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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Winter Games 2026: Milan Cortina ● As the winter World Cup seasons in multiple sports move through Italy, the events double as pre-Olympic tests for the Winter Games coming next year.
One more venue passed with flying colors last weekend, the famed Olympia delle Tofane Downhill course, which hosted women’s Downhill and Super-G races. Two-time World Cup seasonal champion Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) spoke for many:
“Cortina is a guarantee of quality; the track is always prepared in excellent condition. It’s the only place on the World Cup circuit where, even if it snows a meter, they manage to clear it.
“So, aside from the stunning backdrop of the Dolomites, it also helps you mentally to know that when you arrive here on Tuesday, you can look forward to a week of perfect conditions.”
● Alpine Skiing ● The women’s World Cup was in Kronplatz (ITA) for a one-day Giant Slalom, with New Zealand star Alice Robinson getting her first World Cup gold since March 2021!
She was fifth after the first run, but had the fastest second run in the field and took the lead at 1:55.28, passing American Paula Moltzan (1:56.22), who had roared from 10th to be the leader.
Sweden’s Olympic champ Sara Hector, third after the first run, crashed and Gut-Behrami, second after the first run, skied well, but moved only into second at 1:55.84. After first-run leader Federica Brignone (ITA) crashed out, Robinson had her fourth career World Cup win and Moltzan got her first World Cup medal since February of 2024 and her fourth career podium.
Nina O’Brien of the U.S. finished 10th (1:57.22).
● Athletics ● Sad news on the death of American 400 m Olympic gold and silver medalist Fred Newhouse, who passed away at age 76 on Monday.
Newhouse was known for his swift starts, always daring competitors to follow him and see if they could hang on at the finish. He was a silver medalist at the 1971 Pan American Games and favored to make the 1972 Olympic team, but finished seventh in the Trials final. In 1976, he was second at the Trials and ran the race of his life in the Olympic final, but was passed in the final 60 m by gold medalist Alberto Juantorena of Cuba, 44.26 to 44.40. Newhouse then won a gold on the men’s 4×400 m relay.
He graduated from Prairie View A&M, and went on to a successful career as an engineer for Exxon Corporation and remained deeply involved with track & field as an official and team leader. Within the past year, he suffered from brain cancer.
World Athletics correspondent Karen Rosen wrote a wonderful tribute in 2022 to the long-time friendship that developed between Newhouse and Juantorena, available here.
● Judo ● USA Judo named Corinne Shigemoto, a 21-year veteran of the organization, as its new chief executive, replacing Keith Bryant, in charge since 2016. Shigemoto was a four-time national champion and worked with the federation from 2001-22 as chief operating officer, director of membership services, director of event services, and director of manager/coach development and education.
● Swimming ● Swimming Australia and Nine Network announced a massive, 10-year media tie-up from 2025 to 2034:
“Nine’s coverage will come to life across streaming, broadcast and publishing platforms – including the 9Network and 9Now – for the Swimming Australia calendar that includes Australian Swimming Trials, Australian Short Course Championships, Australian Age Championships and Australian Open Championships.”
Importantly, the deal encompasses the period including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2032 Games in Brisbane, when national interest in Australia’s best sport will be at a fever pitch. International events such as the Pan Pacific Championships are included, but not the World Aquatics Championships or the Olympics.
● Table Tennis ● With the 2028 Olympic Games coming to Los Angeles, the U.S. is suddenly in the spotlight for multiple major events in table tennis.
The first World Table Tennis Smash in the U.S. is coming in 2025, to the Orleans Center in Las Vegas from 3-13 July, with the world’s top players expected to attend. Further, USA Table Tennis was confirmed as a candidate for the ITTF World Championships in 2027 and 2029.
The U.S. federation will be competing with Brazil, China, France and Kazakhstan for the 2027 event, and Australia, Brazil, China, Germany and Iraq for 2029, the most bidders ever for the Worlds. The U.S. has hosted once before, in 2021 in Houston.
The decision will be made during the ITTF Annual General Meeting on 27 May 2025.
(In case you were wondering, table tennis in 2028 is slated to be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.)
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