General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 12:35 AM ET

Track & Field

Great Britain delivered a sensational performance at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, where Matthew Hudson-Smith made history by winning the 400m gold, becoming the joint most‑decorated man in the event’s European history. Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu secured a stunning 100m one‑two for the hosts. Amy Hunt had her “coming of age” moment by storming to the women’s 100m gold. Jakob Ingebrigtsen fought back from “the lowest of lows” to win the 5,000m gold after nearly a year out with injury. Keely Hodgkinson advanced comfortably in the 800m heats, alongside rivals Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders‑Bol. The women’s 800m world record, the longest standing in athletics (43 years), remains a tough target, and BBC Sport examines the challenge. The team behind Hodgkinson’s golden rise, including the M11 Track Club, is profiled in their pursuit of a world record, and the M11 Track Club has been instrumental. Meanwhile, criticism emerged over empty seats at Alexander Stadium, with nearly 10,000 seats unoccupied on Monday, and empty seats sparked debate. American middle‑distance runner Jonah Koech, the US 1500m champion, received a three‑year doping ban for blood doping. The Russian Athletics Federation filed a new claim with CAS to challenge sanctions imposed by World Athletics, and Russian Athletics continues to fight its ban.

Swimming & Aquatics

Great Britain enjoyed a strong start at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, where Angharad Evans won her first European gold in the 100m breaststroke final. Adam Ramsay‑Peaty finished fifth in the same event, his first loss at a European Championships. GB secured three medals on the opening day, while Jack Kelly set a new Irish record to reach the breaststroke final.

Golf

The FedEx Cup Playoffs begin this week at the FedEx Cup St. Jude Championship in Memphis, where Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are among the contenders. Rory McIlroy said he is confident he will reach a compromise with the PGA Tour to fulfill the minimum 15 events required to maintain his dual membership. Tee times for the first two rounds have been released. Jackson Koivun, who left Auburn in June and won the 3M Open in only his third start, narrowly secured the 70th and final playoff spot, and Jackson Koivun goes from college to the postseason in two months. In other golf news, an amateur golfer resigned from his St.‑Louis‑area club after admitting to faking a hole‑in‑one, and the golfer resigns over the cheating scandal.

Football (Soccer)

Croke Park in Dublin hosted its first association football match between two English sides when Man Utd beat Leeds in a pre‑season friendly, adding to the venue’s rich history, less than a month after Mayo’s All‑Ireland final win. A separate report details the historic Croke Park match as the first between two English teams there. Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot confirms he pulled out of talks for the Netherlands managerial vacancy, saying his next job will be in club football. Brennan Johnson is tipped to thrive under David Moyes at Everton after his move from Crystal Palace. Emilio Gay is set to be fit for England’s first Test against Pakistan next week.

American Football (NFL & College)

Efe Obada, the Briton who grew up in foster care, has retired from the NFL to pursue his “true calling” by launching a foundation. Northwestern’s football program received a $35M donation from Liz and Dick Uihlein to strengthen the team. Oklahoma’s John Mateer has turned heads with his massive arms, sparking debate at Manning Camp about whether quarterbacks should be swole. A high school player in Arkansas unknowingly practiced for nearly an hour with a venomous snake inside his helmet, and the viper in helmet made news. New Orleans Saints kicker Charlie Smyth from County Down is entering his first pre‑season as an NFL starter. Patriots top cornerback Gonzalez is leading by example at training camp while still negotiating a contract extension.

College Sports (Basketball & Football)

Seth Trimble committed to Louisville next season after the court ruling gave Class of 2022 high schoolers a fifth season of eligibility. The SEC 2026‑27 projections include three possible champions and three teams that won’t go dancing, and SEC 2026‑27 offers best and worst outcomes for every team. A comprehensive look at college football’s 2026 positional values puts a price on each starter, and college football 2026 reveals earnings from general managers and agents. Freshman phenoms are identified: first‑year players who could affect conference and CFP races. CFB coaches broke down 43 signal‑callers, revealing who will be stars and which QBs they fear.

Tennis

At the Canadian Open, Elena Rybakina came back from a set and a break down to beat Naomi Osaka in three sets in their quarter‑final.

Cricket (The Hundred & Internationals)

In The Hundred, Ellyse Perry hit 62 not out to lead Birmingham Phoenix to a five‑wicket win over MI London. Welsh Fire and MI London were eliminated from knockout contention after their final group‑phase defeats. Trent Rockets face a nervous wait after a six‑wicket loss to Southern Brave. Rocky Flintoff, the 18‑year‑old son of Andrew Flintoff, scored his first professional century for Lancashire. In women’s cricket, the BBC Sport quiz invites readers to “Who am I? Guess The Hundred cricket star No 21”, and The Hundred features a mystery player.

In international cricket, Afghanistan sealed the ODI series victory over Ireland with a game to spare at Stormont, thanks to their record tally. Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 71 to help Afghanistan take a 2‑0 lead in the five‑match series. Glamorgan coach David Harrison highlighted positives from the One Day Cup despite winning only two of eight matches.

Basketball (NBA & WNBA)

The NBA announced its opening week schedule, leading with a tripleheader on Oct. 20, where the Knicks will face LeBron James and the Lakers, plus the 76ers, on opening night. The NBA Cup group‑stage schedule for 2026 has been unveiled. In the WNBA, Kayla McBride of the Minnesota Lynx set the single‑game record by making 10 three‑pointers in a 103‑90 win over Dallas. WNBA Power Rankings show time running out as teams jockey for playoff seeds. Fever coach Stephanie White spoke out against critics after being booed in Indiana, receiving vocal support from Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham. A transgender controversy has emerged in the WNBA after Sophie Cunningham said it was “common sense” to ban transgender women from women’s sports. For fantasy players, a playoff strategy guide is available.

Rugby (Union & League)

England head coach Steve Borthwick handed England central contracts to five players for the first time: Asher Opoku‑Fordjour, Alex Coles, Guy Pepper, Jack van Poortvliet and Seb Atkinson, and the England central contracts signal a shake‑up. Ospreys publicly rejected WRU plans to cut a professional team, believing four Welsh sides are the way forward, and the Ospreys responded for the first time. The England women’s Red Roses are in pre‑season training using controversial smaller balls ahead of the WXV Global Series, and the Red Roses prepare. Lisa Neumann returns from injury in Wales’ 46‑strong squad that includes 14 uncapped players. Ulster captain Iain Henderson will miss several months after hip surgery. Former All Blacks star Ma'a Nonu, aged, performed a solo haka after his Sharks side faced New Zealand in Durban.

Rugby League

Hull FC centre Davy Litten will join Wakefield Trinity at the end of the 2026 season for a “substantial” fee. NIFL CEO Gerard Lawlor insisted no side deals were done to ensure the extraordinary general meeting took place to prevent a delay to the season, and the NIFL addressed the situation.

Horse Racing

A horse racing integrity firm is investigating five races at Saratoga and Monmouth Park after unusual betting patterns, and the horse racing was detected by bookmakers in the US and UK. Additionally, the horse racing meeting at Ffos Las in South Wales will start about two hours earlier on Wednesday due to the solar eclipse.

Combat Sports & Other

Scottish judoka Summer Shaw won Commonwealth bronze and then returned to work at McDonald’s a week later. Dakota Ditcheva said she broke both hands again during her win over Denise Kielholtz, months after recovering from similar injuries, and Dakota Ditcheva cried non‑stop. In snooker, Zhang Anda shocked world number three Zhao Xintong 6‑5 by potting a respotted black ball in the China Open.

Motor Sports

The BBC Sport F1 Q&A addresses whether Lawson can keep his seat for 2027. Who is Kimi Antonelli? The 19‑year‑old F1 driver is profiled with age, career, salary and records.

Little League & Youth

A Tulsa, Oklahoma, Little League team was initially disqualified from the Southwest Region tournament due to an ineligible player, keeping it from the title game, according to Little League. However, a judge later granted a temporary restraining order allowing the team to compete for a spot in the LLBWS, and Tulsa will now play. The road to the LLBWS includes results, schedules and more.

Miscellaneous

Great Britain’s dressage team secured qualification for the LA28 Olympics by winning silver at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, and the dressage team qualified. The NCAA and FBI announced a partnership to combat athlete sexploitation, as college athletes become bigger targets, and the NCAA will educate athletes. Fantasy baseball trade deadline advice looks for late‑season heroes, and fantasy baseball trade targets from the Bronx are highlighted.