NDNA 2025: Olympics and Pingelly mid-season clash ends in high-scoring draw
With players missing from both line-ups, it was going to be a captivating game.
The first quarter had Pingelly defender Caris Cunningham starting in goal attack, where she combined with seasoned goal shooter Gabbi Sturtridge.
Down the other end, the dynamic shooting duo of Claire Conlan and Helen Wyatt for Olympics Gold were combining well, providing a headache for Pingelly's mother-daughter defence combination of Jodie and Shannon Marshall.
Despite their new shooting combination, Pingelly scored strongly and took 16-14 lead at quarter-time.
Olympics fought back hard in the second quarter, with the addition of late-in Milla Curtis taking the goal defence bib, and giving mid-court players Tenisha Harper, Lee Conlan, and Jo Annear good service coming down the court.
Both sides competed well and by half-time Olympics had gone ahead by one goal.
In the second half Olympics consolidated this lead with excellent shooting from Wyatt and Claire Conlan, outscoring Pingelly by three goals in the third quarter to lead 45-41 at three-quarter-time.
Pingelly were not to be denied however, scoring six of the first seven goals of the quarter to regain the lead, thanks to Cunningham and Sturtridge making life difficult for Olympics' Curtis and goalkeeper Harley Heywood.
The remainder of the quarter was a see-sawing affair, with neither side able to gain more than a one-goal advantage, with the final whistle blowing with scores level at 54-all.
Umpire votes went to Sturtridge and Hodges from Pingelly, with Claire Conlan getting the nod from Olympics.
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7NEWS
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He said people may not agree with his perception, but he was glad that the discourse was forcing a bigger conversation. 'First, I must be clear that I have the utmost respect for the US swimmers that competed at the World Championships. My criticism is in no way directed at them — I know how hard they work and how honoured they are to represent the US National Team. My criticism is about the system, its leadership, and how it's failing,' he said. 'I spent most of my life inside of a system that is supposed to support athletes. I gave it my everything, but I often felt that my voice went unheard. I was told to be grateful for the chance to compete and that it was more important to stay quiet and to keep the peace. 'I spoke up earlier this year when I sent a letter to USA Swimming. It was also shared with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. 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'The USA Swimming team battled severe illness in Singapore, and these comments added public scrutiny to an already challenging situation for our athletes and coaches,' Phelps has previously admitted to some mental health challenges and once said he considered self harm. But he has used his struggles to bring awareness to swimmers' welfare, and believes his country's swimming officials need to improve that side of their operations as well. 'I still care and I'm not ready to give up,' Phelps said. 'I don't have all the answers, but I know this: we need accountability. We need transparency. We need athlete voices at the centre, not in the margins. 'We need systemic change. 'I would like to encourage those of you who are in our sport and all of those who care about our sport's future to share your thoughts too. What do you think about the state of swimming in our country today? Has the sport continued to evolve and, if not, what can be done to move this sport into the future?' 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The Australian
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Michael Phelps: USA Swimming 'broken' after Olympic medal slump
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In 2016, I had the honor to be a part of a U.S. swim team in Rio that was arguably the most successful in the sport's history and we won 57% of the medals we had the opportunity to win. Fast forward eight years to Paris, where Team USA won only 44% of the medals they had the opportunity to win in the pool, the lowest percentage the sport had seen since the 1988 Olympics. I've asked myself what's changed in our sport and the answer is clear … this isn't on the athletes as they continue to do the best they can with what they've been given. This is on the leadership of USA Swimming. Poor leadership trickles down and can impact an organization at every level. I spent most of my life inside of a system that is supposed to support athletes. I gave it my everything, but I often felt that my voice went unheard. I was told to be grateful for the chance to compete and that it was more important to stay quiet and to keep the peace. I spoke up earlier this year when I sent a letter to USA Swimming. It was also shared with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. It addressed many of my frustrations with the current state of the sport and was signed and supported by former Olympic medallists, world record holders, members of the coaching community, and current and previous staff members of USA Swimming. That letter seemed to fall on deaf ears. No one really wants to talk about how broken USA Swimming has become. But, if we don't talk about it, it won't get fixed. Money is a factor. But poor operational controls and weak leadership are a cornerstone of the sport's problems. I've watched too many teammates struggle to compete in a sport they love without the support they need. I've also seen the sport struggle to return its membership numbers to pre-pandemic levels, and I'm done pretending this system works just because it produces medals. Swimming to me was always about more than just medals – it's supposed to be an environment that builds champions in and out of the pool. As a Dad to four young boys, it pains me to say that I'm not sure I'd want my sons to be a part of this sport at a competitive level. Yes, swimming changed my life, but it also causes a lot of heartache, and its current state makes me both sad and angry. I want to see this sport flourish and I want to be a part of the solution. I've always said that I wanted to change the sport of swimming in the U.S. and that sentiment still holds true. I still care and I'm not ready to give up. I don't have all the answers, but I know this: we need accountability. We need transparency. We need athlete voices at the center, not in the margins. We need systemic change. I would like to encourage those of you who are in our sport and all of those who care about our sport's future to share your thoughts too. What do you think about the state of swimming in our country today? Has the sport continued to evolve and, if not, what can be done to move this sport into the future? I'd love to see open and honest feedback from others. As an initial step forward, I would propose the following next steps to the USA Swimming Board of Directions and USA Swimming staff: Commission a 360* independent review of USA Swimming's Board of Directors and its organization as a whole. Provide complete transparency in this process. Streamline athlete services and develop a proactive, athlete-first way to support athletes competing in the sport. While USA Swimming and the USOPC provide some athlete resources, there needs to be a better way to work directly with athletes to implement what's available to them. Focus on strengthening the grassroots level of the sport, reversing its pandemic membership decline while developing new ways to foster additional growth. I offer up my service to be a resource in these proposed initial steps and I am hopeful that the USA Swimming community will accept my offer. My door is open and there is work to be done. Sincerely, Michael Phelps
Sky News AU
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Aussie surf stars Robinson, Picklum triumph at Tahiti Pro
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