Category: Sports News

Ilia Malinin Wins His First US Men’s Skating Title

SAN JOSE, Calif.—As the cameras flashed in front of the medal-winners in U.S. men’s figure skating, one photographer had a request: “Ilia, for one, look happy.” At that, Ilia Malinin chuckled and obliged with a grin, then quickly returned to the close-lipped smile he’d been wearing since he was crowned a national champion on the…


US Professional Skier Named as 1 Victim of Japan Avalanche

TOKYO—One of two foreign men swept up in an avalanche in Japan while back-country skiing in the central prefecture of Nagano and found without vital signs on Monday was U.S. professional skier Kyle Smaine, an outdoor magazine said. The men were among five foreigners engulfed in Sunday’s avalanche, which took place at about 2:30 p.m….


Fire Still Burning, Djokovic and GOAT Debate Move on to Paris

MELBOURNE—A triumphant Novak Djokovic paraded the Australian Open trophy around the gardens of Melbourne’s Government House on Monday, his 10th title having added another notch in the plus column for those who argue he is the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT). That debate may never be settled but if it is to be decided purely…


Chock and Bates Defend Title, Win 4th US Ice Dance Gold

SAN JOSE, Calif.—Madison Chock and Evan Bates have conceptualized their free dance this season as fire and air—the first cannot survive without the second. And, it’s fitting because the duo has fueled U.S. ice dancing over the past decade. Chock and Bates defended their ice dancing title Saturday at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, scoring…


Damar Hamlin Speaks in First Public Address Since Near-Fatal Cardiac Arrest

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin emotionally thanked a host of people via his first video to the public on Saturday— four weeks after he collapsed during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2. “What happened to me on Monday Night Football I feel is a direct example of God using me as a…


Sabalenka Beats Rybakina for Australian Open Women’s Title

MELBOURNE, Australia—The serves were big. So big. Other shots, too. The points were over quickly. So quickly: Seven of the first 13 were aces. And so it was immediately apparent in the Australian Open women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina that the one who could manage to keep her serve in line, get…


Shiffrin Leads Slalom in Pursuit of 85th World Cup Win

SPINDLERUV MLYN, Czech Republic—American skier Mikaela Shiffrin posted the fastest time in the opening run of a women’s World Cup slalom Saturday, positioning herself for her 85th career victory. If Shiffrin wins the race, she would move within one of the World Cup record of 86 wins set by Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark in the…


Shiffrin Wins Slalom, Moves Within 1 Win of World Cup Record

SPINDLERUV MLYN, Czech Republic—Mikaela Shiffrin celebrated with a shoulder wiggle and a bright smile Saturday after dominating a slalom and moving within one victory of the 34-year-old World Cup record of 86 wins. The American showed no signs of pressure, a day before another slalom in which she could match the best mark set by…


Djokovic Tops Paul; Reaches 10th Australian Open Final

MELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic reached a record-extending 10th Australian Open final on Friday and set up a blockbuster decider with Greek trailblazer Stefanos Tsitsipas and a battle for the world number one ranking. Nine-times champion Djokovic kept his perfect semi-final record at Melbourne Park intact with a 7–5 6–1 6–2 win over outgunned American Tommy Paul at…


Aussie Basketball Team Opts out of Wearing Pride Jersey Due to ‘Barrage of Abuse’

Team members of the Cairns Taipans have decided against wearing a special Pride Round jersey in response to a “barrage of abuse and harmful commentary” targeting individual players. The Australian National Basketball League (NBL) is holding its first Pride Round to celebrate the LGBT community from Jan. 25 to 30, with Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger conceding…