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The Paris Olympics gave us all hope amid the darkness, writes IAN HERBERT… while the beauty of the closing ceremony lay in its modesty

The Olympics provided some much-needed light in decidedly dark times, writes IAN HERBERT,

IAN HERBERT AT THE STADE DE FRANCE: The stadium illuminated by such brilliance these past weeks was cast into darkness as the Olympics closing ceremony's theatrical element began last night. There was something very poignant about that. These Games are over and there is, once again, no counterpoint to the infernal gloom of the daily news narrative. Raids are awaited imminently on Palestinian lands where Hamas fighters are said to be sheltering. Britain, shaken by days of rioting, is holding its breath. No-one pretends that sport shifts that narrative, though for a few weeks there have been a few shards of light. Even the British Olympic Association's chief executive Andy Anson - not a man for vague pronouncements - posited the notion here yesterday that the British athletes' achievements can actually help salve the divides back at home.

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Frontrunners emerge to replace Susie O'Neill after she shocked fans by quitting her radio show live on air in emotional announcement

19/10/24 00:01

Susie O'Neill announced her shock resignation from her Brisbane Nova breakfast show on Friday, and radio insiders are now speculating about who will replace her. The Olympic swimmer-turned presenter, 51, tearfully told her Ash, Luttsy & Susie listeners she was stepping down after 10 years - and insiders have picked two popular media personalities as potential replacements. Brisbane-based publication the Courier Mail speculated that the name at the 'top of the list' was glamorous Seven News presenter Kendall Gilding....read

Susie O'Neill sobs as she quits her radio show live on-air: 'I can't do it'
17/10/24 22:56
Susie O'Neill broke down in tears and she announced her shock resignation from her Brisbane Nova breakfast show on Friday morning.
Fury as major streaming service's price jumps 25%
17/10/24 18:06
One of America's most popular TV and film streaming services is raising prices.
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Fury as major streaming service's price jumps 25%: 'Again? Can we get a five minute rest between these?'
17/10/24 17:36
One of America's most popular TV and film streaming services is raising prices.
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Aussie Olympics queen Jess Fox stuns as she gets ready to start a new job that will put her way outside her comfort zone
17/10/24 14:28
The kayaking star lit up the course at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium at the Paris 2024 Olympics, by first producing a flawless run to finally clinch gold in the K1 canoe slalom.
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Aussie Olympic cycling gold medallist Grace Brown has a dream farewell after a heartbreaking realisation made her retire
15/10/24 05:54
Grace Brown has fittingly closed her cycling career with another win, capping a dream swansong season
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Olympics swimmer Luana Alonso starts an OnlyFans page two months after being 'removed from the athletes village for creating inappropriate atmosphere'
14/10/24 15:08
Alonso caused a stir in Paris over the summer when the 20-year-old competed in the women's 100m butterfly, finishing 6th in her heat and failing to reach the semifinals.
Countryfile bombarded with complaints just minutes into show as fans rage 'I can't believe it!' over baffling report
14/10/24 10:54
Countryfile was bombarded with complaints just minutes into Sunday night's show as fans raged 'I can't believe it!' over a baffling report.
Celine Dion's showstopping Olympics performance is slammed as 'FAKE' and pre-recorded in extraordinary row in France
11/10/24 16:58
The Liberation newspaper quoted multiple music industry experts who said the July 26th performance was 'without a shadow of a doubt' pre-recorded
Legendary English DJ Fatboy Slim takes credit for Raygun's controversial Olympic breakdancing routine: 'I'm quite proud of that one'
11/10/24 14:58
Fatboy Slim has revealed his surprising connection to controversial Australian Olympian Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn.
Aussie Olympian Joe Hayder dies after building a unique fast food empire once his sporting career came to an end
11/10/24 00:01
The weightlifter, who was born in Lebanon but moved to Western Australia in 1973, represented his adopted country at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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Champion Aussie snowboarder Scotty James and his Formula One heiress wife Chloe Stroll announce the arrival of their first child
10/10/24 09:21
Australian champion snowboarder Scotty James and his Formula One heiress wife Chloe Stroll have welcomed their first child.
Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe relists luxury Sydney home on the market for a whopping $3.5million
09/10/24 07:06
Ian Thorpe has listed his luxury Sydney home in the upmarket suburb of Woollahra on the market for a jaw-dropping $3.5million.
Sex testing must be MANDATORY in sport after Imane Khelif's Olympics 'gender row', insists United Nations adviser, as 'shameful' IOC is slammed for 'terrible history of not protecting women in sport' by former Olympian
08/10/24 16:51
Algeria's Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting both won boxing golds this summer despite the IBA purportedly detecting male XY chromosomes in tests the year before.
Australian Idol star Stan Walker begs fans to help him find 'priceless' items lost at his Gold Coast concert - as he offers reward: 'This means more to me than anything'
08/10/24 14:00
Stan Walker has taken to social media to beg his fans for their help retrieving his 'priceless' bag of items which was lost on Saturday at his Gold Coast show.
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admits she finds running 'horrible' and reveals why she will never date another athlete again after winning gold in the 800m
06/10/24 17:44
The gold medalist, 22, revealed that she never 'fell in love' with the sport but instead knew she was 'talented' and had the 'mental ability to push herself' to be the best.
Caitlin Clark has transformed women's basketball, Paul Skenes is already an All-Star and Jayden Daniels looks a stud: Meet the best rookies in America
06/10/24 11:17
This year has provided sports with as strong an overall rookie class as it has had in recent memory, with stars born in several leagues, and even one with possibly its best rookie class in history.
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Australian swimming champion James Magnussen's fiancée Rose McEvoy shows off her huge diamond ring as they step out together in Sydney
06/10/24 02:37
Australian swimming champion James Magnussen and his new fiancée Rose McEvoy stepped out together in Sydney on Saturday.
Simone Biles reveals true extent of her calf injury at the Olympics as trailer for second season of Netflix show drops
04/10/24 12:56
Biles went on to capture three gold medals and a silver in Paris after overcoming the early injury scare during a qualifying event on the first day of the gymnastics competition.
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NRL makes a shock last-minute change to grand final day - and footy fans won't be happy
04/10/24 05:41
The tickets are sold and the big game is so close you get the feeling the meat pies are already being heated up - but that hasn't stopped the NRL from making a very late change to proceedings.
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Team USA star Suni Lee reveals she had a breakdown the night before the Paris Olympics - and how Simone Biles calmed her down
03/10/24 16:27
Lee, 21, enjoyed a superb Olympics in the French capital after sweeping up two bronze medals in the all-around and uneven bars events while also claiming gold in the team final
Pretty in pink! Cronulla Sharks skipper Tiana Penitani shows off her ripped body in a $1,760 leather dress at the 2024 Dally M Awards
02/10/24 08:27
Cronulla Sharks skipper Tiana Penitani certainly turned heads at the NRL's Dally M Awards held at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse on Wednesday.
She is the daughter of an Olympian and Indonesian Princess - so can you guess who this glamorous nepo baby taking TikTok by storm is?
02/10/24 02:46
Stella Klim, the daughter of Australian champion swimmer Michael Klim and his glamorous ex wife Lindy, is the latest nepo baby taking social media by storm.
Woman who does not know how to pronounce her incredibly rare surname asks for help
29/09/24 22:35
A 27-year-old woman realized while watching the Olympics that she didn't really know how to pronounce her last name. On August 27, she turned to TikTok to help her solve this mystery.
Simone Biles plants a kiss on NFL husband Jonathan Owens as she avoids another fashion faux pas and dons Bears sweater in Chicago
29/09/24 17:49
In the aftermath of the incident she joked that it wouldn't happen again - and Biles stayed true to her word on Sunday by showing off her newest Bears fit.
British boxing star approached by WWE following controversial loss in last bout... and he has already met hall of famer Booker T
28/09/24 08:41
A British boxing star has been approached by the WWE following his performance at the Olympics and could have two in-ring careers at the same time.
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Cody Simpson slammed with brutal back-handed compliments after AFL Grand Final national anthem performance: 'Thought he was a swimmer?'
28/09/24 07:39
Champion swimmer-turned-singer Cody Simpson has been subjected to some brutal back handed compliments, following his performance at the AFL Grand Final on Saturday.
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Matt Shirvington and Matthew Le Nevez pay tribute to sport and racing icon Graham McNeice at moving Sydney service
28/09/24 01:11
Sunrise co-host Matt Shirvington and actor Matthew Le Nevez were among the A-listers to pay tribute to sporting icon Graham McNeice at his funeral on Thursday.
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Demi Moore, 61, says it was 'great to show up and be allowed to look bad' in new 'full frontal nudity' film The Substance about Hollywood beauty standards
27/09/24 14:57
Demi Moore has admitted it was refreshing to be 'allowed to look bad' in new body horror film The Substance during an appearance on The Graham Norton show.
Danica Patrick follows Donald Trump support and attack on trans athletes with Instagram posts about pets to 'balance out my feed'
26/09/24 21:35
Danica Patrick is turning to pets for social media content after spending much of the week focusing her energy on Donald Trump's run for the Oval Office.
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Shock twist as Sam Kerr opens up about what is REALLY going on with the injury that kept her out of the Olympics
26/09/24 03:00
The Matildas and Chelsea goal-scoring machine has been out of action since she suffered a serious knee injury back in January - and now she has finally given her fans another update.
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Team GB Olympic hero is 'heading for the Australian jungle' after signing up for the next series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!'
26/09/24 00:45
A Team GB Olympic hero is 'set to star in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!'.
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Olympic Games legend left his ex-wife in 'fear for her life' as shocking details surrounding former rower's assault rampage come to light
25/09/24 10:08
The rowers, who has represented Australia at three Games, pleaded guilty to assault and breaching family violence orders over the incident in southern Tasmania in December 2023.
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Stephen Nedoroscik drives fans wild as he hilariously references Superman meme for inspiring Dancing With The Stars performance
25/09/24 04:10
'After the Olympics, everybody said I was Clark Kent. I was sitting there meditating, I took my glasses off, killed it, came home with bronze,' Stephen said.
Olympic superstar Simone Biles continues to build her brand as she announces new 'Taste of Gold' restaurant
24/09/24 16:17
Simone Biles' profile outside of gymnastics due to her success in the Olympics is only increasing, as she plans to open a restaurant at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport.
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Olive Garden to bring back TWO fan favorite items as sales plummet and fears grow over future of chain
24/09/24 02:05
Olive Garden is set to bring back two fan favorite menu items as the chain battles falling sales.
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One of your 50p coins may be worth over 400 times its face value - here's a simple way to check if you have one at home
21/09/24 08:35
Brits have been urged to check their change jars in case they have a 50p coin worth more than 400 times its value lurking at the bottom. It was designed specially for the 2012 Olympic Games.
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I was Anthony Joshua's lawyer when he was arrested for drugs... I did something VERY unusual to save his career
21/09/24 08:30
Prior to Olympic glory, Anthony Joshua was a promising prospect in amateur boxing. For the Metropolitan Police, he was a man who had been caught with a bag of cannabis.
Strictly's Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova look in high spirits as they take a break from dance rehearsals to enjoy a walk ahead of first live show
19/09/24 17:06
The British Olympic champion, 24, and Ukrainian professional dancer, 35, are hoping to beat off the rest of the competition and take home the Glitterball trophy this year.
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Judo champion is banned for five months for making the sign of the cross when he competed at Olympic Games
19/09/24 12:39
Serbian athlete Nemanja Majdov, 28, has been left floored by a decision to suspend him for five months after he made the sign of the cross (right) while taking part in this year's Olympic Games.
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Antiques Roadshow guest throws her head in her hands and screams 'no!' as she's left 'absolutely shocked' by truth behind her Olympic medals
19/09/24 10:45
During Sunday's episode, the hit BBC show pulled up at Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing, West London to appraise the antiques brought in for them by members of the public.
Guess who! Big Aussie pop star looks unrecognisable as he resurfaces to perform during Olympic celebration in New Zealand
18/09/24 12:31
An Australian-New Zealand pop star resurfaced on Wednesday when he took to the stage at Blake Park in Tauranga.
Dancing With The Stars judges floored by Stephen Nedoroscik as Olympics' favorite 'pommel horse guy' makes surprise ballroom debut
18/09/24 05:56
Olympic medalist Stephen Nedoroscik joined fellow Olympian Ilona Maher on the ballroom floor for the Season 32 premiere of Dancing With the Stars on Tuesday.
Ilona Maher earns major praise from Dancing With The Stars fans for showcasing her strong physique: 'I got emotional watching'
18/09/24 05:38
Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher received plenty of praise after she graced the ballroom stage on Dancing With the Stars' premiere on Tuesday night.
How Simone Biles' Netflix doc could win Jordan Chiles her Olympic bronze medal back
17/09/24 19:44
Chiles, 23, has filed an appeal in a Swiss court as she attempts to get back the bronze she won in Paris, which was later stripped from her due to a Romanian query.
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Eddie McGuire plants a kiss on Cathy Freeman as Sydney hero goes without walking stick to pay tribute to Olympic Games legend at heartwarming memorial
17/09/24 10:11
Sydney hero Cathy Freeman was in attendance at the MCG for the poignant ceremony, with Gosper's family sending their loved one off after he passed away aged 90 in July.
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The Matildas choose Tom Sermanni as new coach after Olympics disaster saw Tony Gustavsson get axed - and he's got a great history with stars like Sam Kerr
17/09/24 00:41
Gustavsson went from steering the Tillies to an exceptional World Cup to presiding over a debacle at the Paris Games - and now the team have wound the clock back to find a replacement.
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Jordan Chiles appeals in Swiss court to reclaim Olympic medal after Team USA gymnast's heartbreak in Paris
16/09/24 21:20
Team USA's Jordan Chiles has filed an appeal in a Switzerland court in an attempt to get back the Olympic bronze medal she won in Paris, but was later stripped from her due to a Romanian query.
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Simone Biles 'living out her dreams' on the road with Jordan Chiles as tour starts TONIGHT
16/09/24 21:15
After bagging three gold medals and a silver at the Olympics in Paris this summer, the 27-year-old is gearing up to headline the tour this fall.
One of Australia's greatest sportswomen takes Ian Thorpe to task over his controversial call on the Olympics
16/09/24 08:31
Thorpe, watching on as the nation's superstar women's freestyle quartet took gold in the relay, was effusive in his praise as they took the top step of the podium for a fourth successive Games.
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Olympic hero ALEX YEE opens up on his pride at getting the nation hooked on triathlon... and reveals Instagram follow from an unlikely Premier League star left him thrilled
15/09/24 21:30
DAVID COVERDALE: If Alex Yee was not already aware of how his gold medal moment had captured the nation's attention, he got a good idea as soon as he landed back from Paris.
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Emma McKeon puts on a glamorous display as she leads star athlete arrivals alongside Ariarne Titmus at Swimming Australia Awards in Brisbane
14/09/24 08:33
Emma McKeon led the celebrity arrivals on Saturday when she put on a very glamorous display at the Swimming Australia Awards ceremony in Brisbane.
'Living Nostradamus' reveals four of his worrying prophecies have already come true - including asteroids on course to Earth
13/09/24 11:20
'Living Nostradamus' Athos Salomé, 36, who is a trained parapsychologist from Brazil , has warned that more of his prophecies are coming true including asteroids on course to Earth.
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Teacher, 40, left paralysed for life after being crushed by 120kg barbell at the gym
13/09/24 09:43
Henrietta Paxton, 40, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, was in the middle of a set of squats when the barbell started to slip backwards causing a 120kg barbell to crush her spine.
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Simone Biles reveals impressive new skill she has learned while rehearsing for highly-anticipated US tour
13/09/24 01:43
After bagging three gold medals and a silver at the Olympics in Paris this summer, the 27-year-old is gearing up to headline the Gold Over America Tour with fellow gymnastics stars this fall.
George Mills lifts lid on relationship with ex-footballing father Danny and how Covid derailed his Olympics - and gives the low-down on THAT scrap with Hugo Hay in the Paris semi-finals
12/09/24 16:54
The middle and long-distance runner, son of former England footballer Danny Mills, speaks to Mail Sport after an action-packed year which launched him into the public consciousness.
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Australian sport and racing icon Graham McNeice dies aged 76 following a short illness
12/09/24 12:43
Australian sport and racing icon Graham McNeice has died at age 76 following a short illness.
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She is the next big thing in Australia's TV world... but do YOU recognise this brunette presenter as she heads to the gym in her activewear?
12/09/24 04:47
Channel Seven has signed up a brand new TV star to co-anchor its 7News bulletin with its longtime presenter in a huge hosting shake-up.
Cathy Freeman holds hands with a mystery man in Cairns less than a month after announcing split with husband James Murch following 15 years of marriage
11/09/24 23:27
Cathy Freeman held hands with a mystery man during an intimate stroll by the seaside, less than one month after she and her husband James Murch announced their split.
Jordan Chiles cries as she breaks silence on losing USA Olympic bronze medal: 'People didn't support me, I was left in the dark'
11/09/24 17:50
A tearful Jordan Chiles opened up to a live audience on Wednesday about the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to strip her of her bronze medal in Paris.
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French police 'stopped THREE terror plots' during the Olympic and Paralympic Games - with five people arrested on suspicion of involvement
11/09/24 11:29
Olivier Christen said the plots included plans to attack 'Israeli institutions or representatives of Israel in Paris' during the July 26 to August 11 Olympic competition.
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Sam Kerr shares a heartwarming throwback photo for her 31st birthday - but can you tell which Matildas teammate she is with?
11/09/24 07:19
Matildas superstar Sam Kerr celebrated her 31st birthday on Tuesday - and there were plenty of well-wishes from a number of high-profile teammates, with one photo in particular catching the eye.
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The mind-boggling reason why Raygun is now the world's No.1-ranked female breakdancer is revealed
11/09/24 03:09
The World DanceSport Federation has explained why they have given Raygun the world No.1 ranking after her performances during the Paris Olympics sparked a huge backlash.
Simone Biles returns to gymnastics practice as Olympics hero gears up for arena tour
10/09/24 21:06
Team USA's Simone Biles has returned to gymnastics training during rehearsals for the 'Gold Over America Tour' this week after her Olympic dominance in Paris over a month ago.
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Extraordinary moment bridal bouquet toss turns into wrestling match as three wannabe wives battle it out
10/09/24 16:08
A fun wedding tradition quickly turned into an wrestling match when a bouquet toss sparked a showdown among three guests at a wedding in Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 9.
Megyn Kelly rips Jennifer Aniston for failing to stand up for women
10/09/24 11:00
Megyn Kelly listed every way in which Hollywood superstar Jennifer Aniston has betrayed women in a blistering rant.
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Top Olympic sponsor AXE their deal with the Games after 37 years together
10/09/24 06:38
A top sponsor made a significant announcement, revealing that their long-standing sponsorship with the International Olympic Committee will come to an end this December.
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Government makes HUGE gender demand of Australian sporting clubs, holding funding back as ransom
10/09/24 06:05
Australian sporting organisations will lose government funding if half their board members aren't women within three years.
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Injured Matildas superstar Sam Kerr sets the record straight on SHOCK rumour
10/09/24 01:15
Sam Kerr has quashed a rumour about her return to football, with the Matildas superstar indicating that she is not in any rush to return to the field from her ACL injury.
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Megyn Kelly rips into Jennifer Aniston for 'masquerading as a protector of women' as she lists the times the Hollywood megastar failed to stand up for the sisterhood
10/09/24 00:52
Megyn Kelly listed every way in which Hollywood superstar Jennifer Aniston has betrayed women in a blistering rant.
Murray set to tee it up with Scots golf star MacIntyre as retired tennis icon lines up debut in Wentworth pro-am
09/09/24 21:25
Andy Murray's quest to become a scratch golfer will see him tee it up with Bob MacIntyre in the pro-am of next week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
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Olympics gender row boxer Imane Khelif hits out at Elon Musk for 'cruel' attack in emotional interview: 'You hate me but you don't even know me'
08/09/24 14:23
The Algerian boxer, who was competing in the women's welterweight category, claimed a gold medal out in Paris despite the fierce controversy surrounding her gender.
Moment Gabby Logan pauses BBC's Great North Run coverage to remember 'bionic' suit marathon fundraiser Claire Lomas after she died in an 'accident' in the Middle East
08/09/24 13:00
Gabby Logan , who hosted this year's Olympics , was reporting from Tyneside to anchor the live broadcast of the Great North Run. She paused the coverage to pay tribute to Claire Lomas.
The Great North Run founder Sir Brendan Foster backs Lord Coe to succeed Thomas Bach as IOC president
07/09/24 22:21
OLIVER HOLT: Sir Brendan felt British athletics was enjoying a renaissance after the global governing body had been given new credibility by World Athletics president Lord Coe
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Emma Wiggs wins a THIRD consecutive gold in Paralympic canoeing and sets sights on LA 2028
07/09/24 21:52
IAN HERBERT IN PARIS: It's about more than powering across a 200-metre stretch of water in under a minute for Emma Wiggs,who joined the ranks of Britain's great Paralympians.
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Emma Hayes reveals what she would have done after leaving Chelsea if she was paid like Jurgen Klopp - as she highlights the discrepancy between managers in the men's and women's game
07/09/24 11:16
After more than 350 games at the helm Hayes' glittering spell came to an end in May as she secured a seventh league title before moving on to a new challenge.
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Breakout Paralympics star Tim Hodge warns Australia could be left behind unless a key change is made
07/09/24 02:33
Breakout Paralympic star Tim Hodge has warned Australia risks being left behind if it doesn't match spending in para-sport with the Olympics
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The golden couple! Hunter Woodhall celebrates wildly with wife Tara after his Paralympic win... a week after she also won a gold medal in Paris
06/09/24 20:18
The mirror celebratory images of celebration in Paris became complete as Hunter Woodhall won the 400-meter dash at the Paralympics, echoing Tara Davis-Woodhall's gold medal in the long jump.
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Windswept Queen Camilla battles the elements during a blustery visit to RAF Leeming in Northallerton
06/09/24 14:40
Queen Camilla battled to cope with the elements as she landed on a blustery airfield today. Her Majesty arrived by plane at RAF Leeming, in North Yorkshire, to meet service personnel
Former Team GB Paralympics star can barely contain her excitement as she commentates on her husband winning gold in Paris - as Brent Lakatos reaches career goal of topping podium again
06/09/24 11:27
He won the race by nearly a second, beating Thailand's Pongsakoran Paeyo - who was the defending champion - and American Brian Siemann to the top of the podium in the capital.
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