Olympics – Winnipeg Free Press

Faith Kipyegon, of Kenya leads 1500m Women Final, during the Kenya track and field Paris 2024 Olympics trials, at the Nyayo National Stadium Nairobi, Kenya Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Kenyan teenage sensation Wanyonyi becomes third-fastest man in 800m as he qualifies for Olympics

Tom Odula, The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:38 AM CDT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan teenager Emmanuel Wanyonyi ran the fastest 800 meters since 2012 and his time of 1:41.70 on Saturday makes him the third-fastest man ever in the event.

The 2023 world silver medalist's dominant performance at the Kenyan athletics Olympic trials qualified him for the Paris Games.

Only world record holder David Rudisha — Kenya’s two-time Olympic and world champion — and Denmark’s Wilson Kipketer have run faster times.

The 19-year-old Wanyonyi almost failed to qualify for the finals after he was tripped and fell during Friday’s semifinals, where he finished sixth.

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Katie Ledecky heading to her fourth Olympics, wins 400 freestyle at US swimming trials

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Katie Ledecky heading to her fourth Olympics, wins 400 freestyle at US swimming trials

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:48 PM CDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Katie Ledecky is heading to her fourth Olympics, an accomplishment that seemed unimaginable when she was a 15-year-old kid in London.

These days, it wouldn't seem like a Summer Games without her.

As steady as ever, Ledecky cruised to victory in the 400-meter freestyle at the U.S. swimming trials on Saturday night.

She makes qualifying for the Olympics look so much easier than it is. Ledecky became just the ninth U.S. swimmer to qualify at least four times for the sport's grandest stage.

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:48 PM CDT

Katie Ledecky swims during the Women's 400 freestyle preliminaries Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Gretchen Walsh sets a world record in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic trials

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Gretchen Walsh sets a world record in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic trials

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:44 PM CDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gretchen Walsh set a world record in the women's 100-meter butterfly Saturday night, posting a time of 55.18 seconds in a semifinal heat at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.

Walsh was more than a half-second under world-record pace at the turn and held on to eclipse the mark of 55.48 set by Sweden's Sarah Sjöström at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“I definitely was feeling it," said Walsh, who considers herself a stronger swimmer in the short-course pool. “I thought I was dying. I didn’t know I was going that fast and, apparently, I took it out too fast.”

Not to worry. Walsh held her left hand over her mouth as she looked at the scoreboard in disbelief, a “WR” beside her name.

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:44 PM CDT

Gretchen Walsh reacts to her world record in her Women's 100 butterfly semifinals heat Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapoils. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Katie Ledecky off to a strong start at US Olympic swimming trials, leads prelims of 400 free

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Katie Ledecky off to a strong start at US Olympic swimming trials, leads prelims of 400 free

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:42 PM CDT

Katie Ledecky got off to a rousing start Saturday at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.

Competing in the home stadium of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, Ledecky blew away the field in the preliminaries of the 400-meter freestyle, touching the wall with a time of 3 minutes, 59.99 seconds.

Ledecky finished nearly five seconds ahead of Paige Madden, who was next fastest at 4:04.83. The top eight advanced to the evening final, with Ledecky an overwhelming favorite to claim a spot on her fourth Olympic team.

The 400 was the first of four freestyle events that Ledecky is set to swim in Indianapolis, where the trials are being held in one end of massive Lucas Oil Stadium. The domed facility can hold up to 32,000 fans per session, though it wasn't close to that figure for the opening morning of the nine-day trials.

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Updated: Yesterday at 12:42 PM CDT

Katie Ledecky swims during the Women's 400 freestyle preliminaries Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapoils. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Shackells celebrate strong starts for brother, sister duo at U.S. Olympic swimming trials

Michael Marot, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Shackells celebrate strong starts for brother, sister duo at U.S. Olympic swimming trials

Michael Marot, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:16 PM CDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Aaron Shackell celebrated his Olympic dream by throwing his goggles and swim cap to the ground Saturday night.

Alex Shackell fully anticipated the move as she watched her brother competing from the warm-up pool just a short walk away. Their proud parents, meanwhile, were part of a record-breaking indoor swim meet crowd, taking it all in.

For the Shackells, Father's Day weekend and the first day of the U.S. Olympic trials started perfectly.

Aaron Shackell became the first American to qualify for the Paris Games by winning his race with a time of 3 minutes, 45.46 seconds — just minutes after his sister qualified for the women's 100 butterfly final on Sunday night.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:16 PM CDT

Aaron Shackell reacts after winning the Men's 400 freestyle finals heat Saturday, June 15, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Aussie swimmers Cameron McEvoy, Bronte Campbell reach 4th Olympics, singer Cody Simpson misses out

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Aussie swimmers Cameron McEvoy, Bronte Campbell reach 4th Olympics, singer Cody Simpson misses out

The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 7:49 AM CDT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Olympic Committee has selected a 41-member swim team to represent Australia in the pool at the Paris Olympics, including Cameron McEvoy and Bronte Campbell, who will compete at their fourth games.

The team announced Saturday at the conclusion of the Olympic trials in Brisbane also features three athletes representing Australia at their third Olympics, 13 returning for their second games and 23 making their Olympic debuts.

The team includes Ariarne Titmus, who set a world record in the 200-meter freestyle on Wednesday at the Olympic trials.

But Cate Campbell’s Olympic career is over. The four-time gold medalist failed in her bid to become the first Australian to swim at five Olympics.

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Yesterday at 7:49 AM CDT

Ariarne Titmus reacts after winning the final of the Women's 200m Freestyle during the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre in Brisbane, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Titmus set a world record in the women’s 200-meter freestyle on Wednesday at Australia’s Olympic swimming trials on Wednesday.(Jono Searle/AAP Image via AP)

IOC gives 14 Russians, 11 Belarusians neutral status for Paris Olympics in first round of decisions

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

IOC gives 14 Russians, 11 Belarusians neutral status for Paris Olympics in first round of decisions

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 6:42 AM CDT

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - The IOC approved 14 athletes from Russia and 11 Belarusians with neutral status to compete at the Paris Olympics in a first list from some sports published Saturday.

Five sports — though not tennis, swimming or judo — were assessed by an International Olympic Committee panel judging if athletes had expressed support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine or had ties to sports clubs linked to the military or state security services.

Cycling, gymnastics, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling were assessed first and lists of athletes from other Olympic sports are likely to follow within days.

Athletes approved Saturday include the defending Olympic champion in men’s trampoline, Ivan Litvinovich from Belarus, and Russian cyclist Aleksandr Vlasov, who has three career top-10 finishes in Grand Tours.

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Updated: Yesterday at 6:42 AM CDT

The Olympic rings are seen on the Eiffel Tower Friday, June 7, 2024, in Paris. The Paris Olympics organizers mounted the rings on the Eiffel Tower on Friday as the French capital marks 50 days until the start of the Summer Games. The 95-foot-long and 43-foot-high structure of five rings, made entirely of recycled French steel, will be displayed on the south side of the 135-year-old historic landmark in central Paris, overlooking the Seine River. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

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The IOC approves 14 athletes from Russia and 11 Belarusians with neutral status for Paris Olympics

The Associated Press 1 minute read Yesterday at 5:37 AM CDT

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC approves 14 athletes from Russia and 11 Belarusians with neutral status for Paris Olympics.

Unsafe levels of E. coli found in Paris’ Seine River less than 2 months before Olympics

Tom Nouvian, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Unsafe levels of E. coli found in Paris’ Seine River less than 2 months before Olympics

Tom Nouvian, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:02 AM CDT

PARIS (AP) — Water in the Seine River had unsafe elevated levels of E. coli less than two months before swimming competitions are scheduled to take place in it during the Paris Olympics, according to test results published Friday.

Contamination levels in the first eight days of June, after persistent heavy rain in Paris, showed bacteria such as E. coli and enterococci beyond limits judged safe for athletes.

The report was published by monitoring group Eau de Paris one day after a senior International Olympic Committee executive said there were “no reasons to doubt” races will go ahead as scheduled in a historic downtown stretch of the Seine near the Eiffel Tower.

The first Olympic event in the cleaned-up Seine is men’s triathlon, including a 1.5-kilometer (under 1 mile) swim, on the morning of July 30. The women’s triathlon is the next day and a mixed relay event is on Aug. 5.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:02 AM CDT

FILE - The Alexander III bridge, center, is visible July 11, 2023, in Paris. In 2024. Water in the Seine River had unsafe elevated levels of E. coli less than two months before it is due to stage swimming events at the Paris Olympics, according to test results published Friday, June 14. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla, File)

U.S. Olympic trials feels like Super Bowl of swimming at home of NFL Colts

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

U.S. Olympic trials feels like Super Bowl of swimming at home of NFL Colts

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 14, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The U.S. Olympic swimming trials will make a splash on their grandest stage yet — a temporary pool inside the massive domed stadium that is home to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.

The powerhouse American team will be determined over the nine-day, prime-time competition, which starts Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium with the spotlight on Katie Ledecky and her quest for a fourth trip to the Summer Games.

As usual, there are plenty of compelling storylines at a meet that many swimmers find more nerve-wracking than the actual Olympics. And the massive venue only adds to the feeling that this is the Super Bowl of swimming.

“I'm excited. It's going to be different, for sure," said Jack Aikins, a University of Virginia swimmer who will be attempting to make the team in the backstroke.

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Friday, Jun. 14, 2024

FILE - Katie Ledecky swims on her way to winning the women's 800-meter freestyle at the U.S. nationals swim meet in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

Esports Olympics set to launch after IOC presents proposal for video games project

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Esports Olympics set to launch after IOC presents proposal for video games project

The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Jun. 14, 2024

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The first Olympic Esports Games are set to be added soon to the IOC’s portfolio of events as it seeks to attract and retain young audiences.

The International Olympic Committee said Friday it will ask members to approve a proposal to create a video game Olympics when they meet next month in Paris on the eve of the Summer Games.

The Olympic body said it was in “advanced discussions with a potential host” that should be announced soon after the July 23-24 meeting in Paris.

“The IOC is taking a major step forward in keeping up with the pace of the digital revolution,” its president Thomas Bach said in an online briefing.

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Friday, Jun. 14, 2024

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner to play singles and doubles for Italy at the Paris Olympics

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner to play singles and doubles for Italy at the Paris Olympics

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Jun. 14, 2024

ROME (AP) — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner will compete in both singles and doubles at the Paris Olympics, the Italian tennis federation said Friday.

This will be the first Summer Games for the 22-year-old Sinner, who reached the top spot in the men’s rankings this week following his run to the semifinals of the French Open, where he lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner won the Australian Open in January, his first Grand Slam title. He is 33-3 in 2024 with three titles.

Sinner will team up with Lorenzo Musetti in doubles for Italy, the federation said.

Jasmine Paolini, who lost the women's French Open final last weekend, will also play for Italy.

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Friday, Jun. 14, 2024

FILE - Jannik Sinner of Italy holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup aloft after defeating Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Sinner made his debut at No. 1 in the ATP rankings on Monday, June 10, moving up one spot to replace the injured Novak Djokovic. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File)

Spain Olympic men’s soccer team cleared to select two players for Paris who changed national teams

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Spain Olympic men’s soccer team cleared to select two players for Paris who changed national teams

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Jun. 13, 2024

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Spanish team for men's soccer at the Paris Olympics got permission Thursday from the IOC to select two players who previously played for other countries.

Leeds forward Mateo Joseph had played for England at Under-20 level and Juventus defender Dean Huijsen represented Netherlands national youth teams.

Both Spain-born Joseph and Huijsen recently changed eligibility through FIFA to play for Spain at Under-21 level, and those moves are now also recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

Spain won its only Olympic title in men's soccer in 1992, when Pep Guardiola played. Spain took silver in Tokyo three years ago when its squad included current senior players Unai Simón, Pedri and Dani Olmo.

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Thursday, Jun. 13, 2024

A person takes video of Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower Friday, June 7, 2024, in Paris. The Paris Olympics organizers mounted the rings on the Eiffel Tower on Friday as the French capital marks 50 days until the start of the Summer Games. The 95-foot-long and 43-foot-high structure of five rings, made entirely of recycled French steel, will be displayed on the south side of the 135-year-old historic landmark in central Paris, overlooking the Seine River. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Paris Olympics organizers say swimming events still set for the cleaned-up Seine after heavy rains

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Paris Olympics organizers say swimming events still set for the cleaned-up Seine after heavy rains

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Jun. 13, 2024

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Despite the complication of recent heavy rain, swimming in the River Seine is still the plan at the Paris Olympics after a $1.5 billion investment to improve the water quality.

“No reasons to doubt,” International Olympic Committee executive Christophe Dubi said Thursday at an online briefing after hearing from city officials and Summer Games organizers. “We are confident that we will swim in the Seine this summer.”

Marathon swimmers and triathletes are scheduled to plunge into the cleaned-up waters after the Olympics open July 26.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo have promised to take a dip and show their citizens and visiting athletes all is well.

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Thursday, Jun. 13, 2024

FILE - Athletes dive and swim in the Seine River from the Alexander III bridge on the first leg of the women's triathlon test event for the Olympic Games in Paris, Aug. 17, 2023. In 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

Olympic champ Jennifer Valente, Chloe Dygert highlight US track cycling team picked for Paris Games

Dave Skretta, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Olympic champ Jennifer Valente, Chloe Dygert highlight US track cycling team picked for Paris Games

Dave Skretta, The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, Jun. 13, 2024

Jennifer Valente and Chloe Dygert will be busy during the Paris Olympics next month.

The pair of American cyclists highlight the track team that USA Cycling announced for the Summer Games on Thursday, and each will take part in multiple events. Valente will try to defend her title in the omnium while also contesting the Madison and team pursuit, and Dygert will join her on the pursuit squad while also competing in the road race and time trial.

“I’m excited to officially be named to my third Olympic team,” said Valente, who followed her Olympic triumph by winning the past two omnium world titles. "The journey to Paris has been its own unique process with new challenges in this shortened quad. I’m thrilled to be lining up alongside long-standing teammates and some fresh faces.”

Lily Williams will partner with Valente in the Madison and also take part in the pursuit squad, where the three returning riders from the bronze medal-winning squad in Tokyo will be joined by Kristen Faulkner and Olivia Cummins.

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Thursday, Jun. 13, 2024

FILE - Jennifer Valente of Team United States celebrates after winning the track cycling women's omnium points race at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Izu, Japan. Valente upset the favored British team in the multi-discipline omnium on the track in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

New European champion runner for Switzerland invited by IOC to rejoin Olympic refugee team for Paris

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

New European champion runner for Switzerland invited by IOC to rejoin Olympic refugee team for Paris

The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Jun. 13, 2024

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The new European champion in the men’s 10,000 meters, Dominic Lobalu, was invited Thursday by the IOC to run at the Paris Games next month for the Olympic Refugee Team he walked out of in 2019.

If Lobalu chooses to rejoin the team he left five years ago, fueled in part by a dispute over prize money, he could win its first Olympic medal. The official refugee team began competing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Lobalu took 10,000 gold late Wednesday in Rome, adding to his bronze in the 5,000 on Saturday, weeks after World Athletics allowed him to represent Switzerland despite not being a citizen.

“He is currently not a Swiss national, which the Olympic Charter would require,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement Thursday after its executive board declined to approve his eligibility six weeks before the Paris opening ceremony.

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Thursday, Jun. 13, 2024

June 16, 2024

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