Category: Sports

Norway’s Johannes Klaebo achieved unprecedented success on the slopes of Italy, claiming victory in every men’s cross-country skiing competition while a playful canine unexpectedly became an internet sensation during the Milano Cortina Olympics.

The 29-year-old Norwegian athlete made Winter Games history by capturing gold in all six men’s cross-country events, marking the first time any competitor has won six gold medals in a single Winter Olympics. His remarkable performance brings his Olympic career total to 11 gold medals, establishing a new Winter Olympics record and trailing only American swimmer Michael Phelps, who holds 23 golds overall.

French competitor Mathis Desloges, who earned three silver medals, praised the champion’s abilities: “He’s the best skier in the world. I will try to just do the same, maybe one day.”

The athlete known as “King Klaebo” dominated his competition with significant leads in nearly every competition, capturing social media attention when he powered up a challenging final ascent on his skis during one of his defining moments of the Games.

“It’s hard to find the words. It’s unbelievable,” Klaebo expressed following his final competition. “Even though I’ve been nervous at some of the competitions, it still feels really good to race, and I’m always looking forward to going out there, fighting for the medals.”

American men’s cross-country skiing also reached new heights, securing two medals for the first time in five decades and achieving their best-ever Olympic performance, suggesting a potential shift toward greater U.S. competitiveness in the discipline. Ben Ogden earned silver in the men’s classic sprint and added another medal with teammate Gus Schumacher in the team sprint event.

“This era started a while ago, but it’s cool to prove it at the Olympics,” Schumacher commented.

Sweden’s women nearly claimed every gold medal available, falling short only in the women’s relay due to multiple dramatic crashes by Ebba Andersson at the race’s start. Despite the setbacks, the Swedish team recovered to finish second behind Norway, overcoming a deficit of more than one minute and 20 seconds after Andersson lost equipment during a spectacular tumble.

These Olympics introduced the women’s 50km classic race for the first time, generating mixed reactions among competitors. Sweden’s Ebba Andersson dominated this inaugural event, winning by an impressive two minutes and 15 seconds, though silver medalist Heidi Weng criticized the distance as excessive.

American skier Jessie Diggins, competing in her fourth and final Olympics, celebrated the milestone: “I’m so proud to be part of the group doing the first-ever (women’s Olympic Winter Games) 50km. We should have had it all along, but now we finally get it and that’s amazing.”

Diggins placed fifth in the 50km race and earned bronze in the 10km freestyle, though her results fell below expectations after sustaining an injury earlier in the competition.

Beyond Klaebo’s impressive uphill charge, another moment captured global attention when Nazgul, a two-year-old wolfhound, unexpectedly joined the women’s team sprint qualifying round.

Video footage of the dog running alongside two competitors became one of the most cherished highlights of the entire Olympics.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Johannes Lochner of Germany captured his second bobsled gold medal at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games on Sunday, taking the Four-Man competition in what he announced would be his final competitive race.

The German athlete’s victory marked another dominant performance for Germany’s sliding sports program during these Olympics. Fellow German Francesco Friedrich, the two-time defending champion in this event, finished second to claim silver.

Germany nearly achieved an unprecedented sweep of all three medal positions, but Switzerland’s Michael Vogt managed to edge out German pilot Adam Ammour for the bronze medal on the final run by just four hundredths of a second.

Throughout his career, Lochner has often been overshadowed by Friedrich’s success, earning two Olympic silver medals while competing against his compatriot. However, this season has belonged to Lochner, who maintained his excellent form to achieve this double gold performance.

Lochner’s Four-Man team included Thorsten Margis, who earned his fifth Olympic gold medal, along with Jorn Wenzel and Georg Fleischhauer. Fleischhauer had also served as Lochner’s brakeman during their Two-Man victory earlier in the Games.

“It’s unbelievable that my plan worked out so perfectly with my last run,” Lochner said. “I still can’t believe it, and it will take forever for it to sink in.”

“It’s simply a dream that’s been playing out in my head for two years. That it’s now true – indescribable. This is a moment for eternity,” the German athlete continued. “This is the most perfect ending ever.”

Entering the final day of competition, Lochner held a 0.43-second advantage over Friedrich. Racing first in the rotation, he extended that margin during his third run down the track.

With his competitors unable to mount any serious challenge or make significant mistakes that might have created opportunities, Lochner navigated his final trip down the Cortina course without incident, ultimately winning by a commanding 0.57 seconds.

The victory represented a historic fifth Olympic gold for Margis, making him the most decorated bobsledder in Olympic history after his decision to switch from Friedrich’s crew to join Lochner’s team.

“It’s a little bit difficult to put that in words,” Margis explained. “One and a half years ago, Hansi (Lochner) asked me to come in his sled and we made a plan. It’s quite cool if such a plan works out, and it’s pretty amazing to beat the most successful bobsleigh pilot in the world for our time (Friedrich).”

“I am a little bit overwhelmed with my feelings,” he added.

Friedrich’s silver medal performance was sufficient to secure second place comfortably. His collection of four golds and two silvers from Olympic competition now surpasses Andre Lange’s record, establishing him as the most successful pilot in Olympic bobsled history.

Ammour, the third German pilot, had climbed to third place on Saturday after a disappointing fifth-place finish in his opening run. However, he entered the final run with only a slim lead over his closest pursuers. Early errors during that crucial final descent cost him the medal, allowing Vogt to secure Switzerland’s first medal in this event since they also earned bronze in 2006.

The Winter Olympics welcomed its newest sport this week as ski mountaineering took center stage in Bormio, Italy, marking a historic moment for Milano Cortina’s only fresh addition to the Games program.

Despite challenging weather conditions with heavy snowfall, the competition proceeded without issues and attracted enthusiastic spectators, giving competitors confidence that this debut won’t be the sport’s final Olympic appearance.

European nations demonstrated their strength in the discipline during both Thursday’s individual sprint competitions and Saturday’s team relay event, confirming their continued leadership in ski mountaineering worldwide.

Spain achieved a remarkable milestone when Oriol Cardona Coll captured his nation’s first Winter Olympic gold medal since 1972 in the men’s sprint competition on Thursday.

In the women’s sprint event, Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton upset the favored competitor Emily Harrop from France to claim victory.

Saturday’s mixed relay format featured one male and one female athlete from each country working together. Harrop, perhaps motivated by her earlier defeat, took control early alongside teammate Thibault Anselmet. The French pair maintained their advantage throughout the entire race to secure a decisive win. Switzerland’s Fatton teamed with Jon Kistler for second place, while Spain’s Cardona Coll partnered with Ana Alonso Rodriguez to earn bronze.

Team USA delivered an impressive performance as Anna Gibson and Cam Smith climbed to an unexpected fourth-place finish in the relay competition.

The newly minted Olympic medalists expressed strong hopes that their sport will continue appearing in future Games rather than becoming a one-time showcase.

Gibson reported encountering significant enthusiasm for ski mountaineering throughout her Olympic journey. When questioned about her message to officials deciding the sport’s future inclusion, she responded: “I’d say go re-watch the race. That was awesome. And also turn up the volume so you can hear the crowd cheering. I think it speaks enough for itself.”

All ski mountaineering competitions at the Games achieved complete ticket sales, demonstrating strong public interest.

Given France’s success in earning medals across every ski mountaineering event at Milano Cortina, the nation appears unlikely to exclude the sport when hosting the 2030 Winter Olympics.

USA SkiMo’s Head of Sport Sarah Cookler announced in December her intention to advocate for the sport’s presence at the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. She particularly emphasized including longer individual competitions, which many consider the core of ski mountaineering. The decision to omit these events from Milano Cortina created controversy within the sport’s community.

Olympic champion Cardona Coll remains optimistic about expansion opportunities.

“I think it will grow, this time we are doing the sprint race and mixed relay, hopefully in the next Olympic Games, it’s also going to be the individual race, which is the queen race of ski mountaineering,” he stated.

Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson pulled away from the competition field to capture gold in Sunday’s historic 50-kilometer classic race, marking the first time women have competed at this distance in Olympic history.

The dominant performance in Tesero, Italy, served as sweet redemption for Andersson, who had experienced multiple tumbles during a relay competition that potentially prevented her team from earning gold.

Throughout these Milano-Cortina Games, Andersson has collected three runner-up finishes, including silver medals in both the skiathlon and 10-kilometer freestyle events, plus another second-place result following a strong relay comeback.

“That’s the point with sports. Sometimes you lose and sometimes you win, it’s both ups and downs. You just need to be patient in everything and trust the process, and that’s what I’ve been doing the past week,” she said.

Norway’s Heidi Weng captured the silver medal, crossing the finish line two minutes and 15 seconds after Andersson but maintaining a comfortable four-and-a-half-minute lead over bronze medalist Nadja Kaelin of Switzerland.

During the early stages, Andersson maintained the lead with Weng trailing closely, while other competitors battled for third place. Despite experiencing a minor tumble during an equipment change, Andersson managed to separate herself from Weng, and both athletes maintained secure positions for the race’s final half.

Kaelin made her decisive move during the concluding uphill section, pulling ahead of heavily favored American Jessie Diggins, who entered the competition as the top-ranked athlete.

“I tried until the end not to think about the medal, but then on the last uphill I was thinking, ‘OK, now let’s go for the medal’,” said Kaelin, who also earned silver in the team sprint competition.

Diggins, competing in her final Olympic event, finished fifth after recovering from her own fall during a ski change and collapsed upon reaching the finish line. Kaelin completed the course six minutes and 41 seconds behind Andersson.

Two Swedish medal contenders, Jonna Sundling and Frida Karlsson, withdrew from the competition due to illness, while Norway’s Astrid Oeyre Slind exited early.

“At first, I tried to fight for it, but then I realised that I didn’t have a chance today. I’ve been in this situation before and tried to finish the race, and it just doesn’t (work),” she said.

This competition marked the inaugural time women have raced this distance at Olympic Games. While some athletes embraced the challenge, others questioned whether the distance was excessive, especially with World Cup competition resuming soon.

“It’s too long. But it was good to have family here to support me,” said silver medallist Weng.

American figure skater Alysa Liu achieved an incredible comeback story by capturing Olympic gold in the women’s competition, while her teammate Ilia Malinin experienced a devastating fall from grace during a competition filled with unexpected twists in Milan.

Liu had walked away from competitive skating at age 16 following the 2022 Beijing Olympics, citing exhaustion and burnout. Two years later, the California skater returned to the ice with renewed strength and artistic vision.

The American athlete clinched her victory with a spectacular final performance that included seven flawless triple jumps. As the packed arena erupted in applause, Liu gestured toward the heavens in celebration.

Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto settled for silver in what will be her final Olympic appearance, though Japanese skating showed promise for the future. Seventeen-year-old Ami Nakai earned bronze while 20-year-old Mone Chiba placed fourth, both making impressive Olympic debuts.

The men’s competition told a dramatically different story as Malinin’s performance crumbled before a celebrity-filled audience.

The two-time world champion entered the final skate with a commanding lead, expected by many to claim Olympic gold. His revolutionary jumping ability has redefined the sport, but those skills abandoned him when it mattered most.

Malinin’s signature quadruple Axel – a jump no other competitor has successfully completed in competition – reduced to a simple single rotation. Two additional falls sent him tumbling to eighth place overall.

“I blew it,” Malinin stated directly after his performance.

Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov seized the opportunity to claim the men’s title, appearing shocked as the final results confirmed his unexpected victory.

The 21-year-old American acknowledged that mental exhaustion contributed to his struggles. He revealed receiving support from gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, who attended the men’s final.

Biles overcame her own mental challenges following the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, eventually returning to dominate at the 2024 Paris Games. Malinin hopes to follow a similar path of redemption at the next Winter Olympics in France.

Despite his disappointment, Malinin has shown grace in defeat, supporting his teammates from the audience and delivering a powerful exhibition performance that addressed the pressures of modern athletic fame and social media scrutiny.

The ice dancing competition produced another surprise result, as France’s newly-formed team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron upset American veterans Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who had won three world championships.

In pairs skating, Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara delivered their career-best performance to win their nation’s first Olympic pairs gold medal with a commanding Gladiator-themed routine.

The 10-day competition began with Liu and Malinin helping Team USA narrowly defeat Japan for their second consecutive Olympic team championship.

The games concluded with Malinin’s exhibition skate, where his signature backflip earned a standing ovation that seemed to acknowledge both his exceptional talent and the immense pressure he had endured.

“I feel like this gala has been so helpful to overcome the stress of everything that happened to me over the last week,” Malinin wrote afterward. “Glad I am able to express myself in such a poetic way.”

The genteel sport of curling is wrestling with a fundamental question about its future after a heated Olympic controversy exposed serious flaws in how the game polices itself.

For generations, curling has operated on an honor system where athletes are trusted to call their own rule violations. But that tradition came under intense scrutiny when Swedish and Canadian teams engaged in a bitter dispute over alleged cheating, complete with profanity and accusations flying on the ice.

Officials found themselves powerless to do much beyond issuing warnings after the heated exchange, highlighting the limitations of the current system. When World Curling attempted to give referees more authority, players immediately pushed back and criticized the training of officials, forcing leadership to quickly reverse course.

World Curling President Beau Welling acknowledged the sport’s governing body was already examining potential changes before the Olympic incident.

“We were in the process of looking at some rules, empowering our umpires. We have highly trained umpires, but their role, pursuant to our rules, is really to help players make decisions,” Welling explained to Reuters.

“The actual power about rules and infractions are with the players. We come from a call-your-own-foul sort of culture, but we increasingly see a need to have more umpires be able to make decisions.”

Welling emphasized that expanding referee authority would represent a fundamental shift that couldn’t happen quickly.

“It’s a change for athletes, who have to be willing to accept decisions,” he noted.

“Umpires have to be confident to make decisions, and we’ve got to make sure that those decisions are accurate. It’s a process for us. If anything, this might have accelerated that process.”

The Olympic controversy reached a boiling point when Canadian player Marc Kennedy, who cursed twice during the dispute, proclaimed that curling’s traditional spirit had died and predicted teams would resort to any tactics necessary for victory.

Despite the turmoil, Welling maintains the sport can evolve while preserving its core values.

“It is a game of honour, integrity, and values. We don’t ever want to lose that,” he stated.

“We still want that to be part of our DNA… We’ve got to hold on to the spirit of curling, but we have to adapt.

“No offence to the NBA, but we don’t want to become like that. Is the spirit of the sport going to be challenged? Yes. Do I think we’re going to have to evolve? Yes. But we all want to keep that.”

While the controversy raised questions about curling’s future, it also delivered an unexpected benefit: unprecedented attention for the typically low-profile sport.

The heated exchanges sparked countless internet memes, intense online discussions, and extensive media coverage worldwide.

“I tend to be in the camp that any publicity is good publicity, to be honest, and this has certainly put a lot more eyeballs on the sport,” Welling observed.

“I’ve got people calling me from the United States that are like, ‘holy smokes, I didn’t realise you guys did that in curling’.

“We’ve also had incredible curling, and the publicity that we’re getting really around the world is just amazing… It’s very exciting, so we’ve been super pleased with the Games.”

Looking toward the 2030 Winter Olympics, Welling expressed optimism about upcoming developments, particularly changes to the world championship structure.

Starting in the 2026-27 season, the annual world tournament will grow from 13 to 18 participating teams, a move Welling believes will boost revenue, increase global interest, and provide more countries with pathways to Olympic qualification.

“It’s really going to make curling even broader … you’re going to have more countries have a more realistic chance to qualify for 2030 than we would have had for 2026,” he concluded.

Following a disappointing performance at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Canada’s top Olympic official is pressing Prime Minister Mark Carney to significantly increase sports funding if the nation wants to maintain its status as a winter sports powerhouse.

David Shoemaker, head of the Canadian Olympic Committee, made his case during a Sunday press conference after Canada fell short of its medal expectations. The country had set a goal to exceed the 26 medals earned at the 2022 Beijing Olympics but will conclude these Games with a maximum of 21 medals.

“It was just a month ago that Prime Minister (Mark) Carney made international headlines with his inspiring speech at Davos (World Economic Forum),” Shoemaker stated. “In that speech, he talked in large part about ambition, about the strength of Canada at home and the values we can and should project to the world. We realise sport isn’t the answer to all of this government’s many urgent priorities.”

Shoemaker continued his appeal to the Prime Minister, saying: “But to Prime Minister Carney, who addressed Team Canada in a hockey jersey, who called Team Canada athletes as they topped the podium this week, who believes as much as anyone in the power of sport, I would say this: Sport is an integral part of that strength of character and country.”

“Sport represents a set of values that define us. Through sport, we have a real opportunity, if not a responsibility, to be ambitious about how we want to show up as a nation, both on the world stage and in communities across the country,” he added.

The funding crisis has been building for years. Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees, along with national sports organizations, had requested a $144 million funding increase in Carney’s November 4 budget to compensate for two decades of stagnant support.

However, the federal budget allocated no additional money for sports programs.

“Core funding for national sports organisations has not increased in 20 years,” Shoemaker emphasized. “It needs to. It’s the money these organisations count on to fund operations, athletes, coaches and support staff. They safeguard the pathway from playground to podium.”

The medal shortfall represents a significant decline from Canada’s peak winter Olympic performances. The nation captured a record 29 medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and led in gold medals with 14 during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, finishing third overall with 26 total medals.

Canada’s chef de mission Jennifer Heil warned about the broader implications of the funding freeze. “Flat operational funding to NSOs in an inflationary world is a cut,” she explained. “We’re creating a pay-to-play system in Canada, where wealth and luck are some of the major determining factors as to who gets to stand on a podium.”

Despite the overall disappointment, Canada’s hockey programs showed their traditional strength, with both men’s and women’s teams competing for gold medals. The women’s team fell to their longtime rivals, the United States, in the championship game.

“Those are two of the greatest rivalries in Olympic sport, certainly in the Winter Games,” Shoemaker noted. “We know that people have been trying their best to find jerseys here in Milan and they’re not available. And even back home, stores are sold out.”

Shoemaker believes the enthusiasm for these iconic sporting moments reflects deeper national aspirations beyond athletics. “It goes back to that core message, that this feeling of patriotism, pride in country, the aspiration to do great things on the world stage, to sing ‘O Canada,’” he said.

These Olympics also raised challenging questions about Canada’s international presence, according to Shoemaker. “These Games brought us together, as they always do,” he reflected. “In return, they provided an opportunity to ask ourselves, ‘How do we want to show up on the world stage? What kind of country do we want to represent? Who do we want to be?’”

“In some ways, I think waiting eight days for a gold medal emphasised this point,” he added.

The wait for Canada’s first gold medal became historically significant when Mikael Kingsbury finally broke through on Day 9, marking the nation’s longest drought for an Olympic title since the 1988 Calgary Games.

Looking ahead, Shoemaker expressed determination to continue advocating for increased support. “We see the countries ahead of us,” he concluded. “We aspire to do better. What you’re sensing from us is this collective seriousness that in order to do better we have to continue delivering this message.”

MILAN (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman envisioned February 2025’s 4 Nations Face-Off as an appetizer for Olympic hockey when organizers first planned the tournament.

The event exceeded expectations, becoming both a spectacular showcase that spotlighted the sport and a strategic roadmap for Team USA and Canada’s Olympic roster construction. This marked the first international competition featuring the world’s elite players in almost ten years, providing crucial insights that shaped USA Hockey and Hockey Canada’s decisions throughout the past year.

The strategy proved successful as both nations secured spots in Sunday’s gold medal match — a repeat of the 4 Nations championship game. Canada claimed that overtime victory, setting up this highly anticipated rematch. While the Olympics feature multiple competitive teams with no guaranteed outcomes, the final will now put both countries’ roster decisions to the ultimate test.

“We didn’t build our team just to play Canada,” U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said. “We built the best team possible. We feel that we built the best team possible. We did that with us in mind. We’re worried about us, not anybody else.”

Guerin’s management team chose to retain forwards Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller for their penalty-killing abilities and defensive skills. Meanwhile, four of America’s top ten league scorers — Jason Robertson, Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat — didn’t make the Olympic cut.

Team USA prioritized players capable of handling specialized roles while maintaining flexibility across different line combinations, allowing coach Mike Sullivan to adjust throughout the tournament.

“One of the things that we’ve tried to do is cast these guys in roles where they know what the expectations are and the contribution that they can make to help us have success,” Sullivan said.

Canada introduced six fresh faces not present at 4 Nations, with injuries to Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli opening opportunities for Sam Bennett and Seth Jarvis. Among the notable additions is 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini, who has impressed since beginning his NHL rookie season in fall 2024.

“I didn’t even know I was on the radar or even in the conversation,” Celebrini said. “When (GM Doug Armstrong) brought that to my attention, it was a little bit of a push and excitement —- just a little bit more of something that I can look forward to and work to.”

Celebrini has emerged as one of Canada’s standout performers with 10 points, trailing only tournament leader and teammate Connor McDavid’s 13 points.

“He’s got a lot of skill and a lot of confidence,” winger Mitch Marner said. “He’s not afraid of the big moments.”

Another fresh addition, Nick Suzuki, netted the equalizing goal when Canada faced elimination with less than four minutes remaining in their quarterfinal match. Tom Wilson earned a starting position on the right wing alongside Celebrini and McDavid, contributing size, physical play, and even fighting to Canada’s Olympic campaign.

Canada replaced both goaltenders from 4 Nations, selecting Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper this time, though coach Jon Cooper had already designated Jordan Binnington as his starter. Cooper made this decision immediately following Binnington’s championship performance at 4 Nations, and the 32-year-old goalie’s stellar play through his first four Olympic starts confirmed that choice.

“You don’t have to be a scout to see what he did in the Stanley Cup (Final), what he did in the 4 Nations, and there’s a massive belief,” Armstrong said. “When players see that time and time again, that’s just a foundation that they know that, ‘OK, when push comes to shove, we have faith in this guy,’ and I think that’s where they are with Binner.”

Team USA has leaned heavily on Connor Hellebuyck, who excelled during 4 Nations and currently holds the NHL MVP award and Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender. Similar to how Binnington knows the American players who will attempt to score against him, Hellebuyck is familiar with Canada’s star-filled roster.

“He’s won a lot of trophies,” winger Jake Guentzel said. “We feel good with him back there.”

MILAN – While American Jordan Stolz arrived at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as speed skating’s marquee star, it was Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida who stole the spotlight and ignited passionate celebrations at the home venue.

Lollobrigida, the great-niece of legendary actress Gina Lollobrigida, launched Italy’s medal campaign with a stunning triumph in the women’s 3,000-meter race on her 35th birthday, securing the host country’s opening gold medal of the Games.

A week later, she captured another victory in the 5,000-meter event, making her achievement even more remarkable considering her quick return to elite competition following the birth of her son Tommaso in May 2023.

The Italian success story continued with their men’s team pursuit squad, who shocked the heavily-favored American team in one of the competition’s most surprising outcomes.

Andrea Giovannini’s viral “night-night” celebration – inspired by basketball star Stephen Curry – perfectly embodied the jubilant atmosphere surrounding the Italian team.

However, the competition also delivered crushing disappointment. Joep Wennemars, who held the 2025 world championship title in the 1,000 meters, watched his medal dreams disappear following a crash with China’s Lian Ziwen.

China found their moment of glory when Ning Zhongyan, previously known for close calls, finally broke through with a masterful performance to defeat both Stolz and two-time defending champion Kjeld Nuis in the men’s 1,500-meter final.

The Netherlands showcased their traditional dominance throughout the competition. Jutta Leerdam secured their opening victory in the women’s 1,000 meters, followed by Femke Kok’s triumph in the 500 meters and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong’s gold in the 1,500 meters.

The Dutch concluded their campaign in style on the final day, with 40-year-old Jorrit Bergsma and Marijke Groenewoud claiming both mass start events, demonstrating their nation’s remarkable depth across all distances.

Despite facing unexpected challenges, Stolz delivered an impressive individual performance, capturing gold medals in both the men’s 500 and 1,000 meters while earning silver in the 1,500 meters.

Other notable performances included Norway’s Sander Eitrem, who justified his world record credentials by winning the men’s 5,000 meters, and Czech teenager Matej Jilek, who enhanced his rising reputation with a victory in the 10,000 meters.

Canada provided another memorable moment by successfully retaining their women’s team pursuit championship.

These thrilling competitions took place on an innovative temporary track built inside a Milan exhibition center – an exceptionally fast surface that produced seven Olympic records before being taken down.

LIVIGNO, Italy – Chinese athlete Eileen Gu has made Olympic history by successfully defending her women’s halfpipe championship at the Winter Games, capturing her sixth Olympic medal to become the most accomplished freestyle skier in Olympic competition.

The 22-year-old athlete claimed gold on Sunday with a score of 94.75, overcoming a disappointing first run by delivering strong performances in her second and third attempts. Fellow Chinese competitor Li Fanghui earned the silver medal, while Britain’s Zoe Atkin took home bronze.

Gu’s latest victory adds to an impressive collection that includes silver medals in big air and slopestyle events at these same games in Livigno. Her medal count also features two gold medals and one silver from the Beijing Olympics held four years earlier on Chinese soil.

This achievement places Gu ahead of Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury at the pinnacle of Olympic freestyle skiing medal winners, breaking their previous tie for the record.

Li secured her silver medal position with a strong second run, then improved her performance to 93.00 points on her final attempt. World champion Atkin, who like Gu was born in America but competes for her parent’s home country, delivered her strongest performance of the competition but fell just short with a score of 92.50.

The competition faced a one-day delay due to heavy snowfall that forced organizers to postpone Saturday’s originally scheduled final at the Italian Alpine venue.

MILAN – Olympic officials are celebrating what they’re calling an extraordinary achievement at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, which wrapped up despite facing numerous construction setbacks and organizational challenges leading up to the international competition.

The winter sports spectacular, which kicked off February 6 with an elaborate opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium, had been under intense scrutiny for years as organizers struggled with tight construction timelines and venue delays scattered throughout northern Italy.

As the final curtain prepares to drop at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Verona’s arena, both event organizers and International Olympic Committee leadership are expressing relief and satisfaction.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry praised the effort during her remarks to committee members, stating: “They have been fantastic. It could not happen without incredible teamwork… and we had it every step of the way.”

Coventry, who is overseeing her first Olympics since being elected last year, added: “Over the last two weeks we have seen and experienced incredible Games. I have no words really.”

The positive outcome represents a dramatic turnaround from just weeks before the Games began, when organizers were racing against time to finish the Santagiulia ice hockey facility and the controversial new sliding center in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The sliding center project became a major point of contention during preparations due to its hefty price tag and compressed construction schedule. Italy made the decision in 2023 to proceed with building the new facility, rejecting IOC recommendations to relocate those events to an existing track in another nation.

Italian officials insisted on keeping all Olympic competitions within their borders, adding significant pressure to an already strained organizational effort.

Political tensions also surfaced on opening day, with demonstrators protesting the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement analysts, while Vice President JD Vance faced crowd disapproval when appearing on stadium screens during the ceremony.

The IOC’s pre-Games concerns were evident when Milano Cortina chief Giovanni Malago, himself an IOC member, suffered a stunning defeat in his bid for the Olympic committee’s executive board just before the opening ceremony. An overwhelming 48 members voted against him in an unusual rebuke of a host nation representative.

However, once competition began, most operations proceeded smoothly, catching organizers off guard with their success.

Unlike many Olympic Games that face operational hiccups or atmosphere problems, the Italian event avoided major crises while benefiting from cooperative winter weather that provided spectacular Alpine scenery.

Early worries about transportation between Milan and the mountain venues in the Dolomites quickly subsided, largely because most spectators chose to remain in either the city or mountain locations rather than make the lengthy six-to-seven-hour journey between sites.

The European timing also boosted television audiences across the continent and in North America compared to recent Asian-hosted winter Games. NBC Universal reported selling out all advertising slots a full month before competition started.

The Games received additional momentum from Italy’s strong medal performance, with the host nation capturing 30 medals including 10 golds by Sunday morning, placing them among the top five countries. Domestic interest surged during competition, with several hundred thousand additional tickets sold to bring the total to approximately 1.5 million, up from 1.2 million at the start.

Games chief Malago expressed gratitude to the IOC session, saying: “Thank you for never ceasing to believing in us. For supporting us in the most difficult moments and there were not a few.”

He concluded: “Together we were stronger than any challenge and any adversity.”

ANTERSELVA, Italy – The International Olympic Committee presented its highest honor, the Olympic Order, to International Biathlon Union President Olle Dahlin on Sunday, celebrating his transformative leadership of the winter sport over the past eight years.

The 71-year-old former athlete, who competed in both biathlon and cross-country skiing, received the recognition during the IOC’s closing session, just one day after biathlon concluded its spectacular Olympic run. Dahlin plans to retire from his presidential role before the year ends.

“It has been a fantastic journey, not least this international journey that is being crowned with the Olympic Order, which is perhaps the finest prize in sports in the world. It is a huge honour,” Dahlin shared during an interview at the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Centre.

The Swedish leader emphasized how far the sport has progressed under his guidance. “It’s been a tremendous journey in biathlon, it’s now at a top, top level and can be compared to many, if not all, of the world’s biggest sports in terms of the level it is at,” he explained.

“At the Olympics we have seen the development over recent decades on the world stage, the biggest stage that exists. We have top-class stadiums, and our World Cup competition is at a very high level,” Dahlin added.

The recent Olympic competition showcased the sport’s evolution, with massive crowds witnessing intense battles where traditional powerhouses Norway and France claimed multiple medals, though they faced strong challenges from emerging nations.

Nations like Bulgaria and the Czech Republic celebrated bronze medal victories, demonstrating the success of IBU initiatives under Dahlin’s leadership to level the competitive playing field and give smaller countries better opportunities to compete.

The women’s mass start finale exemplified biathlon at its peak, as France’s Oceane Michelon delivered a thrilling final lap performance to overtake Czech Republic’s Tereza Vobornikova for the gold medal, all unfolding before a roaring crowd of enthusiastic spectators.

Dahlin takes particular pride in the IBU’s investment in the Anterselva venue, located in Italy’s biathlon stronghold region, which created an electric atmosphere that captivated fans throughout the competition.

“It’s primarily the atmosphere that has been fantastic. We had the biggest arena at the Olympics with space for 19,000 fans, so we’ve had around 200,000 here in total,” Dahlin noted.

“When people who have never seen biathlon live before come here and experience this, it’s a huge surprise, so it’s been so positive to receive these visitors,” he continued.

Throughout his tenure, Dahlin has championed a data-focused and creative strategy for developing the sport at grassroots levels, with particular emphasis on expanding biathlon’s reach beyond its traditional European base.

“It’s probably easiest to focus on where we already have, but we also see two particular areas where we can focus – North America and Asia – so we’re working with developing the sport there, and also the communication,” he explained.

Attracting new audiences represents a cornerstone of the IBU’s future strategy, leading the organization to significantly expand its internal media and communications operations to connect with potential fans worldwide.

This growing popularity has generated increased revenue streams, providing the IBU with additional resources for further investment in sport development.

“I often say money isn’t everything, but it’s good to have,” Dahlin remarked with a laugh. “Last year we organised a tournament on roller skis in downtown Munich. It cost a lot of money but we had 50,000 fans.”

“We’ve also had more than 100,000 young people test biathlon with laser rifles, so that’s the kind of investment we’re going to make – these things are gaining us more fans, but they are also giving biathlon a future,” he concluded.

Italy will conclude two weeks of Olympic competition on Sunday evening with an elaborate farewell celebration at the historic Verona Arena, the ancient Roman amphitheater that has hosted countless performances over the centuries.

The finale, titled “Beauty in Action,” begins at 8:30 p.m. local time and will showcase renowned Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle while highlighting the nation’s artistic legacy alongside its sporting accomplishments.

Organizers expect a more festive and casual atmosphere compared to the opening ceremonies, now that all medals have been awarded. Italian performer Achille Lauro and DJ/producer Gabry Ponte are set to energize the crowd, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attending as a special guest.

The venue itself carries significant cultural weight – the open-air Roman structure is famous for opera performances and concerts in the northern Italian city that Shakespeare immortalized in “Romeo and Juliet.”

Attendees paid between 950 euros ($1,120) and 2,900 euros for tickets, with favorable weather conditions expected for the outdoor event.

The Winter Games, jointly hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, have earned praise from new International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, while Italy’s record-breaking medal performance has boosted national spirits. However, some protesters opposing the Games are anticipated to gather near the Arena on Sunday.

These Olympics followed an innovative format, spreading competitions across northern Italy’s mountainous region. Athletes have responded favorably to the arrangement.

“I would say … to Italy, I think that they did an absolutely fantastic job hosting the Olympics,” said U.S. freestyle skier Christopher Lillis, who commended the facilities, cuisine, and welcoming environment.

“So I want to give a huge shout-out to them, because hosting the Olympics is no easy feat,” added Lillis, who captured gold in the mixed team aerials competition in the mountain resort of Livigno.

Political tensions emerged during the opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium, where U.S. Vice President JD Vance faced crowd disapproval and the Israeli delegation encountered some negative reactions.

Olympic flames have been burning in both host cities since the Games began on February 6. These will be put out Sunday but will be rekindled for the Paralympic Games running March 6-15.

Italy will officially transfer hosting responsibilities to the French Alps, which will stage the next Winter Olympics in 2030.

MILAN — The stage is set for the ultimate Olympic hockey showdown as Team USA and Canada prepare to battle for gold in Milan.

The North American hockey giants have proven their dominance throughout the tournament, with both nations advancing to what many consider the most anticipated final matchup possible. Team USA secured their spot by defeating Sweden, while Canada mounted a comeback victory over Finland after trailing by two goals in their semifinal clash.

The rivalry between these neighboring countries has been building momentum, particularly following their intense matchups during last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which demonstrated their status as the world’s premier hockey nations.

“If you’re going to get through to your goal, you’re going to probably have to go through them at some point,” U.S. winger Matthew Tkachuk said. “They’ve had the success in pretty much all the Olympics that NHL players have been going to. Two great teams, and I can only speak for ourselves, we’re just so excited for this opportunity, honored to represent our country and honored to be in this position.”

Canada enters the final as the defending Olympic champion, having captured gold in both 2010 and 2014 when NHL players last competed in the Games. Meanwhile, Team USA is still chasing their first Olympic gold since the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice” victory.

The recent 4 Nations tournament showcased the intensity between these rivals, including one memorable game that began with three fights occurring within the first nine seconds. While Olympic rules prohibit fighting, the competitive fire remains evident, as demonstrated when Canada’s Tom Wilson accepted an automatic ejection for dropping his gloves against France.

“There’s no fighting (but) I expect a hard-fought game, the same as it was the last two times we played them,” U.S. forward J.T. Miller said.

Canada may face a significant challenge with captain Sidney Crosby’s status uncertain after he sustained what appeared to be a right knee injury during their quarterfinal victory over Czechia. Crosby was unable to participate in the semifinal against Finland.

Team USA appears to have better health heading into the championship game. Forward Tage Thompson, who shares the team lead with three goals, briefly left the semifinal after blocking a shot but is anticipated to be ready for the gold medal contest.

For many players, this represents a career-defining moment that will be remembered long after their playing days end.

“Everybody that’s playing is going to be 50 years old one day, not playing in the NHL anymore and playing thousands of games hopefully, and you’re going to remember start to finish a handful of games,” Tkachuk said. “This is probably one of them.”

Third-ranked Duke delivered a statement victory Saturday night, defeating the nation’s number one team Michigan 68-63 in a highly anticipated neutral-site battle in Washington D.C.

Cameron Boozer paced the Blue Devils’ attack with 18 points while controlling the glass with a game-leading 10 rebounds. Duke (25-2) received strong support from Isaiah Evans who contributed 14 points, followed by Caleb Foster with 12 and Patrick Ngongba II adding 11. Boozer also facilitated the offense effectively, dishing out a game-high seven assists as the Blue Devils dominated the rebounding battle 41-28.

For Michigan (25-2), Yaxel Lendeborg provided the offensive spark with 21 points, including 16 in the opening half. Morez Johnson Jr. chipped in 13 points while Aday Mara was perfect from the floor, converting all four field goal attempts for 10 points despite foul difficulties. However, the Wolverines struggled with their shooting touch, connecting on just 40% of their field goals and managing only 6-of-25 attempts from beyond the arc. The loss snapped Michigan’s 11-game winning streak.

The matchup drew significant attention, with the NCAA Tournament selection committee earlier that day identifying Michigan and Duke as the top two overall seeds in their bracket preview. A crowd of 20,537 witnessed the contest, marking the season’s largest attendance for a neutral-site game.

In other Top 25 action, fourth-ranked Arizona stunned second-ranked Houston 73-66 on the road, with reserve Anthony Dell’Orso matching his season-best 22 points. The victory gave Arizona (25-2, 12-2 Big 12) sole possession of the conference lead while handing Houston (23-4, 11-3) their first home defeat of the season.

Fifth-ranked UConn bounced back from a recent setback, defeating Villanova 73-63 in Philadelphia. Alex Karaban scored eight of his 12 points after halftime as the Huskies (25-3, 15-2 Big East) received balanced scoring from all five starters.

In a major upset, 23rd-ranked BYU knocked off sixth-ranked Iowa State 79-69 behind AJ Dybantsa’s outstanding performance of 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. The Cougars improved to 11-2 at home in Provo, Utah.

Unranked Cincinnati delivered the day’s biggest shock, routing eighth-ranked Kansas 84-68 in Lawrence. Moustapha Thiam led the Bearcats with 28 points and eight rebounds in what became the most lopsided loss to an unranked opponent during Bill Self’s 23-year tenure with the Jayhawks.

Ninth-ranked Nebraska got back on track with an 87-64 victory over Penn State, powered by Pryce Sandfort’s career-high 33 points. Sandfort connected on a personal-best eight three-pointers, extending his school record for threes in a season to 98.

UCLA provided the day’s most dramatic finish, with Donovan Dent driving the length of the court for a game-winning layup as time expired in overtime to defeat 10th-ranked Illinois 95-94. Dent finished with 14 points and a career-high 15 assists for the Bruins.

Other notable results included 11th-ranked Gonzaga holding off Pacific 71-62 behind Graham Ike’s 20 points, which extended his streak of 20-point games to nine consecutive contests, breaking a school record. Twelfth-ranked Florida continued their hot streak with a 94-75 victory over Ole Miss for their seventh straight win, while 13th-ranked Texas Tech bounced back from adversity to rout Kansas State 100-72.

Fourteenth-ranked Virginia extended their winning streak to eight games with an 86-83 victory over Miami, sealed by Chance Mallory’s three free throws with 3.6 seconds remaining. Sixteenth-ranked North Carolina got 19 points from Henri Veesaar in his return to defeat Syracuse 77-64.

Seventeenth-ranked St. John’s continued their impressive run, extending their winning streak to 13 games with an 81-52 domination of Creighton. The Red Storm now lead the Big East Conference and are riding their longest winning streak since 1985.

In upset victories by unranked teams, Tennessee knocked off 19th-ranked Vanderbilt 69-65 behind 17 points from Ja’Kobi Gillespie, while 20th-ranked Arkansas overcame an early deficit to defeat Missouri 94-86.

Twenty-first-ranked Louisville bounced back from a difficult loss earlier in the week, defeating Georgia Tech 87-70 in a dominant home performance. Finally, 25th-ranked Alabama completed the day’s action with a 90-83 victory over LSU, extending their winning streak to six games.

Despite struggling with his shot all night long, Jalen Green delivered when it mattered most, drilling a three-pointer as time expired to give the Phoenix Suns a thrilling 113-110 double-overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Green’s heroics capped off a remarkable performance from Grayson Allen, who returned from a four-game injury absence to pour in 27 points for the home team. The Suns also dealt with the loss of Dillon Brooks during the contest but managed to pull through in dramatic fashion.

The clutch three-pointer marked Green’s first career game-winning shot, making up for what had been a difficult evening from the field where he connected on just 6 of 26 attempts. Green took control in the final moments, netting Phoenix’s last six points including a driving left-handed layup that put the Suns ahead 110-107 with 33.9 seconds remaining. When Orlando’s Jevon Carter answered with a three-pointer to tie the game, Green responded immediately with his buzzer-beating heroics.

Collin Gillespie contributed 19 points for Phoenix, which played without All-Star Devon Booker. The star guard will miss at least seven days due to a hip injury he suffered during Thursday’s defeat.

Orlando received strong performances from Desmond Bane, who tallied 34 points before fouling out during overtime, while Paolo Banchero added 26 points and Carter finished with 15.

In other NBA action, the New York Knicks staged a remarkable comeback at home, overcoming an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to edge Houston 108-106. Jalen Brunson provided the decisive basket with 29.5 seconds remaining.

Houston had seized control by outscoring New York 72-41 over a 24-minute stretch, building a 93-75 advantage on Dorian Finney-Smith’s layup with 10:53 left. However, the Knicks responded with a 33-13 run to close the game, holding the Rockets to 4-of-15 shooting while forcing nine turnovers down the stretch.

The drama continued until the final seconds, as Kevin Durant connected on a three-pointer with 2.4 seconds left to pull Houston within 107-106 after OG Anunoby had extended New York’s lead with two free throws. Durant’s desperation half-court attempt at the buzzer fell short after Landry Shamet split a pair of free throws.

New Orleans dominated Philadelphia 126-111 behind Jordan Poole’s 23 points, with seven Pelicans players reaching double figures. Zion Williamson contributed 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals, while Saddiq Bey added 20 points. DeAndre Jordan, the former 76er, grabbed 15 rebounds to go with six points and four blocks.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 27 points, seven assists and five steals but struggled with his shooting, connecting on just 9 of 23 field goal attempts. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 25 points for the 76ers, who have now dropped eight of their past nine games while playing without Joel Embiid due to knee and shin issues.

Miami rolled past Memphis 136-120 at home, with Andrew Wiggins leading the way with 28 points and Norman Powell adding 25. The victory improved the Heat to 17-11 in home games and handed the Grizzlies their 11th loss in 14 games. Tyler Herro contributed 14 points and six assists in just his second game back after missing over a month with three fractured ribs.

GG Jackson paced Memphis with a season-high 28 points and nine rebounds off the bench, while Jaylen Wells scored 25 points. The loss dropped the Grizzlies to 9-18 in road contests.

Detroit rolled past Chicago 126-110, with Jalen Duren recording 26 points and 13 rebounds while Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris each scored 18. The Pistons forced 23 turnovers and dominated inside with a 68-38 advantage in paint scoring. The defeat extended Chicago’s losing streak to eight games, a new season-worst that surpassed their previous seven-game skid from late November to early December.

Josh Giddey led the Bulls with 27 points and five three-pointers, while Matas Buzelis, Isaac Okoro and Jalen Smith each contributed 15 points.

Finally, San Antonio extended their season-best winning streak to eight games with a 139-122 victory over Sacramento in Austin, Texas. Victor Wembanyama posted 28 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and four blocks to lead the balanced attack. The loss extended Sacramento’s franchise-record losing streak to 16 consecutive games, with Keegan Murray and DeMar DeRozan each scoring 20 points in the defeat.

The 19th-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers delivered a commanding performance Saturday, overwhelming Oklahoma State 72-40 in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Leading the charge for the Mountaineers was Gia Cooke, who tallied 21 points to pace all scorers. Kierra Wheeler contributed significantly with a double-double performance, recording 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds in the decisive victory.

West Virginia (22-6, 12-4 Big 12) has been on a strong run lately, capturing five victories in their past six contests. The Mountaineers established control early, taking a 23-12 advantage after the opening period before expanding their lead to 49-23 by the intermission. Cooke was particularly effective in the first half, dropping 16 points while making 6 of 10 field goal attempts and connecting on 4 of 7 three-point shots.

Jordan Harrison provided additional offensive support with 12 points while distributing seven assists and recording five steals. The Mountaineers shot an impressive 50.9% from the field, vastly outperforming Oklahoma State’s 23.1% shooting percentage. The Cowgirls (21-8, 10-6) struggled particularly from long range, converting just 5 of 26 three-point attempts for 19.2%, and managed only five points during the third quarter.

For Oklahoma State, Stailee Heard was the only player to reach double figures, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds. Micah Gray, who entered the game averaging a team-leading 15.0 points per contest, was held to just three points on 1-of-14 shooting, including 1 of 9 from beyond the arc.

No. 15 Baylor 74, Arizona 60

The Bears mounted a comeback from a 10-point early deficit in Waco, Texas, using a dominant 23-8 second-quarter run to defeat the visiting Wildcats and extend Arizona’s losing streak to five games.

Taliah Scott paced Baylor (23-6, 12-4 Big 12) with 22 points after the Bears fell behind 22-12 following Molly Ladwig’s basket with 1:44 remaining in the opening quarter. Bella Fontleroy dominated the glass with 10 rebounds while Darianna Littlepage-Buggs nearly achieved a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Jana Van Gytenbeek facilitated the offense with eight assists.

Arizona (11-16, 2-14) held a 22-15 lead after the first quarter but was also outscored 20-13 in the third period. Daniah Trammell and reserve Noelani Cornfield each contributed 11 points for the Wildcats. Ladwig added 10 points while Tanyuel Welch led the team with nine rebounds.

Colorado 75, No. 20 Texas Tech 68

The Buffaloes staged a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback in Boulder, Colorado, outscoring the Lady Raiders 22-9 in the final period to secure their fifth straight victory and eighth win in nine games.

Zyanna Walker led Colorado (20-8, 11-5 Big 12) with 18 points while Desiree Wooten provided 16 points off the bench. Logyn Greer chipped in 13 points and Anaelle Dutat recorded 11 points along with a game-high eight rebounds. The Buffaloes capitalized on Texas Tech’s mistakes, converting 18 turnovers into 27 points while holding a commanding 34-18 rebounding edge.

Jalynn Bristow delivered an outstanding performance for the Lady Raiders (24-5, 11-5) with 18 points, five blocks, and three steals in their second loss in three games. Bristow was highly efficient, shooting 5 of 6 from the field and 4 of 5 from three-point range while going perfect at the free-throw line. Snudda Collins contributed 13 points and Bailey Maupin added 12 for Texas Tech.

NEW ALBANY, Ind. — Professional football player Rondale Moore, whose promising NFL career was derailed by consecutive season-ending knee injuries, has died at age 25 in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana, according to local authorities.

Police Chief Todd Bailey confirmed that Moore was discovered deceased in a garage on Saturday, with investigators treating the death as a suspected suicide by gunshot. Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin announced that an autopsy was scheduled for Sunday as the investigation continues.

The wide receiver’s career was marked by devastating setbacks in recent years. Following his trade to the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, Moore suffered a dislocated right knee during training camp and never took the field for the team. After signing with the Minnesota Vikings in 2025, tragedy struck again when he tore his left knee while fielding a punt return in the team’s opening preseason contest. The injury was so severe that Moore’s anguished reaction — striking a medical cart with such force that the sound echoed through the stadium — demonstrated his immediate understanding of the career implications.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell released an emotional statement following news of Moore’s death. “I am devastated by the news of Rondale’s death. While Rondale had been a member of the Vikings for a short time, he was someone we came to know well and care about deeply,” O’Connell said. “He was a humble, soft-spoken, and respectful young man who was proud of his Indiana roots. As a player, he was disciplined, dedicated and resilient despite facing adversity multiple times as injuries sidelined him throughout his career. We are all heartbroken by the fact he won’t continue to live out his NFL dream and we won’t all have a chance to watch him flourish.”

The Arizona Cardinals, Moore’s former team, expressed their grief in a public statement, saying they were “devastated and heartbroken.” The organization added, “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who loved him and had the privilege of knowing such a special person.”

Moore’s football journey began in New Albany, located just over the Kentucky border from Louisville. He achieved remarkable success early in his college career, earning first-team All-American honors as a freshman at Purdue University in 2018.

Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm, who coached Moore during his time at Purdue, shared heartfelt memories on social media. “Rondale Moore was a complete joy to coach. The ultimate competitor who wouldn’t back down from any challenge. Rondale had a work ethic unmatched by anyone. A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale; we loved his smile and his competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact,” Brohm wrote.

Selected by Arizona in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Moore accumulated 1,201 receiving yards with three touchdowns and added 249 rushing yards with one score across three seasons. During his rookie year, he handled primary return duties for both kickoffs and punts before injuries forced him away from those responsibilities.

Former Cardinals teammate J.J. Watt expressed his shock and sorrow on social media, writing, “Can’t even begin to fathom or process this. There’s just no way. Way too soon. Way too special. So much left to give. Rest in peace Rondale.”

The Minnesota Vikings confirmed they had reached out to Moore’s family to provide support and condolences during this difficult time.

Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks sustained a fractured left hand during Saturday’s home matchup against the Orlando Magic and faces an extended absence from the court, according to ESPN reports.

The injury occurred early in the contest, forcing Brooks to exit the game with 4:46 left in the opening quarter. Despite his departure, the Suns managed to secure a thrilling 113-110 victory in double overtime. Brooks had been absent from Thursday’s loss in San Antonio due to a one-game suspension.

During his brief time on the court against Orlando, the 30-year-old guard contributed five points and grabbed three rebounds across seven minutes of play.

This season has marked a career year for Brooks in his debut campaign with Phoenix. Through 49 games as a starter, he’s posted career-high averages of 21.2 points per game, along with 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals while logging 31.1 minutes nightly. His rebounding numbers match his previous best from his time with the Houston Rockets last season.

The Suns face additional injury concerns beyond Brooks’ setback. Prior to Saturday’s game, the organization revealed that All-Star guard Devin Booker would be sidelined for a minimum of one week with a right hip strain suffered during Thursday’s contest against San Antonio.

Medical staff will reassess Booker’s condition after the one-week period to determine his recovery progress, though no specific return date has been established.

Saturday marked Booker’s ninth absence in the team’s last 12 contests. The five-time All-Star previously missed seven consecutive games due to a sprained right ankle.

The team also provided an update on recently signed guard Haywood Highsmith, who will undergo re-evaluation in 2-3 weeks for a right knee issue.

The Floyd County Coroner’s Office in Indiana has confirmed the death of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore on Saturday. The 25-year-old athlete was discovered in a New Albany garage with what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Sunday as authorities continue their investigation into Moore’s death.

Moore made his mark in college football during his freshman year at Purdue University in 2018, accumulating an impressive 1,471 scrimmage yards along with 662 yards on kickoff returns. His debut collegiate performance against Northwestern set a new Purdue record for all-purpose yards in a single game, totaling 313 yards through receiving (109), rushing (79 on just two attempts), and kickoff returns (125). That breakout season earned him All-America recognition and 12 receiving touchdowns.

His exceptional versatility on the field was recognized when he received the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to college football’s most versatile player.

Jeff Brohm, who coached Moore at Purdue and now serves as Louisville’s head coach, shared his memories of the young athlete on social media Saturday evening:

“Rondale Moore was a complete joy to coach. The ultimate competitor who wouldn’t back down from any challenge. Rondale had a work ethic unmatched by anyone. A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale, we loved his smile and his competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact with. We offer all our thoughts and prayers to Rondale and his family. We love him very much.”

The Arizona Cardinals selected Moore as their second-round pick, 49th overall, in the 2021 NFL Draft. During his rookie campaign, he recorded 54 receptions for 435 yards and one touchdown while also returning 13 kickoffs for an average of 22.4 yards. Injuries plagued his professional career, limiting him to 39 appearances out of 51 possible games across three seasons in Arizona.

Arizona traded Moore to the Atlanta Falcons before the 2024 season began, but a knee injury sustained during training camp ended his season before it started. The Vikings later signed him as a free agent prior to last season, though another knee injury during preseason action once again cut his campaign short.

Moore was a native of New Albany, Indiana, where he attended New Albany High School before transferring to Trinity High School in Louisville to complete his prep career.

Third-ranked Duke delivered a stunning blow to top-seeded Michigan, defeating the Wolverines 68-63 in Washington as Cameron Boozer poured in 18 points. The victory ended Michigan’s 11-game winning streak and marked another neutral-site setback for the storied program. Michigan had just claimed the number one ranking this week after Arizona’s previous hold on the top spot. The loss came on the same day that fourth-ranked Arizona defeated second-ranked Houston, marking the first time since February 8, 2025, that both the top two teams in the AP poll fell on the same day. The matchup served as a potential preview of Final Four action in the nation’s capital.

At the Winter Olympics in Milan, Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo etched his name in the record books by completing an unprecedented clean sweep of men’s events. His victory in Saturday’s 50-kilometer mass start gave him his sixth gold medal of the games, surpassing Eric Heiden’s long-held Winter Olympics record of five golds in a single competition. Meanwhile, American speedskating sensation Jordan Stolz placed fourth in the men’s mass start event, finishing behind 40-year-old Dutch champion Jorrit Bergsma, who became the oldest male speedskater to claim Olympic gold. Team USA reached a Winter Games milestone with their 11th gold medal, achieved by Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Chris Lillis in the mixed aerials competition.

American women athletes are driving Team USA’s medal count to historic heights at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Through Saturday’s competition, female competitors have captured six gold medals and 17 total medals in women’s events alone, establishing new benchmarks for U.S. Winter Olympic performance. Including mixed competitions, the medal tally reaches 21. Over 40 American women will return home with Olympic hardware, with standout performances in women’s hockey against Canada, Alpine skiing, monobob, figure skating, and freestyle moguls. Team officials credit the success with inspiring future generations of female athletes.

The baseball world mourns the loss of Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski, who died Friday at age 89. The Pittsburgh Pirates legend earned eight Gold Glove awards for his exceptional defensive play and captured the hearts of fans with his legendary walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Pirates owner Bob Nutting described Mazeroski, whose number 9 was retired by the team in 1987, as “one of a kind, a true Pirates legend.” The organization honored him with a statue on Bill Mazeroski Way in 2010.

New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge made an impressive spring training debut in Tampa, launching two home runs in his first appearance. The three-time MVP connected for a pair of two-run blasts, one each in the third and fourth innings, finishing 2-for-3 with four RBIs. The 33-year-old slugger, coming off a season where he batted .331 with 53 homers and 114 RBIs, is preparing for next month’s World Baseball Classic. Judge will join a star-studded Team USA roster featuring Bryce Harper, Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh, and Kyle Schwarber.

The final day of Milan Cortina Olympics promises excitement with the men’s hockey gold medal showdown between the United States and Canada taking center stage. Eileen Gu will pursue her first gold of the 2026 Games in the rescheduled women’s Olympic freeski halfpipe final. Additional medals will be distributed in cross-country skiing, curling, and bobsled events before the closing ceremony concludes the competition.

Jacob Bridgeman has transformed the Genesis Invitational at Riviera into a commanding performance, building a six-stroke advantage over Rory McIlroy after Saturday’s third round. Starting the day tied for the lead, Bridgeman fired the day’s best score of 64, highlighted by three birdies in his opening four holes. His back nine surge included a spectacular birdie-eagle-birdie sequence that stretched his lead to six shots. McIlroy managed a 69 with seven consecutive pars to close his round, expressing satisfaction about playing in the final group to potentially pressure the leader.

The WNBA has presented a revised collective bargaining agreement proposal to the players’ union, maintaining housing payments for all players this season while offering limited changes to previous revenue-sharing terms. According to a source familiar with Friday’s negotiations, the league’s latest offer includes continued housing coverage for the current season, followed by housing payments for minimum salary players and first-year rookies in subsequent seasons. The source requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of ongoing discussions.

Michigan secured the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s preliminary rankings released Saturday. The Wolverines were joined by Duke, Arizona, and Iowa State as the four number one seeds in the early bracket preview shown on CBS. Iowa State claimed the final top seed ahead of UConn and Houston in the snapshot taken with less than a month remaining before Selection Sunday on March 15. The Final Four is scheduled for Indianapolis, with teams typically maintaining their seeding positions above the top-four regional seed cutline.

Moustapha Thiam exploded for a career-best 28 points to power Cincinnati’s shocking 84-68 victory over eighth-ranked Kansas in Lawrence. The 7-foot center dominated with 11-of-17 shooting and eight rebounds, leading Cincinnati to their second ranked opponent victory this season after defeating then-second-ranked Iowa State 79-70 on January 17. Baba Miller contributed 18 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds for the Bearcats. Kansas got 18 points and 12 rebounds from Flory Bidunga, while freshman standout Darryn Peterson added 17 points in 32 minutes after an early exit from their previous game against Oklahoma State.

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge delivered a spectacular performance Saturday, launching two home runs and driving in four runs as his team demolished the Detroit Tigers 20-3 in spring training action in Tampa, Florida.

The reigning American League MVP, who blasted 53 homers with 114 RBIs last season, connected for a pair of two-run shots in consecutive innings. Judge found the seats in both the third and fourth frames, helping fuel a Yankees offensive onslaught that produced 18 hits total.

The Bronx Bombers erupted for three runs in the fourth inning and added nine more in the eighth. Roderick Arias capped the scoring barrage with a grand slam during the eighth-inning rally, finishing 2-for-3 on the day. Paul Goldschmidt contributed two hits and two RBIs, while Jackson Castillo added a three-run blast in the eighth.

Detroit’s lone bright spot came from Corey Julks, who connected for a solo homer in the third inning.

In other spring training action, the Toronto Blue Jays blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 in Dunedin, Florida. Daulton Varsho went 2-for-2 with a solo home run to pace the defending AL champions, while Sean Keys added a two-run homer. The Blue Jays collected nine hits total, while Justin Crawford managed two hits in three at-bats for Philadelphia.

The Pittsburgh Pirates cruised past the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 in Sarasota, Florida, powered by a six-run fifth inning. Ryan O’Hearn’s three-run homer highlighted the big inning, with Endy Rodriguez contributing a two-run shot. Despite allowing just five hits, Baltimore committed two costly errors. Blaze Alexander and Leody Taveras each went 1-for-2 with a run scored for the Orioles.

Boston defeated Minnesota 7-2 in Fort Myers, Florida, with Mikey Romero leading the way with two hits and two RBIs. Andruw Monasterio connected for a solo homer and Allan Castro drove in two runs for the Red Sox. The Twins committed four errors but got two hits and two RBIs from Royce Lewis, including a solo home run.

The Atlanta Braves topped the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 in Port Charlotte, Florida, behind Ben Gamel’s outstanding performance. Gamel homered, doubled, walked, scored twice and drove in three runs. Atlanta scored all five runs in the first three innings, including three in the third. Logan Davidson homered for Tampa Bay, which outhit Atlanta 9-7.

Miami edged the New York Mets 2-1 in Port St. Lucie, Florida, in a low-scoring affair where each team managed just two hits. Jakob Marsee scored both runs for the Marlins, crossing the plate with the winning run in the sixth on Christopher Morel’s sacrifice fly. Kevin Villavicencio and Austin Barnes had the Mets’ only hits.

A Washington split squad defeated Houston 2-1 in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Jorgelys Mota’s sixth-inning solo homer. Nationals starter Jake Eder allowed one run and two hits over two innings, with seven relievers combining to shut out the Astros thereafter. Nick Allen drove in Houston’s lone run with a second-inning single.

Washington’s other split squad topped St. Louis 6-2 in Jupiter, Florida, behind Maxwell Romero Jr.’s three-run homer during a four-run fifth inning. Trey Lipscomb added two hits and an RBI for the Nationals, who went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Nathan Church homered for the Cardinals.

Dallas has made their first major move of the offseason by securing the services of their top ground game performer.

The Cowboys announced Saturday that running back Javonte Williams has agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $24 million.

The 25-year-old Williams joined Dallas on a one-year, $3 million contract last offseason following four seasons with the Denver Broncos.

Williams justified the investment by posting career-high numbers with 1,201 rushing yards, ranking ninth across the NFL, along with 11 rushing touchdowns over 16 games. Those totals exceeded his combined production from the previous two seasons, when he accumulated 1,287 rushing yards and seven touchdowns across 33 contests.

Dallas ranked ninth in the league for ground attack efficiency, averaging 125.6 rushing yards per contest with a 4.6-yard average per attempt, largely due to Williams’ contributions.

Throughout his five-year professional career spanning 70 games with 45 starts, Williams has accumulated 3,595 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, while also contributing 1,103 receiving yards and seven receiving scores through the air.

Having secured Williams’ services, Dallas can now turn their attention to negotiations with star receiver George Pickens, whose current contract is set to expire.

Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker faces at least another week on the sidelines after sustaining a right hip strain in Thursday’s matchup against San Antonio, occurring during the second quarter of play.

Team medical staff will conduct another evaluation of Booker’s condition after the one-week period to assess his recovery progress. Officials have not established a specific timeline for when the star player might return to the court.

The injury adds to Booker’s recent absence streak, as he was unable to play in Saturday’s home game against Orlando, marking his ninth missed game out of the last 12 contests. Earlier in this stretch, the five-time All-Star was sidelined for seven consecutive games due to a sprained right ankle.

The 29-year-old veteran is posting averages of 24.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across 44 appearances this season. The 11-year NBA veteran is approaching a career milestone, needing just two more three-point shots to reach 1,500 for his career.

Additionally, the Suns announced that guard Haywood Highsmith, a recent team addition, will undergo re-evaluation in two to three weeks for a right knee issue.

Canada’s men’s curling squad transformed anger over cheating accusations into Olympic glory, according to team captain Brad Jacobs, who spoke defiantly after his crew claimed the gold medal in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy on Saturday.

The Canadian team defeated defending world champion Britain by a score of 9-6 in the championship match, securing the nation’s first men’s curling Olympic title since 2014. Their victory came amid significant controversy after Sweden leveled cheating allegations against them during preliminary competition.

Speaking forcefully at his post-victory news conference, Jacobs dismissed the accusations as completely unfounded.

“I’ll guarantee you that only motivated us further to go out and prove to everyone that we’re the best team, and now (we’re) at the top of the podium, I would say the best team in the world,” he stated.

“Canada and curling in Canada is special to us. It means a lot to us. Integrity means a lot to us. We wanted to go out there and prove everyone wrong and rise to the top of the podium.”

The scandal primarily involved teammate Marc Kennedy, who faced intense scrutiny after his heated reaction to the cheating claims. The 44-year-old athlete reported that his family endured online harassment and threatening messages throughout the ordeal.

Jacobs commended Kennedy’s resilience under pressure, stating: “Marc’s mind is sealed. Most athletes, if they had to go through what Marc Kennedy went through, what we went through as a team here, it would have crippled them and it would have crumbled most teams.

“But Marc’s done a lot of self-improvement and just surrounded himself with us and the support that we gave him, his family gave him this week, our coaches.

“He is one tough fella to be able to block out all the noise and just go out and curl and curl his absolute best. We’re just so proud of him for everything that he was able to do this week and how he handled the whole situation.”

Jacobs, who previously guided Canada to Olympic gold in Sochi eight years ago, delivered a sharp message to those who questioned his team’s integrity: “For anyone who called us cheaters … I hope that the image of us standing on top of the podium, embracing one another, smiling ear to ear with our gold medals is burned into your brain forever.”

Finland’s men’s Olympic hockey team transformed crushing disappointment into celebration, defeating Slovakia 6-1 on Saturday to capture the bronze medal just one day after a heartbreaking semi-final loss to Canada.

The defending Olympic champions from 2022 appeared headed for another gold medal showdown after building a two-goal advantage over Canada at Milan’s Santagiulia arena on Friday. However, Canada erased that lead, leaving Finland devastated and facing the prospect of going home without any hardware.

With less than 24 hours to recover emotionally, the Finnish squad returned to the same rink determined not to leave Italy empty-handed, facing a Slovak team that had exceeded expectations before falling to the United States in their semi-final.

Erik Haula, who netted two goals in Saturday’s victory, described the mental challenge of bouncing back from Friday’s crushing defeat.

“It was probably the biggest challenge of my life to get over that game. It was hard,” Haula explained. “Talking to the other guys, talking as a team about what a medal means and stuff like that, that powered us through I think.”

While bronze wasn’t the color Finland had envisioned, it provided a satisfying ending to what began as a difficult tournament for the title defenders.

Finland stumbled out of the gate, dropping their opening preliminary round match to Slovakia – the same team they dominated on Saturday. That early setback forced the squad to regroup before bouncing back with a crucial victory over Sweden in their second contest.

Joel Armia, who added an empty-net goal in the third period of Saturday’s decisive win, reflected on how the team learned from that initial stumble.

“First game, we kind of learned our lesson,” Armia said. “We didn’t just sit back and we had the courage to play with the puck and play confident.”

Slovakia’s Olympic hockey dreams came crashing down in Milan as the team suffered a devastating 6-1 loss to Finland in Saturday’s bronze medal game, leaving them without any hardware to show for their efforts.

The defeat was particularly crushing for star forward Juraj Slafkovsky, who helped Slovakia capture bronze at the previous Olympics four years ago in Beijing when he was just 17 years old and earned tournament MVP honors as the leading scorer.

Slovakia had appeared poised to duplicate their previous Olympic success after dominating Group B play with a convincing 4-1 victory over defending champion Finland. The team then advanced past Germany in quarterfinal action before falling to Team USA in the semifinals.

However, their rematch with Finland for the bronze medal turned into a nightmare, with Slovakia’s players leaving the ice well before the medal presentation ceremony concluded.

“I think being fourth and being last, it’s the same thing,” Slafkovsky said. “You don’t get the medal, so it sucks. The guys that are already home, they don’t have a medal as well, and we don’t have one either. So it’s still the same thing. In my opinion, right now, that’s how I feel, it sucks, losing sucks.”

The bronze medal contest started poorly for Slovakia as they trailed by two goals early, though they managed to cut the deficit to 2-1 entering the final period. That’s when everything unraveled, as Finland netted two goals within 60 seconds of each other in the third period, including one on the power play, effectively ending Slovakia’s comeback hopes.

“Going into the third, we’re right there, it’s a 2-1 game,” Slafkovsky said. “If we score the next one, then it’s 2-2. Who knows what would have happened, but yeah I can say whatever right now, it’s not going to change anything.”

The loss may have stung even more for defenseman Martin Fehervary, who missed the previous Olympics and was seeking his first Olympic medal.

“For myself, it’s definitely the worst loss in my hockey career, I’m really disappointed,” Fehervary said. “Everyone wants to win, right? And we don’t have any medal. I don’t have any medals, so it’s really disappointing.”

MILAN – American figure skater Ilia Malinin turned his closing gala performance at the Milano Cortina Games into a compelling statement about social media’s harmful impact and intense public scrutiny on Saturday.

The 21-year-old athlete used his exhibition skate to respond to criticism following his unexpected eighth-place result in men’s singles competition, an event many predicted he would win.

Performing to “Fear” by rapper NF – a song exploring mental health challenges and feelings of helplessness – Malinin wore casual attire including a grey sweatshirt and torn denim. His routine included movements that mimicked browsing on a smartphone.

During the performance, he reacted to pretend camera flashes and at one point crouched low while pulling his hood up for protection.

The double world champion joined American teammate Alysa Liu, who claimed the women’s title, as featured performers in the traditional celebration that honors the competition’s top athletes from the past two weeks.

Coming into Milan, Malinin was considered among the strongest gold medal contenders across all Olympic sports, having maintained an unbeaten streak spanning more than two seasons.

However, the pressure of Olympic competition proved overwhelming for the champion, whose free skate program collapsed dramatically with two major falls and successful completion of just three out of seven planned quadruple jumps.

Earlier this week, he acknowledged on Instagram that his high-pressure Olympic debut led to an “inevitable crash.”

During Saturday’s exhibition, he executed one quadruple jump before performing his signature backflip with a single-foot landing, earning thunderous applause that seemed to recognize both his athletic ability and the burden he had shouldered.

The routine concluded powerfully as he pretended to put on headphones, causing immediate silence throughout the arena.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Liu captivated spectators with her lighthearted performance set to “Stateside” by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson.

Liu’s Olympic experience contrasted sharply with Malinin’s, marked by renewed enthusiasm after taking a two-year break from competitive skating.

She described feeling at “peak happiness” while competing.

French ice dancing champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron presented an artistic routine to the piano piece “Mad Rush,” while Japanese pairs winners Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara skated to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling.”

Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov, the surprising men’s singles victor, entertained the audience dressed as Kung Fu Panda and received a post-performance visit from martial arts star Jackie Chan.

The NBA has handed down a one-game suspension without pay to Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert following his seventh flagrant foul violation of the current season, the league announced on Saturday.

Gobert received the flagrant foul penalty during Friday evening’s matchup against Dallas at home in Minneapolis, where he struck Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III in the head and neck area during the second quarter. The Timberwolves went on to defeat Dallas 122-111.

The suspension means Gobert will be sidelined for Sunday evening’s home matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, unless Minnesota decides to challenge the league’s decision through an appeal process.

According to NBA policy, players face automatic one-game suspensions once they accumulate six flagrant fouls during a season, with additional games added for each subsequent violation. This marks Gobert’s second suspension this season for flagrant foul accumulation, with his previous ban occurring in January following his sixth flagrant during Minnesota’s victory over San Antonio on January 11th.

Despite the incident, Gobert had a strong performance against Dallas, contributing 22 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocked shots. For the season, he’s posting averages of 11.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per contest.

Finland dominated the ice on Saturday, overwhelming Slovakia 6-1 to secure the bronze medal in men’s Olympic ice hockey at Milan’s Santagiulia arena.

The decisive victory adds another bronze to Finland’s impressive Olympic hockey collection, bringing their total to five bronze medals. This latest achievement marks the eighth Olympic ice hockey medal overall for the Nordic nation, which captured gold at the Beijing Olympics four years earlier.

The lopsided score reflected Finland’s control throughout the bronze medal match, as they outplayed their Slovak opponents in what became a one-sided affair on the final day of Olympic hockey competition.

In a heart-stopping finish, the Hawks pulled off a thrilling 66-64 victory over Coppin State on the road, thanks to a clutch basket by Lynch with less than a second left on the game clock.

With tension mounting and the score tied, Lynch drove to the basket and converted the go-ahead layup with just 0.8 seconds remaining, securing the dramatic two-point win for the Hawks.

The nail-biting contest showcased both teams’ determination, but it was the Hawks who managed to execute when it mattered most, capitalizing on their final possession to steal the victory away from home.

The thrilling finish highlighted the competitive nature of the matchup, with both squads battling until the final buzzer in what proved to be an unforgettable game for Hawks fans.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – German bobsledder Laura Nolte delivered a flawless performance on Saturday to claim her second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the Two-Woman bobsled competition, bouncing back from a heartbreaking loss just seven days earlier.

Nolte had suffered disappointment the previous week when she lost the Monobob championship by a razor-thin margin of four hundredths of a second after making an error on her final run. However, she showed no signs of that setback affecting her performance in Saturday’s Two-Woman event.

The podium featured another German athlete, as Nolte’s teammate Lisa Buckwitz secured the silver medal. Taking bronze was Kaillie Humphries, the veteran slider who previously captured Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014 while competing for Canada but now races under the American flag.

Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has etched his name in Winter Olympics history books after achieving an unprecedented clean sweep at the Milan Cortina Games. The athlete claimed his sixth gold medal on Saturday by winning the men’s 50-kilometer mass start event, surpassing Eric Heiden’s decades-old record of five gold medals at a single Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, American speedskating sensation Jordan Stolz placed fourth in the men’s mass start competition, trailing behind Netherlands veteran Jorrit Bergsma, who at 40 years old became the oldest male athlete to claim speedskating gold. Team USA reached a milestone of their own, earning their 11th gold medal of these Games – a new Winter Olympics record for the nation. The historic achievement came courtesy of Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Chris Lillis in the mixed aerials event.

Female athletes are driving much of America’s medal success at the Milan Cortina Olympics, establishing new benchmarks in the process. As of Saturday, with one day remaining in competition, American women have secured six gold medals and 17 total medals in women’s competitions – both new records for US Winter Games participation. Including mixed-gender events, that tally rises to 21 medals, with more than 40 American women earning at least one medal in Italy. Notable victories include the women’s hockey team’s triumph over Canada, along with wins in Alpine skiing, monobob, figure skating, and freestyle moguls. Athletes credit this success with inspiring future generations of competitors.

Sunday’s final day of competition features several marquee events, including the men’s hockey gold medal showdown between the United States and Canada. Eileen Gu will compete for her first gold of the 2026 Games in the rescheduled women’s freeski halfpipe final. Additional medals will be determined in cross-country skiing, curling, and bobsled before the closing ceremony concludes the Games.

In baseball news, Pittsburgh Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski passed away at age 89, the team announced Saturday. The Hall of Fame second baseman, who died Friday, earned eight Gold Glove awards for his defensive excellence and became a Pittsburgh icon after hitting the game-winning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Pirates owner Bob Nutting called Mazeroski “one of a kind, a true Pirates legend.” The organization retired his number 9 in 1987 and installed a statue in his honor on Bill Mazeroski Way in 2010.

English Premier League action saw both Aston Villa and Chelsea stumble in their respective matches. Villa’s title hopes took a hit after managing only a 1-1 draw at home against relegation-threatened Leeds, with substitute Tammy Abraham scoring an 88th-minute equalizer to salvage a point for Unai Emery’s squad. The result could see Villa fall further behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester City, with City facing Newcastle later Saturday and Arsenal visiting Tottenham on Sunday. Chelsea also settled for a 1-1 draw against struggling Burnley.

College basketball’s NCAA Tournament picture became clearer as the selection committee revealed preliminary seedings. Michigan earned the top overall seed, joined by Duke, Arizona, and Iowa State as number one seeds in their respective regions. The Cyclones secured the final top seed ahead of UConn and Houston. This early ranking provides insight into tournament positioning with less than a month until Selection Sunday on March 15, leading to the Final Four in Indianapolis.

In upset fashion, Cincinnati stunned eighth-ranked Kansas 84-68 behind Moustapha Thiam’s career-best 28 points. The 7-foot center connected on 11 of 17 field goal attempts and grabbed eight rebounds, marking Cincinnati’s second victory over a ranked opponent this season after defeating then-number two Iowa State 79-70 on January 17. Baba Miller contributed 18 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds for the Bearcats. Kansas was led by Flory Bidunga’s 18 points and 12 rebounds, while freshman Darryn Peterson added 17 points.

Seventeenth-ranked St. John’s dominated Creighton 81-52 to extend their winning streak to 13 games – the program’s longest such run in 41 years. Bryce Hopkins recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Dylan Darling scored 17 points off the bench and Zuby Ejiofor added 15 for the Red Storm. The team controlled the game from start to finish and limited Creighton to 32% shooting before 19,328 fans at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s last won 13 consecutive games during a 19-game streak in 1984-85 under Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca.

Spring training is underway for the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with superstar Shohei Ohtani scheduled to appear in select Cactus League games before joining Japan’s World Baseball Classic roster. Ohtani was set to lead off as designated hitter in the team’s spring opener against the Angels, expecting two or three at-bats. Reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto was slated to start and pitch two innings.

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is preparing for another championship run just months after capturing their first MLS Cup title. The club has assembled what may be the strongest roster in Major League Soccer history as they begin a season that culminates with the World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Messi recently became the first player in MLS history to win back-to-back MVP awards, but he’s supported by an impressive supporting cast as Miami aims to repeat as champions.

TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge made quite the statement in his first spring training appearance, launching a pair of home runs as he gears up for the World Baseball Classic scheduled for next month.

The three-time MVP award winner connected for two separate two-run blasts against the Detroit Tigers, finding the seats once during the third inning and again in the fourth. Judge’s impressive debut resulted in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with four runs batted in.

The 33-year-old baseball star has claimed MVP honors in three of the last four seasons, most recently in 2024 when he posted a .331 batting average alongside 53 home runs and 114 RBIs.

Following his strong showing, Judge expressed enthusiasm about the challenges ahead. “We’ve got the WBC coming up, which I’m excited about, and an exciting Yankees season,” Judge commented after his performance. “We’ve got a lot of unfinished business from last season, especially the way it ended for us. I’m just trying to put myself in the best position to help this team win a lot of ballgames.”

Judge is set to join what appears to be a star-studded Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic. The position player lineup will also feature notable names including Bryce Harper, Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber.

The World Baseball Classic’s opening pool play rounds are scheduled to take place March 5-11 across four different locations: Tokyo, Houston, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The tournament will conclude with the championship game on March 17 in Miami.

LIVIGNO, Italy — Team USA made Olympic history on Saturday by shattering its previous Winter Games gold medal record, claiming their 11th victory with the possibility of adding another when the men’s hockey squad faces Canada in Sunday’s championship match.

The record-setting achievement came courtesy of athletes Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Chris Lillis, who secured America’s second consecutive mixed aerials championship to push the country past its previous best performance.

Saturday’s triumph surpassed the previous benchmark of 10 gold medals established during the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, which marked a pivotal moment for America’s winter sports program after years of underwhelming results.

Officials believe this Games could represent another watershed moment, not merely due to medal totals but because of the diverse range of disciplines contributing to success. American athletes earned medals across 12 of the 17 winter sports categories featured in these Olympics.

“Our focus and our strategy has always been about breadth,” said Sarah Hirshland, the CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. “We want to win in everything. We want to make every sport better. Some could argue there are countries that go a mile deep in certain sports and really dominate. Our goal has been to improve Winter sport across the board.”

Following the aerials victory and Mia Manganello’s bronze medal performance in speedskating later Saturday, the American delegation reached 31 total medals with competition still remaining.

Norway currently leads the overall standings with a record-breaking 18 golds among 40 total medals through Saturday evening. Nearly three-quarters of Norway’s gold medals originated from endurance disciplines including cross country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined events. America’s strongest gold medal performances came evenly distributed across Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, figure skating, and speedskating, with two victories apiece representing 18% of the total haul.

The current Olympic program features 38 additional medal opportunities compared to the 2002 Games. Many new events center around snowpark competitions including halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air disciplines that previously favored American athletes but now see Japanese dominance, as evidenced by Japan’s nine snowboarding medals versus just two for the United States.

“We stated we wanted to be a podium nation,” Fin Kirwan, the USOPC’s chief of Olympic sport, said of the U.S. goal of being top-three on the medals table. “We said it will likely take 30 medals and we got after it. The athletes delivered on their potential and, by turn, we hit the record on gold-medal performance, which shows that our very best were able to execute.”

The American gold medal collection spans multiple inspiring stories: a halfpipe skier completing his Olympic medal set while maintaining his “Hotdog Hans” streaming persona, an athlete overcoming a knee injury on the same mountain where she claimed victory, a moguls specialist nicknamed “Lizard” continuing America’s tradition in the sport, a 20-year-old figure skater who rediscovered her passion after stepping away, a 41-year-old becoming the oldest Winter Olympic gold medalist at her sixth Games, skiing’s most decorated athlete finally capturing Olympic slalom gold, a speedskater joining Eric Heiden as only the second American man to win both 500 and 1,000-meter events, a figure skating team earning consecutive gold after navigating previous doping controversies, and a dramatic women’s hockey final featuring Hilary Knight’s late equalizer and Megan Keller’s overtime winner.

Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz dominated the Qatar Open final on Saturday, defeating France’s Arthur Fils in straight sets with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory that keeps his 2026 season unblemished.

The world’s top-ranked player controlled every aspect of the 50-minute championship match, winning an impressive 89% of his first-serve points while never allowing Fils a single break point opportunity. This marks Alcaraz’s second tournament victory of the year, coming just three weeks after his historic Australian Open triumph that completed his career Grand Slam.

“I came this year hungry for more,” the Spanish champion said after his victory, reflecting on his improvement from last year’s quarter-final exit in Doha. “I think after every tournament, we just have to set new goals. I’m just really happy and proud of everything I have done with my team on and off the court.”

The Qatar Open championship brings Alcaraz’s 2026 record to an unblemished 12-0 and adds his ninth ATP 500 title to his collection. This achievement ties him with former world number one Andy Murray for fourth place in ATP 500 victories since the category was established, according to ATP records.

Team Canada claimed the men’s curling championship at the Winter Olympics on Saturday, defeating Britain with a final score of 9-6 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

The Canadian squad’s victory secured the gold medal in what proved to be a competitive final match against the British team.

Earlier in the competition, Switzerland captured the bronze medal position following a commanding 9-1 triumph over Norway on Friday.

The curling competition concluded with Canada atop the podium, marking another successful Olympic campaign for the nation’s winter sports program.

MILAN – Veteran Dutch speed skater Jorrit Bergsma defied Father Time on Saturday, capturing Olympic gold in the men’s mass start at Milano Cortina 2026 at the remarkable age of 40. His victory marked his second Olympic championship and helped complete a dominant performance by the Netherlands in speed skating.

Bergsma’s teammate Marijke Groenewoud also claimed victory in the women’s mass start, giving the Dutch team a complete sweep of both final races as speed skating competition concluded at these Winter Games.

The Netherlands wrapped up the speed skating program with an impressive five gold medals, more than any other competing nation at Milano Cortina.

Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup earned silver in the men’s competition, delivering just the second Winter Olympic medal in his country’s history. Italy’s Andrea Giovannini thrilled the home crowd by capturing bronze.

In women’s competition, Canada’s Ivanie Blondin took silver – repeating her performance from Beijing 2022 – while American Mia Manganello rounded out the podium with bronze.

The men’s 16-lap race saw Bergsma and Thorup execute a bold breakaway on the third lap that caught competitors off guard. However, Bergsma saved his most decisive move for the closing laps, pulling away from Thorup with a powerful surge that sealed his victory.

As Bergsma entered the home stretch, television cameras captured him breaking into a smile and beginning his celebration before even crossing the finish line.

This latest triumph adds to Bergsma’s impressive Olympic collection, which includes 10,000-meter gold from Sochi 2014, silver from Pyeongchang 2018, and bronze medals in the 5,000m at Sochi and 10,000m at these current Games.

“That was crazy, mind-blowing,” Bergsma said. “I was expecting a really hard final, but nobody wanted to do the first attack. I did it. I had a gap together with Viktor and that was it.”

“We had a gap in no time, and then I knew, ‘okay, I have a big, big chance right now’. I just wanted to keep the gap with the peloton and keep the speed in it a bit. I had to keep my cool and finish it.”

The race proved disappointing for defending champion Bart Swings of Belgium. The 35-year-old, who made history by winning his nation’s first Winter Olympic gold in 74 years at Beijing 2022, could only manage a ninth-place finish.

American Jordan Stolz, fresh off winning Olympic titles in both the 500m and 1,000m events, placed fourth in the mass start.

Groenewoud’s victory came after the retirement of Dutch legend Irene Schouten, who had previously defended the women’s mass start title. The 27-year-old Groenewoud perfectly timed her final sprint to claim her first Olympic gold medal.

“Maybe it (Bergsma’s race) brought some more pressure on my shoulders, but there was also a lot of energy I got out of it. It’s nice to see your teammate win. Then you have to do it yourself, too,” Groenewoud said.

“I stood up and thought, ‘this mass start is my mass start and I did it’. It’s a dream come true. As a child I dreamed of Olympic gold and now I got it.”

Groenewoud’s perfect day became even more memorable when her boyfriend proposed to her moments after her victory celebration concluded.

“I got a gold medal and a silver ring,” Groenewoud said. “Really happy with it. I didn’t expect it. It’s a perfect day.”

At 40 years old, most athletes have long since hung up their competitive gear, but Dutch speed skater Jorrit Bergsma proved age is just a number when he captured Olympic gold in Milan on Saturday.

The veteran competitor shocked the field during the men’s mass start competition, executing a bold strategy alongside Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup with a surprise attack during the third lap of the 16-lap event.

“I do not know yet if I will be back in four years, but now I guess I have to defend my title, right?” Bergsma said after his stunning victory.

The pair quickly established a substantial advantage over their competitors – at times leading by more than half a lap – while the remaining skaters failed to mount an immediate response. With just a few laps remaining, Bergsma made his decisive move, pulling away from Thorup to secure the win.

“I do not think I realise just yet what I have done. I even had to pinch myself when I was standing on the podium,” the champion reflected.

Looking ahead to the 2030 Winter Olympics, when he would be 44, Bergsma acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic about his future in the sport.

“Four years is going to be really tough, especially with the young guys coming up on the single distances. I will see year by year, but I am not done yet,” he stated.

This latest achievement enhances Bergsma’s already impressive Olympic collection, which features his 10,000m championship from Sochi 2014, a silver medal from Pyeongchang 2018, and bronze medals in the 5,000m at Sochi and 10,000m at Milano Cortina.

“I had already won bronze, so my Olympic Games were already complete, but to be standing here with a gold medal as a 40-year-old guy is a privilege, even more so that I managed to do it in the mass start. I did not expect this at all,” Bergsma explained.

The number 13 played a special role in Bergsma’s success story. He competed wearing helmet number 13, having previously earned his 10,000m bronze medal on February 13.

“It has been my lucky number already. In the Netherlands, I am skating marathons with leg number 13. One week ago I won a bronze medal on Friday the 13th. And today I win with number 13. It is like magic for me,” he revealed.

In a remarkable coincidence, Bergsma’s February 1st birthday would align perfectly with the opening ceremony of the 2030 Winter Olympics, should he decide to extend his career for another Olympic cycle.

The St. Louis Cardinals have added veteran utility player Ramon Urias to their roster, announcing the signing of the free agent infielder to a one-year contract on Saturday.

While the team did not reveal specific contract details, The Athletic reported the agreement is worth $2 million for the 2026 season, with an additional $1.5 million guaranteed and a $500,000 buyout clause for a mutual option in 2027. The contract also features performance incentives that could reach up to $2 million based on plate appearances.

The 31-year-old Urias brings defensive versatility and experience to St. Louis after playing for both the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros during the 2025 campaign. Over 112 games last season, he posted a .241 batting average while contributing 11 home runs and 44 runs batted in.

Throughout his major league career spanning from 2020 to 2025, Urias has maintained a .257 batting average across 541 games, accumulating 50 home runs and 215 RBIs between his time with Baltimore and Houston. His defensive prowess earned him a Gold Glove Award at third base in 2022, and he has demonstrated flexibility by playing multiple infield positions including second base, shortstop, and first base.

To accommodate Urias on their 40-man roster, the Cardinals placed 27-year-old right-handed pitcher Zak Kent on waivers. Kent compiled a 1-0 record with a 4.58 earned run average during the 2025 season.

Minnesota Twins All-Star pitcher Joe Ryan was pulled from Saturday afternoon’s matchup against the Boston Red Sox moments before game time after experiencing lower back tightness.

The last-minute roster change adds to the team’s pitching concerns, coming just 24 hours after officials announced that pitcher Pablo Lopez will need Tommy John surgery next week, sidelining him for all of the 2026 season.

Right-handed pitcher Eston Stull stepped in to take Ryan’s place as the Twins kicked off their Grapefruit League season against Boston.

The 29-year-old Ryan had a solid 2025 campaign, finishing with 13 wins and 10 losses while achieving a personal-best 3.42 ERA across 31 games, including 30 starts. Last summer marked a career milestone for the reliable pitcher when he earned his first All-Star Game selection.

Swedish cross-country skiing champion Frida Karlsson has withdrawn from Sunday’s women’s 50km mass start classic event at the Milano Cortina Olympics after becoming sick, according to a Swedish team official speaking from Tesero, Italy on February 21.

The absence of Karlsson, who many experts believed had a strong chance of earning another medal, comes after her impressive Olympic performance that included gold medals in both the 20km skiathlon and 10km freestyle events. Her victories helped establish Sweden’s women’s cross-country team as the dominant force at these Winter Games.

Karlsson joins a growing list of elite athletes who have been sidelined by sickness during this Olympic week. Italy’s Federico Pellegrino and Team USA’s Ben Ogden were also unable to compete in Saturday’s men’s 50km classic event after falling ill.

TORONTO – Canadian hockey fans will be able to grab a cold beer with their morning coffee this Sunday as provinces across the country permit bars to serve alcohol hours ahead of schedule for the Olympic men’s hockey championship game against the United States.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford authorized licensed venues in Canada’s largest province to start pouring drinks at 6 AM Eastern Time on Sunday, more than two hours before the championship match begins at Milan’s Santagiulia arena. The game features rosters filled with National Hockey League stars from both countries.

“The entire country will be watching on Sunday morning as our men’s hockey team plays for Olympic gold,” Ford posted on social media when he announced the early alcohol sales decision. “Let’s all come together, support local businesses and cheer on Team Canada!”

British Columbia Premier David Eby has implemented similar measures on the west coast, allowing establishments there to serve drinks to eager hockey supporters before typical morning hours.

The championship contest will be the first Olympic men’s hockey final between these neighboring countries since the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

Canada claimed victory in that 2010 championship on Sidney Crosby’s overtime goal and went on to repeat as champions at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which was the most recent Winter Games to include NHL talent.

Sunday’s final gives Canada an opportunity to solidify their dominance and capture their 10th Olympic men’s hockey gold medal in a nation where hockey holds cultural significance that transcends typical sports fandom and approaches spiritual devotion.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani will make limited appearances in spring training for the Los Angeles Dodgers before departing Arizona to represent Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

The superstar took his position as leadoff designated hitter in Saturday’s spring opener against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium, with plans for two to three plate appearances.

“Sometimes he takes two and he feels good or he wants that third at-bat,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Roberts remained coy about Ohtani’s exact departure timeline, smiling when pressed about travel arrangements and saying, “I promised I’d try.”

The 31-year-old dual-threat player is slated to take the mound against live batters on Sunday, with Roberts already expressing confidence that Ohtani deserves Cy Young Award consideration this season.

“I know that it’s going to be soon. He’s going to play in a couple Cactus League games, but I’m not exactly sure when his plane ticket is. He hasn’t said,” Roberts said. “So I don’t know what day he’s going to join Team Japan.”

Meanwhile, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his spring debut as the starting pitcher, throwing approximately 35 pitches across two innings in his only Dodgers appearance before also departing for WBC duty.

“Obviously him going and pitching for Team Japan, he’s going to be kind of trying to ramp it up and get prepared so I think it’s just more of what he does strike one, use his secondaries and be efficient and get some outs,” Roberts said.

Upon Yamamoto’s return to the Dodgers’ facility, the right-hander will initially be limited to roughly four innings and 60 pitches, according to Roberts.

The 27-year-old hurler, who inked a massive $325 million, 12-year deal in December 2023, dominated in Los Angeles’ championship run with a perfect 3-0 record and 1.09 ERA across seven World Series contests against Toronto, making his workload management a priority following that exceptional postseason performance.

“I think it’s up to all of us to be mindful of workloads and short term, long term and all of that stuff, which we are,” Roberts said.

Yamamoto’s World Series excellence included 15 strikeouts against just two walks over 17 2/3 innings, surrendering only two runs on 10 hits. He joined Randy Johnson as the sole pitchers since 1969 to capture three victories in a single World Series.

“I think I’m confident because there’s no exact science on ramping up early and success,” Roberts said. “Or being methodical and not participating to result in success during the season. There’s just no exact science. I think for me and for all of us you’re just believing in the player, knowing that he knows what it takes to get ready for a season and he takes care of himself. So I think for me it’s an easy way to kind of think and wrap my head around just kind of believing in him, trusting him.”

Stormy conditions in the Atlanta area led to the scrapping of Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at EchoPark Speedway.

Since time trials were called off, Daytona 500 champion Tyler Reddick will claim the top starting position for Sunday’s Autotrader 400 race.

Reddick, driving the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, will share the front row with Joey Logano, who pilots the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

Persistent rainfall during the late morning hours, combined with dangerous lightning activity, resulted in the track’s first Cup Series qualifying cancellation in 16 years, dating back to 2008.

Despite the weather disruption, both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at 1:30 p.m. ET and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at 5 p.m. ET remain on Saturday’s schedule.

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet went under the knife Friday to repair a torn ACL, more than a month after suffering the injury during playoff action.

The 25-year-old back damaged his left knee during Seattle’s January 17 NFC divisional playoff win against the San Francisco 49ers.

Although team officials haven’t provided a specific recovery timeline, Charbonnet will likely be sidelined for a significant chunk of the 2026 campaign.

During this past regular season, Charbonnet topped Seattle’s roster with 12 rushing touchdowns while finishing second on the team with 730 yards on the ground. This marked his third year with the Seahawks after being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Running mate Kenneth Walker III, who typically shares backfield duties with Charbonnet, stepped up during the playoffs in his teammate’s absence. Walker went on to earn Super Bowl LX MVP recognition, though he’s expected to hit free agency.

Walker paced the Seahawks with 1,027 rushing yards and contributed five touchdowns during the regular season.

The Chicago Bulls announced Saturday that power forward Zach Collins will need surgery on his right big toe, ending his season early.

Meanwhile, guard Jaden Ivey is experiencing soreness in his left knee and team doctors will reassess his condition in two weeks.

The 28-year-old Collins has been coming off the bench this season, putting up 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game across 10 appearances.

Throughout his professional career spanning 388 games with Portland, San Antonio, and Chicago, Collins has posted averages of 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He started 83 of those contests.

Sacramento originally drafted the Gonzaga product as the 10th selection in 2017 before immediately dealing him to Portland on draft night.

Ivey, who celebrated his 24th birthday on February 13th, has put together averages of 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds across four appearances for Chicago since his recent trade from Detroit. He has started three of those games.

The Pistons selected Ivey fifth overall in the 2022 draft. His career has been hampered by injuries, including a fractured leg that cost him substantial playing time last season and a knee problem that sidelined him earlier this year.

Texas Rangers utility infielder Cody Freeman faces an extended absence after suffering a fractured lower back, with team manager Skip Schumaker revealing Saturday that the injury will keep him out of action for four to six weeks.

The recovery period creates significant uncertainty about Freeman’s availability for the season opener, as only five weeks remain before Texas takes on the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on March 26.

The 25-year-old Freeman had been competing for a versatile bench role heading into the 2025 campaign.

“Obviously, he wasn’t thrilled with the news,” Schumaker told reporters, according to the Dallas Morning News. “He’s going to be out a little bit. But he’s the type of kid that he will get something out of this rehab. I know it’s tough for him, but it’s not like he’s not part of the plan moving forward. He’s going to help us at some point during the season.”

During the 2024 season, Freeman appeared in 36 contests for Texas, posting a .228 batting average while contributing three home runs and 15 runs batted in.

The International Olympic Committee announced Saturday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s participation in President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace launch event did not breach Olympic political neutrality standards.

Infantino, who holds dual roles as head of world soccer’s governing organization and IOC member, joined Thursday’s inaugural Board of Peace session in Milan. The gathering brought together Trump and various world leaders to discuss Gaza reconstruction initiatives, with the goal of rebuilding the region following Hamas disarmament.

An IOC representative confirmed the organization had communicated with FIFA regarding the matter. “We understand that FIFA is supporting, through football, a comprehensive sport recovery investment programme in Gaza, Palestine, by providing sporting infrastructure, education and elite development proposals,” the spokesperson stated.

The spokesperson added: “This is entirely in keeping with the role of an International sport federation. The IOC, through Olympic Solidarity, which is our development vehicle, has been and continues to support sport development in the region.”

Olympic Charter regulations require members to operate free from commercial and political influences. The document also prohibits members from accepting “from governments, organisations, or other parties, any mandate or instructions liable to interfere with the freedom of their action and vote.”

Trump’s Board of Peace initiative has drawn criticism for including Israeli representation while excluding Palestinian voices. Concerns have emerged that Trump’s plans to expand the Board’s scope beyond Gaza could potentially diminish the United Nations’ primary role in international diplomacy and conflict mediation.

During the event, Infantino shared the stage with multiple heads of state and wore a red cap featuring “USA” and the numbers 45-47, representing Trump’s two separate presidential terms.

The FIFA leader presented a collaboration agreement with the Board of Peace outlining ambitious Gaza sports development plans. The initiative includes constructing 50 smaller playing fields near educational facilities and neighborhoods, five regulation-size pitches throughout different districts, an advanced FIFA training academy, and a new 20,000-capacity national stadium.

Trump and Infantino have met on multiple occasions, particularly relevant as the United States prepares to co-host this summer’s World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.

In December, FIFA presented Trump with its first-ever peace award, recognizing his work promoting communication and tension reduction in global conflict zones.

Newly elected IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who took office in 2025, has not yet had a meeting with Trump. Los Angeles is scheduled to host the 2028 Summer Olympics.

A teenage soccer prodigy has achieved a historic milestone with Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo, becoming the youngest athlete ever awarded a first-team contract by the organization.

Matthew Arana, just 15 years old, secured his professional deal on Saturday through the league’s Homegrown Player program. The midfielder, who hails from Houston, agreed to terms that will keep him with the club through the 2027-28 season, with additional options extending potentially through 2029-30.

Pat Onstad, the team’s president of soccer operations, expressed his enthusiasm about the landmark signing.

“I am very proud to announce the signing of Matthew Arana,” Onstad stated. “He made the most of his opportunities since joining the Dynamo Academy in 2021, advancing quickly through our pathway and making an impact at the first team level this preseason. He has a bright future ahead of him.”

Onstad also acknowledged the support system behind the young player’s success.

“We want to thank Matthew’s parents, Bibiana and Miguel, RISE SC and everyone who supported him on his journey to today, and we look forward to his continued development with his hometown club,” he added.

The teenager has already gained professional experience, appearing for Houston’s MLS NEXT Pro squad in 2025. During his time with Dynamo 2, Arana recorded one assist across five appearances, including one as a starter.

Houston will kick off their 2026 MLS campaign with a home match against Chicago Fire this Saturday evening.

Persistent snowfall has forced Olympic organizers to postpone the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe finals by 24 hours in Livigno, Italy, marking another weather-related disruption at the Milano Cortina Games.

The competition, originally scheduled for Saturday evening, has been rescheduled to Sunday as the final event taking place in the northern Italian Alpine community.

Heavy snow continued falling throughout Saturday’s men’s ski cross finals, creating poor visibility conditions and making the slopes more challenging for competitors. The mountain town sits in northern Italy close to the Swiss border.

When competition resumes, China’s Eileen Gu will attempt to retain her Olympic title in the halfpipe discipline. Britain’s Zoe Atkin, who topped the qualifying rounds, and China’s Li Fanghui are among the leading challengers expected to compete for medals.

Adverse weather conditions have disrupted the Olympic schedule multiple times throughout the Milano Cortina Games, which are scheduled to wrap up with Sunday evening’s Closing Ceremony.

The men’s halfpipe competition also faced scheduling changes earlier in the week, with organizers consolidating qualifying rounds and finals into a single day on Friday rather than spreading them across separate days as initially planned.

DUBAI – American tennis professional Jessica Pegula delivered a commanding performance Saturday, defeating Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 to claim the Dubai Tennis Championships title.

The world’s fifth-ranked player established early control, racing to a 3-0 advantage in the opening set by forcing Svitolina to play deep court positions. Pegula secured her initial service break with a precise backhand cross-court winner, then maintained her serve advantage with an expertly executed backhand slice.

When Svitolina attempted to mount a comeback, the former U.S. Open finalist successfully defended two break point opportunities to extend her lead to 5-1. Svitolina’s frustration showed as she sent a forehand into the net, allowing Pegula to close out the opening set.

The 31-year-old American, who celebrates her 32nd birthday this Tuesday, maintained her composure throughout the second set. She captured the crucial service break in the fifth game, which proved sufficient to secure her tenth professional tour championship while snapping a streak of three consecutive losses in WTA 1000 championship matches.

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is declaring himself ready for redemption after acknowledging he lost his way during a challenging debut season with Ferrari.

The 41-year-old British racing legend took to Instagram with a determined message, revealing he’s found his motivation again following what proved to be a lackluster first year with the legendary Italian racing team.

“I love this job so much and I love working with my team and driving for the fans,” Hamilton stated. The driver, who made the high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari last year, expressed gratitude for his position in the sport.

“I’m incredibly lucky to be able to do what I do, and I’m excited for the season ahead,” he continued.

Hamilton didn’t hold back in his candid reflection on his recent struggles: “I’m re-set and refreshed. I’m not going anywhere, so stick with me. For a moment, I forgot who I was, but thanks to you and your support you’re not going to see that mindset again. I know what needs to be done. This is going to be one hell of a season.”

The racing icon, widely regarded as the most accomplished driver in Formula One’s history, endured his career’s most challenging season in 2024. He went without a single podium finish across 24 races and appeared increasingly frustrated as the year progressed.

Ferrari’s performance matched Hamilton’s struggles, as the team failed to secure a victory throughout the 2024 campaign. However, recent testing sessions in Bahrain have shown promising signs, with Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc posting the quickest time in this week’s final practice session before teams head to Australia for the season opener on March 8.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella shared his assessment of the competitive landscape on Friday, identifying Mercedes and Ferrari as the teams with the strongest early-season potential.

“McLaren and Red Bull probably very similar, Ferrari and Mercedes a step ahead,” Stella told reporters.

Team Canada faces significant injury challenges heading into Sunday’s Olympic gold medal hockey matchup against the United States at the Milan Cortina Olympics, with defenseman Josh Morrissey officially ruled out and captain Sidney Crosby’s participation still in question.

The 30-year-old Morrissey sustained an injury during the opening period of Canada’s initial group stage victory against Czechia and has been unable to compete in Olympic action since that incident.

Meanwhile, Crosby appeared to injure his right leg during Wednesday’s thrilling 4-3 overtime quarterfinal victory over the Czech Republic.

Following Saturday’s practice session, Canadian head coach Jon Cooper confirmed to media that Morrissey would be unavailable for the championship game. This marks the second major tournament Morrissey has missed due to health issues, having also sat out last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off title game in Boston because of illness.

“We want Josh in this game, he helps us with puck moving and everything he does, but in the end if you’re not physically able to do it,” Cooper explained. “The one selfless thing about this team, and the way I’ve watched these players … when it comes to the flag, no one is getting in the way of it. If they’re incapable of giving what they think is optimal effort, they don’t want to put the country in harm, they understand what we have here.”

The stakes are particularly high as Canada seeks its first Olympic gold medal since capturing the title at the 2014 Sochi Games, which was the most recent Olympics to include NHL talent. The Americans haven’t claimed Olympic hockey gold since their legendary “Miracle on Ice” triumph in Lake Placid, New York back in 1980.

The 38-year-old Crosby did participate in Saturday’s practice session, though his game-time decision remains pending.

“We’ll see. I watched him skate today,” Cooper said regarding Crosby’s condition. “I haven’t spoken to him yet. We’re going to meet tonight and have a determination of what’s going to happen tomorrow. He won’t put himself in harm’s way. He’s not going to put the team in harm’s way.”

“Obviously we’d love to have him, but that determination will be made tonight,” the coach added.

Throughout these Olympic Games, Crosby has contributed six points across four contests, recording two goals and four assists for the Canadian squad.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Team Canada’s women’s curling squad secured the Olympic bronze medal Saturday, defeating the United States 10-7 in a thrilling match at the Milano Cortina Games.

The victory sparked celebrations as Canadian team captain Rachel Homan raised her fist in triumph and hugged teammate Tracy Fleury following the decisive moment when American skip Tabitha Peterson surrendered the match with one stone left to play.

The bronze medal represents Canada’s return to the podium in women’s curling after a decade-long drought. The team’s last medal in this event came during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, where Jennifer Jones led her squad to gold.

The women’s curling competition will conclude Sunday with the championship match, featuring Sweden’s team led by Anna Hasselborg against Switzerland’s squad captained by Silvana Tirinzoni competing for the gold medal.

Hockey legend Jaromir Jagr has indicated his remarkable 38-season professional career could be drawing to a close, according to comments he made in a recent interview.

The Czech superstar, who celebrated his 54th birthday last Sunday, currently suits up for the Kladno Knights in his home country’s professional league.

During a Friday Instagram interview, Jagr cast doubt on whether supporters will witness him competing on ice in the future.

“Probably not,” Jagr responded when asked about continuing to play. “It would have to be a miracle. God would have to come, enter me and make me 15 years younger.”

This season with Kladno, Jagr has tallied just one assist across six contests, with his most recent appearance coming on December 21.

By continuing to compete actively, Jagr has postponed his Hockey Hall of Fame induction, which cannot occur until at least 2029 due to the mandatory three-year waiting period following retirement.

The Pittsburgh Penguins legend captured two Stanley Cup championships and holds the second-highest point total in NHL history with 1,921 points, while ranking fourth all-time in both goals scored (766) and games played (1,733).

Throughout his 24 NHL seasons spanning from 1990 to 2017, the eight-time All-Star and 1998-99 Hart Trophy recipient competed for nine different franchises, spending 11 of those years with Pittsburgh.

Following his final NHL appearance with the Calgary Flames on New Year’s Eve 2017, Jagr made his way back to Kladno to continue his playing career in the Czech Republic.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Following Team USA’s women’s hockey gold medal victory, seasoned player Kendall Coyne Schofield captured the excitement with a simple declaration.

“We did it!” she shouted.

That celebration echoed throughout the American women’s team at the Milan Cortina Games, where female athletes achieved unprecedented success at a Winter Olympics.

In terms of medal achievements, they absolutely delivered – breaking records along the way.

Female competitors from the United States – excluding mixed-gender competitions – entered Saturday’s penultimate day with six gold medals and 15 total medals. The prior Winter Olympics records for American women stood at five golds (achieved in 1992, 2002, and 2018) and 13 medals (reached in 2014 and 2022).

“Our team is so strong,” said Mikaela Shiffrin, who claimed gold in women’s slalom and is considered an Alpine skiing legend. “We have so many incredible athletes and teammates and friends, and everybody just showed up with so much courage and heart here. And I’m so proud to be part of this American team.”

Including mixed competitions, American women earned 19 medals at Milan Cortina. Over 40 female athletes from the United States will return home with at least one medal – establishing another winter milestone for the country. These figures could continue climbing, as additional medal opportunities remained before the Olympic flame is extinguished.

“Team USA is crushing it and it’s friggin’ sweet,” declared Kaillie Humphries Armbruster, an American bobsledder who earned bronze in monobob and was competing for another medal in Saturday evening’s two-woman event. “Women’s hockey got gold, hell yeah. It’s all definitely motivating.”

Inspiration surrounded US women competitors at every turn.

Shiffrin and downhill champion Breezy Johnson claimed Alpine skiing golds, while Elana Meyers Taylor triumphed in monobob. Alysa Liu secured the figure skating women’s singles title (plus another gold in the team competition for both genders), Elizabeth Lemley captured the Olympic crown in freestyle moguls, and the women’s hockey squad mounted a late comeback to force overtime before defeating Canada for their championship. Kaila Kuhn contributed to a gold medal victory in mixed team aerials – marking Team USA’s 11th gold at these Games, the highest total by Americans in Winter Olympics history.

Male competitors from the US have also performed admirably in Italy.

However, American women have been truly record-breaking.

“It’s iconic. It’s legendary,” stated US bobsledder Kaysha Love. “At the end of the day, I think that’s why we do this.”

To be fair, Olympic competition has expanded over the years, providing more opportunities for women to become Olympians. Milan Cortina featured 41 women’s events (not including mixed competitions), compared to 37 at Turin in 2006 and just 12 at Lake Placid in 1980.

Nevertheless, records remain records. This US Olympic women’s delegation, as a collective unit, established a new benchmark.

The 15 medals earned by Americans in women’s competition at Milan Cortina, rising to 19 with mixed events included, would surpass the total medals won by all US athletes – male, female, and mixed – in every Winter Games from 1924 through 1998.

Freestyle skiing contributed four of the 15 women’s medals for Americans at these Games, with Jaelin Kauf earning two of those – both silver medals in moguls.

“There’s an incredibly strong women’s team and moguls program in the US, (which is) exactly why it’s so good,” Kauf explained. “We have become extremely dominant in the last handful of years, continuing to be the best women’s team in the world for four or five years now.”

Obviously, achievement generates more achievement. Just consider Cory Thiesse’s example.

She made history as the first American woman to earn an Olympic curling medal. Thiesse claimed silver in mixed doubles alongside Korey Dropkin, reaching that milestone partly through inspiration from previous champions – whether in curling or other sports.

“I know how important it was for me to have girls to look up to when I was growing up, not only in my own sport but other sports out there winning medals and seeing that on TV and dreaming big because of it,” Thiesse shared on Friday, the day before she and the US women fell to Canada in the bronze-medal contest. “So, I just think it’s great for future generations.”

US men’s hockey coach Mike Sullivan believes the American women who succeeded this year are also laying groundwork for 2030, 2034, and future Olympics.

“What a terrific hockey team and they’ll be an inspiration for the next generation of girls growing up in the United States,” Sullivan commented following the US women’s victory over Canada for hockey gold. “It’s crazy how far women’s hockey has come in the United States, and a lot of it is due to the teams like this and the girls that play on these teams. They inspire the next generation.”

Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, the second baseman who delivered one of the most memorable moments in World Series history, has passed away at 89 years old.

The Pittsburgh Pirates confirmed Mazeroski’s death on Saturday, though the team did not disclose the cause. He died on Friday after spending all 17 seasons of his major league career with Pittsburgh.

“It is with a heavy heart that we relay the news of the passing of legendary Pirates and National Baseball Hall of Famer, Bill Mazeroski,” the organization stated, describing his famous 1960 home run as “the greatest home run in baseball history.”

“He was a beloved member of the Pirates family and he will be deeply missed.”

Old black-and-white footage from October 13, 1960, captures Mazeroski connecting with a Ralph Terry pitch and sending it sailing over the left field wall during the ninth inning at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. The dramatic blast secured a 10-9 victory for the Pirates in the decisive seventh game against the New York Yankees, as ecstatic fans swarmed the field while he rounded the bases.

During a 2015 Pirates broadcast, Mazeroski shared his memories of that historic moment: “I don’t know it’s out. I don’t know it’s a home run. But I know I’m going to end up on third if he misplays that ball off the wall. So I’m busting my tail getting around there, and by the time I hit second base, I looked down the line and the fans went crazy. From second base, I didn’t touch the ground all the way in.”

That dramatic home run stands as the only walk-off blast in a seventh game of World Series competition.

Throughout his career, Mazeroski earned recognition as one of baseball’s premier defensive players, capturing eight Gold Glove honors and earning 10 All-Star selections. He celebrated two championship victories with Pittsburgh, including the 1960 triumph and another in 1971 when the Pirates defeated Baltimore in seven games.

The West Virginia-born player compiled a .260 batting average during his career, accumulating 138 home runs, 2,016 hits, and 853 RBIs across 2,163 games.

His defensive prowess was reflected in a career .983 fielding percentage, with his peak performance coming in 1966 when he committed only eight errors in 957 chances over 162 games, achieving a remarkable .992 fielding rate.

In 2001, the Veterans Committee recognized his contributions by inducting him into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

“I think defense belongs in the Hall of Fame,” Mazeroski stated during his induction speech. “Defense deserves as much credit as pitching and hitting, and I’m proud and honored to be going into the Hall of Fame on the defensive side and mostly for my defensive abilities.”

MILAN — The late Johnny Gaudreau had been striving to earn a spot on Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Both he and his brother Matthew had grown up watching Olympic hockey, dreaming of one day competing on that stage themselves.

“It was their dream,” their mother Jane Gaudreau shared about her sons.

The Gaudreau brothers tragically lost their lives on August 29, 2024, after being hit by an SUV while cycling near their New Jersey home. The accident occurred just one day before their sister Katie’s wedding. The hockey world was devastated by their deaths, and tributes have poured in ever since, including retired jersey numbers and a memorial 5K race.

Johnny, an accomplished NHL veteran with a decade of professional experience and Team USA’s all-time top scorer in international competition, was expected to secure a place on the Milan Olympic roster. The tournament concludes Sunday with the Americans facing Canada for the gold medal. His father Guy Gaudreau revealed that USA Hockey officials had graciously informed the family that their eldest son was projected to make the team.

“He wanted to be on this team,” Guy Gaudreau expressed during Friday night’s U.S. semifinal victory. “And it would’ve been nice if he’d been here.”

Team USA is paying homage to both brothers with a special memorial display in their Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena locker room. A blue jersey bearing Johnny’s number 13 serves as a constant reminder of the player affectionately called “Johnny Hockey,” who was cherished by teammates and fans alike.

“It means everything — we all know he should be here with us,” expressed Dylan Larkin, who competed alongside Gaudreau in several world championships. “He should be with us. We love him, and I like that we continue to think about him and I wouldn’t imagine it any other way.”

Jane and Guy Gaudreau, accompanied by Johnny’s wife Meredith and their two eldest children, arrived in Milan on Friday. The parents had originally planned a Las Vegas vacation and were initially uncertain about accepting USA Hockey’s invitation to attend the Olympics.

“Our two daughters, for 24 hours, they just kept at us: ‘You have to go. The boys would want you to do this. This would mean so much to John,’” Jane explained. “It just means so much to our family, and we’re so excited to remember what our boys meant to hockey.”

The family’s ties to current roster members span from Boston College to the NHL. Beyond his world championship appearances, Johnny had been teammates with Noah Hanifin during their time with the Calgary Flames and with Zach Werenski on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“Johnny was close to a lot of guys in that room,” Hanifin noted. “We know he’d be here with us, so we’ve been thinking about him and carrying him with us.”

Following the team’s advancement to the championship game, Werenski mentioned that Meredith had contacted his wife several days prior to inform them of the family’s travel plans.

“It’s great having them here, and it’s super special,” Werenski commented. “We’re happy that we made it to the gold-medal game so they can watch that and be a part of it. It’s on us to make them proud.”

Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed what team management had already told the Gaudreau family: Johnny would have definitely earned a roster spot if he were still alive, given his impressive track record and outstanding performances in Team USA colors.

“He was one of America’s very best,” Sullivan stated. “He’s just a good person on the ice and off the ice, and I think he’s an inspiration to our players to this very day.”

Players continue to share memories of Gaudreau, with “all the stories are funny,” according to Charlie McAvoy, who played with him at world championships.

“Just an amazing person, just an infectious personality,” McAvoy reflected. “The detail, really, with our staff and our equipment staff especially to make sure that he’s always with us, little reminders of him in the room, and they just go a long way. You always see them. They’re gentle. They’re right there. But we know that he’s always with us.”

Displayed alongside Johnny’s number 13 jersey is Matthew’s number 21 on the locker room wall. This tribute mirrors what USA Hockey implemented at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where Guy Gaudreau participated in practice as an honorary coach.

This Olympics would have marked Johnny Gaudreau’s first Olympic opportunity, as NHL players were absent from the 2018 and 2022 Games. However, his jersey’s presence in the U.S. locker room may become a lasting tradition for future competitions.

“I hope so,” Larkin said. “I sure hope so.”

After completing three years of his initial NFL contract, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has become eligible for a new deal.

The 2025 AP Offensive Player of the Year isn’t rushing contract negotiations, but he believes his performance warrants becoming the league’s top-paid wide receiver.

“I’m really not too pressed right now to get it done,” Smith-Njigba shared with WFAA-TV. “I know my time is coming, and when we get it done it’s gonna be a great deal. God’s timing is perfect timing, so whenever that may come, we’ll be ready for it. I think I deserve to be the highest-paid at my position, just what I give to the game and the community, I give it my all. And I think that’s worth a lot, lot more.”

The receiver, who celebrated his 24th birthday last Saturday, has one year left on his original four-year, $14.4 million rookie agreement.

“I would play this game for free, I love this game so much, but you don’t have to,” he explained. “I’m learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day.”

Smith-Njigba earned the right to seek a major contract after topping the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards during the 2025 regular season. His impressive campaign included 119 catches and 10 touchdowns, earning him his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection.

His excellence continued into the playoffs, where he accumulated 199 yards and two touchdowns across three postseason contests, helping Seattle claim the organization’s second Super Bowl championship.

Throughout his career spanning 51 games with 36 starts, Smith-Njigba has recorded 282 receptions for 3,551 yards and 20 touchdowns since Seattle drafted him 20th overall from Ohio State in 2023.

Currently, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, age 25, holds the title of highest-paid wide receiver with an annual salary of $40.25 million from the four-year, $161 million extension he signed last March.

BORMIO, Italy – World champions Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet of France captured the first-ever Olympic ski mountaineering mixed relay championship on Saturday, maintaining their front position throughout the entire competition.

The French team completed the demanding 1.41-kilometer course in 26 minutes and 57.44 seconds. Both athletes had already earned Olympic hardware earlier this week during Thursday’s sprint competitions, with Harrop securing silver in the women’s division and Anselmet claiming bronze in the men’s category.

Swiss competitors Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler earned the silver medal, finishing 11.86 seconds behind the winners, while Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez and Oriol Cardona Coll secured the bronze medal position.

The high-stakes finale featured all 12 competing teams launching simultaneously in one of the Winter Games’ concluding events.

Each nation fielded a two-person squad consisting of one male and one female athlete, with every competitor completing two individual circuits while building upon their teammate’s positioning.

Female athletes initiated the competition at the starting line, tackling a total elevation gain and loss of 135 meters each.

The relay circuits proved more demanding than the sprint version, requiring approximately seven minutes per lap compared to three minutes in sprint competition, with athletes alternating between segments.

Athletes must navigate uphill sections on skis equipped with specialized grip “skins,” scale a staircase while carrying their skis on their backs, and navigate downhill through a compact slalom course, with seamless transitions being essential for competitive times.

The Spanish team, despite being the sole medal-earning squad that didn’t maintain consistent positioning throughout, received a three-second time penalty, likely for improper “skin” storage procedures, though this didn’t impact their final medal standing.

American competitors Anna Gibson and Cam Smith achieved a respectable fourth-place finish, while Italian husband-and-wife team Alba de Silvestro and Michele Boscacci, who received the most enthusiastic crowd support, placed fifth overall.

MILAN (AP) — Team Canada’s coaching staff remains undecided about whether their injured captain Sidney Crosby will take the ice for Sunday’s Olympic gold medal showdown against the United States, head coach Jon Cooper announced Saturday.

The 38-year-old center participated in Saturday’s practice session, though media access was restricted to keep Crosby’s condition under wraps. The veteran player brings impressive credentials to the team, including two previous Olympic gold medals and three Stanley Cup championships, making his potential absence significant.

“Obviously we’d love to have him,” Cooper stated. “He won’t put himself in harm’s way, and he’s not going to put the team in harm’s way.”

Crosby exited Wednesday evening’s quarterfinal match against Czechia after suffering what appeared to be a right knee injury and remained sidelined during Friday’s semifinal victory over Finland. In his absence, Connor McDavid assumed captaincy duties and recorded an assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s game-winning goal with just 35.2 seconds left on the clock.

While Olympic regulations permit teams to suit up 13 forwards compared to the NHL’s limit of 12, Cooper dismissed the idea of having Crosby dress simply for ceremonial purposes.

“No. No, it’s too important,” Cooper explained. “We don’t want to have somebody in there as an inspiration when we could have a player that could be capable of helping. You never know if guys are going to get hurt in the game. He wouldn’t want to do that, either.”

Cooper referenced Tampa Bay Lightning teammates Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, both selected for the Olympic roster but who remained home due to health concerns that would have limited their effectiveness. Defenseman Josh Morrissey has already been declared unavailable due to injury.

“When it comes to the flag, nobody’s getting in the way,” Cooper said. “If they’re not capable of giving what they think is optimal effort, they don’t want to put the country at harm. They understand what we have here.”

Team Canada mounted a comeback from a two-goal disadvantage against Finland, driven partly by their desire to secure Crosby another opportunity to compete in what might be his final Olympic appearance.

“We’ve done that, and we’ll see,” McDavid commented. “He’s been around a lot. Obviously, he’s been extremely positive: still contributing, even though he didn’t play last game, but still being the leader he is.”

Nick Suzuki, who stepped into the lineup between Mitch Marner and Mark Stone, appears positioned to retain that role in the championship game should Crosby remain unavailable. Suzuki observed that Crosby “looked really good out there on the ice” during practice and expressed hope that the respected captain will be cleared to play.

“It’d mean a lot to him and probably us,” Suzuki said. “He’s such a big leader, big voice. Everyone looks up to him. It’d be awesome if he could play.”

Bill Mazeroski, the legendary second baseman who captured baseball immortality with his championship-clinching home run in the 1960 World Series, passed away Friday at 89 years old.

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Mazeroski’s death without providing details about the cause.

Pirates chairman Bob Nutting remembered the player affectionately known as “Maz,” saying “Maz was one of a kind, a true Pirates legend … His name will always be tied to the biggest home run in baseball history and the 1960 World Series championship, but I will remember him most for the person he was: humble, gracious and proud to be a pirate.”

Though the Veterans Committee inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 2001, Mazeroski’s statistics might surprise some fans. Among Cooperstown’s second basemen, he posted the weakest batting average, lowest on-base percentage, and fewest stolen bases. His career numbers included a .260 batting average, 138 home runs, and just 27 stolen bases across 17 seasons, with a .299 on-base percentage. He never reached the .300 batting mark or came close to 100 RBIs or runs scored, earning just one top-10 MVP finish.

However, his defensive excellence set him apart from his peers. The Hall of Fame honored him as a “defensive wizard” with “hard-nosed hustle” and a “quiet work ethic.” During his career as a 10-time All-Star, he established a major league record with 1,706 double plays, earning the nickname “No Hands” for his lightning-quick fielding and throws. He topped the National League in assists nine times at his position, with baseball statistician Bill James ranking him as the greatest defensive second baseman in history.

“I think defense belongs in the Hall of Fame,” Mazeroski stated during his induction ceremony. “Defense deserves as much credit as pitching and I’m proud to be going in as a defensive player.”

Yet his most memorable moment occurred at the plate, when the square-jawed West Virginia coal miner’s son fulfilled every young ballplayer’s fantasy.

The Pirates hadn’t appeared in a World Series since their 1927 sweep by the New York Yankees, and they faced those same Yankees again in 1960. While New York boasted stars like Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Pittsburgh’s roster featured few household names beyond emerging talent Roberto Clemente. The team depended on players like shortstop Dick Groat, outfielder Bob Skinner, and pitchers Vernon Law and Bob Friend. Mazeroski, who celebrated his 24th birthday that September, finished the regular season batting .273 while typically hitting eighth in the lineup.

The World Series presented a tale of two narratives. The Yankees dominated statistically, outscoring Pittsburgh 55-27 and winning their three victories by a combined 38-3 margin. New York’s Bobby Richardson set a record with 12 RBIs and earned Series MVP honors despite playing for the losing team, while Whitey Ford blanked the Pirates twice en route to a then-record 33⅔ consecutive scoreless World Series innings.

Pittsburgh’s three victories were less overwhelming but equally valuable, with Mazeroski contributing significantly. He launched a two-run homer off Jim Coates in Game 1’s fourth inning during a 6-4 Pirates win, then delivered a two-run double against Art Ditmar in the second inning of Game 5’s 5-2 victory. Game 7 would provide his crowning achievement.

Approximately 36,000 spectators packed Forbes Field, with countless more following on radio and television, as they witnessed one of baseball’s most dramatic conclusions. The lead changed hands repeatedly after Pittsburgh grabbed a 4-0 advantage, only to trail 7-4 when New York rallied in the middle innings. The Pirates reclaimed the lead with five eighth-inning runs, aided by a potential double-play grounder that took an errant bounce and struck Yankees shortstop Tony Kubek in the throat. New York answered immediately, tying the contest 9-9 in the ninth inning’s top half.

The bottom of the ninth inning has become legendary for both franchises and generations of fans. Ralph Terry, a right-handed pitcher whom manager Casey Stengel had inserted the previous inning despite acknowledging his tired arm, faced the right-handed Mazeroski, who had grounded into a double play in his last at-bat.

Terry opened with a high fastball for ball one. After a brief conference with catcher Johnny Blanchard, who advised keeping pitches low, Terry delivered what Mazeroski later described as a slider that failed to break. Mazeroski connected solidly, sending the ball soaring toward left field as it cleared the towering, ivy-covered brick wall while Yankees left fielder Yogi Berra circled beneath it before turning away in disappointment. The entire city seemed to celebrate as if everyone had swung alongside him, representing every underdog’s dream of defeating the mighty Yankees. Mazeroski sprinted around the bases, smiling and waving his cap, joined by fans who had rushed onto the field and followed him to home plate for his teammates’ embrace.

“I was just looking to get on base,” he explained to The New York Times in 1985. “Nothing fancy, just looking for a fastball until he got a strike on me. I thought it would be off the wall, and I wanted to make third if the ball ricocheted away from Berra. But when I got around first and was digging for second, I saw the umpire waving circles above his head and I knew it was over.”

ESPN has labeled it baseball’s greatest home run. The blast marked the first World Series to conclude with a homer, creating lasting joy and heartbreak. Pirates supporters memorized the date—Saturday, October 13, 1960—and the exact time of 3:36 p.m. When Forbes Field was demolished in the 1970s, fans began gathering each October 13 at the remaining center field wall to listen to the original broadcast.

The defeat devastated the Yankees. Mantle wept during the flight home, insisting the superior team had lost. Ford remained angry with Stengel—fired five days later—for using him in Games 3 and 6, preventing a potential third start. Even Pirates co-owner Bing Crosby, fearing he might jinx his team, listened to the game from Paris with friends.

“We were in this beautiful apartment, listening on shortwave, and when it got close Bing opened a bottle of Scotch and was tapping it against the mantel,” his widow, Kathryn Crosby, told the Times in 2010. “When Mazeroski hit the home run, he tapped it hard; the Scotch flew into the fireplace and started a conflagration.”

Mazeroski remained loyal to Pittsburgh throughout his career and maintained team connections off the field. He married Milene Nicholson, a front office worker he met through manager Danny Murtaugh, in 1958. They raised two sons together until her death in 2024.

William Stanley Mazeroski was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, during the Great Depression, spent his childhood in eastern Ohio, and lived temporarily in a single-room house lacking electricity and indoor plumbing. His father, Louis Mazeroski, had harbored his own baseball dreams and nurtured his son’s athletic interests, even practicing by having Bill field tennis balls bounced off a brick wall.

Despite excelling in basketball and football, he preferred baseball and impressed scouts enough for the Pirates to draft him at 17 in 1954. Originally a shortstop competing with numerous prospects at that position, he switched to second base by his 1956 rookie season. Even as a part-time player late in his career, he provided leadership and stability for the 1971 championship team featuring Clemente and Willie Stargell that defeated the Baltimore Orioles.

Following his 1972 retirement, Mazeroski briefly coached for the Pirates and Seattle Mariners while serving as Pittsburgh’s spring training infield instructor. The Pirates retired his number 9 in 1987. The 50th anniversary of his World Series heroics was commemorated in 2010 with the unveiling of a 14-foot, 2,000-pound statue on Bill Mazeroski Way, depicting one of Pittsburgh’s greatest everyman heroes rounding the bases at his moment of triumph.

Spanish golf star Jon Rahm’s ability to compete in next year’s Ryder Cup in Ireland has been thrown into jeopardy after the DP World Tour excluded him from a group of eight LIV Golf players who received special permission to participate in both tours.

The former world number one and two-time major champion was notably missing from Saturday’s announcement listing players authorized to compete in LIV tournaments while maintaining their DP World Tour standing.

The exclusion stems from Rahm’s refusal to settle substantial penalties for participating in LIV events without proper authorization. Sources indicate these fines total approximately 2.5 million pounds, equivalent to $3.37 million.

Under current rules, European golfers who lose their DP World Tour membership become ineligible for Ryder Cup team selection.

The eight players who secured conditional approval include Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie.

These approved players must meet stringent requirements to avoid disciplinary measures, including settling all outstanding penalties and dropping existing appeals.

Additionally, they must commit to participating in designated DP World Tour events and associated media obligations.

The DP World Tour issued a statement explaining the arrangement: “Provided each member satisfies the conditions of their individual releases, no disciplinary action under the regulations will be taken against them for playing in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf in 2026 and they will retain their membership status.”

The organization emphasized that these exemptions are limited in scope, stating: “The releases apply for the 2026 season only and they are not precedent-setting.”

Rahm played a crucial role for Team Europe during last year’s Ryder Cup victory, helping secure a 15-13 triumph over the United States at Bethpage Black.

Recently, Rahm joined fellow golfers Cam Smith and Bryson DeChambeau in declining an opportunity to rejoin the PGA Tour, instead choosing to remain with the Saudi-funded LIV circuit despite meeting requirements for the “Returning Member Program.”

The 2027 Ryder Cup is scheduled to take place at Adare Manor from September 17-19.

A Norwegian cross-country skier has made Olympic history by achieving the most gold medals ever won by an individual athlete at a single Winter Olympics. Johannes Klaebo secured his sixth gold medal at the Milano Cortina Games on Saturday, setting a new benchmark for Winter Olympic excellence.

This remarkable feat surpasses the previous record held by American speed skater Eric Heiden, who claimed five gold medals during the 1980 Winter Olympics. Klaebo’s extraordinary performance places him at the top of an elite group of Winter Olympic champions.

The complete ranking of athletes with the most gold medals at a single Winter Games now shows Klaebo leading with six victories in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Olympics. Following him is Heiden with five speed skating golds from 1980.

Three athletes share the record for four gold medals at one Winter Olympics: Johannes Thinges Boe of Norway earned four biathlon golds in 2022, Soviet speed skater Lidiya Skoblikova captured four golds in 1964, and Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen achieved four victories in 2002.

LIVIGNO, Italy – A Canadian freestyle skiing star’s quest for a third Olympic medal came to an abrupt end after a devastating crash left her unable to compete in Saturday’s women’s halfpipe championship round at the Milano Cortina Games.

Cassie Sharpe, 33, was positioned well for the finals after an impressive first qualifying run on Thursday that placed her in third position. But disaster struck during her second attempt down the halfpipe in Livigno, where she took a hard fall and required stretcher assistance to leave the course.

Canadian Olympic officials confirmed Sharpe spent a short time in a local hospital as a precautionary measure before returning to where athletes are staying. Team Canada has not released specific information about the nature or severity of her injuries.

“She has unfortunately not been cleared by (the Canadian Olympic Committee) and Freestyle Canada medical staff to participate in finals tonight,” a Team Canada statement said.

“We are sending Cassie and her family well wishes and she is grateful for all of the support.”

The veteran athlete previously captured Olympic gold in 2018 and earned silver four years later in 2022, making this setback particularly disappointing as she sought to add another medal to her collection.

PRAGUE — Hockey legend Jaromir Jagr appears to be nearing the end of his extraordinary 38-year professional career.

The 54-year-old hockey icon, who is currently playing his 38th season with the Kladno Knights in his native Czech Republic, hinted strongly that his time on the ice may be over.

“Probably not,” Jagr responded when asked about continuing his career in a recent Instagram interview posted Friday evening. “It would have to be a miracle. God would have to come, enter me and make me 15 years younger.”

Whether Jagr will take the ice again this season remains uncertain. The veteran forward, who celebrated his 54th birthday on February 15, has appeared in only six games for Kladno this season, with his most recent appearance coming on December 21.

The five-time Olympian, who helped lead the Czech Republic to Olympic gold in Nagano in 1998, revealed he has been spending his recent days following the Milan Cortina Olympics from home.

“I do nothing else but eat and watch TV,” he explained. With NHL players participating in the Olympics for the first time in twelve years, Jagr expressed his enthusiasm for the competition.

“It’s the best tournament in the last 10-15 years, certainly because of the presence of NHL players,” he noted. “The games are great.”

Beyond watching hockey, short-track speed skating, and figure skating, Jagr acknowledged he’s working to maintain his fitness after recently putting on 4-5 kilograms (9-11 pounds).

“It’s really about discipline,” Jagr explained. “The worst thing is when you don’t have to. Sometimes, it’s better when you have to. When you don’t have to, forcing yourself is the hardest thing.”

“I keep myself going. I try, I don’t train to be ready to play, but I try to go skating every day if I have time.”

Jagr first joined Kladno as a 16-year-old and returned to the club in 2018 after the Calgary Flames released him. He holds the distinction of being second on the NHL’s all-time scoring list, trailing only Wayne Gretzky. During his NHL career, he captured two Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins in his first two seasons.

Through early last year, Jagr balanced dual responsibilities as both a player and owner of Kladno, juggling administrative tasks and sponsor recruitment alongside his playing duties.

He divested his majority ownership in Kladno last January during what he had previously indicated would be his final season, though he ultimately continued playing.

If he does return to action this season, Kladno would have an opportunity to reach the playoffs for the first time with Jagr on the roster.

BORMIO, Italy – Two American athletes are making their mark in ski mountaineering at the Milano Cortina Olympics, challenging the long-standing European supremacy in this winter sport ahead of Saturday’s mixed relay competition.

Anna Gibson and Cam Smith have already carved out a place in sporting history after delivering the United States its inaugural World Cup victory in ski mountaineering this past December, earning their Olympic berths in the process.

The discipline, which traces its origins to alpine military exercises, has traditionally been the domain of European competitors in World Cup events. However, the sport’s new Olympic status has sparked increased international participation, with American athletes leading the charge from non-European nations.

Smith brings years of experience in the sport to the Games, though December marked her debut World Cup appearance, and the Olympic sprint represented just her fourth official competition. Gibson’s journey is even more remarkable – she transitioned from trail running to join the US national team only last September.

Austrian competitor Johanna Hiemer remarked in December about Gibson’s rapid emergence in the ski mountaineering world: “Within one summer everything changed, and we always said it wouldn’t happen overnight but it proved the opposite.”

Sarah Cookler, who leads USA SkiMo as Head of Sport, expressed optimism in December about the Olympic inclusion boosting the sport’s profile domestically. “It’s really only a matter of time before we can attract the strongest athletes for this and be really competitive,” Cookler stated.

Both American competitors advanced to the semifinals in Thursday’s Olympic sprint events as “lucky losers” from their initial heats, with Gibson finishing ninth overall and Smith placing 11th.

“Hopefully the U.S. can kind of continue to improve and climb and be on par with the Europeans in the near future,” Cookler said in December. She brought on Italian coach Oscar Angeloni in 2024, partly to adopt training methods similar to those used by European squads.

Gibson noted the unique experience of competing in Bormio, where ski mountaineering enjoys widespread recognition and understanding among locals and spectators alike.

“You can feel that SkiMo is just part of the culture. It’s very normal. It’s very understood here,” Gibson explained. “To not have to explain what it is to people here and just know that there are fans who have been supporters of the sport for a long time is really special.”

Regardless of their Saturday finish, both Smith and Gibson express satisfaction with their Olympic showing thus far.

“The sprint is definitely not my best event, so I’m just taking it as a really positive sign for Saturday and the mixed relay. It’s a great sign for Anna and I that we’ve made it as far as we did in the sprint,” Smith commented Friday.

Italian athletes delivered a spectacular one-two finish in men’s ski cross competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday, with Simone Deromedis securing gold and Federico Tomasoni earning silver on their nation’s slopes.

The dynamic duo crossed the finish line in Livigno to thunderous applause from the home crowd, immediately collapsing onto their backs in the snow to recover from the intense race. Switzerland’s Alex Fiva rounded out the podium with a bronze medal, adding to his silver from the previous Olympic Games four years earlier.

Harsh weather conditions made the competition particularly demanding, as heavy snowfall persisted throughout the day’s events. The poor visibility and accumulating snow created additional obstacles for athletes navigating the challenging mountain course.

The medal presentation became an emotional celebration as Deromedis leaped onto the winner’s platform with a beaming smile, embracing his fellow medalist. Tomasoni showed his appreciation by kissing his silver medal and gazing upward while Italian supporters enthusiastically displayed their nation’s tricolor flag. The ceremony concluded with both athletes and spectators joining together for their national anthem.

This high-octane winter sport involves four competitors racing simultaneously down a 1.5-kilometer track packed with obstacles including bumps, aerial sections, and sharp curves. The discipline has earned a reputation for its unpredictable nature, frequently featuring collisions and spectacular falls among participants.

The previous Olympic champion, Switzerland’s Rya Regez, saw his title defense end prematurely when officials disqualified him during semifinal competition for impeding Japan’s Satoshi Furuno.

Germany’s Daniela Maier had claimed victory in the women’s ski cross event the previous day.

TESERO, Italy – Norwegian cross-country skiing champion Johannes Klaebo has made Winter Olympic history by capturing his 11th career gold medal during competition at the Milano Cortina Games this Saturday.

Klaebo’s latest triumph places him at the pinnacle of Winter Olympic achievement, surpassing a group of elite athletes who previously shared top honors with eight gold medals each. Those former record holders include fellow Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjoergen (competing from 2002-2018), Norwegian biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (1998-2014), and another Norwegian cross-country champion Bjorn Daehlie (1992-1998).

Currently active German luge teammates Tobias Arlt and Tobias Wendl each hold seven gold medals from their careers spanning 2014 to the present games. Multiple athletes share the six-gold medal mark, including Dutch speed skater Ireen Wust (2006-2022), cross-country skier Lyubov Yegorova representing the Unified Team and Russia (1992-1994), short-track speed skating star Viktor Ahn who competed for both South Korea and Russia (2006-2014), French biathlon champion Martin Fourcade (2010-2018), German luge competitor Natalie Geisenberger (2010-2022), and Soviet Union speed skating pioneer Lidiya Skoblikova (1960-1964).

Klaebo’s record-setting performance continues Norway’s remarkable legacy of Winter Olympic excellence, with the Nordic nation producing many of the sport’s greatest champions across multiple disciplines.

Norwegian cross-country skiing sensation Johannes Klaebo made Winter Olympics history Saturday, capturing his sixth gold medal at the Milano Cortina Games and setting a new record for most titles won in a single Winter Olympics competition.

The 29-year-old athlete, affectionately known as “King Klaebo” by his supporters, dominated the men’s 50-kilometer classic race in Tesero, Italy, surpassing American speed skater Eric Heiden’s longstanding record of five gold medals earned at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

This latest victory brings Klaebo’s career Olympic gold medal count to 11, placing him second only to American swimmer Michael Phelps, who holds 23 Olympic titles.

The race featured a commanding Norwegian performance, with the country’s athletes claiming all three medal positions. Klaebo was initially part of a three-man Norwegian breakaway group, with Martin Loewstroem Nyenget setting an aggressive pace early in the competition.

However, Klaebo pulled away from his compatriots during the race’s final uphill section, using the same climbing strategy that had proven successful in his other victories throughout these Games.

Nyenget claimed the silver medal, crossing the finish line 8.9 seconds after Klaebo, while Emil Iversen earned bronze, finishing 30.7 seconds behind the winner. France’s Theo Schely placed fourth, nearly three minutes behind the Norwegian champion.

Despite his commanding victory, Klaebo showed rare signs of physical strain, collapsing at the finish line in an unusual display of exhaustion for the skier who has swept all six men’s cross-country events at these Olympics.

Several notable competitors withdrew from the race due to health issues. Norway’s Harald Oestberg Amundsen and Finland’s Iivo Niskanen, both considered medal contenders, dropped out around the 37-minute mark after completing approximately 15 kilometers.

Niskanen had been battling illness throughout the week, while Amundsen cited pre-Games sickness as affecting his performance.

“When I noticed I’m not going skiing for medals today, I figured it’s time to come to my senses so that I don’t kill myself out there,” Niskanen explained after withdrawing from competition.

Olympic medalists Federico Pellegrino of Italy and Ben Ogden of the United States were also absent from the race due to illness.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – A Swiss men’s curling squad turned their multilingual background into Olympic success, capturing bronze after defeating Norway 9-1 on Friday at the Winter Olympics.

Led by Yannick Schwaller, the Swiss team secured third place after falling short of gold despite completing an undefeated round-robin performance. Their unique approach to on-ice communication became both a spectacle for viewers and a strategic advantage against competitors.

Team members hail from different Swiss regions and naturally speak different languages, creating what they describe as multilingual chaos during matches.

“(When we began) we promised ourselves to speak French on the ice,” explained Pablo Lachat-Couchepin, the team’s lead player from French-speaking Lausanne.

“I think the calls are being made in French, but everything else is a word salad. It’s fun, I think it’s very enjoyable to look at on TV. A lot of French, some English and some German — so everyone can understand a bit,” he shared with media.

Switzerland recognizes four official languages across its territory: German, French, Italian and Romansh, reflecting the country’s position in central Europe.

“Also for the opponents, sometimes it’s not easy to understand. So we like that we can switch to German whenever we play an English team, and we can switch to French whenever we play a Swiss-German team,” Lachat-Couchepin noted.

The squad, currently ranked second globally and silver medalists at last year’s world championships, formed their partnership in 2022.

“It’s been a lot of work. When we created the team, we met at the Zurich train station, because we all come from different parts of Switzerland,” Lachat-Couchepin recalled.

“That was the easiest way. We said the first objective of the team is to have fun, to play good curling … I think what we showcased this week is pretty much what we wanted to do the whole four years.

“We’ve had a ton of fun on tour. We’ve become more than teammates. We’re real friends … It was a rollercoaster, but a very positive rollercoaster. We’re happy. We don’t know what the future will bring, but I think we have reasons to want to continue that way.”