Athletics
On the eve of the World Athletics Championships, the storylines had been written - hometown heroes, head-to-heads, redemption missions. Yet there is no greater author than the athlete themselves, and Brooke Buschkuehl’s latest chapter just shredded the narrative.
A personal best by 8cm, a seasons best by 52cm, and the farthest wind-legal jump in the world this year – 7.13m (+1.8m/s). Performances of such calibre often require context to bridge the perception from superhumans to mere mortals, but Buschkuehl’s circumstances largely do the opposite.
“It’s always the way it is with the long jump – the jumps that feel effortless are the ones that are the furthest. I felt like I flew through the air, and where I landed, I had a bit of a gauge of where it could have been, and when I saw it was over the 7m mark, I was shocked,” Buschkuehl says.
“It’s crazy because of how hard things have been for me. I tried so hard to stay positive even though I was doubting myself for so long. We’ve got two weeks until the women’s long jump competition and I couldn’t think of a better place to be at.”
The performance sees Buschkuehl join Germany’s Malaika Mihambo, the reigning world and Olympic champion, as the only women to have shattered the elusive seven-metre barrier legally in 2022 – with Mihambo recording a mark of 7.09m in May.
Read MORE | Athletics Australia
Canoe Slalom
Mark Crosbee was crowned the World Junior C1 champion at the 2022 ICF Canoe Slalom Junior / U23 World Championships in Ivrea, Italy.
The 18-year-old, who also happens to be the cousin of Olympic Champion and multiple Canoe Slalom World Championships medallist Jessica Fox, qualified in 24th place for Friday’s semi-final.
He moved up to 8th for the 10-paddler final, before the run of his life without any gate touches saw the Melburnian secure the gold, 0.35 seconds ahead of Michal Urban from Czech Republic in second and Urban’s teammate Lukas Kratochvil in third (+0.74).
Having been the third paddler off the start line and watching seven other paddlers come down after him trying to better his time, Crosbee said he was holding his breath for the final outcome.
“I felt like I had done enough to make the podium, as it was a solid run on a tough course but it was a surprise to win,” he said.
“It was pretty stressful watching everyone coming down having some pretty good runs and then people made mistakes on the bottom section.
Read MORE | Paddle Australia
Hockey - Women's
The Hockeyroos are through to the quarter finals of the 2022 FIH Women’s World Cup after accounting for South Africa 2-1 in their final pool match in Terrassa.
First half goals from Penny Squibb and Rosie Malone sealed the Hockeyroos’ third win from as many matches in what was Mariah Williams’ 100th international appearance.
The result ensured the Hockeyroos finished top of Pool D, meaning they will have a well deserved break before launching into the business end of the tournament.
The Hockeyroos will take on the winner of the match between the team that finishes second in Pool C and third in Pool B.
The quarter final will be played at 7pm Wednesday 13 July local time (3am AEST, Thursday 14 July). Watch every match of the 2022 Women’s World Cup LIVE on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel & Kayo.
Read MORE | Hockey Australia
Triathlon
It’s been a golden day for Australia at the 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Montreal with Jeremy Peacock, Justin Godfrey and Lauren Parker all winning gold in a triumphant day for the Aussie Team.
Justin Godfrey just keeps on keeping on as he sets his sights on a place on the Paralympic team when his PTS3 classification makes its debut in Paris in 2024.
Godfrey, who is back chasing his Paralympic dream after three shoulder operations, has now won 18 races from 27 starts – unbeaten in his last four starts after returning from a four-year-layoff in Devonport where he was second in February.
The 47-year-old Godfrey again proved that age is no barrier, taking the gold in 1 hour 12 mins 40 seconds from Cedric Denuziere (1:17.22) with the USA’s Christopher Marston (1:18.32) third.
And there were smiles all round also for 31-year-old Melbourne-based accountant Jeremy Peacock, who was born with cerebral palsy and took a week’s annual leave to chalk up his maiden World Triathlon Para Series win ahead of Finley Jakes (GBR), Eric McElvenny (USA) with fellow Australian Liam Twomey fourth.
Peacock won a tightly fought race in 1:05.34 with Jakes (1:06.45) snatching silver from McElvenny (1:06.47) and fellow Aussie Twomey (1:07.25) fifth.
Debutant Jack Howell (1:01.23) and Tokyo Paralympian David Bryant (1:01.56) were fourth and sixth respectively in the PTS5 class.
The Montreal Para Series was the second stop of the series this year, after Yokohama and before Swansea in August, with the para triathletes then ready for the World Championships that will take place in Abu Dhabi in November.
Read MORE | Triathlon Australia
