Athletes Stick Around Paris Games to Watch Other Sports and Get the Full Olympic Experience

Taylor Knibb, left, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Spivey and Seth Rider, right, of the United States, jump as they hold their medals at the end of the medal ceremony for the mixed relay triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Taylor Knibb, left, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Spivey and Seth Rider, right, of the United States, jump as they hold their medals at the end of the medal ceremony for the mixed relay triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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Athletes Stick Around Paris Games to Watch Other Sports and Get the Full Olympic Experience

Taylor Knibb, left, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Spivey and Seth Rider, right, of the United States, jump as they hold their medals at the end of the medal ceremony for the mixed relay triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Taylor Knibb, left, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Spivey and Seth Rider, right, of the United States, jump as they hold their medals at the end of the medal ceremony for the mixed relay triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

For many athletes at the Paris Olympics, the fun was just beginning after they were done competing.
During the second full week of the 2024 Olympics, going home wasn't an option. Now that the pressure of having to compete is gone, it was time to become a fan: Enjoy Paris and watch other sports.
“I’m a huge track fan,” said triathlete Morgan Pearson, who won the silver medal with the US team in the mixed relay on Monday. “I hope to go to some of those races. I’m a huge Olympic fan in general.”
American sport climber Zach Hammer, who was finished competing on Tuesday, also was headed to the track, The Associated Press reported.
“I would definitely be excited to watch the men’s 200(-meter) with (Noah) Lyles. He’s one of my favorite athletes,” he said. “I’m definitely excited to get the full Olympic experience, and I’ll go watch whatever there is to watch. It will definitely be cool to see Americans competing on the biggest stage.”
US rower Jacob Plihal was among those who stayed in town after competing during the first week.
“Hopefully I can watch a little handball if that’s still going, maybe 3x3 basketball," he said. “I don’t know what the schedules are. I’ve been focused on the racing but I’m excited to stick around and watch other sports, cheer Team USA on and get to know some athletes at the (Olympic) Village.”
Another American sport climber, Sam Watson, who broke the speed world record in an elimination heat on Tuesday, was making the most out of his stay at the village. He was challenging fellow athletes to chess games and trying to get selfies with a member of every delegation at the Games.
Some of the American women rowers who competed last week were at the women's basketball game between the US and Nigeria on Wednesday.
Molly Thompson-Smith, a British sport climber, was interested in watching some of the other smaller sports that don’t often get much attention. She said “it’s been really cool to kind of learn how they work and all the weird things about them.”
Thompson-Smith added that she "did see a bit of beach volleyball,” but “I think everyone wants to see the athletics, just to see something like that and feel the atmosphere of the crowd would be incredible. But I’m open to seeing anything now ... I’m here to make as many memories and see as much as I possibly can.”
Rower Viktorija Senkute, who won Lithuania’s first medal at the Games last week, was sticking around to watch her boyfriend, Simonas Maldonis, compete in canoe sprint.
Athletes can watch their own discipline with their accreditation, but need tickets for other sports. Some said they can get them through their national Olympic committees, or with the International Olympic Committee, which gives each athlete one free ticket per day.
There was an additional Olympic experience for athletes this time in Paris, as for the first time in the Summer Games organizers gave them a place to be closer to fans and celebrate their medals. In the new Champions Park, athletes got a chance to parade with their medals and interact with fans.
“I feel as if this year they’ve done a really good job of treating after winning athletes with memories that we’re going to cherish forever,” French rugby player Aaron Grandidier Nkanang said after going to the Champions Park. “We’re just in front of the Eiffel Tower, and there’s thousands of people out to come and cheer us on.”



Sabalenka Sees off Pavlyuchenkova to Reach Australian Open Semifinals 

 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's Singles quarterfinal match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's Singles quarterfinal match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
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Sabalenka Sees off Pavlyuchenkova to Reach Australian Open Semifinals 

 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's Singles quarterfinal match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's Singles quarterfinal match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2025. (EPA)

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka reached the semifinals of the Australian Open with a battling 6-2 2-6 6-3 win over Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, as her quest for a third straight title at Melbourne Park gained momentum.

Sabalenka had looked shaky early in her quest to become the first woman to complete a "three-peat" since Martina Hingis from 1997-99 and the top seed had to manage gusty winds and a gutsy opponent to extend her Melbourne win streak to 19 matches.

"Honestly, I was just praying today. I was just praying to put the ball back in these tough conditions," Sabalenka said.

"We both were trying to put the ball back. It was very difficult to play. She played amazing tennis, aggressive. I'm super happy I was able to somehow magically win this match."

After three straightforward holds of serve at the start of the match, Sabalenka displayed the variety she has added to her game with a drop shot from deep to earn break points and then converted it with a more familiar backhand bullet.

Pavlyuchenkova, who has the word "MEOW" tattooed on her leg in sharp contrast to the tiger on Sabalenka's arm, attempted to claw her way back in a tight game that followed but only found herself in more trouble down 4-1 after a shot into the net.

"I was born in the year of tiger and I literally dreamt for six months about getting a tiger tattoo," Sabalenka added of the animal that has become her totem.

"After six months of this crazy dream, I was like 'you know what, I have to go and get it done' and now, it's a reminder to never give up and just stay aggressive, stay hungry and push yourself no matter what what's going on in your life."

A running crosscourt winner handed Sabalenka the first set but the 26-year-old Belarusian squandered break points early in the next set before surrendering her serve for the first time, as Pavlyuchenkova showed her own repertoire of big shots.

Sabalenka splashed cold water on her face after dropping serve again to go 4-1 down and despite pulling one back with a sliced winner, the world number one allowed Pavlyuchenkova to level up the contest on Rod Laver Arena.

The breaks of serve flowed at the start of the decider before Sabalenka settled herself with a hold to go ahead 3-2 and then 5-3 up with a crucial break, which allowed her to secure victory and book a clash with her best friend Paula Badosa.

"Sometimes maybe it's good to have these tough battles, to go through it, to be tougher for the last stages of the tournament," Sabalenka said.

"I wish I would win this match in straight sets but it is how it is. I'm glad I'm in the semis and I cannot wait to play against Paula."