Good evening!

Combat sports have been dominating the headlines lately. First, there was the Netflix fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Then, Jon Jones defended his heavyweight title at UFC 309. 

Now, a pickleball player is being condemned for getting a little too vinegary on the court. In all seriousness, this video is unbelievable.

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Stat of the day

4
The number of teams in NBA history who have started the season undefeated after 15 games. The Cleveland Cavaliers became the fourth following their 128-114 victory over the Charlotte Hornets yesterday. The most recent team to do so was the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who hold the record for the best start to a season with 24 straight wins.

Quote of the day

"Over the weekend and today, our club was forced to shut down comments and even delete posts, posts that should have been shining moments of joy…. 'No to Hate' isn't just a slogan; it's a battle cry. It's a reminder that we must keep fighting for what is right, for true acceptance, and for a game that embraces everyone without exception."
A statement from Chelsea Pride, the affiliated LGBTQ+ supporter group for both the men’s and women’s Chelsea football club in England. The group condemned homophobic comments posted in response to the announcement that Matildas/Chelsea player Sam Kerr and her partner Kristie Mewis are expecting a child. 

Random fact of the day

The record for the most consecutive stairs climbed while balancing a person on one’s head is 100 stairs. The feat was achieved by Vietnamese brothers Giang Quoc Nghiep and Giang Quoc Co in Spain in 2021.

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In case you missed it…

⚽ Tottenham Hotspurs star Rodrigo Bentancur has been banned for seven games after he made a racist comment about teammate Son Heung-Min. The Uruguayan international made the remark during a Spanish-language interview in June. He has also been fined £100,000 ($AU194,000) by the English Football Association. The ban only applies to matches in the Premier League.

🏎️ Formula One has moved the Canadian Grand Prix from early June to late May from 2026 as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The adjustment means that after the Miami GP, the paddock can remain in North America rather than shipping cars back and forth across the Atlantic in between races. F1 president Stefano Domenicali said: "The change will make the future flow of our calendar not only more sustainable but logistically more sensible for our teams and personnel. Our Net Zero by 2030 commitment continues to be a priority for us as a sport."

🎾 Italy has secured its spot in the Billie Jean King Cup final after beating Poland. The Italian team, featuring world number four Jasmine Paolini, defeated Poland, led by world number one Iga Świątek, in the deciding doubles match to take a 2-1 victory overall. The other semi-final between Great Britain and Slovakia will determine who meets the four-time champions in the final. The Billie Jean King Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport.

⚽ San Marino, the world’s bottom-ranked international football team, has recorded its first-ever away fixture victory. The side beat Liechtenstein 3-1 to notch its third-ever win and earn promotion to League C of the Nations League. All three of the tiny landlocked nation's victories have been against Liechtenstein.

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Australia completes first-ever T20 series sweep of Pakistan

The Australian men’s T20 cricket side won their third and final match against Pakistan to complete a series whitewash. It’s the first time Australia has swept a Pakistani side in a T20 series.

What happened

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, but struggled against the bowling prowess of Australian stars Aaron Hardie (3/21) and Adam Zampa (2/11). The visitors posted a total of 117.

Australia were able to quickly chase down the total with Marcus Stoinis leading the charge and hitting 61 runs from 27 balls. Stoinis was named Player of the Match for his efforts.

Australian bowler Spencer Johnson, who took two wickets on Monday night and eight across the three matches, was named Player of the Series. The 28-year-old became just the sixth Australian bowler to take five wickets in a T20 international in the second match of the series.

What’s next

Australian cricket will now turn its attention to a five-Test series against India, the first of which begins on Friday at Optus Stadium in Perth.

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Fox sisters win Australia’s most prestigious sporting award

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame gala night was held last night. The event saw the Fox sisters, Jess and Noémie, honoured with the ‘Don Award’ for their inspiring performances at the Paris Olympics.

The Fox Sisters and the Don Award

The ‘Don Award’, named after cricket legend Don Bradman, is an annual award for the Australian athletes or team whose sporting achievements have ‘most inspired the nation’. Jess, the elder Fox sister, brought her Olympic medal tally to six in Paris after winning gold in the K1 and C1 canoe slalom events. Days later, Noémie followed suit and won gold in the kayak cross, a canoe slalom event that made its debut at the Paris Games.

The Dawn Award

Basketballer Lauren Jackson, who has represented Australia at five Olympics, was also honoured. The 43-year-old was the recipient of the Dawn Award, named after Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser, which honours an athlete who is ‘courageous, brave, and has changed sport for the better.’ Jackson, a three-time WNBA MVP, became the only Australian to win a medal at five Games after the Opals won bronze in Paris.

Inductees

Aside from the awards, six Australian athletes were inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. The athletes were three-time surfing world champion Mick Fanning, Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Sally Pearson, Bathurst 1000 champion Mark Skaife, dual-sport Paralympics champion Liesl Tesch, Kookaburras hockey captain Mark Knowles, and lawn bowls legend Karen Murphy.

Businessman Gerry Ryan and late basketball administrator Betty Watson were also inducted as general members for their contributions to Australian sport.

What they said

Jess Fox told AAP: "What's hard is that often we're up against each other for these sorts of awards and so that's tough, so to actually win it together is really special. It's been a journey that we've shared together, and Paris was so special for our whole family.”

Noémie said: "I'm used to being in the shadows, and obviously the world and Australia specifically, has seen Jess as a sporting legend, but it does feel like suddenly with everyone knowing my name and knowing kayak cross since Paris, it's been this whole new world.”

Jackson, who required a knee replacement after Paris, said: “I got through and I'm so proud that I proved to myself that I could, and to be a part of something super special."

ICYMI: TDA Sport has a new game on Instagram called Blurdle. IYKYK.
Today’s answer: Simone Biles
Useless clue: 4’8”

A deep dive powered by Deakin University

From plate to podium: Nutrition for young athletes

Peak performance isn't just about rigorous training, physical skills and genetics – it’s also about nutrition.

Whether you’re chasing gold or just looking to optimise your health, Dr Dominique Condo, a researcher and lecturer from Deakin’s School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, says that “proper nutrition is key.”

Nutrition has the power to make or break your athletic performance, and according to Dr. Condo, there are three key ingredients for a winning plate:

1. A balanced diet

Young athletes need a well-balanced diet that is rich in carbohydrates for slow-burning energy, proteins for muscle repair and growth, and fats for overall health. Picture a colourful plate full of fruits and veggies!

2. Hydrate

Unfortunately, the ‘eight glasses of water a day’ trick might not cut it! “It’s important to understand the demands of the sport and individual factors, including thirst, that may impact hydration needs,” Dr Condo said. Proper hydration depends on factors like body size, climate, activity level and overall health.

3. Meal timings

“Meal timing is just as important as what the meal is made of,” Dr Condo advises. “Eating a nutritious meal 2-3 hours pre-exercise or competition will allow for the food to be digested and able to be used as energy.”

Think beyond the field. Study sport at Deakin.

Looking forward… (All times are AEDT)

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