David Benavidez’s victory over Gilberto Ramirez got the boxing world talking about whether a potential history-making heavyweight title win could be on the cards, and now top-rated trainer Robert Garcia has shared his thoughts on the debate.
Having ruled at both super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, Benavidez made the 25lbs leap up to cruiserweight and made easy work of unified WBO and WBA champion, Ramirez, halting the Mexican in round six.
As a result, many fans are questioning whether Benavidez should ditch his plans of returning to light heavyweight and possibly venture all the way up to heavyweight to pursue a showdown with current unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
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Should he claim heavyweight gold, Benavidez would join Roy Jones Jr as just the second man to have truly reigned at super-middleweight and heavyweight, not including James Toney’s heavyweight title win, which was subsequently ruled as a no-contest due to a failed drugs test. ‘The Mexican Monster’ is currently the only man to have won titles at 168, 175 and 200lbs.
Speaking to ES News, Garcia, who has trained the likes of Anthony Joshua, Jesse Rodriguez and Nonito Donaire, stated his belief that ‘The Mexican Monster’ would be able to dethrone Usyk in two years.
“I think that Benavidez beats Usyk two years from now. [Usyk is nearly 40 already,] so imagine two years from now, Benavidez beats him.”
Whether or not Usyk sticks around that long remains to be seen. The two-weight undisputed champion fights kickboxer Rico Verhoeven this month, and has said he will compete twice more before seriously considering retirement.
With plenty of contenders already in the division and worthy of a shot at the Ukrainian, the Benavidez bout seems a long way off, not least because Benavidez himself seems intent, for now, on dropping back down rather than moving up further.
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Benavidez does plan to make a move to the top division at one stage, however, and if Garcia believes he can beat someone as talented as Usyk, even with age playing a factor, he will likely back him against many other heavyweights.
The two bottom sides in the MLS Western Conference table lock horns on Wednesday when Orlando City take on Philadelphia Union at the Inter&Co Stadium. While the hosts could pick up back-to-back home wins for the first time this season, Bradley Carnell’s men will be aiming to snap their run of five consecutive matches without a win.
Orlando City were sent crashing back to earth last Saturday as they fell to a 2-0 loss against CF Montreal when the two sides squared off at the Saputo Stadium.
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Martin Perelman’s side had won their previous two outings, picking up a thrilling 4-3 victory over New England Revolution on April 30, four days before defeating Inter Miami by the same scoreline at Nu Stadium.
After four straight games on the road, Orlando return to the Inter&Co Stadium, where they have won two of their most recent three league games, with a 1-0 defeat against Houston Dynamo sandwiched between the two victories.
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Elsewhere, Philadelphia Union failed to find their feet last weekend when they fell to a 2-1 defeat against New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.
Carnell’s men have gone five consecutive games without a win, losing twice and claiming three draws, while managing just one win from their 12 MLS matches so far.
With just six points from a possible 36, Philadelphia Union sit rock-bottom in the Western Conference standings, four points and one spot below Wednesday’s hosts.
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Orlando City vs Philadelphia Union Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
Philadelphia Union hold a slight upper hand in the history of this fixture, having won nine of the last 24 meetings between the two teams.
Orlando City have picked up one fewer win in that time, while the spoils have been shared on seven occasions.
Orlando have lost just one of the last six matches against Philadelphia Union while picking up three wins and two draws since March 2023.
Philadelphia Union have failed to win seven of their last eight away games across all competitions, losing six and claiming one draw since February 22.
Orlando City vs Philadelphia Union Prediction
It has been a difficult start to the campaign for Orlando City and Philadelphia Union, and both sides know a positive result on Wednesday could be the catalyst for a run of good form.
Recent performances at home should give Orlando plenty of optimism and we see them getting the better of Carnell’s men, who have managed just one away win since February.
Prediction: Orlando City 2-1 Philadelphia Union
Orlando City vs Philadelphia Union Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result – Orlando City to win
Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals – Yes (There have been at least three goals scored in six of the last seven meetings between the two sides)
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Tip 3: Both sides to score – Yes (Both sides have also scored in six of their last seven encounters)
With the Draft behind us, the Vikings’ roster for the offseason is mostly fulfilled. They still have a few spots open, and as we’ve seen with the Jauan Jennings signing, they are looking for key contributors.
The idea of a roster prediction in early May isn’t to be 100% correct (although I fully intend to brag if I am), but rather to gauge where things stand before OTAs, minicamp, training camp, and the preseason.
Several Vikings Roster Spots Are Already Getting Tight
And I also think this is a fun exercise, so let’s get to it.
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Quarterbacks (3)
In: Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz;
Out: Max Brosmer
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For now, I think this is the easiest one. Murray is likely to start things off as the starter, but McCarthy will have his fair shot if he shows improvement. Carson Wentz gives you an experienced voice in the room, and I don’t think he’d have returned for 2026 if he didn’t think he’d stick around.
Max Brosmer could still develop into a solid backup, but he played poorly in 2025, even for an undrafted rookie. One of my hot takes for 2026 is that Murray and McCarthy won’t both be on the roster, but we’ll see about that.
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Wide Receivers (6)
In: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, Tai Felton, Myles Price, Dillon Bell;
Out: Joaquin Davis, Dontae Fleming, Jeshaun Jones, Shaleak Knotts, Marcus Sanders, Luke Wysong.
I’ll be bold here: I think Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison make the roster. They form one of the best duos in the league and will continue to do so for at least two more seasons. Jauan Jennings is a much-needed, stronger, and taller wide receiver.
Felton is a high pick, only in his second season, and was great on special teams, so there’s no reason to think he won’t stay. Price handled both returning spots, and he’ll probably do it again in 2026. Rookie UDFA Dillon Bell is a fun one.
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He was a gadget player and could find himself in a similar role in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, as the team doesn’t have anyone with this skillset.
Halfbacks (5)
In: Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Demond Claiborne, Zavier Scott, Max Bredeson;
Out: Kejon Owens.
With the Vikings not spending heavily on the running back position, it’s fair to assume that Jones and Mason will handle the bulk of the carries again. Demond Claiborne can be a demon (bad pun intended) on the field, but his ball security woes can cost him playing time.
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If he can figure it out, though, the rookie can be the home-run threat this room lacks. Scott got one of the last spots on the roster, but mostly because I don’t know if Kevin O’Connell will have four running backs.
However, Scott’s ability as a receiver complements this backfield really well, and he had some good plays in 2025. Bredeson comes in as the new fullback on the roster and should be a contributor right away, given his prowess as a run blocker.
Tight Ends (4)
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In: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew, Ben Yurosek;
Out: Bryson Nesbit.
This may be the team’s weakest position on offense. Hockenson doesn’t look the same after his knee injury and has had one of the worst seasons of his career. There’s a chance this had to do with the quarterback play, but it’s still cause for concern.
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Josh Oliver is excellent as a blocker and more than capable as a pass catcher, but heavily underused in this aspect. Bartholomew missed his entire rookie season due to a back problem, so this will be the first time we see him in action. Yurosek had over 100 snaps and appeared in 12 games in 2025, giving him a shot at making the roster this season.
Offensive Linemen (9)
In: Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Gavin Gerhardt, Will Fries, Brian O’Neill, Blake Brandel, Joe Huber, Ryan Van Demark, Caleb Tiernan;
Out: Michael Jurgens, Delby Lemieux, Henry Bird, Vershon Lee, Tomas Rimac, Caleb Etienne, Tristan Leigh, Walter Rouse.
Four spots on the offensive line are set in stone. Blake Brandel will kick things off as the starting center, but I think this can evolve into a competition with rookie Gavin Gerhardt. Although he’s a seventh-round pick, he has a lot of experience at the position, starting for four years in college.
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I also like the idea of Brandel working at center and being able to serve as the backup for every position. The Vikings spent a considerable amount of money on Van Demark in the restricted free agency and used a top-100 pick on Caleb Tiernan, so both should be locks.
If Gerhardt wins the starting job, I’m okay with having only Huber as a true backup guard, as Brandel would also be able to fill in.
Out: Elijah Williams, Monkell Goodwine, Eric Johnson II, Taki Taimani.
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Arguably the most promising position on the roster, the Vikings have young defensive tackles with tons of potential. Redmond had a breakout season in 2025, and hopefully that was just the start.
At 27, he could be the leader of this group for the next handful of years. If we’re talking about potential, no one embodies it better than the first-round rookie Caleb Banks. The early signs are that he’ll be able to practice fully at the start of training camp, and, if his foot doesn’t bother him again, could make a nasty duo with Redmond.
The other three round out this duo really well: Ingram-Dawkins comes in on passing downs, Orange possesses the ability to be a great nose tackle, and Rodriguez can contribute on both, although he’s more of a nose tackle as well. How well they perform will hinge on Redmond’s continued development and Banks’ health, but if all goes well, they can wreak havoc in opposing backfields.
Edge Rushers (5)
In: Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, Kyle Van Noy, Bo Richter, Tyler Batty;
I wasn’t fond of the idea of trading Jonathan Greenard. The price was mostly fair, considering he’ll turn 29 and has an extensive injury history.
But this trade left the Vikings in an odd position. Van Ginkel will continue to do Van Ginkel things, while I fully believe Dallas Turner is ready to take that additional step. However, the depth behind them is way less than optimal. Both Bo Richter and Tyler Batty are special teams players who have never had more than 6% of the defensive snaps.
In the NFL, you must rotate your front seven as often as possible, so this is not enough. There aren’t any premium edge rushers in the market, as we are in the middle of May. Kyle Van Noy is my pick here, mostly due to his familiarity with Brian Flores, and he has played at least 50% of the snaps in each of the last three seasons. After Jauan Jennings’ signing, I believe that a veteran edge rusher is the next big priority.
Linebackers (4)
In: Blake Cashman, Jake Golday, Eric Wilson, Ivan Pace;
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Out: Keli Lawson, Jacob Roberts, Josh Ross, Scooby Williams.
This is another position that I believe is set in stone. Blake Cashman is a very underrated player, but his injury woes are cause for concern. Eric Wilson had a career year in 2025, but banking on it happening again wouldn’t be wise, which is one reason I picked Golday even more.
Speaking of Golday, I think he can impress enough to be the starter alongside Cashman. Wilson should still see the field a lot, but more as a rotational player. Ivan Pace provides solid depth and special-teams play.
Cornerbacks (5)
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In: Byron Murphy, Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, Charles Demmings, Zemaiah Vaughn;
I think the first four players are safe bets. Murphy is the best cornerback on the team and has slot-boundary versatility. Isaiah Rodgers had his moments in 2025, and James Pierre is an improvement at the CB3 position.
I believe that Flores would’ve pushed harder for a cornerback if he weren’t comfortable with this trio. Most of the other cornerbacks fighting for a roster spot are current or former UDFAs, so the fact that the Vikings used a pick on Demmings is a great sign that he makes the roster. The final spot was between Vaughn and McGlothern, although Marcus Allen is likely to have an opportunity as well.
Safeties (4)
In: Josh Metellus, Jakobe Thomas, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson;
Out: Jacob Thomas, Tavierre Thomas.
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The hope here is that Metellus can go back to his 2024 form. He played with a shoulder injury through most of 2025, and it clearly impacted him. A top-100 pick, Jakobe Thomas will have an opportunity to play early if he can quickly understand Flores’ scheme. Jay Ward got some snaps late last season and impressed, and he also has a chance to be an impact player this season. Theo Jackson was kind of underwhelming in 2025, but unless Harrison Smith returns, I can’t see him not making the roster.
Special Teams (3)
In: Will Reichard (K), Brett Thorson (P), Andrew DePaola (LS);
Out: Johnny Hekker (P).
Will Reichard is an All-Pro caliber player. Andrew DePaola is an All-Pro caliber player. Even if the Vikings had brought someone to “compete” with them, the other player would certainly lose. This means that the only true debate is Johnny Hekker and Brett Thorson.
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Hekker will absolutely go to the Hall of Fame when he decides to hang up the cleats, but he’s coming off arguably his worst season in the NFL. Thorson, an UDFA, won the Ray Guy award for the best punter in college last season. The punter position came down to who’s the better holder in the last few seasons, and it’s likely to happen again in 2026. When it comes to punting, though, Thorson has all the momentum.
Shakur Stevenson has looked unbeatable in recent fights, but in the eyes of two-division world champion Tim Bradley, there is one man he would struggle against.
Now, he has options at 135lbs and 140lbs, but is also being called out by several welterweights to jump up to 147. Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn and Devin Haney have all targeted the pound-for-pound star, who has said he would only agree with either a rehydration clause or catchweight in the contract.
“Right now, at 147lbs, I would give Devin the edge, but at 144lbs I would give it to Shakur.
“Devin understands Shakur, he understands how to deal with him and knows what he has got to do. It will be a mixture of boxing and smart pressure and letting his hands go. I have watched their sparring sessions a hundred times and Devin has got some dog in him too.
“Shakur has got dog in him, as well, but Shakur wouldn’t be able to be cute on the outside and beat him with just one hand, ain’t no way. So, at 147lbs, right now, I would favour Devin.”
Both Haney and Stevenson have been linked to a move to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing ahead of that proposed fight, although their signatures have not yet been confirmed, and Stevenson has told fans that there is little truth in the reported fight talks.
There’s no better indicator of the long-term success of a college football program than its overall winning percentage over a couple of consecutive decades.
Winning consistently attracts talented players, coaches, and wealthy donors, which breeds more winning.
The table below shows the overall winning percentages and win-loss records for the region’s top programs over the last 20 seasons.
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Overall Winning % and Records for CFB Programs in the West
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, the team, his agency and the NBA said Tuesday. He was 29.
Neither the Grizzlies nor Clarke’s agency, Priority Sports, immediately provided any details about when, where or how Clarke died.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke. Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten,” the Grizzlies said in a statement. “We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
His agents wrote on social media that they were “beyond devastated” by Clarke’s death.
Clarke was the 21st overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2019 NBA draft by Oklahoma, which dealt his rights to the Grizzlies (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
“He was so loved by all of us here and everyone whose life he touched,” Priority Sports said. “He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed sympathy to Clarke’s family and friends and the Grizzlies organization.
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“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke,” Silver said. “As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit.”
The National Basketball Players Association said, “This is an incredible loss for the brotherhood. We will remember Brandon not only for the immense joy he brought to so many throughout his career, but for the genuine friendships he built far beyond basketball.”
Clarke was arrested on April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and possession of a controlled substance that was reportedly kratom, an herbal supplement promoted as an alternative pain remedy that is legal to possess in Tennessee. He was released on bond a day later.
Clarke was the 21st overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2019 NBA draft by Oklahoma, which dealt his rights to the Grizzlies, who already took guard Ja Morant at No. 2 overall. Clarke joined Morant on the NBA’s All-Rookie team in 2020, and the Grizzlies gave him a multiyear contract extension in October 2022.
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He tore his left Achilles tendon on March 3, 2023, in a loss to the Denver Nuggets in a showdown of the top two teams in the Western Conference. Injuries limited him to 72 of a possible 246 games over the past three seasons, including only two this season.
Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over his seven seasons with the Grizzlies
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé on Monday was named the Ligue 1 player of the year for the second year running. Paris Saint-Germain and RC Lens shared the main trophies.
In the Premier League, Tottenham squandered a golden opportunity in the battle to avoid relegation. In tennis, Jannik Sinner made short work of his opponents on home soil in Rome. There was relief for Victor Wembanyama, who will not face a suspension in the NBA. Finally, FC Barcelona celebrated their title.
TRICON Garage will honor Greg Biffle this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, with Tanner Gray running a special throwback scheme on the No. 15 Toyota Tundra. The tribute, announced ahead of the All-Star weekend, revisits one of Biffle’s most recognizable Busch Series (now O’Reilly Series) designs.
Biffle died on December 18, 2025, in a private jet that crashed near Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. The crash claimed seven lives, including his wife Cristina Grossu, his children Ryder and Emma, along with his friend Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth. The loss continues to be felt across the NASCAR garage months later.
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Several teams have since paid multiple tributes to Biffle this year. TRICON Garage has now confirmed their homage on X, writing:
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“Be like Biff. Tanner Gray and the No. 15 team will pay homage to 17x @NASCAR_Trucks winner Greg Biffle this weekend at Dover 🎨.”
The truck itself mirrors Greg Biffle’s 2006 Dover Ameriquest-era design. It carries a bright, multicolored layout with bold abstract patterns, staying close to the original look. The updated version also includes personal elements, with the names of those lost in the December crash placed on the rear of the truck as part of the tribute.
Fans called it one of the best tribute designs of the season, praising both the accuracy to the original and the emotional detail added. There has also been early demand for a diecast version, reflecting how strongly the design has connected with the fan base.
Greg Biffle’s 2006 season remains one of the defining stretches of his career. He finished 13th in the Cup Series with 4,075 points and two wins, coming at Darlington and Homestead. He also ran 30 Busch Series races and finished ninth in the final standings. At Dover that year, he finished eighth in both Series, driving the No. 16 Roush Racing Ford, making it a fitting place for the tribute to return.
For Tanner Gray, the weekend also carries a competitive arc. Through eight Truck Series races in 2026, he has yet to record a top-10 finish in the No. 15 entry, while teammate Kaden Honeycutt in the No. 11 truck currently leads the standings.
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Investigation continues in Greg Biffle’s crash
Greg Biffle – Private jet crash in North Carolina – Source: Getty
The investigation into Greg Biffle’s December crash remains ongoing, with NTSB and federal authorities still working toward a final report. Preliminary findings confirmed that Dennis Dutton was the pilot in command, with his son beside him.
Four occupants on board held pilot certifications, including Biffle, but there was no clearly structured two-pilot setup. Investigators also pointed to a mix of instrument-related issues and increasing cockpit workload during the flight. There were also signs of system anomalies, which may have affected situational awareness during the final landing.
A final determination on the cause is expected once the full report is completed. Away from the investigation, Greg Biffle’s personal estate has also been in the spotlight. Reports of a burglary at his North Carolina home and other incidents around his assets have added to an already difficult period for those close to him.
Terence Crawford has addressed accusations that he swerved a world champion, saying he would have won by knockout if they ever locked horns.
The former three-division undisputed king was never one to shy away from a formidable challenge, hence why he stepped up two weight classes to face Canelo Alvarez.
Even before that, ‘Bud’ had cemented himself as one of the sport’s flagship fighters by scoring a ninth-round finish over Errol Spence Jr in 2023.
Yet somehow, before announcing his retirement as an unbeaten five-division world champion in December, Crawford was accused by Jaron Ennis of ducking their potential fight.
This was back when ‘Boots’ had become the mandatory challenger to Crawford, who would ultimately vacate his welterweight titles and dethrone Israil Madrimov at 154lbs.
Ennis, in turn, was upgraded from ‘interim’ to full world champion, before eventually unifying the IBF and WBA titles against Eimantas Stanionis in April 2025.
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During this time, though, the American was vocal in his belief that Crawford had actively avoided him, when in reality the then-unbeaten contender represented a high-risk, low-reward option.
In response, the now-retired Crawford has told King Gillie that, if they had collided, their welterweight contest would have ended in one-sided fashion.
“Ya’ll wanted me to end Boots’ career before it started. I would have knocked him the f*** out. Stop playing with me.
“He wasn’t ready yet. He needed a couple more fights, they said.”
Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that Sidney Crosby has been added to the Team Canada roster for the IIHF ice hockey world championship, taking place from May 15 to 31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.
Crosby was not part of the team’s initial 23-man roster, as his Pittsburgh Penguins were just coming off a defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In his place, second-year NHLer Macklin Celebrini was named team captain and backed up that honour with a four-point performance in Canada’s 6-1 win over France in pre-tournament action on Sunday.
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Crosby has captained Canada in all international competitions he’s taken part in since first donning the ‘C’ for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, including the 2015 world championship, the 2016 world cup of hockey, the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, and most recently, the 2026 Winter Olympics.
However, he was unable to suit up for Canada’s semifinal game against Finland and the gold-medal game against the United States after suffering an injury in the quarterfinals against Czechia.
Over his 53 games played with the Canadian senior men’s team, the Cole Harbour, N.S., native has 27 goals and 43 assists, and has led Canada to six medals on the world stage.
In a corresponding move, Mathew Barzal will miss the world championship due to a minor pre-existing injury, Hockey Canada announced.
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Along with Crosby, forwards Dawson Mercer of the New Jersey Devils and Porter Martone of the Philadelphia Flyers were also named to the roster on Tuesday, growing the team to 25 players.
Here is the full 25-player roster following Tuesday’s changes:
Forwards Sidney Crosby Porter Martone Dawson Mercer Connor Brown Robert Thomas Dylan Cozens Gabriel Vilardi Mark Scheifele Emmitt Finnie Macklin Celebrini Dylan Holloway Ryan O’Reilly John Tavares Fraser Minten
Defencemen Dylan DeMelo Denton Mateychuk Sam Dickinson Evan Bouchard Darnell Nurse Zach Whitecloud Parker Wotherspoon Morgan Rielly
Olympic refugee swimmer Alaa Maso had never planned to come to Germany. But close to 10 years after first arriving along with about 1.2 million other asylum seekers as Germany opened its doors amid a migration crisis, it is a country he is now hoping to make his permanent home.
“I don’t believe that home is where you grew up or where you were born,” Maso told DW in a recent interview at his training base in Hanover. “I just believe that home is wherever you feel yourself at home. You’re given that feeling by the people surrounding you.”
Back in 2015, with his native Syria in the full throes of civil war, Maso had little choice but to leave if he wanted to pursue a career in swimming.
Hailing from Aleppo, a major battleground in the war, he was going for months on end without training.
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“It always had to depend on how safe the situation was and what the priorities were,” he said.
And so, together with older brother, Mo, he took the long and arduous journey to Europe via Turkey.
Civil war slowed career
The brothers had originally intended to settle in the Netherlands with some other family members.
But because they had been fingerprinted while transiting through Germany, European Union rules meant their asylum applications had to be processed here.
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Since then, it has been a case of making up for lost time, even though the 25-year-old Maso prefers not to dwell on the past. But there is no hiding the fact that the civil war held back his budding career.
“It’s never possible to replace such damage,” he said.
“The four years in which I was not able to train are some of the most important years in the life of a swimmer. It’s where you put in the basics, the groundwork for everything that’s coming in the future.”
Immigrants ‘can reach their goals’
Maso was four years old when his father taught him to swim. Later inspired by Michael Phelps and his eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, he resolved to one day compete at the Olympics himself.
“From that day on I wanted to be there,” Maso said. “I knew that it’s a stage that every swimmer would love to be on.”
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Maso’s wish was granted in 2021, when he was picked to represent the Olympic refugee team at the Tokyo Games. The refugee team first appeared at the Rio Games in 2016 after the International Olympic Committee decided to give displaced people an opportunity to compete when they otherwise would have been unable to because of their situation.
In a moment that went viral on social media, Maso embraced his brother at the Tokyo opening ceremony. Despite their journey together to Germany, Mo was competing in the triathlon for Syria.
“It’s only because he had better connections with the Syrian federation than I did,” Maso said. “I don’t see it as a political position or support for any side in Syria.”
While Mo has since retired, Alaa competed for the refugee team in Paris. But a year on, in 2025, injury forced him to withdraw from the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
After the fall of Bashar Assad in late 2024, Maso resumed conversations with the Syrian swimming federation about representing the country, but no decision has been made. Despite the regime change, he doesn’t foresee returning to the country, which is still in some turmoil, to live again.
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In fact, Maso has applied to become a German citizen. His application has received strong support, including a letter from former Lower Saxony Premier Stephan Weil, recognizing Alaa’s contributions — particularly his role in supporting the integration of fellow refugees through sport and community work.
Political plan for integration
Integration is a topic to which Maso has given much thought, at a time of simmering anti-immigrant sentiment in Germany. That sentiment was confirmed by Germany’s federal election in February 2025, when the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party took second place, with 20.8% of the vote.
Maso initially hesitated to wade into the political debate months ahead of that election, before eloquently outlining what he thinks needs to happen.
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“Some workshops have to be done for new refugees to try to install [in them] the new culture they are trying to enter,” he said.
“I’m not saying people are supposed to let go of their culture or their background, but [you should] also try to integrate into the new society you are trying to live in.
“That, for me, is a crucial way of helping people with different backgrounds than the German and European backgrounds to adapt and get a glimpse of how it’s going to be for the next 10 years. Because nobody comes here to live for one or two years. You’re trying to build a new life, and that’s going to be a very long process.”
Maso is hoping to become a German citizenImage: Soeren Stache/dpa/picture alliance
AfD leader Alice Weidel, has not shied away from calling for “large-scale repatriations” of those who have arrived in Germany from elsewhere. “And I have to be honest with you: if it’s going to be called remigration, then that’s what it’s going to be: remigration,” she said at a party conference just before the election.
Though Germany’s other major parties have historically resisted working with the far right since World War Two, that so-called “firewall” has weakened in recent years. If a plan such as Weidel suggested were ever to come to fruition, Maso could be forced out of the country if he hasn’t received citizenship. However, he insists he isn’t scared.
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“I know that no matter how big the party is or how many seats each party has, they cannot decide everything on their own,” he said. “That’s the good thing about Europe and democracy in Europe. Just because you’re the ruling party, you’re not able to do anything you want.”
Despite the difficult political climate, Maso is upbeat about his own future. Should he be successful in becoming a citizen, would he like to compete for Germany, his adopted country?
“I would totally be OK with that,” he said.
This article was originally published on July 7, 2024. It was updated on August 25, 2025 to reflect political changes in Syria and Alaa Maso’s immigration status. An earlier version of this article referred to Stefan Weil as Lower Saxony premier. This has been updated to reflect the fact that he stepped down as premier in May 2025. Dana Sumlaji contributed to this report.
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