An Olympic Gold Medal belonging to Australian shooter MICHAEL DIAMOND sold for A$72,000 ($55,200) at a Sydney auction, "with the winning bidder a former Olympian." The medal, which Diamond won for trap shooting at the 2000 Sydney Games, was bought by fencer RICHARD OLDCORN, who competed for Great Britain at four Olympics but never won his own Gold. Diamond said that "he had no choice but to sell the medal to pay off legal fees, rebuild his career and support his children" after being charged, then acquitted, over firearm offenses (ABC, 11/9). ... Figure skater HARLEY WINDSOR "will become Australia's first Indigenous Winter Olympian" when he pairs with EKATERINA ALEXANDROVSKAYA in PyeongChang. The duo qualified for a pairs berth at the Games and their selections were confirmed alongside fellow figure skaters BRENDAN KERRY and KAILANI CRAINE, who will compete individually (AAP, 11/9). ... A rider who "violently attacked a rival team" has been banned for two years from professional cycling. WANG XIN was expelled from the Chinese island of Hainan after video footage showed him "punching and kicking at two members of the Swiss national team." Wang's Keyi Look team was barred from all events until '19 by the Chinese Cycling Association, which described it as a "violent incident" (BBC, 11/9).
'SPECULATION, MATE': ANGE POSTECOGLOU "dismissed reports linking him with the vacant post" at Scottish Premiership side Rangers, "suggesting a potential move is only speculation while continuing to dodge questions about his future." Reports surfaced during the week that Postecoglou was "interested" in taking charge of Rangers following the sacking of Portuguese coach PEDRO CAIXINHA last week. He said, "[It is] speculation, mate. The only thing on my radar is these two games" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 11/9).
