PAUL NEWBERRY
FILE - Atlanta Braves' Hank Aaron hits his 715th career home run in Atlanta Stadium, April 8, 1974, to break the all-time record set by the late Babe Ruth. The ball is a blur as it leaves the bat. Aaron made history with one swing of his bat. A year later and on the other side of Georgia, Lee Elder made history with one swing of his driver. Their deaths in 2021 were mourned beyond the sports world and were reminders of the hate, hardships and obstacles they endured with dignity on their way to breaking records and barriers. (AP Photo/Joe Holloway, Jr., File)
Column: Another socially distanced Newby Awards for 2021

By Paul Newberry Dec. 31, 2021 02:55 AM EST
We had hoped the Newby Awards could return to a bit of normalcy this year.

FILE - WTA CEO Steve Simon appears during a retirement ceremony for Martina Hingis in Singapore. The suspension of all WTA tournaments in China because of concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former government official there of sexual assault, could result in cancellations of those events beyond 2022, Simon told The Associated Press on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim, File)
Column: Women's tennis leads lonely fight for human rights

By Paul Newberry Dec. 02, 2021 06:11 PM EST
If Thomas Bach or Adam Silver need some pointers on standing up for human

Peng Shuai of China wipes her face during the women's singles match against Samantha Stosur of Australia on the second day at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, on July 3, 2018. China's Foreign Ministry is sticking to its line that it isn't aware of the controversy surrounding tennis professional Peng Shuai, who disappeared after accusing a former top official of sexually assaulting her. A ministry spokesperson said Friday that the matter was not a diplomatic question and that he was not aware of the situation. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland, File)
Column: Where is Peng Shuai? Why isn't the IOC speaking out?

By Paul Newberry Nov. 19, 2021 03:27 PM EST
Where is Peng Shuai? It's a question that must be asked —

FILE - In this June 27, 2012 file photo, Elizabeth Beisel looks on after swimming in the women's 200-meter individual medley preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Neb. Beisel competed in three Olympics, but she's never taken on a challenge quite like this. Honoring her late father and raising money for cancer research, she's planning to swim more than 12 miles through cold ocean waters to a popular vacation island off the Rhode Island coast. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Olympic swimmer Beisel hits the ocean to honor her father

By Paul Newberry Sep. 22, 2021 02:20 PM EDT
When Elizabeth Beisel's dad got the awful news — pancreatic cancer — the

FILE - Katie Ledecky reacts after winning the women's 1500-meters freestyle final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, in this Wednesday, July 28, 2021, file photo. Ledecky announced Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, that she is moving to the University of Florida to be closer to home and train under Anthony Nesty, a rising star coach who will oversee her preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ledecky, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, spent the last five years at Stanford University, where she worked with U.S. national team coach Greg Meehan while earning a psychology degree. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
Gator Chomp: Ledecky heads to Florida to work with Nesty

By Paul Newberry Sep. 22, 2021 02:16 PM EDT
Katie Ledecky will be learning a new stroke. The Gator

Hau-Li Fan, of Canada, competes during the men's marathon swimming event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
What's in a name? A bit of aquatic confusion at the Olympics

By Paul Newberry Aug. 05, 2021 04:25 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Marathon swimming or open water? Artistic swimming or synchronized

Silver medalist Kristof Rasovszky, left, of Hungary, bronze medalist Gregorio Paltrinieri, of Italy, walks out of the water after the men's marathon swimming event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Another planet: Wellbrock romps to win in swimming marathon

By Paul Newberry Aug. 04, 2021 07:59 PM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — All behind Florian Wellbrock, there was the sort of carnage that

First placed Svetlana Kolesnichenko and Svetlana Romashina of Russian Olympic Committee celebrate during the medal ceremony of the duet free routine final at the the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Russia's Romashina sets record with 6th Olympic gold

By Paul Newberry Aug. 04, 2021 09:08 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Svetlana Romashina doesn't count gold medals.

Officials applaud as Souad Nefissa Cherouati, of Algeria, finishes last in the women's marathon swimming event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Column: Some of the best Olympic stories are at the back

By Paul Newberry Aug. 04, 2021 04:46 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — As the world’s greatest open water swimmers jostled for the lead,

Alice Dearing, of Britain, exits the water after finishing the women's marathon swimming event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Dearing, who brought swimming diversity debate, loses race

By Paul Newberry Aug. 03, 2021 10:19 PM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Coming into the Olympics, Alice Dearing made a huge impact in the

Wang Zongyuan of China, left, silver medal and Xie Siyi of China gold medal pose for a photo after men's diving 3m springboard final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Another gold, 1-2 finish for China in Olympic diving

By Paul Newberry Aug. 03, 2021 03:51 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Before his final bounce off the board, Xie Siyi felt like he was

Caeleb Dressel, of United States, poses after winning the gold medal in the men's 50-meter freestyle final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
King Caeleb: Dressel joins elite club with dazzling Olympics

By Paul Newberry Aug. 01, 2021 08:26 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — There was no joy in the process for Caeleb Dressel.

Robert Finke, of United States, poses after winning the gold medal in the men's 1500-meter freestyle final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Olympic surprise: American Finke leaves Tokyo with two golds

By Paul Newberry Aug. 01, 2021 03:14 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Bobby Finke will be the first to concede he had modest goals for

The United States' men's 4x100-meter medley relay team, from left, Ryan Murphy, Zach Apple, Michael Andrew and Caeleb Dressel, celebrate winning the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Epic swims: Dressel, McKeon take place among Olympic greats

By Paul Newberry Jul. 31, 2021 10:00 PM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Caeleb Dressel finished off his gold rush at the Tokyo Olympics

Simone Manuel, of United States, leaves the pool after a women's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Pool finale: Dressel, McKeon highlight last day of swimming

By Paul Newberry Jul. 31, 2021 07:19 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — American star Caeleb Dressel still has a shot at five gold medals.

Simone Manuel, top, of the United States, swims alongside Emma Mckeon, of Australia, during heat 10 of the women's 50-meter freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Move aside, Caeleb: Aussie McKeon has quite a medal haul

By Paul Newberry Jul. 31, 2021 03:14 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — For all the focus on Caeleb Dressel, Australia's Emma McKeon could

Kaylee Mckeown, of Australia, embraces teammate Emily Seebohm after winnning the gold medal in the women's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Chaotic waters: US stars win, but Dressel won't get 6 golds

By Paul Newberry Jul. 30, 2021 10:04 PM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Caeleb Dressel is pretty much invincible when he has a lane to

Caeleb Dressel, of United States, celebrates wining a men's 50-meter freestyle heat at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
US star Manuel returns to pool for 50 free after long layoff

By Paul Newberry Jul. 30, 2021 07:48 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — After an Olympics with plenty of free time, Simone Manuel finally

Caeleb Dressel, of United States, celebrates winning a men's 100-meter butterfly semifinal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Dressel considered on ill-fated relay, saw no chance of gold

By Paul Newberry Jul. 30, 2021 03:40 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Caeleb Dressel has a shot to win six gold medals at the Tokyo

Evgeny Rylov, of the Russian Olympic Committee, swims to victory in the men's 200m backstroke final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
South African sets world swim record; Aussies add 6th gold

By Paul Newberry Jul. 29, 2021 10:07 PM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker was the star of the day,