🏊‍♀️ Going For Gold

Welcome back, it's Monday, 20 June

🔊 Sport Today Podcast

This morning, Sam Ferris and Martin Gabor are at the mic.

Today's listen time: 10 minutes.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📺 What we're watching

⚽ 7.05am - MLS - New England v Minnesota - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough - Foxtel, Kayo

⚾ 9.00am - MLB - Astros v White Sox - Minute Maid Park, Houston - Foxtel, Kayo

🎾 8.00pm - Tennis - Eastbourne International - Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne - Foxtel, Kayo

All times are in AEST

🏊‍♀️ Winning start for our swimmers 

It’s been a golden start for the Aussies at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest.

Golden points: A lot of our best swimmers didn’t make the trip to Hungary, but that’s not a problem because we have a lot of stars.

• Elijah Winnington lived up to his name to win the 400m freestyle.

• There was more gold to come when the women won the 4x100m freestyle relay. That’s a huge effort because 3 members of the winning team in Tokyo were missing. That meant Shayna Jack came in and won her first gold since her doping ban ended.

• We thought there’d be more gold with Kaylee McKeown. But she pulled out of the 100m backstroke event which she won in Tokyo last year.

What are the chances… we top the medal tally? It’s gonna be tough. The Americans are out in front and have superstar Katie Ledecky.

Watch it: There are still plenty of events to go, and you can watch them on 9Gem or you can stream it on 9Now.

🏏 Sticky situation in Sri Lanka

Things just got really tricky for the Aussie cricket team in Sri Lanka.

The score: Sri Lanka (4/292) defeated Australia (6/291) with 9 balls to spare.

Golden points: It was a tough day to be an Aussie bowler. Or maybe Sri Lanka’s batters were just too good.

• We batted first and a lot of guys chipped in but no one made a huge score. Travis Head was our best with an unbeaten 70.

• That never looked like it was going to be enough once Sri Lanka’s batters got going.

• Pathum Nissanka hit a career-best 137 and added 170 runs for the 2nd wicket with Kusal Mendis who only missed out on a century because of severe cramps.

What’s next: The loss ain’t great, but the series isn’t over. The Aussies trail 2-1 so they’ve got to win the next 2 games. The fightback starts tomorrow at 7.00pm (AEST).

Watch it: Check out some wicked catches and a batting masterclass in these highlights.

🏐 Fever too hot to handle 

It turns out the drama about the Super Netball Grand Final was all about nothing.

Golden points: There were a lot of upset people when we found out that the GF had been sold to Perth to help Netball Australia make some extra money. But it didn’t matter because West Coast Fever earned the right to host the big game.

• They upset minor premiers the Vixens 71-62 in the major semi-final thanks to a whopping 67 goals to star shooter Jhaniele Fowler.

• The Fever can now rest up with the week off, but it’s not all doom and gloom for the Vixens.

• They get another crack this weekend against the Giants who beat the Magpies in Sydney yesterday.

They said it: “I was super frustrated because what was allowed in the first half compared to the second was very different.” - Magpies coach Nicole Richardson wasn’t too happy with the officiating.

What’s next: The prelim final is on Saturday at 7.00pm (AEST) in Melbourne.

🏉 Blues put their faith in the magnificent seven 

Blues fans are hoping it’s a case of lucky number 7 heading into game 2 of the State of Origin series.

Golden points: There are no 2nd chances for NSW after they lost the series opener 16-10. So coach Brad Fittler has made a stack of changes to turn it around.

• A squad of 22 came out last night and there were a few big surprises.

• Matt Burton looks set to make his Origin debut at left centre to replace Jack Wighton who has COVID. There’s still no spot for winger Josh Addo-Carr.

• Making mass changes is nothing new for Fittler. He did it going into game 2 of the 2019 series after a loss and the Blues won big in Perth. And wouldn’t you know it, Sunday’s game is also out west.

What’s next: The squad is in alphabetical order so we don’t actually know who’s gonna play where. But that’ll be sorted later today when NSW and Queensland finalise their teams.

Watch it: Here's the moment Burton found out he was in the team. Scenes.

🎾 Big names withdraw from Wimbledon 

Do you want the good news or the bad news?

Golden points: Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way. Former world #1 tennis player Naomi Osaka won’t play at Wimbledon next week.

• She’s got an Achilles injury and won’t be right to go for the 3rd grand slam of 2022.

• We won’t see Eugenie Bouchard, either. She made the final in 2014 but has chosen to skip this year’s event because there are no ranking points on offer.

• That’s a biggie for players who want to climb up the rankings. The reason that’s happened is that Wimbledon banned Russian and Belarussian players from competing, so the tennis federations decided to get rid of points.

What are the chances… Rafael Nadal plays? They’re looking better by the day, so that's good! He’s been battling a foot injury but says he’s feeling much better. 

What’s next: Get the strawberries and cream ready because Wimbledon is a week away. Sure, a few players are out. But Serena Williams is back and ready to roll.

👀 Quick singles

🏁 There is no stopping Max Verstappen. The reigning F1 champ has extended his lead after another win at the Canadian GP this morning.

⛳ There are some big names in the mix to win the US Open. Golf's big dogs are at the top of the leaderboard midway through today's final round.

🏊‍♀️ Swimming has banned transgender athletes from competing unless they meet certain criteria. The governing body, FINA, voted to stop transgender women from competing unless they completed their transition by the time they were 12yo.

🥅 The Colorado Avalanche are 2 wins away from the Stanley Cup. They belted the Lightning 7-0 at home to go 2-0 up in the best of 7 series for the NHL title.

🏉 The Gold Coast Suns are just one win outside the AFL’s top 8. The Crows found out the hard way just how impressive they are after the Suns piled on the goals to win by 43.

🎾 Matteo Berrettini could be the king of grass this year after he won the Queen’s title overnight. He beat Filip Krajinović and has now won 20 of his past 21 matches on grass heading into Wimbledon.

🎾 Ons Jabeur has found form a week out from Wimbledon. The Tunisian star beat Belinda Bencic in the final in Berlin after her opponent had to withdraw because of injury. 

🙃 Left of field...

We are the champions of the world!

Golden points: What a time to be an Aussie. It’s probably too early to head to the pub, but we’re off to the shops to buy a dartboard to celebrate a shock win at the World Cup of Darts.

• There’s a reason he’s called Simon ‘the Wizard’ Whitlock. The man with the iconic hair teamed up with Damon Heta to shock the world this morning.

• They knocked Belgium out in the quarters, stunned #1 seeds England with a crushing win in the semis and then cruised past Wales 3-1 in the final.

• The fingernails were getting devoured when they missed some match-winning darts, but they got there in the end, 10 years after Australia last made the final.

Watch it: Winning the World Cup is as good as it gets. But imagine if they’d nailed this 9-darter against Lithuania.

📽 The highlight reel

Look away Knights fans. Hudson Young was the hero in Canberra yesterday as the Raiders stole the win in the NRL with this last-gasp try. 

📸 Photo finish

No wonder Chaz Mostert is so happy. He produced one of the drives of his career to win the 3rd race on a thrilling day of V8 Supercars racing in Darwin.

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

The Vixens are 2-0 against the Giants this season. They won 66-63 in Round 9.