■ Speedskating
Shinya wins 500m race
Jeremy Wotherspoon broke his Canadian record in the men's 500m while winning the opening race of the World Cup long track speedskating season Saturday in Calgary, Canada. American Jennifer Rodriguez won the women's 1,000m, and Shihomi Shinya of Japan took the 500m. Wotherspoon, who lost only one 500m race last year, won in 34.37 seconds, lowering his previous Canadian mark of 34.41 set last season in Salt Lake City. He came within 0.05 of the world record. Gerard Van Velde of the Netherlands was second Saturday in 34.59, followed by Dmitry Lobkov of Russia in 34.63. "It was a solid race from start to finish," Wotherspoon said. ``There are some areas I would have liked to have done better, but you can't ask for much more at the start of the season. We're not in peak condition yet." Wotherspoon now has 46 career World Cup wins, two fewer than all-time men's leader Uwe Jens May of Germany.
■ Bobsled
German women sweep
Sandra Prokoff fought through an ankle injury to record the two fastest runs Saturday and lead a German sweep in a women's World Cup bobsled race in Lake Placid, New York. Prokoff has won the first three World Cup events this season, with two victories last weekend in Calgary, Alberta. Prokoff, who hurt her ankle while warming up, piloted Germany 1 with brakeman Anja Schneiderheinze to a time of 58.38 seconds in the first run. Even though steady snow slowed the track, they managed to tie the course record. A second run of 58.58 gave them a total time of 1 minute, 56.96 seconds. Still, they won by a mere .02 seconds over teammates Susi Erdmann and Nicole Herschmann. "I had to really fight hard to win today's race," Prokoff said. "Between the injury and the snowfall, it was difficult." Erdmann, driving Germany 2, was right behind in 1:57.03. Cathleen Martini, with Yvonne Cernota on the brakes, took the bronze medal in 1:57.38. The competition ends today with a second women's bobsled race.
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Twelve days after winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Coco Gauff fell at the first hurdle on grass in Berlin on Thursday as beaten Paris finalist Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarter-finals. Recipient of a first round bye, American Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu as world number one Sabalenka beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in her second round tie. Winner of 10 main tour titles, including the US Open in 2023 and the WTA Finals last year, Gauff has yet to lift a trophy in a grass-court tournament. “After I won the first
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
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