• Slug: Sports–Kirsten Kasper, 930 words
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By Scott Sandulli
Cronkite News

PARIS – The Valley remains a prime destination for snowbirds in winter months, providing comfortable, extended holiday seasons for anyone who doesn’t feel like shoveling snow and seeing their breath in freezing conditions.

Kirsten Kasper, a native New Englander, could be classified as such, but her purpose for welcoming winter weather is different. Once the snow start falling in her hometown of North Andover, Massachusetts, Kasper hightails it for the saguaros of Scottsdale to take in the sunshine, but also to let it light the clear roads and flowing waters to pursue her life’s passion: competing in the Summer Olympics.

Her decision has paid off. Kasper, 32 competes Wednesday in the Paris Olympics’ Women’s Triathlon. She is ranked 11th in World Triathlon rankings and among those favored to win a medal. Continue reading “From Scottsdale to Paris: ‘Snowbird’ triathlete Kirsten Kasper takes roads and waters less traveled to Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–River Seine Triathlon Postponed, 780 words
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By Scott Sandulli
Cronkite News

PARIS – As many expected in the lead up to the Olympic Games, the River Seine has been a major headache for the International Olympic Committee. Its most recent migraine regarding the iconic waterway’s cleanliness has been its biggest, with dangerous levels of contaminants in the water causing the postponement of Tuesday’s Men’s Triathlon Final.

“The conditions weren’t right to put the athletes in the Seine today,” IOC sports director Kit McConnell said. “Of course we try and run everything on schedule, but you’ve heard the reasons why.”

Continue reading “Men’s triathlon postponed as Seine River fails to meet safety requirements for Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Keaton Jones Swimming Olympics, 1,200 words.
• Photo available.

By Zach Bradshaw
Cronkite News

PARIS – Keaton Jones is making waves and breaking ground. He is believed to be the first swimmer in 16 years to come through Arizona age-group competition and reach the Olympic Games.

The Highley High School graduate, 19, will represent the United States in the men’s 200-meter backstroke Wednesday after finishing second to two-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Murphy at the Olymic Trials in June.

He swims at the University of California, Berkeley, but his skills are rooted in Arizona. In addition to dominating the local scene, he’s broken Guinness World Records in ice swimming, helped raise over $24,000 for first responders and shattered numerous records at his high school. Continue reading “Former Higley High swimmer Keaton Jones ready to showcase backstroke skills in Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Khalia Lanier Olympics Volleyball. 650 words.
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By Abigail Scott
Cronkite News

PARIS – It can be hard growing up in the shadow of greatness. Even though that was the case for Khalia Lanier, she managed to forge her own path.

She recently was selected as an alternate for the Team USA women’s volleyball team and will come to the Paris Olympics if needed.

“If I can do it, anyone can,” the Scottsdale native said. “Always take a step back and get perspective, enjoy your journey, and be willing to make changes if needed.” Continue reading “Scottsdale volleyball standout and daughter of NBA great Bob Lanier forges own path as Paris Olympics alternate”

• Slug: Sports–Bec Allen Olympics. 1014 words.
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By Joshua Heron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – A young Rebecca Allen was the first to wake, wipe her eyes and rise out of bed in her Australian household on Christmas mornings. Her mission: wake up her parents and brother. The Phoenix Mercury guard cherishes the December holiday and, even more so, family, but her consistent Christmas morning routine reflects her commitment to applying herself to whatever she loves.

At roughly 12, she found a new love: basketball. This love has provided Allen with a resume that includes a 2018 FIBA World Cup silver medal and an eight-year WNBA career, but also difficult setbacks.

Allen withdrew from the Paris Olympics after she suffered a high-grade hamstring injury in the Opals’ final exhibition match against Canada last Tuesday. Without its star, the medal contenders, thanks to 26 turnovers, suffered an upsetting 75-62 defeat to Nigeria in its first group phase match Monday.

Allen responded to the news of her injury on X, formerly Twitter, saying that she was “Shattered.”

“I feel terrible for Bec,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “These are opportunities you dream of as a kid – an opportunity to represent your country against the best in the world – and it’s taken away from you right before the Olympics. It’s devastating.”

Continue reading “Mercury forward Rebecca Allen’s past trials offer hope after Olympics injury”

• Slug: Sports–Alliance Francaise Phoenix, 940 words.
• Photo available.

By Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PARIS – As much as providing cultural workshops helps to encourage positive exchange and understanding between French and U.S. citizens, breaking the language barrier can be a challenge for both the teacher and the student.

It makes for a 360-degree learning experience for everyone involved. Enter the Alliance Francaise of Greater Phoenix, whose goal is to encourage the study of French language and to promote the appreciation of the country’s culture.

With the Paris Olympics underway, interest in French culture is greater than ever. Americans have long been fascinated by the country’s history, fashion and food. The late French general and politician Charles de Gaulle once said, “How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese?” Continue reading “Bonjour! With backdrop of Paris Olympics, Valley’s Alliance Francaise aims to improve understanding of French culture”

• Slug: Sports–Khjarun ASU Team Canada, 570 words.
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By Zach Bradshaw
Cronkite News

PARIS – Athleticism is clearly in the bloodlines.

Arizona State swimmer Ilya Kharun, who will compete for Team Canada Tuesday in the Paris Olympics, comes from a family who understands the demands of physicality. His parents, Valeriy and Oksama Kharoun, were longtime acrobats with Cirque du Soleil. His sister, Dasha, is also a Cirque performer.

All eyes will be on the son this week, however, as he competes in the 200-meter butterfly Tuesday and the 100-meter butterfly Friday in the Paris Olympics. Continue reading “Cirque du Hooray: ASU celebrates swimmer Ilya Khjarun’s participation with Team Canada in Paris”

• Slug: Sports–Taurasi Age Olympics, 700 words.
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By Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PARIS – Diana Taurasi is clearly tired of questions about her age.

“It’s something that I’ve been doing since I was 5,” Taurasi, 42, said Monday. “It is something that I’ve dedicated my whole life to, and it’s just so easy for a question to be brought up in a manner where it’s not meant to be disrespectful, but if you’re the person being asked, it is a bit disrespectful.”

The Mercury veteran and the U.S. women’s basketball team start their quest for yet another gold medal Monday. Continue reading “‘Bit disrespectful’: Diana Taurasi pushes back on questions about age, female stereotypes at Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–One For All Olympics Campaign, 800 words.
• Photo available.

By Scott Sandulli
Cronkite News

PARIS – In front of the Team USA House at Palais Brongniart, red white and blue clad visitors make their way in and out of the historic site at the 16th Arrondissement with no shortage of enthusiasm. The overcast skies with waiting rain had little effect on the excitement and anticipation of the night’s opening ceremony, as fans prepared to brave the elements and greet their nation’s top athletes at the Seine River and watch parties across Paris.

While one can combat some raindrops with an umbrella, staying dry beneath the political downpour stateside isn’t so achievable. In an age of turmoil and division from the White House to the grassroots, the ever-growing rifts and divisions seen in the U.S. today have arguably reached an all-time high. Even in an election year, for the next two weeks, the drama of U.S. politics at least has a headline competitor with the Olympics, where whom you’re voting for takes a backseat to simply being an American, whether competing for or cheering on the Stars and Stripes. Continue reading “‘One For All’ campaign hopes to unite U.S. athletes, fans during unprecedented time of division”

• Slug: Sports–Jade Carey Gymnastics Olympics, 970 words.
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• Video available.

By Tyler Bednar
Cronkite News

PARIS – Jade Carey, a Mountain Ridge High School alumnus and former competitor at Arizona Sunrays, is back in the Summer Olympics. This is her second trip to the Summer Games after she competed for Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won the gold medal in the floor exercise.

“I would say it’s really rewarding and special,” Carey said. “I never thought that I would even get there once, so to get there twice means that much more to me.

Carey, 24, has pushed through a difficult first few days at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Continue reading “Phoenix native Jade Carey overcomes illness at Paris Olympics, moves to 2nd in vault”

• Slug: Sports–Gary Hall Olympics, 2,800 words.
• Photos available.

By Zach Bradshaw
Cronkite News

PARIS – Team USA swimming will have a target on its back. After dominating the medal count in eight straight Olympic Games, the U.S. has become the hunted, and the greatest predator is Australia.

The Australia-U.S. swimming rivalry is a major storyline In Paris. In a video promotion for the Games, NBC used videos of former U.S. swimmers and newspaper headlines to hype up the rivalry. The video credited 10-time Olympic medalist and longtime Valley resident Gary Hall Jr. for having “started” the rivalry.

“I got off the airplane in Sydney for the Olympic Games and it was like ‘balky American, brash asshole Gary Hall Jr. is now off once again,’ and said that the Americans are going to smash the Australians,” Hall said. Continue reading “‘Ugly American’ Gary Hall Jr. finds peace after Olympics media scrutiny, diabetes struggle”

• Slug: Sports–Olympics Opening Ceremony. 780 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Devon Henderson
Cronkite News

PARIS – Filmmakers use it to enhance a cinematic scene with emotion, drama and urgency. On Friday night, Paris put on one of the world’s grandest productions, broadcast worldwide to over a billion people across the globe, and Mother Nature decided to intervene with that same element.

Rain.

As the heavens above the City of Light opened up for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, dumping rain on the spectacle below, the drama was heightened. While most of the just under 7,000 athletes that cruised down the river Seine – in various boats with their fellow countrymen – adorned clear ponchos so as not to ruin their perfectly tailored suits underneath, many of the thousands of fans at viewing parties in local parks across Paris weren’t so lucky. They hardly noticed. Continue reading “Rain can’t dampen mood as fans celebrate inclusive vibe of Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony”

• Slug: Sports–ASU women’s golf Olympics. 641 words.
• Photo available.

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

TEMPE – As the Paris Olympics begin, Arizona State’s Missy Farr-Kaye’s fingerprints are all over the golf competition as the Sun Devils women’s coach. Five of her former Sun Devils will represent Tempe on the world stage in a show of the program’s longstanding success.

“Well I just think it’s such a great reflection of what we do, why we do it and why I do it,” Farr-Kaye said Wednesday. “And it’s great to see all the details, the things that we do every day in the grind and trying to help our athletes be successful on and off the golf course. It is wonderful to see them be so externally successful.

ASU’s Linn Grant, the Swede who became the first woman to become a two-time winner of the DP World Tour, and Alexandra Forsterling, a four-time Ladies European Tour champion, will join Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz and Italy’s Alessandra Fanali.

Continue reading “ASU women’s golf program showcases strength with five Olympians in Paris”

• Slug: Sports–Gay Paris Olympics, 1,400 words. 
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• Video available

By Abigail Scott
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE – In the heart of Scottsdale, La Belle Vie Bakery is creating more than pastries; it’s creating a cultural connection as the world focuses on the Paris Olympics. At the Uptown Farmers Market, this vendor stands out, drawing in Arizona locals with the promise of authentic French cuisine.

The bakery’s commitment to French culinary tradition is evident in every product on the counter. From the flaky brioche croissants to traditionally crafted baguettes, each item is made to transport customers back to France. It is one of approximately a dozen French-influenced bakeries in the Phoenix area.

“Food is the living soul of a culture. It passes from generation to generation,” the La Belle Vie website says. Continue reading “5,000 miles away from Paris Olympics, Valley’s French bakeries find connection with community”

• Slug: Sports–WNBA International Appeal. 1490 words.
• Photos available.

By Aya Abdeen
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The basketball world converged on the Valley for this year’s historic WNBA All-Star Game, showcasing not only the sport’s elite talent but also its international reach. The weekend underscored how deeply interconnected the game remains between fans and players across the globe.

International interest, which involves fans and players from multiple countries, has significantly impacted the growth of the WNBA. From the league’s early years, international stars like Lauren Jackson, Michele Timms and Jennifer Azzi have attracted global attention. Over the years, many players have spent WNBA offseasons overseas, in countries like Turkey and Russia, to make more money and play at high levels.

For example, longtime Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi played overseas for 12 seasons in Russia and Turkey, where she won numerous titles worldwide. She retired from international play in 2017 (excluding the Olympics) but not before sitting out a WNBA season at the request of her Russian team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, sparking discussions about the WNBA’s salary cap.

Throughout her career with the Mercury, Taurasi played with international teammates such as Australian Penny Taylor (her spouse of seven years), Russian Maria Stepanova, and under Australian coach Sandy Brondello.

“The international players have always been an integral part of this league, especially here in Phoenix,” Taurasi said last Friday. “We talked about our Australian contingency with Penny (Taylor), (Michele Timms), and then you have it on the coaching side, too, with Sandy (Brondello) and bringing that international experience.

“So it’s a huge part of our league. The game grows internationally every single year and after 20 years, it’s in a really good place.”

Continue reading “WNBA’s international appeal lures players and fans as the women’s game explodes in popularity”

• Slug: Sports–Rattlers coaches. 845 words.
• Photos available.

By Dylan Slager
Cronkite News

GLENDALE – As the Arizona Rattlers prepare for yet another postseason in the Indoor Football League, it’s impossible not to marvel at the organization’s steady success inside the padded dasher boards, along with its stability off the field.

When the Rattlers face the Vegas Knight Hawks Saturday night on the road in the IFL’s first round, they will be playing a team making its playoff debut, while Arizona has appeared in 27 indoor football playoffs (including the Arena Football League). And while the Knight Hawks beat the Rattlers twice this year – both teams finished the regular season 11-5 – Arizona coach Kevin Guy heads into his 25th playoff game with the team, hoping his 17-7 postseason record gives the Rattlers an advantage.

With that much success in the playoffs, Guy has to have built a sturdy foundation within his organization. And there is no better way to do that than by doing much of it yourself. While coaching the team, Guy is also the president of business operations and has held various front office positions within the organization for almost 16 years.

In 2021, Guy captured Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year and Franchise of the Year honors, marking the first time in the history of indoor football that one person has won all three of those awards in a single year.

By being involved with both sides of the team, the ability to succeed boils down to how Guy holds himself in both positions.

“Number one thing is you need to compartmentalize your day. If I’m dealing with football players and coaches, I’ve got my coaching hat on,” Guy said. “When I am dealing with the fanbase, corporate partners or the front office staff then I’ve got my president hat on. It all really depends on what meeting we are in.”

Continue reading “Double duty: Kevin Guy, Jeff Jarnigan manage coaching and front office duties while leading Arizona Rattlers into another postseason”