On Tuesday, December 5, 2017 the IOC officially banned Russia from competing at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic games. In previous blog posts in July 2016, I recapped some of the history of Russian doping over the past few years. The Russian Track and Field team is still banned from international competition by the IAAF and has been since November 2015. During the 2014 Sochi games, several Russian winter Olympic athletes cheated when they falsely competed as clean athletes because the Russian government devised a scheme to exchange positive doping samples with clean ones. The Russian Anti Doping Agency was discredited as they did not report these tainted samples from these athletes.
Over the past several months, investigations of Russian systematic state sponsored doping have mostly concluded. As of this posting, 43 athletes have been banned from the Sochi Olympics (some for life) and 13 Russian medals have been stripped. Vitaly Mutko, who was the Russian Sports Minister during the Sochi games was fined 15 million dollars and banned for life and the Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended. Russian government officials (including Vladimir Putin) deny any state sponsored doping to date. Several Russian athletes who were banned have appealed the IOC's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. That decision is pending.
The IOC has ruled that Russian athletes can compete as "Olympic Athletes from Russia". They cannot compete under the Russian flag. If these athletes win a medal, the Russian anthem will not be played. The uniforms the Russians wear has to be different from the uniforms they would wear if they were competing under the Russian flag. This includes having the smaller size word "Russia" underneath the words Olympic Athlete From. The term "OAR" must be used and can have only have one or two colors while the Russian flag has three colors. Over 200 athletes could compete under OAR but the IOC will screen them based on their doping history.
The IOC could lift the ban on Russia by the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang games on February 25, 2018 if they adhere to IOC conditions. If the ban is lifted, OAR athletes could march under their own flag at the closing ceremony.
An updated medal count from the Sochi games would have the USA leading the medal count with 28 total medals and Russia would be in fifth place with 20 total medals. The 13 Russian medals that were stripped have yet to be re-allocated to other nations.
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Olympic and athlete updates
USA Men's 110M hurdler David Oliver has announced his retirement. Oliver won the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing games but did not qualify for the USA track and field team in 2012 and 2016. Oliver is now the Howard University Track and Field Director.
USA men's diver David Boudia has decided to return to competition with the goal to qualify for his fourth Olympics, the 2020 Tokyo games. Boudia did not compete in 2017 and there was talk of retirement but Boudia decided to return to competition instead. Boudia won gold in platform diving at the 2012 London games and bronze at the 2016 Rio games.
USA women's soccer goalie Hope Solo has settled her grievance with USA soccer. Terms were not available. At the 2016 Rio games Solo said the Swedish team played like cowards. In response USA soccer suspended Solo for six months and terminated her contract. Sweden beat the USA on penalty kicks at the 2016 Rio Games.
The USOC has expressed interest in bidding on the 2026 or 2030 winter Olympic games. Salt Lake City, Utah, Denver, Colorado and Reno/Lake Tahoe, Nevada are interested in bidding. The last US city to host winter games was Salt Lake City in 2002.
USA women's gymnasts, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney have each admitted being sexual abuse victims of USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar served as team doctor of USA Gymnastics for 20 years. Nassar was fired in 2015 when allegations of sexual abuse surfaced. He was arrested on child pornography charges in December 2016 and was sentenced to 60 years in prison in December 2017. Nassar has had hundreds of complaints about abuse over the past few years. The latest development is that USA Gymnastics paid 1.25 million dollars to McKayla Maroney in December 2016 to keep quiet about sexual abuse. Maroney came forward this week and filed a lawsuit against the USOC, and USA Gymnastics to void the nondisclosure and non-disparagement clauses of the agreement. Maroney came forward on Twitter in October 2017 and admitted she was sexually abused by Nassar starting at age 13 until she left the sport of Gymnastics after the London games in 2012. Kerry Perry is now the new USA Gymnastics President and CEO, replacing Steve Penny who resigned in March 2017 over complaints by gymnasts that were not properly handled.
The IOC suspended the Brazil Olympic Committee and its President Carlos Nuzman in October 2017. Nuzman was arrested following and investigation into vote buying in order to land the 2016 Rio Games. Nuzman was also removed from the oversight of the 2020 Tokyo games as well. IOC member and former Namibian Track star Frank Fredericks was also suspended for taking an illegal payment related to the awarding of the 2016 Rio games.
USA women's sprinter Carmelita Jeter, nicknamed "the fastest woman alive" has announced her retirement. Jeter has the second fastest time of all time - 10.64 seconds in the women's 100M dash. Jeter withdrew before the 2016 USA National Track and Field Championships due to injury. Jeter and her USA women's 4 by 100M relay team set a world record of 40.82 seconds in winning gold at the 2012 London games.
USA women's Figure Skater Gracie Gold will miss the 2018 USA National Figure Skating Championships and the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics due to an eating disorder, depression and anxiety. In September 2017, Gold announced she was taking a leave of absence from competition to be treated for these conditions. Gold finished fourth at the 2014 Sochi games but won bronze in the team competition. Gold's last competition was a sixth place finish at the USA National Figure Skating Championships in January 2017.
The Turkish weightlifter nicknamed "Pocket Hercules" has died on November 18, 2017 at age 50 due to complications of liver failure. Niam Suleymanoglu won gold in the weightlifting Clean and Jerk at the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic games.
The USA Women's and Men's Curling Olympic Trials were held in November 2017. The USA women's Curling team that qualified for the 2018 Pyeongchang games are: Nina Roth, Tabitha Peterson, Alieen Greving and Becca Hamilton. The USA men's Olympic Curling team are: John Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton and John Landsteiner.
2012 South African Olympic 400 runner Oscar Pistorius had his sentence increased to 13 years and five months by the South African Supreme Court for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. Pistorius originally had a lighter sentence of six years and was considered lenient by South African standards. Pistorius was supposed to be paroled by 2019, now he wont be paroled until 2023. My blog post in February 2013 deals with the history of Pistorius since he was first arrested for murder in 2013.
USA Beach volleyball Olympic medalist April Ross has a new partner for 2018 in Alix Klineman. Ross was teamed with Lauren Fendrick for the 2017 beach volleyball season and won silver with Fendrick at the Beach Volleyball World Championships. Kerri Walsh Jennings teamed with April Ross to win bronze at the 2016 Rio games.
The AVP released their 2018 tour schedule:
May 3-6 - Huntington Beach, CA
May 17-20 - Austin, TX
June 7-10 - New York City, NY
June 21-24 - Seattle, WA
July 5-8 - San Francisco, CA
July 26-29 - Hermosa Beach, CA
August 16-19 - Manhattan Beach, CA
Aug. 30-Sept. 2 - Chicago, IL
The USA short track speed skating Olympic Trials were held in Kearns, Utah from December 15-17, 2017. John Henry Krueger qualifies for the 2018 Pyeongchang games in the men's 1500 while Lana Gehring qualified in the women's 1500. JR Celski and Aaron Tran qualified in the men's 500 and Maame Biney qualified in the women's 500. Jessica Kooreman qualified in the women's 1000. Thomas Hong and Ryan Pivirotto qualified in the men's 1000.
Jamie Anderson qualified for the 2018 Pyeongchang games in women's Slopestyle/Big Air. Anderson won gold for the USA at the 2014 Sochi games in Slopestyle. Chris Corning qualified in Slopestyle/Big Air for the USA men. Faye Gulini and Lindsey Jacobellis qualified for the USA in women's Snowboard Cross.
Chloe Kim qualified for the 2018 USA women's Olympic halfpipe team. Jake Pates qualified for the USA men's 2018 Olympic halfpipe team.
Lowell Bailey, Tim Burke, Sean Doherty, Susan Dunklee and Clare Egan qualified for the 2018 USA Olympic team in the Biathlon.
The USA 2018 Olympic Luge team was chosen. Making the team in singles are Erin Hamlin, Emily Sweeney, Summer Britcher, Tucker West, Chris Mazdzer and Taylor Morris. Matt Mortensen/Jayson Terdiman and Justin Krewson/Andrew Sherk qualified in doubles.
American 800 and 1500 runner Andrew Wheating has announced his retirement. Wheating made the US Olympic Track and Field team in 2008 and 2012 and was named to the USA World Track and Field team in 2011. Injuries slowed his career and in 2016 Wheating did not make the US Olympic Track and Field team.
USA men's diver David Boudia has decided to return to competition with the goal to qualify for his fourth Olympics, the 2020 Tokyo games. Boudia did not compete in 2017 and there was talk of retirement but Boudia decided to return to competition instead. Boudia won gold in platform diving at the 2012 London games and bronze at the 2016 Rio games.
USA women's soccer goalie Hope Solo has settled her grievance with USA soccer. Terms were not available. At the 2016 Rio games Solo said the Swedish team played like cowards. In response USA soccer suspended Solo for six months and terminated her contract. Sweden beat the USA on penalty kicks at the 2016 Rio Games.
The USOC has expressed interest in bidding on the 2026 or 2030 winter Olympic games. Salt Lake City, Utah, Denver, Colorado and Reno/Lake Tahoe, Nevada are interested in bidding. The last US city to host winter games was Salt Lake City in 2002.
USA women's gymnasts, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney have each admitted being sexual abuse victims of USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar served as team doctor of USA Gymnastics for 20 years. Nassar was fired in 2015 when allegations of sexual abuse surfaced. He was arrested on child pornography charges in December 2016 and was sentenced to 60 years in prison in December 2017. Nassar has had hundreds of complaints about abuse over the past few years. The latest development is that USA Gymnastics paid 1.25 million dollars to McKayla Maroney in December 2016 to keep quiet about sexual abuse. Maroney came forward this week and filed a lawsuit against the USOC, and USA Gymnastics to void the nondisclosure and non-disparagement clauses of the agreement. Maroney came forward on Twitter in October 2017 and admitted she was sexually abused by Nassar starting at age 13 until she left the sport of Gymnastics after the London games in 2012. Kerry Perry is now the new USA Gymnastics President and CEO, replacing Steve Penny who resigned in March 2017 over complaints by gymnasts that were not properly handled.
The IOC suspended the Brazil Olympic Committee and its President Carlos Nuzman in October 2017. Nuzman was arrested following and investigation into vote buying in order to land the 2016 Rio Games. Nuzman was also removed from the oversight of the 2020 Tokyo games as well. IOC member and former Namibian Track star Frank Fredericks was also suspended for taking an illegal payment related to the awarding of the 2016 Rio games.
USA women's sprinter Carmelita Jeter, nicknamed "the fastest woman alive" has announced her retirement. Jeter has the second fastest time of all time - 10.64 seconds in the women's 100M dash. Jeter withdrew before the 2016 USA National Track and Field Championships due to injury. Jeter and her USA women's 4 by 100M relay team set a world record of 40.82 seconds in winning gold at the 2012 London games.
USA women's Figure Skater Gracie Gold will miss the 2018 USA National Figure Skating Championships and the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics due to an eating disorder, depression and anxiety. In September 2017, Gold announced she was taking a leave of absence from competition to be treated for these conditions. Gold finished fourth at the 2014 Sochi games but won bronze in the team competition. Gold's last competition was a sixth place finish at the USA National Figure Skating Championships in January 2017.
The Turkish weightlifter nicknamed "Pocket Hercules" has died on November 18, 2017 at age 50 due to complications of liver failure. Niam Suleymanoglu won gold in the weightlifting Clean and Jerk at the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic games.
The USA Women's and Men's Curling Olympic Trials were held in November 2017. The USA women's Curling team that qualified for the 2018 Pyeongchang games are: Nina Roth, Tabitha Peterson, Alieen Greving and Becca Hamilton. The USA men's Olympic Curling team are: John Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton and John Landsteiner.
2012 South African Olympic 400 runner Oscar Pistorius had his sentence increased to 13 years and five months by the South African Supreme Court for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. Pistorius originally had a lighter sentence of six years and was considered lenient by South African standards. Pistorius was supposed to be paroled by 2019, now he wont be paroled until 2023. My blog post in February 2013 deals with the history of Pistorius since he was first arrested for murder in 2013.
USA Beach volleyball Olympic medalist April Ross has a new partner for 2018 in Alix Klineman. Ross was teamed with Lauren Fendrick for the 2017 beach volleyball season and won silver with Fendrick at the Beach Volleyball World Championships. Kerri Walsh Jennings teamed with April Ross to win bronze at the 2016 Rio games.
The AVP released their 2018 tour schedule:
May 3-6 - Huntington Beach, CA
May 17-20 - Austin, TX
June 7-10 - New York City, NY
June 21-24 - Seattle, WA
July 5-8 - San Francisco, CA
July 26-29 - Hermosa Beach, CA
August 16-19 - Manhattan Beach, CA
Aug. 30-Sept. 2 - Chicago, IL
The USA short track speed skating Olympic Trials were held in Kearns, Utah from December 15-17, 2017. John Henry Krueger qualifies for the 2018 Pyeongchang games in the men's 1500 while Lana Gehring qualified in the women's 1500. JR Celski and Aaron Tran qualified in the men's 500 and Maame Biney qualified in the women's 500. Jessica Kooreman qualified in the women's 1000. Thomas Hong and Ryan Pivirotto qualified in the men's 1000.
Jamie Anderson qualified for the 2018 Pyeongchang games in women's Slopestyle/Big Air. Anderson won gold for the USA at the 2014 Sochi games in Slopestyle. Chris Corning qualified in Slopestyle/Big Air for the USA men. Faye Gulini and Lindsey Jacobellis qualified for the USA in women's Snowboard Cross.
Chloe Kim qualified for the 2018 USA women's Olympic halfpipe team. Jake Pates qualified for the USA men's 2018 Olympic halfpipe team.
Lowell Bailey, Tim Burke, Sean Doherty, Susan Dunklee and Clare Egan qualified for the 2018 USA Olympic team in the Biathlon.
The USA 2018 Olympic Luge team was chosen. Making the team in singles are Erin Hamlin, Emily Sweeney, Summer Britcher, Tucker West, Chris Mazdzer and Taylor Morris. Matt Mortensen/Jayson Terdiman and Justin Krewson/Andrew Sherk qualified in doubles.
American 800 and 1500 runner Andrew Wheating has announced his retirement. Wheating made the US Olympic Track and Field team in 2008 and 2012 and was named to the USA World Track and Field team in 2011. Injuries slowed his career and in 2016 Wheating did not make the US Olympic Track and Field team.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
P & G USA Gymnastics Championships/ World Gymnastics Championships results
The P & G USA Gymnastics Championships were held in Anaheim, CA from August 17-20, 2017.
USA Women's All Around
Ragan Smith - gold - 115.250
Jordan Chiles- silver - 111.850
Riley McCusker - bronze - 111.650
Trinity Thomas - 4th - 111.350
Margzetta Frazier - 5th - 110.900
Morgan Hurd - 6th - 109.750
USA Men's All Around
Yul Moldauer - gold - 171.600
Allan Bower - silver - 170.600
Donnell Whittenburg - bronze - 169.700
The World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held at Montreal, Canada from October 2-8, 2017.
Final medal standings
China 3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze - 6 total
Russia 1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze - 6 total
USA 1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze - 5 total
Japan 3 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze - 4 total
Women's All Around results
Morgan Hurd - USA - gold - 55.232
Elsabeth Black - Canada - silver - 55.132
Elena Eremina - Russia - bronze - 54.799
Men's All Around results
Ruoteng Xiao - China - gold - 86.933
Chaopan Lin - China - silver - 86.448
Kenzo Shirai - Japan - bronze - 86.431
Yul Moldauer - USA - 7th - 84.998
Individual Apparatus Finals - USA results
Women's Vault
Jade Carey - USA - silver - 14.766
Women's Uneven Bars
Ashton Locklear - USA - 8th - 12.766
Women's Balance Beam
Morgan Hurd - USA - silver - 13.400
Women's Floor Exercise
Jade Carey - USA - silver - 14.200
Men's Floor Exercise
Donnell Whittenburg - USA - 6th - 14.166
Men's Pommel Horse
Alex Naddour - USA - 4th - 14.750
USA Women's All Around
Ragan Smith - gold - 115.250
Jordan Chiles- silver - 111.850
Riley McCusker - bronze - 111.650
Trinity Thomas - 4th - 111.350
Margzetta Frazier - 5th - 110.900
Morgan Hurd - 6th - 109.750
USA Men's All Around
Yul Moldauer - gold - 171.600
Allan Bower - silver - 170.600
Donnell Whittenburg - bronze - 169.700
The World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held at Montreal, Canada from October 2-8, 2017.
Final medal standings
China 3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze - 6 total
Russia 1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze - 6 total
USA 1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze - 5 total
Japan 3 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze - 4 total
Women's All Around results
Morgan Hurd - USA - gold - 55.232
Elsabeth Black - Canada - silver - 55.132
Elena Eremina - Russia - bronze - 54.799
Men's All Around results
Ruoteng Xiao - China - gold - 86.933
Chaopan Lin - China - silver - 86.448
Kenzo Shirai - Japan - bronze - 86.431
Yul Moldauer - USA - 7th - 84.998
Individual Apparatus Finals - USA results
Women's Vault
Jade Carey - USA - silver - 14.766
Women's Uneven Bars
Ashton Locklear - USA - 8th - 12.766
Women's Balance Beam
Morgan Hurd - USA - silver - 13.400
Women's Floor Exercise
Jade Carey - USA - silver - 14.200
Men's Floor Exercise
Donnell Whittenburg - USA - 6th - 14.166
Men's Pommel Horse
Alex Naddour - USA - 4th - 14.750
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
100 Days to Pyeongchang Winter Olympics!
Today marks 100 days until the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics which will be held from February 9-25, 2018.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
LA officially selected to host 2028 games, Paris is awarded 2024 games
The IOC made it official yesterday, awarding the 2028 summer games to Los Angeles and the 2024 summer games to Paris.
This is both Paris and Los Angeles third games with Los Angeles hosting in 1932 and 1984 and Paris previously hosted in 1900 and 1924. 2024 will be the 100th anniversary of the last Paris games while for Los Angeles it will be the first summer games held in the USA since Atlanta hosted in 1996.
This is both Paris and Los Angeles third games with Los Angeles hosting in 1932 and 1984 and Paris previously hosted in 1900 and 1924. 2024 will be the 100th anniversary of the last Paris games while for Los Angeles it will be the first summer games held in the USA since Atlanta hosted in 1996.
Sunday, August 6, 2017
FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships - USA medalists
The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships were held in Vienna Austria from July 28 to August 6, 2017
USA Medalists:
USA women's beach volleyball team of April Ross/Lauren Fendrick win silver in losing to Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst of Germany 21-19, 13-21 and 9-15. Ludwig/Walkenhorst win gold.
Other USA women's results:
Summer Ross/Brooke Sweat finished tied for 5th.
Sarah Hughes/Kelly Claes finished tied for 9th.
Emily Day/Nicole Branagh finished tied for 17th.
USA Men's teams:
Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena finished tied for 5th.
Ryan Doherty/John Hyden finished tied for 17th.
Theo Brunner/Casey Patterson finished tied for 17th.
Jake Gibb/Taylor Crabb finished tied for 17th.
USA Medalists:
USA women's beach volleyball team of April Ross/Lauren Fendrick win silver in losing to Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst of Germany 21-19, 13-21 and 9-15. Ludwig/Walkenhorst win gold.
Other USA women's results:
Summer Ross/Brooke Sweat finished tied for 5th.
Sarah Hughes/Kelly Claes finished tied for 9th.
Emily Day/Nicole Branagh finished tied for 17th.
USA Men's teams:
Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena finished tied for 5th.
Ryan Doherty/John Hyden finished tied for 17th.
Theo Brunner/Casey Patterson finished tied for 17th.
Jake Gibb/Taylor Crabb finished tied for 17th.
IAAF World Track and Field Championships- USA medalists
The IAAF World Track and Field Championships are being held in London, England from August 4-13, 2017.
The USA led the medal count with 30 total medals. Usain Bolt of Jamaica came in third the 100 and pulled up with leg cramps in the 4 by 100 relay ending Bolt's career. Also Mo Farah of Great Britain won gold in the men's 10,000 but came in second in the men's 5000. The USA men 4 by 100 relay team lost to Great Britain while the men's 4 by 400 relay team lost to Trinidad and Tobago. The USA still won the medal count by not medaling in the men's 200, men's 400, men's 110 hurdles, men's 800 and women's 200.
Final Medal Count:
USA 10 gold, 11 silver, 9 bronze - 30 total
Kenya 5 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze - 11 total
Poland 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze - 8 total
China 2 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze - 7 total
South Africa 3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze - 6 total
Great Britain 2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze - 6 total
USA Medalists:
Men's Discus
Mason Finley - bronze - 223ft 2in
Men's Long Jump
Jarrion Lawson - silver - 27ft 8 1/4in
Women's Marathon
Amy Cragg - bronze - 2:27.18
Men's 100
Justin Gatlin - USA - gold - 9.92
Christian Coleman - USA - silver - 9.94
Usain Bolt - Jamaica - bronze - 9.95
Women's Pole Vault
Sandi Morris - silver - 15ft-7in
Men's Shot Put
Joe Kovacs - silver - 71ft 3/4in
Women's 100
Tori Bowie - USA - gold - 10.85
Marie-Josee Ta Lou - Ivory Coast - silver - 10.86
Dafne Schippers - Netherlands - bronze - 10.96
Elaine Thompson - Jamaica - 5th - 10.98
Women's 1500
Jenny Simpson - USA - silver - 4:02.76
Men's 3000 Steeplechase
Evan Jager - USA - bronze - 8:15.53
Men's Pole Vault
Sam Kendricks - USA- gold - 19ft 6 1/4 in
Women's Shot Put
Michelle Carter - USA - bronze - 62ft 9 1/2in
Men's 400 Hurdles
Kerron Clement - USA - bronze - 48.52
Women's 400
Phyllis Francis - USA - gold - 49.92
Allyson Felix - USA - bronze - 50.08
Shaunae Miller-Uibo - Bahamas - 4th - 50.49
Men's Triple Jump
Christian Taylor - USA - gold - 58ft 1/4in
Will Claye - USA - silver - 57ft 10 1/4in
Women's 400 Hurdles
Kori Carter - USA - gold - 53.07
Dalilah Muhammad - USA - silver - 53.50
Women's Long Jump
Brittney Reese - USA - gold
Tianna Bartoletta - USA - bronze
Women's 3000 Steeplechase
Emma Coburn - USA - 9:02.58
Courtney Frerichs - USA - silver - 9:03.77
Women's 100 Hurdles
Dawn Harper-Nelson - USA - silver - 12.63
Men's 5000
Paul Chelimo - USA - bronze - 13:33.30
Women's 4 by 100 Relay
USA(Brown, Felix, Akinosun, Bowie) - gold - 41.82
Men's 4 by 100 Relay
USA(Rodgers, Gatlin, Bacon, Coleman) - silver - 37.52
Women's 800
Ajee Wilson - USA - bronze - 1:56.65
Women's 4 by 400 relay
USA(Hayes, Felix, Wimbley, Francis) - gold - 3:19.02
Men's 4 by 400 relay
USA(London III, Roberts, Cherry, Kerley) - silver - 2:58.61
The USA led the medal count with 30 total medals. Usain Bolt of Jamaica came in third the 100 and pulled up with leg cramps in the 4 by 100 relay ending Bolt's career. Also Mo Farah of Great Britain won gold in the men's 10,000 but came in second in the men's 5000. The USA men 4 by 100 relay team lost to Great Britain while the men's 4 by 400 relay team lost to Trinidad and Tobago. The USA still won the medal count by not medaling in the men's 200, men's 400, men's 110 hurdles, men's 800 and women's 200.
Final Medal Count:
USA 10 gold, 11 silver, 9 bronze - 30 total
Kenya 5 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze - 11 total
Poland 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze - 8 total
China 2 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze - 7 total
South Africa 3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze - 6 total
Great Britain 2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze - 6 total
USA Medalists:
Men's Discus
Mason Finley - bronze - 223ft 2in
Men's Long Jump
Jarrion Lawson - silver - 27ft 8 1/4in
Women's Marathon
Amy Cragg - bronze - 2:27.18
Men's 100
Justin Gatlin - USA - gold - 9.92
Christian Coleman - USA - silver - 9.94
Usain Bolt - Jamaica - bronze - 9.95
Women's Pole Vault
Sandi Morris - silver - 15ft-7in
Men's Shot Put
Joe Kovacs - silver - 71ft 3/4in
Women's 100
Tori Bowie - USA - gold - 10.85
Marie-Josee Ta Lou - Ivory Coast - silver - 10.86
Dafne Schippers - Netherlands - bronze - 10.96
Elaine Thompson - Jamaica - 5th - 10.98
Women's 1500
Jenny Simpson - USA - silver - 4:02.76
Men's 3000 Steeplechase
Evan Jager - USA - bronze - 8:15.53
Men's Pole Vault
Sam Kendricks - USA- gold - 19ft 6 1/4 in
Women's Shot Put
Michelle Carter - USA - bronze - 62ft 9 1/2in
Men's 400 Hurdles
Kerron Clement - USA - bronze - 48.52
Women's 400
Phyllis Francis - USA - gold - 49.92
Allyson Felix - USA - bronze - 50.08
Shaunae Miller-Uibo - Bahamas - 4th - 50.49
Men's Triple Jump
Christian Taylor - USA - gold - 58ft 1/4in
Will Claye - USA - silver - 57ft 10 1/4in
Women's 400 Hurdles
Kori Carter - USA - gold - 53.07
Dalilah Muhammad - USA - silver - 53.50
Women's Long Jump
Brittney Reese - USA - gold
Tianna Bartoletta - USA - bronze
Women's 3000 Steeplechase
Emma Coburn - USA - 9:02.58
Courtney Frerichs - USA - silver - 9:03.77
Women's 100 Hurdles
Dawn Harper-Nelson - USA - silver - 12.63
Men's 5000
Paul Chelimo - USA - bronze - 13:33.30
Women's 4 by 100 Relay
USA(Brown, Felix, Akinosun, Bowie) - gold - 41.82
Men's 4 by 100 Relay
USA(Rodgers, Gatlin, Bacon, Coleman) - silver - 37.52
Women's 800
Ajee Wilson - USA - bronze - 1:56.65
Women's 4 by 400 relay
USA(Hayes, Felix, Wimbley, Francis) - gold - 3:19.02
Men's 4 by 400 relay
USA(London III, Roberts, Cherry, Kerley) - silver - 2:58.61
Monday, July 31, 2017
LA 2028, Paris 2024
Today is the day that an agreement was reached between the IOC and Paris and LA to give the 2028 Olympics to Los Angeles and thus handing Paris the 2024 Olympic Games. LA's organizing committee had a Facebook live presentation a few hours ago breaking the news to LA 2024 supporters on Facebook. The IOC will give 180 million dollars to the LA organizing committee for expenses for an additional four years. Also the IOC will fund youth sports in the LA area starting next year. The LA 2028 Organizing Commitee says that the deal with the IOC was too good to pass up. Also certain infrastructure projects will be completed by then and that includes LAX terminal additions and more rail lines connecting to UCLA. Even though it's 11 years from now and I'll be 62 when the LA games come, congratulations to LA 2028! The LA city council will vet the plan and it still needs approval by the LA city council, USOC and IOC. On September 13, in Lima it becomes official!
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
FINA World Swimming Championship results- USA Medalists
The FINA World Swimming Championships are being held in Budapest, Hungary from July 14-30, 2017
Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel lead the USA to record medal count at swimming world championships.
Final Medal Count
USA 18 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze - 38 total
Russia 3 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze - 10 total
China 3 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze - 10 total
Australia 1 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze - 10 total
Hungary 2 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze - 8 total
USA Medalists:
USA Women:
Katie Ledecky - 400 Free - gold, 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 1500 free - gold, 200 free - tie for silver, 4 by 200 free relay - gold, 800 free - gold
Simone Manuel - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 4 by 100 mixed medley relay - gold, 100 freestyle - gold, 4 by 100 mixed relay - gold, 50 free - bronze, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Lilly King - 100 breaststroke - gold(world record) 4 by 100 mixed medley relay - gold, 50 breaststroke - gold, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Mallory Comerford - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 4 by 200 free relay - gold, 4 by 100 mixed relay - gold
Leah Smith - 400 free - silver, 4 by 200 free relay - gold, 800 free - bronze
Kelsi Worrell - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 100 butterfly - bronze, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Melanie Margalis - 4 by 200 free relay - gold
Katie Meili - 100 breaststroke - silver, 50 breaststroke - bronze
Kathleen Baker - 100 backstroke - silver, 200 backstroke - bronze, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Bethany Galat - 200 breaststroke - silver
Madisyn Cox - 200IM - bronze
USA Men:
Caeleb Dressel - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 4 by 100 mixed medley relay - gold, 100 free - gold, 50 free - gold, 100 butterfly - gold, 4 by 100 mixed relay gold, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Nathan Adrian - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 100 free - silver, 4 by 100 mixed relay - gold, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Townley Haas - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 200 free - silver, 4 by 200 free relay - bronze
Blake Pieroni - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 4 by 200 free relay - bronze
Chase Kalisz - 200IM - gold, 400IM - gold
Matt Grevers - 4 by 100 mixed medley relay - gold, 100 backstroke - silver, 50 backstroke - bronze, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Kevin Cordes - 100 breaststroke - silver, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Ryan Murphy - 100 backstroke - bronze, 200 backstroke - silver
Jacob Pebley - 200 backstroke - bronze
Jack Conger - 4 by 200 free relay - bronze
Zane Grothe - 4 by 200 free relay - bronze
Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel lead the USA to record medal count at swimming world championships.
Final Medal Count
USA 18 gold, 10 silver, 10 bronze - 38 total
Russia 3 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze - 10 total
China 3 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze - 10 total
Australia 1 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze - 10 total
Hungary 2 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze - 8 total
USA Medalists:
USA Women:
Katie Ledecky - 400 Free - gold, 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 1500 free - gold, 200 free - tie for silver, 4 by 200 free relay - gold, 800 free - gold
Simone Manuel - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 4 by 100 mixed medley relay - gold, 100 freestyle - gold, 4 by 100 mixed relay - gold, 50 free - bronze, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Lilly King - 100 breaststroke - gold(world record) 4 by 100 mixed medley relay - gold, 50 breaststroke - gold, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Mallory Comerford - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 4 by 200 free relay - gold, 4 by 100 mixed relay - gold
Leah Smith - 400 free - silver, 4 by 200 free relay - gold, 800 free - bronze
Kelsi Worrell - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 100 butterfly - bronze, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Melanie Margalis - 4 by 200 free relay - gold
Katie Meili - 100 breaststroke - silver, 50 breaststroke - bronze
Kathleen Baker - 100 backstroke - silver, 200 backstroke - bronze, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Bethany Galat - 200 breaststroke - silver
Madisyn Cox - 200IM - bronze
USA Men:
Caeleb Dressel - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 4 by 100 mixed medley relay - gold, 100 free - gold, 50 free - gold, 100 butterfly - gold, 4 by 100 mixed relay gold, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Nathan Adrian - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 100 free - silver, 4 by 100 mixed relay - gold, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Townley Haas - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 200 free - silver, 4 by 200 free relay - bronze
Blake Pieroni - 4 by 100 free relay - gold, 4 by 200 free relay - bronze
Chase Kalisz - 200IM - gold, 400IM - gold
Matt Grevers - 4 by 100 mixed medley relay - gold, 100 backstroke - silver, 50 backstroke - bronze, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Kevin Cordes - 100 breaststroke - silver, 4 by 100 medley relay - gold
Ryan Murphy - 100 backstroke - bronze, 200 backstroke - silver
Jacob Pebley - 200 backstroke - bronze
Jack Conger - 4 by 200 free relay - bronze
Zane Grothe - 4 by 200 free relay - bronze
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
IOC changes rules, votes to award two games at once...
The IOC voted unanimously to award both Paris and Los Angeles the 2024 and 2028 summer Olympic Games. Each candidate City made a 45 minute presentation to 83 of 95 IOC members at a special session in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IOC will not determine the order of the cities that host. There will be a special agreement that both candidate cities will work out together in determining which city will go first. If the two chosen cities to host the next two summer games don't come to an agreement, then the IOC will then vote on either Los Angeles or Paris at the IOC session in Lima, Peru on Sept. 13. If the two cities come to an agreement the order will be announced on that same day.
Saturday, July 1, 2017
USA National Swimming Championships results/USA Swimming World Championship team
The Phillips 66 USA National Swimming Championships are being held in Indianapolis, Indiana from June 27 - July 1, 2017
The USA World Championship team- First and second places advance to the FINA World Swimming Championships to be held in Budapest, Hungary from July 14-30, 2017.
The USA World Championship Swimming team:
Men's 100 Freestyle - Nathan Adrian and Caeleb Dressel
Women's 800 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith
Women's 200 Butterfly - Hali Flickinger and Dakota Luther
Men's 200 Butterfly - Jack Conger and Pace Clark
Women's 200 Breaststroke - Lilly King and Bathany Galat
Men's 200 Breaststroke - Kevin Cordes and Nick Fink
Women's 200 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith
Men's 200 Freestyle - Townley Haas and Blake Pieroni
Women's 200 Backstroke - Kathleen Baker and Regan Smith
Men's 200 Backstroke - Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley
Women's 100 Butterfly - Kelsi Worrell and Sarah Gibson
Men's 100 Butterfly - Caeleb Dressel and Tim Phillips
Women's 100 Freestyle - Mallory Comerford and Simone Manuel
Women's 100 Breaststroke - Lilly King and Katie Meiti
Men's 100 Breaststroke - Kevin Cordes and Cody Miller
Women's 400 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith
Men's 400 Freestyle - Zane Grothe and Clark Smith
Women's 400IM - Leah Smith and Elizabeth Beisel
Men's 400IM - Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland
Women's 100 Backstroke - Kathleen Baker and Olivia Smoliga
Men's 100 Backstroke - Matt Grevers and Ryan Murphy
Women's 200IM - Melanie Margolis and Madisyn Cox
Men's 200IM - Chase Kalisz and Abrahm Devine
Women's 50 Freestyle - Simone Manuel and Abbey Weitzeil
Men's 50 Freestyle - Caeleb Dressel and Nathan Adrian
The USA World Championship team- First and second places advance to the FINA World Swimming Championships to be held in Budapest, Hungary from July 14-30, 2017.
The USA World Championship Swimming team:
Men's 100 Freestyle - Nathan Adrian and Caeleb Dressel
Women's 800 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith
Women's 200 Butterfly - Hali Flickinger and Dakota Luther
Men's 200 Butterfly - Jack Conger and Pace Clark
Women's 200 Breaststroke - Lilly King and Bathany Galat
Men's 200 Breaststroke - Kevin Cordes and Nick Fink
Women's 200 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith
Men's 200 Freestyle - Townley Haas and Blake Pieroni
Women's 200 Backstroke - Kathleen Baker and Regan Smith
Men's 200 Backstroke - Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley
Women's 100 Butterfly - Kelsi Worrell and Sarah Gibson
Men's 100 Butterfly - Caeleb Dressel and Tim Phillips
Women's 100 Freestyle - Mallory Comerford and Simone Manuel
Women's 100 Breaststroke - Lilly King and Katie Meiti
Men's 100 Breaststroke - Kevin Cordes and Cody Miller
Women's 400 Freestyle - Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith
Men's 400 Freestyle - Zane Grothe and Clark Smith
Women's 400IM - Leah Smith and Elizabeth Beisel
Men's 400IM - Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland
Women's 100 Backstroke - Kathleen Baker and Olivia Smoliga
Men's 100 Backstroke - Matt Grevers and Ryan Murphy
Women's 200IM - Melanie Margolis and Madisyn Cox
Men's 200IM - Chase Kalisz and Abrahm Devine
Women's 50 Freestyle - Simone Manuel and Abbey Weitzeil
Men's 50 Freestyle - Caeleb Dressel and Nathan Adrian
Sunday, June 25, 2017
USA FIVB Men's World League Volleyball Results/USA Women's Volleyball Pan Am Cup/World Grand Prix results
USA Men's FIVB World League Volleyball Results:
At Novi Sad, Serbia
June 2 - Serbia L 1-3, 18-25, 25-23, 20-25, 21-25
June 3 - Canada L 2-3, 25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 23-25, 11-15
June 4 - Belgium L 1-3, 23-25, 16-25, 25-22, 26-28
At Pau, France
June 9 - Italy W 3-0, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23
June 10 - Russia W 3-0, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22
June 11 - France L 1-3, 20-25, 25-18, 20-25, 21-25
At Katowice, Poland
June 15 - Iran W 3-0, 25-17, 25-22, 30-28
June 17 - Russia L 2-3, 29-31, 25-17, 17-25, 29-27, 12-15
June 18 - Poland W 3-1, 29-31, 25-17, 27-25, 25-20
At World League Finals - Curitiba, Brazil
July 4 - France L 2-3, 25-27, 25-20, 24-26, 25-17, 12-15
July 5 - Serbia W 3-1, 25-22, 25-23, 19-25, 25-22
July 7 - Brazil L 1-3, 20-25, 25-23, 20-25, 19-25
July 8 - Canada L 1-3, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 21-25
USA Men finish 4th.
USA women's volleyball Pan Am Cup Results:
At Canete, Peru
June 17 - Venezuela W 3-0, 25-9, 25-16, 25-11
June 18 - Columbia, W 3-0, 25-8, 25-19, 29-27
June 19 - Puerto Rico W 3-2, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 15-12
June 20 - Mexico W 3-0, 25-13, 25-15, 25-13
June 21 - Argentina W 3-0, 27-25, 25-14, 25-23
June 24 - Peru W 3-0, 25-14, 25-17, 27-25
June 25 - Dominican Republic W 3-1, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23
USA women's volleyball FIVB World Grand Prix 2017 results:
At Kunshan, China
July 7 - Russia W 3-2, 22-25, 25-19, 25-27, 25-16, 15-11
July 8 - Italy W 3-0, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19
July 9 - China W 3-0, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21
At Macau, China
July 16 - Turkey W 3-1, 25-21, 24-26, 25-19, 25-12
July 17 - Italy L 2-3, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-13, 13-15
July 18 - China L 2-3, 27-25, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 11-15
At Cuiaba, Brazil
July 20 - Netherlands - W 3-1, 25-15, 23-25, 28-26, 25-21
July 21 - Belgium - W 3-1, 25-14, 16-25, 25-19, 26-24
July 23 - Brazil - L 1-3, 20-25, 13-25, 25-18, 18-25
At Nanjing, China - Grand Prix Finals
August 2 - Serbia L 2-3, 22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-18, 11-15
August 3 - Italy L 1-3, 21-25, 25-22, 22-25, 21-25
USA women eliminated- finished 5th
At Novi Sad, Serbia
June 2 - Serbia L 1-3, 18-25, 25-23, 20-25, 21-25
June 3 - Canada L 2-3, 25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 23-25, 11-15
June 4 - Belgium L 1-3, 23-25, 16-25, 25-22, 26-28
At Pau, France
June 9 - Italy W 3-0, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23
June 10 - Russia W 3-0, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22
June 11 - France L 1-3, 20-25, 25-18, 20-25, 21-25
At Katowice, Poland
June 15 - Iran W 3-0, 25-17, 25-22, 30-28
June 17 - Russia L 2-3, 29-31, 25-17, 17-25, 29-27, 12-15
June 18 - Poland W 3-1, 29-31, 25-17, 27-25, 25-20
At World League Finals - Curitiba, Brazil
July 4 - France L 2-3, 25-27, 25-20, 24-26, 25-17, 12-15
July 5 - Serbia W 3-1, 25-22, 25-23, 19-25, 25-22
July 7 - Brazil L 1-3, 20-25, 25-23, 20-25, 19-25
July 8 - Canada L 1-3, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 21-25
USA Men finish 4th.
USA women's volleyball Pan Am Cup Results:
At Canete, Peru
June 17 - Venezuela W 3-0, 25-9, 25-16, 25-11
June 18 - Columbia, W 3-0, 25-8, 25-19, 29-27
June 19 - Puerto Rico W 3-2, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 15-12
June 20 - Mexico W 3-0, 25-13, 25-15, 25-13
June 21 - Argentina W 3-0, 27-25, 25-14, 25-23
June 24 - Peru W 3-0, 25-14, 25-17, 27-25
June 25 - Dominican Republic W 3-1, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23
USA women's volleyball FIVB World Grand Prix 2017 results:
At Kunshan, China
July 7 - Russia W 3-2, 22-25, 25-19, 25-27, 25-16, 15-11
July 8 - Italy W 3-0, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19
July 9 - China W 3-0, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21
At Macau, China
July 16 - Turkey W 3-1, 25-21, 24-26, 25-19, 25-12
July 17 - Italy L 2-3, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-13, 13-15
July 18 - China L 2-3, 27-25, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 11-15
At Cuiaba, Brazil
July 20 - Netherlands - W 3-1, 25-15, 23-25, 28-26, 25-21
July 21 - Belgium - W 3-1, 25-14, 16-25, 25-19, 26-24
July 23 - Brazil - L 1-3, 20-25, 13-25, 25-18, 18-25
At Nanjing, China - Grand Prix Finals
August 2 - Serbia L 2-3, 22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-18, 11-15
August 3 - Italy L 1-3, 21-25, 25-22, 22-25, 21-25
USA women eliminated- finished 5th
2017 USA National Track and Field Champions/ 2017 USA Track and Field World Championship team
The 2017 USA National Track and Field Championships were held in Sacramento, CA from June 22-25, 2017.
Several past stars of USA Track and Field did not qualify for the Track and Field World Championships to be held in London from August 4-13, 2017.
Allyson Felix and English Gardiner did not qualify in the women's 100, Allyson Felix did not qualify in the women's 200, Shannon Rowbury did not qualify in the women's 1500, Shalane Flanagan did not qualify in the women's 10,000, Queen Harrison did not qualify in the women's 100 hurdles, Sharika Nelvis, Kristi Castlin, and Jasmin Stowers did not qualify in the women's 100 hurdles, Ashley Spencer, Georganne Moline and Sydney McLaughlin did not qualify in the women's 400 hurdles, Chaunte Lowe did not qualify in the women's high jump, Trayvon Brommell, Mike Rodgers and Tyson Gay did not qualify in the men's 100, Wallace Spearmon, Jr., Walter Dix and Justin Gatlin did not qualify in the men's 200, David Verburg, Bryshon Nellum and Tony McQuay did not qualify in the men's 400, Casimir Loxsom, Eric Sowinski, Charles Jock, and Clayton Murphy did not qualify in the men's 800, Leo Manzano, Clayton Murphy, Andrew Wheating and Ben Blankenship did not qualify in the men's 1500, Lopez Lomong, and Ben True did not qualify in the men's 5000, Galen Rupp did not qualify in the men's 10,000, David Oliver and Jason Richardson did not qualify in the men's 110 hurdles, Johnny Dutch and Bershawn Jackson did not qualify in the men's 400 hurdles, Kibwe Johnson did not qualify in the men's hammer throw.
The 2017 World Championship USA Track and Field Team:
Mens 10,000M - Hassan Mead, Shadrack Kipchirchir and Leonard Korir
Womens 10,000M - Molly Huddle, Emily Infeld and Emily Sisson
Womens 100M - Tori Bowie, Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington
Mens Decathlon - Trey Hardee, Zack Ziemek and Devon Williams
Men's Shot Put- Ryan Crouser, Joe Kovacs and Ryan Whiting
Women's Long Jump - Tianna Bartoletta, Brittney Reese and Shakeela Saunders
Men's 400M - Fred Kerley, Gil Roberts, and Wil London III
Women's 400M - Quanera Hayes, Phyllis Francis and Kendall Ellis
Women's Discus - Gia Lewis-Smallwood, Whitney Ashley and Valarie Allman
Men's 100M - Justin Gatlin, Christian Coleman and Christopher Belcher
Women's High Jump - Vashti Cunningham, Liz Patterson and Inika Mcpherson
Men's 800M - Donovan Brazier, Isaiah Harris and Drew Windle
Women's 800M - Ajee Wilson,Charlene Lipsey, and Brenda Martinez
Men's Long Jump - Jarrion Lawson and Marquis Dendy and Demarcus Simpson
Women's Pole Vault - Sandi Morris, Jenn Suhr, and Emily Grove
Women's Triple Jump - Keturah Orji, Tori Franklin and Andrea Geubelle
Men's High Jump - Bryan McBride, Ricky Robertson, Jr. and Erik Kynard
Women's Hammer Throw - Gwen Berry, Maggie Ewen and Deanna Price
Men's Hammer Throw - Johnnie Jackson, Sean Donnelly and Rudy Winkler
Men's Javelin - Riley Doleezal, Cyrus Hostetler and Michael Shuey
Men's 3000M Steeplechase - Evan Jager, Stanley Kebenei Hillary Bor
Men's Pole Vault - Sam Kendricks, Andrew Irwin and Chris Nilsen
Men's Discus - Mason Finley, Andrew Evans and Rodney Brown
Women's 5000M - Shelby Houlihan Shannon Rowbury and Molly Huddle
Men's 5000M - Paul Chelimo, Eric Jenkina and Ryan Hill
Women's Shot Put - Raven Saunders, Dani Bunch and Michelle Carter,
Women's 3000M Steeplechase - Emma Coburn, Courtney Frerichs and Colleen Quigley
Men's Triple Jump - Will Claye, Chris Benard and Donald Scott
Women's 100M Hurdles - Kendra Harrison, Nia Ali and Christina Manning
Women's Heptathlon - Kendell Williams, Erica Bougard and Sharon Day-Monroe
Men's 110M Hurdles - Aleec Harris, Aries Merritt and Devon Allen
Women's 200M - Deajah Stevens, Kimberlyn Duncan and Tori Bowie
Women's 400M Hurdles - Dalilah Muhammad, Shamier Little and Kori Carter
Men's 400M Hurdles - Eric Futch, Michael Stigler and TJ Holmes
Men's 1500M - Robby Andrews, Matthew Centrowitz and John Gregorek
Women's 1500M - Jenny Simpson, Kate Grace and Sara Vaughn
Women's Javelin - Kara Winger, Ariana Ince and Rebekah Wales
Men's 200M - Ameer Webb, Christian Coleman and Elijah Hall-Thompson
Several past stars of USA Track and Field did not qualify for the Track and Field World Championships to be held in London from August 4-13, 2017.
Allyson Felix and English Gardiner did not qualify in the women's 100, Allyson Felix did not qualify in the women's 200, Shannon Rowbury did not qualify in the women's 1500, Shalane Flanagan did not qualify in the women's 10,000, Queen Harrison did not qualify in the women's 100 hurdles, Sharika Nelvis, Kristi Castlin, and Jasmin Stowers did not qualify in the women's 100 hurdles, Ashley Spencer, Georganne Moline and Sydney McLaughlin did not qualify in the women's 400 hurdles, Chaunte Lowe did not qualify in the women's high jump, Trayvon Brommell, Mike Rodgers and Tyson Gay did not qualify in the men's 100, Wallace Spearmon, Jr., Walter Dix and Justin Gatlin did not qualify in the men's 200, David Verburg, Bryshon Nellum and Tony McQuay did not qualify in the men's 400, Casimir Loxsom, Eric Sowinski, Charles Jock, and Clayton Murphy did not qualify in the men's 800, Leo Manzano, Clayton Murphy, Andrew Wheating and Ben Blankenship did not qualify in the men's 1500, Lopez Lomong, and Ben True did not qualify in the men's 5000, Galen Rupp did not qualify in the men's 10,000, David Oliver and Jason Richardson did not qualify in the men's 110 hurdles, Johnny Dutch and Bershawn Jackson did not qualify in the men's 400 hurdles, Kibwe Johnson did not qualify in the men's hammer throw.
The 2017 World Championship USA Track and Field Team:
Mens 10,000M - Hassan Mead, Shadrack Kipchirchir and Leonard Korir
Womens 10,000M - Molly Huddle, Emily Infeld and Emily Sisson
Womens 100M - Tori Bowie, Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington
Mens Decathlon - Trey Hardee, Zack Ziemek and Devon Williams
Men's Shot Put- Ryan Crouser, Joe Kovacs and Ryan Whiting
Women's Long Jump - Tianna Bartoletta, Brittney Reese and Shakeela Saunders
Men's 400M - Fred Kerley, Gil Roberts, and Wil London III
Women's 400M - Quanera Hayes, Phyllis Francis and Kendall Ellis
Women's Discus - Gia Lewis-Smallwood, Whitney Ashley and Valarie Allman
Men's 100M - Justin Gatlin, Christian Coleman and Christopher Belcher
Women's High Jump - Vashti Cunningham, Liz Patterson and Inika Mcpherson
Men's 800M - Donovan Brazier, Isaiah Harris and Drew Windle
Women's 800M - Ajee Wilson,Charlene Lipsey, and Brenda Martinez
Men's Long Jump - Jarrion Lawson and Marquis Dendy and Demarcus Simpson
Women's Pole Vault - Sandi Morris, Jenn Suhr, and Emily Grove
Women's Triple Jump - Keturah Orji, Tori Franklin and Andrea Geubelle
Men's High Jump - Bryan McBride, Ricky Robertson, Jr. and Erik Kynard
Women's Hammer Throw - Gwen Berry, Maggie Ewen and Deanna Price
Men's Hammer Throw - Johnnie Jackson, Sean Donnelly and Rudy Winkler
Men's Javelin - Riley Doleezal, Cyrus Hostetler and Michael Shuey
Men's 3000M Steeplechase - Evan Jager, Stanley Kebenei Hillary Bor
Men's Pole Vault - Sam Kendricks, Andrew Irwin and Chris Nilsen
Men's Discus - Mason Finley, Andrew Evans and Rodney Brown
Women's 5000M - Shelby Houlihan Shannon Rowbury and Molly Huddle
Men's 5000M - Paul Chelimo, Eric Jenkina and Ryan Hill
Women's Shot Put - Raven Saunders, Dani Bunch and Michelle Carter,
Women's 3000M Steeplechase - Emma Coburn, Courtney Frerichs and Colleen Quigley
Men's Triple Jump - Will Claye, Chris Benard and Donald Scott
Women's 100M Hurdles - Kendra Harrison, Nia Ali and Christina Manning
Women's Heptathlon - Kendell Williams, Erica Bougard and Sharon Day-Monroe
Men's 110M Hurdles - Aleec Harris, Aries Merritt and Devon Allen
Women's 200M - Deajah Stevens, Kimberlyn Duncan and Tori Bowie
Women's 400M Hurdles - Dalilah Muhammad, Shamier Little and Kori Carter
Men's 400M Hurdles - Eric Futch, Michael Stigler and TJ Holmes
Men's 1500M - Robby Andrews, Matthew Centrowitz and John Gregorek
Women's 1500M - Jenny Simpson, Kate Grace and Sara Vaughn
Women's Javelin - Kara Winger, Ariana Ince and Rebekah Wales
Men's 200M - Ameer Webb, Christian Coleman and Elijah Hall-Thompson
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Several new Olympic events will take place at the 2020 Tokyo Games/ 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games awarded together
Several new events have been approved by the IOC to take place in Tokyo. Three on Three Basketball, BMX Freestyle Cycling and Track Cycling are new events. New swimming events include the 4 by 100 mixed medley relay, men's 800 freestyle and women's 1500 freestyle. Track and Field has added a mixed 4 by 400 relay. This is in addition to sports already approved by the IOC for the Tokyo games which include Sports Climbing, Skateboarding, Surfing, Karate and Baseball/Softball.
The IOC also cut certain events/places from the Rio games to make sure the athletes are capped at 10,616 through 28 core sports, Track and Field will lose 105 places, Weightlifting will lose 64 places, Wrestling will lose 56 places, Shooting and Sailing will lose 30 places each, followed by Swimming, which will lose 22 places. In total, 285 athlete places will be cut.
The IOC has now officially proposed to award the 2024 and 2028 summer games at once. Los Angeles and Paris will be awarded games, in which order is still to be determined. Paris is the favorite to land the 2024 games while Los Angeles, showing more flexibility could be awarded the 2028 games. A vote by the full IOC membership on this proposal will be held on July 11-12 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The hosting order will be determined at the IOC's annual meeting in Lima, Peru on Sept. 13.
The IOC also cut certain events/places from the Rio games to make sure the athletes are capped at 10,616 through 28 core sports, Track and Field will lose 105 places, Weightlifting will lose 64 places, Wrestling will lose 56 places, Shooting and Sailing will lose 30 places each, followed by Swimming, which will lose 22 places. In total, 285 athlete places will be cut.
The IOC has now officially proposed to award the 2024 and 2028 summer games at once. Los Angeles and Paris will be awarded games, in which order is still to be determined. Paris is the favorite to land the 2024 games while Los Angeles, showing more flexibility could be awarded the 2028 games. A vote by the full IOC membership on this proposal will be held on July 11-12 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The hosting order will be determined at the IOC's annual meeting in Lima, Peru on Sept. 13.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Olympic and athlete updates
USA men's Olympic water polo athlete Tony Azevedo will retire at age 35. Azevedo participated in five Olympic games. Azevedo will spend more time with his family.
USA men's Olympic diver David Boudia will skip the 2017 diving season as he ponders retirement. Boudia won gold in 10M platform and bronze in 10M synchro at the 2012 London games. Boudia also won bronze in 10M platform and silver in 10M synchro at the 2016 Rio games.
USA Ice Dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White will not compete at the 2018 Pyeongchang games. The pair have not competed in three seasons. They have ruled out competing next season as well.
USA women's Track and Field athlete Dawn Harper Nelson was banned for three months for taking banned blood pressure medication. She took the medication on December 1. It contained a banned substance. The medication was prescribed by her doctor after she was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Harper-Nelson's suspension ended March 1, 2017.
The 2017 World Figure Skating Championships were held in Helsinki, Finland from March 29-April 2. Americans Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani were the only ones to medal, winning bronze in Ice Dance. Americans Madison Chock/Evan Bates finished 7th while Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue finished 9th. Nathan Chen of the USA finished 6th in the men's short program and free skate combined, American Jason Brown finished 7th. Karen Chen, of the USA finished 4th, Ashley Wagner, of the USA finished 7th and American Mariah Bell finished 12th in the women's short program and free skate combined. In the pairs competition, Americans Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim finished 10th.
NBC will show the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic games live across all time zones. Primetime will start at 8pm eastern time, 7pm central time, 6pm mountain time and 5pm pacific time. Local news will follow primetime coverage. Primetime Plus will follow local news and will be live as well. After Primetime Plus airs, it would be followed by a replay of primetime coverage. This change is from NBC's usual policy of "tape delay" coverage.
NBC Sports is now offering a 2017 Track and Field Pass for $69.99. This live and on demand streaming and TV service will cover all of the Diamond League events, the 2017 World Championships in London and USATF events as well. The service can be accessed at nbcsportsgold.com.
Bershawn "Batman" Jackson, an American men's 400 hurdles track athlete, has announced his retirement from the sport. Jackson will retire at the conclusion of the 2017 outdoor track season. Jackson won bronze in the men's 400 hurdles at the 2008 Beijing games.
Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park will be renovated over the next two years. The upgrades, which include, a pedestrian plaza, interactive games, and a renovated Southern Amphitheater will be completed by January 2019.
The 2021 outdoor Track and Field World Championships will be held in Eugene, Oregon from August 6-15.
USA women's 100 hurdler Brianna Rollins was suspended for the entire 2017 Track and Field outdoor season for missing three drug tests during 2016. Rollins missed the tests because of previous engagements and travels that left USADA unaware of her whereabouts. Athletes are supposed to notify USADA of their travel plans and Rollins did not do so. Rollins has never tested positive and is a clean athlete. The suspension will end on December 19, 2017.
USA women's beach volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings ended her partnership with April Ross. Walsh Jennings did not renew her contract with the AVP. Walsh Jennings is the only athlete not to renew with the AVP until after the 2020 Tokyo games. She claims that the AVP is holding her and other beach volleyball athletes back. April Ross will partner with Lauren Fendrick for the 2017 AVP season. Walsh Jennings is not retiring so look for her on a beach volleyball court somewhere soon!
The AVP TV Schedule was released in early May. All times eastern.
Sunday May 7 - Huntington Beach, CA - NBCSN - 5pm
Sunday May 21 - Austin, TX - NBCSN - 5pm
Sunday June 11 - New York, NY - NBC - 4:30pm
Sunday June 25 - Seattle, WA - NBCSN - 6pm
Sunday July 9 - San Francisco, CA - NBCSN - 12:30am
Sunday July 23 - Hermosa Beach, CA - NBCSN - 4pm
Sunday August 20 - Manhattan Beach, CA - NBC - 2:30pm
Sunday Sept. 3 - Chicago, IL - NBCSN - 12am
Steven Holcomb, an Olympic gold medalist bobsledder, was found dead on May 6, 2017. He was 37. Holcomb died in his sleep. He had fluid in his lungs. Holcomb won gold at the 2010 Vancouver games in the 4 man bobsled. In the 2014 Sochi games, Holcomb won bronze medals in the 2 man and 4 man bobsled. He was one of 3 Olympic athletes following me on Twitter. He will be missed.
USA Gymnastics will not buy the famed Karolyi ranch in Texas. In July 2016, USA Gymnastics was supposed to buy the ranch, which includes three gyms, housing for athletes, a dance studio and a dining hall from Bela and Marta Karolyi. Larry Nassar, a physician, is accused of sexually abusing three gymnasts at the ranch in the late 1990's. USA Gymnastics is distancing themselves from the Karolyi's and their ranch. A lawsuit was filed against the Karolyi's and USA Gymnastics for failure to monitor and report abuse.
USA men's short track speed skater Chris Creveling received a 4 year doping ban and will not compete at the 2018 Pyeongchang winter games. He tested positive for clomiphene, which is not allowed by the USADA. This drug can affect testosterone levels. Creveling's ban has been in effect since Nov. 18, 2016. Creveling won the silver medal in the 5000m relay in Sochi.
Three time USA women's beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings has found a new partner. The partner is Nicole Branagh. Branagh, like Walsh-Jennings, is 38 years old. They briefly partnered in 2010 when then partner to Walsh Jennings, Misty May Treanor took a break before the 2012 London games. Once May-Treanor returned, Branagh and Walsh Jennings went their separate ways. The pair will compete in international tournaments only because Walsh-Jennings is still not signed by the AVP.
USA men's gymnast Jonathan Horton has announced his retirement. Horton is a two-time Olympic medalist. Horton plans to stay involved with USA Gymnastics and has plans to create a new training center for USA male gymnasts.
USA 800 meter track star Nick Symmonds has announced his retirement effective immediately after he was eliminated in the first round of the men's 800 at the USA National Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, CA. Symmonds won a total of six USA men's 800 titles, five consecutively. He finished fifth in the 800 finals at the London 2012 games. Symmonds also won a silver medal in the 800 at the 2013 Track and Field World Championships. Symmonds last professional race will be in December 2017 at the Honolulu Marathon.
USA men's 400 track star Jeremy Wariner has announced his retirement. Wariner won silver in the men's 400 at the 2008 Beijing games and again at the 2009 World Track and Field Championships in Berlin. In 2016, Wariner missed making the 2016 Rio games. Wariner will now focus on his Jimmy John's franchise business.
USA male gymnast Jake Dalton is retiring from gymnastics. Dalton competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games and won four medals at the gymnastics world championships(2011, 2014 - team, silver on floor exercise in 2013 and vault bronze in 2014). Dalton will focus on running his gymnastics gyms located in Nevada.
USA men's decathlete Trey Hardee has announced his retirement. Hardee pulled out of the decathlon after hitting the hurdles in the decathlon 110 hurdles at the 2017 IAAF World Track and Field Championships.
USA men's Olympic diver David Boudia will skip the 2017 diving season as he ponders retirement. Boudia won gold in 10M platform and bronze in 10M synchro at the 2012 London games. Boudia also won bronze in 10M platform and silver in 10M synchro at the 2016 Rio games.
USA Ice Dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White will not compete at the 2018 Pyeongchang games. The pair have not competed in three seasons. They have ruled out competing next season as well.
USA women's Track and Field athlete Dawn Harper Nelson was banned for three months for taking banned blood pressure medication. She took the medication on December 1. It contained a banned substance. The medication was prescribed by her doctor after she was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Harper-Nelson's suspension ended March 1, 2017.
The 2017 World Figure Skating Championships were held in Helsinki, Finland from March 29-April 2. Americans Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani were the only ones to medal, winning bronze in Ice Dance. Americans Madison Chock/Evan Bates finished 7th while Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue finished 9th. Nathan Chen of the USA finished 6th in the men's short program and free skate combined, American Jason Brown finished 7th. Karen Chen, of the USA finished 4th, Ashley Wagner, of the USA finished 7th and American Mariah Bell finished 12th in the women's short program and free skate combined. In the pairs competition, Americans Alexa Scimeca Knierim and Chris Knierim finished 10th.
NBC will show the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic games live across all time zones. Primetime will start at 8pm eastern time, 7pm central time, 6pm mountain time and 5pm pacific time. Local news will follow primetime coverage. Primetime Plus will follow local news and will be live as well. After Primetime Plus airs, it would be followed by a replay of primetime coverage. This change is from NBC's usual policy of "tape delay" coverage.
NBC Sports is now offering a 2017 Track and Field Pass for $69.99. This live and on demand streaming and TV service will cover all of the Diamond League events, the 2017 World Championships in London and USATF events as well. The service can be accessed at nbcsportsgold.com.
Bershawn "Batman" Jackson, an American men's 400 hurdles track athlete, has announced his retirement from the sport. Jackson will retire at the conclusion of the 2017 outdoor track season. Jackson won bronze in the men's 400 hurdles at the 2008 Beijing games.
Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park will be renovated over the next two years. The upgrades, which include, a pedestrian plaza, interactive games, and a renovated Southern Amphitheater will be completed by January 2019.
The 2021 outdoor Track and Field World Championships will be held in Eugene, Oregon from August 6-15.
USA women's 100 hurdler Brianna Rollins was suspended for the entire 2017 Track and Field outdoor season for missing three drug tests during 2016. Rollins missed the tests because of previous engagements and travels that left USADA unaware of her whereabouts. Athletes are supposed to notify USADA of their travel plans and Rollins did not do so. Rollins has never tested positive and is a clean athlete. The suspension will end on December 19, 2017.
USA women's beach volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings ended her partnership with April Ross. Walsh Jennings did not renew her contract with the AVP. Walsh Jennings is the only athlete not to renew with the AVP until after the 2020 Tokyo games. She claims that the AVP is holding her and other beach volleyball athletes back. April Ross will partner with Lauren Fendrick for the 2017 AVP season. Walsh Jennings is not retiring so look for her on a beach volleyball court somewhere soon!
The AVP TV Schedule was released in early May. All times eastern.
Sunday May 7 - Huntington Beach, CA - NBCSN - 5pm
Sunday May 21 - Austin, TX - NBCSN - 5pm
Sunday June 11 - New York, NY - NBC - 4:30pm
Sunday June 25 - Seattle, WA - NBCSN - 6pm
Sunday July 9 - San Francisco, CA - NBCSN - 12:30am
Sunday July 23 - Hermosa Beach, CA - NBCSN - 4pm
Sunday August 20 - Manhattan Beach, CA - NBC - 2:30pm
Sunday Sept. 3 - Chicago, IL - NBCSN - 12am
Steven Holcomb, an Olympic gold medalist bobsledder, was found dead on May 6, 2017. He was 37. Holcomb died in his sleep. He had fluid in his lungs. Holcomb won gold at the 2010 Vancouver games in the 4 man bobsled. In the 2014 Sochi games, Holcomb won bronze medals in the 2 man and 4 man bobsled. He was one of 3 Olympic athletes following me on Twitter. He will be missed.
USA Gymnastics will not buy the famed Karolyi ranch in Texas. In July 2016, USA Gymnastics was supposed to buy the ranch, which includes three gyms, housing for athletes, a dance studio and a dining hall from Bela and Marta Karolyi. Larry Nassar, a physician, is accused of sexually abusing three gymnasts at the ranch in the late 1990's. USA Gymnastics is distancing themselves from the Karolyi's and their ranch. A lawsuit was filed against the Karolyi's and USA Gymnastics for failure to monitor and report abuse.
USA men's short track speed skater Chris Creveling received a 4 year doping ban and will not compete at the 2018 Pyeongchang winter games. He tested positive for clomiphene, which is not allowed by the USADA. This drug can affect testosterone levels. Creveling's ban has been in effect since Nov. 18, 2016. Creveling won the silver medal in the 5000m relay in Sochi.
Three time USA women's beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings has found a new partner. The partner is Nicole Branagh. Branagh, like Walsh-Jennings, is 38 years old. They briefly partnered in 2010 when then partner to Walsh Jennings, Misty May Treanor took a break before the 2012 London games. Once May-Treanor returned, Branagh and Walsh Jennings went their separate ways. The pair will compete in international tournaments only because Walsh-Jennings is still not signed by the AVP.
USA men's gymnast Jonathan Horton has announced his retirement. Horton is a two-time Olympic medalist. Horton plans to stay involved with USA Gymnastics and has plans to create a new training center for USA male gymnasts.
USA 800 meter track star Nick Symmonds has announced his retirement effective immediately after he was eliminated in the first round of the men's 800 at the USA National Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, CA. Symmonds won a total of six USA men's 800 titles, five consecutively. He finished fifth in the 800 finals at the London 2012 games. Symmonds also won a silver medal in the 800 at the 2013 Track and Field World Championships. Symmonds last professional race will be in December 2017 at the Honolulu Marathon.
USA men's 400 track star Jeremy Wariner has announced his retirement. Wariner won silver in the men's 400 at the 2008 Beijing games and again at the 2009 World Track and Field Championships in Berlin. In 2016, Wariner missed making the 2016 Rio games. Wariner will now focus on his Jimmy John's franchise business.
USA male gymnast Jake Dalton is retiring from gymnastics. Dalton competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games and won four medals at the gymnastics world championships(2011, 2014 - team, silver on floor exercise in 2013 and vault bronze in 2014). Dalton will focus on running his gymnastics gyms located in Nevada.
USA men's decathlete Trey Hardee has announced his retirement. Hardee pulled out of the decathlon after hitting the hurdles in the decathlon 110 hurdles at the 2017 IAAF World Track and Field Championships.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Los Angeles 2024 vs. Paris 2024
In late February 2017, Budapest, Hungary dropped out of the running to host the 2024 Olympics. This leaves only Los Angeles and Paris as the only two cities left.
Los Angeles 2024 is the better bid based on the fact that no new permanent structures have to be built, whereas Paris 2024 has to build an Olympic village from scratch. The cost to Paris 2024 will be one to two billion dollars. Los Angeles 2024 has a budget of 5.3 billion dollars while Paris 2024 has a bid of 4.8 billion dollars but also up to 5 billion in infrastructure projects. The reason I bring this up is Los Angeles 2024's bid is privately financed while Paris 2024 will have their bid funded by the French government. Los Angeles bid theme is "Follow the Sun" while Paris 2024 theme is "Made for Sharing".
Ever since the IOC has passed 2020 reforms, cities have dropped out of bidding on games because of high bid cost and high cost of putting on the games themselves. Boston, Rome, Budapest, and Hamburg all pulled their 2024 Olympic bids due to unpopularity and cost. The Sochi winter games in 2014 cost over 50 billion dollars. The Tokyo 2020 summer games have big cost overruns, and their Olympic stadium had to be redesigned because of the original cost of a billion dollars. The 2008 Beijing summer games also had cost overruns but were awarded the 2022 winter games over Almaty, Kazakhstan based on the more stable, cost efficient bid. Very few permanent structures have to be built for the Beijing 2022 bid. Almost all Rio 2016 Olympic venues are now white elephants and lay in ruins less than a year after the games. These mistakes don't need to be repeated by the IOC. Awarding the 2024 Olympic games to Los Angeles makes sense based on the IOC reforms passed but there are a few hurdles for Los Angeles to clear.
The USA election of Donald Trump in the fall of 2016 could complicate the Los Angeles 2024 bid. President Trump's populist agenda might be popular in the USA but not with the IOC. The IOC could vote to defeat the Los Angeles 2024 bid based on Donald Trump's election as USA President. President Trump has proposed two Muslim travel bans from seven mid-eastern countries over the first 90 days of his administration. These bans would restrict Muslims visa holders from entering the USA from seven countries(Iraq, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen) for 90 days(Syrian refugees 120 Days) so that the Trump administration could find a way to vet them. When the first ban was struck down by the USA courts. President Trump devised another ban to replace the first ban. Luckily, both bans were overturned by the USA courts but are being appealed by the Trump administration. President Trump fully supports the Los Angeles 2024 bid.
On May 7, 2017 France had a Presidential election. The centrist Emmanuel Macron defeated far right candidate Marine Le Pen. Had Le Pen won the Paris 2024 bid would, in my opinion, taken a back seat to Los Angeles 2024 bid. Le Pen proposed the same anti-immigration policies that USA President Trump has proposed. Since Macron won, the IOC might favor Paris 2024 bid over Los Angeles 2024 despite the fact that it's is a better bid based on the IOC's 2020 reforms. Why? because the USA is anti-immigration and France is not. However, there is a silver lining for both bids.
Within the last year the IOC has discussed awarding both the 2024 and 2028 summer Olympics bid cities together. The stakes are high. The USA has had two failed bids in 2005 New York City and 2009 Chicago (2012 and 2016 games). The USA last held summer games in 1996. Paris has had three failed attempts (1992, 2008 and 2012.) Paris last held games in 1924 and it would be the 100th anniversary of the last Paris summer games. Several IOC members are opposed to the idea of awarding two Olympic games at once. They are afraid of other host cities that now cannot bid on the games for 2028. IOC President Thomas Bach thinks its a good idea because he feels there are too many losers in the bidding process. Both candidate cities vow they are only bidding on 2024. Paris had issued an ultimatum to the IOC saying they could only accept a 2024 bid because the land available to build the Olympic Village will not be available in 2028. Paris 2024 has since walked back that statement. Los Angeles 2024 has kept open a possible 2028 bid by not issuing an ultimatum to the IOC. Both cities would have to agree on it and the order of the cities bids in order for this idea to work. I am for this idea provided Los Angeles be awarded the 2024 games and Paris awarded the 2028 games.
This past week(May 10-12) the IOC visited Los Angeles and toured the venues and met with Los Angeles 2024 bid leaders, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and bid Chairman Casey Wasserman. Next week, May 14-16, the IOC will tour Paris 2024 venues and meet with bid officials.
In June 2017, the IOC will publish the Evaluation Commission report on the visits to the candidate cities and both cities will have a chance to respond to the report. On July 11-12, 2017 there will be a candidate city briefing for members of the IOC and Olympic Federations.
In early September 2017 Los Angeles and Paris will be submitted to the IOC session for election.
On September 13, 2017 in Lima, Peru The IOC will vote on the bid city as part of its session.
My vote is for two bid cities to be awarded at once! Los Angeles would be awarded the 2024 summer Olympic games and Paris would be awarded the 2028 summer Olympic games!
Only time will tell!
Los Angeles 2024 is the better bid based on the fact that no new permanent structures have to be built, whereas Paris 2024 has to build an Olympic village from scratch. The cost to Paris 2024 will be one to two billion dollars. Los Angeles 2024 has a budget of 5.3 billion dollars while Paris 2024 has a bid of 4.8 billion dollars but also up to 5 billion in infrastructure projects. The reason I bring this up is Los Angeles 2024's bid is privately financed while Paris 2024 will have their bid funded by the French government. Los Angeles bid theme is "Follow the Sun" while Paris 2024 theme is "Made for Sharing".
Ever since the IOC has passed 2020 reforms, cities have dropped out of bidding on games because of high bid cost and high cost of putting on the games themselves. Boston, Rome, Budapest, and Hamburg all pulled their 2024 Olympic bids due to unpopularity and cost. The Sochi winter games in 2014 cost over 50 billion dollars. The Tokyo 2020 summer games have big cost overruns, and their Olympic stadium had to be redesigned because of the original cost of a billion dollars. The 2008 Beijing summer games also had cost overruns but were awarded the 2022 winter games over Almaty, Kazakhstan based on the more stable, cost efficient bid. Very few permanent structures have to be built for the Beijing 2022 bid. Almost all Rio 2016 Olympic venues are now white elephants and lay in ruins less than a year after the games. These mistakes don't need to be repeated by the IOC. Awarding the 2024 Olympic games to Los Angeles makes sense based on the IOC reforms passed but there are a few hurdles for Los Angeles to clear.
The USA election of Donald Trump in the fall of 2016 could complicate the Los Angeles 2024 bid. President Trump's populist agenda might be popular in the USA but not with the IOC. The IOC could vote to defeat the Los Angeles 2024 bid based on Donald Trump's election as USA President. President Trump has proposed two Muslim travel bans from seven mid-eastern countries over the first 90 days of his administration. These bans would restrict Muslims visa holders from entering the USA from seven countries(Iraq, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen) for 90 days(Syrian refugees 120 Days) so that the Trump administration could find a way to vet them. When the first ban was struck down by the USA courts. President Trump devised another ban to replace the first ban. Luckily, both bans were overturned by the USA courts but are being appealed by the Trump administration. President Trump fully supports the Los Angeles 2024 bid.
On May 7, 2017 France had a Presidential election. The centrist Emmanuel Macron defeated far right candidate Marine Le Pen. Had Le Pen won the Paris 2024 bid would, in my opinion, taken a back seat to Los Angeles 2024 bid. Le Pen proposed the same anti-immigration policies that USA President Trump has proposed. Since Macron won, the IOC might favor Paris 2024 bid over Los Angeles 2024 despite the fact that it's is a better bid based on the IOC's 2020 reforms. Why? because the USA is anti-immigration and France is not. However, there is a silver lining for both bids.
Within the last year the IOC has discussed awarding both the 2024 and 2028 summer Olympics bid cities together. The stakes are high. The USA has had two failed bids in 2005 New York City and 2009 Chicago (2012 and 2016 games). The USA last held summer games in 1996. Paris has had three failed attempts (1992, 2008 and 2012.) Paris last held games in 1924 and it would be the 100th anniversary of the last Paris summer games. Several IOC members are opposed to the idea of awarding two Olympic games at once. They are afraid of other host cities that now cannot bid on the games for 2028. IOC President Thomas Bach thinks its a good idea because he feels there are too many losers in the bidding process. Both candidate cities vow they are only bidding on 2024. Paris had issued an ultimatum to the IOC saying they could only accept a 2024 bid because the land available to build the Olympic Village will not be available in 2028. Paris 2024 has since walked back that statement. Los Angeles 2024 has kept open a possible 2028 bid by not issuing an ultimatum to the IOC. Both cities would have to agree on it and the order of the cities bids in order for this idea to work. I am for this idea provided Los Angeles be awarded the 2024 games and Paris awarded the 2028 games.
This past week(May 10-12) the IOC visited Los Angeles and toured the venues and met with Los Angeles 2024 bid leaders, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and bid Chairman Casey Wasserman. Next week, May 14-16, the IOC will tour Paris 2024 venues and meet with bid officials.
In June 2017, the IOC will publish the Evaluation Commission report on the visits to the candidate cities and both cities will have a chance to respond to the report. On July 11-12, 2017 there will be a candidate city briefing for members of the IOC and Olympic Federations.
In early September 2017 Los Angeles and Paris will be submitted to the IOC session for election.
On September 13, 2017 in Lima, Peru The IOC will vote on the bid city as part of its session.
My vote is for two bid cities to be awarded at once! Los Angeles would be awarded the 2024 summer Olympic games and Paris would be awarded the 2028 summer Olympic games!
Only time will tell!
Thursday, February 9, 2017
One year until Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics/ Bob Costas steps down
One year from today the world will gather in Pyeongchang, South Korea for the games of the XXIII Winter Olympiad. The games will be held from February 9-25, 2018. Looking forward to another great Olympics!
Also today, NBC Olympics studio host Bob Costas has stepped down as primetime Olympics studio host. Mike Tirico will take over Olympic studio duties starting with the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Costas had been the NBC Olympics prime time host since 1992.
Bob Costas will be missed. I've been very critical of NBC's Olympic editing coverage in the past but NBC's strength is in its studio hosts, play by play announcing and analysts. I'm sure Mike Tirico will do a fine job!
Also today, NBC Olympics studio host Bob Costas has stepped down as primetime Olympics studio host. Mike Tirico will take over Olympic studio duties starting with the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Costas had been the NBC Olympics prime time host since 1992.
Bob Costas will be missed. I've been very critical of NBC's Olympic editing coverage in the past but NBC's strength is in its studio hosts, play by play announcing and analysts. I'm sure Mike Tirico will do a fine job!
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
15 years since Salt Lake City games
Today marks the 15th anniversary of the start of the 2002 winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah! In an earlier blog post I described my experience as a volunteer at these games. By the time the games started I had already left Utah. The opening ceremonies were held on February 8, 2002 and the games ended on February 24, 2002. 15 years just flew by!
Sunday, January 22, 2017
USA 2017 Figure Skating Championships/ Track and Field Olympic updates
The USA Figure Skating Championships are being held from January 14-22 in Kansas City, Mo.
Results:
Ice Dancing
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani - gold - 200.05
Madison Chock and Evan Bates - silver - 199.04
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue - bronze - 191.42
Pairs
Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier - gold - 188.32
Marissa Castelli and Mervin Tran - silver - 186.28
Ashley Cain and Timothy Leduc - bronze - 184.41
Ladies Free Skate
Karen Chen - gold - 214.22
Ashley Wagner - silver - 211.78
Mariah Bell - bronze - 197.92
Mirai Nagasu - 4th - 194.90
Gracie Gold - 6th - 179.63
Men's Free Skate
Nathan Chen - gold - 318.47
Vincent Zhou - silver - 263.03
Jason Brown - bronze - 254.23
Olympic updates - Track and Field
2017 will be the last season for American mens 800 runner Nick Symmonds. Symmonds has decided to retire at the end of the 2017 outdoor track season.
American Ashton Eaton, who won gold in the decathlon at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, has decided to retire from track and field along with his wife, Canadian heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton. Theisen-Eaton won bronze in the heptathlon at the 2016 Rio games.
Jamaican Usain Bolt, a legend of track and field, had his 2008 Olympic 4 by 100 relay gold medal stripped because of doping by teammate Nesta Carter. Bolt now has 8 gold medals. The IOC can now strip all relay team members of medals if one teammate tests positive for performance enhancing drugs.
The IAAF has extended Russia's track and field ban past the 2017 world track and field championships in London in August. This extension has proven that Russian anti-doping measures have failed to gain traction with the IAAF. I agree with this continued ban on Russian track athletes.
Results:
Ice Dancing
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani - gold - 200.05
Madison Chock and Evan Bates - silver - 199.04
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue - bronze - 191.42
Pairs
Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier - gold - 188.32
Marissa Castelli and Mervin Tran - silver - 186.28
Ashley Cain and Timothy Leduc - bronze - 184.41
Ladies Free Skate
Karen Chen - gold - 214.22
Ashley Wagner - silver - 211.78
Mariah Bell - bronze - 197.92
Mirai Nagasu - 4th - 194.90
Gracie Gold - 6th - 179.63
Men's Free Skate
Nathan Chen - gold - 318.47
Vincent Zhou - silver - 263.03
Jason Brown - bronze - 254.23
Olympic updates - Track and Field
2017 will be the last season for American mens 800 runner Nick Symmonds. Symmonds has decided to retire at the end of the 2017 outdoor track season.
American Ashton Eaton, who won gold in the decathlon at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, has decided to retire from track and field along with his wife, Canadian heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton. Theisen-Eaton won bronze in the heptathlon at the 2016 Rio games.
Jamaican Usain Bolt, a legend of track and field, had his 2008 Olympic 4 by 100 relay gold medal stripped because of doping by teammate Nesta Carter. Bolt now has 8 gold medals. The IOC can now strip all relay team members of medals if one teammate tests positive for performance enhancing drugs.
The IAAF has extended Russia's track and field ban past the 2017 world track and field championships in London in August. This extension has proven that Russian anti-doping measures have failed to gain traction with the IAAF. I agree with this continued ban on Russian track athletes.
Monday, January 2, 2017
15 years since volunteering at Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games
Today, January 2, marks 15 years since I started volunteering at the Team 2002 Processing Center. I was selected as an out of state volunteer from Ohio. I was selected from a field of 65,000. There were 24,000 selected, most were selected from Utah. I applied to be a volunteer in June of 2000 and was notified I was accepted as a volunteer in October of 2001.
The days I volunteered at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics were January 2-12. I was selected to work before the games started. Instead of declining this volunteer position and be put back into the general pool of volunteers, I decided to accept the role of Accreditation Associate. I helped accreditate the 24,000 games time volunteers. My job was looking them up in the system, then issuing their accreditation badge. I would solve any issues that might occur in the accreditation process and then issue their badges. I also helped issue volunteer uniforms. The uniform consisted of ski pants, vest, fleece shirt, coat, and gloves. I still have the uniform today but only wear the fleece shirt. My hours ranged from 10am to 7pm every day that I worked. I got credit for 17 days worked when I only worked 10 days. I received Team 2002 extras like volunteer pins, a watch, medallion and a certificate. I spent two thousand dollars on the trip. This includes at least 500 dollars in souvenirs and my car rental for 3 weeks was 500 dollars. I stayed with a family in Mona, Utah and commuted in 75 miles one way from Mona to Salt Lake City every day. Total mileage from the trip was over 6,300. This was a great experience. I hope there is some kind of 15 year anniversary celebration marking the February 8-24, 2002 Olympic Games. I won't be able to attend. I would love to see the Olympic Wall of Honor at the Salt Lake City Olympic Legacy Plaza. My sponsor family took photos of it for me in 2003. It would be great to see it in person!
The days I volunteered at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics were January 2-12. I was selected to work before the games started. Instead of declining this volunteer position and be put back into the general pool of volunteers, I decided to accept the role of Accreditation Associate. I helped accreditate the 24,000 games time volunteers. My job was looking them up in the system, then issuing their accreditation badge. I would solve any issues that might occur in the accreditation process and then issue their badges. I also helped issue volunteer uniforms. The uniform consisted of ski pants, vest, fleece shirt, coat, and gloves. I still have the uniform today but only wear the fleece shirt. My hours ranged from 10am to 7pm every day that I worked. I got credit for 17 days worked when I only worked 10 days. I received Team 2002 extras like volunteer pins, a watch, medallion and a certificate. I spent two thousand dollars on the trip. This includes at least 500 dollars in souvenirs and my car rental for 3 weeks was 500 dollars. I stayed with a family in Mona, Utah and commuted in 75 miles one way from Mona to Salt Lake City every day. Total mileage from the trip was over 6,300. This was a great experience. I hope there is some kind of 15 year anniversary celebration marking the February 8-24, 2002 Olympic Games. I won't be able to attend. I would love to see the Olympic Wall of Honor at the Salt Lake City Olympic Legacy Plaza. My sponsor family took photos of it for me in 2003. It would be great to see it in person!
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