NMQ

Lasitskene not happy with Thomas Bach

Actually, I think she was the 3rd most followed active swimmer in the world on IG behind pop star Cody Simpson and rock star (?) Ryan Lochte, ahead the likes of Dressel, Ledecky and Peaty.

22yo Delfina Pignatiello announced her retirement on Instagram. Will keep swimming but not at competitions. Wants to focus on other things out of the pool. A real shame. She is a 2x world junior champion, 2x YOG medalist and 3x pan american champion, multiple SA record holder as well. She was probably our best talent of the last few years sport by sport. But she didn't cope well with the pressure, the hate on social media and an extended quarantine that hurt her preparation for the Olympics. IMO also made some questionable decisions, like not going to the NCAA to stay home or changing her long time coach. Hope she makes a comeback in a few years, but she seems happier with her other activities.

Unless a massive upset, Djokovic will win Wimbledon again in a few weeks, so the race is on.

Kontaveit to be world number 2 unless Pegula wins the title. If Iga doesn't win now is the upset of the decade.

It was going to happen as she was very close and this was her best chance this year as in the CG she'll have a busy schedule. The question now is if she can pull off the 200 where she was close this week too. One of the few supersuit female records that still survives.

Easy for him to win the WTA tournament with Swiatek out Carlitos is like the Big 3 combined and improved in one player. Obviously the big test now is if he can repeat this in a Grand Slam. But beating Nadal and Djokovic in tough battles and smoking Zverev the day after says a lot about his strengh.

Titmus won't race at worlds, though. I think McIntosh will be a factor in this race.

So did her, wasn't happy at all with that swim. But the meet is kinda all her meets this season so far: amazing in the longer events, still great but not at her best in the shorter ones and better at the start than the end. The 400 will be the key race, after going 4:01 in the first half of the 800, anything but a sub 4:00 would be a dissapointment. Btw, world record holder Regan Smith once again 3rd and out in the 200 back.

Yeah, I was comparing with her time at trials that year (4:05.00), but she was about 5 months younger than Summer and would have been faster at the Olympics for sure. But she didn't swim it there and I still think McIntosh is a bit ahead in the progression for this event at least. Agree with the 200-400 sweet spot, at least on free, because her 400 IM and 200 fly seem even better.

She is still quite faster than Ledecky at the same age

Titmus already at 4:00.03 in the 400 free. After a post olympics extended break and first serious race of the year. That world record is in danger too this year.

Ha, he is 30 years late. That guy has said worse things in the past. He's been the mayor of one the poorest towns in Bs As since forever and let's say he is not the brightest man on office. At least for the right stuff

And third faster swimmer ever in the event. Katinka's record will be in danger. I wonder how will be her program in the next major tournaments. She pretty much can swim every free event from 200 upwards, the two IMs, 200 butterfly... Crazy talent.

But banning athletes will sure stop Putin

No way Russia can win this, come on. The political decision to ban everything russian is already widely accepted. It would be a huge scandal.

As expected. Anyway, I think CAS won't go against public opinion in this case and the arguments raised by IOC (breaking the olympic truce, ukrainians athletes not being able to compete due to russian attacks) are enough to keep the ban. But we'll see.

Is it legally available and has there been any sing of a possible appeal to CAS from any of the "forbidden" russians? I guess it would be a risky move as the public opinion would be against them, but it would be interesting to see.

Or will just exacerbate nationalistic feelings while damaging athletes careers in the process. We'll see.

I agree with the general idea of this argument, the problem I have with it is that unless you specifically use it in the context of a classical invasion of a sovereign country like this one, it pretty much can be used too for any conflict where a foreign country is involved and local people suffer. There are many of those and it won't happen. In the end, I think technical arguments don't matter here and the decision will be about what most countries and the public opinion say it's better.

Sport is always mixed with politics (as almost everything in life, actually), but IMO athletes should never be banned from competition due to a political decision (whatever it is) from their government. Punish the national federation, get rid of the name, the flag, the anthem, whatever you want, but let them compete. Also, I think Rublev signing "no war" on a camera sends a more powerful message than banning him from competition.

Nice message from Pavlyuchenkova. Tennis players are mostly independent athletes, besides Davis Cup/BJKC/ATP Cup/Olympics, it is kinda the same if they play as neutrals.

"Recommends" is an open word https://twitter.com/iocmedia/status/1498297977366102024?s=20&t=U5Ah83l--4QACcxpYcjeSg

Pretty much this. I'll add as the main highlight Fran Baruzzi reaching two top 30s in alpine skiing, best performance ever for a female in the sport and best overall in 42 years.

Errani and Kung aren't the most difficult test to this level, but obviously amazing results for a 14yo. I hope she has a good team behind her because the expectations will be big if she keeps like this and many other succesful teens have burn out in the process.