Sports

Courtenay athlete Sean Hayes had an impressive professional debut on the strongman circuit, placing third at the 2021 Canada’s Strongest Man, SPhoto supplied

Vancouver Islander is Canada’s third Strongest Man

Courtenay athlete Sean Hayes finishes third in first-ever professional competition

CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie speaks at a news conference in Halifax on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Commissioner Randy Ambrosie and the CFL are finally back in the football business, as the league kicks off the ‘21 season Thursday night, its first action since the 2019 Grey Cup game. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

After long delay due to global pandemic, CFL finally set to resume playing football

Thursday night game Winnipeg the first action since the 2019 Grey Cup game

Canada’s Andre De Grasse reacts after racing to a gold medal as American Erriyon Knighton looks on in the Men’s 200m final during the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday, August 4, 2021. After two days without any medals at the Tokyo Olympics, Andre De Grasse got Canada back on the board with the greatest run of his stellar career. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

De Grasse ends Canada’s two-day medal drought in Tokyo in electrifying fashion

De Grasse’s victory comes 25 years — plus a week — after Donovan Bailey raced to 100-metre gold

Canadian gymnast Ellie Black, from Halifax, competes in the balance beam final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Tuesday, August 3, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada’s Ellie Black finishes fourth in women’s beam, Biles takes bronze

Biles picked up the seventh medal of her Olympic career after pulling out of earlier events

Canadian gymnast Ellie Black, from Halifax, competes in the balance beam final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Tuesday, August 3, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the G-7 summit at the Carbis Bay Hotel in Carbis Bay, St. Ives, Cornwall, England, Friday, June 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Kevin Lamarque, POOL

In call with Biden, Trudeau talks trade, border ‘collaboration’ and Olympic soccer

U.S. president basks in basket of Montreal smoked-meat sandwiches won when Tampa Bay won Stanley Cup

President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the G-7 summit at the Carbis Bay Hotel in Carbis Bay, St. Ives, Cornwall, England, Friday, June 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Kevin Lamarque, POOL
Pacific FC won their Langford home-opener against the Calgary Cavalry on July 30. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)

PHOTOS: More than 2,500 take in Pacific FC’s long-awaited Greater Victoria return

Langford’s Starlight Stadium soccer crowds rewarded with win over Calgary

Pacific FC won their Langford home-opener against the Calgary Cavalry on July 30. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)
Angela Bailey is shown in this August 2, 1985 photo competing at the National Track and Field Championships in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Jones

Canadian Olympic sprinter and record-holder Angela Bailey dies

Bailey’s 1987 Canadian women’s 100-metre sprint record time of 10.98 seconds still stands today

Angela Bailey is shown in this August 2, 1985 photo competing at the National Track and Field Championships in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Jones
Andre De Grasse, of Canada, competes in a heat of the men’s 200-meters at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Petr David Josek

Canada shut out of medals again, but sprinters De Grasse, Brown provide hope

Country left without any hardware to celebrate for the second straight day

Andre De Grasse, of Canada, competes in a heat of the men’s 200-meters at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Petr David Josek
Melissa Humana-Paredes, of Canada digs out the ball during a women’s beach volleyball match against Spain at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Canada keeps rolling in Olympic women’s beach volleyball with 2 teams in quarters

Humana-Paredes and Pavan, the reigning world champions, have won all four of their pool matches 2-0

Melissa Humana-Paredes, of Canada digs out the ball during a women’s beach volleyball match against Spain at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Canada’s Jessie Fleming, 17, celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during a women’s semifinal soccer match against United States at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, in Kashima, Japan, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. Fleming scored on a penalty kick in the 74th minute to help the Canadian women’s soccer team to a 1-0 semifinal victory over the United States on Monday at the Tokyo Games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Martin Mejia

Canada advances to Olympic women’s soccer final with 1-0 win over United States

The last time Canada and the United States met in Olympic soccer was in the semifinals of the London Game

Canada’s Jessie Fleming, 17, celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during a women’s semifinal soccer match against United States at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, in Kashima, Japan, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. Fleming scored on a penalty kick in the 74th minute to help the Canadian women’s soccer team to a 1-0 semifinal victory over the United States on Monday at the Tokyo Games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Martin Mejia
Canada’s Britt Benn, center, is chased by Kenya’s Grace Okulu, right, while evading a tackle by Kenya’s Sinaida Omondi, in their women’s rugby sevens 9-10 placing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Shuji Kajiyama

Rugby Canada set to start review after disappointing Olympics and turbulent leadup

How the Olympic performance affects funding remains to be seen

Canada’s Britt Benn, center, is chased by Kenya’s Grace Okulu, right, while evading a tackle by Kenya’s Sinaida Omondi, in their women’s rugby sevens 9-10 placing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Shuji Kajiyama
San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane during a March game against the Arizona Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz. The NHL is investigating an allegation made by Kane’s wife that he bets on his own games. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Claim that San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane bet on his own games is under investigation

Kane, former Vancouver Giants star player, calls claim by estranged wife ‘completely false’

San Jose Sharks left wing Evander Kane during a March game against the Arizona Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz. The NHL is investigating an allegation made by Kane’s wife that he bets on his own games. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Vancouver Whitecaps forward Cristian Dajome passes the ball during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against Minnesota United, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Alex Goodlett)

Dajome’s stoppage time goal helps Vancouver Whitecaps tie Minnesota United 2-2

Saturday marked the last match the ‘Caps will play at Rio Tinto Stadium in this season

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Cristian Dajome passes the ball during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against Minnesota United, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Alex Goodlett)
Canada's Maggie Mac Neil, left to right, Sydney Pickrem, Kylie Masse and Penny Oleksiak, in the water, celebrate a bronze medal in the women's 4 x 100m medley relay final during the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, in Tokyo, Sunday, August 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Oleksiak makes history with seventh Olympic medal, De Grasse wins 100m bronze

Oleksiak also anchored the 4x100 freestyle relay team to a silver medal

Canada's Maggie Mac Neil, left to right, Sydney Pickrem, Kylie Masse and Penny Oleksiak, in the water, celebrate a bronze medal in the women's 4 x 100m medley relay final during the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, in Tokyo, Sunday, August 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
All the rowing athletes from Canada participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were trained on Quamichan Lake. (File photo)

Vancouver Island-based women’s eights wins gold at Tokyo Olympics

Team trained on Quamichan Lake, includes several Island rowers

All the rowing athletes from Canada participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were trained on Quamichan Lake. (File photo)
Romania’s Maria Nechita, right, punches Japan’s Sena Irie during their women’s featherweight 57-kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, Pool)

Olympic women’s boxing is bigger, deeper, better in Tokyo

Nine years after London debut, women’s boxing is flattening all kinds of milestones in Tokyo

Romania’s Maria Nechita, right, punches Japan’s Sena Irie during their women’s featherweight 57-kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, Pool)
Mexico’s Chelsea Gonzales hits a single in the sixth inning of a softball game against Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Mexico boxers accuse country’s softball players of throwing away Olympic apparel

All but one member of Mexico’s 15-woman Olympic roster was born in the United States

Mexico’s Chelsea Gonzales hits a single in the sixth inning of a softball game against Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC play the Montreal Impact in an empty B.C. Place due to COVID-19 protocols during the second half of MLS soccer action in Vancouver, B.C. Wednesday, September, 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Canadian MLS teams given green light to finish out season using home stadiums

Canada has approved a “National Interest Exemption” for MLS teams crossing the border

Vancouver Whitecaps FC play the Montreal Impact in an empty B.C. Place due to COVID-19 protocols during the second half of MLS soccer action in Vancouver, B.C. Wednesday, September, 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The top women’s curlers from around the world will compete in Prince George, as it was just announced that the CN Centre will be the site for the 2022 World Women’s Curling Championship. Prince George was set to host the 2020 event which was cancelled due to COVID-19. (Quesnel Observer File Photo)

Women’s curling championship coming back to Prince George in 2022

The scheduled 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID-19, the 2022 event will be held in March

The top women’s curlers from around the world will compete in Prince George, as it was just announced that the CN Centre will be the site for the 2022 World Women’s Curling Championship. Prince George was set to host the 2020 event which was cancelled due to COVID-19. (Quesnel Observer File Photo)
Kimberley's Patrick Humenny, owner of Purcell Outdoors, seen here at the first transition zone in the inaugural Black Spur Ultra in 2015, shared some thoughts of what motivates someone to run up and down a mountain for 14+ hours. Photo courtesy of Louise Jackson.

Ultra Marathon running: the highs, the lows, the pain

Kootenay man describes what motivates someone to run 108 km in one shot

Kimberley's Patrick Humenny, owner of Purcell Outdoors, seen here at the first transition zone in the inaugural Black Spur Ultra in 2015, shared some thoughts of what motivates someone to run up and down a mountain for 14+ hours. Photo courtesy of Louise Jackson.