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Thoughts on Nine Network regaining the Olympic Games rights off Seven including the 2032 Home edition in Brisbane

by Sports Benches

Wow!! What a week it has been from the Nine Network who re-becomes the new Australian Olympic Network off their arch-rival at Seven. The new broadcast rights contract will cover over the next decade – starting with the next Summer Games from Paris in late July to early August next year. Then we go to Milan (2026 Winter) followed by Los Angeles (2028 Summer); Plus, an unknown city at this stage for the 2030 Winter edition before the Olympics will finally reach Brisbane on home soil for the 35th Summer edition in 2032.

It’s such a good time right now where Nine will be front & centre by themselves this time compared to when they last aired the Olympics back in 2012 alongside Pay TV partner Foxtel. Well, Nine has their own subscription streaming service now thanks to Stan Sport while the all-important & gold medal events will always be across the screens of Nine & 9Now. Although it remains to be seen if Nine will choose to either put most live streams of each event on 9Now or behind a paywall (Stan Sport).

But I guess it will be similar to the annual Australian Open Tennis coverage where you can have all the live streams + their current channels for free on 9Now, and if you’re someone who doesn’t like watching ads then you can also have access to all live streams uninterrupted on Stan Sport from start to finish. So probably a win-win for all of us if that happens. Nine can also maximise their Olympics content through their own radio & digital/print media groups as well, which makes it total sense for them to foot the bill ($305 million cash + $10 million contra in total).

Yes, it has taken a while for Nine to wrap up the next Olympics rights deal with no last minute twists from Seven due to financial constraints following their continued commitment of the cricket & AFL; Not even a shock out of nowhere from Network 10/Paramount + who relies on annual & long-term investments.

It remains to see though if Nine will buy the Paralympics rights, which is being sold separately by the International Paralympic Committee. But I hope they will get these extra content, so we can cheer on our disabled athletes while promoting further on diversity. For now, bring on Paris as there’s 76 weeks & 532 days to go.

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Aussie Dolphins Swim Team caps off a brilliant ending to the 16th World Short Course Swimming Championships in 2nd on the medal tally behind Team USA

by Sports Benches

Now the Aussies may not have thumped Team USA for the No.1 medal tally honours in this 16th Short Course World Championships here in Melbourne, but they’ve finished extremely well with 13 gold, 8 silver & 5 bronze in a total of 26.

We’ll start with Kaylee McKeown where she held her line really well from start to finish in the Women’s 200m backstroke Final. Then she immediately helped out by opening the 4 x 100m Medley Relay in backstroke; Although they may not have nailed down USA on time, but great effort by her team-mates – particularly to Meg Harris (Freestyle)!who wrapped up her shift in style with the team silver (2nd).

And how good was Kyle Chalmers when he anchored the 4 x 100 Men’s Medley Relay Final? He too made up some lost time as soon as Kyle dived into the pool before he was on par the front-runners going into the last 25m sprint; And not only he delivered them half of gold but also half of the new world record time alongside USA – in which was unreal to see him smash it towards the end of the wall in front of his mighty home crowd. 

Wow! Just wow! As we finish off this program, well done to our Aussie Dolphins Swim Team who swam so many golden moments that will forever be reflected over the last six days. Love seeing Lani Pallister rack up three individual freestyle long-distance gold (400, 800 & 1500m), as well as the one team relay in the 4 x 200 Women’s Free, with encouragement from the legendary Dawn Fraser. 

Plus, we’ve got Mollie O’Callaghan who is not only usually good at freestyle both by herself & as a team member but can do backstroke too. And we have two queens plus one king taking most of the golden prize in McKeown, McKeon & Chalmers. That’s a wrap for now as we can’t wait for the 20th long-course Worlds edition in Fukuoka, Japan, in mid-July next year – the place where Australia topped the medal charts back in 2001, and hopefully they go one better again over there this time against their arch-rival – Team USA.

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Aussie Dolphins Swim Team still not out of the running just yet to thump Team USA in the medal tally, having seen the golden girls take home two gold on Night Five

by Sports Benches

The Dolphins took home two gold & the bronze on Day 5 last night of the 16th FINA World Swimming Championships 25m here in Melbourne, as they currently still sit in 2nd on the medal tally by only two gold & even three silver medals behind Team USA on 11 & 7 respectively. 

So there’s still some possibility that the Aussies will hopefully top their arch-rival going into the sixth and final day of this program, having tied at five bronze medals apiece alone.

We’re going to start with the golden girls in the 4 x 50 Medley relay featuring Mollie O’Callaghan (back), Chelsea Hodges (breaststroke), Emma McKeon (butterfly) & Madi Wilson (free). They held their line well through each shift in 1st place after a decent fired off in the pool, particularly Madi Wilson in the final leg where she really well until the very end that not only helped the Aussies take home gold, but she managed to smash the world record time as well of 1:42.35.

Speaking of another golden girl, let’s talk more about our pool Queen here in Emma McKeon – who came back later on to race in the Women’s 50m Free. Once again, she was just too good in 1st all along from start to finish on Lane 5. Now Emma may have only smashed the new championship record time (23.04), but it’s still a golden swim nonetheless that bagged her another gold in one night for the Aussies.

On the other hand, we couldn’t see our men replicate the golden girls efforts – having finished bronze in the 4 x 50 Medley relay after a great start in the first 25m but couldn’t stay ahead; So does Kyle Chalmers who fell short in 7th in the 50m Free, where he too also swam well on  the first 25m before he was knocked over by Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands) & several others through to the finish line.

However, the boys have vowed to bounce back better, especially when Isaac Cooper had to go through during Night 5 after he thought he won gold in the 50m back Final, but then that race had to be restarted due to a technical malfunction before he was unfortunate to be outpaced in 2nd by Ryan Murphy (USA).

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Lani Pallister is the master of long-distance freestyle swimming while the Dolphins fell short for most of Day 4 of the 2022 World Short Course Championships

by Sports Benches

We may not have got away with much gold medals as we liked on Day 4 last night of the 2022 World Swimming Championships 25m, as the Dolphins only collected just the 1 gold, 2 silver & 3 bronze. 

It was great seeing Emma McKeon & Kyle Chalmers team up together in the Mixed 4 x 50 Free Relay alongside Matt Temple & Meg Harris. They swam really well in their respective shifts (Kyle 1st & Emma 4th in-line) that sent a huge threat to France, but just couldn’t get any closer past them. 

We also saw Kyle doing the exact same thing in the Men’s 4 x 200m Free relay, where he too closed the gap within reach of USA at one point after he took over Tommy Neill on his 2nd shift; It allowed him to build a good foundation for the Aussies to try & get past them going into the 2nd half-distance. Although Flynn Southam held his line well, but we couldn’t see Mack Horton stay ahead in 2nd where USA won gold there + the world record.

Then we all feel sorry for Isaac Alan Cooper in the Men’s 50m backstroke when we thought he won gold, but it turned out to be a false start due to a system error. He did his best to hold on 1st after a great fire off towards the opening turn, but sadly he was outrun by Ryan Murphy (USA) at just -0.9 secs. We all have to move on & get behind him, so he can go one better next time.

And there is one person who is outstanding when it comes to swimming long-distance freestyle races – Lani Pallister. She was absolutely too good in her latest 1500m meet, especially when Lani fired off well through the first 25m into 1st before she pulled off further ahead where no one couldn’t catch her down ever since. What a swim that is, having now collected three freestyle gold medals (400m, 800m & 1500m) + the 4 x 200 Relay in this edition. 

It’s also great to see Lani share the top podium spot with the legendary Dawn Fraser as well. 

Plus, shoutout to Mollie O’Callaghan in 3rd (Women’s 50m back), and So does Jenna  Strauch – who may have fired off slow – but did a great job gradually building her way home up to 4th in the Women’s 200m breaststroke. Australia not out of the race just yet in the medal tally as they’re currently just three gold medals behind Team USA in the hope of regaining the lead going into the second last day of this program later today.

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Three more golden moments on Day 3 last night from Emma McKeon & Kyle Chalmers for the Dolphins despite Team USA now leading the medal tally by just a solitary gold medal difference

by Sports Benches

Great to see another three gold medal moments last night from the Aussies on Day 3 of the 16th World Short Course Swimming Championships. Although Team USA just knicked them down to 2nd right now in the medal tally by only one gold medal difference of eight, but there’s still three days left to swipe back at their arch rival by hopefully regain the top spot.

Let’s start off with superstar Emma McKeon – who not only finished off well that not only helped Australia win gold in the Women’s 4 x 100m Free Relay Final on  Day 1 – but she too also kickstarted Day 3 with a gold of her own in the Women’s 100m Free. She too fired off well up to 2nd during the first 50m before McKeon got away with the lead, where she held off such firerce competition towards the end of the wall at 50.77 in front of her home crowd. She did try to repeat her brilliant finishing later in the Women’s 4 x 50m Free Relay Final; Although she couldn’t nail down on time, but still not a bad swim nonetheless with the team silver.

Speaking of superstars, how about Kyle Chalmers who also had an outstanding night of not one but two gold medals accrued for the Aussies. Love how he capitalised on Jordan Crooks’s strong start going into the last 25m dash, having ran 2nd for most of Men’s 100m free Final; That’s where the sweet spot is using his quick arms & kicks to help him supercharge his way home as he went one better at a time of 45.16. 

Then he returned to action again by helping out to anchor the 4 x 50m Men’s Free relay. Once again Kyle repeated the exact same thing as seen earlier in the evening that helped secure another Aussie gold for himself, Isaac Alan Cooper & Flynn Southam & Matt Temple. Kyle is such a good finisher – who poses a huge warning to his rivals going into the final flip turn – where this has changed everything on the run home on his terms.

And shoutout to two more swimmers who also swam well with a bright future in sight such as – Liz Dekkers (bronze in the Women’s 200m Butterfly) & Thomas Neill (silver in the Men’s 400m Free).

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More gold from the Aussies last night with three more off the back from another brilliant Lani Pallister & team relay swim, as well as Kaylee McKeown on Day 2 the 2022 World Short Course Swimming Championships

by Sports Benches

Day 2 got even better last night in the 2022 World Short Course Swimming Championships where the Dolphins Swim Team collected three more gold plus one silver & bronze apiece, as Australia stays on top spot with four days left of five gold, two silver & two bronze.

Let’s start off with another brilliant swim from Lani Pallister – this time in the Women’s 800m freestyle Final. She was just too good without any challenge from start to finish that secured her 2nd gold medal, after a blistering start last night where she became a world champion for the first time over in the 400m Free, having fended off rival Erika Fairweather (NZ) in that opening Finals meet.

Then we rope in both Kaylee McKeown (Lane 7) & Mollie O’Callaghan (Lane 4) over in the Women’s 100m backstroke Final where one of them took home gold for the Aussies. Now Mollie may have led for the majority having fired off well in front, but how good was Kaylee when came out of nowhere from 4th in the last 25 metre dash before she touched the wall in 1st ahead of Mollie – which is sensational stuff from someone who is extraordinary in this discipline. Again, some would love to see Mollie take home this gold but competition is the key.

And speaking of talent, how about we finish off Day 2 with the team relay in the Women’s 4 x 200 Free. Madi Wilson fired off well in 2nd in the first 200m. Mollie then capitalised on Canada’s fast start where she began to turn up the ante; that kind of patience helped the Aussies bridge that 2nd half run further in front with Leah Neale, before Lani once again wrapped up another golden night in the pool for the Dolphins with the team gold, as well as smashing another world record of 7:30.47.

Plus, shoutout to Isaac Alan Cooper who came home 3rd in the Men’s 100m back final. Although he couldn’t hold onto 2nd when Lorenzo Mora (Italy) got around him late before the end of the wall, but he swam well nonetheless with room for improvement to go one better towards silver or even gold next time.

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The Dolphins Swim Team on top of the medal tally after two stunning swims by Lani Pallister & Emma McKeon on the opening night of the 2022 World Short Course Swimming Championships

by Sports Benches

We saw two stunning swims last night that captured Australia’s golden moments on Day 1 of the 2022 FINA World Short Course Championships, as the Dolphins are currently in 1st on the medal tally right now with two gold – plus one silver & bronze. 

Let’s start off with Lani Pallister in the Women’s 400m Freestyle Final, having held the whole way through on her own from Lane 5. She was side-by-side with New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather for the first half distance before Lani pulled that gap further in front & Erika couldn’t catch her on the way home. It’s good to see Lani collect her first World Championship gold with praise from the legendary Dawn Fraser in the stands alongside her Mum.

Then we turn our attention to the Women’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final consisting of Mollie O’Callaghan, Madi Wilson, Meg Harris & Emma McKeon. It was a slow fire off from O’Callaghan but eventually made up some lost time up to 3rd by the time she handed over to Wilson – who did a great job keeping the Aussies not far within Team USA’s radar. 

Although McKeon dived in from 3rd after Harris to wrap it all up for the Dolphins, but she has changed everything going into the last 50-metre dash that blew USA’s Erika Brown away – not only with another Aussie gold but she also helped smash the new world record time of 3:25.43. Such a huge moment we witnessed from the golden girls who made the whole country proud, particularly McKeon as they’re now first time world champions in this short course meet. 

Plus, shoutout to Kaylee McKeown when she overcame her poor start up to P3 in the Women’s 200m IM final, but couldn’t nail down Team USA on time. And same goes to the Men’s relay team in the 4 x 100m Free; Although they couldn’t catch down the Italians in silver, but hats off to Matt Temple (2nd in-line) who pushed himself up into the Top 3, as well as Kyle Chalmers with a good finish to his swim.

One down, five days to go – with Australia looking to hunt down more gold medals on-offer later tonight on night No.2.

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A sensational finish in the 2022 Australian Open saw the towering Adrian Meronk crown as the first-time winner after rough Day 4 outings from Adam Scott & Min-Woo Lee

by Sports Benches

What a day, what a moment from the unbelievable & very tall Adrian Meronk of Poland – who just won this year’s Australian Open Men’s Tournament here in Cheltenham, Victoria. He got away with a fantastic front nine of back-to-back birdies at the start plus a two more on the 9th & 15th before Meronk wrapped up his final shift with a sensational eagle putt on the Par 5 18th at 4 under 66. How good!!

Adam Scott came home in 2nd by just five strokes behind Meronk at -9. He was on par with the Pole for the majority since his remarkable turnaround over the last two days. However, a mix of bogeys on the front nine & an poor 17th hole on double bogey – including an out of bounds mistake in his first shot – have effectively ended his hopes on top – as he finished Day 4 on two over 72. After Scott, Min-Woo Lee rounds out the Top 3 on -8. He came here hoping to take home home this tournament his own after an unreal first hole eagle on the Par 5 – but couldn’t find much special to kick on ever since that saw him settle for 3rd best on 1 under 69. 

Plus, hats off to Alejandro Canizares from Spain when he moved a whopping 26 spots up to Tied 4th at -7 alongside Haydn Bannon, as well as topping the charts of the final day alone with eight birdies despite two bogeys in between Holes 2 & 4 on six under 64. And it’s good to see a bunch of Aussies finish inside the Top 10-15 mark – including the resurgent Lucas Herbert down in Tied 10th by ten shots behind Meronk (-4) – when he fired off slow in the early stages – but found a way up over the weekend that reflected his late progress right until the very end. 

That is that as congrats to Adrian Meronk with his stunning day today as the new Australian Open Men’s champion.

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Adam Scott’s fantastic Day 3 performance puts him in the box seat towards the Australian Open Men’s title going into the final day

by Sports Benches

Adam Scott is such an amazing player to watch since his resurgence from Day 2 on Friday, as he will enter the fourth & final Day as the Australian Open Men’s leader on 11 under par. He was consistent through for most of the time bar the bogey on the Par 5 9th, but his back nine was superb especially when he sinked two birdies plus an unreal end to his shift with an eagle on the Par 5 18th of 3 under 67. 

Look out behind Scott by one stroke in 2nd at -10 when it comes to the towering 6 ft 6 in Adrian Meronk from Poland. He too also continued his resurgence like Adam with an extraordinary front nine of six birdies alone before he capped off a brilliant spell including an additional three birdies of the last 4 holes on 7 under 63.

It’s also good to see another pair of Aussies such as Haydn Barron & Min-Woo Lee in Tied 3rd – who are both ready to challenge Scott & also Meronk for the trophy – as they’re just four strokes behind Scott at -7. Bannon never looked out of place after he got away comfortably on two under 66, while Min-Woo Lee continued his progress further through the field but he would need a perfect Sunday finish & pray for the best if a breakthrough win ends up on his way. The same goes with Jason Scrivener when he moved way up from T32 to T12 at -4 after a brilliant run today of two under 66, but he doesn’t want another repeat of what happened last Sunday when a mix of errors on the Par 3 17th at the Australian PGA Championship ultimately cost him the title. 

Although David Micheluzzi‘ strong first-half start went downhill from top spot to Tied 12th following a rough score of -7 73, but again he would need a mix of consistency & luck if he wants the Australian Open title so bad by the end of tomorrow afternoon. But there’s one player for sure who can’t be present on Day 4 after he missed the 2nd cut-off bubble; Sadly, it’s current Australian PGA Championship winner Cameron Smith – even though he slightly improved a bit on Day 3 but a poor first half ruined his chances of collecting the double here in Victoria.

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Adam Scott catches up to David Micheluzzi with the joint lead going into moving day of the 2022 Australian Open Golf in Victoria

by Sports Benches

David Micheluzzi may have been inconsistent at times following a brilliant Day 1 fire off with a few bogeys along the way yesterday on Day 2 of the 2022 Australian Open Golf, but he still goes into the final two rounds this weekend as the joint leader at -8. Look around the other joint leader though when it comes to Adam Scott who rebounded from a slow start from the opening day Thursday. 

He too has cut down these bogeys with a number of consistent pars that’s sandwiched in between five birdies and an eagle on the Par 5 18th at the Victorian Golf Club, in which was an unbelievable end to his shift yesterday on seven under 63. Looking beyond these the Top 2 players, some players have kept the consistency inside the Top 5-10 as they look to sniff around both Scott & Micheluzzi for the lead on Day 3 today.

New Zealander Josh Geary, Haydn Barron & American Gunner Wiebe are all in T3 right now at -5. So does Velten Meyer from Germany, Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, Frenchman Pierre Pineau & Cameron Percy – who all share the Tied 6th spot at -4 alongside Shae Wools-Cobb; Wools-Cobb got away from his brilliant spell yesterday with seven birdies, plenty of pars & three bogeys of four under 66. So that’s your Top 10 there.

Though don’t rule out Adrian Meronk from Poland just outside the Top 10 in Tied 11th at -3 – alongside the defending champion from 2019 – Matt Jones. He turned this slow start around when Meronk got away consistently in both the front and back nine on six under 66 as the 2nd best player of Day 2 alone behind A. Scott – including an unbelievable eagle on the Par 5 15th at Kingston Heath. 

It’s also good to see Min-Woo Lee improve in some way despite an lopsided back nine up to Tied 16th, while there’s still lots of catch-up from Jason Scrivener & Lucas Herbert down in Tied 32nd, as well as Cameron Smith who just escaped the cut-off line on Tied 57th. Lots to play out for during Moving Day of the 2022 Australian Open with two rounds left to go in Victoria.

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