Tag: Australia

Promising Australian golfer issues update on lost vision in his left eye in freak accident: ‘All I can see is black’

The 20-year-old Australian golfer was struck in the eye and transported to a hospital.

Jeff Guan, a talented up-and-coming pro, has no vision in his left eye after a freak accident on a golf course in Australia in September.

Three holes into his round at a pro-am event at the New South Wales Open at Catalina Club in Batemans Bay, New South Wales, the 20-year-old Australian golfer was struck in the eye and transported to a hospital before being airlifted to an eye specialist in Canberra and later to a hospital in Sydney.

“Nothing. It’s just black. All I can see is black,” Guan told Australian Golf Digest in his first interview since the incident in September.

Guan also wrote a long post on his social media account. “I remember this: As my whole group teed off on the third tee, my playing partner and I (whom I shared the cart with) hit our drives on the right-hand side of the fairway.”

They drove off to their balls and Guan’s partner hit his second shot and then Guan did the same. He was struck by an errant shot as he was putting his club back in his bag.

“The instant ringing and pain rushed to my head, and I dropped to the ground,” he wrote.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBxikVMTlA2/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=a6659e19-4e1a-44e4-b34a-51cff27201f4

Guan has undergone several operations on his left eye and spent time in multiple hospitals, where some of the top vitreoretinal surgeons have tried to save his eye after the force of the blow fractured his eye socket and traumatized his eyeball. His recovery is expected to take between six months to a year. One promising sign: three weeks after the incident, his eye pressure decreased.

“Though this was the first piece of positive news, my doctors told me that my injury was severe,” he wrote. “During my nights in hospital, I almost drowned in thoughts about the injury and my future in the sport. Not only was I utterly distraught by the news I had received, but the whole situation made me very depressed and somewhat angry … The frustration is unbearable. Why did this happen? How in the world am I supposed to recover, return, and be the same player I was, or even better?”

Just a week earlier, Guan who won the 2022 AJGA Junior Players at TPC Sawgrass and represented Australia on the Junior Presidents Cup team the same year, made his PGA Tour debut at the Procore Championship in Napa, California, missing the cut.

Guan ended his post with some words of optimism. “As a kid, I have always had a lot of perseverance and persistence. I will continue to work hard and do my best to achieve my dream,” he said. “I will be back.”

You can show your support for Guan here: asf.org.au/projects/jeffr

Watch: Surfer discovers he’s not alone while dropping into wave

Footage shows Australia’s Wade Goodall sharing a wave with a dolphin and a wonderful symmetry occurs during their brief ride.

Australian surfer Wade Goodall is featured in a YouTube video showing that at nearly 38 years old and having suffered several major leg injuries, he’s still a phenomenal talent.

But what also stands out in the footage – and what’s being shared this week via social media – is a portion that begins at the 3-minute mark, when a dolphin positions itself directly below Woodall and rides the left-breaking wave in unison with Goodall.

Viewers can click here to watch the YouTube version. Below is the shorter Instagram version, courtesy of Surfline, along with the caption: “ ‘Thought you were going right!’ – Dolphin.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_8lTXgSwYj/

Viewers will note that Goodall spots the dolphin almost immediately after standing up and a wonderful symmetry occurs during their brief ride.

Surfline followers obviously enjoyed the clip and the top comment was well received: “We are so damn lucky this is our chosen culture.”

The footage is credited to Milo Inglis.

Baby koala, attacked by dog, reunites with mom in sweet video

The two koalas became separated during the attack but rescuers managed to locate mom as her “joey” was recovering at the Australia Zoo.

An Australia-based conservation group has shared footage showing a baby koala reuniting with mom after the “joey” was attacked by a dog and rushed to a wildlife hospital for treatment.

“Meet Squeak!” Wildlife Warriors exclaimed via Instagram, showing a closeup of the koala in a keeper’s arms. “This adorable little girl was attacked by a dog and her mum had no choice but to save herself. Thankfully, Squeak was raced to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and is in the best hands possible!”

Wildlife Warriors, established Steve and Terri Irwin in 2002, also shared the accompanying footage, which shows the joey, with a bandaged arm, crawling lovingly on mom.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_jI8Ezh5WI/

“Good news alert!” the group stated. “Squeak’s mum was found, and brought to us at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. This is the adorable moment the two were reunited.

“They’ll both stay with us until little Squeak is well enough to be released!

Courtesy of Wildlife Warriors

Some on social media wondered how rescuers were sure they had found the baby koala’s actual mom.

Wildlife Warriors explained: “The rescue group was looking for the mother in the area following the dog attack. When they found this female matching the description, and it was confirmed she had an enlarged teat from feeding a joey, we knew it was Squeak’s mother!

The Australia Zoo is owned by Terri Irwin and operated by the Irwin family.

Saints waive Lou Hedley, making a big change at punter

The New Orleans Saints waived Lou Hedley, making a big change at punter. It looks like it’ll be Matthew Hayball punting this year but he isn’t out of the woods yet:

The New Orleans made a big change at punter and waived Lou Hedley, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett. Obviously we’ll have to wait and make sure they don’t add someone else, but that suggests rookie punter Matthew Hayball won the job after a spirited competition throughout the summer. He’ll be the fourth punter for the Saints in five years after Hedley won the job from Blake Gillikin, who had replaced Thomas Morstead.

Hayball signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in the spring, having played college football at Vanderbilt. Like Hedley he hails from Australia but Hayball showed better hang time and distance on his kicks throughout training camp. When Hedley consistently came up short in the preseason games with too many line-drive punts and a poorly-timed touchback, it seemed to seal the deal.

Good luck to Hedley on his next opportunity. He was one of the better stories in the Saints locker room and he’ll land on his feet wherever he goes next. As for Hayball? We’ve seen the Saints dismiss all of their specialists and bring in someone new before if they weren’t getting the desired results. Maybe that repeats this time. Roster cuts will be finalized at 3 p.m. CT. on Tuesday but more movement is expected throughout the week.

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John Hollinger on Rockets addition Jack McVeigh: Potent shooter, defensive limitations

In his latest NBA column, The Athletic’s John Hollinger cited both the good (shooting) and questionable (defense) aspects of Jack McVeigh’s fit in Houston.

Newly signed forward Jack McVeigh, now on a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets, had an encouraging showing for Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. But it wasn’t perfect.

While McVeigh made a clear impact with his long-range shooting, he also played off the bench for Australia (in contrast to Rockets center Jock Landale, who started for the Boomers).

In a new column reviewing Olympics performances, The Athletic’s John Hollinger — formerly an NBA front-office executive with the Memphis Grizzlies — shared a balanced take on McVeigh.

Hollinger’s analysis:

Hardcore Cornhuskers might remember him from his three years at Nebraska, but he’s become a much more potent shooter since then, hitting 42.0% and 43.4% from 3-point range the past two seasons in Australia’s National Basketball League.

The 28-year-old McVeigh also has a thin frame and may be a bit undersized for an NBA four at 6-8, 215 pounds. He filled his role at the Olympics, making 10-of-19 on 3-pointers in 75 minutes for a shooting-starved Australia team, but him not starting ahead of overseas journeyman Nick Kay hints at some of the defensive limitations he may see at the next level.

That could make McVeigh something of a situational player in the 2024-25 season for head coach Ime Udoka. If a matchup calls for additional shooting and/or the opponent isn’t as capable of punishing McVeigh’s defensive limitations, that could open up a role.

On the other hand, if more defense is needed, that could make a player such as Jae’Sean Tate a better reserve option. Udoka and the Rockets will sort it out when training camp opens in late September.

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Karim Lopez on NBL: ‘I feel like it’s the best path for me’

The New Zealand Breakers recently signed 17-year-old Mexican forward Karim Lopez as part of the NBL’s Rising Stars program. The 6-foot-7 Lopez, an up-and-coming player from a strong international basketball background, will bring versatility and …

The New Zealand Breakers recently signed 17-year-old Mexican forward Karim Lopez as part of the NBL’s Rising Stars program. The 6-foot-7 Lopez, an up-and-coming player from a strong international basketball background, will bring versatility and size to the Breakers.

As the son of former Mexican basketball player Jesus “Chino” Lopez, Karim Lopez has already made his mark across various leagues. He most recently showcased his skills in Spain’s Liga Endesa, where he gained valuable experience despite limited playing time. This past week, Lopez participated in Under Armour’s Elite 24 camp in Brooklyn, New York, where he stood out among top high school recruits, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds in the final game.

Lopez has also gained international experience by representing Mexico’s senior National Team and previously contributed to the U22 National Team. At the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he averaged 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Lopez spoke with HoopsHype after the UA scrimmage to discuss his decision to join the NBL, his playstyle, expectations, background and more.

2024 Olympics run continues for Australia’s Jock Landale, Jack McVeigh

Rockets center Jock Landale is averaging 17.6 points (67.6% FG) and 9.7 rebounds per game for Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Despite a second straight group-phase loss, Australia (1-2) is advancing to the eight-team, single elimination quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That means that for two members of the 2024-25 Houston Rockets — big man Jock Landale and forward Jack McVeigh — their time in the Olympic spotlight will continue into next week.

Friday’s 77-71 loss (box score) to Greece, led by two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, briefly put Australia in danger of being eliminated. However, Canada’s subsequent win over Spain (with Houston teammate Dillon Brooks playing a key role) allowed the Boomers to finish second in Group A competition.

To this point, both Landale and McVeigh have showed why the Rockets have high hopes in them for next year and perhaps beyond.

In three games, here are the average statistical lines for both:

  • Jock Landale: 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists; 67.6% FG
  • Jack McVeigh: 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds; 47.1% FG, 50.0% on 3-pointers

Thus far, both have also remained injury free, which is a better outcome than when Landale severely sprained his ankle during an August 2023 international contest while playing for Australia.

Australia’s game time and opponent for its quarterfinal match, which will take place Tuesday, is still to be determined.

Shortly after their Olympic run ends, both Landale and McVeigh will report to training camp with the Rockets, which opens in late September for the 2024-25 season. Landale will be a backup option at center behind incumbent starter Alperen Sengun, while McVeigh offers a reserve 3-point shooting threat at either forward position.

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Former Notre Dame midfielder gets deciding goal for USWNT in Olympics

Way to score, Korbin!

Former Notre Dame midfielder [autotag]Korbin Albert[/autotag] hasn’t been with the U.S. Women’s National Team for very long. So it shouldn’t have been a surprise that she entered the 2024 Olympics in Paris with no goals yet in international play. That all changed though in the Americans’ group-stage finale against Australia.

With the U.S. already up, 1-0, on Trinity Rodman’s second goal of the tournament late in the first half, Albert entered as a substitute during the 65th minute, which also saw Rodman’s departure. Albert picked up a yellow card during her time on the field, but she won’t remember that. Instead, she’ll remember her first international goal, which she scored in the 77th minute:

The goal proved to be critical as Australia’s Alanna Kennedy had her second tournament tally in the 91st minute. That made it a 2-1 final score in favor of the U.S., which will begin the knockout stage when it faces Japan in Saturday’s quarterfinal match.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

USWNT midfielder Coffey suspended for Olympic quarterfinal

It’s potentially a major blow for the USWNT heading into the knockout phase

Emma Hayes took a risk by starting Sam Coffey against Australia on Wednesday. Early on, it became clear that it didn’t pay off.

Coffey will be suspended for the U.S. women’s national team’s Olympic quarterfinal with Japan on Saturday after she picked up a fourth-minute yellow card in her team’s 2-1 win over Australia.

USWNT coach Hayes made just one change — an injury-enforced swap of Emily Sonnett for Tierna Davidson — from the side that started each of the team’s first two Olympic matches.

The USWNT won both of those games, clinching advancement to the quarterfinal before Wednesday’s group-stage finale against Australia.

That meant Hayes could have rested some of her players — particularly Trinity Rodman and Coffey, who entered the match one yellow card away from a suspension.

Her decision to start Coffey was not made to look wise just four minutes in against the Matildas, as the midfielder was shown a yellow card after she stood on Katrina Gorry’s leg when going into a tackle.

Coffey was also yellow carded in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Germany. That meant the Portland Thorns star will be suspended for the team’s quarterfinal with two yellow cards in the group stage.

Her absence could be a potentially major blow for a USWNT side that has come to rely on her as the holding midfielder.

In Coffey’s place, Hayes could opt to start Korbin Albert as a like-for-like replacement. Sonnett could also be an option to move into a holding midfield spot if Davidson is recovered in time for the quarterfinal.

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Canada’s win over Australia latest reminder why Thunder made right call to trade Josh Giddey

Canada’s win over Australia latest reminder why Thunder made right call to trade Josh Giddey.

Heading into Australia’s group contest against Canada, Josh Giddey had a little extra motivation beyond the 2024 Olympics.

The 21-year-old had an early chance to show out against his former teammates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort. The trio were traditional starters for the Oklahoma City Thunder the last three seasons.

A career-worst campaign last year featured Giddey playing a career-low in minutes and was benched during OKC’s final two playoff games. After the season, he requested a fresh start after refusing to come off the bench for next season.

Giddey’s wish was granted when he was swapped with Alex Caruso to the Chicago Bulls. Entering the last year of his rookie deal, he hopes to have a bounce-back campaign next season as a primary ball-handler to secure a long-term deal.

In Australia’s close loss to Canada, Giddey exemplified why he still has a shot to be a quality NBA starter and couldn’t work out on the Thunder any longer.

Scoring the opening basket on a patent floater, Giddey had a strong start. The 6-foot-8 guard controlled the rhythm and was a maestro with the ball. He gained confidence and hit on some difficult off-dribble 3-pointers on the shortened Olympics perimeter line.

At halftime, he led the Boomers to a 49-45 lead with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, four rebounds and three assists. He stuffed the stat sheet and was the best player on the court.

It was easy to see why the Thunder liked Giddey so much. He showed flashes of being a high-end playmaker who can attack the basket and get to the free-throw line. The outside shot also looked respectable, which has been his biggest weakness since entering the league.

An awesome first half saw some Thunder fans ponder if they made a mistake. Perhaps Giddey could’ve worked out here and should’ve received more on-ball reps. There was a sense of FOMO in the early morning hours of Tuesday.

But then the second half quickly reminded folks why it wouldn’t have worked out and a clean divorce was the best course of action for both parties this offseason.

Canada assigned its top two defenders Dort and Dillon Brooks to Giddey. As soon as that happened, the 21-year-old collapsed under the pressure. He struggled to create space and faded into the background as Canada created a large lead.

Giddey had just four points on 1-of-5 shooting, three rebounds and three assists in the latter two quarters.

A pair of turnovers were caused by former teammate Dort — who poked the ball away from Giddey from behind as he sprinted past halfcourt and had the ball snatched from him later on for an easy transition dunk for Canada to end the third quarter.

Australia struggled to score in the second half and Giddey being iced out left them with no real go-to scorer. Canada collected a double-digit win in a contest with several lead changes in the first half.

The tale of two halves summarized Giddey. He can thrive as a ball-handler but that wasn’t going to happen with the Thunder. A quiet second half demonstrated some of the struggles he might face as the focal point of opposing defenses.

The Thunder could’ve run it back with Giddey next season, but it’d be doing so knowing there’s a ceiling with his impact as the fourth option on limited touches.

Instead, the Thunder ripped the bandaid off and found an easier fit in Caruso, a textbook 3-and-D starter. It was the right call to make — even if Giddey goes on to have a solid career with the Bulls.

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