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Athletes Worth Watching 01.25.23

1/25/2023

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Up-and-Coming Olympic Sports Athletes Worth Keeping An Eye On

Artistic swimmer Chris Niehaus now has a real opportunity to target the Olympics, thanks to the IOC.
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Chris Niehaus (Stephanie Breitigam/The Canadian Press))
19-year-old Molly Picklum's recent key surfing win fulfills a 'dream'.
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Molly Picklum (Andrew Shield)

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A Little Roundup 12.29.22

12/29/2022

 

What Have Olympic Sports Stars Been Up To?

Demetrius Lake is the first pro basketball player to compete in Ukraine since the Russian invasion. "I'm a fighter."
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Demetrius Lake (Raul Barrigon))
Team Serbia star Nikola Jokic is showing this season why he's a "generational talent" in basketball.

Meanwhile, Team Slovenia basketball star Luka Doncic needs a beer...and gets one.

Nauris Miezis, Thibaut Vervoort, Stefan Stojacic, and Strahinja Stojacic are the FIBA 3x3 basketball men's 'team of the 2022 season'.

​Get to know 'fan favorite' Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen in a 'charming chat' with Biathlon World.

Jessie Diggins is now 'the most decorated American cross country skier in history'.

Count triathlete Hamadel Ndiaye as one Senegalese athlete irked by recent soccer World Cup bonuses.

Champion swimmer Katie Ledecky is AP's 'Female Athlete of the Year' for 2022.

"Two Olympic gold medalists, coming together." Olympic swimming stars Missy Franklin Johnson And Crissy Perham form an unlikely, life-saving bond.

Champion swimmer Kyle Chalmers' new tattoo artwork leaves some observers' curious.

'A couple fun soundbites' from Caeleb Dressel include candid comments from the champion swimmer...

Captain Fernando Renz acknowledges the 'long journey' it's been for Team Chile to make it to the upcoming men's field hockey world cup.

Freestyle skier Eileen Gu covers the latest Harper's Bazaar Singapore: 'Overcoming doubt and inspiring a whole generation of girls'.

Short track speed skaters and friends Pascal Dion and Steven Dubois spill the 'inside view' on each other.

Ahead of the Christmas break, Team Ireland checked in with luger Elsa Diamond: "This season has brought a lot of new things for me".

Rhys McClenaghan wins 2022's 'BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year'.

Liisa Turmann credits pair Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill for the surge in Team Estonia curling popularity.

Mouthful: Bobsled legend Felix Loch honored as the 'Sparkassenpreis fur Vorbilder im Sport' of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe in Baden-Basden.

'Vanguard' for Team Canada, gymnast Ellie Black answers a few questions from International Gymnast​.

Newly crowned BBC S'ports Personality of the Year' Beth Mead presses for more study of the prevalence of ACL injuries in women's soccer.

Beijing 2008 soccer Olympian Angel Di Maria honors the World Cup trophy with a new tattoo...

Curious about the details behind long track sprinter Randolph Ross' recent suspension?

Ryoyu Kobayashi may have Olympic gold and dreams of a record Word Cup wins, but is finding it tough-going this season so far in ski jumping.

Kimberly Bos has found that her own skeleton success in 2022 has spurred new interest back home in Netherlands with prospective racers.

Artistic swimming pioneers Bill May and Giorgio Minisini applaud a new era of inclusivity in the sport.
​(I never thought I'd see the day...)

Somewhat curiously, road cyclist Wout van Aert has prioritized the world championships in 2023 rather than the Tour de France.

Luke Mittelstadt is a rising junior player with family roots in ice hockey and eyes on an NHL goal.

Different team, no matter as Isabelle Haak wins the Volleyball Women's Club World Championships MVP award for the second year in a row.

Women's tennis number one Iga Swiatek is 'European Sportsperson of the Year' for 2022.

Tennis star Sloane Stephens answers some 'Rapid Fire' questions on business, advice, her charity foundation, and more.

Tennis.com: 'Dominic Thiem's comeback from wrist surgery is gaining momentum heading into 2023'.
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Dominic Thiem (Getty Images)

A Little Roundup 12.22.22

12/22/2022

 

Olympic Sports Stars Making Headlines...

Ukrainian former number 13-ranked Alex Dolgopolov: "Tennis prepared me for war".
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Alex Dolgopolov (Getty Images)
Ukrainian Atlanta 1996 champion Wladimir Klitschko has words on the recent announcement of IBA/WBA easement on Russian boxers.

Boxer Amy Broadhurst is 'Sports Woman of the Year' for The Irish Times in 2022.
​
Tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek headline recognition of the ITF 'world champions' for 2022.

"You are just a number." Tennis legend Boris Becker opens up in detail about his experience in prison.

Snowboarder Zoe Sadowski-Synnott is the first-ever winter sports athlete to win Team New Zealand's Lonsdale Award.

Competition's more enjoyable for Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold, after finding a 'new life-biathlon balance'.

Acknowledging "it's time to evolve", trampolinist Rosannagh MacLennan is focused on MBA studies and her FIG Athlete Commission role.

Team USA water polo stalwarts Maggie Steffens, Maddie Musselman, and Kaleigh Gilchrist had a rare chance to take a backseat as they were 'sidelined' in recent competition.

Can basketball phenom Jean Montero help secure a FIBA World Cup ticket for Dominican Republic?

Dutch superstar and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Vivianne Miedema has her soccer World Cup dreams shattered after a severe knee injury.

How did World Cup soccer hero Lionel Messi win 'over the hearts of all of Argentina'?

Short track speed skater Denis Nikisha has "the best day" with a podium place, and an engagement. (geo-restricted)

Irene Schouten receives a 'Sportswoman of the Year' honor for her speed skating exploits in 2022. (in Dutch)

Beach volleyball cousins Marco and Esteban Grimalt are the 'best of the best' in 2022 according to the Chilean press. (in Spanish)

Nineteen honorees across ten categories at the Spanish Olympic Committee's annual gala included Olympians Saul Craviotto (canoeing), Mireia Belmonte (artistic swimming), Sandra Sanchez (karate), Alberto Gines (sport climbing), Ruth Beitia (track & field), and more. (in Spanish)

Gymnast Sanna Veerman's first world championship fire has her 'revved up' for what could be next. 

Five months after an initial ban, mountain biker Mathias Fluckiger gets a reprieve.

Badminton player Haramara Gaitan enjoys giving back to the sport while juggling a full-time career.

The newly-elected weightlifters for the IWF Athletes' Commission include three Tokyo 2020 champions: Hidilyn Diaz, Fares El-Bakh, and Maude Charron.

Meanwhile, Tokyo 2020 weightlifting champion Neisi Dajomes gets a big honor in Pastaza, Ecuador. (link in Spanish)

Kaylee McKeown now owns a rare slice of swimming history as the first woman to hold four key global titles at the same time.

London 2012 swimmer James Disney-May gets a prison sentence for a horrific domestic crime.

Outsports looks at swimmer Alex di Giorgio's recent landmark appearance on Italy's Dancing with the Stars, as part of an all-gay, out performing couple.

Surfer Kolohe Andino 'still has fire' as he looks to recover from a disappointing 2022 season.

The 'Duel of the Decade'? Team Australia middle-distance runners Ollie Hoare and Stewart McSweyn target each other in Tasmania.

Pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis is Track & Field News' male 'Athlete of the Year' for 2022.

Athletics Weekly asks long sprinter Roger Black some key questions on training, Atlanta 1996, and more.

Runner Eilish McColgan headlines the Women's Sports Alliance's annual award recognitions.

Middle-distance runner Brandon McBride targets a 'more experienced, strategic, and smarter approach' as he looks to rebound from injury into 2023.

Decathlete Niklas Kaul and sprinter Gina Luckenkemper are German 'Sportspeople of the Year' for 2022.
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Niklas Kaul (l) and Gina Luckenkemper (European Athletics)

A Little Roundup 12.19.22

12/19/2022

 

Which Olympic Sports Athletes Have Made Recent News?

Team Ukraine's track 4x100 meters relay squad, amongst others, takes up residency in Cardiff with a hopeful eye to train for Paris 2024.
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Ukrainian athletes and staff in Cardiff
Olympic tennis champion Andy Murray's humanitarian efforts in 2022 have earned more than $630,000 USD toward support for Ukraine...and an Arthur Ashe Award.

​Tennis star Rafael Nadal is an Esquire 'Man of the Year' for 2022. (in Spanish)

Barcelona 1992 tennis gold medalist Boris Becker heads back to Germany after his U.K. prison stint.

Is Lasha Talakhadze now the 'best super heavyweight weightlifter ever'?

Basketball star Brittney Griner is back.

Fellow basketball gold medalist Chris Paul graduates from Winston-Salem State, notably a Historically Black College. (paywall)

Check out a bevvy of fun moments from USA Swimming's Golden Goggles awards' red carpet...

Skipping the short course worlds proves fruitful for swimmer Daniel Wiffen as he sets a European record and starts thinking what's next.

'A world title was the perfect way to wrap up' swimmer - and Tennessee Volunteer Jordan Cook's year.

Landmark swimmer Alice Dearing is refocused on a push toward Paris 2024 after a tough transition to the pool from open water.

Isaac Cooper is victim of a 'rubbish' mishap at the World Swimming Championships (25m).

Veteran Hilary Knight continues to be a source of inspiration and influence for Team USA ice hockey teammates.

Peter Sagan confirms a still 'frosty' relationship with fellow road cycling star Wout van Aert.

Ice dance champions Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue receive the Order of Canada for their 'extraordinary contributions to the nation'.

More Canada: As incoming president, artistic swimmer Claire Carver-Dias headlines new Commonwealth Sport Canada appointees.

Curling in Italy is on a high, not doubt helped by Olympic champion Amos Mosaner's photoshoots.

The 'ever-smiling, talented' Tara Rigney is World Rowing's 'Rower of the Month' for this December.

Team USA's female Nordic combined athletes make their own political statement against the IOC.

Javelin thrower Adriana Vilagos may already have two world U20 wins, but has no plans to leave the age group competition just yet.

More from World Athletics: What's next for Sharon Lokedi after a surprise New York City Marathon win?

Lifetime Achievement: Sprint legend Usain Bolt wins an honor at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Did you know Olympic sprint hurdle champ Jasmine Camacho Quinn was once an aspiring gymnast?

More sprint hurdles...Devon Allen has 'had a blast' with this season in football as he contemplates what the future might hold in track.

Fellow hurdler Trey Cunningham and sprinter Abby Steiner are 2022's Bowerman Award winners of college track & field athletes in the U.S.

Former decathlete Ben Gregory makes recovery progress after his severe summer accident.

Who was the 'most written-about (track & field) athlete' in 2022? Javelin champion Neeraj Chopra...

Marathoner Jessica Stenson and golfer Cameron Smith are the big Australian Institute of Sport winners.

Boxer Ramla Ali speaks with Interview on training, diet, Rocky, marriage, and more.

Whether Tokyo 2020 boxer Andy Cruz left Cuba illegally or not, he's not there anymore as he prepares for a professional debut.

London 2012 boxing champion Katie Taylor headlines RTE Sports' awards as 'Sportsperson of the Year'.

Olympic champion Max Whitlock has confidence in Bristish Gymnastics' response following recent abuse allegations.

Gymnast Jordan Chiles still pursues 'greatness' with persistence as her UCLA college career starts again.
​
Is this the legacy-defining win for soccer superstar - and Beijing 2008 gold medalist - Lionel Messi?
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Lionel Messi (Getty Images)

A Little Roundup 12.12.22

12/12/2022

 

Olympic Sports Athlete Headlines To Start The Week

Yahoo reflects with ice dancers Alexandra Nazarova & Maxim Nikitin on the end of their 'illustrious' career.
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Alexandra Nazarova and Maxim Nikitin
"This is not all I have in my pocket", warns triple gymnastics parallel bars world champion Zou Jingyaun.

Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin reflects on pending milestone victories that should come this season.

Humility is one thing that Alpine skiing star Marco Odermatt tries to emulate from fellow Swiss sports star Roger Federer.

Teenager Jack Yonezuka has learned to appreciate judo's 'solo' nature as he looks to follow his father in the sport.

Pal Golberg used an earlier fall to spur him to victory in the next race, and maintain his early season success in cross-country skiing.

Skip Eve Muirhead and Team Great Britain's curlers headline the Sports Journalists' Awards honorees.

Olympians Jimmy Foster, Henrik Zetterberg, Brian Leetch, and Caroline Ouellette to be amongst the 2023 inductees for the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Star Hidilyn Diaz lends her approval for a proposal to increase crucial funding support for weightifters from more developing nations.

How did retired biathlon star Kaisa Makarainen assess the new season start from her new perspective?

Don't look for Angel McCoughtry to return to Russia for basketball anytime soon...

And in related news, what was basketball-er Brittney Griner like on her flight to freedom?

He may not like short course as much as long, but David Popovici is 'pumped' for the challenge to face strong competition at this week's short course swimming worlds.

Fast Lane Lifestyle: Track stars Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell have a chat on the challenge of mentoring younger athletes, and much more.

More Team Jamaica track legend news as Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce gets a big elementary school honor.

Team India's Olympic association has a new leader, as expected, in hurdling legend P.T. Usha.

Middle-distance runner Pamela Jelimo looks for the silver lining in a delayed medal from London 2012.

Marathoner Mary Ngugi finds inspiration from the students at her landmark athletics club in Kenya.

Ona Carbonell (artistic swimming), Ons Jabeur (tennis), Yulimar Rojas (track & field), and Elnaz Rekabi (sport climbing) are current Olympic sports stars making the 'BBC 100 Women' list for 2022, celebrating 'influential and inspiring women around the world'.

​So there was that one time that Wimbledon security didn't let tennis champion Roger Federer on to the grounds...

How have some of the tennis stars of the WTA tour been spending their time at season's end?

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi claims inspiration at the World Cup from legend Diego Maradona.

The numbers don't lie...Ondine Achampong was Team Great Britain's 'most efficient' women's gymnast for 2021-22.

Flaunt Magazine looks at snowboarder Chloe Kim's 'authenticity and kind heart' in an exclusive interview.

As chef de mission for Team Australia's Paris 2024 squad, track cyclist Anna Meares looks to her experience at London 2012 for perspective.
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Anna Meares (l) (Getty)
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