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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed to the Russian news agency TASS that its promised review of U.S. compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code has begun:
“In July, WADA confirmed that the issue of compliance of US legislation (in particular, the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act) with the World Anti-Doping Code would be discussed at the next meeting of the independent compliance committee. This meeting took place on August 8, and the preliminary review did indeed take place.”
The International Olympic Committee included a new clause in its Host City Contract with the Salt Lake City organizers of the 2034 Olympic Winter Games, allowing termination of the award of the Games if
“the Host Country is ruled ineligible to host or co-host and/or to be awarded the right to host or co-host the Games pursuant to or under the World Anti-Doping Code or if, in any other way, the supreme authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency in the fight against doping is not fully respected or if the application of the World Anti-Doping Code is hindered or undermined.”
● Paralympic Games 2024: Paris ● “The latest tests show a decrease in water quality in the river following the rain episodes over the last two days.
“As a result, the water quality at the competition venue on Sunday 1 September is not suitable for swimming and above the threshold established by World Triathlon. It has been decided to schedule all 11 Para triathlon medal events on 2 September. This is subject to the forthcoming water tests complying with the established World Triathlon thresholds for swimming.”
That’s from World Triathlon on Sunday, acknowledging the continuing concerns over pollution levels in the Seine – as was seen during the Olympic Games – due to continuing rain in Paris. There is also another reserve day on 3 September if the conditions are still not right.
● Athletics ● Lots of record action on Sunday, starting with Britain’s Elliott Giles running 3:51.3 to win the New Balance KO Meile in Dusseldorf (GER). Giles, a three-time Olympian at 800 m, held off American Yared Nuguse, the Paris men’s 1,500 m bronze winner, who was second in an American Record 3:51.9.
The world mark had been 3:56.13 by Hobbs Kessler of the U.S. from the 2023 World Road Running Championships, but Kenya’s Paris 800 m winner Emmanuel Wanyonyi had run 3:54.56 on 27 April in Herzogenaurach (GER) to set a new standard, still pending ratification.
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At the famed ISTAF meet in Berlin (GER) on Sunday, Kenya’s 2023 World women’s 800 m champ Mary Moraa set a world best in the rarely-run 600 m, winning over Shafiqua Maloney (VIN), 1:21.63 to 1:22.98. That improved on South African Caster Semenya’s mark – also at ISTAF – of 1:21.77 from 2017.
Also at ISTAF, Germany’s Gesa Krause won the women’s rarely-run 2,000 m Steeple in 5:56.71, fastest in 2024.
There were some U.S. winners, with Courtney Lindsey winning the men’s 100 m in 9.99, ahead of Akani Simbine (RSA: 10.00), Grant Holloway in the 110 m hurdles in 13.14 (with Freddie Crittenden fourth in 13.53), and Sam Kendricks in the men’s vault with a seasonal best of 6.01 m (19-8 1/2).
Germany’s Gina Luckenkemper won the women’s 100 m in a lifetime best of 10.93, beating American Jenna Prandini (11.09).
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At the Ambassadors Meeting of Bialystock in Poland, U.S. Indoor 800 m runner-up Addy Wiley ran away with the women’s 1,000 m race in an American Record of 2:31.49, winning by almost eight seconds. She broke the 2:31.80 mark set by Regina Jacobs back in 1999!
It’s the no. 2 mark in the world at 1,000 m this season and moves Wiley to no. 12 all-time.
● Beach Volleyball ● Catching up on the final Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 in Hamburg (GER: 22-25 August), Tokyo Olympic winner and Paris bronze medalists Anders Mol and Christian Sorum (NOR) won their second straight Elite 16 final with a 21-15, 21-11 sweep over Pablo Herrera and Adrian Gavira (ESP).
Similarly, women’s Olympic bronze winner Tanja Huberli and Nina Brunner (SUI) won the women’s title, defeating Svenja Muller and Cinja Tillmann (GER) in a tight final. 21-18, 18-21, 18-16. It was also the second win of the season for Huberli and Brunner.
● Boxing ● In the aftermath of the Asian Boxing Confederation vote not to join World Boxing, ASBC President Pichai Chunhavajira (THA) issued a statement, which included:
“I want to make it abundantly clear that our commitment to the Olympic Charter remains unshakeable. We will fight with everything we have to ensure that boxing retains its rightful place at the LA2028 Games. The Olympic spirit is deeply intertwined with the essence of our sport, and we will not allow it to be compromised.
“In light of the decisions made today, I have chosen to resign from my position on the IBA Board of Directors. This was not an easy decision, but it is necessary. My full focus and energy will now be devoted to one goal: securing the future of boxing in the Olympics and ensuring that the ASBC continues to play its long-standing, vital role in this sport.
“We stand at a crossroads, but I am confident that we have many paths available to us. Together, we will explore every option, overcome every obstacle, and do whatever it takes to save not just Asian boxing, but the entire global boxing community. This is a fight we cannot afford to lose, and I am fully committed to seeing it through.”
Eight of the 42 ASBC members have already joined World Boxing, but the others are in limbo as the ASBC voted not to join the new federation.
● Cycling ● Three-time Vuelta a Espana winner Primoz Roglic (SLO) continued to chew on the lead of Australian Ben O’Connor as the race headed into its final week.
O’Connor started the week with a 3:53 lead on Roglic, which was down to 3:16 by the end of stage 12 on Thursday. On Friday, Canadian climber Michael Woods attacked with 4.7 km to go on another uphill-finishing route of 176 km and won in 4:19:51, splitting up the field behind him. Roglic was 16th (+10:54) but O’Connor was 33rd (+12:49), so the lead was down to 1:21.
On Saturday, another mountain stage with two big climbs over 200.5 km on the way to Villablino, Australia’s Kaden Groves won a mass sprint on the descent over triple stage winner Wout van Aert (BEL) in 4:21:34, with the first 60 riders given the same time, including O’Connor and Roglic.
Sunday’s 143 km, hilly stage 15 to the massive Cuito Negru – at 1,835 m – was a second win for Castrillo, who out-lasted Russian Aleksandr Vlasov in the final 1,000 m to win in 3:45:51. Roglic was fifth (+1.04), but suffered a 20-second penalty along with two others for drafting behind a team car. O’Connor was 11th (+1:42), so his lead is now down to 1:03.
There are six stages left after Monday’s rest day, with mountain stages and uphill finishes on stages 16, 19 and 20. It’s going to be close.
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At the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Vallnord, Andorra, Olympic disappointments were salved, with wins for Paris men’s Cross Country bronze medalist Alan Hatherly (RSA) and Dutch fourth-placer Puck Pieterse.
Hatherly was third by 11 seconds in Paris, but was even with Olympic silver medalist Victor Koretzky (FRA) on the final lap, then rode away after the final climb and by easily, 1:09:51 to 1:10.13. It’s first win in this race.
Britain’s Olympic winner, Tom Pidcock, finished third (1:10:30); Christopher Blevins was the top American, in 14th at 1:12:52.
Koretzky won Friday’s Short Track race, 21:49 to 21:52 over Britain’s Charlie Aldridge, with Hatherly third (21:52).
Pieterse, 22, was the two-time European Cross-Country champ and was fourth in Paris, missing a medal by 21 seconds. At Vallnord, she took off from the start and had a nine-second lead after the first lap. She never let up, up 12 seconds after three laps and finished with a 59-second win in 1:09:41. No contest.
Anne Terpstra (NED: 1:10:40) was a distant second and Martina Berta (ITA: 1:11:00) a distant third. Savilla Blunk and Kate Courtney were 8-9 for the U.S., in 1:12:13 and 1:12:38.
Britain’s Evie Richards won the Short Track race in 19:46, just ahead of two-time winner (and Paris XCO champ) Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (FRA: 19:47), with Rio 2016 Olympic XCO champ Jenny Rissveds (SWE: 20:04) third and Pieterse fourth (20:08).
In the men’s Downhill, France’s Loris Vergier led a French 1-2 in 2:38.661 to 2:38.809 with Benoit Coulanges, Vergier’s second title, 10 years after his 2014 win. The women’s Downhill went to favored Valentina Hoell (AUT) in 3:00.212 for her third straight World title! France’s Myriam Nicole was just 0.520 seconds back for silver, her eighth Worlds medal in the event in the last nine years (2-4-2).
The U.S. team of Braden Johnson (men’s U-23), Nicholas Konecny (men’s Junior), Blevins, Haley Batten (women’s elite), Vida Lopez de San Roman (women’s Junior) and Madigan Munro (women’s Junior) won the Mixed Team event over France and Italy.
● Flag Football ● The defending champion U.S. men and women repeated as winners at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
It was the fifth straight win for the American men, who defeated three-time champ Austria, 53-21, in the final. Quarterback Darrell Doucette completed 6-7 passes and 155 yards and six touchdowns, three to Ja’Deion High and two each to Pablo Smith and Laval Davis. Felix Wasshuber completed 23-42 for Austria for 240 yards and three touchdowns, but suffered two interceptions.
The U.S. ran just 19 offensive plays to 43 for the Austrians, but it wasn’t enough. The Americans scored on their first seven possessions to take an unapproachable, 41-13 lead at half.
Switzerland edged Mexico, 41-35, in the bronze-medal match.
The U.S. women won their third straight title and second straight over Mexico, 31-18. Vanita Krouch completed 21-34 for the Americans, for 224 yards and three touchdowns, and Maci Jonich was 2-2 for 17 yards and a touchdown as well. Mexican star QB Diana Flores was 30-41 for 265 yards, three scores and an interception.
The U.S. scored on their first three possessions, with Mexico turning the ball over downs on their first three drives, and the Americans led, 18-6, at half. Both teams scored twice in the second half, but Mexico’s comeback failed on an interception of Flores by Laneah Bryan with 55 seconds to play.
Japan defeated Austria, 41-40, for the bronze.
Flag Football will be a medal event at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
● Judo ● Russian Judo Federation President Sergei Soloveichik told the state news agency TASS that Russian judoka will not longer use the “AIN” – International Neutral Athlete – designation, but will compete as “International Judo Federation” athletes:
“Over the past few years, we have enjoyed the support of the IJF. During the Olympic Games, we had a meeting where the IJF directorate supported our proposal that until we return to competing under our flag, with our anthem, which we hope will happen very soon, the abbreviation of the International Federation should appear on the back numbers of our judokas.”
● Volleyball ● At the Women’s Pan American Cup in Leon, Mexico, Argentina defeated the U.S. by 25-18, 25-10 and 25-19 for a sweep. It was the only loss of the tournament for the Americans, who had previously defeated Argentina in group play.
The Women’s Pan American Cup is the qualifier to the 2025 Women’s Pan American Cup, the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship and the 2027 Pan American Games.
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