U.S. alpine skier Lindsey Vonn speaks at a news conference during the Team USA Media Summit on Tuesday in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Lindsey Vonn

set to return

NEW YORK (AP) — Lindsey Vonn feels like she has nothing to prove in her bid to return to the Olympics at the age of 41. The American ski great with medals in multiple disciplines says she’s not worried about tarnishing her legacy after coming out of retirement several years after she last competed. Vonn cited Michael Jordan’s comeback and said she does not think the world’s expectations are bigger than hers.

A partial knee replacement in the spring of 2024 paved the way for her return to racing with Vonn setting her sights on skiing in one of her favorite places in Cortina.

Gender testing

on tap for skiers

NEW YORK (AP) — With 100 days to go until the Winter Olympics, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has begun the complicated and expensive task of identifying female skiers and snowboarders who need to take gender tests before they arrive in Italy.

The sport’s international federation adopted a rule last month requiring athletes who want to compete in women’s events to take what’s called an SRY gene test, which identifies a Y chromosome. It’s the same test that track and boxing federations adopted earlier in the year.

The USOPC’s chief medical officer, Jonathan Finnoff, said the experience in getting athletes from those sports tested in a short window will make this project run more smoothly.

Michigan drops

penalty appeal

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The University of Michigan and football coach Sherrone Moore have dropped their appeal against NCAA penalties stemming from a sign-stealing operation.

Michigan was fined tens of millions of dollars and Moore was suspended for a third game by the NCAA in August as punishment for a sprawling scandal that has loomed over the Wolverines for two years, including during their run to the national championship in the 2023 season.

“After careful consideration of the prolonged impact of an appeal on Michigan and our student athletes, we have withdrawn our appeal of the NCAA’s infractions decision and penalties,” the university said in a statement.

The 21st-ranked Wolverines (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) host Purdue (2-6, 0-5) on Saturday.

NBA players set

scoring record

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The NBA season has kicked off with a scoring frenzy. Players have already scored 40 or more points in 16 games, an unprecedented start. Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic of the Lakers, and Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers, have each hit this mark twice.

Other players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry have also joined the high-scoring club. Despite these performances, the spotlight is on a gambling scandal involving Portland coach Chauncey Billups and Miami guard Terry Rozier. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has apologized for the distraction. Meanwhile, scoring averages have jumped, with teams playing faster and getting to the foul line more often.