#Canadian men’s 4x100-metre relay team takes silver at world athletics championships.

The quartet of Andre De Grasse, Brendon Rodney, Jerome Blake and Aaron Brown won silver at the world athletics championships on Sunday, with a season-best time of 37.55 seconds. The United States struck gold (37.29) to defend their world title on Sunday and the Netherlands (37.81) grabbed bronze.

“The stage was set. We had to go mano a mano, well of course we’re going against everybody but we knew the U.S., they had a grudge against us,” Brown told reporters. “I train with three of them, so, they’ve been talking a lot of smack and we were looking forward to this race.

“They got the best of us today but I still feel like if we go out there again, circumstances could be different next time. Us four, whenever we get together, anything is possible. And it doesn’t matter what we do individually, as a unit we’re a special team.”

Canada came into Sunday’s race being the Olympic champions, the first time Canada won gold in the event since the 1996 Olympics. The group ran 37.50 to win gold in Paris in 2024.

However, it’s a return to the podium for the Canadian team at worlds after not making the final in 2023. The group won gold at the 2022 world championships, when De Grasse outran American Noah Lyles to the line in a memorable finish.

De Grasse, Brown and Rodney have competed alongside each other on the relay team since 2015, with Blake joining in 2019. In the last 10 years, Canada has won Olympic gold (2024), silver (2021) and bronze (2016), in addition to world championship gold (2022), silver (2025) and bronze (2015) in the men’s 4x100 relay.

Hints of what may or may not be in the future came up after the race, however. Brown and Rodney will be 35 years old by the next worlds in 2027, with De Grasse to turn 33 later that year and Blake 32.

“One of the best teams that Canada has ever seen,” Brown said. “The consistency, the ability to rise up to the moment time and time again speaks for itself.

“I just want to say I’m so grateful to run with these guys because I never know what the team is going to look like in two years, the next world championships. Whether it’s us again or the new guys, we’re going to continue that legacy.”

Canada was running strong through the rainy conditions at Japan National Stadium, with their usual clean handoffs in play. Rodney handed the baton off to De Grasse in second place behind the Americans, with Ghana in third.

De Grasse was able to keep Dutch anchor Elvis Afrifa at bay after he had pulled the Netherlands ahead of Ghana. But De Grasse couldn’t chase down Lyles, who won bronze in the 100 and gold in the 200 earlier at the world championships.

The Americans were .13 seconds ahead of Canada by the final handoff, with Lyles running an 8.84-second split, to De Grasse’s 8.97.

“I think that was our first time actually running in the rain, so different experience than usual. But we did our thing. We had a great time,” De Grasse said.

“Almost broke the national record (of 37.48 seconds), we were so close. We run it back next time, I know we can do it. We’re looking good, we’re looking good. We’ll see what happens for the future.”

Just minutes before, Canada’s women’s 4x100 relay squad finished seventh. Sade McCreath, Jacqueline Madogo, Marie-Eloise Leclair and Audrey Leduc finished with a time of 42.82 seconds.

The U.S. (41.75), Jamaica (41.79) and Germany (41.87) finished on the podium.

The men’s relay podium finish allowed Canada to close the world championships with five medals (three gold, one silver, one bronze). Canada placed third on the medal table thanks to the three golds, with the U.S. leading the way with 16 and Kenya having won seven.

Evan Dunfee of Richmond, B.C., won gold in the men’s 35-kilometre race walk, Camryn Rogers, also from Richmond, earned gold in the women’s hammer throw, while Ethan Katzberg of Nanaimo, B.C., struck gold in the men’s hammer throw.

Edmonton’s Marco Arop took bronze in the men’s 800 on Saturday.

Rogers and Katzberg became the first Canadians to ever defend their world titles.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2025.

The Canadian Press

Max Verstappen on pole and Oscar Piastri crashes in chaotic F1 qualifying in Azerbaijan.

Red Bull’s Verstappen was fastest by .478 from Carlos Sainz, Jr. of Williams in a session that ran an hour past its scheduled time, longer than most races. Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls starts Sunday’s race a career-best third.

“You just have to send it,” Verstappen said of his final lap, trying to beat a time Sainz had set in much drier conditions.

Piastri slammed into the barrier while chasing pole position on a track left slippery by earlier rainfall. His McLaren teammate Lando Norris was only seventh after clipping the wall on his final lap and couldn’t take full advantage of Piastri’s error.

“I just braked a little bit late,” Piastri told broadcaster Sky Sports. “Disappointing way to end.”

The Australian briefly perched on a chair trackside near a drinks fridge as he took in the consequences of a rare mistake in the title race. He leads Norris by 31 points.

Piastri qualified ninth ahead of Sunday’s race after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also crashed earlier while seeking what would have been a fifth consecutive pole position in Azerbaijan.

Lewis Hamilton showed he had strong pace by going fastest in Friday’s second practice session, but it was yet another disappointing qualifying session for the seven-time champion as he ended up 12th.
Williams nearly makes history

For a few minutes, the Williams team dreamed of a first pole position in 11 years.

Sainz was fastest of only three drivers who’d set valid times when Leclerc crashed as the rain started to fall. If it kept raining during the red-flag stoppage, no one would be able to beat his time.

“You can start dancing to see if it rains a bit harder, no?” Sainz told Williams over the radio as the session was stopped.

Sainz’s chances went up when there was a second red flag for Piastri’s crash, just as Verstappen was poised to beat his time, but the Dutch driver — known for his skill in the rain — snatched pole with his final attempt.
Chaos on track

The first of the six red flags was for Alex Albon stopping his Williams after he clipped the wall, another came when Nico Hulkenberg slid into a barrier and left half of his Sauber’s front wing there, before a third red flag for a bizarre incident involving both Alpines.

Pierre Gasly missed a turn and stopped in an escape road. Seconds later, his teammate Franco Colapinto hit the wall nearby, seemingly in surprise at seeing Gasly stuck at the side of the track.

Alpine’s executive advisor — and de facto team head — Flavio Briatore was seen gesturing in disbelief as both of his drivers were eliminated from the session.

The fourth red flag came when Oliver Bearman stopped his damaged Haas on track, before Leclerc and Piastri’s crashes brought stoppages five and six.

#Canada tops New Zealand 34-19, advances to Women’s Rugby World Cup final.

“I said to the girls to stop crying because we have a job to do in eight days,” Canada coach Kevin Rouet said. “That’s the mindset. We need to finish the job. I am excited for next weekend. I want it to be next weekend now.”

Canada lost its only other final in 2014 to England.

England plays France in the other semifinal on Saturday in Bristol.

Canada’s victory was not a surprise. It won and drew its last two matchups with New Zealand after 17 straight defeats. What did surprise was how much Canada dominated the Black Ferns.

The forwards, especially totemic lock Sophie de Goede, stymied New Zealand up front and the backs, led by scrum half Justine Pelletier, outsmarted their opposites.

Their first World Cup win over six-time champion New Zealand was also only the third time the Black Ferns have lost in tournament history. The Black Ferns suffered their first World Cup loss in 11 years and their first loss in a knockout match in 34 years.

“Canada were impressive,” New Zealand coach Allan Bunting said. “Canada were accurate and we weren’t, and that’s the difference.”

Two errors by New Zealand fullback Renee Holmes and two pieces of skill by fly half Taylor Perry led to Canada’s 12-0 dream start in as many minutes.

Holmes’ kick out on the full led to Perry’s chaos-causing chip and Pelletier’s converted try, then Perry’s over-the-top pass found left wing Asia Hogan-Rochester, who palmed off Holmes to score.

Canada’s forwards took charge and 14 phases narrowed the Black Ferns defence for Tessier who, just before she was cut in half, sent in midfield partner Florence Symonds and extended their lead to 17-0.

New Zealand hit back after Stacey Waaka caught the restart. Prop Tanya Kalounivale barged over but New Zealand’s rushed errors kept giving back Canada turf and ball.

And five minutes from the break, de Goede’s intuitive connection with Pelletier paid off again when she took a round-the-corner off-load and streaked in between the posts. The lock converted her own try -- she was four of six off the tee -- and Canada was flying.

New Zealand came in with a tournament-leading 93% successful tackle rate but missed 18 tackles in the first half.

Right from the restart, prop DaLeaka Menin stripped New Zealand of the ball and Tessier ended up stepping off her right foot and crossing untouched for another converted try.

New Zealand rallied with scores by flanker Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and teenage wing Braxton Sorensen-McGee -- her ninth try in her maiden World Cup -- but the pressure to catch up played into Canada’s hands.

Canada’s defence was happy to concede penalties to corral New Zealand.

De Goede added a final penalty kick to wrap up one of Canada’s greatest victories.

“Huge relief and excitement and pride after that,” De Goede said. “We knew it was going to take an incredible performance to beat them and I am just really proud we were able to put that out on the field and keep control in that game.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2025.

Foster Niumata, The Canadian Press

#Foot : Chancel Mbemba saisit la justice contre Marseille, Le congolais a saisi la justice pour harcèlement moral lié à sa mise à l'écart, pressions pour accepter des contrats non désirés, ainsi que pour tentative de lui imposer un intermédiaire (agent) étranger dans ses affaires contractuelles.

D'après plusieurs médias français, le congolais a même apporté des preuves matérielles, notamment des enregistrements, pour appuyer sa plainte. Par contre, l'Olympique de Marseille, de son côté, affirme n'avoir reçu aucune notification et refuse de commenter l'affaire.

Pour rappel, l'international congolais, encore sous contrat avec Marseille la saison dernière, avait été mis à l'écart toute la saison, poussé à partir pour l'intérêt du club. Mbemba n'a pas cédé à ces pressions, il a préféré rester et finir son contrat le 30 juin dernier.

Actuellement, le défenseur congolais s'est engagé avec Lille Olympique sporting club (LOSC) pour une saison seulement. Avec son nouveau club, il va disputer le championnat français, la Coupe national ainsi que la Ligue Europa.

Cowan: Merton School students give Canadiens’ Alexandre Carrier and his wife, Alicia Lessard, a warm welcome

Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki continues to develop on and off the ice

Aryna Sabalenka wins the U.S. Open again after vowing to no longer lose control of her emotions

#Israel Premier Tech removes team name from uniforms at Spanish Vuelta after protests

Aryna Sabalenka defeats Amanda Anisimova for her 2nd consecutive U.S. Open title and 4th at a major

Dabrowski in final, Auger-Aliassime vs. Sinner on big day for Canada at U.S. Open