As headlines go, “Social Media is Bad” doesn’t raise many eyebrows these days. TikTok and its ilk are said to be harming mental health, stifling creativity, eroding privacy, fueling disinformation, undermining national security, and so on. These are all big issues worthy of careful debate. But there’s a narrower and more tangible risk that Sweat […]
As headlines go, “Social Media is Bad” doesn’t raise many eyebrows these days. TikTok and its ilk are said to be harming mental health, stifling creativity, eroding privacy, fueling disinformation, undermining national security, and so on. These are all big issues worthy of careful debate. But there’s a narrower and more tangible risk that Sweat Science readers might be concerned about. What if social media is making us slower?
A recent study in the European Journal of Sport Science, from Carlos Freitas-Junior of the Federal University of Paraiba in Brazil and his colleagues, presents data on what happens when athletes scroll on their phones before training sessions. Surprisingly, it doesn’t just mess with that specific workout. Instead, over time, the athletes make smaller gains in performance. The findings tell us something about social media—and they also suggest that the benefits of a workout may depend in part on the state of mind you’re in while doing it.
The Problem(s) With Social Media
Several studies over the years have examined social media use in athletes. Most famously, back in 2019 researchers at Stony Brook University found an association between late-night tweeting (as it was then called) and next-day game performance in NBA players. If the players were tweeting after 11:00 P.M., the players tended to score fewer points, grab fewer rebounds, and shoot less accurately the next day.
You might argue—correctly—that the problem here is sleep deprivation rather than social media. But other studies have found direct links between the usage of apps such as TikTok and sleep patterns in young athletes, suggesting that the root of the problem is the apps. Researchers have also linked social media use to mental well-being and even eating disorders in athletes, both of which impact performance.
These indirect impacts aren’t always straightforward: the TikTok-hurts-sleep study also found that Instagram usage was associated with greater calmness, for example. But there’s also a more immediate concern, which is that social media apps leave you mentally fatigued, which in turn directly compromises your endurance and decision-making abilities.
The Mental Fatigue Debate
The study that kicked off the modern conversation about mental fatigue in sport was a 2009 experiment from a researcher named Samuele Marcora. He showed that 90 minutes of doing a cognitively challenging computer task reduced cycling endurance by about 15 percent compared to spending 90 minutes watching a documentary.
More studies followed, each investigating different types of mental fatigue and their effects on different types of athletic performance. Many of them echoed Marcora’s original results, but not all of them. One of the big unresolved questions is the extent to which the findings apply in real life. If you have to write an exam or do your taxes right before you run a marathon, that’s probably bad news. But what about the normal activities we engage in on a daily basis—like scrolling through the social media apps on your phones? Do they induce sufficient mental fatigue to affect performance?
Back in 2021, a swimming study found that 30 minutes of social media use hurt athletes’ times in 100- and 200-meter freestyle trials, but not in the 50 meters. Another study found that boxers made worse decisions after using social media, but that their jumping performance was unaffected. Yet another found no effect of social media use on strength training performance. These results are consistent with the general pattern of research on mental fatigue and related stressors like sleep deprivation: with sufficient motivation, you can still exert maximal force, but your decision-making and endurance may be compromised.
What the New Data Shows
Freitas-Junior’s new study looks at volleyball players, testing their jumping performance and their “attack efficiency,” a measure of how hard and how accurately they can hit the ball in a sequence of attacks. What’s different about the study is that it looked at long-term rather than immediate effects. Fourteen athletes spent half an hour before practice either using Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram on their phones, or watching documentaries about the history of the Olympics. After three weeks, their performance was assessed and then they switched groups and repeated the process for another three weeks.
At the end of the three-week period, jumping performance wasn’t affected under either condition, but athletes’ attack efficiency was worse following the three weeks of social media use. The difference was statistically significant, but to be honest the data isn’t very convincing.
For starters, take a look at the mental fatigue data. This shows how much, on average, mental fatigue (on the vertical axis) increased after watching the documentary (DOC) or using social media (SMA):
Athletes’ mental fatigue before and after watching a documentary, and before and after social media use (Illustration: European Journal of Sports Medicine)
This is nice clean data. Watching the documentary increased the subjective perception of mental fatigue in almost every individual. Using social media increased it even more, again with uniform results in all the individuals. We can say with confidence that social media use increases mental fatigue compared to chilling with a doc.
Now take a look at the attack efficiency data, measured in arbitrary units where a higher number is better:
Athletes’ attack efficiency before and after watching a documentary, and before and after scrolling on social media (Illustration: European Journal of Sports Medicine)
This time the individual data is all over the map. The statistical analysis tells us that, on average, the social media group got worse while the documentary group got better. This average effect may or may not be real—only more and larger studies can confirm if it is. Based on the body of previous research, I’d guess that it’s probably real. But the pattern is so inconsistent on an individual level that I’d hesitate to use it as a basis for advice to athletes. Some athletes got better after social media use. That might be a fluke, or it might indicate that they have a healthier relationship with their apps such that a little phone time before practice gets them in a better headspace.
In the end, then, the narrative isn’t as tidy as we might like. It’s not that social media is uniformly bad, will leave you mentally fatigued, and will automatically rob you of training gains. There’s still a valuable message here, though. The things we do—social media, yes, but also real-world socializing, reading a book, listening to music, working, commuting, daydreaming, and so on—affect our mental state and readiness to perform. We all respond to these things differently, so there’s no universal list of dos and don’ts. But it’s worth figuring out what gets you in the right headspace and leaves you mentally energized, so that you can replicate it when it matters.
TEWKSBURY — Olivia Jensen and Maggie Kinnon are bringing a new inclusive track program to the town this summer. The Buddy Track program will happen at Tewksbury Memorial High School on five afternoons, and provide specially-abled students from grades pre-K through high school and the LEAP program a chance to have fun and run. Organized […]
TEWKSBURY — Olivia Jensen and Maggie Kinnon are bringing a new inclusive track program to the town this summer. The Buddy Track program will happen at Tewksbury Memorial High School on five afternoons, and provide specially-abled students from grades pre-K through high school and the LEAP program a chance to have fun and run.
Organized by the DECA club at TMHS, the dates are June 29, July 13, July 20, Aug. 3, and Aug. 10. Each program day will run from 1 – 2 p.m. A registration form is required for participation, and a modest $5 is asked to cover the cost of a program t-shirt. The track program is for Tewksbury residents.
The summer fun program is the brainchild of Kinnon.
“The idea stemmed from me originally, I’ve loved participating in the buddy basketball and baseball program over the past few years, but felt an absence of a summer activity. I shared my idea [with] Olivia, and it really took off from there. We hope for it to be a great way to strengthen the connection between high schoolers, especially DECA members, and the special needs community.”
Over the five Sundays, students will have the chance to learn about track and compete in various events. Participants will be matched with a TMHS student volunteer, and learn a new running or field skill each week. According to Kinnon and Jensen, volunteers will be fully engaged with the athletes to aid in the learning and performing process.
Athletes will have an initial performance review and will have their progress measured each week.
Jensen is excited for the program.
“When Maggie came up with the idea of the summer Buddy Track program, I was super excited. We quickly got to planning schedules, and decided to do one running event and one field event each day,” said Jensen.
The duo is hoping that student who might not have tried track and field events previously will give it a try.
Both Kinnon and Jensen are part of the Best Buddies program at TMHS and work to support specially-abled athletes. The pair were recently part of the TMHS team showing at the Merrimack Valley Conference Unified Track event, an affiliate of the Special Olympics.
Kinnon and Jensen said that all student participants will be provided with medals on the final day of the program, along with a performance and progress evaluation. Volunteers will be TMHS students from Best Buddies, DECA, and the track team.
Best Buddies is an organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities or one to one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
DECA is a business marketing program for students to compete in real world business scenario competitions locally and nationally. Both programs emphasize community participation and leadership, and over the years have conducted many outreach activities in town.
Students can attend just those weeks that fit their family schedule. The $5 fee will be collected at the first session attended to help defray costs.
Interested families should sign up at https://forms.gle/E1iVhnbuTaVyV17p6
For questions regarding the Buddy Track Program, email: kinnonm27@tewksbury.k12.ma.us and jenseno28@tewksbury.k12.ma.us.
FRISCO — Higher scores have been on full display at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. That makes Minjee Lee’s performance so far even more impressive. The Australia native fired a 3-under-par 69 on Saturday, her second round under par, to take a commanding four-stroke lead going into the final round. Just five rounds total at […]
FRISCO — Higher scores have been on full display at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. That makes Minjee Lee’s performance so far even more impressive.
The Australia native fired a 3-under-par 69 on Saturday, her second round under par, to take a commanding four-stroke lead going into the final round.
Just five rounds total at the tournament have been in the 60s, and Lee has owned two of them.
“I just try to stay patient out there,” Lee said. “You can’t get ahead of yourself, especially in these conditions. It’s just only getting harder and harder just with I think pressure of a major championship, and also just the course just demands so much from you.”
The 10-time LPGA Tour champion is pursuing her third major title, having previously won the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship.
“I know what it takes to win and I know just kind of what to feel and what to expect now that I have two under my belt,” Lee said. “So, yeah I just think the experience that I’ve had is really going to help me hopefully get over the line tomorrow.”
Lee avoided the ever-present bogey, which has haunted most of the golfers on this course, and instead grabbed three birdies, on Holes 9, 14 and 15 to distance herself from the competition.
That came on the heels of an opening round 69, which featured birdies on Holes 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 14 and 15.
The Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco was especially unkind Saturday to World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, who is pursuing her first major, and who enjoyed a three-stroke lead coming into the weekend.
The 22-year-old from Thailand suffered six bogeys while scoring two birdies to shoot a 4-over 76 and fall from 6 under to 2 under.
Despite that disastrous round, she still sits in a better position than everyone else as one of two golfers currently under par, and she holds a three-shot lead on the rest of the field.
The three golfers in the best position to make a potential run on the two leaders Sunday sit in a tie for third at 1 over. South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi had the best round of the three (72), but Japan’s Miyu Yamashita (73) and American Lexi Thompson (75) are technically still in the hunt.
Thompson shook off a triple bogey on her first hole and a bogey to follow to shoot 1-under golf the rest of the round.
“Yeah, definitely proud of how I just stayed strong,” Thompson said. “It was kind of a nightmare of a start, but I knew coming into the day it was going to play very difficult. I don’t know really what happened on my first hole, but happy I got it out of the way and stayed positive out there and just made pars and a few birdies here and there.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda (72) is tied with three others in sixth place at 2-over-par 218. Yealimi Noh (74), Ireland’s Leona Maguire (72) and Japan’s Chisato Iwai (75) are the others.
Overview Image Source: Spanish winners/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics Spain became the first nation to win this title four times ahead of Greece, Italy, Serbia and Hungary. The last came well before any of the current batch of players was born — 1991 when it beat Cuba for the title in California, USA. Previous titles were in […]
Spain became the first nation to win this title four times ahead of Greece, Italy, Serbia and Hungary. The last came well before any of the current batch of players was born — 1991 when it beat Cuba for the title in California, USA. Previous titles were in 1987 and 1983. It last played a final in 2011, losing to Serbia and before that, second to Italy in 1993. It is the seventh medal after also collecting bronze in 2005.
For USA, the silver medal was an improvement on 2023’s first medal at this level — a bronze medal-win over Greece. A handful of players from 2023 returned for this year’s event.
In beating Hungary for bronze, Croatia now has two of that colour to go with two gold and four silver. Hungary lost its chance to increase its record of 11 medals since the tournament’s inception in 1981.
In the lower rankings today, Serbia took fifth place over Montenegro 21-14, Greece overcame Italy 12-10 for seventh, Germany nudged out Australia 13-12 for ninth, China played a blinder to defeat Iran 17-11, Brazil was too good for Canada for 13th place and Argentina took 15th, beating Kazakhstan 14-7.
Final Placings
1. Spain 2. United States of America 3. Croatia 4. Hungary 5. Serbia 6. Montenegro 7. Greece 8. Italy 9. Germany 10. Australia 11. China 12. Iran 13. Brazil 14. Canada 15. Argentina 16. Kazakhstan 17. Colombia 18. Singapore 19. South Africa 20. New Zealand.
Awards
Most Valuable Player Ryder Dodd (USA)
Image Source: MVP Ryder Dodd (USA) with Stavroula Kozompoli (TWPC Secretary) and Sandro Sukno (CRO)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Best Goalkeeper Aran Pina (ESP)
Image Source: Best goalkeeper Aran Pina (ESP) with Stavroula Kozompoli (TWPC Secretary) and Sandro Sukno (CRO)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Highest Goal-Scorer Vlaho Pavlic (CRO) — 30
Image Source: Croatian legend Sandro Sukno presents the top scorer award to Vlaho Pavlic (CRO)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Media All Star Team
Goalkeeper Aran Pina (ESP) Centre Forward Semir Spachits (GRE) Field Players Oier Aguirre (ESP) Ryder Dodd (USA) Apostolos Georgaras (GRE) Oliver Leinweber (HUN) Vlaho Pavlic (CRO)
Match Reports
Classification 1-2
Match 62, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 11 SPAIN 13 (1-3, 6-2, 1-3, 3-6)
Image Source: USA v Spain/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Spain was jubilant, especially after having to come from 8-5 behind early in the third quarter and three go-ahead USA goals in the final period. It was the sustained pressure and resilience of the Spanish that grabbed two important goals inside the final three minutes and then the final “icing-on-the-cake” halfway shot from match hero Albert Sabadell. USA had worked hard for victory but it was Spain’s day, becoming a four-time champion.
Image Source: Tomas Perrone (ES)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Spain controlled the first quarter and rejected a Ryder Dodd penalty shot thanks to goalkeeper Aran Pina. Sabadell scored his third to start the second quarter when smothered by players for 4-1, an advantage snuffed out in quick fashion by the resurgent North Americans. Peter Castillo, Ryan Ohl and tournament MVP Dodd made sure of that. Marc Rodriguez scored on extra close in for the 5-4 Spanish lead. Bode Brinkema, Ben Liechty on penalty and Ryan Ohl took USA to 7-5 by 0:47 and halftime.
Ryan Ohl made it three for him to start the third period and an incredible three-goal lead over the only unbeaten team in Zagreb. Eudald Flaque responded with a lob shot at 4:40. Both teams went to a timeout with no result. However, at 1:56, Joan Villamayor converted a penalty foul and Biel Gomila equalised off the right-post position on extra with the cross-pass goal for 8-8 at the close of the quarter. Brinkema, Corbin Stanley and Liechty played “swapsie” with Spain’s Oier Aguirre, Sabadell and Gomila for 11-11 at 4:33. Sabadell threw the extra-man goal for a Spanish lead at 2:28. Dodd bounced over an open goal with Tomas Perrone converting a penalty for 13-11 at 0:55. USA sent seven field players up, lost the ball and Sabadell scored into an empty goal from well inside his half. It was 14-11 and there was no way USA was coming back from that. Spain had retained its unbeaten sequence to six wins.
Image Source: Gold-medal final hero Albert Sabadell (ESP)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Match Heroes Sabadell was Spain’s hero with six goals for 17 in Zagreb. Aguirre was kept to one today but scored 22 and Tomas Perrone’s lone penalty goal gave him 15 for the week. Goalkeeper Pina made nine valuable saves and was named goalkeeper of the tournament, not bad considering he was sharing the duties with Didac Garcia who played one full match and two partials. For USA, Ryan Ohl (8) scored three with Liechty, Brinkema (12) and Dodd two for the second best here with 28 goals. Charlie Mills was again in form with 11 saves in goal.
Turning Point The last three minutes when Spain kept the rampant North Americans scoreless after they dominated for a long period.
Image Source: Spanish winners Genis Blanch and Tomas Perrone/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Stats Don’t Lie Spain converted five from 12 on extra and denied 11 of 13, On penalties, went three from four. USA had the steals at 5-3 and both teams shot 35 times.
Bottom Line Spain knows how to win finals while USA had never been to the final match before. USA used its senior internationals with seven goals but Spain’s all-round play and eight scorers proved telling.
Editor’s note: Referee Veselin Miskovic (MNE) called this final in 2021 and Daniel Bartels (AUS) officiated the 2015 junior women’s gold-medal final.
Classification 3-4
Match 61, HUNGARY 8 CROATIA 13 (2-4, 2-4, 1-2, 3-3)
Croatia turned the tables on Hungary when it mattered most. On day three, Hungary trounced Croatia 15-11 but today belonged to host team Croatia and its adoring and raucous fans. Hungary started with two goals in three minute before Croatia changed the face of the match, scoring the next four before quarter time. This became 6-2 by midway through the second quarter with Luka Penava becoming the dual scorer on counter. A Hungarian timeout did not work and Ante Jerkovic made it 7-2. Vince Varga scored from the top on extra, barring down after more than 10 and a half minutes of drought. Vlaho Pavlic netted his second and Oliver Leinweber scored his second on penalty for 8-4 at halftime.
Penava grabbed two more to start the third quarter. Martin Toth (CRO) and Gabrijel Burburan (CRO) were given their marching orders for fighting in front of the Hungarian goal just as Croatia had a clear counter opportunity. Maxim Cseh worked hard at centre forward for the 10-5 goal a minute from the final break. Leinweber hit the left post on penalty at the start of the final quarter and Cseh slotted two more to give Hungary hope at 10-7. Pavlic made it hard for Hungary on extra and Botond Balogh whipped in a missile on extra from the top right for 11-8 at 2:03. Possible but improbable. Pavlic put paid to any Hungarian hopes from the deep left at 1:24 when there was no Hungarian goalkeeper as there were seven field players in the pool. Maro Susic did the same with 50 seconds left, gifting the victory and the bronze medal to Croatia.
Image Source: Oliver Leinweber (HUN)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Match Heroes Croatia’s best player was goalkeeper Mauro Cubranic with a tournament-high 18 saves. Pavlic and Panava scored four each with Pavlic’s contribution getting him to 30, the highest of the tournament. Susic scored twice and along with Jerkovic, finished with 13. Cseh, not on the scoring radar before today, stepped up when needed with three goals and Leinweber netted two, finishing with 22, eight more than Balogh, the next highest Hungarian.Goalkeeper David Szitas managed 10 saves.
Turning Point Coming from two down to 7-2 ahead by midway through the second quarter was where Croatia won.
Stats Don’t Lie Croatia converted five from 15 and stopped 14 of 19 on extra. Croatia scored one penalty goal and Hungary missed one of two. Croatia dominated the steals 7-5 and needed only 32 shots to Hungary’s 43.
Bottom Line Croatia leaves with four victories and a better position than seventh in 2023. The bronze adds to two golds and four silvers. Only Hungary and Italy have played more finals. Outgoing champion Hungary will have to settle for fourth, but not what it came to Zagreb for.
Classification 5-6
Match 60, SERBIA 21 MONTENEGRO 14 (6-5, 5-3, 6-4, 4-2)
Montenegro held all the cards early on at 5-3 ahead with Serbia banging in three goals — two to Vuk Andelic — to grab the quarter-time lead at 6-5. From then on in it was a goal-fest with seemingly both teams throwing off the shackles of a possible medal match. Here it was all about pride between the separated conjoined twins and a chance to have a good time. Montenegro regained the lead through Danilo Stupar, for his third, and Tim Perov. Vuk Kojic, who scored Serbia’s first two goals, scored his third for 7-7 with Andelic and Miljan Dokanovic regaining the advantage at 9-7. By halftime, that score had changed to 11-8.
Srdan Janovic, who delivered the 9-8 goal for Montenegro, made it 11-9 at the start of the third period. Goals were traded with Kojic for Serbia and a double to Stupar. Two more Serbian goal rained in before Stupar responded. Serbia struck twice more and it was 17-12 at the final break. Goals were swapped early in the fourth quarter before Vuk Conkic rammed home a beautiful centre-forward goal. Goals were traded again and Relja Dankovic hammered the final nail in the coffin at 21-14 from deep right.
Match Heroes Kojic had five goals coming into today’s match and top-scored for Serbia with four. LukaGladovic (12), Dokanovic (9) and Andelic (12) collected three each. Goalkeeper David Dimkovic pulled in 11 saves.For Montenegro, Stupar was in excellent form with six goals for 18 in total. Janovic scored three to close at 14. Goalie Andrija Bjelica snared nine saves.
Turning Point From 5-3 down to 9-7 ahead, Serbia enjoyed retaking the lead in the second quarter and stayed in front.
Stats Don’t Lie Serbia scored four from eight on extra and Montenegro four from seven. Serbia converted bot penalty chance and Montenegro one. Montenegro stole the ball six to five and shot 41-38.
Bottom Line Serbia goes home with four wins and down from silver two years ago. Montenegro had two wins, including one in a shootout but finished two better than in 2023. Serbia has eight medals and Montenegro one but as a conjoined nation for a period, collected two gold medals.
Greece and Italy squared off on day eight after playing each other on day one when Greece won 19-18. It was the same today except for the first quarter on day one it was a tie. Today, Greece led at all quarters. After Italy went 2-0 up, Greece replied with four goals. Italy responded at the start of the second period with swapping goals lead to a 6-5 halftime lead. Semir Spachits, showed why he was named centre forward of the tournament with his power centre-forward goal, edging out to the four-metre line at 5-3. Ioannis Tottis had his penalty attempt rejected.
Mattia di Corato levelled from two metres at the start of the third period only for Andrea Bitsakos to score his second and third goals from identical positions on the deep left. Two more Greek goals closed the period in favour of Greece 10-6.
Image Source: Andrea Nuzzo (ITA)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Giorgi Giacomone and Saul Granados traded goals at the top of the fourth period. Then Italy made a huge comeback with three goals, from penalty (Alessandro Gulotta), on extra (Andrea Nuzzo) and Giacomone from the top right. It was 11-10 at 3:31 and Italy in with a chance. Spyridon Lykoudis netted his third on extra from the top left for 12-10 at 2:11. Italy took a timeout at 0:59 but could not find a way through the Greek defence, having to settle for eighth position.
Match Heroes Greek goalkeeper Dimitrios Partsoglu, normally sitting on the bench, played the whole match for a magnificent, match-winning 15 saves. Lykoudis (11), Bitsakos (13) and Giannatos (9) scored three each. Georgaras, who scored twice, finished the best for Greece with 17 goals. Second was brilliant centre forward Spachits with one today and 16 in all. For Italy, Giacomone scored three for 17 and Marini sent in two for 12. Gullotta, who scored one today, topped the Italian scoring with 18 goals.
Image Source: Italy v Greece/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Turning Point Greece overcoming the 2-0 deficit to 4-2 at the quarter-time buzzer. Italy came back to 6-6 but that was the closest it got.
Stats Don’t Lie Greece converted six from 12 on extra and defended nine of 12. Greece missed one of two penalty attempts and Italy nailed its one chance. Italy made 12 steals to seven and outshot Greece 32-31.
Bottom Line Greece, a triple winner, was fourth in 2023 but leaves Zagreb with three victories and the knowledge that it can beat Italy twice having won on day one 19-18. Italy was sixth two years ago and leaves with two victories but the knowledge that it was only three down on champion Spain on day two.
Classification 9-10
Match 58, AUSTRALIA 12 GERMANY 13 (3-3, 1-4, 3-3, 5-3)
Image Source: Max Spittank (GER)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Germany survived a late scare and a last-gasp Aussie shot by goalkeeper Oliver Purcell to secure ninth position. The scare was that Australia levelled at 11 and when Germany went two up, Australia struck back with plenty of time to spare. However, Germany held on and made sure of victory. Germany started with the first three goals, only for Australia to level by quarter time. Germany shuffled 5-3 ahead with Finn Taubert gaining a second goal. Australia missed a penalty chance and went three goals behind as Taubert earned his third goal. Australia called a timeout with no effect and had to face the music in the third quarter.
Image Source: Sean Bright (AUS) under heavy pressure/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Ashton Brown came to the party, converting a penalty foul as goals were traded. Brown scored another on counter but Germany held strong and scored the last two as first-quarter Aussie scorer Jamie Sharman was red-carded for striking the face of a defender. Germany was still three ahead. Jake Martin made his presence known for Australia with identical extra-man goals to start the fourth quarter. German star Till Hofmann converted a penalty and Aussie skipper Harper Stewart scored on extra, as did Martin to shut the gap. It was now 11-11 and 4:45 left on the clock. Fynn Janke netted his second and Luk Jaschke countered to give Germany a 13-11 gap at 3:21. Brown snapped in a goal from the right-post position off a near pass and Australia was back in the match at 0:38. Germany used its time and dumped the ball. Purcell grabbed it , swum up and bounced the ball to goal, which was stopped and Germany had the victory.
Match Heroes Taubert with his four goals to give him 11 for the week, seven behind Tillman, who made two today. Brown and Martin were best for Australia with three each while Daniel Magasanik, who was fouled out and kept from scoring today, finished top for the Aussies with 17 goals.
Turning Point The three-goal start set the tone of the match, even though Australia came back to 3-3. Germany always held the edge and the slight buffer at the end.
Stats Don’t Lie Statistics are unavailable, although Australia scored nine extra-man goals to three and missed one of two penalty attempts to Germany’s three from three.
Bottom Line Germany has looked a good team all week and deserves the victory, finishing the tournament with five victories and just missing the top eight by one goal against Montenegro. It was 13th in Bucharest two years ago. Australia goes home with three victories and one better placing than 2023.
Classification 11-12
Match 56, IRAN 11 CHINA 13 (2-3, 2-1, 3-6, 4-3)
Image Source: Chinese captain Li Wangxiang/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Germany came through with an excellent, speedy game style that held out Iran who were reliant on captain Arman Shams, who finished with six goals and became one of the highest scorers of the tournament. China made the play in the first quarter with Iran catching up twice before Zhang Chengwei drilled from the top on extra for the 3-2, go-ahead strike. Shams, who found the net in the first period, equalised at 3:36 in the second quarter from the penalty line. Ali Shabanian gave Iran the frontal position with a blast from outside. Chinese captain Li Wanxiang converted extra from the top left on 0:58 for 4-4, the halftime scoreline. Ouyang Haiyuan found himself at the end of small passing contest to score from in front to open the third period and put China back in front, 5-4. Shams equalised on a short drive to the hole and Deng Zirui responded on a cross pass to the right post for 6-5.
Quarter three was full of action with China winning 6-3 for a three-goal margin at the last break. China used six different shooters while Iran relied heavily on Shams who added another three to his tally, including a penalty conversion. Farbod Borghei steered in a left-post ball from the near-side pass to open the fourth-quarter scoring. Goals were traded to 12-10 with Ali Abolgasemi netting twice, the first on penalty and the second from the top for 12-10. China pushed it out to three goals when Liu Jinyi went on counter to scoop in against the advancing goalkeeper at 2:53. Shams scored his sixth goal from the top at 1:58, forcing China to a timeout to settle the team at 13-11 ahead. It worked as no-one scored after that and China had 11th classification.
Match Heroes Iran’s Shams was the highest scorer with six goals, giving him 23 for the tournament. China’s Li Wanxiang topped the scoring with three and Yang netted two to make him his team’s best with nine goals. Zhang Yiwen took 11 saves in goal.
Turning Point When China went ahead at the start of the third period and never relinquished the lead.
Stats Don’t Lie China converted eight from 11 and defended six of 10 on extra. China scored both penalty attempts and Iran three. Iran made nine steals to four and shot 32 times to 27.
Bottom Line China last played this event in 2019, finishing 16th, so a big improvement. Iran was 15th in 2023. China leaves with three victories and Iran two.
Classification 13-14
Match 56, BRAZIL 17 CANADA 8 (4-2, 5-1, 3-3, 5-2)
Image Source: Patrick Romanholi (BRA) defends Canadian captain Leo Hachem/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Brazil came through for its fifth victory in Zagreb while Canada has to be happy with four victories. Brazil was in total control in the first half with positive numbers, especially keeping Canada scoreless for 10 minutes. Lucas Wulfhorst has been the go-to man for Brazil all week and his penalty taking is excellent. He scored two in the first quarter and another in the second as Brazil kept steamrolling the Canadians. At 4-2 by the first break, Canada shot to 7-2 before Canadian head coach Pat Oaten called a timeout. Brazil then called a timeout after two minutes of not scoring and took another minute before Cesar da Silva made it 8-2 and thereafter Eduardo Carraresi from top right for 9-2. With 16 seconds left on the clock, Canada drew a penalty for Giancarlo Marquez to convert.
Image Source: Patrick Romanholi (BRA) defends Canadian captain Leo Hachem/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
It was a tied third period as Canada came alive, Pavle Jelic converting extra, Nicholas Furneaux from the top and Marquez from the top left. Da Silva gained a second at centre forward and Carlo Martinelli scored two — from deep, either side of the goal — for 12-6 at the buzzer. Brazil sailed forth with two quick goals to 14-6 in the fourth. Canada then put the foot on the accelerator with two unanswered goals before Marquez and Brazil’s Luca Cereser were red-carded for brawling. Luiz Zerbielli scored a pair and Wulfhorst slotted his fourth penalty goal for 17-8.
Image Source: Lucas Gomes (BRA)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Match Heroes Wulfhurst (ARG) top-scored with four goals to bring him into the 20 club while Martinelli scored three. Diaz scored one for 15 in total. Lucas Gomes saved nine balls in goal. For Canada, Marquez sent in three and could have been more if he was not ejected from the pool. His tally was 19 goals with captain LeoHachem second on 12.
Turning Point From 4-2 to 9-2 and keeping Canada scoreless for 10 minutes.
Stats Don’t Lie Brazil nailed two from five on extra and defended five from six. Canada scored all four penalty shots and Canada one. Canada made six steals to one and Brazil was on top with total shots at 34-27.
Bottom Line Brazil was 10th in 2023 while Canada’s last appearance was 2021 when it was also 10th.
Classification 15-16
Match 55, ARGENTINA 14 KAZAKHSTAN 7 (5-2, 2-0, 3-2, 4-3)
Argentina began strongly with the first four goals — three to Alejo Teijeiro — to lift him to 19 for the week. Aldiyar Akimbay responded for Kazakhstan with a score on extra from the top and then on counter for 4-2. Adriano Mazzoni closed the scoring from the penalty line just before quarter time. Mazzoni started the second quarter from top left. It was some time later that Santiago Rivera needed VAR to decide whether his shot from the top left was over the line, which it was, for 7-2. There were only three shots on target for the rest of the period.
Almat Madimar started the Kazakhstan scoring and Nurassyl Satbergen closed on counter. In between, Mazzoni collected his third; Augusto Oliva beat the buzzer from seven metres and Teijeiro claimed his fourth on penalty. Akimbay had a penalty attempt thwarted. Argentina went into the final period 10-4 ahead. Teijeiro and Ivan Saavedra both scored from the penalty stripe with Madimar converting extra and Aslan Ospanov scoring from the deep left. Mazzoni gained his fourth for 13-6; Kazakhstan missed another penalty chance and goals were traded in the last minute with Kazakhstan’s Mstislav Bobrovskiy scoring his first goal of the week on penalty 30 seconds from going home.
Match Heroes Teijeiro led the Argentinian scorers with five goals to take him to 21 for the tournament. Mazzoni’s four gave him a tally of 13. Martin del Rosso made 10 saves in goal. For Kazakhstan, Akimbay came into the match with 15 goal and finished with 17, the same number as Madimar, with his two today.
Turning Point Argentina racing to 4-0 proved to be a killing point for Kazakhstan, something it struggled to recover from.
Image Source: Martin del Rosso (ARG)/Aniko Kovacs/World Aquatics
Stats Don’t Lie Argentina failed to score its two extra-man chances but saved five of seven Kazakhstan chances. Argentina put away all seven penalty attempts with Kazakhstan missing two from three. Kazakhstan won the steals 14-7 and the overall shots 35-22, showing just how accurate Argentina’s shooting was.
Bottom Line Argentina was 16th two years ago, so this is progression. Kazakhstan was 14th four years ago and did not compete in 2023.
Lexi Thompson has top, shank to start windy third round at KPMG Women's PGA …
FRISCO, Texas — Lexi Thompson nearly got blown over to start the third round of the KMPG Women’s PGA Championship, with a top and a shank on the way to a triple bogey on the opening hole in windy conditions Saturday. After hitting her tee shot into the fairway on the 517-yard par-5 first hole, […]
FRISCO, Texas — Lexi Thompson nearly got blown over to start the third round of the KMPG Women’s PGA Championship, with a top and a shank on the way to a triple bogey on the opening hole in windy conditions Saturday.
After hitting her tee shot into the fairway on the 517-yard par-5 first hole, a 207-yard drive into wind gusting to around 30 mph, Thompson topped her second shot that went only 117 yards. She indicated to her caddie that the wind knocked her out of balance.
Things didn’t get any better from there. Thompson shanked her third shot to the right into a thick native area and had to take a penalty shot that went over the green. She eventually two-putted from 20 feet, then followed with a bogey on the second hole.
Thompson played her final 16 holes, however, in 1 under par, an impressive performance given both her start and the conditions. She shot 3-over 75 to finish tied for third, seven back of leader Minjee Lee.
Thompson proud of resolve after ‘nightmare’ start
Lexi Thompson reflects on bouncing back from a first-hole triple bogey to go even-par the rest of the way in windy conditions, before looking ahead to Sunday’s final round.
The semi-retired Thompson, playing for only the seventh time in 16 tournaments this season, won her only major in the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship. After a 2-under 70 on Friday, she went into the third round of the Women’s PGA in fourth place and was four strokes behind Jeeno Thitikul, the No. 2-ranked player in the world, and was in the second-to-last group Saturday.
Thompson’s 13 top-five finishes in majors since 2013 are the most by any player and among her 20 top-10 finishes in those events.
The Most Talked-About 19th Place in South African Sporting History
South Africa’s U20 water polo team may have finished 19th in the world… but they finished first in our hearts, and apparently, on Gayton McKenzie’s emoji keyboard. Global (22 June 2025) – It was a proud moment. A sporting victory. A big bold celebration for our team in green and gold. Also… it was […]
South Africa’s U20 water polo team may have finished 19th in the world… but they finished first in our hearts, and apparently, on Gayton McKenzie’s emoji keyboard.
Global (22 June 2025) – It was a proud moment. A sporting victory. A big bold celebration for our team in green and gold.
Also… it was a match for 19th place.
But don’t tell that to South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who fired off a post so full of national pride, emojis, and unshakeable enthusiasm, it practically did a lap around the pool.
“We are the best sporting nation in the world ” – Gayton McKenzie via Facebook
South Africa’s U20 water polo team had just beaten New Zealand 16–15 in a dramatic penalty shootout at the 2025 World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia and while it might have been the playoff for 19th place, it felt like Olympic gold online.
Photo Credit: Gayton McKenzie via Facebook
Cue the reactions.
“Well done to the lads for their win. But can we calm down a bit about a 19th place finish?”
“South Africa just won the ‘Ain’t nobody got time for small print’ world champs!!”
“So we ended 19th, is that what I’m seeing?? ”
“It looks like South Africa is using witchcraft on sports the way it is winning”
“What is this now? Hugging Championships? ”
“Operation ‘Win Everything’ is here.”
“A new Era is upon us, SA is doing extremely well in many frontiers ”
So what actually happened?
Let’s break it down.
South Africa’s U20 water polo squad had a tough run at the tournament, grouped with Brazil and Germany, both seasoned sides. They went on to face Colombia, Kazakhstan and Canada in the classification rounds, and while results didn’t go our way in those matches, the team stayed in the fight.
Then came New Zealand.
With both teams vying to avoid the dreaded bottom spot, it all came down to this final showdown. Four intense quarters ended in a 15–15 tie, which pushed the game into a penalty shootout. South Africa held their nerve and edged it 3–2, securing 19th place and a whole lot of unexpected internet fame.
“After two interesting matches decided in penalty shootouts, Colombia won 17th place, while South Africa avoided the bottom of the standings with a victory over New Zealand.”
Yes, it was for 19th place. No, it wasn’t a medal match. But context matters and this young team’s win is more than just a number on a chart. You see, South Africa is climbing. In recent years, our senior water polo teams have qualified for the Olympics, held strong at World Championships and helped put the sport on the map locally. Youth participation is growing, and our juniors are starting to show promise, just by qualifying for global tournaments like this one.
So maybe we’re not world champs just yet… but don’t tell that to Gayton McKenzie. Or to the players who hugged it out in that pool with proud smiles on their faces. Or to every South African who needed a win (even a 19th-place one) to make their day a little brighter.
Because if there’s one thing we’ll never run short of… it’s spirit (and jokes).
Sources: Gayton McKenzie Social Media | World Aquatics U20 Championships | Total Waterpolo
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” – Gayton McKenzie via Facebook 
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