MILAN — The Americans would have liked to close their borders, but didn’t. The Canadians did, then tried to talk their way out of it.

The men’s hockey teams at the 2026 Winter Games are readying for the start of the preliminaries, which begin for the 12-team field on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The U.S. begins its tournament Feb. 12 against Latvia, and Canada plays Czechia on the same day. So far there’s been one practice on Sunday evening, the same day players from both teams arrived on charters from the U.S., and one on Monday.

U.S. coach Mike Sullivan knew that sooner or later, the information would come out, and decided against trying to keep out reporters.

‘We talked about it with our practice today,’ Sullivan said. ‘I think any time as a coach and staff you have an opportunity to spend alone time with your team, we would all prefer that. We also understand that this is to a certain extent a business and part of the access to the group is an important element of it also.

‘But as a coaching staff, we love having alone time with our team and be able to work on things without reading about it in a tweet 30 seconds later or whatever it may be. But we understand that’s the world we live in.’

Canada was on the practice sheet at the Santaguilia, and used that as a reason to essentially claim that practice wasn’t closed, there just weren’t allowed any members of the media to attend.

‘Practice wasn’t closed, it was only done because the rink’s too small,’ Canada coach Jon Cooper said. ‘It’s just distractions and people, there’s just issues to have so many people here.

‘Did anything happen? No, it did not.’

The Americans had an upbeat practice, benefitting from having much of the same roster as competed a year ago at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

‘I think that’s the benefit of having that Four Nations experience is, we tried a few different things at that tournament,’ Sullivan said. ‘Some we liked, some we didn’t.

‘Not that anything is etched in stone because I just think that’s the human element of sports. We’ll see how it goes.’

Tuesday will be a day off for the Americans. That’s the benefit of having a bit of leeway with the schedule because they don’t play until Thursday. It reflects the fact players have played upwards of 50-plus NHL games between early October and early February because the schedule was compressed to account for the Olympics.

‘We built a schedule well before we got here based on how much hockey these guys have played in the NHL to a certain extent and then getting to this point,’ Sullivan said. ‘We’ve built a schedule out on building in days off time, off the ice, things of that nature. What we have moving forward as far as the amount of hockey that we have to play once the games begin. We’ve put together a schedule as a staff two months ago on what this looks like.

‘We may tweak it as we go, but we have a thorough game plan on how we’re going to go about it from the start of the tournament to the end.’

SANTA CLARA, CA − Apparently, when you get into a deep Super Bowl hole, like the New England Patriots did nine years ago, you need a Hall of Fame coach – oops, a Hall of Fame-adjacent coach – to make some in-game adjustments that maybe include asking your typically capable defense to make a few momentum-shifting plays.

Apparently, when you get into a deep Super Bowl hole, like the New England Patriots did nine years ago, you need a Hall of Fame quarterback – well, let’s see what the Canton committee thinks in a few years of that guy the Pats used to have – to spark his team at large and offense specifically when there’s no more time to waste to put a needed bundle of points on the board.

But Bay Area native and New England legend Tom Brady was merely a spectator Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, where the Patriots were embarrassed 29-13 by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60. (And maybe he was wise not to claim a rooting interest, given the minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders just watched his new head coach, Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, help dismantle his former team.)

Ex-Pats expat coach Bill Belichick, who left the organization two years ago, was nowhere to be found – perhaps helping girlfriend Jordon Hudson pick out her next outfit somewhere in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

If ever there was a reminder that the 2025 Patriots were not the 2001 Patriots – or the 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016 or 2018 Patriots – then it was Sunday, when the new edition Pats were swallowed whole by the stifling Seahawks in what was a near-historically bad Super Sunday performance.

But let this be a time of remembrance.

Belichick’s brilliance has certainly been taken for granted in recent weeks – and maybe years. And if you think he was riding Brady’s coattails all those years, go back and look at his brilliant defensive game plans in Super Bowl 25 against the heavily favored K-Gun Buffalo Bills – he was the New York Giants coordinator then – or his Super Bowl 36 master class against the very heavily favored “Greatest Show On Turf” St. Louis Rams. The brilliance of the two-decade dynasty Belichick and Brady lorded over certainly retains most of its luster – and maybe got some added polish with all those Super Bowl 49 replays, when they snatched victory from the jaws of the ‘Legion of Boom’ Seahawks.

But let’s not use Sunday’s blowout as an excuse to give the 2025 Patriots short shrift – and, actually, let’s appreciate them, too.

The Mike Vrabel-Drake Maye Patriots are arguably further ahead of schedule than the Belichick-Brady Patriots were in 2001. We’re talking about a 2025 Pats team with a first-year head coach, a second-year quarterback and 30 new players on the roster compared to a year ago – a record number for a Super Bowl entry. But this was a team − one that had won eight games combined between the 2023 and ’24 seasons − that went 17-4 and reclaimed the AFC East throne that had been abdicated to the Buffalo Bills following Brady’s flee south to Tampa in 2020.

And New England will doubtless be better next year – what with a year of experience, a valuable Super Bowl lesson, another first-round pick plus additional rookie influx, $40 million or so in projected cap space to chase a needed pass rusher like Trey Hendrickson and, who knows, maybe they try to broker a reunion with Vrabel and Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown, who played for him with the Tennessee Titans.

But let’s appreciate what they did and who they are despite their Super embarrassment.

And let’s appreciate who they followed and the standard of excellence they’re chasing – and may it be appropriately immortalized by the time the next Patriots team plays in a Super Bowl.

After thrashing SMU on Sunday 95-36, the Duke women’s basketball team has extended its win streak to 15 games. It’s Blue Devils longest longest under sixth-year head coach Kara Lawson and best since the 2012-13 season.

Injuries to junior wing Jadyn Donovan and highly-touted freshman product Emilee Skinner have forced Duke to do it with a tight rotation. The Blue Devils have seven players averaging north of 18 minutes per game, and an eighth — guard Anna Wikstrom — has seen a slight uptick recently.

Duke’s starting five is among the best in the country, led by sophomore forward Tony Fournier and anchored by a pair of senior guards in Taina Mair and Ashlon Jackson. Riley Nelson has emerged as an athletic 3-and-D wing who can knock down shots from behind the arc, and Delaney Thomas continues to be a versatile do-it-all forward.

More recently, Duke has been boosted by the play of redshirt freshman Arianna Roberson. A five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American, who was ranked eighth in the 2024 recruiting class by ESPN, Roberson missed all of her true freshman season with a knee injury.

Now, Roberson is living up to the hype bestowed upon her as a prospect. In Duke’s lopsided victory over the Mustangs she had 22 points and 16 rebounds, her third double-double off the bench in the Blue Devils’ last five games.

“There were a lot of highs and lows, the ebbs and flows … every time I step on that court, it’s a reminder of being grateful and being in the moment,’ Roberson said Sunday. ‘I didn’t have this a year ago, and so I never want to take that for granted again.

“Because the game was taken away from me, and I loved it even more when it was away.”

At 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Roberson gives the Blue Devils a combination of size and skill off the bench. Since a Jan. 8 road win at Cal where she scored 20 points, Roberson is averaging 11.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. She’s also shooting 42.8% from 3 during that stretch.

Roberson wears a brace and sleeve on her left leg, but it hasn’t stopped her from being a physical presence in the paint or diving on the floor for loose balls.

“Ari is unique in a lot of ways for us, not just having a double-figure scorer off the bench, but all of the things that she brings,’ Lawson said. ‘She’s very skilled — highly skilled. She’s a really good passer. She has a great understanding of the game and what we need from her defensively. As she’s getting healthier and healthier, and her movement is improving, she’s showing you the versatility to be able to switch on the guards and keep people in front.

“We feel that her best is ahead of her. … She can be a totally different player a month from now than she is today.”

With a road Quad 1 victory over Louisville last Thursday, Duke is in sole possession of first place in the ACC and in position to grab a top 16 seed for the NCAA Tournament, giving the Blue Devils hosting rights during the opening weekend of March Madness. This is what voters in the ACC preseason poll expected when they voted Duke No. 1 back in October.

Duke’s non-conference slate — the toughest of any Power 4 team — was rough as the Blue Devils started 3-6 and fell out of the national rankings. But Duke is back on track. The play of Roberson has been one of the reasons why.

The next step for Roberson, Lawson said, is to do what she did against SMU against one of the better teams in the ACC. She’ll have two opportunities. Duke hosts rival North Carolina on Sunday and hosts another Tobacco Road foe, NC State, next Thursday.

“To have a double-double against the top teams — to do that, it takes a different level, approach, physicality, IQ, which she has all inside of her. Can you get a double-double like in Thursday’s game (against Louisville)? That’s harder to do,” Lawson said. “That’s what you’re looking for. In the biggest games of the season against the biggest opponents, can you be impactful?”

Big South hands down eight-game suspension

Punches were thrown last Wednesday in a Big South game between High Point and Winthrop, which the visiting Panthers went on to win 88-74. On Saturday, the Big South handed down its punishment, suspending junior forward Tocarra Johnson eight games for fighting, citing a violation of the league’s Ethical Conduct Policy.

“I want to reiterate the Big South Conference’s unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of our competitions and ensuring accountability when our standards are not met,” Big South commissioner Sherika Montgomery said in a statement.  “College athletics serve as a laboratory not only for academic and athletic development, but most importantly for personal growth.”

Winthrop is 11-14 this season under coach Semeka Randall Lay. Johnson is the team’s leading rebounder, averaging 6.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 20.8 minutes a game. Unless the Eagles make the semifinals of the Big South Tournament in Johnson City, Tennessee, her season is over.

No disciplinary actions were handed down to any players from High Point.

Hot seat watch

When longtime USF coach Jose Fernandez left the Bulls in late October for WNBA’s Dallas Wings, his longtime assistant Michele Woods-Baxter was named the interim head coach. USF was coming off its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years and was picked as the preseason favorite in the American Conference.

However, multiple sources told USA Today Sports there’s no guarantee Woods-Baxter has the interim tag removed. Those sources added, unless USF wins the American Conference Tournament to punch its ticket to March Madness, first-year CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins will likely conduct a national search to make his own hire.

USF’s season has been a mixed bag. While the Bulls notched an impressive non-conference victory over Duke in November, they also looked less competitive in blowout losses to UCLA, Minnesota, UConn, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. USF hasn’t lived up to its preseason billing, losing three of its last five games in conference play, falling to fourth place in the American.

Over a long tenure in Tampa, Fernandez built USF into one of the signature mid-major powers in women’s basketball. He piled up nearly 500 wins, had 12 seasons of 20 or more victories and won the WNIT in 2009. USF has appeared in nine of the last 12 NCAA Tournaments and has won the American three times since 2021. USF advanced to the second round of March Madness five times under his watch.

Should this job open, it could be the best mid-major gig available and should attract many candidates.

Tip-ins

Clemson inked head coach Shawn Poppie to a contract extension through the 2030-31 season last week. He will earn about $850,000 per year, putting him in the top half of the ACC’s highest-paid coaches. The Tigers are 17-8 overall this season and 8-5 in league play, eyeing their second NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002 in Poppie’s second season at the helm. Poppie is also bringing in the nation’s fourth-best ranked recruiting class next fall.
UCLA point guard Kiki Rice was one of 60 women’s sports figures to sign a letter calling for ICE to cease and desist. The letter, also signed by the likes of Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi, says in part: ‘When we say ‘ICE OUT,’ we are calling for institutions and policies that uplift communities, not ones that fuel fear and violence.’ Nebraska volleyball star Harper Murray also signed the letter.
NYU won its 82nd consecutive game on Sunday with a 69-58 victory over Carnegie Melon, giving coach Meg Barber and her team ownership of the longest win streak record in the NCAA’s Division III ranks. UConn owns the overall NCAA record for consecutive wins with a 111-game streak, a run from 2014-17 that included a pair of national titles. Barber’s Violets are aiming for what would be their third consecutive national championship this season.

The Wikipedia page for Centennial High School in Roswell, Georgia features 11 names in its ‘Notable Alumni’ section. A pair of them shared the stage at the Lombardi Trophy presentation after Super Bowl 60.

NBC Sports host Maria Taylor presented the NFL’s championship trophy to former classmate Mike Macdonald, the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, on Feb. 8. Macdonald led Seattle to a Super Bowl win – the franchise’s second ever – in his second season as head coach. Taylor was fresh off of her first time as the lead host of a Super Bowl pregame show and also taking on trophy presentation duties for the first time.

While the two Centennial High School alums were on stage, they shared a moment together that Taylor later posted to social media.

‘Just two kids from Centennial High School that made it to the Super Bowl! ,’ Taylor wrote on social media platform X.

Macdonald and Taylor also both attended the University of Georgia after they graduated from Centennial High School, paving different yet parallel roads to get to where they were for Super Bowl 60.

The Fulton County, Georgia high school still has a chance to send a third alum to the Lombardi Trophy stage in future years as well. Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Max Brosmer also attended Centennial High School before heading to New Hampshire for college prior to his transfer to Minnesota.

NBC Sports doesn’t own the broadcast right for the Super Bowl again until 2030. These two Centennial High School classmates – and the rest of the school’s alumni – will have to wait until then to see if they share the Lombardi Trophy presentation stage again.

U.S. snowboarders responded to a question about Donald Trump’s criticism of fellow athlete Hunter Hess.
The athletes expressed pride in representing the U.S. while also acknowledging the nation’s current divisions.
Several team members, including Chloe Kim and Bea Kim, highlighted their immigrant backgrounds and the opportunities America provided.
The snowboarders emphasized that representing the U.S. does not mean they agree with everything happening in the country.

LIVIGNO, Italy — The last question to the United States women’s snowboard halfpipe team was about President Donald Trump’s social-media criticism of Team USA men’s free skier Hunter Hess.

‘There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of,’ Hess said at a news conference in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. ‘Wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.

‘I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S. I just think if it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it.’

Hess’ teammates on the dais with him that day also addressed the topic, but only the 27-year-old from Oregon drew the president’s ire. Trump called Hess a ‘loser’ and did not properly convey what Hess said in his post.

The four-member women’s halfpipe team, led by two-time Olympian Chloe Kim, largely echoed what Hess originally said.

‘I think there are a lot of different opinions in the U.S. right now. Obviously, we’re very divided,’ Bea Kim, 17, said. ‘I personally am very proud to represent the United States. That being said, I think diversity is what makes us a very strong country and what makes us so special.’

Nowhere else in the world can an individual express themself with the level of freedom Americans can, Bea Kim said.

‘I think the four of us sitting here (Monday) are an example of that. We all came from very different backgrounds.’

Chloe Kim’s parents, like Bea Kim’s grandparents, immigrated to the West Coast from South Korea.

‘I think that’s also so special about the Olympics. Bringing people together from different countries,’ while celebrating sport, friendship and respect, Bea Kim said.

Chloe Kim said the recent news has ‘hit really close to home’ because her immigrants made the sacrifice many others have done to build a better life for their descendants in America.

‘It is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another with all that’s going on,’ Chloe Kim said. ‘I’m really proud to represent the United States. It’s given my family and I so much opportunity. But I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions of what’s going on. And I think that we should lead with love and compassion. And I’d love to see more of that.’

Maddie Mastro agreed that she is proud to represent her country.

‘I’m also saddened with what’s happening at home. It’s really tough and we can’t turn a blind eye to that,’ Mastro said.

At the same time, Mastro said, she represents a country that has not lost what makes it special – kindness and compassion.

By the time Maddy Schaffrick grabbed the mic, she didn’t have much to add.

‘I feel like the Olympics is the epitome of all countries and cultures coming together in celebration and friendly competition,’ she said. ‘I’m proud to represent the U.S. and wear the American flag in such an internationally cohesive event, and do what I love while representing the U.S.’

Multiple members of Team USA have received online hate for their comments leading into these Games, from Hess to figure skater Amber Glenn to moguls skier Chris Lillis.

MILANO ― The three ski jumpers on the United States men’s Olympic team had something on their minds other than their the 2026 Winter Games competition that starts Monday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

They also were thinking about so-called ‘PenisGate,’ rumors that ski jumpers have gotten penis-enlarging injections of hyaluronic acid to increase the distance of their jumps. U.S. Ski said it was all ‘wild rumor,’ and the World Anti-Doping Agency said it will investigate to see if there is any evidence.

All three U.S. ski jumpers were adamant they’re not doing it. But they didn’t rule out competitors getting the injections.

‘It is difficult to say if it’s something that has been done or if people are doing,’ said Jason Colby, a 19-year-old based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado who will be competing in his first Olympics. ‘And I guess that, scientifically speaking, it could work. But who knows what other teams are doing behind closed doors.’

Kevin Bickner, who competed at the Winter Olympics in 2018 and 2022, told USA TODAY Sports he thinks the use of injections “certainly is possible.’

‘But I don’t think that this is a problem in the sport,’ said Bickner, a 29-year-old native of the Chicago area. ‘I’ve never heard of anyone doing this. Definitely no one on (Team USA) is doing this.

‘We’re close with several countries on the circuit. As far as I know, none of them are doing it. If it was to be done, it would be… a one- or two-people type of thing. And I guess, theoretically, there is a way for it to happen.’

Tate Frantz, a 20-year-old born in Lake Placid, New York and the third member of the team, told USA TODAY Sports, ‘Can’t speak for any other teams … but who knows what other teams are doing behind closed doors.’

What is it about the crotch?

The head coach and assistant coach of the Norway men’s team were suspended 18 months for their role in manipulating suits at the 2025 Nordic ski world championships.

In all cases, the attempt to enlarge the suit had taken place in the crotch area – the same area that would be targeted by penis-enlarging injections.

‘It’s definitely the spot on a suit that can make the biggest difference,’ Bickner said. ‘So there is a lot of emphasis on trying to make that part of your equipment as efficient as possible. But I think there are methods that most people would come up with before deciding that they wanted to inject themselves with something.’

Having an enlarged crotch is would create an advantage, according to Frantz.

‘It’s more of a question of, is an actual injection a way that somebody has done this?’ Frantz said. “And that’s what I’m unable to answer or really still am uncertain of myself.’

Wanted or unwanted attention?

None of the jumpers expressed resentment about the rumored injections generating a lot more attention than the competition.

‘It’s been a funny thing to watch go down,’ Bickner said. ‘It might not be the greatest thing to get attention for, but I’ve noticed a lot more people in America paying attention to ski jumping, which is cool.

‘So we’re excited to represent our country. We’re excited to have eyes on us now, and hopefully we can put this weirdness behind us and have people focus more on the sport because it’s a really cool sport and we want to represent it well.’

For two Americans Abroad, it had been way too long since the last time they started a soccer game.

Kevin Paredes and Daryl Dike both made their first starts of the season over the weekend. The pair has seen injuries in recent years derail promising careers in Europe and with the U.S. men’s national team.

At 22 and 25, both players have time on their side. But they also are playing on expiring contracts and have plenty of work to do over the next few months to prove to their sides (or another team) that they are worth the investment.

The return of Pardes and Dike headlines this week’s Five.

Kevin Paredes finally starts again

Kevin Paredes started for the Wolfsburg winger in Saturday, a win before the match began.

Paredes hadn’t started for 10 months prior to the match against Dortmund, having dealt with a foot injury for the better part of the last two years.

The injury limited Paredes to two appearances last season. After a setback in preseason, the 22-year-old underwent surgery on the same troublesome foot in August.

Paredes put in a strong 65-minute shift in a 2-1 defeat to Dortmund, showing some incisive passing and a strong work-rate.

The Virginia native came up through D.C. United’s academy as a wingback/winger who flew up and down the flanks. How much will his persistent foot injury change his trajectory? That could be the key to whether Paredes reaches his lofty potential.

Daryl Dike back in the lineup

Much like Paredes, Daryl Dike made his first start of the season over the weekend after battling his own injury hell.

The West Brom striker went 62 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Stoke City, nearly doubling his total of league minutes for the season.

It wasn’t an especially impactful display for Dike but after several muscle injuries and two torn Achilles over the past few years, making a league start was an accomplishment in and of itself.

“I was really happy to get the nod,’ the 25-year-old said after the game. ‘My performance was all right. Naturally, as a striker, you always want to score and help the team win. We didn’t do that today, but I think the point is a good building block for us as a team and today is a good building block for me personally.

“I felt great physically and I really surprised myself. I was running around and felt fine. When they subbed me off I was a little bit annoyed because I wanted to keep going. I showed myself that I can still do everything that I can do. I know I have a lot to improve on.’

Weston McKennie can’t stop scoring

The most in-form goalscorer among Americans Abroad is an unlikely candidate for the title.

Weston McKennie isn’t known as a prolific scorer, but the Juventus midfielder is on an absolute tear. McKennie’s latest goal helped Juve secure a comeback 2-2 draw against Lazio, giving him a career-high seven goals on the campaign.

McKennie has five goals in 2026, more than any other Juventus player. In a contract year, the 27-year-old is ensuring he’ll be getting paid next season no matter where he ends up.

Benjamin Cremaschi stagnant at Parma

Inter Miami midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi made a loan move to Parma in September, hoping to prove himself in a top European league.

But as the clock starts to wind down on his loan, Cremaschi can only be given an incomplete grade.

The 20-year-old has hardly featured for Parma, making five late-game cameos in Serie A this season for a total of less than 30 minutes.

Embroiled in a relegation battle, Parma boss Carlos Cuesta has decided that the untested U.S. international can’t be trusted with so much at stake.

Cremaschi is faced with an uncertain club future. Parma has a purchase option at the end of the season which feels increasingly unlikely to be activated. Inter Miami may have moved on as well, winning a MLS Cup without him last season and making several midfield signings since his departure.

Mathis Albert’s time is coming

Aside from Paredes making the start, there was another major development during the Dortmund-Wolfsburg match — and it involved a player who didn’t even see the field.

Mathis Albert, 16, made the bench for Dortmund for the first time. The winger has been fast-tracked through Dortmund’s youth system, having established himself as one of the best prospects in all of Germany.

Dortmund may be dealing with a few injuries, which has seen Albert as well as fellow top prospects Luca Reggiani and Samuele Inacio called up to the senior side faster than expected. But head coach Niko Kovač said all three may be staying with his team for a while.

‘We will be doing this more and more in the coming weeks,’ Kovač said. ‘There is a reason the three of them are playing for BVB. The boys are internationals at youth level, so they have quality.”

MILAN, Italy – In some circles, Jutta Leerdam is best known as Jake Paul’s fiancée. But here at the 2026 Winter Olympics, she is a speed skating star.

Leerdam, a 27-year-old from the Netherlands, will compete in the women’s 1,000 meters at 11:30 a.m. ET Monday, Feb. 9. Peacock will provide coverage.

In a field of 30 speed skaters that includes American Erin Jackson, Leerdam is expected to win a medal. It would not be her first.

She won a silver in the 1,000m at the 2022 Winter Olympics and and has captured six European championships and seven world championships.

During the 2025-26 season, she won two out of the first three World Cup events and three out of the first five.

Watch the Winter Olympics on Peacock

How to watch Jutta Leerdam in Olympic speedskating 1,000 meters

The women’s 1,000-meter speedskating race begins at 5:30 p.m. ET. The race and will be televised on USA Network and can be streamed on Peacock.

When does Jutta Leerdam skate in Olympic speedskating 1,000 meters?

Jutta Leerdam will be in the 15th and final pairing of the event, racing against Japan’s Miho Takagi. Leerdam is the No. 2 ranked speedskater in the world in the 1,000 meters, while Takagi is ranked fourth in the distance.

Jake Paul delivers flowers  

On Sunday, Paul posted a video on his Instagram page showing him presenting flowers to Leerdam at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.

“Thank you for coming,’’ Leerdam told Paul after kissing him.

Paul, indicating he was addressing the couple’s future children, looked at the camera and said, “Hey little kids. You guys are not even born yet but we’re making a video for you. …Your mom is about to go for gold.’’

The couple started dating in the spring of 2023 and got engaged in March 2025.

In recent years, Leerdam has supported Paul during his boxing matches. Now Paul will be the cheerleader.

He is expected to be among the spectators at Milano Speed Stadium to watch Leerdam’s first race of these Olympics. Leerdam also will compete in the 500m Feb. 15, when Jackson, the American star, will try to defend her Olympic title in the event.