Three top contenders for the women's Olympic team--Blakely, Jones and DiCello--all injured at trials. Two ruptured Achilles. Shocking and sad.

Shane Wiskus named an alternate for the Paris Olympics. He did everything he could possibly do to put himself on that team, giving a bravura performance in his hometown. He should be proud, and MN should be proud of him.

More Wiskus: "I'll remember this experience forever. This is probably the last gymnastics meet of my life. What better way to end it than at home with the two best competitions of my entire life?" #USAGTrials24 #RoadtoParis2024 /end

This ⬇️ It was extremely close between Wiskus and Juda for the last spot. The team selection is based on a math formula that determines the group with the highest scoring potential. BTW, athletes wanted this kind of system.

Lovely thread here recapping Chris Carr's tenure as Star Tribune Sports editor. Our department will sorely miss his leadership. I hope the support, respect, empathy and positivity he gave to us comes back to him a hundredfold. 💔

Regan Smith vs. Kaylee McKeown: A backstroke rivalry peaks at the Paris Olympics. startribune.com/paris-olympics…

Some news: I'm joining Blois Olson's team at Fluence Media to launch Sports Take: WeekEnder, a weekly tip sheet that will collect the most important and interesting sports news in & around Minnesota. I'd be thrilled if you'd sign up and tell your friends. fluence-media.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5c…

Rachel Blount has covered 13 Olympics for the Star Tribune and the paper didn’t send her to Paris. It’s really disappointing. It makes Minnesota feel diminished. Our Olympians deserve to have their stories told by a professional who can provide the appropriate context.

Very disappointing. No doubt Steve Grove et al. will cite costs, but great #localangle coverage drives subscribers (like myself).

Thank you so much, Scott Gillespie 💔

Support your hometown papers — they are often the best storytellers. Grew up inspired to join the Olympic sports industry by reading Rachel Blount’s feature stories in print.

Brutal. And ridiculous! The Strib’s coverage of local athletes is one of the reasons I subscribe. I don’t have the Star Tribune’s data re: why people still read the paper, but do you think I’m an outlier?

Rachel Blount Patrick Borzi The Minnesota Star Tribune It’s shortsighted. The biggest stories in MN sports the last 5-10 years have been Suni Lee in Tokyo and Jessie Diggins in Beijing and Pyeongchang. And Regan Smith poised to be it Paris. That is not serving MN readers.

When Chris Carr was unceremoniously ousted from the sports editor’s chair a few weeks ago this is exactly the type of decision I feared. Once newspapers rely on wire service copy to cover local athletes it’s over. AI copy is coming next.

A fabulous way to build an industry that has been struggling since the internet started. “Let’s do less of what we do best and this will bring us back to our glory days!” How do you grow an industry by subtraction?

Star Tribune Sports Rachel Blount The The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Olympics staffing decision will be among the topics I’ll cover in my first Sports Take newsletter later this week. It’s the newest addition to Blois Olson’s Fluence Media family of newsletters. I’d be honored if you’d subscribe. fluence-media.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5c…

Not a bad story, but Rachel Blount would have given us something different. Something Minnesotan. Like the story behind Sara Bacon’s silver, Suni Lee’s quest for another gold, the Minnesotan behind South Sudan’s first basketball win, or a dozen other local connections. #STribFail

A frustrating and shortsighted decision. I miss the humanity, perspective and experience Rachel Blount would have brought to these amazing Minnesota stories: Suni Lee, Regan Smith, Anthony Edwards...the list goes on. Star Tribune readers deserved better.

Here we go! Volume 1 of my new sports newsletter. Topics include The Minnesota Star Tribune Olympics controversy, #MNTwins trade deadline inertia, change coming to MIAC hoops and a big showing by a Minnesota basketball team at a national Native American tournament.

Fresh SportsTake: Rachel Blount leaves The Minnesota Star Tribune. #Vikings opener ft. Dane Mizutani & Andrew Krammer. Zimmer's new job . . . & old anger from Mark Craig. #Gophers volleyball success, football concerns. #MNTwins slumping toward playoffs. Get it here: fluence-media.co/4ghBwxJ