Tyson Gay breaks World Record straight 200 meters

American sprinter Tyson Gay has broken a 44-year-old record for the 200 meters run on a straight track.

Gay ran 19.41 seconds into a headwind Sunday on a specially constructed track in Manchester, England, shaving 0.09 off the mark Tommie Smith set in May 1966 at San Jose, California.

Smith was at the Great City Games to watch Gay beat his time, which isn't an official world record because track and field's governing body only recognizes 200s run around a curve.

"Going into the race I knew it was going to be tough to beat the record," said Gay. "It was pretty hard for the first 100 metres or so and I was extremely tired. Kim Collins had an excellent start and I think that motivated me to get down the street. It was truly amazing and it was tough record to break."

Gay now looks forward to his Diamond League campaign where he will face Olympic and world champion, and 100m and 200m world record holder, Usain Bolt in at least three meetings.

The American is convinced he can prevent his Jamaican rival blazing another trail of victories. "I believe it, but he's going to be tough to beat," said Gay.

"Honestly he's in another class right now but I'm working hard to get there. The challenge is for me to work hard to get to where he is at."

Sources: AP, AFP

Thorpe hints at London 2012 comeback

Ian Thorpe has ruled out a comeback to competitive swimming, rejecting Australian media reports Monday that the five-time Olympic gold medalist wanted to qualify for a relay at the 2012 London Games.

"I have no intention of returning to competitive swimming," Thorpe said in a statement released by his management. "My position at the media conference in 2006 announcing the discontinuation of my competitive swimming career has not changed."

The Courier-Mail newspaper reported Monday that the 27-year-old Thorpe had discussions recently with several of Australia's leading sprinters about a potential return for the men's 400-meter freestyle relay in London.

Thorpe, who seems to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic brother, won 11 world championship golds and set 13 world records. His wins in the 200- and 400-meter freestyle at the 2004 Athens Olympics were achieved in his last major international meet.

Thorpe was the world's highest-profile swimmer until American Michael Phelps came onto the scene, and had a list of lucrative endorsement deals.

But he admitted in February that he'd had financial problems after his personal savings were affected by the global economic crisis.

He said he'd experienced cash-flow problems after shedding sponsorship deals to focus on his university studies in linguistics and psychology, but had restructured his finances.

Thorpe burst onto the international stage as a teenager in 1999 and won three gold medals — all in world record time — and two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

He was in Dubai during the weekend for an international sports convention. Thorpe's coach Tracey Menzies said the swimmer had not spoken to her about a comeback.

Shawn Johnson confirms London 2012 comeback

American gymnast Shawn Johnson - who won four medals, including one gold at the Beijing Olympics - has announced she is returning to training ahead of London 2012.

The 18-year old - whose most high profile recent appearance was as a judge of the Miss America beauty pageant - said she would take time away from the sport following Beijing and missed last year's World Championships in London.

Johnson won balance beam gold two years ago and a treble of silvers in the team, all-around and floor event, in which Great Britain's Beth Tweddle is the reigning world champion.

Johnson told local media in her hometown of Des Moines that she always planned on returning - although her comeback will be delayed following recent reconstructive surgery on her knee.

"I've always said gymnastics was my life, I'll never live without it," she told the Des Moines Register. "I went two years trying to find an excuse to get away from it. But there's something about it that just pulled me back.

"I'm a little kid at heart and I can't get away from it. I love it and I missed it a lot."

Source: AP

Argentina winS South American Games

The ninth edition of the South American Games in Medellin had the rowing event taking place in Guatape, on the outskirts of Medellin. Guatape is at 1,900m altitude and the rowing regatta was held on a reservoir which was constructed for hydro electricity in the late 1960s.

Nine countries participated with Argentina coming out as clear overall leaders, winning 10 of the 14 events. Argentina won a total of 12 medals which was matched by second overall Brazil who also took 12 medals; two gold, three silver and seven bronze. Uruguay finished third overall.

Argentina’s medal tally was helped by three-time Olympian Santiago Fernandez who was part of the winning men’s double and quad. Both the men’s and women’s single went to Argentina with Gabriela Best easily winning the women’s single over Soraya Jadue Arriaza of Chile. Best and Arriaza both raced in the single at the Beijing Olympics. Best also finished first in the pair with partner Laura Abalo.

In the lightweight women’s single and double, Milka Kraljev, 27, earned two gold medals. Kraljev is a veteran of the 2004 Olympic Games but has not been seen internationally since 2005.

Colombia’s Rodrigo Ideus Forero got to race for the first time in his home country when he competed in last month’s South American Games in Medellin, Colombia.

Forero, 23, raced in the lightweight men’s single finishing second to world under-23 silver medallist, Ailson Silva of Brazil. Olympian Forero has done nearly all of his rowing in England where he studies. This regatta was the first time he has raced in Colombia and the historical moment was well recognised by the host nation.

Both the lightweight men’s quad and the lightweight men’s four had nail-biting finishes. Just 11/100th of a second separated Argentina and Venezuela at the finish with Argentina just in front. Argentina pulled off a similar feat in the lightweight four, this time against Chile. Argentina’s winning time was just 31/100th of a second ahead of the Chilean crew which included Miguel Cerda Silva. Silva, 40, has a rowing career that stretches back to 1990 and he is the 2002 World Champion in the lightweight pair.

The regatta has stimulated the growth of rowing in Colombia and 10 new national umpires are now qualified to organise local events. A new sports centre recently opened in Guatape which formerly has not been used for rowing and 30 new boats have been purchased.

The South American Games have been going since 1978 and the tenth edition will be in Santiago, Chile in 2014.

Source: www.worldrowing.com

Jack Nicklaus: “Woods will play in Masters”

Golf's record major winner Jack Nicklaus expects his nearest challenger, Tiger Woods, to return from his self-imposed lay-off in time for next month's US Masters.

Woods has been absent from the game since a minor car crash in November lifted the lid on a string of infidelities and a public apology last month failed to shed any light on a prospective return date, but March 25's Arnold Palmer Invitational has been speculated about as a possible first tournament back.

The 71-year-old, quoted in the Mail on Sunday, said of Woods' return date: "I've been very non-committal because it's none of my business. But my guess as a golfer is he's going to try to play the Masters. It would surprise me if he didn't. I suspect he will play something before Augusta too."

If 35-year-old Woods is not back by the Bay Hill Event, that only leaves April 1's Shell Houston Open in Texas before the year's first major tees off.

European number one Ian Poulter also expects the world number one to be in the Masters field, and added: "I believe Tiger might play at Augusta. He's been practising and hitting balls for some time.

"The Masters is still six weeks away and I haven't spoken to him myself, but I know some players have and they think he could be close to coming back."

Chilean earthquake damage spreads to football season

Chile's football clubs will play one tournament this season instead of the usual two championships, with a mid-season break to help the national team prepare for the World Cup.

Foreign players have left the country, players and their families have suffered personal tragedies, and stadiums have been damaged as a result of the earthquake which hit the country a week ago, Reuters reports. Clubs in the south of the country are hardest hit, including top-tier clubs Huachipato, Universidad de Concepcion and Nublense.

The World Cup appearance by the national team was important for the morale of the country, said Chilean football federation (ANFP) president Harold Mayne-Nicholls.

Chile's domestic season since 2002 has involved the Apertura (opening) championship in the first half of the year, and the Clausura (closing) championship in the second half. Teams face each other one time in each championship, at home in one, away in the other. The Apertura was six rounds into the season when the earthquake hit.

This year, the Championship will start before the World Cup and finish after it.

Source: Sport Business

Tiger Woods rejects a $75 Million Offer

It seems that Tiger Woods might not be scrambling for sponsors as some would have you believe. It was confirmed that he turned down a $75 million offer from an Irish based company.

Irish bookie, Paddy Power, offered Woods a $75 million sponsorship that they have confirmed he snubbed this past Friday. It seems Woods must know something that we do not. The recently fallen-from-grace golfer has been dropped by several big named sponsors, most recently Gatorade.

Woods, who brings in an estimated $100 million a year in endorsements, has lost some of his bigger backers upon the acknowledgement of multiple affairs late last year. Notably, family oriented brand Buick, which had their logo on his golf bag until a few months ago.

Paddy Power says they are working on a better deal to offer Woods; this will be a five year deal. The Woods camp says they are not adding to his sponsorship portfolio right now. We will see if money really does talk in Tiger’s world.

Woods hit the pavement hard with a reality check late last year when news of many of his extra-marital affairs began to stream across the headlines. He has since been to rehab for sex addiction as well as family counseling.

Federer, Sampras Lead Hit for Haiti Live Friday on Tennis Channel

Tennis stars past and present will turn out this Friday for the “Hit for Haiti” benefit during the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., to be broadcast live March 12, 2010, at 10:30 p.m. ET on the Tennis Channel.

Among the team-ups announced, Roger Federer and Pete Sampras will take on Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi in doubles, while Steffi Graf and Lindsay Davenport will play against Martina Navratilova and Justine Henin in women’s doubles.

All eight players are current or former No. 1s in the men’s and women’s rankings.

Indian Wells Tournament Director Steve Simon says he expects a minimum of $1 million to be raised for Haiti earthquake relief efforts, as net proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the American Red Cross, and fans will be able to donate onsite and through text messages. Tickets are reportedly sold out for the event.

Oracle software millionaire Larry Ellison, who earlier this year purchased the Indian Wells event, will make his own donation, and according to officials the event will be broadcast live around the world and streamed live on the internet at usta.com and other websites, with broadcasters donating television and satellite time.

“Oracle is proud to participate in fundraising efforts to benefit the relief efforts in Haiti,” Ellison said. “It is impressive to see this remarkable line up of athletes work together to raise much-needed funds for Haiti. Our hope is to hold an event that supports relief efforts and continues to raise the visibility for how Haiti needs the world’s help.”

Maria Sharapova signs eight-year $70m Nike deal

Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has extended her sponsorship agreement with Nike in an eight-year deal worth $70 million, according to press reports.

Bloomberg reports that a new between the two comes into effect this month and includes a line of dresses designed by the player.

Nike has endorsed the 22-year-old Russian for 11 years. Since winning Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of 17, Sharapova has risen to become the world's best-paid female athlete.

“Sharapova is one of those stars whose name transcends sports, similar to David Beckham,” said Stefan Szymanski, an economics professor at the Cass Business School in London. “She's become an international celebrity first, and an athlete second.”

Venus Williams extended her agreement with Reebok in 2000 in a five-year deal worth around $45 million, said at the time to be the most lucrative deal ever for a female athlete.

Source: Sport Business