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(NEW YORK) — As the U.S.’s intensifying heat wave continues into the weekend, triathlons in the Northeast scheduled for Sunday were postponed and shortened.

The Boston Triathlon postponed its race to Aug. 21, while the New York City Triathlon shortened its bike and run courses for Sunday’s triathlon and duathlon races.

Michael O’Neil, the Boston race’s director, told ABC News the decision was made in coordination with the city and state due to the “current historic weather conditions.”

“We take the health of our athletes, volunteers and spectators seriously. Boston does not compromise on safety or athlete experience. Due to the oppressive heat and humidity that could cause serious health concerns while competing this weekend, we worked together with the City of Boston and State of Massachusetts to postpone the race until August. Everyone should stay safe and hydrate as much as possible this weekend,” O’Neil said in a statement.

Meanwhile, record high temperatures and excessive heat are expected to hit the Northeast with possible record high temperatures in Boston reaching 97 degrees and in New York City reaching 98 degrees on Sunday.

“With temperatures expected to reach the mid-90s this Sunday, in collaboration with local officials and meteorologists, we have made the difficult decision to shorten the run and bike portions of the NYC Triathlon and Duathlon. The safety of our athletes and everyone in attendance is our top priority,” the triathlon said in a statement.

The New York City bike course will be shortened from 40 kilometers, or 24.8 miles, to 20 kilometers, or 12.4 miles. The course’s north turnaround will now be at 181st Street and the West Side Highway.

New York’s run race course will be reduced from 6.2 miles to 2.5 miles. The first leg of the duathlon run will be reduced from 2 miles to 1 mile and the second leg will be reduced from 6.2 miles to 2.5 miles. The course’s south turnaround will be around 90th Street and West Side Highway.

“While it is disappointing to reduce the length of both races, our number one priority is to do all we can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our competitors, volunteers, medical personnel and spectators,” the triathlon said in a statement on its website.

This will be the twentieth running of the New York City Triathlon and its first-ever official duathlon.

The New York City Triathlon strongly encouraged its athletes to maintain hydration before, during and after races.

There will be touchless aid stations within the transition and at miles 0.9, 1.9 and along the run course. There will be medical support and toilets at each aid station and ice towels will be handed out at the finish line.

ABC News’ Max Golembo contributed to this report.

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
Texas 8, Miami 0

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Houston 3, NY Yankees 2
Houston 7, NY Yankees 5
Detroit 7, Oakland 2
Oakland 5, Detroit 0

NATIONAL LEAGUE
LA Dodgers 9, San Francisco 6

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Washington 78, New York 69
Los Angeles 85, Atlanta 78
Las Vegas 90, Indiana 77

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Chicago 78, Seattle 74

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(LOS ANGELES) — The accolades continue for Stephen Curry.  

One month after winning the NBA Championship, the Golden State Warriors star hosted Wednesday’s ESPY Awards. Curry also took home two awards, and the Warriors won Best Team. 

“I see down here so many special people,” Curry said in his opening monologue. “So many champions, so many potential Dancing With The Stars contestants.”

Opening the ceremony with humor, Curry found moments to address serious matters.

One notable absence in the Dolby Theatre was WBNA’s Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February for drug charges. 

Wearing Griner’s jersey, Curry took the stage with WNBA players Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith.

“But as we hope for the best, we urge the entire global sports community to continue to stay energized on her behalf,” Curry said. “She’s one of us, the team of athletes in this room tonight and all over the world. A team that has nothing to do with politics or global conflict.”

While accepting the Best Play award for her performance on the United States women’s national soccer team, Megan Rapinoe also used the space to speak about Griner’s detainment.

“The most striking thing is that BG’s not here,” Rapinoe said. “BG deserves to be free. She’s being held as a political prisoner, obviously.”

The ceremony included a 50th anniversary celebration of Title IX. Notable female athletes paid tribute on stage.

“We refuse to be happy with the minimum, because more than it has been does not mean it’s where it should be,” snowboarder and two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim said.

“We still fight for safety, to be believed and we still fight to have control over our own bodies,” Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman added.

ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale won the Jimmy V award for Perseverance. Vitale had a recent seven-month battle with cancer.

“Just remember perseverance, plus passion, plus pride equals winning in the game of life,” he said.

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(NEW YORK) — Larger than life Super Bowl champion and pro football star Rob Gronkowski recently retired from the NFL for a second time — but just because he says he won’t be back on the gridiron doesn’t mean he’s done working.

In the first sit down interview since his June announcement, Gronkowski told “Good Morning America” what would happen if former teammate Tom Brady, who drew him out of his initial 2019 retirement, called again.

“I would say ‘what’s up’ but, no, I wouldn’t go back to football. I’m all set,” the 33-year-old said. “Obviously I’ll answer. He’s the greatest of all time calling and we do have a great relationship on and off the field, we’re good friends.”

He continued, “I’m enjoying what I’m doing and enjoying trying to find what I really want to do next.”

Gronk announced his second retirement on June 21, writing a farewell note to the sport in the caption of an Instagram post.

“I will now be going back into my retirement home, walking away from football again with my head held high knowing I gave it everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field,” he wrote. “The friendships and relationships I have made will last forever, and I appreciate every single one of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had as well.”

“From retirement, back to football and winning another championship and now back to chilling out, thank you to all,” he added.

With his football career now behind him, the former tight end, who spent 11 seasons in the league playing for the New England Patriots and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has a lot of free time on his hands. These days, he said he tries to tackle “whatever the day brings.” Sometimes that’s waking up and “getting a workout in” or playing with his French Bulldog Ralphie and shooting commercials, like a new USAA ad set to premiere this fall.

“I’m not like really retired, just from the game of football,” he said. “I’m at the point where I don’t want to be too busy, but I want to do some stuff, and that’s why I’m dipping my toes in the business world.”

Gronk’s Lightning Round

Favorite cheat meal? “My mom’s chicken souffle.”

Favorite sport other than football? “Basketball. I played in high school.”

Favorite show to binge-watch? “Outer Banks.”

Dogs or cats? “Dogs.”

Are you coming out of retirement in week 14 or 15? “Week zero.”

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STAR GAME
American League 3, National League 2

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Los Angeles 86, Indiana 79
Atlanta 92, Las Vegas 76
Connecticut 82, New York 63

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(NEW YORK) — NFL defensive end Carl Nassib initially “agonized” over his decision to publicly come out as gay last offseason following his sixth year in the league.

But ultimately, he realized that one Instagram post could be a way to create a positive narrative for others and help society’s conversation around sexual orientation, and so he became the first active NFL player to come out as gay.

Nassib, 29, spoke to ABC News’ Good Morning America co-anchor and former NFL star Michael Strahan about that life-changing moment on social media and where he is now.

“I stared at the phone for, like, an hour just looking at it, trying to hype myself up,” he recalled. “The last thing I said was like, ‘You know what — for the kids.’ And: pressed post.”

Nassib said it “definitely was some difficult times” over the 15 years while he considered sharing that part of his life publicly.

“Really struggling with who you are and trying to figure out that side of your life was definitely a tough part,” he said.

The former Oakland Raiders lineman, who was released earlier this spring, said, “I just wanted to show that it really doesn’t matter — your sexual orientation.”

“I came out to my close friends and family years ago. And I wanted to do it publicly because I wanted to stay ahead of the narrative,” he said. “I just wanted to own the story and make sure I did it on my terms. One of my biggest fears was that I would only be remembered for being gay.”

When it came to being in a locker room full of men in a sport considered to be more conservatively masculine, Nassib said, “I really wasn’t scared about that at all.”

“I had a great relationship with my teammates,” the Raiders former edge rusher said. “I just was met with the most incredible support from my teammates.”

Nassib’s announcement was met with a tidal wave of support on social media from celebrities, fellow players and fans.

“[I] actually hope that one day videos like this and the whole coming out process are just not necessary,” he said. “When people come out, they’re coming out of the closet because they’re afraid. They have fear that they’re gonna have negative impact on their life, on their relationships, on their job.”

He added, “I just hoped that one day we don’t have those fears — that’s the society I hope for one day. And I hope I can be a positive push in that direction.”

Statistics show that support for the LGBTQ+ community can be life-saving, according to a recent survey from The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health that found 45% of LGBTQ youth had contemplated suicide in the last year, but those who had support from family attempted suicide at less than half the rate.

Nassib said he has a message for kids at home who see legislation like Florida’s so-called “don’t say gay” bill.

“They have support from a massive community of people who will love them no matter what, and we are making strides in a positive direction,” he said. “It won’t be a perfect road, and we just have to continue the course and make sure that we do it from a place of love and not from a place of animosity.”

Nassib donated $100,000 to the Trevor Project, which was matched by the NFL, to support the nonprofit that focuses on suicide prevention and support in the LGBTQ community.

The Trevor Project received many anonymous messages from the LGBTQ+ community thanking Nassib for his courage and honesty.

“You may very well have saved some lives today,” one message read. Another one stated, “Way to be a leader on and off the field, Carl. You are saving lives through your bravery.”

And finally another said, “Seeing your message today made me so excited to be part of a world I could see people like me in any sort of public role.”

“Love it. That’s incredible,” Nassib said after hearing the replies. “I hope that I can continue to be that person.”
 
For the last four years, Nassib said he has “been working on an app called Rayze” that “introduces volunteers and donors to causes and nonprofits that they’re passionate about” and allows people to easily donate to those causes.

As football season nears, Nassib, who said he was not surprised to be released by the Raiders, is preparing for camp as a free agent.

“It was a great time we had. I have so much love for Las Vegas. It allowed me to do a lotta great things,” he said. “And I think that there’ll be more — there’ll be better opportunities in the future.”

Without naming teams or organizations where he hopes to end up this fall, Nassib said, “the best scenario for me is, like, the best opportunity to show what I got. Got a lot in the tank.”

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(EUGENE, Ore.) — The celebrated runner, who is the most decorated track star with 11 Olympic medals and 19 world championship medals, ran her last championship race ever on Friday, the first day of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Felix ran the second leg of the mixed 4x400m relay final, securing a bronze medal for herself and fellow teammates Elija Godwin, Vernon Norwood and Kennedy Simon. Their final time clocked in at 3:10.16, not quite fast enough to keep the lead.

The Dominican Republic and the Netherlands teams overtook the Americans to place first and second respectively.

Felix’s family members, including parents Paul and Marlean Felix, husband Kenneth Ferguson and their 3-year-old daughter Camryn, were in the stands cheering her on at Friday’s championships.

Although this chapter of her life is ending, Felix said she plans on telling her daughter all about her two-decade adventure in running, to inspire her to go after her own goals.

“When she’s old enough to understand, I’m definitely going to be telling her about the journey that I’ve been on and really just how to overcome adversity and how to stand up for what you believe in and not to let anyone put limits on you, and I want her to go after everything she wants to do,” Felix told “GMA3: What You Need to Know” last week, ahead of the championships. “I want her to experience true equality and just to know that sometimes, you’ve got to be a fighter and just never to give up.”

After the race, Felix also took some time to reflect on social media. “It’s been such a joy,” she tweeted.

“What I’ve learned is that you have to keep going. Just don’t quit,” she wrote in the caption of a separate Instagram post. “When you get knocked down, get back up. Ask for help because you’ll never do it alone. Take small steps toward your passion and you’ll end up in your purpose. Be brave with your life because you’ll have an impact on people that you never thought was possible.”

“Don’t be sad it’s over, be happy it happened,” she continued in a follow-up post.

The 36-year-old first began competing in track and field while she was a student at Los Angeles Baptist High School, now the south campus of Heritage Christian School in North Hills, California. She was named High School Athlete of the Year by “Track and Field News” in 2003, the same year she turned pro.

Two years later, in 2005, she became the youngest athlete ever to win a world championship in the 200 meters.

Since that time, she has amassed a pile of wins at the international level, including nearly a dozen Olympic medals, as well as a number of U.S. national titles.

In April, the powerhouse athlete announced the 2022 season would be her last.

“If you see me on the track this year I hope to share a moment, a memory and my appreciation with you. This season I’m running for women. I’m running for a better future for my daughter. I’m running for you,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.

Felix also told “GMA3” that for her next chapter, she plans to shift her focus to her lifestyle brand, Saysh.

“I started a company for women after some of the adversity that I went through not being fully supported through my pregnancy,” Felix said. “It’s built completely for women. We make lifestyle sneakers and so I’m excited for more women to check it out … [I’m] really trying to do something different there.”

Felix will compete in one more final race, presented by her sponsor Athleta, in her hometown of Los Angeles in August before officially retiring.

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(NEW YORK) — Carson Pickett is still riding high after making history in late June for the U.S. women’s national soccer team.

The 28-year-old defender, who was born without a left forearm and hand and has been playing soccer since she was 5, became the first player with a limb difference to start a game for the women’s national team on the international stage, an achievement known as “earning a cap.”

Pickett, who also plays for the North Carolina Courage, helped the U.S. defeat Colombia 2-0 during a friendly match on June 29 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

“It’s a moment I probably will never be able to fully describe,” Pickett told “Good Morning America” Thursday from WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. “My dad told me the night before, ‘When you go out there, take it all in.’ And I think that’s what I did when I first walked out on the field.”

“I saw the crowd and everyone chanting ‘USA’ and I just knew that my biggest dream just came true. I think it was so cool to see my parents in the stands and just all the little kids screaming your name and things like that. And honestly, it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had in my entire life,” she said.

It’s not the first time Pickett has been in the spotlight. Back in 2019, a photo of Pickett meeting with a young fan named Joseph Tidd, who also has a limb difference, went viral on social media. She and Tidd shared a fist bump at the edge of the field at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Pickett revealed in an April Instagram post that, in addition to inspiring young soccer fans, she hopes to be an advocate for others with limb differences.

“While I know that I am confident and comfortable with showing my arm, I know there are so many people in the world who aren’t. The feeling of being different and the anxiety of not fitting in is something that I have been through,” she wrote in part.

“I want to be an advocate for others like me, and for the longest time I didn’t use my platform well enough. Let’s all try to love ourselves no matter what we look like and let’s all be kind to each other above all else,” she added.

The rising soccer star said she plans to use social media to fulfill her advocacy mission and won’t shy away from talking about limb differences. It’s a conversation she said is long overdue.

“Before, it wasn’t like that. Growing up, I didn’t want to be different. In college, my freshman year in Florida, I would wear long sleeve shirts and things like that just to make sure people didn’t see that I was any different than them and they wouldn’t stare and now it’s just all changed,” Pickett said.

“Now that social media is so big, I think that it’s a really good platform to be able to reach people,” she added. “I’ve had people reach out from different countries, different states and it’s just so cool to meet people like me … I know sometimes it can be hard and uncomfortable. But I think the more that we talk about it, the better it’ll be for everyone.”

For young people following her journey, Pickett hopes to change the narrative, one that she didn’t always see in mainstream society.

“As time went on, I just realized that it actually is incredible to be different and honestly that everyone out there is different in some kind of way. We all have our own little quirks and things,” she said.

Pickett credits her parents for always supporting her and encouraging her to do anything those with two hands could do — and it’s a part of her message to others now as well.

“My dad always told me, ‘Never let anyone turn your sky into a ceiling’ and … just to follow your dreams. There’s no one out there who should ever tell you that your dreams are too big,” she said. “Continue to be yourself along the way and just enjoy the journey.”

“They also told me never to say the word ‘can’t’ and nothing was impossible for me and to never get discouraged and to continue to try every time,” she added. “You know, [if] I fell off the monkey bars and things like that, [I would] just get back up and try again.”

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(MOSCOW) — WNBA star Brittney Griner appeared in a Russian court on Thursday morning for the third day of her trial, as the Biden administration works to secure her release.

Griner did not testify but several Russian individuals testified as character witnesses about their experiences with the basketball star.

The first witness was Maxim Ryabkov, the director of UMMC — the Russian basketball club in the city of Yekaterinburg for which Griner played in the WNBA offseason. The second witness was team doctor Anatoly Galabin, who said that she never tested positive for doping while playing for the team. And the third witness, Evgenia Belyakova, one of Griner’s Russian teammates, said that Griner was the leader of the team.

Griner pleaded guilty on drug charges in a Russian court last week, saying that the vape cartridges containing hashish oil were in her luggage unintentionally.

Griner, who has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17, said she had no “intention” of breaking Russian law, and was in a rush but did not mean to leave the cartridges in her bag.

The WNBA star’s trial, which is taking place in Khimki — a suburb of Moscow — began on July 1, more than 4 1/2 months after Griner was detained.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was visiting Russia to play basketball in the off-season when she was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport after being accused of having vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the country.

Her legal team told ABC News in a statement last week that her “guilty” plea was informed by a discussion with her Russian attorneys.

“Brittney sets an example of being brave. She decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows that she is a role model for many people,” they said in the statement. “Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence.”

Griner’s detention was extended repeatedly, most recently through Dec. 20, which was the expected length of her trial. If convicted, Griner, 31, faces up to 10 years in prison and also has a right to an appeal.

The U.S. government classified Griner’s case on May 3 as “wrongfully detained,” meaning the U.S. will more aggressively work to negotiate her release even as the legal case against her plays out, the State Department has said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters last week that Griner’s guilty plea will have “no impact” on any of the negotiations to bring her home to the U.S.

Calls to free Griner escalated following the release of U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed last month, who was freed from a Russian prison as part of a prisoner exchange. Former Marine Paul Whelan has also been detained in Russia since 2019.

“We’re going to do everything that we can to bring home Brittney Griner safely, and to also make sure that we bring Paul Whelan back home, as well,” Jean-Pierre said.

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is planning to travel to Russia in the near future for talks aimed at negotiating a deal to free Griner, a source with knowledge of the proposed trip told ABC News.

Richardson, who also served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration, played a role in achieving Reed’s release.

ABC News’ Joseph Simonetti, Tanya Stukalova, Patrick Reevell and Henderson Hewes contributed to this report.

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