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Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Saskatoon swimmer breaks Canadian records at world championships in Singapore
A Saskatoon swimmer who competed at the world championships in Singapore over the weekend earned a place in the Canadian history books. Blake Tierney broke three individual Canadian records — setting a new bar in the 200-metre backstroke, breaking that same record in the next race, and then recording the fastest Canadian 100-metre backstroke split as part of the 4x100-metre medley relay team — and two team Canadian records as part of the 4x100 medley team. Tierney said he likes being the underdog in these competitions, because there's not a lot to lose. "I had some goals going into the meet, I hit some of them and I didn't hit all of them," he said. "I'm always striving for more. But walking away with three Canadian individuals and then two relays, I think it was a really good meet and a really good improvement for myself." Tierney went on to finish fourth in the 200-metre backstroke final, well surpassing his goal of making the semifinal. "That was my goal going in," he said. "Then, I dropped like one and a half seconds on my best time and the Canadian record, so coming away from that, I was kind of blown away." He went into the semifinal as the top seed, a new experience for him. "I was kind of just going in with the same attitude of, 'OK, let's just go make this final, let's see what we can do,'" he said. "I would have loved to get a medal, but you can't have everything." He said he learned from the experience. "Seeing what it has takes, and reminding myself about that moving that forward, I think that'll help me hopefully get [a podium] in the future," he said. He also learned that the sky is the limit. "Records are made to be broken," he said. "Don't try to limit yourself based on what other people have done. Just kind of always try to improve. Not to prove, just improve." Blake's father Pete said he's very proud of his son's accomplishments. "We're kind of floating and it's surreal, but we're just super happy for Blake," he said. "All that hard work and training has really paid off for him." Pete said Blake's performance was extra impressive given that he came into the meet ranked 22nd out of 40 swimmers from around the world. "That was just unbelievable," he said.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou opens up on recent split with Naomi Osaka
Just over a week ago, before the start of the Canadian Open, it was announced Naomi Osaka split with tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou, ending their 10-month partnership. Now, the four-time grand slam champion is making a run on the hard courts in the weeks leading up to the US Open. Someone rooting for her success: Mouratoglou. 'She's doing well for the moment in Montreal. Let's hope she's going to go all the way,' Mouratoglou said in an interview with CNN Sports on Tuesday. 'I think her level of tennis is here. 'Physically, she is ready, and she's a great competitor, she's a great at some point, it's going to work out. I have no doubt about it.' Osaka, currently ranked No. 49, is having her best run of the season, and it's coming on Canadian soil – and on the type of surface where she's had her best results of her career. In Montreal, she'll take on Elina Svitolina on Tuesday night for a spot in the semifinals. 'I'm just trying to rack up hard court wins,' Osaka said Sunday, after advancing to the quarterfinals. 'I think I'm pretty confident with my base right now.' Osaka is seeking her first WTA Tour title since she hoisted the Australian Open trophy in 2021. Results of the partnership with Osaka and Mouratoglou were mixed, which included injuries and uneven results. Osaka won her first title since becoming a mother in May, in a lower-tier WTA 125 event in France. In January, she reached her first WTA Tour final since returning from maternity leave, but she was forced to retire mid-match because of an abdominal injury. Her best results at grand slams so far this year are reaching the round of 32 at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Mouratoglou, known for his great success coaching Serena Williams, discussed the split with Osaka and her subsequent run in Montreal with CNN. 'The thing that was missing was the competitiveness,' Mouratoglou said of Osaka on when the pair were working together. 'I think she's a great competitor, but at that time she was not as good as a competitor as I think can be and she has been in the past. And this is the thing that we didn't solve. 'I wish we could have more time to solve it. But we didn't, that's life, and I have no regrets on that because that's the rule when you work in high level. 'I mean, time is important, and you have to solve the problems fast. So I think that was the key that was missing. 'And when we stopped, I said to her, 'I mean, I think you're ready. If you find the person that will help you get back your efficiency during the matches, I think you're ready to do great results right now, and I hope it's going to happen very soon.'' Mouratoglou released a book in the spring called 'Champion Mindset,' which focuses on the mental approach to the game and life. He was asked by CNN if he would describe himself as a tennis coach or a mental coach. 'The mental is a huge part of that sport, probably the most important part,' Mouratoglou said to CNN. 'So I think it's important that the coaches are able to also help the players on that aspect of the game. 'Am I a mental coach? I hope I'm not only a mental coach because, you know what, when you are a coach, as tennis is so complex, there is a huge technical aspect – a huge mental aspect, and the physical is extremely important. 'So every player will bring you different problematics that you have to solve; otherwise they would be No. 1 already. If they're not, it means on the way from where they are to No. 1, you will have to solve things and help them solve them. 'So my goal is to have the tools to solve any kind of, do I think I'm maybe better on the on the mental side? I think so, but I hope I'm good enough on the other ones too.' After the split with Mouratoglou, Osaka started working with Polish tennis coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, known for his success with Iga Swiatek. In that three-year partnership, Swiatek won four major titles. Wiktorowski also coached another former Polish tennis star in Agnieszka Radwanska. Osaka told reporters Sunday she is enjoying working with Wiktorowski. 'I enjoy his coaching style,' she said Sunday. 'He's very direct and to the point. For someone like me, who my thoughts scatter around often, it's very helpful.' On how she currently measures success, Osaka still is eying the majors, saying: 'I talked to my dad, and he said, 'Just being healthy and happy is a form of success.' I agree with that, but I want more. 'I mean, definitely of course I would want to win slams, of course I would want to be in the top 10, but I think I need to pace myself and go for the mini goals, and they'll eventually turn into the big goals. 'I think being in the quarterfinals here is a step to hopefully getting to the semis and the finals, so I'll try to treat it more like that.'
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
NCAA: No expansion of basketball tournaments beyond 68 teams this season, talks ongoing about 2027
The NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments will not expand beyond 68 teams in 2026, but future growth remains on the radar. 'Expanding the tournament fields is no longer being contemplated for the 2026 men's and women's basketball championships,' Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball, said in a statement on Monday. 'However, the committees will continue conversations on whether to recommend expanding to 72 or 76 teams in advance of the 2027 championships.' NCAA President Charlie Baker has said adding teams could add value to the tournament, and he said the NCAA already has had 'good conversations' with TV partners CBS and Warner Bros., whose deal runs through 2032 at the cost of around $1.1 billion a year. The NCAA Tournament expanded from 64 to 68 teams in 2011. The change introduced the First Four round, a set of pre-tournament games in which the four lowest-seeded at-large teams and four lowest-seeded conference champions compete for spots in the traditional 64-team bracket. Baker indicated in May that the current formula has flaws and said it would be beneficial to give more opportunities to worthy teams. 'If you have a tournament that's got 64 or 68 teams in it, you're going to have a bunch of teams that are probably among what most people would consider to be the best 68 or 70 teams in the country that aren't going to make the tournament, period,' Baker said then. 'The point behind going from 68 to 72 or 76 is to basically give some of those schools that were probably among the 72, 76, 68, 64 best teams in the country a way into the tournament.' Coaches have expressed different opinions about an expanded bracket. Tom Izzo, Nate Oats and Dan Hurley have indicated they like the field at 68 but Texas coach Sean Miller told CBS Sports he wouldn't mind expansion. 'Never before has the tournament felt more even, with few exceptions,' Miller said. 'On any given night in a 40-minute game, it's just amazing what can happen. I think adding depth to that will only make what's already good even better.' SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said the league backs expansion 'but you just don't jump into it.' 'So, if there are reasons from a broadcast point, a financial point, logistics point or competitive realities that don't support expansion, again, we're going to be fine,' he said at SEC football media days last month.' But I think this is the right direction to at least explore.' Kansas coach Bill Self said fellow Big 12 coaches seem to favor an NCAA tourney expansion. The Big 12 had seven bids in 2025, half the total of the SEC. 'There was a little bit that was brought forth and the consensus among the coaches, even though it was very little, would be in favor of that,' he said earlier this year. 'I don't know if you could make it where it was totally equitable all the way across the board for everybody.' ___ AP college basketball: and
