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Tag: olympic

  • Lindsey Vonn crashes early in Olympic downhill as she competes on torn ACL at age 41

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    Lindsey Vonn, racing on a badly injured left knee, crashed early in the Olympic downhill Sunday and was taken off the course in a helicopter after receiving medical attention for several minutes.Previous coverage above: When athletes push through injuries Vonn lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air. She was heard screaming out after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel before she was strapped to a gurney and flown away by a helicopter, possibly ending the skier’s storied career. Her condition was not immediately known, with the U.S. Ski Team saying simply she would be evaluated.Video below: Lindsey Vonn talks torn ACL, skiing in CortinaBreezy Johnson, Vonn’s teammate, won gold and became only the second American woman to win the Olympic downhill after Vonn did it 16 years ago. The 30-year-old Johnson held off Emma Aicher of Germany and Italy’s Sofia Goggia on a bittersweet day for Team USA.Vonn had family in the stands, including her father, Alan Kildow, who stared down at the ground while his daughter was being treated. Others in the crowd, including Snoop Dogg, watched quietly as the star skier was finally taken off the course where she had so many fond memories.Video below: U.S. skiers talk about Lindsey Vonn competing in Italy Olympics despite torn ACLVonn’s crash was “tragic, but it’s ski racing,” said Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.“I can only say thank you for what she has done for our sport,” he said, “because this race has been the talk of the games and it’s put our sport in the best possible light.”All eyes were on Vonn, the feel-good story heading into the Olympics. She returned to elite ski racing last season after nearly six years, a remarkable decision at any time, but especially so given her age and that she had a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee. Many wondered how she would fare.She stunned everyone by being a contender almost immediately. She came to the Olympics as the leader in the World Cup downhill standings and was a gold-medal favorite before her crash in Switzerland nine days ago, when she suffered her latest knee injury. In addition to a ruptured ACL, she also had a bone bruise and meniscus damage.Still, no one counted her out even then. She has skied through injuries for three decades at the top of the sport. In 2006, ahead of the Turin Olympics, Vonn took a bad fall during downhill training and went to the hospital. She competed less than 48 hours later, racing in all four events she’d planned, with a top result of seventh in the super-G.“It’s definitely weird,” she said then, “going from the hospital bed to the start gate.”Cortina has always had many treasured memories for Vonn beyond the record wins. She is called the queen of Cortina, and the Olympia delle Tofana is a course that had always suited Vonn. She tested out the knee twice in downhill training runs over the past three days before the crash on Sunday in clear, sunny conditions.“This would be the best comeback I’ve done so far,” Vonn said before the race. “Definitely the most dramatic.”After the crash, the celebration for the medalists was held and fellow skiers thought about Vonn’s legacy.“She has been my idol since I started watching ski racing,” said Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway. “We still have a World Cup to do after Olympics … I wouldn’t be surprised if she suddenly shows up on the start gate, but the crash didn’t look good.”

    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy —

    Lindsey Vonn, racing on a badly injured left knee, crashed early in the Olympic downhill Sunday and was taken off the course in a helicopter after receiving medical attention for several minutes.

    Previous coverage above: When athletes push through injuries

    Vonn lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air. She was heard screaming out after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel before she was strapped to a gurney and flown away by a helicopter, possibly ending the skier’s storied career. Her condition was not immediately known, with the U.S. Ski Team saying simply she would be evaluated.

    Video below: Lindsey Vonn talks torn ACL, skiing in Cortina

    Breezy Johnson, Vonn’s teammate, won gold and became only the second American woman to win the Olympic downhill after Vonn did it 16 years ago. The 30-year-old Johnson held off Emma Aicher of Germany and Italy’s Sofia Goggia on a bittersweet day for Team USA.

    Vonn had family in the stands, including her father, Alan Kildow, who stared down at the ground while his daughter was being treated. Others in the crowd, including Snoop Dogg, watched quietly as the star skier was finally taken off the course where she had so many fond memories.

    Video below: U.S. skiers talk about Lindsey Vonn competing in Italy Olympics despite torn ACL

    Vonn’s crash was “tragic, but it’s ski racing,” said Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.

    “I can only say thank you for what she has done for our sport,” he said, “because this race has been the talk of the games and it’s put our sport in the best possible light.”

    All eyes were on Vonn, the feel-good story heading into the Olympics. She returned to elite ski racing last season after nearly six years, a remarkable decision at any time, but especially so given her age and that she had a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee. Many wondered how she would fare.

    She stunned everyone by being a contender almost immediately. She came to the Olympics as the leader in the World Cup downhill standings and was a gold-medal favorite before her crash in Switzerland nine days ago, when she suffered her latest knee injury. In addition to a ruptured ACL, she also had a bone bruise and meniscus damage.

    Still, no one counted her out even then. She has skied through injuries for three decades at the top of the sport. In 2006, ahead of the Turin Olympics, Vonn took a bad fall during downhill training and went to the hospital. She competed less than 48 hours later, racing in all four events she’d planned, with a top result of seventh in the super-G.

    “It’s definitely weird,” she said then, “going from the hospital bed to the start gate.”

    Cortina has always had many treasured memories for Vonn beyond the record wins. She is called the queen of Cortina, and the Olympia delle Tofana is a course that had always suited Vonn. She tested out the knee twice in downhill training runs over the past three days before the crash on Sunday in clear, sunny conditions.

    “This would be the best comeback I’ve done so far,” Vonn said before the race. “Definitely the most dramatic.”

    After the crash, the celebration for the medalists was held and fellow skiers thought about Vonn’s legacy.

    “She has been my idol since I started watching ski racing,” said Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway. “We still have a World Cup to do after Olympics … I wouldn’t be surprised if she suddenly shows up on the start gate, but the crash didn’t look good.”

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  • ‘Symbol of the Haitian spirit’: Haiti’s Winter Olympic uniform inspired by history

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    The official Olympic Team uniform for Team Haiti for the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

    The official Olympic Team uniform for Team Haiti for the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

    Courtesy of Stella Jean

    When Haiti’s two-person Olympic team files into the stadium on Friday for the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Games, Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean hopes the scene will highlight not the rarity of the moment, rather the Caribbean nation’s cultural identity and perseverance.

    Jean, who designed Haiti’s uniforms for the 2024 Paris Games, now part of the Olympic Museum’s collection, has once more drawn inspiration from Haitian artistry and history to inspire its athletes and tell another chapter of its story.

    This time, her muse was a painting by Miami-based Haitian artist Edouard Duval-Carrié depicting the revolutionary hero Toussaint Louverture on horseback, charging into battle. The horse is red and in Toussaint’s hand, a sword transformed into a snake. In Vodou tradition, the snake symbolizes Danbala, the great spirit of wisdom, peace and purity.

    The mixed-media portrait was painted more than 20 years ago, and among many Duval-Carrié has done of the leader. But this one, “is the very symbol of the Haitian spirit,” Jean said in an interview with the Miami Herald shortly after arriving in Milan.

    “Even the preparation of this uniform,” she added.

    Redesign amid the Olympic rules

    Jean spent nearly a year working on the uniforms, only to be told last month that the image of Haiti’s founding father violated the International Olympic Committee rules prohibiting political, religious or racial propaganda at Olympic venues and on uniforms.

    “Two hundred years later?” Duval-Carrié quipped, reacting to the decision. “It’s amazing that Toussaint would represent a political statement.”

    Nevertheless, the IOC’s objection set off a brief panic—and a creative scramble—as Jean faced a tight deadline, no budget and the challenge of preserving her message without diluting Haiti’s history.

    “For 24 hours, I said, ‘It’s over; they won’t have any uniform,’” she said. “But then I also thought that what brought us here was Haitian art, Haitian culture, Haitian excellence. So many human factors that helped us to be there.”

    The official uniform for Team Haiti for the Olympic Games had to be redesigned to remove the figure of Toussaint Louverture.
    The official uniform for Team Haiti for the Olympic Games had to be redesigned to remove the figure of Toussaint Louverture. Courtesy of Stella Jean

    Refusing to accept defeat, the designer, who was working for free, enlisted the help of some Italian artisans who she worked with on her own collection that merges Italian tailoring with bold, colorful patterns celebrating Haitian and African cultural themes.

    “Five days ago, they started to [hand] paint all the uniforms, and yesterday night I brought them myself in Milan from the other regions,” she said on Thursday.

    Her team is accustomed to painting on natural fabrics, she said. But the Olympic uniforms are made of synthetic material.

    “I just pray that it doesn’t rain,” she laughed.

    Gone is the figure of Toussaint, but his red horse remains, charging against a lush tropical background. The word “Haiti” is emblazoned across the back against a blue sky on the tops.

    “This painting has the two colors of the flag, red and blue,” Jean said. “You can immediately recognize it.”

    For the rest of the delegation, including trainers and support staff, she has also designed a turban-like head wrap inspired by the tignon that emerged after the French colonizers forced enslaved African women to cover their hair, to appease their jealous wives, in what was then known as Saint-Domingue, France’s richest colony. The head wrap later became its own fashion statement, along with the skirts with pockets that Jean also designed to pay homage to the outfits worn by Haiti’s street market vendors.

    “Every single piece in this uniform has a specific historical meaning for it,” she said.

    Inspired by history

    For the athletes, Jean could have chosen not just from any number of Haitian masters, but also from many of Duval-Carrié’s works drawn from Haitian history. She selected Toussaint and his red horse, she said, because they symbolize pride and perseverance.

    Though Haitians have different views on many of the figures in the country’s revolution to become the world’s first Black republic in 1804, Jean said, “we all agree on Toussaint Louverture.”

    A former slave who became a skilled military strategist, Toussaint is remembered as a symbol of resistance. He once controlled the entire island of Hispaniola, including the part that’s now the Dominican Republic, before being captured by French forces, and imprisoned in the cold Fort de Joux in France, where he died in 1803.

    The uniform that women of the Haitian delegation at the Olympic Games opening ceremony was designed by Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean.
    The uniform that women of the Haitian delegation at the Olympic Games opening ceremony was designed by Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean. Courtesy of Stella Jean

    Duval-Carrié said he thought “it was a bit cheeky of the Olympic Committee,” to want Toussaint erased because someone might be offended. Still, any visibility for Haiti on a global stage was valuable, said the artist, who in May will represent his homeland at the Venice Biennale.

    Though the two artists do not know each other personally, Duval-Carrié said he sees an affinity in Jean, whom he called “a force in the design world.”

    “I commend her for her being steadfastly supportive of anything Haiti,” he said of Jean, whose 2024 Olympic designs drew inspiration from another Haitian artist, Philippe Dodard of Port-au-Prince.

    Haiti’s skiers at the Winter Games

    The two athletes representing Haiti in the Winter Olympics are both skiers, who grew up outside the country with adoptive families.

    Richardson Viano, 23, is Haiti’s first Winter Olympian, having competed at the 2022 Beijing Games, finishing 34th in the men’s slalom. Savart, 25, is a cross-country skier.

    Both are part of the small ski federation created in the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake.

    The opening ceremony will be brief, and Haiti’s delegation—one of the smallest at the Games—is expected to appear for no more than 10 seconds. But those seconds carry weight, Jean said, particularly at a moment when Haiti is grappling with escalating gang violence, political paralysis and foreign military presence.

    Earlier this week, one of the few remaining sports facilities available to children in the country was vandalized and partially burned by criminal gangs.

    “We will have just 10 seconds, maybe nine,” Jean said, “in which these two athletes will become with their bodies the Haitian flag. We have to say everything without words, just with images, to the world.”

    That message, she said, is that amid the depleted resources, environmental degradation, and prolonged instability, Haiti still has something to offer the world.

    “The one thing Haiti can always export,” Jean said, “is our art, our culture and our creativity.”

    Jacqueline Charles

    Miami Herald

    Jacqueline Charles has reported on Haiti and the English-speaking Caribbean for the Miami Herald for over a decade. A Pulitzer Prize finalist for her coverage of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, she was awarded a 2018 Maria Moors Cabot Prize — the most prestigious award for coverage of the Americas.

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    Jacqueline Charles

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  • Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition: A Tribute to Paris 2024

    Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition: A Tribute to Paris 2024

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    With the conclusion of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition stands out as a unique memento of the event. Designed exclusively for athletes who participated in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, this special edition phone blends advanced technology with design elements that celebrate the Olympic spirit.

    Unboxing the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition

    Unboxing the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition is an experience in itself. The black packaging, featuring a golden track design, immediately captures attention. The box also displays the Olympic rings, Paralympic agitos, and the Samsung logo, symbolizing Samsung’s ongoing partnership with the International Olympic Committee.

    Inside the box, the packaging is divided into two sections: one for the smartphone and another for the Flipsuit Case. The box containing the phone continues the track design theme, while the Flipsuit Case box offers a vibrant mix of colors, adding an element of surprise to the unboxing experience.

    A Design Rooted in Olympic Spirit

    The Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition is distinguished by its bold yellow color, reminiscent of the excitement and energy that defined the Paris 2024 Games. The back of the phone is engraved with the Olympic and Paralympic emblems, as well as the Samsung logo, providing a subtle yet meaningful connection to the global event.

    This foldable phone is compact but powerful, featuring a 50-megapixel rear wide-angle camera enhanced by Galaxy AI. Athletes used this camera to capture and share high-quality moments throughout the Games, including the now-famous “Victory Selfies” taken on the Olympic podium.

    Tailored for Olympians

    More than just a collector’s item, the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition includes features specifically designed for athletes. Upon powering up the device, athletes were greeted with a personalized message: “You, the athletes, are the heart of the Olympic & Paralympic Movement.” This thoughtful touch reflects the phone’s theme of honoring those who competed in the Games.

    The phone’s Cover Screen, known as the FlexWindow, and Main Display are also tailored to the Olympic experience. The Cover Screen displays a running track from an athlete’s perspective, while the Main Display features a circuit board design—a nod to Samsung’s technological innovations. Additionally, the device came pre-installed with apps like Athlete365, providing competition information, and Paris 2024, offering general updates on the Games.

    The Exclusive Flipsuit Case

    The Flipsuit Case that comes with the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition adds another layer of personalization. Made from luxurious leather, the case includes an NFC-equipped Flipsuit Card that can be attached to it. When the card is in place, it syncs with the phone’s Cover Screen, displaying an animation that matches the card’s design. The Flipsuit Card itself features a color scheme inspired by the Olympic flag, making it a stylish addition to the phone.

    Conclusion

    As the Olympic Games Paris 2024 come to a close, the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition serves as a lasting reminder of this historic event. While primarily available to the athletes who competed, the phone encapsulates the spirit of the Games with its thoughtful design and athlete-focused features. From its packaging to its pre-installed apps, every aspect of the device is a tribute to the Olympics. Though specific details on availability and pricing may vary, the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition remains a unique piece of Olympic history and a testament to Samsung’s dedication to innovation and global events.

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    Al Hilal

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  • Nedoroscik nabs bronze, Ireland wins first-ever medal in Olympic gymnastics in pommel horse final

    Nedoroscik nabs bronze, Ireland wins first-ever medal in Olympic gymnastics in pommel horse final

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    Nedoroscik nabs bronze, Ireland wins first-ever medal in Olympic gymnastics in pommel horse final

    WELL, STEPHEN NATHALIE POZO TRAINED HERE AT THE STERLING ACADEMY OF GYMNASTICS ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. HIS COACHES SAY HE WAS ALWAYS GIFTED, ESPECIALLY ON HIS SIGNATURE EVENT. HE’S PROVEN THAT HE CAN SHOW UP IN THE BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST STAGES BEFORE HE WAS AN OLYMPIAN, STEPHEN ED TRAINED HERE AT THE STERLING ACADEMY OF GYMNASTICS TO SEE WHAT HE WENT THROUGH HERE. YOU KNOW, DOING ALL AROUND. THEN SPECIALIZING ON ONE EVENT AND THEN HAVING THE STRENGTH AND FORTITUDE TO STICK WITH THAT ONE EVENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AND THEN PAST COLLEGE AND MAKE IT TO THE INTERNATIONAL ELITE LEVEL. IT’S INCREDIBLE. HIS LATEST ELITE COMPETITION BEING THE OLYMPICS, WHERE HIS SIGNATURE POMMEL HORSE ROUTINE HELPED THE U.S. MEN WIN BRONZE, ENDING A 16 YEAR MEDAL DROUGHT FOR THE COUNTRY. FOR HIM TO COMPETE, I’M GOING TO SAY I’M GOING TO SAY IT WAS NUCLEAR ELECTRIC. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THE WHOLE PLACE WAS OUT LOUD AND HIS PARENTS, JOHN AND SHERYL NEDOROST, GOT TO SEE THEIR SON’S MEDAL WORTHY EFFORT IN PARIS, BUT ADMIT IT WASN’T AN EASY WATCH. I GET SO SICK I CAN’T EAT. I CAN’T SLEEP, I GET A HEADACHE, AND IT’S LIKE I CAN’T STOP SHAKING. LUCKILY, STEPHEN HAS A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE UNDER HIS BELT, WINNING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON POMMEL HORSE IN 2021. THEY’RE HOPING FOR A SIMILAR RESULT IN THE GAMES. LIVING ON CLOUD NINE AND JUST DON’T PINCH US BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE SATURDAY TO GO. STEPHEN WILL COMPETE I

    Nedoroscik nabs bronze, Ireland wins first-ever medal in Olympic gymnastics in pommel horse final

    Two-time world champion Rhys McClenaghan claimed Ireland’s first medal in Olympic gymnastics.Even before his name was announced, McClenaghan had to choke back tears. He then yelled in delight and cried for good when his massive score of 15.533 points on pommel horse was announced.Competing right after McClenaghan, American gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik — aka “Pommel Horse Guy” — was excellent, too, but could not match his Irish rival’s score. He scored 15.300 points, which earned him the bronze medal.Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakhstan took silver with 15.433 points.Nedoroscik helped the U.S. men earn bronze in the team final earlier this week, sealing the program’s first Olympic medal in 16 years with a lights-out routine that made him a viral sensation.

    Two-time world champion Rhys McClenaghan claimed Ireland’s first medal in Olympic gymnastics.

    Even before his name was announced, McClenaghan had to choke back tears. He then yelled in delight and cried for good when his massive score of 15.533 points on pommel horse was announced.

    Competing right after McClenaghan, American gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik — aka “Pommel Horse Guy” — was excellent, too, but could not match his Irish rival’s score. He scored 15.300 points, which earned him the bronze medal.

    Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakhstan took silver with 15.433 points.

    Nedoroscik helped the U.S. men earn bronze in the team final earlier this week, sealing the program’s first Olympic medal in 16 years with a lights-out routine that made him a viral sensation.

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  • Final Preparations for XII FIP World Polo Championship Begin

    Final Preparations for XII FIP World Polo Championship Begin

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    WELLINGTON, Fla., September 15, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The United States Polo Association; U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the USPA; the National Polo Center – Wellington (NPC) and Valiente Polo Farm are making final preparations to host the XII Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Polo Championship in Florida this October. Welcoming the international contest to the United States for the second time in the competition’s history, the tournament will take place from Oct. 29 – Nov. 6. Held every three to four years, the international tournament was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Representing the top 10- to 14-goal teams from around the world, eight countries will grapple for international polo glory, including Argentina, Australia, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, the United States and Uruguay. 

    To qualify as one of the eight teams to advance to the FIP World Polo Championship, the road begins with five zone playoffs and includes more than 25 countries vying for the opportunity of a lifetime to represent their nation on an international stage. The defending champions (Argentina in 2017) and host country (United States) automatically qualify, and the remaining six teams have been decided from zone competition. Teams advancing from zone playoffs to the FIP World Polo Championship include Mexico (Zone A – North America and Central America), Uruguay (Zone B – South America), Spain and Italy (Zone C – Europe), Australia (Zone D – Asia and Oceania) and Pakistan (Zone E – Africa, Pakistan and India). 

    The strengths of the United States lie in both high-quality horses and a prime location featuring world-class fields and facilities. Home to the GAUNTLET OF POLO®, NPC is the ideal venue for the event, attracting South Florida’s passionate polo and equestrian community. Featuring top-rated polo fields, VIP experiences for both fans and players, and unrivaled corporate hospitality, the XII FIP World Polo Championship promises to be an exceptional and unforgettable global event for players, sponsors and spectators. Preliminary games will be held at Valiente Polo Farm and the opening ceremony, semifinals and final will take place at NPC. Ticketed NPC events will include the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 29, and the XII FIP World Polo Championship Final on Sunday, Nov. 6. Tickets will become available mid-September at nationalpolocenter.com. The 2022 tournament will draw the eyes of the global polo community to the winter equestrian capital of the world with the FIP World Polo Championship semifinals and final broadcast on ESPN for the first time. All games will also be available for free on GlobalPolo.com. 

    XII FIP World Polo Championship Tournament Schedule: 

    *Denotes a ticketed event. 

    Saturday, Oct. 29

    Game 1 Valiente Polo Farm
    Game 2 Valiente Polo Farm
    Game 3 NPC
    Game 4 & Opening Ceremony: USA Team vs. TBD NPC, U.S. Polo Assn. Field One*

    Monday, Oct. 31

    Game 5 Valiente Polo Farm
    Game 6 Valiente Polo Farm
    Game 7 Valiente Polo Farm
    Game 8 Valiente Polo Farm

    Wednesday, Nov. 2

    Game 9 Valiente Polo Farm
    Game 10 Valiente Polo Farm
    Game 11 Valiente Polo Farm
    Game 12 Valiente Polo Farm

    Friday, Nov. 4

    1:00 p.m. ET – Semifinal 1 NPC
    3:00 p.m. ET – Semifinal 2 NPC

    Sunday, Nov. 6

    1:00 p.m. ET – Third Place Match NPC
    3:00 p.m. ET – XII FIP World Polo Championship Final NPC, U.S. Polo Assn. Field One*

    “We are putting in a lot of resources to make this a world-class event,” shared FIP United States Ambassador and USPA President Tony Coppola. “No stone has been left unturned. The string of horses we are going to provide will be great, and the facilities will be fantastic and at their prime. The USPA’s goal is to make this a world-class tournament and showcase what we have now that we own NPC.”

    A defining feature of the XII FIP World Polo Championship is the 176 exceptional horses representing some of the best bloodlines in the world from sole horse provider J5 Equestrian. USPA Executive Director of Services Carlucho Arellano noted the importance of having such high-quality horses for a competition of this caliber, sharing, “Providing good horses is one of the three key ingredients to quality polo, along with great fields and solid management.”

    Further detailing how the horses will be preparing for intense competition, he continued, “The horses are currently in several different locations and have been played during the summer in California and Colorado. They will get some rest time and then come to Wellington a month in advance of the Championship for the legging-up process. The final two weeks of that process will consist of practices that increase in intensity. The teams all arrive by Oct. 26, and they will get to ride their string once and play them in one practice before their first game on Oct. 29.”

    Leading up to the tournament, the horses will also be evaluated and ranked in October by FIP horse master Adam Snow. Snow is a former 10-goaler and Hall of Famer. His experience both in the saddle and in the barn will make him an invaluable asset throughout the event. Snow will rank horses based on their ability and then place them into evenly-matched strings. Each team will be assigned a group of 22 horses, and teams will draw to select their pooled polo ponies in person on Wednesday, Oct. 26. 

    In 1982, to broaden the scope of international polo and restore the sport’s Olympic status, Marcos Uranga created the Federation of International Polo, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Five years later, Uranga and American polo player Glen Holden organized the inaugural FIP World Polo Championship in Argentina. Aware of the challenges of fielding high-goal teams worldwide, FIP organizers decided to limit the competition to teams rated 10 to 14 goals. 

    Capturing the title in Germany in 1989, the United States Polo Association has selected the most talented players to represent the USA team. Selected as the coach for the USA team, former 9-goal professional Julio Arellano was on the winning team in 1989 and is humbled at the opportunity to lead the United States for a FIP title on home soil. 

    Ranging in age from 17 to 25, the eight American players vying for a spot on the starting roster include Nico Diaz Alberdi, Agustin Arellano, Hope Arellano, Joaquin Avendaño, Lucas Escobar, Nico Escobar, Jake Klentner and Kristos “Keko” Magrini. Of this extremely accomplished roster, Hope Arellano stands out, as she is the first woman to ever be considered for the American team. Players will train together in weekly practice games and stick-and-ball sessions for a month in Argentina beginning in September to determine the team’s final lineup. Once the U.S. team returns home, they will begin practicing in Wellington, Florida, and exercising and preparing J5 Equestrian horses for competition leading up to the championship.

    Outfitting the teams with official performance jerseys and equipment as the Official Apparel Partner and Presenting Sponsor, U.S. Polo Assn. is proud to join forces once again with the FIP World Polo Championship to promote the brand during the pinnacle of international polo competition. “This is truly a global event that will resonate with our consumers and sports fans around the world, across 190 countries. We are also excited our partners at ESPN will broadcast the opening ceremony featuring the USA team,” said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global Licensing.

    For more information and updates, please visit the FIP World Polo Championship landing page.  

    ###

    About the United States Polo Association®  

    The United States Polo Association was organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions and games, and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts. Founded in 1890, the USPA is the national governing body for the sport of polo. The USPA is currently comprised of almost 300 member clubs with thousands of individual members, and oversees 40 national tournaments. For more information, please visit uspolo.org.

    About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL)

    U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the nonprofit governing body for the sport of polo in the United States and one of the oldest sports governing bodies, having been founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through some 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores and thousands of department stores as well as sporting goods channels, independent retailers and e-commerce, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel for men, women, and children, as well as accessories and footwear in 190 countries worldwide. Today, U.S. Polo Assn. is ranked the 28th largest licensor in the world and within the top five sports licensors, according to License Global’s 2022 list of “Top Global Licensors.” Visit uspoloassnglobal.com.

    USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL) is the for-profit subsidiary of the USPA and its exclusive worldwide licensor. USPAGL manages the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand and is the steward of the USPA’s intellectual properties, providing the sport with a long-term source of revenue. Through its subsidiary, Global Polo Entertainment (GPE), USPAGL also manages Global Polo TV, the world’s leading digital platform with polo and lifestyle content. In addition, USPAGL partners with ESPN and beIN Sports globally to share the sport of polo broadcasts on television and on-demand to millions of viewers around the world. For more polo content visit globalpolo.com.

    About Federation of International Polo (FIP) 

    The Federation of International Polo (FIP) is the international federation representing the sport of polo, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee. It was created in 1982 by representatives of eleven national polo associations. FIP’s principal aim is to enhance the image and status of the great game of polo internationally. 

    FIP’s mission is to promote the practice of the sport of polo worldwide in order to defend and ensure the spirit of fair play and moral fortitude, with the objective of forming the sporting attitude of gentlemanly behavior during and after the game, on the playing fields and wherever polo players should meet, so as to form one great world polo family. FIP currently has 76 registered member associations representing over 23,000 players. For more information, please visit www.fippolo.com. 

    About The National Polo Center – Wellington (NPC)

    The National Polo Center – Wellington is located in the heart of South Florida’s legendary horse country. The perpetual home for polo in America, NPC is owned and managed by the United States Polo Association to showcase the finest the sport has to offer. The Association’s premiere event, the GAUNTLET OF POLO, takes place from February to April each winter season showcasing the world’s preeminent teams, professional athletes and finest horses which come together for three months to battle head-to-head for the coveted C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup and U.S. Open Polo Championship trophies. Throughout the year, the facilities are also used to showcase USPA Member Clubs and prestigious national tournament competition.  

    The entrance to the club is via a palm tree-lined drive, that leads past tennis courts to the steps of the magnificent pool and Mallet Grille. The natural Florida terrain is augmented by a large lake, lush tropical landscaping and some of the most carefully manicured polo fields in the world. Spectating from the stadium, private boxes, fieldside tailgates and special hospitality tents, all overlooking the U.S. Polo Assn. Field One is an unparalleled experience. NPC invites you to experience the best polo in the country, taking place at one of the most beautiful venues in the world, the National Polo Center – Wellington

    MEDIA CONTACTS 

    United States Polo Association: 

    Matt Baran, Director of Communications 
    (561) 373-4954 
    mbaran@uspolo.org 

    USPA Global Licensing: 

    Shannon Stilson, Assistant Vice President of Marketing  
    (561) 227-6994 
    sstilson@uspagl.com 

    Federation of International Polo:

    Silvana Rando, Administrative Assistant 
    srando@fippolo.com 

    Veronica Igoa, FIP Social Media 
    Igoa.veronica@gmail.com  

    J5 Equestrian:

    Rob Jornayvaz, Owner 
    Rob@runningironcreative.com 
    Cell: 303-803-3607 
    Alt: 847-840-8408 

    Visit our website at www.uspolo.org
    Follow us on Instagram
    @uspoloassociation 
    @uspoloassn 
    @nationalpolocenter
    @fip_polo 

    Source: USPA Global Licensing Inc.

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