Swiss commentator Stefan Renna questioned Israeli bobsled Captain A.J. Edelman during the two-man competition this week, creating a controversy over the role of politics in sports.

Renna brought up some of the comments Edelman made in the past during his run with teammate Menachem Chen.

Renna was referring to when Edelman called himself a “Zionist to the core.” Renna also stated that, allegedly, Edelman is in full support of the “genocide in Gaza.” Edelman described Israel’s military activity as “the morally most just war in history,” Renna said during the broadcast.

Renna brought up another incident when Edelman allegedly mocked a “free Palestine” slogan that was painted on a wall during a World Cup stage event.

Renna questioned why Edelman was allowed to compete in the event, following the reported disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych. Heraskevych was banned from competing for wearing a helmet that honored Ukrainians killed in the war with Russia.

The Israeli team finished in last place in the event.

Edelman was quick to defend himself and his country, saying, “I am aware of the diatribe the commentator directed towards the Israeli Bobsled Team on the Swiss Olympics broadcast today.”

“Beyond disgusting that the Jew-hating Swiss ‘sportscaster’ spewed bigotry & bile at Israel Olympic Bobsled team & its captain AJ Edelman as they competed,” U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee wrote.

U.S. Olympic skier Alex Ferreira spoke exclusively to uSports about the habits that made him successful. “I would say the main life habit that I do every single day is go to the sauna and sweat out all the toxins every single day,” he told uSports founder Erik Meers in November. “It’s just the best way to be at one with yourself. There’s no phones, there’s no screens, you’re in this hot box, you’re locked in there, no one’s coming for you and it’s quiet. It’s a good time to think through all the things that are happening in my life and the best way to attack and approach those problems. Yes, I’m visualizing in the sauna, actually, a lot of the time. I go through my run three times, and I’m seeing the landscape of where I’ll be standing at the Olympics and where I’ll hopefully be winning.” On Friday, Ferreira won gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

U.S. Olympic speed skater Britney Bowe discussed the importance of her routine with uSports before heading to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games. “A habit that I have that has helped me remain successful is having routines,” she said. “On race day, things can get very complicated, can be chaotic, but if you just stick with your routine, that is what I have found that keeps me grounded.”

Team USA hockey star Brady Tkachuk spoke about hearing support from President Donald Trump before the Olympics. “I mean, it was pretty cool that you have the president who cares about our team, and he wishes us all the luck to get the job done,” Tkachuk said in November at the Team US Media Summit. “I think it really signified how big of a moment that was. And I wouldn’t say it created pressure by any means, but you just realize you’re not just playing for the group in that locker room, but you’re playing for the people that got you there. You’re playing for the people that protect us every single day. It’s bigger than the game. It’s for the whole country, and you’re trying to leave your best effort and get the job done for everybody in this country.” Watch more of Brady’s interview now!

Casey Wasserman is in the news for the wrong reasons. The chairperson of the 2028 Olympics & Paralympics has prior relationships with Jeffrey Epstein‘s girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told CNN on Monday that Wasserman should step down as head of the 2028 Olympics despite support from the LA28 board.

Wasserman had emails released with Maxwell back in 2003 that were very flirtatious, which has become a distraction for the International Olympic Committee. These emails were revealed just days before the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

The IOC dodged questions about Wasserman, referring them to the LA28 board despite the huge controversy.

“I understand there are many conversations happening at this moment, but I will not make any further comment,” Mark Adams, the IOC spokesman, said Tuesday in Milan. “This is obviously a matter for the board of LA28 still at this stage.”

Mayor Bass is unable to fire Wasserman, but she is actively advocating for him to step down.

Wasserman, an entertainment executive and sports agent, has lost clients ever since these emails were released, including pop megastar Chappell Roan and soccer star Abby Wambach. Wasserman is currently selling his company.

Wasserman has yet to be accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and Maxwell and released a statement regarding his relationship with them, saying, “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell,” adding that it was “long before her horrific crimes came to light.”

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for five counts of sex trafficking and abuse of minors.

Elana Meyers Taylor made history at the Milan Cortina Winter Games on Monday, becoming the oldest woman to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympics history at age 41.

The American bobsledder faced an uphill battle to reach the mountain top, giving birth to two children and dealing with concussions that set her back. This was her sixth career medal and first Olympic title.

Meyers Taylor achieved this accomplishment with both of her kids in the audience, watching her as she completed her lifelong dream and mission. “I thought it was impossible,” Meyers Taylor said.

Meyers Taylor rallied in the fourth and final heat, winning with a four-run, two-day time of three minutes and 57.93 seconds.

She was already the most decorated black athlete in Winter Olympics history before winning the gold, only solidifying her place in history. This win put her in a tie with Bonnie Blair for the most by a U.S. woman in the Winter Olympics. Meyers Taylor spoke on being in the same company as Blair, saying, “To have my name up there with Bonnie Blair, it doesn’t even make sense to me.”

The U.S. also took home the bronze medal in this event with Kaillie Humphries Armbruster finishing in third. Germany’s Laura Nolte, who was in the lead for the majority of the contest, finished in second place.

U.S. Olympic hockey star Kendall Coyne revealed her winning habits exclusively to uSports ahead of competing at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. “My everyday habits, it’s recognizing the habits that have made me successful, whether it’s eating, sleeping, training, just emptying the tank every single day to be the best that I can be and being willing to do that every single day,” she said. “As we know, the Olympics are not every four years; they’re every day, and the grind is every day, and just being willing to embrace that grind.”

U.S. Olympic hockey star Hillary Knight revealed the life lessons she learned on her way to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. “A life lesson from my Olympic journey is just being able to work with people from different backgrounds and problem-solving on the fly and getting through different adversities,” she told uSports exclusively in November. “How to effectively communicate with one another. So, yeah, think anyone who’s been in our program is set up for success with those life skills, for sure.”

After a controversial decision that left Team USA’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates just 1.43 points away from the gold medal in Ice Dancing at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, the pair is not shying away from voicing their opinions on France’s controversial win.

Chock spoke to CBS News about the judges, saying that it would “definitely be helpful if it’s more understandable for the viewers, to just see more transparent judging and understand… what’s really going on.”

“I think it’s also important for the skaters, that the judges be vetted and reviewed to make sure that they are also putting out their best performance,” she added, “because there’s a lot on the line for the skaters when they’re out there giving it their all, and we deserve to have the judges also giving us their all and for it to be a fair and even playing field.”

The American duo, who are married to each other, were the favorites heading into the event, even though they were 0.46 behind the French duo of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron after Monday’s rhythm dance competition. Chock and Bates posted a world-best score of 89.72 before France’s 90.18 topped it.

Chock and Bates earned a score of 134.67 after their free dance performance to the song “Paint It Black” from the show Westworld. Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry narrowly outscored them with a score of 135.64 after performing to the song “The Whale.”

The controversy comes as Cizeron appeared to make a mistake during a one-footed moving spin, a mistake the American pair didn’t make.

Ultimately, the French duo came out on top with a total score of 225.82, edging out the U.S., which scored 224.39. Canada took home the bronze medal with a score of 217.74.

U.S. Olympic skier Gus Schumacher reflected on the life lessons he’s gotten from his Olympic journey in an exclusive interview with uSports. “There’s so many. I think the biggest one is that, in my last Olympics, I raced while I was sick to qualify, and it ended up being like my body didn’t work right for six months,” he said. “That’s been a big life lesson: just listen to your body. Manage your energy – even though the super little things, like the better you can be at hearing the small things your body’s saying, the better you’ll be in the long term.”

A new Olympic record was set on Monday in the 1000-meter speed skating by Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands.

Leerdam took home the gold medal along with her Dutch teammate, Femke Kok, who took the silver medal. Leerdam & Kok were also racing against the defending champion, Miho Takagi of Japan, who won the gold in the 2022 Olympics. Kok was leading at the midway point, but Leerdam picked up steam in the final stretch and finished with a record time of 1:12.31.

Leerdam did it with fiancée Jake Paul in the audience, rooting her on along with many of the crowd wearing orange in support of the Netherlands.

Leerdam has now won her second Olympic medal, finishing in second at the 2022 games in Beijing.

The U.S. was shut out of a medal in this event, as world-record holder Brittany Bowe finished fourth. Her teammate, Erin Jackson, finished sixth.

Norway is currently leading in total medal count at 12 with six gold medals. The United States is sitting in fourth place with seven total medals.

U.S. Olympic skier Breezy Johnson, who just won gold at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, spoke to uSports about the role of her work habits in her success. “One super important life habit I would say is just figuring out your own body for working out, and stuff is figuring out what things you’re good at, what things you get better at quickly and trying to know yourself and understand that,” she told uSports in November. “I would say one is that this is gonna sound dark, but hard work does not always pay off, but working hard is worth it for being able to say that about yourself, that you gave it everything you could. But just because you work super hard doesn’t mean that your dreams will come true. But it does mean that sticking your neck out there is, to me, the bravest thing you can do. And to do that is not something most people are willing to do.”

US Olympic speedskater Erin Jackson revealed her habit that makes her a winner in an exclusive interview with uSports. “I would say one habit I have is really taking a calm and reflective attitude towards sports and competition and wins and losses,” she said just before heading to the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. “I think sometimes when you have a loss in sport, it can feel like you know this big failure, but I just try to learn something from every race I have, good or bad. I try to reflect after my races, reflect on what I did well, what I did poorly and really take that into the next one.”

Three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn announced Tuesday morning that she suffered a completely torn ACL when she crashed during a race on Friday. Vonn’s Olympic hopes are not over despite the injury, as she still intends to compete during the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

The injury happened during a World Cup race in Switzerland. “It was painful initially after the crash,” Vonn said during her press conference. Vonn also said that currently she feels no pain.

Vonn, 41, plans to test her knee in practice over the next couple of days and fully intends to compete in the downhill race this Sunday. If all goes well, she will take part in the Super-G event next Thursday. If Vonn can compete, she will become the oldest Alpine skier in Winter Olympic history.

“I built an amazing life and was really happy in retirement, but I didn’t finish my career the way I wanted to. I was limping away when I wanted to finish strong,” Vonn said. She wants to go out on her terms and will not let a torn ACL get in the way of finishing her story.

If Vonn can race on Sunday, it will go down as one of the most admirable and impressive feats in all of sports history.

Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn crashed during her final run at the World Cup in Crans-Montana and suffered an injury to her left knee, putting her status for the Winter Games in question.

Vonn is still holding out hope that she will be able to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics, which is just days away. The games begin on February 6 in Milan Cortina, Italy.

Vonn, 41, took to her Instagram to give an update, saying “My Olympic dream is not over,” just hours after being airlifted off the course.

The three-time medalist was one of three to crash during the race. Vonn lost control while trying to land a jump, becoming tangled in the safety nets. “I crashed today in the Downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee. I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams,” Vonn wrote. The race was cancelled after Vonn’s crash.

Vonn is one of the biggest Winter Olympic stars, and this would be a ginormous blow to the entire competition if she is unable to perform in Italy. As she headed to the medical tent, Vonn showed visible anxiety and shared a long embrace with her teammate, Jacqueline Wiles.

Vonn has had a history of knee injuries and retired in 2019 before ultimately coming back. Vonn has suffered torn ACLs, MCL damage, and Tibial Plateau fractures in both knees.

With less than a week until the opening ceremonies, Vonn faces an uphill battle, but if anyone can come back and make the games, it is Vonn.

Although it’s been under a year since the 2024 Olympics, the NFL is already starting to deal with the planning for the 2028 Games.

Amid an infusion of new sports in recent years, including skateboarding and breakdancing, has come the addition of flag football. And, for some star NFL players, that could mean a chance to play on the international stage.

“I’ve heard directly from a lot of players who want to participate and represent their country, whether it’s United States or the country that they came from,” said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

That chance isn’t yet certain. The Olympics are slated to take place from mid to late July 2028, which will likely conflict with the start of training camp. Even more pressing, with the amount of star power that could participate, are potential injury protections.

A similar situation emerged in the NHL after the 2014 Sochi Olympics, ultimately leading the league to ban players from participating entirely. But as the international stage grows too massive to ignore, the NHL has decided to resume participation in 2026 – and it won’t be surprising to see the NFL take the same path.

“I think that’s something that we’ll continue to discuss with, not just the union, but also the clubs,” Goodell said. “I think both of those are things that we’ll probably resolve sometime in the next 60 days.”

Meanwhile, NFL team owners will be advocating their own interests. A team is allowed to block players from engaging in any activity that risks significant injury, and the Tennessee Titans did just that in 2007, blocking cornerback Pacman Jones from wrestling during a one-year suspension.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk puts it in simple terms: “For most owners, the final decision should be obvious: “You’re not getting our players.””

So the next two months will see whether NFL players will get a chance on the international level. For the NFL, which pushed for Olympic inclusion and is looking to launch a professional flag football league, the rationale for inclusion seems obvious. It only remains to be seen whether ownership concerns will win out.

U.S. Olympic fencer Eli Dershwitz shed light on the critical skills necessary in fencing in an exclusive interview with uSports.

Dershwitz, who has represented the United States at the Paris Olympics in June, highlighted the importance of a unique blend of physical agility and mental acuity.

“I would say the combination of quick and explosive feet similar to how tennis players need very fast one-two steps from their stance, and in fencing, it’s no different,” he told uSports in April. “The strip isn’t that wide or long, so those first one, two, three steps need to be really explosive.”

The Olympian emphasized that the ability to change direction rapidly is vital for staying competitive in fencing. This quickness, he noted, allows fencers to react and adapt in real-time to their opponents’ movements, a necessity in a sport where fractions of a second can determine the outcome of a match.

Physical speed alone isn’t enough in fencing. “You need to be able to change directions quickly,” Dershwitz observed. “You need to be explosive in that regard; it’s a game of physical chess,”

U.S. Olympic sprinter Kenny Bednarek is focused on securing a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, following a close finish in Tokyo. Bednarek, who narrowly missed the top spot on the podium in the 2021 Tokyo Games, is determined to achieve his ultimate goal in Paris.

“To win. Last time I was there for Tokyo, and I got edged out barely. So my goal is just to, you know, get the gold medal,” Bednarek told uSports in May, reflecting on his silver medal performance.

Bednarek’s Tokyo experience has fueled him to push beyond his previous accomplishments. His near-miss in the last Olympics has only shown his dedication to achieving the highest honor in his sport.

As he prepares for the Paris Games, Bednarek’s training regimen is focused on refining his performance and maintaining peak physical condition. His commitment to improvement and his competitive spirit make him a strong contender for gold.

U.S. Olympic track and field star Tara Davis-Woodhall credited her past setbacks for fueling her journey to success in Paris, expressing a belief that her previous second-place finishes were important in her growth and drive.

In a recent interview with uSports, Davis-Woodhall shared her thoughts on how these experiences have shaped her career and provided the motivation needed to achieve her goal of winning Olympic gold.

“It’s definitely instilled some confidence in me,” Davis-Woodhall said. “I do believe that second place was meant to be and allowed me to have some fuel to my fire, which allowed me to win gold at the World Indoors. And now hopefully for Olympic gold.”

Davis-Woodhall’s resilience has been evident throughout her athletic career. Her work paid off at the World Indoor Championships, where she won the gold medal, solidifying her status as one of the top athletes in her field.

Her journey to the top has been marked by a series of notable achievements. Davis-Woodhall first gained widespread recognition with her outstanding performances in collegiate track and field as a Texas Longhorn. Transitioning to the international stage, she demonstrated her commitment to the sport.

With the Olympics on the horizon, Davis-Woodhall’s aspirations are clear. She aims to build on her recent successes and carry the momentum forward to achieve her ultimate dream—an Olympic gold medal.

After a shaky opening quarter, the USA men’s basketball team outclassed Serbia and cruised to a 110-84 victory, giving them their first win in Group C.

Kevin Durant played one of the best games of his career, shooting 8-9 from the field and 5-5 from three. He led the U.S. in scoring with 23 points in 17 minutes off the bench. The four-time NBA scoring title holder did not play in the pre-season matches for the Americans, dealing with a calf injury, making his shooting barrage even more impressive. LeBron James put forth the most complete game for any player wearing red, white and blue, finishing with 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds while leading his team in minutes with 27. Steve Kerr’s team easily covered the -12.5 line set by Hard Rock Bet, even though his group struggled early.

Serbia raced out to an early 10-2 advantage as the United States committed three turnovers in three minutes, continuing their lazy style of basketball. However, the second unit, headlined by Anthony Davis and Durant, turned the game back in the Americans’ favor. The former slowed down former MVP Nikola Jokic, the latter shot the lights out and the U.S. ended the first on a 9-0 run to lead 25-20 at the end of one.

Serbia cut the deficit to two with two minutes remaining in the second, but Kerr’s club closed the quarter strong again and went into the break up 58-49.

The third quarter put the game out of reach, as the Serbs could no longer match their opponents’ pace, athleticism, and shooting. 20 of the 26 points the United States scored in the frame came from inside the paint as they tightened the screws. In the fourth, the Americans knocked down four of their 18 triples on the day, putting the game out of reach and embarrassing a medal favorite.

Serbia looked the part early on, but they could not handle the U.S. shooting. The red, white, and blue shot 62% from the floor and 56% from three, compared to only nine three-pointers made by the Serbs, half of their opponents.

While Sunday was a successful day on the court for the U.S., Kerr needed to answer questions off of it. 2024 NBA champion and first-team All-NBA SF Jayson Tatum did not receive a minute of playing time. Tatum became an integral piece for the United States off the bench during their exhibition matchups, but Durant’s return made his skills obsolete, according to the head coach. Kerr stated that he “feels like an idiot” for not playing Tatum and will get minutes throughout the tournament.

The Americans continue their gold medal defense Wednesday against South Sudan, whom they beat 101-100 during a friendly match.