分类： sports

Paralympic skier Patrick Halgren has transformed personal tragedy into triumphant inspiration at the Milan Cortina Paralympics, honoring his late twin brother through both his athletic performance and a deeply personal movement. Upon arriving in Italy, Halgren began placing distinctive blue-and-yellow “SvendIt” stickers throughout Cortina d’Ampezzo—on chairlifts, water bottles, and even restaurant bathrooms—as a tribute to his brother Lucas Sven Halgren, who died in a 2016 motorcycle accident.

The phrase “SvendIt,” a playful twist on the skiing term “send-it,” embodies Halgren’s approach to life and sport. His brother Sven had initially encouraged him to pursue adaptive skiing after Halgren lost his left leg above the knee in his own motorcycle crash in 2013. Now competing in his second Paralympics across five standing division events, Halgren carries his brother’s spirit both literally and figuratively—with the words tattooed across his abdomen.

Halgren’s journey to Cortina represents a victory in itself after a season marked by multiple crashes. His parents traveled from Connecticut to witness his competitions, which he’s approaching with characteristic flair—planning to dye his hair red and blue to complement his blonde braids for different events.

The athlete leads an unconventional lifestyle, splitting time between his Ford camper van and Colorado Springs home. During ski season, he parks near Winter Park Resort, where he announces races for children, assists with mountain maintenance, and trains. Halgren has also expanded into filmmaking, contributing to “Us and Them,” a project showcasing adaptive skiing from athletes’ perspectives.

Reflecting on his brother’s legacy, Halgren shared: “I’ve got a lot of really good friends messaging me and saying, ‘He’d be so proud of you.’ When there’s a ray of sunshine on the mountain, I’ve got to believe that it’s him up there showing me the way.”

The globally distributed “SvendIt” stickers—found from Norwegian slopes to Colorado weather stations—represent more than just memorial; they symbolize Halgren’s philosophy: “Basically, if you’re going to do something, you’ve just got to go for it. Go have some fun and live your life. Have something to talk about later.”

TOKYO — Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani delivered a breathtaking performance that transcended the game itself as Japan dominated Taiwan with a decisive 13-0 victory in their Pool C opener at the World Baseball Classic on Friday.

The two-way phenomenon ignited the Tokyo Dome with a second-inning grand slam that instantly became the tournament’s defining moment. His powerful swing sent the ball soaring beyond the park, creating an electric atmosphere that captivated the sold-out crowd of 40,000 spectators.

Ohtani’s influence extended far beyond the diamond, attracting global celebrities including actor Timothée Chalamet and pop icon Bad Bunny to witness his mastery. The anticipation built hours before first pitch during batting practice, where Ohtani showcased his extraordinary power by launching approximately 10 balls out of the park during just 25 swings.

Fans traveled extraordinary distances for the experience, with Lia Chan and her family flying seven hours from Singapore specifically to witness Ohtani’s performance. ‘When Ohtani came along, it’s just gone out of proportions,’ Chan remarked, highlighting baseball’s limited popularity in her home country.

Following the game, Ohtani addressed the enthusiastic crowd in Japanese, expressing gratitude for their support. ‘It was a good game and we got off to a good start, so I think it was all because of your support,’ he stated amid rising applause. The superstar emphasized the importance of scoring first and maintaining momentum throughout the tournament.

Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto credited Ohtani’s grand slam for establishing crucial early momentum. ‘This was our first game of the tournament and to score the first run is always difficult,’ Yamamoto noted in his post-game comments. ‘But Shohei hit a huge home run to give us the momentum. So I tip my cap to him.’

Ohtani’s pre-game preparation demonstrated his unique approach to the sport, taking time to greet sponsors, interact with teammates, and even personally thank the batting practice pitcher before gathering loose balls—gestures that further endeared him to fans and observers alike.

In a spectacular display of offensive power, Team Japan launched their World Baseball Classic campaign with a resounding 13-0 mercy-rule victory over Taiwan at a packed Tokyo Dome on Friday. The game, halted after seven innings under tournament regulations, showcased two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani’s extraordinary talents before his home nation fans.

The offensive explosion centered around a monumental second inning where Japan batted around the order, scoring ten runs in a 28-minute offensive showcase. After loading the bases with three consecutive runners, Ohtani stepped to the plate and delivered a crushing grand slam to right field off Taiwanese starter Hao-Chun Cheng. The Los Angeles Angels phenom would add a single later in the same inning, finishing with three hits and five RBIs in just two frames.

While Ohtani’s batting heroics captured attention, Japan’s pitching staff maintained complete control. Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last season’s World Series MVP with the Dodgers, earned the victory with three scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing no hits despite some third-inning control issues that required reliever Shoma Fujihira to escape a bases-loaded jam.

The victory positions Japan firmly as Pool C favorites as they pursue their second consecutive WBC championship. The team continues pool play Saturday against regional rivals South Korea, while Taiwan faces the Czech Republic in a critical matchup for quarterfinal qualification.

In other Pool C action, Australia remained undefeated with a 5-1 victory over the Czech Republic behind Chicago White Sox infielder Curtis Mead’s third-inning three-run homer. The Australians improved to 2-0 and appear poised to challenge Japan for pool supremacy.