EUGENE, Ore.—It only made sense that Sydney McLaughlin would run the last, victorious lap of world championships for the United States. It only made sense she would win that race by a lot. America’s burgeoning speed star turned a close 4×400-meter relay into a laugher on the anchor leg Sunday, putting the final stamp on…

MONTPELLIER, France—Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto claimed her maiden figure skating world title when she prevailed in the women’s singles event in a depleted competition at which Russia’s invasion of Ukraine still loomed large on Friday. Sakamoto, a bronze medallist at the Beijing Olympics, finished ahead of Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx and American Alysa Liu, who were second…

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy—American Mikaela Shiffrin claimed a record-breaking ninth world championships podium finish by taking gold in the women’s combined on Monday and said winning a medal was a bonus on top of the adrenaline rush alpine skiing generates. The 25-year-old from Vail, Colorado, topped the standings in the combined event after an impeccable two-leg…