Olympics add events for Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games

Sage Kotsenburg
2 Comments

Snowboard big air, an Alpine skiing team event, mixed doubles curling and mass start long-track speed skating were added for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee on Monday, bringing the Winter Games program to at least 100 medal events for the first time.

Snowboard parallel slalom, which debuted at the Sochi 2014 Olympics, was taken off the program.

That brings the total number of events at the 2018 Olympics to 102, topping the previous Winter Olympics record high for medal events of 98 in Sochi. The number of Winter Olympic events rises with every Olympiad. At Sarajevo 1984, there were 39 medal events.

On Dec. 8, the IOC’s Agenda 2020 reforms recommended limiting the Winter Olympics to approximately 2,900 athletes and 100 events. Sochi 2014 had more than 2,800 athletes, but reportedly fewer than 2,900, in its 98 events.

In big air, snowboarders do a single trick off a ramp similar to those seen on slopestyle courses.

Men’s snowboard big air has been part of the International Ski Federation’s World Championships since 2003, with Finland dominating, though Canada and the U.S. have fared well at the Winter X Games. Women’s big air debuted at the World Championships this year but hasn’t been added to the X Games yet. Both men’s and women’s snowboard big air were approved for the 2018 Olympics on Monday.

Sochi snowboard slopestyle bronze medalist Mark McMorris is the reigning X Games snowboard big air champion. Olympic snowboard slopestyle champion Sage Kotsenburg has also competed in X Games big air and was eliminated in qualifying the last two years.

Kotsenburg said he would like to compete in both slopestyle and big air at the Pyeongchang Olympics, should he qualify and pending the format.

“I’m a little better in slopestyle than big air,” he said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. “It changes quick, the top people. You could be crushing it all year, and then all of a sudden someone can learn a new trick and because it’s just one jump, they can beat you. I think that’s what’s fun about it though.”

An Alpine skiing team event has been part of the World Championships since 2005. At the World Championships, it has included nations competing in knockout-style parallel slalom runs. Olympic slalom champion Mikaela Shiffrin and Olympic giant slalom champion Ted Ligety participated in the team event at the 2015 World Championships, but not Lindsey Vonn, who is stronger in the speed events of downhill and super-G.

The Alpine skiing team event and mixed doubles curling become the sixth and seventh mixed-gender events at the Winter Olympics, joining figure skating’s team event, ice dance and pairs, biathlon’s mixed relay and the luge team relay.

Hungary, Sweden and Switzerland have been recent powers in mixed doubles curling at World Championships. Hungary has not won a Winter Olympic medal since 1980.

Long-track speed skating’s mass start, where skaters race 16 laps in a pack like short-track speed skating but on  bigger oval, has been part of its World Cup schedule the last four seasons.

Other sports previously reported to be vying for a spot in the Winter Olympics included team snowboard cross and synchronized skating.

International Ski Federation defends slopestyle’s safety

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated speed skating’s mass start was 6400m.

2023 French Open women’s singles draw, scores

1 Comment

At the French Open, Iga Swiatek of Poland eyes a third title at Roland Garros and a fourth Grand Slam singles crown overall.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Swiatek, the No. 1 seed from Poland, can join Serena Williams and Justine Henin as the lone women to win three or more French Opens since 2000.

Having turned 22 on Wednesday, she can become the youngest woman to win three French Opens since Monica Seles in 1992 and the youngest woman to win four Slams overall since Williams in 2002.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Men’s Draw

But Swiatek is not as dominant as in 2022, when she went 16-0 in the spring clay season during an overall 37-match win streak.

She retired from her last pre-French Open match with a right thigh injury and said it wasn’t serious. Before that, she lost the final of another clay-court tournament to Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, the No. 4 seed and Wimbledon champion, are the top challengers in Paris.

No. 3 Jessica Pegula, the highest-seeded American man or woman, was eliminated in the third round.

No. 6 Coco Gauff, runner-up to Swiatek last year, is the best hope to become the first American to win a Grand Slam singles title since Sofia Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open. The 11-major drought is the longest for U.S. women since Seles won the 1996 Australian Open.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us!

2023 French Open Women’s Singles Draw

French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw

2023 French Open men’s singles draw, scores

French Open Men's Draw
Getty
1 Comment

The French Open men’s singles draw is missing injured 14-time champion Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2004, leaving the Coupe des Mousquetaires ripe for the taking.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Novak Djokovic is not only bidding for a third crown at Roland Garros, but also to lift a 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy to break his tie with Nadal for the most in men’s history.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Women’s Draw

But the No. 1 seed is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s U.S. Open to become, at 19, the youngest man to win a major since Nadal’s first French Open title in 2005.

Now Alcaraz looks to become the second-youngest man to win at Roland Garros since 1989, after Nadal of course.

Alcaraz missed the Australian Open in January due to a right leg injury, but since went 30-3 with four titles. Notably, he has not faced Djokovic this year. They could meet in the semifinals.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No. 2 seed, was upset in the first round by 172nd-ranked Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild. It marked the first time a men’s top-two seed lost in the first round of any major since 2003 Wimbledon (Ivo Karlovic d. Lleyton Hewitt).

No. 9 Taylor Fritz and No. 12 Frances Tiafoe are the highest-seeded Americans, looking to become the first U.S. man to make the French Open quarterfinals since Andre Agassi in 2003. Since then, five different American men combined to make the fourth round on eight occasions.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us!

2023 French Open Men’s Singles Draw

French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw