US teenager Michael Andrew and Jesse Puts of the Netherlands were upset winners on Friday at the Short Course World Swimming Championships in Windsor, Canada.
The 17-year-old Andrew, whose age-group success has seen him tipped as a multi-medal threat in the mold of Olympic superstar Michael Phelps, won the 100m individual medley in 51.84 seconds.
He edged Daiya Seto, Japan’s Olympic bronze medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Games, who took silver in 52.01 seconds, with Japan’s Shinri Shioura earning bronze in 52.17 seconds.
Photo: AP
World record holder Vladimir Morozov settled for equal sixth, shortly after anchoring Russia to victory in the men’s 4x50m freestyle relay.
Aleksei Brianskii, Nikita Lobintsev, Aleksandr Popkov and Morozov clocked 1 minute, 24.51 seconds to claim gold ahead of the US and Japan in the sprint relay that opened the evening’s action.
Russian swimmers were all business, ending the night with a win in the men’s 200m freestyle relay.
Photo: AP
Mikhail Dovgalyuk, Mikhail Vekovishchev and Artem Lobuzov had Russia lying fourth when anchor Aleksandr Krasnykh hit the water. He powered to the front for a victory in 6 minutes, 52.10 seconds, with the US second in 6 minutes, 53.34 seconds and Japan third in 6 minutes, 53.54 seconds.
Puts pulled off the upset in the men’s 50m freestyle, pulling away in lane seven to win in 21.1 seconds and edge Russia’s Morozov by 0.04 seconds.
Lithuania’s Simonas Bilis settled for bronze in 21.23 seconds.
Hungarian Katinka Hosszu’s gold medal binge continued with a triumph in the 100m individual medley, her fifth gold of the championships.
Hosszu clocked 57.24 seconds to take the gold ahead of Australian Emily Seebohm (57.97 seconds), with bronze going to Jamaican Alia Atkinson (58.04 seconds).
Swimming’s “Iron Lady,” winner of three gold medals in Rio, added another crown to those she had already earned this week in the 200m butterfly, 100m and 200m backstroke and 400m individual medley.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
KNICKS TAKE LEAD: San Antonio put on a 9-0 run to be up 95-94 with just over 2 minutes to play, but the rest of the game belonged to the New York Knicks It was past five minutes through the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday and the New York Knicks’ 11-game winning streak was in major jeopardy. The Knicks missed nine of their first 10 shots in the early part of the period and trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 14 points. They were floundering. Then something crazy happened. The Knicks found new life from an unlikely source: The Spurs. New York rallied to tie the game by the end of the period, gave up the lead briefly late in the fourth quarter, and pulled away late for a 105-95