Injury concerns force changes to Sochi snowboarding course February 3, 2014 SOCHI winter Olympics chiefs have been forced to redesign a snowboard course on the eve of the Games after athletes complained it was too dangerous and one medal hopeful broke a collar bone. Athletes had already voiced fears over the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park slopestyle course before Norway’s Torstein Horgmo suffered a fracture yesterday that [...]
Star Thorpe sent to rehab February 3, 2014 SWIMMING great Ian Thorpe has been admitted to rehab for treatment of depression, his management confirmed yesterday. The Australian five-time Olympic champion, 31, who made an unsuccessful comeback bid for the London 2012 Games, was found disoriented near his parents’ home in Sydney. Thorpe’s manager James Erskine said the man dubbed “Thorpedo” had taken anti-depressants [...]
England women toast Ashes victory February 3, 2014 ENGLAND’S victorious women’s cricket team took a moment to savour their Ashes triumph in Australia yesterday before jetting home. Charlotte Edwards, the first England captain to win the women’s Ashes twice Down Under, said: “I’m still struggling to come to terms with exactly what we have achieved over the last five weeks. The emotions I [...]
Kinnear resigns at Newcastle February 3, 2014 FOOTBALL: Newcastle United last night confirmed director of football Joe Kinnear had resigned with immediate effect. The club’s former manager did not make a permanent signing during his six months at St James’s Park, as the club failed to replace key midfielder Yohan Cabaye before the transfer window closed last Friday. A club statement said: [...]
Olympic champion Purchase retires February 3, 2014 ROWING: Olympic champion Zac Purchase announced his retirement yesterday. The 27-year-old won gold in the lightweight double sculls in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, then followed up with a silver medal alongside Mark Hunter at London 2012.
McDermott wants Leeds stay February 3, 2014 FOOTBALL: Leeds manager Brian McDermott yesterday vowed to stay at the club despite a tumultuous weekend. On Friday, McDermott was “sacked” by the lawyer of prospective new owner Massimo Cellino, whose 75 per cent purchase of a stake in the club is incomplete. However, he was then contacted by existing owners, Gulf Finance House Capital, [...]
Radcliffe eyes marathon return February 3, 2014 ATHLETICS: Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe is eyeing a return to next year’s iconic 26.2-mile race in London. The 40-year-old, who last completed a marathon in Berlin in 2011, said: “I would love to finish my racing career on my terms.”
Premier League: Gunners go top yet boss defiant over panic buy February 2, 2014 AT EMIRATES STADIUM ARSENAL 2 vs CRYSTAL PALACE 0 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger watched his side reclaim top spot in the Premier League with another clinical home win yesterday, before coming out fighting over the bizarre loan signing of injured midfielder Kim Kallstrom. Wenger revealed that Arsenal will pay nothing for the Swedish international until [...]
Sport Comment: It’s official: ref Owens is the best February 2, 2014 TIME was when you’d leave a big match, turn to a mate and ask who the referee was, and nobody would have a clue. They were facilitators, not the most important name on the team sheet. The cult of the celebrity official is one of the scourges of modern sport. When did anyone ever buy [...]
Playing well mattered more than winning, says Lancaster February 2, 2014 ENGLAND rugby coach Stuart Lancaster insists the encouraging nature of his side’s performance in Saturday’s Six Nations opener in France more than made up for a cruel late 26-24 defeat. Replacement Gael Fickou’s last-gasp try broke English hearts after the visitors had recovered from two Yoann Huget scores to lead 24-19, thanks to tries from [...]