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The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Athletics-Start-up Grand Slam Track struggling to compensate athletes
FILE PHOTO: May 3, 2025; Miramar, FL, USA; A general overall aerial view of the Ansin Sports Complex, the site of the Grand Slam Track Miami. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) -Grand Slam Track is struggling to compensate its athletes after pulling its final meet of the year in Los Angeles, CEO Michael Johnson said on Friday, adding that the start-up did not receive funding that had been committed to it. The track circuit lured in top talent with promises of massive paydays in its debut year but was forced to cancel the fourth and final meet on the calendar after trimming back another event in Philadelphia from three to two days. Last month, Front Office Sports reported that Grand Slam Track owed around $13 million to athletes who had participated. "It is incredibly difficult to live with the reality that you've built something bigger than yourself while simultaneously feeling like you've let down the very people you set out to help," Johnson said in a statement. "We promised that athletes would be fairly and quickly compensated. Yet, here we are struggling with our ability to compensate them." The four-time Olympic gold medallist said the start-up was unable to meet dated payment timelines after it did not receive funding committed to it: "We saw circumstances change in ways beyond our control." Despite this, Johnson said Grand Slam Track has no plans to shut down and would move forward with a 2026 season after its athletes have been paid. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Malaysia Sun
a day ago
- Malaysia Sun
South Africa Test captain Bavuma reveals how a 14-year-old became his role model
New Delhi [India], August 15 (ANI): South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma revealed how the story of a 14-year-old fan named Iminathi became his role model and a source of inspiration for him. With Bavuma at the helm, South Africa's decades of agony ended on a fairytale note. They defied the on-paper favourites, Australia, to bring the World Test Championship mace home. Apart from bringing on-field glory to his nation, Bavuma is working off the field to ensure that young South Africans, in vulnerable positions, have a local cricketing hero to look up to. One of the ways Bavuma is giving back to his people is through the non-profit organisation DKMS Africa, a donor recruitment centre and registry. Bavuma explained that his late grandmother was his motivation to join the organisation. 'My late grandma passed away via leukemia and that was something that was never spoken about in the household. I guess for them to see me getting behind a cause like this allowed them to somewhat heal - at least to speak about it, but also heal from what was traumatic for them,' Bavuma told ESPN. Apart from his grandmother, the story of an aplastic anemia patient Iminathi, served as an inspiration for him. After becoming aware of the 14-year-old's story, Bavuma hosted the teenager at his domestic team, Lions at the Wanderers. 'I think in life we all need heroes. We all need people to look up to. I guess we all grow up with our own dreams and aspirations and ambitions, and those easily come to life - or at least become reachable - when you see people like you who are doing it,' he said. 'For an individual like Iminathi - [he] also was a source of inspiration that I could draw from. I'm quite privileged in a lot of ways within my life. The pressures and struggles that I go through are nothing compared to what Iminathi does, and he is still able to do it with a smile on his face,' he added. Bavuma also addressed Wiaan Mulder's decision not to pursue legendary Brian Lara's world record of 400. While acting as the stand-in captain for then-injured Bavuma against Zimbabwe, South Africa declared even though Mulder was unbeaten on 367, just 33 runs shy of the elusive feat. Despite all the speculations about whether Mulder made the right call or not, the sheer bravery of the decision was an indication that Bavuma's values will continue even after his captaincy tenure ends. 'People always ask: 'What is it about this team?' We're not a team of superstars, but there are always moments or snippets that give you a real shot or preview into what the team is about,' Bavuma said. 'That moment there - Wiaan Mulder - a young guy making his mark in international cricket, in his first game as a stand-in captain, has an opportunity to break the world record and is able to make a decision like that. That, for me, shows what the team is about,' he added. 'I was actually there in Zimbabwe when Wiaan and the coach [Shukri Conrad] made that decision. I think he would have earned a lot of respect not just from us as players but from the cricketing world. It's easy to say that you're going to put the team first and all of that, but the important thing is: when it's in front of you, what do you exactly do?' Bavuma concluded. (ANI)
Malaysia Sun
3 days ago
- Malaysia Sun
Jon Rahm, Joaquin Niemann set for LIV title showdown
(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images) Joaquin Niemann and Jon Rahm will go head-to-head this weekend for the LIV Golf individual title at the regular-season finale, LIV Golf Indianapolis, and both said Wednesday they are ready for the next round of their respectful rivalry. Niemann enters the 54-hole tournament with a lead of 12.27 points. Thanks to LIV's well-explained scoring system, Rahm knows exactly what he must do to overtake Niemann and defend his individual championship. Rahm took home a bonus of $18 million last year with his season win. Niemann (Torque GC captain) and Rahm (Legion XIII captain) are the only players still in the running for the individual championship. Niemann will win the title with a finish of first or second at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Ind. If Rahm wins the tournament, he still needs Niemann to finish third or worse to earn the championship again. 'He's a fantastic competitor, fantastic golfer, great person as well,' Rahm said. 'It's a lot of fun to share the stage with him. 'He's obviously been playing great golf, and even though I was able to get the best of him last year, he certainly made the job hard this year.' LIV has a half-dozen other scenarios drawn out to determine who wins the individual crown depending on other finishing places. Winning the Indianapolis event would remove the need for any calculations for Niemann, a 26-year-old from Chile who has won five times to set a LIV single-season record. He attributes his success, in part, to his frequent pairings with Rahm. 'It's been a lot of growing in my game. I feel like playing against Jon -- I've been playing with him for probably 60, 70 percent of my pairings this year (and) he's a great competitor,' Niemann said. 'He's always there. He never gives a shot away. It's fun to play with someone that pushes you to be better and to go back home and try to get better and come back here and try to beat him.' Rahm, 30, hasn't been in the individual winner's circle this season but the native of Spain finds himself in contention on the final weekend because of his consistency. He has three runner-ups and just one finish outside the Top 10 - a T11 in Dallas. He lost to Dean Burmester in a playoff last Sunday at LIV Golf Chicago. 'I feel like in a weird way, it should be more one-sided with what he was able to do, with how many wins he's had this year,' Rahm said. 'I guess consistency can pay off, but man, winning five times anywhere, anytime is incredible. My hat's off to him to what he's been able to do. Hopefully I can get the job done this week and pull off the upset. Rahm said he likes being paired with Niemann. 'It's somebody that's a lot of fun to play with,' he said. 'I think both of us being Spanish speakers, it's just a little level of comfort that we have and just admire his game as well. It's just fun to watch him play golf.' According to LIV Golf, Niemann has a 58.7 percent chance of winning the title, leaving Rahm with a 41.3 percent chance. Niemann isn't playing the odds. Just his game. 'You've just got to worry about what you can control. There's nothing else you can worry about,' he said. 'I feel like the process you have through your shot, the routine that you have through the week, and at the end of the day, there is not much you can do. You can't force a result. You can't. We all know that. 'I feel like it's no more than that.' Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC captain) enters the weekend with a grip on third place -- he's 55-plus points behind Rahm -- but doesn't have a mathematical grip on the spot or the bonus money that comes with it. He's become a fan of the Niemann-Rahm competition week in and week out. 'It's really impressive. The level of competition they bring to LIV is out of control. It makes it almost impossible for some guys,' said DeChambeau, 31, who has two career LIV individual wins. 'So that's what we need. We need continued push by those guys at the top to showcase what the best in the world look like, and couldn't be more proud of those individuals for leading the way in that regard, and hopefully I can be at the top next year and give myself a chance. 'But what they're doing is great for LIV, it's great for golf, and honestly, I think whoever wins ... it's going to be an awesome feat and historical year for either one of those individuals.' --Field Level Media
