Skier Vonn considering immediate retirement
What was evident all weekend for Lindsey Vonn became clear to everyone else on Sunday. The American skier’s surgically repaired knees simply don’t let her apply the power she requires to win races. The pain is too severe; the psychological impact too much to bear; her pride too great. After failing to finish a World Cup super-G, Vonn said leaving the sport immediately “is a possibility. But I’m emotional right now. I have to really think clearly about that. It’s not a decision I make lightly or quickly.” Vonn was charging and in contention for a podium spot until a slight bobble bounced her slightly off track. Then she clipped a gate and couldn’t apply pressure on her right leg to force her way back onto the racing line, prompting her to miss the next gate. And with that, Vonn stood up out of her tuck, hung her head and skied diagonally off the course. Vonn was planning on retiring in December. She needs five more wins to break the alltime World Cup record of 86 victories held by Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark. Mikaela Shiffrin, Vonn’s American teammate, won Sunday’s race.
TENNIS Raonic tops Zverev in straight sets
Alexander Zverev did a number on his racket. And Milos Raonic did a number on Zverev at the Australian Open Monday. Upset about how badly things were going in his Round of 16 match against the Canadian, Zverev sat down in his sideline chair and destroyed his racket by whacking it against the ground eight times — and then tossing it aside. He was warned for racket abuse after the display, which came with the Australian Open’s No. 4 seed trailing 6-1, 4-1 against Raonic. Soon enough, Zverev lost the second set, too, also by a 6-1 score. Zverev played better in the third but Raonic proved too much, prevailing 7-6 (5) in to move on to the quarter-final.
SOFTBALL Olympic qualifier to be held in Surrey
Canada has been tapped to host an Olympic softball qualifying event this summer ahead of the 2020 Games in Tokyo, the World Baseball Softball Confederation announced Sunday. The WBSC revealed that the Americas Olympic softball qualifier will be held in Surrey from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1, 2019. The event will feature up to 16 teams, with the top two advancing to the sixteam competition at the Tokyo Games. “It’s going to be a very memorable experience, as we all get the opportunity to be part of softball’s journey to the 2020 Olympic Games,” said organizing committee chair Greg Timm.
SKI CROSS Canadians make mark in World Cup
Canadians Britt Phelan, Kelsey Serwa and Marielle Thompson raced into the World Cup big final in ski cross action on Sunday, placing second, third and fourth, respectively. Switzerland’s Fanny Smith took gold. The trip to the podium was the first of the season for Phelan, from Mont-Tremblant, Que., and Serwa, from Kelowna. It was Serwa’s 20th career World Cup podium, and third bronze. Thompson, from Whistler, finished fourth for the second time this season, having raced in every big final so far, earning three podiums out of five including Saturday’s silver-medal performance in Idre Fjall.
HOCKEY Tourney cancelled after headaches
A kids’ hockey tournament in Saskatchewan has been cancelled after some players developed headaches and officials suspected they may have been suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Scott Dusyk, the president of the arena board in Montmartre, says the Atom tournament was underway on Saturday when some of the kids complained of headaches. The Saskatchewan Health Authority confirms that some people from the incident
were seen in local hospitals. SaskEnergy says technicians from the utility responded and noted the gas was present at the ice surface, as well as in the arena’s lobby. Spokeswoman Casey MacLeod says all of the building’s equipment that runs on natural gas was operating normally, and the technician suspected fumes from the Zamboni were the source for the carbon monoxide.
BASEBALL Angels, reliever Allen finalize $8.5m deal
Relief pitcher Cody Allen and the Los Angeles Angels finalized a one-year contract for $8.5 million Sunday. Allen had a career-high 4.70 ERA for Cleveland last season, going 4-6 with 27 saves in 70 games. The 30-year-old righty is the Indians’ franchise leader with 149 saves. The Angels posted a total of 35 saves last year, ranking 12th in the American League.