceded the final, a crowd of about 2,000 to 3,000 fans provided an electric atmosphere given the numbers.”

Here’s the race:

Don’t think the guys running at Pre weren’t paying attention. Coleman was:

And the event, which was conceived by New Orleans Saints received Ted Ginn, Jr. and fronted by former Cincinnati star Chad Johnson – “Ochocinco” – had plenty of entertainment attached, and even drew significant interest from betters (check this in-depth preview). The pay-per-view price was $39.95.

Jackson, as runner-up, reportedly got $50,000, still 66% more than the entire men’s 100 m field made at the Pre Classic.

There were a lot of unhappy folks in the track world commenting on this on Twitter, none more fired up than Houston’s head coach (and former world 100 m record holder) Leroy Burrell and assistant coach Carl Lewis (nine Olympic golds):

You get the idea. There is something fundamentally embarrassing in having a made-up sideshow award $1 million to Goodwin while the best sprinters in the world run for a few thousand dollars.

Is this easy to fix? NOOOO!

I have tried, twice trying to put together enough money for a domestic circuit that would pay at least what the Diamond League does today. But I couldn’t get companies to buy in, in part because I wasn’t the “governing body” that could sanction such events.

There are those who might be able to make such a program happen, but there are dramatic issues to be solved, such as track & field’s 42 individual World Championships events and how far the money goes to cover them all. And that’s just the start.

But on a weekend when one of the year’s most dramatic meets was held in front of a sell-out crowd and the total payout was a fraction of what one former Olympian earned for four seconds of running, something is very, very wrong indeed.

Rich Perelman
Editor

FOOTBALL: Haiti surprises, but Mexico, Jamaica and U.S. into men’s Gold Cup semis

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. midfielder Wes McKennie

The U.S. men’s National Team played a surprisingly low-energy game against upstart Curacao in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but still managed to win by 1-0 thanks to a Wes McKennie header in the 25th minute.

That wrapped up the quarterfinals, which saw thrilling games in Houston on Saturday and two dull games on Sunday in Philadelphia.

The story of the tournament so far is Haiti, which was undefeated in group play (3-0; 6-2 goal differential) and managed a 3-2 win in its quarter vs. Canada. The Canadians went up 2-0 in the first half, then saw Haiti score in the 50th minute, then equalized on a penalty kick by Herve Basile in the 70th minute. The winner came from Wilde-Donald Guerrier in the 76th minute and Haiti moves on to Tuesday’s semis – for the first time in their Gold Cup history – in Glendale, Arizona.

It will face Mexico, which barely escaped against Costa Rica on penalty kicks. The game was 1-1 in regulation thanks to a questionable penalty handed to Costa Rica in the 52nd minute. Costa Rica led, 2-1, after two rounds of penalties, but the Mexicans converted four in a row to a 5-5 tie. In sudden-death, Carlos Salcedo made his penalty and Keysher Fuller’s try was stopped by Mexican keeper Memo Ochoa … and Mexico moved on, barely.

Both Haiti and Mexico are undefeated at 4-0 in the tournament.

The U.S. came out strongly vs. Curacao, which finished 1-1-1 in group play. Midfielder Christian Pulisic was everywhere and almost scored in the fourth minute, then made a brilliant cross from the left side right to the head of a streaking McKennie and he pushed it past Curacao keeper Eloy Room.

The U.S. had a 54-46% possession edge in the first half, but Curacao had a 7-4 edge in shots.

In the second half, the U.S. appeared to go to sleep, and Curacao had 60% of the possession and a 7-6 lead in shots. For the game, Curacao had 53% of the possession and led in shots, 13-11.

U.S. keeper Zack Steffen saved a dangerous shot from Leandro Bacuna in the 84th minute and held the defense together while the American attack imploded.

Jamaica’s game vs. Panama was mostly a snoozer, but when Darren Mattocks came in at the 73rd minute, things changed. He was elbowed in the back on a header try in the box and a penalty was called just a minute later and scored the game’s only goal on the penalty in the 85th minute.

In the semis, the U.S. will play Jamaica in Nashville on Wednesday. It’s worth noting that the Reggae Boyz have been to the last two Gold Cup finals (2015 and 2017, losing both times) and beating the U.S., 1-0, in a friendly on 5 June.

The full tournament scores and schedules are here.

VOLLEYBALL: Brazil wins men’s Nations League round-robin, with finals in Chicago starting 10 July

By
Rich Perelman
-
Leading U.S. scorer Ben Patch hits over the block vs. France (Photo: FIVB)

The men’s Nations League round-robin was completed over the weekend, with Brazil by far the best team in the league through 15 games. The final round-robin standings:

1. 39 points Brazil (14-1)
2. 36 points Iran (12-3)
3. 34 points Russia (12-3)
4. 34 points France (11-4)
5. 30 points Poland (11-4)
6. 28 points United States (9-6)
7. 26 points Argentina (8-7)
8. 25 points Italy (8-7)

Amazingly, the U.S. finished sixth, winning four of its last six matches, with a 3-1 win over Bulgaria, a 3-1 loss to Serbia and then a 3-0 shutout of Iran in the round-robin finale in games played in Plovdiv (BUL). The U.S. effort in the round-robin play was essentially irrelevant, since it qualified for the final round automatically as the host.

Brazil’s only loss was 3-2 to Serbia, which finished 6-9 on the season. That means that the Brazilians were 5-0 against the five teams they will face in the Nations League final.

The finals will be played at the Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago, beginning on 10 July. The finals will be played in two pools:

● Pool A: United States, Russia, France
● Pool B: Brazil, Iran, Poland

The top two in each group will qualify for the semis on 13 July and the finals will be held on 14 July.

The top scorers in the round-robin included Japan’s Yuji Nishida with 220 points, followed by Amir Ghafour (IRI: 208) and Germany’s Simon Hirsch (205). Ben Patch was the top American scorer at 146 (18th). Complete results and schedules are here.

GYMNASTICS: Russia and Japan shine in first World Junior Championships; di Cello wins gold on Vault

By
Rich Perelman
-
World Junior Vault Champion Kayla di Cello (USA)

The first-ever FIG World Junior Championships was a showcase for the traditional power nations in the sport, with Japan leading the men’s events and Russia dominating the women.

It’s worth asking why a junior Worlds is necessary, with so many teenagers already competing at the senior level, but this championship was limited to men aged 16-17 and women of 14-15, ineligible to compete as seniors.

The big winner on the men’s size was Japan’s Takero Kitazono, who was part of the team winners plus the Pommel Horse and Parallel Bars for three golds. His teammate. Shinnosuke Oka, won the All-Around and the team event for two golds. China’s Haonan Yang won three medals with two silvers and a bronze.

Russia won the women’s team title, and Viktoriia Listunova, Vladislava Urazova and Elena Gerasimova all won additional events. Listunova won the All-Around and Floor to claim three golds, while Urasova took the Uneven Bars and Gerasimova won the Beam.

For the U.S., the star was Kayla di Cello, finishing fourth in the All-Around and won the Vault, and adding a bronze on the Beam. She made all four finals.

The final medal table showed Russia with 10 (5-3-2) and Japan second (7: 4-2-1). The U.S. had three medals (1-0-2) with di Cello’s two individual medals and a women’s team bronze, with di Cello, Sydney Barros and Skye Blakely. Summaries:

FIG World Junior Artistic Championships
Gyor (HUN) ~ 27-30 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Team: 1. Japan (Doi, Kitazono, Oka), 162.574; 2. Ukraine (Chepurnyi, Kostiuk, Kovtun), 159.828; 3. Italy (Bonicelli, Brunello, Casali), 159.179. Also: 7. United States (Garrett Braunton, Matthew Cormier, Isaiah Drake), 156.580.

All-Around: 1. Shinnosuke Oka (JPN), 80.674; 2. Ryosuke Doi (JPN), 80.447; 3. Illia Kovtun (UKR), 80.264. Also: 19. Garrett Braunton (USA), 77.107; … 21. Matthew Cormier (USA), 76.907.

Floor: 1. Sunghyun Ryu (KOR), 14.166; 2. Felix Dolci (CAN), 14.000; 3. Nazar Chepurnyi (UKR), 13.866. Also: 6. Cormier (USA), 13.566.

Pommel Horse: 1. Takeru Kitazono (JPN), 13.966; 2. Oka (JPN), 13.,766; 3. Edvins Rodevics (LAT), 13.233.

Rings: 1. Dolci (CAN), 13.600; 2. Diogo Soares (BRA), 13.500; 3. Haonan Yang (CHN), 13.475. Also: 4. Isaiah Drake (USA), 13.400; … 6. Braunton (USA), 13.333.

Vault: 1. Gabriel Burtanete (ROU), 14.424; 2. H. Yang (CHN), 14.300; 3. Jasper Smith-Gordon (GBR), 14.183.

Parallel Bars: 1. Kitazono (JPN), 14.266; 2. H. Yang (CHN), 13.900; 3. Oka (JPN), 13.766.

High Bar: 1. Chepurnyi (UKR), 13.700; 2. Ivan Gerget (RUS), 13.600; 3. Krisztian Balazs (HUN), 13.400.

Women

Team: 1. Russia (Gerasimova, Listunova, Urazova), 111.654; 2. China (Guan, Ou, Wei), 109.497; 3. United States (Sydney Barros, Skye Blakely, Kayla di Cello), 109.380.

All-Around: 1. Viktoriia Listunova (RUS), 55.323; 2. Vladislava Urazova (RUS), 55.298; 3. Yushan Ou (CHN), 54.931. Also: 4. Kayla di Cello (USA), 54.765; … 6. Sydney Barros (USA), 53.974; 7. Skye Blakely (USA), 53.407.

Vault: 1. di Cello (USA), 14.166; 2. Jennifer Gadirova (GBR), 14.133; 3. Urasova (RUS), 14.116. Also: 5. Barros (USA), 13.916.

Uneven Bars: 1. Urasova (RUS), 14.433; 2. Listunova (RUS), 14.200; 3. Xiaoyuan Wei (CHN), 13.800. Also: 4. Blakely (USA), 13.766; … 6. di Cello (USA), 13.500.

Beam: 1. Elena Gerasimova (RUS), 14.200; 2. Wei (CHN), 13.733; 3. di Cello (USA), 13.733.

Floor: 1. Listunova (RUS), 14.166; 2. Yushan Ou (CHN), 13.833; 3. Gerasimova (RUS), 13.533. Also: 5. Blakely (USA), 13.100; … 7. di Cello (USA), 12.966.

MODERN PENTATHLON: Olympic champs in the spotlight at World Cup Final, but only Asadauskaite wins

By
Rich Perelman
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World Cup Final winner Laura Asadauskaite (LTU)

Going into the Laser Run in the men’s World Cup Final in Tokyo (JPN), 2016 Olympic champ Alexander Lesun (RUS) was in the lead and looked like a winner in the UIPM World Cup Final.

London 2012 champion Laura Asadauskaite (LTU) was third headed into the women’s Laser Run, but given her prowess in the final event, was almost a sure winner.

And Asadauskaite did win, winning her place at the Tokyo Games and confirming her as a serious contender once again for Olympic gold.

She entered the final event in third place, nine seconds behind leader Elodie Clouvel (FRA), but there was little doubt that she was the favorite. Asadauskaite caught Clouvel by the first shooting phase and cruised to a 12-second victory, and was 28 seconds up on third-placer Annika Schleu.

“Today is a very happy day,” said the winner. “I had a very good fence, a good ride and swim and also a good Laser Run. I’m very happy because I have the qualification for the Olympic Games. See you next year when I will come back here – l like this city very much. I think I am ready for the Olympic Games.”

Only the winners of the World Cup Final qualified for 2020, and the event was the first test program to be completed in the Olympic city. Lesun started the men’s Laser Run with a 15-second lead over Britain’s Joseph Choong.

Lesun maintained his lead through the first half of the Laser Run, but had trouble in his third (of four) shooting stops, losing valuable time while Britain’s Joseph Choong finished his five hits in eight seconds!

Choong assumed the lead, but Germany’s Marvin Dogue exited the final shooting section with a slight edge, and was then passed bu Choong, who sprinted to the finish to win by a single point, 1,457-1,456. After two World Cup silvers during the season, he is now qualified for the Tokyo Games.

Clouvel and teammate Valentin Prades – fourth in the men’s division – won the Mixed Relay and edged Ireland’s Natalya Coyle and Arthur Lanigan O’Keefe by 1,479-1,477. Summaries:

UIPM World Cup Final
Tokyo (JPN) ~ 27-30 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men: 1. Joseph Choong (GBR), 1,457; 2. Marvin Dogue (GER), 1,456; 3. Shuhuan Li (CHN), 1,446; 4. Valentin Prades (FRA), 1,443; 5. Pavlo Tymoshchenko (UKR), 1,441.

Women: 1. Laura Asadauskaite (LTU), 1,394; 2. Elodie Clouvel (FRA), 1,383; 3. Annika Schleu (GER), 1,366; 4. Gintare Venckauskaite (LTU), 1,365; 5. Gulnaz Gubaydullina (RUS), 1,362. Also: 22. Sam Achterberg (USA), 1,285.

Mixed Relay: 1. Elodie Clouvel/Valentin Prades (FRA), 1,479; 2. Natalya Coyle/Arthur Lanigan-O’Keefe (IRL), 1,477; 3. Gintare Venckauskaite/Justinas Kinderis (LTU), 1,476; 4. Oktawia Nowacka/Daniel Lawrynowicz (POL), 1,475; 5. Annika Schleu/Marvin Dogue (GER), 1,447. Also: 10. Sam Achterberg/Amro El Geziry (USA), 1,399.

CYCLING: Amber Neben amazes with fifth U.S. Time Trial title – at 44 – in U.S. Road Nationals!

By
Rich Perelman
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Two-time World Time Trial champ Amber Neben (USA) (Photo: Claudio Martino via Wikimedia)

The winner of two UCI World Championships in the women’s Time Trial in 2008 and 2016, Amber Neben ranks as one of America’s finest cyclists of all time. But even at 44, she’s hardly done as she won her fifth career U.S. National Time Trial Championship in Knoxville, Tennessee.

She won in a rout over the 23.0 km course, finishing in 30:19.87, more than 26 second ahead of runner-up Chloe Dygert (30:55.92), for her third national title in a row, each in Knoxville.

Said Neben, “The first year we raced in downtown Knoxville (2012), [was] a very, very different course. The demands of the course were very different. That was actually the first win (here). It was my second (career) Time Trial win, but it had been the first one in a long time so it was pretty special. The second one was at this beautiful area (Oak Ridge, 2017). The roads are just smooth and flowy. I think today I was the most nervous of all of them.”

Ian Garrison won the men’s Time Trial in 42:58.76 for 34.2 km, well ahead of Neilson Powless (43:18.12). Even more impressive was that Garrison had won the U.S. U-23 Time Trial title just a week earlier.

“I don’t think it’s set in yet, but it’s a great feeling no matter what,” he said. “The preparation goes back a long ways, so even in the off season just thinking of working on my time trial and spending time on the time trial bike. And then in the past month, it’s just been dialing in the training, longer hours, thinking how this was going to be a long effort.”

In Sunday’s road races, Ruth Winder won the women’s title with an attack with six miles to go and then held off a pack of pursuers, with defending champ Coryn Rivera falling one second short at the line, 3:17:41-3:17:42, with Emma White third, another second behind. “Just keep on going, that’s all I was thinking. Just trying to motivate myself to go as hard as I could,” Winder said afterwards. “Coming across the finish line, I thought everyone was going to pass me in the last 100 meters, just coming down there because I was dying so bad. I had nothing. I sat down. And I was like, ‘Get up! Sprint, sprint, sprint!’ Nobody passed me and I can’t believe that I won.”

Alex Howes won his first national title in the men’s road race by coming back after being dropped from a three-man breakaway that attacked with about four miles left. Powless and Stephen Bassett rode ahead and Howes had to catch up, finally reaching Powless on the final climb and then he reeled in Bassett on the descent into downtown Knoxville.

“I’ve been running after this one for a while, eight years or so,” Howes said. “I’ve been on the podium a few times and always an animator and just never there, and today we went early and just kept going and I can’t believe it paid off.” Summaries:

USA Cycling Road National Championships
Knoxville, Tennessee (USA) ~ 27-30 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Criterium: 1. Travis McCabe, 1:17:53; 2. Eric Young, 1:17:53; 3. Miguel Bryon, 1:17:53; 4. Samuel Bassetti, 1:17:54; 5. Colin Joyce, 1:17:54; 6. Scott McGill, 1:17:54; 7. Stephen Bassett, 1:17:55; 8. Michael Hernandez, 1:17:56; 9. Brandon Feehery, 1:17:56; 10. Hugo Scala, Jr., 1:17:56.

Road Race (191 km): 1. Alex Howes, 4:37:05; 2. Bassett, 4:37:08; 3. Neilson Powless, 4:37:09; 4. Tyler Magner, 4:37:10; 5. Larry Warbasse, 4:37:13; 6. Brendan Rhim, 4:37:16; 7. Thomas Revard, 4:37:17; 8. Kiel Reijnen, 4:37:22; 9. Nathan Brown, 4:37:26; 10. Gregory Daniel, 4:38:03.

Time Trial (34.2 km): 1. Ian Garrison, 42:58.76; 2. Powless, 43:18.12; 3. George Simpson, 43:49.35; 4. Warbasse, 44:04.09; 5. William Cooper, 44:27.15; 6. Sean Bennett, 44:33.80; 7. Matthew Zimmer, 45:33.81; 8. Gage Hecht, 45:35.26; 9. Zachary Nehr, 45:41.99; 10. Bassett, 46:12.42.

Women

Criterium: 1. Emma White, 1:05:49; 2. Lily Williams, 1:05:49; 3. Kendall Ryan, 1:05:49; 4. Coryn Rivera, 1:05:49; 5. Samantha Schneider, 1:05:50; 6. Chloe Dygert, 1:05:50; 7. Skylar Schneider, 1:05:50; 8. Holly Breck, 1:05:51; 9. Tina Pic, 1:05:52; 10. Kat Sweatt, 1:05:53.

Road Race (114 km): 1. Ruth Winder, 3:17:41; 2. Rivera, 3:17:42; 3. White, 3:17:43; 4. Dygert, 3:17:44; 5. Alexis Ryan, 3:17:45; 6. Leah Thomas, 3:17:47; 7. Emma Langley, 3:17:47; 8. Katharine Hall, 3:17:49; 9. Tayler Wiles, 3:17:51; 10. Madeline Bemis, 3:17:51.

Time Trial (23.0 km): 1. Amber Neben, 30:19.87; 2. Dygert, 30:55.92; 3. L. Thomas, 31:02.39; 4. Wiles, 31:22.23; 5. Winder, 32:24.70; 6. Emily Newsom, 32:41.44; 7. Whitney Allison, 32:51.99; 8. Julie Emmerman, 33:06.25; 9. Jennifer Luebke, 33:18.03; 10. White, 33:19.39.

CANOE-KAYAK: Jessica Fox finally wins a World Cup race and a historic American medal for teen Evy Leibfarth!

By
Rich Perelman
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New American Canoe Slalom sensation Evy Leibfarth (Photo: ICF)

There was a lot of history made at the third Canoe Slalom World Cup held in Ljubljana (SLO) over the weekend, including the end of a 16-year drought for American women on the podium in the C-1 or K-1.

Frankly, the U.S. isn’t a consistent contender in Slalom and while the men last had a World Cup medalist in 2017 – Michal Smolen’s K-1 silver in Ivrea (ITA) – it was 2003 when a U.S. woman had won a medal: a silver by Rebecca Giddens in the K-1 at La Seu d’Urgell!

So when Australian superstar Jessica Fox finally won her first World Cup race of the season in the C-1 at the Tacen Whitewater Course – extending her streak of seasons with a World Cup victory to seven – it was more a relief than a surprise. But for 15-year-old Evy Leibfarth to close her second-ever World Cup race with two more appearances in the finals and then the bronze medal in the C-1, it was more of a shock!

She finished ninth in the K-1 and then third in the C-1 with a time of 110.69 seconds, despite incurring two penalties. Suddenly, she’s a contender heading into Tokyo 2020.

And since the C-1 class for women wasn’t introduced as a standard event until 2010, it’s the first-ever American women’s medal in World Cup competition!

Fox had a bad Saturday, with a 50-second penalty keeping her out of the K-1 final. But after the win, she said, “It’s been a hard start to the year, and yesterday I was really upset and disappointed with my race in not making the final, so I really wanted to bounce back today and show what I could do.

“There were a couple of mistakes in that run, but overall I’m super happy and super proud. I train to do my best, and strive for excellence in every run, and when it doesn’t happen it’s disappointing. So you do put pressure on yourself, but you have to learn. Everyone is vulnerable.”

The rest of the honors in Ljubljana went to Italy, as Stefanie Horn won the women’s K-1 for her first career World Cup gold and second career medal, Roberto Colazingari won his first World Cup medal of any kind with a victory in the men’s C-1 and Giovanni de Gennaro tallied his fourth career World Cup win in the men’s K-1.

Said Horn, “I think it helps that I am in love with this place, the people are so nice here, you have a great feeling, so I just love paddling. In London I did a great semi-final, and I was convinced I could also do a great final. But I put so much pressure on myself that I missed a gate. Pressure is sometimes too much for me.”

“I have a new coach now, we are working on being more self-confident, and learning that even if you do a small error you can still do a good run.”

Colazingari was delighted: “Finally,” he said. “We worked hard towards this, and this is a result of the hard work we did during the winter. I hope that this is the start, and not the end.”

So does Leibfarth. Summaries:

ICF Slalom World Cup III
Ljubljana (SLO) ~ 28-30 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men/C-1: 1. Roberto Colazingari (ITA), 87.48 (0 penalties); 2. Anze Bercic (SLO), 88.84 (0); 3. Alexander Slafkovsky (SVK), 89.56 (2); 4. Benjamin Savsek (SLO), 91.25 (2); 5. Michal Martikan (SVK), 91.67 (2).

Men/K-1: 1. Giovanni de Gennaro (ITA), 83.10 (0); 2. Peter Kauzer (SLO), 83.15 (9); 3. Jiri Prskavec (CZE), 84.97 (2); 4. Vit Prindis (CZE), 86.29 (2); 5. Bradley Forbes-Cryans (GBR), 87.10 (0).

Women/C-1: 1. Jessica Fox (AUS), 103.06 (4); 2. Viktoria Wolffhardt (AUT), 104.22 (0); 3. Evy Leibfarth (USA), 110.69 (2); 4. Alja Kozorog (SLO), 112.55 (4); 5. Ana Satila (BRA), 115.35 (2).

Women/K-1: 1. Stefanie Horn (ITA), 94.13 (0); 2. Eva Tercelj (SLO), 94.39 (0); 3. Viktoriia Us (UKR), 95.04 (2); 4. Corinna Kuhnle (AUT), 95.08 (0); 5. Veronika Vojtova (CZE), 96.72 (0). Also: 9. Leibfarth (USA), 156.69 (52).

ATHLETICS: Coleman’s 9.81 win over Gatlin highlights six world leaders at Pre Classic

By
Rich Perelman
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Christian Coleman needed a world-leading 9.81 to beat Justin Gatlin at the Pre Classic at Stanford (Photo: IAAF)

On a brilliant, sunny day at Stanford with a sell-out crowd of 8,128 on hand for the transplanted Prefontaine Classic, the top performance came near the end of the meet when the current World Champion in the 100 m tangled with the likely next World Champion in the event.

Justin Gatlin, the man who finally beat Usain Bolt to the line in the 2017 Worlds in London, had been undefeated against fellow American Christian Coleman, but that ended with an emphatic win by Coleman in a world-leading 9.81.

Coleman, as usual, zipped out of the blocks first and had the lead by 30 m and was extending it through the middle of the race. But Gatlin emerged from the pack to challenge, but Coleman held steady and managed to win by 6/100ths.

Gatlin showed that at 37, he’s isn’t going anywhere soon, and he moves to no. 4 on the world list in his third meet of the year. He is still very much a contender.

The meet had no less than six world leaders:

● Men/100 m: 9.81, Christian Coleman (USA)
● Men/Mile: 3:50.49, Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN)
● Men/400 m hurdles: 47.16, Rai Benjamin (USA)

● Women/800 m: 1:55.70, Caster Semenya (RSA)
● Women/3,000 m: 8:18.49, Sifan Hassan (NED)
● Women/3,000 m Steeple: 8:55.57, Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN)

Hassan’s stirring win in the women 3,000 m can be considered a world record. She came from almost 10 m behind at the bell to overtake Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who had dominated the race almost from the start and appeared to have the event well in hand with a lap to go.

But while she led fellow Ethiopian Ginzebe Dibaba, it was Hassan who suddenly made up ground in the final 300 m and extended to a big lead on the home straightaway to finish in 8:18.49, making her the no. 4 performance with the no. 6 performance in history.

However, the three performers and five times ahead of her were all made during by the highly-dubious Chinese squad at the 1993 Chinese nationals, including Junxia Wang’s “world record” of 8:06.11. Wipe these very likely chemically-enhanced marks off the books and Hassan ran a world record, with Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen finishing second with a late rush in 8:20.07, which should be the no. 2 performance in history, ahead of Gidey’s 8:20.27. Dibaba faded to fourth at 8:21.29.

The women’s Steeple was just as intriguing, with the pacesetters asked to aim for a world-record rate. In fact, the only one who could keep up was world-record holder Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN), who won easily in 8:55.58, the no. 5 performance of all time. Behind her was a stirring battle for second, won by American Emma Coburn, whose 9:04.90 was the no. 4 performance in American history.

The women’s 800 m featured South Africa’s Caster Semenya, who was able to run because the Swiss Federal Tribunal suspended the IAAF’s rules for women’s eligibility in the 400 m-mile distances while considering her appeal. She ran away with the race as usual – her 31st straight win in the event – in a world-leading 1:55.70.

While Semenya’s win was no surprise, seeing 2016 Olympic 1,500 m champ Faith Kipyegon come back from almost two years off … and win in 3:59.04 was. She was terrific down the final straightaway, outpacing British star Laura Muir (3:59.47) and a speeding Shelby Houlihan of the U.S. (3:59.64).

The sprint events had been hyped with the presence of Michael Norman and Rai Benjamin in the 400 m and hurdles and they both won impressively. Norman, suffering from a recent cold, ran away from everyone down the home straight for a 44.62 win, while Benjamin made a strong move on the turn and broke away from everyone on the home straight for a brilliant 47.16 time, the ninth-fastest time in history!

The women’s sprints were surprises, with Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) emerging in the final 20 m to win the 100 m in 11.02, as Jamaica’s Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.73 this year) finished fifth, and Blessing Okagbare (NGR) zooming down the straight to win the 200 m in 22.05 to move to no. 2 on the year list. She beat Elaine Thompson (JAM), who ran 22.00 last week and 2018 European champ Dina Asher-Smith, who ran 22.21 and 22.42.

The big surprise on the infield was Darlan Romani’s national record of 22.61 m (74-2 1/4) to win the shot from Ryan Crouser (22.17 m/72-9); that moved Romani to no. 10 all-time and was Crouser’s first loss of the year.

In the women’s high jump, Russia’s Mariya Lasitskene won at 2.04 m (6-8 1/4), but American Vashti Cunningham became the ninth American women to clear 2.00 m (6-6 1/4) to finish second. Summaries:

IAAF Diamond League/Pre Classic
Stanford, California (USA) ~ 30 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

100 m (wind: -0.1 m/s): 1. Christian Coleman (USA), 9.81; 2. Justin Gatlin (USA), 9.87; 3. Zharnel Hughes (GBR), 9.97. Also: 4. Cravon Gillespie (USA), 10.05; 5. Michael Rodgers (USA), 10.08; … 8. Cameron Burrell (USA), 10.21.

400 m: 1. Michael Norman (USA), 44.62; 2. Kahmari Montgomery (USA), 45.12; 3. Fred Kerley (USA), 45.33. Also: 5. Wil London (USA), 45.57; … 7. Michael Cherry (USA), 45.92.

Mile: 1. Tim Cheruiyot (KEN), 3:50.49; 2. Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI), 3:51.22; 3. Filip Ingebrigtsen (NOR). Also: 5. Craig Engels (USA), 3:51.60; 6. Matthew Centrowitz (USA), 3:52.26; 7. Ben Blankenship (USA), 3:52.51; … 10. Clayton Murphy (USA), 3:54.37; 11. Johnny Gregorek (USA), 3:54.50.

Two Mile: 1. Joshua Cheptegei (UGA), 8:07.54; 2. Paul Chelimo (USA), 8:07.59; 3. Selemon Barega (ETH), 8:08.69. Also: 11. Eric Jenkins (USA), 8:22.37; 12. Kirubel Erassa (USA), 8:25.14.

110 m hurdles (+0.3): 1. Orlando Ortega (ESP), 13.24; 2. Wilhem Belocian (FRA), 13.29; 3. Omar McLeod (JAM), 13.29. Also: 5. Devon Allen (USA), 13.33; … 7. Freddie Crittenden (USA), 13.38; 8. Aleec Harris (USA), 13.39.

400 m hurdles: 1. Rai Benjamin (USA), 47.16; 2. Kyron McMaster (IVB), 48.94; 3. Yasmani Copello (TUR), 49.37. Also: 4. David Kendzeira (USA), 49.46; 5. T.J. Holmes (USA), 49.79; 6. Khallifah Rosser (USA), 49.87; 7. Amere Lattin (USA), 50.01.

Pole Vault: 1. Mondo Duplantis (SWE), 5.93 m (19-5 1/2); 2. Sam Kendricks (USA), 5.88 m (19-3 1/2); 3. Piotr Lisek (POL), 5.71 m (18-8 3/4). Also: 4. Chris Nilsen (USA), 5.71 m (18-8 3/4); 5. Cole Walsh (USA), 5.61 m (18-4 3/4).

Shot Put: 1. Darlan Romani (BRA), 22.61 m (74-2 1/4); 2. Ryan Crouser (USA), 22.17 m (72-9); 3. Tom Walsh (NZL), 21.69 m (71-2). Also: 5. Darrell Hill (USA), 21.35 m (70-0 1/2); 6. Joe Kovacs (USA), 21.12 m (69-3 1/2); … 8. Payton Otterdahl (USA), 20.58 m (67-6 1/4).

Women

100 m (non-Diamond League; +0.3): 1. Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV), 11.02; 2. Aleia Hobbs (USA), 11.04; 3. Teahna Daniels (USA), 11.13. Also: 4. Sha’Carri Richardson (USA), 11.15; … 6. English Gardner (USA), 11.24; 7. Tori Bowie (USA), 11.30.

200 m (+1.9): 1. Blessing Okagbare (NGR), 22.05; Elaine Thompson (JAM), 22.21; 3. Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), 22.42. Also: 5. Jenna Prandini (USA), 22.53; … 7. Brittany Brown (USA), 22.99; 8. Kyra Jefferson (USA), 23.07.

800 m: 1. Caster Semenya ( RSA), 1:55.70; 2. Ajee Wilson (USA), 1:58.36; 3. Raevyn Rogers (USA), 1:58.65. Also: 4. Hanna Green (USA), 1:58.75.

1,500 m: 1. Faith Kipyegon (KEN), 3:59.04; 2. Laura Muir (GBR), 3:59.47; 3. Shelby Houlihan (USA), 3:59.64.

3,000 m: 1. Sifan Hassan (NED), 8:18.49; 2. Konstance Klosterhalfen (GER), 8:20.07; 3. Letesenbet Gidey (ETH), 8:20.27. Also: 14. Karissa Schweizer (USA), 8:42.15.

3,000 m Steeple: 1. Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN). 8:55.58; 2. Emma Coburn (USA), 9:04.90; 3. Hyvin Kiyeng (KEN), 9:05.81. Also:  5. Courtney Frerichs (USA), 9:09.75; … 7. Colleen Quigley (USA), 9:11.41; … 13. Allie Ostrander (USA), 9:31.44; 14. Mel Lawrence (USA), 9:33.48.

High Jump: 1. Mariya Lasitskene (RUS), 2.04 m (6-8 1/4); 2. Vashti Cunningham (USA), 2.00 m (6-6 1/4); 3. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR), 2.00 m (6-6 3/4).

Shot Put: 1. Lijiao Gong (CHN), 19.79 m (64-11 1/4); 2. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (JAM), 19.26 m (63-2 1/4); 3. Chase Ealey (USA), 19.23 m (63-1 1/4). Also: 6. Michelle Carter (USA), 18.21 m (59-9); 7. Maggie Ewen (USA), 18.04 m (59-2 1/4).

ATHLETICS Panorama: Will Claye explodes in Long Beach for 59-6 1/4 win in triple jump!

By
Rich Perelman
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Now no. 3 of all time: American triple jump star Will Claye!

Former Florida star Will Claye has been one of the world’s best jumpers for more than a decade, but has been overshadowed by his former Gator teammate Christian Taylor, the two-time Olympic champion in the triple jump.

Are those days over?

Before Saturday’s Jim Bush Track & Field Championships – the district meet for the Southern Pacific Association of USA Track & Field – Claye stood no. 10 on the all-time list at 17.91 m (58-9 1/4) from 2017. Not any more.

He fouled on his first jump, then exploded to reach 18.14 m – 59-6 1/4 – with just a slight aiding wind of 0.4 m/s. He fouled his other jumps, but who cared? His one fair jump moved him to no. 3 on the all-time list, behind only world-record holder Jonathan Edwards (GBR: 18.29 m/60-0 1/4 ‘95) and Taylor’s 18.21 m (59-9) World Championships winner from 2015.

And that was only one of two terrific marks for Claye on Saturday, jumping at the Jack Rose Track at Long Beach State. He also won the long jump with a wind-aided 8.21 m (26-11 1/4; +3.6 m/s).

There were other quality marks at this meet, including four-time World Champion Brittney Reese roaring to 6.95 m (22-9 3/4) in the long jump, second in the world for 2019, plus Brianna McNeal beating Queen Harrison, 12.71-12.76 in the 100 m hurdles, and McNeal winning the 100 m in 11.20.

In a small meet in Bottnaryd (SWE), discus star Daniel Stahl reached 71.86 m (235-9) for another Swedish national record and now stands equal-fourth all-time. It’s his second meet this season beyond 70 m (229-8) and he has assured everyone there is more coming!

In the IAAF Combined Events Challenge meet in Ratingen (GER) – the 23rd Stadtwerke Ratingen Mehrkampf-meeting – home favorite Kai Kazmirek won the decathlon and earned a place at the World Championships with 8,444 points, his best score in two years.

Just behind was France’s Basile Rolnin, who claimed a lifetime best at 8,205.

Austria’s Verena Preiner won the women’s heptathlon with not only a lifetime best, but a national record of 6,591, moving to no. 4 on the world list for 2019. She was on fire from the start, putting up personal bests in the 100 m hurdles (13.42), high jump (1.80 m/5-10 3/4), 200 m (23.96), javelin (49.58 m/162-8) and 800 m (2:07.74) on her way to the victory. Austria went 1-2 with Ivona Dadic scoring 6,461 for second, her second-best score ever. Summaries:

IAAF Combined Events Challenge
Ratingen (GER) ~ 29-30 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men/Decathlon: 1. Kai Kazmirek (GER), 8,444; 2. Basile Rolnin (FRA), 8,205; 3. Fredreich Pretorius (RSA), 7,872; 4. Dennis Hutterer (GER), 7,653; 5. Fynn Zenker (GER), 7,536.

Women/Heptathlon: 1. Verena Preiner (AUT), 6,591; 2. Ivona Dadic (AUT), 6,461; 3. Nadine Broersen (NED), 6,232; 4. Anna Maiwald (GER), 6,174; 5. Mareike Arndt (GER), 5,705.

TRIATHLON: Zaferes untouchable on the run and wins fourth race this season in Montreal Sprint

By
Rich Perelman
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World Champion: American triathlon star Katie Zaferes (Photo: ITU/Wagner Araujo)

Anyone leading a major women’s triathlon after the bike phase knows this: Katie Zaferes is coming.

An All-Big East steeplechaser at Syracuse, Zaferes showed once again her prowess on the streets of Montreal (CAN), posting the fastest time in the field by nine seconds (!) to overpower everyone and win her fourth World Series title in five races this season by a commanding 11 seconds in the shorter Sprint event, with a tremendous final lap in the 5 km run against Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown.

Zaferes now has a 4,925-4,170 lead over Jessica Learmonth (GBR) in the seasonal standings, with Taylor-Brown third at 3,925. Impressive, but hardly decisive with three events remaining.

The men’s race featured surprise winner Jelle Geens of Belgium, who not only won his first World Series gold, but also the first victory in series history for Belgium. He and training partner Mario Mola broke free of a pack with just 500 m to go on the run phase, despite a sudden rainstorm, and Geens managed to get to the finish line first.

Even with a silver, the race was highly encouraging for three-time defending World Series champion Mola, who had finished 26-29-29 in his last three races. He moved up from 13th to seventh in the overall standings.

The drenched crowd was happy, however, as Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk finished third and won his first-ever World Series medal! Summaries:

ITU World Series
Montreal (CAN) ~ 28-29 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men (Sprint): 1. Jelle Geens (BEL), 53:49; 2. Mario Mola (ESP), 53;50; 3. Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN), 53:53; 4. Richard Murray (RSA), 53:58; 5. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), 54:02. Also in the top 25: 12. Seth Rider (USA), 54:42; … 17. Tony Smoragiewicz (USA), 54:52; … 23. Ben Kanute (USA), 55:22.

Women (Sprint): 1. Katie Zaferes (USA), 58:15; 2. Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR), 58:26; 3. Jessica Learmonth (GBR), 58:49; 4. Alice Betto (ITA), 58:57; 5. Taylor Knibb (USA), 59:24. Also in the top 25: 15. Chelsea Burns (USA), 1:00:39.

FENCING: U.S. dominates Pan Am individual champs with five golds in six divisions

By
Rich Perelman
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American fencing star Race Imboden

Fans of American fencing saw familiar faces at the top of the podium at the Pan American Championships in Toronto (CAN) with U.S. stars earning five golds in the six divisions.

In fact, the U.S. claimed multiple medals in three divisions: men’s Foil and Sabre and women’s Sabre. World no. 1 Eli Dershwitz and 2016 Olympic silver winner Daryl Homer went 1-2 in the men’s Sabre and Ann-Elizabeth Stone and 2004-08 Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis were the finalists in the women’s Sabre.

Race Imboden, Alexander Massialas and Gerek Meinhardt won the gold and both bronze medals in the men’s Foil.

The U.S. women swept all three events, with Kelley Hurley winning the Epee and Nicole Ross taking the Foil title.

Imboden, Dershwitz and Hurley all defended their titles from 2018 and Imboden and Hurley won their third Pan Am titles in a row. Favored Ruben Limardo (VEN) won his second Epee title in the last three years.

The Pan Am Championships continue this week with the team competitions. Summaries:

Pan American Fencing Championships
Toronto (CAN) ~ 27 June-2 July 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Epee: 1. Ruben Limardo Gascon (VEN); 2; Jesus Limardo (VEN); 3. Yunior Reytor Venet (CUB) and Jose Felix Dominguez (ARG). Semis: Limardo Gascon d. Reytor Venet, 15-8; Limardo d. Dominguez, 15-12. Final: Limardo Gascon d. Limardo, 15-14.

Foil: 1. Race Imboden (USA); 2. Guilherme Toldo (BRA); 3. Alex Massialas (USA) and Gerek Meinhardt (USA). Semis: Imboden d. Meinhardt, 15-7; Toldo d. Massialas, 15-14. Final: Imboden d. Toldo, 15-4.

Sabre: 1. Eli Dershwitz (USA); 2. Daryl Homer (USA); 3. Joseph Polossifakis (CAN) and Pascual Maria di Tella (ARG). Semis: Homer d. Di Tella, 15-3; Dershwitz d. Polossifakis, 15-10. Final: Dershwitz d. Homer, 15-14.

Women

Epee: 1. Kelley Hurley (USA); 2. Maria Martinez (VEN); 3. Nathalie Moellhausen (BRA) and Maria Luisa Doig (PER). Semis: Hurley d. Moellhausen, 15-11; Martinez d. Doig, 15-9. Final: Hurley d. Martinez, 15-7.

Foil: 1. Nicole Ross (USA); 2. Jessica Guo (CAN); 3. Kelleigh Ryan (CAN) and Eleanor Harvey (CAN). Semis: Ross d. Harvey, 6-5; Guo d. Ryan, 165-10. Final: Ross d. Guo, 11-10.

Sabre: 1. Anne-Elizabeth Stone (USA); 2. Mariel Zagunis (USA); 3. Gabriella Page (CAN) and Maria Perez Maurice (ARG). Semis: Ross d. Perez Maurice, 15-11; Zagunis d. Page, 15-13. Final: Stone d. Zagunis, 15-14.

FOOTBALL: Listless Germany falls to Sweden, 2-1, as Dutch women also advance to semis

By
Rich Perelman
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Joy for Sweden's Sofia Jakobsson after scoring against Germany! (Photo: FIFA)

The all-European quarterfinals day at the 2019 Women’s World Cup turned out to be a stunner, with Sweden showing more emotion, drive and tactics to defeat Germany, 2-1, and advance to the semis against the Netherlands.

The Germans opened the scoring with a line drive from Lina Magull in the 17th minute, but Sweden tied it just five minutes later on a Sofia Jakobsson goal, following a long outlet pass that allowed Jakobsson to run past most of the German defense.

Before the match, Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson said, “We will probably have to accept that the ball possession is nothing we should try to win, but instead try to hurt them with deep balls and a lot of runs between their players to create chances, and then we need to be just as effective as we were against Canada.”

He was so right. After the Jakobsson goal, Germany had the ball, but Sweden had the chances on break-out after break-out. At the half, Germany had 57% of the possession, but the score (1-1) and the shots (6-6) were even.

The second half started as an extension of the first, with the Swedes attacking and Germany unable to get any meaningful chances. Then, a save by Germany’s Almuth Schult off of Fridolina Rolfo’s header left a rebound on front of the net and Stina Blackstenius tapped it in for a 2-1 lead just three minutes into the final period.

You would expect a furious response from Germany, but it never came. Increasingly desperate, there were more shots, but the Swedes were organized and as offensive-minded as the Germans. While the conditions may have been a factor – almost 90 degrees F at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes, it was the same for both sides, and the Germans just looked tired and almost uninterested.

Even with six minutes of stoppage time, it wasn’t enough for the favorites and the Swedes claimed a 2-1 win, their first over Germany in a major tournament in more than two decades.

The Germans ended with 59% possession, but only a 13-12 edge in shots and underlined how dangerous Sweden is in this tournament.

They will play the Netherlands, which dominated its quarter against punchless Italy, 2-0.

This game was scoreless through the first half, with the Dutch controlling the ball (60% possession) and getting off 15 shots to just four for Italy. The breakthough came in the 70th minute off a free kick from Sherida Spitse that was headed in by Vivianne Miedema for a 1-0 lead.

In the 80th minute, Spitse sent another free kick toward the Italian goal and this time it was Stefanie van der Gragt with the header for a 2-0 lead and safe passage to the semifinals. The Dutch ended with a 21-6 advantage in shots that was illustrative of the game as it was played.

The semifinals will be on 2 July (ENG-USA) and 3 July (NED-SWE), with the U.S. now an overwhelming favorite to win:

● 4/5 United States
● 4/1 England
● 5/1 Netherlands
● 15/2 Sweden

More fun with odds here.

SPEED READ: Headlines from The Sports Examiner for Friday, 28 June 2019

By
Rich Perelman
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Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened this week in Olympic sport:

LANE ONE

Wednesday: An insider’s view of athlete sponsorships from a four-time Olympic gold medalist, the person who recruits athlete endorsers for United Airlines and an athlete’s representative who has made deals for some of the biggest names in the Games. They had some good advice about what to do and deals to be made.

Friday: International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach of Germany came into office with the Olympic Movement courting disaster. But in the last five years, he has re-programmed the organization to avoid the descending-into-chaos scenario that many were sure the Olympic Movement was heading into. Kind of like how Starfleet Academy cadet Jim Kirk – before he became the captain of the Enterprise – solved the no-win scenario of the Kobayashi Maru exercise!

THE BIG PICTURE

Tuesday: On Monday, the International Olympic Committee rejected sentimentalism and chose the much better Milan-Cortina bid for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Meanwhile, at the Sports Summit, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti forecast a 2028 Olympic organizing committee surplus of more than $1 billion (yes, Billion!).

Thursday: The International Olympic Committee passed all of the recommended reforms proposed, including removing AIBA from the 2020 Olympic Boxing tournament, changing the shape of Olympic bidding for the future, confirming the four sports requested by Paris 2024, including Break Dancing!

ATHLETICS

Wednesday: More world-leading marks in the men’s javelin and women’s 200 m, plus a double win for sprinter Matthew Boling at the U.S. Junior Champs. And, finally, it was confirmed that former IAAF chief Lamine Diack (SEN) will go on trial in France for corruption and money-laundering later this year. Oh yes, and more doping positives!

Friday: The Pre Classic moves from Eugene to Stanford this year, with a great meet ahead on Sunday. Coleman or Gatlin in the 100? Norman vs. Kerley, Montgomery and Merritt in the 400! Shelley-Anne Fraser-Pryce vs. Sha’Carri Richardson in the women’s 100! Ryan Crouser! Mondo Duplantis vs. everyone in the vault, and what will Caster Semenya do? We have a full preview.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Thursday: The FIVB World Championships start in Hamburg (GER) on Friday and carry on for 10 days. Norwegian and German pairs are favored, but the U.S. has two top-eight seeds on the men’s side and one on the women’s.

FOOTBALL

Wednesday: Europe’s domination of the Women’s World Cup in France was confirmed with seven of the eight quarter-finalists; only the U.S. managed to get by a European opponent and just by 2-1 over Spain. The match of the tournament comes Friday as the U.S. plays France in Paris in what might be the de facto World Cup title match!

Wednesday: The U.S. men defeated Panama, 1-0, to win its group in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and advance to Sunday’s quarterfinal against Curacao. It wasn’t artistic, but Jozy Altidore’s game-winning finish on the lone goal of the game certainly was!

Friday: The U.S. women squeezed by France, 2-1, in the much-anticipated Women’s World Cup quarterfinal, thanks to two Megan Rapinoe goals and especially thanks to great team defense that frustrated the French all game long.

MODERN PENTATHLON

Thursday: Sterling field for the World Cup Final in Tokyo, with Olympic qualification spots for the men’s and women’s winners, and the top 10-ranked men and women all in the fields.

TRIATHLON

Thursday: ITU World Series continued with a Sprint in Montreal, with France’s Vincent Luis and American Katie Zaferes trying to protect their series leads.

PREVIEWS

● Canoe-Kayak: World Cup Slalom season continues at Tacen in Slovenia
● Fencing: Largest tournament in the world – the U.S. Nationals – start in Columbus

UPCOMING

Highlights of the coming week, with previews in the coming days on TheSportsExaminer.com:

● Athletics: IAAF Diamond League returns to Europe with Athletissima in Lausanne

● Cycling: The Tour de France begins its three-week adventure on 6 July!

● Volleyball: The U.S. women are co-favorites to defend their Nations League title in China.

And a look at the IOC’s finances as revealed in its annual report.

ATHLETICS: Coleman, Norman, Benjamin, Crouser, Thompson all to be challenged at the Pre Classic at Stanford

By
Rich Perelman
-

After a week off, the IAAF Diamond League ramps up with four meets in four weeks, starting with the Nike Prefontaine Classic, held this year at Stanford’s Cobb Track and Angell Field, while a new Hayward Field is being built.

It’s the only Diamond League meet in the U.S. and has a sensational cast for 2019. Expected highlights:

● Men/100 m:
A preview of the U.S. Nationals in Des Moines, with Christian Coleman (9.85 world leader) facing World Champion Justin Gatlin (10.00 so far in 2019), Michael Rodgers (10.00), Cameron Burrell (10.12) and Cravon Gillespie, who exploded at the NCAA meet to run 9.93 for second. Is Gatlin – at 37 – still in the mix? Will Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (9.97) or Jamaica’s Tyquendo Tracey (10.00) surprise everyone?

● Men/400 m:
Is Michael Norman the all-conquering superstar he has looked like in running 43.45 at the Mt. SAC Relays in April? He will get another stern test, running against current and former NCAA champs like Fred Kerley (44.81 this season) and Kahmari Montgomery (44.23), along with returning 2008 Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt. Now 33 – his birthday was 27 June – Merritt hasn’t run a competitive 400 m since bowing out in the 2017 Worlds semis in London. A world-class talent since 2004, is he finished, or is there more in the tank?

● Men/400 m hurdles:
Rai Benjamin was second to Abderrahmane Samba (QAT) in shanghai in May (47.80) and won in Rome in 47.58 in his two meets this season. Now he’s running at home against a good field that includes 2016 Olympic champ Kerron Clement (USA), American T.J. Holmes, Kyron McMaster (IVB) and Turkey’s Yasmani Copello. Something special this time?

● Men/Pole Vault:
All the stars are here, with the 2012 Olympic gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie (FRA), 2016 Olympic champ Thiago Braz (BRA), 2017 World Champion Sam Kendricks (USA), world leader Mondo Duplantis (SWE: 6.00 m/19-8 1/4) and NCAA champ Chris Nilsen (USA: 5.95 m/19-6 1/4). Nilsen has won nine competitions in a row, beating Kendricks at the Drake Relays and Duplantis at the NCAAs.

● Men/Shot Put:
Rio Olympic champ Ryan Crouser has won all seven of its meets this season and has been over 22.00 m (72-2 1/4) in six of them. Except for the Doha Diamond League win, he’s competed only in the U.S. The top four on the world list are entered, with Tom Walsh (NZL) standing second at 22.27 m (73-0 3/4).

● Women/100 m:
This is not a Diamond League event, but it is one of the most intriguing. New sensation Sha’Carri Richardson (10.75) is here, as is 2008-12 Olympic champ Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who co-leads the world list at 10.73. Last year’s top star, Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV) is in, as is American Aleia Hobbs (11.03 in 2019). But there will be a lot of interest in two recovering Americans: 2017 World Champion Tori Bowie and 2016 Olympian English Gardner. Will either be contenders when the U.S. Trials come in July?

● Women/200 m:
After suffering with injuries, Jamaica’s double Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson is suddenly the world leader in both the 100 and 200m after her sensational 10.73/22.00 double at the Jamaican Nationals. She will face a formidable field in European champ Dina Asher-Smith (GBR: 22.18 this season), World Champion Dafne Schippers (NED: 22.78), 400 m star Salwa Eid Naser (BRN: 22.56), American Jenna Prandini (22.53) and others.

● Women/800 m:
Twice Olympic champ Caster Semenya (RSA) is here, ready to run, but also waiting for the decision of the Swiss Federal Tribunal on her appeal from the IAAF’s hydrodrogenism rules. She won her only 800 m race of the season in Doha in 1:54.98, by far the world leader. The only one anywhere close is American Ajee Wilson (1:57.98) from her third in Doha. But will Semenya try to run after the world record?

● Women’s 1,500 m:
Although not part of the Diamond League program, a terrific race is assured with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay (3:57.40 in 2019) facing off against Britain’s Laura Muir (3:56.73), Rababe Arafi (MAR: 4:01.15) and others. But this will be the outdoor debut for American Shelby Houlihan, who won at Pre last year in 3:59.06, announcing her arrival on the world stage. She will likely have to run faster on Sunday to win again.

● Women/3,000 m:
Another great field, including the return of Rio Olympic 10,000 m champ Almaz Ayana (ETH), who hasn’t been seen on the track since the 2017 World Championships. She will have to deal with Hellen Obiri, who beat Ayana in the 2017 Worlds 5,000 m and took the 2019 World Cross Country title. Then there is Sifan Hassan (NED), who knows the Stanford track well, having set a 10,000 m best in the Payton Jordan Invite back in early May. There are a host of other quality entries, but can anyone beat Obiri?

● Women/3,000 m Steeplechase:
As usual, the field is too big at 17 runners, but this is a great field, starting with the world-record holder, Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN: 8:44.32); the World Champion, Emma Coburn (USA); the 2017 Worlds silver medalist, Courtney Frerichs (USA); the 2015 World champ, Hyvin Kiyeng (KEN); and the no. 3 performer all-time, Cellphine Chespol (KEN: 8:58.78). Five of the top seven in history are here, including Norah Jeruto, who won the Diamond League race at Bislett Games in Oslo in 9:03.71.

● Women/High Jump:
With Russia’s dominant Mariya Lasitskene – the world leader at 2.06 m (6-9) – headlining this field, the question is about American Vashti Cunningham. She’s won all six of her meets this season, but hasn’t left the U.S. At 1.97 m (6-5 1/2) this season and a lifetime best of 1.99 m (6-6 1/4) from 2017, is this time for a PR?

● Women/Shot:
The top four on the world list are in: China’s Lijiao Gong (19.84 m/65-1 1/4), American Chase Ealey (19.67 m/64-6 1/2); Danniel Thomas-Dodd (JAM: 19.48 m/63-11) and German Christina Schwanitz (19.23m/63-1 1/4). Add in 2016 Rio winner Michelle Carter and this is essentially a preview of the Doha Worlds.

The facility, originally opened in 1935, normally seats 2,158, but seats have been added for this meet. The program begins with the men’s vault at 12:43 p.m. on Sunday and NBC has coverage from 1-3 p.m. Look for results here.

FOOTBALL: U.S. defense frustrates France and two Rapinoe goals move U.S. to semis, 2-1

By
Rich Perelman
-
Megan Rapinoe of the U.S. scores the game-winner vs. France in Paris (Photo: FIFA)

The cliche is “defense wins championships” and it was the much-maligned American defense which held up and allowed the U.S. to defeat France, 2-1, in an intense quarterfinal in Paris in what could be the deciding game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Megan Rapinoe scored a stunning goal in the fifth minute on a free kick that curved through the legs of at least two players and flew into the French net for a 1-0 lead that looked like it might be the only score of the game.

The French attack, which had been effective in each of its games through the tournament, was frustrated by a close, organized U.S. defense that had all 11 players in front of the ball on many plays. Even though the French had most of the possession, they could not finish and, in fact, all six of its first-half shots were away from the U.S. goal.

The U.S. started hot in the second half, with shows from Sam Mewis, then Tobin Heath and then Alex Morgan off of a corner, but the French established control again and played most of the half in the U.S. end. But they couldn’t finish.

In the 65th minute, a Morgan pass from midfield found Heath running free on the right sideline and her cross to the center of the box whizzed by Mewis and there was Rapinoe again, scoring with a laser in the 65th minute for a 2-0 lead.

Surely, the game was over, right? It looked like it in the 75th minute, when Heath scored, but the U.S. was offsides.

Finally, the French connected on a free kick which was perfectly placed for 6-1 Wendie Renard to head the ball past U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher to cut the lead to 2-1. But the remaining 20 minutes – including stoppage time – were a continued exercise in frustration for the French, thanks to the tight American defense and miss after miss on connecting passes and free kicks.

France had a 60-40 edge in possession and a 20-10 edge on shots, but only five were on target vs. eight for the U.S. It is true that the French were not sharp in the attacking area, but the U.S. defense, which had struggled with its defense all during the run-up to the World Cup, played brilliantly on the flanks, especially Kelley O’Hara and Crystal Dunn, whose speed was key in stopping promising attacks, especially down the left side.

The game drew the largest crowd of the tournament so far, with 45,995 packed into the Parc des Princes in Paris.

The win gets the U.S. a date on Tuesday with England, which looked great in its 3-0 win over Norway yesterday, and preserves the American streak of making the semifinals in all eight Women’s World Cups.

The other two semifinals will be played tomorrow, with Italy and the Netherlands in the first game and Germany and Sweden in the second.

More on the tournament here.

LANE ONE: IOC chief Thomas Bach channels Star Trek’s Captain Kirk to defeat the Olympic version of the Kobayashi Maru

By
Rich Perelman
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William Shatner as the legendary Captain James T. Kirk (at left) of Star Trek fame, and IOC President Thomas Bach of Germany

Fans of the Star Trek storyline know the reference immediately: the Starfleet Academy exercise in which the freighter Kobayashi Maru is marooned in the Klingon Neutral Zone and the cadets have to decide whether to rescue the ship and crew – and be destroyed by the Klingons – or leave the ship to its fate, likely its destruction and the death of its crew.

The “no-win” scenario was only defeated by one cadet: the future captain of the Enterprise, James T. Kirk. After “failing” the test twice, cadet Kirk reprogrammed the simulator so that the freighter could be saved.

Cheating? According to the movie, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Kirk was commended for original thinking.

Fast forward to 2019 and the same could be said for International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER). In the face of “insurmountable problems,” he has – in effect – re-programmed the Olympic Movement.

Back on 30 April, a story in the English-language Rio Times was headlined “After Rio 2016, are the Summer Olympics doomed?” and noted that “Potential host cities, or their taxpayers, have determined that the increasingly exorbitant Olympic price-tag is simply not a good investment. The costs – social, economic and political – almost always outweigh the benefits.”

The Rio experience, a product of the bid process under Bach’s predecessor, Jacques Rogge (BEL), was difficult and continued to be a problem, with the head of the organizing committee on trial for corruption and massive legacy issues with multiple venues.

Bach saw this and began changing the paradigm almost immediately upon taking office. Many of the results are in, and after five years, the situation looks a lot different:

● Financial ruin for the organizing committee and the local/regional/national governments guaranteeing the Games? The IOC is now promising – in writing – cash and in-kind support of at least $1.8 billion to organizing committees for the summer Games, and heavy oversight to pressure organizing committees to keep costs down.

● The risk of financial disaster for local governments who have guaranteed the cost of the Games? The IOC has narrowed its requirements, no longer an iron-clad promise to pay all costs, but those in specific areas, tailored to the nature of the Games as projected to be organized.

● The strong preference of the IOC and the International Federations for new construction for Olympic venues? Gone: the IOC now insists on existing facilities and if none exist, temporary sites … unless a facility is already planned to be built.

● The need for a single city to be the host of the Games? Eliminated: the Olympic Charter was changed to allow a Games host to be a city, a region or even multiple countries if it makes sense.

● Exorbitant costs for bidding for the Games? The IOC trimmed the costs of bidding significantly, providing expertise that reduced the cost of consultants to help bidding cities and narrowing the contact possibilities so that the cost of staff and travel to faraway locations was reduced to a fraction of the prior amount.

● An expensive and anxiety-filled race to the finish of the bid process, with one or more cities walking away with nothing? The newest reforms to the bidding process create an open dialogue with commissions of IOC members that can result – and likely will – in the confirmation of a single bid presented to the IOC membership. Instead of ballots, a show of hands may be all that is needed to elect as host city, as was done for Paris for 2024 and Los Angeles for 2028.

● Continuing rejection of the Games by voters via referenda? Those will continue, but the IOC off-loaded this responsibility to any city/region/country that wants to host a Games, suggesting that any necessary voting on whether to bid should be done before the IOC’s new commissions certify a bid is worthy of actual consideration. Now, the impact of a loss in a public vote on whether to bid is only local and kills off a bid which is not yet “real” in the IOC’s terms.

● No viable host for the Games when the time for selection comes? There is no time for selection now. For decades, it was six years before the Games, then moved – in 1981 – to seven years out to allow for construction. Now, the new rules allow the IOC to select a host whenever it wants, with predictions from senior IOC members that the 2030 Winter Games could be chosen in 2021 and even a 2032 Olympic Games as early as next year!

● What about the old-boy networks and bad governance beyond the IOC, especially in the International Federations? The IOC threatened wrestling and weightlifting with bans from the Games, and both federations changed. The IOC did the same with boxing’s AIBA, and when not satisfied with its reforms, removed it from governance of the Olympic boxing tournament for 2020. As a result, the AIBA may fold, or be completely overhauled.

And Bach went further. Thanks to a German cartel-court decision that called out the IOC’s restrictions on athlete communications during the Games period as over-broad, a change was suddenly approved earlier this week that opened the door to much more liberty for athletes supported by commercial interests not affiliated with the organizing committee, the IOC or the local National Olympic Committees.

The long-in-force rule – the infamous By-law 3 to Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter – read: “Except as permitted by the IOC Executive Board, no competitor, team official or other term personnel who participate in the Olympic Games may allow his person, name, picture or sports performances to be used for advertising purposes during the Olympic Games.”

The new text says “Competitors, team officials and other team personnel who participate in the Olympic Games may allow their person, name, picture or sports performances to be used for advertising purposes during the Olympic Games in accordance with the principles determined by the IOC Executive Board.”

Those guidelines are yet to be issued, so the issue is still to be detailed, but this is a sea-change for the IOC, but hands the ball principally to the National Olympic Committees to determine what is allowed. Said Bach in a statement, “The amendments of the Olympic Charter made today show a clear demonstration of the new approach of the IOC, which is based on openness and flexibility, without infringing the existing agreements. We want to look at this in a positive way and we want to be as liberal as possible without affecting the sponsorships contracts of the NOCs. We are protecting them and that’s why we don’t have a one size fits all solution. I don’t think such a solution exists.”

The IOC elected 10 new members this week; nine of which are from outside Europe and four of which were women. The days of the all-white, mostly-European IOC are ending.

Critics of the IOC don’t want to hear about this, but Bach is creating a new IOC for the 21st Century, re-programming what had been described as an unchanging and unchangeable organization wedded to the past.

Bach saw the need to change in order for the IOC to survive, in effect, for the sustainability of the organization and the Olympic Games. There are problems ahead, but the new thinking is already spreading to the sponsorship realm, where Coca-Cola teamed with the Mengniu Chinese dairy – in the first-ever multi-firm agreement – to reserve the beverages category from 2021-2032. Don’t think both companies weren’t well aware of the new environment in which they would be working … and have embraced it.

In the Star Trek world, Jim Kirk went on to a legendary career after finding a way to change the outcome of the Kobayashi Maru test. Bach’s renovation efforts in the Olympic Movement are helping to ensure the future of that franchise as well.

Rich Perelman
Editor

FENCING Preview: Largest tournament in the world – the U.S. National Championships – getting started in Columbus

By
Rich Perelman
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World 2013 Foil Champion Miles Chamley-Watson of the U.S. (Photo: Marie-Lan Nguyen via Wikimedia Commons)

USA Fencing can rightly be proud that more than 5,400 fencers from 48 states and 20 foreign nations are gathering in Columbus, Ohio for competitions in 94 divisions for fencers from age seven to 85.

The elite American fencers are mostly at the Pan American Championships in Toronto (CAN), but there are some notable entries in Columbus. They start with 2013 World Foil Champion Miles Chamley-Watson, 2016 Epee Olympian and 2015 National Champion Jason Pryor and Chloe Fox-Gitomer, ranked 25th in the world in women’s Sabre by the FIE.

The top seeds in each senior division:

● Men/Epee: Division I ~ 28 June
1. Alen Hadzic
2. Justin Yoo
3. Dylan Nollner
+ Ben Bratton (4) ~ 2017 National Champion
+ Dennis Kraft (16) ~ 2018 National Champion
+ Jack Bradford (54) ~ 2016 National Champion

● Men/Foil: Division I ~ 2 July
1. Miles Chamley-Watson ~ 2013 World Champion
2. Adam Mathieu ~ 2019 National Champion (April)
3. Sidarth Kumbla ~ 2018 World Junior bronze medalist
+ Sam Moelis (5) ~ 2015 National Champion

● Men/Sabre: Division I ~ 30 June
1. Kamar Skeete
2. Peter Souders
3. Andrew Mackiewicz ~ 2018 Pan American bronze medalist
+ Mitchell Saron (5) ~ 2019 National Champion (April)

● Women/Epee: Division I ~ 30 June
1. Isis Washington ~ 2019 National Champion (April)
2. Emily Vermeule ~ 2018 World Cadet Championships silver medalist
3. Greta Candreva

● Women/Foil: Division I ~ 28 June
1. Nicole Pustilnik
2. Maia Weintraub ~ 2019 National Champion (April)
3. May Tieu ~ 2018 World Cadet Championships silver medalist

● Women/Sabre: Division I ~ 1 July
1. Chloe Fox-Gitomer ~ 2018 Pan American bronze medalist
2. Nora Burke
3. Elizabeth Tartakovsky

Look for results here.

TRIATHLON Preview: Luis and Zaferes lead the 2019 World Series heading into Montreal’s Sprint

By
Rich Perelman
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An ITU World Series title coming for American Katie Zaferes? (Photo: ITU)

The second sprint race of the 2019 ITU World Series season comes this weekend in Montreal (CAN), with Vincent Luis (FRA) and Katie Zaferes of the U.S. trying to hold on to their leads in the men’s and women’s divisions.

The course includes a 750 m swim, 20 km bike phase and 5 km run, half the distances of the traditional Olympic course. The series leaders heading into this week:

● Men:
1. 3,200 Vincent Luis (FRA)
2. 2,678 Henri Schoeman (RSA)
3. 2,605 Fernando Alarza (ESP)
4. 2,572 Javier Gomez Noya (ESP)
5. 1,993 Alex Yee (GBR)

● Women:
1. 3,925 Katie Zaferes (USA)
2. 3,314 Jessica Learmonth (GBR)
3. 3,249 Taylor Spivey (USA)
4. 3,000 Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR)
5. 2,435 Non Stanford (GBR)

This week’s race is the fifth of eight on the calendar for 2019. In the other Sprint event – the opener in Abu Dhabi (UAE), Mario Mola (ESP) won over new find Yee, while Zaferes led a 1-2 U.S. finish ahead of Spivey.

In fact, Zaferes has dominated the women’s tour so far, winning the first three races and finishing second to Taylor-Brown in Leeds (GBR). Zaferes has now medaled in six straight World Cup races over the last two seasons and 10 of the last 11! Behind her, Learmonth has won three medals over the first four races and Spivey has won two.

In the men’s division, only Spain’s Javier Gomez has more than one medal, and the last race in Leeds was won by first-time World Cup gold medalist Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) and first-time medalist Matt McElroy of the U.S., the first World Cup medal for an American man in 10 years.

The other question is what’s happened to Mario Mola? The three-time defending World Series champ won in Abu Dhabi, but has since finished 26-29-29 and now stands 13th in the overall standings. Injured? Tired? Waiting to pounce?

Mola won last year in Montreal ahead of Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), while Vicky Holland (GBR ~ not competing this week) won for the women, ahead of Zaferes and Taylor-Brown.

Look for results here.

CANOE-KAYAK Preview: Fox still looking for first win as Slalom World Cup visits Tacen

By
Rich Perelman
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2015 World K-1 Slalom Champion Jiri Prskavec (CZE). (Photo: Martin Dvoracek via Wikimedia Commons)

The third of five legs in the 2019 ICF Slalom World Cup is being readied in Ljubljana (SLO), at the famed Tacen Whitewater Course. The competition through the first two legs has been fierce, with no one winning both!

The current standings (scoring 60-55-50 for the top three and then varies by event):

● Men/C-1:
1. 99 Matej Benus (SVK) ~ 2016 Olympic silver; 2011 Worlds bronze; Bratislava silver
2. 98 Franz Anton (GER) ~ 2018 World Champion; Bratislava winner
3. 96 Luka Bozic (SLO) ~ Third in Bratislava
4. 72 Casey Eichfeld (USA) ~ Fourth in Bratislava
5. 70 Benjamin Savsek (SLO) ~ 2017 World Champion; 2014-15 Worlds silvers

● Men/K-1:
1. 99 Jiri Prskavec (CZE) ~ 2015 World Champion; Lee Valley runner-up
2. 96 Michal Pasiut (POL) ~ Bratislava runner-up
3. 90 Hannes Aigner (GER) ~ 2018 World Champion; Lee Valley bronze
4. 85 Andrej Malek (SVK) ~ Bratislava winner
5. 82 Peter Kauzer (SLO) ~ 2009 & 2011 World Champion; 2016 Olympic silver

● Women/C-1:
1. 100 Claire Jacquet (FRA) ~ Bratislava winner
2. 88 Andrea Herzog (GER)
3. 82 Jessica Fox (AUS) ~ 2013-14-15-18 World Champion; Lee Valley bronze
4. 73 Lucie Baudu (FRA)
5. 70 Sophie Ogilve (GBR)

● Women/K-1:
1. 105 Ricarda Funk (GER) ~ 2015 Worlds silver; Lee Valley silver; Bratislava bronze
2. 92 Jessica Fox (AUS) ~ 2014-17-18 World Champion; Lee Valley bronze
3. 92 Corinna Kuhnle (AUT) ~ 2010-11 World Champion; Bratislava winner
4. 88 Maialen Chorraut (ESP) ~ 2016 Olympic gold; 2009 Worlds silver; 2011 bronze
5. 79 Luuka Jones (NZL) ~ 2016 Olympic silver; Bratislava silver

Britain’s Mallory Franklin, who posted a rare double in winning both the C-1 and K-1 at Lee Valley, is skipping this week’s event. Fox has a streak of at least one World Cup win over the past six seasons going – 2013-14-15-16-17-18 – but is still looking for her first this year.

Look for results here.

MODERN PENTATHLON Preview: Superstar field assembled for World Cup Final in Tokyo

By
Rich Perelman
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Great Britain's 2018 World Champion James Cooke (Photo: UIPM/Virag Buza)

Two Olympic qualifying places will be on the line at the 2020 Olympic venue, the AGF Field within the Tokyo Stadium complex at Musashino Forest, for the 2019 UIPM World Cup Final this weekend.

The World Cup Final has a limited competition for the top 36 performers – men and women – in the World Cup standings. The entire top 10 in the UIPM World Rankings are all in:

● Men’s World Rankings:
1. Valentin Prades (FRA) ~ 2018 World Championships silver medalist
2. Jan Kuf (CZE) ~ 2014 World Championships bronze medalist
3. James Cooke (GBR) ~ 2018 World Champion
4. Joseph Choong (GBR) ~ 2019 World Cup: two silver medals
5. Pavlo Tymoshchenko (UKR) ~ 2015 World Champion; 2016 Olympic silver
6. Patrick Dogue (GER)
7. Ahmed Elgendy (EGY) ~ 2019 Cairo World Cup winner
8. Valentin Belaud (FRA) ~ 2016 World Champion
9. Linbin Zhang (CHN)
10. Adam Marosi (HUN) ~ 2009 World Champion; 2011 Worlds bronze; 2012 OG bronze

● Women’s World Rankings:
1. Marie Oteiza (FRA) ~ 2018 World Championships bronze medalist
2. Uliana Batashova (RUS) ~ 2019 Cairo World Cup winner
3. Sarolta Kovacs (HUN) ~ 2016 World Champion; 2018 World Cup Final runner-up
4. Anastasiya Prokopenko (BLR) ~ 2018 World Champion; 2017 Worlds bronze
5. Annika Schleu (GER) ~ 2018 World Championships silver medalist
6. Kate French (GBR) ~ 2019 Prague World Cup winner
7. Tamara Alekszejev (HUN) ~ 2017 World Cup Final winner
8. Ilke Ozyuksel (TUR) ~ 2019 Szekesfehervar World Cup runner-up
9. Gulnaz Gubaydullina (RUS) ~ 2017 World Champion
10. Mayan Oliver (MEX)

In addition, 2012 Olympic gold medalist Laura Asadauskaite of Lithuania and 2016 champion Alexander Lesun of Russia are also entered; in all, there are nine entrants who have won a World Championships gold medal!

The women’s final will be on 28 June, the men on 29 June and the Mixed Relay on 30 June. Look for results here.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL Preview: Mol/Sorum and Ittlinger/Laboureur top-seeded in FIVB Worlds in Hamburg

By
Rich Perelman
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The 12th FIVB World Beach Volleyball Championships returns to Germany for the first time since 2005 – this time in Hamburg – with 48 men’s and women’s teams ready to compete. The Worlds are held every two years.

The tournament will feature pool play from the 28th into the 2 July for the women, and then playoffs with 32 teams from the second through 6 July for the final matches. The men’s pool play will run from 28 June into 3 July, with playoffs from the 3rd through the 7th. The top seeds:

Men:
1. Anders Mol/Christian Sorum (NOR) ~ 5 FIVB World Tour wins this season
2. Grzegorz Fijalek/Michal Bryl (POL) ~ 3 World Tour medals this season
3. Oleg Stoyanovskiy/Viacheslav Krasilnikov (RUS) ~ The Hague & Xiamen Open winners
4. Cherif Younousse/Ahmed Tijan (QAT) ~ Xiamen Open bronze medalists
5. Konstantin Semenov/Ilya Leshukov (RUS) ~ Yangzhou Open winners
6. Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena (USA) ~ Dalhausser: 2007 World Champion
7. Jacob Gibb/Taylor Crabb (USA)
8. Paolo Nicolai/Daniele Lupo (ITA)

Women:
1. Sandra Ittlinger/Chantal Labroureur (GER)
2. Katharina Schutzenhofer/Lena Plesiutschnig (AUT)
3. Heather Bansley/Brandie Wilkerson (CAN) ~ Las Vegas & Chetumai Open winners
4. Ana Patricia Silva Ramos/Rebecca Cavalcanti (BRA) ~ Qinzhou & The Hague winners
5. Alix Klineman/April Ross (USA) ~ Itapema Open winners
6. Agatha Bednarczuk/Duda Lisboa (BRA) ~ Ostrava Open winners
7. Taliqua Clancy/Mariafe Artacho (AUS) ~ Warsaw Open winners
8. Sanne Keizer/Madelein Meppelink (NED) ~ Ostrava Open bronze medalists

Czech stars Barbora Hermannova suffered a right toe injury and she and Marketa Slulova – the no. 2 seeds – had to withdraw.

Brazilian teams have won the men’s title in seven of the 11 prior editions, and three of the last four. In the women’s tournament, Brazilian pairs have won five titles and U.S. pairs have won four. Even more impressive: Brazilian men have won medals in 10 of the 11 Worlds; Brazilian women have won medals in all of them!

There is $1 million in total prize money in this tournament, with $60,000 to the men’s and women’s winners, then $45,000-35,000-28,000 for 2nd-3rd-4th and on down to $3,400 for places 37-48. Look for match schedules and results here.

STAT PACK: Results for the week of 17-23 June 2019

By
Rich Perelman
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The Stat Pack: a summary of results of international Grand Prix, World Cup and World Championships events, plus U.S. domestic events and Pan American championships events of note.

In this week’s issue are reports on nine events in eight sports:

● Athletics: IAAF Combined Events Challenge: Decastar in Talence
● Athletics: USATF Junior Championships in Miramar
● Basketball: FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Amsterdam
● Beach Volleyball: FIVB World U-21 Beach Championships in Udonthani
● Canoe-Kayak: ICF Slalom World Cup II in Bratislava
● Cycling: MWT: Tour de Suisse
● Golf : Women: KPMG PGA Championship in Chaska
● Rowing: FISA World Cup 2 in Poznan
● Shooting: USA Shooting National Championships/Skeet in Colorado Springs

plus our calendar of upcoming events through 15 July. Click below for the PDF:

[wpdm_package id=14436 template=”link-template-button-popup.php”]

FOOTBALL: Gold Cup group stage finishes with Mexico, Haiti and U.S. perfect, as U.S. beats Panama, 1-0

By
Rich Perelman
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In front of a boisterous crowd in Kansas City, the U.S. men ran out an entirely new line-up and came away with a 1-0 win over Panama to close out Gold Cup group play.

The U.S. controlled most of the game, but couldn’t get a goal. In the 66th minute, midfield star Christian Pulisic was inserted into the game and on the next play, a corner kick from Djordje Mihailovic was headed into the box, flew off the heads of Panama defenders Fidel Escobar and Kevin Galvan and then Jozy Altidore executed a perfect bicycle kick for the game’s only score.

The U.S. improved to 14-1-6 vs. Panama all-time and 6-1-4 in the Gold Cup.

The victory left the U.S., Haiti and Mexico as the only perfect teams left in the tournament, now headed into the quarterfinals. The group stage (records are W-L-T):

● Group A: 1. Mexico, 9 points (3-0); 2. Canada, 6 (2-1); 3. Martinique, 3 (1-2); 4. Cuba, 0 (0-3).

● Group B: 1. Haiti, 9 (3-0); 2. Costa Rica, 6 (2-1); 3. Bermuda, 3 (1-2); 4. Nicaragua, 0 (0-3)

● Group C: 1. Jamaica, 5 (1-0-2); 2. Curacao, 4 (1-1-1); 3. El Salvador, 4 (1-1-1); 4. Honduras, 3 (1-2)

● Group D: 1. United States, 9 (3-0); 2. Panama, 6 (2-1); 3. Guyana, 1 (0-2-1); 4. Trinidad & Tobago, 1 (0-2-1).

The U.S. was especially impressive as the only team to shut out all three opponents and had 11-0 goal differential, the best in group play; Mexico was +10 with 13 scored and three allowed.

The quarters:

● 29 June: Haiti vs. Canada and Mexico vs. Costa Rica in Houston
● 30 June: Jamaica vs. Panama and U.S. vs. Curacao in Philadelphia

The semis will be on 2-3 July and the final on 7 July in Chicago.

Look for results and statistics here.

FENCING Preview: U.S. favored in five of six events in Pan American Champs in Toronto

By
Rich Perelman
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American Sabre star Eli Dershwitz

A powerful U.S. team is in Toronto for the Pan American Championships starting on Thursday, including no. 1-ranked Eli Dershwitz and eight top-10-ranked sword stars for individual and team events.

Five of the six events have the U.S. as the first and second-ranked entries:

● Men/Epee:
4. Ruben Limardo Gascon (VEN) ~ 2018 silver medalist
8. Jacob Hoyle (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
9. Curtis McDowald (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
17 Jesus Andres Lugones Ruggeri (ARG) ~ Defending champion
33 John Edison Rodriguez (COL)

● Men/Foil:
2. Race Imboden (USA) ~ Defending champion
6. Gerek Meinhardt (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
12 Alex Massialas (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
17 Nick Itkin (USA)
22 Maximillien Van Haaster (CAN) ~ 2018 silver medalist

● Men/Sabre:
1. Eli Dershwitz (USA) ~ Defending champion
16 Daryl Homer (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
24 Shaul Gordon (CAN) ~ 2018 silver medalist
45 Stefano Ivan Lucchetti (ARG)
51 Eliecer Romero (VEN)

● Women/Epee:
8. Courtney Hurley (USA)
10 Kelley Hurley (USA) ~ Defending champion
26 Nathalie Moellhausen (ARG)
27 Isabel Di Tella (ARG) ~ 2018 silver medalist
28 Katharine Holmes (USA)

● Women/Foil:
4. Lee Kiefer (USA) ~ Defending champion
14 Nzingha Prescod (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
16 Nicole Ross (USA) ~ 2018 bronze medalist
22 Eleanor Harvey (CAN)
28 Kelleigh Ryan (CAN) ~ 2018 silver medalist

● Women/Sabre:
7. Anne-Elizabeth Stone (USA) ~ 2018 silver medalist
15 Dagmara Wozniak (USA) ~ Defending champion
28 Aleksandra Shelton (USA)
35 Maria Belen Perez Maurice (ARG)
47 Alejandra Benitez Romero (VEN)

The individual competitions will be held from 27-29 June and the team events from 30 June-2 July. Look for results here.

ATHLETICS Panorama: More world leaders for Kirt and Thompson; 100-200 double for Matthew Boling at U.S. Juniors

By
Rich Perelman
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Strake Jesuit's sprint star Matthew Boling

The Diamond League won’t resume until this coming Sunday at Stanford, but there was more action over last weekend:

● Estonia’s Magnus Kirt grabbed the world lead in the javelin back in a meet at Kuortane (FIN), setting another national record at 90.61 m (297-3), winning by more than 12 feet!

● Jamaica’s 2016 Olympic champ Elaine Thompson grabbed the 200 m world lead in addition to her 100 m win at the Jamaican nationals, winning in 22.00 over Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce, whose 22.22 stands no. 5 on the year list. For Fraser-Pryce, that’s her fastest 200 m since 2013.

● Venezuela’s reigning World Champion in the women’s triple jump, Yulimar Rojas, claimed the world lead with a win at 15.06 m (49-2 1/2) at a meet in Huelva (ESP) on 20 June.

● At the USA Track & Field Junior (U-20) Nationals in Miramar, Florida, Texas prep sprint star Matthew Boling was – as expected – the headliner. He won the 100 m in a wind-aided 10.15 (10.13w in his heat) and the 200 m in a legal 20.36, no. 2 on the World Junior list for 2019. He also finished third in the long jump at 7.71 m (25-3 1/2). You can see the full results here.

Former IAAF President Lamine Diack (SEN) will be tried in France on charges of corruption and money laundering.

After four years of inquiry, during which time Diack has been under house arrest, the French authorities have built a case around bribes paid by Russian athletes to cover-up their doping positives.

Part of the 19 June order to trial seen by the Agence France Presse included “The freeze in sanctions in exchange for financial kickbacks was negotiated by Lamine Diack with Valentin Balakhnichev, who was both president of the Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) and IAAF Treasurer.”

In addition to Diack and Balaknichev, the defendants include former Russian national middle-distance coach Alexei Melnikov, Diack advisor Habib Cisse (SEN), and the IAAF’s former head of anti-doping efforts, Gabriel Dolle (SUI).

The order also includes Diack’s son, Papa Massata Diack (SEN), who is still in Senegal and protected by the Senegalese government against extradition thus far.

Lamine Diack, now 86, was the head of the IAAF from 1999-2015 and an IOC member; he has further been accused of arranging for bribes for votes in the selection of Olympic host cities in 2016 and 2020.

All of the defendants refute the charges, but now it will be up to the courts to decide.

The IAAF met the 25 June deadline of the Swiss Federal Tribunal with its reply in the Caster Semenya case; its statement noted:

“The IAAF has specifically requested:

● “Reversal of the order to the IAAF to super-provisionally suspend the implementation of the [Differences in Sex Development] Regulations in respect of the appellant.

● “Dismissal of the appellant’s application to suspend the implementation of the DSD Regulations in respect of the appellant pending the outcome of the appeal.

“The IAAF fully respects each individual’s personal dignity and supports the social movement to have people accepted in society based on their chosen legal sex and/or gender identity. However, it is also committed to female athletes having the same opportunities as male athletes to benefit from athletics, be that as elite female athletes participating in fair and meaningful competition, as young girls developing life and sport skills, or as administrators or officials.

“This requires a protected category for females where eligibility is based on biology and not on gender identity. This crucial point was accepted and emphasized by the CAS in its 30 April 2019 decision to uphold the DSD Regulations. To define the category based on something other than biology would be category defeating and would deter many girls around the world from choosing competitive and elite sport after puberty.”

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced two more suspensions for doping:

● Mariya Ponomareva (RUS), a race walker, who has only competed domestically from 2016 on, was suspended for four years for use of a prohibited substance, beginning 8 March 2018. Her lifetime best remains 1:26:46 from 2016.

● Salome Biwott, a Kenyan women’s marathoner, with a best of 2:30:47 from 2016, was provisionally suspended on 5 June for presence of Norandrosterone.

The complete list of ineligibles is here.

FOOTBALL: Europe’s domination confirmed with seven of the eight quarter-finalists in France

By
Rich Perelman
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The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup may well be remembered as the tournament where Europe’s women took over the sport:

Quarterfinalists in this century:

● 2003: Europe (4), Asia (1), North America (2), South America (1)
● 2007: Europe (3), Asia (2), North America (1), Oceania (1), South America (1)
● 2011: Europe (4), Asia (1), North America (1), Oceania (1), South America (1)
● 2015: Europe (3), Asia (2), North America (2), Oceania (1)
● 2019: Europe (7), North America (1)

The Europeans almost had all the spots, but the U.S. women won a tight, 2-1 game vs. Spain thanks to two penalty kicks called against the Spaniards. The U.S. had 75% and 68% of the possession time vs. Thailand and Chile, but 59% vs. Sweden and 54% vs. Spain.

In the eight Round of 16 games, look at the European performance:

● Goals: 15-5
● Shots: 103-104
● On goal: 32-27
● Possession: 52-48%

There will be at least three European teams in the semifinals and the game between France and the U.S. has been anticipated since the draw was announced. Of the remaining teams, five have previously played in the semis:

● England: Third in 2015
● France: Fourth in 2011
● Germany: Champions in 2003-07; second in 1995; fourth in 1991-2015
● Italy: No semifinals.
● Netherlands: No semifinals.
● Norway: 1995 Champions; second in 1991; fourth in 1999-2007
● Sweden: Second in 2003; third in 1991-2011

The schedule:

● 27 June: Norway vs. England
● 28 June: France vs. United States
● 29 June: Italy vs. Netherlands
● 29 June: Germany vs. Sweden

The U.S.-France match will be considered by some as the tournament final, but the road for the winner will be difficult with England or Norway in the semis. The French have already survived two tough tests: a 2-1 win vs. Norway with each team at 50-50 in possession, and the difficult, 2-1 win over Brazil in extra time.

The games are being shown on Fox; the semis will be on 2-3 July, with the third-place game on 6 July and the final on 7 July.

THE BIG PICTURE: IOC Session confirms all of the Bach-led reforms for now and the future

By
Rich Perelman
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The International Olympic Committee membership agreed with all of the initiatives and reforms passed by its Executive Board and gave its President, Thomas Bach (GER), a sweeping confirmation of the path he has chose for the organization.

Meeting in Lausanne (SUI) beginning the day after the 125th anniversary of the revival of the Olympic Games, the Session passed all of the items submitted, including:

● Changes to the Olympic Charter regarding the selection of the host of the Games, which can now be a city, region, or even multiple countries, elected at any time and a permanent set of commissions of IOC members for the Olympic and Winter Games to effect a continuing dialogue with any group that wishes to discuss a possible bid.

● Confirmation of Paris 2024’s request to add four sports to the program: break dancing, sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing.

● Suspension of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) from the management of boxing going forward to the 2020 Olympic Games. The IOC will, through a working group, create the qualification tournaments and manage the Olympic tournament in Tokyo in 2020.

● Election of 10 new members to bring the IOC membership total to 105.

And Milan-Cortina was selected as the host of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, by a 47-34 vote.

All of these had been expected, but they will have significant impacts.

The changes in the bidding process continue Bach’s desire to re-shape the hard-edged, winner-take-all bid competitions of the past and create a more collaborative, less predictable, more fluid process. The old procedures had easy-to-understand requirements and timetables. The new program has none of those things and allows the IOC to pick – quite quickly if it wants to – a host city for a future Games without much (if any) fanfare, or anxiety.

Although not connected to the passage of these reforms, the IOC membership also confirmed that the architect, Australian John Coates, would be able to serve beyond the normal age limit of 70 (he’s 69 now) to the end of 2024 in view of his position as the head of the IOC’s Legal Commission. That’s important for the potential 2032 Games bid from South East Queensland which he has championed.

The announcement of the four sports for Paris included two important notes in the IOC’s announcement:

“The IOC Executive Board will make the final decision on the existing events, proposed new events and related athlete quotas for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in December 2020.

“After today’s vote by the IOC Session, no further sports can be put forward for inclusion on the sports programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

That means the end of the furious effort by the World Karate Federation to get on the Paris program; it will make its debut in Tokyo in 2020. It also underlines the importance of the Youth Olympic Games as a trial venue for new sports; breaking got some interest at the Buenos Aires YOG in 2018 and all of a sudden it’s in the 2024 Games.

The big loser in all of this, of course, is AIBA, facing $16 million in debt, and on suspension until after Tokyo 2020. That organization appears more likely to go away than to stick around, but then question of what happens to boxing after next year is a real one.

The IOC also released its financial statements and it’s a very healthy organization, with $4.15 billion assets and reserves of $1.88 billion. It realized $2.20 billion in revenue and had a surplus of $185 million.

LANE ONE: If you’re an athlete and want to get sponsored, be on Instagram, and other lessons from the L.A. Sports Summit

By
Rich Perelman
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The "Sponsoring an Olympic Athlete" panel and Olympians in attendance at the L.A. Sports Summit

“We think about people you would just want to root for. People who are in interesting sports, people who look like they are engaging, people with big smiles, and all those things that sort of sound a little cliche, but people who you would want to watch, people you would want to spend time with.”

That was Rahsaan Johnson, the Director of Sponsorships & Brand Activation for United Airlines, speaking to the Los Angeles Sports Summit audience on Tuesday afternoon in an energetic panel about “Sponsoring An Olympic Athlete” and how the airline selects potential athlete endorsers.

Moderated by four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, John Naber, the panel included Johnson, Sheryl Shade, who has represented dozens of athletes, including Tara Lipinski, Shannon Miller, Mia Hamm, Nastia Liukin and Angela Ruggiero, and Lenny Krayzelburg, himself a four-time Olympic gold medalist and manager of the new Los Angeles Current of the International Swimming League.

Johnson, who hires athletes for United, was candid about the “art” of selecting and working with athletes, vs. any scientific approach.

“I think everyone here knows that United is a global airline. United flies to more cities around the world than any other U.S. airline, so when we think about which athletes are we want to partner with, although our partnership is with USOC, we think about what athletes might be relevant or interesting to people around the world.”

Asked about his advice to an athlete looking for sponsorship, he was candid: “If anyone asks me for advice, I will give you the biggest cliche you all have heard; you’ve heard it 100 times already. Think out of the box, right?”

He commented on Krayzelburg’s story about a Disney Company sponsorship of himself and Michael Phelps after the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, which involved a national tour with clinics and demonstrations at Disney properties that culminated with a program in a temporary swimming pool set up on Main Street in the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

“Swimming up Main Street: I’m going to take a wild guess there was media coverage at that event and people will remember it for a long time. At United Airlines, we have sponsored USOC for the better part of 40 years. It was 2014 before it ever occurred to somebody to put athletes in commercials. It was 2014 before we said, you know we have these planes that fly all over the place, why don’t we put an athlete in the plane when they do the commercial!”

Memorable moments attached to a sponsor are highly prized. Shade explained in some detail about the process companies go through to find suitable athletes to sponsor, and – in the 21st Century – it starts with social media:

“You usually get a questionnaire from any of the major sponsors of the Olympic Movement, and it’s all sorts of things: your background, what’s your story, anything unique, what’s your niche; what are all your social media channels and how many followers you have on each. That matters.

“An athlete may go into the Games with 20,000 followers, win gold medal and walk out with 800,000 followers. And that happens in a two-week period of time.

“So, social media is everything. Instagram is no. 1 by far. Facebook– most of the young millenials, they don’t like Facebook, they don’t do it; Twitter, maybe, but it’s all about Instagram.”

But, she cautioned, that a company has interest doesn’t mean there is going to be a deal.

“The money might be appealing, but you still have to look at it and say, ‘it’s not authentic, it’s not real, it’s not genuine, I don’t use the product, I don’t want to do it.’ Usually, the athlete will back away and tell you, ‘I’m just not comfortable,’ for whatever reason. So, normally in that situation, then I go back to United or whomever it is, ‘I have these three other athletes that would love to be a part of your campaign,’ and I give them the bios and all the materials as a background and see if they will use them instead.”

It’s also not a given that a cash sponsorship is needed, especially for United. Johnson noted:

“Typically, athletes who are being booked and having their travel planned by the USOC, they are sitting in Economy. Athletes value [United] Elite status, because it helps them get into Economy Plus and First [Class].”

Being careful not to divulge too much, he did share a recent discussion to illustrate the point:

“I may have been talking to an athlete a week ago, who was saying to me that he was willing to actually not get paid in cash at all. He just wants [United] employee travel privileges because he wants the ability to stand by and just sit in First because of his height. So the bigger thing is, it’s the travel and more specifically the [United] Elite status.”

Shade said the desire for in-kind services is also common with other forms of transportation:

“The other thing that athletes a lot of times want: they need a car. They don’t have transportation, so – I’ve done this many times – where I go into a local market, I find a dealer that’s going to give them a lease. …

“A lot of times, for an exchange, they want to support their charity, so [for example, a] Toyota local dealer might have a charity – juvenile diabetes – the athlete appears in that commercial for him and he’ll give him the car. For me, it’s still a win-win, because that athlete is now taken care of. And that’s OK with me, because in the end, it still works out. I’ll get other [cash] deals for them. I need the athlete to be taken care of.”

Johnson recalled a recent deal that also was sans cash:

“[Olympic Freestyle Skiing silver medalist] Gus Kenworthy was one of our sponsored athletes in 2018. The agreement ended in the fall of 2018, but we found out recently that he is an ambassador for the AIDS LifeCycle, the ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, which was 2-3 weeks ago. United Airlines is also a corporate sponsor of the AIDS LifeCycle and has employees who are in teams. We reached out to Gus and asked if he would do a video on [his] Instagram page …

“We were working with Gus to bring attention to United being affiliated with AIDS LifeCycle and helping him to raise money as a requirement for people who would have teams. … It’s an opportunity for a brand and an athlete to come together in a way that provides value for both without involving cash. At the end of the day, there is a group of people who are following United Airlines who are not necessarily following Gus Kenworthy, but who find value in contributing to this cause that both United and Gus Kenworthy contribute to and support.

“So we will often look for ways to look for an athlete on an initiative that brings attention to something important to the athlete, ties it into something that’s important to United and creates value to both without creating economic cost.”

It was a fascinating discussion with all three sides of the sponsorship process represented: athlete, seller and buyer. And don’t feel too bad for Facebook after Shade’s comment that it’s not the favored social channel for athletes she represents … after all, Facebook owns Instagram!

Rich Perelman
Editor

THE BIG PICTURE: IOC rejects sentimentalism and selects Milan-Cortina while L.A.’s Mayor says “I think we will make at least a billion dollars net in 2028″

By
Rich Perelman
-

The International Olympic Committee made a clear choice for fiscal and political reality with the selection of the Milan-Cortina bid for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, while Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti forecast $1 billion surplus for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic events … and already has a good idea of what it should buy.

In Lausanne (SUI), the IOC Session heard presentations from Milan-Cortina (ITA) and Stockholm-Are (SWE) and voted 47-34 (with one abstention) to hold the 2026 Winter Games in Italy for the second time in 20 years, after Turin held the 2006 Winter Games.

In doing so, a majority of the IOC membership followed the implicit recommendation of its own Evaluation Commission, which showed a clear preference for the Italian venue plan, budget and the much higher public support for event there than in Sweden.

Certainly, there was the sentimental desire to hold another Winter Games in Scandinavia and Sweden has never hosted a Winter Games. But it’s financial plan had obvious holes and the IOC asked for “clarifications” a few days before the vote, never a good indicator.

There will be issues in Italy, but the project has been entrusted to a winter-sports area that is well known on the World Cup circuits. Look for the sliding venue at Cortina d’Ampezzo to be changed, as the Evaluation Commission suggested looking at other, existing alternatives which would require far less renovation and cost a lot less.

Some 5,896 miles away, Los Angeles Garcetti was addressing the first Los Angeles Sports Summit conference, so-staged by the Los Angeles Sports Council and the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games.

Over the course of 20 minutes, Garcetti touched on the impact of sports in the greater Los Angeles market and what the current and future plan for the Olympic money already at work in the city and for the future. Highlights:

● “This summer, we’re expanding Swim L.A. Part of our historic negotiations with the [International] Olympic Committee, that if they wanted Paris to go first and us to go second, it would cost them. So we got $160 million before the Games even started to be profitable, and we’re spending that today on seeding the ground for the entire city to have access to sports, universal access. Two years ago, only 18,000 kids got swim lessons for the City of L.A. Last year, it was 36,000, and this summer it will be 40,000 kids who will get free swim lessons, in a town where 62% of African-American kids don’t know how to swim, in a town where 45% of Latino kids don’t know how to swim, and in a country where accidental death by drowning is the second-leading cause of death for kids under 12. So, it’s a matter of life and death as well as an opportunity for every kid to know how to swim.”

● “This is a place with an amazing infrastructure. I joked – only half-jokingly – that we could probably do the Olympics next year. And if any town in the world could, we probably could. Thank goodness we have nine and a half years to define a legacy even more strongly than that.”

● “All told, the greater sports industry generated about $6.2 billion in economic activity here in Los Angeles in 2018, employing more than 39,000 people directly. That’s $3.2 billion in earnings that people can spend here in this city and recycle those dollars. And that outsized economic impact has ripple effects all around our county, leading to the creation of good, middle-class jobs that are the bedrock of a healthy and inclusive economy, whether it’s an electrician working on the Rams stadium coming up, whether it’s a baseball scout looking for the next great pitcher who will take to the mound at Chavez Ravine.”

He then bored in on the 2028 Games and a long-range legacy concept:

“Let me turn for a second back to the Olympics. Every Olympics says that they create a great legacy, and I think they mean it. And when they are bidding certainly …. It’s very important for us to remember what it is that the Olympics are about. They were about, initially, a truce – peace between warring folks in ancient times – and secondly about an opportunity of competition.

“I think for a long time we have moved away [from that]. We’ve got cities scared to bid for the Olympics because they cost so much, because people so much infrastructure for two and a half weeks; that wasn’t a very sustainable model.

“The legacy that people want to leave behind often is the last thing they are able to do because they are still trying to get the plumbing to work at the Olympic Village. We created a different model. In L.A., we made a million bucks in ‘32. We made about $250 million in ‘84 and I think we will make at least a billion dollars net in 2028, because we have the ability to look at the profitability, to think about that legacy right away and a longer time to plan.

“So I told you about the swim lessons, but it is my goal to make sure that no family looks at the opportunities for their children and says, ‘we can’t afford for them to play sports.’ … That shouldn’t be a barrier for a kid’s dreams.

“So without taking a single spot away from a boy, by adding more dollars and programming to girls with something called “Girls Play L.A.” that my wife and I have led, We were able to get to 45% participation in just two years, from 25% of girls in our Rec & Parks program. That’s the sort of legacy we want to leave behind. “

Garcetti will be Mayor into 2021 and will then be out of office thanks to term limits, so he will not be in office when the Games come in 2028. His comments set a marker of his making on the organizing committee and one that will not be forgotten by those who will be doing business with LA28.

But it will also be hard for negotiators to argue with the Los Angeles organizers for more money when anything not spent on the Games is earmarked to ensure no parent has to skip sports programs for their children because of cost.

While it’s true that 2028 is a long way off, in some ways, Garcetti’s comments signal that the Games have actually already begun.

SPEED READ: Headlines from The Sports Examiner for Monday, 24 June 2019

By
Rich Perelman
-

Welcome to The Sports Examiner SPEED READ, a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) review of what happened over the last 72 hours in Olympic sport:

LANE ONE

Monday: While Monday’s selection between Milan-Cortina and Stockholm-Are for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games is getting all the headlines, the membership of the International Olympic Committee will then consider more major reforms in the bidding process. In fact, Monday’s vote might be the last-ever contested selection for an Olympic host!

HEARD AFTER HALFTIME

Friday: Sensational women’s 100 m final at the Jamaican nationals, with Rio 2016 100 m champ Elaine Thompson out-leaning 2008-12 Olympic gold winner Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce as both were timed in a world-leading 10.73! Plus more Russian doping, a possible new inquiry into the United States Olympic Committee, which is now the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

ATHLETICS

Sunday: World-leading heptathlon for Belgium’s Olympic and World Champion Nafi Thiam at Decastar in France, while a new star is emerging in the decathlon: Canada’s Pierce LePage.

BASKETBALL

Sunday: The U.S. men had never won a FIBA 3×3 World Cup title in the previous five editions of the championships. But that’s over now, thanks to Canyon Barry, Damon Huffman, Robbie Hummel and Kareem Maddox, who swept through the tournament undefeated and won not only the championship, but a berth in Tokyo in 2020!

CANOE-KAYAK

Sunday: Difficult conditions at the Slalom course in Bratislava (SVK), but Germany’s World Champion Franz Anton managed a win in the second World Cup. There were new winners and new first-time World Cup medal winners, plus a 15-year-old American paddler made the final in her first World Cup appearance!

CYCLING

Sunday: The 83rd Tour de Suisse turned out to be a tour de force for Colombia’s young star Egan Bernal, who has finished 1-3-1 in his three World Tour multi-stage races this season. Is he the one to watch now at the Tour de France?

FOOTBALL

Friday: The oddsmakers were impressed with the U.S. women in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup, and have made them the favorites to win the title, with France a close second. There are even odds on who will be the tournament’s top scorer!

Sunday: It doesn’t make up for the infamous 2017 loss that kept the U.S. out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but the U.S. men’s National Team pounded Trinidad & Tobago, 6-0, in Cleveland, in its second group-stage game in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. It put the U.S. through to the knock-out round and showcased a much-appreciated, more-attacking style from the U.S. Gyasi Zardes had two goals, as did defender Aaron Long.

ROWING

Sunday: Australia and New Zealand claimed three wins each in the open divisions of the World Rowing World Cup in Poland, including a gold-medal return for Kiwi single sculler Emma Twigg, who hadn’t raced since the Rio Olympics!

VOLLEYBALL

Sunday: The defending champion U.S. women completed the round-robin section of the FIVB National League with the co-best record at 12-3 and advanced to the finals that will be held in China.

UPCOMING

Highlights of the coming week, with full coverage in TheSportsExaminer.com:

● IOC: The host for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be selected Monday in Lausanne.

● Athletics: The only IAAF Diamond League in the U.S. comes to Stanford next Sunday!

● Football: The FIFA Women’s World Cup continues in the elimination rounds.

As well as coverage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and a lot more!

LANE ONE: IOC members will choose the 2026 host on Monday, but are already looking to 2030 and beyond

By
Rich Perelman
-

The International Olympic Committee membership will meet on Monday in Lausanne (SUI) to select the host city/region for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, but the chatter is actually about the future of the Games beyond 2028.

After Monday’s vote, the Session will take up a series of issues, including the newest reform plan for selecting the sites for the Games, developed in just a few months by a committee chaired by Australian IOC member John Coates, and approved by the Executive Board in May. It includes some radical departures from the way the IOC has managed the selection process for several decades:

● The IOC will talk to anyone at any time about hosting a future edition of the Games, no matter how far in the future.

● The Games can be awarded not only to a city, but also to a region or a conglomeration of countries.

● The IOC has voted for a Games host seven years in advance since its 1981 selection of Seoul (KOR) for the 1988 Games. Under the reforms, the IOC could make a selection any time it sees fit, in order to be “flexible and adjusted to the context and needs.”

● IOC Commissions will be assembled for the Olympic Games and Winter Games to advise potential hosts and report on its discussions to the Executive Board.

IOC chief Thomas Bach (GER) noted that the proposals are designed “in order to avoid producing too many losers, as we had for past Candidature Processes.”

But Coates, in speaking to reporters last week in Lausanne, went further along this line, and in coordination with Bach, attacked the IOC’s nemesis – public referendums – about Olympic bids. After seeing at least the last nine public votes on Olympic bids go down to defeat – Calgary (CAN) being the most recent – Coates suggested that the new structure will essentially require public votes on bidding for the Games:

“The commission will say, if you want to come to us and you’re from a country or region that is going to require a referendum, then you get that out of the way first before you make your proposal.

“It is not unreasonable to say that before we consider you, you have to satisfy us that you have the public and Government support and, consistent with that, if you are from a country that requires a referendum, come to us after you’ve had it.

“We don’t like to see candidates being considered and then withdrawing.”

Bach echoed the idea, and in a novel way:

“You could also count in some cases at least the IOC among the losers.

“If you have this ongoing discussion on do we continue a candidature, what are the implications, do we withdraw and the referenda situation, for example … this is not a very comfortable position for the IOC.

“These losers that lost just one election, for us it is even more difficult because according to the political landscape we are living in this moment, you lose this candidate for the next election and then the next one after that. It has an exponential effect.

“You have to look to the future and there minimizing the number of potential candidatures cannot be the purpose.”

Of course, requiring referenda is not a new idea. The Sports Examiner suggested it back in April of 2018! But the strategy behind this approach is extremely clever in that it maywell eliminate any talk of Olympic bids in cities or regions before they get serious because of the referendum “requirement” from the IOC commission.

That’s a good thing? Yes, for now, because the IOC feels the reputation of the Games is injured when a city of region turns down the chance to bid. And it is slowly moving toward a model of essentially seeking out a host for a specific Games and then having the Session ratify it. That’s what happened with the 2022 Youth Olympic Games, when the IOC leadership decided this was the best way to place an Olympic event in Africa, and offered Dakar (SEN) for confirmation (rather than an election among multiple candidates).

As the IOC has worked diligently – and to its credit – to reduce the cost of bidding and of the Games itself, the big loser in all of these changes is the news media, who will find significantly less chaos to report on in the future. But the size of the Olympic Games is still a problem and until the IOC focuses on trimming the size of the event itself – athletes, sports and events – it will continue to have difficulty from potential hosts over the cost of the Games of the Olympiad.

IOC President Bach has his detractors, but he must be given credit for trying to get ahead of the bidding issue while he has the time, with the Olympic Games set through 2028 and the Winter Games to be set through 2026 on Monday.

Monday’s selection between Milan-Cortina in Italy and Stockholm-Are in Sweden will be announced approximately 6 p.m. Lausanne time, or about noon Eastern time. The announcement and the succeeding news conference will be streamed on the IOC’s Olympic Channel online service.

The news media reporting in Lausanne are filing the usual whiplash stories: the IOC asks for more financial guarantee details from Stockholm-Are, so they’re in trouble. The Swedish Prime Minister announces he’s coming for the presentation, so they’re doing well.

The IOC’s own Evaluation Commission reports on the two bids reported multiple concerns about the Swedish bid, including an almost complete lack of enthusiasm from most levels of government, but was pretty excited about the Milan-Cortina bid. Both have budgets of about $1.5 billion, but the evaluation team really didn’t believe the Stockholm-Are numbers.

The Stockholm folks are trumpeting a new poll disclosed on Saturday that showed 63% of Swedes in favor of the bid. Another poll released last Thursday showed only 34% of Swedes support the bid, with 37% against and 29% undecided. Both can’t be right. The IOC’s own polling in Italy showed 83% support.

Milan-Cortina is the better bid, but whether it gets elected is anyone’s guess as the idea of a Winter Games in Scandanavia is the stuff that IOC-member dreams are made of.

Hopefully, the membership will choose carefully and wisely. It may be the last time they actually get to make a choice.

Rich Perelman
Editor

BASKETBALL: U.S. and China sweep to 3×3 World Cup titles, qualify for Tokyo 2020

By
Rich Perelman
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U.S. guard Damon Huffman shoots in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup

The United States had never won a men’s 3×3 world title in the five prior editions of the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. In fact, an American men’s team had played for a medal only once, losing to perennial power Serbia in the 2016 final.

But that’s all over now as the U.S. men’s quartet went undefeated in the 2019 World Cup in Amsterdam (NED), defeating Latvia, 18-14, in the final. The winners included:

● Canyon Berry (25) ~ 6-5 guard; plays for the G-League Iowa Wolves; played at Florida
● Damon Huffman (34) ~ 6-1 guard; played at Brown
● Robbie Hummel (30) ~ 6-7 forward; played for NBA Timberwolves and at Purdue
● Kareem Maddox (29) ~ 6-8 forward; played at Princeton

The Americans showed from their first game that they would have to be dealt with, defeating the top-seeded Serbs by 21-16, then winning the remaining pool games by 22-3 over Turkey, 22-8 over Korea and a tight 15-14 win over the Netherlands.

In the playoffs, the U.S. sailed past third-seeded Slovenia, 21-14 and Poland, 22-8 in the semis. In the final against fourth-seeded Latvia, the U.S. defense was again the key, holding the opponents to 11-32 from the field (34.3%) while shooting 14-30 (467%) themselves. The Americans ended with a scoring differential of 141-77 or 20.1-11.0 per game.

Huffman had eight points to lead the winners, followed by Maddox with five, Hummel with four and Barry with one. Hummel was named as the Most Valuable Player in the tournament and was joined by Michael Hicks (POL) and Karlis Lasmanis (LAT) on the All-Tournament team

Top-seeded China ran through the women’s tournament undefeated and won its first 3×3 world title over Hungary, 19-13, in the final.

The top three teams in both divisions qualified for the 2020 Tokyo tournament. Summaries:

FIBA 3×3 World Cup
Amsterdam (NED) 18-23 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men: 1. United States (Canyon Berry, Damon Huffman, Robbie Hummel, Kareem Maddox), 7-0; 2. Latvia (Cavars, Krumins, Lasmanis, Miezis), 5-2; 3. Poland (Hicks, Pawlowski, Sroka, Zamojski), 5-2; 4. Serbia (Bulut, Majstorovic, Savic, Vasic), 4-3. Semis: U.S. 22, Poland 8; Latvia 22, Serbia 19. Third: Poland 18, Serbia 15. Final: U.S. 18, Latvia 14.

Women: 1. China (Jaiyin Jiang, Yingyun Li, Di Wu, Zhiting Zhang), 7-0; 2. Hungary (Goree, Medgyessy, Papp, Theodorean), 5-2; 3. France (Filip, Guapo, Paget, Toure), 6-1; 4. Australia (Cole, Froling, Garrick, Kunek), 4-3. Semis: China 15, Australia 14; Hungary 14, France 10. Third: France 21, Australia 5. Final: China 19, Hungary 13.

ROWING: Three wins each for Australia and New Zealand, including the return of Emma Twigg, at Poznan World Cup

By
Rich Perelman
-
New Zealand's 2014 World Single Sculls Champion Emma twigg (Photo: Joanne from London via Wikimedia Commons)

Two teams that came a long way to compete in the second World Rowing World Cup in Poland left with the most trophies: Australia and New Zealand.

Both won three races in the open divisions for men and women, with the Kiwi women especially impressive. They won three races, including a remarkable comeback for three-time Olympian Emma Twigg.

The 2014 World Champion and fourth in the Single Sculls in Rio, Twigg took a couple of years off, actually working for the International Olympic Committee at one point, and returned to rowing at this regatta … and won!

She started slowly in the 2,000 m final, sitting only fourth after the 500 m mark, but then had the fastest 500 m split of anyone in the field to take a 0.62-second lead by halfway and she cruised him with a 12/100ths win over Austria’s 2018 Worlds bronze medalist Magdalena Lobnig. Very impressive.

More expected were the wins by Worlds silver medalists Brooke Donoghue and Olivia Loe in the Double Sculls and Grace Pendergast and Kerri Gowler in Pairs.

Australia took their golds in the men’s Pairs with Joshua Booth and Alexander Hill, the men’s Fours and the much-anticipated women’s eights that included the reigning World Champions from the U.S.

In the Eights final, the U.S. got off to a slow start, with the Australians almost two seconds ahead at the end of 500 m. But the Americans drew closer, moving from third to second by 1,000 m and then rowing the fastest splits in the field in the third and fourth quarters of the race, but it was not enough. The Aussies – third at last year’s World Championships – won by 6:26.29-6:27.74. Germany’s eight, the reigning men’s World Champions, crushed the field with a victory over Great Britain by almost two seconds.

There were some other surprise winners, like Denmark’s Sverri Nielsen in the men’s Single Sculls and the Danish women in the Fours. The U.S. women had seven finalists, and took two medals beyond the Eights silver. Summaries:

World Rowing World Cup II
Poznan (POL) ~ 21-23 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Single Sculls: 1. Sverri Nielsen (DEN), 7:21.96; 2. Pilip Pavukou (BLR), 7:24.10; 3. Angel Fournier Rodriguez (CUB), 7:24.79.

Double Sculls: 1. Barnabe Delarze/Roman Roeoesli (SUI), 6:32.84; 2. John Collins/Graeme Thomas (GBR), 6:33.05; 3. Tim Ole Naske/Stephan Kreuger (GER), 6:34.43.

Quadruple Sculls: 1. Poland, 6:01.010; 2. Asutralia, 6:03.210; 3. New Zealand, 6:03.480.

Pairs: 1. Joshua Booth/Alexander Hill (AUS), 6:38.23; 2. Thomas Murray/Michael Brake (NZL), 6:39.49; 3. Kai Langerfeld/Conlin McCabe (CAN), 6:43.34.

Fours: 1. Australia, 6:16.460; 2. Italy, 6:18.590; 3. Poland, 6:19.600. Also: 5. United States (Karwoski, di Santo, Reed, Hack), 6:25.04.

Eights: 1. Germany, 5:45.830; 2. Great Britain, 5:47.740; 3. Canada, 5:48.440.

Lightweight Single Sculls: 1. Sean Murphy (AUS), 7:12.77; 2. Artur Mikolajczewski (POL), 7:15.45; 3. Peter Galambos (HUN), 7:19.58.

Lightweight Double Sculls: 1. Jonathan Rommelmann/Jason Osborne (GER), 6:47.94; 2. Stefano Oppo/Pietro Ruta (ITA), 6:49.46; 3. Hamish Parry/Leon Chambers (AUS), 6:50.66.

Lightweight Quadruple Sculls: 1. Italy, 6:05.730; 2. Austria, 6:08.780; 3. China, 6:08.850.

Women

Single Sculls: 1. Emma Twigg (NZL), 8:04.45; 2. Magdalena Lobnig (AUT), 8:04.57; 3. Carling Zeeman (CAN), 8:05.11. Also: 4. Kara Kohler (USA), 8:05.90.

Double Sculls: 1. Brooke Donoghue/Olivia Loe (NZL), 7:21.28; 2. Cicely Madden/Genevra Stone (USA), 7:21.55; 3. Amanda Bateman/Genevieve Horton (AUS), 7:23.94. Also: 4. Meghan O’Leary/Ellen Tomek (USA), 7:24.85.

Quadruple Sculls: 1. China, 6:38.240; 2. Poland, 6:42.380; 3. Germany, 6:42.890.

Pairs: 1. Grace Pendergast/Kerri Gowler (NZL), 7:35.55; 2. Jassica Morrison/Annabelle McIntyre (AUS), 7:37.25; 3. Megan Kalmoe/Tracy Eisser (USA), 7:43.73.

Fours: 1. Denmark, 6:52.88; 2. China, 6:53.96; 3. Australia, 6:55.47. Also: 4. United States (Opitz, Baker, Regan, Bruggeman), 6:55.90-; 5. United States (Sonshine, Thoennes, Salmons, Pierson), 6:58.83.

Eights: 1. Australia, 6:26.29; 2. United States, 6:27.74; 3. Great Britain, 6:32.04.

Lightweight Single Sculls: 1. Jill Moffatt (CAN), 8:16.43; 2. Fang Chen (CHN), 8:17.35; 3. Georgia Nesbitt (AUT), 8:18.76.

Lightweight Double Sculls: 1. Zoe McBride/Jackie Kiddle (NZL), 7:22.09; 2. Valentina Rodini/Federica Cesarini (ITA), 7:22.18; 3. Wenyi Huang/Dandan Pan (CHN), 7:23.42. Also: 6. Michelle Sechser/Christine Cavallo (USA), 7:29.28.

CANOE-KAYAK: World Champion Anton masters difficult Slalom World Cup course in Bratislava

By
Rich Perelman
-
Germany's World Slalom Champion Franz Anton (Photo: ICF)

On a weekend when the already-difficult course in Bratislava (SVK) was tweaked to be even a little more challenging, the only star to master the conditions was reigning C-1 World Champion Franz Anton of Germany.

While almost of the other stars were struggling, Anton sailed through the C-1 course in 96.02 seconds with no penalties, to win by 0.30 over home favorite (and Rio 2016 silver winner) Matej Benus (SVK).

“I was expecting a winning time of maybe 93 or 94,” said Anton, reflecting on the tough course. “I now have a good feeling for the next World Cup, and I am looking forward to my next race at home in Leipzig.”

Austria’s Corinna Kuhnle, now 31, showed that just because she won world titles in 2010 and 2011, she shouldn’t be counted out now. She won the women’s K-1 by almost a second over New Zealand’s Luuka Jones, 99.71-100.65.

“I’ve been struggling a bit with the last two races, so I feel like I’m getting back to my race performance,” Kuhnle said. “I think just for my self-confidence this is going to give me a good push in preparation for the world championships.”

The men’s K-1 was won by home favorite Andrej Malek, who his first-ever World Cup medal and France’s Claire Jacquet won her first World Cup medal since 2012 (!) by taking the women’s C-1.

The U.S. had some encouraging results with two finalists. Casey Eichfeld finished fourth in the men’s C-1 and 15-year-old Evy Leibfarth impressed in her first World Cup with a seventh-place finish in the women’s K-1. Summaries:

ICF Slalom World Cup II
Bratislava (SVK) ~ 21-23 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men/C-1: 1. Franz Anton (GER), 96.02 (0 penalties); 2. Matej Benus (SVK), 96.32 (0); 3. Luka Bozic (SLO), 97.32 (0); 4. Casey Eichfeld (USA), 100.48 (0); 5. Alexander Slafkovsky (SVK), 101.34 (2).

Men/K-1: 1. Andrej Malek (SVK), 88.54 (0); 2. Michal Pasiut (POL), 88.66 (0); 3. Boris Neveu (FRA), 90.13 (0); 4. Jiri Prskavec (CZE), 91.50 (2); 5. Martin Halcin (SVK), 91.78 (2).

Women/C-1: 1. Claire Jacquet (FRA), 112.15 (4); 2. Monica Doria Vilarrubla (AND), 112.32 (6); 3. Ana Satila (BRA), 113.80 (4); 4. Viktoria Wolffhardt (AUT), 116.94 (0); 5. Andrea Herzog (GER), 122.20 (6). Also: 7. Evy Leibfarth, 129.33 (0).

Women/K-1: 1. Corinna Kuhnle (AUT), 99.71 (2); 2. Luuka Jones (NZL), 100.65 (0); 3. Ricarda Funk (GER), 102.05 (2); 4. Marie-Zelia Lafont (FRA), 102.19; 5. Maialen Chourraut (ESP), 102.44 (0).

ATHLETICS: World leader for Thiam, huge lifetime best for LePage to win Decastar in Talence

By
Rich Perelman
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Belgium's Olympic and World Champion heptathlete Nafi Thiam

The reigning Olympic and World Champion, Belgium’s Nafi Thiam, scored a personal best in the high jump on the way to a world-leading total of 6,819 to win the Decastar heptathlon in Talence (FRA).

Thiam’s total was just six points better than the 6,813 posted by Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR) at Gotzis (AUT) last month. It’s also Thiam’s sixth heptathlon win in a row and her second-best score ever, powered by her high jump best of 2.02 m (6-7 1/2). That mark is no. 2 on the world list for 2019, behind only World Champion Mariya Lasitskene (RUS).

Thiam finished 200 points better than Hungary’s Xenia Krizsan, who claimed a lifetime best of 6,619.

In the men’s decathlon, French world-record holder Kevin Mayer did not compete in the high jump or 400 m on the first day, but then continued with some events on the second day.

“I’m in the build-up for the Doha World Championships. It would be stupid to get injured at this moment of the season,” said Mayer. “The context this year is well different than it was in September last year. I want to win a medal in Doha and my body is not able to support more than one decathlon in a year.”

The decathlon winner was Canadian Pierce LePage, who claimed a huge lifetime best of 8,453, moving to no. 3 on the world list for 2019. His prior best was 8,171 from a silver-medal performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

He’s just 23, and this was his eighth career senior decathlon; his first was in 2016! He already a two-time Canadian champ, so keep an eye out for him in Doha.

American Zach Ziemek, 26, was second in 8,344, his third-best score ever and no. 6 on the 2019 year list. It’s the best score by an American this year and his best since 2016, so he’s in shape at just the right time. He finished seventh in the Rio Games. Summaries:

IAAF Combined Events Challenge/Decastar
Talence (FRA) ~ 22-23 June 2019
(Full results here)

Men/Decathlon: 1. Pierce LePage (CAN), 8,453; 2. Zach Ziemek (USA), 8,344; 3. Thomas van der Plaetsen (BEL), 8,214; 4. Leonel Suarez (CUB), 7,965; 5. Jeremy Lelievre (FRA), 7,778.

Women/Heptathlon: 1. Nafi Thiam (BEL), 6,819; 2. Xenia Krizsan (HUN), 6,619; 3. Laura Ikauniece (LAT), 6,518; 4. Solene Ndama (FRA), 6,290; 5. Marthe Koala (BUR), 6,235.

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