Summer Olympic Sports in between Olympics thread.

[Glorfindel]

(Unfortunately) can't see it taking off

Australian man plans Enhanced Games for doping athletes

Aaron D’Souza is sure if he builds it they will come. Not ghostly baseball players but athletes of another sort. Those who compete with an edge.

apnews.com

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Ledecky's top end speed is dropping off, and her distance swimming has improved, she swam the 3rd fastest time ever on day 1 of the US trials.

2023 U.S. Trials: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

Katie Ledecky leads a 200 freestyle field crowded with fast rising teenagers on Day 2 of finals at the 2023 U.S. Trials.

swimswam.com

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE — FINALS​

• World Record: 1:52.98, Federica Pellegrini (ITA) — 2009
• American Record: 1:53.61, Allison Schmitt — 2012
• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.13, Summer McIntosh (CAN) — 2023
• Championship Record: 1:54.40, Allison Schmitt — 2012
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 1:58.66
• 2022 U.S. Trials Top 4 Time: 1:57.53
• 2022 Worlds Medal Time: 1:56.25

Top 8:

1. Claire Weinstein (SAND) — 1:55.26
2. Katie Ledecky (GSC) — 1:55.28
3. Bella Sims (SAND) — 1:56.08
4. Erin Gemmell (NCAP) — 1:56.23
5. Alex Shackell (CSC) — 1:56.70
6. Leah Smith (TXLA) — 1:56.91
7. Anna Peplowski (ISC) — 1:57.59
8. Alex Walsh (NAC) — 1:58.16

Flashback to this race in 2022– 15-year-old Claire Weinstein surprised us all by finishing second and securing an individual swim and a spot on the relay. It was one of the biggest surprises of the meet. Now a year later, she’s surprised us all again by winning the race.

Weinstein had a monster split on the third 50 (29.47) to move up from fourth to second, trailing Katie Ledecky. Then, she powered home in 29.35, the fastest split in the field to pass Ledecky for the win. It’s a lifetime best for Weinstein, cutting another 1.01 seconds off her lifetime best she swam this morning.

Ledecky finished second, well ahead of Bella Sims, who also dropped about a second to punch her ticket to Fukuoka. This is the third straight time the 18-year-old has made the senior international team in the 4×200 free relay.

Four teenagers finished in the top six. Along side Weinstein and Sims, Erin Gemmell and Alex Shackell finished fourth and fifth. This is both of their first Worlds teams, with Gemmell finally securing a spot after getting left home last year after Ledecky dropped the individual race.

Shackell cut more time off her best, dropping 1.04 seconds from the 1:57.74 she swam this morning. Coming into the meet, her best was a 1:59.49. The swim moves her up to fifth all-time in the 15-16 age group, while Weinstein improves her third place.

 

[AdelaideGT]

For those still awake, Day 3 prelims of the US Swimming is live now on their YT page.

And in case anyone is awake at 2am AEST, Nicola Olyslagers will take on the world's best Yaroslave Mahuchikh in a 'street' High Jump comp in the city centre of Lausanne, a day ahead of the Diamond League meet.

To watch, you will need to set a VPN to Switzerland - SRF zwei - Live - TV - Play SRF

 

[AdelaideGT]

Nicola has a near-perfect competition and wins with a world-leading and Australian Record jump of 2.02m. Near misses at 2.05m shows that kind of height may not be far away.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Yesterday morning Oz time day 3 finals Olympic Champ in 100m Butterfly Caeleb Dressel only made the final after a withdrawal and finished equal 5th. A bad meet for Caleb so far. He was the gold medalist in the 50m free in Tokyo, has that to come along with 50m butterfly.

2023 U.S. Trials: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

Newly minted American record holder Gretchen Walsh takes on the 100 fly/50 back double on the third night of finals at 2023 U.S. Trials.

swimswam.com

After turning first at the 50, Shaine Casas took third in 51.42. And Caeleb Dressel, who drew into this final after Murphy’s scratch, tied for fifth with Gabriel Jett in 51.66. [his world record 2 years ago in Tokyo was 49.45]


This morning Oz time, day 4 finals, Ledecky won but didn't break 4 minutes. Swam a 3.58 6 weeks ago to be 3rd fastest this year behind McIntosh of and Titmus.

Men's 400m winner David Johnson did a 3.45.75, which is over 3 seconds slower than Sam Short did in April to set the best time this year, and over 2 seconds slower than Short and Winngton both did at trials two weeks ago. Olympic bronze medalist Kieran Smith finished 2nd with a 3.46.11.

2023 U.S. Trials: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

Cal's Ryan Murphy and Destin Lasco look to follow up their sweep of the 200 back with a 1-2 finish in the 100 back on Night 4 of U.S. Trials.

swimswam.com

Katie Ledecky wasn’t that thrilled with the time, saying post-race that she “didn’t feel like she got into her rhythm right from the start.” It seems that after her 800 free, which was her fastest time since 2016, she wanted to be faster tonight. However, she was in rhythm enough to win the women’s 400 freestyle by almost three seconds in 4:00.88.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Last night I was searching to find if I could watch the athletics world champs in Budapest starting mid August on Kayo or elsewhere, and found that SBS are going to do the coverage again, but unlike last year, it wont all be on SBS on demand but will show some of the live stuff on SBS Viceland. They only made the announcement on Thursday.

Think its because most the finals will be on between 2am and 6am EST so that wont interfere with their normal scheduling like Eugene did when the finals being on between about 10am and 2pm EST.

Or it might be the Les Murray effect and SBS are paying homage to the great man, because the championships are taking place in his birth country. In below's link it has the Oz times, dates and events in that session.

How to watch 2025 World Athletics Championships LIVE on SBS

The 2025 World Athletics Championships will take place in Japan this September and you can watch all the action LIVE on SBS.

www.sbs.com.au

This year marks the first time the World Athletics Championships will have taken place in Hungary, where athletes will compete at Budapest's newly opened sports and leisure park, the National Athletics Centre.

Beginning on Saturday, August 19, every session from the nine-day event will be broadcast live on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.

You can also look forward to free access of each day's replays and extended highlights on SBS On Demand.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

All these new stadiums are starting to look similar. The outside of Budapest National Athletics Centre looks a bit like the meccano set look of the London Olympic stadium before redevelopment and the roof after redevelopment, and inside it looks like Perth Stadium with a track inside it, rather than a footy oval.

 

[AdelaideGT]

SBS are paying homage to the great man,`````````````

LMAO - I remember the 'great man' interviewing Melinda Gainsford-Taylor in about 2001 and asking 'have you ever run against Cathy Freeman?'

Ummm dude - they have competed against each other in almost every race for like the last 12 years....

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Caeleb Dressel didn't make US team. In his last of 4 individual events he finished 22nd in the 50m freestyle heats and didn't bother swimming the C final. Best result was 3rd in 50m Butterfly but it was 1.00 seconds off his PB and

Ledeckey finished second in the 200m earlier in the meet and qualified to swim that, but has pulled out of the event to concentrate on her other 3 events but will swim the 4x200m relay. 3rd placed Bella Sims did a qualifying time and replaces her.



After a year of silence, 7x Olympic champion Caeleb Dressel spoke to the press at his second swim meet since the 2022 World Championships. Although he didn’t share his reason for departing early from Budapest last summer, Dressel was candid about the fact that he needed time away and took it.

He said he was conflicted by his performances in Indianapolis, on the one hand not being thrilled to be so far away from his personal bests, but on the other hand proud of his results for where he was at and the year he has had.

 

[AdelaideGT]

Pole Vaulter Kurtis Marschall had a great victory in France overnight and setting a new PB of 5.95m. He had three attempts at 6m and two of them weren't so bad. It was a great win in tricky wind conditions and against top class opposition. In his post-race interview he said he was looking forward to his next competition against Mondo Duplantis in the Diamond League meet next week.

A bunch of other Aussies competing in Belgium tonight and a dozen or so Aussies (including Deng, Bol and Myers) entered in a French middle-distance meet too.

 

[AdelaideGT]

Massive runs in France by our middle-distance boys.

Jo Deng wins the 800m in 1-43.99 breaking Peter Bol's national record.

And Bol runs a big PB in the 1500m ahead of teenager Cameron Myers who breaks his Australian U20 & U18 records yet again.

Feel sorry for some of our 1500m boys who will miss out on running at World Champs cos of the current depth we have.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Massive runs in France by our middle-distance boys.

Jo Deng wins the 800m in 1-43.99 breaking Peter Bol's national record.

And Bol runs a big PB in the 1500m ahead of teenager Cameron Myers who breaks his Australian U20 & U18 records yet again.

Feel sorry for some of our 1500m boys who will miss out on running at World Champs cos of the current depth we have.

Geez I hope Meyers continues his natural progression. Could be anything by the time he is 25 or a bit older.

Well done to Jo Deng. Injury has plagued him the last 2 or 3 years to get the chance to go to the big international meets. If he is injury free, he can start pushing for medals.

 

[dantm]

World Swimming Champs starting this week.
Both Australia and USA look strong.

Australian hopes
MENS
50m Free
Cam McEvoy is back at no1 in the world swimming 21.2 at the trials
Huge gold medal chance especially if he repeats that 21.2

100m Free
Kyle Chalmers is the fittest he has ever been.Could be tough depending on the form of Popovici but if hes slightly off,Kyle would win this at around 47.0

200m Free
No real Australian chances here

400m Free
Sam Short fastest in the world this year and we cannot ignore Elijah Winnington who is the current World Champ
3.41 will win it and I think Elijah will step up again.

800m Free
Sam Short certianly a medal hope and could surprise for the win

1500m Free- Outside chance for a medal

50/100 Breastroke -no one
200m Breastroke - Zac Stubbty Cook
Current WR holder
Leon Merchand not swimming means Zac swims close to his PB and he wins.

50/100/200 Backstroke - No one
50/100/200 Butterfly - Ditto
200/400 IM- No one but watchout for Leon Merchand from France who could push a few of Phelps long standing records

4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
While not favourites,any team that has Kyle Chalmers at anchor needs to be feared.
Add in upcoming youngster Flynn Southam who swam 47.7 at the recent trials
Will a renewed Cam McEvoy swim the relay?
Australia could shock and win this.

4x200m free
Britain vs USA

4 x 100m medley
USA by a long way,maybe we can sneak in silver with King Kyle coming from 5th to 2nd!

Overall- 4-5 Gold chances for the men.

 

[dantm]

WOMENS
50m Free
Jack and McKeon to push for minor placings but its WR holder Sarah Sjostrum of Sweden to lose

100mFree
Im assuming Mollie O Callaghan (MOC)is fit after she tweaked her knee a few weeks ago
If fit,she will win this and retain her World title in 52 low
Emma Mckeon to fight off Haughey for Silver for an Australian 1-2

200mFree
Once again,,MOC wins in 1.53.5,followed Titmus with Mcintosh from Canada in 3rd

400mFree
McIntosh (CAN) in 3.55 WR to edge out Titmus with Ledecky 3rd in the race of the meet.

800m Free
Ledecky easily with Titmus send

1500m Free
Ledecky again and maybe Lani Pallister for a medal?

50m Backstroke
Kaylee McKeown for a minor medal

100m Backstroke
WR holder Kaylee McKeown defeats Regan Smith of the USA again in a WR time of 57.40
MOC gets the bronze

200m Backstroke
WR Holder Kaylee again in a new WR time of 2.02.9

50/100/200 Breastroke
Unfortunately not much positive here for Australia

50 Butterfly
Nothing

100m Butterfy
Emma McKeon is always tough in this event.Not sure she is at peak form to win it,but will challenge fot the minor medals

200m Butterfly
Summer McIntosh,Regan Smith and the Chinese will dominate this.
Liz Dekkers of Australia a great chance for a medal

200m IM
McIntosh now pulled out of this event leaves it very open
Kaylee McKeown is a huge chance to now win this as long as she also doesnt pull the event.

400m IM
Summer McIntosh by how much?

4 x100m Freestyle
Despite the USA improvement,Australia to continue their decade dominance of this event.

4 x 200m Freestyle
Australia favourites on paper and are current WR holders
Unfortunately we seem to be inconsistent but we should win

4 x 100 medley relay
USA should win as Australia lacks a breastroker.
Maybe Kaylee to do Breastroke,MOC on back,Emma on fly and Shayna to bring it home?

MIXED
4 x 100m Freestyle
Australia by how much!

4 x 100 medley
USA should win.

Another 6-7 Gold chances for the Women,plus an additional 1 for the Mixed relay

 

[AdelaideGT]

Wimbledon? ummmm yawn

Forget than annoying Djokovic. Why not watch some of the world's greatest athletes?



Australia's best competing including World Champion Eleanor Patterson (returning from injury), Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers, in-form Pole Vaulter Kurt Marschall, double World Champ Kelsey-Lee Barber, record-breaking teen phenom Cam Myers.

Ever heard of Ryan Crouser? Fred Kerley? Jakob Ingebritsen? They are all starring tonight. Plus many MANY more!

Forget about work tomorrow - you KNOW you gotta watch!

 

[AdelaideGT]

Even before the live-stream starts (now) Nicola Olyslagers takes 2nd in the High Jump on countback and Linden Hall smashes the Australian Record with 3-57 in the 1500m.

 

[AdelaideGT]

Fantastic meet for the Aussies. A bunch of places including Area Records, World Junior Records and a heap of PBs for our mob. Plus stuff from other great athletes.

Stream above should be playable even though meet has now ended.

 

[Cleavy]

Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games to be scrapped apparently. news conference to come...

 

[Stottzy]

Wow

Commonwealth Games bodies slam Victorian government's decision to walk away from hosting duties — as it happened

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirms the state will no longer host the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to cost blowouts. Look back on our coverage as it unfolded.

www.abc.net.au

 

[PoopingHindi]

disappointing but not all that surprising.
the Comm Games as an event is on it’s last legs.

 

[Stottzy]

disappointing but not all that surprising.
the Comm Games as an event is on it’s last legs.

Don't really agree with this. The last 2, Birmingham and the Gold Coast had successfull games. Birmingham was the most attended Comm games in UK's history. However the cost apparently for this Games was gonna be 6 billion. They would have been better off just having it in Geelong.

 

[dantm]

What an absolute disgrace!
Despite whether this event is worth it or not, this is something expected from a 3rd World nation.
If you cannot finance the event,DO NOT BID!

Sporting organizations around the world will see this and be very cautious about any future Australian bid for any sporting event, especially anything coming from Victoria.

Dan Andrews has now let the Comm games committee hung out to dry.
This government is beyond a joke.

 

[PoopingHindi]

Don't really agree with this. The last 2, Birmingham and the Gold Coast had successfull games. Birmingham was the most attended Comm games in UK's history. However the cost apparently for this Games was gonna be 6 billion. They would have been better off just having it in Geelong.

Interest outside of Australia and the UK is low.

and there are too few countries with the finances and infrastructure to host.

 

[Cleavy]

What an absolute disgrace!
Despite whether this event is worth it or not, this is something expected from a 3rd World nation.
If you cannot finance the event,DO NOT BID!

Sporting organizations around the world will see this and be very cautious about any future Australian bid for any sporting event, especially anything coming from Victoria.

Dan Andrews has now let the Comm games committee hung out to dry.
This government is beyond a joke.

Vic State Govt can't finance anything within budget anyway, so what's another $7b?

 

[dantm]

I think we all agree,that a regional Comm Games was stupid anyway.
It was a political move by Andrews to get support from Regional Victoria.
Melbourne is perfectly capable with venues in place to host.

Disgraceful from Andrews!