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Skiing standout Marcel Hirscher eyes the Olympic season in return from injury and retirement

Skiing standout Marcel Hirscher eyes the Olympic season in return from injury and retirement

Skiing standout Marcel Hirscher will have a chance to race in the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics after recovering from injury and receiving clearance to compete in the next World Cup season under the new wild card rule.
The record eight-time overall World Cup champion had
his return last season
from five years of retirement cut short when he was injured in December with a torn ACL in his left knee after a fall in training.
'Rehab was going on quite well and now we are back in athletic training. This is super fun, being back a professional athlete again,'
Hirscher said on Instagram
on Wednesday.
'FIS (the International Ski and Snowboard Federation) made a decision that I am allowed to take my 17 starts from last year's season into the upcoming season. So that means I'm ready for another season ski racing. And I think now you can call it a comeback,' Hirscher added.
While the 36-year-old Hirscher competed for Austria in his earlier career, he came back representing the Netherlands. He has an Austrian father and a Dutch mother. That means that if he decides to compete in the Olympics next year, he won't have to qualify for one of the four starting spots that the powerful Austrian team has for each race. Whereas the Netherlands doesn't have any other skiers of Hirscher's caliber.
The wild card rule allows former champions to return to the World Cup without the necessary qualifying points.
Lindsey Vonn
also returned under the wild card rule last season with
a new titanium knee
and plans on competing in the Feb. 6-22 Olympics.
Hirscher only completed one of his three races last season, placing 23rd in the
giant slalom
at Sölden, Austria.
After the injury and ensuing surgery, Hirscher completed 1,000 hours of rehab.
'In the end, two questions remained: What do I want from life? What does life want from me?' Hirscher said. 'Even in difficult moments, my answer never changed: I want to race again.'
Hirscher plans to return to snow training in September.
'At the moment, I'm shifting from the rehabilitation phase into full athlete mode, with more extensive sessions and higher intensity,' Hirscher said. 'Training hard again is bringing me a lot of joy. It's shaping up to be a very athletic summer.'
Hirscher's 67 World Cup wins put him second on the all-time men's list behind only Ingemar Stenmark's 86 victories. He also won two Olympic golds, in combined and giant slalom at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games; plus a silver in slalom at the 2014 Sochi Games.
The World Cup seasons opens in Sölden in October.
Men's skiing at the Milan-Cortina Games will be held in Bormio, while the women's events will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
___
AP skiing:
https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
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Wallace Spearmon Talks About His New Role With USATF, And Shaping The Future Of U.S. Relays
Wallace Spearmon Talks About His New Role With USATF, And Shaping The Future Of U.S. Relays

Forbes

time23 minutes ago

  • Forbes

Wallace Spearmon Talks About His New Role With USATF, And Shaping The Future Of U.S. Relays

US' Courtney Lindsey reacts after competing in the men's 4x100m relay heat of the athletics event at ... More the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP) (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images) Wallace Spearmon has always been interested in the science behind performance. In 2011, less than a year removed from one of his best efforts on the track when he ran 200 meters in 19.79 seconds at the Zurich Diamond League, he was called upon by the television show MythBusters to determine whether a human could walk on water. 'Wallace, how far do you think you're going to get?' the show's host, Jamie Hyneman, said. 'I'm hoping for three steps,' Spearmon replied. The Chicago native sped down the sloped dirt path and proceeded to land directly in the water, ending that experiment's hopes. But 14 years later, maybe Spearmon has some tricks up his sleeve. As the General Manager of International Teams, Athletes, and Coaches Services for USA Track and Field (USATF), he's earned an opportunity to shape the direction of the U.S.'s hopes in the relays and says he intends to lean on data science to help promote future success at the national level. His appointment in February was part of a major restructuring of USATF's High Performance Department, which also saw Robert Chapman become its Chief of High Performance Operations and Tyler Noble as its Lead Sports Science & Data Analyst. In total, the USATF made a swift culture change – while at the same time laying off high-ranking employees, according to a report by LetsRun. In the aftermath of that organizational change, the USATF also moved on from relay coaches Mechelle Freeman, who coached the women's 4x100 team to Olympic gold in 2024 and World Championship wins in 2022 and 2023, and Mike Marsh, who were operating on contracts which ended after the 2024 year. Marsh's men won gold in 2023 at the World Championships, but were disqualified at the Paris Olympics following a head-scratching hand-off in the zone. Daryl Woodson, an assistant during the Paris Olympics, was hired in March to take over as head coach of the division. The American men haven't run faster than 37.40 in the 4x100 since 1992, while the U.S. women hold the world record of 40.82, though that time was last broken in 2012. Spearmon, 40, revealed to me that there's a grand vision in place. 'I'm actually really excited about this,' he said. 'Tyler Noble, he has some programs that can motion-capture stride length, stride frequency, gait – they can almost project injuries. And he's at every relay practice.' An Important Time For Change With USATF EUGENE, OREGON - JULY 06: Athletes compete in the Women's 10,000m Final during the 2023 USATF ... More Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field on July 06, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by) This moment is particularly important for Spearmon, who became a world champion in 2007 as a member of the U.S. men's 4x100 team and reached both the Beijing and London Olympics in the mid aughts. His most gut-wrenching setback, however, came when he was not selected to be a part of the men's 4x100 lineup in 2008. And in fact, failure in the relays has been an ongoing sore subject for Team USA. The American men's 4x100 team has not won gold since 2000, enduring a drought of six straight Olympic cycles. This bothers Spearmon, because the U.S. men have won three Olympic golds at the men's 100 meters since 2000 and won the last four golds at the World Championships. It's not an issue of talent. 'I believe we have the best athletes in the world,' Spearmon said. The most important piece to the puzzle, Spearmon contends, is an overarching, consistent vision of the team's objectives and its strategy. He confirmed to me that flaws in communication were an issue in previous cycles. Prior to Spearmon's appointment, the USATF pivoted from a model of hiring relay coaches who were, more or less, volunteers or contractors, to a more precise and long-term outlook decided upon by USATF. Woodson's hire reflects that vision, he said. What also elevated that strategy was a directive by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which issued a $6.2 million dollar grant to the governing body and advised for a more centralized model of hiring. Florida track coach Mike Holloway, who is on the executive committee of the USATF High Performance Division, told LetsRun that he felt that Freeman and Marsh, who do not coach college or professional athletes, were more akin to 'relay coordinators' than coaches of the program. Spearmon said shoring up communication issues within the relay pool is one of his main priorities. 'As an athlete, if you're given at the beginning of the year a certain direction, you can train for that. You can make sure you're ready for it,' he said. 'But when you don't receive any information until you make the team, that's too late. So we've addressed that by hiring a relay coach who applies consistent concepts from the youth level all the way up to our senior teams.' But this also applies for athletes who aren't ultimately selected for teams. Notably, U.S. 400 meter runner Kendall Ellis expressed frustration in Paris when she was not selected to run in the Olympic final. 'If we win and people are feeling negative about the experience, then that's something I would like to address,' Spearmon said. 'I feel like it's our job to provide you with information. It is not our job to ensure you like that (information), but it is our job to make sure you have it.' Hiring Woodson was the first step, Spearmon said. Next were key hires like Jeremy Wariner, the Olympic 400 meter champion in 2004 and a three-time gold medalist; Kyra Jefferson, a 3-time NCAA champion; and Taylor Washington, an Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400 in Rio in 2016. All three are assistants under Woodson. If not more important are the relationships USATF's new coaches forge with the likes of Lance Baumann, Mike Holloway and Tonja Buford-Bailey—three coaching veterans whose technical acumen lead the likes of Noah Lyles, Grant Holloway and Gabby Thomas, among others. Can a collaborative vision coincide with U.S. success ahead of Los Angeles 2028? Spearmon said he got his first glimpse of his new standard in March at the Texas Relays. The 4x100 foursome of Tamari Davis, Thomas, Jenna Prandini and Anavia Battle ran a time of 41.74, which was four-hundredths of a second faster than the U.S. women's winning time from Paris. 'This is the most prepared we've ever been,' Spearmon said of USATF's relay strategy. 'We have some big goals and I would say we have some big expectations for LA28. I think we'll be able to achieve those.' What's Next For Wallace Spearmon's Vision On The Track With USATF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 26: Noah Lyles of Team United States reacts after winning the Men's ... More 4x100m Relay Final during day eight of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 26, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by) Spearmon will get answers for all of his questions soon enough. And he says his experience will have prepared him for it. From his time as the USATF Athlete Commission's Chair, to his tenure as an Associate Director of Athlete Services, which saw him work through governance and advocacy for athletes, his influence has grown and shaped around the changing dynamics of the sport itself. Spearmon has even coached at the international level, from the under-20 ranks all the way up to the senior team. From 2017-2019, he was an assistant relay coach and in 2021 became the team's lead when Orin Richburg could not attend the Tokyo Olympics, per LetsRun. Identifying objectives and meeting core expectations will be a subject shared between Spearmon and the staff that reports up to him. 'What I felt like as an athlete was completely different then what I felt as a coach,' Spearmon said. 'So in this administration role, I believe it's going to be different then either one of those previous experiences. 'It's my job to make sure that our relay coach operates within a certain scope and does the best job he can do,' he continued.

NFL training camp attendance tracker: Micah Parsons in, Terry McLaurin out amid contract disputes
NFL training camp attendance tracker: Micah Parsons in, Terry McLaurin out amid contract disputes

New York Times

time24 minutes ago

  • New York Times

NFL training camp attendance tracker: Micah Parsons in, Terry McLaurin out amid contract disputes

All 32 NFL teams have officially reported to training camp. It's the time on the calendar when every team is hopeful for the future. But it's also a time when contract disputes and player holdouts reach a boiling point. Here's a list of notable training camp attendance news from around the league: Entering the final year of his contract, Cook has made it known that he's looking for a lucrative contract extension, insinuating early in the offseason that he would like $15 million per season and then skipping voluntary workouts in the spring. However, Cook not only showed up for mandatory minicamp but was a full participant, making it fairly clear that he would be a participant when training camp kicked off. Advertisement That is what transpired, as Cook was a full go with the first team at training camp. The Bills have spoken candidly about the factors they're considering and the hurdles they face in giving Cook the extension he desires. If an extension does materialize, one side will likely have to significantly bend to the other's demands. But regardless if it comes together, it appears that Cook's availability relative to his contract status will not be an issue in Buffalo for now. Hendrickson did not report to training camp this week, as he made obvious Tuesday in an Instagram post with a geotag of Florida, not Paycor Stadium. The veteran defensive end told The Athletic's Dianna Russini he is training in Jacksonville and that he had been presented two offers by the Bengals over the past month, neither of which had the guarantees he's seeking. Hendrickson has been in negotiations with the team throughout the offseason as he seeks an extension with one year and $16 million remaining on the deal he signed in 2023. Stewart, whom the Bengals selected with the 17th pick in April's NFL Draft, also did not report to camp. The rookie has been vocal about his ongoing contract dispute since minicamp. Rumblings of Stewart returning to play for Texas A&M emerged in the past month, but Aggies head coach Mike Elko shut down those rumors. Stewart was just working out in College Station, and the Bengals were aware of it. Stewart is the last remaining unsigned first-round pick. Bengals president Mike Brown called the negotiation drama with Stewart 'silliness' at the club's annual media luncheon. It wasn't long ago that there was a league-wide stalemate for second-round picks from the 2025 NFL Draft to sign their rookie contracts. However, the dominoes fell quickly last week, and almost every player has signed his rookie deal. The only second-rounder — and only rookie draft pick alongside Cincinnati's Stewart — still unsigned is Judkins. Advertisement The former Ohio State standout wasn't on the field when the Browns began training camp, as expected after he was arrested in Florida earlier this month on charges of domestic battery and violence. No timetable has been provided for Judkins to sign his contract or to return to team activities. Parsons reported to camp alongside the rest of his Cowboys teammates, but he remains under the spotlight. The topic of Parsons' pending contract extension dominated Dallas' opening news conference of training camp, with owner and general manager Jerry Jones ruffling feathers by referencing Parsons' 2024 ankle injury. Parsons, who has never shied away from speaking publicly, responded with pointed comments after the team's first training camp practice Tuesday, acknowledging he's discouraged that a deal hasn't been reached. 'I don't take it personally, I just don't understand,' he said. Parsons also said the contract situation isn't his only obstacle. He said he is dealing with back tightness, something he's alluded to previously. 'Some heavy squats,' Parsons said, with a smile. Parsons has been on the field but has mostly been a spectator at practice, holding a dummy during defensive drills. He is entering the fifth-year option season of his rookie contract and is expected to become one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history. Cowboys DE Micah Parsons: 'There's really not much movement' on contract talks. 'I want to be here. At the end of the day, they sign the checks. Let's see if they want me to be here.' 'I'm doing this for myself and my teammates. This isn't for Jerry.' — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 22, 2025 The Broncos have a handful of players who are in conversation to receive extensions. Although nothing has materialized thus far, all four players at the heart of those talks were present and accounted for as Denver got rolling in training camp. Anzalone has yet to practice in training camp as he enters the final year of a three-year contract, which he signed after playing in Detroit on a pair of one-year deals. Anzalone cited a hamstring injury suffered during his conditioning test, but he was clear that he's disappointed with the Lions for letting things get to this point without an extension on the books, and that he feels underpaid. Advertisement The Lions have been one of the NFL's more proactive teams in getting major contract extensions done with their core players. Anzalone has been one of those players, but he turns 31 in September, and 2023 first-round linebacker Jack Campbell will be eligible for an extension next offseason. With several other pending extensions in Detroit, it's possible the Lions don't envision the kind of contract extension that Anzalone is eyeing. Jenkins began training camp on the non-football injury list with a back injury. The veteran offensive lineman missed some voluntary workouts earlier in the offseason and didn't participate during mandatory minicamp, but Packers GM Brian Gutekunst indicated Wednesday that Jenkins will be back on the field once he's healthy. Jenkins, who is signed through 2026, is looking for long-term security. The only part of his contract that was guaranteed was his signing bonus of $24 million. Since then, Jenkins has watched the Packers draft an offensive lineman in the first round in 2024 (Jordan Morgan) and the second round in 2025 (Anthony Belton). The Packers also signed right tackle Zach Tom to a contract extension and doled out a big contract to guard Aaron Banks in free agency, while also asking Jenkins to move to a less lucrative position at center. The flurry of high-profile movements on the offensive line, coupled with the fact that Jenkins is slated to turn 30 in December, exposes him to being a cap cut next offseason. That's a situation Jenkins would like to avoid. The Chargers and Slater have expressed nothing but optimism about getting a deal done. Like Parsons in Dallas, Slater is entering the final year of his contract after the Chargers made the easy decision to pick up his fifth-year option. Slater, one of the better left tackles in the league, is due a hefty extension. Slater has not practiced since Friday. Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman called Slater's initial absence a 'rest day,' while head coach Jim Harbaugh later said Slater is dealing with a 'minor injury.' Slater has been present at training camp practices, working off to the side. The Rams' leading running back reported for camp this week despite ongoing contract negotiations with the club. Williams told reporters Tuesday he planned to practice in full and believed a deal would ultimately get done, while coach Sean McVay said the team would meet with Williams' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, on Wednesday. Williams enters the final year of his rookie contract this season. Advertisement Jennings reported to camp and practiced Wednesday after questions about his trade status with the team. Earlier this month, the 49ers receiver made it clear he wanted a better deal than the one that will pay him $7.5 million this season and signaled he'd request a trade if a deal wasn't consummated. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Jennings has not officially requested a trade. Jennings led 49ers receivers last season with a career-high 77 catches, 975 yards and six touchdowns. He's an important piece of the offense, especially with Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall recovering from injuries. McLaurin did not attend the Commanders' voluntary OTA sessions or mandatory minicamp earlier this offseason as frustrations with his contract negotiations rose. The holdout continued this week as the wide receiver did not report to training camp. The 29-year-old is coming off his best campaign in 2024 as a trusted target for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback Jayden Daniels. He's arguably one of the most underrated receivers in the game, but a resolution with the team he started his NFL career with in 2019 remains unclear. (Photos of Micah Parsons, left, and Terry McLaurin: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images, Nic Antaya / Getty Images)

Kentucky Oaks moves to primetime TV for the first time in 2026
Kentucky Oaks moves to primetime TV for the first time in 2026

Yahoo

time43 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Kentucky Oaks moves to primetime TV for the first time in 2026

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Oaks is shifting to primetime for the 152nd edition of the race for 3-year-old fillies. It will be run at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock on May 1, 2026, Churchill Downs and NBC Sports announced Thursday. The $1.5 million race that is traditionally held the day before the Kentucky Derby has had a post time shortly before 6 p.m. ET for years. Next year will be the first time it's been run as late as 8 p.m., which puts it in twilight in the Eastern Time Zone. 'By moving the Kentucky Oaks to primetime, we're giving one of horse racing's most treasured traditions the national stage it deserves,' said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs. 'This decision is rooted in our commitment to growing the sport, reaching new audiences and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans.' The 152nd Kentucky Derby will air May 2 on NBC and streaming on Peacock. The race typically goes off shortly after 7 p.m. ET. This year's Derby, won by Sovereignty, was the most watched edition since 1989. The audience averaged an NBC record of 17.7 million, peaking at 21.8 million from 7-7:15 p.m. ET during the race. Last year, NBC Sports and Churchill Downs extended their deal to air the Derby through 2032, making the network the longest running home of the race. It first aired on NBC in 2001. ___ AP horse racing:

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