Monday, 23rd January
A new record in Antarctica
Preet Chandi, a 33-year-old British Army Officer, has recently set a new record for the longest solo and unsupported polar expedition by a woman. The distance travelled across Antarctica as recorded on Friday, is 1,397 km in temperatures of -50C. The previous record was 1,381 km skied by Anja Blacha in 2020. Previously Chandi made history in 2021 by trekking to the South Pole, achieving the distance with days to spare, and in the process becoming the first Asian woman to do so.
The first elite road cycling tours completed in Australia last week. The Santos Tour Down Under forms part of the UCI World Tour for both women and men. Australia's Grace Brown claimed the women's race on Tuesday, with compatriot Jay Vine taking the men's race on Sunday. Staying with cycling and with the next round of the 2022-2023 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup taking place in Benidorm on the beautiful Costa Blanca coastline, the Netherland's Fem van Empel and Mathieu van der Poel won the elite races on Sunday.
After 18 days 20 hours and 42 minutes, skipper Larry Folsom with his Balance 526 Catamaran named Norhi, reached the destination of Rio de Janeiro to win the Cape2Rio Yacht Race on Saturday. Norhi had a crew of eight of whom four are from the same family. The Ladies Rackets British Open Singles Final completed on Sunday in London with Claire Fahey crowned champion after beating Cessca Sweet 15-11 15-6 15-9.
Altenberg in Germany was the location for skeleton and bobsleigh fans with the hosting of the IBSF World Cup and European Championship over the weekend. The men's skeleton was claimed by Britain's Matt Weston, with Germany's Tina Hermann taking women's gold. USA's Kaillie Humphries won the World Cup gold in Women's Monobob, with the European title going to Germany's Laura Nolte. It was Germany again in the 2-man and 2-woman Bobsleigh. Johannes Lochner and again Nolte steered their teams to victory. Lochner completed his fourth World Cup and first European title. Britain's Brad Hall lead the 4-man Bobsleigh to gold.
France's Champagny-en-Vanoise hosted the UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup. Lead titles were claimed by local star Louna Ladevant and South Korea's Woonseon Shin. The Speed champions were South Korea's Myungwook Yang and Switzerland's Vivien Labarile. Ski Mountaineering featured in Arinsal, Andorra. Individual World Cup titles went to France's Axelle Gachet Mollaret and Thibault Anselmet. Gachet Mollaret repeated the victory in the Vertical category, with Switzerland's Remi Bonnet winning the men's gold.
The World Rugby Sevens Series stopped in Hamilton, New Zealand, over the weekend with the hosts and Argentina wining the women's and men's titles respectively. Sweden have won the Bandy World Championship for boys year 17 beating Finland in the final. France's Sébastien Ogier claimed a record ninth triumph at Rallye Monte-Carlo in the opening round of the FIA Rally World Championship. USA's Eli Tomac in the 450SX and Australia's Jett Lawrence in the 250SX, repeated their performance of the opening round by winning round 3 in San Diego of the AMA Supercross Championship.
The IBU Biathlon World Cup moved to Rasen-Antholz in northern Italy over the weekend. Sprint titles were claimed by Italy's Dorothea Wierer and Norway's Johannes Thingnes Boe. In a further dominant display, Boe doubled up in the Pursuit, with the women's title going to Germany's Denise Hermann-Wick. The Women's Relay was won by France, while Boe anchored the Men's Relay for Norway.
Last week we had four FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup events. Calgary in Canada hosted Freeski Halfpipe with gold going to China's Ailing Eileen Gu and USA's Alex Ferreira. Freeski Slopestyle featured in Laax, Switzerland, with Norway's Johanne Killi and local star Andri Ragettli claiming the titles. Idre Fjäll in Sweden hosted Ski Cross. Sweden's Sandra Naeslund and Canada's Reece Howden are the champions. Going back to Canada where the resort of Le Relais hosted Aerials, with Australia's Laura Peel and Switzerland's Noe Roth claiming victory.
Kitzbühel in Austria is the toughest FIS Alpine World Cup for men with the Slalom crown going to Switzerland's Daniel Yule, while Norway's Aleksander Aamodt Kilde triumphed in the Downhill. Italy's Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the women's alpine event. The Downhill and Super G titles went to Slovenia's Ilka Stuhec and Norway's Ragnhild Mowinckel.
Snowboarders were in Bulgaria and Switzerland last week for two FIS Snowboard World Cups. Bansko hosted Parallel Slalom with titles going to Switzerland's Julia Zogg and Italy's Maurizio Bormolini. Slopestyle featured in Laax with New Zealand's Zoi Sandowski Synnott and Norway's Marcus Kleveland victorious.
Sapporo in Japan hosted the Men's HS137 Ski Jumping World Cup with local star Ryoyu Kobayashi claiming gold. Sprint and Team Sprint featured at Livigno, Italy, at the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. Sweden's Jonna Sundling and Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo claiming the Sprint Final Free. Sweden II and France I are the women's and men's Team Sprint Free champions.
Japan has dominated the medal table at the FISU University Winter Games 2023 at Lake Placid, New York, by acquiring nearly double the total than nearest rivals South Korea. Taiwan's Chieh-Yu Chou completely outclassed her opponent Allison Fisher of Great Britain in the final, to win 9-0 in the 2023 World Women's 9-Ball Championship played at the Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City.
In the National Basketball Association, LeBron James scored a season-high 48 points to help the LA Lakers beat the Houston Rockets. South Africa's Madison Landsman has become the first woman to take a hat-trick at an ICC U19 T20 World Cup currently being played in South Africa. Finally, four times World Champion Triathlon Champion Dame Flora Duffy (BER) and 2023 Ironman World Champion Gustav Iden (NOR) have been named as the Triathletes of the Year.
Until next time, have a great week in sport.