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Canadian and U.S. players shake hands following the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game on Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) February 25, 2025

Braeden McKenzie, University of Victoria and Stacy L. Lorenz, University of Alberta

Historically, hockey has been marketed as an apolitical space. However, such notions belie a culture that upholds hockey’s political status quo.

Jesse Hamble/Shutterstock February 12, 2025

Aish Ravi, Monash University

Coaches, parents, officials, players and spectators all have a role to play when dealing with racism, and addressing a slur quickly is vital.

Matt Rourke/AP February 6, 2025

Justin Keogh, Bond University and Alex Roberts, La Trobe University

Monday’s Super Bowl will feature Australian Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league junior. How did he become such a brilliant NFL player?

The Rams and Eagles clash in an NFL game in January, 2025. Matt Slocum/AP February 5, 2025

Tim Harcourt, University of Technology Sydney

The NFL looks set to add Melbourne to its list of hosts for international games. But what’s in it for the US league, and what’s in it for Victoria?

Alistair Macrobert/Unsplash January 31, 2025

Paul O’Connor, University of Exeter

It is as if the skateboard is an extended sensory appendage, to feel and hear the world at large.

Australia’s Taniela Tupou is injured during a rugby union match against New Zealand in September 2024. Australian Associated Press/Alamy January 22, 2025

Seren Evans, Bangor University and Julian Owen, Bangor University

Non-contact injuries are a persistent challenge in rugby union. But what if coaches could use AI to help foresee those injury risks?

Tyson Fury during the ring walk ahead of a match in Saudi Arabia in December 2024. PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo January 21, 2025

Wasim Ahmed, University of Hull; Alex Fenton, University of Chester, and Ronnie Das, The University of Western Australia

Well known athletes are flexing their entrepreneurial muscles.

kovop/Shutterstock January 20, 2025

Richard Vaughan, University of Canberra and Catherine Ordway, University of Canberra

WADA’s fight against doping in sport is under threat due to its funding model and challenges maintaining its independence and impartiality.

US tennis star Coco Gauff. Lukas Coch January 20, 2025

Anthony Blazevich, Edith Cowan University

The physics underlying the effect of topspin and backspin are best explained by what’s known as the ‘Magnus effect’.

Screenshot/YouTube January 16, 2025

Marc C-Scott, Victoria University

Replacing players with virtual avatars was partly a necessity due to exclusive media rights deals. But beyond that, it presents some opportunities.

Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock January 16, 2025

Kamran Mahroof, University of Bradford and Saima Sammad, University of Bradford

Arguments over scoring are a feature of boxing, but technology could make things less subjective.

Vince McMahon with wrestlers in the 1990s. Courtesy of Netflix January 14, 2025

Claire Warden, Loughborough University

While it is one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world, wrestling’s troubled history is difficult to reconcile for both fans and wrestlers.

A Victorian postcard from Germany. Modern Records Centre/University of Warwick January 13, 2025

Tamsin Johnson, Nottingham Trent University

When women were portrayed cycling, they were often eroticised and undressed.

Manu Fernandez/AP January 11, 2025

Richard Vaughan, University of Canberra and Catherine Ordway, University of Canberra

Two stars have tested positive for banned substances in the past year, raising questions about the fairness, transparency and accountability of the testing system.

Ahmet Kurt/Unsplash January 7, 2025

Hunter Bennett, University of South Australia; Jacinta Brinsley, University of South Australia, and Lewis Ingram, University of South Australia

Unlike mat pilates, which only uses your body weight, the reformer adds resistance, so you can change the difficulty according to your level of fitness. But there are also cheaper options.

Promotion image for the Netflix-produced boxing match between influencer Jake Paul and boxing legend Mike Tyson. Netflix January 2, 2025

Giulia Sesa, KU Leuven and Silvia Camporesi, KU Leuven

Big money ‘mega events’ often undermine sport’s values in front of millions of spectators.

Tameka Yallop of the Matildas during the Women’s friendly international match between Australia and Taiwan, GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, December 7, 2024. Rob Prezioso/AAP December 30, 2024

Kasey Symons, Deakin University and Lee McGowan, University of the Sunshine Coast

Whether you enjoy histories, non-fiction, poetry, crime or even romance, there is a sporting story to suit all readers.

United States’ basketball player Diana Taurasi after a women’s gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) December 23, 2024

Jill Moffatt, Laurentian University; Andrea Bundon, University of British Columbia; Ann Pegoraro, University of Guelph, and Kerry McGannon, Laurentian University

Portraying athlete mothers as super moms and their successes as surprising ignores the difficulties of balancing motherhood and sport without support.

Getty Images December 19, 2024

Holly Thorpe, University of Waikato

High Performance Sport New Zealand’s new funding priorities place podium results first. Some of the most loved and watched sports miss out, and the pressure on athletes will only increase.

How Hwee Young / AP December 13, 2024

David Smerdon, The University of Queensland

A dramatic blunder sealed a match between Indian and Chinese chess champions that has highlighted the resurgent popularity of the ancient game.

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Last Update: March 6, 2025