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ATHLETICS Preview: Deep fields for the Stockholm Diamond League, including U.S. stars Michael Norman and Rai Benjamin

By
Rich Perelman
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Michael Norman and Rai Benjamin (l to r) at the Mt. SAC Relays: 43.45 and 44.31!

A deep and talented line-up of veteran stars is getting ready for Thursday’s Diamond League meeting in the famed Olympic Stadium in Stockholm (SWE). It’s impossible to pick the highlight ahead of time, but the loudest cheers will likely be for Swedish discus star Daniel Stahl and the most intriguing races might be the men’s 400 m and the women’s 800 m.

Here’s what to watch for:

● Men/400 m:

Almost a preview of the U.S. championships – sans the collegians, of course – with Michael Norman (43.45 this year: no. 4 ever!), Rai Benjamin (44.31), Vernon Norwood (45.29), Michael Cherry (45.52) and Nathan Strother (45.52). Add in Grenada’s Bralon Taplin (44..92) and Botswana’s Baboloki Thebe (45.34) and this could be quite a race.

● Men/1,500 m:

Too many entries – 16 – but a terrific field, including Kenya’s reigning World Champion Elijah Mamangoi (3:32.21 world leader in Doha), 2018’s star, Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN/3:32.47), Doha third-placer Bethwell Birgen (KEN/3:33.12), plus Ethiopia’s indoor 1,500 world-record setter Samuel Tefera (3:31.04). Add in all three of Norway’s Ingebrigtsen brothers – Filip (3:30.01 lifetime best), Henrik (3:31.46) and Jakob (3:31.18), and this should be a fabulous fight down the home straight!

● Men/10,000 m:

Now a rarely-run distance, the non-Diamond League 10,000 has a huge field of 27 entered, including U.S. 5,000 m Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo and Americans Leonard Korir (27:20.18 ’17) and Shadrack Kipchirchir (27:07.55 ‘17). The fastest lifetime best in the field belongs to Jemal Yimer Mekkonen (ETH: 26:56.11 in 2017), but who’s in shape? This should be a fast race, as everyone will be chasing the 27:40 qualifying standard for Doha!

● Men/400 m hurdles:

Season openers for the reigning World Champion, Karsten Warholm (NOR) and Americans Kenny Selmon (48.12; U.S. champ in 2018) and T.J. Holmes (48.30 last year; U.S. runner-up).

● Men/Pole Vault:

Most of the usual suspects are present: reigning World Champion Sam Kendricks (USA), who has cleared 5.80 m (19-0 1/4) outdoors this season; 2016 Rio champ Thiago Braz (BRA: 5.71 m/18-8 3/4) and Polish stars Piotr Lisek (5.93 m/19-5 1/2 indoors) and Pawel Wojciechowski (5.90 m/19-4 1/4 indoors).

● Men/Long Jump:

The top four on the world list are in: no. 1 South Africa’s Zarck Visser (8.41 m/27-7 1/4) and no. 3 Luvo Manyonga (8.35 m/27-4 3/4) and no. 2 Jeff Henderson of the U.S. (8.38 m/27-6), plus Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle (8.30 m/27-2 3/4).

● Men/Discus:

The home fans will be loud and proud for Sweden’s Daniel Stahl, the world leader at 70.56 m (231-6), who authored perhaps the greatest series in history at the Doha Diamond League meet, with all six of his throws over 69.50 m (228-0). Four of the next five best in the world this year are also entered – Ola Stunes Isene (NOR), Ehsan Hadadi (IRI), Fredrik Dacres (JAM) and Mason Finley (USA) – but the crowd won’t care.

● Women/200 m:

A good test for Britain’s favored Dina Asher-Smith, who destroyed a good field in Doha in 22.26, the world leader for 2019. Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson (22.40), American Jenna Prandini (22.53), Ivet Lalova-Collio (BUL: 22.55) and two-time World Champion Dafne Schippers (NED/22.98 this season) will all challenge.

● Women/800 m:

The first Diamond League race under the IAAF’s hydroandrogenism regulations will not have Caster Semenya (RSA), Francine Niyonsaba (BDI) or Margaret Wambui (KEN), the Rio 2016 medal winners. Now who’s no. 1? American Ajee Wilson (1:58.83) is the fastest in this field for 2019, but trailed closely by Nelly Jepkosgei (KEN/1:59.00) and American Raevn Rogers (1:59.07) among others. The winner might be the World Championships favorite.

● Women/5,000 m

A rare 5,000 m race on the schedule, with Kenya’s World Cross Country Champion Hellen Obiri the clear favorite. She out-sprinted a similar field in the Doha 3,000 m, including Lilian Rengeruk (KEN/3rd in Doha), Caroline Kipkirui (KEN/5th), Gloria Kite (KEN/6th), and Yasemin Can (TUR/8th).

● Women/100 m hurdles:

The world leader – and world-record holder – American Keni Harrison (12.47) is the obvious favorite, but she will get an argument from fellow U.S. star Sharika Nelvis (12.70 this year).

● Women/High Jump:

Anytime the 2015 and 2017 World Champion Mariya Lasitskene (RUS) is in the field, she’s the favorite. This is her outdoor opener, but she cleared 2.04 m (6-8 1/4) indoors in February. There are four other 2.00 m jumpers competing, but look for a challenge from Ukraine’s Yuliya Levchenko (2.00 m/6-6 3/4 indoors), also making her outdoor debut for 2019.

● Women/Discus:

Season opener for twice Olympic champ Sandra Perkovic (CRO), against the new world leader, Cuba’s Dania Caballero (68.46 m/224-7) and no. 3 Valarie Allman of the U.S., who threw 67.15 m (220-3) at Chula Vista in April. This is an excellent test for Allman, the reigning U.S. champion, against the two best throwers in the world.

Among the other, non-Diamond League events, Britain’s Laura Muir will make her outdoor debut in the 1,500 m against a good – but not scary – field.

NBCSN has coverage from Stockholm on Thursday, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Look for results here.

JUDO Preview: Three trying for sixth U.S. titles in last eight years at Senior Nationals in Las Vegas

By
Rich Perelman
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The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino will be the scene for the USA Judo National Championships from Novice divisions all the way to Veterans classes, on Saturday and Sunday.

In terms of the top senior athletes, here are the defending champions from 2018 and those American judoka in the top 100 of the IJF World Rankings:

Men

-55 km:
● Defending champion: Max Antoniou
● No IJF rankings for this weight class

-60 kg:
● Defending champion: David Agoglia
● IJF ranked: 22. Adonis Diaz ~ 2015-16 National Champion

-66 kg:
● Defending champion: Alaa El Idrissi
● IJF ranked: 73. Ryan Vargas
● IJF ranked: 97. Alaa El Idrissi

-73 kg:
● Defending champion: Bradford Bolen ~ 2012-14-15-16-17 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 37. Nick Delpopolo ~ 2013 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 55. Alexander Turner

-81 kg:
● Defending champion: Jack Hatton ~ 2016 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 25. Jack Hatton
● IJF ranked: 79: Arthur Wright

-90 kg:
● Defending champion: Alfred Brown
● IJF ranked: 32. Colton Brown

-100 kg:
● Defending champion: Nate Keeve
● IJF ranked: 45. L.A. Smith III ~ 2013-14-15-16 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 98. Nathaniel Keeve

+100 kg:
● Defending champion: Akbar Iminov ~ 2016-17 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 71. Ajax Tadehara

Open:
● Defending champion: Tokuzo Takahashi ~ 2012-13-14-15-16 National Champion
● No IJF rankings for this weight class

Women

-44 kg:
● Defending champion: Alexandra Wilson
● No IJF ranking for this weight class

-48 kg:
● Defending champion: Alexa Silao
● IJF ranked: 55. Anne Suzuki
● IJF ranked: 97. Katelyn Jarrell

-52 kg:
● Defending champion: Alaine Abuan
● IJF ranked: 14. Angelica Delgado ~ 2013-14 & 2016 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 98. Alaine Abuan

-57 kg:
● Defending champion: Angelica Delgado (also see 52 kg above)
● IJF ranked: 46. Amelia Fulgentes ~ 2015-16 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 58. Leilani Akiyama
● IJF ranked: 65. Marti Malloy ~ 2013 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 70. Mariah Holguin
● IJF ranked: 99. Shadi Ebrahim

-63 kg:
● Defending champion: Alisha Galles ~ 2016 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 42. Hannah Martin ~ 2012-13 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 48. Alisha Galles

-70 kg:
● Defending champion: Chantal Wright
● IJF ranked: 85. Chantal Wright

-78 kg:
● Defending champion: Nefeli Papadakis
● IJF ranked: 31. Nefeli Papadakis

+78 kg:
● Defending champion: Nina Cutro-Kelly ~ 2013-14-15-16 National Champion
● IJF ranked: 30. Nina Cutro-Kelly
● IJF ranked: 47. Mackenzie Williams

Open:
● Defending champion: Jaqueline Williams
● No IJF rankings for this weight class

Bolen will be going for his sixth U.S. title in a row in the men’s -73 division, while Takahashi (men’s Open) and Cutro-Kelly (women’s +78 kg) will be trying for their sixth national titles within the last eight years.

Look for the results here.

TABLE TENNIS Preview: Another sweep for China in the China Open Platinum?

By
Rich Perelman
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China's Zhendong Fan (Photo: ITTFworld)

After winning “only” two of four divisions in the 2017 China Open, the Chinese entries swept all five events in last year’s China Open, a Platinum-level ITTF tournament. Another sweep coming up?

The tournament not only offers high prize money, and the stars have turned out. The top 17 in the ITTF men’s World Rankings are in and 16 of the top 17 women. The top seeds:

● Men/Singles:
1. Zhendong Fan (CHN: 1) ~ 2016 China Open winner
2. Xin Xu (CHN: 2) ~ 2012 China Open winner
3. Gaoyuan Lin (CHN: 3)
4. Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN: 4)
5. Timo Boll (GER: 5)

● Men/Doubles:
1. Youngsik Jeong/Sangsu Lee (KOR)
2. Cheng-Ting Liao/Yun-Ju Lin (TPE)
3. Woojin Jang/Jonghoon Lim (KOR)
4. Ovidiu Ionescu (ROU)/Alvaro Robles (ESP)
5. Siu Hang Lam/Chun Ting Wong (HKG)

● Women/Singles:
1. Ning Ding (CHN: 1) ~ Three-time China Open winner
2. Yuling Zhu (CHN: 2) ~ 2015 China Open winner
3. Meng Chen (CHN: 3) ~ 2012 China Open winner
4. Manyu Wang (CHN: 4) ~ Defending Champion
5. Shiwen Liu (CHN: 5) ~ Two-time China Open winner

● Women/Doubles:
1. Manyu Wang/Yuling Zhu (CHN)
2. Barbora Balazova (SVK)/Hana Matelova (CZE)
3. Hoi Kem Doo/Wing Nam Ng (HKG)
4. Ho Ching Lee/Wai Yam Soo (HKG)
5. Hyo Sim Cha/Nam Hae Kim (PRK)

● Mixed Doubles:
1. Chun Ting Wong/Hoi Kem Doo (HKG)
2. Lubomir Pistej/Barbora Balasova (SVK)
3. Kwan Kit Ho/Ho Ching Lee (HKG)
4. Yun-Ju Lin/I-Ching Cheng (HKG)
5. Xin Xu/Meng Chen (CHN)

In the men’s field, six-time China Open winner Long Ma is seeded 11th and 2017 winner Dmitrij Ovtcharov is seeded 12th.

The tournament began in 1988 and China has dominated from the start. In recent years, it has swept the four events – the Mixed Doubles was added in 2018) in 16 of the last 18 years.

Look for results here.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL Preview: Three in a row for Mol and Sorum in Ostrava?

By
Rich Perelman
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Norway's beach superstars Anders Mol and Christian Sorum (Photo FIVB)

Confirmed as the top seed for the 2019 World Beach Volleyball Championships, Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sorum are in Ostrava (CZE) to try for their third straight FIVB World Tour tournament win against an excellent field. The top seeds:

● Men:
1. Anders Mol/Christian Sorum (NOR)
2. Viacheslav Krasilnikov/Oleg Stoyanovskiy (RUS)
3. Grzegorz Fijalek/Michal Bryl (POL)
4. Pablo Herrera/Adrian Gavira (ESP)
5. Cherif Younousse/Ahmed Tijan (QAT)

● Women:
1. Barbora Hermannova/Marketa Slukova (CZE)
2. Sarah Pavan/Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN)
3. Agatha Bednarczuk/Duda Lisboa (BRA)
4. Ana Patricia Silva Ramos/Rebecca Cavalcanti (BRA)
5. Heather Bansley/Brandie Wilkerson (CAN)

Also in the top 10 are Alix Klineman and April Ross of the U.S. at no. 6, and Sara Hughes and Summer Ross at no. 8. The top U.S. men’s entry is Tri Bourne and Trevor Crabb at no. 19.

Partnered since 2016, Mol and Sorum have compiled an impressive record, winning medals in seven of their 27 starts together and three of five this season (all wins and all in four-star events). They won three times on tour last season, including the World Tour Final in Hamburg (GER).

The women’s top seeds, Hermannova and Slukova, have one win and one silver medal so far this season. Considerable attention will be paid to see how American pair Kerri Walsh Jennings and Brooke Sweat follow up their win in China from last week.

Look for results here.

CYCLING: Mountain man Ciccone rolls to impressive win as Nibali moves up and Roglic falls back

By
Rich Perelman
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A happy Guilio Ciccone (ITA) wins the grueling Stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia

Tuesday’s misery-packed stage in the Italian Alps confirmed that Italy’s Giulio Ciccone is the master of the mountains in the 102nd Giro d’Italia, winning the 16th stage in a two-man breakaway with Czech Jan Hirt.

This stage was altered because of heavy snow that prevented the route from crossing the Passo Gavia, which would have been the highest point in the race this year. Even so, the revamped, 194 km course included four significant climbs before the feared Passo del Montirolo, a 1,308 m rise in just 12 km.

But Ciccone, who will certainly win the “King of the Mountains” classification at this year’s Giro, passed all of the climbs in front and he and Hirt broke well clear of all others to win by 1:20, despite heavy rain that hit as the Montirolo climb began. It was Ciccone’s second career World Tour race win … his other being a 2016 Giro stage.

Behind them, the chase for the title was changing once again. This time it was Italian star – and two-time prior winner – Vincenzo Nibali who attacked on the descent of the Montirolo and tried to put some distance between him and leader Richard Carapaz (ECU) and race favorite Primoz Roglic (SLO).

It didn’t work as well as hoped and Carapaz, Spain’s Mikel Landa, Hugh Carthy (GBR) and Joe Dombrowski (USA) all caught up and finished as a group, 1:41 behind Ciccone.

Further back, however, came Roglic, Britain’s Simon Yates, Bauke Mollema (NED) and Mikel Nieve (ESP), some 3:03 back and that re-arranged the overall standings:

1. 70:02:05 Richard Carapaz (ECU)
2. +1:47 Vincenzo Nibali (ITA)
3. +2:09 Primoz Roglic (SLO)
4. +3:15 Mikel Landa (ESP)
5. +5:00 Bauke Mollema (NED)

There is still quite a bit of riding left, with three more mountain stages before the final time trial on Sunday. Summaries so far:

UCI World Tour/Giro d’Italia
Italy ~ 11 May-2 June 2019
(Full results here)

Stage 1 (8.0 km Time Trial): 1. Primoz Roglic (SLO), 12:54; 2. Simon Yates (GBR), 13:13; 3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), 13:17; 4. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL), 13:22; 5. Tom Dumoulin (NED), 13:22. Also in the top 25: 21. Chad Haga (USA), 13:48.

Stage 2 (205.0 km): 1. Pascal Ackermann (GER), 4:44:43; 2. Elia Viviani (ITA), 4:44:43; 3. Caleb Ewan (AUS), 4:44:43; 4. Fernando Gaviria (COL), 4:44:43; 5. Arnaud Demare (FRA), 4:44:43.

Stage 3 (220.0 km): 1. Gaviria (COL), 5:23:19; 2. Demare (FRA), 5:23:19; 3. Ackermann (GER), 5:23:19; 4. Matteo Moschetti (ITA), 5;23:19; 5. Giocomo Nizzolo (ITA), 5:23:19. (Viviani (ITA) won the race, but was disqualified for impeding another rider at the finish.)

Stage 4 (235.0 km): 1. Richard Carapaz (ECU), 5:58:17; 2. Ewan (AUS), 5:58:17; 3. Diego Ulissi (ITA), 5:58:17; 4. Ackermann (GER), 5:58:19; 5. Florian Senechal (FRA), 5:58:19.

Stage 5 (140.0 km): 1. Ackermann (GER), 3:15:44; 2. Gaviria (COL), 3:15:44; 3. Demare (FRA), 3:15:44; 4. Ewan (AUS), 3:15:44; 5. Matteo Moschetti (ITA), 3:15:44. Also in the top 25: 13. Sean Bennett (USA), 3:15:44

Stage 6 (238.0 km): 1. Fausto Masnada (ITA), 5:45:01; 2. Valerio Conti (ITA), 5:45:06; 3. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP), 5:45:39; 4. Ruben Plaza (ESP), 5:45:39; 5. Giovanni Carboni (ITA), 5:45:44. Also in the top 25: 20. Brent Bookwalter (USA), 5:52:20.

Stage 7 (185.0 km): 1. Pello Bilbao (ESP), 4:06:27; 2. Tony Gallopin (FRA), 4:06:32; 3. Davide Formolo (ITA), 4:06:32; 4. Lucas Hamilton (AUS), 4:06:36; 5. Mattia Cattaneo (ITA), 4:06:36. Also in the top 25: 23. Joe Dombrowski (USA), 4:07:34.

Stage 8 (239.0 km): 1. Ewan (AUS), 5:43:32; 2. Viviani (ITA), 5:43:32; 3. Ackermann (GER), 5:43:32; 4. Fabio Sabatini (ITA), 5:43:32; 5. Manuel Belletti (ITA), 5:43:32.

Stage 9 (34.8 km Time Trial): 1. Roglic (SLO), 51:52; 2. Victor Campenaerts (BEL), 52:03; 3. Bauke Mollema (NED), 52:52; 4. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), 53:57; 5. Tanel Kangert (EST), 53:02. Also in the top 25: 6. Haga (USA), 53:06.

Stage 10 (145.0 km): 1. Demare (FRA), 3:36:07; 2. Viviani (ITA), 3:36:07; 3. Rudiger Selig (GER), 3:36:07; 4. Ewan (AUS), 3:36:07; 5. Nizzolo (ITA), 3:36:07. Also in the top 25: Bennett (USA), 3:36:07.

Stage 11 (221.0 km): 1. Ewan (AUS), 5:17:26; 2. Demare (FRA), 5:17:26; 3. Ackermann (GER), 5:17:26; 4. Viviani (ITA), 5:17:26; 5. Davide Cimolai (ITA), 5:17:26. Also in the top 25: 10. Bennett (USA), 5:17:26.

Stage 12 (158.0 km): 1. Cesare Benedetti (ITA), 3:41:49; 2. Damiano Caruso (ITA), 3:41:49; 3. Eddie Dunbar (IRL), 3:41:49; 4. Gianluca Brambilla (ITA), 3:41:51; 5. Eros Capecchi (ITA), 3:41:55.

Stage 13 (196.0 km): 1. Ilnur Zakarin (RUS), 5:34:40; 2. Mikel Nieve (ESP), 5:35:15; 3. Mikel Landa (ESP), 5:36:00; 4. Carapaz (ECU), 5:36:18; 5. Bauke Mollema (NED), 5:36:25. Also in the top 25: 13. Dombrowski (USA), 5:39:05.

Stage 14 (131.9 km): 1. Carapaz (ECU), 4:02:23; 2. S. Yates (GBR), 4:03:55; 3. Nibali (ITA), 4:04:17; 4. Rafal Majka (POL), 4:04:17; 5. Mikel Landa (ESP), 4:04:17. Also in the top 25: 9. Dombrowski (USA), 4:04:17; … 24. Sepp Kuss (USA), 4:09:43.

Stage 15 (232.0 km): 1. Dario Cataldo (ITA), 5:48:15; 2. Mattia Cattaneo (ITA), 5:48:15; 3. S. Yates (GBR), 5:48:26; 4. Hugh Carthy (GBR), 5:48:26; 5. Carapaz (ECU), 5:48:26. Also in the top 25: 22. Dombrowski (USA), 5:50:22.

Stage 16 (194.0 km): 1. Giulio Ciccone (ITA), 5:36:24; 2. Jan Hirt (CZE), 5:36:24; 3. Masnada (ITA), 5:37:44; 4. Nibali (ITA), 5:38:05; 5. Carthy (GBR), 5:38:05. Also in the top 25: 8. Dombrowski (USA), 5:38:05.

29 May: Stage 17 (181.0 km) ~ Commezzadura to Anterselva/Antholz (mountains)
30 May: Stage 18 (222.0 km) ~ Valdaora / Olang to Santa Maria di Sala (flat)
31 May: Stage 19 (151.0 km) ~ Treviso to San Martino di Castrozza (mountains)
01 June: Stage 20 (194.0 km) ~ Feltre to Croce D’Aune-Monte Avena (mountains)
02 June: Stage 21 (17.0 km Time Trial) ~ Verona to Verona

HEARD AFTER HALFTIME: More weightlifting doping positives, new T&F world leaders and the future of Katinka Hosszu

By
Rich Perelman
-

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

● Doping ● Although weightlifting has been fully reinstated into the Olympic sports program for 2024 and beyond, the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a reminder of what imperiled it: doping.

The Court’s new Anti-Doping Division issued its first decision on Monday, confirming doping violations from the 2012 Olympic Games in London by Belarus lifter Mikalai Novilau (85 kg) and Ruslan Nurudinov (UZB: 105 kg).

Their samples were re-analyzed by the IOC in 2018 and both athletes were found to have been using steroids at the time, although the testing in 2012 did not catch them. Novilau finished seventh in London; Nurudinov was fourth.

What makes the case especially interesting now is that Nurudinov won the gold medal in the same division in the Rio 2016 Games at 431 kg, with an Olympic Record of 237 kg in the Clean & Jerk. Novilau did not compete in Rio.

The matter was referred to the International Weightlifting Federation for more action; will a re-test of Nurudinov’s 2016 sample be up next?

● Athletics ● Beyond the IAAF Diamond League and World Challenge meets and the NCAA regionals last week, the already-hot track & field season had several more world-leading performances in smaller meets:

Men/Hammer:
Three-time World Champion Pawel Fajdek (POL) threw 80.03 m (262-6) in Forbach (FRA) to claim the world lead; he’s been the world leader in four of the last five years.

Men/Javelin:
Germany’s Andreas Hofmann had the world lead at 87.55 m (287-3) after the Shanghai Diamond League meet, but then Estonia’s Magnus Kirt took over in a meet in Vantaa (FIN) with an 89.33 m (293-1) toss on 25 May.

That didn’t last long, however, as Hofmann re-took the lead in a meet in Offenburg (GER) the next day, throwing the spear 89.40 m (293-4)!

Women’s Discus:
Cuba’s Denia Caballero, the 2015 World Champion, took the world lead in a meet in Havana on 18 May, throwing 68.46 m (224-7).

While not a world-leading mark, it’s worth noting that in a meet in Kingston (JAM) last Saturday, 2008-12 Olympic 100 m champ Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price won her race in 10.97, the no. 2 mark in the world for 2018. Is she really back?

● Diving ● What motivates divers – or other athletes – to compete?

Sarah Bacon hadn’t competed in the USA Diving National Championships on the 1 m Springboard since 2014, but she showed up in Indianapolis last week and won the national title, and a spot on the U.S. team for the 2019 World Championships in July in Korea. Why?

“Being able to qualify for Worlds on 1-meter had a lot to do with diving the event. I’ve been performing well on 1-meter the last two years, so (coach Wenbo Chen) decided, ‘Why not give it a shot and jump in there and dive.’”

She not only won the 1 m title, but also qualified for the U.S. team in the 3 m Springboard, finishing second to Brooke Schultz.

● Figure Skating ● The Associated Press reported that Maia and Alex Shibutani, the 2018 Olympic Ice Dance bronze medalists and 2016 World Championships silver medalists, will not compete internationally in the 2019-2020 season.

They took last season off after the grind of making it to the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, and there is no penalty for performing in ice shows until the push for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing (CHN) starts in earnest.

● Speed Skating ● Canada’s 2018 Olympic 1,000 m Short Track gold medalist Sam Girard announced his retirement last Friday. In a story posted on the Web site of Speed Skating Canada, he explained “I leave my sport satisfied with what I have accomplished. This decision was very well thought through. I am at peace with the choice that I’ve made and am ready to move onto the next step.”

Girard, 22, won three silver medals in individual events – 1,000 m and 1,500 m – in World Championships from 2016-19. His partner, Kasandra Bradette, 29, also a 2018 speed skating Olympian, announced her retirement at the same time.

● Swimming ● Hungary’s triple gold-medal winner from Rio, Katinka Hosszu – The Iron Lady – said in an interview with the Origo Sport Web site that she plans to swim through the 2024 Games in Paris.

Now 30, Hosszu said – via a Google translation – “I don’t feel at all that it will be enough for me next year [in Tokyo]. I love doing it, going out for training, everything. I’m not saying I’m going to swim in the same events as now, but who knows? After Rio I wanted to release the 400 Medley, but it didn’t. I would just stop doing it before 2024 if my child was born, but this is not the current [plan].”

She made some important points, especially about older swimmers. “It may seem strange, but the swimmers don’t necessarily swim when they are older because their bodies are worn, but because there is no motivation. …

“A swimmer, and the crew around him, have not been able to make a living from it yet, so they are not driven to do it.” She added that the other issue “is monotony.”

As a reformer in swimming, she was asked whether it was possible to change swimming from within FINA. The short answer: no.

“There is a very different culture there. I think it’s impossible to get on the line and try to change things from there. As a swimmer, it is easier to put them under pressure, because of my results and my relationship with others, I probably have more influence. I prefer to think in the [International Swimming League], to move it more, because I think it is the future and I will be a part of it, either as a club owner or as an officer in the league.”

● At the BuZZer ● Voters in Denver, Colorado will vote on 4 June on a measure that would require a public referendum before any public expenditures are made in connection with any future Olympic Games. The text of proposed Ordinance 302 reads:

“Shall the voters of the City and County of Denver enact a measure prohibiting the use of public monies, resources, or fiscal guarantees in connection with any future Olympic Games, without the City first obtaining voter approval at a regularly scheduled municipal election or special election should the City decide to use public monies, resources, or guarantees for this purpose?”

Whether this measure passes or not, Denver still carries the stain of giving back the 1976 Olympic Winter Games in a 1970 referendum, and a vote to support a Games bid will be absolutely necessary if the city is ever to be taken seriously as a bidder again.

STAT PACK: Results for the week of 20-26 May 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 18 events in 16 sports:

● Archery: Hyundai World Cup 3 in Antalya
● Artistic Swim: FINA Artistic World Series 6 in Greensboro
● Athletics: IAAF Combined Events Challenge: Hypomeeting in Gotzis
● Badminton: BWF Sudirman Cup in Nanning
● Beach Volleyball: FIVB World Tour 4-star in Jinjiang
● Canoe-Kayak: ICF Sprint World Cup I in Poznan
● Cycling: UCI Mountain Bike World Cup XCO-XCC in Nove Mesto
● Cycling: UCI WWT: Emakumeen XXXII Bira in Spain
● Diving: USA Diving Senior National Championships in Indianapolis
● Fencing: FIE Sabre Grand Prix 3 in Moscow
● Gymnastics: FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup 1 in Zhaoqing
● Gymnastics: FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup 2 in Osijek
● Ice Hockey: IIHF Men’s World Championships in Bratislava
● Judo: IJF World Tour: Hohhot Grand Prix in Hohhot
● Mod. Pent.: UIPM World Cup 4 in Prague
● Rugby: World Rugby Men’s Sevens Series 9 in London
● Skateboard: World Skate/SLS World Tour in London
● Wrestling: UWW Ranking Tourney in Sassari City

plus our calendar of upcoming events through 30 June. Click below for the PDF:

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SPEED READ: Headlines from The Sports Examiner for Monday, 27 May 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: Is swimming climbing toward heaven, or walking the tightrope across the pit now that ISL has announced its schedule? What the International Swimming League is trying to do is worthwhile, but what are its chances of success?

THE BIG PICTURE

Friday: The International Olympic Committee released its Evaluation Commission report on the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The good news was that both budgets are low, with lots of existing facilities in use. But the report showed the Italian bid a lot more ready for prime time than Sweden’s.

ARCHERY

Sunday: Sensational weekend for the U.S., with Brady Ellison claiming his 12th career World Cup win and unheralded James Lutz winning the Compound gold in his first World Cup tournament!

ARTISTIC SWIMMING

Sunday: Japan’s Yukiko Inui showed her class at the FINA World Series in Greensboro, North Carolina, an event which was combined with the Synchro America Open. Inui won both Solo events, team with Megumu Yoshida to win both Duet events and was part of both of Japan’s winning team programs. Seven for seven!

ATHLETICS

Saturday: More silliness from American football players like Chad Johnson (“Ochocinco”) who think they are fast. How about racing Noah Lyles? He’s really fast! And a challenge from Saints receiver Ted Ginn Jr. for a $10,000 race against anyone got a quick reply from the top high school sprinter in the country! Does the NCAA know about this?

Sunday: The 45th Hypomeeting in Gotzis showcased two brilliant world-leading performances by Canada’s Damian Warner and Britain’s Katharina Johnson-Thompson, plus more star marks at the NCAA regionals.

BADMINTON

Sunday: It looked like Japan might have a shot at unseating perennial winner China in the prestigious Sudirman Cup team event. Forget it: China swept Japan, 3-0, to retain the title once again.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Sunday: Thought 40-year old Kerri Walsh Jennings was washed up? Think again: teamed with 33-year-old Brooke Sweat, the pair just won an important FIVB World Tour four-star event in China!

CANOE-KAYAK

Sunday: New Zealand superstar Lisa Carrington showed she is still the one to beat in the first OCF World Cup in Poznan (POL). She won the women’s K-1 200 m, K-1 500 m and teamed with Aimee Fisher, Caitlin Ryan and Kayla Imrie to win the K-4 500 m easily for three victories.

CYCLING

Sunday: The 102nd Giro d’Italia gets wilder by the day. On Sunday, Italy’s Dario Cataldo and Mattia Cattaneo finished 1-2 after an early breakaway, but the opportunity for favored Primoz Roglic to re-take the overall lead faded when he crashed late in the race and had to use a teammate’s bike to finish! Ecudaor’s Richard Carapaz still leads, but four of the next six stages are in the Alps! Ouch!

Sunday: Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini cut it close, but her final sprint in the final stage of the 32nd Emakuveen Bira in Spain not only won the day’s race, but with the time bonuses included, gave her the overall title … by two seconds over defending champ Amanda Spratt (AUS)!

Sunday: Anyone who doubted American Kate Courtney can forget it: she won her second straight Mountain Bike World Cup, this time in the Czech Republic, while Dutch road-racing star Mathieu van der Poel took down Olympic and World Champion Nino Schurter!

DIVING

Sunday: The USA Diving Senior National Championships selected the American team for this summer’s World Championships in Korea. Four-time Olympic medalist David Boudia made a memorable return to the top of the podium, but this time in the 3 m Springboard instead of his usual Platform events. Check out the entire team roster for Changwon.

FENCING

Sunday: No. 1-ranked Sabre stars Sofya Velikaya (RUS) and Eli Dershwitz (USA) maintained their places with strong performances at the FIE Sabre Grand Prix in Moscow (RUS). Velikaya won again for her 40th career Grand Prix and World Cup medal, while Dershwitz – who had been fifth in his last five tournaments – got to the final but had to settle for silver to France’s Bolade Apithy.

FOOTBALL

Sunday: The U.S. women’s team finished their pre-World Cup schedule with a 3-0 win over Mexico in Harrison, New Jersey. The score wasn’t that important (or impressive), but there were encouraging signs on the field as the teams heads to France.

GYMNASTICS

Sunday: The second FIG World Challenge Cup in Osijek (CRO) was a happy homecoming for home favorite Robert Seligman. The two-time European silver medalist in the pommel horse won his specialty in front of a happy crowd in his hometown!

ICE HOCKEY

Sunday: Finland defeated Canada in the first match of the IIHF men’s World Championship in Slovakia, 3-1 … and defeated Canada again – by the same score – in the championship game held in Bratislava. It’s the third world title for the Finns, and stopped a two-year streak by their rivals from Sweden!

JUDO

Sunday: Three world champions – Saeid Mollaei (IRI: 81 kg), Guham Cho (KOR: 100 kg) and Uta Abe (JPN: 52 kg) – claimed victories to highlight the Hohhot Grand Prix in China. Korea had the most wins (4), but Germany won the most medals (8).

MODERN PENTATHLON

Monday: Rio Olympic champ Aleksander Lesun (RUS) shows that he’s getting ready to make a title defense in Tokyo, winning the UIPM World Cup in Prague (CZE). Britain’s Kate French won her third career World Cup in the women’s division, edging Russia’s 2017 World Champion, Gulnaz Gubaydullina.

RUGBY

Sunday: The U.S. Eagles clinched a spot in the 2020 Olympic tournament and have a chance to win the 2018-19 Sevens Series after a third-place finish in the London round. But Fiji took the Series lead with a big win in the final over Australia.

SKATEBOARDING

Sunday: The first event in the Street qualifying program for the 2020 Olympic Games was the SLS World Tour stop in London (GBR), with American Nyjah Huston demonstrating why he is the reigning World Champion!

VOLLEYBALL

Sunday: The reigning FIVB Women’s Nations League champion United States whipped through its first three games undefeated, winning nine of 10 sets. Turkey and Italy also were undefeated during the week of pool play, but it gets tougher for the U.S. week in Italy.

WRESTLING

Monday: Amazing victory for American Tamyra Mensah-Stock at 68 kg in the UWW Ranking Tournament in Sassari (ITA), plus how an Iranian wrestler lost a gold medal because he wouldn’t wear the correct uniform for his medal ceremony!

UPCOMING

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

● Athletics: The third IAAF Diamond League meet, in Stockholm (SWE).

● Cycling: The final week of the year’s first Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia!

● Swimming: Third and final leg of the FINA Champions Swim Series, in Indianapolis.

And a look at how the IOC is continuing to change the nature of the Olympic Games on the fly!

WRESTLING: Sensational gold for Tamyra Mensah-Stock, while Iran loses a gold over medal ceremony attire in Sassari ranking tourney

By
Rich Perelman
-
U.S. star Tamyra Mensah-Stock on her way to winning at 68 kg in Sassari (ITA) (Photo: UWW/Gabor Martin)

It’s a shame that wrestling’s new-fangled scoring system – essentially forced on it by the International Olympic Committee – is so hard to follow. Because this sport is one of the most dramatic, personal and uproarious of all.

The Matteo Pellicone Memorial in Sassari (ITA), an important ranking tournament which impacts seeding at the World Championships, showcased the amazing potential of this sport.

Right at the top of the storylines was American star Tamyra Mensah-Stock, who won her third ranking tournament of the year, essentially assuring herself of the no. 2 seed at 68 kg in the 2019 Worlds … if she makes the U.S. team.

United World Wrestling reported that she arrived in Italy at 10:30 p.m. the night before her matches started on Friday, “didn’t get to bed until well after midnight, then had to get up before sunrise for her final weight cut before weights.

“Mensah fought through all sorts of adversity to get to Sassari, including having to check her weight on a baggage scale at Chicago’s airport – but her coach continued to hammer home that she needed to embrace the adversity and remind herself why she fell in love with the sport.”

In some ways, it seemed to help. She pounded Rio silver medalist Maryia Mamashuik (BLR) in a 10-0 technical fall opener, then won two more matches by 5-1 and 9-2 before getting two first-period takedowns to defeat last year’s 65 kg Worlds silver medalist Danielle Lappage (CAN) by 4-0. Wow!

Equally impressive was the 76 kg final, where Rio 2016 gold medalist Erica Wiebe (CAN) won a showdown with London 2012 champ Natalia Vorobeva by pinfall in less then two minutes. Said Wiebe afterwards, “Today was a test, and I’m happy with how I competed. I love being creative on the mats, and I love to get to wrestling positions. That’s my bread and butter, so I went for it.”

Iran dominated the men’s Freestyle program, winning four weights with victories at 86 kg, by Ahmad Bazrighaleh; at 92 kg by Alireza Karimimachiana and 97 kg by Hamed Talebizarrinkamar.

But Mohammad Yakhkeshi’s triumph at 61 kg vanished after a 7-2 win over Rassul Kaliyev (KAZ) in the final. UWW’s own report stated:

“[T]he Iranian’s gold medal got revoked during the medal presentation ceremony for failure to cooperate with United World Wrestling’s medal ceremony procedures.

“Yakhkeshi took the podium not wearing the approved medal ceremony clothing. According to United World Wrestling’s rule book, wrestlers have to wear their countries tracksuit [sic] on the podium to receive their medal. Yakhkeshi, who was wearing short sleeves, was asked several times to comply with the rules but failed to do so, among many other things, which resulted in disqualification.

“Therefore, Kalyev, Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR), and Rahul AWARE (IND) received bumps and finished in first through third, respectively.”

Amazing.

One of the best performances came from ex-Cuban and now Italian star – and 2015 (65 kg)-2017 (70 kg) World Champion – Frank Chamizo. Cheered on by the loud crowd, he won the 74 kg final with a 6-4, come-from-behind win over Daniyar Kaisanov (KAZ). But his focus is on the World Championships in Kazakhstan later in the year. “I’m focused. I’m not joking. That’s it, guys. I don’t want to talk about wins or loses. I want talk about training and staying focused.”

Turkey led the Greco-Roman division with three wins, to two for Korea and Russia. The U.S. earned a silver medal at 97 kg from G’Angelo Hancock, who lost to Italy’s Nikolosz Kakhelashvili (ITA), 5-0.

You can check the current rankings on the UWW home page here. Summaries from Sassari:

United World Wrestling Ranking Tournament/Matteo Pellicone Memorial
Sassari (ITA) ~ 24-25 May 2019
(Full results here)

Men/Freestyle:

57 kg/ Final: Azamat Tuskaev (RUS) d. Darthe Capellan (CAN), 6-0. Third: Nader Hajiaghaniasamakoushi (IRI) d. Chang-Jun Park (KOR), 6-0; Givi Davidovi (ITA) d. Patrick Hebreard (USA), 10-0.

61 kg/ Final: Mohammad Yakhkeshi (IRI) d. Rassul Kaliyev (KAZ), 7-2. Third: Uladzislau Andreyeu (BLR) d. Rahul Aware (IND), 11-0. (Yakhkeshi was disqualified afterwards for improper awards ceremony behavior and Kaliyev, Andreyeu and Aware were promoted to gold, silver and bronze.)

65 kg/ Final: Sonba Gongone (IND) d. Magomedrasul Idrisov (RUS), 9-8. Third: Sayatbek Okassov (KAZ) d. Harphool Harphool (IND), 14-3; Jun-Sik Yun (KOR) d. Quentin Sticker (FRA), 5-0.

70 kg/ Final: Nurkozha Kaipanov (KAZ) d. George Koliev (BLR), 6-0. Third: Yones Emamichoghaei (IRI) d. Mihail Georgiev (BUL), 10-0; Batyr Borjakov (TKM) d. Fares Lakel (ALG), 9-4.

74 kg/ Final: Frank Chamizo (FRA) d. Daniyar Kaisanov (KAZ), 6-4. Third: Miroslav Kirov (BUL) d. Amit Dhankhar (IND), 11-0; Khetik Tsabolov (RUS) d. Andrei Karpach (BLR), 12-6.

79 kg/ Final: Khalil Aminov (RUS) d. Galymzhan Usserbayev (KAZ), 6-2. Third: Fateh Benferdjallah (ALG) d. Parveen Rana (IND), 4-2; Dmytrii Tkachenko (UKR) d. Sahergeldi Saparmyradov (TKM), 4-2.

86 kg/ Final: Ahmad Bazrighaleh (IRI) d. Azamat Dauletbekov (KAZ), 19-10. Third: Akhmed Aibuev (FRA) d. Dovletmyrat Orazgylyjov (TKM), 14-4; Deepak Punia (IND) d. Boris Makoev (SVK), 3-2.

92 kg/ Final: Alireza Karimimachiana (IRI) d. Batyrbeck Tcakulov (RUS), 8-4. Third: Arashk Mohammadkazem (IRI) d. Nurgali Nurgaipuly (KAZ), 7-3.

97 kg/ Final: Hamed Talebizarrinkamar (IRI) d. Abbas Ali Foroutamrani (IRI), 8-1. Third: Abraham Conyedo (ITA) d. Bakdaulet Almentay (KAZ), 2-0; Igor Ovsiannikov (RUS) d. Batzul Ulziisaikhan (MGL), 9-1.

125 kg/ Final: Pavel Krivtsov (RUS) d. Daniel Ligeti (ITA), 7-4. Third: Oleg Boutin (KAZ) d. Grant Robinson (USA), 12-0; Frederick Choquette (CAN) d. Aly Barghout (CAN), 3-0.

Men/Greco-Roman:

55 kg/ Final: (Round-robin) 1. Hakan Cankaya (TUR); 2. Giovanni Freni (ITA); 3. Dogus Ayazci (TUR).

60 kg/ Final: Seunghak Kim (KOR) d. Ahmet Uyar (TUR), 5-0. Third: Gyanender Gyanender (IND) d. Florin Tita (ROU), 9-0; Jacopo Sandron (ITA) d. Latuf Madi (FRA), 2-1.

63 kg/ Final: Mehmet Ceker (TUR) d. Erik Torba (HUN), 5-4. Third: Kadir Kamal (TUR) d. Kyung-Hoon Kim (KOR), 2-0; Eun-Bin Kim (KOR) d. Andres Montano (ECU), 8-4.

67 kg/ Final: Azamat Akhmedov (RUS) d. Haci Karakus (TUR), 7-1. Third: Han-Su Ryu (KOR) d. Yasin Ozay (FRA), 9-1; Mihai Mihut (ROU) d. Mamadassa Sylla (FRA), 2-1.

72 kg / Final: Adam Kurak (RUS) d. Balint Korpasi (HUN), 3-0. Third: Selcuk Can (TUR) d. Ahmet Yilmaz (TUR), 3-1.

77 kg/ Final: Hyeon-Woo Kim (KOR) d. Zotlan Levai (HUN), 10-0. Third: Georgios Prevolarakis (GRE) d. Gil Nugues (FRA), 10-0; Tamas Lorincz (HUN) d. Roman Zhernovetski (ISR), 7-0.

82 kg/ Final: Gurpreet Singh (IND) d. Burhan Akbudak (TUR), 14-4. Third: George Mariea (ROU) d. Matteo Maffezzoli (ITA), 8-6.

87 kg/ Final: Viktor Lorincz (HUN) d. Dogan Goktas (TUR), 5-1. Third: Erik Szilvassy (HUN) d. Singh Harpreet (IND), 8-0; Gadzhimurad Dzhalalov (RUS) d. Ramon Betschart (SUI), 3-1.

97 kg/ Final: Nikolosz Kakhelashvili (ITA) d. G’Angelo Hancock (USA), 5-0. Third: Balazs Kiss (HUN) d. Armen Grigoryan (RUS), 2-0; Mihail Kajala (SRB) d. Daigoro Timoncini (ITA), 3-1.

130 kg/ Final: Osman Yildirim (TUR) d. Balint Lam (HUN), 3-0. Third: Min-Seok Kim (KOR) d. Constantin Hutuleac (ROU), 2-1; Yong-Min Kim (KOR) d. Lenard Berei (ROU), disqualified.

Women/Freestyle

50 kg/ Final: Seema Seema (IND) d. Daria Leksina (RUS), 10-0. Third: Jacqueline Mollocana (ECU) d. Kamila Barbosa (BRA), 10-0; Frederika Petersson (SWE) d. Jade Dufour (CAN), 10-0.

53 kg/ Final: Ekaterina Poleshchuk (RUS) d. Hyung-Joo Kim (KOR), 6-1. Third: Diana Weicker (CAN) d. Anzhelika Vetoshkina (RUS), 7-0; Luisa Valverde (ECU) d. Samantha Stewart (CAN), 6-6 (criteria).

55 kg/ Final: Sofia Mattsson (SWE) d. Vanesa Kaladzinskaya (BLR), 0-0 (criteria). Third: Viktoriia Vaulina (RUS) d. Marina Sedneva (KAZ), 12-4.

57 kg/ Final: Grace Bullen (NOR) d. Pooja Dhanda (IND), 5-0. Third: Lissette Antes Castillo (ECU) d. Olga Khoroshavtseva (RUS), 5-4; Alexandria Town (CAN) d. Katsiaryna Hanchar (BLR), 8-0.

59 kg/ Final: Linda Morais (CAN) d. Kumari Manju (IND), 9-0. Third: Laurence Beauregard (CAN) d. Kelsey Campbell (USA), 8-2.

62 kg/ Final: Henna Johansson (SWE) d. Elmira Gambarova (AZE), 6-4. Third: Lais Nunes (BRA) d. Mallory Velte (USA), 2-1; Malin Mattsson (SWE) d. Marwa Amri (TUN), 7-2.

65 kg/ Final: (Round-robin) 1. Gabriella Sleisz (HUN); 2. Aina Temirtassova (KAZ); 3. Braxton Stone (CAN); 4. Amanda Savard (CAN).

68 kg/ Final: Tamyra Mensah (USA) d. Danielle Lappage (CAN), 4-0. Third: Anastasia Bratchikova (RUS) d. Maryia Mamashuk (BLR), 4-3; Divya Kakran (IND) d. Irina Kazyulina (KAZ), 10-5.

72 kg/ Final: (Round-robin) 1. Anna Fransson (SWE); 2. Zhamila Bakbergenova (KAZ); 3. Tatiana Kolesnikova (RUS); 4. Dejah Slater (CAN).

76 kg/ Final: Erica Wiebe (CAN) pinned Natalia Vorobeva (RUS). Third: Epp Mae (EST) d. Ekaterina Bukina (RUS), 8-7; Aline Focken (GER) d. Iselin Solheim (NOR), 8-0.

MODERN PENTATHLON: Rio champion Lesun shows he’s getting ready for Tokyo with win in Prague

By
Rich Perelman
-
Russia's Aleksander Lesun wins the Rio 2016 gold medal!

Russia’s Aleksander Lesun is a two-time World Champion and the reigning Olympic gold medalist from the Rio Games in 2016. But until the UIPM World Cup in Prague (CZE), he had been quiet recently.

Not any more. Lesun won his first individual World Cup since 2014 with an impressive display in the fencing competition, winning 29 bouts, and in riding, placing seventh. That allowed him to finish 19th in swimming and only 33rd in the Laser Run to cross the line first.

“I fought hard today in my participation in the competition and I am satisfied with the venue, the horses and the course – everything,” he said afterwards. “But I think I can work harder for future success.”

Lesun ended up winning by only eight points over Britain’s Joseph Choong, the 2018 European Championships bronze medalist. Choong himself won a tight race to the finish with Germany’s Marvin Dogue and earned second by a single point, 1,481-1,480.

Britain’s Kate French similarly dominated the women’s competition, starting by winning the fencing program with 24 wins. She was 16th in swimming and 13th in riding, but started the Laser Run with a nine-second edge. She was seventh-fastest overall and finished with a 14-second edge for her third career World Cup victory.

She won by 14 points over Russia’s Gulnaz Gubaydullina, the 2017 World Champion, and 35 points over teammate Jessica Varley (1,356), who won her first-ever World Cup medal.

“I am very, very happy,” said French. “I needed a good result. It has just been a really good day so I’m super pleased. The first few competitions haven’t gone to plan, so I’m really pleased I have been able to get it right for this one.”

Britain got more good news in the Mixed Relay, with a win by Sam Curry and Joanna Muir, who finished second in the riding and then had the fastest Laser Run to win with1,486 over Germany’s Annika Schleu and Dogue (1,470).

Next up is the World Cup Final, starting on 27 June in Tokyo (JPN) with qualification places for the 2020 Games will be at stake. Summaries:

UIPM World Cup
Prague (CZE) ~ 22-27 May 2019
(Full results here)

Men: 1. Aleksander Lesun (RUS), 1,489; 2. Joseph Choong (GBR), 1,481; 3. Marvin Dogue (GER), 1,480; 4. Kirill Belyakov (RUS), 1,478; 5. Valentin Prades (FRA), 1,465.

Women: 1. Kate French (GBR), 1,391; 2. Gulnaz Gubaydullina (RUS), 1,377; 3. Jessica Varley (GBR), 1,356; 4. Sunwoo Kim (KOR), 1,353; 5. Marie Oteiza (FRA), 1,352.

Mixed Relay: 1. Samuel Curry/Joanna Muir (GBR), 1,486; 2. Annika Schleu/Marvin Dogue (GER), 1,470; 3. Salma Abdelmaksoud/Mohanad Shaban (EGY), 1,461; 4. Sun-Woo Kim/Soeng-Jin Kim (KOR), 1,452; 5. Kseniia Fraltsova/Viacheslav Bardyshev (RUS), 1,447. Also: 10. Tyler Evans/Sam Achterberg (USA), 1,410.

VOLLEYBALL: U.S., Turkey and Italy stay perfect in Women’s Nations League opening round

By
Rich Perelman
-

The first weekend of the FIVB Women’s Nations League is complete and the defending champion U.S. had no trouble in sweeping their first pool, winning their three matches in Ruse (BUL):

● 21 May: U.S. d. Belgium, 3-0 (25-23, 25-8, 25-22)
● 22 May: U.S. d. Japan, 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-21, 25-20)
● 23 May: U.S. d. Bulgaria, 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-21)

The only other teams to win all three matches were Turkey and Italy, with five teams at 2-1: Poland, Brazil, Serbia, Dominican Republic and Belgium.

The U.S. and Turks both won nine of 10 sets played in the first week; Italy won nine of 11.

The round-robin will continue this week, with the U.S. headed to Conegliano Veneto (ITA) for a series of difficult matches with Serbia (28th), Italy (29th) and the Dominican Republic (30th).

Last season, the U.S. finished 13-2 in the round-robin, losing only to Turkey (3-2) and Serbia (3-1). In the final, the American women beat both of those teams to move to the semis, then beat China and Turkey to win the seasonal title.

The full league schedule is here.

SKATEBOARD: World champ Huston dominates first World Skate Olympic qualifier, in London

By
Rich Perelman
-
Three-time World Street Champion Nyjah Huston (USA).

Skateboarding’s road to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo opened for business in London with its first qualifying event, the SLS World Tour stop in London’s Copper Box Arena. This was the first opportunity for athletes to begin collecting points that will ultimately end in a spot in next year’s Olympic Games.

In the men’s Street competition, all eyes were on three-time World Champion Nyjah Huston of the U.S. and he delivered. In the final, he was the only one to score more than 9.0 on both runs and on two scoring tricks for a 36.7 total.

In a format which allows the best four scores to be taken from the two runs and five different tricks, consistency won out for Portugal’s Gustavo Ribeiro. Only one of his runs scored high – 8.8 – but he had tricks scores of 9.2, 9.0 and 8.9 and that was enough for 35.9 and the silver medal. Australia’s Shane O’Neill, the 2016 World Champion, scored 34.8 for third; he had great tricks scores of 9.3 and 9.1, but his first run of 7.1 left him with the bronze medal.

The women’s Street final was expected to feature Brazil’s four-time Worlds medalist Leticia Bufoni, but it was teammate Pamela Rosa who scored most consistently, with a 7.0 first run and tricks scores of 6.7, 6.5 and 6.1 to compile a winning score of 26.3. The highest individual run score came from silver-medal winner Hayley Wilson (AUS) with a 7.2. Summaries:

World Skate/SLS World Tour
London (GBR) ~ 21-26 May 2019
(Full results here)

Men/Street: 1. Nyjah Huston (USA), 36.7; 2. Gustavo Ribeiro (POR), 35.9; 3. Shane O’Neill (AUS), 34.8; 4. Kelvin Hoefler (BRA), 34.8; 5. Manny Santiago (PUR), 23.8. Also: 8. Louie Lopez (USA), 22.1.

Women/Street: 1. Pamela Rosa (BRA), 26.3; 2. Hayley Wilson (AUS), 26.2; 3. Jhulia Mendes Leal (BRA), 26.0; 4. Leticia Bufoni (BRA), 25.9; 5. Aori Nishimura (JPN), 22.4. Also: 8. Alexis Sablone (USA), 19.0.

LANE ONE: Is swimming climbing toward heaven, or walking the tightrope across the pit now that ISL has announced its schedule?

By
Rich Perelman
-

Since Rupert Murdoch’s audacious $1.6 billion bid that moved National Football League games from CBS to the new Fox network in 1993, sports television – in the U.S. and elsewhere – has enjoyed a nearly unbroken expansion of ratings and ad sales, and rights fees have steadily increased.

Whether that is still the case – especially in the U.S. – will determine the future of the experiment called the International Swimming League (ISL).

Never heard of it? You will, probably.

Announced with some fanfare in 2018, ISL’s concept is to create a league, with eight teams of 24 swimmers each from various countries, swimming against other teams with a championship at the end of the season. The details so far:

● Events:
The schedule was announced on 21 May, with seven meets across 12 weeks in the fourth quarter of 2019:

(1) 04-05 October: USA/Indianapolis, Indiana ~ IU Natatorium (4,800 capacity)
(2) 12-13 October: ITA/Naples ~ Piscina Felice Scandone (3,000)
(3) 18-19 October: USA/Lewisville, Texas ~ LISD Westside Aquatic Center (1,200)
(4) 26-27 October: HUN/Budapest ~ Duna Arena (5,000)
(5) 15-16 November: USA/College Park, Maryland ~ Eppley Recreation Center (2,700)
(6) 23-23 November: GBR/London ~ London Aquatics Centre (2,800)
(7) 20-21 December: USA/Las Vegas ~ Mandalay Bay Events Center (12,000)

Four of the seven are in the U.S., including the final event in a 25 m temporary pool in the arena of the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Each meet will have four teams participating.

● Teams:
The announced teams include four in the U.S. – the New York Breakers, Los Angeles Current, D.C. Trident, and the Cali (San Francisco) Condors. The four European teams are in London (GBR), Stuttgart (GER), Budapest (HUN) and the Energy Standard team located in Antalya (TUR). ISL has stated it has signed 200 swimmers to team agreements.

Interestingly, only three of the seven events are “home meets” for the Washington, D.C., London and Budapest teams, while the other four meets are to be held in venues not related to the other teams.

All of these events are well after the 2019 FINA World Championships in Korea, to be held from 12-28 July.

ISL got into a fight with FINA over a meet it wanted to hold in Turin (ITA) last year, and the meet was eventually canceled. ISL and three swimmers – proposing to be the leaders of a class action – sued FINA last December for restraint of trade in U.S. Federal Court in Northern California, but FINA has asked for a dismissal. More importantly, FINA declared in January that “FINA acknowledges that swimmers are free to participate in competitions or events staged by independent organisers, namely entities which are neither members of FINA nor related to it in any way,” so the case may be moot.

At the same time, FINA created a new series called the “FINA Champions Swim Series” with meets in China, Hungary and the U.S. – with two already completed – paying more than $2.4 million in prize money. There is also the FINA World Cup series, annually held in the fall; in 2019, there are seven meets – also one in Budapest – with two of the events being held on overlapping dates with the ISL schedule (five are clear).

That’s the situation right now. ISL promises a new standard for swimming and swimmers, with appearance money, prize money, health insurance and pension plans for the athletes, and that “Swimming is ideally positioned to capitalize on its merits and start ranking among the top sports in the world, such as American football, boxing, basketball, baseball, soccer, cricket, rugby, etc., financial success will follow.”

How is the question.

Having seen – up close and personal – multiple attempts to create a high-paying circuit in track & field, prior to the establishment of the IAAF’s Golden League in 1998, followed by the Diamond League in 2010, the issue is money.

Sure, there are ticket sales, but with the small venues listed above, that will not pay the bills. Moreover, the competition concept is not related to “home meets,” so there are no season tickets to sell. Thus, the money can only come from two places: sponsors and television. And the two are directly related.

Sponsors invest in a program because of the marketing opportunities created by an attachment to an event, spokesperson or both. Television rights sales are based – for the most part – on the projected audience and the advertising sales that can be wrung from companies who want to reach that audience.

ISL has its work cut out for it. With less than five months to go prior to its launch, it has not announced any sponsors – interestingly, not even one of the swimming apparel companies – or any television agreements. With four of the seven meets being held in the U.S., even domestic cable television time may be hard for ISL to find with the Major League Baseball playoffs and NFL and college football going full blast and the start of the NHL, NBA and college basketball seasons. NBC’s Olympic Channel is a possibility, but it’s not yet a solid ratings-getter.

Perhaps there is a cable outlet which isn’t sports-heavy at present might take a chance, such as USA Network, but what would it pay for rights? With all of the turmoil over regulation, would any of the online giants such as Facebook or Google pay anything? And without over-the-air or cable television exposure, how much interest will there be from sponsors?

A long shot might be the gaming industry; after all, the final in December is being held in a casino in Las Vegas. But there is considerable concern at the International Olympic Committee about the integrity of Olympic competitions and betting, so that might not be the best match right now.

Through the IAAF, international track & field has a seasonal program that started with six events in 1998 (Golden League) – all of which had existing history, interest, sponsors and television agreements – and for 2019, has 14 meets (Diamond League). There are reasonable television agreements in place, especially in Europe, but the series lost its title sponsor – Samsung – after the 2012 circuit and no new commercial partner has replaced it.

Truth be told, the Diamond League has not brought track & field back to the prominence it last enjoyed in the 1970s, before the cable television explosion rocketed the team sports into the financial stratosphere in the 1980s. To its credit, the IAAF has done an excellent job with its Web and social-media support of the Diamond League, but the series does not hold together as the seasons for team sports do, even for college football and basketball in the U.S.

The core challenge for ISL – and the Diamond League for that matter – is why people should care about it. There are no national teams involved, and the World Championships will have been held a mere three months prior, with everyone pointing to that event. So what’s at stake and why should people watch? (It’s also worth noting that the ISL competitions will be held in 25 m – short-course – pools, so Olympic-event world records cannot be set since they must be done in 50 m pools.)

ISL founder and Ukrainian financier Konstantin Grigorishin is to be commended for trying to elevate swimming’s exposure and the financial opportunities for the world’s top swimmers. His efforts have, at the very least, renovated FINA’s thinking about outside promoters and caused it to create the new Champions Swim Series.

Those could end up being the legacies of ISL if it fails to gain financial support into a second or third year and beyond. To succeed, Grigorishin and his team must keep in mind the famed catchphrase of the 1996 hit, Jerry Maguire: “Show me the money.”

Otherwise, it will be just another well-intentioned idea that didn’t pan out.

Rich Perelman
Editor

RUGBY: U.S. clinches 2020 Olympic berth, but Fiji takes season lead with win in London

By
Rich Perelman
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Fourth Seven Series win of the year for Fiji, in London.

The season-long goal of the U.S. Eagles was reached late Saturday in London (GBR) with the sweep of Pool D and advancement to the championship playoffs. That assured that the American squad – which had never finished higher than fifth – would be in the top four and automatically qualify for the 2020 Games.

However, there was still Sunday’s play ahead and after yet another loss to Fiji – this time, 17-10, in the semifinals – the U.S. routed France to finish third and now stands second overall with one more round to play. The standings:

1. 164 Fiji
2. 162 United States
3. 143 New Zealand
4. 131 South Africa
5. 109 England
6. 99 Australia
7. 95 Samoa
8. 86 France

The U.S. will finish in the top two almost no matter what happens in the final round in Paris, but has a chance now to win the 2018-19 series and become only the fifth nation to do so. Only New Zealand (12), South Africa (3), Fiji (3) and Samoa (1) have ever won the title.

“Yeah we got the Olympic qualification written off for this weekend, going into next weekend it’s all to play for,” said U.S. scoring star Stephen Tomasin.  “We’re two points behind Fiji so if we win the tournament next weekend, we end up winning the whole thing. It’s the first time we’ve been in a position to win the World Series, so it’s extremely exciting for us.”

The Eagles have already made history as the first team from the Americas to finish in the top four, or – looking ahead – the top two. Summaries from London:

World Rugby Sevens Series
London (GBR) ~ 25-26 May 2019
(Full results here)

Final Standings: 1. Fiji; 2. Australia; 3. United States; 4. France; 5. New Zealand; 6. Ireland; 7. tie, South Africa and Canada. Semis: Australia d. France, 31-24; Fiji d. U.S., 17-10. Third: U.S. d. France, 31-14. Final: Fiji d. Australia, 43-7.

ICE HOCKEY: Finland stuns Canada, 3-1, to win IIHF World Championship in Slovakia

By
Rich Perelman
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Finland wins! Finland wins! (Photo: IIHF)

In the first game of the IIHF World Championship tournament in Slovakia, Finland scored twice in the third period to defeat Canada, 3-1.

On Sunday – 16 days later – Finland and Canada were tied, 1-1, going into the third period in the championship game. And two goals later, Finland finished with another 3-1 win and took home its third world title and its first in eight years.

Marko Anttila scored the goal-ahead goal – which proved to be the winning goal – just 2:35 into the third period. About 13 minutes later, Harri Pesonen scored for a 3-1 lead and although Canada pulled keeper Matt Murray for much of the remaining four minutes, the game finished at 3-1.

What was all the more amazing is that the Canadians outshot the Finns, 21-3, in the third period, but failed to score. For the game, Canada had a 44-22 advantage in shots, but Finland’s Kevin Lankinen only allowed one to score.

In the group stage, Canada led Group A with a 6-1 record, finishing ahead of the Finns (5-1 + 1 overtime loss), Germany (5-2) and the U.S. (4-2 + 1 overtime win). Russia won Group B with a 7-0 record, trailed by the Czechs at 6-1, Sweden at 5-2 and Switzerland at 4-3.

This was Finland’s third world title (in 1995-2011-2019) and stopped a two-year run for Sweden as world champs. Canada won the prior two titles in 2015-16. The tournament awards:

Individual Awards selected by the Tournament Directorate:
● Best Goaltender: Andrei Vasilevski (RUS)
● Best Defenseman: Filip Hronek (CZE)
● Best Forward: Nikita Kucherov (RUS)

All-Star Team selected by the media:
● Goalkeeper: Andrei Vasilevski (RUS)
● Defense: Filip Hronek (CZE), Mikko Lehtonen (FIN)
● Forward: Mark Stone (CAN), William Nylander (SWE) and Jakub Voracek (CZE)

Most Valuable Player selected by the media:
● Mark Stone (CAN)

The leading scorer turned out to be Will Nylander of Sweden, with 18 points (5+13), followed by three with 16 points: Nikita Kucherov (RUS: 6+10), Nikita Gusev (RUS: 4+12) and Jakub Voracek (CZE: 4+12). The top goal scorer was Canada’s Stone, with eight.

The tournament was held in two arenas: the Ondrej Nepala Arena in Bratislava and the Steel arena in Kosice. Total attendance was reported as 470,853, or 7,357 per match. Summaries:

IIHF Men’s World Championship
Bratislava and Kosice (SVK) ~ 10-26 May 2019
(Full results here)

Final Standings: 1. Finland; 2. Canada; 3. Russia; 4. Czech Rep.; 5. Sweden; 6. Germany; 7. United States; 8. Switzerland; 9. Slovakia; 10. Latvia; 11. Denmark; 12, Norway; 13. Great Britain; 14. Italy; 15. France; 16. Austria. Semis: Finland d. Russia, 1-0; Canada d. Czech Rep., 5-1. Third: Russia d. Czech Republic, 3-2 (shoot-out). Final: Finland d. Canada, 3-1.

JUDO: Three world champions triumph in Hohhot Grand Prix

By
Rich Perelman
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World Champion Uta Abe (JPN)

Many of the top judoka skipped the Hohhot Grand Prix in China, but some were there, including three reigning World Champions who won their divisions:

● Men/81 kg: Saeid Mollaei (IRI)
● Men/100 kg: Guham Cho (KOR)
● Women/52 kg: Uta Abe (JPN)

South Korea had the most wins in the tournament, taking four golds, ahead of Japan (3) and North Korea (2). The leading total medal winner was actually Germany with eight (1-1-6), followed by three countries with six: South Korea (4-2-0), Japan (3-2-1) and China (0-2-4). Summaries:

IJF World Tour/Hohhot Grand Prix
Hohhot (CHN) ~ 24-26 May 2019
(Full results here)

Men

-60 kg: 1. Won-Jin Kim (KOR); 2. Yung-Wei Yang (TPE); 3. Albert Oguzov (RUS) and In-Hyuk CHOI (Kor).

-66 kg: 1. Lim-Hwan Kim (KOR); 2. Aram Grigoryan (RUS); 3. Baskhuu Yondonperenlei (MGL) and Ming-Yen Tsai (TPE).

-73 kg: 1. Hidayat Heydarov (AZE); 2. Victor Scvortov (UAE); 3. Arthur Margelidon (CAN) and Igor Wandtke (GER).

-81 kg: 1. Saeid Mollaei (IRI); 2. Sotaro Fujiwara (JPN); 3. Dominic Ressel (GER) and Sungho Lee (KOR).

-90 kg: 1. Kenta Nagasawa (JPN); 2. Nemanja Majdov (SRB); 3. Ivan Felipe Silva Morales (CUB) and Giorgi Papunashvili (GEO).

-100 kg: 1. Guham Cho (KOR); 2. Benjamin Fletcher (IRL); 3. Otgonbaatar Lkhagvasuren (MGL) and Karl-Richard Frey (GER).

+100 kg: 1. Min-Jong Kim (KOR); 2. Tuvshinbayar Naidan (MGL); 3. Levani Matiashvili (GEO) and Lukas Krpalek (CZE).

Women

-49 kg: 1. Yu-Son Jon (PRK); 2. Yao Xiong (CHN); 3. Katharina Menz (GER) and Shira Rishony (ISR).

-52 kg: 1. Uta Abe (JPN); 2. Evelyne Tschopp (NED); 3. Ecaterina Guica (CAN) and Gefen Primo (ISR).

-57 kg: 1. Jin-A. Kim (PRK); 2. Daria Mezhetskaia (RUS); 3. Jessica Klimkait (CAN) and Tong Juan Lu (CHN).

-63 kg: 1. Martyna Trajdos (GER); 2. Jing Tang (CHN); 3. Junxia Yang (CHN) and Aimi Nouchi (JPN).

-70 kg: 1. Saki Niizoe (JPN); 2. Anna Bernholm (SWE); 3. Giovanna Scoccimarro (GER) and Kelita Zupancic (CAN).

-78 kg: 1. Fanny Estelle Posvite (FRA); 2. Anna Maria Wagner (GER); 3. Zhenzhao Ma (CHN) and Kaliema Antomarchi (CUB).

+78 kg: 1. Idalys Ortiz (CUB); 2. Maya Akiba (JPN); 3. Shiyan Xu (CHN) and Jasmin Kuelbs (GER).

GYMNASTICS: Ukraine’s Radivilova wins three medals to highlight Osijek Challenge Cup

By
Rich Perelman
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European pommel horse silver medalist Robert Seligman (Photo: Pierre-Yves Beaudouin via Wikimedia Commons)

Ukraine’s 2016 Olympian Angelina Radivilova was the big winner with three medals at the second FIG World Challenge Cup for 2019, held in Osijek (CRO).

No stranger to the event – Radivilova won a bronze in one event in Osijek back in 2013 – the 28-year-old won the Balance Beam (13.333) and was second on Vault (13.833) and Floor (13.033).

In the men’s events, home favorite Robert Seligman – born in Osijek and now 33 – won his specialty, the Pommel Horse with a 14.533 score. Twice a European Championships medalist on the apparatus, he’s ready to make another run at the Olympic Games. Summaries:

FIG Artistic World Challenge Cup
Osijek (CRO) ~ 23-26 May 2019
(Full results here)

Men

Floor: 1. Artem Dolgopyat (ISR), 15.300; 2. Kirill Prokopev (RUS), 14.733; 3. Tomas Gonzalez (CHI), 14.367.

Pommel Horse: 1. Robert Seligman (CRO), 14.533; 2. Nikolai Kuksenkov (RUS), 14.300; 3. Ivan Tikhonov (AZE), 14.000.

Parallel Bars: 1. Robert Tvorogal (LTU), 14.067; 2. Sercan Demir (TUR), 14.067; 3. Aleksandr Kartsev (RUS), 13.700.

Rings: 1. Nikita Simonov (AZE), 14.500; 2. Alexey Rostov (RUS), 14.267; 3. Yunus Gundogdu (TUR), 14.000.

Vault: 1. Wai Hung Shek (HKG), 14.667; 2. Andrea Cingolani (ITA), 14.500; 3. Andrey Medvedev (ISR), 14.667.

Horizontal Bar: 1. Rostov (RUS), 13.733; 2. Aleksandr Kartsev (RUS), 13.600; 3. Ilias Georgiou (CYP), 13.467.

Women

Vault: 1. Teja Belak (SLO), 13.900; 2. Angelina Radivilova (UKR), 13.833; 3. Tjasa Kysselef (SLO), 13.367.

Uneven Bars: 1. Anastasiia Agafonova (RUS), 13.500; 2. Nora Feher (HUN), 13.367; 3. Yana Federova (UKR), 12.667.

Balance Beam: 1. Radivoliva (UKR), 13.333; 2. Carmen Chiciuc (ROU), 13.100; 3. Alexandra Mihai (ROU), 12.667.

Floor: 1. Ana Derek (CRO), 13.033; 2. Radivoliva (UKR), 13.033; 3. Mihai (ROU), 12.933.

FENCING: Dershwitz earns Grand Prix silver; Velikaya storms to 40th career in-season medal

By
Rich Perelman
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Russian Sabre star Sofya Velikaya (Photo: Marie-Lan Nguyen via Wikipedia Commons)

American Eli Dershwitz is no. 1 in the FIE World Sabre Rankings and will stay there after his silver-medal performance in the Sabre Grand Prix is Moscow (RUS).

His performance was a modest breakthrough, as he had finished fifth – losing in the quarterfinals – in each of the last five World Cup and Grand Prix tournaments. But this time he got to the final, only to be stopped by France’s unheralded Bolade Apithy.

Now 33, Apithy won his first career Grand Prix medal with the win in the final. He had previously won two World Cup medals, the last coming in 2017. But he handled Dershwitz, 15-10, in the final.

The women’s Grand Prix finalists also included a surprise: China’s Yaqi Shao. Just 22, this was her first career medal in a World Cup or Grand Prix. She was game, but overmatched by Russia’s Sofya Velikaya, also no. 1 in the FIE World Rankings, 15-8.

For two-time World Champion Velikaya, the victory was her seventh in a Grand Prix and 14th including World Cups. She now has collected a staggering total of 40 Grand Prix and World Cup medal in her career to 2003! Summaries:

FIE Grand Prix
Moscow (RUS) ~ 24-26 May 2019
(Full results here)

Men: 1. Bolade Apithy (FRA); 2. Eli Dershwitz (USA); 3. Luca Curatoli (ITA) and Max Hartung (GER). Semis: Apithy d. Hartung, 15-13; Dershwitz d. Curatoli, 15-12. Final: Apithy d. Dershwitz, 15-10.

Women: 1. Sofya Velikaya (RUS); 2. Yaqi Shao (CHN); 3. Sofia Pozdniakova (RUS) and Lisa Pusztai (HUN). Semis: Velikaya d. Pozdniakova, 15-13; Shao d. Pustzai, 15-9. Final: Velikaya d. Shao, 15-8.

DIVING: Boudia returns to win 21st U.S. national title as American teams for the 2019 Worlds is selected

By
Rich Perelman
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Four-time Olympic diving medalist David Boudia

The USA Diving National Championships in Indianapolis was the selection meet for the 2019 FINA World Championships later this year in Changwon (KOR), and there are some familiar faces on the roster:

● Men/1 m: Briadam Herrera and Michael Hixon
● Men/3 m: David Boudia and Michael Hixon
● Men/10 m: Brandon Loschiavo and David Dinsmore

● Men/Synchro 3 m: Andrew Capobianco/Michael Hixon
● Men/Synchro 10 m: Steele Johnson/Ben Bramley

● Women/1 m: Sarah Bacon and Maria Coburn
● Women/3 m: Brooke Schultz and Sarah Bacon
● Women/10 m: Amy Magana and Delaney Schnell

● Women/Synchro 3 m: Alison Gibson/Krysta Palmer
● Women/Synchro 10 m: Samantha Bromberg/Katrina Young

● Mixed/Synchro 3 m: Briadam Herrera/Lauren Reedy
● Mixed/Synchro 10 m: Zach Cooper/Olivia Rosendahl

Boudia is best known for his four Olympic medals from 10 m – including the 2012 Olympic title – but won his second career U.S. championship on the 3 m Springboard and will complete in that event in Korea. It’s his 21st career U.S. national title.

“Going into this [final] today, I don’t think I’ve been this nervous since 2005,” Boudia said afterwards. “I think just because it’s a new event on 3-meter and there’s a lot more variables when it comes to diving on that. I’m not as comfortable on 3-meter yet, but this is a good stepping stone.

“I think my rock in this has been my mental game, and that’s why I’ve been successful in this sport. It’s just a matter of turning on that focus and getting in the zone, and I guess that’s what happened today.”

Hixon will be busy on both the 1 m and 3 m events, as well as the 3 m Synchro with Capobianco. Hixon won a Rio silver in the 3 m Synchro (with Sam Dorman) and a Worlds bronze in the 1 m Springboard in 2015.

Loschiavo won his first national championship on the 10 m Platform and Herrera won his fourth 1 m national title.

Among the women, Magana won her 10th national title and was the top qualifier for the 10 m Platform event. “My coach gave me a not-so-subtle reminder that if I want to accomplish the goals that we want to accomplish together, I just have to hit my dives. I had to set aside making Worlds and just take it one dive at a time and do as best as I can,” Magana said.

Bacon won her second U.S. title in the 1 m Springboard – previously in 2014 – and Schultz, previously the 2017 Winter National champ, won her first USA Diving Senior Nationals victory.

The summaries below are for the National Championships results; the selection of the Worlds team was based on cumulative scores from diving on each apparatus during the entire week:

USA Diving Senior National Championships
Indianapolis, Indiana (USA) ~ 19-26 May 2019
(Full results here)

Men

1 m Springboard: 1. Briadam Herrera, 427.35; 2. Michael Hixon, 423.00; 3. Grayson Campbell, 372.70; 4. Noah Duperre, 358.15; 5. Conor Casey, 345.85; 6. Nathianiel Hernandez, 340.65; 7. Jacob Fielding, 328.05; 8. Lyle Yost, 323.25.

3 m Springboard: 1. David Boudia, 474.35; 2. Hixon, 451.00; 3. Jordan Windle, 425.30; 4. Campbell, 404.35; 5. Casey, 404.05; 6. Andrew Capobianco, 396.65; 7. Herrera, 379.40; 8. Lyle Yost, 376.30.

10 m Platform: 1. Brandon Loschiavo, 464.00; 2. David Dinsmore, 461.25; 3. Steele Johnson, 425.35; 4. Benjamin Bramley, 397.00; 5. Tyler Downs, 392.70; 6. Maxwell Weinrich, 376.60; 7. Jacob Cornish, 362.70; 8. Quinn Henninger, 357.80.

Synchro 3 m: 1. Andrew Capobianco/Michael Hixon, 423.96; 2. Jacob Cornish/Tyler Downs, 344.82; 3. Jacob Fielding/Lyle Yost, 334.05; 4. Ethan Foster/Luke Foster, 283.38 (only finalists).

Synchro 10 m: 1. David Dinsmore/Brandon Loschiavo, 414.39; 2. Benjamin Bramley/Steele Johnson, 404.91; 3. Jordan Windle/Brandon Loschiavo, 369.57; 4. Maxwell Flory/Zach Cooper, 363.06; 5. Jordan Rzepka/Tyler Downs, 348.54 (only finalists).

Women

1 m Springboard: 1. Sarah Bacon, 299.10; 2. Maria Coburn, 295.40; 3. Brooke Schultz, 282.20; 4. Alison Gibson, 278.20; 5. Samantha Pickens, 272.30; 6. Hailey Hernandez, 271.85; 7. Lauren Reedy, 260.50; 8. Daria Lenz, 253.30.

3 m Springboard: 1. Schultz, 315.60; 2. Coburn, 315.45; 3. Bacon, 307.90; 4. Pickens, 293.10; 5. Hernandez, 280.30; 6. Krysta Palmer, 280.10; 7. Reedy, 275.00; 8. Meghan Obrien, 263.00.

10 m Platform: 1. Amy Magana, 358.75; 2. Delaney Schnell, 348.45; 3. Samantha Bromberg, 318.65; 4. Katrina Young, 318.10; 5. Jessica Parratto, 315.95; 6. Sophia McAfee, 280.80; 7. Olivia Rosendahl, 269.90; 8. Abigail Knapton, 268.55.

Synchro 3 m: 1. Alison Gibson/Krysta Palmer, 292.23; 2. Sarah Bacon/Kristen Hayden, 286.80; 3. Samantha Bromberg/Brooke Schultz, 272.70; 4. Emily Grund/Hailey Hernandez, 272.22; 5. Carolina Sculti/Daria Lenz, 269.79; 6. Grace Walker/Margo O’Meara, 229.35; 7. Lauren Chennault/Abigail Egolf-Jensen, 210.63; 8. Ruth McCranie/Lily Witte, 201.48.

Synchro 10 m: 1. Samantha Bromberg/Katrina Young, 294.42; 2. Daryn Wright/Amy Magana, 281.40; 3. Jessica Parratto/Delaney Schnell, 280.38 (only finalists).

Mixed

Synchro 3 m: 1. Briadam Herrera/Lauren Reedy, 291.81; 2. Tyler Downs/Maria Coburn, 289.08; 3. Noah Duperre/Bridget O’Neal, 280.05; 4. Meghan Obrien/Jacob Cornish, 278.40; 5. Connor Watling/Joslyn Oakley, 216.30.

Synchro 10 m: 1. Zach Cooper/Olivia Rosendahl, 268.80; 2. Quinn Henninger/Isabel Gregersen, 249.03; 3. Maxwell Weinrich/Sophia McAfee, 242.46 (only finalists).

CYCLING: Courtney twice as nice with second Mountain Bike World Cup in a row at Nove Mesto

By
Rich Perelman
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Dutch Mountain Bike and road cycling star Mathieu van der Poel (Photo: S. Yuki via Wikimedia Commons)

There was no doubt that American Kate Courtney silenced a lot of non-believers last week with her impressive victory in the opening UCI Mountain Bike World Cup race in Albstadt (GER), especially in the difficult weather conditions.

In Nove Mesto (CZE), the conditions were better and Courtney showed that she will hard to handle this season with a come-from-behind victory that turned into a runaway at the end.

Courtney, the reigning (but surprise) World Champion, had a flat tire in the beginning of the race, then managed to move to third for most of the six laps. Once she got going, she turned in the fastest laps in the field on circuits 3-4-5 and passed Dutch rider Anne Tauber on the final lap to take the lead.

She was not to be headed and when Tauber suffered a bike breakdown and fell back, Courtney sailed to a 36-second win over Rebecca McConnell (AUS) and 42 seconds ahead of Haley Smith (CAN). “I got off to a bit of a rocky start,” she said afterwards.

“I think I started a little hard, and when I had my flat it was a little bit of a tough mental day for me. I was able to reset and focus on my own pace, and I’m truly kind of amazed at how it worked out. It took every ounce of what I had and I’m really proud I was able to stay focused, stay calm, and keep believing.”

The men’s race became a one-on-one duel between Olympic and World Champion Nino Schurter (SUI), now 33, and 24-year-old rising star Mathieu van der Poel (NED). They rode essentially together for most of the seven laps, breaking away from the field by more than a minute and a half starting the final circuit.

With only a quarter of the final lap remaining, van der Poel accelerated and Schurter could not match him, ending up second by 19 seconds. Last week’s World Cup winner, Mathias Flueckiger (SUI) finished third.

For van der Poel, it was his first career World Cup victory, coming after a single bronze during the 2017 season and three bronzes in 2018. He opened the 2019 season with a silver behind Flueckiger and now has a victory to call his own.

Van der Poel has indicated he will race in Mountain Bike in the Tokyo Games, but he is also a star on the UCI World Tour road race circuit. He won Dwars Door Vlaanderen and the Amstel Gold Race this year; could he do both in 2020? Summaries:

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
Nove Mesto (CZE) ~ 24-26 May 2019
(Full results here)

Men/Cross Country (30.1 km): Mathieu van der Poel (NED), 1:21:54; 2. Nino Schurter (SUI), 1:22:13; 3. Mathias Flueckiger (SUI), 1:23:47; 4. Henrique Avancini (BRA), 1:23:55; 5. Ondrej Cink (CZE), 1:24:06.

Men/Cross Country Short (12.0 km): 1. Van der Poel (NED), 20:49; 2. Maxime Marotte (FRA), 20:49; 3. Avancini (BRA), 20:50; 4. Schurter (SUI), 20:50; 5. Carlos Coloma Nicolas (ESP), 20:50. Also in the top 25: 13. Keegan Swenson (USA), 20:54.

Women/Cross Country (26.2 km): 1. Kate Courtney (USA), 1:27:31; 2. Rebecca McConnell (AUS), 1:28:07; 3. Haley Smith (CAN), 1:28:13; 4. Sina Frei (SUI), 1:28:16; 5. Malene Degn (DEN), 1:29:04. Also in the top 25: 12. Lea Davison (USA), 1:30:19; … 18. Chloe Woodruff (USA), 1:32:10

Women/Cross Country Short (10.8 km): 1. Woodruff (USA), 22:08; 2. Annie Last (GBR), 22:16: 3. Jolanda Neff (SUI), 22:16; 4. Courtney (USA), 22:17; 5. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (FRA), 22:17. Also in the top 25: 19. Davison (USA), 22:24.

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