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A23
SPORTS Friday 13 July 2018
Scandal-hit USOC picks golf

exec Sarah Hirshland as CEO

By EDDIE PELLS, the federation. the movement, "and now,
AP National Writer "The USOC is at a critical with Sarah at the helm,
DENVER (AP) — Sarah Hirsh- time in its history and re- this connection will only be
land is known as the tough quires an energetic, cre- strengthened."
negotiator who helped the ative and inspiring leader But Hirshland's top task will
U.S. Golf Association bro- who is capable of building be restoring credibility to
ker media and sponsorship on past success while mak- the USOC's efforts to pro-
deals, including its 12-year ing sure that the athletes we vide safe atmospheres for
TV contract with Fox. serve are protected, sup- its athletes.
Her next job, as CEO of the ported and empowered in Sex-abuse scandals in
U.S. Olympic Committee, every possible way," USOC swimming, gymnastics and
will be a more delicate task Chairman Larry Probst said. taekwondo —to name a
— repairing a frayed rela- The USOC embarked on few — forced the USOC to
tionship with athletes and a a four-month search that create more uniform stan- which took over the duty land said.
community that has grown brought more than a doz- dards to protect athletes of investigating sex-abuse "We must protect, support
wary of the governing en candidates into the across all Olympic sports. cases in Olympic sports and and empower athletes,
body after a slew of sex- fold. Hirshland will start the But the USOC's portrayal of meting out the punishment. young and old, elite and
abuse cases they feel were job later this month. itself as a federation that Still, the USOC finds itself a beginner.
not handled appropriately. Before the USGA, she only truly oversees the ath- defendant in a handful of Olympic and Paralympic
The USOC announced the worked with Casey Was- letes during the three-week lawsuits filed by athletes sport in the United States
USGA's chief commercial serman, the chair of the Olympic period every two and even former U.S. gym- must be a shining example,
officer as the new CEO on LA 2028 Olympic effort, at years rubbed many people nastics coordinator Martha able to provide athletes
Thursday. Wasserman Media Group. wrong, and made it sound Karolyi, all of which seek with the benefits of partici-
She'll replace Scott Black- Wasserman called her a vi- as if its leaders weren't ulti- damages because of its pation in an environment
mun, who resigned earlier sionary leader. mately responsible for the role in the scandal. free from abuse of any kind.
this year to deal with health USGA CEO Mike Davis said welfare of the athletes. "I ... recognize the chal- The USOC has made great
issues that undercut his golf's return to the Olym- Under Blackmun's tenure, lenges ahead as we navi- strides in this area and I look
ability to deal with the sex- pics in 2016 helped Hirsh- the USOC helped open the gate this critical moment forward to carrying on that
abuse crisis that engulfed land become familiar with U.S. Center for SafeSport, in the USOC's history," Hirsh- critically important work."q

Daniel Martin wins Stage 6 of Tour, Van Avermaet keeps lead

By JOSEPH WILSON Pierre Latour crossed the Riders twice went up the
Associated Press line second followed by Mur de Bretagne, or "Wall
MUR DE BRETAGNE, France Alejandro Valverde in third. of Brittany," which the lo-
(AP) — Daniel Martin of Ire- It was Martin's second Tour cal cycling-crazed Bretons
land won an uphill finish to stage win after his first in affectionately refer to as
claim Stage 6 of the Tour 2013. their smaller version of the
de France on Thursday, Van Avermaet, a support famous Alpe d'Huez. While
while Greg Van Avermaet rider for Porte, has held the that Alp ascent awaiting on
kept the yellow jersey for a yellow jersey since BMC Stage 12 rises to 1,850 me-
third consecutive day. won the team time trial on ters, the Mur de Bretagne
Defending champion Chris Stage 3. tops out at 293 meters.
Froome crossed eight sec- "(Porte) can be confident The course route that took
onds after Martin in 18th. after this climb," Van Aver- riders along the lovely roll-
That left the Sky leader 1 maet said. "We use me (as ing hills of northwestern
minute, 2 seconds off Van the leader) to ease the France included a pass
Avermaet's overall lead. pressure off him." through the town of Car-
Martin broke away at the Title hopefuls Tom Dumou- Ireland's Daniel Martin celebrates as he crosses the finish line haix, which boasts four
midway point of the straight lin (Sunweb) and Romain to win the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over Breton winners of the Tour,
two-kilometer ascent of the Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) 181 kilometers (112.5 miles) with start in Brest and finish in Mur- including the great Bernard
Mur de Bretagne, winning were the big losers of the de-Bretagne Guerledan, France, Thursday, July 12, 2018. Hinault.
the 181-kilometer (112-mile) day. Associated Press Froome is trying to join
leg that started in the west- Dumoulin, the time trial Hinault, Jacques Anquetil,
ern port city of Brest in over world champion and 2017 never good to lose time," 100 kilometers into the Eddy Merckx, and Miguel
four hours. Giro d'Italia winner, was said Bardet, who has fin- stage during a straight- Indurain as the only riders to
The UAE Emirates leader slowed by a tire puncture ished on the podium in the away that was exposed to win the Tour five times.
counterattacked when at the foot of the final as- past two Tours. "There are a crosswinds. This was the first summit fin-
Richie Porte jumped ahead cent and lost 53 seconds. lot of twists on the Tour and A group of around 40 riders ish of this Tour.
and nobody immediately He entered the stage sev- this time luck was not on including Froome opened After the relatively flat first
tried to reel him in. enth overall and finished it our side." up a gap of over a min- nine days, the race will
"I saw the moment. I had 15th and one second be- Martin was one of several ute, but Martin and the rest head south and into the
really good legs and when hind Froome. team leaders along with worked to reunite the pelo- Alps and then the Pyrenees
I went my legs kept coming Bardet was left 1:45 back in former Tour winner Vincen- ton. Mountains.
and coming," Martin said. "I 23rd overall after a spoke zo Nibali and two-time run- A four-man breakaway Friday's flat 231-kilome-
knew if I could get a gap it on his bike broke. ner-up Nairo Quintana who earned a seven-minute ter leg from Fougeres to
would be difficult to close "Then I had to chase and were caught off-guard by advantage before being Chartes is the longest stage
from behind." that effort was fatal. It's an attack by Quick-Step swallowed up late. of this Tour.q