Latest news with #OlympicGoldMedalist
CNA
7 days ago
- Climate
- CNA
Schauffele starting with blank canvas for Open defence
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland :Xander Schauffele is super-excited at the prospect of trying to defend his British Open title at Royal Portrush this week but says he will have to come up with a different plan to the one that took him to victory 12 months ago. "I think a blank canvas is a great place to start. You can paint many different pictures to win a tournament. You've just got to do the right one," the American told reporters on the County Antrim coast on Tuesday after practice. The 31-year-old produced a blemish-free final-round of 65 at Royal Troon last year to win his second major title to go along with his gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics. He was the third American in four years to win golf's oldest major but while that experience will hold him in good stead for the days ahead, he said Portrush's Dunluce Links will throw up a completely new test of his renowned links golf skills. "It's an interesting thing just because my thoughts of playing really well were at Royal Troon," he said. "Coming here, I feel like I'm trying to re-learn this golf course, get comfortable with certain sight lines, some blind tee shots. If I can get myself in the mix, that's when I think I would have an advantage. That's where my biggest edge would be. "I can lean on experience at other points in time, but I think the most fun and the biggest advantage I would have is coming down the stretch if I can get close to that lead." With the perils of a links course's sloping greens, cavernous bunkers, knee-deep rough and the wild weather associated with Britain's coast, it is hardly surprising that defending the title is treacherous. The last player to do so was Ireland's Padraig Harrington in 2008 and Schauffele knows the luck of the draw and getting lucky with the weather could be vital this week. "This week is a pretty good example of having to deal with a wave. There's typically a good wave and a bad wave in an Open Championship," he said. "You just keep your fingers crossed that you're in the good wave and try and play well. "If you're not, fight for your life and make the cut and then try and do something on the weekend." For a player who grew up in San Diego, it might be surprising how he has embraced the challenge of links golf. But he said 16-hour trips in the car with his dad as a youngster helped him learn to be creative. "We drove up to Bandon Dunes from San Diego. It took about 16 hours. I was 13 years old," he said. "We played three or four days in a row. I think it was just Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes at the time. We got the real weather. My rain gear stopped working. It was that much wind and rain. "I had a blast. As much as it was nice to look forward to a hot shower at the end of the day, I had so much fun for some reason trying to figure out how to play golf in that weather." With wind and rain expected to batter Portrush at times over the next five days, he will draw on those experiences again.
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU Olympian Returns to Elite Form in First Race Back
Randolph Ross wasted no time making an impact. In his first race after a three-year suspension, the former HBCU Olympic Gold Medalist from North Carolina A&T ran 45.41 seconds in the men's 400 meters at the Meeting International de Marseille. He finished second behind fellow American Demarius Smith, who won with a personal best of 45.19. The performance was a strong return. While it wasn't close to Ross's personal best of 43.85-one of the fastest 400-meter times in history-it was enough to turn heads. His time ranked among the top 25 by an American this season and showed he still belongs on the track. The race marked more than just a finish line. It was a test of whether Ross still had the speed and mindset that once made him a rising star. After missing three years due to a ban for whereabouts failures and tampering, Ross is back-and still competitive. He continued to train, though restrictions prevented him from working with USATF-affiliated coaches or athletes. One exception allowed him to continue training with his father due to their family connection. Now that he can, the 24-year-old HBCU athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist aims to rebuild his career. Ross opened his return in Marseille, and if he competes again this summer, strong results could help reopen doors to national and international competition. His story continues to resonate, especially in the HBCU sports world. North Carolina A&T helped develop Ross into a world-class sprinter. His father, Olympian Duane Ross, guided him through college and still supports his training. That foundation helped Randolph become an NCAA champion, an Olympian, and one of the brightest prospects in American track. Now, after years away, he's working to prove that one mistake does not define a career. The early signs are encouraging. And if Marseille was any indication, Randolph Ross's comeback may just be getting started. The post HBCU Olympian Returns to Elite Form in First Race Back appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU Olympic Gold Medalist Returns After Three-Year Ban
After three years away from competition, Randolph Ross is set to return to the track. The former HBCU standout and Olympic Gold Medalist from North Carolina A&T will compete in the men's 400 meters on Sunday at the Meeting International de Marseille in France. The event is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour (bronze level) and marks his first race since receiving a suspension in 2022. Ross, now 24, was once one of the brightest young talents in American track. While competing for North Carolina A&T, he became a two-time NCAA champion and helped the United States win gold in the 4×400-meter relay at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He trained under his father, former Olympian Duane Ross, and together they turned A&T into one of the most dominant HBCU track programs in history. That success came to an abrupt stop in July 2022. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) suspended Ross just before the World Championships in Oregon. The reason: three "whereabouts failures" within a 12-month span. These failures meant that officials were unable to locate him for required drug testing. Later that year, the AIU made the suspension official. Randolph Ross was banned for three years, and the penalty included an added charge of "tampering." During the investigation, he admitted to altering the date on a confirmation email related to his testing location. This misstep, while not a failed drug test, was treated as a serious violation. In an interview with Track & Field News, Ross accepted full responsibility. "The whole thing came down to being my fault," he said. However, he also expressed concern about how heavily administrative errors were punished. Ross explained that the missed tests occurred during a hectic period of his life. He competed at nationals, moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, and was preparing to transfer schools. The first missed test happened in April 2022, when Ross forgot to update his location ahead of a meet in Gainesville, Florida. The second came during the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he defended his 400m title. Ross argued that anti-doping officials could have located him at the meet, but noted that the rules still required formal updates through an app. The third failure was more complex. Randolph Ross had moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, but the AIU still visited his old address in Greensboro. While USADA had updated information, the AIU did not. In an attempt to explain the mix-up, Ross submitted a screenshot of an automatically generated email, but changed the date on it. That change triggered the tampering charge. The AIU treated the missed tests and altered email as a single violation. Because Ross admitted fault and cooperated fully, the original four-year penalty was reduced to three. Still, the ban had significant consequences. Ross lost his spot on the U.S. team, his college eligibility, and a likely professional contract. He also missed the chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. During his suspension, Ross completed his finance degree at North Carolina A&T and began studying for a real estate license. He continued to train, though restrictions prevented him from working with USATF-affiliated coaches or athletes. One exception allowed him to continue training with his father due to their family connection. Now, as of July 1, Ross is eligible to compete again. Sunday's race in Marseille will be his first test back. The result will be closely watched-not just because of the controversy that preceded it, but because of what it represents: the return of an HBCU athlete who once ran one of the fastest 400m times in history, and appeared poised for global stardom. The post HBCU Olympic Gold Medalist Returns After Three-Year Ban appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Black America Web
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Black America Web
Famous Female Athletes in The Divine Nine
The Divine Nine, formally known as the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), comprises nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations that play an essential role in fostering leadership, service, and excellence in African American communities. Among their esteemed members are trailblazing women who have not only excelled in their respective sports but also embodied their sororities' values of sisterhood, scholarship, and service. Here, we celebrate some of the most iconic female athletes who proudly represent Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. These women have left lasting legacies both on and off the field, court, or track. Famous Female Athletes in The Divine Nine was originally published on Recently named to Delta Sigma Theta's 2025 honorary class, Cash is a three-time WNBA champion, four-time WNBA All-Star, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. She has also served as Senior VP of Basketball Operations & Team Development for the New Orleans Pelicans and is the Founder/CEO of She's Got Time, a lifestyle and media company focused on building holistic support systems for women in sports. Initiated as a 2025 honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho, Swoopes was the first player ever signed to the WNBA, becoming a 3x league MVP and being among the top 15 WNBA players of all time. Her list of accomplishments includes a WNBA championship, FIBA World Cup gold medal, three Olympic gold medals, and an NCAA championship. An initiate of AKA's Beta Alpha chapter at FAMU, Gibson broke racial barriers by becoming the first African American to win a Grand Slam title in 1956, followed by consecutive wins at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals (now the U.S. Open). Shakes-Drayton, a 2024 honorary initiate, is a retired British track & field athlete who has won a 2013 European Indoor Championship in the 400m and a gold medal in the 4x400m relay at the 2012 World Indoor Championships. She has also contributed significantly to charities such as Tommy's The Baby Charity and the GLL Sport Foundation. Leslie, a 2021 honorary initiate of AKA, transformed women's basketball with her skill, athleticism, and leadership. She is a 2x WNBA champion, 4x Olympic gold medalist, and 3x league MVP. In fact, she's the first WNBA player to win regular season, All-Star, and finals MVP honors in a single season. Another 2025 honorary member, Joyner-Kersee is a 6x Olympic medalist who still holds the record in heptathlon, set at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Named the 'Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century' by Sports Illustrated, she showed her commitment to the community and youth development through her work with Athletes for Hope and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation. Howard, an initiate of the Iota Mu chapter at the University of Kentucky, was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2022 WNBA draft. She was named WNBA's Rookie of the Year, averaging 16.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals in her first year. She would go on to be a 3x All-Star, a gold medalist in the 2021 FIBA AmeriCup, and a bronze medalist in 3×3 Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A retired sprinter who competed in the 60m, 100m, and 200m, Jeter was known as the 'fastest woman alive' after running a personal best of 10.64 seconds at the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix. Winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics and three gold medals in the World Championships, she is the fourth fastest woman ever in the 100m race. Wilson, an initiate of the Theta Gamma chapter at the University of South Carolina, had a stellar collegiate career, leading the Gamecocks to their first NCAA championship in 2017. A top pick by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2018 WNBA draft, she would go on to become a 2x WNBA champion, 3x league MVP, 7x All-Star, and 2x Olympic gold medalist. Initiated through the Alpha Chi chapter at Tennessee State University, Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games (Rome, 1960) in track and field. Nicknamed 'The Tornado,' she overcame physical challenges such as polio and scarlet fever in her youth to become a global inspiration and a forceful advocate for women and equality.
Associated Press
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano meet for third time in their historic women's boxing rivalry
NEW YORK (AP) — Katie Taylor remembers the minutes before her first fight with Amanda Serrano, when she left her locker room at Madison Square Garden to find a screaming, sold-out crowd that was larger and louder than anything she imagined. 'I think it was probably the longest ring walk in history, the first fight,' Taylor said. 'I don't think it will ever be that long ever again, but I was just trying to take the atmosphere in.' She and Serrano have fought twice, two of the best and most significant events in women's boxing history. They return to Madison Square Garden on Friday night to headline the first all-women's card at the arena for the expected conclusion to a rivalry that has elevated their sport, created opportunities that never previously existed for female fighters, and so far has delivered everything except a Serrano victory. 'I feel like even after the first fight I didn't think it was going to get any bigger than that, but here we are,' Taylor said. 'This fight is even bigger than the last two and to be headlining such a huge card, to be headlining an all-female card is an absolute privilege. It's an amazing situation and these are the kind of nights that I actually dreamt of as a kid, to be in this position and headlining a big show like this.' Taylor (24-1, 6 KOs), the 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Ireland, will again be defending her super lightweight titles against Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs), the seven-division world champion from Puerto Rico who is based in nearby Brooklyn, on the card that will stream on Netflix. Taylor was still fighting at 135 pounds when she edged Serrano by split decision in their first fight on April 30, 2022. She won a unanimous decision in the rematch last November, when they fought in the Dallas Cowboys' stadium before Jake Paul's victory over Hall of Famer Mike Tyson. Serrano was more disappointed by the latter result, knowing the first fight could have gone either way but believing she had done more than enough to win the second — especially after Taylor was docked a point for a headbutt that forced Serrano to deal with a bloody gash for the remainder of the bout. 'Obviously the judges didn't see me winning the fight, so something has to change and I'm all up for that,' Serrano said. 'That's what we did in training camp. I'm going to use my head — but not the way it was used on me — but I'm just going to be smarter.' It seems hard to recall now, but organizers weren't sure how big a women's boxing match could be before the first Taylor-Serrano fight. Preliminary plans were to stage the bout in MSG's smaller Theater venue before deciding it belonged in the big room, though they weren't going to have it fully opened until ticket demand showed they needed to make every seat available. There is no doubt now, not after they drew nearly 20,000 fans that night and the Tyson-Paul card had 108 million live viewers on Netflix, many of them knowing that Serrano-Taylor, not the heavily hyped main event, had been the highlight of the show. This card features some of the top fighters in women's boxing, including 130-pound champion Alycia Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) against unbeaten Jennifer Miranda (12-0, 1 KO), who is also an actress in Spain; and Savannah Marshall (13-1, 10 KOs), whose only loss is to women's superstar Claressa Shields, in a super middleweight unification match against Shadasia Green (14-1, 11 KOs). It's so deep that Chantelle Cameron (20-1, 8 KOs), who handed Taylor her only loss, isn't even on the main portion of the card that features three undisputed title fights. 'I think anyone, if you give them a pen and paper to write their dream venue, and what Katie and Amanda represent of themselves, just as humans not just boxers, it's a blessing to be a part of it,' said England's Ellie Scotney (10-0), who takes on Mexico's Yamileth Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) in a 122-pound title fight. Taylor and Serrano have a respectful relationship and soaked in the applause arm-in-arm after their first fight. But they appear to be tiring of each other as they reach their trilogy fight, with Serrano saying Taylor backed out of an agreement to fight this match with three-minute rounds, rather than the two-minute format that is standard in most sanctioned women's bouts. Taylor is aggravated about the way Serrano reacted in the aftermath of the second fight — 'I guess I'm just sick of the complaining and whining from your team,' she said during their news conference — and annoyed by some of the demands from Serrano's Most Valuable Promotions team. She agreed to a contract weight of 136 pounds, four below the limit, and to let Serrano walk to the ring second, which is the champion's spot. 'It's a bit embarrassing, I think,' Taylor said. 'She's not the champion, but it doesn't matter.' Still, the 39-year-old Taylor wouldn't rule out a potential fourth fight. The 36-year-old Serrano, though, is ready for other things. 'I don't think so,' she said. 'I'm kind of tired of Katie Taylor.' ___ AP boxing:
