Simon Smale
Simon Smale is an online sports reporter who specialises in covering a wide range of different sports.
He has been with the ABC since 2018 and, as well as reporting and blogging major events, is a regular contributor to ABC Radio, as well as commentating and hosting coverage of football and rugby union matches.
Simon covered the 2022 Winter Olympic Games from Beijing.
Prior to becoming a sports journalist, Simon worked on three different continents as a geologist.
Latest by Simon Smale
The Australian Olympian who redefined sportsmanship and became a symbol of the futility of war
By Simon Smale
Australian Olympian Cecil Healy was the epitome of fair play, though his life was cut short in the most unfair way imaginable in the killing fields of World War I. He remains Australia's only Olympic gold medallist to be killed in action. Now, he has been honoured by the Australian Olympic Committee.
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'It's gone': Mitch Moses suffers potentially season-ending injury in drought-breaking Blues win
By Simon Smale at Lang Park
Mitch Moses scores the first try of his Origin career as the Blues end Queensland's State of Origin winning streak, but suffers a bicep injury that could have repercussions for Parramatta.
Blues win brutal Origin decider to end 19-year Lang Park hoodoo
By Jon Healy and Simon Smale at Lang Park
New South Wales wins its first State of Origin series since 2021 in an intense battle at Brisbane's Lang Park, becoming just the third Blues outfit in history to win a decider in Queensland.
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Analysis
analysis:The man who rescued England doomed to oversee its continued failures
By Simon Smale
The purgatory of Gareth Southgate: The man who rescued England, yet seems damned to be subject to yet more of its repeated failures.
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NRL Round-Up: Brisbane in free fall, Shark's spine resurgence and Souths signing shines
By Michael Doyle, Simon Smale, and Nick Campton
Brisbane hit rock bottom, Cronulla stunned without Nicho Hynes and a future Rabbitoh had a blinder on debut. Here are the biggest talking points from every game of Round 19.
More heartbreak for 'devastated' England as Spain claims Euro 2024 title after late winner
By Simon Smale
Mikel Oyarzabal stuns England with a late goal after coming on as a second-half substitute, allowing Spain to become the first nation to win the European Championships four times.
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'I never really dreamed that I would win the same trophy that Jana did': Barbora Krejčíková claims emotional Wimbledon victory
By Simon Smale
Barbora Krejčíková hailed late Czechia legend Jana Novotná after beating Jasmine Paolini in a brilliant Wimbledon ladies singles final.
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'Not good enough': Broncos slip to sixth-straight defeat as Dragons, Titans claim wins
By Nick Campton and Simon Smale
St George Illawarra has condemned Brisbane to a sixth NRL defeat in a row with a thrilling 30-26 victory at Lang Park that sees the Broncos drop to 13th on the ladder.
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After a crippling injury, Liz Clay had to learn to walk again, but a decade-old conversation gave her the strength to run
By Simon Smale and Jessica Lamb
After breaking multiple bones in her foot, Olympic hurdler Liz Clay had to take things slowly, even having to learn to walk again. A conversation she had a decade ago gave her the strength to run her way back to the Olympics.
Analysis
analysis:From 's***' to Euro 2024 finalists, Gareth Southgate deflects criticism to lead the Three Lions towards glory
By Simon Smale
After deflecting poisonous criticism for England's style of play, Gareth Southgate answered his critics in the best possible way, as his team finally showed the flare their supporters demanded, combined with the grit that he has shown his whole career.
England through to Euro 2024 final after tense win over Netherlands
By Simon Smale
An injury-time winner from Ollie Watkins hands England a 2-1 European Championship semifinal victory over the Netherlands.
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Australia names largest-ever athletics team for a foreign Olympics ahead of Paris Games
By Simon Smale
Australia is sending a 75-strong athletics team to the Paris Olympics, second only to the team that contested the Sydney Games on home soil and including both men's and women's 4x100m teams for the first time in 24 years.
Jess Hull destroys Australian 1,500m record as world records tumble at Paris Diamond League
By Simon Smale
Jess Hull held onto the coat-tails of Faith Kipyegon to smash her previous best in a staggering performance just three weeks out from the Olympic Games.
'It is quite sick': Tour de France rider's eating issue acts as warning for others
By Simon Smale
Obsessed with being as light as possible, Tour de France cyclist Jonas Abrahamsen went to extreme lengths to stay skinny. He's since put on 20kg of weight and is cycling better than ever.
French cyclist fined for kissing his wife during TdF time trial
By Simon Smale with wires
French rider Julien Bernard was fined for "inappropriate behaviour" after waving to fans and stopping to kiss his wife during the stage seven Tour de France time trial as Remco Evenepoel showed off his pedigree with a stunning victory over race leader Tadej Pogačar.
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'What defines good enough?' Snubbed Hockeyroo Rosie Malone's heartbreaking message to teammates
By Simon Smale
Rosie Malone says she believes the Hockeyroos can medal at the Paris Olympic Games and wishes them well after being left out of the squad.
NRL Round-Up: 'Ugly' Storm get it done again and a UK legend flies around the world for his son's debut
By Simon Smale and Nick Campton
Former Great Britain player Leon Pryce and his family made the 17,000km trip to watch son Will score a try on debut for Newcastle, Nicho Hynes struggles continue and the Storm, somehow, still win. Here's this week's NRL Round-Up.
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Roosters star suffers suspected broken hand as tricolours dominate Wests Tigers
By Simon Smale
The Roosters' perfect performance against Wests Tigers was ruined only by a suspected broken hand suffered by Joey Manu. North Queensland stun Penrith and the Dragons beat the Dolphins.
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Maroons star out of State of Origin decider after limping off in Storm's win over Raiders
By Simon Smale
Queensland winger Xavier Coates is out of State of Origin III after sustaining a hamstring injury in the Storm's gritty 16-6 defeat of the Raiders.
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'We ride on dynamite': A century on from the Tour de France's first doping scandal
By Simon Smale
In a small cafe in a nondescript French village during the 1924 Tour de France, a journalist fell upon the biggest scoop in cycling, when three Tour riders revealed what they were carrying in their bags to get them through the most daunting of races.
Sharks star told to ‘dust himself off’ after missed field-goal shot in golden-point defeat to Bulldogs
By Simon Smale
The Sharks had their chances to claim victory against the Bulldogs, who got home 15-14 on the back of Matt Burton's cool nerves during golden-point extra time.
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Familiar faces to contest historic Tour de France
By Simon Smale
The winners of the last four Tour de France races will once again lock horns in France's greatest annual sporting event, with Tadej Pogačar chasing history and Jonas Vingegaard hoping for a miraculous recovery from serious injury. Here's what you need to know.
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'We'll be playing for all of them': Injured teammates at the forefront of Australian Sevens team's minds
By Simon Smale
Ahead of the final squad being announced for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the World SVNS Series final-winning Australian women's sevens team is embracing a whole squad mentality to reclaim the gold medal.
Blues batter Queensland in dominant State of Origin display to set up deciding Game III
By Jon Healy and Simon Smale
NSW scores six tries in a record-breaking first half to set up a dominant victory over Queensland in State of Origin II and send the series to a decider.
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Analysis
analysis:The USA has named its Olympic swimming team — and it's really good
By Simon Smale
Australia's swimmers laid down a marker at the Australian Swimming Trials in Brisbane, but in front of record crowds in Indianapolis, America's best have answered the call and, with a little extra incentive provided by a former Australian great, they are ready to go hard in Paris.
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