Athletics

Denny, Starc deliver to set up medal tilts in discus, high jump
Athletics

Matt Denny had not thrown a discus in competition since 2019, and he had never thrown one this far this early in the morning. The Australian discus thrower launched his second throw more than 65 metres and qualified comfortably for Saturday night’s final with the fourth-best throw of the morning. Matt Denny goes about business in the discus qualification at the Tokyo Games.Credit:Getty Images Across the field, compatriot Brandon Starc

Bradly Sinden earns Team GB's first silver medal at Tokyo Olympics in taekwondo
Athletics

Bradly Sinden has earned Team GB's first silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games despite being beaten by Uzbekistan's Ulugbek Rashitov in the men's taekwondo final. The Doncaster-born 22-year-old had seen off China's Zhao Shuai in the semi-final earlier on Saturday to guarantee himself a place on the podium. But he fell short at the last as he was agonisingly defeated 34-29 by Rashitov. Speaking afterwards, Sinden said: "I

No escaping the awkwardness of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremony
Athletics

First things first, it was a night Hannah Mills and Moe Sbihi will never forget. For the sailor and the rower, their finest hour on dry land. The same can be said for all the other flag-bearers – and at two-per-pole, that was an awful lot. In fact, the same can be said for all the other athletes who made it to an Opening Ceremony like no other Opening Ceremony.

Racism against black athletes ‘getting worse’, says Mo Farah
Athletics

Racism towards black athletes is “getting worse” and social media companies need to be doing more to tackle online abuse, four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah has said. Footballers Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were sent racist abuse after missing penalties in England’s defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020 on Sunday, with Saka admitting he “knew instantly” the hateful messages he would be sent following the

Olli Hoare beats Stewart McSweyn, makes claim for Tokyo
Athletics

Olli Hoare has delivered a performance that demands the Australian selectors pick him on the Olympic team after he beat his Australian rivals head to head in a race off for the last place on the 1500-metre team. Hoare, who has been running in the US, beat national record holder Stewart McSweyn and his two key challengers for the last available place on the team at the Diamond League meet

Australia’s gymnastic governing bodies must confront sport’s ugly past
Athletics

For a nation that takes inordinate pride in its sporting prowess and medal tallies, this week’s Human Rights Commission report into the culture of gymnastics in Australia is not easy reading. It reveals a litany of systemic problems involving bullying, fat shaming, harassment, assault and a widespread use of authoritarian coaching methods. The revelations in Australia follow an outpouring of stories of abusive treatment from current and former gymnasts worldwide,

No pain in the neck as Stevens wins record 14th national title
Athletics

Former world champion Dani Stevens won a record 14th national discus title on Sunday, the most national titles any Australian has won in the one event. But more importantly, she felt back to full fitness after a year of painful recovery. When you add Stevens’ four shot put titles, she is has now won 18 total. Dani Stevens won a record 14th national title in one event this weekend.Credit:Getty Images

Nothing Basic about rising sprint star Hana’s road to the top
Athletics

Hana Basic might never have stepped foot in the country, let alone run for Australia. Basic might have been many things: Bosnian, gymnast, Australian sprinter, anonymous backpacker. The daughter of immigrants who fled the former Yugoslavia during the war, she was a gymnast before she was a runner, and she could do flips before she could speak English. She was a tourist before she was a serious athlete. Hana Basic

Russian former indoor 1,500 metres champion gets eight-year doping ban
Athletics

Russia’s former world indoor 1,500 metres champion Yelena Soboleva has been handed an eight-year ban after she violated anti-doping regulations, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Wednesday. Soboleva, who set the world indoor record in 2008, had previously received a two-year suspension along with six other leading Russian women athletes ahead of the Beijing Olympics after manipulating their drug samples. She retired in 2013. “Yelena Soboleva has

From fashions on the field to a winner’s sash: Ware’s win at Stawell
Athletics

Two years ago when the Stawell Gift was last run Edward Ware won the Fashions on the Field. On Monday he finally had sprinting success on the field, winning the 120-metre race on grass in a time of 12.19 seconds from a mark of 9.75 metres. He then backed it up and won the 200-metre final an hour later. Edward Ware (left) and Hayley Orman hold their trophies after winning