• Slug: Sports–Team USA WBB Balance, 900 words.
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By Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PARIS – From sitting courtside with Snoop Dogg to fan-girling over Simon Biles, the U.S. women’s basketball team is determined to make the most of its time on and off the court.

Team USA, which takes on Nigeria Wednesday, understands part of bonding with teammates is what you do on the court, but also what happens off the court. Participating in the Olympics is an experience that athletes recognize is rare, and seeing other athletes perform makes them become like everyone else watching at home – a fan.

This approach to balance is paying off. The U.S. women beat Nigeria 88-74 in the quarterfinals Wednesday behind A’ja Wilson’s 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Las Vegas Aces center Wilson, the WNBA’s leading scorer and the most productive player alongside Breanna Stewart, says it’s amazing to be among other Olympians across other sports, particularly pointing to a moment she met Katie Ledecky. She was also thrilled to meet gymnast Biles, as her appreciation of the moment is clear. Continue reading “From hanging with Snoop to fangirling over athletes, the U.S. women’s basketball team seeks balance during Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Archer Brady Ellison, 620 words.
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By Lux Butler
Cronkite News

PARIS – Five-time Olympic archer Brady Ellison narrowly missed winning the gold medal Sunday. However, for his wife, Toja Ellison, and his devoted supporters in Arizona, he remains a champion.

Brady, an Arizona native, has represented his country on the world stage numerous times in his career. This summer, he brought home the silver medal in the men’s individual and the bronze in the mixed team doubles alongside women’s archer Casey Kauffold.

His silver came after an epic five-set battle with South Korea’s Kim Woojin. Continue reading “On target: Arizona archer Brady Ellison captures silver medal in Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Rocky Harris USOPC ASU, 900 words.
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By Abigail Scott
Cronkite News

PARIS – Lost in the celebratory scene of the Team USA boat floating down the Seine – somewhere behind LeBron James doing his Washington crossing the Delware impression – stood a misty-eyed Rocky Harris.

“I was getting really emotional over and over again that I couldn’t believe I’m there,” Harris said about his Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony experience.

Twenty five years ago, he was an Arizona State student contemplating what to do with his life. Today he is the Chief of Sport and Athlete Services with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, second on the organizational chart behind CEO Sarah Hirshland and managing a staff of 300. Continue reading “From ASU student to Olympics executive: Rocky Harris credits lessons learned in Tempe for USOPC success”

• Slug: Sports–Paris Bicycling Infrastructure, 1,350 words.
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By Zach Bradshaw
Cronkite News

PARIS – The City of Light has become a “gold medal” example of modern bicycle infrastructure, making transportation during the Summer Olympics more accessible than ever.

Improvements to existing infrastructure has allowed the French capital city to also be widely known as the capital city of biking.

“It’s pretty great,” said Hannah Warmerdam, a Paris-based bike tour guide who works at Holland Bikes Tours & Rentals in Paris. “I mean, the biking infrastructure in France restarted in Paris.” Continue reading “Paris’ bicycling infrastructure a model that Phoenix, Los Angeles should copy, officials say”

• Slug: Sports–Olympics Golf Valley Ties, 1,100 words.
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By Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PARIS – Cierra Burdick has a long and successful history with Team USA, yet she is in the middle of her debut at the Paris Olympics and is serving as the veteran for a 3×3 team on its quest for a repeat title.

Burdick, 30, says her preparation for a different version of the sport does not change. The former Phoenix Mercury forward fell in love with basketball at an early age and still loves it.

Her international footprint started all the way back when she appeared on the 2009 USA U16 national team, winning a FIBA gold medal in the process. Since then, she has appeared on many international 5×5 and 3×3 teams throughout her career, winning six gold medals in total and capturing other tournament titles.

Continue reading “Former Mercury forward Cierra Burdick find success with Team USA women’s 3×3 basketball”

• Slug: Sports–Suns Players Team USA, 1,000 words.
• Photo  available.

By Devon Henderson
Cronkite News

PARIS – Team USA men’s basketball has assembled what some call one of the country’s best ever for the Paris Olympics, and they needed a heavy contribution from the Phoenix Suns to do it. On a team filled with transcendent NBA All-Stars on a 12-deep roster, having standout contributions can be nearly impossible.

In its first three Olympic group stage games, all wins, Suns guard Devin Booker was featured in the starting lineup. On Wednesday in a 103-86 win against South Sudan, Suns forward Kevin Durant led the team in scoring with 23 points and logged the second-most minutes played with just under 22. The only player with more game time was Booker with just over 22 minutes. On Saturday during a 104-73 win over Puerto Rico, the pair combined for 20 points.

A team featuring headline last names such as James, Curry, Tatum and Edwards has deferred to relying on the influence of the stars from the Valley of the Sun. The Team USA women’s basketball team also pulls strength from the Desert as three Phoenix Mercury players – Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Kahleah Copper – represent a fourth of that 12-person team. These Olympics have showcased the growing influence the 48th state has had on the basketball landscape. Continue reading “‘We got Phoenix all over’: Suns’ Booker, Durant lead charge of strong Valley representation in Olympics basketball”

• Slug: Sports–Olympics Golf Valley Ties, 1,100 words.
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By Scott Sandulli
Cronkite News

PARIS – When the summer sun beats down on the desert, saguaro shadows extend further and further in a way that transcends the backdrop of nature. Over 5,000 miles across the Atlantic, at the world’s most extraordinary gathering of competition, the Arizona aroma holds firm on the stage of Olympic golf. With the sports world focused on the Paris Games, the Arizona fairways serve as the approach to the greens of Le Golf National as several Valley stalwarts cross the pond in pursuit of gold.

“Everyone that competes in the Olympics talks about what a special experience it is,” Arizona State men’s golf coach Matt Thurmond said. “Playing for their country, being around the very best athletes in all these different sports in the same place. What an incredible experience.”

Returning to the slate of Olympic sports for the third time since a century-long hiatus ended in 2016, the golf event boasts some of the world’s top swingers in a star-studded field. Rather than a selection committee, players are awarded a tee time based on the International Golf Federation’s world rankings published on June 17. Continue reading “Known names on Valley golf scene, including Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, in mix at Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Olympics High Performance Center, 1,000 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Walker Smith
Cronkite News

PARIS – Twelve miles north of central Paris sits the small, quiet suburb of Eaubonne. Despite its close proximity to the chaos of the French capital, the area is only filled with the sound of wind blowing through the trees and homes fit for quiet living. It may not seem like the 2024 Summer Olympics have touched this place, but just a 10-minute walk from the train station sits one of the most advanced training facilities the Games have to offer: Team USA’s high performance center.

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee partnered with ATHLETICA to create a home base for Team USA in the small suburb. Disconnected but easily accessible to the Olympic Village, the Team USA HPC has state-of-the-art facilities that allow U.S. athletes feel more connected with each other. Continue reading “In quiet Paris suburb, Team USA elite athletes work out together at high performance training center”

• Slug: Sports–Olympics Mercury Big Three, 1,000 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Devon Henderson
Cronkite News

PARIS – The Phoenix Mercury have made a large donation of services to this year’s Summer Olympics. Despite sitting in the middle of the pack in the WNBA standings halfway through the season, the Mercury boast three players selected to the Team USA women’s basketball roster for Paris. They have the second largest contingent, only behind reigning back-to-back champions the Las Vegas Aces, who sent four.

The team has initiated its hunt for an eighth straight Olympics gold medal. It opened its campaign with a 102-76 win against Japan Monday and takes the court again Thursday against Belgium for its second group stage game.

Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, forward Kahleah Copper and center Brittney Griner will be aiding the country’s effort for gold. Although the team hasn’t exploded out of the gates in its 2024 campaign, it won five of its last seven before the Olympics break and is delivering three high profile and highly competitive players to Team USA coach Cheryl Reeve’s squad.

Continue reading “Taurasi, Griner, Copper: Mercury trio determined to help Team USA women’s basketball win gold”

• Slug: Sports–Social Media Olympics Woes, 1,000 words
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By David Bernauer
Cronkite News

PARIS – From fans attacking rugby standout Ilona Maher for her BMI to others questioning gymnast Simone Biles about her “just rolled out of bed” hair, social media has surfaced as a significant storyline at the Paris Games. It is the dark side of a tool that also serves as a powerful marketing agent for many Olympians.

Ilona Maher, the star of the USA Women’s Rugby Sevens team, just became the most followed rugby player in the world following the team’s breakout performance at the Olympics. This week the bronze medalist became the first women’s rugby player to surpass one million Instagram followers and now boasts two million followers. With this meteoric rise in following came the hateful messages athletes, especially women athletes, receive in regards to their bodies. Continue reading “‘A 30% BMI’: Olympians’ love-hate relationship with social media on full display at Paris Games”

• Slug: Sports–Brandon McNulty Olympics, 1,700 words
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By Devon Henderson
Cronkite News

PARIS – The Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of athletic competition for spectators and hold a near spiritual meaning for its participants, especially those in individual sports. To earn the world’s most coveted gold neckwear, the games demand the athletes dig deep. They must abandon care for pain or fatigue and find a mind space filled exclusively with determination and fervor to reach their ultimate goal.

Few know this as well as Valley native Brandon McNulty, who is living the experience at the Paris Olympics. On Saturday, he just missed the podium in the men’s individual time trial for road cycling, finishing fifth – the best finish for a U.S. competitor – despite steady rain and 90% humidity. He has another opportunity to medal this Saturday in the 169.4-mile road race that will take him past memorable spots including the Eiffel Tower and Palace of Versailles.

As usual, he will give it everything. Continue reading “After 5th place finish in time trials, Phoenix’s Brandon McNulty has another shot for Olympic gold in cycling road race”

• Slug: Sports–River Seine Triathlon Postponed, 780 words
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By Scott Sandulli
Cronkite News

PARIS – As many expected in the lead up to the Olympic Games, the River Seine has been a major headache for the International Olympic Committee. Its most recent migraine regarding the iconic waterway’s cleanliness has been its biggest, with dangerous levels of contaminants in the water causing the postponement of Tuesday’s Men’s Triathlon Final.

“The conditions weren’t right to put the athletes in the Seine today,” IOC sports director Kit McConnell said. “Of course we try and run everything on schedule, but you’ve heard the reasons why.”

Continue reading “Men’s triathlon postponed as Seine River fails to meet safety requirements for Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Keaton Jones Swimming Olympics, 1,200 words.
• Photo available.

By Zach Bradshaw
Cronkite News

PARIS – Keaton Jones is making waves and breaking ground. He is believed to be the first swimmer in 16 years to come through Arizona age-group competition and reach the Olympic Games.

The Highley High School graduate, 19, will represent the United States in the men’s 200-meter backstroke Wednesday after finishing second to two-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy at the Olymic Trials in June.

He swims at the University of California, Berkeley, but his skills are rooted in Arizona. In addition to dominating the local scene, he’s broken Guinness World Records in ice swimming, helped raise over $24,000 for first responders and shattered numerous records at his high school. Continue reading “Former Higley High swimmer Keaton Jones ready to showcase backstroke skills in Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Khalia Lanier Olympics Volleyball. 650 words.
• Photo available.

By Abigail Scott
Cronkite News

PARIS – It can be hard growing up in the shadow of greatness. Even though that was the case for Khalia Lanier, she managed to forge her own path.

She recently was selected as an alternate for the Team USA women’s volleyball team and will come to the Paris Olympics if needed.

“If I can do it, anyone can,” the Scottsdale native said. “Always take a step back and get perspective, enjoy your journey, and be willing to make changes if needed.” Continue reading “Scottsdale volleyball standout and daughter of NBA great Bob Lanier forges own path as Paris Olympics alternate”

• Slug: Sports–Alliance Francaise Phoenix, 940 words.
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By Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PARIS – As much as providing cultural workshops helps to encourage positive exchange and understanding between French and U.S. citizens, breaking the language barrier can be a challenge for both the teacher and the student.

It makes for a 360-degree learning experience for everyone involved. Enter the Alliance Francaise of Greater Phoenix, whose goal is to encourage the study of French language and to promote the appreciation of the country’s culture.

With the Paris Olympics underway, interest in French culture is greater than ever. Americans have long been fascinated by the country’s history, fashion and food. The late French general and politician Charles de Gaulle once said, “How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese?” Continue reading “Bonjour! With backdrop of Paris Olympics, Valley’s Alliance Francaise aims to improve understanding of French culture”