Track Cycling Worlds End
Australia's Rebecca Wiasak led off the World Track Cycling Championships this week, with a win in the women's individual pursuit. Though that particular event is not on the Olympic calendar, the Championships served as Olympic qualifiers for 10 other events, including team pursuit. The United States won a surprise title in that women's event, while Australia did capture the men's. Overall, Great Britain continued its run of cycling success, topping the medal table with nine medals (five gold), ahead of Germany with eight overall. 22 nations won at least one, including Hong Kong, Colombia, Cuba and Mexico alongside other traditional powers such as France and Poland.
China Dominates Table Tennis Again
As expected, China won both the men's and women's team titles at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur, with their 20th wins on both sides. For the women's competition, it was an all-Asian podium for the third straight year, with Japan second and Taiwan and North Korea sharing third. England broke the Asian monopoly on the men's side, winning bronze alongside South Korea and behind the Chinese and Japan in second.
Argentina Wins Americas Rugby Cup
In Americas' answer to the Europeans' Six Nations tournament, the Americas Rugby Championship title went to Argentina this year after a dominating 4-0-1 record. Finishing second was the United States, followed by Canada, Uruguay, Brazil, and Chile. This was the first year of the tournament after a rebranding to expand to six national teams from previous club versions of a tournament.
Australia's Rebecca Wiasak led off the World Track Cycling Championships this week, with a win in the women's individual pursuit. Though that particular event is not on the Olympic calendar, the Championships served as Olympic qualifiers for 10 other events, including team pursuit. The United States won a surprise title in that women's event, while Australia did capture the men's. Overall, Great Britain continued its run of cycling success, topping the medal table with nine medals (five gold), ahead of Germany with eight overall. 22 nations won at least one, including Hong Kong, Colombia, Cuba and Mexico alongside other traditional powers such as France and Poland.
China Dominates Table Tennis Again
As expected, China won both the men's and women's team titles at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur, with their 20th wins on both sides. For the women's competition, it was an all-Asian podium for the third straight year, with Japan second and Taiwan and North Korea sharing third. England broke the Asian monopoly on the men's side, winning bronze alongside South Korea and behind the Chinese and Japan in second.
Argentina Wins Americas Rugby Cup
In Americas' answer to the Europeans' Six Nations tournament, the Americas Rugby Championship title went to Argentina this year after a dominating 4-0-1 record. Finishing second was the United States, followed by Canada, Uruguay, Brazil, and Chile. This was the first year of the tournament after a rebranding to expand to six national teams from previous club versions of a tournament.
Repeat Winners in Allround Speed Skating
Both Dutchman Sven Kramer and Czech Martina Sablikova successfully retained their titles at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships in Berlin this weekend. For Kramer, this was his eighth (!) title since 2007, and cements him as the all-time winningest man in the event, ahead of Finland's Clas Thunberg's seven between 1923 and 1931. Sablikova's title was her fourth since 2009, and she continues to chase Dutchwoman Ireen Wust, who finished second this year, but remains the most decorated active female skater with her own nine title. East Germany's Gund Niemann holds the overall record with ten women's titles between 1991 and 1999.
Ukraine Wins Historic Rio Spot
The Rio Test Event for synchronized swimming this week - as diving's last week - also served as an Olympic qualifier for the sport. And, some new faces emerged for the Rio field. First, France won the race for an Olympic ticket in the duet after finishing third behind already-qualified Spain and Italy. 12 other nations eventually secured their own tickets, including Greece, Austria, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. Then, Ukraine and Japan topped the team event competition to take the first two of the final three available Rio spots, marking the first-ever entry for Ukraine in the team event. When Italy completed the podium to secure their own spot, it meant that neither traditional synchro power Canada nor two-time event medalist Spain would make Rio.
Both Dutchman Sven Kramer and Czech Martina Sablikova successfully retained their titles at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships in Berlin this weekend. For Kramer, this was his eighth (!) title since 2007, and cements him as the all-time winningest man in the event, ahead of Finland's Clas Thunberg's seven between 1923 and 1931. Sablikova's title was her fourth since 2009, and she continues to chase Dutchwoman Ireen Wust, who finished second this year, but remains the most decorated active female skater with her own nine title. East Germany's Gund Niemann holds the overall record with ten women's titles between 1991 and 1999.
Ukraine Wins Historic Rio Spot
The Rio Test Event for synchronized swimming this week - as diving's last week - also served as an Olympic qualifier for the sport. And, some new faces emerged for the Rio field. First, France won the race for an Olympic ticket in the duet after finishing third behind already-qualified Spain and Italy. 12 other nations eventually secured their own tickets, including Greece, Austria, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. Then, Ukraine and Japan topped the team event competition to take the first two of the final three available Rio spots, marking the first-ever entry for Ukraine in the team event. When Italy completed the podium to secure their own spot, it meant that neither traditional synchro power Canada nor two-time event medalist Spain would make Rio.
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