分类： sports

Driven by the heartbreak of their Paris Olympic performance and an unwavering ambition for gold, Australian rugby sevens stars Maddison and Teagan Levi have committed their futures to Rugby Australia, declining a high-profile cross-code move to the NRLW. The sisters have inked new contracts that will keep them in the national sevens program through the end of 2028, setting the stage for their campaign at the Los Angeles Olympics.

Despite significant interest from the Gold Coast Titans NRLW team, who were poised to sign the duo for the 2026 season, the logistical challenges of a code switch proved insurmountable. The upcoming World Series concludes in June, which would have allowed merely a four-week preparation period for an entirely new sport—a timeline the athletes deemed insufficient for achieving the competitive standard they demand of themselves.

Financial incentives from the league offer were acknowledged but ultimately dismissed as a primary factor. Maddison Levi, already a legendary figure sitting third on the all-time SVNS World Series try-scoring list with 221 tries, emphasized that their decision was rooted in passion. ‘Money is nice, but it’s not the be all and end all. We both play for the love of the game,’ she stated, highlighting the unparalleled value of a full-time training regimen and global travel with the national team.

The profound disappointment from the Paris Games, where Australia fell to Canada in the semi-finals and then suffered a devastating loss to the USA in the bronze medal match, serves as a powerful motivator. The team uses this experience as fuel, with Maddison noting that the loss has left the squad ‘rattled’ but increasingly hungry. A giant poster of Charlotte Caslick from Australia’s gold-medal triumph at the 2016 Rio Olympics now serves as a daily reminder of their ultimate objective in Los Angeles.

While the door remains open for a future transition to rugby league—a sport in their bloodline, as their father Jason played for Manly in the 1990s—the immediate focus is on building a legacy in sevens. The sisters, also drafted by the Gold Coast Suns in the AFLW, are among Australia’s most gifted multi-sport athletes. They confirmed that future offers will be considered individually, as they are not a ‘package deal,’ but for now, their mission is clear: Olympic redemption and dethroning the dominant New Zealand team on the world series circuit.

As England’s cricket establishment conducts a comprehensive performance review following their 4-1 Ashes defeat, attention is turning toward potential successors to current coach Brendon McCullum. While McCullum remains in position despite the disappointing outcome against Australia, speculation about his replacement has intensified significantly.

Amid this coaching conversation, Australian Adam Voges has emerged as an unexpectedly compelling candidate through his extraordinary domestic achievements. The 46-year-old coach recently added to his impressive resume by guiding the Perth Scorchers to another Big Bash League championship—his third BBL title to complement three Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup victories.

Voges’s coaching methodology successfully ended Western Australia’s two-decade domestic drought and initiated an unprecedented period of dominance across multiple formats. His approach demonstrates a distinctive balance between extracting peak performance from experienced veterans while simultaneously developing future international talent.

Despite not being formally mentioned in current speculation that includes names like Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan, Voges’s record presents a compelling case for consideration. The Western Australian will step down from his state role at season’s end while maintaining his position with the Scorchers and recently signing as coach of the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket.

This international expansion suggests potential openness to coaching opportunities abroad. Unlike the flamboyant ‘BazBall’ philosophy, Voges would offer England a stable, pressure-tested formula refined through consistent success in high-stakes environments.

His credentials extend beyond coaching—as a player, Voges represented Australia across all three formats and concluded his Test career with a remarkable average of 61.87. With Ashes performance historically determining coaching tenures, England’s potential interest in Voges represents a strategic consideration of appointing someone intimately familiar with Australian conditions and mentality.

American tennis sensation Ben Shelton has boldly asserted that he is a transformed athlete compared to the player decisively defeated by Jannik Sinner in last year’s Australian Open semi-final. Following an impressive four-set victory over Casper Ruud (3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4) in Monday’s late-night fourth-round clash, Shelton has secured another highly anticipated encounter with the world No. 2 Italian.

Shelton presented a compelling case for his improved capabilities, emphasizing significant enhancements in his net game execution after losing just one point at the net against Ruud. The young American highlighted substantial evolution in his baseline strategy and forehand technique, which he previously considered a weakness requiring careful management.

“I’ve never hit my forehand this good,” Shelton declared, expressing newfound confidence in this crucial aspect of his game. “I feel like I have great control, I’m hitting it bigger than ever, and my return game has improved dramatically. A year ago, I wasn’t comfortable hitting a forehand return and had to rely heavily on the chip. Now I’m reaching lockdown mode where I feel I can’t miss.”

The quarter-final scheduling remains undetermined, with potential conditions presenting different advantages. While indoor conditions aided Sinner during Saturday’s heat, allowing recovery from full-body cramps with the roof closed, Shelton expressed openness to either scenario. The American noted his comfort with daytime play under the Melbourne Park sun, which generates favorable action on his serve, while also acknowledging the advantages of night matches.

Shelton’s mental approach appears equally developed as his technical skills, stating he maintains “a really good head space” regardless of scheduling circumstances. This evolved combination of physical weapons and psychological readiness forms the foundation of Shelton’s conviction that he can now challenge tennis elites like Sinner and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz through offensive play capable of dethroning the reigning champion.