Monday, 4 September 2017 C Olympic-sport commentary, coverage and results

Television: the glue that holds

the Olympic Games together
Lane One

The shared experience of the Olympic Games The future of the U.S. in the 200 m? Diamond
... is thanks to your TV screen! League champ Noah Lyles!

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AIBA silver at just 19: U.S.s Duke Ragan ISSN 2574-6235

 Monday,
4 September 2017

Lane One
Television: the glue that holds the Olympic Games together 3

Scoreboard
Archery: U.S. men win three medals in Rome World Cup Final 5
Athletics: A look at the future as the 2017 Diamond League season ends 6
Basketball: Huge comeback vaults U.S. to Americup 2017 title 9
Boxing: U.S. earns three medals in AIBA Worlds 10
Canoe-Kayak: Smolen wins rare Slalom World Cup medal for U.S. 11
Cycling: Froome all but inevitable in La Vuelta 12
Cycling: Van Vleuten wins Ladies Tour of Holland 14
Football: After Costa Rican flop, U.S. heads to Honduras 15
Gymnastics: Averinas win all five events at Rhythmic World Champs 16
Gymnastics: Brazil dominates Apparatus World Cup in Varna 17
Judo: Japan and Riner dominate at World Championships 18
Shooting: All about Italy at the Shotgun World Champs 20
Ski & Snowboard: Anderson and Ferreira golden at Winter Games NZ 21

Agenda: Competition Calendar 23

About: About The Sports Examiner 24

C For our 2017 international sports calendar, click here C

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C Comments? Sure; to send yours, click here! C

L The Ticker 7
K Apologies for the lateness of this issue, hoped to be ready in the morning, but a heavy schedule of
events was too much, even for us! ... Saturday (2 September) was the 80th anniversary of the death of
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the man most responsible for the resurrection of the Olympic Games
at the end of the 19th Century and which continues on today. He died in Geneva (SUI) in 1937 at age
74, having seen his dream expand from an idea to a worldwide passion. The Olympic Channel has a
short video salute to de Coubertin here ... K U.S. figure skating star Gracie Gold a member of the
U.S.s team bronze medalists in Sochi made waves with her announcement last week: After recent
struggles on and off the ice, I realize I need to seek some professional help and will be taking some
time off while preparing for my Grand Prix assignments. This time will help me become a stronger
person, which I believe will be reflected in my skating performances as well. Shes scheduled to
compete in two Grand Prix events in November, but neither has an impact on whether she makes the
U.S. team for PyeongChang ... K Our next issue is scheduled for Wednesday, 6 September.

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 Monday,
4 September 2017

C Lane One C
Television: the glue that holds
the Olympic Games together

Theres no doubt that the Olympic Games is one of the best-known

perhaps the best-known event on the planet. The Olympic Rings are
regularly cited as one of the most valuable commercial symbols in the
Elaron via Wikipedia Commons

world and the Olympic brand is worth billions.

Why?

Certainly, tradition and the link to ancient Greece is important. So is

the assembly, for purposes of peaceful competition, of athletes from
around 200 countries every four years for the Games of the Olympiad
and nearly 100 for the Winter Games.

But the real reason is television.

The Olympic Movement has become the worldwide phenomenon of today thanks to the ability of
almost everyone on the planet to watch this spectacle simultaneously, as it happens. Is there any other
regularly-scheduled, shared experience that holds the world spellbound for two weeks at a time?

No.

For many potential host cities and countries, this is what has made the Games attractive: an
unparalleled opportunity to showcase yourself to a global audience ... which might otherwise ignore
you (Seoul 88, Atlanta 96 or Rio 16?), or even despise you (Moscow in 1980?).

Over and over again, right up to Rio last year, the Games shine a light usually critical, but not always
on a city and a country that has taken on the challenge of putting on an event which has grown to
monstrous proportions. Seeing is believing and that is what television brings.

It wasnt always so. National broadcasting of the Games appears to have begun in 1960, although
there was local broadcasting of the Games in the host-city area as early as 1936. Live broadcasts of
the Games in the U.S. appeared in 1964 from Tokyo.

The catalyst for todays Olympic explosion on television started in 1979, when ABC agreed to a record-
setting deal with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee to (1) pay $225 million for the
exclusive rights to broadcast the 1984 Games in the U.S., and (2) to provide the host broadcasting
services for all other world broadcasters at its own expense, easily worth $100 million more. The
effects of this deal reverberate to this day:

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 Monday,
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C The key to the LAOOCs mega-deal was the realization made by Board member and famed
film and television producer David Wolper that rights fees could be based on the potential
advertising sales of the broadcasters rather than on an inflationary increase from the prior
Games. That formula is still the driver of rights fees in many countries today.

C The Los Angeles Games was the last in which the host broadcasting responsibilities were
entrusted to a domestic broadcaster. While ABCs production was technically outstanding,
some foreign rights holders complained about coverage of some of the smaller sports (in which
their athletes were medal contenders). Moreover, a decision taken to save money in 1982 came
back to haunt the LAOOC and place ABC in an unfair light.
The organizing committee decided not to incur the multi-million-dollar expense of installing
cabling to allow the host broadcasting signal a picture with natural sound and graphics, but
no announcers from all of the sports to the Olympic Villages at the University of Southern
California and UCLA from the International Broadcast Center in Hollywood. That left the
delegations in the Villages with nothing to watch but the 183 hours of the ABC production for
U.S. audiences, heavily weighted in favor of U.S. athletes and medal winners.
The complaints were loud and shrill and then-IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch
determined that this could not be allowed to happen again. There were two fixes: (1) the
Olympic Village(s) would be provided with the Host signals regardless of cost and (2) an
unbiased host broadcaster would be created, beginning with the 1988 Winter Games in
Calgary.

With an independent host broadcaster and skyrocketing rights fees that suddenly began putting
significant amounts of money in the hands of the international federations, it became crucial for
sports to change their ways and get on live television. Archery, modern pentathlon, sailing, shooting
and wrestling among others made major changes in their format and rules under pressure from
the IOC in order to keep their places in the Games ... and get their share of the Olympic television
rights fees.

Today, that independent broadcaster is an IOC entity called Olympic Broadcast Services based in
Madrid (ESP) and known as OBS. It created a team of more than 7,100 in Rio that produced more
than 2,800 hours of live competitions and 7,100-plus total hours of content available to rights-holding
broadcasters worldwide, an increase of 27% over the London Games just four years earlier.

The wider and wider availability of the Games competitions to broadcasters has led to the explosion of
channels devoted to the Games every two years and the availability of broadcasts via over-the-air,
cable and online devices. No matter what format it is delivered in, it is television which makes the
Games the indispensable glue that holds the Olympic Games and the world together.

Rich Perelman
Editor

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 Monday,
4 September 2017

C Scoreboard C
Summaries of major international & U.S. competitions

Archery

U.S. men win three medals in Rome World Cup Final

| American Brady Ellison got within one match of defending his World Cup Final title in Rome
(ITA), but Braden Gellenthien brought home a victory in the mens Compound Division.

Ellison got to the final in the elegant Stadi di Marmi the Marble Stadium in the Foro Italico, but
fell to the top-seed, 2015 World Champion Woo-jin Kim of Korea, 6-0, in the final. It was Kims
second win at the World Cup Final (also in 2012) and Ellisons seventh World Cup Final medal (4-1-2)
stretching back to 2010.

I felt good shooting that last match, said Ellison. I shot high and I shot left. Im still happy with the
performance, just a little bummed that I didnt hit how I felt. Said Kim, Since I was shooting against
Brady Ellison I was nervous, but in the end I think that nervousness helped me. I was able to focus
more and shoot better.

Gellenthien, 31, was one of two Americans invited to the World Cup Final in mens Compound and
barely edged countryman Steve Anderson, 147-146, in the semis. Then in the final, against top-
ranked Stephan Hansen (DEN), he shot 148 to Hansens 145 to take the top prize. It was
Gellenthiens second World Cup Final win (also in 2012) and his sixth World Cup Final medal (2-4-0),
beginning in 2007. Its the fifth time an American has won the Final in its 12 editions.

Throughout match I felt really confident, really relaxed, said Gellenthien afterwards. Ive been
training as hard as I have ever trained in my life in the last few months and its starting to pay off. My
shot is feeling like if I was 20. Im really excited for the World Championships in Mexico [in
October].

Anderson won the bronze medal over Demir ElMaagacli (TUR), 143-142, for his first World Cup
Final medal.

As usual, Korea dominated the womens Recurve division, with 2012 Olympic champ Bo-Bae Ki
winning her second consecutive Final. Korean archers have now won three Finals in a row and seven
of the last nine. Colombias Sara Lopez won the womens Compound Division for the third time in
the past four years, outpointing Denmarks Tanja Jensen, 143-142.

The top four finishers in each division won prize money of CHF 20,000-10,000-5,000-1,000.
Summaries:

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 Monday,
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Hyundai World Cup Final (KOR); 4. Ya-Ting Tan (TPE). Semis: Ki d.

Rome (ITA) ~ 2-3 September 2017.
(Full results here)
Mens Recurve:1. Woo-jin Kim (KOR); 2.
Brady Ellison (USA); 3. Dong-hyun Im (KOR);
4. Steve Wijler (NED). Semis: Kim d.
Wijler, 7-1; Ellison d. Im, 7-3. Third: Im
d. Wijler, 6-0. Final: Kim d. Ellison, 6-0
(29-27, 29-27, 30-27).
Mens Compound: 1. Braden Gellenthein
(USA); 2. Stephan Hansen (DEN); 3. Steve
Anderson (USA); 4. Demir ElMaagacli (TUR).
Semis: Hansen d. ElMaagacli, 147-140;
Gellenthien d. Anderson, 147-146. Third:
Anderson d. ElMaagacli, 143-142; Final:
Gellenthien d. Hansen, 148-145.
Womens Recurve: 1. Bo Bae Ki (KOR); 2.
Ksenia Perova (RUS); 3. Hye Jin Chang
Chang, 6-4; Perova d. Tan, 6-2. Third:
Chang d. Tan, 7-3. Final: Ki d. Perova, 7-
1.
Womens Compound: 1. Sara Lopez (COL);
2. Tanja Jensen (DEN); 3. Yesim Bostan
(TUR); 4. Sarah Sonnichsen (DEN). Semis:
Jensen d. Sonnichsen, 144-144 (10-10);
Lopez d. Bostan, 145-145 (10-9). Third:
Bostan d. Sonnichsen, 143-142; Final: Lopez
d. Jensen, 143-142.
Mixed Team/Recurve: 1. Woojin Kim/Hye
Jin Chang (KOR); 2. Mauro Nespoli/Vanessa
Landi (ITA). Final: Korea d. Italy, 5-1.
Mixed Team/Compound: 1. Stephan
Hansen/Sarah Sonnichsen (DEN); 2. Irene
Franchini/Alberto Simonelli (ITA). Final:
Denmark d. Italy, 155-146.

Athletics

A look at the future as the 2017 Diamond League season ends

| The close of the 2017 IAAF Diamond League came last Friday in cold and damp conditions in
Brussels (BEL) at the Van Damme Memorial, with seasonal winners determined in 16 events.

The meet just did not have the drama or snap of most of the prior Diamond League meets, but it did
give fans a look at the future:

C For U.S. sprint enthusiasts, the mens 200 meters showed what could have been at the London
World Championships if 20-year-old Noah Lyles had been healthy this season.

Lined up on the far outside of the track in lane nine, he ran the turn well and had the lead down
the straightaway, but had to hold on as U.S. champ Ameer Webb and World Champion
Ramil Guliyev came charging to the finish.

Lyles outleaned both of them in 20.00, just 0.01 ahead of a seasons best Webb and 0.02 ahead
of Guliyev, also a seasons best. For Lyles, who ran 19.90 back in May in Shanghai (CHN), it
was a good end to a disappointing season. It also earned him the $50,000 prize purse for
winning the Diamond League.

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 Monday,
4 September 2017

I just wanted to come here and see what I could do, he said afterwards. I didnt manage to
qualify for the World Championships, but this is a great way to end my season. It doesnt feel
like a revenge or something, but more like an opportunity that I took with both hands. Next
year I will try to do even better.

C U.S. triple jump stars Christian Taylor and Will Claye again showed their prowess with
another 1-2 finish, with Taylor reaching 17.49 m (57-4 3/4) and Claye, 17.35 m (56-11 1/4),
ahead of early leader Pedro Pablo Pichardo of Cuba (17.32 m/56-10).

But the cold had a major impact. Taylor said afterwards, Thanks to the Tiger Balm I could win
this final. It was getting colder and colder after every jump, but I put Tiger Balm on my legs
time and time again. And it worked. Now Brussels is getting a special place for me now: I won 6
DLs: three in Zurich and three here.

C Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad used her patented early speed to win the womens 400
m Hurdles in 53.89, just outlasting Zuzana Hjenova (CZE, 53.93). I felt really great,
Muhammad said. It was a season with a lot of ups and downs this year, but I learnt a lot. To
close down the season with the win in the DL, is truly great. Thats what I came for.

C The mens Steeplechase confirmed that Kenyas Conseslus Kipruto isnt going to let anyone
beat him without a fight. He fought off a considerable challenge from pacesetter Evan Jager
of the U.S. and then Worlds silver winner Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) to win in 8:04.73,
with El Bakkali setting a lifetime best of 8:04.83.

Jager was disappointed, especially after falling on the final water jump and having to sprint to
get third ahead of countryman Stanley Kebenei, 8:11.71-8:11.93. We only had a pacer for
like three laps and after that I took the lead, Jager said afterwards. The others were just
sitting in my back, so I knew that I wouldnt win.

After I fell in the river the last lap, I didnt want to give up and I fought my way back and still
managed to get third. Overall Im not totally happy with my season. Only my race in Monaco
was good. Sure Im happy with my bronze medal in London, but next year I will hope to do
better.

Aries Merritt and Devon Allen of the U.S. were 3-4 in the 110 m Hurdles (13.20 and 13.24), won
by Russias Sergey Shubenkov (13.14). Sandi Morris was second again to Greeces Katerina
Stefanidi in the womens vault, 4.85 , (15-11) to 4.75 m (15-7), and U.S. long jump stars Shakeela
Saunders (6.64 m/21-9 1/2), Tianna Bartoletta (6.63 m/21-9) and Brityney Reese (6.61 m/21-
8 1/4) were 4-5-6 in the womens long jump.

Jenny Simpson ran a seasons best 4:00.70, but was sixth in the womens 1,500 as Olympic and
World champ Faith Kipyeg0n (KEN) pulled away from Sifan Hassan (NED) down the straight
for a fast win in 3:57.04-3:57.18.

The best performances of the night might have been in the womens sprints, as Jamaicas Elaine

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 Monday,
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Thompson looked great in winning the 100 m in 10.92 in the cold, just ahead of Marie-Josee Ta
Lou (CIV, 10.93). And Olympic 400 m champ Shaunae Miller-Uibo looked the part in a
dominating 49.46 a new world leader over new find Salwa Eid Naser (BRN), who set another
national record in second in 49.88.

Of course, we should mention one more time the amazing win last Thursday by U.S. shot putter
Darrell Hill, whose career-best throw of 22.44 m (73-7 1/2) in the final round gave him an upset
win over Rio Olympic champ Ryan Crouser (22.37 m/73-4 3/4) and 2015 World Champion Joe
Kovacs of the U.S. (21.62 m/70-11 1/4).

Hills throw would have won the world title in London three weeks ago by more than a foot, and he
moved to no. 13 on the all-time list and no. 9 on the all-time U.S. list, at age 24. Another good sign for
the future. Summaries:

IAAF Diamond League Final 110 m Hurdles (+0.5) : 1. Sergey

Brussels (BEL) ~ 1 September 2017.
(Full results here)
Men
100 m (non-Diamond League; wind +0.2
m/s): 1. Yohan Blake (JAM). 10.02; 2. Mike
Rodgers (USA), 10.09; 3. Julian Forte
(JAM), 10.12. Also: 5. Isiah Young (USA),
10.22.
200 m (+0.9): 1. Noah Lyles (USA),
20.00; 2. Ameer Webb (USA), 20.01; 3. Ramil
Guliyev (TUR), 20.02
400 m (non-Diamond League): 1. Luguelin
Santos (DOM), 45.67; 2. Rabah Yousif (GBR),
46.10; 3. Martyn Rooney (GBR), 46.29.
800 m: 1. Nijel Amos (BOT), 1:44.53; 2.
Marcin Lewandowski (POL), 1:44.77; 3. Adam
Kszczot (POL), 1:44.84.
1,500 m (non-Diamond League): 1. Elijah
Manangoi (KEN), 3:38.97; 2. Mahiedine
Mekhissi (FRA), 3:39.42; 3. Jordan
Williamsz (AUS), 3:40.03.
3,000 m Steeplechase: 1. Conseslus
Kipruto (KEN), 8:04.73; 2. Soufiane El
Bakkali (MAR), 8:04.83; 3. Evan Jager
(USA), 8:11.71. Also: 4. Stanley Kebenei
(USA), 8:11.93; ... 10. Andrew Bayer (USA),
8:26.15.
Shubenkov (RUS), 13.14; 2. Orlando Ortega
(ESP), 13.17; 3. Aries Merritt (USA),
13.20. Also: 4. Devon Allen (USA), 13.24.
Triple Jump: 1. Christian Taylor (USA),
17.49 m (57-4 3/4); 2. Will Claye (USA),
17.35 m (56-11 1/4); 3. Pedro Pablo
Pichardo (CUB), 17.32 m (56-10). Also: 6.
Chris Benard (USA), 16.37 m (53-8 1/2); ...
8. Omar Craddock (USA), 15.89 m (52-1 3/4).
Shot Put (31 Aug in downtown Brussels):
1. Darrell Hill (USA), 22.44 m (73-7 1/2);
2. Ryan Crouser (USA), 22.37 m (73-4 3/4);
3. Joe Kovacs (USA), 21.62 m (70-11 1/4).
Discus: 1. Andrius Gudzius (LTU), 68.16
m (223-7); 2. Fedrick Dacres (JAM), 66.31 m
(217-6); 3. Piotr Malachowski (POL), 65.73
m (215-7).
Women
100 m (+0.4): 1. Elaine Thompson (JAM),
10.92; 2. Marie-Josee Ta Lou (CIV), 10.93;
3. Blessing Okagbare (NGR), 11.07. Also: 5.
Tianna Bartoletta (USA), 11.14; 6. Morolake
Akinosun (USA), 11.15.
400 m: 1. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH),
49.46; 2. Salwa Eid Naser (BRN), 49.88; 3.
Courtney Okolo (USA), 50.91. Also: 4.

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 Monday,
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Natasha Hastings (USA), 50.98. 1.88 (6-2).

1,500 m: 1. Faith Kipyegon (KEN),
3:57.04; 2. Sifan Hassan (NED), 3:57.22; 3.
Winny Chebet (KEN), 4:00.18. Also: 6. Jenny
Simpson (USA), 4:00.70.
5,000 m: 1. Hellen Obiri (KEN),
14:25.88; 2. Caroline Kipkirui (KEN),
14:27.55; 3. Senbere Teferi (ETH),
14:32.03.
400 m Hurdles: 1. Dalilah Muhammad
(USA), 53.89; 2. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE),
53.93; 3. Ashley Spencer (USA), 54.92.
High Jump: 1. Mariya Lasitskene (RUS),
2.02 m (6-7 1/2); 2. Yulia Levchenko (UKR),
1.94 m (6-4 1/4); 3. Michaela Hruba (CZE),
Pole Vault: 1. Katerina Stefanidi (GRE),
4.85 m (15-11); 2. Sandi Morris (USA), 4.75
m (15-7); 3. Alysha Newman (CAN), 4.75 m
(15-7). Also: 4. Katie Nageotte (USA), 4.65
m (15-3).
Long Jump: 1. Ivana Spanovic (SRB), 6.70
m (21-11 3/4); 2. Lorraine Ugen (GBR), 6.65
m (21-10); 3. Shakeela Saunders (USA), 6.64
m (21-9 1/4). Also: 4. Bartoletta (USA),
6.63 m (21-9); 5. Brittney Reese (USA),
6.61 m (21-8 1/4).
Discus: 1. Sandra Perkovic (CRO), 68.82
m (225-9); 2. Dani Stevens (AUS), 65.85 m
(216-0); 3. Denia Caballero (CUB), 64.61 m
(211-11). Also: 6. Whitney Ashley (USA),
62.14 m (203-10).

Basketball

Huge comeback vaults U.S. to Americup 2017 title

| It wasnt easy, but the United States mens team battled back to win the AmeriCup 2017, 81-76,
over Argentina.

Playing in Cordoba (ARG), the Americans got down 22-15 after the first quarter and 42-27 at half.
After being behind 50-30 with seven minutes to play in the third, the U.S. closed the gap to 56-50 at
the end of the third quarter and outscored the home side, 31-20, in the fourth quarter.

Argentina shot 51.4% on its two-point shots (42.4% overall) and out-rebounded the U.S., 40-34, but
strong three-point shooting 10-17 (58.8%) brought the U.S. back from the dead.

Argentina is a great team, said U.S. coach Jeff van Gundy. They were beating us up pretty good.
We were down 20 in the second half. But, because of great play, particularly by Jameel (Warney)
and a bunch of other guys, our defense kicked in and we were able to come up with a hard-fought win.

We thought we had some good shots in the first half that we didnt make. But, I was very impressed
with how well Argentina played. We are a very good defensive team, and they made us look like a bad
defensive team for the first 22 minutes. At halftime, all we talked about was trying to stay the course -
stick with it. We got down 20, but then our defense really kicked in. We made some good plays
offensively, too. We started going inside to Jameel, and Jameel delivered in a big time way.

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Warney led the U.S. with 21 points, including 8-11 from the field and forward Darrun Hillard
added 15. The outside scoring came from guard Reggie Hearn, who scored 14 points and was 4-6
from three-point range. Warner had seven rebounds to lead the U.S.

Its the seventh time the U.S. has won this tournament in nine entries, but the first time the U.S. has
played in this event (formerly the FIBA Americas Championship) since 2007.

Warney was named Most Valuable Player in the tournament and was joined on the All-Star Five by
teammate Hillard, Facundo Campazzo (ARG), Paco Cruz (MEX) and Nicolas Brussino
(ARG).

Boxing

U.S. earns three medals in AIBA Worlds

| The United States showed some life in the 2017 AIBA World Championships in Hamburg (GER),
winning three medals with a silver by Duke Ragan at 56 kg and bronzes from Freudis Rojas (64
kg) and Troy Isley at 75 kg.

Doesnt sound like much? The U.S. hadnt won any medals at the Worlds since 2011 and those three
medals are the most by an American team at the World Championships this century! The U.S. won
four medals at the 1999 Worlds in Houston and Ragans silver is the best finish for the U.S. in any
division since Frankie Gomezs silver at 64 kg in 2009.

Ragan lost a tight, 3:2 decision with two judges scoring the fight for him, 29:28 and 30:27 but the
other three had Kazakhstans Kairit Yeraliyev ahead, 29:28, 29:28 and 30:27.

My first world championships experience went very well, said Ragan. Im only 19-years-old and
this is my first elite championship experience so I was impressed with how far I made it. In the finals,
I was disappointed with the decision because I thought I won but I feel like I left it too close so Im
going to go back home, learn from the experience and work on what i need to work on.

The U.S. finish is also a step up from Rio, when American mens fighters won a silver and a bronze
after being shut out in London in 2012.

Because of this, AIBA recognized Billy Walsh, the famed coach of the Irish national team who came
to USA Boxing in 2015 to turn around American fortunes in the ring, as the Coach of the Year in the
tournament. Consider this: out of five U.S. entries, three won medals!

Cuba led the medal count with seven, including five golds and two silvers. Julio La Cruz completed
a Rio-Hamburg double with a victory at Light Heavyweight (81 kg) and was only Rio winner to repeat.
Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan win six medals and the U.S. was next with three.

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 Monday,
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The award for Best Boxer went to Ukraines Oleksandr Khyzhniak, who won the Middleweight
division (75 kg). Summaries:

AIBA World Championships 5-0.

Hamburg (GER) ~ 25 August-2 September 2017.
(Full results here)
49 kg: 1. Joahnys Argilagos (CUB); 2.
Hasanboy Dusmatov (UZB); 3. Zhomart Yerzhan
(KAZ) and Yurberjen Martinez Rivas (COL).
Semis: Argilagos d. Yerzhan, 5-0; Dusmatov
d. Martinez Rivas, 5-0. Final: Argilagos d.
Dusmatov, 3-2.
52 kg: 1. Yosbany Veitia (CUB); 2.
Jasurbek Latipov (UZB); 3. Tamir Galanov
(RUS) and Inkyu Kim (KOR). Semis: Veitia d.
Galanov, 3-2; Latipov d. Kim, 5-0. Final:
Veitia d. Latipov, 5-0.
56 kg: 1. Kairat Yeraliyev (KAZ); 2.
Duke Ragan (USA); 3. Peter McGrail (ENG)
and Gaurav Bidhuri (IND). Semis: Yeraliyev
d. McGrail, 5-0; Ragan d. Bidhuri, 5-0.
Final: Yaeraliyev d. Ragan, 3-2.
60 kg: 1. Sofiane Oumiha (FRA); 2.
Lazaro Alvarez Estrada (CUB); 3. Otar
Eranosyan (GEO) and Otgondalai Dorjnyambuu
(MGL). Semis: Oumiha d. Dornjnyambuu, 5-0;
Alvarez Estrada d. Eranosyan, 5-0. Final:
Oumiha d. Alvarez Estrada, 5-0.
64 kg: 1. Andy Cruz Gomez (CUB); 2.
Ikboljon Kholdarov (UZB); 3. Freudis Rojas
(USA) and Hovhannes Bachkov (ARM). Semis:
Cruz Gomez d. Bachkov, 5-0; Kholdarov d.
Rojas, 4-1. Final: Cruz Gomez d. Kholdarov,
69 kg: 1. Shakhram Giyasov (UZB); 2.
Roniel Iglesias (CUB); 3. Ablaikhan
Zhussupov (KAZ) and Abass Baraou (GER).
Semis: Giyasov d. Zhussupov, 4-1; Iglesias
d. Baraou, 4-1. Final: Giyasov d. Iglesias,
5-0.
75 kg: 1. Oleksandr Khyzhniak (UKR); 2.
Abilkhan Amankul (KAZ); 3. Kamran
Shakhsuvarly (AZE) and Troy Isley (USA).
Semis: Amankul d. Shakhsuvarly, 4-1;
Khyzhniak d. Isley, 4-1. Final: Khyzhniak
d. Amankul, 4-0.
81 kg: 1. Julio La Cruz (CUB); 2. Joseph
Ward (IRL); 3. Carlos Mina Caicedo (ECU)
and Bektemir Melikuziev (UZB). Semis: La
Cruz d. Mina Caicedo, 5-0; Ward d.
Melikuziev, 3-2. Final: La Cruz d. Ward, 5-
0.
91 kg: 1. Erislandy Savon (CUB); 2.
Evgeny Tishchenko (RUS); 3. Sanjar Tursonov
(UZB) and Vassily Levit (KAZ). Semis:
Tishchenko d. Tursunov, 5-0; Savon d.
Levit, 3-2. Final: Savon d. Tishchenko, 3-
2.
+91 kg: 1. Mahammadrasul Majidov (AZE);
2. Kamshybek Kunkabayev (KAZ); 3. Fokou
Arsene (CRM) and Joseph Goodall (AUS).
Semis: Kunkabayev d. Arsene, 5-0; Majidov
d. Goodall, 4-1. Final: Majidov d.
Kunkebayev, 4-1.

Canoe-Kayak

Smolen wins rare Slalom World Cup medal for U.S.

| The U.S. is hardly among the powers in Canoeing, but dont tell that to Michal Smolen.

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 Monday,
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He won the first U.S. World Championships medal in Canoe Slalom in 16 years with a bronze in 2015
and scored a silver medal in the Canoe Slalom World Cup in Ivrea (ITA) on Saturday.

He raced through the 240 m course in 87.44 seconds, just 0.29 behind season leader Vit Prindis
(CZE) to win his second career World Cup silver and the first U.S. World Cup medal since Smolens
bronze in 2014. He tweeted afterwards, Hard work pays off yet again!!

Rio Olympic champs Ladislav and Peter Skandar won the mens C-2 and 2015 World C-1
Champion Jessica Fox (AUS) won her specialty and was second to Germanys Ricarda Funk in
the K-1.

The World Cup Final will be held at La Seu dUrgell in Spain from 8-10 September. Summaries:

ICF Slalom World Cup 103.14.

Ivrea (ITA) 1-3 September 2017.
(Full results here)
Mens C-1: 1. Sideris Tasiadis (GER),
91.10 seconds; 2. Alexander Slafkovsky
(SVK), 91.97; 3. Matej Benus (SVK), 94.17.
Also: 6. Casey Eichfeld (USA), 96.91.
Mens C-2: 1. Ladislav Skantar/Peter
Skantar (SVK), 100.99; 2. Robert
Behling/Thomas Becker (GER), 102.54; 3.
Gauthier Klauss/Matthieu Peche (FRA),
Mens K-1: 1. Vit Prindis (CZE), 87.15;
2. Michal Smolen (USA), 87.44; 3. Peter
Kauzer (SLO), 89.31.
Womens C-1: 1. Jessica Fox (AUS),
100.83; 2. Viktoria Wolffhardt (AUT),
111.567; 3. Tereza Fiserova (CZE), 115.70.
Womens K-1: 1. Ricarda Funk (GER),
97.80; 2. Fox (AUS), 98.94; 3. Lisa Leitner
(AUT), 99.44.

Cycling

Froome all but inevitable in La Vuelta

| The determining days of the 2017 Vuelta a Espana Tour of Spain were thought to be the
mountain races on Stages 14 and 15, and Britains Chris Froome has all but clinched the overall title
with two days of brilliant riding.

Only Italys Vincenzo Nibali had a real shot at Froome heading into the weekend, but Froome stuck
like glue on Saturday and they finished with the same time. On Sunday, Froome actually gained six
seconds on the uphill finish in the Sierra Nevada to go up by 1:01 with just six stages left.

Froome now leads by 1:01 over Nibali, with Russias Ilnur Zakarin up to third after two strong
climbing performances (-2:08). Tejay van Garderen of the U.S. is in 13th place, 8:16 off the pace.

The remaining stages include a time trial on Tuesday, a mountain stage on Wednesday, two hilly

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stages, one last mountain stage next Saturday and a flat stage on Sunday. Profiles of the stages are
here.
NBC has coverage of La Vuelta on NBCSN, the NBC Olympic Channel or online; click here for the full
broadcast schedule. Stage summaries:
La Vuelta a Espana
Spain ~ 19 August-10 September 2017.
(Full results here)
Stage 1 (13.7 km Team Time Trial): 1.
BMC Racing Team (USA), 15:58; 2. Quick-Step
Floors (BEL), 16:04; 3. Team Sunweb (GER),
16:04; 4. Team Sky (GBR), 16:07; 5. Orica-
Scott (AUS), 16:15.
Stage 2 (203.4 km): 1. Yves Lampaert
(BEL), 4:36:13; 2. Matteo Trentin (ITA),
4:36:13; 3. Adam Blythe (GBR), 4:26:13; 4.
Edward Theuns (BEL), 4:36:13; 5. Sacha
Modolo (ITA), 4:36:13. Also in the top 50:
41. Tejay van Garderen (USA), 4:36:26.
Stage 3 (158.5 km): 1. Vincenzo Nibali
(ITA), 4:01:22; 2. David de la Cruz (ESP),
4:01:22; 3. Chris Froome (GBR), 4:01:22; 4.
Romain Bardet (FRA), 4:01:22; 5. Johan
Esteban Chaves (COL), 4:01:22. Also: 8. Van
Garderen (USA), 4:01:22.
Stage 4 (198.2 km): 1. Trentin (ITA),
4:43:57; 2. Juan Jose Lobato (ESP),
4:43:57; 3. Tom van Asbroeck (BEL),
4:43:57; 4. Theuns (BEL), 4:43:57; 5. Jens
Debusschere (BEL), 4:43:57. Also in the top
50: 39. Van Garderen (USA), 4:43:57.
Stage 5 (157.7 km): 1. Alexey Lutsenko
(KAZ), 4:24:58; 2. Merhawi Kudus (ERI),
4:25:40; 3. Marc Soler (ESP), 4:25:54; 4.
Matej Mohoric (SLO), 4:26:09; 5. Alexis
Gougeard (FRA), 4:26:24. Also in the top
50: 17. Van Garderen (USA), 4:29:37; ...
47. Peter Stetina (USA), 4:30:31.
Stage 6 (204.4 km): 1. Tomasz Marczynski
(POL), 4:47:02; 2. Pawel Poljanski (POL),
4:47:02; 3. Enric Mas (ESP), 4:47:02; 4.
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Monday,
4 September 2017
Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP), 4:47:10; 5. Jan
Polanc (SLO), 4:47:10. Also in the top 50:
44. Van Garderen (USA), 4:47:48.
Stage 7 (207.0 km): 1. Mohoric (SLO),
4:43:35; 2. Poljanski (POL), 4:43:51; 3.
Jose Rojas (ESP), 4:43:51; 4. Thomas de
Gendt (BEL), 4:43:51; 5. Alessandro de
Marchi (ITA), 4:44:02. Also in the top 50:
29. Stetina (USA), 4:52:13; ... 43. Van
Garderen (USA), 4:52:13.
Stage 8 (199.5 km): 1. Julian
Alaphilippe (FRA), 4:37:55; 2. Polanc
(SLO), 4:37:57; 3. Rafal Majka (POL),
4:37:57; 4. Serge Pauwels (BEL), 4:38:21;
5. Nelson Oliveira (POL). Also in the top
50: 29. Van Garderen (USA), 4:39:50.
Stage 9 (174.0 km): 1. Froome (GBR),
4:07:13; 2. Johan Esteban Chaves (COL),
4:07:17; 3. Michael Woods (CAN), 4:07:18;
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED), 4:07:21; 5. Ilnur
Zakarin (RUS), 4:07:21. Also in the top 50:
12. Van Garderen (USA), 4:07:32; ... 37.
Stetina (USA), 4:09:14.
Stage 10 (164.8 km): 1. Trentin (ITA),
3:34:56; 2. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP),
3:34:57; 3. Jaime Roson (ESP), 3:35:15; 4.
Jacques Janse van Rensburg (RSA), 3:35:17;
5. Alexandre Geniez (FRA), 3:35:52. Also in
the top 50: 33. Van Garderen (USA),
4:39:28.
Stage 11 (187.5 km): 1. Miguel Angel
Lopez (ESP), 5:05:09; 2. Froome (GBR),
5:05:23; 3. Nibali (ITA), 5:05:23; 4.
Kelderman (NED), 5:05:23; 5. Bardet (FRA),
5:05:40. Also in the top 50: 21. Van
Garderen (USA), 5:08:35; ... 49. Stetina
(USA), 5:22:29.
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Stage 12 (160.1 km): 1. Tomasz Stage 15 (129 km): 1. Lopez (ESP),

Marcynzski (POL), 3:56:45; 2. Omar Fraile
(ESP), 3:57:37; 3. J.J. Rojas (ESP),
3:57:37; 4. Poljanski (POL), 3:57:37; 5.
Stef Clement (NED), 3:57:37. Also in the
top 50: 28. Van Garderen (USA), 4:04:32;
29. Stetina (USA), 4:04:32; ... 50. Joe
Dombrowski (USA), 4:09:21.
Stage 13 (198.4 km): 1. Trentin (ITA),
4:25:13; 2. Gianni Moscon (ITA), 4:25:13;
3. Soren Kragh Andersen (NOR), 4:25:13; 4.
Michael Schwarzmann (GER), 4:25:13; 5. Tom
van Asbroeck (BEL), 4:25:13. Also in the
top 50: 24. Van Garderen (USA), 4:25:20.
Stage 14 (175.0 km): 1. Rafal Majka
(POL), 4:42:10; 2. Lopez (ESP), 4:42:37; 3.
Nibali (ITA), 4:42:41; 4. Froome (GBR),
4:42:41; 5. Ilnur Zakarin (RUS), 4:42:41.
Also in the top 50: 17. Van Garderen (USA),
4:43:53.
3:34:51; 2. Zakarin (RUS), 3:35:27; 3.
Wilco Kelderman (NED), 3:35:36; 4. Chaves
(COL), 3:35:38; 5. Froome (GBR), 3:35:38.
Also in the top 50: 17. Van Garderen (USA),
3:38:10; ... 49. Stetina (USA), 3:50:12.
05 Sep Stage 16: Circuito de Navarra to
Logroo (40.2 km Individual Time Trial)
06 Sep Stage 17: Villadiego to Los
Machucos (180.5 km, mountains)
07 Sep Stage 18: Suances to Santo
Toribio de Libana (169.0 km, hilly)
08 Sep Stage 19: Caso. Parque Natural
de Redes to Gijon (149.7 km, hilly)
09 Sep Stage 20: Corvera de Asturias to
Alto de L'Angliru (117.5 km, mountains)
10 Sep Stage 21: Arroyomolinos to
Madrid (117.6 km, flat)

Van Vleuten wins Ladies Tour of Holland

| Annemiek van Vleuten was primed and ready to win the Boels Rentals Ladies Tour of Holland
and to make a run at countrywoman Anna van der Breggen for the seasonal lead in the UCI
Womens World Tour.

She achieved her first objective by winning two of the first three stages and hanging with van der
Breggen in her Stage 5 win. At the end, van Vleuten won her second Ladies Tour of Holland medal
after a silver in 2014.

And the overall race is tight. Van der Breggen still leads, but by just 1,016-989 over van Veleuten with
one race to go on 10 September in Madrid (ESP). Polands Kasia Niewiadoma is third, but well
back in the points with 856. Summaries:

UCI Womens World Tour:
Boels Rentals Ladies Tour of Holland
The Netherlands ~ 29 August-03 September
2017.
(Full results here)
Stage 1 (4.3 km): 1. Annemiek van
Vleuten (NED), 5:47; 2. Ellen van Dijk
(NED), 5:52; 3. Lisa Brennauer (GER), 5:58;
4. Anna van der Breggen (NED), 6:02; 5.
Trixi Worrack (GER), 6:05. Also in the top
50: 13. Tayler Wiles (USA), 6:13; ... 20.
Ruth Winder (USA), 6:14; ... 27. Leah
Thomas (USA), 6:17; ... 32. Alexis Ryan
(USA), 6:19.
Stage 2 (132.8 km): 1. Kirsten Wild

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 Monday,
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(NED), 3:18:48; 2. Mari Giulia Confalonieri
(ITA), 3:18:48; 3. Brennauer (GER),
3:18:48; 4. Amy Pieters (NED), 3:18:48; 5.
Van Dijk (NED), 3:18:48. Also in the top
50: 44. Wiles (USA), 3:18:58; ... 47.
Skylar Schneider (USA), 3:18:58; 48.
Samantha Schneider (USA), 3:18:58.
Stage 3 (16.9 km; Time Trial): 1. Van
Vleuten (NED), 22:12; 2. Van Dijk (NED),
22:16; 3. Linda Villumsen (NZL), 22:38; 4.
Van der Breggen (NED), 22:44; 5. Brennauer
(GER), 22:45. Also in the top 50: 9. Wiles
(USA), 23:09; ... 13. Thomas (USA), 23:21;
... 16. Winder (USA), 23:28; ... 26. Ryan
(USA), 24:01; ... 45. Katie Hall (USA),
24:30; ... 48. Sky. Schneider (USA), 24:32.
Stage 4 (121.4 km): 1. Brennauer (GER),
2:57:42; 2. Chloe Hosking (AUS), 2:57:42;
3. Roxane Fournier (FRA), 2:57:42; 4.
Kirsten Wild (NED), 2:57:42; 5. Marta
Bastianelli (ITA), 2:57:42. Also in the top
50: 16. Skylar Schneider (USA), 2:57:42.
Stage 5 (141.8 km): 1. Van der Breggen
(NED), 3:44:27; 2. Van Vleuten (NED),
3:44:27; 3. Pieters (NED), 3:45:15; 4.
Janneke Ensing (NED), 3:45:15; 5. Ruth
Winder (USA), 3:45:15. Also in the top 50:
27. Ryan (USA), 3:47.19; ... 29. Hall
(USA), 3:47:19; 30. Thomas (USA), 3:47:19;
... 42. Wiles (USA), 3:49:03.
Stage 6 (159.7 km): 1. Ensing (NED),
4:11:57; 2. Brand (NED), 4:12:27; 3. Kasia
Niewiadoma (POL), 4:12:32; 4. Bastianelli
(ITA), 4:13:07; 5. Fournier (FRA), 4:13:07.
Also in the top 50: 15. Winder (USA),
4:13:07; ... 23. Ryan (USA), 4:13:07; ...
30. Thomas (USA), 4:13:07; ... 36. Hall
(USA), 4:13:07.
Final Standings: 1. Annemiek van Vleuten
(NED), 14:41:57; 2. Anna van der Breggen
(NED), +0:43; 3. Ellen van Dijk (NED),
+1:03; 4. Lisa Brennauer (GER), +1:24; 5.
Lisa Villumsen (NZL), +1:49; 6. Chantal
Blaak (NED), 1:55; 7. Kasia Niewiadoma
(POL), +2:04; 8. Janneke Ensing (NED),
+2:18; 9. Amy Pieters (NED), +2:19; 10.
Elena Cecchini (ITA), +2:27. Also in the
top 50: 12. Ruth Winder (USA), +2:45; ...
21. Leah Thomas (USA), +5:02; ... 27.
Alexis Ryan (USA), +5:54; ... 30. Katie
Hall (USA), +6:27; ... 42. Tayler Wiles
(USA), +13:08.

Football

After Costa Rican flop, U.S. heads to Honduras in World Cup qualifying
| All good things come to an end, and the U.S. mens teams 14-game unbeaten streak ended with a
thud in a deflating 2-0 loss to Costa Rica in Harrison, New Jersey last Friday.

Marco Urena scored both goals, the first on a shot from a difficult angle on the right side of goal in
the 30th minute and the last on a Urena stike after David Guzman picked off a U.S. pass and made
a brilliant lead that Urena finished in the 82nd minute.

But heavy credit for the win also goes to Costa Rican keeper Keylor Navas, who stopped two U.s.
chances that looked like sure goals in the 67th and 81st minutes.

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 Monday,
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So the loss leaves the U.S. in a precarious position, trying to quality for the 2018 World Cup with a
third-place finish in the CONCACAF final round, or possibly through a playoff with a fourth-place
finish.

So what now? The U.S. has to travel to Honduras for a match in San Pedro Sula on Tuesday, at 5:30
p.m. Eastern time, to be shown on beIN Sports and UNIVERSO. The situation:

C With three games left in the Hex, Mexico (17 points) has qualified for the World Cup and Costa
Rica is close (14 points).

C The race for third has the U.S. and Honduras with eight each, followed by Panama with seven
and Trinidad & Tobago with three.

C Remaining schedules:
5 September 6 October 10 October
= United States: at Honduras Panama at Trinidad & Tobago
= Honduras: United States at Costa Rica Mexico
= Panama: Trinidad & Tobago at United States Costa Rica

Striker Jozy Altidore of the U.S. is suspended due to yellow cards for the match on Tuesday.But the
U.S. crushed Honduras, 6-0, back on 24 March thanks to a hay trick from Clint Dempsey. Dempsey
also had both goals in a 2-1 U.S. win in July 2015 and the teams played a 1-1 tie in October 2014 in
their last three games against each other.

The U.S. is 3-1-1 at Honduras, and lost, 2-1, in its last match there, in 2013. Dempsey scored the U.S.
goal.

Gymnastics

Averinas win all five events at Rhythmic World Champs

| Russian sisters Dina and Arina Averina swept the individual titlesat the Rhythmic Gymnastics
World Championships in Pesaro (ITA).

Dina won the All-Around, Hoop and Clubs and Arina won in Ball and Ribbon. They went 1-2 in four of
the five events, with Katsiaryna Halkina (BLR) taking silver in Clubs.

Heres how dominant the Russians have been in this sport, winning:

C All-Around: 7 straight World titles, 9 of the last 10 and 10 of the last 12

C Hoop: 7 of the last 8 World titles
C Ball: 9 straight World titles; 10 of the last 11
C Clubs: 7 straight World titles

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 Monday,
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C Ribbon: 10 straight World titles

Seventeen-year-old Laura Zeng of the U.S. finished sixth in the All-Around, the best-ever finish for
an American entry. She had been eighth in 2015. Teammate Evita Griskenis, 16, finished 11th in the
All-Around and either Zeng or Griskenis made the final in each of the individual apparatus events.

Russia also won the Group All-Around and the Group 3+2 to collect 13 medals in all (7-5-1); Japan (0-
1-3) had four total medals for second. Summaries:

FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
Pesaro (ITA) ~ 30 August-3 September 2017.
(Full results here)
All-Around: 1. Dina Averina (RUS),
74.700; 2. Arina Averina (RUS), 73.450; 3.
Linoy Ashram (ISR), 70.025; 4. Katsiaryna
Halkina (BLR), 69.000; 5. Kaho Minagawa
(JPN), 68.425; 6. Laura Zeng (USA), 68.250;
7. Neviana Vladinova (BUL), 67.550; 8.
Alexandra Agiurgiuculese (ITA), 67.450.
Also: 11. Evita Griskenis (USA), 65.350.
Hoop: 1. Dina Averina (RUS), 19.100; 2.
Arina Averina (RUS), 19.00; 3. Minagawa
(JPN), 17.700; 4. Halkina (BLR), 17.600; 5.
Vladinova (BUL), 17.500; 6. Ashram (ISR),
16.900; 7. Sumire Kita (JPN), 16.650; 8.
Griskenis (USA), 15.750.
Ball: 1. Arina Averina (RUS), 18.950; 2.
Dina Averina (RUS), 18.700; 3. Vladinova
(BUL), 17.950; 4. Ashram (ISR), 17.925; 5.
Halkina (BLR), 17.800; 6. Zeng (USA),
17.050; 7. Agiurgiuculese (ITA), 17.000; 8.
Minagawa (JPN), 16.300.
Clubs: 1. Dina Averina (RUS), 19.000; 2.
Halkina (BLR), 18.050; 3. Arina Averina
(RUS), 17.800; 4. Vladinova (BUL), 17.350;
5. Agiurgiuculese (ITA),17.250; 6. Zeng
(USA), 17.050; 7. Harnasko (BUL), 15.550;
8. Salome Pazhava (GEO), 15.300.
Ribbon: 1. Arina Averina (RUS), 18.300;
2. Dina Averina (RUS), 17.200; 3. Ashram
(ISR), 16.650; 4. Agiurgiuculese (ITA),
16.250; 5. Zeng (USA), 16.200; 6. Milena
Baldassarri (ITA), 16.050; 7. Griskenis
(USA), 14.500; 8. Katrin Taseva (BUL),
13.700.
Group All-Around: 1. Russia, 37.700; 2.
Bulgaria, 36.950; 3. Japan, 36.650; 4.
Italy, 36.625; 5. Belarus, 36.425; 6.
Ukraine, 35.600; 7. Azerbaijan, 35.450; 8.
China, 34.250. Also: 12. United States
(Daria Baltovick, Connie Du, Yelyzaveta
Merenzon, Nicole Sladkov, Kristina
Sobolevskaya), 32.250.
Group/5 Hoops: 1. Italy, 18.900; 2.
Russia, 18.700; 3. Japan, 18.600; 4.
Bulgaria, 18.250; 5. Belarus, 18.025; 6.
Azerbaijan, 17.850; 7. China, 17.350; 8.
Ukraine, 17.350.
Group/3 Balls + 2 Ropes: 1. Russia,
18.900; 2. Japan, 18.650; 3. Bulgaria,
18.600; 4. Italy, 18.550; 5. Belarus,
18.000; 6. Ukraine, 17.500; 7. Azerbaijan,
17.100; 8. China, 16.675.

Brazil dominates Apparatus World Cup in Varna

| Brazilian gymnasts stole the show at the FIG Apparatus World Challenge Cup in Varna (BUL),
winning five events, including a sweep of the womens finals.

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 Monday,
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The individual star was Rebeca Andrade 11th in the Rio All-Around who won the Vault and
Uneven Bars, with Daniele Hypolito winning on Beam and Thais Fidelis taking the Floor Ex.

Ukraines Igor Radivilov won the mens Rings and Vault and teammate Petro Pakhniuk won the
Parallel Bars and was runner-up in the Floor Exercise. Summaries:

FIG World Challenge Cup 3. Caio Souza (BRA), 14.450.

Varna (BUL) ~ 1-3 September 2017.
(Full results here)
Men
Floor Exercise: 1. Tomas Gonzalez (CHI),
14.700; 2. Petro Pakhniuk (UKR), 14.550; 3.
Arthur Nory (BRA), 14.450.
Pommel Horse: 1. Andrey Likhovitskiy
(BLR), 14.600; 2. Cyril Tommasone (FRA),
14.100; 3. Jakov Vlahek (CRO), 13.900.
Rings: 1. Igor Radivilov (UKR), 14.700;
2. Vinzenz Hock (AUT), 14.600; 3. Ali
Zharan (EGY), 14.500.
Vault: 1. Radivilov (UKR), 15.000; 2.
Pavel Bulauski (BLR), 14.625; 3. Yiya
Yakauleu (BLR), 14.300.
Parallel Bars: 1. Pakhniuk (UKR),
15.050; 2. Oleg Verniaiev (UKR), 14.700;
High Bar: 1. Souza (BRA), 14.200; 2.
Jossimar Calvo (COL), 14,200; 3. Anon
Kovacevic (CRO), 14.150.
Women
Vault: 1. Rebeca Andrade (BRA), 14.800;
2. Shallon Olsen (CAN), 14.225; 3. Teja
Belak (SLO), 13.900.
Uneven Bars: 1. Andrade (BRA), 14.050;
2. Farah Hussein (EGY), 12.850; 3. Thais
Fidelis (BRA), 12.450.
Beam: 1. Daniele Hypolito (BRA), 13.750;
2. Georgia-Mae Fenton (GBR), 12.500; 3.
Pamela Georgieva (BUL), 11.800.
Floor Exercise: 1. Fidelis (BRA),
13.500; 2. Olsen (CAN), 12.950; 3. Hussein
(EGY), 12.750.

Judo

Japan and Riner dominate at World Championships

| Japan finished off a dominating performance in the 2017 IJF World Championships in Budapest
by winning seven individual classes, but Frances Teddy Riner was just as good.

Competing for the first time since Rio, Riner pushed his unbeaten streak to 134 matches dating back
to 2010 and won his ninth World Championships crown in the Heavyweight (+100 kg) category.
Even in his first competition of 2017, he won his six matches in convincing fashion, five of which
ended by ippon. He was the only Rio gold medalist to repeat in 2017.

Including the new team competition six on a team, equally split between men and women Japan
won eight gold medals, four silvers and one bronze for a total of 13. No other country had more than
six (Mongolia) and only the French had more than one winner, in Clarisse Agbegnenou and Riner.

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 Monday,
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Japan extended its perfect record of winning the most medals at every World Championships in the
combined era, beginning in 1987. There have been some editions where Japan only won one more
medal than their top challengers, but they were again the best for the 18th consecutive time.

Mongolias six medals (1-1-4) was its best ever at a Worlds. The U.S. was shut out of the medals for the
second consecutive World Championships. The last U.S. medalist was Kayla Harrison (78 kg) back
in 2014. She was, however, elected to the IJFs Athletes Commission.

The 2017 Worlds had $1 million in prize money, paid $26,000 for the winners; $15,000 for second
and $8,000 for both of the bronze medalists. Summaries:

IJF World Championships Mammodov (AZE) and Michael Korrel (NED).

Budapest (HUN)
~ 29 August-03 September 2017.
(Full results here)
Men
60 kg: 1. Naohisa Takato (JPN); 2.
Orkhan Safarov (AZE); 3. Diyorbek Urozboev
(UZB) and Baldbaatar Ganbat (MGL); 5. Pavel
Petrikov (CZE) and Mukhridden Tilovov
(UZB).
66 kg: 1. Hifumi Abe (JPN); 2. Mikhail
Puliaev (RUS); 3. Vazha Margvelasvili (GEO)
and Tal Flicker (ISR); 5. Georgli Zantaraia
(UKR) and Limhwan Kim (KOR).
73 kg: 1. Soichi Hashimoto (JPN); 2.
Rustam Orujov (AZE); 3. Odbayar Ganbaatar
(MGL) and Changrim An (KOR); 5. Lasha
Shavdatuashvili (GEO) and Hidayat Haydarov
(AZE).
81 kg: 1. Alexander Wieczerak (GER); 2.
Matteo Marconcini (ITA); 3. Khasan
Khalmurzaev (RUS) and Saeid Mollaei (IRI);
5. Laszlo Csoknyai (HUN) and Uuganbaatar
Otgonbaatar (MGL).
90 kg: 1. Nemanja Majdov (SR); 2. Mihael
Zgank (SLO): 3. Donghan Gwak (KOR) and
Ushangi Margiani (GEO); 5. Krisztian Toth
(HUN) and Aleksandar Kukolj (SRB).
100 kg: 1. Aaron Wolf (JPN); 2. Varlam
Liparteliani (GEO); 3. Elmar Gasimov (KAZ)
and Kirill Denisov (RUS); 5. Elkhan
+100 kg: 1. Teddy Riner (FRA); 2. David
Moura (BRA); 3. Tuvshinbayar Naidin (MGL)
and Rafael Silva (BRA); 5. Guram
Tushishvili (GEO) and Barna Bor (HUN).
Women
48 kg: 1. Funa Tonaki (JPN); 2.
Urantsetseg Munkhbat (MGL); 3.
Ontgontsetseg Galbadrakh (KAZ) and Ami
Kondo (JPN); 5. Milica Nikolic (SRB) and
Irina Dolgova (RUS).
52 kg: 1. Ai Shishime (JPN); 2. Natsumi
Tsonoda (JPN); 3. Natalia Kuziutina (RUS)
and Erika Miranda (BRA); 5. Gili Cohen
(ISR) and Majlinda Kelmendi (KOS).
57 kg: 1. Sumiya Dorjsuren (MGL); 2.
Tsukasa Yoshida (JPN); 3. Nekoda Smythe-
Davis (GBR) and Helene Receveaux (FRA); 5.
Miryam Roper (PAN) and Telma Montiero
(POR).
63 kg: 1. Clarisse gbegnenou (FRA); 2.
Tina Trstenjak (SLO); 3. Mungunchimeg
Baldorj (MGL) and Agata Ozdoba (POL). 5.
Junxia Yang (CHN) and Martyna Trajdos
(GER).
70 kg: 1. Chizuru Arai (JPN); 2. Maria
Perez (PUR); 3. Yuri Alvear (COL) and Mari
Bernabeu (ESP); 5. Marie Eve Gahie (FRA)
and Assmaa Niang (MAR).
78 kg: 1. Mayra Aguiar (BRA); 2. Mami
Umeki (JPN); 3. Kaliema Antomarchi (CUB)

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 Monday,
4 September 2017

and Natalie Powell (GBR); 5. Ruika Sato Mixed

(JPN) and Marhinde Verkerk (NED).
+78 kg: 1. Song Yu (CHN); 2. Sarah
Asahina (JPN); 3. Minjeong Kim (KOR) and
Iryna Kindzerska (AZE); 5. Kayra Sayit
(TUR) and Tessie Savelkouls (NED).
Team: 1. Japan; 2. Brazil; 3. France
and Korea; 5. Russia and Canada; 7. Germany
and Georgia. Final: Japan d. Brazil, 6-0.

Shooting

All about Italy at the Shotgun World Champs

| Italys Jessica Rossi and Daniele Resca won the Trap titles at the ISSF Shotgun World
Championships in Moscow (RUS).

For Rossi, its her third world title after wins in 2009 and 2013 and she won an epic battle of the last
two Olympic gold medalists. Rossi won in London in 2012 and defeated Australias Rio gold medalist,
Catherine Skinner, 43-41, in the final. It was her first Worlds medal since that 2013 win.

Today it has been a great day, its a new start, said Rossi. I accumulated a lot of tension in the last
years, but I finally made it. I am back on an ISSF podium. It has been a tough final. Ive been dueling
with the reigning Olympic champion since the first shot, and right to the end of the match. All of the
finalists are great athletes, so I had to be extremely concentrated.

Resca won gold in his first World Championships appearance and defeated Rio bronze medalist
Edward Ling (GBR), 43-40, in the final. This is my first world championship. I arrived here in
Moscow coming from a bad performance at this years European Championship in Baku, where I
wasted all my chances at the last series. I really wanted to do well here, to show what I can do.

It has been a great final. The new format with 50 targets is perfect and really fair. I have been
preparing for it, and I was ready. I missed some clays at the end of the match just because I was a bit
tired. Finally I have a gold medal around my neck. This title pays off all the sacrifices and hard work. I
have been shooting for 16 years now, and I would like to dedicate this victory to my family. They
always supported me, through huge sacrifices.

The U.S. had finalists in both events, but Derek Haldeman was fifth in the mens Trap and Ashley
Carroll was sixth in the womens. The U.S. won the team title in the womens Trap, which is not a
separate competition, but an aggregation of scores during the competition. The American trio of
Carroll, Caitlin Barney Weinheimer and Corey Cogdell scored 203 points to edge Finland,
which also scored 203.

The remaining schedule:

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 Monday,
4 September 2017

C 05 September: Mens Double Trap

C 08 September: Womens Skeet
C 09 September: Mens Skeet
C 10 September: Mixed Team Skeet

Summaries so far:

ISSF Shotgun World Championships
Moscow (RUS) ~ 1-10 September 2017.
(Full results here)
Mens Trap: 1. Daniele Resca (ITA), 43;
2. Edward Ling (GBR), 40; 3. Jiri Liptak
(CZE), 33; 4. Alberto Fernandez (ESP), 25;
5. Derek Haldeman (USA), 21; 6. Kynan
Chenai (IND), 17.
Mens Team Trap: 1. Italy (Resca, Valrio
Grazini, Giovanni Pellielo), 362; 2. Czech
Rep. (Liptak, Kostelecky, Stepan), 359; 3.
Spain (Fernandez, Bailon, Rodriguez Uris),
357; 4. Croatia, 353; 5. Russia, 353; 6.
Kuwait, 353; 7. India, 353; 8. Australia,
351. Also: 13. United States (Haldeman,
Casey Wallace, Roe Reynolds), 343.
Womens Trap: 1. Jessica Rossi (ITA),
43; 2. Catherine Skinner (AUS), 41; 3.
Zuzana Rehak Stefecekova (SVK), 32;
4. Fatima Galvez (ESP), 27; 5. Marika Salmi
(FIN), 22; 6. Ashley Carroll (USA), 16.
Womens Team Trap: 1. United States
(Carroll, Caitlin Barney Weinheimer, Corey
Cogdell), 203; 2. Finland (Salmi, Makela-
Nummela, Veromaa), 203; 3. Italy (Rossi,
Stanco, Iezzi), 203; 4. Australia, 201; 5.
Spain, 201; 6. Great Britain, 199; 7.
China, 199; 8. Russia, 195.
Mixed Team Trap: 1. Thomas Grice/Penny
Smith (AUS); 2. Antonio Bailon/Beatriz
Martinez (ESP); 3. Derek Haldeman/Ashley
Carroll (USA); 4. Jack Wallace/Catherine
Skinner (AUS); 5. Alexey Alipov/Tatiana
Barsuk (RUS); 6. Alberto Fernandez/Fatima
Galvez (ESP). Fifth: Alipov/Barsuk d.
Fernandez/Galvez, 27-22. Third:
Haldeman/Carroll d. Wallace/Skinner, 41-38.
Final: Grice/Smith d. Bailon/Martinez, 33-
32.

Ski & Snowboard

Anderson and Ferreira golden at Winter Games NZ

| The FIS World Cup circuit for 2017-18 opened at the Winter Games NZ with competitions in
Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard in Cardrona, New Zealand, and the U.S. got to the top of the podium
twice.

As we noted in the last issue, the Freestyle Halfpipe was won by Alex Ferreira of the U.S., won his
event with a score of 93.40, ahead of last years seasonal champion, Kevin Rolland of France
(90.20) and Canadas Simon DArtois (88.60). Aaron Blunck of the U.S. was fourth (87.20).

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Reigning Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup champion Jamie Anderson of the U.S. won the opener
in her discipline with 85.78 points, well ahead of Japans Miyabi Onitsuka (79.96). Its Andersons
eight career Wold Cup win (six in Slopestyle) and third in Cadrona, where she also won in 2013 and
2015. Summaries:
FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cups
Cardrona (NZL) ~ 26 August-1 September
2017.
(Full results here)
Mens Slopestyle: 1. James Woods (GBR),
91.80 points; 2. Andri Ragettli (SUI),
91.00; 3. Fabian Boesch (SUI), 90.00; 4.
Nicholas Goepper (USA), 88.20; 5. Jesper
Tjader (SWE), 83.80. Also in the Final: 8.
Alexander Hall (USA), 70.60; ... 10. Mcrae
Williams (USA), 65.60.
Mens Halfpipe: 1. Alex Ferreira (USA),
93.40; 2. Kevin Rolland (FRA), 90.20; 3.
Simon DArtois (CAN), 88.60; 4. Aaron
Blunck (USA), 87.20; 5. Miguel Porteous
(NZL), 86.80. Also in the Final: 7. Hunter
Hess (USA), 83.60; 8. Birk Irving (USA),
82.20.
Womens Slopestyle: 1. Kelly Sildaru
(EST), 90.00; 2. Giulia Tanno (SUI), 86.60;
3. Jennie-Lee Burmansson (SWE), 84.60; 4.
Maggie Voisin (USA), 82.00; 5. Johanne
Killi (NOR), 77.80. Also in the Final: 10.
Darian Stevens (USA), 73.00; 11. Julia
Krass (USA), 71.80.
Womens Halfpipe: 1. Cassie Sharpe
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Monday,
4 September 2017
(CAN), 91.00; 2. Sildaru (EST), 90.20; 3.
Marie Martinod (FRA), 84.40; 4. Annalisa
Drew (USA), 82.80; 5. Carly Margulies
(USA), 81.00. Also in the top 25: 6.
Maddie Bowman (USA), 80.00; ... 10. Brita
Sigourney (USA), 69.60; ... 22. Jeanee
Crane-Mauzy (USA), 54.40.
FIS Snowboard World Cup
Cardrona (NZL) ~ 3-4 September 2017.
(Full results here)
Mens Slopestyle: 1. Marcus Kleveland
(NOR), 85.58 points; 2. Darcy Sharpe (CAN),
85.33; 3. Carlos Garcia Knight (NZL),
84.58; 4. Chris Corning (USA), 81.91; 5.
Red Gerard (USA), 79.78. Also in the Final:
8. Judd Henkes (USA), 76.38; ... 11.
Nikolas Baden (USA), 70.35; ... 13. Lyon
Farrell (USA), 50.38.
Womens Slopestyle: 1. Jamie Anderson
(USA), 85.78; 2. Miyabi Onitsuka (JPN),
79.96; 3. Zoi Sadowski Synnott (NZL),
74.76; 4. Reira Iwabuchi (JPN), 70.56; 5.
Katie Ormerod (GBR), 55.36. Also in the
Final: 10. Hailey Langland (USA), 24.41.
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 Monday,
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Agenda:
Competition Calendar
Highlights of the top-level (Championships ~ Grand Prix ~ World Cup ~ National Teams)
competitions in Olympic sports for the coming weeks:
Sport Date(s) Type ~ Event Site

C 04-10 September 2017

Cycling 19 Aug-10 MWT: La Vuelta Cicista de Espana ESP
Tennis 28 Aug-10 U.S. Open USA New York
Shooting 30 Aug-11 ISSF World Champs (shotgun) RUS Moscow
Water Polo 03-09 Sep Women's Junior World Championships GRE Volos
Cycling 05-10 Sep UCI Mtn. Bike World Champs AUS Cairns
Football 05 Sep World Cup qualifying: USA Men at Honduras HON San Pedro Sula
Volleyball 05-10 Sep Women's Grand Champions Cup JPN
Canoe-Kyk 08-10 Sep Slalom World Cup Final ESP La Seu d'Urgell
Cycling 08 Sep MWT: Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec CAN Quebec City
Snowboard 08-09 Sep FIS World Cup: M&W Halfpipe NZL Cardrona
Snowboard: 08-10 Sep FIS World Cup: M&W Snowboardcross ARG Cerro Catedral
Gymnastics 08-10 Sep World Challenge Cup (apparatus) HUN Szombathely
Karate 08-10 Sep WKF Karate 1 Premier League 5 GER Halle
Weightlift 08-10 Sep American Open III USA Grand Rapids
Judo 09-10 Sep Pan American Open DOM Santo Domingo
Cycling 10 Sep MWT: Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal CAN Montreal
Cycling 10 Sep WWT: Madrid Challenge ESP Madrid
Volleyball 10-17 Sep Women's World U-23 Championship SLO Ljubljana

C 11-17 September 2017

Badminton 12-17 Sep Victor Korea Open KOR Seoul
Sailing 12-19 Sep M Laser Standard World Championships CRO Split
Volleyball 12-17 Sep Men's Grand Champions Cup JPN
Equestrian 14-17 Sep Dressage World Cup CDI-W USA Thousand Oaks
Golf 14-17 Sep W Evian Championship FRA Evian-les-Bains
Triathlon 14-17 Sep ITU World Series Grand Final NED Rotterdam
Cycling 15-17 Sep UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup 3 CAN Edmonton
Football 15 Sep USA Women vs. New Zealand USA Commerce City
Athletics 16-17 Sep World Combined Events Challenge 6 FRA Talence
Cycling 16-17 Sep UCI BMX Supercross World Cup 3 ARG Santiago del Estero
Gymnastics 16-17 Sep World Challenge Cup FRA Paris
Sailing 16-23 Sep RS:X World Championships JPN Enoshima
Cycling 17-24 Sep UCI Road World Championships NOR Bergen

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 Monday,
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About The Sports Examiner

The Sports Examiner was created to cover championship-level international sports with a special
emphasis on those sports and events that are part of the Olympic/Winter Games programs. You can
get it sent directly to your e-mail inbox by signing up at www.TheSportsExaminer.com.

These athletes deserve the comprehensive coverage given to a fairly small number of sports which are
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About the Author

Rich Perelman has been a bid developer, planner and/or operator of 20 multi-day, multi-venue
events, including five Olympic/Olympic Winter Games, in the U.S., Canada and Europe. In addition
to nearly 100 books, event and statistical guides, he has written for the Los Angeles Times, Track &
Field News, Universal Sports and many other publications. He is a longtime member of the
Association of Track & Field Statisticians (ATFS), International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH)
and the Track & Field Writers of America (TAFWA).

Archives Codes and Symbols

If youre looking for previous issues, you can find It wouldnt be sports without symbols, right?
them here (scroll to the bottom of the page to the First and foremost, we use the International
Archives header and pick the month you want to Olympic Committees three-letter country codes;
access). All editions are in PDF format of 1-5 MB the complete list can be found here. Other
each and may be viewed or downloaded directly common symbols:
to your device. dnf = did not finish kg = kilograms
dns = did not start m = meters
You can also sign up to receive The Sports dsq = disqualified w = wind-aided
Examiner by e-mail at TheSportsExaminer.com. HS = hill size in ski jumping (always in meters)

The Sports Examiner for 4 September 2017: Vol. 2, no. 121. Copyright 2017 by Perelman, Pioneer &
Co.; All rights reserved.

The Sports Examiner (ISSN 2574-6235) is published by Perelman, Pioneer & Co.; Rich Perelman,
editor. Subscriptions are available by entering your name and e-mail address here. For more
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