Today’s intro?

An epic photo of American skiier Lindsey Vonn on a training run before the Alpine World Ski Championships women's downhill race in Austria last weekend.

Talk about peak performance!

8 
The number of NBA players who have scored 30,000 or more points in the NBA. Phoenix Suns player Kevin Durant became the eighth when he recorded 34 points during the Suns’ 112-119 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies yesterday.

"For two years, I have taken the high road while my name and image have been used, unauthorised, to further personal and political agendas through the spreading and dissemination of baseless lies and misinformation. But silence is no longer an option"
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif in a statement responding to the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) legal action against the International Olympic Committee for allowing her to compete in Paris. Khelif, who has always competed in women’s categories and has the support of the IOC, became an Olympic champion in the welterweight division last year. The IBA’s lawsuit has been filed with the belief that Khelif does not meet the gender eligibility requirements to compete in women’s events.

After winning an Olympic gold in boxing at the 1908 Olympics, Englishman Johnny Douglas turned his attention to cricket. He went on to captain England to an Ashes series victory in the 1911-12 series.

🏃‍♂️Teenage sprinting sensation Gout Gout plans to compete in this year’s Stawell Gift, Australia’s oldest footrace. Gout’s manager James Templeton confirmed to AAP on Wednesday that the 17-year-old had agreed to compete in the 120m event. The Stawell Gift is run on a grass track, and athletes start on different marks based on form and ability. The winner of this year’s race on 21 April will receive $40,000.

🎾 The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has upheld a suspension against Stefano Vukov, former coach of 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. According to The Athletic, the WTA’s investigation was into complaints that Vukov had been verbally abusive towards Rybakina. The Kazakhstani tennis star responded by telling reporters at the ongoing Qatar Open that she is “disappointed with the situation, and how the process went”.

🏀 The NBL Finals resume tonight, with the Sydney Kings taking on the Adelaide 36ers. The Kings will be without 2023 NBL MVP Xavier Cooks after he was suspended for a potential anti-doping violation earlier this week. The winner of the match will play the South East Melbourne Phoenix in a sudden-death Play-In Game to determine the Illawarra Hawks’ opponent in the semi-finals.

Australia lost to Sri Lanka in the first of two ODIs in Colombo yesterday. The hosts won by 49 runs, bowling Australia out for just 165 after setting a total of 214.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat. Despite missing the usual front-line bowling attack of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins, the Aussies had Sri Lanka reeling at 4/31 courtesy of two wickets each from Spencer Johnson and Aaron Hardie. However, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka produced a superb innings of 127 runs off 126 balls to bring the host side back into contention with an innings total of 215 runs.

Australia then struggled to assert themselves in the run chase, losing all wickets within 34 overs. Alex Carey was the visitors’ highest runscorer with 41 runs off 38 balls.

The next ODI will start tomorrow at 3:30pm (AEDT). The match will be Australia’s last opportunity to play as a team ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy later this month.

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The 2025 season of Super Rugby Pacific begins tomorrow night. The opening match will be an all-Kiwi clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes in Christchurch at 5:05pm (AEDT).

The competition has been reduced to 11 teams following the disbandment of the Melbourne Rebels in the off-season. While the Rebels’ collapse was met with disappointment by players and fans, the silver lining is the four remaining Australian teams have been strengthened with an influx of talented former Rebels players.

With only 11 teams, the regular season will see each side play 14 matches across 16 rounds. Every team will receive two bye rounds.

The finals series has also changed. This year, only the top six teams (down from eight) will advance to a three-week finals series to determine a winner.

There have also been some rule changes to the competition to improve the flow of the game. Most notably, the kicker’s allowed time to take a conversion has been reduced from 90 seconds to 60 seconds, referees will allow play to continue following non-straight lineout throws, and scrum halves will be given more protection when attempting to clear the ball.

An Australian team has not won a Super Rugby title since the NSW Waratahs in 2014. The first Australian team in action will be the Waratahs, who are set to host the Highlanders tomorrow at 7:35pm (AEDT) in Sydney. After finishing on the bottom of the ladder in last year’s competition, this year’s Waratahs side features 13 Wallabies and is expected to make a strong showing under new coach Dan McKellar. Code-hopping superstar Joseph Sua’ali’i will also be making his Super Rugby Pacific debut after an impressive Spring Tour with the national team.

On Saturday, the ACT Brumbies are expected to get their 2025 campaign off to a winning start when they play the Fijian Drua at 2:35pm (AEDT). The Brumbies were the only Australian team in 2024 to make the semi-finals. Following that match, the Western Force will take on Moana Pasifika in Perth at 7:35pm (AEDT). The Force finished 10th last season and will be looking to improve on last year’s record. Wallabies lock Jeremy Williams will lead the side, which has been bolstered by nine Force debutants in this weekend’s 23-man squad, including Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch.

The Queensland Reds have been handed a bye for the opening round but are expected to be competitive after finishing fifth in their first season under coach Les Kiss last year. The Reds’ roster includes 18 Wallabies.

The defending champions are the Auckland Blues. The Blues will begin their season with a rematch of last year’s grand final against the Chiefs on Saturday at 5:05pm (AEDT).

You can watch all matches of Super Rugby Pacific on Stan Sport.

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