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Jaide Timm-Garcia, CNN

2020-08-06 09:27:22

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/football/bolsonaro-brazil-foootball-yellow-shirt-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

Jair Bolsonaro: How a yellow jersey is dividing Brazil - CNN

Brazil's bright yellow jersey is a symbol that unites the country through a love of football and national pride, but over the past two years the shirt's adoption by right wing supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, who wear it at protests and rallies to show their political allegiance to the Brazilian president, is causing controversy.

football, Jair Bolsonaro: How a yellow jersey is dividing Brazil - CNN

How a yellow jersey is dividing Brazil

(CNN)Brazil's bright yellow jersey is a symbol that unites the country through a love of football and national pride, but over the past two years the shirt's adoption by right wing supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, who wear it at protests and rallies to show their political allegiance to the Brazilian president, is causing controversy.That famous yellow jersey was burnt into the imagination of a global audience in the 1970 World Cup. Inspired by the spelbinding performances of Pelé -- he wore the number 10 jersey -- the yellow shirt has represented Brazil's success on the pitch and created a positive image worldwide for the past five decades.That 1970 national team also became embroiled in politics, notably ahead of the World Cup in Mexico when General Medici, the president of a nation under military dictatorship, played a key role in the removal of the coach -- Joao Saldanha -- who had overseen a perfect qualification campaign.Fast forward to 2020 and critics of Bolsonaro say the iconic yellow jersey has now become tainted by its close association to the Brazilian president. President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro celebrates with the trophy and the players of Brazil after winning the Copa America final against Peru.Walter Casagrande, a former footballer for the Brazilian national team and the São Paulo club Corinthians, remembers the feeling of scoring a goal while wearing the yellow jersey in his first match with the "selecao" in 1985.Read More"It was a magical thing," Casagrande told CNN Sport, "like an enchanted object that gave me huge emotion." Casagrande's sentiments lie on the left side of the political chasm separating Bolsonaro's supporters and opponents, and he feels an item he cherishes is being misrepresented."Now I consider the Brazilian yellow jersey to have been kidnapped and appropriated by the right wing, so we cannot use it." Casagrande said that for him the power of the yellow shirt used to be that it represented democracy and freedom."Brazil is appearing horribly to the world right now," he said. "It's the first time in my life I'm seeing the yellow jersey being used against democracy and freedom." Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro pray during a motorcade and protest against the National Congress and the Supreme Court over lockdown measures amidst on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in front the National Congress on May 09, 2020 in Brasilia.A demonstrator holds a sign that reads "Go Away Bolsonaro, General elections now!" during a rally against President Jair Bolsonaro and Governor of Rio de Janeiro Wilson Witzel amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at Copacabana beach on June 28, 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.READ: 50 years on, 1970 World Cup-winning team remains Brazil's greatest ever'It's not about politics'As quick as the left is to criticize Bolsonaro, his supporters aren't slow to counter punch.Cosmo Alexandre, a Brazilian fighter who holds multiple world titles for Muay Thai and Kickboxing believes the left is conflating their many issues with Bolsonaro, and using the jersey as just another way to air grievances. As a Bolsonaro supporter, Alexandre brushes off accusations that the jersey's symbolism is being manipulated, and says the reason for supporters to wear a yellow t-shirt is simple: everyone in Brazil has a yellow t-shirt.He points out that supporters don't always wear the Brazilian team jersey specifically, and rallies are full of people wearing yellow t-shirts of all kinds. Alexandre says there is a separation between the jersey's sporting reputation and associations from what it politically represents."Around the world everybody knows about the Brazilian soccer team, so even if I go to a fight and I use the yellow soccer team shirt, everyone knows it's Brazil," he said. "So it's not about politics -- it's just that the world knows about soccer in Brazil."It may be easier for some than others to isolate football and politics in a country where football is God.Josemar de Rezende Jr. is a football fan who co-founded a Bolsonaro volunteer group in his city before the election. He said he's proud of the Brazilian team's global reputation for winning, and to him the yellow jersey "means love for the country, leadership, achievement and pride."Supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro rally against current Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel on May 31, 2020 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro gather in support of him and to protest against racism and the death of blacks in the slums of Brazil during a Black Lives Matter protest on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on June 7, 2020.READ: The mystery of the 1998 World Cup finalWhite and blue kit campaignNonetheless, the subject of the yellow jersey has become so divisive that a campaign is underway for Brazil to play in a white shirt.João Carlos Assumpção, a Brazilian journalist, filmmaker and author of "Gods of Soccer," a book about the political, sociological and economic history of Brazil, is leading a campaign for the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to abandon the yellow jersey altogether and go back to the classic white and blue kit from when the program started in 1914.CNN reached out to the CBF who responded that they choose not to comment on this matter, "as it is a very unique issue.""People used to love Brazilian soccer because we used to play very well," Assumpção said, "and if we play well with the white shirt in 2022 I think everybody's going to buy a white shirt. It's going to be very difficult to change, but I think it's not impossible."A supporter of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro cries during a demonstration in favor of his government amidst the coronavirus pandemic in front of Planalto Palace on May 24, 2020 in Brasilia, Brazil. Demonstrators wearing face masks raise their fist on Paulista Avenue during a protest amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on June 14, 2020 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.The white and blue jersey was deemed unlucky when Brazil lost the World Cup at home to Uruguay in 1950 so they switched to the yellow jersey, and won five World Cups wearing it -- a finals record that still stands today.Assumpção's vision for changing the color of the kit is to say to the world that Brazilians want change in the country. "Not the changes that this government is doing," Assumpção clarified. On the other side of the political spectrum, the color yellow, including the yellow jersey, represents a positive change in the country. Bolsonaro supporter Rezende Jr. believes the attempt by the left to reclaim the yellow jersey is an effort to "mischaracterize the government," which he describes as a "patriotic government that represents and has support from all social classes throughout the nation."Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate to show their support, in Brasilia, on May 31, 2020 during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic.READ: A pig's head and riot police: Football's most controversial transferRival football fans unitePolitical turmoil in the country mirrors the fierceness between inter-city football rivalries all across Brazil. Except it is not contained by city boundaries and in recent months has brought fans together. São Paulo is home to four main clubs: Corinthians, Palmeiras, São Paolo, and Santos. The rivalry between Corinthians and Palmeiras is especially intense, and in June groups from each club joined together in the streets to counter-protest Bolsonaro's supporters. Sociologist Rafael Castilho, a Member of the Collective Corinthian Democracy and Coordinator of the Corinthians Study Center said that for Brazil to overcome the current political situation, it will have to "unite different ways of thinking and accept the contradictory."Castilho explains the civic responsibility rival clubs feel to support each other and join with civil society movements, "as the country experiences a crisis of party representation and social movements have been intimidated by police action," he said, adding that "the attitude of fans has gained sympathy because part of society feels represented by the courage of the fans."The Corinthians have a history of mixing football and politics. In the 1980s during the pro-democracy movement called Diretas Já, the club team was led by national team leaders Socrates and Casagrande.The two intertwined football with politics when the team wore jerseys during a game in 1982 displaying the words "VOTE on 15th," in an effort to motivate their fans to vote in the São Paulo state government election. Two years later the Corinthians were the center of a movement called Democracia Corintiana, which Casagrande said put more than one million people in the streets dressed in yellow."It was a very important moment for Brazilian democracy, and this yellow jersey was central to that movement," Casagrande said.JUST WATCHEDPelé and who else? Dante's top 3 BraziliansReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPelé and who else? Dante's top 3 Brazilians 01:56'I don't want communism in my country'The yellow jersey was back on the streets in the 2013 protests against ex-President Dilma Roussef and against corruption. A year before the World Cup was to take place in the South American country, conservative protesters wore shirts that represented the colors of Brazil, while leftist protesters used other colors. Alexandre and Rezende Jr. both say that yellow is an improvement from the red t-shirts government supporters used to wear when the left was in power, alluding to an underlying support of communism. "When Bolsonaro started running, his supporters used the yellow color to show I'm Brazilian and I don't want communism in my country," Alexandre said.Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro presents US President Donald Trump with a Brazil national team jersey at the White House March 19, 2019 in Washington, DC.The fight for the yellow jersey leaves some longing to reclaim a victorious past, while others push forward to create new meaning for the iconic symbol. In a country so deeply rooted in football, it's an issue that's unlikely to go away.Assumpção thinks it's only possible for the football community and Brazilians not associated with the far right to recover the jersey "maybe in five years or 10, but not now. Not now."

Ben Morse, CNN

2020-08-15 20:53:44

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/15/football/lyon-manchester-city-champions-league-quarterfinals-spt-intl/index.html

Lyon stun Manchester City to reach Champions League semifinals - CNN

Lyon stunned Manchester City on Saturday to qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League, winning 3-1.

football, Lyon stun Manchester City to reach Champions League semifinals - CNN

Lyon stun Manchester City to reach Champions League semifinals

(CNN)Lyon stunned Manchester City on Saturday to qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League, winning 3-1.The French side made the perfect start, stifling Manchester City's attacking play and eventually taking the lead after 24 minutes thanks to Maxwel Cornet's inventive finish from just outside the box. In the second half, the English side cranked up the pressure, and the pressure eventually told, as Kevin de Bruyne coolly slotted home to level the score before substitute Moussa Dembélé scored two goals to see Lyon through. Lyon will face Bayern Munich in the semifinal on Wednesday, after the German side advanced to the semifinals on Friday, dispatching Barcelona 8-2. Lyon players celebrate following the team's victory over Manchester City on Saturday, August 15.For the first time since 1990/91, and for the first time in the Champions League era, the semifinal stage will not feature any team from England, Spain or Italy. For the first time in Champions League history, it will feature two teams representing France.Read MoreBelgian midfielder de Bruyne said that following another heartbreaking exit from the competition, it is "not good enough.""It's definitely the same stuff. I think the first half wasn't good enough," he told BT Sport after the game. "I think we know that. "We started slow, we had not many options. I think second half, we played really well. We came back 1-1, had a couple of chances and then obviously the 2-1, and then the 3-1 ends the game. It's a shame for us to go in that way. "The game was open but they didn't really create except the two goal chances. Yeah, we need to learn. It's not good enough."READ: 'The club needs changes' Changes on the horizon for Barcelona following Champions League humiliationMoussa Dembélé scores Lyon's second goal.Soaking up the pressureWith its star players and a big name manager, Manchester City were overwhelmingly favored to beat Lyon. But the French side had showed its resilience in its second leg against Juventus in the previous round, managing to edge past Cristiano Ronaldo and company despite having almost five months without football. GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!@MDembele_10 marque le 3ème but ! LET'S GO ! #ManCityOL pic.twitter.com/D2ZN5t2PdM— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) August 15, 2020 And its sturdiness was put to the test from kickoff. Manchester City dominated possession from the first whistle, but failed to create any golden opportunities. And eventually Lyon's ability to counterattack produced the game's first goal. A ball played behind the City defence for Karl Toko Ekambi to run on to eventually fell to Maxwel Cornet and, with City keeper Ederson out of his goal, Cornet threaded a magnificent curling shot into the near post from about 20 yards.The rest of the first half played out just as Lyon and manager Rudi Garcia would have planned. Manchester City dominated possession without creating too many clear-cut chances while Pep Guardiola's team looked susceptible on the break.After the half-time break, the game opened up and following an attacking substitution by Guardiola, City began to create chances at will. And eventually the pressure told, as some nice footwork by England international Raheem Sterling freed him up to lay it back for de Bruyne to finish. It looked like there would only be one winner. However, Lyon's own super-sub Dembélé thought differently, latching on to a through ball near half-way and finishing under Ederson. A nervy video assistant referee check followed but after a few minutes of waiting, the goal was given. Forward Maxwel Cornet celebrates scoring Lyon's first goal against Manchester City on Saturday, August 15.Although City was behind, it created the better chances and the best of which fell to Sterling. Some clever dribbling and a cross from Gabriel Jesus left Sterling with an open goal from just five yards out, but he sent ball skyward and over the goal. And the miss proved costly. Just 59 seconds later, Lyon had scored again, Dembélé pouncing on a poor save from Ederson to send the French club into the final four for the first time in nearly 10 years. The result means that during Guardiola's time at the club, Manchester City has failed to make it past the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League.Despite thinking that his side played well for the majority of the game, Guardiola lamented Manchester City's inability to play without errors in the Champions League. "One day we will break this gap of the quarterfinals," he told BT Sport after the game. "Except the first 25 minutes where we struggled to find out spaces to attack them more fluidly, the players, they play free."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"And the last 15 minutes of the first half was good. The second half was OK, we were there. I had the feeling we were better, but you have to be perfect in this competition in one game and we weren't."The 2019-20 Champions League semifinals will see two French teams and two German teams compete for a place in the final; the first time since 2012-13 that there are just two different nations represented at this stage.

Ben Church, CNN

2020-08-13 22:50:56

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/13/football/rb-leipzig-atletico-madrid-champions-league-adams-spt-intl/index.html

Champions League: Tyler Adams helps fire RB Leipzig into semifinals - CNN

American youngster Tyler Adams scored a late winner to fire RB Leipzig past Atletico Madrid and into the Champions League semifinals on Thursday.

football, Champions League: Tyler Adams helps fire RB Leipzig into semifinals - CNN

US youngster Tyler Adams helps fire RB Leipzig into the Champions League semifinals

(CNN)American youngster Tyler Adams scored a late winner to fire RB Leipzig past Atletico Madrid and into the Champions League semifinals on Thursday.The 21-year-old's deflected shot in the 88th minute was enough to reestablish the German club's lead after João Felix's penalty had canceled out Dani Olmo's opener. RB Leipzig, in its current form, was founded just 11 years ago after Red Bull's billionaire founder took over German fifth division side SSV Markranstadt and the team has been climbing the footballing ladder ever since. It now has the chance to add another chapter to its incredible story when it faces PSG in the semifinals on Tuesday -- after the French champion staged a stunning late comeback to defeat Atalanta 2-1 on Wednesday. "Great emotions for the club and our team. As a manager you have to look forward," RB Leipzig's 33-year-old coach Julian Nagelsmann told BT Sport after the match.Read More"We have to prepare for the next game. There's not a lot of time to celebrate but maybe we will have a beer in the hotel then we focus on PSG."The club (RB Leipzig) develops very fast since. We reached the Bundesliga and qualified for the Champions League three times. We're still in the Champions League. The progress is faster than usual."READ: Borussia Dortmund digs its heels to stop Manchester United signing SanchoTyler Adams celebrates after scoring the winner against Atletico Madrid. History madeAtletico Madrid may have been slight favorites going into the game against its German opponent, but the Spanish outfit failed to impress. It may have played without forward Angel Correa and defender Sime Vrsaljkowho, who both tested positive for the coronavirus, but had enough experience on the pitch to put in a better performance. The second-half introduction of Felix had appeared to give Atletico fresh impetus, but the 20-year-old's converted penalty stood for nothing in the end. With the match seemingly destined for extra-time, Adams' speculative late shot took a wicked deflection off Stefan Savic to end the tie in 90 minutes -- sending RB Leipzig into its first Champions League semifinal.Adams, who has 10 appearances for the US national team, moved to Leipzig from New York Red Bulls in January 2019. He becomes the first American to score in the Champions League quarterfinal with what was his first goal for the club."Now it's about recovering in the right way, getting ourselves right mentally and working on the game plan," Adams told BT Sport after the game."We're confident in ourselves, you saw that today."

Ben Morse, CNN

2020-08-14 20:49:55

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/14/football/bayern-munich-barcelona-champions-league-quarterfinal-spt-intl/index.html

Barcelona suffers record defeat against Bayern Munich in Champions League - CNN

Bayern Munich scored eight times against Barcelona as the German side inflicted a record defeat on the Catalans in an astonishing 8-2 win in the Champions League quarterfinals.

football, Barcelona suffers record defeat against Bayern Munich in Champions League - CNN

Bayern Munich scores eight against Barcelona to reach Champions League semifinals

(CNN)Bayern Munich scored eight times against Barcelona as the German side inflicted a record defeat on the Catalans in an astonishing 8-2 win in the Champions League quarterfinals. On a humiliating night in Portugal for Barcelona, Bayern became the first team to score eight goals in a Champions League knockout match, while Barca conceded eight in a match for the first time since 1946. 'More than a Club?' How FC Barcelona 'lost its soul'Thomas Muller opened the scoring within five minutes for Bayern, before Austrian defender David Alaba sliced into his own net to level the score. However, three goals in 10 first-half minutes helped the Bundesliga champion assert its dominance, with Ivan Perisic, Serge Gnabry and Muller's second stretching its lead before the break. In the second half, Luis Suarez reduced the deficit for Barcelona but a mazy assist from left-back Alphonso Davies for Joshua Kimmich to tap in, a Robert Lewandowski header and a late Philippe Coutinho double helped Bayern progress to the last four, where it will face either Manchester City or Lyon who play Saturday.Read More"It's tough to explain. I think in this moment, our team is in an incredible shape," Muller told BT Sport after the match. "We work so hard, we work with this intensity, I think for everybody out there is tough to beat us. We had so much fun. For our style of players, it doesn't matter about the names of players we are facing."Of course, they have special players and we have to be even more aggressive and even more able to bounce back again and again. We feel good after this match, this result. It was very special."Kimmich celebrates after scoring his team's fifth goal against Barcelona.The team to beat? With the way Bayern finished the Bundesliga season following its restart -- winning 18 successive games on its way to another title -- and how it easily dispatched Chelsea in the previous round, the Bavarians are understandably many people's favorites to win the tournament.For some moments, there are simply no words...😃 @FCBayern #BARBAY #UCL— Robert Lewandowski (@lewy_official) August 14, 2020 But facing Lionel Messi and company on neutral ground, it wasn't clear cut which of the two European behemoths would advance to the final four.It was the Catalan side that had the game's first chance as Sergi Roberto's cross-pitch pass almost fell to Suarez only for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to get in the way. And it was from that save that Bayern broke for the opening goal. Neat passes between Lewandowski and Muller finished with the German World Cup winner finishing into the bottom corner. Barcelona equalized shortly after and it came in unusual fashion. A cross from Alba from the left was sliced agonizingly over the head of the despairing NeuerHowever, Barcelona's insistence on playing out from the back, combined with Bayern's high pressing, consistently got the Catalans into trouble, with chance after chance appearing for the Bavarians. Eventually, the pressure told, with Perisic, Gnabry and Muller taking advantage of some slack defending as Barcelona conceded four goals in the first half of a Champions League match for the first time. Lewandowski (right) celebrates with Coutinho after he scored. Following the introduction of Antoine Griezmann at half time, Barcelona marginally improved and reduced the deficit thanks to Suarez's nimbleness to avoid defenders and score. But the best goal was yet to come, and it was provided by the extraordinary 19-year-old Canadian Davies. Having skipped away from Nelson Semedo, he evaded the challenges of other defenders, tip-toing along the edge of the pitch before laying it off for Kimmich. Two goals from Coutinho -- who is on loan from Barcelona -- capped a remarkable game in Lisbon."I know the other teams will watch our game. They can be impressed or not," Muller added. "But the semifinals start from 0-0 and we have to win the next game as well to reach the final. "I've played in big tournaments like this and after results like these, its more difficult, so we have to be careful."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosLewandowski scores his team's sixth goal.An end of an era?Messi reacts after Bayern Munich scores.With six of Barcelona's starting XI over the age of 30, Barcelona was totally dominated by Bayern Munich's youth and verve.Following the club's first trophy-less season since 2007/08, changes on and off the pitch look likely. Messi, who is now 33 years old, was aiming to win the Champions League for the fifth time to level with Cristiano Ronaldo. But following Barca's elimination and Ronaldo's Juventus last week, this year's competition will be the first since 2005-06 in which neither Messi or Ronaldo will make an appearance in the semifinals or beyond.Barcelona defender Gerard Pique admitted that "it was a horrible game; the feeling is terrible ... embarrassing is the word. I think now we have hit rock bottom."We can't compete like that; you can't play like that in Europe. It is not the first time, the second time or the third time, it's very tough. I hope it is useful for something. Now everyone has to have a good look at themselves, the club needs change and I am not talking about the coach or the players, I am not pointing the finger at anyone. Nobody is safe, I am the first to say that I will go if new blood has to come in, I am the first to leave. We have to have a real look internally about what is best for the club."

George Ramsay, CNN

2020-08-13 10:52:21

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/13/football/psg-neymar-kylian-mbappe-champions-league-atalanta-spt-intl/index.html

Mbappe and Neymar prove their worth as PSG reaches first Champions Leage semifinal in 25 years - CNN

It took a whirlwind 149 seconds for Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League fortunes to take a dramatic turn on Wednesday, a last-gasp victory over Atalanta ensuring the club could yet shed its status as the competition's most high-profile underachiever.

football, Mbappe and Neymar prove their worth as PSG reaches first Champions Leage semifinal in 25 years - CNN

Neymar and Kylian Mbappe prove their worth as PSG reaches first Champions League semifinal in 25 years

(CNN)It took a whirlwind 149 seconds for Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League fortunes to take a dramatic turn on Wednesday, a last-gasp victory over Atalanta ensuring the club could yet shed its status as the competition's most high-profile underachiever. After years of falling short in Europe, PSG's superstar squad assembled on a big budget simply couldn't afford to lose. It was the talismanic figures of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe who combined to help deliver the victory as two precise passes allowed for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to prod in the winning goal and seal a stunning comeback. "I knew because of the group that we have, the great family that we have made, it was impossible that we were going to be knocked out, impossible," Neymar told reporters. "I could only think about the ball coming to me to try and score, or for a teammate to try and score to have the chance to go through to the semifinals."Read MoreVisit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featureNeymar (left) and Mbappe celebrate after PSG take the lead against Atalanta. These two quarterfinal opponents couldn't have been pitched further apart in terms of expectations; this season was Atalanta's first in the Champions League, while PSG has been burdened by expectations in the competition since Qatari owners took over the club in 2011 and welcomed a host of expensive signings. When Neymar, who was signed for a world record fee of $263 million in 2017, squandered a one-on-one opportunity inside the first three minutes -- driving deep into the Atalanta half only to fluff his shot in front of goal -- it set the tone for what for 90 minutes was a frustrating evening for the French champion. The Brazilian slashed another shot wide just before halftime but also showed flashes of brilliance, nutmegging Atalanta goalscorer Mario Pasalic and skipping past a number of other players as he pushed for an equalizer. Despite missed chances in front of goal, it was Neymar's man-of-the-match performance that dragged PSG through this game and out the other side.His 16 dribbles were the most in a Champions League match since Lionel Messi against Manchester United in 2008, according to Opta, and he also won nine fouls as he continued to probe the Atalanta defense before assisting Marquinhos' equalizer and creating Choupo-Moting's winner.Injured in the two previous seasons when PSG was knocked out by Manchester United and Real Madrid in the last 16, Neymar showed his worth against Atalanta in Lisbon.READ: PSG breaks Atalanta's heart with stunning Champions League comebackJUST WATCHEDNeymar speaks to CNN after joining PSGReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNeymar speaks to CNN after joining PSG 02:16"The guy is totally reliable when it comes to pressure," said manager Thomas Tuchel, whose side reached a first Champions League semifinal in 25 years. "When it comes to knockout games you can rely on Ney, he loves it. He needs it to bring out the best in him. "He's a real competitor, he has the hunger to win, he hates to lose and that's the most important thing ... today was big, big pressure on his shoulders and normally he would score from one of these chances but he carried us through that game, he was relentless and he showed great spirit."If it was Neymar's absence that hurt PSG's Champions League chances in the past two seasons, this year it was an injury to the Brazilian's strike partner Mbappe that could have dented the French side's hopes.The 21-year-old, the world's second most expensive player after Neymar when he joined PSG three years ago, started on the bench having picked up an injury in the French Cup final last month, but was introduced by Tuchel in the second half.His pace immediately caused problems for Atalanta, and it took a superb challenge from Jose Luis Palomino to deny the Frenchman an equalizer.Mbappe is denied in front of goal during PSG's Champions League quarterfinal against Atalanta. "A big thank you to the medical staff for getting me back on my feet, no one believed it except us," Mbappe tweeted."Congratulations to this group, we went out to get this one."READ: How Atalanta provided hope amid the Covid-19 pandemicAfter the game, PSG's president Nasser Al-Khelaifi heralded Neymar and Mbappe as two of the best players in the world in an interview with RMC Sport, adding that he thinks the pair will never leave the club. Ironically, for all Neymar and Mbappe's brilliance on Wednesday night, and for all the money those two players cost PSG, it was Choupo-Moting -- part of the Stoke City side relegated from the Premier League in 2018 before moving to Paris on a free transfer -- who bagged the winner.Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (right) and Neymar react during PSG's Champions League quarterfinal victory."When I came on, I thought we can't lose, we can't go home like that," the striker told BT Sport."I was confident in myself, confident in the team and the rest is a little history of Paris."PSG will face either Atletico Madrid or RB Leipzig in next week's semifinals. It will be a chance to perhaps write another piece of history in the Champions League -- something the club has so desperately craved for the best part of a decade.

Aimee Lewis, CNN

2020-08-13 12:01:02

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/13/football/dallas-fc-reggie-cannon-booing-spt-intl/index.html

FC Dallas' Reggie Cannon criticizes booing of players kneeling during national anthem - CNN

US international Reggie Cannon has described the booing of players who took a knee during the national anthem before a Major League Soccer match as "absolutely disgusting."

football, FC Dallas' Reggie Cannon criticizes booing of players kneeling during national anthem - CNN

FC Dallas' Reggie Cannon criticizes booing of players kneeling during national anthem

(CNN)US international Reggie Cannon has described the booing of players who took a knee during the national anthem before a Major League Soccer match as "absolutely disgusting."At least one fan could be heard voicing displeasure in Sky Sports' coverage as players from FC Dallas and Nashville knelt in protest against racial injustice. Speaking to reporters after the match, Dallas defender Reggie Cannon said: "I think it was disgusting. I think it was absolutely disgusting."You got fans booing you for people taking a stand for what they believe in. Millions of other people support this cause and we discussed with every other team and the league what we're going to do and we've got fans booing us in our own stadium. How disgraceful is that? Honestly, for lack of a better word, it p****d me off. "You can't even have support from your own fans in your own stadium. It's baffling to me."Read MoreWednesday's contest at Toyota Stadium was the first MLS match with fans since the league was suspended in March amid the coronavirus pandemic. Cannon in action during the MLS match between FC Dallas and Nashville at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX.Cannon said Dallas had informed both Nashville and the league that the players would kneel. He had, he said, asked for the national anthem to not be played. But on Saturday MLS Commisoner Don Garber said the anthem would be played when fans were in attendance. In June, MLS said in a statement that it supported players' right to peacefully protest during national anthems before games, saying: "Major League Soccer stands by the ideals of freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest that are the hallmarks of the United States and Canada."Thierry Henry kneels during match to honor George FloydCannon, 22, added after the 1-0 loss, played before nearly 3,000 fans: "(Dallas player) Ryan Hollingshead, the first thing he said to me after we got up from the knee, he said 'I'm sorry.' "I'm sorry for our fans because we had someone chanting 'USA' when they don't understand what keeling means, they don't understand why we're kneeling, they can't see the reason, they just think we're the ignorant ones and it's incredibly frustrating. And I'm sorry to have this tone but you have to call it for what it is. "I even knew when we decided to kneel, I knew it was going to happen. That should tell you something, I knew we were going to have some negative pushback from having a unified response over what's going on. That's the problem, that's a problem."CNN has contacted MLS but has yet to receive a response. In July, members of Black Players for Change (BPC), an organization which has pledged to address racial inequalities in MLS and the sport, each raised a gloved fist before the league's first match following its resumption and silently knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds, a reference to the killing of George Floyd in May which sparked worldwide protests.The Black players were dressed in black shirts with slogans that read "Silence is Violence," "Black All The Time," and "Black and Proud." Their black face masks said "Black Lives Matter." The pre-match demonstration has been featured in a short documentary, which runs for eight minutes and 46 seconds, about the foundation of BPC.Eight minutes and 46 seconds represents the duration prosecutors initially reported Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck.Prosecutors have since changed that assessment to seven minutes and 46 seconds.

Ben Church, CNN

2020-08-12 21:01:01

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/12/football/atalanta-psg-champions-league-spt-intl/index.html

PSG produces stunning comeback to knock Atalanta out of the Champions League - CNN

Paris Saint-Germain produced yet another memorable moment in the rich history of the UEFA Champions League after completing a late comeback against Atalanta on Wednesday.

football, PSG produces stunning comeback to knock Atalanta out of the Champions League - CNN

Paris Saint-Germain produces stunning comeback to knock Atalanta out of the Champions League

(CNN)Paris Saint-Germain produced yet another memorable moment in the rich history of the UEFA Champions League after completing a late comeback against Atalanta on Wednesday.The French champion had been trailing 1-0 as the clock ticked toward 90 minutes but two late goals from Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting turned the tie on its head. The club wanting to 'bring a smile' back to 'damaged' regionIt was heartbreak for tournament underdog Atalanta, which was competing in the Champions League for the first time in its history.It had seemed Mario Pasalic's first-half goal was going to be enough but, after a whirlwind three minutes, its players were left crestfallen as the referee blew the final whistle.The club's Cinderella run had boosted morale in its home city of Bergamo, which became the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak in February.Read MoreREAD: Why it's now or never in Neymar's quest for European gloryParis Saint-Germain score two late goals to book its place in the semifinals.Neymar and Kylian Mbappe were involved in both goals. 'We can't go home like this'PSG was heavy favorite ahead of the tie with the disparity between the two clubs stark. Atalanta's record signing, Luis Muriel, cost an estimated $21 million while PSG's record signing, Neymar, cost some 12.5 times as much.However, the far superior side on paper was wasteful for most of the night with Neymar missing two gilt-edge chances in the first half when it looked harder to miss. It had seemed the team, brimming with talent after the introduction of Kylian Mbappe in the second half, had run out of ideas before striking late on. "It was a crazy game, a tough game, against a tough opponent. It wasn't easy. Neymar had a great game," match winner Choupo-Moting told BT Sport after the match."I thought when I was coming on 'we can't lose, we can't go home like this'. I was confident in myself and the team."READ: Borussia Dortmund digs heels to stop Man Utd signing SanchoAtalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello slumps to the ground after the game. Mbappe impact French sensation Mbappe had started the game on the bench as he continues his recovery from injury but his impact in the second half was pivotal. The 21-year-old injected speed into his side's attack -- a frightening prospect for Atalanta's tiring legs. Both he and Neymar provided the assists for the last-gasp goals which fired PSG to its first Champions League semifinal in 25 years.Apart from his two quite incredible misses, Man of the Match Neymar did show flashes of brilliance all night and was a constant source of creativity going forward. PSG boss Thomas Tuchel, on crutches for the evening, let out an almighty roar of relief as the night descended into chaos.Despite his team's domestic dominance, Tuchel will always be judged on his performances in Europe which, in recent years, have flattered to deceive. He now has the chance to reach the final when his side faces either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid in the next round on Tuesday.It's just a shame no fans were in the stadium to watch the memorable tie, with all remaining fixtures being played behind closed doors in Lisbon amid the pandemic.

Ben Church, CNN

2020-08-11 08:52:07

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/11/football/manchester-united-sancho-dortmund-spt-intl/index.html

Jadon Sancho: Borussia Dortmund digs heel to stop Manchester United signing star - CNN

Borussia Dortmund says youngster Jadon Sancho will remain at the club next season after Manchester United was reportedly close to signing the starlet.

football, Jadon Sancho: Borussia Dortmund digs heel to stop Manchester United signing star - CNN

Borussia Dortmund digs its heels to stop Manchester United signing Jadon Sancho

(CNN)Borussia Dortmund says youngster Jadon Sancho will remain at the club next season after Manchester United was reportedly close to signing the starlet. Sancho, 20, is one of the hottest prospects in world football -- scoring 17 league goals and making 16 assists last season -- and had been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford. Why it's now or never in Neymar's quest for European gloryHowever, United has reportedly balked at Dortmund's valuation of Sancho, which stands at around $140m. Sancho, who was pictured in the UK last week, flew back to Switzerland on Monday to join his team for pre-season training and the club's sporting director Michael Zorc says he is staying with the German club. "We plan on having Jadon Sancho in our team this season, the decision is final. I think that answers all our questions," the Dortmund man told reporters on Monday. Read More"Last summer we adjusted Jadon's salary to match the development of his performances. So in context, we had already extended his contract until 2023 back then."READ: How Bruno Fernandes transformed Manchester United's fortunesJadon Sancho joined his Borussia Dortmund teammates in Switzerland on Monday.Dortmund had set August 10 as the final deadline for Manchester United to get the deal done for Sancho and it seems to be sticking by that promise. The new Bundesliga season starts September 18 and the club does not want this ongoing transfer saga to impact its preparations. United may yet come back for the England international who left its local rival Manchester City back in 2017.The Red Devils have seen an uptick in form since the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in January but fans still feel Sancho could be that missing piece of the puzzle."A player like Sancho gives you first-team quality. It creates good issues to have in relation to who plays; [Marcus] Rashford, [Mason] Greenwood, [Anthony] Martial or Sancho?," said Mark Goldbridge, United supporter and presenter of fan channel 'The United Stand.'

Paul Gittings, CNN

2020-08-08 21:55:29

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/08/football/football-champions-league-barcelona-messi-bayern-munich/index.html

Lionel Messi lifts Barcelona in Champions League last 8 - CNN

Lionel Messi scored a spellbinding goal as Barcelona beat Napoli 3-1 (4-2 on aggregate) in the Camp Nou on Saturday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

football, Lionel Messi lifts Barcelona in Champions League last 8 - CNN

Champions League: Inspired Lionel Messi lifts Barcelona into quarterfinals

(CNN)Lionel Messi scored a spellbinding goal as Barcelona beat Napoli 3-1 (4-2 on aggregate) in the Camp Nou on Saturday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.Barca will play Bayern Munich in the last eight after the German champion completed a 7-1 aggregate win over Chelsea.With the series level at 1-1 from the first leg in Naples, Barcelona made the perfect start as Clement Lenglet headed home an Ivan Rakitic corner in the 10th minute.Messi increased the lead in the 23rd with a goal outrageous even by his standards, slaloming past several defenders after cutting in from the right before squeezing his shot home.Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring Barcelona's brilliant second goal against Napoli in the Champions League last 16 second round tie in the Camp Nou.Messi also played a big part in Barca's third, being hacked down by Kalidou Koulibaly, the penalty awarded after a VAR check.Read MoreLuis Suarez stepped up to take the penalty and put the home side 3-0 ahead.Napoli revived its hopes when Dries Mertens, who had gone close at the start of the match, was fouled by Rakitic in the penalty areaNapoli's Lorenzo Insigne scores from the spot to pull a goal back for his side against Barcelona in the Camp Nou.Lorenzo Insigne converted the spot kick, but despite some visitor pressure in the second half, with Arkadiusz Milik's header 10 minutes from the end ruled out, there were no further goals as the home side defended its lead comfortably enough.'More than a Club?' How FC Barcelona 'lost its soul'The result will be a relief for under pressure Barca coach Quique Setien.His side had gone into the match with rumblings of discontent, with Messi himself describing the team as "weak" after a defeat to Osasuna in the penultimate game of the season.With arch-rival Real Madrid pulling away after the restart to win La Liga, the Champions League represents the last chance of silverware for the Catalan giants this season amid further rumors about Messi's future if the campaign ends in failure.Bayern thrashes ChelseaMeanwhile, in the other match on Saturday, Bayern Munich romped to a 4-1 win over Chelsea in the Allianz Arena with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice.The Polish star made it 53 overall for the season and assisted on two more goals as Bayern, leading 3-0 from the first leg back in February, cruised into the quarterfinals in some style.Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his 52nd goal of the season to put his side Bayern Munich ahead from the penalty spot during the Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Chelsea.Lewandowski was upended by Willy Caballero in the Chelsea goal early in the first half, scoring from the penalty spot before setting up the second for Ivan Perisic. Tammy Abraham pulled one back for Chelsea with his 18th of the season just before halftime, but it proved only temporary relief for Frank Lampard's men as further goals from Corentin Tolisso and the deadly Lewandowski settled a one-sided affair.Bayern defender David Alaba talked up his side's chances against Barcelona in the further knockout stages of the competition, held as one off matches in Portugal."The anticipation is enormous. Barcelona has a good team with very good players, but if you look at the last few weeks, we can fly to Portugal with a lot of confidence," he said.

George Ramsay, CNN

2020-08-04 16:24:49

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/04/football/coughing-red-card-football-spt-intl-gbr/index.html

Players can be red carded for deliberate coughing under English football's new Covid-19 guidelines - CNN

Footballers who deliberately cough towards an opponent could receive a red card under new Covid-19 guidelines published by the English Football Association (FA).

football, Players can be red carded for deliberate coughing under English football's new Covid-19 guidelines - CNN

Players can be red carded for deliberate coughing under English football's new Covid-19 guidelines

(CNN)Footballers who deliberately cough towards an opponent could receive a red card under new Covid-19 guidelines published by the English Football Association (FA).The measures, published last week, apply to the restart of grassroots football in England amid the coronavirus pandemic. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresPlayers can be sent off if the referee is "certain that someone deliberately, and from close range, coughed into the face of an opponent or match official," according to the guidelines, which will come into force immediately. JUST WATCHEDGermany's Bundesliga is the first major football league to come back in the pandemicReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGermany's Bundesliga is the first major football league to come back in the pandemic 02:39"Given the current situation relating to Covid-19, if a player deliberately coughed in the face of another player, team official or match official, this could be deemed to fall within the Law 12 sending-off offense of 'using offense, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures,'" said a spokesperson from the International Football Association Board, the sport's law-making body.Read More"As with all offenses, the referee has to make a judgement about the true nature of the offense -- if it were clearly accidental, then the referee would not take action nor if the 'cough' took place with a large distance between the players. "However, where it is close enough to be clearly offensive, then the referee can take action. This is not a new 'rule' but simply an interpretation of Law 12."The guidelines add that referees "should not be looking to punish 'routine' coughing." A yellow card could also be issued if the incident is not deemed serious enough to warrant a sending-off.Players and referees are both also encouraged to avoid spitting and shouting, and it advised that physical contact as part of goal celebrations should be avoided. The FA's guidelines were introduced as the country continues to ease out of lockdown, although some localized lockdowns have been implemented in England amid fears of a second wave of infection.

Steven Jiang, CNN

2022-01-17 13:15:05

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/17/sport/yao-ming-peng-shuai-condition-meeting-spt-intl/index.html

Yao Ming: Chinese basketball legend says Peng Shuai in 'pretty good condition' during December meeting - CNN

Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming has for the first time addressed his encounter last month with tennis star Peng Shuai, describing her as in "pretty good condition."

sport, Yao Ming: Chinese basketball legend says Peng Shuai in 'pretty good condition' during December meeting - CNN

Yao Ming: Chinese basketball legend says Peng Shuai in 'pretty good condition' during December meeting

Beijing (CNN)Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming has for the first time addressed his encounter last month with tennis star Peng Shuai, describing her as in "pretty good condition." Peng's well-being has become a global concern after she made allegations of sexual assault against a former national leader."I've known Peng Shuai for almost 20 years," Yao said Monday in Beijing at a press briefing about the 2022 Winter Olympics. "She's a bit younger but we belong to the same generation of athletes.""We are both from the South ... and very intrigued by a winter sport competition in Shanghai -- we felt like kids again," he added, in response to a question from CNN. "She was in pretty good condition that day. We were all chatting happily and asking a lot of questions about the sport since we weren't familiar with it."Read MoreOn December 19, a state media journalist posted a photo and a clip of Yao and Peng together at a cross-country ski tour in Shanghai a day earlier, in which they appeared to be talking and smiling. The images were shared on Twitter, which is blocked in China.China's Peng Shuai during the Australian Open in Melbourne, January 2020. Peng, 36, a former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion, has been at the center of an international storm since she accused retired Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, 75, of forcing her into sex during a years-long on-off relationship in a lengthy online post in November.Government censors quickly scrubbed her post from Chinese social media, and she disappeared from the public eye.Amid a growing international outcry, people connected to state media or the state sports system have posted numerous images on Twitter showing Peng out and about, as well as an email allegedly written by her insisting "everything is fine."At the same December event she was photographed with Yao, Peng told Singapore-based Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao that, "I have never spoken or written about anyone sexually assaulting me," in her first comments to international media since the explosive allegations came to light.When asked if she has been able to move freely or was concerned about her safety, Peng said she has "always been free" and that she has been living at her home in Beijing.Winter Olympics: What you need to know ahead of Beijing 2022Yao, who is now president of the state-affiliated Chinese Basketball Association, did not address Peng's allegations, which remain a taboo subject in China.The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has continued to call for a thorough and transparent investigation into Peng's allegations and suspended all tournaments in China over her safety.As vice premier, Zhang served on the ruling Communist Party's seven-person Politburo Standing Committee -- the country's supreme leadership body -- alongside President Xi Jinping from 2012 to 2017. He retired from his post in 2018.Previously CNN had repeatedly reached out for comment to both Peng and China's State Council Information Office, which handles press inquiries for the central government.Yao walks on the sideline before Super Bowl 51 between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots in 2017.'Visiting China may change many perceptions'Yao, 41, a longtime player with the Houston Rockets, also responded to a CNN question about the backlashes facing the NBA in China after several members of the league criticized Beijing's human rights record on sensitive issues like Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Remarks by Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom and the Rockets' former general manager Daryl Morey have led to sudden blackout of games and calls for boycott.China says tickets for Winter Olympics will not be sold to general public due to Covid-19 Yao said he doesn't know Freedom or how the Celtics star formed his opinion on China, but invited him to come visit the country."I or other basketball fans can be his guide across China -- and that may help him see a fuller picture of China," he said. "Sports build bridges and there's bound to be traffic on bridges -- so sometimes we see collisions. It may take some time to resolve some issues and I think time will resolve many of them. But we want to keep the bridges intact."Yao goes after a rebound with Los Angeles Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal in 2004.As a promotion ambassador who helped Beijing win its bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, Yao sidestepped several questions on the US government's announcement of a "diplomatic boycott" of the upcoming Games, set to open in Beijing on February 4."The Games provide a platform for athletes and sports lovers -- and that's the most important thing," he said."If one hears something negative (about the Games), maybe you listen to what they have to say and see if they have a point -- and then decide if it's something worth listening to.""Seeing is believing -- visiting China may change many perceptions," he added. "I lived in the US for 10 years -- and (what I experienced) differed from what I had read about the US in books when I was a child."

George Ramsay and John Sinnott, CNN

2022-01-17 11:36:56

sport

tennis

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/17/tennis/novak-dojokivc-belgrade-spt-intl/index.html

Novak Djokovic arrives back in Belgrade after deportation from Australia - CNN

Novak Djokovic has arrived back in Serbia's capital Belgrade after his deportation from Australia ended the world No. 1 tennis player's hopes of playing in the Australian Open.

tennis, Novak Djokovic arrives back in Belgrade after deportation from Australia - CNN

Novak Djokovic arrives back in Belgrade after deportation from Australia

(CNN)Novak Djokovic has arrived back in Serbia's capital Belgrade after his deportation from Australia ended the world No. 1 tennis player's hopes of playing in the Australian Open.Djokovic traveled to Belgrade from Melbourne via Dubai after losing a court challenge on Sunday against the Australian government's decision to cancel his visa on public health and order grounds.Crowds gathered at the airport to welcome the 34-year-old Serbian back home -- chanting his name and holding banners and flags in support -- on Monday. The evening before, a building in Belgrade was illuminated with the words "Nole [Djokovic's nickname], you are the pride of Serbia." The Serbian Olympic Committee said it was "very disappointed" over Australia's "scandalous decision" to deport Djokovic, adding that a "huge injustice" had been committed, while Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said the visa cancellation was "scandalous."Djokovic lands in Belgrade having been deported from Melbourne. "I am disappointed and I think it has shown how the rule of law functions in some other countries, i.e. how it doesn't function," Brnabic said in an interview with Beta News Agency in Belgrade.Read More"I look forward to seeing Djokovic in his own country, in Serbia, and to go through this together with him and give him our support in this difficult time for him," she added.Under Australian law, Djokovic can be banned from the country for three years, though Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews hasn't ruled out an exemption. "Any application will be reviewed on its merits," she said.The Australian Open is the first grand slam of the tennis season. The second is the French Open at Roland Garros, which is being staged between May 22 and June 5.But all professional athletes who wish to compete in France will have to be vaccinated against Covid-19, France's Sports Ministry told CNN on Monday.Djokovic, last year's Australian Open champion, is displayed on a banner in Melbourne during this year's tournament. France's vaccine pass law, approved by parliament on Sunday, will require people to have a vaccine certificate to enter public places such as restaurants, cafes, cinemas and sports arenas, among others."The rule is simple. The vaccine pass will be required once the law comes into force in institutions that were already subject to the health pass (sporting or cultural). This will apply to everyone (spectators, professional sportspeople)," a French Sports Ministry spokeswoman told CNN.That new legislation puts the chances of Djokovic, who has not been vaccinated against Covid-19, competing at the French Open in jeopardy.The French Open previously allowed for unvaccinated players to compete as they operated in a bubble around the tournament.He will also have to comply with Spain's health rules to compete in the upcoming Madrid Open that kicks off in late April, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday.Sanchez lauded Australia's decision to deport Djokovic, saying he has "total respect for the decision of the Australian government." Spain currently requires visitors to show proof of full vaccination, a recent negative Covid test within 72 hours before arrival or a certificate of having recovered from Covid-19, according to its health ministry. International sporting events in the country may add additional rules for participants such as Covid-19 testing on a daily basis during the tournament, a senior government official told CNN on Monday.Fans wave a Serbian flag as Djokovic arrives in Belgrade. Djokovic is the reigning men's singles champion on the clay courts of Roland Garros. Along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, he has won 20 grand slam titles."As for Roland Garros, it's in May. The situation may change by then and it is hoped that it will be more favorable. So we'll see but now clearly it's not except [from the rules]," the spokeswoman added.Al Goodman, Joseph Ataman, Aleks Klosok, Sharon Braithewaite, Biljana Brise and Stephanie Halasz contributed to this report

Sheena McKenzie, CNN

2021-06-01 16:33:57

sport

tennis

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/01/tennis/naomi-osaka-sport-mental-health-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

The Naomi Osaka fiasco is a sign that we're nowhere near finished with work on mental health - CNN

It's the modern day equivalent of the Roman Empire's gladiatorial shows. After playing for several hours, often in hot and humid conditions, with their emotional reserves ebbing and stress levels sky rocketing, tennis stars enter the media's ice cold inner sanctum -- the post-match press conference.

tennis, The Naomi Osaka fiasco is a sign that we're nowhere near finished with work on mental health - CNN

The Naomi Osaka fiasco is a sign that we're nowhere near finished with work on mental health

(CNN)It's the modern day equivalent of the Roman Empire's gladiatorial shows. After playing for several hours, often in hot and humid conditions, with their emotional reserves ebbing and stress levels sky rocketing, tennis stars enter the media's ice cold inner sanctum -- the post-match press conference.And Naomi Osaka has had enough. She has faced down countless opponents on her stratospheric rise to the top of tennis, but this week the world's No. 2 put down her racket and walked away from the probing and prodding of the press.Osaka's decision to withdraw from the French Open, rather than participate in media conferences at Roland Garros, has sparked a wider debate about the culture of post-match briefings and their impact on athletes' mental health.Such media conferences are a "vulture's pit," said Kris Soutar a consultant for Tennis Scotland and the Judy Murray Foundation, founded by the mother of Andy Murray, a player who has talked openly about how the mental toll of elite sport has affected him.These often male-dominated press conferences are hugely intimidating for the losing player, Soutar told CNN. "They are probed for reasons why they lost, and journalists looking for their own little pieces of dirt," he said.Read MoreIt's a daunting prospect for any athlete, let alone Osaka, who admitted on Twitter she was "not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world's media." Nike backs Naomi Osaka after she withdraws from French OpenSo the four-time major winner took the dramatic decision to eschew news conferences altogether, citing mental health reasons, with the hope that any fines incurred would go to a mental health charity.In response, organizers fined Osaka $15,000 and threatened expulsion. Osaka in turn pulled out of the tournament, saying on Twitter that she hoped "everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris." The 23-year-old added that she had "suffered long bouts of depression" since winning her first grand slam title in 2018.After Osaka's decision to opt out of media duties, the French Open posted a tweet -- which it has since deleted -- with photos of Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff engaging in media duties with the caption: "They understood the assignment."That response was "cold" and a "missed opportunity" to "be pioneering" and find solutions to mental health issues within the sport, said Soutar. Naomi Osaka is a four-time grand slam champion.Competing in the era of Covid Tennis has been one of the first professional sports to emerge from the shadows of Covid lockdowns worldwide.But with more pressing matters at hand -- notably economic -- mental health has "not been anywhere near the top of the tour's agenda," according to Rodney Rapson, co-owner of the Base Tennis Academy near Frankfurt, Germany. "The industry as a whole is suffering financially, through cancellations, sponsorship, everything has taken a hit," Rapson said of the impact of Covid on the sport.Meanwhile, Covid restrictions have exacerbated the stresses for traveling tennis pros. Before players even hit the court, there's a seemingly endless list of testing, travel restrictions, quarantining and social bubbles to adhere to, said Daria Abramowicz, sports psychologist to Polish player, Iga Swiatek.This tightly restricted environment "really affects relationships, it affects stress levels, it affects emotional well being in general," according to Abramowicz. She added that "we've never seen this much retirement, withdrawals from tournament, injuries, tension," which Abramowicz put down to a "Covid effect" on tennis.Abramowicz hopes the Osaka's withdrawal could be a "game changer" for discussions about mental health in sport. "There is this stereotype that an athlete is a kind of gladiator, a kind of hero," Abramowicz told CNN."That they are comfortable being out of their comfort zones. And it makes it pretty much impossible for athletes not to be OK."Naomi Osaka preparing for the French Open during a practice match against Ashleigh Barty of Australia.Culture shift Osaka's decision to turn her back on press conferences has infuriated some media commentators.British broadcaster Piers Morgan called the tennis player a "petulant little madam." And journalist Will Swanton wrote in the Australian: "The immaturity, preciousness and hypocrisy of Naomi Osaka leaves me speechless."Meanwhile, 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams sympathized with Osaka, telling a post-match media conference: "The only thing I feel is that I feel for Naomi. I feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what it's like. Like I said, I've been in those positions."Former tennis great Billie Jean King trod a more delicate line, tweeting: "The media still play an important role in the telling of our story."But the media conference is a different beast to King's days, say experts, pointing to the way social media now offered players a direct line of communication with fans.Naomi Osaka: Serena Williams wants to give world No. 2 a hug; others label her a 'princess'"So it kind of seems redundant to have a post-match interview in front of a press room where the players, especially if they've lost, are being asked really arbitrary questions which everybody knows the answer to," said Rapson, who added: "The players get frustrated very quickly."These conferences come straight after a match where players are "at the peak of their cognitive and emotional function, and the stress level is sometimes skyrocketing," said Abramowicz.And "when there's this obligation to go and speak about it, not all players are well equipped for it."Young players are thrown into the international spotlight barely prepared for the scrutiny both in the conference room and online, say experts.Rapson also questioned whether the authorities are doing enough to protect the players' mental health given the abuse they often receive online."Technology is advancing a lot faster than the cultural shifts of the people that run the sport," said Rapson, adding that there was a "massive disconnect between the people who are sitting on the board of these governing bodies, and the reality of how things like social media impact young people." Now, by removing herself from the media spotlight, Osaka has instead shone on a light on these very pressures.

Ben Morse, CNN

2022-03-21 10:40:11

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/21/golf/georgia-hall-saudi-ladies-international-spt-intl/index.html

Georgia Hall claims comfortable Saudi Ladies International victory - CNN

Georgia Hall claimed a comfortable victory at the Saudi Ladies International in Jeddah on Sunday.

golf, Georgia Hall claims comfortable Saudi Ladies International victory - CNN

Georgia Hall claims comfortable Saudi Ladies International victory

(CNN)Georgia Hall claimed a comfortable victory at the Saudi Ladies International in Jeddah on Sunday. The English player shot a final round one-under-par 71 to finish on 11 under and win by five shots at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. Hall carded five birdies and four bogeys on the final day to claim her second Ladies European Tour title after her 2018 Women's Open victory. After tapping home the putt on the 18th green, she broke into tears and was congratulated by Solheim Cup teammate Emily Kristine Pedersen. "To lead all week is very special. I think the first round really was very important for me. I played incredible that round. It really set me up for the rest of the week," Hall said afterwards.Read More"Sometimes, it's not always easy with a five-shot lead into the last day, it's a little bit more pressure on you, but I was really happy with the way I conducted myself today."It's fantastic to win in March early in the season. I really love this place and love the golf course. I was fine after 18, and Emily started crying, and it made me cry. I was just really proud of the way I played today."Hall finished five clear of Kristyna Napoleaova and Johanna Gustavsson, who finished tied for second place -- career best finishes for both golfers. It capped an excellent week for the Czech Republic's Napoleaova, a newcomer to golf. The 25-year-old is a former football player for the Czech national team and is a six-time champion of the Czech women's league with AC Sparta Prague. She only started playing golf aged 20 in the summer of 2016, remarkably turning professional in early 2020 -- just three and a half years after picking up the sport. And Napoleaova described her best ever LET finish as "like a dream."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"I didn't expect even to get into the event and what happened this week, I feel is like a fairy tale," she said."It was an absolutely incredible week. I'm so grateful to be here. I can't wait to come back again. I think everyone wants to win and I hope one day any time soon it will come for me too."

Issy Ronald, CNN

2022-03-14 10:22:03

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/14/golf/nelly-korda-blood-clot-golf-spt-intl/index.html

Nelly Korda: World No. 2 receiving treatment for a blood clot - CNN

Nelly Korda, the world No. 2 in women's golf, is receiving treatment for a blood clot.

golf, Nelly Korda: World No. 2 receiving treatment for a blood clot - CNN

World No. 2 golfer Nelly Korda receiving treatment for a blood clot

(CNN)Nelly Korda, the world No. 2 in women's golf, is receiving treatment for a blood clot. Korda announced the news on her Instagram account, saying that she went to the emergency room after feeling some swelling in her arm."On Friday I was in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL for a photoshoot and a commercial appearance," she said. "After a typical morning workout, my arm started to feel like it was swelling. At the advice of my doctor, I went to the Emergency Room as a precaution. I was diagnosed with a blood clot.""I am currently at home getting treatment to eliminate further risks. I will communicate my status as and when there is more information. In the meantime, I want to thank everyone for their support and ask for privacy for all our family during this time. I hope to be back soon! Thank you."JUST WATCHEDJessica and Nelly Korda: The 'built-in best buddies' taking the golfing world by stormReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJessica and Nelly Korda: The 'built-in best buddies' taking the golfing world by storm 05:07The 23-year-old American has been fighting for the world No. 1 spot with Ko Jin-young, and they are scheduled to meet for the first time this season at the Chevron Championship -- formerly the ANA Inspiration -- in Rancho Mirage, California. That tournament begins in two weeks, on March 31. Read MoreKorda gave no indication regarding her scheduled return. The setback continues her difficult start to the season following a 20th place finish at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rico tournament and the loss of her world No. 1 ranking which she had held for 29 consecutive weeks.Korda elected to skip the LPGA's Asian swing and has not played competitively since early February when she finished in a share of 15th place at the LPGA Drive on Championship at Crown Colony.

Ben Morse, CNN

2021-11-29 10:38:20

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/29/golf/lydia-ko-lpga-tour-gotm-spc-spt-intl/index.html

Lydia Ko: 'Sometimes results are so overrated,' says former world No. 1 - CNN

The 24-year-old Lydia Ko has had more success than most golfers can imagine.

golf, Lydia Ko: 'Sometimes results are so overrated,' says former world No. 1 - CNN

Lydia Ko: 'Sometimes results are so overrated,' says former world No. 1

(CNN)The 24-year-old Lydia Ko has had more success than most golfers can imagine. The Kiwi player has won two majors, as well as becoming the youngest player ever to win a professional golf tour event aged just 14. In 2015, when she was just 17 years, nine months and nine days of age, Ko also became the youngest men's or women's player to be ranked world No. 1 in professional golf.If winning tournaments or setting records provides a buzz, it is not the be-all and end-all for Ko, a message that is reinforrced by her coach Sean Foley: "Just because you win another event, yes, you'll be happy for that day, but it doesn't make you a better person or worse person the day after." "Sometimes for me, I identify myself with just the way I played that day," Ko told CNN Living Golf's Shane O'Donoghue. "And sometimes if I don't play well I go: 'Oh man, you're so stupid,' or things like that. Read More"And I think it's very easy to kind of connect your identity to that, but I've just got to separate that. And my goal is to hopefully have the career grand slam, I've been close in the three majors that I haven't won yet. And that would be probably my end goal."In her golf career so far, Ko has won the Evian Championship and the ANA Inspiration. She has also come within just a few shots of winning the other three majors, finishing second at the Women's PGA Championship in 2016, as well as tying third at the US Women's Open and the Women's British Open. "And I'm sure I'll be very, very happy, but I think sometimes results are so overrated and me being happy off the golf course, I think is the best thing that will make me happy on the course as well."READ: Leona Maguire: the 26-year-old who shocked the golf world as unbeaten Solheim Cup rookieKo is presented with a photo board displaying her wins following her arrival at Auckland International Airport on September 18, 2013 in New Zealand.Fast starterStarting fast is something Ko knows all about. As well as her record-breaking victory at the New South Wales Women's Open in 2012 aged 14, she became the youngest winner of a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour event in the same year.When she was 17, she set an LPGA record for most money earned by a rookie, raking in $2,089,033. In 2015, Ko became the youngest player in the "modern era" (post-1900) of either gender to win a major championship, winning the Evian Championship as an 18-year-old.Ko poses with the trophy after winning LPGA Taiwan Championship on October 25, 2015.However, after winning the Mediheal Championship in 2018, her fortunes changed. For the first time in her young career, Ko endured a barren spell, entering 37 events between 2019 and 2020, failing to win one and finishing in the top 10 just eight times. Ko remembers when she was struggling for form and was searching for her "consistency," adding that she was "definitely overthinking and trying to overanalyze.""I think before I used to not be that type of person and when you're struggling, you're trying to find answers and trying to dig deeper and deeper and deeper," the 24-year-old said. "And sometimes it's good because you're able to go in and kind of see from the basic, but sometimes you can over complicate it. "And in my case, I had done that and working with Sean (Foley), he was able to clear some of the questions in my head and he's been just as helpful, mentally and taking stuff that was unnecessarily in my mind, as well as the technique."She admits that during her barren streak, she wasn't even really putting herself in contention, something Ko struggled with psychologically. Ko plays a shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the BMW Ladies Championship.Bouncing backBut this year Ko has enjoyed a renaissance.She ended her winless run at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii and won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She called the opportunity to represent New Zealand in Japan a "huge honor."And earlier in November, she romped to a dominant five-shot victory at the Saudi Ladies International. The victory at the event, which boasts one of the richest prizes on the Ladies European Tour (LET) schedule -- a $1 million prize fund -- moves her up to fifth in the world rankings and cements herself as one of the form players in world golf. Despite the early career success, Ko believes the 2021 season is her "most consistent" ever. Ko says her consistency this year can be partly explained by the lessons she learned when her form dipped. Ko poses with her bronze medal on the podium during the victory ceremony of the women's golf competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games."I think there was a time where I tried to chase to be the person that I was maybe when I was playing ... When I was No. 1," she said. "But another player told me that you can't try and be your past, you have to be the best version of yourself in the present. And I think that really hit me. "It kind of sounds like common sense, but when you're actually doing it and you're struggling, it doesn't seem like common sense. And when she told me that, I was like: 'Wow, that's so true.' And I think it just made me focus more on the now and not try and be somebody that I was before."Already in her eighth year on tour, Ko is not one of the junior players anymore. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosAlthough she began the sport with the aim of retiring by the age of 30, she's the happiest she's been in her life "on and off the golf course," something that's set her up for success in the future. "I think just being happy off the golf course, that translates being on the golf course as well," Ko explained. "And just how I approach playing and how I approach coming to the golf course every day, kind of the mood that I'm in. And I think at the end of the day, golf and being out here is work, but you still have to enjoy it. And the time that when you don't enjoy it anymore, it's not worth it. "So yeah, it's a grind, but I'm still having a lot of fun and enjoying it and trying to embrace more that: 'Hey, sometimes it's not all going to be sunny days and good days. You just still have to kind of move on and try your best.' And as long as you try your best, that's kind of it."

Sean Coppack, CNN

2021-11-04 09:46:52

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/04/golf/iceland-reshape-living-golf-spt-intl/index.html

How Iceland could reshape the world of golf - CNN

Iceland may seem like an unlikely golfing power.

golf, How Iceland could reshape the world of golf - CNN

How Iceland could reshape the world of golf

(CNN)Iceland may seem like an unlikely golfing power. With short summers and harsh winters, this island in the North Atlantic Ocean isn't the most obvious location for manicured fairways and greens. However, Iceland is experiencing a golfing boom unlike almost anywhere else in the world and the golfing culture here could help to reshape the sport as we know it.Situated half an hour's drive north of the capital city Reykjavik is Brautarholt Golf Course. Laid out across a dramatic cliff-lined peninsula, Brautarholt is the brainchild of founder Gunnar Palsson. "This used to be agricultural land, but that had been declining," Palsson tells CNN Sport. "This land has been in the family for hundreds of years and there were some generational shifts and we decided to build a golf course." Read MoreREAD: Leona Maguire: the 26-year-old who shocked the golf world as unbeaten Solheim Cup rookie Photos: How Iceland could reshape the world of golfThe tee shot on the par 5 16th hole at the Westman Island Golf Club. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: How Iceland could reshape the world of golfThe green on the par 5 16th hole at the Westman Island Golf Club.Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: How Iceland could reshape the world of golfA view over the course from the clubhouse at the Sudurnesja Golf Club. Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: How Iceland could reshape the world of golfThe green on the eighth hole at Geysir Golf Club with the steam from the natural Geysirs behind.Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: How Iceland could reshape the world of golfThe par 4 third hole at Keilir Golf Club in Hafnarfjordur.Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: How Iceland could reshape the world of golfA view looking back down the par 5 first hole at Brautarholt Golf Course.Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: How Iceland could reshape the world of golfThe par 3 third hole at the Sudurnesja Golf Club.Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: How Iceland could reshape the world of golfPlayers on the green at Brautarholt Golf Course. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: How Iceland could reshape the world of golfThe par 3 18th hole at the Akureyri Golf Club. Hide Caption 9 of 9Do courses need 18-holes? Opening originally as a nine-hole course in 2011 before expanding to 12, Brautarholt was designed by renowned Icelandic architect Edwin Roald. Roald has attracted plenty of attention in recent years with his "why 18-holes?" movement, a philosophy that suggests golf course design would be improved if architects worked to create the best course for the space they have, rather than cling onto the "antiquated" notion that every course must be 18-holes long.JUST WATCHEDGolf in the land of fire and iceReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGolf in the land of fire and ice 03:13"When you have limited resources, you are forced to use what nature has given you," Roald told Links magazine in 2017. "If only you could break away from the constraints of having someone else tell you how many holes you must build. "It is the same as writing books, or making movies. Imagine if all books had to be exactly 200 pages, or a film had to last 95 minutes. Would they be as good?"Despite comprising of only 12 holes, Brautarholt has been internationally recognized as one of the world's finest courses. In 2020, it was ranked No. 64 in a list of the World's Top-100 courses by Golfscape, alongside the likes of Pebble Beach and St. Andrews.A blueprint? With a short golf season in Iceland and long winters, golf clubs in the country are looking to find innovative ways of extending the season and making golf accessible to youth players all year round. The Iceland men's football team made headlines around the world for their exploits at the European Championships in 2016, reaching the quarterfinals and qualifying for their first World Cup in 2018. The women's team also qualified for three consecutive European championships from 2009 to 2017 having never previously qualified for a major tournament.Much of the national team's remarkable success has been attributed to the country's investment in state of the art, indoor facilities and excellent coaching, a blueprint that may end up being replicated in golf. JUST WATCHEDDuglegur: The World Cup & football in IcelandReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDuglegur: The World Cup & football in Iceland 17:11The GKG Club in Reykjavik is one of Iceland's largest golf clubs, comprised of an 18-hole course plus a nine-hole, par-3 course. With a thriving junior program and active membership, the club has recently invested in a state of the art $10 million indoor facility to allow members to practice throughout the year.Situated beneath the clubhouse, the indoor facility consists of a putting green, chipping area and 16 Track Man golf simulators, allowing users to play approximately 100 courses from around the world. Ulfar Jonsson is GKG's Sporting Director and has seen firsthand the impact the facility has made. "We see our younger players are getting technically more advanced and better. So we're seeing better swings."We encourage obviously all our players to play as much as they can out on the course over the summertime, but then they can come in here and work on the technique during the winter." Having had limited success on the world's biggest tours, Haukur Orn Birgisson -- the president of the Icelandic Golf Union and the European Golf Association -- believes that the investment in facilities like the one at GKG could lead to results for Icelandic players at the highest level."When you think about it, we have a golfing season that spans for about five, six months. So having indoor practice facilities means a lot and with new technology, these facilities have become so advanced. GKG is a perfect example of that. So now you have club members playing golf in wintertime, albeit indoors and in simulators, but it's important for their development. "It's important for the junior development as well. You can look at football, for example. Fifteen years ago, they started having these indoor football facilities and a few years later, our national teams qualified for the European Championship and the World Cup. So there you go, it's important," he says. The facility at GKG has also provided a valuable social element to the club. "Now, we have an all-year facility -- before, it was mainly a summer sport ... Now, all the golfers come in and they're playing with their friends in the simulators, enjoying a meal and a drink afterwards. So it's been fantastic for the morale of the club," Jonsson explains. A simulator is used at the indoor facility at GKG. SustainabilityAs well as being acknowledged as one of the finest courses to play, Brautarholt is also looking to become the most sustainable golf course on the planet. "Here in Iceland, more or less all of our energy is renewable, so we thought it would be a good idea to move in that direction here," Palsson explains. Having embraced hydro and geothermal energy, nearly 100% of Iceland's electricity comes from renewable sources. Looking to take advantage of the country's clean energy, Palsson has invested in a fleet of 30 automated electric mowers.READ: The world is banking on giant carbon-sucking fans to clean our climate mess. It's a big risk."We're at a point now where mowers running on electricity take care of approximately 98% of the golf course," Palsson says.Managing the fleet of small, orange mowers is the job of course manager and head green keeper Einar Jonasson. "Yes, our little friends. They are just a different way of thinking of cutting the grass." An electric mower used in Iceland's Brautarholt golf course. With a series of cables laid out around the course, the mowers are programmed to stay on the fairways and can be in action around the clock. As well as providing an environmental benefit, they have also allowed Jonasson to concentrate on other elements of course maintenance. In addition to a carbon footprint that is close to zero, Brautarholt is also maintained without the use of chemicals and with Iceland's year-round rainfall, there is little need for any irrigation. "Our golf course is in a spectacular location and visitors come here to enjoy that nature. We don't want to harm the environment in the anyway possible, so we don't care if you see any weeds in the fairway, we don't want to harm anything," Jonasson explains.Having recently invested in a state of the art, electric, ride-on-mower for tees and greens, Brautarholt is looking to set a new, sustainable standard for golf course management."I think we are the greenest golf course in the world," Palsson says with pride. One of a kindDespite Iceland's population of less than 400,000, the country is home to a remarkable 65 golf courses -- and among them are some of the most spectacular courses you're likely to find anywhere in the world. "I would encourage everyone to come to play here," says Birgisson. "The nature here is second to none ... When you play golf in Iceland, you get to experience that nature as well. You can play golf in lava fields, you can play golf in volcanic craters, on the banks of glacier rivers, with hot springs blowing up like Geysir right next to you with water hazards that are made out of boiling water. You can't get closer to nature while playing golf." With the country situated almost equidistant to the US and Europe, is there any chance of one of golf's major tours taking a tournament to Iceland in the future?"One day, it could be possible. Imagine a PGA Tour event being played in the midnight sun that we have here in June and July, it would be fantastic," says Birgisson. Bright futureGiven the standard of the courses in Iceland, it's little wonder that golf has experienced huge growth in the country and now ranks as one of the most popular sports. "Golf has risen enormously over the past 10-15 years, and we've actually almost tripled our numbers in the past two decades," says Birgisson, "But the last two years have been explosive and now we have over 6% of the entire population that are actually members of a golf club."But at the same time, we have probably about 40,000 that actually play golf. So 12% of the population plays golf and that I think that's -- that must be a world record."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"It's also worth mentioning that the level of female participation has arisen from 10% to 33% in that time," he adds.With participation continuing to grow and innovative new courses and facilities, Iceland is quickly becoming one of the most exciting golfing destinations in the world. With momentum on his side, Birgisson is confident that things are just getting started."We couldn't be happier, it's safe to say that the future of Icelandic golf is looking very bright."

Ben Morse, Sean Coppack and Shane O'Donoghue, CNN

2021-08-25 07:52:29

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/25/golf/arnold-palmer-jack-nicklaus-gary-player-golf-spc-spt-intl/index.html

How Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus revolutionized golf - CNN

They were golf's band of brothers. "The Golden Bear," "The King" and "The Black Knight" shared 34 major wins between them and irrevocably changed the sport they played.

golf, How Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus revolutionized golf - CNN

The power of three: How Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus revolutionized golf

(CNN)They were golf's band of brothers. "The Golden Bear," "The King" and "The Black Knight" shared 34 major wins between them and irrevocably changed the sport they played.Through a combination of Arnold Palmer's "swashbuckling" style of play, Gary Player's sheer willpower and Jack Nicklaus' utter brilliance, this triumvirate of golf greats catapulted the game into the modern era. If the trio came to redefine how golf was played between the late 1950s and the early 1980s, unusually for sporting rivals, they also formed lasting relationships along the way -- so much so that the wives of Nicklaus and Palmer were best friends too. "We were a big three in friendship, like brothers," the 85-year-old Player told CNN's Living Golf. "We traveled to China, we'd travel to South Africa, all over Europe. "We went all over the world, Australia, everywhere together. And we basically lived together, playing a lot of television matches and exhibitions together."Read MorePlayer remembers having a confrontation with Palmer on one of his courses, but the "affection" they had for each other made it easier to reconcile. "We went in and we had lunch together and I can vividly remember, we were both crying because I think we had such affection for each other that we didn't want it to have an effect on our friendship. And so we laughed together as well as crying together."JUST WATCHEDHow Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus revolutionized golfReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus revolutionized golf 07:28'That man's going to be a champion'Palmer was the first of the trio to attain golf superstar status. Even the great Nicklaus, the man who has won the most majors in a professional golf career, admitted that he was part of "Arnie's army" during his early years. Nicklaus remembers putting a driving clinic on in Athens, Ohio as an 18-year-old with Palmer and outdriving his rival by 40 yards.Nicklaus remembers saying to Palmer: "I just knocked it by you 40 yards." Palmer replied: "Yeah, but I shot 63 and you shot 67."South African Player recalls seeing Palmer hitting balls on a practice tee in 1957 and thinking: "Well, that man's going to be a champion."Player's prediction was prescient. A year later Palmer won his first major title, claiming the famous Green Jacket as a 28-year-old. He was to don the Masters' Green Jacket three more times, as well as winning the US Open in 1960 and the Open Championship twice. Assisted by his agent Mark McCormack -- who would eventually represent both Nicklaus and Player -- Palmer became a global superstar, traveling around the world to showcase his skills with his clubs and aided by the charisma he "oozed," according to the South African golf legend. Palmer smiles during the presentation ceremony at the 1958 Masters tournament.His passion for the game was prodigious, according to Player."Even as he got older, he really couldn't break 90, but he still wanted to go out there and play with the members and with people," Player said.Palmer's rise to prominence was accompanied by the advent of widespread television across the US allowing people across the country to watch him win his maiden majors. "They loved the common man who rose to the top and slew all the dragons," Nicklaus explained. But it was Palmer's style of play on the course which really made him such a likeable player to spectators. The 18-time major winner Nicklaus calls him a "Robin Hood" of sorts. "He seemed like he wanted to hit it into the woods, so he could hit a spectacular shot out and thrill everybody," he said. "And he did that. He hit it in the woods a lot, and he had these spectacular shots that everybody related to. "And he excited everybody. He hitched up his pants and had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth."Palmer plays a shot from the bunker at the seventh hole at the Desert Inn Country Club.CompetitivenessThe competitive nature of golf's self-professed "Big Three" drove them onto bigger and better things.Nicklaus and Palmer often played themselves out of contention for tournaments, such was the competitive fire between the two, according to the 18-time major winner.Nicklaus especially remembers the 1975 Masters, in which they were both near the top of the leaderboard after two rounds. "We were playing the third round and I shot 73 and Arnold shot 75. And we shook hands on the last hole and he says: 'We did it again. Here we are shooting ourselves out of the tournament.' "I came back, shot a good last round and ended up winning the tournament. But Arnold effectively shot himself out of the tournament. And that's not the way to play golf. "You play golf by controlling yourself. And you're the only person who you can control, not the field. So you have to take that into consideration, but we didn't. We were too stubborn. We were too competitive."Including his 18 majors, Nicklaus won 73 PGA Tour victories -- the third most ever. Palmer collected 62 PGA Tour victories, the fifth most ever. Player had 24 PGA Tour victories, while also racking up a remarkable 116 international wins. Player draws similarities between the trio's passion and drive and the competitive spirit that Tiger Woods -- the 15-time major winner and tied for the most ever PGA Tour victories -- brings to the game. "We were as fierce as competitors that the world has ever seen," says Player."But the thing is we had great affection for each other. When we were on the golf course and we made it very clear: 'I want to beat you. And if you beat me, I'll look you in the eye and say well done.'"Palmer and Player follow the flight of Nicklaus' tee shot at the Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio in 1965.Changing opinionsWhile the Open Championship is one of the most sought-after accolades in golf globally, that wasn't always the case. Player had won the major in 1959, but before Palmer made his first appearance there a year later, very few American golfers had made the journey over to the UK to participate in the tournament.Arriving as the reigning Masters and US Open champion, Palmer brought a certain level of cachet to his compatriots watching back home on his way to a second place finish, according to Nicklaus. "The Scots loved him. And playing at St. Andrew's and Kel Nagle beats him by a shot. And all of a sudden, all American players wanted to go to the British Open," said Nicklaus.Nicklaus, Palmer and Player are pictured at the Open Championship in 1970 at St. Andrew's.Fast forward to the 149th Open at Royal St. George's in July and 51 US golfers featured in the 156 strong field, including eventual winner Collin Morikawa. Although Player says the Open "would be what it is today without" Palmer's influence, he does believe that the American's arrival at the event helped bring extra eyeballs to it back in the US."The Open Championship with Ben Hogan and Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen and Peter Thomson and Roberto De Vicenzo and you can go down the list of hundreds of guys that helped make the Open, this great championship. "Did Arnold Palmer enhance it when he came across? Yes. Here was this charismatic man playing so well in America, comes across, certainly, it did the Open an immense amount of good, but we can never give one man the credit for the greatest championship in the world."Palmer, Player and Nicklaus pose with their golf clubs before a practice round at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.Since his death in 2016, Palmer has been honored throughout the game of golf and the even by the US Postal Service -- they issued a commemorative stamp honoring the golfing great in 2020."I think most of the guys realized what Arnold did for the game was more than anybody else," said Nicklaus, as he paid tribute to his "hero."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"His influence in the game, his demeanor, the way he handled himself, he needed to be stately when he needed to be stately, presidential when he needed to be presidential, humble when he needed to be humble. Arnold did a great job of all that. And I think we all owe him a great deal,' adds Nicklaus."Not only do the pros owe him a great deal, the game of golf owes him a great deal. It's been five years, but I miss my buddy.Nicklaus looks up to the sky to honor Palmer before hitting an honorary first tee shot for the ceremonial start of the first round of the Masters in 2017."I talked to him about two weeks before he passed. And he was his typical self. I said: 'How's it going, AP?' He said: 'I think I'm getting ready to go out and hit some balls. I'm really feeling good. As best as I've felt in a long time, I'm looking forward to getting out there.' "He wasn't anymore near getting ready to go hit golf balls than a man on the moon, but he didn't want me to know anything different. So I gave him credit for that, and for that, I love him. We'll miss him forever."

Ben Morse, CNN

2021-04-06 07:41:48

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/06/golf/moe-norman-golf-ball-striking-cmd-spc-spt-intl/index.html

Moe Norman: The 'Rain Man of golf' who amazed even the greats of the sport - CNN

Whether it's because of his funky clothing, eccentric personality or highly distinctive swing, Moe Norman -- dubbed golf's "Rain Man" -- didn't fit into the sport's traditional mold.

golf, Moe Norman: The 'Rain Man of golf' who amazed even the greats of the sport - CNN

Moe Norman: The 'Rain Man of golf' who amazed even the greats of the sport

(CNN)Whether it's because of his funky clothing, eccentric personality or highly distinctive swing, Moe Norman -- dubbed golf's "Rain Man" -- didn't fit into the sport's traditional mold."Like Raymond [Babbitt], Moe spoke in staccato bursts," golf coach and author Tim O'Connor, who has written a book about Norman, told CNN Sport, as he compared the Canadian golfer to the Oscar-winning film's leading character."'Golf's like a walk in the park, walk in the park' ... He repeated himself," adds O'Connor, describing Norman's speech mannerisms. "He had this sort of sing-songy lilt to his voice and his eyes would kind of go all over the place."But like Babbitt, Norman's unusual personality was accompanied by a touch of genius -- such was his golf skill it earned him the self-proclaimed title of "the best ball striker who ever lived." In an age when golfing legends like Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Lee Trevino regularly swept up major titles, Norman only appeared in the Masters twice, but his accuracy still attracted the respect of many of his fellow players, and has earned him cult status.Read MoreThrough his highly distinctive "single plane swing" -- which he created, practiced and perfected himself and which current players, such as U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, have now taken elements from -- Norman was able to repeatedly hit the same spot on the fairway or green with unerring regularity. Despite that, the Canadian isn't a household name.Whether it was shyness around newcomers, his "eccentric" personality or the fact he never enjoyed the same success on the PGA Tour as his contemporaries, those who knew him say Norman often just didn't fit in."We live in this culture in which we celebrate celebrity and those who achieved at the highest level. Moe did not do that," O'Connor -- author of "The Feeling of Greatness: The Moe Norman Story" -- told CNN Sport. "Moe was just this beautiful character. He was a very complicated person."And I think maybe if Moe came around in the last 20 years, maybe we would have embraced his eccentricities and he could have flourished a little bit more."READ: There's a dearth of Black players on the LPGA Tour. This woman wants that to changeWhile Norman's character was described as "eccentric", his accuracy was legendary in golf. Different from the outset Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, in 1929, as a child Norman enjoyed spending his days with friends or playing hockey. However, once he discovered golf, his life began to change, but at some cost O'Connor says.As Norman's interest in golf blossomed, fueled further by regularly caddying at a local club, his working-class family questioned why he chose to play a sport often associated with the more elite members of society. Despite Norman's ever-increasing passion for the game, his family "totally rejected it," resulting in Norman's ignoring their support when they eventually came to watch him years later, according to O'Connor. "His family was opposed to this thing that he loved," O'Connor explained. "And it really caused the schism in the family and really total estrangement."During his late teens and early twenties, Norman dedicated himself to perfecting his "single plane swing," so that he could routinely hit the ball wherever he wanted with remarkable accuracy.The "single plane swing" was Norman's attempt to improve shot efficiency and remove the number of variables involved. Addressing the ball, Norman ensured the club's shaft position was maintained at impact and he did so by using a wide stance, outstretched pose and aligned hands. It was a swing that synchronized the movements of the hips, shoulders, arms and hands. Norman at Oakdale Golf Club in 1977. Such was his dedication to perfecting his swing, there are stories of Norman spending so much time on the practice range that by the time he left, his palms were bloody from the repetition of his practice.Later in his career, Norman would run clinics for fans, during which he would showcase his accuracy. He'd even attract the attention of fellow professionals, such was his precision. Yet for Norman, winning tournaments wasn't the end goal. The process of clean ball striking was more "spiritual" for him -- something he described to O'Connor as being the "the feeling of greatness."Professional Todd Graves spent a year trying to learn Norman's swing from a video tape given to him by a friend; but he says his first experience of seeing the Canadian hitting balls close up still blew him away."I don't think I've ever seen anybody do what Moe could do to a golf ball, as far as the consistency of the flight, the windows he would hit the golf ball and with just such simplicity," Graves -- co-founder of 'Graves Golf Academy' -- told CNN Sport. READ: A Tiger's trek: The life and times of golf's biggest starGraves watching Norman in Pine Needles, South Carolina, 1998.'Very strange'Only really trusting of his closest friends, Norman could come across as "very strange" if you didn't know him, according to O'Connor, who recounts how the golfer once ran from a restaurant mid-interview -- for Norman's own book -- simply to alleviate the uneasiness that he experienced around a particular line of questioning. Given these personality traits, O'Connor says some people have subsequently hypothesized that Norman might have been on the autism spectrum. Included on the list of symptoms for autism by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are avoiding eye contact and wanting to be alone, repeating or echoing words or phrases or repeating "words or phrases in place of normal language," and not being able to relate to others or "not have an interest in other people at all." Every one of these symptoms, in retrospect, could have applied to Norman. Norman with tour players, at the Telus Skins Game at the National Golf Club of Canada in 1995. However, in researching his book, O'Connor uncovered another possible theory to explain Norman's personality traits. When Norman was about five years old, he was out sledding with a friend and, as they slid across a road, he was hit in the forehead by the tire of a reversing car, according to O'Connor.Because there were no broken bones, his family didn't take him to the hospital and the neuroscientists O'Connor interviewed theorized that Norman's different personality might have been due to a frontal lobe brain injury. "He knew what was important in life. He was just unable to express it in ways that a lot of people would. He didn't get jokes at all. And he just lived within this very confined area of golf and came off as a strange character to a lot of people," said O'Connor. READ: How otters and beavers returned to one of the world's greatest golf coursesNorman felt that he was "wasn't given the respect" he deserved during his time in golf. Feeling at homeOn a golf course, however, Norman was in his element.O'Connor recalls stories of Norman chatting easily with spectators during rounds and even taking bets from onlookers about whether he could bounce a ball off his driver more than 100 times or hit a ball into their shirt pockets. Graves, who is also the executive producer of an upcoming documentary on Norman, remembers speaking to former PGA of Canada professional Henry Brunton about the change in Norman's demeanor on and off the course.While Brunton describes Norman as being "supremely confident" with a club in his hand, when faced with just his fellow players in the clubhouse, he was "like a 12-year-old kid.""He was intimidated. He didn't understand how to act around other players. He was so intimidated by his peers," Brunton told Graves.Although he enjoyed great success in his native Canada, Norman struggled on the bigger stage of the US PGA Tour. While he racked up over 60 wins on the Canadian Tour, Norman played in 27 events on the PGA Tour across 15 years, finishing in the top 10 only once, earning just $7,139.He also played in five Senior PGA Tour events, in which he earned $22,900 in prize money. He only appeared twice in the four majors, playing in the Masters in 1956 and 1957. According to Graves, adjusting to life on the road in a new country and without the familiarity of his support system proved tough for Norman.He also had to endure at least one alleged incident of bullying from unnamed fellow professionals. In just his second year on the Tour, he was cornered by two players in the midst of a tournament -- in which Norman was in contention -- and told: "You got to stop fooling around, take a caddy, stop with the big tees," according to O'Connor.The PGA of America -- which ran the tour before the modern day PGA Tour was established in 1968 -- have not responded to CNN's request for comment. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosPallbearers acccompany the coffin of Canadian golf legend Norman."That led to a lifetime of Moe feeling that he didn't feel that he belonged and he was not welcome there," added O'Connor. "Because he just had this sense that they didn't like him. And if Moe had the sense that people had it in for him, or that they were up here and he was here or if he felt slighted by you, he would write you off."In later life, money was also an issue for Norman. According to Golf Digest in 1995, the golfer was living in a $400-a-month motel room and kept his clothes in his car. Later in life, golf manufacturer Titleist paid Norman $5,000 a month for the rest of his life due to his service to the sport. Just a few years later, in 2004, Moe Norman died at the age of 75. And although he did not achieve the tournament-winning success that his contemporaries enjoyed, the legacy of this true golfing pioneer and self-proclaimed "best ball striker who ever lived" should not be forgotten.

Tom Pilcher, for CNN

2021-06-05 11:00:27

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/05/golf/moms-daughters-in-golf-cmd-spc-spt-intl/index.html

US Women's Open: Juggling a pro golf career when you're a Mom - CNN

Arms and hips not in sync? Struggling with your game? Try carrying an unborn child while you plot your way around the course.

golf, US Women's Open: Juggling a pro golf career when you're a Mom - CNN

Juggling a pro golf career when you're a Mom

(CNN)Arms and hips not in sync? Struggling with your game? Try carrying an unborn child while you plot your way around the course.Twenty years ago, this is exactly what amateur Brenda Corrie-Kuehn -- eight months pregnant -- did at the US Women's Open at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club alongside playing partner Jennifer Greggain, who was well into her second trimester.Their scores were not the best and they were not the quickest around the course -- they were even put on the clock by officials given the number of toilet "pit stop" breaks Corrie-Kuehn had to quite naturally make.Yet the mother-of-three finished with a birdie and defied her obstetrician-gynecologist, who thought she was too close to the due date to be on a golf course in 80-degree heat."I said to her: 'Over my dead body.' I qualified for this, I worked hard to get there, I am going to play," Corrie-Kuehn told CNN Sport.Read MoreA week later, daughter Rachel was born, and her 56-year-old mom will have inspired others to carry on living life when your tummy and your doctors are telling you no.Corrie-Kuehn tees off during the first round of the 56th U.S. Women's Open Championship at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina, on Thursday, May 31, 2001."It was not pretty. I don't remember what I did, but there's a point towards the end of your pregnancy where you just get big very quickly," said the nine-time US Open veteran."I think that happened between the time of qualifying for the Open and the actual event itself, and it's hard to fire the hips with the added weight, so my swing changed and I couldn't hit it very far. But I was glad to be there."A lot of people asked me: 'How could you play that way?' What I was trying to show was it's part of life. I had some physical restrictions and after the US Open I played in a cart at home before Rachel was born."What I was trying to show was just because you're pregnant, and unless you have a medical condition, you can do the same things you did before you were pregnant and after you deliver. That was my message."With such golfing genes -- Corrie-Kuehn's mother was a Venezuelan national champion and so was her dad -- it's little wonder Rachel followed in her mom's footsteps to the renowned Wake Forest University in North Carolina where she also excels at golf, narrowly missing out on the Augusta National Women's Amateur finale at Augusta earlier this year.She has the most avid supporter in her mom, whose advice for any pregnant golfer is to watch how long you spend practicing on the greens."It affected my distance a lot. Imagine having a 30-pound ball in front of you and trying to fire your hips, you would lose your balance. So my swing became very armsy and rhythmical."But there's no reason for the short game not to be good -- although you cannot sit and practice your putting for a long time because your back kills you."READ: Patty Tavatanakit: The golfer who admits it's 'odd' to think she's a major winnerStrong momsThree-time major champion Nancy Lopez has three daughters and won events while pregnant in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2003, France's Patricia Meunier-Lebouc played the Solheim Cup four months pregnant, taking some handy advice from Carin Koch, the Swede having played the 2002 competition at 12 weeks.In 2005, Laura Diaz and Iben Tinning met in the biennial competition, American Diaz six months pregnant and Dane Tinning 16 weeks.In the world of long drive championships, Lisa 'Longball' Vlooswyk became the first competitor in the field to throw her added weight into the biggest drives in the game.In turn, she inspired five-times world champion Sandra Carlborg from Sweden, who was pummeling 300+ yard drives in the 2019 tournament when she was 24 weeks pregnant with her daughter Ebba."We had a medical tent because it was very hot that day, the medical guy was cooling me down with ice between sets," Carlborg told CNN."I felt safe and he said: 'As long as you feel good, it's ok.' I promised him if I felt anything uncomfortable, I would stop competing," said the 37-year-old, who hit 80 balls at full tilt that day and whose longest drive is 401 yards, five shy of the world record.Now expecting her second daughter, due in September, Carlborg has used the Covid-19 lockdowns to start a podcast called PowerMamas in Sweden to help empower new mothers.Carlborg is pictured playing on the World Long Drive Championship in 2016."I'm getting weaker and weaker again so I'm really looking forward to coming back as a strong athlete for next year. My goal is to be my strongest me -- stronger than I've ever been and swing it faster than I ever have."Many people say women are stronger after they've been a mom."Carlborg gets some of her positive outlook from the way her sponsors initially took the news she was having her first baby."It's a big difference nowadays. I was very nervous when I told my sponsors I was pregnant with Ebba, wondering what they were going to say, but I think that's been a big change in the past few years, in all sports."I'm happy that we live not like 10-15 years ago, people always used to say: 'When you have kids. you're out of your sport.' I hope more ladies are thinking that having kids won't stop them from being a high-level athlete."Former Great Britain rower Baz Moffat founded the Well HQ earlier in 2021 with two doctors -- one of whom, Dr Emma Ross, has written a chapter on women and pregnancies in golf as part of a female athlete health book."Pregnancy and post-natal recovery in sport is a really, really new thing. Brenda is a real one-off," Moffat told CNN."It's only really since Serena Williams in 2014 that this has become more of a thing, in terms of more women sandwiching in children within their careers -- as opposed to just pushing their careers right up until the point they want to have children and that being the number one reason they retire from sport."Mother-of-two Moffat, who trained with the Great Britain Olympic team between 2004-08, said the change has been massive from her day as an elite athlete post the Beijing Games."I don't think there were any moms in the world of international sport back then. A few people tried to leave, have children and come back again, within a four-year cycle, but the support systems weren't there. "If the number one reason women are leaving their sport early is to have children, how can we support them throughout that? It's not perfect now, but there are examples of women doing it fantastically."READ: 'Everybody loves to hate the villain,' says Shooter McGavin 25 years on from 'Happy Gilmore'Laura Diaz shelters from the sun on the fifth hole during the friday morning foursomes matches in the 2005 Solheim Cup.Even par one day, a little birdie the nextBack at Wake Forest University, Kuehn's teammate Emilia Migliaccio is the talk of US amateur golf after making the playoff at Augusta but losing to a clutch par from 17-year-old Japanese star Tsubasa Kajitani.Like Kuehn, her mom too was a brilliant talent. Ulrika Migliaccio represented the University of Arizona and also played alongside fellow Swede and 10-time major winner Annika Sorenstam. So when Ulrika donned the famous white Augusta boiler suit to caddie for her daughter in April, it made Emilia gush with pride as she thought back to her mom as a golfer, not least playing the game pregnant."I think the day before my mom had me, she played a round of golf and shot even par," the 22-year-old told CNN, a huge smile breaking out across her face."She was playing with two men who looked at each other and said: 'Really? We're playing this pregnant lady?' Then she totally tore it up!"Migliaccio her caddie and mom, Ulrika after losing on the first playoff hole to Tsubasa Kajitani during the Augusta National Women's Amateur tournament.Migliaccio grew up aspiring to play sport professionally, has rubbed shoulders on team events with the likes of Patty Tavatanakit, Collin Morikawa, Jennifer Kupcho and Viktor Hovland and plays the game to a level most people can only dream about. Yet she has decided to follow her mom's footsteps in not joining the professional ranks."She didn't really like living out of a suitcase, and decided the professional track wasn't going to be for her. When I was questioning my career path, my mom shared her experience and she's given me a lot of guidance."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosLike Ulrika Migliaccio that day on the course, Carlborg has a lesson for some male golfers too."Back in 2019, when I was 30 weeks pregnant, I was telling guys at an event not to complain about their big stomachs, they're not stopping you hitting it far!"So hopefully I can inspire a lot of people from being pregnant."

Ben Morse, CNN

2021-07-02 08:33:27

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/02/golf/charlie-sifford-black-pga-tour-golf-cmd-spc-spt-intl/index.html

Charlie Sifford: golf's first Black professional who paved the way for Tiger Woods - CNN

When Charlie Sifford tried to play with the White golfers, he was told no.

golf, Charlie Sifford: golf's first Black professional who paved the way for Tiger Woods - CNN

Charlie Sifford: golf's first Black professional who paved the way for Tiger Woods

(CNN)When Charlie Sifford tried to play with the White golfers, he was told no. When he politely asked again after participating in events solely for Black players, he was on the receiving end of racist abuse or even death threats. But Sifford did not give up.With the backing of California attorney general Stanley Mosk and with fellow trailblazer Jackie Robinson by his side, Sifford became the first Black player to play on the PGA Tour in 1959.And if you visit the Tiger Woods exhibition at the National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., you'll see a photo of Sifford. Read MoreTiger Woods with Sifford during a practice round of the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational in 2009.In breaking through the 'Caucasian only' clause in golf, Sifford helped open the door for other Black golfers, including the most famous Black golfer of all time, Woods. And it's something Woods recognized, saying in 2015 following Sifford's death that he himself might not have been a professional golfer if it hadn't been for Sifford. "He's like the Grandpa I never had," Woods said after a practice round in advance of the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, the day after Sifford's death. "It's been a long night, and I'm sure it will be a long few days. He fought, and what he did, the courage for him to stick with it and be out here and play."I probably wouldn't be here (without Sifford). My dad would never have picked up the game. Who knows if the clause would still exist or not? But he broke it down."While Sifford was the first Black player to make it through in golf, he had someone close to him to lean on. Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball as a player in 1947, was a friend of Sifford's, and from his own experiences, passed on some advice to the golfer before he started his journey to make it onto the Tour. "Jackie told him that he's going to have to face up to a lot of things, not respond to a lot of things because once he did that, it would be harder for him and harder for the people coming up behind him," Charles Sifford, Charlie's son, remembers. "So he kept a stiff upper lip, bit his tongue and just dealt with what was presented towards him because he knew if he messed up that it would be even harder for the next guy coming along."READ: Phil Mickelson's 'simply amazing' win and a victory against his doubtersSifford studies a shot in the FHP Health Classic at the Ojai Inn Country Club in Ojai, California.Having to moveBorn in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1922, Sifford got into golf through the only avenue available to a young, Black kid -- caddying. But he wanted to play the game -- at the age of 13, he could shoot a par round of 18 holes -- and not carry someone else's bag. However, growing up in the age of segregation, opportunities for him to gain experience on courses weren't easy to come by. He did eventually begin playing professionally in 1948, but -- because of the so-called "Caucasian only" clause which blocked Black players from playing with their White counterparts -- Sifford had to settle for playing in Black-only competitions.By the time Sifford was in his 30s, segregation laws were slowly being abandoned, but golf proved less quick in moving with the times."In 1959, you still had the 'Caucasian only' clause, and it was easy to see how it could persist because golf was played on these private clubs, and they were able to continue to enforce the segregation rules," Nancy Churnin -- author of "Charlie Takes His Shot: How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Barrier in Golf" -- told CNN Sport. Sifford practices on the range. "So if you can't step foot in these private clubs, how are you going to play?"Sifford's journey to play on the PGA Tour was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was something he worked to achieve for years. His first attempt to break onto the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) Tour in 1952 was met with vitriol and racial pressure.At the Phoenix Open, Sifford and his all-Black foursome -- which included the heavyweight boxer Joe Louis -- found excrement in the cup of the first hole and had to wait nearly an hour for it to be replaced.Unable to display his ability with all the best players, Sifford took his talents elsewhere -- to great success. He won the United Golf Association's National Negro Open six times, securing consecutive victories from 1952 through 1956. However, his dream was to showcase his abilities on the biggest stage in golf with the best in the business, and that meant making some sacrifices, as his son, Charles, remembers. "When I was about 10 years old, I realized that we lived in Philadelphia, and my father really couldn't play in a lot of tournaments," he told CNN Sport. "There wasn't a lot of exposure to golf on the East Coast so we moved to the West Coast when I was 10. And that's when he told me that in order to succeed or have a chance to succeed, we had to move west."READ: Juggling a pro golf career when you're a MomSifford is presented with the North-South Negro Golf Tournament trophy by night club celebrity Nat "King" Cole. Breaking through Baseball star Robinson was a figure of inspiration and an example of what Sifford hoped to achieve in golf. But Sifford also realized he was going to need some legal help. After his move out to the West Coast of the US, Sifford became friends with California attorney general Stanley Mosk.Mosk was Jewish and had also experienced discrimination firsthand. He played golf at the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, which allowed members from the Jewish community when other clubs didn't allow them access.Award-winning actor Billy Crystal, in his eulogy for Muhammad Ali at the great boxer's funeral in 2016, recalled an incident which highlighted golf's closed-door policy. Ali invited his good friend Crystal to go for a run on a golf course, not realizing that the club didn't allow Jewish members. "(Ali) was incensed: 'I'm a Black Muslim and they let me run there. Little brother, I'm never gonna run there again,'" Crystal remembers Ali saying. Billy Crystal and Muhammad Ali at Audemars Piguet's Time To Give Celebrity Watch Auction For Charity, held at Christie's Auction House in New York City in 2000.Sifford's skill impressed Mosk immediately. And the fact that someone with such ability was unable to perform on the biggest stage angered him. So Mosk set about helping Sifford in his quest to play on the PGA Tour. As the attorney general of California, Mosk was able to bring about some political sway to Sifford's battle. Later, Mosk served as Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court for 37 years -- the longest tenure in that court's history. After years of letters and conversations, Sifford finally earned a PGA Tour player card in 1960 at the age of 39, becoming the first Black player to play on the Tour.A year later, following significant pressure, the PGA Tour dropped its "Caucasian only" membership clause. However, Sifford was consistently subjected to racist abuse from White golfers and spectators. His son Charles also remembers hearing stories about death threats sent to his father during those years. "Several times when he was playing down in the South (region of the US), he had a couple of death threats," Charles explained. "People would call him at his hotel room and told him that if he showed up at the golf course, they were going to kill him. "He said: 'Well, you're just going to have to do that because I'm showing up at the golf course.' So he was just that determined not to let anybody stand in his way and doing what he wanted to do. And he had that drive in him. The more you tried to stop him, the more he was going to try to succeed."READ: 'Everybody loves to hate the villain,' says Shooter McGavin 25 years on from 'Happy Gilmore'An illustration from "Charlie Takes His Shot, How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Line in Golf".Change in the wind Although he was late into his 30s when he made it onto the PGA Tour, Sifford was still able to show he could compete against the best golfers -- despite the hostility he encountered, both on and off the golf course.Churnin recalls reading about hotels that wouldn't rent him rooms or clubs that still wouldn't let him eat with other professionals or use the locker room because of his skin color. However, the 1967 Greater Hartford Open -- now the Travelers Championship -- in Connecticut proved a watershed. "That was the first time the crowd was on his side," according to Churnin. And it appeared to make a difference, as Sifford claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory at the event, becoming the first Black player to earn a PGA Tour win. Sifford is presented a check for $20,000 plus the trophy after winning the Los Angeles Open.Although he wasn't aware his dad had won because there wasn't wall-to-wall TV golf coverage as there is today, Charles remembers a palpable change in Sifford after the momentous victory. "I saw it in the newspaper, and I was really excited for him because that was a lifelong dream to be able to win on the PGA Tour. And it took a lot of pressure off of him. He appeared to be more relaxed knowing that he did it once, and there was always a possibility he could do it again."Sifford would go on to win the 1969 Los Angeles Open (now The Genesis Invitational) as well as the 1975 Senior PGA Championship and become an original member of PGA Tour Champions, where he won the Suntree Classic.In 2004, he became the first Black golfer to be enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame. READ: He was convicted for a crime he didn't commit; now he's selling art to the ObamasSifford during the Ralph's Senior Classic tournament on October 21, 1994 at the Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles.Paving the wayPresident Barack Obama also awarded Sifford the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom "for altering the course of the sport and the country he loved." Although Charles admits that Sifford was "highly disappointed" there hasn't been a huge influx of Black golfers following him, being the first Black player on the PGA Tour was something he was extremely proud of. Churnin says it wasn't for lack of effort or commitment from Sifford that the number of Blacks following in his golfing footsteps wasn't massive.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosThen US President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to Sifford on November 24, 2014."We all have different tools at our disposal," she explained. "Some of us use words; some of us use music; some of us will run for office, some of us will be legal scholars. "We all come into this world and our job as we come into this world is to try to make the world a better place -- a better, a more equal, a more just, a kind, a more loving, a more inclusive place. This is a man who used the tool of the golf club to fight for justice. He knew he was not going to see all the fruits of that fight in his own lifetime. "But he used his golf club for fairness, equality, to make the world a better place for others. And he got to see the promised land from where he was, because now that he knocked down this door, he had made it a place where others behind him could go and realize their dreams on the golf course."

Ben Morse, CNN

2020-09-08 09:19:04

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/08/golf/babe-didrikson-zaharias-golf-lpga-olympics-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The 'greatest all-sport athlete' who helped revolutionize women's golf - CNN

In Beaumont, Texas, there is a small museum dedicated to a female double Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest women golfers of all time.

golf, Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The 'greatest all-sport athlete' who helped revolutionize women's golf - CNN

The 'greatest all-sport athlete' who helped revolutionize women's golf

(CNN)In Beaumont, Texas, there is a small museum dedicated to a female double Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest women golfers of all time. On some days, though, there will only be a handful of guests visiting the facility dedicated to the "greatest all-sport athlete of all time." Even in her hometown, the name Babe Didrikson Zaharias isn't always widely known.Zaharias, who was born in 1911 and named Mildred Ella Didrikson, not only helped transform golf from a predominantly amateur sport into a professional one, but also held multiple Olympic world records.As well as being one of the 13 founding members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in 1950, she went on to win 14 consecutive tournaments at the peak of her career.Van Natta Jr. believes it is "quite disappointing" that Zaharias' name isn't better known given all she did for golf.However, because of Zaharias' love of entertaining the gallery on the golf course with lewd jokes and colorful language, coupled with her refusal to conform to the traditional stereotypes of femininity of the time, she was a pariah amongst her fellow competitors and the subject of sexism and prejudice from the media.Read More"If somebody was looking at Babe and they were sexist or they didn't think that women belonged on a golf course or in a track and field event, she heard a lot of that," Don Van Natta Jr. -- author of "Wonder Girl: The Magnificent Sporting Life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias" -- told CNN Sport."She was criticized for her look; she was criticized for not being ladylike enough. There were comments made in the press, that she should be home sitting by the phone, waiting for a suitor to call her as opposed to being out competing. It was very harsh, negative, critical things. And they hurt her deeply."READ: Why record-breaking drives could change golf as we know itZaharias became a "huge draw" for golf crowds due to her energetic levels on the course, according to Van Natta Jr.'American sports heroine'The daughter of immigrants from Norway, sport always played a big part in Zaharias' life.From baseball and basketball to track and field and tennis, Zaharias seemingly excelled at whichever sport she turned her hand to. She earned her nickname "Babe" as a result of her baseball ability and comparisons between her and Babe Ruth.While she tried golf early on, a career in athletics was Zaharias' primary focus at a young age. Such was her dedication and cross-discipline ability at track and field, stories of Zaharias single-handedly beating entire teams became common across Texas.The pinnacle of her athletic career coincided with the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a time when athletes, unlike today, didn't always specialize in one sport, but often entered multiple disciplines in the hopes of achieving success.Zaharias became a world record holders in the hurdles even before she started playing golf professionally.Women, however, were unable to enter more than three events, so Zaharias participated in the javelin, high jump and 80m hurdles.To this day, she is still the only track and field athlete, male or female, to win individual Olympic medals in running, throwing and jumping events. Zaharias won gold medals in both the hurdles and the javelin, and a silver medal for the high jump, but only after she was adjudged to have used an improper technique in a jump-off after tying with fellow American Jean Shiley.Van Natta Jr. believes that Zaharias could have won more medals had she been allowed to compete in a greater number of events."I don't know about gold medals, but I think she could have medaled in probably at least five [sports]," he said."She came in first place, just among obviously her American counterparts, at the event at Northwestern [University] that was the qualifying event for the Olympics, and she won five of those events. So I believe she could have been medaled in five (javelin, hurdles, high jump, 100m sprint and discus) easily if she had been allowed to."READ: The golfer who drove over 4,000 miles across the US to play in tournamentsZaharias throws the javelin to win the gold medal during the 1932 Olympic Games.BeginningsIn the 1930s, it was difficult for women to earn any sort of living in athletics due to an almost total lack of prize money and sponsorship opportunities."Babe was very much thinking about a way to make a living as a sports woman," Van Natta Jr. said. "And so she figured out that golf was one of the places that you could actually do it, even though a lot of the events were amateur events. But if you succeeded at them, she figured she could market herself and find some income that way."Zaharias took up golf with a "competitiveness that was beyond fierce," Susan Cayleff -- who authored two books about Zaharias' life -- explained."She would drive golf balls until her palms bled and didn't set any kind of realistic limit on herself in terms of physical expectations," she said.However, her previous success in other sports led the United States Golf Association (USGA) to bar Zaharias from playing in amateur women's tournaments, compelling her instead to play in professional men's PGA Tour events."They barred her in part because of a snob aspect," said Van Natta Jr. "She was seen from the wrong side of the tracks, she was seen as a poor woman, she was coarse in the way she carried herself. She started defeating these wealthier women, well connected women to the USGA, so they knocked her out for a while."READ: How Brendon Todd came in from the cold to grab himself a slice of the actionZaharias practises on Pinehurst's golf links for the exhibition match in New York.Standing outWhilst playing one of these PGA Tour events, Zaharias was paired with George Zaharias, a famous wrestler from the time. The two married in 1938, with George becoming her promoter and manager.With her husband's help, she became a "huge draw for the crowds," Van Natta Jr. notes, with her "chattering" nature making her one of the sport's biggest draws.She was said to have shown up at professional tournaments and announced to the media: "The Babe is here! Who is going to finish second?" as well as standing on the first tee before teeing off and announcing that she was going to "loosen my girdle and let it fly."Babe Didrikson marries George Zaharias on December 23, 1938, in St. Louis.However, her lack of femininity -- "telling bawdy jokes and swearing, sometimes spitting, drinking," according to Cayleff -- and the perceived "working class, gritty, sweaty" nature of track and field competition put Zaharias at odds with her more traditional female competitors.And because she stood out from the rest of the field and wasn't the most gracious of victors -- "She would rub the people who she defeated, their noses in their defeat," Van Natta Jr. explained -- Zaharias consistently found herself on the receiving end of negative coverage from a predominantly male media.Cayleff describes Zaharias as being a "gender trickster" as she behaved "in ways that were absolutely contradictory to ideal femininity."But as a result, she was vilified in the press, with even her sexuality coming into question at times."They took her uniqueness and what I refer to as her gender outlaw status," Cayleff said. "They take her behaviors and, particularly before she's married, absolutely craft her as a freak with newspaper headlines like: 'Mr., Miss or It?' or 'Which bathroom should Babe Didrikson use?'"They feared or presumed she was lesbian and then a particular term was coined in reference to her. She was called a 'muscle moll' or a member of a third sex. People were baffled and troubled by her gender presentation and particularly women golfers who tended to be of a more upper-class background and fancied themselves refined; they demonized her."READ: Golf's new star is living proof you should never give up on your dreamsZaharias drives off to the 15th tee during her semifinals match against Jean M. Donald at Gullane Links, Scotland in 1947.ConformingTo counter the negative coverage, Zaharias recruited the help of Bertha Bowen, a Dallas socialite, who taught her how to "apply makeup, how to wear a girdle and get her hair styled," Cayleff explains."She was the subject of absolutely vicious press after the 1932 Olympics where people were openly speculating and disparaging her sexuality and the like. And she understood, with the guidance of Bertha, that if she wanted to earn a living and keep her name in the public that she needed to seriously craft an image because who she legitimately was, was not someone that the American public was easy to embrace."Even so, Zaharias' competitive nature meant that she found it difficult to fully integrate into typical golfing society. This didn't stop her from becoming one of the most successful women golfers of the time, winning 41 professional tournaments in total.And as one of the LPGA's 13 original members, she "planned and organized the golf tournaments, drafted the by-laws, supervised membership, (and) set up the courses" to help establish the professional women's game, the LGPA website explains.Zaharias urges the ball into the hole on the 18th green of Chicago's Tam O'Shanter Country Club in the Women's All-American Golf Tournament in 1950.Although she did a lot for the sport for women, Cayleff contends that Zaharias was not a "self-conscious role model or promoter of opportunity for women in sports."Cayleff recalls an incident she found while doing research for her book when Zaharias threatened to withdraw from a tournament going into the final round, despite leading by several shots, because, in her eyes, the prize money was not enough."Babe was out for Babe. In an instance like that, she was an absolute impact on increasing the purse in women's golf, but it was not for the betterment of the sport or the betterment of the female athletes in general. It was for Babe."It's a sort of mixed legacy. Yes, she absolutely impacted opportunities for athletes that came after her and athletes during her own lifetime, but she was in no way what we would call a feminist or gender conscious or concerned about equity in general," Cayleff said. "She was concerned about a good payday for her and let the chips fall where they may be on that."Zaharias chips up to the green with a line of fans watching her.LegacyIn 1953, Zaharias was diagnosed with colon cancer and, at the time, doctors were not even sure they could cure her. However, in 1954, she not only returned to playing the sport, but won the US Women's Open in Massachusetts, her 10th and final major, by a dozen strokes, while having a colostomy bag strapped to her side.Zaharias chose to go public with her fight against cancer. This decision -- plus her remarkable comeback and her extensive work with the American Cancer Society -- helped change her perception in the eyes of both the public and the media, with Cayleff saying that it "heroized her in some ways to a new generation."Didrikson (right) works out with the New York Rangers players Murray Murdock (center) and Andy Aitkenhead, goalie, in Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1933."She was honored by President Eisenhower for her work with the American Cancer Society and did considerable fundraising for cancer research," Cayleff said. "The cancer work and the ability to come back and compete successfully was pretty much unheard of at that point. She was told she would never be able to compete again. And like she had done so many times in her life, she just tripled her efforts and determined she would prove them wrong."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosHer cancer eventually returned, and she underwent further surgery in 1956, ultimately dying from the disease in September of that year at 45 years old.

Finn McSkimming, CNN

2022-02-18 11:20:13

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/18/sport/gus-kenworthy-winter-olympics-beijing-2022-future-spt-intl/index.html

Gus Kenworthy: From pop-culture celebrity to Beijing 2022, Winter Olympian is looking to leave his final mark on skiing - CNN

Winter sports star Gus Kenworthy has a lot to thank his mom for. Her hometown is Chelmsford, Essex in southeast England, and also where he was born and the reason why he is able to compete in his third Winter Olympics.

sport, Gus Kenworthy: From pop-culture celebrity to Beijing 2022, Winter Olympian is looking to leave his final mark on skiing - CNN

Gus Kenworthy: From pop-culture celebrity to Beijing 2022, Winter Olympian is looking to leave his final mark on skiing

(CNN)Winter sports star Gus Kenworthy has a lot to thank his mom for. Her hometown is Chelmsford, Essex in southeast England, and also where he was born and the reason why he is able to compete in his third Winter Olympics.Kenworthy won a slopestyle silver medal for the USA at Sochi 2014, but thanks to his British connections he's now competing for Great Britain, with the chance to become the first male athlete to win an Olympic medal for GB in freestyle skiing at Beijing."Getting to represent my mom and that side of my heritage and my motherland, like, it's great and that absolutely is a reason and that's something I'm excited for," Kenworthy told CNN ahead of the men's freeski halfpipe events at Beijing 2022.Having formerly competed for the US in two previous Winter Olympics, Kenworthy explains that only four athletes per team, discipline and gender can compete in each event so a part of the reason for his switch was due to "self-preservation."With access to the sport vastly greater in the US than the UK, it stands to reason that there would be many less competitive skiers in his country of birth.Read More"I would be lying if I didn't say that it was an easier qualifying process," Kenworthy said. "The US is a pretty arduous process." The pop-culture celebrity -- Kenworthy starred in "American Horror Story'"-- says he wants to change that lack of participation in the UK and hopes that his recognition as an athlete and personality could bring a wider audience to the sport. "I think that hopefully seeing skiing and snowboarding at the Olympics will drum up interest in the sport and people will go out and rent skis, rent snowboards and try it out and hopefully fall in love with the sport the same way that I did," he said."It's obviously a really expensive sport, so I'm not expecting everybody to hop over to France for ski vacations. I just hope it gets people excited about the sport."For budding winter athletes in the UK, there are alternatives to jet-setting to the Alps, with indoor snowdomes in several cities, as well as many dry ski slopes across the country.Ben Harrington of New Zealand is checked on by Gus Kenworthy of Great Britain, right, during the men's freeski halfpipe qualification event on day 13 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, China Genting Snow Park on February 17, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China.Snow regretsAt times Kenworthy's Olympic journey has read like a movie script. Following his silver medal at Sochi in 2014, the now three-time Olympian went viral for rescuing a family of stray dogs while in Russia.Kenworthy came out as gay in 2015 and became an inspirational representative and spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, manifested in a kiss with boyfriend at the time, Matthew Wilkas, that was captured and broadcast on TV and became a symbol of the growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ athletes and people at the Games and in sport."I have to pinch myself," he said. "I actually can't believe the things that I've gotten to do, the places I've gotten to go, the people I've met, the opportunities that have presented themselves to me because of the success that I've had in the sport and the Olympics and the platform that it's given me. "It feels surreal. I think I just feel grateful for the Olympics and for everything that it's done for me."Kenworthy says that year's Winter Olympics in Beijing will be his last Games and he intends on making the most of his farewell ride. "I definitely feel driven and I do want to do really well and I have a run that I've been working on that I think will do well if I land it," he added."So that's pretty much just my goal, to land that run and leave it on the line, do everything I can and have no regrets. Walk away with my head held high."The Olympics have played a huge part in his story, and, in his last visit as a contender, he wants to experience it to the fullest."I'm excited to watch some other events and cheer on friends and teammates. And yeah, just enjoy the moment," he said.Three faces of a Winter Olympian ...Responsibility over riskSince coming out as gay, Kenworthy has been highly vocal about social injustice and the misrepresentation of minorities, not solely within the LGBTQ+ community, but also about issues of race as well as issues of mental health. He posted heartfelt and impactful messages on his social media in support of the Black Lives Matter movement following George Floyd's death and also supported US teammate Simone Biles given the tough times she experienced at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. "I think that as an athlete, you're given a platform and you have the ability to reach a lot of people," he explains. "Whenever that's the case, whether you're an athlete or any type of public figure, it's more important than ever to speak up for what you believe in, stand up for people who are marginalized or disenfranchised and try and do the best that you can because you do have a big platform and that's a luxury."China's human rights record has brought plenty of criticism before, and Kenworthy has not shied away from addressing this. Other high-profile sporting figures have criticized China's treatment of the Uyghur community, around the Games.The US state department has said that it believes China is committing genocide on its Uyghur population. It says about two million people are being held in a network of internment camps, and are subjected to torture, sterilization and food deprivation.China denies any human rights abuses. It has insisted that its re-education camps are necessary for preventing religious extremism and terrorism in the area."I have already spoken out against the fact that Beijing is even hosting," said Kenworthy. "I think that China is going to put on an incredible Games, the village looks incredible, of course, the pipe and everything look insane, they've done a wonderful job."But I do think it's important to use our voices, and for me, I think it's important to note what I have said, which is just that I think that countries should have to meet certain ethics standards in order to be able to participate in the games or host the games."Kenworthy flies through the air during the men's freestyle fkiing freeski halfpipe qualification on Day 13 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park on February 17, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China.From the slopes to the screenKenworthy isn't entirely sure what his life will be like beyond competitive skiing but he's in no rush to find out, though he is planning a warm weather break.In recent years, he has made a number of TV appearances, starring as 'Chet Clancy' in cult-favorite series "American Horror Story," as well as being a guest judge on the iconic RuPaul's "Drag Race All Stars.""I know what I'm interested in and I want to try and pursue acting. I've been doing a little bit," he said."I've kind of put a hold on everything, I haven't been taking any classes or auditioning or anything because all my focus has been on the Olympics. "But following Beijing, I definitely want to continue to work at it and try and get better. Keep auditioning, hopefully work, book something and then I don't know."Kenworthy will compete for a podium place in the men's freeski halfpipe final run on February 19.

Amy Woodyatt, CNN

2022-02-18 09:50:24

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/18/sport/cool-runnings-tal-stokes-jamaica-winter-olympics-intl-spt/index.html

'Cool Runnings': 'Most people die before their legacy is revealed, but I've had to live it,' says Dudley 'Tal' Stokes - CNN

It's been 34 years since Jamaica made its Winter Olympic debut in bobsled at the 1988 Games in Calgary, an unlikely appearance which was later immortalized in the Disney feature film, "Cool Runnings."

sport, 'Cool Runnings': 'Most people die before their legacy is revealed, but I've had to live it,' says Dudley 'Tal' Stokes - CNN

'Cool Runnings': 'Most people die before their legacy is revealed, but I've had to live it,' says Dudley 'Tal' Stokes

(CNN)It's been 34 years since Jamaica made its Winter Olympic debut in bobsled at the 1988 Games in Calgary, an unlikely appearance which was later immortalized in the Disney feature film, "Cool Runnings."Though the four man team crashed and received a "Did Not Finish" result, the exploits of Dudley 'Tal' Stokes, Michael White, Devon Harris and Chris Stokes were immortalized in the 1993 hit, which remains one of the highest grossing sports comedies. Now, perhaps more importantly, the team have inadvertently inspired generations of Jamaican winter sports stars. "People watch 'Cool Runnings' and they're very influenced in a lot of ways," Tal Stokes told CNN Sport. Decades later, for the first time in Olympic history, the island nation qualified in three bobsled events -- the two-man bobsled, the women's monobob and the four-man bobsled -- as well as entering its first ever alpine skier. Read MoreJamaica's two-man bobsled team of Shanwayne Stephens and Nimroy Turgott came in last in the event, but the nation will get a second bite at the cherry this week in the four-man event.Shanwayne Stephens and his pusher Nimroy Turgott from Team Jamaica compete in the two-man bobsled on February 14.Unlikely beginningsStokes told CNN that the 1988 team "started from zero."The movie "Cool Runnings" came five years after Jamaica competed in the Calgary Games -- but according to Stokes, the film was conceptualized by Americans William Maloney and George Fitch before he and his teammates even started competing together."I was told the two gentlemen had the idea. William [Maloney] wanted to march in the Opening Ceremonies of an Olympic Games. He has his bucket list and has been ticking off things all his life. And George Fitch always had in mind to do a movie," he said.The men were both living in Jamaica at the time: Fitch was working for the US government and businessman Maloney was married to a Jamaican."The two of them were drinking in a bar in Kingston and saw the pushcart derby on television and struck up on bobsled."The pair couldn't get any athletes to take up bobsled for their endeavor, so they went to the army to find potential candidates, according to Stokes."At the time, I was a sports fan, playing football in the army, as well as being an officer," he said. On holiday at the time, Stokes said he got a phone call from his unit, instructing him to try out for box cart trials to test his capability for the sport.The orders "came down the chain of command to me as an order, and I really didn't have a choice. And so I went," he said.'A brutal existence'Getting to grips with bobsled didn't come easily: "I knew nothing about the sport I was getting into," said Stokes.Training for bobsled was a "brutal existence, from your eyes open to your eyes closed," according to Stokes, with the team having to work hard in order to reach a competitive standard with no prior experience in the sport.Jamaica's first-ever bobsledders, pilot Dudley 'Tal' Stokes and brakeman Michael White, are cheered on by fans during the first run of the Olympic two-man bobsled event February 20, 1988 at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. Stokes and White placed 31st out of 41."[The team] was coming into cold weather. Strict, strict timing regimes in days that were structured from start to finish on time, and just hammering away," said Stokes."We had to change the culture or rather look at the culture that was successful in the sport, and which is typically a German culture," added Stokes. "We had to go into German mode to get things done."A complicated legacy"Cool Runnings" became hugely popular, grossing over $154 million at the box office. But the film's commercial success had a profound impact on Stokes' life, and the happy go lucky plot starring hapless athletes didn't fully reflect how much the real team achieved. "'Cool Runnings' has cast a massive shadow over my life," Stokes told CNN. "There's a very uncomfortable position of actually being alive to watch your legacy unfold," he said. "Most people die before their legacy is revealed, but I've had to live it."It started with what, you know, was really a comedy," he explained. "A lot of what we did at first was comedic. But then over the years, we really became competitors and operated at the very highest level. And that was a journey in itself."His sporting career spanned four Olympic Games, during which time, he shaved significant time off his running speed."My Olympic career was 10 years ... I went to four Games 1988 to 1998: Calgary, Albertville, Lillehammer, Nagano in Japan. So it is very, very uncommon, that doesn't happen."Inspiring the next generationJamaica has not yet won an Olympic medal in bobsled, but this year's four-man team, nicknamed "Fire on Ice," wants to change that -- 24 years since the nation's four-man bobsled team last qualified for the Winter Olympics. This year, Benjamin Alexander made history as Jamaica's first alpine skier, after Cool Runnings jibes on the ski slopes caused him to consider seriously pursuing the sport."As I got good enough to kind of ski with them socially, being the only Black representative in the group, even though I am only half Black, and being of Jamaican heritage, people kept throwing jokes, sideways jokes at me about 'Cool Runnings,' the Jamaican bobsled team and, 'you should go to the Olympics,'" Alexander told CNN Sport.JUST WATCHEDBenjamin Alexander: From DJ to Jamaica's first ever alpine skierReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBenjamin Alexander: From DJ to Jamaica's first ever alpine skier 03:39Alexander went to the PyeongChang Games in 2018 as a spectator and started to wonder if he could compete at that level."One of the things I noticed, other than thoroughly enjoying the spirit of the Olympics, was that there were only three Jamaican athletes in attendance."It took me aback knowing how strong Jamaica is in the Summer Games, knowing how popular that movie 'Cool Runnings' is."I kind of had this idea in the back of my head: let's see if this is possible. I thought the most likely outcome was death or at least a serious injury."Benjamin Alexander of Jamaica competes in the men's alpine ski event on February 13 at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.In the years since his Olympic debut, Stokes has become more comfortable with his position in sporting and pop-culture history."I've come to appreciate that Olympic participation is a worthy goal. Participation that's aimed not at getting a gold medal does have its place," he said. "Most people, most athletes at an Olympic Games ... one: no medal, and two: don't get into the finals. That's a reality."Life is a struggle, anything worth doing in life is a struggle. And anytime you enter into a struggle, you are going to suffer. And the one thing I would like to communicate to people that people think that suffering is something to be avoided: no. That's the reality."What we need to develop is: how are we going to survive in the struggle and the suffering, and eventually triumph?"

George Ramsay, Nina Avramova and Dan Moriarty, CNN

2022-02-04 10:23:36

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/04/sport/ashley-cain-gribble-timothy-leduc-figure-skating-beijing-winter-olympics-spt-intl/index.html

Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc: How US figure skaters forged their own paths in a sport where stereotypes run deep - CNN

Competing in a discipline with synergy at its heart, figure skating pair Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc have found a winning formula on the way to qualifying for the Winter Olympics.

sport, Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc: How US figure skaters forged their own paths in a sport where stereotypes run deep - CNN

Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc: How US figure skaters forged their own paths in a sport where stereotypes run deep

(CNN)Competing in a discipline with synergy at its heart, figure skating pair Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc have found a winning formula on the way to qualifying for the Winter Olympics. "Dad jokes and puns, mostly," is what LeDec quips as being key to the duo's success. "And a lot of hard work ... we can work super hard and push ourselves beyond what we knew was possible."The American pair say their bond off the ice influences how they perform on it, propelling them to new heights in their skating careers. After winning their second national title last month, Cain-Gribble and LeDuc are now preparing to compete in their first Winter Olympics in Beijing. It will be a landmark moment regardless of how they perform in the pairs events with LeDuc, who identifies as gay, set to become the first out, nonbinary athlete to compete at the Winter Olympics, according to Team USA. Read MoreFor the duo, who have been competing together since 2016 and have both taken breaks from competitive pairs skating, the build-up to the Games has been a chance to reflect on their own journeys.Cain-Gribble (left) and LeDuc compete at last month's US Figure Skating Championships in Nashville, Tennessee. Frequently, they say, they have found themselves at odds with skating's norms and expectations during the course of their careers. "For a long time, Timothy and I didn't see ourselves represented, and so we didn't quite feel like we belonged," Cain-Gribble tells CNN Sport. "And for a long time, people had things to say about us. Even when we teamed up, they had a lot of things to say about my body, or about Timothy's sexuality. People still will make those comments."Cain-Gribble, who at five-foot-six is taller than most women who compete in pairs skating, has previously spoken about how body shaming almost forced her to retire from the sport. She adds: "I think for us, it's about leading with authenticity, being our true selves out there and creating a very inclusive environment."Cultivating that environment has meant doing things their own way, including when it comes to their costumes. The pair wear similar colors and patterns, while Cain-Gribble often competes in a long-sleeved unitard, rather than a dress. Their free skate program -- which they call "Two Pillars of Strength" and perform to music from the "W.E." soundtrack by Abel Korzeniowski -- is about "showcasing two equally strong skaters," according to Erica Rand, the author of "Red Nails, Black Skates.""They are doing a lot of the same moves, similar things: throw jumps, lifts, side-by-side jumps together," Rand tells CNN Sport."I also see a lot of emphasis on just the strong skating work. You also see that in other skaters, it's not a unique thing, but just the emphasis on some matching work in their spirals -- which is the term for skating arabesques -- and just a feeling of huge power."Cain-Gribble and LeDuc have chosen not to portray romantic stories with their programs, as is often the case in pairs figure skating."The girl is very fragile, or she is kind of the flower, the man comes in to save the woman, or it's a romantic Romeo and Juliet story that's often told," LeDuc tells CNN Sport. "There's nothing inherently wrong with those stories, but often they're centralized and seen as the only narratives that you can portray, the only story that's worthy of being a champion or being successful. "Ashley and I are just different in that way; we've never done a romantic story and we've never been a romantic pair. We've always been about equality and showing two amazing athletes coming together to create something beautiful."Cain-Gribble and LeDuc won their second national title ahead of the Winter Olympics. 'Artistry and athleticism'On the way to winning their national title in Nashville, Tennessee, last month, Cain-Gribble and LeDuc topped the previous US scoring record in the short program with 79.39 points before wrapping up the title with 145.84 points in the free skate. That helped them to qualify for Beijing 2022 alongside Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, the 2021 US champions who missed this year's competition after Frazier contracted Covid-19. But long before their masterful performance at the national championships, Cain-Gribble and LeDuc -- who are coached by the former's parents, Peter and Darlene Cain, and Nina Mozer -- each had doubts about the future of their careers. LeDuc left professional skating for two years in 2014 and spent time working on a cruise ship, while Cain-Gribble -- whose father was a professional figure skater and represented Australia at the 1980 Winter Olympics -- says she was ready to retire from skating before switching from singles to pairs with LeDuc in 2016. The chance to skate at an Olympics is a happy twist in their up-and-down skating journeys, as well as the culmination of their long-standing ambitions."I started dreaming about the Olympics the second I saw it ... I just fell in love with this amazing mix of artistry and athleticism, and I knew I had to be a part of it," says LeDuc."Being an Olympian, whether we made this team or not, is about pursuing excellence and about pursuing a dream," they add, "and that's something that Ashley and I have worked a lot of years to do."Cain-Gribble and LeDuc perform at last year's Figure Skating World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.When it comes to being the first American nonbinary Winter Olympian, LeDuc hopes to use the platform to empower other athletes: "Hopefully ... people watching us can feel like they can lead with authenticity, that they don't feel like they have to change things about themselves in order to reach their success in sport and to chase their dreams. "Ashley and I have both had to forge our own paths in order to find our success. And we did that being authentically ourselves and leading with what makes us different and unique. "I'm hopeful that's what the narrative centers around and not necessarily around me."'Strong skating work'Authenticity is central to the duo's skating philosophy, but it's something that can be hard to come by in a sport so entrenched in tradition -- as Rand, professor of art and visual culture and of gender and sexuality studies at Bates College, explains. "It wasn't until July 2021 that the International Skating Union changed the category of women skaters from officially being called 'ladies' to now being called 'women,'" says Rand.JUST WATCHEDUS speed skater Maame Biney preparing for second OlympicsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUS speed skater Maame Biney preparing for second Olympics 02:54"To me, that really shows you a lot about how traditional this sport has been because the idea that women are supposed to be ladies is reflected in things like costume expectation, makeup, etc." Cain-Gribble and LeDuc, however, have bucked some of those trends. "Ashley Cain-Gribble is not a typical women's pair skater ... One reason that they both appeal to each other is that she's not the typical skater characterized or nicknamed a 'little pair girl' and instead is not short and not extremely small," says Rand. "You aren't ever seeing somebody looking like they're being a fragile person who's cradled or anything like that." Now, with a chance to exhibit their authentic style on the Olympic stage, Cain-Gribble and LeDuc are looking to savor every moment in Beijing. "That's kind of been what we've been looking at for every competition this season -- just to get the most out of the experience," says LeDuc."We want to feel that when we leave that ice, we've given everything we could."

Scottie Andrew, CNN

2022-02-20 14:13:36

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/20/sport/memorable-moments-winter-olympics-2022-spt-cec/index.html

The highs and lows of the 2022 Winter Olympics - CNN

From Kamila Valieva's doping scandal to Eileen Gu's historic freeski victories, these are some of the most memorable moments of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

sport, The highs and lows of the 2022 Winter Olympics - CNN

These were some of the highs and lows at the 2022 Winter Olympics

(CNN)The 2022 Winter Olympics came to a close on Sunday after weeks of hard-won victories and heartbreaking disappointments.Eileen Gu and Kamila Valieva became the teenage faces of the Games for very different reasons. Erin Jackson delivered a historic speed skating performance, while Elana Meyers Taylor became the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history.And Norway did what Norway does best, topping the medal table after 109 events on snow and ice. CNN looks at some of the most memorable moments from Beijing 2022.Valieva embroiled in controversy -- and places fourth Russia's Valieva ended a controversial Olympics run in fourth place. Read MoreValieva, the 15-year-old Russian figure skating phenom expected to score gold in the women's free skate final, faltered while in the midst of a drugs test scandal. In December, the teen tested positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication used to treat angina and which can increase blood flow to the heart, experts say. The results didn't come to light until Valieva was already in Beijing and had won gold in the figure skating team event as she became the first woman to land a quad -- a jump that involves four spins in the air.Despite Valieva's positive test, she was allowed to compete in the individual figure skating event on the grounds that she was a minor. During her final program this week, though, she fell several times on the ice and placed fourth behind fellow Russian Olympic Committee teammates Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova, who came in first and second respectively. She finished her routine in tears. Now, eyes are trained on Valieva's coach, a team doctor and the competitive figure skating community in Russia for their roles in what happened to Valieva.Nathan Chen wins gold in a redemptive performanceChen finally won the gold medal he set out to claim in 2018. A composed yet jubilant Nathan Chen gave the performance of his career in the men's single skating competition -- and claimed what was rightfully his after a shocking loss at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Skating to a medley of songs including Elton John's "Rocket Man," Chen confidently executed a whopping five quad jumps and ended a nearly five-minute performance with a triumphant smile. "I definitely wanted to be able to get past that," Chen told CNN of his 2018 performance, in which he fell and failed to medal. "I wanted to be able to have two short programs that I felt very proud of and fulfilled by, and I'm really glad that I was able to have that experience here."Gu dominates her first OlympicsGu won three medals this year, including two golds. The 18-year-old freeski superstar won three medals at her first Winter Olympics, including two golds. And in her last program, after a near-perfect performance on the women's halfpipe, she even took a well-deserved victory lap. Born in the US but competing for China, a decision that has been under its fair share of scrutiny, Gu had one of the splashiest Olympics debuts this year. And she made some history while she was at it -- she's the first freestyle skier to earn three medals at a single Games. "It has been two straight weeks of the most intense highs and lows I've ever experienced in my life," she told reporters after her win. "It has changed my life forever."Norway keeps winning and breaks a recordNorway's Therese Johaug celebrates winning gold in the 30km cross-country skiing on Saturday.Norway won 16 gold medals in Beijing, the most any country has won in a single Winter Games. The country's competitors have earned gold in cross-country skiing, speed skating and biathlon, among others. CNN's Henry Enten says Norway has two big benefits powering its Olympics success: Ideal weather for winter sports and money -- the country is a wealthy country, with its GDP in the top 35 worldwide. Winter sports require a lot of gear, training and funds. Mikaela Shiffrin ends the Games without an individual medal Shiffrin's Olympic run had three DNF (did-not-finish) at Beijing 2022 in events she's previously medaled in. Mikaela Shiffrin endured multiple hardships at this year's Games. The American skier hadd earned gold medals in 2018 and 2014, and fans expected a threepeat from the star in Beijing. However, things didn't quite work out that way for the 26-year-old Shiffrin who had three DNFs -- "did-not-finish" -- after crashing out in three individual events. She's been inundated with criticism from viewers and shared screenshots of some of the negative comments she's received. She said in a video shared Friday that, as much as the comments hurt, she hopes that fans who've been in a similar situation can learn to tune out their "haters.""That message was meant for you guys, to get up and to keep going," she said in a video shared to Twitter. "Get out of bed the next day even though you're getting these messages that make you feel awful." In her final event at Beijing 2022 the 26-year-old Shiffrin -- along with River Radamus, Tommy Ford and Paula Moltzan -- finished fourth in the mixed team parallel event at the National Alpine Skiing Centre."I have had a lot of disappointing moments at these Games, today is not one of them," said Shiffrin. "Today is my favorite memory. "This was the best possible way that I could imagine ending the Games, skiing with such strong teammates."Chloe Kim goes for the gold (again)Chloe Kim enjoyed another golden Olympics.The unstoppable 21-year-old snowboarder struck gold yet again with a winning performance on the women's halfpipe -- the same category that earned her a gold medal in 2018, when she was just 17. That Kim once again dominated was a surprise to no one except maybe Kim herself. She told reporters she'd had "the worst practice ever" before her gold-medal performance, failing to stick most of her landings. That rough practice didn't show on the snow -- she attempted a trick that involved three-and-a-half spins in the air and earned a score of 94, propelling her to the gold once again. Zhu Yi faces an online firestorm for her performanceZhu of China was criticized for falling in her routine. The California-born 19-year-old, competing for Team China, was bombarded with negative comments online after falling on the ice during the women's figure skating short program earlier this month.Zhu, who gave up her American citizenship to compete on China's team in 2018 and changed her name from Beverly Zhu, has been criticized by Chinese viewers for her lack of fluency in Chinese in addition to her disappointing performance at the Games. Still, Zhu is finding the positives in her 2022 trip to the Games. In an Instagram post shared earlier this week, Zhu said she "persevered through years of adversity, and came out a stronger person." Erin Jackson wins a gold she almost didn't compete forUSA's Jackson cried tears of joy upon winning gold in speed skating. The American speed skater almost didn't make it to the Olympics -- she slipped during qualifying trials -- until a teammate gave up her spot so Jackson could compete. That swap proved to be well worth it -- Jackson, 29, became the first Black woman to medal in Olympic speed skating, according to Team USA, and the first American woman to win a gold medal in speed skating since 1994.She clinched the victory by skating just 0.08 seconds ahead of Japan's silver medalist. "I cried immediately, it was just a big release of emotion," she told reporters. "A lot of shock, a lot of relief and a lot of happiness."Meyers Taylor's history momentStrike a pose of joy ... Elana Meyers Taylor and Sylvia Hoffman of Team US celebrate their bronze medal following the two-woman bobsleigh competition.Meyers Taylor became the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history after she won a bronze medal in the two-woman bobsleigh on Saturday.The medal is the fifth for Meyers Taylor -- passing Shani Davis' four -- as the 37-year-old became the most decorated woman Olympic bobsledder of all-time."It's so crazy to hear that stat and to know that I'm part of a legacy that's bigger than me," said Meyers Taylor. "Hopefully it just encourages more and more black athletes to come out to winter sports and not just black athletes, winter sports for everybody."Sunday's Closing Ceremony is likely have been emotional occasion for Meyers Taylor -- she was Team USA's flagbear -- who has hinted this would likely be her last Olympics."I'm going to take some time to really think about this. It's going to be really hard to top this Olympics. Two medals and now closing it out with flagbearer, it's going to be really, really hard to top that."

Story by Reuters

2022-02-21 12:27:57

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/21/sport/beijing-2022-frozen-finn-remi-spt-intl/index.html

Remi Lindholm: Cross-country skier suffers frozen penis at Beijing 2022 - CNN

The men's 50km mass start race at the Beijing Games was shortened to 30km but that did little to help Finland's Remi Lindholm, who needed a heat pack at the end of the race to thaw out a particularly sensitive body part.

sport, Remi Lindholm: Cross-country skier suffers frozen penis at Beijing 2022 - CNN

Cross-country skier Remi Lindholm suffers frozen penis in mass start race

(Reuters)The men's 50km mass start race at the Beijing Games was shortened to 30km but that did little to help Finland's Remi Lindholm, who needed a heat pack at the end of the race to thaw out a particularly sensitive body part.Lindholm spent just under an hour and 16 minutes traversing the course in howling, freezing winds, leading to his penis becoming frozen for the second time in a cross-country skiing race following a similar incident in Ruka, Finland last year.These were some of the highs and lows at the 2022 Winter Olympics"You can guess which body part was a little bit frozen when I finished (the men's Olympic 50km race) ... it was one of the worst competitions I've been in. It was just about battling through," he told Finnish media.With organizers worried about frostbite during Saturday's race, it was delayed by an hour and shortened by 20km. The thin suits and under-layers worn by racers, as well as plasters to cover their faces and ears, offered little protection.Lindholm explained that he used a heat pack to try to thaw out his appendage once the race was over.Read More"When the body parts started to warm up after the finish, the pain was unbearable," he added.

Ben Church, CNN

2022-02-20 11:17:01

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/20/sport/norway-beijing-2022-medal-table-spt-intl/index.html

Norway tops Beijing 2022 medal table after record-breaking performance - CNN

It's official. Norway is really good at the Winter Olympics.

sport, Norway tops Beijing 2022 medal table after record-breaking performance - CNN

Norway tops Beijing 2022 medal table after record-breaking performance

(CNN)It's official. Norway is really good at the Winter Olympics. With a population of just over five million people, the European country has continued to punch above its weight at Beijing 2022, finishing way above the rest in the medal table. Norway tallied the most gold medals, 16, and the highest total number of medals, 37, of all the delegations competing this month. "Norway finished at the top of the Beijing Winter Olympics medal table, just as the Norway team did four years ago at Pyeongchang 2018," said Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at data provider Nielsen Gracenote."The Norwegian team won two fewer medals than their Olympic record total of 39 achieved in 2018 but broke the Olympic gold medal record by winning 16. Norway won medals in nine of the 15 sports at Beijing 2022."Read MoreWhy is Norway so good at the Winter Games?The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) claimed the second highest tally of medals, 32, with Germany winning the second highest tally of golds, 12. However, there is still a question mark over the medals in the figure skating team event, which could impact the ROC's haul of six golds.The medal ceremony was postponed and the results could change depending on the outcome of an investigation into the failed drug test of 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva.Norway's gold medal haul represents the most ever won at a single Winter Games and cements the country's dominance in winter sports. CNN's Harry Enten put such success down to two major factors: weather and money. Norway ranks in the bottom five in World Bank data for average temperature during the year at about 36 degrees Fahrenheit (two degrees Celsius) and has money to cater for the often expensive resources needed to compete. If winning is important, Norway's chef de mission Tore Oevreboe says its not always the main focus. "The main objective for us is to make the athletes have fun all the way through the Games," he said earlier in the Games."We are very occupied with creating a good environment, a stable environment, a safe environment, an environment full of fun, so they can really enjoy life when they are doing sport at a high level."Norway has dominated the medal table at Beijing 2022.The majority of Norway's gold medals, 11, came in biathlon and cross-country skiing events but it also saw success in sports such as speed skating and freestyle skiing. There is hope that such success can inspire a new generation of Norwegians to try as many winter sports as possible."Many of the kids have good opportunities to realize their potential in a variety of fields, and sport is one of them," Oevreboe added.Top five nations at Beijing 2022Norway: 16 gold, eight silver and 13 bronze, for a total of 37 .Germany: 12 gold, 10 silver and five bronze, for a total of 27.China: nine gold, four silver and two bronze, for a total of 15.US: eight gold, 10 silver and seven bronze, for a total of 25.Sweden: eight gold, five silver and five bronze, for a total of 18."And then they will develop their potential as humans and citizens."Meanwhile, Team China claimed nine golds and a total of 15 medals, delivering its best ever result at a Winter Olympics -- and ranking above the United States. The stellar performances of its new Olympic stars -- from freeski sensation Eileen Gu to snowboard prodigy Su Yiming -- captivated fans in the stands and across the country, drawing an outpouring of prideTeam USA managed eight golds, 10 silver and seven bronze, for a total of 25 medals at the Games.Both New Zealand and Australia as well as Belgium had a Winter Games to remember."New Zealand and Australia both had a record-breaking Winter Olympics, winning three and four medals respectively," said Gleave."New Zealand's two gold medals were the country's first at a Winter Olympics. Australia's four medals were one more than the previous record of three, achieved at each of the last three Winter Games.""Belgium equaled its record of two Winter Olympic medals which was previously achieved at St. Moritz 1948," added Gleave. "The gold medal won by Bart Swings was Belgium's second ever and first since Micheline Lannoy and Pierre Baugniet were first in the pairs figure skating 74 years ago."The full medal table can be found here.CNN's Wayne Sterling contributed reporting.

Wayne Sterling, CNN

2022-02-20 09:47:01

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/20/sport/beijing-gold-medal-winners-sunday-day-16-spt-intl/index.html

Here's who won gold medals at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday - CNN

There were five gold medals up for grabs on Sunday at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

sport, Here's who won gold medals at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday - CNN

Here's who won gold medals at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday

(CNN)There were five gold medals up for grabs on Sunday at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.Here's a breakdown of who took home gold for their delegations on Day 16 of the Games.Alpine SkiingMixed Team Parallel Big: AustriaBobsleigh4-man: Francesco Friedrich, GermanyRead MoreCross-Country SkiingWomen's 30km Mass Start Free: Therese Johaug, NorwayCurlingWomen's: Great BritainIce HockeyMen's: FinlandThe full medal table can be found here.

Homero De La Fuente, CNN

2022-02-19 18:25:31

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/19/sport/elana-meyers-taylor-most-decorated-black-athlete-winter-olympics-history-spt-intl/index.html

Elana Meyers Taylor says she is 'overwhelmed' after becoming the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history - CNN

Elana Meyers Taylor became the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history after she won the bronze medal in the two-woman bobsleigh at Beijing 2022 on Saturday -- and one of the American bobsledder's initial emotions was a sense of being overwhelmed by her achievement.

sport, Elana Meyers Taylor says she is 'overwhelmed' after becoming the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history - CNN

Elana Meyers Taylor says she is 'overwhelmed' after becoming the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history

(CNN)Elana Meyers Taylor became the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history after she won the bronze medal in the two-woman bobsleigh at Beijing 2022 on Saturday -- and one of the American bobsledder's initial emotions was a sense of being overwhelmed by her achievement.The medal is the fifth for Meyers Taylor -- passing Shani Davis' four -- as the 37-year-old became the most decorated woman Olympic bobsledder of all-time.Cookbook: Secrets behind what fuels Olympic athletes are helping raise awareness of domestic abuse in the US"That is overwhelming," said Meyers Taylor when she was asked about surpassing Davis' record."It's so crazy to hear that stat and to know that I'm part of a legacy that's bigger than me. Hopefully it just encourages more and more black athletes to come out to winter sports and not just black athletes, winter sports for everybody."We want everybody to come out regardless of the colour of your skin. We want winter sports to be for everybody, regardless of race, regardless of socio-economic class.Read More"I think the more diversity we have, the stronger our sport can be. So hopefully this is just the start of more and more people coming out and trying winter sports."The four-time Olympian is a three-time silver medal winner -- Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 -- as well as a two-time bronze medalist at Vancouver in 2020 and this year's Games.Meyers Taylor and Hoffman celebrate after heat 4.Bronze medal winners Meyers Taylor and Hoffman of Team United States pose for a photo during the flower ceremony.FlagbearerMeyers Taylor had nearly missed Beijing 2022 after testing positive for Covid-19 upon her arrival in China."This has been an incredible Olympics starting off in isolation I had no idea what was possible but fortunately I had a great team behind me who believed in me who believed that this was possible and I couldn't have asked for a better outcome," said the 37-year-old."I couldn't have asked for a better Olympics and it just goes to show you that even when the cards are stacked against you if you have the right support behind you, you can still achieve great things."Meyers Taylor and Hoffman look on from the podium during the flower ceremony on Saturday.On Friday, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced that Meyers Taylor had been elected to be Team USA's flagbearer at Sunday's Closing Ceremony.She was also elected to lead Team USA at Beijing 2022's Opening Ceremony, but was unable to participate after her positive Covid-19 test.Meyers Taylor competes during the bobsleigh women's monobob heat at the National Sliding Centre in Yanqing District, Beijing, capital of China on February 14. Sunday's ceremony is likely to be an emotional occasion for Meyers Taylor, who has hinted this would likely be her last Olympics."I'm going to take some time to really think about this. It's going to be really hard to top this Olympics. Two medals and now closing it out with flagbearer, it's going to be really, really hard to top that."

Wayne Sterling, CNN

2022-02-19 16:53:49

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/19/sport/china-gold-pairs-skating-sui-wenjing-han-cong-intl-spt/index.html

China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong win gold in pairs figure skating - CNN

China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong won gold in pairs figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Games on Saturday.

sport, China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong win gold in pairs figure skating - CNN

China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong win gold in pairs figure skating

(CNN)China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong won gold in pairs figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Games on Saturday.The duo finished with a world record total score of 239.88 -- 84.41 for short program and 155.47 for free skating -- to capture their first-ever Olympic gold. The pair skated to the song "Bridge Over Troubled Water," a song written by US duo Simon & Garfunkel -- seemingly a nod to their friendship, which has endured an ankle injury suffered by Sui.Sui and Han, who are the first Chinese figure skaters to win gold in the pairs event since the 2010 Vancouver Games, won silver in this event at the 2018 PyeongChang Games.China's Sui Wenjing, second left, reacts to winning the pairs skating free skating gold medal with China's Han Cong during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on February 19, 2022. "We went through a lot, from being not expected at the very beginning. People said we were a pair of underdogs, because our builds were not meant for figure skating," Sui said following the win. Read More"Traditionally, men were expected to be tall and women petite," she explained."If there is no way in front of us, we will pave our own way, leaving it to others, and that's how we create a legend," she added.They become the third pair skating team to win Olympic Games gold on home ice following Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia at Sochi 2014 as well as Maxi Herber and Ernst Baier of Germany at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1936.Here's who won gold medals at the Beijing Olympics on SaturdaySince the beginning of the 2015-16 season, Sui and Han have finished on the podium at every international competition they have competed in.This is China's ninth gold medal and 15th overall at the Games, a significant improvement on the one gold secured at PyeongChang four years ago.China's 15 medals surpass the country's previous high of 11 in Vancouver 2010 and Torino 2006.The silver medal went to Russian Olympic Committee's (ROC) Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov who finished with a total score of 239.25.Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov of the ROC picked up the bronze after finishing with a 237.71 total score.

David Close, Jacob Lev and Jeevan Ravindran, CNN

2022-02-18 17:00:22

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/18/sport/olympics-beijing-kamila-valieva-russia-skating-doping-spt-intl/index.html

Kamila Valieva saga set to run and run as blame game breaks out over Russian skater's positive drugs test - CNN

Teenage figure skater Kamila Valieva has become one of the faces of Beijing 2022, but as the Winter Olympics nears its conclusion the spotlight is likely to remain on the 15-year-old and her entourage for the foreseeable future.

sport, Kamila Valieva saga set to run and run as blame game breaks out over Russian skater's positive drugs test - CNN

Kamila Valieva saga set to run and run as blame game breaks out over Russian skater's positive drugs test

(CNN)Teenage figure skater Kamila Valieva has become one of the faces of Beijing 2022, but as the Winter Olympics nears its conclusion the spotlight is likely to remain on the 15-year-old and her entourage for the foreseeable future.A blame game has already broken out between the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) over the drugs test controversy surrounding Valieva, who completed her competition run at the Winter Olympics on Thursday.The 15-year-old finished in fourth place in the women's individual figure skating event on Thursday, leaving the ice in tears after falling and faltering during jumps in her routine, despite having previously been the favorite to take gold.Before being cleared to take part in the women's individual figure skating competition, Valieva was suspended by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) on February 8, although the body lifted her suspension the next day following a hearing.WADA, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Skating Union (ISU) then subsequently filed an appeal against the lifting of the ban. Kamila Valieva: What happens next?RUSADA needs to determine what -- if any -- sanctions to impose on Valieva as the initial suspension was only provisionalIf sanctions are imposed, WADA must decide whether or not to appeal the decisionIf WADA appeals, the case will be heard by CAS, which will make the final decision on the figure skating team event medalsOnly then will the IOC be able to award the fmedals for the team eventRead MoreHowever, CAS cleared Valieva for competition, saying she would suffer "irreparable harm" if not allowed to compete, citing the "exceptional circumstances" of her being a minor.Given the pressures she was facing, many commentators have questioned why she was cleared to skate, with former US Olympic figure skater Polina Edmunds saying it was "devastating that she was put in this situation."CAS published a 41-page document on Thursday outlining its reasons for allowing Valieva to compete, notably blaming WADA for the way events had unfolded in the teenager's case."It is unfortunate that this episode occurred to mar this Athlete's, and other Athletes', Olympic Winter Games experience," said CAS."This has been the result of the relevant anti-doping bodies to ensure timely analysis of pre-Games samples, and failing to ensure that pending cases are resolved before the Olympic Winter Games commence."Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) director general Matthieu Reeb speaks during a press comference at the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 14, 2022, in Beijing.In a sample taken in December, prior to the Olympics, Valieva tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, a drug commonly used to treat angina and which experts say can enhance endurance by increasing blood flow to the heart.However, the result was only analyzed and reported to RUSADA in February. Valieva was then suspended the day after she led the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to gold in the figure skating team event on February 7 when she became the first woman to land a quadruple jump in a Winter Olympic Games.RUSADA did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment."Had that all been accomplished on time and in conformity with the time limits recommended by WADA in its International Standards for Laboratories, then a decision on the merits of Ms Valieva's case and her status could have been made well before the Games started, and before her competition experience and that of other athletes was affected adversely," said CAS.There is no protection for a so-called 'protected' athlete like ValievaChair of the IOC Disciplinary Commission, Denis Oswald, told reporters on Tuesday that Valieva had blamed her positive drug test on a mix-up with her grandfather's drugs, as he uses trimetazidine for his heart condition.On Friday, WADA responded to the CAS report, saying the court had ignored "the clear and unambiguous terms of the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code (Code) regarding the criteria for lifting a mandatory provisional suspension" by allowing Valieva to compete.WADA said the "re-writing of the Code" to make exceptions for protected persons including minors "risks undermining the integrity of sporting competition and the confidence of athletes that they are competing on a level playing field."The Anti-Doping Code underwent three rounds of consultation with anti-doping stakeholders and athletes before being "unanimously adopted" in November 2019, according to WADA's statement. "It is surprising and of serious concern to WADA that a CAS Panel would see fit to depart from the clear terms of the Code," said WADA, adding that the ruling in Valieva's case "sets a dangerous precedent."Kamila Valieva drug case puts spotlight on adults around teen figure skaterWADA also questioned why RUSADA didn't "flag the high-priority nature" of Valieva's test to the laboratory involved, despite being informed that a Covid-19 outbreak among staff was causing delays in testing samples.Global Athlete, an athlete-led group working for change across the sporting world, called Valieva's positive drug test "evidence of abuse of a minor," adding that it was "unacceptable" for a 15-year-old to be subject to "grave physical and psychological risks."The IOC announced after the initial outbreak of the scandal that there would be no medal ceremony for the team event until the doping investigation was concluded and it was decided whether the ROC would keep their gold medal.WADA has said it will be investigating the 15-year-old's entourage -- the adults responsible for her skating and welfare.CNN has reached out to the ROC for comment from Valieva's coach Eteri Tutberidze and ROC team doctor Filipp Shvetsky but has not received a response."These (past few) days have been very difficult for me," Valieva told Russia's Channel One earlier this week, after training. "It's as if I don't have any emotions left. I am happy, but at the same time, I am emotionally tired."CNN's Ben Morse, Jack Bantock, Selina Wang, Sandi Sidhu, Teele Rebane and Helen Regan contributed to this report.

Coy Wire, Dan Moriarty and Gawon Bae, CNN

2022-02-18 16:04:18

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/18/sport/madison-hubbell-zachary-donohue-kamila-valieva-spt-intl/index.html

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue: 'We have our own empty medal box waiting in our room,' say US ice dancers - CNN

Team USA ice dancers Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue say they have their "empty medal box waiting in our room," as they wait to receive their figure skating team event medal which has been postponed without a date in light of Kamila Valieva's ongoing doping case.

sport, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue: 'We have our own empty medal box waiting in our room,' say US ice dancers - CNN

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue: 'We have our own empty medal box waiting in our room,' say US ice dancers left in limbo by Kamila Valieva case

(CNN)Team USA ice dancers Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue say they have their "empty medal box waiting in our room," as they wait to receive their figure skating team event medal which has been postponed without a date in light of Kamila Valieva's ongoing doping case.Speaking to CNN's Coy Wire, Hubbell said they were "disappointed" at being informed at the last minute on February 8 that the medal ceremony would be delayed. The US had finished second behind the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC)."We were really looking forward to sharing that Olympic moment together. It's an incredibly difficult situation for everyone involved, but certainly I don't think that it's fair to any of the athletes who medal that we have to forego that Olympic moment ... it's hard to go home empty-handed," Hubbell said.Donohue added that he hopes the situation would be solved "as quickly as possible," both for the athletes and for the integrity of sport.Hubbell and Donohue skate in the ice dance rhythm dance team event."We have a whole team of athletes that have finished competing and are staring looking at an empty box and the unknown of the future and missing out on that Olympics moment," Donohue said.Read MoreOn Thursday, Valieva finished fourth in the women's individual skating competition while her teammates Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova won the gold and silver respectively. Japan's Kaori Sakamoto took the bronze.A week of immense pressure appeared to weigh heavy on Valieva's young shoulders, as she fell multiple times during her individual routine. Kamila Valieva drug case puts spotlight on adults around teen figure skaterSpeaking about the 15-year-old Valieva, Donohue said it was awful that everything she had done to this point would be put into question as a result of her ongoing doping case."At the center of this, there's a 15-year-old girl who's being robbed of everything she's worked for this year, everything she's ever done up to this point is going to be in question. The entire sport is being looked at with question," he said"The story isn't about a young Olympian. It's about a scandal. And she's getting swallowed up in that. I think that's terrible."The two ice dancers were among the US skaters that met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach on Wednesday, which Bach described on Friday as "very fruitful."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosSilver medalists Team USA pose during the team event flower ceremony.Both Hubbell and Donohue said they appreciated meeting Bach to share their perspectives on the Valieva issue."We didn't leave the meeting feeling, I don't think any better about this situation, but at least you know, we had our chance to kind of say what it feels like to be an athlete in our shoes," Hubbell said.Donohue confirmed that they have received Olympic torches from the IOC, which Bach earlier clarified was a "token of appreciation" for an honest meeting, not a consolation for a medal.

Ben Morse, CNN

2022-02-17 14:03:00

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/sport/kamila-valieva-results-free-skating-olympics-spt-intl/index.html

Kamila Valieva falls multiple times in free skate program, finishes in fourth place in the women's individual event - CNN

Russia Olympic Committee (ROC) figure skater Kamila Valieva, who is at the center of a doping scandal, finished in fourth place in the women's individual figure skating event with 224.09 points.

sport, Kamila Valieva falls multiple times in free skate program, finishes in fourth place in the women's individual event - CNN

Kamila Valieva falls multiple times in free skate program, finishes in fourth place in the women's individual event

(CNN)Russia Olympic Committee (ROC) figure skater Kamila Valieva, who is at the center of a doping scandal, finished in fourth place in the women's individual figure skating event with 224.09 points.The ROC's Anna Shcherbakova placed first in the competition, dazzling with a spectacular free skate performance to top the field with a score of 255.95, guaranteeing a one-two finish for the ROC.Valieva made mistakes on several different jumps throughout her routine, falling on a few separate occasions, ruining her chances at finishing first ahead of ROC teammate Shcherbakova. The 15-year-old left the ice in tears upon the end of her routine, as she received loud applause from those in the stands, and was consoled afterwards as the emotions from the past few days appeared to catch up with her.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had previously said no medal or flower ceremony for the winners would be held should Valieva finish in the top three. But after some apparent resistance from silver medalist -- and Valieva's ROC teammate -- Alexandra Trusova to take the podium, there was a flower ceremony for the top three finishers. Read MoreA medal ceremony for the three winners -- Shcherbakova, Trusova and bronze medalist Kaori Sakamoto -- is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. local time Friday, according to the Olympics official media site.Kamila Valieva reacts after competing in the women's free skate program on February 17, 2022.Eye of a stormValieva has been at the center of a doping scandal having played a pivotal role in guiding the ROC to gold in the figure skating team event after she became the first woman to land a quad at the Winter Games.The medal ceremony for the event was due to take place last week but was postponed after a positive test, now known to be that of Valieva, was returned by a member of the ROC figure skating team.It emerged days into the Olympics that she tested positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine, which experts say can enhance endurance. Valieva has sought to blame the positive test on contamination from medication taken by her grandfather, an IOC official familiar with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing which cleared Valieva for the rest of the Games said on Tuesday."Her argument was that this contamination happened with a product her grandfather was taking," Denis Oswald, the chair of the IOC Disciplinary Commission said, while clarifying that he was not present at the CAS hearing. Valieva's positive test for trimetazidine, though taken in December, was only analyzed and reported to Russia's Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in February, resulting in Valieva's suspension on February 8 -- a day after she helped propel the ROC to a gold-medal finish in the figure skating team event.But the skater was reinstated after an appeal, and CAS on Monday allowed her to compete in the Olympics, citing specific provisions related to her protected status as minor, while investigations into any doping violations by Valieva and the adults responsible for her training continue.Valieva falls during her free skating routing on February 17, 2022.Oswald also reiterated the IOC's intention to investigate Valieva's entourage, which would include her coach Eteri Tutberidze, who is known for her extreme training techniques. "It is clearly a wish and a decision of the IOC but also WADA to examine all aspects of this case including the situation of the entourage because, of course, you can imagine a girl of 15 would not do something wrong alone -- so yes, the entourage will be investigated," Oswald told reporters. CAS has not responded to CNN's request for comment regarding Oswald's quotes.An emotional Valieva finished first after the short program of the women's singles competition on Tuesday.IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said Wednesday that any result involving the 15-year-old in the women's individual event would carry an "asterisk" until her case has been concluded.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosIn a statement released on the ROC's website, the president of the ROC, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, said the organization "categorically" disagreed with the IOC's position that the results should be considered "preliminary."The head of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Travis Tygart said about Valieva in a statement: "On the one hand, my heart breaks for her because of the despicable acts of the adults in her life and the catastrophic failures of the Russian and IOC-run systems that permanently cast a dark cloud over her performances. "On the other hand, all of us who value clean sport are sick to our stomachs because these failures have tragically robbed clean athletes of their incredible sacrifice and Olympic dreams."

Jack Bantock and Homero De la Fuente, CNN

2022-02-17 10:51:51

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/sport/mikaela-shiffrin-ski-beijing-olympics-combined-crash-spt-intl/index.html

Mikaela Shiffrin left reeling after third Beijing crash: 'I just feel like a joke' - CNN

Mikaela Shiffrin's Beijing nightmare continued on Thursday with the US skiing star left reeling from a third did-not-finish (DNF) at the Games.

sport, Mikaela Shiffrin left reeling after third Beijing crash: 'I just feel like a joke' - CNN

'I just feel like a joke': Devastated Mikaela Shiffrin left reeling after third Beijing crash

(CNN)Mikaela Shiffrin's Beijing nightmare continued on Thursday with the US skiing star left reeling from a third did-not-finish (DNF) at the Games. Shiffrin arrived at the Winter Olympics looking to win a third consecutive gold at a Games, but after crashing out of the alpine combined event, the 26-year-old has incredibly suffered 60% of her career DNF's at the National Alpine Skiing Centre this month.She had already failed to finish in her favorite disciplines -- the slalom and giant slalom -- earlier in the Games, events that had reaped gold at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 respectively. Yet when asked whether her rocky start in Beijing had played on her mind heading into the combined event, an exasperated Shiffrin asserted that she had no intention of skiing safe just to finish."It was not actually that much to ask for from myself, and I was starting to do it, and then I was out anyway," Shiffrin said.Read More"I don't really understand it, and I'm not sure when I'm going to have much of an explanation. I can't explain to you how frustrated I am to not know what I can learn from today."Shiffrin had made a positive start to the combined event.Despite her disappointing start to the Games, Shiffrin had started well in the combined event, placing fifth in the downhill course to put her within range of a podium finish heading into the deciding slalom run."I finally felt I could really trust my instincts in the track," Shiffrin said after her downhill run, and maintained that -- despite the permanent presence of pressure -- she had carried a "calm, solid mentality" into the slalom."The most disappointing thing, beyond walking away from the Games with no individual medals ... is that I had multiple opportunities to ski slalom on this track, and I failed in all of them," Shiffrin said."That's disappointing for me, it's disappointing for my whole team, for the coaches, for everybody who's been working so hard, and it's disappointing for anybody back home who woke up and thought, especially today, 'Hey, she did a pretty good downhill run, set up pretty well for the slalom.'"Right now, I just feel like a joke."'I don't have any emotional energy to give any more'Shiffrin said she will be back out on the slopes tomorrow to practice for her final shot at a medal in Saturday's mixed team event, wherein she will become only the second woman to race all six alpine skiing events at the Winter Olympics.Yet far from rejuvenated for a final flourish, Shiffrin said that Thursday's disappointment had left her emotionally spent."There's going to be a whole chaotic mess of crap that people are saying about how I just fantastically failed these last couple of weeks in the moments that actually counted," Shiffrin said."It's really strange, but I'm not even afraid of that right now, and maybe it's because I don't have any emotional energy to give any more."Shiffrin crashes during the giant slalom on February 7.Swiss skier Michelle Gisin later took gold in the alpine combined, roaring back from 12th after the downhill course to dominate the slalom run and clinch gold ahead of compatriot Wendy Holdener, who won silver.Italy's Federica Brignone took bronze, while Czech star Ester Ledecká placed fourth -- dashing her hopes of a second gold medal to add to her snowboarding giant slalom title.Calling out social media critics Hours after the race, Shiffrin posted several screenshots on her Instagram account in what appears to be her calling out critics, publishing five posts on her Instagram Stories.The first four showed words and phrases written in text filled with harsh criticism, including "Choker" ... " Can't handle the pressure" ... "Arrogant"... "Disgrace. Unacceptable."Shiffrin concluded with a fifth post that offered encouragement, writing in part, "Well kids...feed 'em what you wanna feed em. Self pity, sadness... Let the turkey's get you down. There will always be turkeys. "Or get up, again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Get up because you can, because you like what you do when its (sic) not infested with the people who have so much apparent hate for you. Just get up.""It's not always easy, but it's also not the end of the world to fail. Fail twice. Fail 5 times. At the Olympics. (Enter me...) Why do I keep coming back? Gosh knows it hurts more than it feels good lately. I come back because those first 9 turns today were spectacular, really heaven. That's where I'm meant to be and I'm stubborn as S**t."

Analysis by CNN's Beijing Bureau

2022-02-20 05:20:59

news

china

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/20/china/china-winter-olympics-domestic-success-intl-hnk/index.html

The Olympics was a success inside of China. And that's the audience Beijing cares about - CNN

Heading into the Winter Olympics, there was much talk of two host cities -- one inside a tightly-sealed bubble where the Games would be held, and one outside, where daily life would go on as normal.

china, The Olympics was a success inside of China. And that's the audience Beijing cares about - CNN

The Olympics was a success inside China. And that's the audience Beijing cares about

Beijing (CNN)Heading into the Winter Olympics, there was much talk of two host cities -- one inside a tightly-sealed bubble where the Games would be held, and one outside, where daily life would go on as normal.But the past two weeks have also shown the world two very different Games: For China, Beijing 2022 was a resounding success that exceeded all expectations. To the rest of the world, it remained a deeply polarizing event, that projected not only China's rising power but also its growing assertiveness, ready to defy and challenge its critics.In its meticulously managed "closed loop," the ubiquitous face masks, endless spraying of disinfectant and rigorous daily testing have paid-off. Infections brought into the country were swiftly identified and contained, allowing the Games to run largely free of Covid even as the Omicron variant raged around the world. In the medal tables, Team China claimed nine golds and a total of 15 medals, delivering its best ever result at a Winter Olympics -- and ranking above the United States. The stellar performances of its new Olympic stars -- from freeski sensation Eileen Gu to snowboard prodigy Su Yiming -- captivated fans in the stands and across the country, drawing an outpouring of pride. JUST WATCHEDVideo: Hear Eileen Gu's remarks about representation after historic Olympic runReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVideo: Hear Eileen Gu's remarks about representation after historic Olympic run 01:29By Wednesday, nearly 600 million people -- or 40% of the Chinese population -- had tuned in to watch the Games on television in China, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). And while US viewing figures have been markedly down compared to previous Olympics, the boost in Chinese audiences will likely make Beijing 2022 among the most watched Winter Games in history.Read MoreEven the official mascot Bing Dwen Dwen, a panda wearing an ice shell, turned out to be a domestic success. Having been mostly ignored for more than two years since it was first unveiled, the chubby bear soared in popularity during the Games, routinely trending on Chinese social media. At souvenir stores inside and outside the bubble, people queued for hours -- sometimes in biting cold -- to take home plush toy replicas.Beijing 2022's official mascot Bing Dwen Dwen has become a breakout star at these Games.And for the ruling Communist Party and its supreme leader Xi Jinping, it is the domestic audience that matters the most. Xi personally backed Beijing's bid to host these Games, and made a flurry of visits to the ice rinks and snow slopes to inspect preparation work. The success of the Games present Xi with a moment of national unity as he gears up for an unprecedented third term in power this fall. But for the Chinese government, part of the domestic success also comes from the avoidance of major political scandal or embarrassment. While the doping saga surrounding a teenage Russian figure skater has cast a shadow over the Olympics, it was downplayed inside China. The same was true of criticism of the Games in general, most of which was censored and blocked. JUST WATCHEDVideo: Russian figure skater's entourage under investigationReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVideo: Russian figure skater's entourage under investigation 04:49Early in the Games, many athletes from Western countries were stunned by the stringent Covid restrictions they met upon arrival in Beijing. Some were placed in isolation for weeks after testing positive, while others complained about the bland food served in quarantine. But their criticism -- including an emotional plea for help from a Belgian athlete -- went wholly unreported inside China.Instead, Chinese state media avidly shared social media videos, posts and comments from athletes that portrayed their life inside the Olympic village in a positive light, praising the food, the Covid measures and the friendly volunteers. And much to the relief of government officials in Beijing, not a single athlete or Olympic attendee attempted to use the event to publicly protest China's human rights record -- a hot-button issue in the lead-up to the Olympics (though some have expressed critical views).In December, the United States and its allies declared a diplomatic boycott of Games over China's crackdown on Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang -- which Washington has labeled a genocide. But apart from the notable absence of Western leaders at the opening ceremony, the impact of the boycott was seldom felt on the ground."You can't write stories about people who aren't in Beijing -- that's the problem with the diplomatic boycott. There's no story once the Games start," said Susan Brownell, an expert on Chinese sports and the Olympic Games at the University of Missouri-St. Louis."I've predicted at the beginning that the political issues would fade into the background and the sports would take the headlines, and that would be the memory that would be left, at least for the general audience. I think that has largely happened," added Brownell. Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFireworks burst over the Beijing National Stadium at the end of the Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday, February 20.Hide Caption 1 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsDancers perform inside the stadium during the closing ceremony.Hide Caption 2 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsThe flags of China and the International Olympic Committee are raised at the start of the closing ceremony.Hide Caption 3 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsThomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, waves the Olympic flag during the ceremony. He passed the flag to the mayors of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Those cities will host the Winter Games in 2026.Hide Caption 4 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSpectators attend the closing ceremony.Hide Caption 5 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican Vincent Zhou performs during the figure skating gala on February 20. Zhou was unable to compete in the men's singles event after testing positive for Covid-19, and he spent much of the Olympics in quarantine.Hide Caption 6 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin is seen after the mixed team event on February 20. The Americans finished in fourth, dashing Shiffrin's hopes of a medal this year. She won a gold in the 2014 Olympics and a gold and a silver in 2018.Hide Caption 7 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFinnish hockey players celebrate after they defeated the Russian Olympic Committee team 2-1 in the gold-medal game on February 20. It's the first Olympic gold for Finland in men's hockey.Hide Caption 8 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsGermany's Francesco Friedrich, Thorsten Margis, Candy Bauer and Alexander Schueller won gold in the four-man bobsled event on February 20. Friedrich achieved a historic double-double: he's the first driver to win gold in both the two- and four-man events at multiple Olympics.Hide Caption 9 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto takes part in the gala exhibition on February 20.Hide Caption 10 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican cross-country skier Jessie Diggins lies on the snow after crossing the finish line of the 30-kilometer mass start event on February 20. She won the silver, finishing behind Norway's Therese Johaug, and she revealed that she had been suffering from food poisoning just 30 hours beforehand.Hide Caption 11 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAthletes from both teams hug after the curling final between Japan and Great Britain on February 20. It was Great Britain's only gold medal of these Olympics.Hide Caption 12 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChinese figure skaters Han Cong and Sui Wenjing compete in the pairs event on Saturday, February 19. They finished with a world-record score to capture their first-ever Olympic gold.Hide Caption 13 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsPoland's Magdalena Czyszczoń and Belarus' Maryna Zuyeva lead the pack during the speedskating mass start final on February 19.Hide Caption 14 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsDutch speedskater Irene Schouten celebrates with a teammate after winning gold in the mass start final on February 19. It was her third gold medal of this year's Olympics.Hide Caption 15 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsGreat Britain's Gus Kenworthy crashes during the freeski halfpipe final on February 19. The skiers were facing strong winds during their runs, and several of them commented on the difficult conditions. This was the final Olympics for Kenworthy, who won a silver in 2014.Hide Caption 16 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsThe Swiss bobsled team of Simon Friedli, Adrian Fassler, Fabio Badraun and Andreas Haas races down the track on February 19.Hide Caption 17 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmericans Elana Meyers Taylor and Sylvia Hoffman celebrate after winning bronze in the two-woman bobsled event on February 19. It was Meyers Taylor's fifth Olympic medal, making her the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history.Hide Caption 18 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA course worker removes gate flags after the alpine skiing mixed team event was postponed due to poor weather conditions on February 19.Hide Caption 19 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican figure skating duo Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc skate in the pairs short program on Friday, February 18. LeDuc became the first openly nonbinary athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics.Hide Caption 20 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChinese skier Eileen Gu competes in the halfpipe final on February 18. The 18-year-old superstar won gold in the event and finished with three medals in these Olympic Games. She already had won gold in the big air event and silver in the slopestyle.Hide Caption 21 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFinnish goalie Harri Säteri defends his net during a hockey semifinal against Slovakia on February 18. Finland won 2-0.Hide Caption 22 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsBiathletes compete in a mass start event on February 18.Hide Caption 23 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsCanada's Brady Leman, left, and Italy's Simone Deromedis fly through the air during a ski cross race on February 18.Hide Caption 24 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJamaica's four-man bobsled team, piloted by Shanwayne Stephens, makes a training run on Thursday, February 17. It's the first time Jamaica has had a four-man team compete at the Olympics since 1998.Hide Caption 25 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsKamila Valieva, the Russian figure skater who has been at the center of a doping controversy at the Beijing Winter Olympics, fell multiple times during her free skate on February 17 and finished fourth in the women's singles competition. The 15-year-old star tested positive for a banned substance in December, before the Olympics, and officials are still investigating whether she or her entourage broke anti-doping rules. She was provisionally cleared to compete, but if she had won she would not have awarded the gold until the conclusion of the investigation.Hide Caption 26 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsThe Canadian women's hockey team celebrates after defeating the United States 3-2 in the gold-medal game on February 17. Since women's hockey became an Olympic sport in 1998, only Canada and the United States have won gold. The two countries have played in the gold-medal game in the last four Olympics, with Canada winning three of them.Hide Caption 27 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsRussian figure skater Anna Shcherbakova performs her free skate on February 17. She won the gold while teammate Alexandra Trusova won the silver. Japan's Kaori Sakamoto took the bronze.Hide Caption 28 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsValieva is consoled after her disastrous free skate.Hide Caption 29 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFinland's Jon Sallinen crashes into a cameraman during halfpipe qualification on February 17. Both Sallinen and the cameraman — as well as the video footage — were fine. However, as a result of the crash, Sallinen ended up in last place.Hide Caption 30 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican skier Mikaela Shiffrin reacts after falling in the slalom portion of the combined event on February 17. It was the third event of these Olympics that Shiffrin was unable to finish. She also fell in the giant slalom and missed a gate in the standalone slalom event.Hide Caption 31 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSwiss skier Michelle Gisin competes in the downhill portion of the combined event, which she won for the second straight Olympics. Gisin was 12th after the downhill but dominated in the slalom to move into first.Hide Caption 32 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsRussian freestyle skier Ilia Burov hugs Ukraine's Oleksandr Abramenko as they celebrate medaling in the aerials final on Wednesday, February 16. Burov won the bronze and Abramenko won the silver. Back at home, tensions between their two countries are at their highest in years, with a Russian military buildup spurring fears that there could soon be an attack.Hide Caption 33 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA waitress wearing protective gear serves a table at a hotel restaurant inside the Olympic bubble on February 16. The Beijing Olympic Committee identified no new Covid-19 cases among Games-related personnel on Wednesday, it said in a statement. It was the first time no new infections had been detected since the beginning of the Winter Olympics, and it followed a steady decline in cases for the past two weeks.Hide Caption 34 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSlovakia's Peter Cehlárik beats American goalie Strauss Mann to score what proved to be the winning shootout goal in their quarterfinal game on February 16.Hide Caption 35 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSilver medalist Nick Goepper, left, and gold medalist Alex Hall — two freestyle skiers from the United States — celebrate after the slopestyle final on February 16. Hall's gold was the first of his career, while it was Goepper's second straight silver in the event. Hide Caption 36 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrom left, Canada's Charles Hamelin and Jordan Pierre-Gilles and South Korea's Hwang Dae-heon and Park Jang-hyuk compete in the final of the 5,000-meter short track relay race on February 16. Canada finished first ahead of South Korea and Italy.Hide Caption 37 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsUkrainian freestyle skier Oleksandr Abramenko practices ahead of the aerials final on February 16. He would go on to win the silver medal.Hide Caption 38 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSwedish players celebrate after scoring against Canada during a quarterfinal hockey game on February 16. Sweden defeated the reigning world champions 2-0.Hide Caption 39 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsGermany's Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis make their final run in the two-man bobsled on Tuesday, February 15. They won gold as Germany swept the podium. Four years ago, Friedrich also won gold in the two-man and four-man events.Hide Caption 40 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFigure skater Kamila Valieva performs her short program in the women's singles competition on February 15. The Russian, at the center of a doping scandal, put herself in first place and was the favorite heading into the free skate on February 17.Hide Caption 41 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAs soon as she finished her short program, Valieva broke into tears. The crowd was audibly getting behind Valieva, perhaps more so than any other skater, according to CNN staff in the arena.Hide Caption 42 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican speedskater Casey Dawson is followed by teammates Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran during the team pursuit semifinals on February 15. They finished with the bronze along with Joey Mantia.Hide Caption 43 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAustrian snowboarder Anna Gasser competes in the big air finals on February 15. She won gold to defend her Olympic title. The big air Olympic venue was built on the site of a former steel mill.Hide Caption 44 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSwiss freestyle skier Mathilde Gremaud, left, hugs China's Eileen Gu after they finished 1-2 in the slopestyle finals on February 15. Gremaud won gold and Gu won silver.Hide Caption 45 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapanese speedskaters react as teammate Nana Takagi crashes during the team pursuit final on February 15. Japan was leading Canada and looked on course to win the gold when Takagi got one of her blades caught in the ice on the final corner, causing her to fall and crash into the barriers. Japan finished with the silver.Hide Caption 46 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSwitzerland's Corinne Suter skis in the downhill event on February 15. She won the gold.Hide Caption 47 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChinese snowboarder Su Yiming performs a trick on his way to winning gold in the big air event on February 15. Su won a silver in the slopestyle earlier in these Games.Hide Caption 48 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsMembers of the Czech Republic team pose for a photo as teammates Dominik Dvorak and Jakub Nosek slide past in a bobsled on Monday, February 14.Hide Caption 49 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapan's Satsuki Fujisawa plays with her hair during a curling match against China on February 14. She had a message to herself written on her hand: "I'm a good curler. I have confidence. Let's have fun!"Hide Caption 50 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChina's Kong Fanyu falls during the aerials final on February 14.Hide Caption 51 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates perform a routine on February 14.Hide Caption 52 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican bobsledders Elana Meyers Taylor, left, and Kaillie Humphries celebrate after winning silver and gold medals, respectively, in the monobob on February 14. They're the first women to win bobsled medals at four consecutive Winter Olympics. Humphries had two golds and a bronze from past Olympic Games. Meyers Taylor had two silvers and a bronze. Hide Caption 53 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrench snowboarder Lucile Lefevre decided to dress up as a tiger to have some fun in big air qualification. She wasn't going to be able to complete tricks because of a knee injury she suffered earlier in these Olympics. But she was determined to make he "very last competition" a bit more colorful. It's the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac.Hide Caption 54 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsDutch speedskaters Xandra Velzeboer, Suzanne Schulting, Selma Poutsma and Yara Van Kerkhof react after winning gold in the 3,000-meter short track relay on February 13. They also set an Olympic record in the race.Hide Caption 55 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSnow falls as Canada's Cynthia Appiah competes in the monobob on February 13.Hide Caption 56 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican speedskater Erin Jackson celebrates after winning the 500 meters on February 13. She's the first Black woman to win an individual medal in speedskating at the Olympics, according to Team USA. She's also the first US woman to win a speedskating gold at the Olympics since Bonnie Blair did so in 1994.Hide Caption 57 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsKazakhstan's Akmarzhan Kalmurzayeva makes a practice run ahead of aerials qualification on February 13.Hide Caption 58 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA man attends a freestyle skiing event that was postponed because of poor weather conditions.Hide Caption 59 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSnow-covered cars are seen from a hotel inside the "closed loop" that separates the Games from the rest of Beijing. It was the first time Beijing had seen snow since the start of the Games.Hide Caption 60 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsCanadian goaltender Eddie Pasquale can't get to a shot by the United States' Ben Meyers during the first period of their hockey game on February 12. The Americans won 4-2.Hide Caption 61 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsThe United States' Lindsey Jacobellis grabs her board as she edges Italy's Michela Moioli to win the mixed team snowboard cross event on February 12. It was reminiscent of the 2006 Olympics, when Jacobellis went for a showoff move on the last jump and then fell, finishing second in the women's event. It was her second gold in Beijing.Hide Caption 62 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrench biathlete Simon Desthieux warms up before the 10-kilometer sprint on February 12.Hide Caption 63 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrench ice dancers Guillaume Cizeron and Gabriella Papadakis compete on February 12. The pair set a new world record in the rhythm dance and would go on to win the gold medal.Hide Caption 64 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSwitzerland's women's hockey team prepares to take the ice before its quarterfinal game on February 12. The Swiss defeated the Russian Olympic Committee team 4-2.Hide Caption 65 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsGermany's Axel Jungk makes his last run in the skeleton event on February 11. He finished with the silver.Hide Caption 66 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapanese speedskater Miho Takagi leads her team in the team pursuit quarterfinals on February 12. Japan set a new Olympic record and qualified fastest for the semifinals.Hide Caption 67 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSwiss ski jumper Dominik Peter competes in the large hill event on February 11.Hide Caption 68 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsUS snowboarding legend Shaun White gets emotional after his last run in the halfpipe final on February 11. White, the gold-medal winner in 2006, 2010 and 2018, finished fourth in what he said would be his final Olympics.Hide Caption 69 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFans celebrate after China's Yan Wengang won bronze in the men's skeleton event on February 11.Hide Caption 70 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapanese snowboarder Ayumu Hirano flies above the halfpipe on his way to winning the gold medal on February 11. On each of his three runs, Hirano landed a triple cork — a three-flip trick that had never even been attempted before in an Olympic final. Hide Caption 71 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSwiss skier Lara Gut-Behrami celebrates with her gold medal after winning the super-G on February 11. It was the third Olympic medal of her career but her first gold.Hide Caption 72 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsCanadian freestyle skier Evan McEachran trains on February 11. The slopestyle course featured a tribute to the Great Wall of China.Hide Caption 73 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsIn this photo taken with a slow shutter speed, German ski jumper Karl Geiger competes in the large hill event on February 11. He ended up winning the bronze.Hide Caption 74 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFinnish cross-country skier Iivo Niskanen reacts after winning the classical 15-kilometer race on February 11.Hide Caption 75 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSouth Korea's Kim Yoo-ran trains for the women's monobob on February 11.Hide Caption 76 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsThe Netherlands' Suzanne Schulting crosses the finish line just ahead of South Korea's Choi Min-jeong to win the 1,000-meter short track final on February 11. Schulting also won the event at the 2018 Olympics.Hide Caption 77 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAfter falling on his third and final run in the halfpipe final, snowboarder Shaun White took off his helmet and waved goodbye to the crowd. He said going into Beijing that this would be his fifth and final Olympics.Hide Caption 78 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsRussian figure skater Kamila Valieva attends a training session on February 11. Valieva, the 15-year-old superstar who helped the Russian Olympic Committee finish first in the team figure skating event, became the center of controversy after it came to light that she failed a drug test in December.Hide Caption 79 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA worker in a hazmat suit walks through a hotel restaurant in Beijing on February 10. The restaurant is part of what authorities have called a "closed loop" system — a bubble completely cut off from the rest of the city.Hide Caption 80 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsThe United States' Nathan Chen won the gold medal in singles figure skating on February 10. It was the first Olympic gold for Chen, who finished fifth in South Korea four years ago.Hide Caption 81 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsCanada's Lewis Irving competes in the mixed team aerials event on February 10. Canada won the bronze.Hide Caption 82 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSwitzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni yells to her sweepers during a curling match against Great Britain on February 10.Hide Caption 83 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrom left, the United States' Nick Baumgartner, Japan's Yoshiki Takahara, the United States' Hagen Kearney and Canada's Kevin Hill compete in a snowboard cross race on February 10.Hide Caption 84 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican snowboarding star Chloe Kim reacts after her first of three runs in the halfpipe finals on February 10. She nailed every trick and posted a huge score of 94. It turned out to be the winning run. Kim also won halfpipe gold in 2018.Hide Caption 85 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsDutch speedskater Irene Schouten competes in the 5,000 meters on February 10. Schouten won the event in stunning fashion, breaking a 20-year-old Olympic record set by Germany's Claudia Pechstein at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.Hide Caption 86 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapan's Yuzuru Hanyu, the Olympic champion in 2014 and 2018, falls during his free skate on February 10. He attempted a quadruple axel, a highly difficult move that has never been completed in competition. He finished in fourth place.Hide Caption 87 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsBelarus' Anna Derugo performs a trick as she practices for the mixed team aerials event on February 10.Hide Caption 88 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsOfficials try to separate hockey players from Switzerland (white helmets) and the Russian Olympic Committee during a goalmouth scrum on February 9. It was the first game of the men's hockey tournament.Hide Caption 89 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsGermany's Vinzenz Geiger celebrates after winning gold in a Nordic combined event on February 9. He was 11th after the ski jumping portion of the competition, and he started the cross-country race nearly a minute and a half behind the leader. But he rallied to make up the ground and cross the finish line first.Hide Caption 90 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAustria's Franz-Josef Rehrl prepares for a ski jump as he competes in a Nordic combined event on February 9.Hide Caption 91 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSouth Korea's Hwang Dae-heon, left, crosses the finish line ahead of Canadian Steven Dubois and Russian Semen Elistratov to win the 1,500-meter short track final on February 9.Hide Caption 92 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican snowboarder Shaun White reacts February 9 after finishing his second run on the halfpipe. He had fallen on his first run, and he needed the second run to qualify for the event final.Hide Caption 93 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA dejected Mikaela Shiffrin sits on the side of the slalom course after she missed a gate on her first run and was disqualified on February 9. The American star was one of the favorites in the event. Her miscue came two days after a shocking fall in the giant slalom.Hide Caption 94 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsGermany's Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt celebrate after winning gold in doubles luge on February 9. The pair made history by becoming the first doubles luge team to win three consecutive golds.Hide Caption 95 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrom left, the United States' Stacy Gaskill, the United States' Lindsey Jacobellis, France's Chloe Trespeuch and Italy's Michela Moioli compete in a snowboard cross semifinal on February 9. Jacobellis would go on to win the event, her first gold medal in her fifth Olympic Games.Hide Caption 96 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican Andrew Blaser races down the track during skeleton training on February 9.Hide Caption 97 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsKnowing he had already clinched the gold in the big air competition, Norwegian freestyle skier Birk Ruud holds his country's flag in his hand as he completes his final jump on February 9.Hide Caption 98 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsWorkers in protective gear disinfect seats after the big air competition on February 9.Hide Caption 99 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican snowboarder Chloe Kim soars through the air during halfpipe qualification on February 9. She finished with the best score of the day. Kim was just 17 years old when she won the halfpipe four years ago in South Korea.Hide Caption 100 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican figure skater Nathan Chen reacts after his short program on February 8. He set a new world record with a score of 113.97.Hide Caption 101 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsGreat Britain's Laura Deas runs down the track at the start of a skeleton training run on February 8.Hide Caption 102 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA forerunner jumps during an aerials training session on February 8.Hide Caption 103 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrom left, Russian snowboarders Natalia Soboleva and Polina Smolentsova race each other in the parallel giant slalom on February 8.Hide Caption 104 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsUS skier Jessie Diggins celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the cross-country freestyle sprint on February 8.Hide Caption 105 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsMexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo performs his short program on February 8. Carrillo, Mexico's first Olympic figure skater in 30 years, was also his country's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.Hide Caption 106 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsItaly's Arianna Fontana kisses her gold medal after winning the 500-meter short track race on February 8. She has won more Olympic medals than any short track skater in history.Hide Caption 107 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsGerman luger Natalie Geisenberger reacts February 8 after winning singles gold for the third straight Olympics. Geisenberger is tied with Italy's Armin Zöggeler as the most decorated luger in Olympic history. This was her sixth medal in all and her fifth gold.Hide Caption 108 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChina's Eileen Gu makes her final run in the big air competition on February 8. Her score on that run lifted her past France's Tess Ledeux to win the gold medal.Hide Caption 109 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsCanada's Jamie Lee Rattray, left, reacts after scoring a goal against the United States during a women's hockey game on February 8. Canada won 4-2.Hide Caption 110 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu skates on February 8. Hanyu, the defending Olympic champion who also won gold in 2014, was in eighth place after a disappointing short program.Hide Caption 111 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAustrian skier Matthias Mayer successfully defended his Olympic title in the super-G on February 8.Hide Caption 112 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChinese tennis star Peng Shuai watches the women's big air finals on February 8. Peng was seen sitting alongside Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, who she also had a face-to-face meeting with over the previous weekend. Bach and Peng had agreed to meet during a November video call that came amid an outpouring of global concern about the whereabouts and safety of the athlete.Hide Caption 113 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrom left, Hungary's Shaolin Sándor Liu gets tangled up with China's Ren Ziwei after crossing the finish line in the 1,000-meter short track final on February 7. Liu crossed the finish line first, but Ren was awarded the gold medal after Liu was given a yellow card and two penalties for illegally changing lanes and causing contact with Ren.Hide Caption 114 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsNorway's Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold competes in the 15-kilometer biathlon on February 7.Hide Caption 115 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican skier Mikaela Shiffrin falls during the giant slalom on February 7. Shiffrin won gold in the event four years ago in South Korea.Hide Caption 116 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsDutch speedskater Ireen Wüst celebrates on the podium after winning the 1,500 meters on February 7. The 35-year-old became the first athlete to win an individual gold medal in five separate Olympics.Hide Caption 117 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsRussian figure skater Kamila Valieva competes in the team event on February 7. The 15-year-old became the first female skater to ever land a quadruple jump at the Olympics, and she helped her team win the gold. But she is now at the center of a drug testing controversy, and the medals will not be awarded until an investigation concludes.Hide Caption 118 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsVolunteers wave flags during a medal ceremony on February 7.Hide Caption 119 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsCanadian hockey player Brianne Jenner, left, faces off against the Russian Olympic Committee's Oxana Bratishcheva during a preliminary round game on February 7. The game was delayed for an hour after the ROC's Covid-19 test results had not arrived on time. When the teams finally played, they wore masks under their cages.Hide Caption 120 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsCanada's Emily Dickson competes in the 15-kilometer biathlon on February 7.Hide Caption 121 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAmerican figure skating pair Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier perform during the team event on February 7.Hide Caption 122 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsRussian speedskater Elena Sokhryakova skates past medical personnel as she warms up for the 1,500 meters on February 7.Hide Caption 123 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSwitzerland's Beat Feuz kicks one of his skis in the air after finishing his downhill run on February 7. He won the gold, Switzerland's first in these Olympics. Feuz won a silver and a bronze at the 2018 Winter Games.Hide Caption 124 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapan's Ryoyu Kobayashi soars through the air during the normal hill competition on February 6. He became the first ski jumper from his country to win the normal hill event since Yukio Kasaya in 1972.Hide Caption 125 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsNew Zealand snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, bottom, is tackled by the United States' Julia Marino and Australia's Tess Coady after her final slopestyle run on February 6. Sadowski-Synnott made history by winning her country's first-ever gold in the Winter Olympics. Marino won the silver and Coady won the bronze.Hide Caption 126 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChina's Zhu Yi falls during her short program while competing in the team figure skating event on February 6. After finishing last, the US-born skater faced a firestorm of criticism on Chinese social media.Hide Caption 127 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsBritish freestyle skier Leonie Gerken Schofield competes in the women's moguls on February 6.Hide Caption 128 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapanese speedskater Seitaro Ichinohe skates in a mostly empty arena during the men's 5,000 meters on February 6.Hide Caption 129 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsRussian Alexander Bolshunov celebrates after winning the gold medal in the skiathlon on February 6.Hide Caption 130 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSkiers leave the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Center after the men's downhill was postponed due to high winds on February 6.Hide Caption 131 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsJapanese figure skater Yuma Kagiyama competes in the team event on February 6.Hide Caption 132 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChinese curlers Fan Suyuan, left, and Ling Zhi strategize while competing in a mixed-doubles match against Great Britain on February 6.Hide Caption 133 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsPeople rest in sleep cabins set up for journalists in the media center.Hide Caption 134 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsNorway's Therese Johaug celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the women's skiathlon on February 5. It was the first medal event of these Olympics.Hide Caption 135 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFreestyle skier Dmitriy Reikherd of Kazakhstan performs a trick during the men's moguls competition on February 5.Hide Caption 136 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChina's Wu Dajing, left, narrowly beats out Italy's Pietro Sighel to win the short track mixed relay on February 5. It was the host nation's first gold medal of these Games.Hide Caption 137 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsDutch speedskater Irene Schouten celebrates after winning the women's 3,000 meters on February 5. Schouten set a new Olympic record in the event, breaking a 20-year-old record set at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.Hide Caption 138 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrance's Anais Chevalier-Bouchet, left, skis during the biathlon mixed relay on February 5. France finished second behind Norway.Hide Caption 139 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA worker, wearing a protective suit, cleans her hands after administering a Covid-19 test inside the Olympics bubble on February 5. This was the second Olympics to be held during the coronavirus pandemic. As with last year's Summer Olympics in Tokyo, a raft of Covid-19 countermeasures were put into place. Tickets for the Games were not sold to the general public; they were distributed by authorities instead.Hide Caption 140 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChinese athletes Dinigeer Yilamujian, left, and Zhao Jiawen wave as they place the Olympic flame into a giant snowflake during the opening ceremony on February 4. The choice of Dinigeer and Zhao appeared symbolic and deliberate. Dinigeer is a Uyghur, an ethnic minority in China's far west region of Xinjiang where China has been accused of massive human-rights violations. Zhao is of Han decent, the dominant ethnicity in China.Hide Caption 141 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsPerformers create a flower display with LED lights during the opening ceremony.Hide Caption 142 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChildren perform during the opening ceremony.Hide Caption 143 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsPerformers take part in the opening ceremony.Hide Caption 144 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsChina's team enters the stadium during the opening ceremony's parade of nations.Hide Caption 145 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsPerformers entertain the audience at the opening ceremony.Hide Caption 146 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsMembers of Team USA pose for a photo during the parade of nations.Hide Caption 147 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFireworks explode over the Beijing National Stadium at the opening ceremony. Beijing is the first city in history to host both a Summer and a Winter Olympics.Hide Caption 148 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsAthletes inside a bus wave to residents on the street as they head to the stadium for the opening ceremony.Hide Caption 149 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsFrance's Sacha Theocharis takes part in a moguls practice session on February 4.Hide Caption 150 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSome competition actually began in the days before the opening ceremony. Here, American Nathan Chen competes in the team figure-skating event on February 4. He put the United States in the lead with his short program.Hide Caption 151 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsCanada's Rebecca Johnston, center, scores a goal against Switzerland during a preliminary hockey game on February 3. The Canadians won 12-1.Hide Caption 152 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA robot delivers a woman's lunch in the media dining area on February 2. In a bid to keep the Games Covid-free — and to prevent the virus from spreading into the wider population — Chinese authorities constructed a "closed loop system" that separated the Games from the host city.Hide Caption 153 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA luger trains in Beijing on February 2.Hide Caption 154 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsSpeedskaters with the Italian Olympic team practice on February 2.Hide Caption 155 of 156 Photos: The best photos of the Beijing Winter OlympicsA worker wearing a protective suit sprays disinfectant at a screening checkpoint for arriving athletes on February 1.Hide Caption 156 of 156Going on the offensiveBut Beijing wasn't just waiting for the political controversies to fade. It has gone on the offensive, using the Games to push its own political message and hit back at criticism -- despite having repeatedly derided Western governments for "politicizing" the Olympics. As the torch relay got underway right before the Games, state media reported a Chinese soldier who was involved in a deadly border clash with Indian troops was among the chosen few to carry the Olympic flame. The report sparked immediate outrage in India, prompting New Delhi to join the US-led diplomatic boycott.The next day, in a symbolic end to the highly choreographed opening ceremony, Chinese organizers chose Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a little-known Uyghur cross-country skier, to deliver the flame to the Olympic cauldron. (Her name could also be written as Dilnigar Ilhamjan.) To many outside of China, it was seen as a deliberate attempt by Beijing to confront critics over its treatment of the Uyghurs.Torch bearers Dinigeer Yilamujiang and Jiawen Zhao of Team China hold the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony on February 4.Then there came the high-profile appearance of Peng Shuai, a Chinese tennis star and three-time Olympian who has been at the center of global concern after she was silenced for accusing a former top Communist Party leader of sexual assault.At these Games, Peng met IOC President Thomas Bach for dinner, gave a sit-down interview to French sport news site L'Equipe -- during which she denied she ever accused anyone of sexual assault or disappeared from the public eye -- and was seen in the stands watching Team China compete in events like curling, figure skating and freestyle skiing.Her flurry of activities made headlines around the world -- and like her previous public appearances, they failed to quell broader concerns about her freedoms. Inside China, however, none of that was reported by state media or shared on social media, where Peng's name remains censored.JUST WATCHEDVideo: Hear details of rare Peng Shuai interview with Western mediaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVideo: Hear details of rare Peng Shuai interview with Western media 02:05And as the Olympics approached its end, the political messaging got more pugnacious.At a press conference Thursday, Yan Jiarong, a spokesperson for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympics Games (BOCOG), was asked whether Taiwan's delegation would appear at the closing ceremony Sunday.Yan, a former Chinese representative to the United Nations, took the opportunity to assert China sovereignty claims over the self-ruling democracy. "What I want to say is that there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an indivisible part of China," she said.She also jumped in on CNN's question about whether the Olympics uniforms were made by forced labor in Xinjiang, calling accusations of forced labor "a lie made up by forces with ulterior motives."Fame and fury: China's wildly different reactions to US-born Olympians Yan's comments -- which appeared to be an outright violation of Olympic rules about political neutrality -- prompted a rare rebuke from Bach, the IOC president."We were in touch with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) immediately after this press conference," Bach said, "and both organizations, BOCOG and the IOC, have restated the unequivocal commitment to remain politically neutral as it is required by the Olympic charter."While the Chinese government may see these combative remarks as a propaganda victory, for many in the international audience, they only serve as a reminder of how politically fraught these Games are, despite the organizational success and sporting achievements."The Games as a standalone event have been run very well, and China did well. The organization has been phenomenal," said Mark Dreyer, the founder of China Sports Insider in Beijing."But again, it depends on what perspective you're looking at. Are you just looking through that narrow lens? Because if you're looking at China as a whole, the narrative (from outside China) is much more about China using these Games for sportswashing...I don't think it's really going to change people's perspective on China as a country."

Kikue Higuchi, CNN

2022-02-19 14:42:55

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/19/sport/figure-skating-controversies-timeline-spt-intl/index.html

Timeline of figure skating controversies from 1902 to 2022 - CNN

The International Skating Union (ISU) will hold a vote at its Congress in June on a proposal to raise the minimum age for competitors to 17, the governing body told CNN on Friday.

sport, Timeline of figure skating controversies from 1902 to 2022 - CNN

Timeline of figure skating controversies from 1902 to 2022

(CNN)The International Skating Union (ISU) will hold a vote at its Congress in June on a proposal to raise the minimum age for competitors to 17, the governing body told CNN on Friday.The sport has been at the center of attention after 15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva was allowed to continue competing at this year's Winter Games despite failing a drugs test in December 2021. But Beijing 2022 isn't the first time that figure skating has been at the center of controversy.Russia's Kamila Valieva falls as she competes in the women's single skating free skating of the figure skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on February 17, 2022.1902: Madge Syers skates into a man's worldFlorence Madelin "Madge" Syers shocked the world when she became the first woman to compete at in the 1902 World championships.Judges wanted to ban her from competing, but no rule specified the gender of participants. They were forced to let her skate and Syers earned second place behind Ulrich Salchow. Why Olympic figure skaters don't get dizzy Read MoreSoon after, officials banned female athletes, claiming their skirts were too long and the judges couldn't see their footwork. Syers quickly found a solution: a skirt that ended mid-calf.She went on to win the British Nationals in 1903 and 1904 and the women's World Championships in 1906 and 1907. Figure skating made its debut in the 1908 London Olympics and Syers won gold in the women's singles and bronze in the mixed pairs, where she skated alongside her husband, making her the first woman to take home two medals in just one Olympic Games. 1988: Modesty and "The Katarina Rule"At the 1988 Winter Olympics hosted in Calgary, German figure skater Katerina Witt wore a costume that a male Canadian coach, Peter Dunfield, claimed was "bizarre and indecent ... The real provocative side is the back. But in the front, you've even got cleavage."According to the New York Times, Dunfield also suggested that Witt might be trying to win over the judges with a revealing costume.Witt defended her choice, saying the costume was appropriate for her music, which was from the Broadway show "Jerry's Girls." The controversy caused the ISU to adopt a new dress code: all women were required to wear skirts that covered their hips and bottom, as well as cover their midriff. This strict rule was relaxed in 2003, but the ISU still requires all clothing to be "modest, dignified and appropriate for athletic competition." Katarina Witt at the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics.1994: Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya HardingNancy Kerrigan was the victim of a plot to kneecap her -- literally -- prior to the 1994 Olympics. Kerrigan's rival Tonya Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly was involved in the plot.Gillooly was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the attack and Harding received three years of probation and was fined $100,000 for conspiring to hinder prosecution.Kerrigan was still selected for the Olympic team despite her injury and went on to earn a silver medal at the 1994 Olympic in Lillehammer.Harding maintained her innocence throughout the games, but on March 16, just a few weeks after closing ceremonies, she pleaded guilty to hindering the prosecution. A few months later the US Figure Skating Association revoked her gold medal at the 1994 national championships and banned her from the ice for life.Subsequently the scandal was immortalized in the 2017 drama, "I, Tonya" starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan and Allison Janney. Asked by The Boston Globe if she was bothered by Hollywood's portrayal of Harding, Kerrigan said "It's not really part of my life.""As you say, I was the victim," she said. "Like, that's my role in this whole thing. That's it."US figure skater Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan take a break during training in 1994.1998: Surya Bonaly backflips and judges flip outThe day before Surya Bonaly was set to perform her free skate at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, she pulled a muscle in her right leg, though knowing that these Winter Games were her last, the French star was committed to competing.In a 2016 interview with Radiolab, Bonaly recounted her performance, saying by the end of the program the pain in her leg was unbearable and she couldn't perform the two triples she had left in her routine.But Bonaly "had a special thing in her back pocket" to wow the crowd, performing an illegal backflip landing on just her left blade.It didn't go down well with judges, who handed Bonaly a score that dropped her from sixth to 11th place. In recent years, fans have questioned if race might have played a part in her career, though both Bonaly and former judges deny any bias."We are all humans, we all have different styles. And we can create a different personality of character on ice," Bonaly told CNN's Amy Woodyatt on Friday."You have to find your own style, and you have to save it to give it ... When you watch 20 skaters doing the same thing over and over, I mean, what's about it? "Skating is called free skating, so supposed to be free, but it's not really free, entirely free because there's rules to follow and if you don't, you're in big trouble.Bonaly told CNN that her routines were sometimes penalized by judges."I remember back in the days I used to like jumps and combos, and if I will do one extra one jump after a combo because I felt like "oh, triple, triple and a double. You actually got in trouble because you did too much of that," she said."I think that judges should be more open minded, to be able to receive and see things coming from different places -- a different way of what has been brought on the ice."Surya Bonaly performs a backflip in her free skate routine.1998: Judging scandal exposedAt the 1998 Olympics, Jean Senft -- a Canadian skating judge -- surreptitiously recorded a conversation with a fellow Ukrainian judge, Yuri Balkov, where they openly discussed how they would place ice dancers before they had even competed. Senft had previously approached officials with her concerns about corruption among her colleagues but was told she needed proof. After playing the tape at an ISU hearing, Balkov was banned for one year. Soon after, Senft also suffered a six-month suspension for allegedly favoring a Canadian pair, though she claims the suspension was retaliation against her. "The athletes are not competing on a fair playing field. This isn't sport. Somebody had to get proof," Senft told CBC News in 2000. After the scandal, small reforms were made to judging requirements and deductions. 2002: "Skategate"After Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier produced a flawless free skate at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, the gold medal was awarded to the Russian duo: Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, who had enough technical errors in their performance to call the result into question. When the judges met to defend the results, French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne claimed that the French Skating Federation president, Didier Gailhauguet, had directed her to rank the Russian pair first. Soon evidence emerged of a quid pro quo between Russian and French votes in the pairs figure skating and ice dancing events.Le Gougne and Gailhauguet were suspended for three years and there was an overhaul of the judging system in figure skating, with strict protocols eliminating the room for subjective judgment."Meddling," a four-part series was released last month on Peacock chronicling the scandal.Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia celebrate gold at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.2010: Russian duo's performance sparks cultural backlashReigning world champions in ice dancing, the Russian duo Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin performed a dance inspired by Aboriginal culture at both the Russian and European Championships.The pair skated to music that was largely chants and didgeridoos while wearing red loin cloths, body suits with white markings and make up that appeared to be brown face. Their performance sparked outrage amongst Aboriginal activists in Australia who claimed the routine was culturally exploitative and inauthentic. "Accurate or not, you have to be sensitive to the people you are representing," Jef Billings, a renowned designer of skating costumes, told The New York Times in 2010. "At the turn of the last century, minstrel shows were acceptable. Times have changed."The Russian duo's coach, Natalia Linichuk ,was shocked at the outrage, denying any wrongdoing or ill-intent and claiming that the dance was not based on any one Aboriginal culture. Bev Manton, chairwoman of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, expressed her anger in the Sydney Morning Herald: "From an Aboriginal perspective, this performance is offensive. It was clearly not meant to mock Aboriginal culture, but that does not make it acceptable to Aboriginal people." 2014: US Skating Federation team selection questionedMirai Nagasu took home the bronze medal at the 2014 US national championships but was passed over for the Sochi Olympic team in favor of fourth place finisher, Ashley Wagner. The US Skating Federation had only ignored the national championship results four times until then, in all cases because of injuries that prevented the selected athletes from competing. The federation defended its choice, citing Wagner's higher global rankings and Nagasu's inconsistent record over the past year. However, Jeff Yang of the Wall Street Journal found it hard to ignore the aesthetics of the choice, calling Wagner a "golden girl" with her blonde hair and blue eyes. His claims had a ring of truth for some fans, especially when looking at previous treatment of Asian American skaters; including one media headline claiming, "American beats out Kwan." Kwan being Michelle Kwan of the US team, who was born in Torrance, California. Four years later Nagasu won a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics in South Korea.Nagasu also landed a triple axel -- one of the most challenging jumps in figure skating. In doing so she accomplished a feat that made her the first female American figure skater to nail the triple axel at the Olympics.At the end of her routine, Nagasu triumphantly threw her hands in the air and a bright, exuberant smile spread across her face.Mirai Nagasu (L) and Ashley Wagner (R) on the podium together.2022: Kamila Valieva's positive drugs testIn a sample taken in December, prior to the Olympics, 15-year-old Valieva tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, a drug commonly used to treat angina and which experts say can enhance endurance by increasing blood flow to the heart.Eileen Gu and Kamila Valieva became the teenage faces of Beijing 2022 under wildly contrasting circumstancesHowever, the result was only analyzed and reported to Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in February. Valieva was then suspended the day after she led the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to gold in the figure skating team event on February 7 when she became the first woman to land a quadruple jump in a Winter Olympic Games.RUSADA lifted her suspension the next day following a hearing. Subsequently the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee and the ISU filed an appeal against the lifting of the ban. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared Valieva for competition, saying she would suffer "irreparable harm" if not allowed to compete, citing the "exceptional circumstances" of her being a minor.Valieva finished in fourth place in the women's individual figure skating event on Thursday, leaving the ice in tears after falling and faltering during jumps in her routine, despite having previously been the favorite to take gold.Before being cleared to take part in the women's individual figure skating competition, Valieva was suspended by the RUSADA on February 8, although the body lifted her suspension the next day following a hearing.Aleks Klosok and Amy Woodyatt contributed to this report.

Holly Yan, CNN

2022-02-17 05:00:10

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/sport/womens-figure-skating-scoring-explainer/index.html

Women's figure skating: How scoring works and why stamina often leads to more points - CNN

Gone are the days when Olympic figure skating was scored solely at the judges' discretion, with subjective points awarded on a 6.0 scale.

sport, Women's figure skating: How scoring works and why stamina often leads to more points - CNN

Here's how women's figure skating is now scored (and why stamina often leads to more points)

(CNN)Gone are the days when Olympic figure skating was scored solely at the judges' discretion, with subjective points awarded on a 6.0 scale.A 2002 Olympic figure skating scandal -- with allegations of score-fixing -- upended the sport and led to a complete overhaul of the scoring system -- one that awards more points for stamina and strenuous athletic feats. Now, another Olympic skating controversy has gripped die-hard and casual fans alike. Kamila Valieva, 15, gave a test sample that later tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine on December 25, the day she won the Russian national championship.Russian skating star Kamila Valieva cleared to skate at Beijing GamesTrimetazidine is a medication that can increase stamina and make "your heart work more efficiently," said Dr. Elizabeth Murray, pediatric emergency medicine physician at the University of Rochester Medical Center.Read MoreBut the positive result wasn't announced by the World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited Swedish lab until February 8, a day after Valieva and her Russian Olympic Committee teammates won gold in the team competition. An Olympic official said Valieva blamed the positive test on a mix-up with her grandfather's medication. The skater's coach, Eteri Tutberidze, told Russian state news agency Tass her entourage is "absolutely sure" she is innocent.As the investigation continues, Valieva was allowed to compete in the Olympic women's individual figure skating event. Here's how the sport has evolved in recent years to reward increased athleticism and stamina: More difficult jumps = more pointsIn 2004, the International Skating Union ditched the subjective "6.0" scoring system for the more rubric-based International Judging System that gives certain base points for jumps depending on their degree of difficulty and how many times the skater rotates in the air.Kamila Valieva competes for the first time since a controversial doping scandal rulingFor example, a quadruple Lutz -- in which a skater makes four revolutions in the air -- carries more base points than a triple Lutz. But a triple Lutz carries more base points than less difficult triples, such as a triple loop or a triple Salchow. After each jump, skaters can gain or lose points from the base value depending on the grade of execution -- how well or poorly they executed the jump.All those numbers are part of the technical score. There's also the presentation score, which rewards artistry and skating skills between jumps. But in recent years, skaters have been able to win competitions largely due to points racked up from jumping -- with quadruple jumps playing a larger role in men's and women's skating. Why better stamina can win skaters more pointsIn women's figure skating, athletes perform two routines: the short program, which is about 2 minutes and 40 seconds long, and the free skate, which is about 4 minutes long. Russian skater Alina Zagitova was 15 when she won Olympic gold after performing all her free skate jumps in the second half of the routine.With the current scoring system, jumps performed in the second half of the free skate can get a 10% bonus because it's more difficult to perform them on tired legs. 2018 Olympic champion Alina Zagitova, who was also coached by Tutberidze, capitalized on this and put all her triple jumps in the second half of her free skate. The 15-year-old Russian won Olympic gold and was celebrated by President Vladimir Putin. Russian President Vladimir Putin presents Alina Zagitova with an Order of Friendship following the Russian teen's Olympic win in 2018.But critics denounced Zagitova's method of winning, saying the teen's performance lacked artistry or relied too heavily on jumps crammed in the second half of the routine to maximize points. After the widespread criticism in 2018, the International Skating Union created a new rule saying skaters will only get 10% bonuses for up to three jumping passes in the second half of their free skate. The new rule has been dubbed the "Zagitova rule." Even if Kamila Valieva wins, she losesSince the last Olympics, women's figure skating has been dominated by Russian teenagers such as Kamila Valieva, Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova.All three have won international championships after adding quadruple jumps in their routines -- an enormous athletic feat.Valieva became the first individual female skater to land a quad at the Olympics when she helped Russian skaters win the team event last week. But she might not get that team Olympic gold medal around her neck for a while -- if at all. The International Olympic Committee's executive board said this week that there would be no medal ceremony for the team event until it's determined whether Valieva had violated anti-doping regulations.CNN's Simone McCarthy, Hannah Ritchie and George Ramsay contributed to this report.

Amy Woodyatt, CNN

2022-02-12 08:50:04

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/12/sport/benjamin-alexander-beijing-ski-intl-spt/index.html

Benjamin Alexander: How 'absolutely fearless' Jamaican went from being a DJ to his country's first Olympic alpine skier - CNN

He is Jamaica's first Olympic alpine skier, but Benjamin Alexander was a late developer when it came to spending time on the slopes.

sport, Benjamin Alexander: How 'absolutely fearless' Jamaican went from being a DJ to his country's first Olympic alpine skier - CNN

Benjamin Alexander: How 'absolutely fearless' Jamaican went from being a DJ to his country's first Olympic alpine skier

(CNN)He is Jamaica's first Olympic alpine skier, but Benjamin Alexander was a late developer when it came to spending time on the slopes.A former DJ who has graced the stage at the Burning Man festival, the 38-year-old only discovered his love for the sport at 32, after a chance encounter with friends.That was in 2015 when Alexander was invited to DJ in Canada, and found himself at the top of a mountain with a group of friends."I never skied before at that time," Alexander told CNN. "They flew us up in the helicopters at the top of the mountain to meet the skiers for lunch. And growing up in England and spending most of my DJ career in warmer climates. "I'd never experienced anything like this before, I was just taken aback by the surroundings. Read More"And then the icing on the cake was to watch my friends pop into skis at the end of lunch and just disappear. And I thought that was fantastic. Jamaica's flag bearers Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian (L) and Benjamin Alexander enter the stadium leading Jamaica's delegation during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, at the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, on February 4, 2022.A few months later, in February of 2016, Alexander had his first lesson in Whistler and "it's just been kind of a steady progression since," he says modestly.Initially, Alexander wanted to get good enough at skiing to keep up with his friends.The youngest and oldest Winter Olympians competing at Beijing 2022 "As I got good enough to kind of ski with them socially, being the only Black representative in the group, even though I am only half Black, and being of Jamaican heritage, people kept throwing jokes, sideways jokes at me about 'Cool Runnings,' the Jamaican bobsled team and, 'you should go to the Olympics,'" Alexander told CNN Sport, referring to the 1993 hit film about the unlikely story of the Jamaican four-man bobsleigh team's bid to get to the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Alexander went to the PyeongChang Games in 2018 as a spectator, and started to wonder if he could compete at that level."One of the things I noticed, other than thoroughly enjoying the spirit of the Olympics, was that there were only three Jamaican athletes in attendance. "It took me aback knowing how strong Jamaica is in the Summer Games, knowing how popular that movie 'Cool Runnings' is."I kind of had this idea in the back of my head: let's see if this is possible. I thought the most likely outcome was death or at least a serious injury," he told CNN.Alexander poses for a photo during a training session at the Kolasin ski resort on December 21, 2021.'Absolutely fearless'So Alexander booked a month-long trip back to Canada to ski, where he met former Europa Cup level ski racer, American Gordon Gray."When we sat down for lunch, he said, "Okay, I'll be brutally honest. Your technique -- absolutely atrocious -- the worst I've ever seen." But to Alexander's surprise the Jamaican could keep up with the American, who had been skiing for 40 years. Despite critiquing Alexander's technique the American skier told the Jamaican that he was "absolutely fearless."According to Alexander, Gray added: 'If you're afraid you're never gonna get any work done, even with all the technique in the world. But if you're fearless, then we can teach you technique and I think there's a chance."Alexander was among a dozen athletes -- including others from far-flung warmer climates like Morocco, Ghana, and East Timor -- competing in Montenegro's Kolasin in Decemer 2021, where skiers were hoping to rack up points in a final dash to qualify for the games in Beijing next year.In just 22 months, Alexander shaved down his FIS race points from over 600 to under the required 160 point minimum. By January, he had secured the last of the 160 International Ski Federation (FIS) points needed to qualify for the games by finishing seventh in the giant slalom at the Cape Verde National Ski Championships in Liechtenstein.Fast forward to 2022 and Alexander will on Sunday represent Jamaica in the Winter Games. "Qualification -- that was the finish line that I was running towards everything else now above, above and beyond. This is just the icing on the cake. I'm competing with people that have been skiing since the age of two ski racing since the age of four.But getting to Beijing 2022 wasn't easy. Your top Winter Olympics 2022 questions, answered"I've cut myself a gazillion times on my skis, I've cracked ribs. I've had so many injuries. There's been lots of sweat; it's been hard, hard work," he said."Especially during the first (Covid-19 enforced) lockdown when the chairlifts stopped working and I spent my time climbing up mountains so I could continue skiing."I basically did 100 days of back-country skiing and climbed the equivalent of 10 Mount Everests with skis on my back and ski boots on my feet," he added.Alexander counts Dudley 'Tal' Stokes -- one of the members of Jamaica's first Olympic bobsled team -- as one of his mentors, and wants to offer his own guidance to Jamaica's newer Olympic hopefuls. "I am from a working class background -- my parents were both drivers, my father was a bus driver for most of his career, and no one in my immediate family skied," said Alexander, who wants his story to be a "beacon of light" and show "it is still possible to get there.""I think the important point is it's going to be hard at the start, but you just have to persevere."

Analysis by Harry Enten, CNN

2022-02-18 14:52:25

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/18/sport/why-norway-is-so-good-winter-olympics-beijing-2022-spt-intl/index.html

Why is Norway so good at the Winter Olympics? - CNN

There's a familiar country atop the medal count in the Winter Olympics: Norway. The country has even set a new mark for most gold medals -- after Johannes Thingnes Bø won his fourth of Beijing 2022 in the men's biathlon 15km mass start -- in a single Winter Games with 15.

sport, Why is Norway so good at the Winter Olympics? - CNN

Why is Norway so good at the Winter Games?

(CNN)There's a familiar country atop the medal count in the Winter Olympics: Norway. The country has even set a new mark for most gold medals -- after Johannes Thingnes Bø won his fourth of Beijing 2022 in the men's biathlon 15km mass start -- in a single Winter Games with 15. This might surprise some given that Norway has only a little more than five million residents -- not even in the top 100 most populated countries.So what's the secret to Norway's historical and current success? Two big factors really. The first is, perhaps obviously, the weather. It's the Winter Olympics after all. Norway ranks in the bottom five in World Bank data for average temperature during the year at about 36 degrees Fahrenheit (two degrees Celsius).When you take a look at a medal count and temperature chart (as in this Economist article), you'll see a clear correlation between the two. Read MoreBut it's more than temperature -- it is also money.Team Norway rejoices after winning the biathlon mixed relay 4x6km.Think about how hard it is to train for the Olympics. Gear is often expensive. Children often need fortunate enough parents to get them to events. There also needs to be infrastructure in place to train for the Olympics. Norway is a fairly wealthy country: its GDP is in the top 35 worldwide and the GDP per capita is in the top 10. GDP though doesn't capture all types of wealth. That's what the United Nations Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index is for; it takes into account other variables such as education, life expectancy and inequality. Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen, who won gold in the men's 4x7.5km biathlon relay and bronze in 15km mass start, outlined some of the -- expensive -- technology and techniques he and his teammates used to cope with the testing conditions in China. "For the biathlon team, it's been an unbelievable journey this Olympics in Beijing. We were a little bit afraid that maybe here with the wind and the cold it would be some surprises and a little bit of coincidences. So the last two, three years we tried to eliminate as much of these coincidences as we possibly could like training a lot in the altitude, training a lot in the wind."When we didn't have real wind, we trained with this wind machine and put it behind us to have some wind from the left because we knew here from the data that it would be a lot of wind from the left. It's very good to see that we get value for the work we have done the last two and a half years."A country where knowledge can be transferred and where more of the country has access to the funds necessary to compete would in theory supply a broader array of athletes. This was something that was noted originally in "Soccernomics" by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. You know where Norway is on the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index? Number one. It shouldn't be too surprising, therefore, that a wealthy country -- where it is also cold -- dominates the Winter Games.

Coy Wire, Nectar Gan and Simone McCarthy, CNN

2022-02-11 09:56:31

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/11/sport/nathan-chen-gold-medalist-olympics-beijing-intl-hnk/index.html

For Team USA's Nathan Chen, 'blood, sweat, tears' led to Olympic gold - CNN

When Team USA's Nathan Chen skated to his first Olympic gold medal in a flawless performance in Beijing on Thursday, it was the culmination of a years-long dream for the first-generation American and Salt Lake City native.

sport, For Team USA's Nathan Chen, 'blood, sweat, tears' led to Olympic gold - CNN

For Team USA's Nathan Chen, 'blood, sweat, tears' led to Olympic gold

Beijing (CNN)When Team USA's Nathan Chen skated to his first Olympic gold medal in a flawless performance in Beijing on Thursday, it was the culmination of a years-long dream for the first-generation American and Salt Lake City native.In an interview with CNN a day after his gold-winning performance at the Beijing Winter Games, Chen said it was "hard to put into words" how his win felt. "A lot of years of work. A lot of people supporting me, a lot of -- I know it's cliche -- but blood, sweat and tears, (over) just many, many years," said the 22-year-old, whose energetic routine in the long program set him well above the competition. Chen was quick to give credit for his success to his mother, thanking her in an Instagram post showing a photo of Chen as a small boy in his mother's arms, clutching a golden medal with a red, white and blue ribbon.In his interview with CNN, Chen called his mom, Hetty Wang, the "hardest working person I've ever met." He said her support -- including working through the family's financial challenges -- was what made his career possible.Nathan Chen said his mother contributed to his Olympic gold medal win.Read MoreHe recalled how, when he was around 10 years old, she found a way for Chen to work with a coach in California, while the family was living hundreds of miles away in Salt Lake City, Utah."We weren't really in a great financial place to be able to move to California...(and) ice time is significantly cheaper in Salt Lake than it is in California. But she still strapped together as many dollars as she could and would drive me from Utah to California, back to Utah from California, over and over and over," Chen said."Any hour of the day, whether it's 3 a.m., she was just chugging along in the car, getting me to my training sessions, and it was just, like, unreal," he said. Chen also credits his own work ethic and true love for his sport to his mother's parenting style -- which he said did not fall into the mold of the "tiger mom" stereotype."It was a mix of business and fun. She holds a very high standard for all of us. But within that standard, she wants us to enjoy what it is that we're doing," Chen said, referring to himself and his four siblings.JUST WATCHEDNathan Chen credits iconic figure skater for inspiration after winning goldReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNathan Chen credits iconic figure skater for inspiration after winning gold 01:22"I think having that balance allowed me to love the sport figure skating as much as I do now, but still be able to accomplish the goals that I set out for myself," he said.Chen told reporters Thursday that his win held special meaning because it took place in Beijing -- the city where his mother grew up and where his parents met. Chen's victory was also a redemption after a disappointing finish in PyeongChang in the 2018 Winter Games, when he landed fifth in the individual competition and earned bronze in the team event.What we can learn from Nathan Chen's redemptionMoving past that performance was a driver in these Olympic Games, Chen said."I definitely wanted to be able to get past that. I wanted to be able to have two short programs that I felt very proud of and fulfilled by, and I'm really glad that I was able to have that experience here. It's been a dream of mine to make it to this stage and I never really thought that it would truly be possible," he said.In the four years since, Chen's record has given him reason for confidence. He racked up three straight world championships and sealed a 6th consecutive US title to arrive in Beijing as a favorite. But Chen still stressed that managing emotions -- keeping himself "calm and collected" -- was a key part of doing his best on the ice."I try not to get let emotions get the better of me, because I feel that I can control what I do on the ice the best when I'm in a cool, calm, collected state of mind," he said. "Of course I get emotional and I think that's also part of sport too, sometimes you can let emotion get the better of you (and it) does actually help you, as long as you can figure out a way to get back into where you need to be."Nathan Chen celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's free skate program.But Chen did not show any nerves as he glided over the ice on Thursday, as the US favorite to win gold after setting a new short program world record two days earlier. He ran a total of five quad jumps -- a natural for a skater nicknamed the quad king -- to a mix that included Elton's John's Rocket Man. Chen later received a nod from the legendary British singer-songwriter, with John posting on Twitter his congratulations to the skater "for winning Gold skating to Rocket Man."Chen also opened up about missing the opportunity to stand on the Olympic podium after his team won silver in Monday's figure skating event. Team USA won silver in the event after being defeated by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), however the medal ceremony was delayed on Tuesday over a failed drugs test scandal involving Russian skater Kamila Valieva. "The medal ceremony is definitely a very special part of the Olympics, and for those that should get a medal, I truly hope that they can. Whatever happens happens, but I do hope that we will have this opportunity to share that as a team," Chen told CNN. "There's certainly a lot of variables that are coming to play, but at the end of the day, all I can really control is how much I can do. And certainly, as athletes, you want to be able to have as fair playing field as possible," Chen said when asked about the case.As for what's next after reaching his Olympic dream, Chen said he is looking forward to returning to his undergraduate studies at Yale University, where he is pursuing a statistics and data science degree -- a program he took a break from in order to prepare for the Games. "Having had spent so much time of my life pursuing this passion of skating hasn't really allowed me the opportunity to explore outside of the sport as much as I would like. I'm excited to go back to college and see what else the world has for me and try to find passions outside of skating," he said. And while he said his passion for skating remains, what he decides to do with his skating career "will be determined in the near future.""Right now I'm just happy in this moment," he said.

Jack Bantock, CNN Video by Finn McSkimming

2022-02-04 11:51:50

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/04/sport/skijoring-winter-olympics-usa-salt-lake-spt-intl/index.html

Lost sports of the Winter Olympics: Skijoring, the wild blend of horses and skis - CNN

This Friday, a highly-anticipated winter sporting competition with a rich history will get underway -- but it's not the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

sport, Lost sports of the Winter Olympics: Skijoring, the wild blend of horses and skis - CNN

Lost sports of the Winter Olympics: Skijoring, the wild blend of horses and skis

(CNN)This Friday, a highly-anticipated winter sporting competition with a rich history will get underway -- but it's not the Winter Olympics in Beijing.Over 6,000 miles away from the Chinese capital in Kamas, Utah, thousands will flock to High Star Ranch to watch skiers hurtle around a course of jumps, rings, and gates.Some of these competitors will reach speeds of 40 miles an hour -- an impressive feat given they are essentially racing on a flat course. Though these skiers have a trick up their sleeve -- or, more accurately, a trick galloping at the other end of their rope. Yeehaw! Don your cowboy hat and canter into the wild world of western-style skijoring -- otherwise known as "Ben Hur on snow," HistoryRead MoreExhibited at St Moritz, Switzerland in 1928, skijoring holds the honor of being the first ever demonstration sport at a Winter Olympics, yet the discipline's origins extend well beyond its Games debut. Practiced differently across continents, the history of skijoring is a complex one. Fortunately, there exists a one-woman fountain of knowledge for all things skijoring in Loren Zhimanskova, President of SkijorUSA and Skijor International.A key coordinator for American skijoring and central to the sport's growing reputation in the region, Zhimanskova's passion for skijoring is matched only by her seemingly endless knowledge of its history and its people.Born in Europe, skijoring has taken many forms over the years. It began with skiers being pulled by reindeer in Lapland, before trying their hand behind horses, dogs and -- popularized in the 1950s -- behind motorcycles and cars.Zhimanskova has even heard of skijorers being towed by airplanes, though she insists that riders let go before take-off. St Moritz's frozen lake -- host to the glitzy annual White Turf event since 1907 -- has been described as the sport's spiritual home, but skijoring took a trip across the Atlantic not long after and has since blossomed into an ever-growing discipline in America. To rider or not to rider?The central difference to the European version of skijoring is that in the US, the horse has a rider.While in Switzerland many competitors grow up on horse ranches and ski, in the US most are either very accomplished horsemen or very accomplished skiers.For many American riders and skiers, the start line will be the first time they meet each other. "They just put their talents together and give it their best shot -- it's fun that way," Zhimanskova told CNN. At White Turf, competitors will race twice around a full flat oval track -- leaving gates at the same time -- whereas the Western style sees skijorers navigate an obstacle course spotted with jumps, hoops to collect, and gates to pass through in a time-trial format.White Turf has been described as the "playground of the rich and famous," with sponsors ranging from BMW to Credit Suisse, and Zhimanskova finally realized her dream of experiencing the glamor first-hand in 2016."When I walked onto that frozen lake, I felt like this was hallowed ground," Zhimanskova said."As a historian, I'm really here and I'm really going to see this. And it was every bit as spectacular as I had imagined."It also gave Zhimanskova the opportunity to share with locals how the sport was being done differently in the US. Their reaction? "You're crazy.""They had no idea how we were skijoring here," Zhimanskova said."And I said, 'Well that's funny you say that because when I describe how you do skijoring in Switzerland ... we think you're crazy!' So we had a good laugh."American hospitalityIf White Turf is the Monaco Grand Prix of skijoring, does the US have a Super Bowl equivalent?Despite some old events like Leadville, Colorado -- a 73-year-old venue that sees competitors race through the town's main street -- the US does not have a showpiece event, yet this is by design.The soul of American Skijoring is its sprawling diversity and uniqueness from venue to venue. Whilst White Turf takes place once a year across three Sundays in February, the US skijoring season runs from early January to mid March with venues spread from Calgary down the spine of the Rocky Mountains to Ridgeway.Whilst racers can expect a broadly similar format in terms of track length and snow depth, all races are independently run -- each sculpted to the desires of the organizers. Some events, like Leadville, are run down a main street. Others take place on rodeo grounds or in a hay field. All have different prize pots -- ranging as high as $40,000 to a simple jackpot made up of registration fees. Some races will even reward the victorious skijorer with a horse or custom saddle.Incorporating skijoring as the center-piece of a wider weekend festival -- flushed with food and live music -- is an increasingly popular trend, but two-day, standalone racing formats remain. A new event in Canterbury Park, Minnesota offers a hugely popular freestyle event -- showcasing skiers letting go of the ropes over jumps to do tricks in front of growing crowds of over 10,000. A newly emerged snowboarding division also continues to blossom."Everybody really does want to do it their way ... I respect this, it is the nature of sport in the US to be supple," Zhimanskova said."I think as a community we're very united, it's just that all of our events need to have their own local flavor."Cowboy camaraderieAs such, Zhimanskova and SkijorUSA acts as the coordinating central hub of skijoring in the region.Supported by Zhimanskova's relentless efforts, skijoring in the US has enjoyed a golden age over the last decade. Some 23 races are slated for 2022, with two more potentially to come in Canada.Despite skijoring's US expansion and the swathes of new faces, the core community remains incredibly tight knit. For Zhimanskova, permanently on the road, this camaraderie lies at the heart of her love for the sport."When I travel, I don't like to feel like a tourist," Zhimanskova said."I like to integrate, I like to be able to hang out with people at the local bar and just chat about life in that town. Everybody's having a great time and everybody's helping each other, which is wonderful. "Yes it's a competition, but it's that kind of rodeo cowboy culture where you need to have your buddy's back because you never know when your horse trailer is gonna break down and you're going to need somebody to help you."Joe Loveridge, competitor and organizer of Friday's big event in Utah, could not agree more."I love the camaraderie, the adrenaline, and that anyone can do it," Loveridge told CNN."There's no better way to blend a ski town loaded with skiers and the western heritage and cowboy life."The sport brings together different types of folks and provides some high-paced action and also allows new and young people to participate."The Cowboy Channel will broadcast five skijoring races annually, and Zhimanskova is working towards a number of potentially high-profile sponsorships including Justin Boots and Cinch Jeans.There's even been interest in a reality TV show to potentially follow some of the sport's eccentric personalities around the circuit. Operation OlympicsWhilst Zhimanskova is doubtful that skijoring would ever be slated on the official Olympic schedule -- citing reasons surrounding the Games' complicated relationship with animals -- she would be keen to reignite the demonstration tradition or incorporate it into the opening ceremony for a forthcoming Games.Not least because 2028 marks the 100th anniversary of skijoring at the Olympics and there's a prospect of Salt Lake City potentially being the host city for the 2030 or 2034 Games.Picture the scene: a cowboy or cowgirl riding a horse into the opening ceremony bearing the American flag, followed in tow by a skier carrying the Olympic torch."I think it really represents the American spirit," Zhimanskova said."The freedom, the love for the outdoors and the environment, the ability to come together from different backgrounds, different worlds and compete as a team. "Of course, the horse is also just an iconic animal that's been so important to our growth as a country."

Faith Karimi, CNN

2022-02-16 13:21:46

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/16/sport/olympics-figure-skating-questions-cec/index.html

Why Olympic figure skaters don't get dizzy from spinning - CNN

Top figure skaters spin at such unbelievably fast speeds that even spectators can feel a little woozy. How do they do it without toppling over? The answer lies in their brains.

sport, Why Olympic figure skaters don't get dizzy from spinning - CNN

Why Olympic figure skaters don't get dizzy

(CNN)Top figure skaters spin at such unbelievably fast speeds -- as many as six revolutions per second -- that it can make even spectators feel a little woozy. Curious viewers of the Beijing Winter Olympics want to know why. "How do figure skaters not get dizzy?" has been one of the top Google searches over the past week.So how do these athletes pull off such head-spinning moves without toppling over?As skating events continue in Beijing this week -- the women's free skate program airs Thursday night on NBC and Peacock -- we turned to experts for answers. Do figure skaters get dizzy?Read MoreNot so much, because they've learned how to minimize it.Although they occasionally tumble upon landing, figure skaters mostly spin through the air without losing their balance. That's because they have conditioned their bodies and brains to quash that dizzying feeling, experts say. American figure skater Mirai Nagasu, who won a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018, says she feels the rotations but has learned how to recenter her focus over the years. "I think we have a learned ability against the momentum that hits us while we're spinning," she says.US Olympic medalist Mirai Nagasu skates at Bryant Park in New York City.Kathleen Cullen, a professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, has a more scientific answer. She studies the vestibular system, which is responsible for our sense of balance and motion, and says spinning without stumbling from dizziness is an art perfected over time. At the start of their careers, skaters and other athletes feel dizzy when they spin around, Cullen says. But ultimately, they train their brains to better interpret that feeling. "There's a really profound fundamental thing that happens in the brain of people like dancers or skaters over lots and lots of practice. And that's basically a change in the way the brain is processing information," Cullen says. "When you spin around, you're activating the semicircular canals, rotation sensors. They're filled with fluid and they're sensing your rotation. But when you stop, the fluid has inertia and it tends to continue to move. They actually get a false sensation of movement."Over years of training, figure skaters' brains have adapted and learned to ignore this error, she says."This is done over time with each practice session, day by day, as the brain compares its expectations with what it is actually pulling in from its sensory receptors."Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of Team USA skate on day 10 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games on February 14, 2022.In short, Cullen says, most people feel like the world's still whirling even after they stop spinning. But Olympians, and skaters in particular, generally do not because their brains have changed to suppress the feeling. Athletes also learn ways to reduce their dizziness. For example, focusing on a fixed reference or stationary object minimizes dizziness and loss of balance. "Ballet dancers often whip their head around during each turn to fixate a visual reference. Similarly, at the end of the spin, athletes will fixate their eyes at a specific spot on the wall to provide a fixed reference," Cullen says. Figure skater Zhu Yi of China competes in the women's short program at the 2022 Winter Olympics.The brain and the inner ear are in constant communication with the body and one another to achieve balance, says Brigid Dwyer, an assistant professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine. "For most people, however, dizziness is only a potential issue during faster and more forceful activities," Dwyer says. "Amazingly, when needed, our brains can be prompted over time to better handle the dizzying tasks we encounter."Here are some other common Google search queries about figure skating:Why do some figure skaters wear tights over their boots?Nagasu says it all comes down to personal choice. Some people wear tights over their boots if their boots are scuffed up, she says. Others, like Courtney Hicks, a gold medalist at the 2013 US International Figure Skating Classic, say wearing tights over boots helps elongate the look of their legs. But trends have changed in recent years, with a lot of skaters opting to wear tights that show off their boots, Nagasu says. Courtney Hicks of the US performs during a women's singles free skating event in Nagano, Japan, in November 2015. What's the 'kiss and cry' area?After their program, figure skaters wait for their scores at the aptly named "kiss and cry" rinkside area. Here, spectators get a glimpse of the athletes at one of their most tense moments. Many figure skaters celebrate with kisses with their coaches -- although not so much in the pandemic, as they are often masked -- or dissolve into tears of disappointment."It's supposed to be a pun. You either give kisses over how happy your score is or it's so bad you literally cry," Nagasu says. Kaori Sakamoto of Team Japan reacts after hearing her score during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Why do some figure skaters wear gloves?Skaters can easily take a tumble. And slapping the ice at high velocity is no fun. "Ice can be rough when you're falling, especially when you're factoring the height at which we fall from and the momentum from our rotations," Nagasu says. Gloves also keep the skaters' hands warm during the competition. In a highly competitive sport where the tiniest advantage can make a difference, many athletes are leaving nothing to chance.

CNN Sports staff

2022-02-11 13:48:26

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/11/sport/kamila-valieva-timeline-doping-winter-olympics-spt-intl/index.html

Kamila Valieva: Timeline of Russian figure skater's failed drug test - CNN

The doping scandal surrounding Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) figure skater Kamila Valieva has rocked the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

sport, Kamila Valieva: Timeline of Russian figure skater's failed drug test - CNN

Timeline of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva's failed drug test

(CNN)The doping scandal surrounding Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) figure skater Kamila Valieva has rocked the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.The 15-year-old Valieva, a breakout star of the Games who helped the ROC take home gold in the figure skating team event, was allowed to compete despite testing positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine, which is commonly used to treat people with angina.The failed test only came to light during the Winter Olympics, and it remains unclear if the drug test controversy will see the medal revoked.The scandal continues to delay the awarding of medals to all three teams -- silver for Team USA and bronze for Team Japan.Here's a timeline of the events we know so farRead MoreDecember 25, 2021 -- Drug sample is taken from Valieva at the 2022 Russian Figure Skating Championships in Saint Petersburg, Russia. January 15, 2021 -- Valieva wins 2022 European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.February 1, 2022 -- Valieva arrives in Beijing for the Winter Olympics.February 7, 2022 -- Valieva helps ROC win gold in the figure skating team event at Beijing 2022, landing the first ever quadruple jump by a woman in Olympic competition.February 7, 2022 -- According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), a WADA-accredited laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden confirms an adverse analytical finding in Valieva's sample (Why Sweden? The Russian Anti-Doping Agency's [RUSADA] laboratory is currently suspended by WADA, hence testing is outsourced and carried out by WADA-accredited laboratories. In this instance, testing was designated to the Stockholm laboratory.) February 8, 2022 -- According to the International Testing Agency (ITA), a WADA-accredited laboratory in Stockholm confirms an adverse analytical finding in Valieva's sample.February 8, 2022 -- Valieva is notified and provisionally suspended by RUSADA.February 8, 2022 -- The medal ceremony for the figure skating team event is postponed. Later, reports emerge of a failed drugs test by a member of the ROC team.February 9, 2022 -- Valieva challenges provisional suspension; RUSADA Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee lifts suspension.February 10, 2022 -- Valieva trains as normal at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing.February 11, 2022 -- ITA confirms Valieva failed a test for a banned substance in December; the ITA, on behalf of the IOC, WADA and ISU, say they are appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) calling for Valieva's provisional suspension to be reinstated.February 12, 2022 -- CAS announces that a hearing regarding Valieva's positive test will be held on February 13 at 8:30 p.m. Beijing time (7:30 a.m. Eastern time) with a decision expected on February 14. February 15, 2022 -- Valieva is due to compete in the women's single skating short program event at the Beijing Games.February 17, 2022 -- Valieva is due to compete in the women's single skating free skating event at the Beijing Games.Valieva skates during the free skating team event of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.Who are the key players involved? Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) -- Independent international body established to settle sporting disputes through arbitration. International Testing Agency (ITA) -- Independent agency in charge of drugs testing during the Beijing Games.World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) -- Global independent agency in charge of overseeing drugs testing around the world. Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) -- Russia's national anti-doping organization affiliated to WADA.International Olympic Committee (IOC) -- Governing body of all National Olympic Committees worldwide responsible for organizing Summer and Winter Games.Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) -- National Olympic Committee representing Russia.International Skating Union (ISU) -- International governing body overseeing competitive ice skating disciplines.

Sana Noor Haq, CNN

2022-02-04 15:24:06

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/04/sport/beijing-2022-winter-olympics-event-by-event-guide-spt-intl/index.html

Beijing Winter Olympics 2022: Event-by-event guide - CNN

From the sound of skis swooshing against the snow, to bullet-like bobsleds speeding down icy tracks, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics promise fierce and dynamic competition between some of the world's top athletes.

sport, Beijing Winter Olympics 2022: Event-by-event guide - CNN

Beijing Winter Olympics 2022: Event-by-event guide

(CNN)From the sound of skis swooshing against the snow, to bullet-like bobsleds speeding down icy tracks, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics promise fierce and dynamic competition between some of the world's top athletes. Nearly 3,000 competitors from 91 delegations will participate at this year's Games in 109 medal events.There will be fan favorites such as ice hockey, figure skating and snowboarding, but there will also be seven new events to delight spectators, including the women's monobob, mixed team events in snowboard cross, freestyle skiing aerials, short track and ski jumping, as well as men's and women's freestyle skiing big air competitions. Haven't heard of the halfpipe? Need to brush up on your knowledge of spins and jumps? Have no fear, our event-by-event guide is here to help. Bobsled (February 13 to February 20)Read MoreNico Walther, Kevin Kuske, Alexander Roediger and Eric Franke of Germany compete in their final run of the four-man Bobsled Heats at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.What is it? A form of transport for centuries, the bobsled was introduced at the first Winter Olympics in 1924 in Chamonix, France, where it started off as a four-man event. Teams of two or four compete by zooming down an icy track in a curved, cone-like sled, with the fastest total time earning first place. The sport is a bit like Formula 1 on ice because it involves turbulent speeds, consistent pacing and high power, according to the Olympics website. The addition of a two-man competition was made at the Winter Games in 1932 in Lake Placid, and progressively a two-woman event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, US. Since then, it's found a place in popular culture, notably the film "Cool Runnings," which followed the Jamaican bobsled team as they trained to compete at the 1988 Winter Olympics. Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc: How US figure skaters forged their own paths in a sport where stereotypes run deepThis year, there will be 12 medals up for grabs across four events including the two-man, two-woman and the four-man. For the first time, there will also be a women's monobob event. The track has 16 curves and a maximum gradient of 18%. At 1,615 meters (one mile) in length, it will be the first track of its kind in the world to have a 360-degree turn. Who are the favorites? Defending Olympic champion Germany will hope to replicate their performance at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, where they won every single bobsled event. However, a contender in the women's monobob and the two-woman's bobsled event could be Kaillie Humphries of Team USA, who claimed gold when she was competing for Canada in the Winter Games at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. US duo Sylvia Hoffman and Elana Meyers Taylor -- who has three Olympic medals to her name -- could also be in contention for gold.In the men's competition -- where last Games' two-man event resulted in Germany and Canada being crowned joint winners -- Francesco Friedrich of Team Germany is a firm favorite, having claimed two gold medals at PyeongChang 2018. Freestyle skiing (February 5 to February 14)What is it? Featuring balletic techniques and acrobatic skills, the International Ski Federation (FIS) first recognized freestyle skiing as a discipline in 1979. Athletes ski in a motion that is similar to skating. They perform technically challenging moves during their runs and are scored on different aspects of their performance, depending on the competition they're participating in. In the aerials events, slopestyle, moguls and halfpipe, judges score competitors based on the finesse of their tricks and the form of their runs. However, athletes in the big air are judged by the distance and height of their jumps. As for the ski cross, the competition is a timed event -- so the athlete who traverses the finish line first takes gold. Freestyle skiing made its debut as a demonstration sport at the Winter Games in 1988 in Calgary, Canada, and was given medal status at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Teen prodigies, legends of the ice and artificial snow, but Covid likely to make Beijing 'unpredictable'Events include the men's and women's aerials, moguls, ski cross, halfpipe and slopestyle, as well as the new men's and women's freestyle skiing big air and the mixed team freestyle skiing aerials competition. Who are the favorites? Two-time world champion Sandra Näslund of Sweden is a podium favorite in the women's ski cross. However, China's Eileen Gu could be a worthy challenger. The 18-year-old made history at the X Games in 2021, when she became the first rookie to earn medals across three events and the first freeskier to ever win more than one world title in a single year. In the men's moguls event, defending Olympic champion Mikaël Kingsbury of Canada is the name to look out for. The most accomplished mogul skier in history, he has claimed the highest number of medals of any male participant ever at the Freestyle World Championships. Snowboarding (February 5 to February 15)Ester Ledecká of Czech Republic won gold in the Women's Parallel Giant Slalom at PyeongChang 2018. What is it? Snowboarding is one of the more recent additions to the Winter Games, having debuted at the Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan. Despite its novel status, the sport has fast become a crowd pleaser at the Games.The snowboard cross events and the parallel giant slalom are all races. Whereas in the big air, halfpipe and slopestyle, judges score and assess riders based on aspects of their performance including the complexity of their tricks, the form of their run and the landing of their jumps. There will be 11 gold medals available across 11 snowboarding events at this year's Games including the men's and women's parallel giant slalom, snowboard cross, halfpipe, slopestyle and big air -- as well as a new mixed team snowboard cross competition.Who are the favorites? With its roots in 1960s America, snowboarding has given rise to accomplished US athletes such as Shaun White, Jamie Anderson and Chloe Kim. They will be looking to add to the 31 medals under Team USA's belt -- making it the most successful nation ever in the Olympic event, ahead of Switzerland. Other hopefuls in the women's draw include two-time Olympic medalist Eva Samková of the Czech Republic, Italy's Michela Moioli and Charlotte Bankes of Team Great Britain. Japan's Ayumu Hirano could pose a threat to White's ambition for Olympic glory at Beijing 2022 in the men's events. Short track speed skating (February 5 to February 16)China's Li Jinyu (2nd L), PyeongChang 2018 short track speed skating 1,500m silver medalist, competes during a short track speed skating test event for Beijing 2022 in April 2021.What is it? Making its debut on the Olympic program at the Winter Games in 1992 in Albertville, France, short track speed skating dates back to 1905, when athletes in Canada and the United States would compete on oval tracks.However, the scarcity of 400m long tracks in each country meant that a number of North American skaters chose to practice on ice rinks instead. One of three skating events at the Winter Olympics, short track speed skating requires tight turns, strategic positioning and high speeds. Athletes compete on an ice track and field without lanes, so they are prone to both crashes and injury. ROC at Beijing 2022: What is it and how can Russian athletes compete at the Olympics?The competition at Beijing 2022 will feature nine events: men's and women's 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m -- as well as the men's 5,000m team relay and the women's 3,000m team relay, alongside the new mixed team relay competition. There will be nine gold medals up for grabs in total.Who are the favorites? South Korea, China and Canada have historically been the most successful teams at Olympic short track speed skating events -- with 81 medals between them. Defending Olympic champion Wu Dajing of China is a favorite for gold in the men's short track speed skating. Hungarian brothers Liu Shaoang and Shaolin Sándor Liu, who were gold medalists in the men's 5,000m relay event at PyeongChang 2018, could also be worthy contenders -- however, Shaoang tested positive for Covid on January 24 putting his competition hopes in doubt.In the women's events, South Korea will pin their hopes for gold glory on Olympic record holder Choi Min-jeong, who claimed gold medals in the women's 1,500m, and the women's 3,000m relay at PyeongChang 2018. Choi's main opponent could be eight-time Olympic medalist Arianna Fontana of Italy. If Fonata wins one more medal at Beijing 2022, she would be the most successful athlete ever at the Olympics in the short track event. Cross-country skiing (February 5 to February 20)Marit Bjoergen of Norway (8) leads the field during the Ladies' 30km Mass Start Classic at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.What is it? Cross-country skiing is the oldest type of skiing and evolved as a form of travel between remote communities. Cross-country skiers either use the freestyle technique, where they ski side-to-side, or the classic technique, which involves striding forward. The techniques used in each event vary during each edition of the Games, depending on the guidelines set by the FIS.Cross-country skiing was one of the first ever Winter Olympic sports, debuting at the 1924 Games in Chamonix, France, with men's events. Nearly 30 years later, women's events were inaugurated at the 1952 Oslo Olympics in Norway. There will be 36 medals for the taking across 12 events at this year's Winter Olympics.In the men's events, there will be the 15km classic, 15km and 15km skiathlon, sprint free, team sprint classic, 4x10km relay and the 50km mass start free. Female competitors will participate in the 10km classic, 7.5km and 7.5km skiathlon, sprint free, team sprint classic, 4x5km relay and the 30km mass start free. Who are the favorites? Team Norway has been the consistent frontrunner in cross-country skiing at the Olympics, with a whopping 121 medals to its name -- that's 41 medals ahead of runners-up Sweden. Norwegian athletes Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Simen Hegstad Krüger will be hoping to repeat their stellar performances at PyeongChang 2018, where they picked up six medals between them. Nonetheless, Team Sweden have a powerful roster in the women's cross-country events, including three-time Olympic champion Charlotte Kalla, two-time world champion Jonna Sundling and up-and-comer Frida Karlsson. Ski jumping (February 5 to February 14)What is it? Sondre Norheim is said to be the father of modern ski jumping, having won what is considered the world's first ski jumping competition with awards in 1866 in Høydalsmo, Norway. The sport was added to the Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix, France. Three decades later, Switzerland's Andreas Daescher developed the parallel style in the 1950s, where skiers lean forward and brace their arms backwards, close to their body. Compatriot Jan Bokloev honed the parallel style in 1985, by unfurling the tips of his skis into a V shape -- a technique that most ski jumpers use today. Jumps are appraised by the style of the jump and the distance covered.There will be five gold medals to win across five events at Beijing 2022. The competitions include the men's normal hill individual, the women's normal hill individual, the men's large hill individual, the men's team -- and for the first time, the mixed team event.Who are the favorites? Norway, Finland and Austria are in the lead when it comes to Olympic ski jumping, having fetched 82 medals between them. In the men's normal hill competition, Germany's Andreas Wellinger defense of his 2018 individual gold medal is in doubt as he tested positive for Covid in January. His compatriot Karl Geiger and Piotr Żyła of Poland will look to take advantage of Wellinger's absence.In the women's draw, Slovenia's Ema Klinec will be eyeing the podium. Despite finishing 14th at PyeongChang 2018, she recently won the normal hill 2021 World Championships. Alpine skiing (February 6 to February 19)Wendy Holdener (L) of Switzerland and Hungary's Mariann Mimi Maroty compete during the Alpine Team Event at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games.What is it? Athletes frequently reach speeds of almost 95 miles per hour in one of the most physically exhausting sports in the Winter Olympics. Athletes can log their fastest times in the downhill and super-G competitions, whereas the slalom and giant slalom events occur over two slower courses.Modern downhill skiing can be traced back to the 1850s, when Sondre Norheim introduced skis with curved flanks, and bindings with rigid, willow heel bands. Women's and men's alpine skiing events made their debut at the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Olympics in Bavaria, with more categories being added up to PyeongChang 2018, when the mixed team event became the newest competition in the alpine skiing roster. There will be 33 medals to win across 11 events at Beijing this year, including the men's and women's downhill, super-G, slalom and giant slalom, the alpine combine and the mixed team competition. Who are the favorites? Austria has historically dominated the medal count in alpine skiing, earning 121 medals. American Mikaela Shiffrin is the one to watch in the women's draw, having won two gold medals at PyeongChang 2018 and Sochi 2014. Other fierce competitors could include Michelle Gisin of Switzerland and compatriot Lara Gut-Behrami. France's Mathieu Faivre could use his three Games' worth of experience to his advantage this year, while current super-G and downhill world champion Vincent Kriechmayr of Austria is also among the favorites for gold. Biathlon (February 5 to February 19)What is it? The biathlon event is a combination of skiing and shooting. It can be traced back to Scandinavia, where people would hunt using skis and have rifles draped over their shoulders. At the Winter Olympics, skiing and shooting take the form of a race, where competitors ski along a trail and the distance is punctuated into shooting rounds. Penalties for missed shots vary with each event and take the form of either additional time, or distance, being added to a participant's total.What it's like to fly into Beijing's Olympic 'bubble' Before the biathlon was introduced to the Games at the 1960 Winter Olympics in California, an older version of the sport appeared in previous editions of the Olympics. The military patrol involved athletes competing in ski mountaineering, cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. There will be 33 medals up for grabs across 11 biathlon events: the women's 7.5km sprint, 15km individual, 10km pursuit, 12.5km mass start and 4x6km relay. In the men's draw, events include the 10km sprint, 20km individual, 12.5km pursuit, 15km mass start and 4x7.5km relay. A 4x6km mixed relay event is also scheduled to take place. Who are the favorites? Germany and Norway have previously collected the most medals in the biathlon event, earning nearly 100 medals combined. Five-time Olympic medalist Tiril Eckhoff of Norway is a favorite for gold this year, alongside Swedish sisters Hanna Öberg and Elvira Öberg. In the men's draw, Norway's Johannes Thingnes Bø and compatriot Sturla Holm Lægreid could add to their country's medal count. Curling (February 2 to February 20)What is it? Curling is one of the oldest sports at the Winter Olympics. It has origins in 16th century Scotland, where games took place on frozen ponds and lochs. Athletes use their own brush and a pair of curling shoes -- one with a sole that grips the ice, known as the gripper, and another that is slippery, known as the slider, which helps them to pivot while conveying 20-kg (45-pound) granite stones during the match. The team that manages to deliver more stones near the center of the scoring area than their opponent wins. It is a sport that requires precise technique and strategy. After it debuted at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, curling was dropped and temporarily featured as a demonstration sport, before it was reintroduced to the Olympic program at the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan. There will be nine medals up for grabs across three events at Beijing 2022, including the men's curling, women's curling and mixed doubles curling. Beijing's Olympic 'bubble' will be the most ambitious Covid quarantine ever attempted. Will it work?Who are the favorites? Canada has been the most successful curling team ever at the Olympics, winning 11 medals -- that's three more than challengers Sweden. Other notable contenders across all three competitions include South Korea, Japan and Switzerland. Team USA could repeat their success at PyeongChang 2018, where they claimed gold in the men's curling event. In the women's draw, defending Olympic champions Sweden could reclaim their victory, but World Curling Championship winners Switzerland could pose a threat. Ice hockey (February 3 to February 20)What is it? Despite having just two events, ice hockey remains a crowd favorite at the Winter Olympics. The rules are simple -- the winning team must net the puck and score more goals than their opponent. During play, a team can't have more than six players on the ice. The positions are as follows: goalkeeper, two wings, two defenders and a center. In the event of penalties, there can be fewer players on the ice.Women currently compete in a 10-team tournament, while men participate in a 12-team event. Ice hockey was first added to the Olympic program at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp and was permanently moved to the Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix, France. There will be two medals available to win at Beijing 2022: the men's tournament and the women's tournament, Reuters reported. Who are the favorites? The National Hockey League (NHL) and its union have decided not to dispatch players to Beijing this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, so the Russian Olympic Committee has become a firm favorite for gold in the men's draw.In the women's competition, Canada will be chasing gold after losing to the United States in the final at PyeongChang 2018. Speed skating (February 5 to February 19)Germany's Claudia Pechstein competes during the Ladies' Speed Skating Mass Start Final at PyeongChang 2018.What is it? First debuting at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Olympics, speed skating involves athletes racing alongside each other, with each skater hoping to set the fastest time out of all the participants in the field.Athletes race across a 400m oval-shaped track for individual races, where the fastest places first. In the team pursuit, three-person squads representing two different countries compete in an eight-lap race on opposite sides of the track. Each team must race as a group, and their times are determined by the third person who crosses the finish line. There are 16 laps in the mass start event, which is a points-based competition. Almost 24 skaters can take part at the start of the event.There will be 14 medals for the taking across 14 events at Beijing 2022, including the women's 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, 5,000m, 10,000m, mass start and team pursuit, and the men's 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, 3,000m, 5,000m, mass start and team pursuit.The number of speed skating events held makes it the largest sport at this year's Winter Olympics. Who are the favorites? The Netherlands, the United States and Norway tend to dominate speed skating at the Winter Games, boasting a combined 273 Olympic medals in total. Nine-time Olympic medalist and Team Netherlands star Sven Kramer will be looking to add to his tally at Beijing 2022. The defending world champion in the men's 5,000m and 10,000m events, Sweden's Nils van der Poel, is also a favorite for gold. Eleven-time Olympic medalist and Dutch athlete Ireen Wüst and Erin Jackson of Team USA will be the ones to beat at Beijing 2022, although Japan's Nao Kodaira and Miho Takagi could also be worthy contenders. The Nordic combined (February 9 to February 17)What is it? The Nordic combined event is comprised of cross-country skiing and ski jumping. It is one of the few competitions at the Games that's yet to introduce a women's draw. Competitors win points for the style and distance of their ski jump. The better-scoring jumpers subsequently get a head start in the staggered cross-country skiing element -- the conversion of points to time is known as the Gundersen method. The Nordic combined was the centerpiece of the Holmenkollen ski festival, which began in Oslo, Norway in 1892. Since then, the sport has garnered an international fanbase and has been an enduring event at the Games since the first Winter Olympics in 1924 in Chamonix. There will be three gold medals up for grabs at this year's Games across three events, Reuters reported: men's individual Gundersen normal hill / 10km, men's individual Gundersen large hill / 10km, and men's team Gundersen large hill / 4x5km. Who are the favorites? Norway has clinched the most medals for the Nordic combined event in the history of the Games, claiming 31. Finland and Austria are close challengers. However, Eric Frenzel of Germany could bolster his team's Olympic glory this year, having won a medal in every Nordic combined event at PyeongChang. Japan's Akito Watabe, who earned a silver medal in Gundersen normal hill / 10km at the Winter Olympics in 2014 and 2018, could also make the podium alongside Norwegian Jarl Magnus Riiber.Luge (February 5 to February 10)Peter Penz and Georg Fischler of Austria celebrate as they finish a run during the Luge Team Relay on day six of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.What is it? The luge is one of three sliding sports at the Winter Games this year, alongside the bobsled and the skeleton. Competitors can reach average speeds of 120 to 145 kilometers per hour (74.56 to 90 mph) when racing the luge. Athletes race on the same track in the singles competition and get four tries across two days. Their aggregate times are counted to the thousandth of a second, with the quickest athlete placing first. The doubles event has a similar structure but is set across two days, with each pair getting two runs. Three sledges from different nations -- the women's singles, men's singles and doubles -- compete in the team relay, which debuted at the Games at Sochi 2014. All three sliding sports originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland. There will be four gold medals to win across four events at the Games this year, including the men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles and the team relay. Who are the favorites? Germany are usually the frontrunners in the luge, followed by Austria and Italy.They could maintain their lead in the event with defending Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger. Her challengers could be fellow team members Julia Taubitz and Dajana Eitberger. In the men's draw, triple Olympic gold medalist Felix Loch will be looking to reclaim his title at Beijing 2022, having finished fifth in the men's singles at PyeongChang. Team Austria's David Gleirscher ended up winning the event that year, and so could prove a worthy challenger. Skeleton (February 10 to February 12)What is it? With its roots in sleighing, the skeleton is a fan favorite at the Winter Olympics.Athletes participate on the same track across two days, getting four runs each. The competitor with the fastest combined time wins the event. After British and American holiday goers constructed the first toboggan run in 1882 in Davos, Switzerland, a new steel sledge was built ten years later -- which became known as the skeleton. It fell in and out of the Olympic program for a number of years, before it was reintroduced at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics. There will be just six medals available across two events at Beijing 2022, including the men's singles and the women's singles.Who are the favorites? Great Britain and the United States are the two main frontrunners in the skeleton event, having earned 11 medals between them. Team GB's Laura Deas will have her eye on first place this year, having clinched a bronze medal in PyeongChang. Jacqueline Loelling and Tina Hermann of Germany are worthy challengers for Team GB, as well as China's Zhao Dan and Lin Huiyang. In the men's draw, six-time world champion Martins Dukurs of Latvia will be chasing gold this year, having participated in the event since 1998, but defending Olympic champion Yun Sungbin of South Korea could be a worthy competitor. Geng Wenqiang and Yin Zheng will also be going for gold, hoping to boost the medal count for hosts China. Figure skating (February 4 to February 20)Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue of Canada perform during the Figure Skating Gala Exhibition at Gangneung Ice Arena on February 25, 2018 in South Korea. What is it? Figure skating is the oldest event at the Winter Olympics. The event first debuted at the London Summer Games in 1908, and again in the 1920 Summer Games in Antwerp, before it was permanently moved to the Winter Olympic program.Each competition incorporates a long and short routine, within which athletes receive two sets of scores -- the program component score and the technical element score. The program component element is mainly determined by presentation, while the technical category assesses the complexity displayed in a routine, for example, spins and jumps. Even though the Dutch developed figure skating, the sport has been enjoyed by fans the world over, including Marie Antoinette and the 19th century French emperor Napoleon III. There will be five medals for the taking across five figure skating events at Beijing 2022. The events are as follows: the men's singles, women's singles, pairs, the ice dance and the team event. Who are the favorites? The United States has historically garnered the most success in figure skating at the Olympics, having earned 51 medals. They'll pin their hopes on bronze medalist Nathan Chen in the men's draw, who could be challenged by defending Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan and his teammate Shoma Uno. In the women's draw, teen prodigy and record holder Kamila Valieva could claim medals for the ROC, alongside teammate Anna Shcherbakova. Chinese duo Sui Wenjing and Han Cong are strong contenders in the pairs events, having won silver at PyeongChang, while France's Guillaume Cizeron and Gabriella Papadakis are returning favorites in the ice dance competition.

Hannah Ryan, CNN

2022-02-05 00:20:49

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/04/sport/beijing-games-lgbtq-visibility-intl-spt/index.html

The Tokyo Olympics set the record for LGBTQ+ visibility. The Beijing Games aren't likely to break it - CNN

Last year's Tokyo Olympics are destined to be remembered for many reasons. They took place amid a state of emergency in the Japanese capital -- declared as the city was dealing with a surge in coronavirus cases -- and events were staged with little to no spectators to cheer athletes on.

sport, The Tokyo Olympics set the record for LGBTQ+ visibility. The Beijing Games aren't likely to break it - CNN

The Tokyo Olympics set the record for LGBTQ+ visibility. The Beijing Games aren't likely to break it

(CNN)Last year's Tokyo Olympics are destined to be remembered for many reasons. They took place amid a state of emergency in the Japanese capital -- declared as the city was dealing with a surge in coronavirus cases -- and events were staged with little to no spectators to cheer athletes on.But the Games made history for another reason, too. They featured more out LGBTQ+ participants than any known previous Olympics.Of the 11,000 Olympians competing in Tokyo, at least 186 identified as LGBTQ, according to the SB Nation blog Outsports -- a groundbreaking moment in the history of the representation of marginalized sexualities and gender identities in the sporting world.Outsports reports that the Beijing Games will have a record number of out athletes for the Winter Games at 35 -- yet, it looks like those Olympians may be performing in the shadow of growing challenges faced by sexual minorities and their supporters in China.Although the nation removed homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders in 2001, the LGBTQ community in China continues to face official harassment and same-sex marriage remains illegal across the country. Tom Daley, who identifies as openly gay, at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021Read MoreIn recent years, the Chinese government has accelerated its pressure on LGBTQ+ rights and spaces. In 2017, Chinese authorities banned online video platforms from sharing content that contained the depiction of "abnormal sexual behaviors" -- which, according to those authorities, included same-sex relationships.In July 2021, WeChat -- a popular messaging app in the country -- shut down more than a dozen of LGBTQ+ accounts run by university students and sparked widespread concern over the censorship of gender and sexual minorities. The year before, Shanghai Pride -- China's longest-running Pride event usually attended by thousands of LGBTQ+ people from across the nation -- abruptly canceled all their scheduled activities due to mounting pressure from local authorities, according to a source with knowledge of the situation that spoke to CNN at the time.The organizers posted an open letter online titled "The End of the Rainbow" and said they would also be taking a break from scheduling all future events. They gave no reason for the Pride cancellation in the letter but a person not associated with Shanghai Pride -- but with knowledge of the situation -- told CNN at the time that the all-volunteer team had been facing mounting pressure from local authorities, to the point of where it was disrupting their day jobs and normal lives.A man holds a rainbow flag after taking part in the Pride Run in Shanghai in June 2017. Shanghai Pride shut down abruptly in 2020 and has not returned sinceCNN spoke to one LGBTQ+ community leader in Beijing about the climate on this topic right now. CNN agreed to refer to him only as "AJ" due to the sensitivity of the topic and his fear of negative repercussions. AJ said that it is "becoming more and more challenging for Chinese LGBTQ+ non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to run projects."He added that many LGBTQ+ organizations are "on the brink of closing as funds run dry" in an increasingly censored environment.He also said that the capital's local LGBTQ+ community will be sad not to be able to watch in person as see Olympians compete in the Beijing Games in person due to the current Covid-19 restrictions in place in the city -- "especially out LGBTQ+ athletes." On January 17, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced tickets for the Games would not go on sale for international visitors or the general public, citing Covid-19 concerns. Instead, it decided groups of spectators would need to be invited to fill the stands -- Olympic venues will be split between spectators from inside Beijing's "closed loop" system and those outside of it, according to Vice President of the Beijing Organizing Committee, Yang Shu'an. Those outside of the "closed loop" -- which is made up of Games-related personnel -- will include international people residing in mainland China, diplomatic personnel, marketing partners, winter sports enthusiasts, residents and local students. In China's sporting world, athletes who openly identify as LGBTQ+ as part of their public image are few and far between. In June 2021, Li Ying -- a prominent footballer for the Chinese women's national team -- posted photos of herself and her girlfriend to mark their anniversary on the social media platform Weibo. Chinese media commentators noted it as a turning point for LGBTQ athletes in public life. But Li's account was flooded with homophobic abuse after going viral and the post was later deleted without explanation. As the attention of the international sporting community turns to Beijing while the Winter Olympics unfold, the censorship placed on the city's LGBTQ+ population citizens and the glaring lack of out LGBTQ+ athletes representing China is thrust under a global spotlight.According to former pro snowboarder Simona Meiler, clampdowns on LGBTQ+ liberties and censorship such as those that exist in China are contrary to the core principles of the Olympic Charter."The Charter is supposed to uphold the rights of all and to discourage discrimination," Meiler -- who identifies as gay -- told CNN Sport. "But when the host nations of the Games violate human rights -- whether in their treatment of LGBTQ+ people or other minorities -- that goes against everything that the Charter stands for." Indeed, the Charter states that the philosophy of Olympism "seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."Further, the Charter's rules also make it explicitly clear that the "enjoyment of the rights and freedoms" in the Olympic Movement shall "be secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion," among other characteristics.Yet Meiler thinks the measures taken by the Chinese authorities to censor LGBTQ+ voices in the country could undermine the values of Olympism laid out by the IOC.In hosting the Games in a nation that fosters an unwelcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people, the Olympic Charter's "respect for universal fundamental ethical principles" is called into question, Meiler suggests. "IOC may have rules in place designed to protect the rights of marginalized people, such as the Charter," Meiler said. "But I rarely see the IOC actually enforce its own rules."Simona Meiler, a former pro snowboarder, at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, RussiaIn a statement to CNN Sport, the IOC said that its remit "is to ensure that there is no discrimination at the Olympic Games and that all athletes can compete and live together under one roof in the Olympic Village whatever their backgrounds or beliefs are and free from fear and any form of discrimination." The IOC also told CNN Sport that "by carrying out this vital mission, the Olympic Games showcase how the world could be if the world would be free from any prejudice.""At the same time, the IOC has neither the mandate nor the capability to change the laws or the political system of a sovereign country," the statement said. "This must rightfully remain the legitimate role of governments and respective intergovernmental organizations."China, meanwhile, has repeatedly condemned actions they characterize as attempts to politicize sports. Just last week, 243 human rights groups and non-governmental organizations called for action against China's "atrocity crimes and other grave human rights violations," urging governments to join a diplomatic boycott of the Games and for athletes and sponsors "not to legitimize government abuses." Australia, the UK, and Canada are among nations that joined a US-led diplomatic boycott of the Games. India also announced a last minute diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics on February 3.CNN has reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry about the concerns of LGBTQ+ citizens in the country and LGBTQ+ athletes but has not yet received a response.But after several countries, including the United States, announced a diplomatic boycott of the Games in response to alleged genocide in China's northwestern Xinjiang region -- allegations China denies -- China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, "no one would care whether they come or not," adding, "the Winter Olympic Games is not a stage for political posturing."Meiler herself has first-hand experience of attending a Winter Olympics held in a country that makes it difficult for LGBTQ+ individuals to live in peace and without fear of censorship or violence. She attended the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia -- a nation Human Rights Watch accused at the time of failing to protect LGBTQ+ people, to have "effectively legalized discrimination" against them, and to have "cast them as second-class citizens."At the time, President Vladimir Putin said Russia's priority was "a healthy traditional family and a healthy nation."When speaking about Sochi and the upcoming Beijing Games, Meiler points out that the honor of hosting the Olympics or other prestigious sporting events allows nations to deflect from serious questions about accusations of alleged wrongdoing. She notes that being awarded the right to hold the Olympic Games can provide positive PR for countries that may otherwise be negatively perceived because of the allegations they're facing.Simona Meiler competing during the women's snowboard cross qualification event the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games"These nations -- accused of human rights abuses -- want to present the best possible image they can to the rest of the world," Meiler said. "So, when they bid to host the Olympics and other competitions and when they then get to hold them, they make sure that they put forward an upstanding version of themselves."Protest and prideMeiler pointed to the recent case of the Qatar Grand Prix in November as she considered what athletes themselves can do to show support to marginalized communities when nations accused of serious human rights violations are chosen to host global sporting events."When it comes to the question of what athletes can do as they compete in tournaments held in nations that are hostile towards LGBTQ+ people, for example, I think others could look to the Lewis Hamilton approach," she told CNN Sport. Meiler is referring to celebrated driver and 7 time world champion Hamilton's decision to wear a helmet that featured the Pride Progress flag -- a more inclusive version of the traditional rainbow flag associated with LGBTQ+ Pride -- and included the words "We Stand Together" during a practice race at the Qatar Grand Prix."With the platform that athletes have, on a stage as big as the Winter Games, they have a real opportunity to raise awareness of the issues affecting the place they're competing in and beyond," Meiler said. "For me, personally, it was never an option for me to not be out -- I knew that even if I reached one or two LGBTQ+ people by being an out and open athlete, it was important."Whether or not athletes choose to take the Hamilton approach in Beijing is yet to be seen. But what has apparently been made clear is that any competitor making a protest at the Games, for any reason, may face condemnation for doing so.At a press briefing on January 19, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson was asked for comment on the reports that a member of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee had warned that "foreign athletes may face punishment for any speech that violates Chinese law" during the Winter Games. Zhao Lijian -- the spokesperson -- said: "As I understand, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has published a statement on the ban on political protests, which asks Olympic athletes not to protest at any Olympic venues or podiums by taking a knee or in other forms. We hope certain media would not take things out of context and maliciously hype them up to attack and discredit China."Yet, Zhao also added that he wanted to "reiterate that China welcomes all athletes to the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, and will ensure the safety and convenience of all Olympians." If Olympians are indeed prevented from demonstrating against policies that make life harder for LGBTQ+ people in China, there are other ways to highlight such issues, Meiler suggests. "The best thing that I could do with my platform is to be myself and to have another woman waiting for me at the finish line," Meiler said. "Just showing that we exist, at competitions all over the world, is a big part of the fight for LGBTQ+ recognition."Upholding the Olympic valuesIn 2014, Eric Radford -- a Canadian pair ice skater -- came out at the height of his career.Earlier that same year, the Winter Games were held in Sochi as Russia continued to crack down on LGBTQ+ rights following the introduction of legislation that outlawed the "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations around minors" and effectively banned children and young people from learning about LGBTQ+ lives and relationships. Russia's Justice Ministry denied that the law was discriminatory, according to state media reporting at the time.Radford -- who competed in those Olympics -- told CNN Sport that when the IOC is deciding on where to host the Winter Games, "a nation's attitude towards LGBTQ+ rights should absolutely be taken into consideration."Pair ice skater Eric Radford at the opening of Pride House hosted by Canada House at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter OlympicsHe acknowledged the complicated nature of choosing where such a major event in the global sporting calendar should be held, but maintained that a nation's stance on human rights, including LGBTQ+ freedoms, should always be of the utmost importance when searching for a new host."Perhaps one way to avoid holding the Olympic Games in a place that is hostile towards LGBTQ+ people and marginalized communities would be to decide on a select group of cities in countries that have been fully vetted for their record on human rights and their treatment of LGBTQ+ citizens and rotate between them every four years," Radford said. The decorated skater -- echoing Meiler -- also insisted that the IOC is responsible for ensuring that its words on encouraging tolerance and stamping out inequality are put into effective action, particularly at the Beijing Games."It's the IOC's job to uphold what the Olympics represent -- such as the value of inclusion and the idea that Olympism is open to all," Radford said. "I think what the IOC really needs to do is be vocal in its support of LGBTQ+ athletes and the wider community."He added: "It's one thing [for the IOC] to say that it doesn't accept discrimination, but it has to do more than that. It has to go further. For example, the IOC could share the stories of LGBTQ+ athletes across its social media to try and reach people in places where there isn't much exposure to LGBTQ+ lives."At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, skier Gus Kenworthy's kiss with his then-boyfriend Matthew Wilkas served as a historic moment in LGBTQ+ visibility in sports while figure skater Adam Rippon used the Olympic platform to criticize former US Vice President Mike Pence's stance on LGBTQ+ rights. With this year's Games now underway, the world will soon find out if the Beijing Winter Olympics do have a chilling effect on LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms in global sports.

Simone McCarthy, Selina Wang and Sandi Sidhu, CNN

2022-02-11 01:05:33

news

china

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/10/china/china-human-rights-beijing-olympics-intl-hnk/index.html

China human rights: Beijing clamps down on dissent as Olympics heat up - CNN

Global attention has turned to Beijing's Olympic Winter Games, and China is trying make sure its humans rights activists don't have a chance to speak up.

china, China human rights: Beijing clamps down on dissent as Olympics heat up - CNN

As the Olympics heat up, China clamps down on dissent

Beijing (CNN)As Winter Olympians vie for gold in Beijing, global attention has turned to events in the extensive Olympic "bubble" -- a zone sealing off visiting athletes, media and participants from the rest of the host city to prevent the spread of Covid-19. But in a different part of Beijing, prominent human rights activist Hu Jia is again living in another kind of bubble: what he says is a house arrest imposed by authorities who want him out of public view during the Games. "They said Winter Olympics is a very important political event and no 'disharmonious voice' will be allowed -- like any criticism of the Winter Olympics, or any talk related to human rights," said Hu, who spoke to CNN during what he describes as a weeks-long restriction to his home."In China, people like me are called 'domestic hostile forces'... that's why they have to cut me off from the outside world," said Hu, who gained international prominence as a champion of human rights in the early 2000s and was a friend to late Nobel Peace Prize winner and dissident Liu Xiaobo. Hu says he has been restricted to his residence, with the exception of trips to care for his ailing mother, since January 15. It's an escalation of the round-the-clock state surveillance Hu says he has been under for nearly two decades. It's also treatment he has become used to during sensitive political events in China. Hu said he was originally told to leave Beijing altogether and relocate to Guangdong during the Olympic period but an outbreak of Covid-19 prevented him from going. Read MoreHuman rights activist Hu Jia in Beijing in 2013.But Hu is far from the only dissident facing restrictions in the months leading up the Winter Games. William Nee, research and advocacy coordinator at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, a non-profit network supporting rights advocates in China, said before the Winter Games there had been an uptick in reports of state security wanting to know people's whereabouts, house arrests and the detention of high profile activists and lawyers. "The Olympics has given China an opportunity to showcase its international clout and it doesn't want pesky activists disrupting that and talking about its human rights abuses," he said, adding that many prominent rights defenders are "surveilled by state security all the time" or subject to other measures of control.Rights experts say that crackdowns on activists and speech -- which can range from closing social media accounts to house arrests, detentions or enforced disappearances -- are typical in the lead up to sensitive events in China, where the Communist Party keeps a tight lid on dissent. "The point is to prevent any contact between the activists and, essentially, the outside world, which, during these events, tends to pay more attention to what's happening in China," said Maya Wang, a senior China researcher at the New York-based non-profit Human Rights Watch. But controls on dissent have been getting tighter year-round, blurring the line between normal and sensitive periods, according to observers."The human rights environment in China has deteriorated pretty significantly in the last decade," Wang said. Guards secure barriers after a bus arrives at a hotel that is part of the Olympics closed loop bubble.A shadow over the GamesConcerns over China's human rights record have already cast a shadow over Beijing's Olympic Games, including a US-led diplomatic boycott over what Washington calls serious human rights abuses against Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in the country's far-western region of Xinjiang. China has denied these charges and pushed back on international concerns about its human rights record, calling these "political posturing and manipulation" in the lead up to the Games.Following a faxed request for comment on allegations that Hu Jia has been forcibly confined to his home during the Winter Olympics, and that other human rights activists have also been detained or monitored, China's Ministry of Public Security referred CNN to Beijing authorities. Multiple calls to the Beijing municipal government went unanswered. Hu, who rose to prominence for his activism related to HIV/AIDS in rural China, says the house arrest began after he posted on Twitter -- a platform banned in China -- describing a ramp-up of restrictions and controls on activists in the lead up to the Beijing Games,. He also noted the circumstances of jailed or missing dissidents while using a Winter Olympics hashtag in Chinese. Since then, security agents have visited him multiple times, Hu says, including once this week to instruct him not to discuss Olympic skier Eileen Gu. That was after Hu commented via Twitter on an article about the US-born athlete who is representing China at the Beijing Games. JUST WATCHEDAi Weiwei: International Olympic Committee 'standing next to the authoritarians'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAi Weiwei: International Olympic Committee 'standing next to the authoritarians' 17:36Hu says he expects this period of house arrest could last through the country's annual legislative gathering next month. He says he'll spend the time reading. "It's so much better than my friends who are suffering in jail and prison. We are like (the difference between) heaven and hell, so I have nothing to complain about," Hu said in a recorded video dairy, where he is documenting this period of house arrest for CNN. "There is some level of stress for sure, my mental health, and so on. After all, you always want to be able to walk out of your home freely and stand under the bright sky," he said in another entry. But Hu is no stranger to harsher forms of confinement. Just months before Beijing hosted its last Olympics in 2008, Hu was handed a three-and-a-half year prison term for "incitement to subvert state power" -- a sentence that activists at the time linked to his work calling international attention to human rights abuses in China ahead of the Games. This time, Hu watched the Olympic opening ceremony from his elderly parents' home in Beijing -- the one place he says the security agents will allow him to visit and a privilege he says they have threatened to deny if he acts out. He also says if things escalate he could be imprisoned again. But nonetheless, Hu has a message. "This might be the only Olympics in history that has drawn so much attention to its host country's human rights issues. This is a really good opportunity to explore and discover China's human rights issues, including Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese... and also citizens, human rights activists, and dissidents like us who are in mainland China now," said Hu. "I hope the world will see this clearly and pay more attention to human rights issues...not just during the Winter Olympics...but also keep watching democracy, human rights, and the future of China," he said.

Story by Nell Lewis; video by Leif Coorlim, CNN

2022-02-10 09:05:26

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/10/sport/protect-our-winters-jeremy-jones-c2e-spc-intl/index.html

Snowboarder Jeremy Jones is fighting for climate action to protect winter sports - CNN

The climate crisis is shrinking our winters. Seeing this firsthand, snowboarder Jeremy Jones founded Protect Our Winters, a charity that lobbies governments for climate action.

sport, Snowboarder Jeremy Jones is fighting for climate action to protect winter sports - CNN

Winter sports are on thin ice -- this snowboarder wants to preserve their future

(CNN)Two months before the Beijing Winter Olympics began, a few hundred snow cannons were already at work, pumping out fresh powder to coat the slopes of the Alpine Ski Center in Yanqing, about 56 miles from central Beijing. Aside from these strips of glistening white snow, the mountains, which rise to an altitude of more than 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), are dry and covered in brown scrub. Beijing 2022 will be the first Winter Olympics to rely almost entirely on fake snow, which some athletes have warned could create dangerous, icy conditions.The slopes at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre are covered in human-made snow. But it's unlikely to be the last, as the climate crisis is shrinking our winters. If global greenhouse gas emissions remain on the current trajectory, by the end of the century, only one of 21 previous Winter Olympics locations will have enough snow and ice to reliably host the Games, according to a recent study by the University of Waterloo, in Canada. Among these locations is Squaw Valley, in the Sierra Nevada, California, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 1960. Now known as Palisades Tahoe, it's one of the local resorts for professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones.A legend in big-mountain freeriding -- earning Snowboarder Magazine's Big Mountain Snowboarder of the Year title 11 times -- Jones has spent much of his life on top of mountains, as well as carving down their steepest faces with a spray of powder in his wake. Over his three-decade career, he has witnessed the effects of climate change firsthand. Read MoreJUST WATCHEDThe snowboarder fighting to protect our winters ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe snowboarder fighting to protect our winters 04:05 Jones says he's seen it rain on mountain peaks in the dead of winter and watched glaciers recede over time. "Winters are often starting later, ending earlier and (there are) just more extremes of everything," he says. "We'll get half a season's worth of snow in three days and then have two months without any snow."Shrinking seasonsA similar scenario happened this winter. At the end of November, when Lake Tahoe's ski lifts would typically open, the sun shone and temperatures rose as high as 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius) -- 12 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than usual for that time of year. The next month, 202 inches of snow -- nearly 17 feet (5.2 meters) -- dumped in the region, shutting down roads and resorts and making it the snowiest December on record.Research suggests these bizarre weather patterns show no signs of abating and the seasons as we know them are in flux. A recent report in the journal Nature estimates that it could be as little as 35 years before winters in the western US regularly have low or no snow cover. A 2017 study by research firm Abt Associates and the University of Colorado, which looked at the impact of climate change on winter sports in the US, suggests that by 2050 the ski season will be cut in half for most regions.Wanting his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to be able to experience snowy winters, Jones felt compelled to act. "I was seeing changes to winter and it affected my lifestyle," he says. "But over time I started to notice that the effects are far greater than my lifestyle. It's not just my livelihood, but all these mountain communities based around winter and snow."Jones has reduced his own climate impact, choosing to climb mountains on foot rather than using helicopters. To bring the winter sports community together as a unified voice on climate change, he founded Protect Our Winters in 2007. The charity lobbies governments around the world for stronger climate policies, and today has a network of more than 130,000 supporters.Related article: World-famous photographers join forces to protect the environmentThe cost of no snowIn 2017, Jones went from wearing ski pants on the slopes to a suit on Capitol Hill, as he was called to testify in front of Congress on the impact of climate change on the snowsports community. Citing a report from the Outdoor Industry Association, Jones told lawmakers that the US snowsports industry generates $72 billion annually and supports 695,000 jobs. Increasingly these jobs are under threat, with low-snow years losing the industry an estimated $1 billion and more than 17,000 jobs a season.Jones has gone from snowboarder to political lobbyist, speaking in front of Congress in 2017 and in the Senate in 2019 (pictured). But economic costs are only the tip of the iceberg. Less snow endangers plants and animals, such as voles and mice, that rely on it as a protective blanket from sub-freezing temperatures. It puts water supplies at risk -- California, for example, relies on snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada mountains for 75% of its agricultural water, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Related article: An astronaut's view on protecting the EarthLess snow drives further global warming, explains Anne Nolin, a snow hydrologist from the University of Nevada and member of Protect Our Winter's science alliance. Because snow is white it reflects most of the sunlight that hits it, but if it melts and exposes the ground beneath, that darker surface absorbs solar energy. "In the last few decades, snowpacks have been melting earlier and earlier so we have a drier dry season," she adds, which can lead to severe wildfires, such as the 2021 Caldor Fire which ravaged the Tahoe basin. Forest fires exacerbate the situation, she says, destroying the tree canopy that usually shades the snow, meaning it melts earlier. Saving snowDespite what Nolin describes as "this big vicious cycle," she has hope for the future. "Nature is resilient and things grow back," she says, explaining that managing forests more effectively can help to preserve the snowpack. Less snow has been linked to wildfires, such as the Caldor Fire, which damaged the Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort in California. "If you open up the forest to some extent, you can increase the snow accumulating on the ground because it's not being caught in the canopy," she says. "And if you can maintain a healthy forest with a healthy canopy around those openings by the time springtime rolls around, that forest can continue shading the snowpack, which might make it last longer."Scientists are fighting to protect a shark and turtle 'superhighway'Jones hopes to see policymakers pursue solutions, such as renewable energy, that will drive down emissions and limit climate change. A Winter Olympics with no real snow illustrates the future predicament of snowsports, but Jones stresses the impact is far greater than that. "The work I'm doing is for future generations so that I can hopefully look at my kids and grandkids and say, you know what? I had this opportunity and I did everything I could to get us on the right path -- so not only can you slide on snow, but you have a healthy planet," he says. This story has been updated to include additional authors of a study.

Ben Morse, CNN

2022-02-08 08:57:50

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/08/sport/ice-hockey-jargon-explainer-spt-intl/index.html

Explaining ice hockey jargon: An apple, a biscuit and a cherry picker - CNN

From brushing ice in curling to flying down an ice track headfirst in skeleton, the Winter Olympics is home to some interesting sports.

sport, Explaining ice hockey jargon: An apple, a biscuit and a cherry picker - CNN

An apple, a biscuit and a cherry picker: explaining the ice hockey jargon you might not understand

(CNN)From brushing ice in curling to flying down an ice track headfirst in skeleton, the Winter Olympics is home to some interesting sports. And with new sports comes new terms or nicknames for tactics, maneuvers or objects that beginner fans might not be familiar with. Even in ice hockey -- a sport that is extremely popular around the world -- there are terms used by commentators or pundits that you might not be accustomed to hearing. So below, we look at some of the key ones and explain what they mean so you'll be ready to impress your friends and follow the action in Beijing. From apples to sievesRead MoreAn apple: an assist.Bar down: when the puck strikes the crossbar from a shot and ends up in the goal.Between the pipes: in goal.Biscuit: the puck.Bottle rocket: when a goal breaks the goalie's water bottle that sits on top of the net.Celly: a celebration after a goal.Cherry picker: a player who stays in the middle of the ice rink while play is back near their defensive end, in case a breakaway attack becomes possible. Chirp: to trash talk the opposing team.Coast-to-coast: if a player can skate from one end of the floor to the other -- from their defensive zone through the neutral zone into the attacking zone without any disruption from the opponent.Deke: a skill where a player feints to draw an opposing player out of position or to skate by an opponent while maintaining possession and control of the puck.Digger: a player who goes into the corners to regain possession of the puck.Switzerland's Shannon Sigrist skates with the puck against Finland during the second period of the women's preliminary round group A match at National Indoor Stadium on February 7 in Beijing.Flamingo: when a player lifts one leg, standing like a flamingo, to get out of the way of a shot.Natural hat-trick: when a player scores three consecutive goals in a game.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosLid: a player's helmet.Roof: to score a goal by shooting the puck in the upper part of the net.Sieve: a goaltender who allows a lot of goals, usually referred to as being full of holes.Tape-to-tape: a very accurate pass going from the tape of the passer's stick to the tape of the receiver's stick.

Opinion by Kara Alaimo

2022-02-07 22:46:26

news

opinions

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/07/opinions/zhu-yi-olympics-figure-skating-positive-slamming-alaimo/index.html

Opinion: What to do about the social media shaming of figure skater Zhu Yi - CNN

Kara Alaimo argues that cruel attacks on China's Zhu Yi after falling during an Olympic figure skating competition are more than morally wrong - they also betray misogyny, misplaced nationalism and a short-sighted view of failure. She explains how having the skater's back online could be a game-changer.

opinions, Opinion: What to do about the social media shaming of figure skater Zhu Yi - CNN

What to do about the social media shaming of figure skater Zhu Yi

Kara Alaimo, an associate professor in the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University, is a frequent contributor to CNN Opinion. She was spokesperson for international affairs in the Treasury Department during the Obama administration. Follow her on Twitter @karaalaimo. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. View more opinion at CNN. This piece has been updated to reflect the latest news. (CNN)Following her debut for Team China, California-born figure skater Zhu Yi is facing a torrent of criticism on social media after she fell on the ice while performing her short program in the figure skating team competition at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday.The hashtag "Zhu Yi has fallen" was viewed more than 200 million times within hours on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, before apparently being censored. The comment "This is such a disgrace" quickly garnered 11,000 upvotes.Kara Alaimo After missing a jump and crashing into a wall and then later missing another jump, Zhu already had to contend with personal embarrassment and the most devastating outcome possible for an Olympic performer: the lowest score of her event. It's hard to imagine the feeling of failing so dramatically on the world stage.Despite being forced to contend with such vitriol on social media, she bravely took the ice again on Monday for her long program, where she completed a number of difficult moves -- but also fell again. Her team finished in fifth place. I think it's a pretty safe bet that Zhu's worst critic right now is herself. Having to deal with being attacked on social media while suffering a massive disappointment must be excruciating for this athlete. Read MoreIt may seem obvious to say that social media is the source of a lot of ills -- but it's also worth emphasizing in situations like this that these platforms empower all of us to intervene when a person is being cruelly attacked. And there's a way we can all react to help rectify the problem: by "positive slamming" her. China made a statement with Olympic opening ceremonyWriter Sue Scheff, a parent advocate and internet safety expert, describes this technique in her book "Shame Nation: The Global Epidemic of Online Hate." She writes, "Sometimes what begins as a shaming can flip, as supporters show you they have your back. This is called positive slamming." So today, let's all take to social media and show our support for Zhu. We should give her credit for putting herself out there and trying her hardest to make her country proud, and for holding her head high on the Olympic ice. We should point out that no one is perfect, and every person has bad days.And we should express our admiration for the fact that she excelled so phenomenally in her sport that she made it to the Olympics in the first place. It's especially important that we all help reverse the tide of social media shaming in cases like this when a person is being excoriated at least partly because of their identity. Zhu was born in the United States, but later gave up her American citizenship and chose to compete for China. "Please let her learn Chinese first, before she talks about patriotism," one Weibo user posted on Sunday. So it seems these attacks online are about more than dashed hopes about figure skating. 'Bridgerton' and 'Yellowjackets' stars are taking a standIt's also easy to imagine that part of the reason Zhu is coming under such fire is because of her gender. Women around the globe are especially likely to be on the receiving end of online abuse. Almost 40% of women have been harassed online, according to a study of women in 51 countries by The Economist Intelligence Unit. Of course, publicly pillorying people who try their best but fall short of their goals isn't just unacceptably cruel. It also serves as a disincentive for others to take the kinds of risks that are necessary if we want to see our countries succeed -- at the Olympics and beyond. Yet positive slamming can serve as a way of not just redressing wrongs when people come under unwarranted attack, but also changing social norms. In a case like that of Zhu, it can help redefine our society's conceptions of success and failure. Resilience -- or the ability to recover after a defeat -- is a skill so valuable that it is linked to everything from better learning to improved health and lower death rates.And, during a global pandemic when we've all been faced with unprecedented challenges in our lives, it's a skill people need now more than ever.Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookPositive slamming can also help correct other ugly aspects of our culture. For example, Scheff writes in her book about a Tennessee teenager who was fat shamed on social media after she posted a picture of herself in her prom dress in order to try to sell it to buy a new one. But then, other users responded by flooding her with positive comments and sending her $5,000 in donations -- far beyond what she needed to buy a new dress.Through positive affirmation like this, we as good Internet citizens can also help address the (sometimes disturbing) ways our society passes judgment on women's bodies.The heat Zhu is taking right now is not only mean and superfluous (of course she didn't want to fail). It's also misguided. If we want people to go for gold -- in the world of sport, business, or elsewhere -- we have to accept that they won't win every time, and not shame them when they come up short. Today, we all can -- and should -- use our social media accounts to send this message loudly to Zhu, and to every other person in the world who is considering putting herself out there to strive for something great.

Coy Wire and Jack Bantock, CNN

2022-02-02 12:08:44

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/02/sport/maame-biney-usa-beijing-olympic-games-spt-intl/index.html

Maame Biney: Smiling speed skater heads to Beijing stronger than ever after almost quitting - CNN

In February 2018 at the PyeongChang Winter Games, an 18-year-old Maame Biney made history as the first Black woman to compete for the United States short track speed skating team at an Olympics.

sport, Maame Biney: Smiling speed skater heads to Beijing stronger than ever after almost quitting - CNN

Maame Biney: Smiling speed skater heads to Beijing stronger than ever after almost quitting

(CNN)In February 2018 at the PyeongChang Winter Games, an 18-year-old Maame Biney made history as the first Black woman to compete for the United States short track speed skating team at an Olympics.Within two years, she was seriously considering walking away from the ice.Yet as Beijing prepares to raise the curtain on the 2022 Games on Friday, Biney -- equipped with her customary perpetual smile -- is arriving at her second Olympics stronger than ever.The 22-year-old stamped her ticket to Beijing with a first-placed finish at the US short track Olympic trials in December, marking a triumphant recovery after coming "pretty close" to quitting the sport at the outset of 2020.Biney races during her women's 1,500 meters short track speed skating heat at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea."I really wanted to just be done because there were so many things that were not going my way," Biney told CNN Sport's Coy Wire in January.Read More"I finished out the season and I was like, 'I'll try again' and I'm pretty happy that I did because I met some amazing people along the way in the last two years."Having competed in the 500m and 1,500m events in PyeongChang, Biney did not return home to Virginia with a medal but undoubtedly left a lasting impact -- not least on aspiring Black athletes in the US. "It meant a lot because I know that I was able to represent my community in ways that they haven't felt represented," Biney said."Especially in sports and especially in a sport that is majority White and Asian. Being able to fulfill that dream and hopefully let other young Black women and men really just say, 'Oh man, I can overcome these obstacles that are in my life.'"I hope that I was able to stir that pot a little bit within them."Biney trains ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics at the Capital Indoor Stadium on January 31 in Beijing, China.SpotlightBiney admitted struggling to cope with the limelight and pressure that came with her historic Games debut in an interview with the Olympics Channel Podcast last month. Her famous smile and bubbly personality -- the subject of intense media spotlight -- masked anxieties and a weight on her shoulders that felt "way too heavy."Yet Biney now feels she has the tools to deal with such issues, a resilience bolstered by a loving support network."I've learned how mentally strong I am and how I can overcome the obstacles and the speed bumps that that life brings me," Biney told Wire."I've also learned that I have a really big and very supportive community behind me that wants me to do well."Even if I don't do well or even if I'm disappointed within myself, they're still there for me and they still love me for who I am as a human being, which is amazing."Members of the US short track speed skating team, including Biney (C) and Julie Letai (R), take part in a training session in Beijing.'The world needs more laughter'She subsequently headed to Beijing free of pressure, weighed down by nothing but a feeling of raw excitement."I've worked a lot and I've worked super hard in order to get to this point and I'm super, super excited to represent the US in Beijing," Biney said."I don't really have any expectations. I'm just gonna go out there and race and have fun and be happy and be confident within my abilities and we'll see where that gets me."Biney presents on the Voices of the Future panel at the espnW Summit held in Caliorfnia on October 2, 2018.A CNN interview and profile done before her Games debut in 2018 described Biney's smile as "a toothy, 1,000-watt grin that blooms across most of her lower face," a manifestation of her "boundless positivity."It is telling of Biney's personality then, that her only explicit expectation for Beijing this month is that she spreads happiness."The world needs more laughter," Biney said."The world needs a lot of smiling and happiness in general because it's not a great world sometimes to be in. "If people are able to laugh and cry of joy and happiness, have love in their life, then their life is going to be more fulfilled. I hope that me being there will help them achieve that."Previous reporting by Elliot C. McLaughlin and Matthew Gannon, CNN

Ben Morse, CNN

2022-02-15 16:03:17

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/15/sport/su-yiming-snowboarding-china-winter-olympics-spt-intl/index.html

Su Yiming: Former child actor grabs Beijing 2022 limelight - CNN

Teenager Su Yiming is used to fast-paced action, but he's really taken things up a notch at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

sport, Su Yiming: Former child actor grabs Beijing 2022 limelight - CNN

Su Yiming: Former child actor grabs Beijing 2022 limelight

(CNN)Teenager Su Yiming is used to fast-paced action, but he's really taken things up a notch at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The 17-year-old Su is a former child actor, appearing in the 2014 action movie "The Taking of Tiger Mountain" when he was eight, alongside superstars including Tony Leung, before deciding to drop acting for snowboarding.And his time at the Winter Games has read more like a movie script, with twists and turns galore. Last week, the Chinese snowboarder narrowly missed out on a gold medal in the slopestyle event to Canada's Max Parrot, eventually claiming silver. However, unbeknownst to the judging panel at the time, the Canadian had grabbed his knee instead of his board during a trick -- a mistake which would have resulted in a points deduction. Read More"We judged from the media angle that we were given," Iztok Sumatic, Head Judge for Olympic Snowboarding, told CNN Friday, stating that "from that point of view ... we saw a clean execution.""Afterwards, when the score was already in, the TV replay showed the trick from another angle, where it was clearly shown that Max grabbed the board for a split second, but then let it go and just grabbed his knee," added Sumatic, who likened the moment to the infamous Diego Maradona 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.While it is difficult to know if Su would have come out on top, Sumatic acknowledged that "the score might have been different.""It's been very tough, there were a lot of hateful comments," said Sumatic, referring to the backlash from fans. Despite the controversy, Sumatic said that he received a call after the event from Su and his coach, saying that they were happy with the result," and that they "totally respect" the decision made.Despite missing out by gold in such circumstances, but Su showed no signs of being effected, bouncing back to win his own gold in the big air event on Tuesday. "I had many dreams when I was a child," Su said. "To be an Olympic champion was one of them, and today, I already realized my dream."There will be more and more challenges in the future. I will be more concentrated on my goals. All I need to do is to deliver all my efforts to achieve my goals."Su performs a trick during the men's snowboard big air final,New starsAlongside Eileen Gu, Su is one of a new breed of Chinese Olympic sensations. Performing and excelling on home soil has catapulted both into a new stratosphere of fame, with Su's name becoming social media's top trending topic with 150 million views on Twitter-like social media platform Weibo after his gold medal victory. The hashtag "Su Yiming must be able to fly" trended on Weibo with nearly 50 million views. A keen music fan, Su was initially drawn to snowboarding from a young age because of the creative aspect of the sport. He is also hoping to combine his former acting career and his love for snowboarding to promote the sport in China. Eileen Gu reveals mom helped her turn freeski slopestyle final around and win second medal of Beijing 2022"Snowboarding is not just a competition for me. As a professional, I should not only ride well but should also promote the sport," he explained. "I want more people to feel the joy of snowboarding like I do. I feel a special joy from snowboarding that I cannot feel from anything else. I will try harder to let more people know about and love this sport."Su picked up snowboarding when he was just four years old, balancing it with acting until he chose to solely focus on the winter sport. The 17-year-old is China's youngest Winter Olympic champion and a new poster boy for the sport. And all that pain and suffering he had to go through to get to where he is now is worth it, according to Su. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"You have to give everything to pursue your dream. Today, I am living proof of these words. It is easier said than done," he said. "I have suffered many injuries, but body wise I am still fine. Sometimes it is hard to overcome your mental fear, especially when you need to try new tricks. You have to overcome that fear to do what you love. I always believed I am doing the right thing and striving to realise my goals one day."Today proves that all those efforts pay off, and we all get paid back."

Ben Morse, CNN

2022-02-15 11:08:28

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/15/sport/eileen-gu-freeski-slopestyle-winter-olympics-spt-intl/index.html

Eileen Gu reveals mom helped her turn freeski slopestyle final around and win second medal of Beijing 2022 - CNN

Eileen Gu's medal hopes did not look promising after two runs of the women's freeski slopestyle event at Genting Snow Park on Tuesday.

sport, Eileen Gu reveals mom helped her turn freeski slopestyle final around and win second medal of Beijing 2022 - CNN

Eileen Gu reveals mom helped her turn freeski slopestyle final around and win second medal of Beijing 2022

(CNN)Eileen Gu's medal hopes did not look promising after two runs of the women's freeski slopestyle event at Genting Snow Park on Tuesday.During her second run, Gu had fallen backwards off the rail, a mistake which had plunged her to eighth position and with an outside chance at a second medal of Beijing 2022 after winning gold in the big air event. As the poster child for a new type of Chinese athlete and one with sky-high aspirations -- Gu has been candid that she hoped to win medals in all three of the events she was competing in -- the pressure was mounting the 18-year-old shoulders.So Gu did what many teenagers do in times of need -- she talked to her mom. "My mum knows me very well and she knows the way my brain works with pressure. I've done a lot of work, read a lot of psychology books, did a lot of research on my own brain to see how I deal with pressure. And now we know that I perform well under it.Read More"So in the first round, in the second round, I wasn't fully in the zone, if that makes sense. I wasn't in that headspace. "And my mom could see that, so I talked to her after the first run. She was like: 'Pretend your second run is your third run, pretend you have no more chances.' I was like: 'I'm trying,' but I guess my imagination is not that good."And as the saying goes, mother knows best -- Gu produced a stunning final run to surge back into the medal hunt, eventually finishing with a silver just 0.3 points behind gold medalist Mathilde Gremaud. Gu reacts after her run during the women's freestyle skiing freeski slopestyle final.Gu admitted that after landing at the end of her final run of the event, she felt "relieved.""I felt happy," she told the media. "I'm out here to represent myself and the sport to people. "So just to be able to put down a run and show people what's possible when you're under pressure, is another thing that I'm proud to represent. So yeah, I'm proud of myself. And I'm happy that everybody was here to witness it."Of course, I'm competitive. So the 0.3 points (between herself and Gremaud), I'm going to think about that. But it's OK, I'm happy."Breaking outThis year's Beijing Olympics have been a breakthrough moment for Gu. The American-born skier, born to a Chinese mother and American father, chose to represent China in 2015, and has seen her star soar since the start of what is a home Winter Olympics for her. Her face is plastered across Chinese cities on advertisement boards and magazine covers and featured in promotional videos ahead of the Olympics showing Gu performing tricks midair and running on the Great Wall.A gold medal in the women's freeski big air event only helped strengthen the Gu legend, and she has arguably become one of the biggest stars of the Games. On Monday, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) removed a description of Gu having dual citizenship from its website after CNN raised a question about inconsistencies of the gold medalist's citizenship status on the IOC website.According to the archive of the IOC website, one page described Gu as having dual citizenship while her biography page said Gu had "renounced her United States citizenship for Chinese citizenship" in 2019 in order to complete for China, even though there is no public record to show that Gu has renounced her US citizenship.In its updated webpages, the IOC removed a description of Gu having dual citizenship and changed the line saying she had "renounced her United State citizenship" to "in 2019, she made the decision to compete for China."Gu celebrates winning silver medal after the women's freestyle skiing freeski slopestyle final.In response to CNN's inquiry about the contradictory description of Gu's citizenship, the IOC said Gu acquired her "Chinese nationality" in 2019 and had submitted a copy of her Chinese passport, thus she is "fully eligible" to represent China during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.Chinese law doesn't recognize dual nationality, and it regulates that naturalized Chinese "shall not retain foreign nationality" after Chinese citizenship is granted.Gu has repeatedly dodged questions from journalists about her citizenship status after she won gold in the women's big air competition for China. "When I'm in China, I'm Chinese. When I'm in the US, I'm American," she said.Yong Xiong in Seoul contributed to this report.

Ben Church, CNN

2022-02-14 17:00:40

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/14/sport/kaillie-humphries-usa-canada-beijing-2022-spt-intl/index.html

Kaillie Humphries: Canada-born slider wins monobob gold medal for US at Beijing 2022 after ​filing harassment complaint - CNN

Canada-born Kaillie Humphries​, winner of the first-ever Olympic gold in the monobob, says she "never gave up" on herself.

sport, Kaillie Humphries: Canada-born slider wins monobob gold medal for US at Beijing 2022 after ​filing harassment complaint - CNN

Kaillie Humphries: Canada-born slider wins monobob gold medal for US at Beijing 2022 after ​filing harassment complaint

(CNN)Canada-born Kaillie Humphries​, winner of the first-ever Olympic gold in the monobob, says she "never gave up" on herself.It's the third Olympic gold medal for the 36-year-old but the first while representing the US -- Humphries switched allegiances after ​filing a harassment complaint ​with Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) in ​2018."A lot of things were going through my mind. It has been a journey to get here and it hasn't always been guaranteed," said Humphries after her victory."It hasn't always been easy. I have had a lot of fears and doubts. I have had highs and lows."Humphries won her first gold medal in the two-woman bobsled event back in Vancouver 2010, before defending her title in Sochi 2014.Read MoreHowever, following a bronze medal finish in Pyeongchang in 2018, Humphries says she fell into a depression and alleged she was verbally and mentally harassed by ​her coach.She subsequently filed a complaint with BCS and the governing body said it immediately forwarded the case to an independent investigator."Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton took Kaillie's allegations extremely seriously," BCS said in a statement in 2019."Investigating these allegations to their fullest was our number-one priority to ensure a safe training and competitive environment for everyone involved in our sport. The investigation found insufficient evidence of Kaillie's allegations."READ: US anti-doping chief says Russia has 'hijacked the competition' after Valieva rulingHumphries (L) celebrating after winning Olympic gold for Canada in Vancouver 2010.'Pride and accomplishment'Humphries then filed a lawsuit, requesting Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton release her in order for her to represent the US -- where she lived with her American husband.A judge denied her application for immediate release but, after consideration, BCS decided to grant Humphries a release from its ​program in 2019, allowing her to compete for the US at Beijing 2022.Humphries then set about making it to her fourth Winter Olympics and dominated the field in the inaugural running of the Olympic monobob -- the one-person bobsleigh event."Just the feeling of pride and accomplishment and the fact that I never gave up on myself, that a country stood behind me," she told reporters after winning gold."I was able to be here and put my best foot forward and to know that that worked, and that my best is the best in the world, it's something I've always believed, but it's definitely something I have doubted more times than not."To know that I still got it is a pretty cool feeling and it's so heart-warming to be able to bring back a gold medal for a country that has really stood behind me for the last four years."Russian Kamila Valieva cleared to skate, but reprieve could be short-livedHumphries was joined on the podium by her silver-medal winning US teammate Elana Meyers Taylor -- who had won a race against time after testing positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Winter Games.JUST WATCHEDJournalists are allowed to cover Beijing Olympics ... with a catchReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJournalists are allowed to cover Beijing Olympics ... with a catch 03:17Canada's Christine de Bruin won the bronze medal.Ahead of competing at the Winter Olympics, Humphries had recently posted on Instagram saying she was thinking of marking any potential medal success at Beijing 2022 with a new tattoo."I've always been fascinated with tattoos ... With each one of mine I feel more complete. My tattoos tell my story, and I will continue to get them with each new journey throughout life," Humphries wrote on Instagram."If I win a medal this Olympics In 2022, I think my next tattoo will be a dragon. That's the name of the bobsled track in China, 'the sleeping dragon.'"I will also be getting an American themed tattoo regardless of what happens during racing."

Story by Reuters

2022-01-26 08:51:30

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/26/sport/climate-winter-olympics-snow-intl/index.html

Winter Olympics could become 'dangerous' because of fake snow - CNN

The Beijing Games will be the first Winter Olympics to use virtually 100% artificial snow by deploying more than 100 snow generators and 300 snow-making guns working flat out to cover the ski slopes.

sport, Winter Olympics could become 'dangerous' because of fake snow - CNN

Climate change and fake snow could make the Winter Olympics 'dangerous,' study finds

Climate change is threatening the Winter Olympics and the future of snow sports by making conditions much more dangerous for athletes and participants, experts warned in a report published a week ahead of the start of the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.The Beijing Games, kicking off on February 4, will be the first Winter Olympics to use virtually 100% artificial snow by deploying more than 100 snow generators and 300 snow-making guns working flat out to cover the ski slopes."This is not only energy and water intensive, frequently using chemicals to slow melt, but also delivers a surface that many competitors say is unpredictable and potentially dangerous," said the report, written by researchers from the Sport Ecology Group at Loughborough University in England and the Protect Our Winters environment group.Lying in naturally arid climates, the two co-host cities, Beijing and Zhangjiakou, could use an estimated 49 million gallons of chemically-treated water frozen through snow machines, according to the research.Though China repeatedly claims to be using only natural rainfall and recycled water in snowmaking, there have been concerns that the high water utilization rate would put additional pressure on the region's already scarce resources.Read MoreNatural snow is becoming less plentiful in some regions and water availability for snowmaking is falling as a result of climate change, putting the global snow sport industry at risk."Navigating erratic snow seasons and rapid melt of low level resorts are now the norm for many competitors," the research said."The risk is clear: man-made warming is threatening the long-term future of winter sports. It is also reducing the number of climatically suitable host venues for the Winter Olympiad," it said.Of the 21 venues used for the Winter Games since Chamonix 1924, researchers estimate that by 2050 only 10 will have the "climate suitability" and natural snowfall levels to host an event.Chamonix is now rated 'high risk' along with venues in Norway, France and Austria, while Vancouver, Sochi and Squaw Valley in the United States are deemed "unreliable."

CNN Staff

2022-01-17 12:35:09

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/17/sport/winter-olympics-china-tickets-covid-19-spt-intl/index.html

Beijing Olympics tickets will not be sold to general public due to Covid-19, China says - CNN

Tickets for the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing will not be sold to the general public in response to Covid-19 but will instead be distributed by authorities, the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee announced Monday.

sport, Beijing Olympics tickets will not be sold to general public due to Covid-19, China says - CNN

China says tickets for Winter Olympics will not be sold to general public due to Covid-19

(CNN)Tickets for the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing will not be sold to the general public in response to Covid-19 but will instead be distributed by authorities, the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee announced Monday. "In terms of the grim and complex situation of epidemic prevention and control [and] in order to protect the health and safety of Olympic personnel and spectators, we have decided to change the original plan of public ticket sales," the committee said.Groups of spectators will be invited on site throughout the Games and will be required to "strictly comply with Covid-19 prevention and control requirements before, during and after watching the Games."In a statement on Monday, the International Olympic Committee said those in attendance will be residents of China's mainland who have the required "Covid-19 countermeasures."Winter Olympics: What you need to know ahead of Beijing 2022The announcement comes after Beijing reported its first case of the highly transmissible Omicron variant on January 15. Read MoreThe Beijing Winter Olympics are set to begin on February 4, before the Paralympic Winter Games start March 4. Organizers intend to hold Beijing 2022 in a closed loop system which will only be accessible for Games participants -- a plan that has remained in place amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.As outlined in a Games playbook published in December, the closed loop system will encompass venues, official hotels and the event's own transport service.Fully vaccinated participants will be able to enter the closed loop without quarantining, while those who aren't vaccinated will need to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival in Beijing.Medical exemptions, considered on a case-by-case basis, may be granted to those who are unvaccinated. Some countries, such as the US and Canada, have mandated that all team members be vaccinated.During the Games, participants will be subject to daily health monitoring and testing and will have no contact with the general public.Returning a confirmed positive test will mean participants cannot compete or continue their role in the Games; those who are symptomatic will stay at a designated hospital for treatment, while those who are asymptomatic will be transferred to an isolation facility.CNN's George Ramsay contributed reporting.

Matias Grez, CNN

2022-01-12 09:41:07

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/12/sport/mikaela-shiffrin-wins-record-breaking-world-cup-slalom-spt-intl/index.html

Mikaela Shiffrin clinches record-breaking 47th World Cup slalom win - CNN

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin pipped her Slovakian rival Petra Vlhova to victory on Tuesday to earn a record-breaking 47th World Cup slalom win.

sport, Mikaela Shiffrin clinches record-breaking 47th World Cup slalom win - CNN

Mikaela Shiffrin clinches record-breaking 47th World Cup slalom win

(CNN)American skier Mikaela Shiffrin pipped her Slovakian rival Petra Vlhova to victory on Tuesday to earn a record-breaking 47th World Cup slalom win.She becomes the skier with the most victories in a single World Cup discipline, breaking Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark's previous record of 46 giant slalom wins.It was something of a shock win for Shiffrin over Vlhova, who has dominated the slalom this season with five wins and two runner-up finishes. Such is her authority in the discipline that Tuesday's second place was enough to secure Vlhova the slalom World Cup title two races before the end of the season.However, Shiffrin's win is an eye-catching result ahead of the Winter Olympics and sets up a intriguing clash between the two on the slopes at Beijing 2022.The 26-year-old American was made to earn her win the hard way, surging from fifth place after her first run to eventually beat Vlhova by 0.15 seconds after an aggressive second run.Read MoreREAD: Mikaela Shiffrin doesn't want to have to choose between 'morality versus being able to do your job' at the 2022 Winter OlympicsSlovakia's Petra Vlhova (L) congratulates Mikaela Shiffrin after her slalom victory.When Vlhova crossed the line and Shiffrin saw she had taken victory, the American leaned over the wall at the bottom of the course and burst into tears."I'm just crying a lot lately," Shiffrin told ORF Sports."Any time you're able to be a little bit faster than Petra, that's an incredible job. She's so strong, she's making no mistakes, she's skiing slalom the way it's meant to be skied. It's impressive. It's really special to watch that."It's a special season she's had so far. It's not stopping tonight, that's for sure," added Shiffrin, who maintains her lead at the top of the overall World Cup standings.The Winter Olympics begin on February 4, with Shiffrin reportedly set to line up in five individual events.JUST WATCHEDTime Out: Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about her father's passingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTime Out: Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about her father's passing 03:57

Amy Woodyatt, CNN

2022-01-11 10:35:53

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/11/sport/erin-jackson-brittany-bowe-speedskating-intl-spt/index.html

Erin Jackson: World No. 1 speedskater is going to Beijing 2022 after teammate gives up place - CNN

The world's No. 1 ranked speedskater Erin Jackson is headed to the Beijing Olympics after her friend and teammate gave up her spot after a slip during qualifying trials cost Jackson a place in the team.

sport, Erin Jackson: World No. 1 speedskater is going to Beijing 2022 after teammate gives up place - CNN

World No. 1 speedskater Erin Jackson is going to Beijing 2022 after teammate gives up place

(CNN)The world's No. 1 ranked speedskater Erin Jackson is headed to the Beijing Olympics after her friend and teammate gave up her spot after a slip during qualifying trials cost Jackson a place in the team. Jackson failed to qualify for Beijing 2022 during Friday's trials when she slipped and finished third -- just one place shy of qualifying. But the 29-year-old got some welcome news when the winner of the event, Brittany Bowe, gave up her spot, allowing Jackson to make the team. Bowe, 33, will still compete in the 1,000m and 1,500m events in Beijing."First and foremost, Erin has earned her right to be on this 500 meter team -- she's ranked number one in the world and no one's more deserving than her to get an opportunity to bring Team USA home a medal," Bowe said.Nathan Chen breaks short program record at US Figure Skating ChampionshipsRead More"After that unfortunate slip, I knew in my mind before that night was even over that if it had to come down to a decision of mine, she could have my place," she added.In a statement posted to Instagram Monday, Jackson said she was "grateful and humbled" by Bowe's kindness."Definitely not the way I imagined qualifying for my second Olympic team... but I guess I had to one-up my story from the 2018 Trials. I'm incredibly grateful and humbled by the kindness of @BrittanyBowe in helping me to secure a chance at reaching my goals in #Beijing2022," she wrote."She's an amazing friend, teammate, and mentor and this is an act I'll never forget. You can bet I'll be the loudest voice in the oval cheering for her in the 1000 and 1500 next month."I've grown up with Brittany, I've known her, like, almost my whole life. I've always known what an incredible person she is, and now it's really showing."In November last year, Jackson became the first Black woman to win a speed skating World Cup event and she will be looking for more success in Beijing in February.

Homero De la Fuente and Alaa Elassar, CNN

2022-01-09 20:21:12

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/09/sport/timothy-leduc-first-nonbinary-olympic-winter-games/index.html

Timothy LeDuc is set to become the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics - CNN

American figure skater Timothy LeDuc is set to become the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at an Olympic Winter Games.

sport, Timothy LeDuc is set to become the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics - CNN

Timothy LeDuc is set to become the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics

(CNN)American figure skater Timothy LeDuc is set to become the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at an Olympic Winter Games.US Figure Skating announced Saturday that 31-year-old LeDuc has been paired with Ashley Cain-Gribble to compete in Beijing in February."My hope is that when people see my story, it isn't focused on me and saying, 'Oh, Timothy is the first out non-binary person to achieve this level of success in sport,'" LeDuc said during a news conference Saturday, according to NBC Sports."My hope is that the narrative shifts more to, queer people can be open and successful in sports. We've always been here, we've always been a part of sports. We just haven't always been able to be open."There may be more Olympians who identify as LGBTQ than ever before. But there are limits to inclusion In 2019, LeDuc became the first openly gay athlete to win gold in a US pairs' event, according to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.Read MoreCain-Gribble and LeDuc are the 2019 and 2022 US champions and will make their first Olympic appearance next month."I think we want to dedicate these performances and this title to all the people that felt like they didn't belong -- or were told that they didn't belong -- in this sport," Cain-Gribble said during the news conference. "Many times we were told that, even when we teamed up."Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier will join LeDuc and Cain-Gribble as the other pairs team that will represent the US in Beijing.The two pairs "join previously nominated athletes Mariah Bell, Karen Chen and Alysa Liu on the 2022 US Olympic Figure Skating Team," US Figure Skating said in a news release.The games are scheduled to take place from February 4 to 20 in Beijing. Beijing, which played host to the Summer Olympics in 2008, is the first city ever to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

George Ramsay, CNN

2022-01-09 15:55:46

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/09/sport/nathan-chen-figure-skating-record-spt-intl/index.html

Nathan Chen breaks short program record at US figure Skating Championships - CNN

Figure skater Nathan Chen broke his own US scoring record in the men's short program at the US Figure Skating Championships in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday.

sport, Nathan Chen breaks short program record at US figure Skating Championships - CNN

Nathan Chen breaks short program record at US Figure Skating Championships

(CNN)Figure skater Nathan Chen broke his own US scoring record in the men's short program at the US Figure Skating Championships in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday. Performing to music from "La Boheme," Chen scored 115.39 points -- breaking the record of 114.13 he had set in 2020 -- to take the lead in the short program and move closer to a sixth consecutive national title. The 22-year-old Chen's short program included a quad flip and a quad lutz-triple toe loop as he finished ahead of Vincent Zhou's score of 112.78 and Ilia Malinin's 103.46 -- personal best scores for both those skaters, too. JUST WATCHEDNathan Chen describes the feeling of landing a quadReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNathan Chen describes the feeling of landing a quad 01:10"This US Championships short program was insane," said Chen as he reflected on the high-scoring nature of the competition in Nashville."Every guy laid down an amazing program, so it's a huge honor to be up here with these two guys, and I'm happy to start the competition off this way."Read MoreZhou skated to Josh Groban's "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)" and, like Chen, executed a quad lutz-triple toe loop, while Malinin, making his championship debut, performed to David Cook's version of "Billie Jean." Chen, a three-time world champion, is heavy favorite to take gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics next month, where he will face competition from Japan's double Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu. Having placed fifth at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Chen is now in pole position to qualify for Beijing alongside two other male singles skaters ahead of the free skate on Sunday. Following the 2018 Olympics, Chen embarked on a three-year international winning streak which came to an end with a third-place finish at Skate America in Las Vegas last October.

Seán Federico-O'Murchú, CNN

2022-01-08 04:54:48

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/07/sport/mariah-bell-womens-figure-skating-champion/index.html

Mariah Bell becomes the oldest US women's figure skating national champion in 95 years - CNN

It's been a long wait for 25-year-old Mariah Bell.

sport, Mariah Bell becomes the oldest US women's figure skating national champion in 95 years - CNN

Mariah Bell becomes the oldest US women's figure skating national champion in 95 years

(CNN)It's been a long wait for 25-year-old Mariah Bell.For the first time in the nine years she's been a senior competitor, Bell has won the US women's figure skating national title following the conclusion of the women's free skate on Friday night -- making her the oldest US women's figure skating national champion in 95 years.Bell is looking to become the oldest US Olympic women's singles skater in 94 years. The three-woman US team will be named Saturday.The 2018 Olympian Karen Chen finished second, while 14-year-old Isabeau Levito -- who is not eligible for the 2022 Olympics because of age requirements -- finished third.Alysa Liu, a two-time national champion who was in third place after Thursday's short program, was forced to pull out of the competition Friday after testing positive for Covid-19. Liu, who said on social media that she was "feeling good physically and mentally," still potentially could be chosen for the Olympic team.CNN's Jill Martin contributed to this report.

Ben Church, CNN

2021-03-19 10:23:09

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/19/sport/black-ice-climbing-diversity-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

Black Ice film aiming to boost diversity in climbing - CNN

Whether it's a comment about his hair or questioning his expertise, professional ice climber Manoah Ainuu is aware that people notice the difference.

sport, Black Ice film aiming to boost diversity in climbing - CNN

'It was super cool just having that much melanin in Montana': The climbers aiming to boost diversity

(CNN)Whether it's a comment about his hair or questioning his expertise, professional ice climber Manoah Ainuu is aware that people notice the difference.Born to first-generation immigrants from Samoa and Ethiopia, the 26-year-old grew up in the outskirts of Los Angeles but later moved to Bozeman, Montana, when he went to college. It was there that he fell in love with the outdoors and the spectacular ice climbing opportunities Montana has to offer. Ainuu taught himself how to climb and is now a seasoned professional, embarking on trips across the United States But he says living in a predominately White area, whilst taking part in a sport with few other Black athletes, weighs heavily on him. Read MoreDespite not recalling any overtly racist incidents, the climber says it is more an accumulation of "microaggressions" from both the local and climbing community, such as people commentating on his dreadlocks."Most people are like 'Oh, it's a compliment, it's kindness,' but what it happens to be is kind of backhanded," Ainuu tells CNN Sport. "They're seeing that you're different and feel like they have to say something about it. "I'm pretty mellow, so I just ignore a lot of stuff. If someone says some stupid racist thing, I'm like: 'Whatever, I've heard this before.' "But it really does weigh down on you. It all builds up and whether a person handles that by bottling it up or ignoring it, there's still an effect." With films such as "Free Solo" making it into the mainstream and with climbing gyms on the rise, the sport has witnessed a boom in recent years. But the cost of clothing and safety equipment acts as a huge barrier to entry for many and the lack of representation amongst the world's top professionals is being recognized more than ever before.Now a member of The North Face's elite climbing team, Ainuu wants to change the narrative around outdoor adventure sports."I don't really like being in the spotlight, having all this attention brought to me, but what I've realized is [...] there are so many people that are looking up to me [...] and all these other Black and African-American climbers or athletes or musicians," he says."Just seeing someone that looks like you, doing something and excelling at it is extremely empowering." READ: Emily Harrington on her after historic El Capitan climbManoah Ainuu is an accomplished ice climber. Black IceIt's why Ainuu was so excited to be part of a new documentary film called "Black Ice" which looks at a collaboration with Memphis Rox -- a not-for-profit climbing gym in South Memphis, US.The center provides a safe haven for people away from the streets; a place to relax and dive into a sport that may at first seem unfamiliar. No one is turned away, regardless of their ability to pay. Through its inclusivity and caring ethos, the organization has opened up the world of climbing to the local community which suffers from poverty and a lack of opportunity, especially in Black communities.Elena Delavega, Associate Professor at the University of Memphis, tells CNN Sport that South Memphis is one of the poorest areas of the city which is "underserved and under-resourced." She also says the area is under threat from encroaching gentrification. "That is a problem for this neighborhood because there is a desire to remove the traditional residents and to 'improve' the area," she says. "But no improvements are happening while poor people live there." According to the 2020 Memphis Poverty fact sheet, the poverty rate for the city is 21.7%, with the percentage higher among minority groups.The "Black Ice" film documents how members of the gym's staff, many of whom had never been ice climbing before, travel to Montana where they met with Ainuu, fellow ice climber Fred Campbell and climbing legend Conrad Anker. Learning from the experts, the Memphis Rox team spend time scaling frozen waterfalls and skiing in some of the coldest temperatures they've experienced. "It was super cool. I mean, just having that much melanin in Montana," Ainuu laughs. READ: Trailblazing climber Sasha DiGiulian was told 'little girls don't belong'"Black Ice" documented an ice climbing trip to Montana, US. Better representation Malik Martin, the official photographer at Memphis Rox who worked as a filmmaker on "Black Ice," is acutely aware of the problems presented to young people growing up in Memphis."There isn't a lot of sympathy from society for people in my neighborhood, people in our circumstances," Martin tells CNN Sport. "There's a million traps for you to fall into between just trying to live and survive. "But it's a beautiful place. I love Memphis. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else because being from where I'm from is how we're able to just get up and go to a whole new environment and tough it out. "It was hard and it sucked but I've been shot at so this is nothing." Having never previously considered a career photographing and making films about climbing, Martin now finds himself in love with the sport. 'The Fight of the Century': A divided US nation 50 years onHe says living in Memphis forces you to grow up fast, but that climbing offers you the opportunity to let your guard down. He also understands the importance of representation in the sport and says stories need to be told by more Black filmmakers."Any time I point my cameras to amplify and uplift [...] being a Black filmmaker and connecting with Black people is important," he says. "There is a difference, we can sit here and act like there isn't. There is a difference when it's based on documentaries, you know what I mean?"When you're sitting with people and talking with people and just being able to relate." Martin has been on multiple trips with Ainuu since filming "Black Ice" and his social media feeds are now full of climbing content.He recalls a moment during a trip with Ainuu last year when the importance of using his camera to inspire others hit home. The pair were driving when Ainuu noticed a frozen pillar beside the road. Martin watched his friend jump out of the car, run across the road and start climbing it without ropes. "From the hood, that would be quote-unquote 'White folk stuff,'" Martin says. "And to see a Black dude with dreads, in top peak prowess [...] is like 'wow.'" READ: Ultrarunner Coree Woltering runs almost 1,200 miles in record timeFred Campbell was one of the mentors in "Black Ice". Allies in the sport Since the trip to Montana, Martin has also fostered a strong relationship with Anker, who remains one of the world's top explorers and mountaineers. Anker was one of the driving forces behind the film's conception, having previously visited Memphis Rox, and has long pushed for better diversity in outdoor pursuits. Both Martin and Ainuu say it's vital to have White allies from within the sport. "There's one thing for you to put a black square up on Instagram," says Martin. "Conrad understood for my life to change and for it to have any type of real social impact, he had to bring me into his circle of influence and him being a legend automatically stamps or certifies me to an extent." Anker acknowledges that not enough has been done in the past to make climbing inclusive but says that things are changing.Whilst organizations and events such as "Color The Crag" have been promoting diversity for years, Anker says the death of George Floyd in 2020 was a touchpoint for the global climbing community to hold a mirror up against itself. "It's trying to change the view of how we look at climbing," Anker tells CNN Sport. "From its origin in the mid-1800s, seeing this as an athletic pursuit itself has always been the domain of the white male." "Now as expeditions go forward, big expeditions, there is more inclusivity from both where one is from and also from a gender standpoint. Recognizing that and working to make it better is the first step."JUST WATCHEDSasha DiGiulian battles discrimination after being told "little girls don't belong here"ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSasha DiGiulian battles discrimination after being told "little girls don't belong here" 02:51'Reflection of society'Anker hopes "Black Ice" will continue to encourage people from all backgrounds to adopt his love for climbing, which he says can be used as a tool to heal the deep divisions and racial tensions in the US. "We've always revered mountains in all the world's great religions," he says."There's always some connection to mountains. And when you're out with someone, then that climbing with them is special."It's a healthy way for humans to approach other humans. And so Memphis Rox, yes, it's a climbing gym but, moreover, it's a community center where these people are. It's a really meaningful thing. "Whilst climbing is a sport about going up mountains, moreover, it's a transformational change in how humans interact with other humans and to foster this [...] is kind of my life's goal."Campbell, one of the experts leading the team in Montana, echoes Anker's praise of Memphis Rox but says there is no quick way to address the issue of diversity in climbing.Instead, he calls on everyone from within the community to do their bit. "Climbing is kind of a reflection of society," Campbell tells CNN Sport. "No part of society's issues doesn't make its way into climbing and so I think the solution has to be multifaceted." "Individual climbers have to be supportive of it and work to make the community really inclusive, and I think that's something that we try to do on a personal level. "Conrad, Manoah, Malik, all of us are really, really, really interested in being inclusive and making the sport accessible to everyone."

Ben Church, CNN

2020-12-18 08:51:20

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/18/sport/emily-harrington-el-capitan-climb-record-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

Emily Harrington: 'We should be less afraid to be afraid,' says climber after making history on El Capitan - CNN

As she pulled herself over the summit of El Capitan, Emily Harrington knew she had made history.

sport, Emily Harrington: 'We should be less afraid to be afraid,' says climber after making history on El Capitan - CNN

'We should be less afraid to be afraid,' says Emily Harrington after historic El Capitan climb

(CNN)As she pulled herself over the summit of El Capitan, Emily Harrington knew she had made history. It wasn't easy. The US climber had powered on through the dark and dealt with a deep cut to her head to become the first woman to free climb the iconic rock face's notoriously difficult Golden Gate route in under 24 hours. The 34-year-old completed the mammoth task in 21 hours, 13 minutes and 51 seconds, and in doing so also became just the fourth woman to free climb the 3,200-foot monolith in Yosemite National Park within a day."I'd just fantasized about it and imagined what it would be like and it was pretty much exactly what I envisioned," an ebullient Harrington told CNN Sport."It was incredibly quiet. It was super dark. All the stars were out. It was just this really serene, peaceful experience.Read More"I keep telling people that when great sporting achievements happen, a lot of times there's an audience or there's a stadium."With climbing, it's not so much like that. It was just this really quiet special moment in this magical place. And it's something I'll never forget." READ: Climbing over 3,000 feet without safety ropesEmily Harrington became the first woman to free climb the Golden Gate route of El Capitan. 'Mental struggle'Free climbers use just their hands and feet to climb, with a rope to catch them if they fall. Such a high-stakes, and potentially life-threatening, challenge requires years of preparation, both mentally and physically. Harrington had climbed this particular route over the course of six days in 2015 and had subsequently tried three times to complete it within 24 hours. However, an attempt last year ended in disaster after Harrington fell 50 feet, hit her head on a ledge, and suffered concussion."It was very scary. It was very serious initially and it turned out that I got really lucky and I did not suffer any long-term injuries," she added."It's definitely a mental struggle, coming over that hurdle, coming back into this year and trying again."Ever since she started climbing as a 10-year-old, El Capitan has enchanted Harrington. She's spent numerous hours practicing different pitches (various sections of a climbing wall) to become accustom to arguably the most famous rock in the world of climbing. In recent years, El Capitan has captured the public's imagination after Alex Honnold climbed it without a safety rope in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, which was released in 2018. Honnold was one of two people to help Harrington on her successful ascent, the other being her fiancee Adrian Ballinger -- an experienced climber and mountaineer. Both climbers took turns assisting Harrington, with Honnold helping for the first two thirds of the climb. The pair essentially "caterpillared" the wall, with Harrington attached to the top of the rope and Honnold to the bottom. The technique helps speed up the ascent, but is risky. Ballinger then took over belaying duties on the harder, steeper sections near the top where Harrington knew she would have to slow down. The couple then took it pitch by pitch, with Harrington waiting for her partner to catch up before taking on another section. "He's been the one who supported me while I practiced on the wall," said Harrington of Ballinger."He's my partner in life as well and I just knew that it was going to get harder and I knew that it was going to get emotionally difficult. I just needed by my person there for me for that." READ: Ultrarunner runs almost 1,200 miles in record timeHarrington (middle) looks up at El Capitan with Adrian Ballinger (L) and Alex Honnold (R). 'Blood pouring down my face'If the challenge itself wasn't enough, Harrington was pushed to her limits when she fell 12 hours into the climb, her hands slipping when at approximately 2,800 feet off the ground."It felt like it was going to be a normal fall, a safe fall, the rope was going to catch me. Everything was going to be fine," she said, admitting her mind might have been focused on the upcoming pitch."The next thing I know, I just saw black and I felt the wetness of blood pouring down my face."I realized that I had hit my head again and that was definitely a rock bottom moment." The gash on her head was deep and it seemed as though the challenge would have to be abandoned yet again. But, this time, she hadn't suffered concussion. A makeshift plaster stemmed the bloodflow and, determined not to let another fall steal her dream, Harrington gave the pitch one more go."I just had one of those crazy, out of body, flow state experiences, where you don't really even think and you're just sort of climbing and almost watching myself climb from a distance," she said."It was a pretty magical feeling, actually."To have that really dramatic thing happen and get injured and have all that deja vu from the previous year and then be able to turn it around and climb perfectly and then continue to the top."READ: Oscar-winning director on fear, risk and finding the edgeThe climber suffered a deep cut to her head after a dramatic fall. US election Harrington is able to laugh that the fall helped write the "perfect script" to her climb, which was inspired by pioneering rock climber Lynn Hill, the first person to free climb El Capitan in under 24 hours, back in 1994. The climb also served as the perfect distraction from what was arguably one of the most important days in US history.As Harrington scrambled up the rock face, millions of Americans waited to see who their new president would be. Harrington says she had always planned to be ready in early November and admits attempting the feat on election night was semi deliberate. "Everyone in this country was feeling a lot of uncertainty and a lot of lack of control," she said."We had no control over what was going to happen and everyone was just sitting there doom-scrolling on their phones. "I think, in a way, I was like, 'This will be a good distraction, it'll be a good way to not focus on that and not drive myself crazy.'"It worked out, I definitely thought about it a lot less than most people." READ: Kayaker Dane Jackson drops down 134-foot waterfallHarrington stops the clock having reached the top. Where it all beganAs an only child, Harrington's competitive edge began with a healthy rivalry with her cousins. She remembers the first time she competed against them on a small, local climbing wall."The instant I stepped on the wall, there was this feeling of 'Oh, this is what I want to do,'" she said. "I belonged there in a way and I just remember telling my dad that I wanted to climb."She initially excelled at indoor competitions, becoming the US sport climbing champion five times and twice winning the North American championship.The transition into the world of outdoor climbing only began after signing with the North Face's athletic program, and her climbing future was sealed when she met her partner while climbing Mount Everest in 2012. She subsequently moved to California and began climbing in Yosemite National Park."People talk about conquering your fears, they talk about beating your fears, making your fears go away, I don't ever really feel that. I feel fear quite frequently, honestly," she said. "I work through it by just accepting it and trying to understand why it's there and then taking steps to move forward.The 34-year-old says she reguarly feels fear when climbing. "We should be less afraid to be afraid. It's a very valid emotion and it's something we shouldn't shy away from. In a lot of ways, we can use it as fuel and as strength." Harrington is currently staying put amid the pandemic but hopes to be back climbing around the world when it's safe to do so.There are a number of challenges in Europe that she's keen to take on, although not all will be as dangerous as her last. Harrington says around 90% of her climbing is safe (relatively speaking) and says more dangerous trips come after a lot of thought. That being said, she hasn't ruled out a return to Yosemite. "There's plenty of other routes on El Capitan to challenge myself with," she said, smiling.

Ben Church, CNN

2020-10-28 10:54:02

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/28/sport/sasha-digiulian-us-climber-diversity-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

Sasha DiGiulian: US climber wants more women in climbing after being told 'little girls don't belong' - CNN

Sasha DiGiulian is used to proving people wrong. She has done so throughout her life.

sport, Sasha DiGiulian: US climber wants more women in climbing after being told 'little girls don't belong' - CNN

Trailblazing climber Sasha DiGiulian was told 'little girls don't belong.' She didn't listen.

(CNN)Sasha DiGiulian is used to proving people wrong. She has done so throughout her life. The 28-year-old took the rock climbing world by storm at an early age and has grown into one of the sport's most famous faces -- traveling the world and completing over 30 first female ascents. But, despite the records and countless achievements, it hasn't been easy. Throughout the American's intrepid career, DiGiulian has met resistance, forcing her to change the narrative of what a professional climber is "supposed to look like.""Climbing as a sport, traditionally, is a White male's club and I've experienced that in my career. I know that we lack diversity in many ways," she tells CNN Sport. Read More"As a woman, success in my career was often reattributed to climbing something with a male being present, or doing something and that achievement being negated by my weight, my circumstance, or people making assumptions of my background."DiGiulian, who started climbing aged seven, has spoken out about her experiences of being a woman in the sport, writing a lengthy Instagram post in 2018 after she said she was subject to bullying from fellow climber Joe Kinder, who later apologized via a statement on social media.Kinder told CNN that whilst he accepted his mistakes, he felt "gravely misrepresented" and said that "public shaming" can cause serious mental health problems. "I'll never defend my mistake as there is no excuse for my actions. I own it and have learned a hard lesson. It was offensive and hurtful and cost me my career and everything that I had built," he said in a statement.DiGiulian says she has been subject to snide comments and remarks for her career choice for years. An interaction she recalled with an alpinist when completing a first female ascent on the 5,900 ft north face of the Eiger -- a mountain in Switzerland with one of the most technically challenging climbs in the Alps -- still sticks in her mind. "I won't say his name, but it comes to the tongue, he said 'little girls don't belong on the Eiger' and just little cuts like that that happen throughout your experiences," she says."It doesn't help and it doesn't encourage more people like me to feel comfortable in the sport."READ: 'Big pieces' of Kilimanjaro 'missing' due to climate crisis, says ice climber Sasha DiGiulian took the climbing world by storm from an early age. 'Heart of femininity'Such experiences haven't dampened DiGiulian's passion for her sport. If anything, it's motivated her. With a significant, and growing, social media following -- she has 463,000 followers on Instagram -- DiGiulian is using her platform to raise awareness of such issues in the hope that climbing becomes more diverse. She's led all-women climbing teams across the world, written extensively about being a female in a predominantly male sport and wants to be a role model for young girls looking to explore the outdoors.DiGiulian is particularly passionate about body confidence. This year she took part in an Agent Provocateur advertising campaign where she was filmed climbing in lingerie.She describes it as an experience which was "out of my comfort zone."The campaign, which also featured three other female athletes, received some criticism for "gratuitous sexualization of" female athletes. DiGiulian says those critics missed the point. "I would say that at the heart of femininity is choice and ownership of your body," she says."All four of us athletes chose to be a part of that campaign because it was an empowering opportunity to really be proud of our sports and of what our bodies look like. "I've gone through my own bouts with disordered eating and body confidence through excelling at my sport."I get wide shoulders and larger biceps but [I've learned] to embrace my body as it is, with the athletic build, because my body provides the tools to be able to excel." READ: Ultrarunner Coree Woltering runs almost 1,200 miles in record timeDiGiulian climbing the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA, in 2018.Climbing needs more diversity DiGiulian also hopes the momentum behind the Black Lives Matter movement can help diversify climbing. More needs to be done, she says, to encourage people from different backgrounds to enjoy the sport and she has called on the media to shine more light on Black climbers, to provide role models for the next generation. When a climber completes a particular route for the first time, he or she can name it. In the past, these names have sometimes included racial connotations and there have been fresh calls to rename them. Duane Raleigh stepped aside from his role as editor of climbing publication 'Rock and Ice' this year after apologizing for giving routes a racist name in the past. He called for the community to reflect on its traditions and said he would strive to support the Black Lives Matter movement in the future. In a statement to CNN, Raleigh said a lot of work still needed to be done in order for the sport to better represent the wider community."Over the past 150 years climbing failed to evolve to be inclusive of all people, but thanks to awareness raised by the Black Lives Matter movement this year, many climbers, myself included, realized that our community has systemic issues, from climbing route names to lack of financial support to under representation in the climbing media, that need to change," he said. View this post on Instagram 100 years ago the 19th Ammendment established women's right to vote. Generations of suffragists fought to make this happen. Unfortunately, that did not include Asian American Women (1952 gained the vote); Native American women (1957), and Black and Latinx sisters who didn't gain the vote until 1965. In a recent @nytimes visual history, Jennifer Harlan writes, "Those who fought for it were heroes, but not always moral paragons. The suffrage movement, like other social movements before and after, often reflected the racism, nativism and other prejudices that pervaded America as a whole." 2020 is a big election year. I encourage all of you to remember our history, and what voting meant to the foundation of our country. As an American citizen, we have the privilege to choose who is in power. I hope that whichever politician it is that you support, you exercise this right. Register to vote @rockthevote https://register.rockthevote.com/registrants/new #rockthevote #19thamendment A post shared by S A S H A • D I G I U L I A N (@sashadigiulian) on Aug 18, 2020 at 9:58am PDT Climate change and the US election DiGiulian is not content with simply attempting to change her sport. The climber also uses her platform to speak out on climate change and American politics.In the build-up to November's US presidential election, she has used her social media platform to encourage people to educate themselves and vote. Having spent her life in some of earth's wildest places, DiGiulian says she has seen firsthand the devastation being caused by the climate crisis and believes this election could be a turning point in the fight to address the issue."You see the ramifications of climate change in the rockfall consistency that's happening more and more often. I was also on an ice climbing trip [...] and we had extreme changes in weather that led to breaking off huge chunks of ice," she says.'Big pieces' of Kilimanjaro 'missing' due to climate crisis, says ice climber Will GaddDiGiulian is openly critical of the Trump administration's handling of the crisis, but says tackling the problem should be a bipartisan issue.Last month, Donald Trump was skeptical about whether climate change was playing a role in the catastrophic wildfires across the west coast of the US.The President also suggested that other nations need to take responsibility for their levels of pollution more than the US.DiGiulian works with 'Protect Our Winters' an organization that looks to educate and inspire the 57 million self-confessed outdoor enthusiasts globally.She says if outdoors enthusiasts in the US "recognize the significance of climate action on what their lifestyle is" then there might be a new president in place next month. DiGiulian is aware that not everyone will agree with her. She loses followers whenever she posts something political and has been told to "climb under a rock" or "focus on climbing because that's what I'm good at." However, she says such comments won't stop her. "I've always seen the fact that if I have a platform and a voice that people are listening to, I'd be remiss not to use it and not stand up for what I believe in," she says."There are a lot of pressing matters right now that are really pertinent to what I do as an outdoor athlete." READ: Oscar-winning director Jimmy Chin on fear, risk and finding the edge View this post on Instagram 🤍 A post shared by S A S H A • D I G I U L I A N (@sashadigiulian) on Aug 24, 2020 at 1:18pm PDT A tough year Her mental resilience is something she credits to both her upbringing and the sport she loves. Like fellow adventurer Jimmy Chin, DiGiulian says being outdoors has been akin to meditation for her in what's been a difficult year.In addition to the pandemic putting life on hold for most of the year and turning people's lives upside down, DiGiulian has undergone extensive hip surgery which left her unable to walk for some time. She also witnessed a devastating accident on her latest climb in Chihuahua, Mexico, where her friend Nolan Smythe fell to his death when helping film the expedition. READ: The untold story of women climbers trapped on 'the roof of the world'Once her recovery is complete, she hopes to return and complete the climb in his memory. "I think that climbing is a really empowering sport because it's you and the climb, you and the mountain," she says."You're also dealing with forces that are much larger than yourself so you learn to be really aware of your surroundings, of risk mitigation and thinking really decisively."I personally find it really meditative. It's like when I'm on the rock, I'm not thinking about anything else.

Ben Church & Celine Ramseyer, CNN

2019-10-09 08:29:34

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/09/sport/dani-arnold-free-solo-cima-grande-spt-intl/index.html

Dani Arnold climbs the Cima Grande in record time - CNN

It's one thing climbing over 1,800 feet up a vertical rock face, it's another thing altogether to do it without the use of safety ropes -- at speed.

sport, Dani Arnold climbs the Cima Grande in record time - CNN

Swiss climbs 1,800-foot vertical rock face in record time... without a safety rope

(CNN)It's one thing climbing over 1,800 feet up a vertical rock face, it's another thing altogether to do it without the use of safety ropes -- at speed.In September, Dani Arnold scaled the imposing Cima Grande wall in the Dolomites mountain range, Italy, with nothing but his bare hands and a bag of chalk.He did so in a record breaking time of 46 minutes, 30 seconds, obliterating the previous record by almost 20 minutes."It's very much a head game. All the skills, like the climbing technique and all the endurance, these are basic for me," the 35-year-old Arnold told CNN Sport, from his home in Switzerland, as he reflected on his love of free soloing (climbing without ropes). "There are so many very strong climbers around but having these normal climbing skills whilst also having a very clear mind and feeling safe without a rope, that's a bit like a joker [card] or a jackpot." Read MoreREAD: Climbing 3,000 feet without ropesDani Arnold set the speed record for climbing the Cima Grande.Climbing education Climbing has always played an important part in Arnold's life. Growing up in the Swiss mountains he would spend his days inadvertently honing his skills because, as he put it, "there was nothing else to do."As his skills developed, the challenges intensified as Arnold began to feel increasingly comfortable hanging off the steepest of rock faces, albeit with ropes attached and a support team. I don't go if I have a bad feelingDani ArnoldIt was not until he completed his first free solo while ice climbing that he realized the intense thrill that comes with the most dangerous of sports. Free soloing entered the public's consciousness after American climber Alex Honnold scaled the Californian granite monolith El Capitan without any ropes, an achievement immortalized in a breathtaking BAFTA-winning National Geographic documentary "Free Solo," which won Best Documentary at this year's Oscars."I'm very in the moment," Arnold said, explaining how he manages to stay calm when his life is at risk. "I know what would happen if I make any mistakes but it's not [...] fear or something like that. I'm just very, very concentrated. I know what I do. So it's not comparable with anything." It's an answer that gives his family and friends little comfort when he sets off on such perilous adventures and Arnold admits that neither his parents or wife enjoy what he does, though they have come to appreciate why he takes such risks."They realized that this is something very important to me," he said. "They see how many times I train for this stuff [...] I don't go if I have a bad feeling or something like that." READ: Ross Edgley -- 'It was goosebumps upon tears, upon smiles'READ: Anna Gasser -- 'As I took off I knew there was no way back,' says snowboarderArnold has been climbing his entire life, having grown up in the mountains.Arnold climbed the same route three times with ropes before attempting the free solo. Record breakerClimbing at speed while free soloing adds an extra layer of peril that pushes Arnold to his absolute limit. The natural handgrips and footholds that he uses to pull himself up the rock face are often only a matter of inches but, when you're jumping between them at pace, you lose a certain amount of precision. Balance between being fast and being safeDani Arnold"[There is] a big balance between being fast and being safe. That's quite a small line, I would say," he added.According to the 35-year-old climber, minimizing risk is all about preparation.Before setting off on the Cima Grande, Arnold climbed the exact same route (the 1,800 feet Comici-Dimai route) three times and felt mentally prepared for the challenge ahead. However, his record breaking attempt was the first time he climbed the route without safety ropes."I spend 200 days per year somewhere in the mountains, of course not always without ropes, but every day is a bit of preparation and training."JUST WATCHEDClimbing a 3,000-foot cliff without ropesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHClimbing a 3,000-foot cliff without ropes 02:48Sprint finishDespite all the preparation, climbing can always throw up the unexpected. During his ascent, at around 650 feet in the air, Arnold encountered a team of British climbers who were attempting the same route he was -- but with the aid of ropes. Fortunately, the three men did their best to let him through on the perilous ledges and Arnold took pictures with them once they eventually caught up with him at the top. Once at the summit, Arnold said the emotion was "indescribable" but later reflected that the overriding feeling was one of exhaustion. The final 10 minutes of the challenge were on flatter terrain which meant he was able to sprint to the finish line, pushing the climber to his physical limits. "It's just endurance and I'm not so good in endurance so when I reached the top I was super exhausted," he said."I was just happy to stop and that the Cima Grande was not higher." READ: Kilian Jornet -- 'It's like meditation. It's beautiful to feel that small" What next? Just weeks before going up Cima Grande at speed, the climbing fanatic had just finished a seven week adventure in Pakistan where he climbed Broad Peak, the world's 12th highest mountain at over 26,000 feet.Despite losing weight during the expedition, Arnold was "proud" to have been fit enough to climb Cima Grande.It's super dangerous if you feel pressureDani Arnold "I am a bit tired, not physically, but I feel my head is a bit like 'I need a bit of rest,'" he said, before revealing he would certainly be taking on a new challenge in the future, possibly ice climbing in Scotland. However, despite holding speed records for four of Europe's six major north faces, he has no desire to complete the set.One of the remaining climbs, the Eiger north face in Switzerland, is simply too dangerous for Arnold to try again having seen his previous record beaten by six minutes. "Climbing is so, so cool and there are so many mountains around and just to focus on the Eiger north face, I'm not so interested in that," Arnold admitted. "It's super dangerous if you feel pressure [...] I don't want to do that again."

Ben Morse, for CNN Video produced by Celine Ramseyer

2019-11-28 09:38:05

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/28/sport/jesse-dufton-climbing-blind-old-man-of-hoy-spt-intl/index.html

Blind climber Jesse Dufton pushing boundaries after leading 449-foot climb - CNN

Climbing a huge rock tower above crashing waves off a remote Scottish island is difficult enough, but imagine trying to do it if you're blind.

sport, Blind climber Jesse Dufton pushing boundaries after leading 449-foot climb - CNN

Blind climber Jesse Dufton pushing boundaries after leading 449-foot climb

(CNN)Climbing a huge rock tower above crashing waves off a remote Scottish island is difficult enough, but imagine trying to do it if you're blind.Briton Jesse Dufton has just 1% of his vision but he became the first blind person to lead a climb up the formidable Old Man of Hoy sea stack in the Orkney Islands. Legendary mountaineer Chris Bonington was the first to scale the column in 1966, and a number of blind climbers have since followed sighted partners on the famous route.But Dufton led his sighted fiancee Molly Thompson during a seven-hour haul up the E1 -- extremely severe -- rated East Face route. Although many people might find an ascent like this daunting even in normal circumstances, Dufton finds the tactile nature of climbing "meditative."Read More"When you're climbing, especially when you're leading, you can't be thinking about anything else," he told CNN."You're not worrying about what was going on in the office on Friday or whatever. You just don't have the mental bandwidth to do that."You're worrying about how long it was since you last placed your last piece of gear and whether or not you're going to be able to stick this next move."His scaling of the Old Man of Hoy has since been celebrated in the documentary "Climbing Blind," which is touring the UK as part of the Brit Rock Film Tour.READ: 'If he slips, he falls. If he falls, he dies' -- Climbing 3,000 feet without ropesDufton climbing the Old Man of Hoy.Choosing the climbDufton suffers from rod-cone dystrophy -- a genetic condition leading to damage of the light sensitive area in the eyes -- as well as astigmatism and cataracts.He was born with 20% of his central vision, but his sight deteriorated from an early age. Now aged 33, light perception is about all he has left."I can't distinguish anything anymore. I can tell where lights are. I'm holding my hand a foot in front of my face now, and I'm wiggling my fingers and I can't see it."Dufton's father introduced him to climbing when he was two years old. Despite his worsening vision, he continued to play rugby and jujitsu until he was 16.Now climbing is his sole sporting focus. He's traveled all around the world, from a month-long self-organized expedition to Greenland to climbing in Chamonix, France and sport climbing in Greece and Spain.In 2017, he was selected for Great Britain's Paraclimbing team -- he came fourth at the World Championships in July, something he'd like to "improve" upon.Dufton admits that while the ascents in Greenland were slightly easier than the Old Man of Hoy, the "difficulty comes in the remoteness."Dufton and Thompson midway through their climb of the Old Man of Hoy. A patent engineer for a technology company by day, Dufton shot to prominence with his ascent of the Orkney Islands cliff. The complexity of the climb was one of the main reasons he chose the sea stack."I didn't particularly say, 'I want to be the first to do that.' This is quite arrogant, basically I'm the first blind person to do almost all the climbs," he said. "Above a certain difficulty, I don't think there's anyone else who's leading the stuff that I'm leading."They're in cool places and you've got some extra logistical challenges, in that when you get to the top you can't just walk off."Normally when you go climbing, there's an easy way down, you can walk around the side of the cliff. Obviously, that's not the case for the sea stack."And also, there's an added appeal that there's no other way to get to the top. At a crag like Stanage [in the UK's Peak District], you could just walk round and there's all the punters walking along the track at the top. Whereas at the sea stack you can't get there unless you climb."READ: Swiss climbs 1,800-foot vertical rock face in record time... without a safety ropeThe Old Man of Hoy.Help from belowFor climbers, the eyes are one of their most important tools, allowing them to decide exactly where to place their hands and feet.To get around that issue, Dufton is guided by Thompson, through voice commands given through a headset.The pair have been climbing together since 2004 and through years of practice, they have honed the skill, logging more than 1,300 routes together."It's just years of time. Sight-guiding is definitely a skill and some people are good at it and some people aren't. Molly's obviously had the practice," he said.Dufton and Thompson at the summit of the Old Man of Hoy. Sixth senseDue to the often complex nature of climbing routes, there are points during a climb where Thompson can lose sight of Dufton.In these moments, Dufton must fend for himself, and over the years, has developed a "sixth sense" for finding his way."It happens reasonably frequently that she can't see either the good bit or around the corner," Dufton explains."And I don't really have a particularly good explanation of how I do it. Just years of practice, I think. I have a few tactile clues if I've gone off route."I'm not getting any directions, so I've just got to feel around with my hands and my feet to try and find the holes."I also remember the route description. (Before the climb) she'll describe what's written in the book to me. It'll be something like: 'Traverse along the ledge for three meters and then climb a cleft to a small overhand pullover rightwards.' And I'll remember that, and I'll be looking for those features."READ: Everest deaths: 'Corners are being massively cut'Dufton halfway up the Old Man of Hoy.'Relief'The day of Dufton's ascent didn't start particularly well.High winds meant they couldn't get started until 3 p.m., and after a mammoth climb, they reached the summit at 10.10 p.m."Getting to the top is only halfway, you've still got to get back down again. So I think when I topped out, mostly it was relief that I've done it cleanly," he said."There was satisfaction, but you couldn't properly relax yet, because it was about to get dark -- which doesn't make that much difference to me -- but it still makes stuff harder."Training at a variety of different locations, Dufton has learned to overcome wide-ranging challenges. But while he's improved physically, it is in his head where the real struggles are taking place given he can't see what he's doing. Dufton believes "keeping the fear under control" is key."I do get scared, but I think I'm quite good at keeping it bottled up and not letting it get to you," he explained."Often when you're climbing, such as on a lead and the gear is below you, you'll start getting nervous because you know what's going to happen if you fall off and you know that that last piece of gear might not stay there."Then you get what climbers call 'disco leg' or 'Elvis leg' where you start to shake because you're nervous. Trying to keep that under control and stay relaxed, I think is probably the mental battle that I'm going through."READ: Top climber Emily Harrington rescued after fall on El Capitan in YosemiteDufton starts his ascent of the Old Man of Hoy.Having an impactIce climbing in Norway and climbing a selection of the sandstone buttes in Monument Valley, Utah are next on Dufton's bucket list.He also hopes his success will highlight to parents that disabled children don't need to be mollycoddled.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"I think it's a message to let the parents of other disabled kids (know) that you don't necessarily need to wrap them up in cotton wool," Dufton said. "They need to be set challenges and you need to accept that they can take risks."And if they don't, that's going to be more detrimental to them in the long term. Everyone's got to try something."

Ben Church, CNN

2021-02-02 09:28:27

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/sport/slovenia-chimney-climbing-europe-spt-intl/index.html

Slovenia chimney climb: Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic scale the world's tallest artificial multi-pitch route - CNN

Climbers Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic scale the Trbovlje Power Station in Slovenia, which is home to the tallest chimney in Europe.

sport, Slovenia chimney climb: Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic scale the world's tallest artificial multi-pitch route - CNN

'The most special thing I've done': Two world-class climbers scale the tallest chimney in Europe

(CNN)Soaring 360 meters into the sky, the Trbovlje Power Station in Slovenia is home to Europe's tallest chimney.Just the mere sight of it is enough to make most tremble at the knees but two Slovenian climbers saw it as a chance of a lifetime. In October 2020, Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic became the first people to free climb the chimney's new route which is now the tallest artificial multi-pitch route in the world.The pair, who had just a rope to catch them if they fell, were successful on their second attempt after over seven hours of climbing. "It's definitely the most special thing I've done in my climbing career. It is climbing, but it's a combination of just about everything I experienced before, just combined in one thing," Škofic told CNN Sport. Read MoreBoth climbers are world-class in their own right. Škofic, 26, was a climbing prodigy and won the Lead Climbing World Cup title in 2016; Garnbret is quite simply one of the most talented sport climbers on the planet. The 21-year-old has won multiple world championships and World Cup titles and is one of the favorites to win gold when climbing eventually makes its debut at the Tokyo Olympics. Despite their expertize, the challenge was still way out of their comfort zone, with both more accustomed to indoor climbing where the wall is usually no more than 30 meters high.This route, however, contained 13 pitches (or sections) and involved rope techniques that are very different from what they are normally used to. The chimney itself was built in 1976 and used to emit emissions out of the valley where it's situated. It's been nonoperational since 2014. READ: Trailblazing climber Sasha DiGiulian was told 'little girls don't belong.' Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic celebrate their ascent on top of the Trbovlje Chimney.'Not in my comfort zone'But the new route, specifically designed over the course of five years, provided a real endurance test for the two climbers. "It definitely helps you grow as a person," Garnbret told CNN Sport. "You get a new perspective on climbing and you just get a different feeling, like something I've never done before."It really helps because I'm a person who is always looking for a challenge, who always wants to do something new, to do something better. "So this is definitely a cool project and it was not in my comfort zone. I had to step out and just enjoy the whole process." Their first attempt took nearly 12 hours and both climbers fell on a number of pitches. Carrying heavy backpacks left them physically exhausted and they realized they hadn't brought sufficient food and drinks to sustain them. Undeterred, the pair regrouped and went again four days later, successfully scaling the chimney in seven hours and 32 minutes.Reaching the top after such a grueling climb is a feeling that neither will forget in a hurry."When I think back now, I remember how uncomfortable it felt, how it was hot, it was cold, it was windy, it was everything," Garnbret added."I also said one time that I never want to go again, that this was my last try and I never want to go again. But it was a super amazing experience and yeah, I was really happy when I came on the top." READ: Ultrarunner Coree Woltering runs almost 1,200 miles in record timeThe route took five years to plan and build. 'I was more scared looking up'Although heights come with the territory for climbers, neither had ever experienced such a vertical before. Škofic still remembers the stomach-churning feeling of standing at the foot of the chimney, looking up as the top disappeared into the clouds. "I was more scared looking up, watching the chimney. I mean, I had huge respect," he said."But when I was on the wall, I kind of fell into the climbing so much that I basically forgot about the heights."In addition to being an exhausting physical challenge, both agreed that it tested their mental capacity just as much. Their very safety was dependent on maintaining focus for hours on end and every mistake counts when you're dangling on a climb like this.'We should be less afraid to be afraid,' says Emily Harrington after historic El Capitan climbGarnbret, who was also comfortable with the dizzying heights, initially struggled with the technique of falling off such a surface. Indoor walls tend to have a slight overhang which prevents climbers from smashing into the wall when they fall off but the chimney didn't provide such luxury. "The chimney had the same angle for three hundred and sixty meters. It was almost vertical," she said."So when you fell, you fell hard into the wall. So it's something different [...] I had to get used to the falling to just keep this out of my mind. Like to not be scared to fall." After reflecting on the achievement, neither has ruled out tackling a similar challenge in the future. Until then, both are excited about the possibility of climbing competitions returning after the pandemic and Garnbret has her eyes firmly focused on the Olympics.

Ben Church, CNN Video by Celine Ramseyer

2020-05-14 08:33:16

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/14/sport/jimmy-chin-free-solo-national-geographic-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

Free Solo: Oscar-winning director Jimmy Chin on risking it all for the perfect shot - CNN

Having survived an avalanche and been tested in some of the most remote places on earth, Jimmy Chin knows what it's like to be at the mercy of mother nature.

sport, Free Solo: Oscar-winning director Jimmy Chin on risking it all for the perfect shot - CNN

Oscar-winning director Jimmy Chin on fear, risk and finding the edge

(CNN)Having survived an avalanche and been tested in some of the most remote places on earth, Jimmy Chin knows what it's like to be at the mercy of mother nature.The renowned adventurer and filmmaker has spent the past 20 years traveling the world, pushing himself to conquer one historic challenge after another, and engaging in the sort of daring activities that would be beyond many people's imaginations.Whether it's climbing Everest or filming the Oscar-winning Free Solo, the 46-year-old has captured the full extent of human endeavor. "When you're pushing for cutting-edge expeditions, you're often in close proximity to potential disaster," he told CNN Sport. "You're constantly managing risk and you're in fairly serious situations all the time, so your senses are very sharpened."But Chin's intrepid way of life has been put on hold as the world comes to grips with the coronavirus pandemic. To a certain degree, his past expeditions have readied him for such uncertain times and, he said, he hoped others could learn from his experiences. Read More"This is a moment to pause, reevaluate and think about what's important," he added. READ: 'If he slips, he falls. If he falls, he dies' -- Climbing 3,000 feet without ropesJimmy Chin has photographed all around the world. Early yearsAs a film director and National Geographic photographer, Chin has assembled a world-class portfolio of work. This year he returned from a trip to Antarctica, where he and a team of adventurers skied two new routes down the tallest and second-tallest peaks on the continent. But such a life wasn't always the plan. As a child growing up in rural Minnesota, Chin was encouraged to pursue more traditional aspirations: excelling academically, as well as in martial arts and as a competitive swimmer. But it was skiing on a small hill behind his house that he found freedom. "If I did well in everything else, I got to ski," he said. Already with a taste for the world of outdoor sports, Chin was introduced to climbing at college. At that point, he said, it was game over as the sport became a vehicle to see the world and explore places that made his "heart sing."He moved to Yosemite National Park where he worked odd jobs to fund his nomadic lifestyle, eventually picking up a camera and starting to shoot."I have so many incredible photographer friends who had a really noble vision for being an artist with their photography," he laughed. "But my whole entry into it was just 'if I take these photos and I sell them I can make a little money so I can keep climbing.'"READ: Like 'falling off the face of the earth,' says kayaker after dropping down 134-foot waterfallHis adventures have often involved very high stakes. Chin climbing up the Pacific on El Capitain in Yosemite, US. Capturing the impossible Since he himself is a professional climber, Chin's photography services have been that much more in demand over the years, with the relationship between him and his subjects an important element of his success. "If they're going to be doing this thing, and you're the only one documenting, they've got to trust that you're going to get it," he said. "Then I have to trust that the athlete isn't just doing it for the camera."Such a collaboration was put to the ultimate test in perhaps his finest, and most daring, work to date.Alongside his wife Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Chin documented Alex Honnold's astonishing free solo climb up El Capitan in 2017.Chin assembled a team of world-class climbers to help film Honnold ascend the 3,200-foot vertical rock face without a single safety rope. Working together, they plotted where the cameras would be positioned on the wall so as to not distract Honnold on the day. The historic feat won the team an Academy Award for Best Documentary at a ceremony that will live long in Chin's memory. "My confidence in Alex [Honnold] and his capacity to execute was very, very high," said Chin, who had known Honnold for around 10 years before his death-defying ascent."I had seen him in very difficult situations before, completely unfazed, and I also knew that he's the most calculated person I know. He's not going to go do it if he's not ready." 'If he slips, he falls. If he falls, he dies' -- Climbing 3,000 feet without ropesDealing with fearDespite his years of experience, Chin said watching his friend train for and complete the climb was an ordeal."The fear was less acute than I think people might have perceived; it was more of a long-term dread," he said, now able to laugh at the thought."I felt like it was on my shoulders for almost three years, from when we conceived of the project to filming it with him."Every day, whether he was free-soloing or not, there's a potential for somebody to get hurt or die because you're in these environments."Dealing with uncertainty is an occupational hazard for Chin and although meticulous planning can help iron out some of the danger, managing fear itself is essential to coping with the unexpected. Remaining calm, avoiding emotional decisions, can often be the difference between life and death. "You have [to] step outside of yourself and be objective about a situation and make very objective decisions," he said. READ: Swiss climbs 1,800-foot rock face in record time... without a safety ropeChin has embarked on climbing and skiing adventures. Chin ascending a fixed line to the top of the Visor on Half Dome in Yosemite, US. Lockdown lessons Though still working at home on a number of projects, it has taken a once-in-a-century event like the global pandemic to finally slow Chin down. He is now at least able to enjoy time with his young family. "I'm just out in the yard playing with the kids, usually a rarity for me," he said, acknowledging these were the most consecutive days he'd spent with his four-and six-year-old children."I don't get that much time to hang out with them so I've been running around the yard and having fun." JUST WATCHEDAdventure photographer shares how he survived a powerful avalancheReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAdventure photographer shares how he survived a powerful avalanche 05:39Living in a rural area means Chin is able to leave his house while still abiding by social distancing guidelines, a must for someone whose mental and physical well-being is "tied" to going into the wilderness.He is a man who, in more ordinary times, usually searches for solitude, reveling in having time to think and ask existential questions. "It's good to think about them," he said. It is not the sort of life many would choose, Chin admitted, but he hoped people in lockdown could learn from his experiences. "Those are the kinds of experiences that I go and seek and now there's an opportunity for people to do that. Take this moment."

Ben Church, CNN

2019-02-21 10:32:16

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/21/sport/free-solo-alex-honnold-rock-climbing-el-capitan-spt-intl/index.html

Oscars: Free Solo documentary and how Alex Honnold climbed without ropes - CNN

Any doubts as to whether Alex Honnold was the greatest rock climber of all time were doused when the American did something that no one thought was humanly possible.

sport, Oscars: Free Solo documentary and how Alex Honnold climbed without ropes - CNN

'If he slips, he falls. If he falls, he dies' -- Climbing 3,000 feet without ropes

(CNN)Any doubts as to whether Alex Honnold was the greatest rock climber of all time were doused when the American did something that no one thought was humanly possible.In June 2017, the 33-year-old became the first person to climb Californian granite monolith El Capitan without any ropes -- a skill known as free soloing. Situated in Yosemite National Park, USA, the gargantuan rock face soars 3,200 feet into the air, standing almost 500 feet taller than the Burj Khalifa -- the world's tallest building.There is simply no room for error. If he slips, he falls. If he falls, he dies."When I know what I'm doing and I'm climbing well, then it feels meditative, kind of relaxing and beautiful," Honnold told CNN Sport.Read MoreHis achievement has since been immortalized in a breathtaking BAFTA-winning National Geographic documentary "Free Solo," which won Best Documentary at this year's Oscars. Alex Honnold climbed El Capitan in Yosemite National Park -- without ropes.READ: Ross Edgley -- 'It was goosebumps upon tears, upon smiles'Death or perfectionFree solo climbing is a high-stakes game. It's either death or perfection. But in moments of such risk, adrenaline is often the enemy. "The important part of being able to climb El Cap was for it to feel slightly normal, for it to feel slightly business as usual," he said, remembering the moments he began the climb. "For me to look up at the wall and to think I'm just going to climb this like I usually climb this, even though I don't have a rope on."Honnold's seemingly blase approach to such death-defying challenges can be disconcerting at first but scratch under the surface and you understand it's an attitude built on a foundation of hard-work and preparation. "If I don't know what I'm doing and I hesitate then it can be a nightmare," he warned. El Capitan is at the centre of the rock climbing world. The truth is that every move is choreographed. Each foot hold has been mapped out months in advance, every thumb grip visualized hundreds of times. The trick to not falling, is not leaving anything to chance and training your mind for every possible outcome. A bigger mental challenge than it is physicalAlex Honnold"It's definitely a bigger mental challenge than it is physical," he said, explaining that he and many others have climbed the rock face multiple times with harnesses attached. "But the idea of doing it without a rope is a step further it seems."Boulder problem Honnold chose to climb the southwest face of the wall, a familiar route known as Freerider, which is split into 30 different pitches. But this particular route included a perilous sequence which spooked the seemingly unflappable Honnold -- the Boulder Problem. The section involves a number of intricate movements with Honnold clinging onto pea-sized ledges 2,000 feet above the meadow below.It culminates in a vertigo-inducing karate kick to an opposing wall, where his life depends on whether he makes contact with a toe-sized ledge. Every move of the climb has been choreographed. READ: Kilian Jornet -- 'It's like meditation. It's beautiful to feel that small.""I think if that section of the route hadn't existed [...], I probably would have soloed El Cap several years sooner," said Honnold, who had practiced that particular section 60 times with ropes -- falling on a number of occasions. However, the very thing that made this section so daunting turned out to be an advantage because by the time Honnold had reached it he had found his rhythm. He was confident. "I had done so much climbing, I was so deeply in the zone," he said, talking through the delicate sequence of moves."I was performing so well that by the time I got there I felt incredible and I just executed it perfectly."Honnold started climbing in indoor gyms as a child. Sprint finishAfter successfully navigating the near impossible Boulder Problem, Honnold started to breathe a little easier but he still had a long way to go. The final stretch represented one of the hardest climbs Honnold had ever attempted, but nothing was going to stop him now. My confidence was soaring, I felt greatAlex Honnold"My confidence was soaring, I felt great," he said. "Conditions were perfect and I kind of knew I had it."As he approached the summit, the realization of what he was about to achieve started to break through his steely-eyed focus. The final stages of El Cap got easier and easier. What to many would seem terrifying became a "beautiful experience" for Honnold, who sprinted toward the finish, lifting himself over the summit after just three hours and 56 minutes of climbing."It was incredible," he laughed. Honnold was able to enjoy the final stretch of the climb. Why without ropes? The unfathomable climb was nearly 20 years in the making. Growing up in the Californian suburbs, Honnold had started scaling indoor climbing walls at a local gym as a child. In many ways, it was a sanctuary.Honnold struggled with socializing as a youngster but was able to express himself through climbing, gradually transitioning to outdoor climbing as he sought out new challenges. Moving on to free soloing -- climbing without ropes -- was a natural progression."It was an important part of rock climbing for me," he said. "It wasn't all of climbing and never has been to me. It's just one part of climbing but it's free soloing, it's awesome, it's fun."The American lives off a mostly vegetarian diet. READ: Anna Gasser -- 'As I took off I knew there was no way back,' says snowboarderLiving and traveling in a small van, Honnold spent his days climbing -- getting better and more confident with each step.He started completing increasingly impressive feats but El Cap was always at the back of his mind.Ascending the monolith is regarded as the pinnacle of rock climbing, so making history by becoming the first person to scale it without ropes certainly appealed, but he also simply wanted to experience it. "I'm sure every astronaut wants the opportunity to walk on the moon but if you're the first human to ever go to the moon, it's an incredible thing," he said."But I'm sure the tenth astronaut is just as excited in their own way." Some of Honnold's friends have died tackling lesser challenges. It's a stark reality that doesn't sit well with his girlfriend, Sanni McCandless, who left Honnold alone in the days running up to the climb. "It just seemed like the right call for both of us. We never really had to talk about it," he said. "It was useful for me to have empty time to just lay around by myself and visualize or imagine and just emotionally process what was to come."Honnold and his girlfriend Sanni McCandless before attempting his free solo of El Cap.Mind and bodyWhen you consider the mental fortitude required, it's easy to ignore the physical strain such a climb puts on a body. On one section of the wall, the Monster Offwidth, Honnold squeezes his body into a vertical crack and wriggles his way up a 200-foot-tall crevice. No flashy gym or high-tech equipment can ever prepare you for such a task.Instead, Honnold's physique has been etched by thousands of hours of climbing and his hands strengthened by days clinging onto rock faces. Standing at a little under 6 feet tall, and powered by a mainly vegetarian diet, Honnold's body is conditioned solely for climbing. Honnold lives and travels in a small van for much of the year. His mind has also adapted accordingly.During the documentary, Honnold undergoes an MRI scan which shows his amygdala -- the part of the brain which processes fear -- is not stimulated in the usual way. I found free soloing scary when I first startedAlex HonnoldHonnold believes he's become desensitized after so many years of climbing but is open to the suggestion that he's innately less susceptible to fear. "I found free soloing scary when I first started but I also found it exhilarating in the right way," he said. "Possibly, other people find it way scarier and less satisfying so they are never really willing to put the time and effort into it because the ratio is not right." He likens it to his previous fear of public speaking. As a young man, Honnold struggled in front of large groups and the thought of doing a media tour would have previously "horrified" him. But just like climbing El Cap, Honnold found a way to overcome negative thoughts. A film crew documented Honnold's incredible feat. "Free Solo" -- The documentary Directed by award-winning film-makers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, "Free Solo" follows Honnold for more than two years as he prepares for the climb of his life.However, keeping the cameras at a distance was imperative in order to keep Honnold safe and allow him to have the experience he was craving."When I passed the cameramen on the wall, it was just really nice to be able to see my friends up there and celebrate with them," he said."Most of the filming is up high on the route so I had already finished most of the harder sections. It really did feel like a celebration." Despite the global success of the film, the achievement will always be a personal one. "When I'm an old man and I sit in El Cap meadow, below the wall and I look up at the wall, I'm going to feel the same satisfaction knowing that I've had a dream for so many years, put a tonne of work into it and eventually was able to accomplish it," he said.'FREE SOLO is coming to National Geographic on March 03'

Ben Church, CNN

2020-12-08 12:52:13

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/08/sport/doug-scott-obit-everest-death-spt-intl/index.html

Doug Scott: Everest conqueror and mountaineering icon dies aged 79 - CNN

Mountaineer Doug Scott, who was part of the first UK team to summit Mount Everest via the south-west face, has passed away at the age of 79.

sport, Doug Scott: Everest conqueror and mountaineering icon dies aged 79 - CNN

Everest conqueror and mountaineering icon Doug Scott dies aged 79

(CNN)Mountaineer Doug Scott, who was part of the first UK team to summit Mount Everest via the south-west face, has passed away at the age of 79.Scott spent the later years of his life helping people in the Himalayas and founded the charity Community Action Nepal (CAN) in 1989.The organization, which seeks to support local communities, confirmed his death in a tweet on Monday. Reports from British media say Scott had been battling with cancer. "With a heavy heart we inform you that our Founder and great friend, Doug Scott, passed away peacefully this morning, at his home with his family around him," it wrote."We ask for privacy at this time, but will be making a full and proper announcement in the coming days. Thank you all."Read MoreREAD: Climbing the height of Mount Everest from the comfort of your own homeThe iconic figure was part of Chris Bonington's famous expedition on Everest in 1975 and, along with Douglas Haston, reached the summit via the notoriously difficult route on the south-west face.Scott, known for his physical and mental stamina, went on to reach the highest peak on all seven continents in a trailblazing career and often did so without the use of artificial oxygen.He made a total of 45 expeditions in Asia and reached the summit of 40 peaks in the region.In a column written in the Nepali Times last year, Scott wrote: "I have been lured to Nepal many times, as much by the Himalayan landscape as to be with the mountain people. It is the people more than the mountains who bring visitors back to Nepal."Scott most recently raised money for his charity CAN by climbing the stairs of his house during the first UK lockdown in 2020.The British Embassy in Nepal tweeted a tribute to a man who inspired and helped so many."We remember Doug Scott CBE not only for his mountaineering feats but as a true friend of Nepal whose support helped build health posts in rural villages," read a message on Twitter."His feats also remind us of the importance of protecting our mountains from #ClimateChange."

Ben Morse and Celine Ramseyer, for CNN

2019-12-05 08:32:02

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/05/sport/nims-nirmal-purja-nepal-climber-world-record-14-8000-mountains-spt-intl/index.html

Nirmal Purja: Record breaking Nepalese climber shocked by climate change effects - CNN

A former special forces soldier has taken the notion that "records are meant to be broken" to a whole new level.

sport, Nirmal Purja: Record breaking Nepalese climber shocked by climate change effects - CNN

As he scaled world's 14 highest peaks, Nepalese climber shocked by climate change effects

(CNN)A former special forces soldier has taken the notion that "records are meant to be broken" to a whole new level.Nepalese climber Nirmal "Nims" Purja smashed the record for taking the shortest time to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter-high mountains (about 26,300 feet). The previous mark was just under eight years, but Purja took six months and six days, even finding time to rescue several fellow climbers. He also had to contend with having his oxygen stolen while on Lhotse, a neighboring peak to Mt. Everest.Earlier this year, Purja shot to prominence when he photographed the "traffic jam" on the upper slopes of Everest (8,848m/29,029 feet) -- bringing global attention to the mountain's overcrowding.But during his expeditions, the 36-year-old Purja says has also became acutely aware of the environmental changes the world is undergoing.Read MoreThe queue on Everest, taken on May 22, 2019 and released by Purja's Project Possible expedition.Over the space of a few years, the Nepalese has climbed several mountains in the Himalayas more than once. In doing so, Purja says he has seen the damaging effect of global warming."I climbed Dhaulagiri (8,167m) in 2014 and I went back again this year, the glacier is melting," Purja told CNN Sport. "You can see a huge difference. And even on Everest as well, the Khumbu glacier."In 2014, I climbed Ama Dablam (6,812m). In 2018, I was there again to climb Ama Dablam but the difference was that in 2014 we had snow at camp one, which we could melt and obviously cook food and drink."But in 2018, it was completely different. We had to carry gallons and gallons of water from the base camp. It was so hard. At that point, I realized this is really not on, and I have been raising awareness about it. The Earth is our home and we should look after it."READ: Everest deaths: 'Corners are being massively cut'Nims Purja on Manaslu, the world's eighth highest peak at 8,163 meters.Bigger than himPurja scaled the first peak of his record attempt -- the notoriously treacherous Annapurna 1 (8,091m) -- on April 23 and his last -- Tibet's Shishapangma (8,027m) -- on October 29.With the help of his team, whom he now calls "brothers," Purja broke another seven world records during "Project Possible.""The whole project, and I've said from day one, wasn't about me," he said."It's about showing the world, our generation and the generation that comes ahead that anything in life is possible. The project was to establish a paradigm shift in perception of human potential."He also wanted to highlight the skills of Nepal's Sherpa people and the homegrown climbing community."Even though they were top climbers, they didn't get the right recognition," he added. "Hopefully, I thought I could uplift their names."READ: 'If he slips, he falls. If he falls, he dies' -- Climbing 3,000 feet without ropesNims Purja stands atop Nanga Parbat (8,126m).The importance of the mindPreviously, the fastest-known time for conquering the "8,000ers" was seven years, 10 months and six days, a record set by South Korean Kim Chang-ho in 2013.Kim broke the first known record -- set by Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka in 1987 -- by a month and eight days.Climbing just one "8,000er," let alone all 14, is challenging enough given climbers are exposed to the "death zone" -- a mountaineering term that describes altitudes over about 8,000m where the human body is exposed to insufficient levels of oxygen.In the build-up to Purja's attempt -- which he describes as an "extremely, horrendously good experience" -- he found he couldn't do much psychological preparation."I don't think you can really mentally prepare," he said. "There's not really set goals to it. In bigger missions like this, there will be so many obstacles, hurdles. There will be situations where you're like, 'OK, it's enough.' But if you just work around it, you need to have a positive mindset."My oxygen was stolen on Lhotse (8,516m) when I was going for the world record. If I would have gotten mad and said, 'Oh, somebody stole my oxygen,' and [been] just blaming people and just losing control of my mind, that would have a negative effect."But what I thought was I had to physically and positively inject in my mind for me to believe, 'Hey, that oxygen could have been used to save someone's life.' "That's the positive message I had to feed through in my brain by myself in order to mitigate the negatives."READ: Swiss climbs 1,800-foot vertical rock face in record time... without a safety ropePurja at the summit of the 8,586-meter-tall Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain.Helping othersPurja is a relatively inexperienced climber in comparison with his peers, having only completed his first major climb in 2012. Previously a Gurkha soldier -- a Nepalese contingent of the British Army -- Purja progressed to the Special Boat Service (SBS), a British special forces unit under the auspices of the UK's Royal Navy, eventually quitting the military in 2018 as a Lance Corporal.16 years of Service with the British Millitary: 6 years with the Gurkhas: 10 years with the Special Boat Service #tier1operator. I woke up this morning and found some old pics, the 1st one is 16 year old, which was taken during my basic training with the #Gurkhas.#nimsdai pic.twitter.com/tf3sfoiqaq— Nirmal Purja MBE (@nimsdai) November 25, 2019 Since focusing on climbing completely, Purja admits that he's become "addicted," partly because it has helped put things into perspective. Such was his love for the expedition, he's also had the 14 "8,000ers" tattooed across his back."When I was in the Special Forces, you do really high value tasks," he recalls. "But the joy and the stuff and the pride that you do in that point was still the same, but nobody knew about it then."I still had three world records when I was in the Special Forces. Nobody knew, but now it's out and everybody kind of knew about it. Being completely honest, I don't really like this kind of popular life, but hey, I think it's part of life now."Whilst speed was obviously of the essence during Purja's effort, the safety of the other climbers was always his priority.The former soldier and his team also carried out a number of daring rescues, often putting their own lives in danger.READ: The world's first ski descent of K2Purja on his ascent of Annapurna 1, the 10th highest mountain in the world at 8,091m. Just days into his journey, Purja and his team rescued Malaysian climber Chin Wui Kin after he had been reported missing on Annapurna."We opened the route that has never been climbed since 1970, summitted, got back to base camp and it was only three hours," he remembers. "We made the decision that we're not going to go to our next mountain, even though for this project, I had sacrificed my job, my pension, sold my house, everything."But for me, nothing is more important than life. We went and conducted the rescue. From where we're dropping down to where he was, on the summit day, it had taken us 18 hours to reach there, but actually when we did the rescue, we took only four hours."We were giving 100% of everything we had. We brought him down alive."Tragically, after initially being treated in a hospital in Nepal's capital Kathmandu, Chin was airlifted to a hospital in Singapore, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.A band of brothersPurja has been assisted during the remarkable 189-day feat by his all-Nepalese team, comprised of some of his most trusted climbing companions. On top of helping Purja, his team have also been able to break their own records. One of his colleagues, Mingma David Sherpa, became the youngest person to complete all 14 peaks at the age of 30.Purja at the summit of Dhaulagiri with members of his team.But after spending so much time together, Purja believes they are more than a team now."We started as a team, but now we are like brothers, we are like a family," he explains. "The bond and the relationship we have is unique."We kind of have a similar mortal mindset and aim. Everybody didn't really think that it was 'Nims' project', everybody thought that this is 'our project.'Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"Some of the guys have climbed eight 8,000-meter peaks with me and that's an opportunity for them as well. Soon I think most of my team should finish all the 14 highest mountains."

Aimee Lewis, CNN

2020-11-15 11:56:52

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motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/15/motorsport/lewis-hamilton-world-title-turkish-grand-prix-spt-intl/index.html

Lewis Hamilton equals Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles - CNN

Lewis Hamilton has become accustomed to making history and, at a rain-soaked Turkish Grand Prix, the Englishman put his name in the record books once again as he equaled Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles.

motorsport, Lewis Hamilton equals Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles - CNN

Lewis Hamilton equals Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles

(CNN)Lewis Hamilton has become accustomed to making history and, at a rain-soaked Turkish Grand Prix, the Englishman put his name in the record books once again as he equaled Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles. To win Formula One's drivers' championship at Istanbul Park, the Mercedes driver needed to finish ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas and did so with ease in often treacherous conditions, securing a fourth successive title by winning the race after starting sixth. Lewis Hamilton, Formula One's voice and conscienceLast month Hamilton, 35, surpassed Schumacher's all-time record of 91 Grand Prix wins to become the sport's most successful racer and had long since broken the German's career pole-positions record. Should he remain in the sport, Hamilton will be widely expected to add to his tally of world titles. But, whatever he achieves in the years ahead, his place in F1's pantheon is assured."For all the kids out there who dream the impossible, you can do it too -- I believe in you guys," said Hamilton on his radio after crossing the finishing line for his 94th Grand Prix win.Read MoreHamilton celebrates after winning the Turkish Grand Prix. It was a brilliant drive from one of the all-time greats. After poor practice and qualifying sessions this weekend, question marks were raised as to whether Hamilton could win in Turkey. In wet conditions, it was Hamilton's decisive call on tyres which ultimately proved pivotal, with the Mercedes driver taking control halfway through the race. After victory was achieved, Hamilton embraced his team and, with tears in his eyes, told Sky Sports he was "lost for words." "I have to start with saying such a huge thank you to all the guys that are here, and all the guys that are back at the factory ... I wouldn't be able to do this if I didn't join this team and the journey we've been on has been monumental," he said. Lewis Hamilton vs. Michael Schumacher: Who is the greatest? "I want to say a big thanks to team LH for sticking with me all these years, and to my family. We dreamed of this when I was young and this is way, way beyond our dreams."Hamilton, who has equaled a record many thought was untouchable when Schumacher won his seventh title in 2004, received congratulatory messages from his fellow drivers, sports stars from around the world and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "Massively deserved," tweeted former world champion Nico Rosberg, a former Mercedes teammate of Hamilton and one of the few drivers to finish ahead of Hamilton in the championship during the Briton's 14-year career. Former Manchester United and England footballer Rio Ferdinand tweeted that his compatriot was the "greatest sportsman this country has ever produced -- no doubts." Johnson tweeted: "An impressive victory -- well done @LewisHamilton! You have made us all so proud."Racing Point's Sergio Perez finished over 31 seconds behind Hamilton in second, while Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was third. In finishing 14th, Bottas -- the only man who could have denied Hamilton the title -- was lapped by his teammate and finished with no points.Hamilton with Mercedes chief Toto Wolff. Driving in the same Mercedes machinery, Bottas' performance illustrated just how superior a talent Hamilton is. No one has come close to challenging the world champion during this truncated season and he secured the title with three races still remaining, having won four races in a row and 10 of 14 races so far this year. No driver has been as successful on the track as Hamilton, and no F1 world champion has used his stature like Hamilton, the sport's first and only Black world champion in its 70-year history. The 35-year-old has long been the face of his sport -- his domination and heart-on-sleeve personality has made him arguably the most recognizable British sportsman on the planet -- but, in 2020 especially, he became one of British sport's leading voices supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and, consequently, his sport's voice too.Ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix, Hamilton said campaigning for equal rights had made him "much prouder" than the prospect of a seventh world title. But as the checkered flag was waved, it became clear how much this title meant this once-in-a-generation talent. An emotional Hamilton celebrates with his Mercedes team after the race. "My whole life I probably have, secretly, dreamt as high as this but it felt so far fetched. Seven is just unimaginable," Hamilton said on the podium. "I feel like I'm only just getting started, it's really weird. I feel physically in great shape and mentally, this year, has been the hardest probably for millions of people. "I know things always look great from here on the big stage, (but) It's no different for us athletes. This has been a challenge, I didn't know how to get through. I managed to keep my head above water and stay focused ... "

Aimee Lewis, CNN

2020-11-16 08:41:51

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/16/motorsport/lewis-hamilton-world-title-reaction-spt-int/index.html

Lewis Hamilton: 'I have walked this sport alone,' says F1 champion after record-equaling title win - CNN

Lewis Hamilton may be Formula One's most successful driver but after securing a record-equaling seventh world title on Sunday the Briton said he still had plenty left to achieve -- namely making his sport and the world "more diverse and inclusive."

motorsport, Lewis Hamilton: 'I have walked this sport alone,' says F1 champion after record-equaling title win - CNN

'I have walked this sport alone,' says Lewis Hamilton after record-equaling title win

(CNN)Lewis Hamilton may be Formula One's most successful driver but after securing a record-equaling seventh world title on Sunday the Briton said he still had plenty left to achieve -- namely making his sport and the world "more diverse and inclusive." A brilliant drive during a rain-soaked Turkish Grand Prix ensured Hamilton not only won the race -- for a record-extending 94th Grand Prix victory -- but also equaled Michael Schumacher's tally of seven world titles, the one remaining record of the German great that the Englishman has not yet surpassed.Lewis Hamilton equals Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titlesIn an Instagram post after his historic feat, Hamilton said the coronavirus pandemic had given him a chance to "really think about my ultimate purpose.""Seven World Championships means the world to me, I can't even describe how much, but there's still another race we've yet to win," the post read. "This year I've been driven not just by my desire to win on the track, but by a desire to help push our sport, and our world to become more diverse and inclusive. I promise you I am not going to stop fighting for change. We have a long way to go but I will continue to push for equality within our sport, and within the greater world we live in.Read More"Equaling Michael Schumacher's record puts a spotlight on me that I know won't be here forever. So, while you're here, paying attention, I want to ask everyone to do their part in helping to create a more equal world. Let's be more accepting and kinder to each other. Let's make it so that opportunity is not something that is dependent on background or skin colour."Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the Turkish Grand Prix.No driver in the sport's history has won as many races, secured as many pole positions or finished on the podium as many times as Hamilton. He is widely expected to add to his tally of world titles -- saying on the podium after the race that he felt "like I'm only just getting started" -- and his place in F1's pantheon has long since been assured. He is the face of F1, but also its voice and conscience and has used his stature like no other F1 world champion. F1's first and only Black world champion in its 70-year history, this year he became one of sport's leading voices in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. With Hamilton being a force for change, Mercedes -- famous for its silver livery -- unveiled an all-black car for this season in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, with the drivers wearing black uniforms and the halos of both cars featuring the call to "End Racism." Lewis Hamilton vs. Michael Schumacher: Who is the greatest? The Briton's own incredible story -- his father, Anthony, juggled three jobs, re-mortgaged the family home and dipped into his life savings to keep his son in karting -- is an example of how notoriously difficult the sport is to enter, mainly because of the financial costs involved.Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Hamilton said: "It is no secret that I have walked this sport alone as the only person of color here."The fact is I am bi-racial ... and there is colorism that people should perhaps read about."When I was younger I didn't have anybody in the sport that looked like me so it was easy to think that's not possible to get there because nobody of your colour has ever been there, you don't see any Black people in F1."But hopefully this sends a message to the kids that are watching ... that it doesn't matter where you come from, whatever your background, it is so important to you to dream big."You can create your own path and that is what I have been able to do, and it has been so tough. Tough doesn't even describe how hard it has been."An emotional Hamilton after the race. He later said he would probably celebrate with some minestrone soup and wine. Immediately after the race, Hamilton sat in his car with his head buried in his hands and struggled to hold back the tears."Very rarely do I lose control of my emotions but I remember those last few laps and I was just telling myself to keep it together," Hamilton told reporters. "When I came across the line it really hit me and I just burst into tears. "I didn't want the visor to come up and people to see the tears because I always would say you will never see me cry. I remember watching other drivers cry in the past, and I was like, I am never going to do that, but it was too much."Lewis Hamilton 'won't stop' his fight against racism as FIA rules out investigation into Breonna Taylor T-shirtHamilton needed to finish eight points ahead of his teammate Valtteri Bottas to secure the title at Istanbul Park. He did so with ease, lapping the Finn who crossed the line in 14th to collect zero points. Driving in the same Mercedes machinery, Bottas' performance illustrated just how superior a talent Hamilton is. No one has come close to challenging the world champion during this truncated season and he secured the title with three races still remaining, having won four races in a row and 10 of 14 races so far this year.

Amanda Davies, Aleks Klosok and George Ramsay, CNN

2020-09-15 08:53:32

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/15/motorsport/lewis-hamilton-breonna-taylor-t-shirt-fia-spt-intl/index.html

Lewis Hamilton 'won't stop' his fight against racism as FIA rules out investigation into Breonna Taylor T-shirt - CNN

Lewis Hamilton says he remains undeterred in his fight against racial injustice. His comments came as the FIA, motorsport's global governing body, announced it will not investigate the world champion for wearing a T-shirt honoring Breonna Taylor at the Tuscan Grand Prix.

motorsport, Lewis Hamilton 'won't stop' his fight against racism as FIA rules out investigation into Breonna Taylor T-shirt - CNN

Lewis Hamilton 'won't stop' his fight against racism as FIA rules out investigation into Breonna Taylor T-shirt

(CNN)Lewis Hamilton says he remains undeterred in his fight against racial injustice. His comments came as the FIA, motorsport's global governing body, announced it will not investigate the Formula One champion for wearing a T-shirt honoring Breonna Taylor at the Tuscan Grand Prix.Hamilton, a six-time world champion who claimed the 90th race win of his career on Sunday, wore a T-shirt with the words "ARREST THE COPS WHO KILLED BREONNA TAYLOR" on the front, and "SAY HER NAME" above a photo of Taylor on the back, before the race and at the podium ceremony.Having originally said it would be considering the matter, the FIA will instead clarify its guidelines as to what will be permitted for drivers and teams both pre and post-race.The FIA is aiming to put these guidelines in place ahead of the next race of the 2020 season which is scheduled to take place in Sochi, Russia on September 27.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresRead MoreHamilton wears a shirt in tribute to Taylor during Sunday's GP. "Want you to know I won't stop, I won't let up, I won't give up on using this platform to shed light on what I believe is right," Hamilton wrote on Instagram."I want to thank those of you who continue to support me and show love, I am so grateful. "But this is a journey for all of us to come together and challenge the world on every level of injustice, not only racial"We can help make this a better place for our kids and the future generations."READ: These were the Black victims Naomi Osaka honored on face masksTaylor was fatally shot in her Louisville home in March as three plainclothes police officers executed a "no-knock" warrant. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is conducting an investigation into the incident and the FBI is investigating whether Taylor's civil rights were violated. Taylor's mother has filed a lawsuit in civil court against the three officers identified in connection with her daugher's death.No officer has been charged with a crime. Two of the officers remain on the force, while a third was fired and is appealing to get his job back.Hamilton displays his T-shirt during Sunday's Tuscan GP."It's been 6 months since Breonna Taylor was murdered by policemen, in her own home. Still no justice has been served. We won't stay silent," Hamilton posted on Twitter on Sunday, alongside photos of himself wearing the T-shirt.He also added in a post-race conference: "It took me a long time to get that shirt and I've been wanting to wear that and bring awareness to the fact that there's people that have been killed on the street and there's someone that got killed in her own house."We have to continue to raise awareness ... I think we just have to continue to push on the issue."The 35-year-old has been a powerful voice during the Black Lives Matter movement by calling on motorsport to do more to combat racism and attending a BLM protest in London earlier this year. He has also announced plans to set up a commission in his name to increase diversity in motorsport.Victory at the Tuscan GP means Hamilton is now one short of equaling Michael Schumacher's record of 91 race wins in F1. CNN's Elizabeth Joseph and Susannah Cullinane contributed to this report.

Matias Grez, CNN

2020-09-10 08:06:44

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/motorsport/sebastian-vettel-signs-aston-martin-formula-one-spt-intl/index.html

Sebastian Vettel will join Aston Martin F1 team from 2021 - CNN

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will remain in Formula One after signing a deal with the Racing Point team, which will rebrand itself as Aston Martin from next season.

motorsport, Sebastian Vettel will join Aston Martin F1 team from 2021 - CNN

Sebastian Vettel will join Aston Martin Formula One team from 2021

(CNN)Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will remain in Formula One after signing a deal with the Racing Point team, which will rebrand itself as Aston Martin from next season.There had been some doubt as to whether the German would continue in F1 after Ferrari announced in May that McLaren's Carlos Sainz would be taking his seat.However, Sergio Perez announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving Racing Point at the end of the current season, despite having a deal until 2022, opening up a space on the grid."I'm extremely proud to say that I will become an Aston Martin driver in 2021," Vettel said in a statement. "It's a new adventure for me with a truly legendary car company. I have been impressed with the results the team has achieved this year and I believe the future looks even brighter."The energy and commitment of Lawrence [Stroll, Racing Point part-owner] to the sport is inspiring and I believe we can build something very special together. Read MoreREAD: Ferrari records worst home qualifying performance since 1984JUST WATCHEDF1: Leclerc opens up about rivalry with VettelReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHF1: Leclerc opens up about rivalry with Vettel 02:50"I still have so much love for Formula 1 and my only motivation is to race at the front of the grid. To do so with Aston Martin will be a huge privilege."Vettel won four consecutive world titles with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, but his driving has been plagued by errors in recent times. In 2018, several mistakes in the second half of the season saw Vettel squander the championship lead and Ferrari's chance of a first world title since 2007.The 33-year-old was signed by Ferrari with the aim of ending that championship drought, but the emergence of exciting young driver Charles Leclerc eventually meant Vettel was no longer considered the number one driver.Vettel is 13th in the drivers' standings, having recorded just 16 points so far this season, and sits 29 points behind teammate Leclerc.READ: Ferrari implodes as Leclerc and Vettel collideSebastian Vettel will join Aston Martin from 2021.However, in terms of victories, Vettel is the third most successful in the sport's history, behind only Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, Racing Point said the Vettel deal "is a clear statement of the team's ambition to establish itself as one of the most competitive names in the sport.""Everybody at Silverstone is hugely excited by this news," Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer said in a statement. "Sebastian is a proven champion and brings a winning mentality that matches our own ambitions for the future as Aston Martin F1 Team."On a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, Sebastian is one of the best in the world, and I can't think of a better driver to help take us into this new era. He will play a significant role in taking this team to the next level."

Ben Morse, CNN

2020-09-08 10:40:53

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/08/motorsport/lewis-hamilton-extreme-e-electric-racing-spt-intl/index.html

Lewis Hamilton: F1 champion launches Extreme E team - CNN

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has announced he will have a team competing in the inaugural all-electric off-road racing Extreme E series next year.

motorsport, Lewis Hamilton: F1 champion launches Extreme E team - CNN

Lewis Hamilton to launch electric off-road racing Extreme E team

(CNN)Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has announced he will have a team competing in the inaugural all-electric off-road racing Extreme E series next year. Extreme E is a series founded by the same team behind Formula E, with races hosted across the globe to promote electrification, sustainability and equality.Lewis Hamilton, Formula One's voice and conscienceIts maiden season will be staged in five remote locations which have already been damaged or affected by climate issues, including the Arctic and the Amazon, raising awareness of climate change. Hamilton, 35, called the opportunity to have his own team an "exciting new project" and said the series appealed to him because of its "environmental focus.""Every single one of us has the power to make a difference, and it means so much to me that I can use my love of racing, together with my love for our planet, to have a positive impact," he said in a statement. Read More"I'm looking forward to the team taking part in this new series and I think it's incredible that we can do so whilst raising awareness about the climate crisis." The six-time world champion's team, X44, is named in reference to his F1 racing number and will enter season one of the Extreme E Championship. The first X Prix race is scheduled to take place in early 2021.READ: The 13-year-old aiming to become Ferrari's first female Formula 1 driverAn X44 car drives on a track during Extreme E trials. Hamilton has long been an advocate for a greener world. In a series of messages posted on his Instagram account last year, he labeled the world a "mess" and wrote that he felt like "giving up on everything" before encouraging everyone to go vegan.Extreme E will work with scientific experts from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to raise awareness on specific issues, such as rising carbon emissions, melting ice caps, deforestation, desertification, droughts, plastic pollution and rising sea levels.Each race will incorporate two laps over a distance of approximately 16 kilometers (10 miles), with two drivers -- one male and one female -- completing a lap apiece.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosRaces will not be open to spectators, to minimize the effect on the environment, with fans instead following the action on TV. The command center for the championship series will be on board the RMS St. Helena, a ship undergoing a multi-million euro transformation to minimize emissions and transform her into the championship's operations hub. X44 is the seventh team to sign up, joining Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti Autosport, Abt, HWA, Techeetah, QEV Technologies, and fellow British-owned outfit, Veloce Racing.

Matias Grez, CNN

2020-09-05 15:22:22

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/05/motorsport/ferrari-italian-grand-prix-monza-mercedes-spt-intl/index.html

Italian GP: Ferrari records worst home qualifying performance since 1984 - CNN

Ferrari's miserable season has gone from bad to worse as the Italian manufacturer failed to get either car into the top 10 at its home grand prix for the first time since 1984.

motorsport, Italian GP: Ferrari records worst home qualifying performance since 1984 - CNN

Ferrari records worst home qualifying performance since 1984

(CNN)Ferrari's miserable season has gone from bad to worse as the Italian manufacturer failed to get either car into the top 10 at its home grand prix for the first time since 1984.Sebastian Vettel didn't make it out of the first qualifying round and could only muster a lowly 17th place, while teammate Charles Leclerc made it into the second qualifying round but could only claim 13th on the grid ahead of Sunday's race.Ferrari knew it would struggle for speed coming into this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, but even they couldn't have predicted things would be this bad.Leclerc sits in fifth place in the drivers' championship with 45 points, already 112 points behind runaway leader Lewis Hamilton. Things are even worse for four-time world champion Vettel, who only has 16 points and sits in 13th place.In the constructors' standings, Ferrari is in 5th place and a whopping 203 points behind leader Mercedes.Read MoreOne miniscule silver lining for Ferrari is that its fervent supporters -- known as the 'tifosi' -- were not present to witness the disastrous performance, with races still being driven behind closed doors.READ: Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman after Belgian GP victoryCharles Leclerc's car is wheeled back into the garage."At the end, we expected it a little bit coming into the weekend," a visibly frustrated Leclerc told Sky Sports. "We knew Spa [last weekend] and here were the two worst tracks for us. It's like this ... it's tough. "For now, it's like this and I need to extract the maximum out of the car. It hurts even more that it's at home. This is the reality for us at the moment. We need to work," Leclerc said.At the top of the leaderboard, Mercedes recorded yet another 1-2 as Lewis Hamilton secured his 8th pole at the Italian Grand Prix, with teammate Valtteri Bottas narrowly losing out by one tenth of a second to start second on the grid."It was a fantastic performance from the team," Hamilton told Sky Sports. "It wasn't the easiest, you've seen how close it was between us. It needed a clean lap and I got both.Sebastian Vettel watches rival Lewis Hamilton secure pole position."Valtteri was strong and kept pushing, I was a bit nervous going through the final sector. In the years I've been here, I've had times when we had less downforce and grip, [but] the speed through the Lesmos [corner] was awesome. It's trying to finds the right balance which is not so easy," Hamilton said.McLaren's Carlos Sainz put in arguably the performance of the day to secure 3rd for his best ever grid spot, while Racing Point driver Sergio Perez's 4th place equaled his best ever qualifying position.Top 101. Hamilton2. Bottas3. Sainz4. Perez5. Verstappen6. Norris7. Ricciardo8. Stroll9. Albon10. Gasly

Paul Gittings, CNN

2020-08-30 17:40:59

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/30/motorsport/belgian-grand-prix-hamilton-boseman-ferrari-spt-intl/index.html

Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman after F1 Belgian GP win - CNN

Lewis Hamilton paid his own tribute to Chadwick Boseman after closing to within two wins of Michael Schumacher's all-time Formula One record by claiming the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.

motorsport, Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman after F1 Belgian GP win - CNN

Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman after Belgian GP victory

(CNN)Lewis Hamilton paid his own tribute to Chadwick Boseman after closing to within two wins of Michael Schumacher's all-time Formula One record by claiming the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.The defending world champion led all 44 laps at Spa-Francorchamps, with Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in second place and Red Bull's Max Verstappen completing the top three.Hamilton -- the only black driver in Formula 1 -- was stunned by the death of the 43-year-old actor, who lost a four-year battle with colon cancer Friday night.Lewis Hamilton adopts a Black Panther gesture on the podium of the Belgian Grand Prix in tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman. On the Spa victory podium, Hamilton posed in the Wakanda salute Boseman made famous as the title character in the film "Black Panther" and then spoke about the inspiration behind another famous victory."We are continuing to push the envelope, and it feels great to finish on a high this weekend, particularly with Chad (Chadwick Boseman) dying because he made everyone feel like a superhero," said Hamilton.Read MoreIt was his 89th career win as he chases a record-equaling seventh world championship, another historic best held by the legendary Schumacher.However, it was another humiliating afternoon for Schumacher's former team Ferrari, with four-time champion Sebastian Vettel in 13th place, and teammate Charles Leclerc finishing 14th, a far cry from his brilliant maiden victory at Spa last season.Schumacher claimed 72 of his 91 wins with Ferrari, but the team are a sad shadow of that dominant past ahead of their home race at Monza and their 1,000th Grand Prix at Mugello a week later.Lewis Hamilton dominates to win Spanish GP and extend lead atop F1 standings The contrast with Mercedes is marked, with Hamilton completely in charge, claiming his fifth win of the season. That leaves him 47 points clear of Verstappen in a one-sided title race."It wasn't the easiest of races," said Hamilton. "I had a lock-up, which produced vibrations, at turn five and another one at the last corner, and it was a bit of a struggle, but nonetheless I think it was OK in the end," he said.Minor technical issues aside, Hamilton had over eight seconds to spare at the finish, with Verstappen unable to keep pace with the Mercedes pair.Ricciardo P4 + Fastest Lap + Ocon P5 = @RenaultF1Team's biggest-ever points haul at a Grand Prix 👏#BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/lpU4FeHZz2— Formula 1 (@F1) August 30, 2020 Australia's Daniel Ricciardo produced the fastest lap on his final lap, as he claimed fourth ahead of his Renault teammate Esteban Ocon, with the second Red Bull of Alex Albon rounding out the top six.The seeds of Hamilton's victory were sown on Saturday, when he took the 93rd pole position of his career, breaking the track record to top the grid.An emotional Hamilton later took to social media to dedicate that qualifying performance to Boseman.I want to dedicate this pole to Chadwick. What he accomplished and the legacy he left is so incredible to me. He's inspired a whole generation of young black men and women and provided them with a true superhero to look up to. Rest in power my friend.#WakandaForever #blackpanther pic.twitter.com/M7EgGess9p— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) August 29, 2020 From pole, Hamilton made no mistake, quickly building a solid lead until a safety car was deployed after a heavy crash between British driver George Russell of the Williams team and the Alfa Romeo of Antonio Giovinazzi, who lost control of his car on the exit of the fast Fagnes Chicane.Fortunately, both walked away without serious injury, as Hamilton steadily built up his lead again once the safety car was released, taking victory in imperious style and leaving the Briton almost two clear wins ahead of his closest rival in the championship standings.

Richard Parr and Amanda Davies, CNN

2020-08-14 10:41:57

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/14/motorsport/max-verstappen-formula-one-michael-schumacher-spt-intl/index.html

Max Verstappen plays down Michael Schumacher comparisons - CNN

Fresh off the back of a stunning victory at the 70th Anniversary Formula One Grand Prix, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen says that he appreciates the comparison with the legendary Michael Schumacher but is his own man.

motorsport, Max Verstappen plays down Michael Schumacher comparisons - CNN

F1 star Max Verstappen says he's not the new Michael Schumacher

(CNN)Fresh off the back of a stunning victory in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has said that while he appreciates being compared to F1 great Michael Schumacher, he is his own man. The 22-year-old was recently likened to Schumacher by F1 managing director Ross Brawn in his formula1.com column. Verstappen outfoxes Mercedes duo to win 70th Anniversary Grand Prix"He reminds me of Michael Schumacher in many ways," said Brawn of the Dutchman, before adding: "I remember Max's early days in Formula 1 where his speed was clear -- he has now matured into an exceptional racing driver." Speaking to CNN's Amanda Davies, Verstappen said: "It was of course very nice but I don't like to compare myself to anyone because I'm myself and I'm a different driver."Of course, you can always get some similar attitudes or whatever, or you can get compared sometimes but, from my side, I never do that. I just want to be myself." Read MoreAged 17 and 166 days, Verstappen became the youngest driver in F1 history when he competed in the 2015 Australian Grand Prix. Over the years he has, he said, matured as a driver. "[I'm] more relaxed, more consistent and know how to build up a weekend and stuff like that," he added. "I just feel very comfortable ... I'm a very relaxed person anyway so, for me, it was never really super high pressure, but I am more relaxed in a way that I know what's coming. "I have experienced a lot already so going to a weekend, I mean, I'm excited to be racing, but I don't get excited a lot by other stuff surrounding it because you've experienced so many different emotions throughout the whole weekend and the year." The Dutch driver's victory at Silverstone was the ninth of his career, but crossing the finishing line still excites him. "Winning is a good one," he said. "A good qualifying lap might excite me. Just being around the team and working with the mechanics, and also when they pull off a really good pitstop, it's a great feeling as well." Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. Title challenge on? Verstappen finished ahead of Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Valterri Bottas in sweltering conditions last Sunday. Heading into this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen is second in the standings for the drivers' championship -- 30 points behind world champion Hamilton. But such has been the dominance of Mercedes so far during this 13-race season -- the team leads second-place Red Bull in the constructor standings by 67 points -- the Red Bull driver did not expect to be mounting a title challenge in the remaining eight races. "So far we've had one race where we were, maybe, the fastest car, but all the other ones we weren't, so we just have to stay realistic at the moment," said Verstappen, speaking from Barcelona. "From my side, I'm not thinking about a possible championship at the moment. I just want to try and do the best I can every single weekend." READ: Susie Wolff says Lewis Hamilton's criticism of F1 is 'absolutely valid' Fighting for equalityThe 2020 F1 season began in July at the Austrian Grand Prix, four months later than planned because of the coronavirus pandemic. Since the restart drivers have joined F1's "We Race As One" initiative to fight racism and promote equality and inclusion. But Verstappen is one of several drivers to choose not to kneel before races in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.Posting on Twitter before the first race, he said: "I am very committed to equality and the fight against racism. But I believe everyone has the right to express themself (sic) at a time and in a way that suits them. I will not take the knee today but respect and support the personal choices every driver makes." F1 drivers support Black Lives Matter movement ahead of British Grand Prix. Hamilton, the sport's first and only Black world champion in its 70-year history, has been critical of the sport, saying there has been a lack of leadership in the fight against racism. Five races into the season, Verstappen said that while the campaign is going well, more needed to be done. "It's gone well in terms of how we are expressing it but, of course, at the end of the day it's about actions as well. We just keep showing our support, because I think everybody is in support, which is very important, and time will tell of course what's going to happen," he said.Asked about whether he and the other drivers have spoken to Hamilton regarding the campaign, Verstappen said: "Of course we talk about it. We have our driver briefings but then also we stay on, of course, because we are all members of the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association). "Everybody's very open and everybody is very supportive and everybody wants exactly the same thing. I think Lewis appreciates that, and it's not only Lewis who has to appreciate that, it's the whole world. That's what we are doing, we are just trying to show our support."

Jonathan Hawkins and Don Riddell, CNN

2020-08-18 17:20:29

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/18/motorsport/moto-gp-crash-brad-binder-spt-intl/index.html

Brad Binder: Cheating death and creating MotoGP history - CNN

South Africa's two-wheeled star Brad Binder reflects on a wild week in MotoGP.

motorsport, Brad Binder: Cheating death and creating MotoGP history - CNN

Brad Binder: Cheating death and creating MotoGP history

(CNN)Brad Binder had a front row seat for one of the most terrifying crashes motorsport has ever seen at this weekend's Austrian MotoGP.The South African was right behind Johann Zarco's Ducati when it collided with Franco Morbidelli's Yamaha with the riders racing at full throttle. Zarco and Morbidelli were sent flying, while their bikes carried on, becoming potentially lethal projectiles.That both motorcycles missed hitting Yamaha's Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales was as miraculous as it was extraordinary. Rossi later admitted that the "saint of motorcyclists" must have been watching over him and his teammate."I think the luckiest guy in the world right now is Valentino Rossi," Binder told CNN Sport. The 25-year-old KTM rider shudders when considering what might have happened."Honestly I prefer not to even think about," he admits. "You know the bikes are probably still going at more than 200 kph, and a bike weighing in at 185kgs flying at close to 200 kph, if that hits somebody, I think we all know how that might end." Read MoreRemarkably both Zarco and Morbidelli were able to walk away from the incident, though the Ducati rider has since told L'Equipe that he will undergo surgery for a fractured wrist later this week. Binder says the risks of racing are always there."It's a danger that everybody knows, that we really just try to keep in the back of our minds and not think about. Unfortunately, the only way to do this job is to approach things in that way. If you're worried about the risks and the things that could happen, I don't think you could ever do this job for a living."Maverick Vinales narrowly misses the flying bike. READ: Maverick Vinales -- Top Gun by name, top rider by natureRollercoaster week Binder finished fourth after the red-flagged race eventually restarted, an impressive achievement from 17th on the grid. It capped the end of a rollercoaster week for the man born in Potchefstroom, in South Africa's North West province.Just seven days earlier, Binder became the first ever South African to win a premier class race, at the Czech Republic GP in Brno, riding in only his third MotoGP.The victory was also KTM's first ever MotoGP victory, and Binder was the first rookie to win a race since Marc Marquez's maiden win at the GP of the Americas in 2013."It's been absolutely fantastic," he says. "I don't think we quite expected it so soon, especially in only my third grand prix. It was honestly a dream come true, something that you work towards getting right your entire career as a motorcycle racer."Brad Binder says he doesn't like thinking about how much damage the crash could have caused. READ: The power behind Marquez's MotoGP throneRugby and cricket Binder and his family moved to Krugersdorp, just outside Johannesburg, when he was 10 years old. He admits that motorsport is not something typically associated with South Africa."For sure, when you think of sport and South Africa you think of rugby and cricket or something like that," he said."When I was younger and I started racing in South Africa it was a lot more busy, a lot of racing was going on there and a lot of support, but things died off a bit, but it is slowly coming back."The rookie's success has been well-received at home. "It's really cool, because the news really blew up at home," he says. "I must say, South Africans are always fantastic at backing anyone in sports, and especially their own, so it's been great to see all the support I've had."Binder says he enjoys getting support from his native South Africa. READ: Will 2020 be Rossi's final season in MotoGP?HomesickCovid-19 has presented an extra challenge for Binder, and his younger brother Darryn, who competes in the Moto3 class."It's really difficult at the moment with South Africa's borders being closed," Binder explains."It's nearly impossible for us to go home. After this weekend's race we have two weeks off and it would have been great to have shot home and caught up with friends and family for a week and come back. But unfortunately, the way things are at the moment, we'll just be staying here."He admits to being a little homesick."South Africa in general is an amazing place, for sure. The main thing about South Africa, I don't really know how to explain it, it's just home, you know? It's that place that I go to and I know exactly how everything works."It's just amazing to go back and go to the places where I grew up and see all your friends and stuff, the stuff I've been doing my whole life. It's all those things. I hope everything gets back to normal soon."Life on the road is, however, nothing new for the Binder brothers."We've both been spending most of our time in Europe and doing this together since 2014," he says.The older Binder has been racing in Europe since 2011, winning the Moto3 title in 2016, and finishing a close second to Alex Marquez in last season's Moto2 championship. When not competing, he is often found honing his skills in Spain."The good thing about Spain is that there are a lot of different tracks and it's really good for training," he added. "The weather's also good. Spain is always a place I try to go back to if I can't go home."Johann Zarco checks on Franco Morbidelli after the crash. READ: Marc and Alex Marquez united in MotoGPA different beast In spite of his nine years' racing experience, Binder admits the step up to MotoGP was daunting. "A MotoGP bike is a completely different beast to a Moto2 bike, you have more than double the horsepower and the bike's actually even lighter, so it's really tough to get your head around it at the beginning. Each time I get on the bike I feel more and more comfortable," he said.This year's KTM looks to be a formidable package, and a serious challenger to the other factory teams. The arrival of Dani Pedrosa, Marc Marquez's former Honda teammate, as a test rider is widely credited with turning the team into contenders."I actually had a ride on the 2019 bike at the end of last year," Binder says. "When I got on the 2020 bike in Malaysia you could feel it was a huge step forward, much, much better and much easier to ride too. KTM have been working flat out, Dani has been working incredibly too."Ominously for the rest of the field, Binder sees that upward trajectory continuing. "It's awesome to see these huge steps forward, and in general I think there's more to come," he added.The frightening moment the bikes flew across the track. For now, the exiled Binder is focused on building on his early success in this strangest of MotoGP seasons. A return visit home would definitely be welcome, but he admits he does keep a little taste of South Africa with him."I try to keep a bit of biltong on me -- but it's not always easy to find!"

Ben Morse, CNN

2020-05-26 15:27:43

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/26/motorsport/daniel-abt-formula-e-suspended-audi-esports-spt-intl/index.html

Daniel Abt: Audi suspends star after 18-year-old gamer raced under Formula E driver's name in esports event - CNN

Formula E driver Daniel Abt has been suspended by his Audi team for using a professional esports gamer to compete for him.

motorsport, Daniel Abt: Audi suspends star after 18-year-old gamer raced under Formula E driver's name in esports event - CNN

Audi suspends Daniel Abt after gamer raced under Formula E driver's name in esports event

(CNN)Formula E driver Daniel Abt has been suspended by his Audi team for using a professional esports gamer to compete for him.Abt had been taking part in the 'Race at Home Challenge' which raised funds for the UNICEF coronavirus relief fund.After being found not to have driven his car himself in the qualifying and fifth race of the series on Saturday, May 23, Abt apologized and was disqualified from the race as well as being fined 10,000 euros ($10,956).Audi has now suspended the driver "with immediate effect.""Integrity, transparency and consistent compliance with applicable rules are top priorities for Audi -- this applies to all activities the brand is involved in without exception," Audi said in a statement.Read MoreREAD: Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will leave Ferrari at the end of the seasonAbt celebrates his third place after the ePrix in Paris, France in 2019.Suspicions were initially aroused about Abt's driving after the 27-year-old German qualified in second place and finished third in the actual race having not scored a point in the first four rounds of the series.Good bye Twitch, good bye streams...Im out. See you never— Antonio Felix da Costa (@afelixdacosta) May 26, 2020 "Really not happy here because that was not Daniel driving the car himself, and he messed up everything. That was ridiculous," said former F1 driver Stoffel Vandoornen on his Twitch stream. "I'm questioning if it was really Daniel in the car.""Please ask Daniel Abt to put his Zoom on next time he's driving, because like Stoffel said, I'm pretty sure he wasn't in," two-time FE champion Jean-Eric Vergne said.Following an investigation by Formula E on Sunday, which included IP address verification, it was concluded that Abt could not have been behind the wheel.The gamer who replaced Abt is widely reported to be 18-year-old Lorenz Hoerzing, who competes in the FE Challenge series, a parallel championship for esport drivers. CNN has reached out to Hoerzing via his Allied esports team for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.After all this a game that should be taken seriously, but it's a GAME. Then what about all the drivers crashing on purpose, that would probably get their licence removed if that was reality? Been out of almost all races for unsportsman behaviours and drivers using me as brakes..— Jean-Eric Vergne (@JeanEricVergne) May 26, 2020 Abt released an apology shortly afterwards in which he accepted his disqualification"I would like to apologize to Formula E, all of the fans, my team and my fellow drivers for having called in outside help during the race on Saturday," said Abt, who has promised to provide a further update on the story later on Tuesday.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"I did not take it as seriously as I should have. I am aware that my offence has a bitter aftertaste, but it was never meant with any bad intention."

Ben Church, CNN

2020-07-21 14:52:17

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/21/sport/alex-zanardi-transfer-hospital-rehabilitation-spt-intl/index.html

Alex Zanardi transferred to specialist neuro-rehabilitation center after crash - CNN

Ex-Formula One driver and Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi has been transferred from hospital to a specialist neuro-rehabilitation center, after suffering a horrific cycling crash in June.

sport, Alex Zanardi transferred to specialist neuro-rehabilitation center after crash - CNN

Alex Zanardi transferred to specialist neuro-rehabilitation center, a month since horrific crash

(CNN)Ex-Formula One driver and Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi has been transferred from hospital to a specialist neuro-rehabilitation center, after suffering a horrific cycling crash in June.The 53-year-old Zanardi, who had both his legs amputated after a motor racing accident almost 20 years ago, had lost control of his handbike while competing in a relay race in Tuscany, Italy.Pope Francis writes a letter of support to Alex Zanardi after horror crash Zanardi was subsequently airlifted to the Santa Maria alle Scotte hospital in Siena, where he underwent three hours of emergency neurological surgery and was placed in an artificial coma. The hospital released a statement on Tuesday confirming Zanardi had been transferred after his sedation had ended."The stability of the general clinical conditions and the neurological picture allowed the transfer ... to a specialized recovery and functional rehabilitation center," it read.Read More"Alex Zanardi was therefore transferred today [Tuesday] to another facility.""Today a new path begins for Alex Zanardi," added hospital general manager, Valtere Giovannini.The Italian is an incredibly popular figure. He had been in training for this year's Tokyo Paralympics, hoping to add to his impressive tally of gold medals.Among the many messages of support, Pope Francis wrote him a letter whilst he continued his recovery in hospital. He praised Zanardi for living life to the fullest and for providing a "lesson in humanity."

Ben Church, CNN

2020-07-17 11:13:11

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/17/motorsport/bubba-wallace-nascar-players-tribune-spt-intl/index.html

Bubba Wallace: NASCAR driver learning to 'embrace' activism - CNN

NASCAR ​driver Bubba Wallace says he's still learning to "embrace" the idea of being an activist after finding himself at the center of the race debate in recent weeks.

motorsport, Bubba Wallace: NASCAR driver learning to 'embrace' activism - CNN

Bubba Wallace is still learning to 'embrace' activism after finding himself at the center of a race debate

(CNN)NASCAR ​driver Bubba Wallace says he's still learning to "embrace" the idea of being an activist after finding himself at the center of the race debate in recent weeks. In a passionate essay published in The Players' Tribune this week, the 26-year-old addressed issues of racism in sport and society but stated he never went looking for this newfound attention. The unexpected spotlight comes after Wallace last month called for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag. Just days later, NASCAR and the FBI launched an investigation after a crew member discovered what appeared to be a noose in Wallace's garage at the Talladega Superspeedway.The FBI report ​later found that the item had been in the team garage since last year and Wallace, therefore, was not a victim of a hate crime.Following the investigation, the 26-year-old has spoken out on racism and has subsequently received a backlash, which included President Donald Trump calling for the driver to apologize. Read More"I've had more run ins with racist people than I have ever before in my life in the past few weeks. All because I spoke up," he wrote, in an essay titled 'Come Ride With Me.' READ: Plane flies Confederate flag over NASCAR race as thousands watch onBubba Wallace wrote an essay in The Players' Tribune. FBI investigation Wallace, the only Black driver in NASCAR's top circuit, says the recent investigation has been "really hard" to deal with and he has been frustrated by the ordeal."I'll say this [about the noose]. Having been in garage stalls on a regular day, hell, you don't notice those types of things," he wrote."There's so much action going on when you're in the garage, usually. And even for me, just standing there, when I climb out of the car and watch my guys work for a minute, I'm not looking at a damn rope that's hanging from the garage door. "And so, whoever tied it, tied it and left it there, and that was it. And moved on. We're only at Talladega twice a year. And so, the reason that it sat there is because that was the first time the garage had been used since October."JUST WATCHEDWilly T. Ribbs, motorsport's Black pioneerReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWilly T. Ribbs, motorsport's Black pioneer 03:24Confederate flagsWallace says people have since tried to use the investigation to discredit him, especially after he spoke out about the use of Confederate flags. The symbol has become synonymous with his sport over the years but, after educating himself on its history, Wallace called for the end of its use. "It just alienates people. I'm still educating myself on these issues just like everyone else," he wrote, saying he knew he'd be putting a target on his back by speaking out. "If you dive back deep, and read about the Confederacy -- which I'm still learning about as well -- you understand what those people were fighting for. "People will say anything to defend it. But make no mistake: It was a war over slavery. It was about the South trying to keep their slaves."Last month, NASCAR announced the Confederate flag would be prohibited from all official events in response to the worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality ​following the killing of George Floyd. Wallace welcomed the decision and says the sport he loves finally has a chance to enforce real change.However, at a race in Tennessee on Wednesday, a plane flew a Confederate flag over the track prior to the Bristol Motor Speedway, demonstrating the issue is far from over with certain NASCAR fans. READ: Bubba Wallace responds to FBI findings Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayDrivers race by a reduced crowd during the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, on Wednesday, July 15.Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayFans stand during the national anthem prior to the race.Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayA vendor displays a Confederate flag and Trump 2020 flag outside of the Bristol Motor Speedway prior to the race.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayBubba Wallace arrives before the start of the race.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayFans wearing face masks shop for memorabilia.Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayA Confederate flag paid for by the Sons of Confederate Veterans is flown over Bristol Motor Speedway before the race.Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayFans look on from their seats during the race.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayA fan poses for a photo.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayA general view of the race.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Bristol Motor SpeedwayChase Elliott celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race.Hide Caption 10 of 10'I'm energized'Despite never wanting to be in the spotlight, Wallace wants to use his position to continue fighting for change and has praised the Black Lives Matter movement which has gained momentum over the past months. In his essay, Wallace explains his own experiences with racism, one of which he says happened recently.He says an undercover policeman advised him to pull over before questioning whether he was able to afford the car he was driving. "Listen, I'm new to all this. I'm still learning. But I've never been the guy to follow the crowd because it's safe or easy, and I'm not going to start now, " he wrote."We've got a lot of work to do -- but I'm ready for whatever. I may be tired now, but I'm energized for what the future holds."

Ben Church and Jill Martin, CNN

2020-07-16 13:42:18

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/16/motorsport/nascar-confederate-flag-bristol-speedway-trnd-spt-intl/index.html

NASCAR: Plane flew a Confederate flag over Bristol Motor Speedway - CNN

A small plane flew a Confederate flag over the Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday as thousands of fans gathered to watch NASCAR's All-Star Race in Tennessee.

motorsport, NASCAR: Plane flew a Confederate flag over Bristol Motor Speedway - CNN

A plane flew a Confederate flag over NASCAR race as thousands of fans watched on from the stands

(CNN)A small plane flew a Confederate flag over the Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday as thousands of fans gathered to watch NASCAR's All-Star Race in Tennessee.It comes a month after NASCAR announced the Confederate flag would be prohibited from all official events in response to the worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality ​following the killing of George Floyd. Critics of the Confederate symbol say it's racist and represents a war to uphold slavery and a battle to oppose civil rights advances.The banner also included a URL for the 'Sons of Confederate Veterans' website -- the organization responsible for flying a similar flag over a race in Talladega, Alabama, last month.READ: Former NASCAR driver says organization is 50 years late but welcomes the culture shiftA Confederate flag is flown over the Bristol Motor Speedway.Read MoreThe race on Wednesday was also the sport's largest spectator event since the pandemic struck in March, with organizers allowed to sell up to 30,000 tickets.The race was moved from its regular home in Charlotte Motor Speedway because North Carolina would not allow spectators. A spokesperson for the track in Tennessee told CNN that no tickets were sold on race day in order to ensure the track could properly adhere to social distancing measures. It was mandatory for fans to wear a mask upon entrance but people were free to take them off once they had reached their seats. Reports state the stadium has a capacity of ​about 140,000 people but the day's official attendance will not be released due to corporate policy. Those in attendance were able to roar home eventual winner Chase Elliott, who claimed the $1 million prize.In doing so, he emulated his father, Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, who won the race in 1986.After the win on Wednesday, Elliott praised the inclusion of fans and said there was "no feeling like it."READ: NASCAR drivers offer Bubba Wallace show of support after noose found in his garageJUST WATCHEDWilly T. Ribbs, motorsport's Black pioneerReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWilly T. Ribbs, motorsport's Black pioneer 03:24It comes after NASCAR ​and the FBI launched an investigation when a crew member discovered ​what appeared to be a noose in the garage of Bubba Wallace at the Talladega Superspeedway last month. The FBI report ​found that the item was a "garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose," and said ​that it had been in the team garage since last year and Wallace, therefore, was not a victim of a hate crime.Wallace, the only Black driver in NASCAR's top circuit, has been a vocal advocate of the Black Lives Matter movement and has called for the end of Confederate symbols at races.

Ben Morse, CNN

2020-05-31 08:03:38

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/31/motorsport/sophia-floersch-crash-le-mans-formula-3-laureus-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

Sophia Floersch: If I watched the video, I still don't believe it's me flying' -- Female driver relives horror crash - CNN

It was the 2018 Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix final, and Sophia Floersch had just gone airborne at a speed of 171.6 mph.

motorsport, Sophia Floersch: If I watched the video, I still don't believe it's me flying' -- Female driver relives horror crash - CNN

'If I watched the video, I still don't believe it's me flying': Sophia Floersch relives horror crash

(CNN)It was the 2018 Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix final, and Sophia Floersch had just gone airborne at a speed of 171.6 mph.She'd collided with the car driven by Japan's Sho Tsuboi and soared over the safety barriers before crashing with a sickening thud.Floersch was just 17 at the time, and as the crowd gasped in horror, the immediate reaction of observers was to question how anyone could survive such a crash. Somehow Floersch did survive, though she fractured her spine."We need men and we need brands to believe in women more"@SophiaFloersch tells @AmandaDCNN what she thinks needs to happen for more women to make it to the highest levels of motorsport. pic.twitter.com/0iIrHHCvwT— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) June 4, 2020 Following a week in hospital in Macau -- during which she underwent an 11-hour operation to repair the fracture and remove a bone splinter that was dangerously close to her spinal cord -- Floersch returned home and remarkably, just four months after her horrifying crash, was back in the driver's seat. Read MoreLooking back on the incident -- which she doesn't tend to do "apart from in interviews" -- it feels like it happened to someone else, according to Floersch. "If I watched the video, I still don't believe it's me flying there just because it didn't feel like this when I was in a car," Floersch told CNN Sport. "Of course, I've committed crashes already, a long time ago. Apart from interviews, I don't really think or talk about it anymore because it feels like ages ago."READ: PlayStation, haircuts, and cooking injuries: Two world champion brothers on life in lockdownFloersch during the 65th Macau Grand Prix on the streets of Macau, China, 18 November 2018.The road backFloersch received an outpouring of support after the video of her crash in Macau went viral on the internet. During her rehab after surgery, she lost seven kilograms of muscle mass and felt like "a grandma" in the gym, but never felt like she wouldn't return to racing. #FridayMotivation courtesy of your Laureus World Comeback of the Year, @SophiaFloersch 💪 pic.twitter.com/PiSpCSllzm— Laureus (@LaureusSport) March 13, 2020 "It was always clear to come back, to drive again, to race again and to fight for my dream," said Floersch, who was honored for her determination with the World Comeback of the Year award at the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards. "I was sure to come back and I knew that the quicker I'm going to have my muscles back again, the quicker the rehab is going to be and I'm able to be in the car again. That was actually what kept me going and what kept me pushing each day even harder."Floersch's Wolverine-like recovery had her back in the car in just a few months, and rather than denting her confidence, the crash and her recovery seems to have had the reverse effect. "I think I even had more confidence. In this time when I was not allowed to drive, I saw everyone driving somewhere else because they had winter tests going on. "It was actually probably the hardest time knowing that I'm not able to drive and that made me realize even more how important the sport is to me and kind of grew my confidence. If I'm in the car now, I enjoy it more and I'm more thankful for what I'm able to do."READ: As well as breaking records 'Queen of Speed' Valerie Thompson is standing up to bulliesFloersch credits "several people" for helping her make such a swift comeback from her crash.'Women still have to prove ourselves'Last year, Floersch raced in the inaugural season of the Formula Regional European Championship, finishing seventh overall. The one and only race event 👉🏻24h LE MANS 👉🏻19y, blonde, female - let's do it❤️💋😀#changeagent #Sophia @24hoursoflemans @24heuresdumans @Richard_Mille @SignatechAlpine @fiawim https://t.co/ZTKvmMvcYV— Sophia Floersch (@SophiaFloersch) March 1, 2020 Before motorsport was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, it had been announced she would become the first woman to race in the new F3 series -- following the merger of the GP3 series and European F3 in 2019 -- after signing with Campos Racing for the 2020 season.She also was part of the first all-female Le Mans team (alongside Katherine Legge and Tatiana Calderon) to sign up for the 24-hour race since 1991. And although being teammates with Legge and Calderon is a "huge honor" for Floersch, she was quick to point out being an all-female team shouldn't be such a big deal because, in driving, gender shouldn't affect speed. "It's not about having more muscles or so. There's more factors which are playing in. I think women can do the same and women can drive a car as quickly as a man and drive it on the limit the same," said Floersch, who has been using a racing simulator to keep sharp with no actual racing happening. "There was never a really successful woman in the class of motorsport, but it is for sure possible. "A lot of things have changed during the past years. I think for sure change is going on in the business. But in the end, I think women still have to prove ourselves; we still have to prove it and win championships and against men and not against other women."Floersch rides in a simulator during her home training, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.TrailblazingMotorsport is in Floersch's blood. Her father drove karts and she got her first taste of being behind the wheel when she was just four years old. It was just a "hobby" for Floersch at first, but as she started to race more, and motivated by the success of her German compatriot, four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, conjured up dreams of winning a championship herself."I always watched his races and I was always like: 'I want to be there once.' So of course, you dream of it. But you're small and so, so far away, especially when you're in karting."Floersch's rise through the racing ranks has been impressive. As she progressed through the racing formats, she regularly set records for being both the youngest driver and the first female driver. For Floersch, "there was no mental struggle" during her recovery from her crash because her to return to the track was clear for her. Being the first female came with its challenges, though, in particular finding people "who believe in you.""There are people who say: 'You're a woman, you're not going to make it,'" Floersch explains. "But in the end, this just motivates myself even more. "I think as a woman, a struggle you have is to find people to give you money for it. Everyone knows that the sport is really expensive and you can spend a lot of money just for going testing during [the] winter period or so.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and features"And that's kind of the struggle you have as a woman, to find companies who believe in you, who trust you to beat the man and to get the same chances and possibilities."According to Floersch, men and brands need to "take a risk" and provide female drivers with funding to provide them with an equal platform to showcase their abilities. "For me, to prove myself and prove to them that I can win and beat the boys and men, I need money because I need to be able to go testing as much as the men do," she told CNN Sport's Amanda Davies in an Instagram Live chat. "It's the same for tennis players. If you give Rafael Nadal just two hours on the court and Novak Djokovic 10 hours on the court per day then of course he is going to be better because he's had more training. That's kind of the same in racing. "We need men, we need brands to believe in women more and also to maybe take a risk."

Jonathan Hawkins & Christina Macfarlane, CNN Video by Ursin Caderas

2020-05-08 09:18:44

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/motorsport/marc-marquez-moto-gp-spt-intl-cmd/index.html

Marc and Alex Marquez: World champion brothers on life in lockdown - CNN

Life under lockdown can be challenging for elite sports stars, but not many world champions have to share a confined space with a fellow world champion, teammate and brother all rolled into one.

motorsport, Marc and Alex Marquez: World champion brothers on life in lockdown - CNN

PlayStation, haircuts, and cooking injuries: Two world champion brothers on life in lockdown

(CNN)Life under lockdown can be challenging for elite sports stars, but not many world champions have to share a confined space with a fellow world champion, teammate and brother all rolled into one. Marc Marquez, who has six MotoGP titles among the eight world championships to his name, has been quarantined at his parents' house in Cervera, Spain, for the last two months. Alongside him is his brother Alex, reigning Moto2 champion and now Repsol Honda MotoGP teammate.The two brothers were poised to begin a new and intimate chapter of their sibling rivalry at the opening MotoGP in Qatar in March when the premier class race was abruptly canceled, leaving the pair in a unique state of limbo.The power behind Marc Marquez's MotoGP throneLuckily for the Marquez brothers, and their parents, life as competitors under one roof is nothing new."I promise," Marc told CNN Sport via video conference from his family home, "even when we were kids, we were playing for everything: who goes to bed earlier, who got out of home earlier; I mean, everything was a competition."Read MoreThe pair have been dueling on the PlayStation in virtual MotoGP races, as part of the sport's attempt to occupy fans in the absence of real racing. The older Marquez is forced to admit his younger brother has the upper hand. "In the PlayStation he beats me all the time," he said, laughing. "I mean, always: in a soccer game, in a MotoGP game, in a Formula One game, I mean, all the time he beats me."But it's something, you know, he's younger, he's got more time to play. I'm a little bit more busy!"I practice now, I promise you that I'm practicing a lot because we have the next race; but I'm half second slower than him ... I'm pushing more the accelerator and everything on the throttle. But it's not working!"Marc Marquez (L) and his brother Alex Marquez (R) at the Repsol Honda team's official presentation for the 2020 season in Jakarta on February 4, 2020.Domestic life has not been without setbacks for Marc, either. In fact, he revealed that he is carrying a fresh injury after one of his mother's cooking lessons. "My mom tried to teach me something because, she says 'you're 27 years old. I mean, sooner or later you will live alone,'" he explained."I tried to cook a little bit, some pizza, with my hands. But the experience was not the best one."Look, look at this," the world champion continued, gesturing to two dark red lines on his forearm. "I mean, I burned my arm. So, it was not, the experience was not so good!"Marc and Alex Marquez united in MotoGP for next seasonInjury had threatened to undermine the MotoGP title-holder's start to the 2020 season. A terrifying crash in practice before last year's Thailand MotoGP had badly aggravated an existing shoulder problem, and Marquez underwent surgery during the winter to alleviate the issue. Over 200 hours of rehabilitation later, he was still not quite ready as the teams prepared to travel to Qatar.Marquez admitted that part of him welcomed the postponement of the season opener, but said he had no idea what was about to come. "When I first saw that, I thought it was okay for me, it's good news," he said. "[But then] I realized after two or three weeks that Coronavirus was such a big problem for the world."He would, he said, happily forgo a full recovery if it meant life could return to normal. "Now if I [could] come back, I would like to start the season, even if I was not one hundred percent."Marc (R) and Alex Marquez race at the Sepang 2020 test.The Honda rider said he knew immediately that the Thailand crash was serious. Analysis later revealed that he hit the ground at 26 times the force of gravity."I realized that this was a big one because basically it was impossible to breathe for 15 seconds," he explained. "And this was the most dangerous thing. And then I didn't remember exactly what was going on. So for that reason, the doctor takes me, and we had a deep scan in the hospital." A few hours later, however, Marquez was back on the bike for the next practice session. Such things are a way of life for MotoGP riders, but the Catalan says they are issues that just need to be managed. "[People often ask] are you training, or how can you train for when you crash? It's impossible," he explained."We just try to prepare our bodies. For example, now that we are at home, we are stretching, stretching a lot. Because it's something important, to work the muscles. And then you need to realize that you are a professional rider, and you need to take the risk."Marc Marquez and his brother, Alex, celebrate their respective MotoGP and Moto2 titles in Cervera on November 9, 2019.One risk he wasn't prepared to take was letting his younger brother cut his hair. He had given Alex a quarantine haircut on Instagram, but said Alex wasn't comfortable using clippers. "He's not convinced," he said, laughing. "He says, 'I don't know how to'... and I say 'Okay, I will do.'"With plans for the 2020 season being drawn and redrawn, the Marquez brothers are keeping fit at home. A static bicycle is the centerpiece of a basement home gym, which also houses a collection of dozens of helmets and racing leathers -- mementos of the brothers' already extraordinary careers -- carefully housed by their father.The Marquez brothers in Repsol Honda leathers at the 2020 team press launchSomething else is also on hold. Their mother, Roser, told CNN back in 2014 that she was dreading the moment her sons would compete against one another. "I don't want to imagine that, no!" she said.Has that changed, more than five years on?"In the beginning she was scared that we are riding on the same team," Marc said. "But now she's happy, because last year, she was nervous [about] two races, in Moto2 and MotoGP ... we are speaking a lot these days, and she says 'I want to know, what is the feeling when Marc and Alex race at the same time.'"MotoGP fans around the world are also longing for that moment to arrive.

Ben Morse, CNN

2020-03-10 11:30:29

sport

motorsport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/10/motorsport/ellie-goulding-formula-e-supercharged-spt-intl/index.html

Ellie Goulding: Formula E is 'literally the future' - CNN

A childhood Formula One fan, but also an environmental enthusiast, supporting Formula E makes sense to Ellie Goulding.

motorsport, Ellie Goulding: Formula E is 'literally the future' - CNN

Formula E is 'literally the future,' says pop star and environment campaigner Ellie Goulding

(CNN)A childhood Formula One fan, but also an environmental enthusiast, supporting Formula E makes sense to Ellie Goulding. Although the British singer-songwriter was introduced to motor racing via the petrol version, the environmental aspect of Formula E makes it "much more cool," she says."The cars are incredible, in watching how they're made, watching the craftsmanship, the work that goes into them, the technology, the teams," Goulding told CNN's Supercharged at the Marrakech ePrix in Morocco. "They're making it cool and it should be and that's why I'm here. I want to show my younger fans that this is the future," added Goulding, who while she was in Marrakech also attended a Formula E Mad Hatters Moroccan Tea Party in celebration of the country's ePrix at the Hotel Amanjena.READ: Chasing the sun: Racing 1,800 miles by solar powerEllie Goulding with Formula E chairman Alejandro Agag in Marrakesh.Read MoreUsing her voiceGoulding has three UK number one singles and two albums to her credit. Her hit "Love me like you do" has had more than 2.1 billion views on YouTube, while more than 40 songs she has either produced or featured in have surpassed 10 million views. The global superstar is also using the reach of her social platforms -- she has more than 20 million combined followers on Twitter and Instagram -- to promote her hopes of a greener planet. And as a result of her regular postings on social media about climate change, she was signed as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations Environment."I was approached by the UN a few years back because I was posting a lot of content about the environment, about how concerned I was about plastic pollution, about climate change, about the fact that my country, the UK, I didn't think, was doing enough to counteract," she said.Ellie Goulding attends The ABB FIA Formula E Mad Hatters Moroccan Tea Party in celebration of the 2020 Marrakesh ePrix at the Hotel Amanjena Goulding believes it was her upbringing in rural Britain that played a key part in why she has taken such an interest in environmental issues. "I grew up in the countryside, in the middle of nowhere, so I have an affinity for the natural world," she explained. "So I've always been really concerned about it. "And through the UN, I've managed to speak to climate scientists, experts, who were very, very worried. And I've learned so much and it means I can pass that knowledge on to my fans and to younger people, the people that follow me, and use my platform for something good."READ: Ultra-rare electric hyper car to cost $2.9MGoulding with Envision Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird in Marrakesh.'Formula E is basically the future'From an idea scribbled on the back of a napkin in a restaurant in Paris in 2011, Formula E has developed into one of the fastest growing sports. Initially a 10-team, 11-race competition in its first season, it has expanded to incorporate new territories and new manufacturers in the following six years.And with the kudos of its reduced environmental impact in comparison to F1, Goulding believes the electric racing series has plenty of room to grow. @FIAFormulaE 😎 pic.twitter.com/KMbpTraSCk— Ellie Goulding (@elliegoulding) March 1, 2020 "Formula E is basically the future. It's the same thing but everything is battery powered," Goulding said. "It's incredible. I've seen the technology. It's a little bit more advanced in Formula One, but it's so much more cool because of the environmental aspect, because it's green, because it is literally the future."In November, F1 announced a new 10-year plan to "change the face of the sport" and become carbon neutral by 2030. But Goulding says Formula E's petrol rival needs to do more."They are creating something that has to be taken on by every other business, company, any (other) kind of venture has to be green from now on," she added. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"And something as iconic as Formula One racing, race cars, it has to be green. It's not an option anymore. And the fact that these guys are making it so damn cool."

Ben Church, CNN Video by Finn McSkimming, CNN

2022-02-01 10:54:15

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/01/sport/valorant-esports-women-diversity-spt-intl/index.html

Valorant: The new game boosting diversity in esports - CNN

Those within esports often get tired with constant comparisons with traditional sports, but the increasingly popular world of competitive gaming can often be an example for those more historic sports to follow.

sport, Valorant: The new game boosting diversity in esports - CNN

The game boosting diversity in esports and creating role models for the next generation

(CNN)Those within esports often get tired with constant comparisons with traditional sports, but the increasingly popular world of competitive gaming can often be an example for those more historic sports to follow. While the industry as a whole is still male-dominated, organizations have launched projects in the hope of creating a more diverse gaming environment.An example of this is the Valorant Game Changers initiative which looks to provide a platform for marginalized genders to compete and develop into professional players. Valorant is a first-person shooting game developed by Riot Games -- of League of Legends fame -- and has approximately 12 million players logging in each month.The Game Changers series runs alongside the main competition and looks to foster marginalized talent in a safe environment away from any potential harassment. Read MoreRiot Games' Senior Brand Manager Vera Wienken has worked closely on launching the initiative and says it's already been a success. "It is very important to us to have real representation of the community within esports, within our pro players, coaches, managers," she told CNN Sport."Therefore, we founded Game Changers and really hope to see that, in the future, esports overall becomes more diverse."READ: Esports is on the rise in Africa and these two Kenyans are leading the chargeJUST WATCHEDMeet the UAE's first female esports teamReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMeet the UAE's first female esports team 03:50'You don't need to sing it to the world'Wienken says representation is key to attracting and maintaining female participation in Valorant and esports in general. Valorant itself is a relatively new game and Wienken thinks its format and narrative open itself up to a more diverse audience. The characters you can play as, for example, don't necessarily conform to gender stereotypes and this helps make the game more accessible, says Wienken.The gaming world often overlooks players of color. This new studio is changing that"There's a lack of role models," she added when asked why the industry is still attracting less women than men."What we would like to see and what's happening already, which is amazing, is these women pro players are becoming role models for others and sharing their path, sharing their story so that women know and find their entry points." Valorant EMEA host Yinsu Collins is one of the many to have suffered from online harassment during her career in esports, but she says she's developed a thick skin in order to ignore it. The journalist, who previously worked in traditional sports media, says Valorant has helped educate people within the industry of the discrimination marginalized groups face. "I don't think I've ever seen a title that has produced and invested in a female scene this quickly," she told CNN Sport."The way Riot were like: 'We're going to prioritize the women's side. We're not going to wait three or four years to kind of give you guys a big tournament. We're just going to do it right off the bat.'"I just think the dedication, the investment, obviously, you can see the way Riot is prioritizing having diversity."And you don't need to sing it to the world, you just do it through your actions."READ: How esports has helped its fans get through lockdownThose within esports hope for a day when gender is no longer spoken about. What does progress look like?While Collins has been sent negative messages on social media, she has also seen people reflect on their past actions. She says she occasionally gets messages from boys who want to apologize for certain things they've said or the way they've behaved online in the past. 'The sky's the limit on where this can go' -- The worlds of Fortnite and football collide"Hopefully, in a few years, maybe a decade's time, we wouldn't even have to talk about representation because it would just be a normal thing," Collins added. Wienken says Game Changers has already had a huge impact on the amount of women playing and watching the game and there is more to come from the initiative, with this year's launch of the Game Changers Academy.This new, community-driven format hopes to act as a stepping stone for young women who are interested in making it as a professional esports player.By creating these new entry points for women, Wienken hopes that there won't be a need for female-led projects such as the one she works with in the future."I hope that we don't see gender anymore when we are looking at the professional players, and we might not even need Game Changers anymore in the future because it's just so normal that esports is diverse," she added. For Collins, progress is all about how the media and wider society frame women in esports. She's aware it will take time but is looking forward to the day when women in the industry aren't always asked to talk about their gender. "Every single time a talent line up is being announced or every single time we talk about Game Changers, I want the conversations to be about how the competition is amazing or this player has a great personality or just the crazy storylines. The same way we talk about men's sport, really," she said. "I think if we can get to a point where women's esports and female talent aren't just being talked about because of their gender, but they're actually being talked about because they're good at what they do, I'll be pretty satisfied."

Ben Church, CNN

2021-03-12 11:59:44

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/12/sport/esports-lockdown-team-liquid-family-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

Team Liquid: How esports has helped its fans get through lockdown - CNN

The return of sport amid the pandemic has been one of the few saving graces for many people over the last year.

sport, Team Liquid: How esports has helped its fans get through lockdown - CNN

'They are like a family': How esports has helped its fans get through lockdown

(CNN)The return of sport amid the pandemic has been one of the few saving graces for many people over the last year. It's provided a welcome distraction from the humdrum of multiple lockdowns and offered a sense of hope that, one day, things will return to some sort of normality. The same is true in the world of esports, an industry that has had to play some of its biggest and most spectacular tournaments behind closed doors over the last 12 months. René Romann is a huge fan of esports outfit Team Liquid and says following his favorite organization has provided respite during such difficult times. "It's kind of interesting to see this online family, this Liquid family, and how we can help each other in certain situations, especially in this pandemic," Romann tells CNN Sport. Read More"Also getting [...] knowledge of what is going on worldwide, because you have this worldwide fan base. "It's really helpful, if you have any kind of problem, you can talk to people and they really help you."READ Surviving two weeks of isolation to play video games'Watching the games together'Romann, a 34-year-old software engineer from Hamburg, Germany, says he spends up to two hours a day engaging Team Liquid's content, though he misses the opportunity to watch his favorite players perform live in front of packed-out stadiums. However, as a keen gamer himself, spending time and playing online with this virtual community has made the last year that little bit more bearable. "I wouldn't call myself a super fan," he says, laughing. "But it depends a little bit on how you define it.""Like [how] other people check the newspapers, it's more for me that I check what they [Team Liquid] are doing."Just watching the games together, having some kind of viewing party, and you're just talking about what the team will do or what the team should not do [...] that's kind of interesting." Studies have shown the esports fanbase has rocketed in recent years and, with everyone stuck indoors due to lockdowns, viewership increased again during 2020. Keeping those fans engaged is paramount for an organization like Team Liquid, which says its supporters are at the heart of everything it does. Team Liquid's co-CEO Steve Arhancet says his team regularly sends handwritten letters and calls fans over the phone in order to foster that community feel. It's something that he says has been extra important during such tough times. "When you're able to provide that kind of care and consideration that you would to a family member or a friend or someone that you just care about, why is it any different for a relationship between the sports team and its fans? It should be the same," Arhancet tells CNN Sport. "I think a lot of other teams take it for granted. They just assume that you could just watch our content and that's enough. It isn't. You have to care and you have to listen and you have to remember."READ: The worlds of Fortnite and football collideJUST WATCHEDHow I quarantined for two weeks to play video games for 100M peopleReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow I quarantined for two weeks to play video games for 100M people 03:16Virtual stadiumTeam Liquid has teams in 17 different games, which Arhancet says is akin to owning an NFL, NBA and soccer team. His goal is to treat fans of these different games as one family and he hopes the launch of a new platform will help to do that. Liquid+ is the new one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about the team. On the online platform, fans can win points for engaging with the team's social media which can in turn earn them special experiences with their favorite team and players. It also provides a space for fans to talk to one another and play specialized games."It's very exciting to get some kind of reward for what you do there with them, simply because it's some kind of reward for things that you're already doing," says Romann. The new platform encourages fans to connect their social media accounts allowing Team Liquid a chance to learn more about its fan base and tailor content accordingly.In many ways, Liquid+ is the first of its kind and Arhancet says it won't be long before other teams follow suit. "I think it's good that other esports teams are thinking about it in this way, and I think it will overall help the esports ecosystem," he says. "I'm kind of glad to see that kind of innovation happen by other teams. It will level up what we're doing." Being able to provide this "virtual stadium" will also help esports stay ahead of the curve in terms of more traditional sports, says Arhancet. "We don't have big stadiums, but what we do have is this kind of digital stadium where we can provide the same sort of experiences and events and even food and beverage," he says. "It's not limited to just the folks that are coming to that 10,000 person stadium. We can do a global event and publish around the world to all of our fans, which is a bigger opportunity to reach more people."

Jo Munnik, CNN

2020-12-03 12:56:50

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/03/sport/africa-esports-kenya-queen-arrow-beast-spc-intl/index.html

These Kenyan gamers are putting Africa on the esports map - CNN

The African continent is looking to share in a global market that pulled in over $1 billion in 2019. Meet two gamers, 'Queen Arrow' and 'Beast,' who are growing esports in Kenya and beyond.

sport, These Kenyan gamers are putting Africa on the esports map - CNN

Esports is on the rise in Africa and these two Kenyans are leading the charge

(CNN)Esports is the fast-growing, major money-making world of competitive video gaming. This global phenomenon is in a league of its own, where athletes may not look like your traditional sports stars -- yet have huge earning potential, massive brand endorsements and even their own fans.While many of the top players reside in Europe or the US, the African continent is looking to share in a global market that pulled in over $1 billion in 2019.One consulting firm projects Africa's gaming industry will increase by 12% in the next five years, with Egypt and South Africa leading the industry in revenue. Esports is a billion-dollar industry that attracts legions of fans, such as the ones who attended this 2019 tournament in Paris.This year, South African esports athlete Thabo "Yvng Savage" Moloi made history by becoming the first-ever player from Africa to be sponsored by Red Bull. At just 18 years old, he is South Africa's top-rated FIFA player on PS4 and is ranked 73rd in the world. But some of the continent's most promising stars are in East Africa. Meet two Kenyan gamers who are looking to help put African esports on the global map. Read MoreSylvia "Queen Arrow" Gathoni, 22Sylvia Gathoni, "Queen Arrow"Law student by day and pro-gamer by night, Sylvia Gathoni -- better known by her gaming handle "Queen Arrow" -- is Kenya's first female professional esports athlete. Her area of expertise is the fighting game "Tekken 7."While a 2019 study found that women account for 35% of all gamers worldwide, Gathoni says she is among only a handful of female esports players on the continent -- which she is determined to help change."We don't have many women, so you don't have a support system from people who share the same gender," Gathoni says. "I have to make sure that I'm an example to other women, and other people who aspire to be in the gaming industry."With 'Casablanca Not the Movie,' Moroccan photographer depicts the reality of his famous hometownShe has been a regular on the gaming scene since 2018 and today, at just 22 years old, is ranked 13th in Kenya. She is also the first woman in East Africa to be sponsored by a global brand.But her rise to the top has not been without challenges; the biggest hurdle, she says, has been sexism in a male-dominated industry -- an issue that is gaining more attention across the world of esports. "There's some men who do not like the idea that I've made it as far as I have," Gathoni says. "They say that the only reason that I've gotten signed is because I'm a woman and it's not because of my hard work and my skill."While she admits those comments are hurtful, Gathoni says she is determined not to let them get in the way of her plans, which include using her law degree to help shape the future of the industry itself.This was the scene in 2018, at an esports festival in Abidjan, Ivory Coast."I hope to at least create some of the laws that are going to be used as the foundation for the gaming community," she says, "and also create laws that regulate micro-transactions," which are small in-game purchases of virtual items. Gathoni also hopes to use her platform to prove that esports is a viable career path. "Right now, for a lot of people, it seems like we are just wasting our time, resources and energy," she says, adding that pressure remains to pursue a more "conventional career path ... like law or medicine." "I really hope that will change in East Africa, and here in Kenya."Brian "Beast" Diang'a, 28 Brian Diang'a, "Beast"Born and raised in the heart of Kibera, Kenya's largest slum, Brian "Beast" Diang'a is one of the country's most celebrated Mortal Kombat players. "If it wasn't for gaming, I wouldn't be here today," he tells CNN. "I choose gaming instead of crime." His journey into esports began as a kid, spending all of his spare time in a Kibera gaming den called "After Homework," where he says he would go to escape his reality."We would go without food for days, (and) no water," Diang'a says of his life outside gaming. "The whole of high school I was wearing one pair of shoes." JUST WATCHEDThese African esport athletes are at the top of their game (full episode)ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThese African esport athletes are at the top of their game (full episode) 22:25But through gaming, he found purpose. "The good thing about Kibera is you are low and you can't go any lower than where it is," he says. "The only place left for you to go is to go higher. So I just kept pushing myself and telling myself I don't have limits."Unable to afford a console of his own, he honed his skills by watching YouTube tutorials and studying other players online. In 2014, he began entering local tournaments, where his professional career and infamous gaming handle "Beast" took off.Since then, he has played a significant part in growing the local industry and developing esports in Kibera, where he still lives, and runs gaming dens for kids from the community. Diang'a, one of Kenya's most popular gamers, is working to promote esports in his local community."When the first tournament was held in Kenya, I think the registration at most was 12 people," Diang'a says. "Currently I work with Pro Series Gaming and every week we host tournaments for different platforms -- mobile, PC, and console," adding that as many as 50 players will now register for those events.Across Africa, the esports industry still faces significant challenges including slower internet connections, lack of infrastructure and heavy import duties on equipment -- making them hard and expensive to come by. Read more: What is esports? A look at an explosive billion-dollar industryBut Diang'a takes it all in stride as he continues to work towards ensuring that Kenya in particular and Africa as a whole become global forces in this online arena. "The reason I'm in this space is I want to improve or help improve on what has already been done by the ones before me," he says. "And I feel it's my duty to make it better for those who are coming after me."For more stories like this one, visit Inside Africa

Shannon Liao, CNN Business

2020-02-22 18:28:45

business

tech

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/22/tech/lowkey-gg-league-of-legends-amateur/index.html

Lowkey.gg, a new service for adult gamers, throws a League of Legends tournament that we tried out - CNN

Teens won millions of dollars in video game competitions in 2019, and they're set to do it again this year. Last year, the oldest finalist in the most competitive rounds of the "Fortnite" World Cup was only 24 years old, despite the World Cup being open to all ages online.

tech, Lowkey.gg, a new service for adult gamers, throws a League of Legends tournament that we tried out - CNN

A 22-year-old Harvard grad launched his own amateur esports company for adult gamers

New York (CNN Business)Teens won millions of dollars in video game competitions in 2019, and they're set to do it again this year. Last year, the oldest finalist in the most competitive rounds of the "Fortnite" World Cup was only 24 years old, despite the World Cup being open to all ages online.That's reflective of how older gamers can see their reflexes slow down, which can be a hurdle in fast-paced competitions. Venture-backed company Lowkey.gg wants to give adults a chance to compete against other adults of similar skill levels without any prize money."The main thing is obviously the prestige or the clout that comes with it," Lowkey.gg's CEO Jesse Zhang said, adding that winners will get custom apparel.Zhang graduated from Harvard at the age of 20 and is now 22. He came up with the idea for the company after realizing that when adults log on to game, they might be matched with seasoned gamers with a higher skill set. The service he created matches adult gamers who have full-time jobs that aren't in the gaming industry."There are a lot of people who can play these games now who are in the workforce, [during] free time after work, but there's no infrastructure there and no platform to bring people together," said Zhang. "We're not so interested in organizing one-off events one after another, rather than providing a more consistent, almost subscription-like experience for the players."Read MoreLowkey.gg's investors include one of Silicon Valley's most prominent startup accelerators, Y Combinator, as well as Sixers Innovation Lab from the Philadelphia 76ers, the Sacramento Kings, and the founders of fintech company Plaid and dating app Tinder. Lowkey.gg declined to say how much funding it has received.The company launched a "League of Legends" esports tournament in January that costs $39 to compete in. Employees from companies like Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), DoorDash and LinkedIn have formed their own teams to participate.I've been testing out Lowkey.gg for over a month now. I'm ranked Gold in "League," which means I'm a fairly average player. I gave the tournament a try, winning my first week against Iron players, the lowest rank you can achieve in the game. I suffered a crushing defeat in the second game against a mix of Diamonds and lower ranks.In total, it's an eight-week competition followed by a series of elimination playoffs. At times, the competition is either brutal or too easy, with a range of talent from beginners to elite veterans. "In the future, we do want the format to be much more balanced," said Zhang. So far, players in the "League" tournament have shared mixed feelings."It's a little bit less organized than some of the high school esports I've been involved in. I guess it makes sense given that we're all adults and most of us are familiar with esports," said Michael Bilica, 43, a high school physics teacher in Sutton, Massachusetts. Bilica runs the school's esports program and teamed up with me for the months-long tournament.Bilica said he tries to make up for slower reflexes by giving his in-game characters a speed boost with the purchase of virtual shoes. He also commits several hours a week to practice and is dedicated to learning new tricks and tips.Rivalries between major tech giants have also found their way into video games, and players chat on the Discord app between games."We were looking for a competitive experience because we played in our own little league inside Apple," said Dustin Rudiger, a 27-year-old software engineer at Apple. "We thought we were shoo-ins to win when we joined, but then Google came in.""There's been a bit of history to this team," said Google software engineer Prasanth Somasundar, 27, who explained that he had been playing with the Google Gamers since 2018, despite several roster changes.While Google hopes to win the tournament, Somasundar said they still face some competition. "Microsoft's team looks pretty scary," he said. The team is called Project Scarlett, a nod to the codename for the Xbox Series X, and features five high-ranking "League of Legends" players, including one gamer who is ranked Master, which is just a few tiers below professional esports players. The Google team features all Diamond players, which is a tier below Master, while Apple is a mix of Diamond and lower ranks.In its first match, the Apple team, named iPwn 11 Pro Max, decisively lost to Google. There was a brief kerfuffle over whether an ex-professional esports player on Google's team should be allowed to participate in the league, since Lowkey.gg is aimed at people who don't play games as a full-time job. The ultimate answer was yes because the player hadn't competed professionally since college.Zhang is still looking to iron out the kinks on Lowkey.gg and find a sustainable business model.For its part, Lowkey.gg has been quick to adopt player feedback, such as improving the website's code to make it more usable. Staff members are available during off-hours and weekends to field users' questions.Last March, Zhang launched the company Camelot as a way for Twitch and YouTube fans to pay bounties to request content from their favorite stars. But the business had to quickly pivot to Lowkey.gg, as Zhang discovered there wasn't enough money to be made.Another company called the Corporate Esports Association has been organizing esports tournaments and giving adults a chance to compete since 2019. From 2012 to 2018, the CEA's cofounders operated the After Hours Gaming League, which followed the same concept. Unlike Lowkey.gg, Corporate Esports donates most of its earnings to charity and is run by volunteers."The best stories we hear in CEA are people saying, 'I've worked three cubicles away from this guy for four years. We've never met, but now we're best friends because we play in the CEA together,'" said Brad Tenenholtz, CEO of the Corporate Esports Association. "Lowkey's business philosophy is that they're going to do that with software. And I assure you, if I could've done this with software, I would have done it five years ago."

Shannon Liao, CNN Business

2020-01-26 16:07:34

business

tech

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/26/tech/video-game-streaming-wars/index.html

Twitch gaming stars jump ship to Mixer, Facebook Gaming and YouTube - CNN

When Jeremy Wang started streaming on Twitch in 2016, he was an unknown twenty-something with a few coding internships under his belt. Almost no one knew his name or what he looked like. The latter, at least, was by design: Wang, now 28, initially wore a mask everywhere — whether playing video games at competitive events or streaming from a closet while visiting his sister in New York.

tech, Twitch gaming stars jump ship to Mixer, Facebook Gaming and YouTube - CNN

Gaming's biggest names are ditching Twitch for $10 million contracts

New York (CNN Business)When Jeremy Wang started streaming on Twitch in 2016, he was an unknown twenty-something with a few coding internships under his belt. Almost no one knew his name or what he looked like. The latter, at least, was by design: Wang, now 28, initially wore a mask everywhere — whether playing video games at competitive events or streaming from a closet while visiting his sister in New York. "For me, it was natural to go on Twitch because the thinking at that time was: 'this is the place to be if you want to become a famous streamer,'" Wang, better known as Disguised Toast, recalled to CNN Business in a recent interview. After years of streaming on Twitch — including an unmasking stream that drew a lot of attention — he had attracted more than a million followers and become one of the better-known gamers on the platform.So it came as a shock to many of his fans when Wang announced in late November that he was leaving the platform that brought him fame to work with Facebook (FB) Gaming, a relative newcomer in the gaming space. Behind the scenes, however, Toast had been weighing lucrative offers for nearly six months from Amazon (AMZN)'s Twitch, Microsoft (MSFT)'s Mixer and Google (GOOGL)'s YouTube, before deciding on Facebook. Eventually, he turned to his parents for advice. Their initial reaction, he said, was essentially: "Just do whatever makes you happy.'" Then they saw the actual offers he was getting. Wang said they told him, "Wow, that's a lot of money!" He declined to provide details on the offer.Disguised Toast is one of a growing number of video game stars getting poached from Twitch, long the undisputed leader in the market, by rival platforms mostly owned by giant tech companies capable of waving around big checkbooks. In addition to Facebook, YouTube and Mixer, there are also a number of Chinese streaming platforms and Caffeine, a well-funded startup launched by former Apple (AAPL) employees. Read MoreJeremy Wang, better known as Disguised Toast, surprised many by announcing last year that he would leave Twitch and join Facebook. When he showed his parents the offers he was getting, they told him, "Wow, that's a lot of money!"Each month brings news of more high-profile Twitch departures. In October, Michael "Shroud" Grzesiek left Twitch for Mixer. In November, Soleil "Ewok" Wheeler, a 14-year-old deaf Fortnite streamer, left for Mixer, too. Fortnite star Corinna Kopf departed to Facebook Gaming in December. And at least three more Twitch gamers, including Rachell "Valkyrae" Hofstetter, signed onto YouTube just this month. "When I told my family the offer YouTube had for me, it was a clear 'yes,'" Hofstetter told CNN Business. She declined to give details on her offer.The fight for top gaming talent mirrors the big budget battles for stars in the music and film industries. In every case, large tech platforms are looking to lure in customers and stand out from the pack with big names and exclusive content deals. For Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon, livestreaming is another battlefield for our money and attention. At the moment, people are spending millions of hours online watching others play video games every day. Video gaming content generated $6.5 billion in revenue in 2019, according to SuperData, a Nielsen company that tracks the video game industry.Now the streaming wars have begun. But it took someone to fire the first shot. That was Ninja.Devin Nash, CMO at N3RDFUSION, a talent agency that represents gaming influencersThe gaming defections also highlight the growing challenge that Twitch, which Amazon bought for nearly $1 billion more than five years ago, faces in an increasingly competitive market filled with other tech-backed rivals. These creators have been lured by contracts that can total in the millions or even tens of millions of dollars, according to industry experts. In some cases, streamers may also be motivated by growing dissatisfaction with the way Twitch enforces its content moderation policies, even as they risk losing fan bases that took years to build.In December 2018, Twitch accounted for 67% of hours watched in the livestreaming gaming market, according to StreamElements. But Twitch's share of the market declined slightly a year later — to 61% — as YouTube, Facebook Gaming and Mixer start to pick up traction.Twitch, in many cases, has counter-offered, according to industry sources. But some say it isn't doing enough. "Twitch hasn't been that aggressive in defending their position. They haven't dramatically changed their philosophy." said Lee Trink, CEO of FaZe Clan, a major esports organization. Trink said Twitch ran "the risk of being complacent" given its dominance in the market. (Twitch declined to discuss its negotiation process.) While lucrative offers have been making their way around the industry for more than a year, the talent exodus from Twitch appears to have picked up speed in recent months. And it largely started with a single departure.How the streaming gaming wars kicked offTo call Tyler Blevins popular is an understatement. Blevins, better known as Ninja, is almost synonymous with "Fortnite" and livestreaming. The 28-year-old made close to $10 million in 2018, he previously told CNN Business. He has 14 million Twitch followers, deals with Adidas and Red Bull, and his own book titled "Get Good: My Ultimate Guide to Gaming." He also appeared on various shows, including on Bon Appétit's YouTube channel, where he attempted to keep up with a pro chef. In August, Blevins announced he was leaving Twitch for Mixer, heralding a massive shakeup for the young industry. Mixer, once called Beam, was a start-up acquired by Microsoft in 2016. Despite its strong position in the video console market with Xbox, Microsoft and Mixer have trailed behind Twitch in streaming. But if any gamer can change that, it's Ninja. Ninja's multi-year deal with Mixer falls in the range of $20 to $30 million, according to Justin Warden, CEO of Ader, a marketing and talent agency that has previously worked with Ninja. He said that's broadly the range for celebrity creators in general. Loaded, Ninja's agency, declined to comment on details but after publication said Ader had no connection to the deal.Warden, whose agency also works with a number of other prominent gamers, and Ryan Morrison, CEO of talent agency Evolved, estimate that streamers with 10,000 concurrent views on Twitch or more can get offers topping $10 million while smaller streamers can get up to $1 million. "Now the streaming wars have begun. But it took someone to fire the first shot. That was Ninja," said Devin Nash, chief marketing officer at N3RDFUSION, a talent agency that represents Twitch and YouTube influencers. Now, according to Doron Nir, CEO of StreamElements, a company that publishes quarterly industry reports, "it's all about the content creators."Tyler "Ninja" Blevins is one of the world's most well-known gamers. As of August 2019, he left Amazon's Twitch for Microsoft's Mixer.For the tech companies, having big names is a crucial early step to establishing themselves as true gaming destinations. "I want users to feel like when they come into YouTube that we've got all the gaming video content that they're looking for," said Ryan Wyatt, global head of gaming at YouTube. At Microsoft, just the news of Ninja joining Mixer was enough to raise its profile among gamers and the public.Each platform has its unique selling points. Facebook has a massive potential audience, with more than 2 billion monthly users — more than 700 million of which are said to "engage with" gaming content on the platform. YouTube already has the largest gaming platform outside of livestreaming, where Twitch is king. And Mixer has easy access to the Xbox community and potentially cloud gaming.All of these platforms are also owned by tech companies with deep pockets — though some pushed back at the idea that they're throwing cash at gamers. "We would not categorize our approach as a spending frenzy. It's quite the opposite," Leo Olebe, Facebook's global director of games partnerships, told CNN Business.Mixer made a decision. Somebody said, "Let's go in, let's make real moves, let's pay people to change the game."Lee Trink, CEO of FaZe Clan, a major esports organizationHowever, multiple former Twitch employees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, believe the exodus of talent is due to the big paydays stars like Ninja can get elsewhere. "These guys are keenly aware of their marketability and they also know very well that this window of opportunity is not going to be open forever, so they need to make as much money as they can while they can," said one former employee. Industry watchers also point to money as a key factor in the new streaming wars. "The game is afoot," said Trink, the CEO of FaZe Clan. "Mixer made a decision. Somebody said, 'Let's go in, let's make real moves, let's pay people to change the game.'"Sometimes, even money and a household name aren't enough for a company to land talent.Twitch streamer Zizaran said in a stream in December that he was offered $1.2 million by Facebook Gaming. He said on Twitch, "I didn't want to move because Facebook's a garbage platform and my streaming career would die out." He told CNN Business that the offer was made over a year ago and he declined to elaborate further, saying he had lost the original emails."We're proud of what we're building, but we also know we're just getting started here. We've been following community reactions closely, and, yes, we're aware of the perception some gamers have towards Facebook," Olebe said, "Ultimately, we know that in order to win gamers over, words are only going to go so far. It's critical for Facebook Gaming to prove it by creating real value on the platform." Twitch is still the king of livestreaming gaming, but its market share declined between 2018 and 2019.Debating when to jump ship from Twitch For years, Twitch felt like the only game in town. It had the biggest names, the backing of Amazon and dominated the livestreaming market in terms of time spent on site. Even some prominent political figures joined Twitch, including President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Within the Twitch community, however, discontent has been brewing. Some streamers aren't happy with the way that Twitch has enforced its community guidelines, arguing that some streamers who demonstrate questionable behavior are still allowed on the platform while others acting similarly will be banned. "I definitely just aligned more with Facebook's views," said Fortnite streamer and Instagram model Corinna Kopf, who left Twitch for Facebook in December, the same month she claimed to have been temporarily banned from Twitch for being underdressed. "I know for sure that Facebook is more consistent when it comes to terms of service, their rules, policies and everything."Others, like Melissa Prizzia, a 22-year-old who goes by NuFo on Twitch and has more than 31,000 followers, argued that Twitch could offer better tools to help streamers tackle trolls on the platform. Prizzia said she was harassed on Twitch after publicly announcing she'd broken up with her boyfriend, who is a prominent gamer.In a statement to CNN Business, Twitch said situations like what happened to Prizzia are "incredibly complex and don't have straightforward solutions." The company noted that it's always implementing changes on the platform and working to fight bad actors. Twitch also said it doubled the size of its moderation team in the last year. "Over 1.3 million people are on Twitch at any given moment, and we are excited to continue making Twitch the best place to watch and create live entertainment," the company said in a statement provided to CNN Business. Despite the buzz surrounding large deals offered by rivals, many Twitch streamers are staying on the platform — at least for now. Streamers Nick "NickMercs" Kolcheff, Tim the Tatman, Dr. Lupo and Saqib "LIRIK" Zahid have all made announcements that they're staying. Others have quietly renewed their contracts with Twitch as well."I've been streaming on Justin TV/Twitch for seven or eight years now, almost as long as it's existed," said Kolcheff, 29, from Detroit, Michigan, referring to Twitch's original name. "I'd love to be able to stay on one platform, almost like staying on the same professional sports team, throughout my career. That's special to me."For Twitch streamers weighing their options, staying comes with the assurance of knowing they already have strong fan communities that will tune into their live streams. And for some, there's also a question of loyalty."I care too much about my community and that quality of stream," said Jayden Diaz, who streams on Twitch as YourPrincess with more than 100,000 followers. "I care about all the people that are watching. So leaving that would be for money. I would have just sold out my stream, basically." Editor's note: This article has been updated to add comment from Loaded, Ninja's agency, and clarify Warden's comments about Ninja's deal.

Shannon Liao, CNN Business

2020-01-22 18:18:17

business

tech

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/22/tech/100-thieves-biggest-esports-facility/index.html

The biggest esports facility in the US has training rooms, an apparel shop and lavish gaming chairs - CNN

Gaming company 100 Thieves has built the biggest esports facility in the United States. Located in Culver City, Los Angeles, the 15,000-square-foot compound may have an arcade and an outdoor basketball hoop, but it also has designated training rooms for playing video games professionally.

tech, The biggest esports facility in the US has training rooms, an apparel shop and lavish gaming chairs - CNN

The biggest esports facility in the US has training rooms, an apparel shop and lavish gaming chairs

New York (CNN Business)Gaming company 100 Thieves has built the biggest esports facility in the United States. Located in Culver City, Los Angeles, the 15,000-square-foot compound may have an arcade and an outdoor basketball hoop, but it also has designated training rooms for playing video games professionally.Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey was present Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Square's Cash App is a sponsor of the building.100 Thieves, which was founded in 2017, is best known for selling apparel and having famous "Fortnite" streamers and pro players who compete in games like "League of Legends" and "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive." The new building has rooms dedicated to gaming including a "Fortnite" room, a "League of Legends" room and a "CS:GO" room. The rooms are decked with gaming chairs that retail for hundreds of dollars each and PC gaming rigs.The new building, dubbed the "100 Thieves Cash App Compound" after its sponsor, is a warehouse that took about nine months to complete. Neighbors include Nike LA and Beats Electronics. Robinson said that the apparel shop will be open to the public a few times a year when 100 Thieves drops new clothes for purchase. It's designed with an open-office layout so that passersby will be able to glimpse content creators' workstations.Read More"From the stereotypes of having kids in their basements or how people are nerds to now seeing what [competitive gaming] has been building into and what it's become, it's an honor to take part in it. When everyone sees the big reveal today, they'll really have their jaws drop," Jack "CouRage" Dunlop, a popular Fortnite streamer with 100 Thieves, told CNN Business.The unveiling of the lavish, multimillion-dollar building reveals what the 100 Thieves was spending its large investment on when it declined to participate in the Call of Duty League, an expensive franchise that holds its first match this weekend. Last August, CEO Matt Haag announced that 100 Thieves could not afford to participate in the league and "everyone in our entire company is upset." "For us to make such a costly investment into Call of Duty would possibly jeopardize everything that this company has been building over the last year and half and two years for me. And it's just a risk that we can't take right now," said Haag. "To make a financial commitment as large as this just isn't possible for us right now...I'm just bummed."The building is designed with an open-office layout so that passersby will be able to glimpse content creators' workstations.At the time, the announcement drew eyebrows from industry watchers, who noted that Haag is a former professional "Call of Duty" player with strong ties to the franchise and that the company had announced in July it raised an additional $35 million.100 Thieves President and COO John Robinson told CNN Business the company had been working on building the esports facility while pursuing the Call of Duty League, but "ultimately decided that Call of Duty wasn't the right fit for us."Teams had to pay $25 million to join the Call of Duty League, ESPN reported last March. Call of Duty League Commissioner Johanna Faries declined to comment on economics but said "it was great how much demand there was for franchising in the first season."Faries told CNN Business in January, "Everyone who has become part of our ownership group clearly understands the vision of the business."100 Thieves has raised $60 million in funding from investors including rapper Drake and co-CEO of Salesforce, Marc Benioff. "It's nice to have such a significant amount of investment behind us, but we're definitely not burning through that in a significant way," said Robinson."We are not profitable yet," he said. "We're getting closer and it's certainly in the near term future for us."

George Ramsay, CNN Video produced by Noura Abou Zeinab

2020-03-16 15:59:22

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/16/sport/esports-football-coronavirus-spt-intl/index.html

Football stars go head-to-head over video games as coronavirus suspends play - CNN

With matches postponed and teams self-isolating, football stars are finding novel ways to keep their competitive juices flowing during the coronavirus outbreak.

sport, Football stars go head-to-head over video games as coronavirus suspends play - CNN

Football stars go head-to-head over video games as coronavirus suspends play

(CNN)With matches postponed and teams self-isolating, football stars are finding novel ways to keep their competitive juices flowing during the coronavirus outbreak. Notably players have gone head-to-head over video games during a weekend when all of Europe's top leagues were suspended. My man @IbaiLlanos reaching 62k ccu on Twitch shoutcasting two football players 1on1ing each other on FIFA pic.twitter.com/epgTyNsrkU— Carlos - ocelote (@CarlosR) March 15, 2020 Spanish players Sergio Reguilon and Borja Iglesias played out the Seville derby on FIFA -- defender Regulion, on loan from Real Madrid, playing as Sevilla, and striker Iglesias representing his Real Betis side. The real match was scheduled to be played on Sunday, but all La Liga fixtures have been postponed until April 3 amid the coronavirus outbreak. READ: Premier League in limbo as chiefs consider 'radical solutions' to finish seasonRead MoreAt its peak, 62,000 people watched a stream of the game, which was hosted by esports personality Ibai."As a sports athlete, you don't spend more than three or four hours a day doing that so you have a lot of off time and a lot of that off time is spent doing video games," Carlos Rodriguez, founder and owner of G2 Esports team which hosted the match, told CNN Sport."These two worlds collide a lot ... these athletes both play and watch a lot of esports and video game related stuff. "It's only natural for them. They know who are (esports') biggest stars, who are the best players, and of course they want to play with them."READ: Brazilian soccer stars wear face masks in protest at playing match amid coronavirus pandemicBorja Iglesias receives a pass against Real Valladolid in August last year.Rodriguez says that the crossover between real and virtual sports is beneficial to both communities in terms of bringing in new fans, adding that the streaming numbers of the Seville derby were two or three times greater than usual. "If an athlete decides to stream you will undoubtedly get good numbers because these guys are really large and the gaming community really loves it when they get embraced by known personalities," said Rodriguez."When you go out and decide to stream or play a video game in front of everybody, people will be wanting to watch it definitely."The virtual Seville derby ended 6-5 in Betis' favor after Iglesias scored the winning goal -- with himself.Ibai, a content creator for G2, also posted a video where he explained to Reguilon, Iglesias, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Borussia Dortmund's Achraf Hakimi how to play League of Legends.READ: Coronavirus outbreak provides sobering reality for sportsMeanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, defender Sead Kolasinac and PSG winger Julian Draxler live streamed their sessions playing popular video game Fortnite.Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi (center) and Mesut Ozil (right) have been gaming while football has been postponed.Thousands of viewers have been watching on Ozil's Twitch profile and the players are using their time spent gaming to raise money for sporting charity BigShoe.It's not just players who are moving fixtures online -- teams have been at it, too. 🤷‍♂️ Sure, connect four is cool but we've got a better idea!We need 63 other teams to enter a knock-out FIFA 20 tournament.To enter, all we need is the club to RT this tweet.We will host a live draw this Tuesday...🙏 for an away day to @ManCity #UltimateQuaranTeam #LOFC pic.twitter.com/7aycsrn48r— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) March 15, 2020 English club Leyton Orient is setting up a knockout tournament on FIFA, with teams from Australia, Denmark and the Netherlands -- as well as from England, Scotland and Ireland -- all agreeing to take part.The idea, which started after football club's Twitter accounts played each other at Connect 4, will see sides put forward a representative to play as their club on FIFA.The initial competition -- dubbed FIFA Quaran-Team, a play on the game mode FIFA Ultimate Team -- would have featured 64 teams but it has swelled to 128 after a high level of interest on social media. It seems fans can breathe a slight sigh of relief; maybe there will be some sort of football to watch after all.

Jack Bantock and Nina Avramova, CNN Video by Finn McSkimming, CNN

2021-10-19 09:35:42

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/19/football/lena-guldenpfennig-leipzig-esports-spt-intl/index.html

RB Leipzig: Trailblazing footballer Lena Güldenpfennig balancing her on-pitch duties with an esports career - CNN

There is a young German forward, playing in the Bundesliga, who scores hundreds of goals every week.

football, RB Leipzig: Trailblazing footballer Lena Güldenpfennig balancing her on-pitch duties with an esports career - CNN

She's a pro soccer player and a pro esports athlete: Meet RB Leipzig's Lena Güldenpfennig

(CNN)There is a young German forward, playing in the Bundesliga, who scores hundreds of goals every week.Before Bayern Munich begins preparing the paperwork for a bid, there is a small disclaimer -- many of these goals are scored in the virtual arena of EA Sports' FIFA video game series.But such a caveat doesn't make the daily balancing act of 20-year-old Lena Güldenpfennig, a striker for RB Leipzig by day and professional player for the club's esports team RBLZ Gaming by night, any less impressive. It's a multitasking marvel made all the more remarkable by the fact that Güldenpfennig spends the first six hours of the day in school as part of her training to become a kindergarten teacher."This is just my daily routine," Güldenpfennig explains.Read More"I have it every day and I enjoy it very much. I like doing all of this, which is why it works. If it's fun, then you enjoy doing it, without stress."Lena Güldenpfennig plays for RB Leipzig's U23 women's side, but also plays professional esports with Leipzig's RBLZ Gaming.Having joined RB Leipzig's footballing academy as a youngster, Güldenpfennig's excellence on the virtual pitch was cultivated during her years at boarding school. As is the case for many, her passion for gaming was forged by the desire to beat her friends -- perhaps it was inevitable that, given her other life as a pro footballer, she was destined to take her competitiveness to the highest level.READ: Arsenal's virtual Thierry Henry on the inaugural ePremier League When European football came to a standstill early last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, many footballers put up their feet and picked up their controllers to scratch their competitive itch, but Güldenpfennig had loftier aims. Having had "a little" more time to spend with the game -- last year's edition of FIFA 21 -- she entered a German Football Association (DFB) online tournament.She ended up winning and her performance did not go unnoticed. The following day, she was contacted by RBLZ Gaming, who offered her a chance to join their team.Güldenpfennig started to play more of FIFA the game during lockdown, eventually entering a DFB tournament and winning, catching the attention of RBLZ Gaming.PioneerOne year on and she is already a history maker. In March, she became the first ever woman to play in the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL) -- a league contested by esports sides representing 26 real life clubs across Germany's top two divisions.Playing two doubles matches in the South-East division of the club championship against TSG Hoffenheim and FC Nürnberg, Güldenpfenning fired home the first two goals of her VBL career, including a sweetly struck volley. The goal itself was as impressive as it was poignant -- a goal scored by a woman in professional FIFA esports remains a collectors item in a male-dominated landscape. Güldenpfennig posing with a RBLZ Gaming banner with her name.A look at the VBL's current squad rosters paints a pretty bleak picture as regards gender diversity. Of the 107 listed players across all 26 squads, just two women feature -- Lena and Anna Klink of Bayer Leverkusen. At the last FIFA eWorld Cup in 2019 -- held at the O2 Arena in London with a $500,000 prize pot -- all 32 finalists were male. Not that Güldenpfennig is deterred. "I want to encourage women that more women have the courage to simply show, 'Here, I can do this too,'" Güldenpfennig said."I would just advise them they shouldn't hide and definitely don't be afraid of the boys and men."I want to continue to show here, I have been the first woman -- you can do this too."Güldenpfennig practicing some moves on the pitch with some of her RBLZ Gaming teammates.Alongside a lack of representation, sexist abuse, be it via game chat or social media, has often made online gaming a toxic environment for women."There is the occasional message, which appears in my Instagram inbox," Güldenpfennig admitted."But I didn't take these to heart and no woman in esports should take these to heart either".'FIFA is more stressful'With her real-life football season underway and FIFA's latest edition in the series -- FIFA 22 -- released last month, Güldenpfennig is firing on all cylinders. She has just under a month to get accustomed to the new game before the 2021-22 VBL season gets underway on November 10.Though while many footballers turn to the virtual replica of their sport to wind down, Güldenpfennig actually finds the video game version more mentally taxing than the real thing. "In fact, FIFA is more stressful," Güldenpfennig said, a revelation that will strike a chord with those who annually sacrifice broken controllers to the notorious frustrations of competitive video games."You don't think of it, but you have to be really present each second. If you switch off once, then this can lead to serious mistakes."What always annoys me is losing or conceding goals. There, I still switch off a little. Another annoying thing is goal cheering or time wasting -- you shouldn't do that, you don't have to do that."Güldenpfennig thinks that esports is more mentally stressful than real life football.Fortunately, Güldenpfennig's unique advantage -- being able to call upon a lifetime of professional football insight -- puts her in the best possible position to dribble around such frustrations."There's a lot you can transfer into real-life football," Güldenpfennig said."In terms of tactics, in terms of pressing situations -- you can transfer the overview from FIFA into real-life football and the other way around too, so both are reflected in each other a little bit."It's in the gameFIFA's flagship mode -- Ultimate Team -- sees players work to build and compete with their own dream team of footballers past and present. Colloquially referred to as 'cards' -- as per their trading card style design -- in-game footballers can be bought and sold on an open market. It's no secret that pro footballers pay close attention to their in-game avatars. A nine-year-old tweet from Roma striker Tammy Abraham that recently resurfaced -- "while your [sic] at home playing [FIFA] 12 I'm working hard to be featuring in FIFA 16" -- wonderfully encapsulated this connection. Güldenpfennig is no different, though given that only a limited number of real-life women's players from a select set of national teams are in FIFA 22, she awaits the chance to truly bring her double life full-circle. "It would be cool if I had my own card," she laughs, "I think that's a little dream that each FIFA player has. I don't know if others would play me then!"Based on Güldenpfennig's answer to the question of her own statistics, her self-depreciation would likely be misplaced. Güldenpfennig with her fellow RBLZ Gaming teammates.Pace has long reigned supreme in FIFA -- Kylian Mbappé, the fastest player in this year's edition, is currently the most expensive player on Ultimate Team -- and Güldenpfennig's description of her potential avatar puts her in a similar bracket."I would give myself the highest [score] in shooting and in the techniques -- so in dribbling and passing," she said."Defending is not really my thing -- I shoot the goals and prepare them. So the worst would really be physical and defending. But the rest -- pace and shooting -- would be okay."But whether its on the pitch or on the screen, it's safe to say Güldenpfennig will still be excelling.

Ben Church, CNN

2020-10-30 10:25:06

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/30/sport/league-of-legends-worlds-isolation-cmd-spt-intl/index.html

Worlds 2020: Surviving two weeks of isolation ahead of the biggest esports tournament - CNN

Imagine being forced to spend two weeks alone in a hotel room ahead of the biggest competition of your life.

sport, Worlds 2020: Surviving two weeks of isolation ahead of the biggest esports tournament - CNN

'I've never been so happy to see a piece of bacon.' Surviving two weeks of isolation to play video games

(CNN)Imagine being forced to spend two weeks alone in a hotel room ahead of the biggest competition of your life. That was the scenario players of the 22 teams competing at this year's League of Legends World Championship in Shanghai, China, faced before they were able to take part in the competition which culminates this weekend. There had been fears the world's biggest esports tournament wouldn't go ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic, but teams from across the world were allowed to compete if they self-isolated for 14 days. Players and coaches were confined to four walls for the entirety of the quarantine, only opening the room door to collect food, get tested for the virus and dispose of rubbish. James MacCormack, head coach of European team MAD Lions -- a team knocked out during the play-in stages -- remembers feeling a little uncertain when he heard of what was in store. Read More"Our initial reaction was that it was going to suck but that, as professional gamers, it will be fine," he tells CNN Sport."We are used to being indoors for long periods of time. We'd be busy, we'd be practicing. So in terms of that, it would be fine."A player arrives at the League of Legends World Championship. READ: League of Legends is growing. Traditional sports better watch out.'Really, really odd'The reality of the situation became crystal clear as soon as the teams landed in Shangai. Their belongings were sanitized and paperwork filled out before they were whisked off in a shuttle bus to a nearby hotel. MacCormack says the procedure was meticulous and, after they reached the quarantine hotel, staff "popped" them into a room and "that was kind of it." The room, he says, was what you'd expect, but with a few tailored additions. Organizers had equipped them with an exercise bike, a small desk, a gaming chair, and a computer to help with practice and preparation.MacCormack was fortunate enough to have a vista of the coast. Many others, however, were stuck with a view of a wall. He says the initial few days were difficult to deal with as players adjusted to their new settings and suffered from jet lag. "The days were really, really odd because your sleep schedule is messed up and you're out of contact with everyone else," he says."You're still getting used to it and you don't have a good routine yet. So those couple of days were actually the hardest for me."READ: Virtual stars of NBA esports league return remotely for exciting new seasonJUST WATCHEDRiot Games and 'Ocelote' on the new LECReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRiot Games and 'Ocelote' on the new LEC 13:38Mental challenge As coach, MacCormack felt extra responsibility to look after his players and created a daily routine for them all to follow. It included waking up at the same time, eating meals together over video chat, and plenty of practice sessions before the start of the tournament. However, he says the mental strain of working, sleeping and eating in one room was tough and got harder as the days went on. "I felt really powerless to do anything about it. It's really hard to know what to do in that situation," he says."We had some really good things, like when our performance manager and our sports psychologist went round to all of our families and all of our friends, and they got them all to record videos."There were ways we had of taking the edge off."Josh Leesman, head Coach of North America's Team Liquid, found it much harder to do his job in such demanding conditions. "It's just way less optimal than being in person because some of my strengths are just understanding the mood in the room or being able to empathize with the body language of a player," he tells CNN Sport."During practice we didn't have webcams on because the bandwidth in the hotel wasn't good enough to support it."Team Liquid was knocked out in the group stages of the tournament and whilst Leesman says the preparation wasn't ideal, he didn't use it as an excuse for not progressing further. The final takes place on October 31 between SN Gaming and Damwon."I think we realized it was a level playing field. So all of the international teams that came in, we're in the same quarantine hotel, eating the same food with the same computers and the same desk," he says.READ: Football stars go head-to-head over video games as coronavirus suspends playDay 3 of quarantine:-Woke up around 8:30, had 2 good nights' sleep, so no more jetlag👍-First day of solid morning routine (made my bed, meditated, did my stretching/mobility exercises, shaved)✅-Feeling pretty chilled overall, looking forward to scrims!😃🦁 pic.twitter.com/2Q2jGd5Mfv— James MacCormack (@MacCLol) September 11, 2020 The foodWhilst working on tactics and practicing took up a lot of the day, players and coaches were left with plenty of spare time. Some exercised, while others binge-watched Netflix. But all had one experience in common: the food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were served at the same time every day by staff in full hazmat suits, with an option of either Western or local food. "A lot of the time your food would arrive and it wouldn't exactly be hot anymore, which was not pleasant," MacCormack says."We had players that lost a lot of weight during the quarantine ... because they just didn't like the food."After being deprived of quality meals for two weeks, many of the players and coaches had one thing on their mind after they were finally transferred to new accommodation: the hotel buffet. "It was honestly like seeing 100 kids on Christmas Day," he says."I'm actually welling up a bit now because I remember sitting down with a full English breakfast and just thinking that I've never been so happy in my entire life to see a piece of bacon."JUST WATCHEDThe journey to becoming one of the world's best pro gamersReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe journey to becoming one of the world's best pro gamers 07:00READ: Millions catch glimpse of the 'future' at League of Legends world finalNo crowd Once quarantine was over, teams were allowed to practice together but had little time to do so before the tournament began on September 25. Nicolaj Jensen, a player for Team Liquid, had found two weeks alone challenging but said it was worth the hardship to compete on the live stage. The competition is the most-viewed esports championship in the world, with over 100 million people watching the 2019 edition. With a Chinese team once again in the final this year, viewership figures are expected to reach similar or higher levels at the weekend. However, regulations dictated that fans would not be able to pack into the stadium to watch the gamers play live. "When you hear the crowd get louder, you can feel it. If you make a great play and you notice the crowd, it gets into your head," Jensen tells CNN Sport. "It was obviously a bit less than ideal circumstances. I would have loved to play Worlds with a crowd because that's what I look forward to the most."Like much in 2020, this year's championship has represented a new normal and participants have made the best of extraordinary circumstances. Despite the difficulties they faced, there are few regrets. "Hopefully we don't have to have another 14-day quarantine in 2021, but hopefully we'll look back on this championship and think 'wow, that was just a really unique experience'," says Leesman."I think any time you share something like that with a group of people, it does bring you closer together."

Shannon Liao, CNN Business

2020-04-03 17:54:46

business

tech

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/tech/esports-sports-canceled-coronavirus/index.html

Sports are canceled. Esports are still around - CNN

Esports are already online (obviously), but the pandemic is still creating huge challenges

tech, Sports are canceled. Esports are still around - CNN

Esports are already online (obviously), but the pandemic is still creating huge challenges

New York (CNN Business)Golf, basketball, hockey and other sports have all suspended their seasons. Major league baseball says it may start up in late spring. But competitive video gaming is going strong as esports tournaments move their operations completely online. Some companies, including the Electronic Sports League, Riot Games and Activision Blizzard (ATVI), resumed their competitions online after pulling events in the US, Europe and Asia with a brief hiatus or no delay."It's pretty incredible that both Overwatch League and Call of Duty League will be the only city-based leagues still fortunate enough to operate in this current environment," Pete Vlastelica, president and CEO of Activision Blizzard Esports, said in a statement to CNN Business. "I miss traditional sports, like we all do. At the same time I'm proud our leagues can compete online," he said, noting that Call of Duty League is still delayed but will be back online "soon." Activision did not comment on the delay.Esports experienced a 37% increase in the average number of viewers per tournament last quarter, compared to the same period last year, according to Stream Hatchet, a video game analytics company.Read MoreAs the esports industry draws more viewership online, it's also attracting new interest in a world where traditional sports are on pause."The changing environment is turning both consumer and advertiser attention toward the gaming video content space, with esports being part of this," said Nicole Pike, managing director of Nielsen Esports. Pro athletes are spending more time playing and streaming video games, and the US Navy recently launched an esports team called "Goats & Glory." (The United States Naval Academy's mascot is Bill the Goat.) The US Army and the US Air force already have esports teams."With esports being a billion dollar industry and millions of consumers, it was definitely a space we wanted to get into," Captain Matt "Smoke" Boren, chief marketing officer of the Navy Recruiting Command, told CNN Business. "At a time where a lot of people's activities have been disrupted, [sailors] can't do face-to-face team activities anymore. It's just a safe place to go to."Esports have long copied the playbook of traditional sports, organizing glitzy in-person events that emulate the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Some are now canceled.In February, an Electronic Sports League event ran without a live audience due to concerns by state officials in Katowice, Poland about coronavirus. "We suddenly had to scramble and tell everyone, 'Don't come,'" said Craig Levine, global chief strategy officer of ESL (Electronic Sports League). Due to the dynamic changes in the global health situation, the Gouverneur of Silesian Jarosław Wieczorek issued a decision to remove their approval regarding ESL hosting a mass event in Katowice, Poland. #IEM https://t.co/hak1sn98o7— Intel®ExtremeMasters (@IEM) February 27, 2020 Although some fans complained about the change on social media, online viewership for the "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive" tournament was record-breaking, said Levine, although the 11,000-person stadium in which it was held was eerily empty except for players and staff. Riot Games, creator of "League of Legends," announced last November that it would host its annual World Championship in Shanghai, China but that plan is in now in doubt. The annual event typically falls in November.It might mean doing without a live audience or becoming an online-only event. "We're scenario-planning around all our options," said Riot Games' head of partnerships Naz Aletaha. For now, Riot's advertisers are understanding, she said. The video game company currently has deals with Mercedes-Benz in China, Louis Vuitton, MasterCard, State Farm and others.Never thought I'd produce the #LCS from home! Thanks everyone behind the scenes of @LCSOfficial for working tirelessly to get us back on air. #howilcs pic.twitter.com/OjWqvPkrUp— Arthur Chandra (@ArthurChandra) March 21, 2020 When an esports event goes fully online, it creates disruption for gaming companies and their participants. There are fewer gigs for the freelancers who normally work those events. And instead of having a referee onsite, players must be monitored from their homes to guarantee none cheat. Companies increasingly require players to install tracking software and cameras in their homes. Players may also face different internet speeds rom their home countries when they compete in a global event. ESL's Levine said that for now, regional events are being held to prevent this issue.It's unclear whether companies can recoup losses from canceled in-person events with increased viewership into ad and partnership revenue. For the ESL, the increase in Twitch views doesn't translate "dollar for dollar" into revenue, according to Levine. And the company bore a significant loss when it had to refund tickets for its Polish event."We're not able to directly benefit from [increased viewership of online only games]. But we've been around for 20 years and we're big believers," said Levine, who noted that such events cost much less to run than physical ones. "We'll be surviving and thriving."

Story by Nell Lewis; video by Dan Tham, CNN

2020-09-01 04:15:10

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/01/europe/ryan-hart-video-gamer-spc-intl/index.html

How video games saved Ryan Hart from the streets - CNN

At 18 he was homeless -- now he's a gaming world champion.

europe, How video games saved Ryan Hart from the streets - CNN

Video games saved this man from the streets

(CNN)At the age of 18, Ryan Hart found himself homeless on the streets of London. His family had been evicted from their home in Croydon, southwest of the city, following problems with a landlord.Today, more than 20 years later, Hart is a world-famous gamer, with hundreds of championships and multiple Guinness world records to his name.Video games helped him to overcome life's hardships. They were his "sanctuary," he tells CNN. Hart dressed as the Street Fighter character Ryu with Marie-Laure Norindr, the first woman to win a pro-Street Fighter event, in 2012.Hart first walked into an amusement arcade in 1989, at the age of 10. His mother gave him some spare change to play Golden Axe, a Sega game."The rules were obvious," he says. "Walk along and try to defeat as many bad guys as you can without losing yourself."Read MoreHart was instantly hooked -- and he discovered his natural talent. Within five years, he had been scouted to play in a tournament at the Trocadero Centre, an entertainment complex in London's Piccadilly Circus, and by the age of 17 he had won his first national title.Arcades become a havenAround the same time life was getting tough at home, and Hart began sleeping rough. "I'd have a tournament coming up, but in the back of my head I'd be worried about where I'd be sleeping that night," he says.Why now is the time to embrace video games for kids "There were times when I honestly did not know where my next meal would come from," he adds.This took a toll on his mental health. Hart fell into a depression and felt like he was "snowballing downhill."Arcades became his safe space. Entrance was free of charge and while there, Hart felt like he was part of a community. "That was my home, my sanctuary, a place where I could leave my problems at the door and nothing else mattered," says Hart.As a troubled teen, gaming gave him confidence -- "just learning that I was actually good at something," he says.In 2016, Hart set a Guinness world record for beating 260 people in a row at Street Fighter V during an 11-hour session with no breaks.It also brought him opportunity.In 1998, Hart was invited to his first overseas tournament in Japan, competing in Tekken 3, a fighting game created by Japanese developer Namco, and the King of Fighters, developed by SNK.In Tokyo he won his first world title, and from that moment everything changed. Since then, Hart has traveled across the globe and won more than 400 fighting game events. He has earned nicknames including "Robotnik," "Prodigal Son," and "The Terminator," and has more than 5,000 followers on the streaming site Twitch -- where he broadcasts his gaming and teaches tricks to fans.Hart's success at gaming has even led to a fruitful modelling career. Here, he poses for hat brand Stetson Europe.In the lead up to a competition Hart says he has an "isolated lifestyle," training for up to eight hours a day, five to six days a week. While he acknowledges that some people might see this as obsessive, for him it's a job. "It's important to know when it's time to come up for air though," he says, adding that video gaming can be problematic when "it becomes an obsession and blocks out other important areas of a person's life." Hart's lengthy career has tracked the rapid growth of the gaming industry. The global esports market exceeded $1 billion in revenue last year, with tournaments attracting more than 400 million viewers, according to research by online video game retailer Green Man Gaming.Prize money has rocketed. The same report notes that in 2000, the total money won in esports tournaments globally was $700,000. Last year, it topped $173 million. Hart believes that video gaming offers an escape -- especially to people like himself who may not fit within the social norm. It can be a tool for meeting people, for traveling, and for finding a sense of community, he says."Gaming is a great comfort to someone who couldn't connect with anything before that," he says.An earlier version of this article contained a reference to Ryan Hart's wealth, which has been removed.

Ben Church, CNN

2020-08-19 09:21:08

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https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/19/sport/league-of-legends-esports-growth-spt-intl-cmd/index.html

League of Legends is growing. Traditional sports better watch out. - CNN

With its millions of viewers, lucrative titles and sell-out competitions, it should come as no surprise that the world of esports is beginning to challenge some of Europe's most established sports.

sport, League of Legends is growing. Traditional sports better watch out. - CNN

League of Legends is growing. Traditional sports better watch out.

(CNN)With its millions of viewers, lucrative titles and sell-out competitions, it should come as no surprise that the world of esports is beginning to challenge some of Europe's most established sports. While the industry is still relatively young, its continued growth shows no sign of slowing with sponsors keen to capitalize on the emerging market. League of Legends remains one of the industry's most successful titles and, according to new data from sports industry analysts Nielsen, it's a huge hit with younger audiences in Europe. A recent study found that the League of Legends European Champion (LEC) has a higher Average Minute Audience (AMA) than sports such as tennis, basketball and rugby union for those aged between 16 and 29.AMA calculates the average number of people who were watching a specific game or event at any given point in time. Read MoreThe study compared the AMA of European viewers during last year's broadcasts of rugby union's Heineken Champions Cup, a tennis grand slam, the UEFA Champions League and the LEC. "The LEC has been growing double digits for the last six semesters. Year on year," Alban Dechelotte, head of business development EU at Riot, the game's publisher, told CNN Sport."It's kind of amazing and a challenge to see what is next for us -- how do we keep growing and keep bringing more value to fans?" The League of Legends World Championship Finals in 2019. Bright future The data also determined that the average age of an LEC fan is just 23 years old -- 19 years younger than the average age of soccer fans -- showing the lifelong potential of its supporter base. Viewers of the game also tend to be from a specific demographic; namely young, single men at either high school or college. For Dechelotte, this indicates not only a bright future for the game but an opportunity to diversify and broaden its audience.He says the industry already has more parents involved and believes people's passion for esports will eventually be passed down naturally between generations. "It's happening," he said. "We show that parents can be proud of their children for playing esports."Our dream is to have, one day, on the fridge, parents putting a [medal] for something that the kid did on League of Legends, the same way they do for judo." While the LEC continues to grow within the ever-expanding esports industry, sponsors are flocking to the game.Dechelotte has identified three different generations of brands to have been involved with the LEC since it began, showing the evolution and increasing acceptability of the industry. Initially, only tech organizations were keen for players to be using their equipment. Then came brands, including food companies, that wanted to target viewers of live events. And, most recently, brands such as Louis Vuitton have wanted to collaborate with the industry. "We are very well positioned in terms of audiences, in terms of vision, in terms of the way we do things and that makes us a bit different," Dechelotte said, adding the Covid-19 pandemic had seen an increase of viewers while regular sports were in lockdown. JUST WATCHEDElite military vets help Splyce get aheadReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHElite military vets help Splyce get ahead 03:53Schalke FCSuch promising potential has encouraged traditional soccer organizations to develop an esports branch, such as German club Schalke.Tim Reichert is now the club's chief gaming officer and has been behind its successful development into the LEC.Reichert had played professional football in Germany but made a transition to esports after retirement, following his brother into the industry. As an avid gamer throughout his life, Reichert began to see the potential a title, such as League of Legends, had and still has. "I realized this will be a thing for sport organizations at one point. It was quite obvious for me to see that the atmosphere, the people, the crowd and also the viewership will be at some point interesting," he told CNN Sport. "I was quite convinced that this will be the case in at least a very few esport titles and I think I was right.""The target group [for LEC] is perfect, the viewership is great, the publisher is strong and it's also not like these bloody sports, which are very complicated in sport organizations due to ethics problems."JUST WATCHEDFaZe Tass, Arsenal and the ePremier LeagueReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFaZe Tass, Arsenal and the ePremier League 08:15'We have a huge impact'Despite Schalke initially coming to him for help, Reichert faced challenges to convince people an esports branch would be positive for the wider organization. He admits the last four years have been a roller-coaster but says the branch can now be seen as a separate asset from the traditional football side."This is something you cannot even pay with a marketing budget," he said, speaking of the impact an esports branch can have. "We have a huge impact on the Schalke FC brand, even if it's not football. People buying our jerseys. It's not a real revenue for the size of the club, but it's a start."People start loving the esports brand and then also maybe the football brand and if you're a Schalke fan, most of the time, your kids will also be a Schalke fan so they will be most likely a fan of the esports organization at some point."There are so many add-ons to just the business we are creating. It's actually very surprising that we are the only one who is doing it on this size."While many in esports say the pandemic has helped accelerate the industry -- with more people viewing digital content -- Reichert says such growth would have happened naturally.And like almost all organizations, he laments the financial impact Covid-19 has had. "There won't be a year in the next 20 or 30 years, where we have a decrease in viewership for esports. There is no doubt for me," he said."Coronavirus helped for the future a little bit, but not that much. There was also a downside. A lot of the companies, especially big companies, are struggling with coronavirus. "Media spending, marketing spending just decreased and this also hits the esports market. So it's not like everything was great with coronavirus. Not at all."

Ben Church, CNN

2019-10-12 09:32:38

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/12/sport/esports-g2-league-of-legends-perkz-caps-worlds-spt-intl/index.html

League of Legends: G2 Esports stars' journey to Worlds - CNN

Luka "Perkz" Perkovic still remembers the first time he picked up a computer mouse.

sport, League of Legends: G2 Esports stars' journey to Worlds - CNN

How to become one of the world's best professional gamers

(CNN)Luka "Perkz" Perkovic still remembers the first time he picked up a computer mouse and keyboard.He was a toddler and had been watching his older brother enjoy the virtual world of video games before he finally got his turn. "I thought it looked really cool," the 21-year-old told CNN Sport. "I didn't really know what to do." From that moment, things changed for the Croatian who has gone on to become one of the best League of Legends (League) players in the world. Now representing gaming powerhouse G2 Esports, Perkz is playing in the final of the lucrative Worlds 2019 -- a global tournament that sees the planet's best League teams come head to head. Read MoreREAD: The elite military veterans nurturing the new generation of professional gamers View this post on Instagram WE BEAT FNATIC ! This is an important win as we are looking very good for securing first place and beating them makes me excited for playoffs. #lec #playoffs A post shared by Rasmus Winther (@g2.caps_) on Aug 4, 2019 at 11:55am PDT 'Next level addiction'Perkz really became hooked during a spell off school after a period of health issues when he whiled away the hours gaming in his bedroom. Little did he know that this new hobby would soon become his profession. It wasn't an easy path though. As he spent more and more hours honing his skills online, his grades at high school began to suffer which began to concern his parents. "I was waking up when my parents would go to sleep, to go play some more League. So they had no know idea that I was awake during the night," he laughed."You know, it really sounds like real next level addiction or something right?" Even so a professional career playing never seemed doable with the esports boom seemingly so far away from his hometown in Croatia. It wasn't until he spent a summer playing a challenger series that both he and his parents realized the Perkz's potential. Having joined G2 Esports in 2015 he now travels the world and his talents have seen him acquire a social media following reaching into the hundreds of thousands. READ: Arsenal's virtual Thierry Henry on the inaugural ePremier LeagueREAD: Esports player banned from tournament after calling for Hong Kong 'revolution'Luka "Perkz" Perkovic (left) and Rasmus "Caps" Winther (right). 'Always seen it as a job'It's a route to the top that's not unfamiliar to Perkz's current teammate Rasmus "Caps" Winther who joined the team just last year. For Caps, 19, the idea of a professional esports career was always in the back of his mind having grown up in a gaming mad family in Denmark. His older brother was a professional Dota player which meant his parents were more sympathetic to his ambitions to make it in the competitive world of League, a game which he loved as soon as he picked it up. "I think I've always seen it as a job," Caps told CNN Sport, from the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London."Just because I've always aimed to be the best. I always knew that it takes."Even before turning professional, Caps was having to sacrifice a lot at a young age to maintain his level. Like Perkz, his grades began to suffer and Caps' free time outside of school was spent in front of a screen but all the hard work paid off as soon as he stepped on the big stage. It was during a summer spent in Turkey where the Dane convinced both his parents and himself that this was where he belonged."It was kind of like a surreal experience. I still remember the feeling of making [the first] big play onstage," he reflected. "You play so many League games [...] and then to play a game where you actually hear people clapping and you can see people at the back of the PC. It just feels different." READ: Luxury brands are working with video games. Louis Vuitton is the latestJUST WATCHEDG2 Esports' Wunder, Mikyx and Jankos on WorldsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHG2 Esports' Wunder, Mikyx and Jankos on Worlds 03:42Online hateAlthough both young men are enjoying life as a professional game, such a career hasn't been without its pitfalls. Just as fledgling soccer players have to adapt to life in the limelight, esports stars must learn to cope with criticism from an often volatile online audience. It's a lesson that Perkz learned the hard way after facing a tirade of online abuse as he began to make a name for himself. Now adopting a slightly more considered online persona, there was a time when the 21-year-old was notoriously outspoken. He blames his "trolling" for the backlash he received after enduring a difficult run of form in his first year as a professional. "It really backfired on me like really, really, hard, in ways that I think many people can't even begin to imagine," he said, saying the abuse had made him reconsider a career in esports."I was getting blamed by thousands and thousands of people. I couldn't even go on the internet because it would be such a mental devastation every time I would read a comment.It's a reality that Caps has also come to accept but fortunately for the players at G2 Esports, they can seek advice from its charismatic owner Carlos "ocelote" Rodríguez who, as a former pro, has helped his young gamers adapt to life in the limelight. Elite esports is very much a mental game and players are often encouraged to take time away from the screen to allow their minds to reboot.For Perkz, music is the tonic he needs to switch off. Having followed in his sister's footsteps, he is a trained classical guitarist and is grateful to have a hobby so different from his career. "It's kind of really changed me in a way," he added. "It's really relaxing for me to be able to have something [other] than League."READ: She's 13 and was born deaf. Now Ewok is making history playing 'Fortnite' View this post on Instagram Still practicing asturias in free time, slightly better than a year ago 😎 A post shared by Luka Perkovic (@g2perkz) on Sep 21, 2019 at 9:30am PDT Eyes on Worlds Both Caps and Perkz are now on the verge of doing something very special in the world of League of Legends. The current team has won every tournament it's played in this year and is now the favorite to win the Worlds final on November 10 against Chinese team FunPlus Phoenix. However, neither player is worried about the extra pressure that comes with the lofty expectations and both are aware they'll be the ones to beat. "Yeah I can imagine, I think about it sometimes," Perkz said when asked whether he thinks about lifting that glittering trophy on Sunday."I think about it more of like a motivation to just keep going. Because seasons are long for me, every season is very long and very taxing."