PANORAMA: U.S. Biathlon moving to U.S. Ski combine, slowly; badminton Worlds shadowed by monkey business; U.S. men win Flag Football Worlds

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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡

● Biathlon ● After U.S. Biathlon’s 28 July announcement to its membership that it was seeking to operate under the management of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, while preserving its legal form as a separate organization, the quiet work of actually creating that situation has been continuing.

Over the weekend, U.S. Biathlon posted an undated update that included:

“The U.S. Biathlon Board unanimously voted to support in principle the terms outlined in the non-binding Strategic Operating Alliance term sheet with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and will appoint a three-person working group to draft a definitive operating agreement that preserves U.S. Biathlon’s governance autonomy under the Ted Stevens Act.

“The three-person working group will include an athlete Board representative, the U.S. Biathlon CEO, and a Board member who will lead negotiations with support from staff and legal counsel. The working group will negotiate based on Board-directed priorities and present a final draft agreement to the full Board for review and approval in advance of a Board meeting on August 29, 2026.”

Observed: There is significant pushback against this move by U.S. Biathlon – internally and externally – but likely not enough to kill it. Simply said, biathlon has very little money, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has a lot more and runs a successful cross country program from which biathletes can be recruited.

As is the case in so many things, resources and pipeline make a difference. It will be fascinating to see how transparent the U.S. Biathlon Board will be with the full agreement prior to Board consideration.

As for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, it has said nothing.

≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡

● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The Los Angeles City Council approved by 10-0 a package of motions which included approval for City staff to negotiate a lease of the City-owned Mangrove parking lot to a group including the Japanese Olympic Committee to create a “Japan House” in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles.

● Archery ● World Archery announced Friday it has lifted restrictions on Russian athletes and officials, who are immediately eligible. However, the statement noted:

“The decision applies to events sanctioned directly by World Archery. Participation in competitions governed by World Archery Europe remains under the authority of the continental federation, and World Archery will continue its dialogue with World Archery Europe on implementation.”

And there was the usual coda:

“World Archery remains committed to supporting the Ukrainian archery community and all those affected by the ongoing war.”

● Badminton ● As the 2026 World Championships get ready to open at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi (IND), organizers are trying to keep rhesus macaque monkeys out of the venue, after they were seen in the seats during the India Open in January.

It was reported last week that four men were hired to imitate the sounds of langur monkeys, a larger species that drives away the rhesus. Efforts against pigeons are also being made; nests were found in January as well, causing problems for players, officials and spectators. The Worlds open on Monday.

● Basketball ● The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was inducted on Saturday (14th), honoring the famed 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s team that helped to launch the WNBA.

The class also included seven coaches and players, all of whom had significant ties to U.S. international basketball: Mike D’Antoni (two-time U.S. Olympic assistant coach), Elena Delle Donne (2016 Olympic gold, Mark Few (2024 Olympic assistant), Chamique Holdsclaw (2000 U.S. Olympic team), Candace Parker (2008-12 Olympic golds), Doc Rivers (1982 FIBA Worlds silver) and Amar’e Stoudemire (2004 Olympic bronze).

● Flag Football ● Everyone wants to be in business with the National Football League. That includes the International Olympic Committee.

On Sunday, the IOC, the NFL and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) signed an unusual – first of its kind? – agreement on promotion of Flag Football ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games, where Flag will debut, as a medal sport.

“The collaboration builds on an existing agreement between IFAF, the NFL and the LA28 Organizing Committee, seeking to maximize the global reach and impact of flag football’s Olympic Games debut at LA28. Under this new agreement, the three parties will work together to maximize the promotion of the LA28 Olympic Games and flag football’s debut at the Games drawing on the global reach and relevance of two of the world’s most commercially and culturally powerful sports properties.

“All signatories commit to leverage their platforms to help connect audiences with flag football and the Olympic Games. NFL tentpole events, such as International Games and Super Bowl, are included in the agreement, alongside major IFAF competitions and IOC platforms.”

The activation of this agreement will be fascinating and a test of what the IOC can bring to a newer sports federation, now in a growth phase with NFL backing.

● Gymnastics ● NBC drew good audiences for the USA Gymnastics national championships in Phoenix, Arizona on 8-9 August:

● 8 August (Sat.) ~ 4:00 p.m. Eastern: 799,000 on NBC for delayed coverage of the 7 August women’s first day.

● 9 August (Sun.) ~ 1:30 p.m. Eastern: 734,000 on NBC for delayed coverage of the 8 August men’s second day.

● 9 August (Sun.) ~ 6:00 p.m. Eastern: 1.4 million on NBC and Peacock for live coverage of the women’s second day.

The live coverage of the women’s final day was down from 1.872 million in 2025.

≡ RESULTS ≡

● Archery ● At the USA Archery Target National Championships in Springfield, Missouri, Nicholas D’Amour, the 2023 Pan American Games silver winner, took the men’s Recurve national title by just a point – 1,535 to 1,534 – after 144 arrows, over Christian Stoddard. Trenton Cowles (1,316) was third. The women’s gold went to 2026 Pan Am champion Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez (1,316) over fellow Olympian Catalina GNoriega (1,301). The Compound champions were Kyle Douglas (1,416) and Danish star Tanja Gellenthien (1,382) over Olivia Dean (1,378).

In the follow-up U.S. Open elimination tournament, 2019 World Champion Brady Ellison won the men’s title, 7-3, over D’Amour, and Mucino-Fernandez won over GNoriega, 6-2. Dewey Hathaway defeated Stephen Hansen, 146-144, in the men’s Compound final and Dean edged Rachel Flack, 142-141.

There was also the U.S. Archery Team Series Final in Springfield on Wednesday (12th) with Stoddard winning the men’s Recurve final over Ellison, 6-2. Mucino-Fernandez took the women’s final, 6-2, over GNoriega. The men’s Compound win went to James Lutz, 149-147, over Dutch star Mike Schloesser; Dean edged Gellenthien, 144-143, for the women’s Compound victory.

● Cycling ● The 29th edition of the UCI World Tour ADAC Cyclassics, finishing in Hamburg (GER) ended with the expected mass sprint at the end of the 205.3 km route and France’s Paul Magnier got to the line first in 4:17:55. He moved up from third in 2025.

Just behind were Mike Teunissen (NED) and Laurence Pithie (NZL) as the first 41 riders received the same time.

● Equestrian ● At the FEI World Championships in Aachen (GER), British star Charlotte Fry once again dominated the Dressage world, repeating as winner of both the Individual Special and the Individual Freestyle.

Fry took the Special aboard Glamourdale – just as in 2022 in Denmark – and scored 82.295% to win over 2022 runner-up Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN, aboard Mount St. John Freestyle) (80.927%). Germany’s Katharina Hemmer (and Denoix PCH) scored 80.866% to win third and icon Isabell Werth (and Wendy de Fontaine) was fourth at 79.544%).

In the Freestyle, it was Fry again at 91.907% for a 2022-26 double-double, ahead of Laudrup-Dufour (91.236%) and Werth (88.650) for bronze.

Germany won the team title (235.063) over Britain (231.445) and Denmark (229.426). The U.S. was eighth (210.621).

The Eventing gold went to 2010 World Champion Michael Jung (GER, with fischerChipmunk) with a low score of 23.0, followed by Britain’s 2018 World Champion Rosalind Canter (Lordships Graffalo: 23.4) and Laura Collett (London 52: 28.0). American William Coleman was fourth, with Diabolo, scoring 30.0.

Britain won the team title (84.0) over Germany (95.6) and the U.S. (113.5: Coleman, Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton, Caroline Pamukcu). The Jumping competitions begin on the 19th.

● Flag Football ● Two wild tournaments and startling upsets at the IFAF World Championships in Dusseldorf (GER), with the U.S. men and Canadian women taking the World titles.

The American men came in as five-time defending champions, but in its second group game, was upset by American Samoa, 38-32! The U.S. won its other two games while American Samoa lost to Israel and also finished 2-1 in the group and advanced.

In the playoffs, Canada immediately eliminated American Samoa, 24-14, while the U.S. got by Japan, 45-38. Italy then beat Canada, 41-36, in the semis while the U.S. barely escaped with a 42-40 win over Mexico on a touchdown with 24 seconds left.

So, the final pitted the Americans and first-time finalist Italy, and the Americans ran out to a 38-8 lead at the half and finished with a 46-26 win and a sixth straight Worlds gold. Canada beat Mexico, 34-26, in the bronze-medal game. Italy and Canada are both now qualified, along with the U.S., for the 2028 field.

The women’s tournament had the U.S. as three-time defending champions, but Mexico was ranked no. 1 coming in. Britain, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico all rambled through their groups with 3-0 records. All four made it to the semis, although the U.S. barely got by Germany, 35-34. Canada handled Mexico, 20-6 and the U.S. edged Britain, 27-21. U.S. star Darrell “Housh” Doucette III was recognized as the Most Valuable Player.

In the final, it was Canada – winners in 2010 and 2014 – which broke out of a 14-14 halftime tie with two touchdowns by receiver Frederique Morneau to take a 27-14 lead and hang on for the 27-20 victory. Canada qualified for 2028, as did Mexico, which got by Britain, 20-19, for the bronze. Canadian quarterback Sara Parker was named Most Valuable.

● Gymnastics ● Home favorite Darya Varfolomeev won her third straight World Gymnastics Rhythmic World Championships All-Around gold in Frankfurt (GER), scoring 119.500 to edge Stiliana Nikolova (BUL: 117.600) and Sofia Raffaeli (ITA: 117.500). Varfolomeev (3-1-0) and Rafaelli (1-1-2) won medals for the fourth Worlds in a row. Nikolova was also second in 2025 and has won a medal in three of the last four Worlds.

Americans Rin Keys (114.500) and Megan Chu (113.150) finished eighth and 11th.

In the Sunday apparatus finals, Varfolomeev won on Ball (30.350) and Ribbon (30.500) and took bronze on Hoop (30.400). Ukraine’s Taisiia Onofriichuk won the Hoop gold (30.700) and Nikolova took the Clubs title (30.150) with Onofriichuk second (30.050).

Chu finished sixth on Hoop (28.700), eighth on Clubs (27.050) and fifth on Ribbon (29.050). Keys was fourth on Clubs (29.800).

Spain won the Group all-Around and Brazil took the titles in the 5 Balls final and 3 Hoops + 4 Clubs.

● Judo ● Brazil had a strong showing at the IJF World Tour Lima Grand Prix in Peru, including wins by Michel Augusto in the men’s 60 kg class, David Lima at 81 kg, and Rafael Macedo at 90 kg, and women’s golds from Rafaela Rodrigues (52 kg) and Paris 2024 Olympic champ Beatriz Souza (+78 kg). The Brazilians won 11 medals in all.

The U.S. picked up medals from Jonathan Yang and Christopher Velazco (silver-bronze) at 60 kg, a silver at 73 kg by Jack Yonezuka, a bronze at 81 kg from John Silot, and Maria Laborde with the women’s silver in the 48 kg division.

● Swimming ● The European Championships closed in Paris (FRA) with one more cheer for French icon Leon Marchand, who won the men’s 400 m Free in 3:43.14, ahead of 16-year-old Oliver Papai (HUN: 3:44.46). Marchand, who rarely contests this event, moved to equal-fourth on the 2026 world list, winning his second event at this meet.

Elsewhere, Ukraine’s Nikita Sheremet led the qualifying and won the men’s 50 m Free in 21.13, moving to no. 3 in the world for 2026. In the 100 m Back, Greece’s Apostolos Christou won his third straight Euro gold coming from fourth at the turn, in 52.27, just 0.01 up on Paris Olympic champ Thomas Ceccon (ITA: 52.28).

Hubert Kos (HUN), already the 200 m Back winner, won the 200 m Medley in a world-leading 1:54.24 to 1:54.44, over Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez; they are nos. 4 and 6 all-time! Russia won the men’s 4×100 m Medley relay in 3:28.67, with Italy second in 3:28.86.

Simona Quadarella (ITA) completed her distance triple in the women’s 400 m in a lifetime best 4:01.34, ahead of Isabel Gose (GER: 4:02.41) and teammate Maya Werner (4:03.73). Those top three in the 400-800-1,500 were identical! Quadarella moved up to no. 4 in 2026.

Lithuania’s 2012 Olympic 100 m Breast champ Ruta Meilutyte won her third European 50 m Breast title and second in a row, but barely! Her 29.93 was just enough over Benedetta Pilato (ITA: 29.94) and Mona McSharry (IRL: 29.95); they are now 4-5-6 in 2026. Britain’s Kenna Macinnes moved up to no. 5 in 2026 with a 2:05.90 win in the 200 m Fly, just ahead of Helena Rosendahl Bach (DEN: 2:06.14).

Britain won the women’s 4×100 m Medley relay in 3:53.50 over Italy (3:53.60).

Italy had a dream meet and topped the medal count at 20 (6-8-6), ahead of the Russian “neutrals” (19: 5-5-9), with Britain third (14: 8-2-4).

● Table Tennis ● It was a good week for France at the Europe Smash in Malmo (SWE), as brothers Alexis LeBrun and Felix LeBrun (FRA) swept Chun Ting Wong and Baldwin Chon (HKG), 3:0, in the men’s Doubles final. Felix then followed up with a comprehensive 4:1 win over Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) in the men’s Singles final (11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9).

The all-China women’s final was a hard-fought, 4:2 win for top-seeded Manyu Wang, the 2021 World Champion, over Yidi Wang (12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5).

Japan’s Miwa Harimoto and Hina Hayata won the women’s Doubles, 3:1, over Hoi Kem Doo and Wing Lam Ng (HKG), and China’s Shidong Lin and Man Kuai won the Mixed Doubles, defeating Wong and Doo by 3:1.

● Volleyball ● The American men reached the final of the Pan American Cup in Cuernavaca (MEX), finishing second in Group A to Canada (4-0 and 3-1), then beating the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals (3-1) and sweeping Mexico in the semis.

They met Puerto Rico, which took down the Canadians (3-1) after finishing third (3-3) in Group A. This post will be updated with the match results when available.

¶

The U.S. roared through to the FIVB Girls U-17 World Championship in Santiago (CHI), reaching the final after winning its group with a 5-0 record, then shutting down Italy and China in straight-set wins. Opposing the Americans was Turkey, second to the U.S. in group play (4-1), then sailing past South Korea (3-1) and Chinese Taipei (3-0).

In the final, the U.S. swept to the title, 25-23, 25-11, 25-23. Opposite Kari Knotts led the U.S. with 23 points and hitter Maya Ogbogu had 17. Defending champion China won the bronze, over Chinese Taipei (3-1).

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