• 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.
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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.
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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”

• Slug: Sports–Khjarun ASU Team Canada, 570 words.
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By Zach Bradshaw
Cronkite News

PARIS – Athleticism is clearly in the bloodlines.

Arizona State swimmer Ilya Kharun, who will compete for Team Canada Tuesday in the Paris Olympics, comes from a family who understands the demands of physicality. His parents, Valeriy and Oksama Kharoun, were longtime acrobats with Cirque du Soleil. His sister, Dasha, is also a Cirque performer.

All eyes will be on the son this week, however, as he competes in the 200-meter butterfly Tuesday and the 100-meter butterfly Friday in the Paris Olympics. Continue reading “Cirque du Hooray: ASU celebrates swimmer Ilya Khjarun’s participation with Team Canada in Paris”

• Slug: Sports–Taurasi Age Olympics, 700 words.
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By Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PARIS – Diana Taurasi is clearly tired of questions about her age.

“It’s something that I’ve been doing since I was 5,” Taurasi, 42, said Monday. “It is something that I’ve dedicated my whole life to, and it’s just so easy for a question to be brought up in a manner where it’s not meant to be disrespectful, but if you’re the person being asked, it is a bit disrespectful.”

The Mercury veteran and the U.S. women’s basketball team start their quest for yet another gold medal Monday. Continue reading “‘Bit disrespectful’: Diana Taurasi pushes back on questions about age, female stereotypes at Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Jade Carey Gymnastics Olympics, 970 words.
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By Tyler Bednar
Cronkite News

PARIS – Jade Carey, a Mountain Ridge High School alumnus and former competitor at Arizona Sunrays, is back in the Summer Olympics. This is her second trip to the Summer Games after she competed for Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won the gold medal in the floor exercise.

“I would say it’s really rewarding and special,” Carey said. “I never thought that I would even get there once, so to get there twice means that much more to me.

Carey, 24, has pushed through a difficult first few days at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Continue reading “Phoenix native Jade Carey overcomes illness at Paris Olympics, moves to 2nd in vault”

• Slug: Sports–Gary Hall Olympics, 2,800 words.
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By Zach Bradshaw
Cronkite News

PARIS – Team USA swimming will have a target on its back. After dominating the medal count in eight straight Olympic Games, the U.S. has become the hunted, and the greatest predator is Australia.

The Australia-U.S. swimming rivalry is a major storyline In Paris. In a video promotion for the Games, NBC used videos of former U.S. swimmers and newspaper headlines to hype up the rivalry. The video credited 10-time Olympic medalist and longtime Valley resident Gary Hall Jr. for having “started” the rivalry.

“I got off the airplane in Sydney for the Olympic Games and it was like ‘balky American, brash asshole Gary Hall Jr. is now off once again,’ and said that the Americans are going to smash the Australians,” Hall said. Continue reading “‘Ugly American’ Gary Hall Jr. finds peace after Olympics media scrutiny, diabetes struggle”

• Slug: Sports–Olympics Opening Ceremony. 780 words.
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By Devon Henderson
Cronkite News

PARIS – Filmmakers use it to enhance a cinematic scene with emotion, drama and urgency. On Friday night, Paris put on one of the world’s grandest productions, broadcast worldwide to over a billion people across the globe, and Mother Nature decided to intervene with that same element.

Rain.

As the heavens above the City of Light opened up for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, dumping rain on the spectacle below, the drama was heightened. While most of the just under 7,000 athletes that cruised down the river Seine – in various boats with their fellow countrymen – adorned clear ponchos so as not to ruin their perfectly tailored suits underneath, many of the thousands of fans at viewing parties in local parks across Paris weren’t so lucky. They hardly noticed. Continue reading “Rain can’t dampen mood as fans celebrate inclusive vibe of Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA International Appeal. 1490 words.
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By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The basketball world converged on the Valley for this year’s historic WNBA All-Star Game, showcasing not only the sport’s elite talent but also its international reach. The weekend underscored how deeply interconnected the game remains between fans and players across the globe.

International interest, which involves fans and players from multiple countries, has significantly impacted the growth of the WNBA. From the league’s early years, international stars like Lauren Jackson, Michele Timms and Jennifer Azzi have attracted global attention. Over the years, many players have spent WNBA offseasons overseas, in countries like Turkey and Russia, to make more money and play at high levels.

For example, longtime Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi played overseas for 12 seasons in Russia and Turkey, where she won numerous titles worldwide. She retired from international play in 2017 (excluding the Olympics) but not before sitting out a WNBA season at the request of her Russian team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, sparking discussions about the WNBA’s salary cap.

Throughout her career with the Mercury, Taurasi played with international teammates such as Australian Penny Taylor (her spouse of seven years), Russian Maria Stepanova, and under Australian coach Sandy Brondello.

“The international players have always been an integral part of this league, especially here in Phoenix,” Taurasi said last Friday. “We talked about our Australian contingency with Penny (Taylor), (Michele Timms), and then you have it on the coaching side, too, with Sandy (Brondello) and bringing that international experience.

“So it’s a huge part of our league. The game grows internationally every single year and after 20 years, it’s in a really good place.”

Continue reading “WNBA’s international appeal lures players and fans as the women’s game explodes in popularity”

• Slug: Sports–Léon Marchand, 1,360 words. 
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By Walker Smith
Cronkite News

PARIS – Nearly 400 miles south of Paris, in a city known for its foie gras but also its booming aerospace industry, several swimming coaches are quietly fine-tuning their not-so-secret weapon.

Former Arizona State swimmer Léon Marchand has returned home to Toulouse to prepare for the biggest stage in the world, the Paris Olympics

“We are trying to protect him from everything,” said Nicolas Castel, his coach at the Les Dauphins du TOEC swim club in Toulouse. “We want him to focus on what he has to do.” Continue reading “Former ASU swimmer Léon Marchand looks to follow in Michael Phelps’ footsteps, dominate Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Nate Bjorkgren Team Canada, 1,200 words. 
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By David Bernauer
Cronkite News

PARIS – Coaching basketball has consumed Nate Bjorkgren for more than half his life, all the way from the high school ranks to the NBA. Though he secured his first coaching jobs at high schools in his home state of Iowa, it was a move to Phoenix and a position as the head coach at Cactus Shadows High School where he was able to truly establish himself.

Now he finds himself on an international stage.

Bjorkgren will serve as Team Canada associate head coach for the Paris Olympics, where his group, widely considered one of the top teams in the tournament, will face Greece in opening round action Saturday.

Continue reading “Former Cactus Shadows, Suns coach Nate Bjorkgren takes Olympics stage with Team Canada”

• Slug: Sports–Women’s Flag Football. 773 words. 
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By Jorden Hampton
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Sierra Smith had a vision to create a women’s flag football league when she first stepped foot on the campus of Arizona State University, but the rising sophomore needed help.

She first reached out to former athletic director Ray Anderson, whose assistant led her to Jason Pappas, the program coordinator for student engagement through sports and special events at ASU. The next month involved meetings and Zoom calls to bring the sport across the goal line of becoming an official club activity. Those discussions involved sorting out details and, with help from her twin sister Sophia, securing local sponsors and vendors.

All of Smith’s hard work and dedication paid off – ASU will open its inaugural season in January 2025 against teams from Conference Carolinas. The Sun Devils will hold a three-day tryout at the ASU Recreation and Sports Fields at Dorsey Lane starting Sept. 3.

“The reason that I wanted to start the women’s college football team at ASU was because we kind of were cut short of our opportunity to play at a collegiate level and to gain collegiate exposure in high school,” Smith, a native of Tampa, Florida, said.

Continue reading “Flag and play: Sierra Smith’s vision for women’s flag football at ASU becomes reality”

• Slug: Sports–ASU Christopher MVP. 679 words.
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By Anne-Marie Iemmolo
Cronkite News

LAS VEGAS — The night before the Miami Heat’s second Summer League game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, former Arizona State University guard Josh Christopher was in the gym until 11 p.m. preparing for the contest. The following day, Christopher put up 20 points during the fourth quarter and posterized two OKC point guards, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Since being plucked from the NBA’s G League and named to the Heat’s 2024 Summer League roster, Christopher has made it his mission to show that he belongs on an NBA team. After helping Miami win the Summer League Championship Monday night and earning MVP of the game, Christopher left Vegas knowing he had done all he could to raise his stock.

“We’ve done a great job of just having camaraderie and understanding what the culture is,” Christopher, who averaged 19.3 points, three rebounds, and two steals for the tournament, said following Sunday’s semifinal win against the Golden State Warriors.

Continue reading “Breakout summer: Former ASU guard Josh Christopher named NBA Summer League MVP”

• Slug: Sports–Team USA. 930 words.
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By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – As Diana Taurasi spoke to reporters Saturday outside the Team USA locker room after the WNBA All-Star game, Phoenix Mercury teammate Kahleah Copper walked behind the six-time Olympian, dancing with one hand in the air and a flour taco in the other before using her unoccupied hand to play with Taurasi’s ear.

Taurasi turned, laughed and Copper leaned her head on the 20-year veteran’s shoulder.

Copper, in her first year with the Mercury, has quickly formed chemistry with her first-time teammate, a primary reason why Phoenix sits four games above its win total last year at 13-12 during the Olympic break. However, the Mercury aren’t Copper’s only new team this year, as she was selected for her first Olympic team.

Team USA reconnected during the WNBA All-Star weekend for the first time since training camp in April. Its 117-109 loss to Team WNBA Saturday night at Footprint Center exposed chemistry flaws, but Copper trusts time will heal that wound.

Continue reading “Golden goal: Mercury players, Team USA pack lessons from WNBA All-Star weekend for Paris Olympics”