"To be here is a miracle" – Devers donates Budapest 2004 singlet and spikes to MOWA
When Gail Devers settled into her starting blocks for the women’s 60m final on the opening night of the 2004 World Indoor Championships in the Budapest Sportarena, the consensus among the track and field cognoscenti was that her best days were probably behind her.
True, the great US sprint hurdler-turned-sprinter had produced a golden blast from the past on “the boards” 12 months previously, blasting to her first world indoor 60m hurdles crown ahead of Spain's Glory Alozie in 7.81, having clocked a championship record 7.80 in the semifinals.
Still, one year on, Devers had turned 37, and it had been seven years since her last success on the global stage in a flat sprint, indoors or out. The odds, it seemed, were stacked against the preacher’s daughter from Seattle.
But, then, Yolanda Gail Devers always did relish a battle. The veteran campaigner produced her fastest time for five years, finishing 0.04 clear of Belgian Kim Gevaert in 7.08.
In doing so, Devers became the first woman to complete a hat-trick of world indoor 60m titles, emulating her victories from Toronto in 1993 (in 6.95, still a championship record) and Paris in 1997. She might have completed a famous double in Budapest but in the final of the 60m hurdles two days later she was beaten to the gold by Perdita Felicien of Canada, 7.75 to 7.78.
Devers has generously donated the spikes and the singlet which she wore during Budapest 2004 to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA).
Dogged by Olympic hurdling ill fortune
The world didn’t know it at the time but those 2004 World Indoor Championships were to be a final medal-winning hurrah for the odds-defying Devers. Though she made the US team for that year’s Olympic Games in Athens, the ill-fortune that dogged her in her specialist event in every four-year Olympic cycle struck once again. She suffered a calf injury and failed to clear the opening barrier in the 100m hurdles heat.
The irony was that, in between Olympics, Devers had a Midas touch when it came to the high hurdles in the outdoor World Championships. As with the indoor 60m, outdoors she took 100m gold on three occasions: in Stuttgart in 1993, in Gothenburg in 1995 and in Seville in 1999. They remain unique trebles.
There were also outdoor silvers in Tokyo in 1991, and in Edmonton 10 years later – the former, a prelude to the remarkable success story that was to unfold in the atmospheric Montjuic Stadium, high on the hill overlooking Barcelona, at the 1992 Olympic Games.
Devers’ victory in a dramatic 100m final came against all kinds of odds. At the time a 25-year-old sociology student at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, she was ranked only fifth as she took her place on the start line in the Catalan capital.
It what was at the time the closest finish in Olympic history, the first five women flashed across the line seemingly together. There was an interminable five-minute wait before the scoreboard flashed up confirmation that Devers had won in 10.82, ahead of Juliet Cuthbert of Jamaica (10.83), Russia’s Irina Privalova (10.84), Devers’ US teammate Gwen Torrence (10.86) and Jamaica’s Merlene Ottey (10.88).
It was, by coincidence, the third straight victory in the event by a UCLA student, following Evelyn Ashford’s success in Los Angeles in 1984 and Florence Griffith-Joyner’s triumph in Seoul in 1988.
Undiagnosed disorder for two and a half years
It could have been just another outsider-come-good story but it was much more than that. Just two years previously, Devers had been a physical wreck. She came within two days of having her feet amputated.
Unknown to her, she had been suffering from the symptoms of Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder which causes an overactive thyroid gland.
The symptoms had started in June 1988, with migraines, dizziness and a temporary loss of vision in one eye. Devers still managed to qualify for the Seoul Olympics that year but exited the 100m hurdles at the semifinal stage.
Doctors diagnosed stress and athlete’s foot but Devers continued to deteriorate. Only her persistence saved her. She refused to accept that her condition was not serious.
“I was finally diagnosed in September 1990,” she recalled, speaking at the medallists’ press conference in Barcelona. “I was told I was two weeks away from being cancerous.
“My condition had been wrongly diagnosed. They told me it was athlete’s foot. I don’t have a degree but I could tell there was more to it.
“My weight ballooned from 95lbs to 137lbs within a week. I suffered memory loss, migraine, loss of vision, and I had three menstrual cycles every month. I looked like a monster.
“The condition went undiagnosed for two and half years. They told me, ‘You’re an athlete. You’re fine, just fatigued and stressed out. Take time off.’
“I did, but in February last year I started getting blood blisters on my feet. The doctor said it was just a bad case of athlete’s foot, but I was crawling on my hands and knees.
“I can’t describe the pain. It was so excruciating. I would get back into bed and my knees would start to itch. Twenty minutes after the itching, they would bleed.
“I was told later that if I’d walked on my feet for two more days they would have had to have been amputated.”
Devers had a cyst the size of a child’s fist removed from her thyroid. As she was registered on the US drug-testing programme, she was unable to take the beta blockers that would have relieved the side effects of radiation treatment.
“To be here as an Olympic champion is a miracle,” she said. “I’d like people to use me as an example that anything is possible.
“Two years ago I was nearly gone. Now I believe there is no barrier I cannot get over.”
That was not strictly true. In the 100m hurdles final in Barcelona, Devers surged ahead from the fourth barrier and she led by a metre at halfway – only to falter at the final flight. As she rose to clear it, she glanced to her right, clattered the hurdle with her lead leg and lost balance.
Her momentum carried her forward to the line, but she was passed with 3m remaining, finishing fifth in 12.75. Paraskevi Patoulidou prevailed in 12.64, becoming the first Greek track and field Olympic gold medal winner since Konstantinos Tsiklitiras won the standing long jump in Stockholm in 1912.
Back-to-back OIympic 100m double
Devers took the world outdoor 100m hurdles titles in 1993 and 1995 but again finished outside the Olympic medal frame in her specialist event on home ground in Atlanta in 1996, missing bronze by 0.01 in fourth place.
Instead, in the city that was to become her home in post-competitive retirement, Devers ran her way into the annals of track and field history as only the second woman to win back to back Olympic 100m titles, emulating her fellow countrywoman Wyomia Tyus, who prevailed in 1964 and 1968.
Two Jamaicans, of course, have since followed: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (2008-2012) and Elaine Thompson-Herah (2016-2021). In successfully defending her title, Devers denied the trailblazing female speed merchant from the Caribbean isle, in the most nail-biting manner.
The fast-starting Devers was caught by Ottey at 60m and the two women fought neck-and-neck all of the way through the line. Both were clocked at 10.94 but the photo-finish picture gave the verdict to the US sprinter by a margin of 0.005, just 5cm.
It was a repeat of the 100m final at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart. Devers and Ottey were timed at 10.82 on that occasion. The photo showed that Devers’ right shoulder had cut the line fractionally first. The difference was a miniscule 0.001: 10.811 to 10.812.
The margin was more clear cut when it came to the 4x100m relay final in Atlanta, Devers collecting the third Olympic gold of her career with a second leg run in a US quartet that finished clear winners in 41.95, with Bahamas second in 42.14 and Jamaica (featuring Ottey and Cuthbert) in third.
Fighting for greater awareness of Graves’ disease
Thereafter, Olympics-wise, Devers poured her energy into a quest for gold in her first-string event. It was not to be.
She started as favourite in Sydney in 2000 but suffered a hamstring injury in her semifinal and pulled up after five hurdles. In Athens four years later, her fifth Olympic appearance, she failed to clear the first barrier in her heat, the victim of a calf injury.
Now 55, the hugely decorated sprint hurdler and sprinter spends much of her time fighting for greater awareness of Graves’ disease. “No-one should have to go through what I went through,” Devers told CNN earlier this year. “The way you alleviate that suffering is through education.”
"Indoors is fun" – Pearson gifts Sopot 2014 singlet and spikes to MOWA
When you happen to live on Australia’s Gold Coast, with its sub-tropical climate and 300 days of sunshine every year, indoor athletics must seem like an alien concept.
For Sally Pearson, though, leaving behind the sun and heading halfway around the world to tread the track and field “boards” proved to be a worthwhile exercise.
Not that the Gold Coast sprint hurdler with the Midas touch was a prolific indoor racer. In an international career that spanned 16 years, the two-time world outdoor, one-time Olympic 100m hurdles champion and seventh fastest 100m hurdler of all-time only contested nine indoor meets over the barriers.
Three of those meets happened to be World Indoor Championships, and, in turn, they featured the joy, the frustration and the physical pain that hallmarked Pearson’s long and productive career.
Sopot silver
Now 35, living happily in competitive retirement with husband Kieran and one-year-old daughter Ruby, Pearson has generously donated the spikes and singlet from the second of those global indoor campaigns to the ever-expanding Museum of World Athletics (MOWA).
The 2014 World Indoor Championships in the Polish seaside resort of Sopot required Pearson to harness the fighting spirit she doubtless inherited from her single mother Anne, who worked two jobs to make enough money to support her daughter’s burgeoning athletics ambitions.
Pearson arrived in Sopot as the defending champion, success at the 2012 World Indoor Championships in Istanbul (in 7.73) having maintained the momentum of her stunning world outdoor success in Daegu in 2011 through to what proved to be a victorious Olympic year campaign.
However, she was still rebuilding her form, technique, and confidence after being undermined by two hamstring tears in 2013. She led the world rankings with a 7.79 clocking in Berlin but whacked the ultimate hurdle in the final and had to settle for silver in 7.85, 0.05 behind the emerging Nia Ali of the US. “I stuffed up,” Pearson lamented, with characteristic Aussie frankness.
Hampered by injury, she exited at the semifinal stage of the 2018 championships in Birmingham, her final taste of track and field indoors.
“Indoors is fun,” she said in Sopot. “It’s got a huge atmosphere because the crowd are so much closer. I think that’s what I like about it the most.”
Melbourne’s 80,000 home crowd
It was in the outdoor arenas, however, that the pride of the Gold Coast Victory club was at her sparkling best.
After dabbling in swimming and gymnastics, Sally Pearson – née McLellan – first made her mark in track and field in 2001, winning the 100m and the 90m hurdles at the Australian Youth Championships as a 14-year-old. Guided by Sharon Hannan, her coach until 2013, she combined sprinting and hurdling throughout her formative years.
It was in the 100m hurdles that she claimed a world youth title in 2003 at Sherbrooke in Canada, where Usain Bolt (just a month older, having been born in August 1986) took the boys’ 200m in a championship record of 20.40. McLellan prevailed in 13.42.
A month later, still only 16, the future Sally Pearson became Australia’s youngest ever representative at the World Championships. Making her senior international debut in Paris. she was entrusted with anchor leg duties in the 4x100m relay heats.
At the 2004 World U20 Championships in Grosseto, Italy, McLellan claimed a bronze medal in the 100m, clocking a personal best of 11.40, but finished fourth in the 100m hurdles final, missing a second podium place by 0.01.
The following year her twin talents took her into the record books as the first woman to win the senior Australian 100m and 100m hurdles titles and early in 2006, still a teenager, she sampled the pressure cooker of a home major championships at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
The athletics events were held on a specially laid track and field arena inside the iconic MCG, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with 80,000-plus crowds replicating something of the 2000 Sydney Olympic atmosphere. It proved to be a rollercoaster experience for McLellan.
She reached the final of the flat 100m, finishing seventh in 11.50, but crashed out in dramatic, heart-breaking style while challenging for a medal in the 100m hurdles final. Consolation came with a bronze in the 4x100m relay, the home quartet taking third place behind Jamaica and England.
It was at the end of her prolonged 2006 season, at the World Cup meet in Athens in September, that McLellan broke through the 13-second barrier in the high hurdles, finishing fourth in 12.95. Then, six months later, at the Australian Championships in Brisbane in March 2007, she improved to 12.92, shaving 0.01 off Pam Ryan’s 34-year-old national record.
That year she continued to pursue both the 100m and the 100m hurdles, reaching the semifinals of each at the World Championships in Osaka and lowering her lifetime best over the flat to 11.14. That, however, proved to be the limit of her personal ambition as a sprinter – and her fastest time too.
World title and World Athlete of the Year
Come Olympic year, in 2008, McLellan channelled her focus solely on the 100m hurdles. It paid off in the Beijing Bird’s Nest.
In a dramatic finish, as clear favourite Lolo Jones hit the ninth hurdle and stumbled home seventh and her US teammate Dawn Harper took gold in 12.54, the five women from second to sixth flashed across the line virtually together. Just 0.02 separated them and, after the photo-finish picture had been scrutinised, an ecstatic McLellan was given the silver medal in 12.64, the same time as bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada.
Hampered by a torn disc in her back, McLellan finished fifth in the 2009 world outdoor final in Berlin and then won the 2010 Commonwealth title in Delhi before entering the purple – or golden – patch of her career in 2011.
By now, she was Sally Pearson, having married school sweetheart Kieran Pearson in April 2010.
In the semifinals of the World Championships in Daegu, Pearson lowered her Oceania record to 12.36 (0.3m/s), then blitzed to her first global crown with a stunning 12.28 (1.1m/s) in the final. It moved her to the No.4 spot on the world all-time list – behind Bulgarians Yordanka Donkova (12.21) and Ginka Zagorcheva (12.25) and Russia’s Lyudmila Narozhilenko (12.26) – although it now ranks seventh best.
The hot favourite delivers Olympic gold
Then, after world indoor triumph in Istanbul, came Olympic glory at London 2012.
Voted Female World Athlete of the Year in 2011, Pearson needed all of her steely determination to overcome the mounting pressure and the challenge of her rivals. There were inevitable parallels, and contrasts, to Cathy Freeman, who rode the host nation’s expectations to her momentous, monumental 400m victory at the Sydney Olympics.
Back in 2000, Freeman travelled 11,000 miles to escape the mounting pressures of home by preparing for the Games in London, alongside her British rival Donna Fraser. Pearson based herself close to London in Kent, her mother’s home county in England, living with her aunt.
That might have afforded some protection from the attentions of home but when Pearson emerged from training to take part in her final test before the Games, the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace, she was the reddest of hot favourites. She had been unbeaten by any of her rivals in 31 hurdles races, outdoors and in, stretching back to August 2010. She had lost in Brussels in 2011 but it was one of the barriers that beat her in the Belgian capital; she fell at the sixth hurdle.
Warming up for her heat at Crystal Palace, she clattered into the second hurdle and tumbled to the rain-sodden track. She picked herself up but was clearly rattled. The usual decisive thrust of acceleration was absent as she rose from the blocks. She had to dig deep to hold off Kellie Wells, pipping the US hurdler by 0.01 in 12.53. Wells got the better of her in the final, prevailing by 0.02 in 12.57.
When it came to Games time, however, Pearson proved her thoroughbred pedigree – and her mettle. The resurgent Harper pushed her hard all the way in the final but the Australian edged the defending champion by 0.02, setting an Olympic record of 12.35, with Wells a distant third in 12.48.
London gold again. The last hurrah!
The following year Pearson suffered two hamstring tears but still took world outdoor silver in Moscow. In 2014 there was world indoor silver and a second Commonwealth gold, but in 2015 she broke her wrist and left forearm after crashing in the Golden Gala in Rome and in 2016 a hamstring injury kept her out of the Rio Olympics.
And so, to the 2017 World Championships in London. Keni Harrison lined up clear favourite on the track where she scorched to her 12.20 world record twelve months prior. The US athlete could only finish fourth, however, as Pearson regained her Midas touch, winning from Harper again in London in 12.59.
It proved to be a final hurrah. An achilles tendon injury cruelly ruled Pearson out of her home Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018. Then, in 2019, came the announcement of her competitive retirement.
Now working as a mentor for Athletics Australia, the Gold Coast’s finest can draw upon many a golden memory for inspiration.
“Winning Olympic gold was obviously huge,” she told Steve Landells in an interview for World Athletics’ Personal Bests series. “But my career highlight came at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, because of the time I ran in the final (12.28) and winning the gold medal.
“I couldn’t have asked for any more.”
Japan's first Olympic champion and New York City Marathon among seven new recipients of Heritage Plaques
World Athletics Heritage Plaques have been awarded today (9) to seven recipients in Asia, Europe, NACAC and South America, across the categories of Competition, Culture and Legend.
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque, a location-based recognition, is awarded for “an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track & field athletics and of out of stadia athletics disciplines such as cross country, mountain, road, trail and ultra-running, and race walking.”
The programme was inaugurated by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe on 2 December 2018 and today’s announcement brings the total number of plaques worldwide to 71.
Category: Competition
Enschede Marathon
The 75th anniversary (2022) of historically one of the classic elite marathons of the pre-mass race era.
The Enschede Marathon is the oldest marathon in the Netherlands and Western Europe. At the first edition, in July 1947, 51 runners took part. Today there are almost 11,000 participants and the numbers are still growing.
Veikko Karvonen, Jim Peters, Ron Hill, Priscilla Welch and more lately Eliud Kipchoge are some of the big-name winners.
New York City Marathon
The 50th edition (2021) of the marathon which helped establish and define the worldwide mass race movement.
The first New York City Marathon took place in 1970 and was held entirely in Central Park. There were just 127 entrants and only 55 of them finished. By 2018 and the number of participants crossing the finish line was over 55,000.
Among the victors in the Big Apple have been Bill Rodgers, Douglas Wakiihuri, Paul Tergat, Grete Waitz, Ingrid Kristiansen, Mary Keitany.
Thames Hare & Hounds
Established in 1868. The oldest adult cross-country running club in the world. Based in Roehampton in southwest London.
The club was created by members of Thames Rowing Club at Putney who were looking for a way to keep fit during the winter. They staged three ‘Thames Handicap Steeplechases’ on Wimbledon Common between 7 December 1867 and 21 March 1868.
Out of these races, Thames Hare and Hounds emerged, staging its first run on 17 October 1868 in the form of a paperchase, a game which originated in Shrewsbury School in 1819.
Rising star Knighton taking one step at a time in pursuit of greatness
For many young sprinters that have emerged in recent years, being touted as ‘the next Usain Bolt’ can be something of a poisoned chalice.
No one, not least a teenager, needs that kind of pressure on their shoulders, after all. And the focus for any young athlete should of course be on making a name for themselves; not on trying to become a replica of a past once-in-a-generation star.
But sometimes the comparisons are unavoidable – especially when a superstar’s records are broken.
Erriyon Knighton made headlines earlier this year when he broke Usain Bolt’s world U18 best for 200m by 0.02. The 17-year-old US sprinter scorched to a 20.11 victory in Jacksonville in late May, beating a field that included established international seniors including 2016 world indoor 60m champion Trayvon Bromell, European 100m champion Zharnel Hughes and 2014 European 200m champion Adam Gemili.
Knighton, who earlier in the year had clocked a wind-assisted 9.99 and wind-legal PB of 10.16 over 100m, didn’t compete again until the US Olympic Trials where, at the time of the first round, he had just the 10th-fastest PB of the 200m field.
But he caught almost everyone – opponents and fans – by surprise when he blazed to a 20.04 PB in the first round, finishing comfortably ahead of world champion Noah Lyles, breaking the North American U20 record and rewriting Bolt’s world U18 best.
This was just the first round. And it looked as though Knighton wasn’t even going flat-out.
Sure enough, he moved up a gear the next day for the semifinals. Once again, Knighton was drawn in the same heat as Lyles. And once again, Knighton produced the fastest time of the round with a 19.88 PB, this time breaking Bolt’s world U20 record of 19.93 that had stood since 2004. And this, despite Knighton having two more full years as an U20 athlete.
“Heading into the US Trials, for me it was just about making the final, I didn't know I was going to make the team,” says Knighton. “My prelim was a good race, I ran 20.04, and I felt really good and made it to the semifinals. Then I ran 19.88, which put me at the top of the list going into the finals. At that point, it became all about making the team, so I just ran as fast as I could and hoped that I'd make the team.”
Little more than 24 hours later, Knighton lined up for the biggest race of his short career to date. Despite being the youngest in the field by six years, he wasn’t overawed by the occasion and kept his cool to finish third in a lifetime best – and another world U20 record – of 19.84. He was just 0.1 behind Lyles, 0.06 behind Kenny Bednarek, who would go on to take Olympic silver over the distance, and 0.06 ahead of Fred Kerley, who went on to earn Olympic 100m silver.
More significantly, though, Knighton’s third-place finish meant he had booked his spot on the US team for the Tokyo Olympics.
In between the Trials and the Games, Knighton had one race and finished a highly respectable third at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Szekesfehervar, just 0.06 behind Canada’s Andre De Grasse, who went on to win gold over the distance in Tokyo.
The competition was a valuable one ahead of his Olympic debut. And once he arrived in Tokyo, he simply tried to soak in as much of the experience as he could.
“After securing my place on the team, I was nervous because it felt as though I had a new burden on my back,” he says. “The Olympics was just my second time competing overseas, but I had to just keep my mind focused and train consistently.
“It felt pretty good to be part of the US team,” he added. “When I got to Tokyo, it felt like a new world. It's so different to the US, so when I got there I was just taking everything in. I talked to some of the athletes who've been doing this for a really long time, trying to learn from them and take in every piece of knowledge I could get because it was my first Olympics.”
Knighton’s Olympic encounter was incredibly similar to his US Trials campaign. Once again, he won his heat (20.55) and semifinal (20.02). Once again, he finished behind Bednarek and Lyles in the final. The only difference was that De Grasse finished ahead of the US trio, meaning Knighton finished fourth, just outside the medals.
Although he was initially disappointed to miss out on a medal by just 0.19, Knighton soon realised the magnitude of his achievement.
“At the time I was a bit upset that I didn't get a medal, but I tried to look on the bright side of things and realised that placing fourth at such a young age is a huge accomplishment,” he says.
“My Tokyo experience, and getting fourth place, is actually my highlight of the year. And it gives me something to build on going into the next Olympics.”
Rising star, guided by established stars
Knighton’s Olympic performance and numerous world U20 records led to him being named the Male Rising Star of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2021.
He beat the likes of French sprint hurdler Sasha Zhoya, US 400m hurdler Sean Burrell, Ethiopian distance runner Tadese Worku and Kenyan 800m runner Emmanuel Wanyonyi. Given the high-quality list of finalists, Knighton was pleasantly surprised to receive the award.
“I really didn't know (if I would win),” he says. “I thought it was going to be super close between me and the hurdler (Zhoya).”
A big part of Knighton’s success this year, he says, is down to the people and training partners with whom he surrounds himself. He trains in Florida alongside the likes of world 110m hurdles champion Grant Holloway, 2016 world indoor long jump champion Marquis Dendy and 2016 world U20 long jump champion Yanis David.
Holloway, in particular, has become something of a mentor to Knighton.
“Almost everything I've learned about being a professional athlete has come from Grant,” says Knighton. “After the Olympic Trials, he told me to just believe in myself and to not let anyone set unrealistic goals for me. He told me the sky is the limit.
“Going into each training session, everyone in the group has the shared goal of getting better. I also know that I will continue to improve simply by being around them because I can see they're all hungry to do the work that's required to achieve their big goals.”
Knighton has already started to turn his attention to his targets for 2022, which includes earning a global medal on home soil at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22.
“Making the podium is my goal for the World Championships,” he says. “And I’d love to be picked for a relay, whether it’s the 4x100m or 4x400m. I'd also love to compete at the World U20 Championships in Cali. I feel like I missed an opportunity by not being in Nairobi this year.”
He has also learned to embrace the Bolt comparisons, taking them as a compliment as opposed to a burden.
“It feels really good (to be faster than Bolt was at this age), but I try to stay humble with it and not get a big head,” he says. “I just have to keep training and hopefully I can keep progressing at this rate.
“I would like to break Usain Bolt's world record. I'm going to do all I can to get there, but I'll just take it step by step.
“Technically and physically, I think I can get a lot stronger,” he adds. “Getting a bigger base and knowing how to run the 200m right. Once I learn how to really run it, I think I'll be a lot better.”
Mu and Wilson set to clash over 800m at Millrose Games
Organisers of the Millrose Games have announced that Olympic champion Athing Mu will take on world bronze medallist Ajee Wilson in the 800m at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting on 29 January.
Aged just 19, Mu has this year established herself as the best 800m runner in the world and was undefeated at the distance indoors and outdoors. She won Olympic gold in Tokyo, breaking Wilson’s US 800m record, and then earned a second gold medal in the 4x400m. She went on to lower the US 800m record to 1:55.04 when winning at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Eugene.
“Millrose is the ideal place to begin my season,” said Mu, who last week was named by World Athletics as the 2021 Female Rising Star. “The audience brings great energy and I always look forward to the atmosphere and competing at The Armory – It's iconic.”
Wilson, a six-time Millrose Games champion, has not lost at this meeting since 2013. Wilson broke her own US indoor record at the 2020 Millrose Games, clocking 1:58.29.
“It's been a while,” Wilson said, referring to last season’s cancelled Millrose Games due to the pandemic. “I'm super excited to return to The Armory for the Millrose Games.”
World and Olympic finalist Natoya Goule-Toppin, the Jamaican record-holder indoors and outdoors, will join Mu and Wilson in the 800m at the Millrose Games.
These 800m stars are the latest big names to be announced for the Millrose Games, following the recent confirmations of Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser, world shot put champion Joe Kovacs and US 1500m champions Elle Purrier St Pierre and Cole Hocker.
Korda’s golden season continues as Japan’s Inami sees silver lining
SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 07: (L-R) Mone Inami of Team Japan celebrates with the silver medal, Nelly Korda of Team United States celebrates with the gold medal and Lydia Ko of Team New Zealand celebrates with the bronze medal at the Victory Ceremony after the final round of the WomenÕs Individual Stroke Play event on Day 18 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on August 7, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/IGF)
Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/IGF
August 07, 2021 05:14 AM
On a day of multiple twists and turns, it was the resiliency of American Nelly Korda that ultimately secured her place in history as an Olympic gold medalist.
The 23-year-old shot a closing 2-under par 69 Saturday on Kasumigaseki Country Club’s East Course for a 17-under 267 total and one-stroke victory over silver medalist Mone Inami of Japan and bronze medalist Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who finished second in the 2016 Rio Olympics and is now Olympic women’s golf’s first repeat medalist.
“It feels amazing,” said Korda, who this year has won her first major championship, moved to No. 1 in the world and now claimed Olympic gold. “After today Lydia was playing really well, so was Mone, they both played super well, so we were all bunched up there. It was very stressful, but I kept it together, I fought pretty hard.”
Ko and Inami, who tracked and briefly caught Korda with five birdies on the back nine including four straight, shot 65 before settling their order in a one-hole playoff on No. 18. Inami’s quest for gold in her home country ended with a bogey on the 72nd hole after her hybrid approach shot plugged in the face of the front bunker.
“I lost the opportunity to win the gold because of my failed shot and so forth, but still I'm delighted,” said Inami, who plays on the Japan LPGA Tour. “This Olympic Games was held in Japan and I'm so grateful to win this medal. I'm so happy.”
Ko entered the day with the words of her coach in mind, that “what's meant to be is going to be. So I think that's what I tried to think today. The Olympics is a very special occasion where obviously, yes, we play for our country on a daily basis, but we're really playing for them, this means so much then just for us. So, yeah, it's a huge honor to be able to bring two medals for New Zealand and to be a two-time medalist in the last couple Games.”
Aditi Ashok of India, who started the day in second place three strokes behind Korda, gutted her way around the course despite a distinct disadvantage in length before finishing one stroke out of the playoff with a 68. She hung in and gave herself a chance by holing a number of crucial putts.
“I think today I didn't really drive the ball very good and then it's hard to get birdie putts or hit greens when you're not in the fairway,” said the 23-year-old, who impressed throughout the week and received congratulatory messages from both the Prime Minister and President of India. “So, yeah, that was definitely the hardest part to make a score today. … I didn't leave anything out there, I think I gave it my hundred percent, but, yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give out three medals kind of sucks.”
Ultimately, the day was about Nelly Korda and her perseverance, though it started with an early start due to the threat of weather interference with a tropical storm headed toward the area. As it turned out, the only moisture before the brief rain delay was produced by cooling misting fans strategically placed around the grounds.
Korda’s march to the women’s golf title had been tracking ever since she took the second-round lead Thursday en route to her record-tying 62. She briefly built her lead to four with a birdie on the second hole before her coronation took an unexpected detour with a double-bogey 5 on the 7th hole, the result of two misplayed chip shots. It erased what by then was a two-stroke lead over Ko and Ashok and brought others into the mix, including Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark (one back) and Inami (two back), thus issuing a reset for the tournament.
Korda, though, quickly rallied with three straight birdies starting at No. 8, displaying a rare sign of emotion with a mild fist-pump as her birdie fell on No. 9.
“Yeah, I think I was very frustrated with myself and I was not happy at all, so I told myself there's still a lot of golf to be left and I'm very proud of how I handled the next three holes or even just the entire round after that,” Korda said.
A bogey-5 on No. 11 kept things close, then a weather delay hit at 12:26 p.m. after the final group of Korda, Ko and Ashok hit their tee shots on the 17th hole. But that actually might have been a blessing for Korda.
“Obviously I was nervous,” she said, “but during the rain delay I was just with my sister (Jessica), we were relaxing, kind of chit chatting on the ground, in the clubhouse and I think that really helped a lot just to kind of not think about it and just to kind of take a step away in a sense during that rain delay and have some fun.”
Korda then parred the final two holes to secure the victory. She admitted afterward to feeling a different sort of pressure than she’s used to.
“I mean, you're playing for something way bigger than just yourself, you're playing for a gold medal, you're playing for your country and I mean it's an amazing achievement, so obviously that was in the back of my head,” Korda said. “So, it's a different feeling, but I feel like as a golfer or just an athlete you go into every competition or every whatever tournament wanting to win, you have a one goal and that's to tee it up and hopefully make the last putt on Sunday. So that's every tournament I feel like is kind of in a sense you stress yourself out the same amount.”
She then added, “I'm going to grow old very fast.”
For now, though, she’s young, mature and an Olympic champion.
News, Notes and Quotes
High praise for Ashok
After her final-round 68 (-3) left her one stroke shy of the playoff for the silver and bronze medals, Aditi Ashok shook off her disappointment and went through the line of multiple media interviews. After satisfying every request, she returned to the clubhouse to start the process of departing Tokyo following a stunning performance that will inspire many in India and around the globe. When she finally got around to checking her phone, she would have seen the following messages.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi tweeted: “Well played @aditigolf! You have shown tremendous skill and resolve during #Tokyo2020. A medal was narrowly missed but you’ve gone farther than any Indian and blazed a trail. Best wishes for your future endeavours.”
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind also tweeted: “Well played, Aditi Ashok! One more daughter of India makes her mark! You have taken Indian golfing to new heights by today’s historic performance. You have played with immense calm and poise. Congratulations for the impressive display of grit and skills”
Jessica Korda finishes strong with a 64, turns attention to younger sister
While all eyes were on little sister Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda had a strong finish in her first Olympic competition, firing a bogey-free round of 7-under-par 64 to finish 9-under and tied for 15th . She had a disappointing start with rounds of 71-67-73.
Asked about the experience, she said, “I wish it wasn't so hot, I think I got a little maybe heat issue, especially after the first day. But what a great week to have playing the Olympics and I could only dream of this. I wasn't even dreaming of this, if we had to qualify last year I wouldn't have been anywhere near it. So, the fact that we had it this year being, having to qualify for the U.S., being the fourth girl, it's not easy to make our team. So I'm just really proud of myself for grinding it out and playing consistent enough to be able to climb my way on to the team.”
Jessica, who now was going to turn her attention to Nelly’s final stretch run toward the gold, was asked how her observation of her sister might be different from a regular spectator.
“Her and I kind of talked about it that we're really calm watching each other, we're definitely more stressed watching our brother,” she said, referring to their young brother Sebastian, a world-class tennis professional. “For some reason we're just pretty calm with each other and I think it just kind of know how the other one's playing and it's golf, so you don't really know what could happen coming down the stretch, but I feel like we both have so much fate in each other that we're just really calm.”
So why is it more nerve-wracking to watch her brother? “Because you don't know what the other person's going to do and it's more like head-to-head and so anything kind of goes, I feel like,” Jessica said. “Whereas this is just a little, you know it's just a little different. You kind of plot your way around a golf course and you're a little bit more in control whereas I think in tennis it's more unknown.”
Returning bronze medalist Shanshan Feng has strong finish, noncommittal about retirement
Shanshan Feng of China, who won the bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics, was slow out of the gate with a 3-over-par 74 but came on strong the final three days with rounds of 64-68-67, finishing in 8th place at 11-under par.
“It was great,” she said of her Olympic return. “I have been waiting for so long for this to come. I thought it was going to happen last year during my birthday, but it was just one year later. And I waited and the good thing was I was still good enough to at least qualify for the team. So here I am and, yeah, I'm already, I already finished the whole tournament.
“I didn't have a great start, but I felt like the last three days I played like a champion, even though I was like really behind after the first round, but I think I really came back and there's no regret because this is golf, I mean especially in the Olympics, you have the best girls in the world playing. You just have to have four good days to be able to win a medal. So I think the girls on the top they deserve it. And I'm very happy to see actually like some new faces like some players that are not ranked like really high but they're all up there competing for the medal, I'm very happy to see that because we need some new faces from new countries. I played with Matilda (Castren) and she's from Finland, I think she's an upcoming star. She's already won a tournament this year and she was great. But other than that, I hope that I can see more Chinese faces getting on the Tour and get on the top of the leaderboard and win tournaments.”
Regarding ongoing speculation of her retirement at age 32, Feng said, “I don’t know. I wouldn’t say I’m retired yet. I would like to play some more on the LPGA, just to give it like a conclusion or what do you call it?”
Send off? Finale? Swan song?
“Okay, something like that,” she said. “But I just don't feel like I want to do three times quarantine in this second half of the year … So I think that might be a little too much, so I'm going to wait to see how the schedule is like in Asia next year maybe, so hopefully I'll come back.”
Yuka Saso gets untracked in the final round
U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso of the Philippines had a strong finish with a 6-under 29 on the back nine with four birdies, including three straight, and an eagle-2 on the short 17th hole, where she hit a 3-wood to 10 feet. That gave her a 6-under-par 65 for the day to finish at 10-under 274.
“I putted really good,” Saso said. “I finished that way. Yeah, it feels good. The first birdie (on the back) came, it was really long putt. I didn't really expect it to go in but it did. Next hole I hit it close and it was a downhill putt, I putted really good. The par-5 I reached it in two, that was really good, a 3-wood. Then on the last hole as well. I really hit a good second shot and made the putt. Now it's a finish like that, it felt really good to end that way. I hoped I would play that well the first three days.”
Another 29 recorded by Kelly Tan on the back nine
While the drama was unfolding atop the leadership early in the day, Kelly Tan of Malaysia, was quietly putting together her own 29 on the back nine – where she started her round – with six birdies, including five on the last six holes. She cooled off on her final nine, but still finished at 7-under 64. It was a satisfying finish after entering the day five over par with rounds of 73-73-72.
“Yeah, honestly I felt the same every day, I felt that I could do that, it's just that today the score reflected it and it’s really great to see,” Tan said. “Deep down I felt that I was playing really well, just that the first two days it didn't show on my card but, yeah, it felt great to be able to just pull it off like that.
“To be able to shoot 7-under at the Olympics on the final round I think that's something that I'll never forget,” she added. “Shooting 29 on the back nine, that's something I haven't done in my career, so that's a positive for me as well. Yeah, I know I didn't get a medal, but I know that I fought hard and I played hard for my country and I'm really proud of the way I did and I bettered my position from the last Olympics and that's all that matters, so it's great to see those improvements.”
Green closes in 30 after early struggle
Hannah Green began the day in the penultimate group, five strokes back of Nelly Korda’s lead with the goal of winning a gold medal, but that possibility quickly faded after a 2-over 38 on the front nine. However, the Aussie never gave up, notching four birdies and an eagle at the par-5 14th before the horn sounded suspending play while she was on 17 green. Forty-nine minutes later, she returned to make par before dropping a shot at the 72nd hole, eventually finishing tied for fifth, three strokes out of the playoff for bronze.
“I think to be even in contention come the last couple holes…really proud of myself for how I hung in there and didn't get too down on myself and tried to think of the bigger picture I guess and being so lucky that we even have an Olympics to compete in,” said a reflective Green.
“I felt like with nine holes to go that I was nowhere near it so when I made the putt on 10 I think it was really important for my confidence,” said Green. “I think the eagle putt on 14 really was when like oh, okay, maybe I am in contention. So super happy to have birdied 15 and 16, but I felt like I made almost a bogey on 17 not birdieing that hole.”
Green had such good momentum and admitted the delay hurt her chances of a medal, but she was happy officials were able to allow the players to complete 72 holes.
“It was hard to pump myself back up again,” she said about returning after the weather delay. “I felt like I was on Cloud 9 for those five holes so, yeah, it was definitely hard to go back and rest and then come back out again.”
Green has been bitten by the Olympic bug and will be striving to make it to Paris in 2024.
“I didn't really think too much of it but I guess it is only a few years away, so hopefully I can keep continuing to play well,” she said.
Tavatanakit saves best for last
Following rounds of 71-71-69 Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit saved her best for last with a final-round 68, eventually finishing in a tie for 23rd at 5-under par. She did it with a PGA TOUR winner, who is also her instructor, on the bag.
Grant Waite won the Kemper Open in 1993. He also famously finished second to Tiger Woods at the 2000 Canadian Open when Woods hit a spectacular fairway bunker shot over water onto the green on the 72nd hole to secure the win.
“Grant has been a huge part of my success so far this year just because he put my game in a good place and mentality too in the sense that I look at the course differently,” said Tavatanakit. “I approach things differently on the course, just the way I look at things or just in a better perspective.”
Tavatanakit has worked with Waite for a year now and feels like she still has a lot of work to improve.
“My game is trending upwards,” she said.
India’s Aditi Celebrated by Entire Nation after Finishing Fourth at Olympics
KAWAGOE, JAPAN - AUGUST 06: Aditi Ashok of Team India plays her shot from the 16th tee during the third round of the Women's Individual Stroke Play on day fourteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club on August 06, 2021 in Kawagoe, Japan. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
August 07, 2021 05:14 AM
India’s Aditi Ashok agonisingly missed an historic medal in women’s golf at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 on Saturday as she was celebrated at home with tributes led by the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.
The 23-year-old Aditi fought bravely throughout the final round at Kasumigaseki Country Club, shooting a closing 3-under 68 to finish one shot shy of a podium finish with her 15-under 269 aggregate.
American World No. 1 Nelly Korda took gold on 17-under 267 after a 69, with Mone Inami securing Japan’s first ever medal in golf by taking the silver after defeating New Zealand’s Lydia Ko in the first hole of a sudden-death playoff after both tied on 16-under.
All week, Aditi, who had her mother Maheshwari on caddying duties, was a picture of confidence and calm as she courageously stayed in the medal hunt throughout a thrilling final round and had a couple of birdie chances to join the playoff, only to agonisingly miss putts on the 17th and 18th holes.
Soon after play concluded, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Well played @aditigolf! You have shown tremendous skill and resolve during #Tokyo2020. A medal was narrowly missed but you’ve gone farther than any Indian and blazed a trail. Best wishes for your future endeavours.”
India’s President Ram Nath Kovind also posted a congratulatory tweet for the young Indian. “Well played, Aditi Ashok! One more daughter of India makes her mark! You have taken Indian golfing to new heights by today's historic performance. You have played with immense calm and poise. Congratulations for the impressive display of grit and skills.”
Aditi, the lone Indian on the LPGA Tour, was downcast after the final round after being so close to a medal.
“Yeah, 17 was perfect. I hit it exactly the speed I wanted, the line I wanted, I just - maybe I made too many (putts) through the four rounds, golfing gods were like, okay, we're not going to give her this one,” said Aditi, who led the Strokes Gained: Putting category with 13.01 strokes gained over the field throughout the week.
“I just tried my best, even the last hole, although it was really out of range, it was almost a long putt, but I still tried to give it a chance. I think I gave it my best attempt. I mean I wanted to hole it and I gave my best attempt, it's hard to force the issue when you're like 30 feet away.”
A uncharacteristic wayward driver cost her dearly as she hit only five fairways in the final round which stopped her from being more aggressive into the greens. “I didn't really drive the ball very good and then it's hard to get birdie putts or hit greens when you're not in the fairway. That was definitely the hardest part to make a score,” said Aditi, who picked up golf when she was five.
“The front nine I just hit one and I think the back nine I must have hit maybe a couple more, maybe three or four more. So that was bad today, kind of put me out of position so I couldn't get close to the flag. I tried my best to like hole the last few putts and just knowing because in a regular tournament whether you finish second or fourth it really doesn't matter, no one cares. But like at this event you need to be in the top 3. I didn't leave anything out there, I think I gave it my hundred percent, but, yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give out three medals kind of sucks.”
India’s other representative, Diksha Dagar, finished T50 on 6-over 290. She said Aditi’s run was truly inspiring and will encourage young girls to pick up the sport. “It’s been a wonderful experience and I’ll keep working hard to improve,” she said. “Aditi had a very good week and I want to try and follow in her footsteps. This performance will certainly create more awareness for golf as not everybody in India knows about golf.”
Aditi hopes her medal run in Tokyo will put greater spotlight on the game at home, which by the reaction from the country’s leading politicians would have certainly made many sit up and take notice of the sport. “I think it's good, just even top 5 or top 10 at an Olympics is really good. Because you know that sport or that person has a medal chance. So just having more top finishes, even if it's not exactly a podium finish, will maybe bring eyes to the sport and more support, more kids pick up more, whatever, that helps grow the game,” Aditi said.
“Obviously when I started golf, I never dreamt of being or contending at the Olympics, golf wasn't even an Olympic sport. So sometimes you just pick it up and work hard and have fun every day and sometimes you get here.”
Indeed, Aditi Ashok has arrived at the highest level of women golf.
China’s Feng Falls Short of Medal at Olympics
KAWAGOE, JAPAN - AUGUST 07: Shanshan Feng of Team China plays her shot from the eighth tee during the final round of the Women's Individual Stroke Play on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club on August 07, 2021 in Kawagoe, Japan. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
August 07, 2021 04:09 AM
China’s Shanshan Feng fell a few shots shy of winning an Olympic medal in golf for her country after signing off with a 4-under 67 in the women’s competition on Saturday.
The 10-time LPGA Tour winner, who won the bronze in Rio 2016, finished solo eighth on 11-under 273 at Kasumigaseki Country Club, some five strokes behind bronze medallist Lydia Ko of New Zealand who lost in a playoff to Japan’s Mone Inami after both tied on 16-under.
American World No. 1 Nelly Korda, the overnight leader, claimed the gold medal by one shot after closing with a 69 for a winning total of 17-under 267 while Feng’s countrywoman, Xiyu Lin enjoyed a top-10 finish by sharing ninth place after a final round 68.
“It was great. I think I didn't have a great start, but I felt like the last three days I played like a champion, even though I was like really behind after the first round. I think I really came back and there's no regret because this is golf. In the Olympics, you have the best girls in the world playing and you just have to have four good days to be able to win a medal,” said Feng.
She opened with a disappointing 74 but bounced back like the champion she is with a 64 in the second round before adding a 68 on Friday to keep alive her hopes of earning a podium finish again. In the final round, she made five birdies against a lone bogey but she did not quite threaten the leaders in the groups behind her.
“The girls at the top, they deserve it. I'm very happy to see like some new faces, like some players who are not ranked like really high but they're all up there competing for the medal. I'm very happy to see that because we need some new faces from new countries,” said the 32-year-old Feng.
She shrugged off talk of an impending retirement, saying she isn’t quite done yet competing at the highest level on the LPGA Tour. “I wouldn't say I'm retired yet,” the former World No. 1 said laughing. “I would like to play some more on the LPGA, just to give it like a conclusion.”
Lin, 25, hopes her top-10 at the Olympics will be the springboard to a maiden victory on the LPGA Tour. “I think there's a lot of positives,” said the two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour. “This week, there're so many things I did really, really well and the only thing that I think is missing is definitely the performance on the green. But in general, top-10 it's a big compliment for me.”
While there are no prizes for those who finish outside the top-3 at the Olympics, Lin is already looking forward to resuming her chase for success on the LPGA Tour and has her eye on Paris 2024. She said there was always expectations when representing her country and believes she will be better prepared for the next Olympics.
“I'm entering the tournament wishing to be able to get a medal. So that's a little extra pressure because we only have one start in every four years. In general I still had a great week. Getting into Tokyo really gave me lots of confidence because I would say two years ago, I wasn't even close to being on the team and then this year because of some really key performances, I ended up in this tournament. I think it gave me lots of confidence and obviously I will be looking forward to representing China again in Paris and looking forward to a break through on the LPGA Tour,” she said.
Japan’s Inami just wants to have fun in medal chase
SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 06: Mone Inami of Japan plays a tee shot on the 16th hole during the third round of the WomenÕs Individual Stroke Play event on Day 17 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on August 6, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/IGF)
By Chuah Choo Chiang August 06, 2021 06:38 AM
All week, Japan’s Mone Inami simply headed out to the first tee to “have fun” in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 women’s golf competition.
Come Saturday, the 22-year-old rising star gets a chance to win a first ever medal in the sport for host nation Japan at Kasumigaseki Country Club, some six days after Hideki Matsumaya came agonisingly close to a bronze medal in the men’s competition.
Inami, a seven-time winner on the Japan LPGA Tour, added a third round of 3-under 68 to her 70 and 65 in the previous two days to share third place with Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark, Australian Hannah Green and New Zealander Lydia Ko on 10-under 203.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States leads on 15-under in the race for gold, with India’s Aditi Ashok in solo second on 12-under with 18 holes remaining on Saturday. The final round tee times will begin from 6:30am to 8:23am (local Tokyo time), with officials sending players to the course an hour earlier than third-round play to get out in front of potential bad weather.
“For the past three days I've had a lot of fun and also at the same time I've been able to shoot low rounds, so I would like to continue that tomorrow and have a good time,” said Inami, who made five birdies and two bogeys including a dropped shot on the last hole.
“I had a lot of fun today. The only thing was on the final hole I misread the putt which caused a bogey. But otherwise I had a really good day.”
Inami hopes she can deliver a medal for Japan, saying Matsuyama wished the women’s team the best after he narrowly lost in a seven-man playoff for the bronze which was won by Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan.
“I spoke to him briefly on the day he was leaving Tokyo, I was actually arriving to the city, and he said that because he wasn't able to win the medal on the men's side, he wished us good luck,” said Inami.
Despite the weight of a golf-mad nation resting on her shoulders, there wasn’t any hint that Inami is feeling any pressure in trying to deliver a medal for the host nation.
“The Olympics itself is very fun. I love the atmosphere of the Olympics, the field is great. Not sure exactly which factor to point out which is leading to my feeling of having fun, but it's a very unique tournament, so I want to play with no regret. I think being nervous or being tight doesn't do you anything, so I just want to focus on having fun,” she said.
“I think what really was good for me today was that there wasn't anything that was very poor. Even when I mishit some of the tee shots I think the error was minimal and I was able to hit a lot of fairways. I managed to avoid a lot of rough.”
With a tight leaderboard, Inami is prepared for a close race to the podium, including being involved in a playoff which she holds a 3-0 playoff record on the domestic circuit. “I don't usually get nervous and it's the same for this event,” she said confidently. “It feels like a dream stage. It's actually really fun for me to contend, so I want to focus on that tomorrow."
Korda retains lead while Ashok continues to show grit and determination as her closest pursuer
SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 06: Nelly Korda of the United States plays a tee shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the WomenÕs Individual Stroke Play event on Day 17 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on August 6, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/IGF)
Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/IGF
August 06, 2021 04:57 AM
So, the long and short of the women’s Olympic golf competition heading into Saturday’s final round at Kasumigaseki Country Club is this: American Nelly Korda and Aditi Ashok of India.
It’s the difference between the two 23-year-olds, leader Korda at 15-under par 198 and second-place Ashok at 12-under 201, that makes this so fascinating. On paper, they arrived there with similar-looking rounds of 69 and 68, respectively. But when they say looks can be deceiving, it couldn’t be truer than in the comparison between the two heading into Saturday’s final-round chase for Olympic gold … and silver, and bronze.
Next in line are four players at 10-under: 2016 silver medalist Lydia Ko of New Zealand (66), Japan hopeful Mone Inami (68), Hannah Green of Australia (67) and Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark (70).
Statistically speaking, it doesn’t seem like a fair fight between the two leaders. While world No. 1 Korda is bombing drives and hitting short irons throughout the East Course, Ashok is dinking drives and relying on hybrids to reach a number of holes, with at least five par-4s typically measuring over 400 yards. Korda is averaging a full 44 yards further than Ashok, who is second-to-last in the field with a 233-yard average.
And yet, she makes it work with a keen understanding of her limitations and strengths. She still hit 17 of 18 greens, four more than Korda in round three. And then there’s her putting, the very thing she practiced endlessly when first introduced to the game.
“She's a really solid putter,” said Korda after they played together. “Like she's a sneaky player. She putts incredibly well. She rolls it really nicely and there's this kind of like confidence she has on the putting green. She has some kind of swag on the putting green and she owns it.”
That said, Ashok said she’s actually about 15 yards shorter than normal at the moment and revealed for the first time that she had COVID in May and June.
“I do think it took a little bit of strength out of me. I was never this short. I was always short but not like 50 behind Nelly and 50 behind Nanna,” Ashok said, referring to Nanna Koerstz Madsen, the third Friday’s final grouping.
Which makes her performance this week even more remarkable.
Entering the day tied for second with the two Danes, Ashok spent most of the day as the primary suitor to Korda’s lead, supported by her mother who is caddying in place of her usual looper, her father.
“She's doing great,” Ashok said. “It's funny, this is the best I've played all year.” Asked if her dad is now out of a job, she said, “No, my dad's good,” she said. “He's enjoying watching me on TV and he enjoys listening to Bones (Jim Mackay) commentate on my game. It's funny because he never gets to see me play on TV, he's always caddying. So that's been cool. My mom has obviously done a great job this week.”
Ashok was caught and briefly passed by Imani, but a bogey by Imani on No. 18 and birdie by Ashok on 17 flipped the leaderboard in Ashok’s favor.
After the disappointment of not medaling in the men’s competition after Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama entered the final round one stroke behind eventual gold medalist Xander Schauffele of the USA, the host country’s main medal hope rests with Inami. “I had a lot of fun today,” she said. “The only thing was on the final hole I misread the putt which caused a bogey. But otherwise, I had a really good day.”
All this was happening ahead of Korda, who never lost her lead, though she didn’t have nearly the day she did on Thursday when she tied the women’s Olympic record of 62 and flirted with a 59 before making double bogey on the final hole.
On Friday, she made three early birdies to open a brief five-stroke lead, but after a bogey-6 on No. 8, she parred the remaining holes.
“It was very upsetting that I bogeyed a par-5, there's something inside of me when I bogey a par-5 that I just get so frustrated about because I shouldn't be doing that,” Korda said. “I kept telling myself that there's more opportunities ahead.”
But they never came. “I didn't have a really good back nine, I was kind of spraying it all over the place, I had some testy par putts, but made all pars and I fought really hard to stay in it really or ahead of it,” she added. “I made some mistakes, but it wasn't really easy out there with the positions I was in.”
Korda was obviously hoping to further distance herself from the field, saying, “I feel like that's kind of the goal going into every round is to play the best I possibly can and maybe get a comfortable lead. But that's the thing about golf, once you get a little too comfortable it humbles you when you start making mistakes and you get ahead of yourself. So, yeah, I would have loved to have had -- I mean obviously no one's ever going to complain about a bigger lead going into a final round, but I'm happy with where I'm at.”
But she still has the lead, and the confidence heading into Saturday’s final round, which gets a nice early start at 6:30 a.m. on the 1st and 10th tees to try to beat the predicted heavy rains from a tropical storm headed toward Japan.
But Korda says she won’t play with an additional sense of more urgency.
“No. My mindset is 72 holes so I'm sticking to that,” she said. “I'm trying to give myself opportunities and make them, that's all. I'm trying to stay as present as possible and see how it goes.”
News, Notes and Quotes
Round of the day
Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea fired a bogey-free 6-under 65 for the low round on Friday.
Think about that for a moment – a 26-year-old from Ecuador, where the capital city of Quito has only eight golf courses, just outplayed 59 of the best women golfers on the planet! That’s the Olympics for you, making moments, inspiring others and building memories.
Darquea began the third round in relative obscurity, teeing off from the 10th tee tied for 46th position. By the end of the day, she sat tied for 25th position at 3-under and seven shots back of the current bronze medal score of 10-under.
Her round included four birdies and an eagle at No. 6 – the second day in a row that she posted an eagle 2 at the drivable par-4 hole.
The LPGA Tour member has experience with medals. She represented Ecuador at the 2015 Pan American Games, the 2016 Espirito Santo Trophy and the 2017 Bolivarian Games, winning silvers in the Individual and Mixed Team competitions at the 2017 Bolivarian Games.
In Ecuador, a country of almost 18 million people, golf is becoming increasingly popular, and Darquea is certainly doing her part to assist that growth.
Silver and bronze medalists from 2016 have worked their way into medal consideration
After playing together the first two rounds, the three returning women’s golf medalists from Rio 2016 were pretty much bunched together, well behind leader Nelly Korda entering Friday’s third round. Gold medalist Inbee Park of Korea was 10 back, bronze medalist Shanshan Feng of China nine back and silver medalist Lydia Ko of New Zealand eight back.
Ko made the biggest move on Friday, shooting a bogey-free 66 with five birdies to finish in a tie for third at 10-under 203, five behind leader Nelly Korda of the USA. Feng was continuing her rally from Thursday’s 64 on her birthday with an eagle-2 and two birdies, but then double-bogeyed the par-4 11th. A final birdie-3 on No. 17 gave her a 68 and 7-under total of 206. Park, meanwhile, couldn’t get untracked, finished 71—210.
Feng and Ko, at least, built some momentum on Thursday with Feng shooting 7-under 64 on her birthday and Ko 67. Park finished with a par 71.
“They moved the tee up again own that par four so it became a short par-4 and I just hit like a little controlled driver and then I hit it to three feet, I believe,” Feng said of the eagle on No. 6. “And that was my actually my first eagle of the year. I made a lot of birdies but that's the first eagle. So I saved it for the best tournament.
“This is the Olympics,” Feng added, “like fourth or fifth it doesn't matter. Like if it's not top 3, it's no difference. And I believe that we have the best girls here in the world so everybody's going to try to go low tomorrow and somebody will. So hopefully that will be me.”
Ko, meanwhile, could only muster one birdie on the front, but then made four on the back.
“I was just so upset at myself,” Ko said of Thursday’s round of 67 which ended with two bogeys, “because normally I feel like my wedges are some of the most like stronger part of my game and I hadn't hit a single wedge within 30 feet all day yesterday. At one point I got to realize it's going too far or too short or something, but I just wasn't getting a sense of it. And I hit such a great drive down the 18th and I only had like 105 to the pin and I was telling people, you have a 30 feet radius with a gap wedge and I missed that 30 feet, I was like so upset. And, yes, I missed like two, 3-footers, but at the same time trying to 2-putt 60-footers, that's me putting myself in that position is where that is the flaw and not the putting itself.
“I think if I keep putting myself in 60-footer range I'm going to stress out the bits that I need to do to clean up,” she continued. “So I was really upset at my wedge game and I was hoping that like with the way I was feeling frustrated I didn't want that to affect the way I went into today. Luckily, I had a pretty smooth start, but then I missed a 3-footer on 2 and I was like, ‘Not again.’ But I think I just stayed patient and there's so much golf ahead of me. So I just tried to play my heart out and I played the back nine really well today, which was the aspect that I kind of struggled over the last couple days. So definitely nice to I know if issue on that. Hopefully good momentum into the 18 holes we get to play tomorrow.”
Brooke Henderson’s sister holding up despite the heat
Brittany Henderson is sister Brooke’s regular caddie, and is holding up well despite the continued hot conditions that already have sidelined a couple caddies and undoubtedly challenged every one of them. But Brooke said she’s holding up well.
“She's been amazing,” said Brooke, a returning Olympian for Canada, said following Friday’s round of par 71. “She hasn't even complained. So, she's been doing really well. I know not all caddies can say that. I'm pretty proud of her for handling it so well and looking after me after I haven't been playing very well either, she's taking care of the both of us.”
Another week, another Irish pairing
Last week in the men’s Olympic competition, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry played their way into the same third-round group. It happened again in the women’s competition, with Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire playing together in Friday’s third round.
McIlroy shot 67 and Lowry 68, with McIlroy playing his way into the seven-way playoff for bronze and Lowry finishing T22. Meadow and Maguire entered the day with a tougher task ahead for medal contention nine strokes behind leader Nelly Korda of the USA.
Meadow gained one stroke on Korda with a 68 and is 7-under for the tournament, which is still well within range of medal contention. Maguire has a bit tougher task after a 70, leaving her at 5-under.
Okay with a medal?
After shooting a 1-under 70 and working her way into a four-way tie for third at 10-under through 54 holes, Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen was asked if she would be okay with sharing a bronze medal if the final round was not played due to inclement weather.
“I mean if I don't get the chance…,” she said before taking a little time to ponder the question. “I would love to play for gold, but if I don't get the chance at least I have some kind of a medal now, but I think we'll play, I hope we'll play.”
2021 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals
Date: 23 to 29 November 2021
Houston, USA
Important Documents
Prospectus – Draw Schedule Updated 20 November 2021
Playing System – updated 11 October 2021
COVID-19 Protocols – updated 27 October 2021
Players Lists
Singles: Men – Women (Men’s Singles List & Women’s Single Updated 20 Nov)
Doubles: Men – Women – Mixed (Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles Updated 20 Nov)
Draws & Results
Media
Accreditation upon request submitted to media@ittf.com
Online Entry System
Ticketing Information
VISA Information
Schedule
Practice Schedule
Claudia Herweg Elected New President of DTTB
Claudia Herweg was elected President of the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB). She is the 13th person to hold this office and the first woman since the DTTB’s founding in 1925.
“I would like to congratulate Claudia on her election,” said ITTF President Petra Sörling. “Claudia was the Head of the ITTF Equipment Department and has built a strong team around her. She is a key member of the table tennis family, and we are certain her dedication and leadership will deliver lasting benefits to our sport in Germany.”
“I am looking forward to collaborating with Claudia in her new role. Unity was also one of my campaign’s pillars. I want to unite the membership and engage in discussions with the Member Associations to secure table tennis’s position as one of the world’s leading sports.”
Herweg has worked full-time in table tennis for 30 years including. As an active player, she used to play in the 2nd Bundesliga and worked as a coach with one of the biggest German regional associations.
“We have to improve in many areas, and this can only be done together,” said Herweg. “I feel that unity is essential because we have very challenging tasks ahead of us. Together we are much stronger, and we can better market our incredibly fascinating and diverse sport.”
The five DTTB regional associations with the largest membership proposed Herweg as a candidate. She was elected on Saturday 11 December during the DTTB Annual General Meeting with 204 votes in favour, two against and no abstentions.
Sun sets on Japan, Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto rise to the occasion
Miwa Harimoto unbeaten throughout the whole seven days (Photo: ITTF)
he Land of the Rising Sun, on Wednesday 8th December at the 2021 ITTF World Youth Championships in Vila Nova de Gaia, the sun set on Japan.
Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto won the respective under 15 boys’ and under 15 girls’ singles titles.
Following success against Singapore’s Izaac Quek Yong, the no.3 seed (11-8, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8), Sora Matsushima, the no.18 seed, secured the boys’ title at the hands of Poland’s Milosz Redzimski, the no.17 seed (11-5, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7).
“I thought that it would be tough to win the title before the tournament started, but I played well, and now I’m really happy with the result. In the semi and final, I was able to play really well, so I was happy with that.” Sora Matsushima
Undoubtedly, Milosz Redzimski was very much a player in form. Earlier in the day he had overcome Frenchman Felix Lebrun the top seed and winner of the under 15 boys’ singles title earlier this year at the European Youth Championships in Varazdin (11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 14-12, 11-9, 11-6).
More impressive
Impressive from Sora Matsushima it was arguably even more impressive from Miwa Harimoto.
The no.16 seed, she beat Egypt’s Hana Goda, the top seed, to arrest the title (11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-1, 11-5).
“I am really happy with winning all events, it was one of my goals. I knew that Hana is really a strong player because we played doubles. However I could prepare well against her. In the final, I was nervous, I enjoyed playing and could play my best. Thanks so much for holding the event, I’m really happy with being here.” Miwa Harimoto
Earlier at the semi-final stage Hana Goda had overcome India’s Suhana Saini, the no.4 seed (12-10, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8); in a similarly imposing manner, Miwa Harimoto, the no.16 seed, had prevailed in opposition to Singapore’s Ser Lin Qian, the no.16 seed (11-6, 12-10, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7).
Defeat for Ser Lin Qian but with a degree of honour; she did what previously no other player was able to achieve. She extracted a game from Miwa Harimoto!
Incredible record
The record achieved by Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto in Vila Nova de Gaia is quite incredible and will stand the test of time.
Together they won the mixed doubles, Sora Matsushima partnered Felix Lebrun to boys’ doubles gold, Miwa Harimoto the same in the girls’ doubles in harness with Hana Goda.
Overall Sora Matsushima lost just one match, that being at the semi-final stage of the under 19 boys’ team event against China when losing to Chen Yuanyu (11-4, 13-11, 11-4).
In total, over the seven days of action, the record read 16 matches played, 15 wins!
Staggering
Stunning; the record of Miwa Harimoto is even more staggering.
She guided Japan to gold in the girls team event, winning all five matches in which she competed, then she added a further five in the mixed doubles, three in the girls’ doubles and five in the girls’ singles.
The sum: 18 matches played, 18 wins.
One other fact to note, Sora Matsushima born in 2007 is eligible for the age group next year, Miwa Harimoto, born in 2008 is eligible for the next two years!
One step higher, gold for Steven Roman
Silver medallist two years ago when beaten in the final by Sweden’s Linus Karlsson, for the host nation’s Steven Roman, on Saturday 11th December at the ITTF Para Copa Costa Rica Bicentenario 2021, it was gold.
The 19 year old won men’s singles class 8.
Steven Roman, the men's singles class 8 winner (Photo: Joseph Gil Brooks)
by Ian Marshall
Occupying the top seeded position, he beat Marco Makkar of the United States (11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3), to claim gold, an adversary who was no stranger; the previous day they had met in the initial group phase, Steven Roman prevailing in a similar manner (11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 13-11).
Anastasia Kostenevich, women’s singles class 8-10 winner (Photo: Joseph Gil Brooks)
Success for the highest rated, it was the same in men’s singles class 10; at the final hurdle, Chile’s Manuel Echaveguren, the top seed, overcame El Salvador’s Melvin Muñoz (11-7, 11-6, 11-5).
Top seeds prevail
Likewise in the women’s singles competition, the top seeds prevailed.
In a group organised class 3-5 event, Colombia’s Nelly Sanchez finished ahead of Cynthia Ranii from the United States; in class 8-10, Russia’s Anastasia Kostenevich accounted Jessica Alzate, like Nelly Sanchez from Colombia to seal the title (11-4, 11-8, 11-5).
Minor surprises
Otherwise, to some extent unexpected names claimed gold.
Minor surprises, in the men’s singles competition, both occupying the no.2 seeded spot, Chile’s Maximiliano and Great Britain’s Daniel Bullen claimed gold; a feat also achieved by Chile’s Ignacio Torres, who reserved the no.3 seeded position.
All Chilean finals, in class 4 Maximiliano Rodriguez beat Cristian Gonzalez, the top seed (5-11, 12-10, 13-11, 11-1); in class 6-7 Ignacio Torres, after accounting for Colombia’s José Vargas, the no.2 seed (9-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7) secured the top prize at the expense of Matias Pino, the top seed (11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5).
Good form from the Chileans; it was the same from Daniel Bullen; in a group organised class 5 event, he beat Ahad Sarand of the United States (10-12, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 13-11) to complete the event unbeaten.
“I played well. I’m more pleased with my final match because last time I played him it went to five sets and I lost. I feel like I played the way I’ve been playing in training, the hard work is paying off. It feels absolutely amazing to win my first gold medal and there is a lot of emotion for me because I’ve worked so hard and to finally win a gold medal means the world to me. I’m happy with how I turned it around in the last match and I’d like to say thank you to my team mates here who supported me and got me across the line especially when I went 2-0 down. Tthey got behind me and helped me to focus and to win the match. I’d also like to thank Matt Kenny for coaching me here and all the coaches that work with me back home.” Daniel Bullen
Unexpected outcomes
Somewhat different, not amongst the leading names, in the men’s singles, Chile’s Vicente Leiva claimed the class 1-3 title, Colombia’s Julian Chinchilla emerged victorious in class 9.
At the final hurdle, Vicente Leiva beat Costa Rica’s Geovanni Rodriguez (11-4, 11-7, 12-10). Earlier, at semi-final stage Geovanni Rodriguez, had accounted for Great Britain’s Rob Davies, the top seed and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games gold medallist.
“I’m obviously disappointed with losing as it is never nice to have a loss, but I’ve got to keep in mind why I came out here in the first place, just to get back into competition again. I think I achieved what I wanted it to do. The loss will just make me hungry and I can’t wait to get back and start working on what I need to. We’ve got a good stretch now leading up to the World Championships next year and I’m looking forward to challenging myself and seeing if I can get back to where I was before.” Rob Davies
However, the win cannot be considered a major upset, Rob Davies is a class 1 athlete, Geovanni Rodriguez is class 3; there is a substantial difference in the degree of physical impairment.
Repeat success
A worthy effort from Vicente Leiva; it was the same from Julian Chinchilla; as with Steven Roman a repeat success.
On the opening day of play in the group phase he overcame Puerto Rica’s Shaquille Rivera in one of the closest matches in the whole tournament (9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10, 12-10), before rather less dramatically repeating the performance in the final (9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 12-10).
The team competition now follows, play concludes in San José on Sunday 12th December.
Five ITTF Member Associations receive Ping Pong Diplomacy Recognition
Peace Through Sport Dinner Houston
Five ITTF Member Associations - United States of America (USA), People's Republic of China (China), Republic of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea), and Japan have received the Ping Pong Diplomacy Recognition for their remarkable contribution towards peace-making through table tennis in the past 50 years.
The Recognitions were awarded by the ITTF and ITTF Foundation at the Peace Through Sport Dinner Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy in Houston, Texas.
“Peace is not only the absence of conflict. We would like to recognise the significant role of the five Member Associations in Ping Pong Diplomacy during the last 50 years. Their dedication and effort in using table tennis for peace and understanding make them great role models for all ITTF Member Associations.” Thomas Weikert, former ITTF and ITTF Foundation President.
As the main organisations involved in the original Ping Pong Diplomacy event in 1971 and 1972, USA Table Tennis and China Table Tennis Association were the accelerators behind the friendly exchange that broke a nearly 20 years of no economic nor diplomatic relations between the two countries. Since then, not only have the USA and China kick-started collaborations and friendship, Ping Pong Diplomacy has also become a worldwide known term for creating dialogues and building bridges through table tennis.
In addition, China Table Tennis Association was also recognised for its generosity in sharing its table tennis skills with other countries since 1971.
“As the inspiration of the famous motto Friendship First, Competition Second, we would also like to recognise China Table Tennis Association for traveling all over the world to share their expertise. The first training camp was joined by Australia, Canada, Colombia, England, Nigeria, and many more that were done not only in their home countries.” Leandro Olvech, ITTF Foundation Director.
In the past 50 years, Ping Pong Diplomacy has proven to be more than the Sino-American relationship, it is the platform to unite nations in and through table tennis.
Witnessed by guests including Christopher Nixon Cox and Neil Bush, respectively grandson of President Richard Nixon and son of President George Bush, representatives from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Korea Table Tennis Association and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea were also recognised for their courageous act in 1991 to compete as one team instead of against each other despite the ongoing war between the two countries.
“30 years ago at the World Championships in Chiba, Japan, Korea Table Tennis Association and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea showed the world the uniting force of table tennis. Together they were stronger, as the Unified Korea team became the 1991 World Champions.” Leandro Olvech.
The two Koreas joined forces again at the 2011 Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup in Qatar, and the 2018 World Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad, Sweden. The ITTF Foundation project One Korea, One Table then became the driving force behind both teams playing together in several tournaments of the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour.
Japan Table Tennis Association has received recognition for its non-dismissible role in the 1971 USA-China Ping Pong Diplomacy and the Unified Korea team in 1991 and 2018. The former Japanese ITTF President Ichiro Ogimura, also known as the Ping Pong Diplomat, was one of the key facilitators behind the first Unified Korea team in 1991. And the Unified Korea team in the 2018 World Championships would not have been able to play if the Japanese national team had not agreed.
“Thank you Japan for being a constant actor in the 50 years of Ping Pong Diplomacy. You remind the world that we are in this together. We are stronger united and with the support of friends, we are able to achieve greater good than on our own.” Leandro Olvech.
In 2018, the Japanese national team took a huge risk by skipping the quarterfinal results of the World Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad, Sweden and agreed to compete directly in the semi-finals against a stronger team. This has allowed the Unified Korea to play as one team, and thus became another legacy of Ping Pong Diplomacy.
By recognising the contribution of the five ITTF Member Associations towards Ping Pong Diplomacy, we encourage all Member Associations to use table tennis as a platform for dialogues and peace, both on the states and on the grassroots level.