Olympic medalist Katharina Liensberger suffers serious knee injuries in training crash

ST. MICHAEL, Austria (AP) — Olympic slalom silver medalist Katharina Liensberger of Austria sustained serious knee injuries in a crash in training that effectively ends her season, skiing's governing body said on Friday.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation said the 28-year-old slalom specialist sustained a fracture of the tibial plateau — where the shin bone meets the knee — along with a meniscus tear and a medial collateral ligament injury in her right knee.

It said the fall occurred during a giant slalom training in St. Michael, Austria ahead of the weekend's World Cup races in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

FIS said Liensberger was due to undergo surgery on Friday and wished her a successful recovery from the injuries that rule her out of theWinter Olympicsin Italy next month, where she won two world titles five years ago.

It leaves Mikaela Shiffrin without one of her main rivals in slalom at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, and is the latest training crash involving a top skier.

Three of Switzerland's reigning Olympic champions have also been injured in training recently;Michelle Gisin,Lara Gut-BehramiandCorinne Suter.

At the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, Liensberger won gold in the team event for Austria and individual silver in the slalom. She became the world slalom and parallel event champion the previous year in Cortina D'Ampezzo.

She finished fourth in her last World Cup slalom in Semmering, Austria on Sunday.

AP Olympics:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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January 02, 2026

Olympic medalist Katharina Liensberger suffers serious knee injuries in training crash

ST. MICHAEL, Austria (AP) — Olympic slalom silver medalist Katharina Liensberger of Austria sustained serious knee injur...

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Rory McIlroy would welcome Bryson DeChambeau back to PGA Tour, says LIV players have 'paid their consequence'

Rory McIlroy would welcome back former PGA Tour stars who left for LIV Golf, saying those players have "paid their consequence."

The reigningMasters champion was a guest on this week's "Overlap" podcastand said that while Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has helped elevate the majors and Ryder Cup — making those events the only times during the year where the best players are all together — the sport needs them together more often in order to be relevant.

McIlroy's comments come nearlytwo weeks after five-time major winner Brooks Koepka announcedhe would step away from LIV Golf for the 2026 season. That decision leaves open the question of whether he will pursue a return to the PGA Tour.

Should Koepka attempt a return, McIlroy believes that no punishment is needed as it would be in the best interests of the PGA Tour.

"They've made the money but they've paid their consequence when you talk about their reputation and some of the things that they've lost by going over there," McIlroy said. "If it made the overall tour stronger to have Bryson DeChambeau back and whoever else, I would be okay with it. But, it's not just me, and I recognize that not everyone's in my position. It would be up to the collective group of PGA Tour members to make that decision."

FellowPGA Tour member Billy Horschel had a similar response earlierthis week, saying that he was once in favor of a punishment for any LIV players who want to return, but now sees it as a betterment of the product.

Koepka, DeChambeau, along with Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson were the biggest names to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. Their departures created tension between the tours and players, with some arguing there should be a consequence in order to return.

The PGA Tour has indicated that a pathway back from LIV would require a player to sit out at least a year after playing in a non-sanctioned event. LIV's final event ended on Aug. 25, 2025; a year's delay would make Koepka ineligible to play until at least the PGA Tour's fall events. He could potentially play on the DP World Tour.

McIlroy has been one of thebiggestanti-LIV voiceson the PGA Tour since its inception. He doesn't like what it's done to golf and the fractures that it has created.

Those feelings have softened, however, with McIlroy saying that he felt his earlier comments were "too judgmental" and that he realized other players are in a different position than him or Tiger Woods.

"You get this offer and what do you do?"McIlroy said in Jan. 2024. "We all turned professional to make a living playing the sports that we do and I think that's what I realized over the past two years, I can't judge people for making that decision."

LIV Golf has made changes for 2026, including the biggest decision ofmoving from 54 holes to the traditional 72in order to better its chances of players receiving Official World Golf Rankings points.

Will that be enough for LIV Golf to gain relevancy? In McIlroy's eyes, time is running out.

"If LIV is failing to capture the imagination and they've spent so much money on this venture and it isn't making a return for them I don't know how much longer they can keep it going," McIlroy said.

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January 02, 2026

Rory McIlroy would welcome Bryson DeChambeau back to PGA Tour, says LIV players have 'paid their consequence'

Rory McIlroy would welcome back former PGA Tour stars who left for LIV Golf, saying those players have "paid their consequence."...

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Anthony Joshua's driver charged over fatal car crash in Nigeria

Authorities in Nigeria have charged the driver of former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua with causing the car crash that killed two of his team members and injured the boxer.

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was charged at theSagamu Magistrate Court in Africaon Friday.

"The Ogun State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the Anthony Joshua accident case, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode (male), aged 46, was charged to the Sagamu Magistrate Court today," authorities said in a statement on social media.

Kayode faces four counts: driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention causing bodily harm and damage to property, and driving without a valid national driver's license.

Joshua was a passenger in the Lexus with Kayode, his personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and Sina Ghami, his strength coach, when the vehicle struck a stationary truck in Ogun State, near Lagos, Africa's largest city.

The 36-year-old Joshua was taken to the hospital with injuries following the accident and was discharged on Wednesday.

Kayode was granted bail in the amount of 5,000,000 Naira, the equivalent of nearly $3,500 U.S. dollars, and the Ogun State Police Command said his case has been adjourned until January 20.

Joshua was in Nigeria visiting relatives for New Year celebrations, according to the BBC, following his Dec. 19 fight with YouTuber-turned-boxer, which he won in a sixth-round knockout.

Highlights from Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua fight

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Anthony Joshua's driver faces four charges over fatal car crash

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January 02, 2026

Anthony Joshua's driver charged over fatal car crash in Nigeria

Authorities in Nigeria have charged the driver of former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua with causing the car crash ...

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The 10 Greatest Upsets in NCAA Volleyball Tournament History

The NCAA volleyball tournament rewards preparation, depth, and consistency, yet it still finds ways to surprise people every season. Upsets typically arise from matchup problems, timing, travel, pressure, and moments when favored teams lose control.

These games mattered because expectations leaned heavily in one direction before the opening serve. The results shifted conversations about conference strength and tournament balance.

2010 First Round

Credit: Instagram

Northern Iowa entered the tournament with a 30–2 record, a fifth seed, and the fourth-best RPI in the country. Missouri barely earned its spot in the field. Playing at home, Northern Iowa expected a clean opening match, but the opposing team commanded rallies early and did not allow the Panthers to settle.

2012 Regional Final

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This match happened in California against the team holding the top RPI in the nation. Michigan entered the tournament unseeded, having suffered 11 regular-season losses, and garnered little national attention. Stanford was dependent on efficiency and depth throughout the year, but Michigan disrupted its timing and won in four sets. Stanford struggled to settle in defensively once Michigan gained confidence.

2015 First Round

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One of the clearest examples of a ranking gap collapsing under tournament pressure came in the 2015 first round, when unseeded American swept heavily favored Kentucky. Kentucky entered the tournament with a far stronger national profile, but the match never tilted their way. American dictated play from the start, using clean passing and precise execution to remove any chance of a comeback.

2011 Second Round

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Nebraska nearly suffered an early tournament exit despite entering as the No. 2 seed after winning the Big Ten in its first season. Kansas State, ranked 26th in RPI, extended rallies and kept the match tight by staying composed in long stretches of play. Nebraska avoided the upset by adjusting its approach late

2014 National Semifinal

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This run remains historic because no unseeded team had ever reached the NCAA championship match before BYU's 2014 performance. After beating Arizona, Florida State, and Nebraska, BYU qualified for the semifinal against second-seeded Texas. Texas had only two losses and looked like a clear favorite, but was unable to adjust defensively.

2019 Third Round

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At the time, fans were thrilled because Texas dominated the regular season and never lost at home. However, Louisville arrived with confidence and won the first two sets at Gregory Gymnasium. Texas pushed the match to a fifth set, but the competition closed. Aiko Jones finished with 23 kills, and Texas struggled to contain Louisville's outside attack.

2013 Second Round

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Duke was unable to recover against an American team that dictated every phase of the match. They came in as a national seed with a higher RPI, but couldn't match Americans' pace or precision. The straight-set sweep sent American to the regional semifinals.

2002 Second Round

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Penn State rarely drops tournament matches on its home court, especially in the early rounds. That made Temple's 2002 second-round win at Rec Hall all the more significant. Inconsistent rotations hurt the Nittany Lions, who never regained momentum. Temple advanced to the regional semifinals and hasn't returned to the tournament since.

2000 First Round

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No RPI data exists to show just how wide the gap may have been between Southeast Missouri State and North Carolina. Still, expectations heavily favored North Carolina, the ACC's automatic qualifier. Southeast Missouri State, with a shaky nonconference record, entered as Ohio Valley champions, managed to close out rallies, and forced UNC into uncomfortable situations.

2007 First Round

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No Big Sky team has advanced past the first round of the NCAA tournament since Sacramento State pulled it off in 2007. They won in four sets by applying steady serve pressure and staying composed in long rallies. It remains one of the few high points for a conference that does not normally see postseason success.

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January 02, 2026

The 10 Greatest Upsets in NCAA Volleyball Tournament History

The NCAA volleyball tournament rewards preparation, depth, and consistency, yet it still finds ways to surprise people e...

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Venus Williams, 45, set to make Australian Open history after receiving wild-card entry

Seven-time grand slam singles championVenus Williamshas received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning January 18 in Melbourne.

The tournament said Friday that the 45-year-old Williams would make a return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.

Venus hadannounced in Novemberthat she would play in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wild card, two weeks before the Australian Open. The Australian Open said Williams was also entered to play a tournament in Hobart, Australia a week later and just before play begins at Melbourne Park.

She last appeared in Melbourne in 2021 and has finished runner-up in the women's singles twice, losing to Serena in the finals in 2003 and 2017.

"I'm excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer," Williams said. "I've had so many incredible memories there, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career."

Williams' record at Melbourne Park is 54 wins and 21 losses. This year will be the 22nd time she has appeared in the main draw.

The tournament said Williams is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record previously held byJapan's Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round at Melbourne Park in 2015.

In late December, WilliamsmarriedDanish-born model and actor Andrea Preti at Palm Beach, Florida.

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January 02, 2026

Venus Williams, 45, set to make Australian Open history after receiving wild-card entry

Seven-time grand slam singles championVenus Williamshas received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning January 18 in Melbour...

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