The Week That Was- September 2, Disappearing Shoes and Diamonds

Courtesy:  AFP

At the first-ever Diamond League final contested under the new “winner takes all” format, there was even more reason for one runner to finish the race- even with half as many shoes as the rest of the competition.

This year’s track & field season has officially concluded.  Since there are no world championships or Olympics in 2018, the sport’s Super Bowl came this week at the Diamond League finals in Zurich, Switzerland and Brussels, Belgium the next day.

The most-heroic story of the week, if not the entire year, was Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya‘s come-from-behind win in the men’s 3000m steeplechase– nearly seven minutes after losing his left shoe!  He needed every ounce of energy left to win the race by .04.  Even in the final 100 meters, Kipruto was neck-and-neck with Moroccan runner Soufiane Elbakkali.  It probably helps that there were thousands of Swiss fans eager to see the Kenyan finish with an improbable win.

In that same race, American Evan Jager finished third, 3.07 behind shoeless Kipruto.

Other Highlights From Zurich

Men’s 400m–  American and South Plains College alum Fred Kerley is peaking at the right time.  Even though Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas lead for a great portion of the race, he ran out of gas and eventually DNF’d.  Kerley crossed the line at 44.80.

Women’s 400m Hurdles–  Halfway through this race, it became a two-way final between the two leading Americans.  Even though Shamier Little kept a conservative pace early on, she saved enough energy to challenge the 2016 gold medalist Dalilah Muhammed.  However, Dalilah was able to hold-off the Aggie to win by .33 (53.88>54.21).

Men’s 200m–  Remember the name Noah Lyles.  I’m sure come Tokyo 2020, he will be known in many more places around the world.  There’s no doubt he’s currently the world’s best in the men’s 200m.  On Thursday, he won the finals with a time of 19.67, which was also .31 better than the reigning world champion Ramil Guliyev of Turkey.

In addition to changing to an all-or-nothing format on the last week, it was also the first time for the final week to be held in two-different locations.  Even though Diamond League: Brussels didn’t have the same craziness as its Swiss counterparts, it did play host to two more American victories.

Men’s 100m–  Christian Coleman is already running at Olympic speed.  On Friday, he burst out the blocks with the immediate lead, and it only got bigger, as he easily won the men’s 100.  NBC broadcaster Ato Boldin even said Coleman is in a decent position to be the next dominant male sprinter.  Pushing the former Tennessee Volunteer is countryman Ronnie Baker.  The former indoor champion finished runner-up with a time of 9.93.

Women’s 100m Hurdles–  Just like the 400m counterpart, this too was a showdown between the top-two Americans.  2016 gold medalist Brianna Rollins-McNeal crossed the line at 12.61, just .02 better than former world indoor champion Kendra Harrison.

• Farewell to Manu

One of the biggest sports stories around the world (aside from the start of football season) is the retirement of San Antonio Spur Manu Ginóbili.  Yes, it’s big story, but my Olympic Channel app-alert has made it the lead headline almost every day since the announcement was made.  While the shooting guard played an integral role in San Antonio‘s four NBA titles (2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014), he also represented Argentina four times in the Summer Olympics.

On the world’s biggest stage, he also helped La Albiceleste to two Olympic medals, including gold won at Athens 2004.  I remember that specifically, because it was on the same day Argentina won the title in men’s soccer.

• The Flushing Meadows Fashion Show

The usual suspects in tennis (Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova) competing at the 2018 U.S. Open.  Even the tournament mainstays Madison Keys and Kei Nishikori  are still in contention (all this, as of blogging press time).  However, the biggest story has been the controversial battle of the outfits.

After Alizé Cornet of France was given a code-violation earlier this week she reversed her shirt (and briefly exposed her sports bra), 23-time grand slam winner Serena Williams showed up to play in a black tutu.  It came days after her “Black Panther” catsuit was banned from Roland Garros in Paris.

At least for me, the fashion controversies have far-overshadowed the actual sports.

• More Turmoil for USA Gymnastics

Even the drama seen on the tennis courts seems to pale in comparison to what’s been happening this week with USA Gymnastics.  Sarah Hirshland, who is weeks into her job as USOC CEO, is already asking for another change in leadership for the embattled federation.

Mary Lee Tracy‘s run as elite program coordinator only lasted a few days.  It was soon revealed that Tracy supported the disgraced physician Larry Nassar whenever the reports of his years of sexual abuse were made public.  According to this article from the Associated Press, Tracy reached out to future hall-of-famer and spokesperson Aly Raisman without seeking permission from the USAG.

Kerry Perry, who currently presides as president of the USAG, could soon be shown the door as well.  Last November, in the wake of the ongoing scandal, she replaced Steve Penny as president.  However, she has not been very-well received by other gymnasts.  During the national championships in Boston last month, Simone Biles was one of the most-outspoken.  I also recall Perry telling NBC’s Andrea Joyce that she is willing to work with Simone.

• Bolt’s Strikes

Even though he is undoubtedly the best sprinter we have in a generation (if not, all time), Usain Bolt still has a way to go before he reaches the heights of Kylian Mbappé or Luka Modrić, when it comes to success on the soccer pitch.  The eight-time Olympic gold medalist, who now plays for the Central Coast Mariners in Australia entered Friday’s exhibition game with twenty minutes left to play.

Needless to say, Central Coast already lead 6-1, and he had a difficult time connecting with the very few crosses that went his way.  The attendance was also fewer than ten thousand.  According to this article, Usain‘s coach Mike Mulvey also believes he is not-yet fit to play in Australia’s A-League.

• Well done, Indonesia!

Not only are the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta/Palembang, Indonesia finally complete, but fans all over the world can collectively agree the Asiad far-exceeded its expectations.  Now, President Joko Widodo is fully on-board with his nation hosting the Olympic Games in 2032!

Few of the most-memorable Olympians spotted on the Indonesian islands were Chinese Swimmer Sun Yang (who won freestyle gold in the men’s 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m), Singapore swimmer Joseph Schooling (who won gold in the 50m- and 100m butterfly), and Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian (who clocked-in a 9.92 to become the “Fastest Man in Asia”).

One of the best up-and-coming athletes in the world is swimmer Rikako Ikee of Japan.  The Tokyo-native left Jakarta with six golds (women’s 50m free, 100m free, 50m fly, 100m fly, 400m freestyle relay, and 400m medley relay) and two relay silvers (400m mixed and 800 free).  Her haul of eight medals breaks an Asian Games record.  As a result, she was named the Asian Games MVP, becoming the first female recipient since its inception in Bangkok ’98.  The 19-year-old also earned $50,000 from the Olympic Council of Asia.

Last, but not least, is ageless wonder Oksana Chusovitina, who is a 43-year-old gymnast for Uzbekistan, who earned silver in women’s vault, and was just .11 from winning gold.  All those stories are listed in my top ten countdown, which lists all of my favorite moments from Jakarta/Palembang.

The Paralympic Week That Was

Really, there were no major headlines this week coming from the Paralympic world (if so, let me know!).  Wednesday, August 29 marked the six-year anniversary of the London Paralympics– which I still consider to be my favorite sporting event of the decade.

I was just two-and-a-half weeks removed from the London Olympics, which made for a phenomenal 17 days in-and-of itself.  I really didn’t know much about the Paralympic movement before the Summer of 2012.  While visiting with Athens taekwondo silver medalist Nia Abdallah (who was here in Lubbock to promote BMW, official sponsor of the Olympic Games), I was informed about the excitement of the Paras– and how many find them just as engaging as the Olympics.  After the legendary London Games concluded, I thought I’d give it a shot.

In late August  2012, I was able to catch the second half of the opening ceremonies.  With appearances from the late Stephen Hawking, Ian McKellen and a Parade of Nations that really wasn’t much different than the one from the Olympics, I knew I had tuned in to the right event.  I then learned what was more impressive would be watching the athletes compete.

During those 12 days, I learned about the swimmers Jessica Long (who dominated with eight medals, five golds) and Mallory Weggemann (two medals, one gold), and Navy Lt. Bradley Snyder (two golds).  Also present were wheelchair racers Tatyana McFadden (three golds) and Raymond Martin (four golds).  Later on, I would learn about swimmer Victoria Arlen (who has since regained her ability to walk) and discus-thrower Jeremy Campbell (who actually grew up four hours away from me).  On social media, I’ve also been able to connect with archer Jeff Fabry, who won gold in the individual compound- W1.

Great Britian is well-known as the Birthplace of the Paralympic Movement.  During the closing ceremonies, then IPC-head Sir Philip Craven hailed London 2012 as “the Greatest Paralympic Games Ever”.  I have no choice, but to agree.

Working Out With Team USA (2018) Review

I was finally able to catch up with Team USA‘s airing of “Working Out With Team USA” on NBCSN.  I had no idea that A.  It would have so much product placement, and B.  KT Tape was so efficient for the Olympic athletes.

Featured first was beach volleyball duo Sara Hughes & Summer Ross, distance runners Boris Berian and Molly Huddle, as well as 2020 soccer hopeful Rose Lavelle.  All five were showing how well the KT Tape, which is actually short for kinesiology tape, helped them train and treat injuries.  Even on the Web site, we are reminded that injuries are not a matter of if, but when.

Upon watching the 30-min documentary, I also came to realize I was probably a part of the show’s target audience.  There are countless programs made for those of us fans.  Amateur athletes watching at home tune in to “Working Out” and realize if KT Tape works for the Olympic athlete, it can probably do the same for them!