Peaty omitted from GB's world-class programme for 2025
Six-time Olympic medallist Adam Peaty has not been included in the group of elite swimmers that will be supported by Aquatics GB throughout 2025.There had been doubts about whether Peaty, 30, would retire after his silver medal at the Paris Olympics last summer, but he told the BBC last year he would take a break over the next two years while still training.Despite not being selected as one of the 57 swimmers on Aquatics GB world-class programme, Peaty has not announced his retirement.He remains involved with the British swimming programme but is on an adjusted training schedule after an extended break post-Paris with the next Olympics more than three years away.Peaty, who won the first of his three Olympic gold medals at the Rio Games in 2016, posted on Instagram last month that he had "slowly" started building up his fitness and technique in training.He has not publicly committed to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but has said he will "100%" compete if the 50m breaststroke event is added to the schedule.Ten Olympic medalists, including Matt Richards, Duncan Scott, Tom Dean and James Guy, have been included in the top-tier Aquatics GB programme which gives access to funding, training and sport science support.
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Daily Mirror
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Andy Murray theory emerges following Novak Djokovic split in relationship claim
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic announced their coaching partnership ahead of the Australian Open, but the duo split in May after just six months - and one former tennis star has now put forward his theory Former British tennis star and current pundit Andrew Castle doesn't believe Andy Murray would've been coaching Novak Djokovic in the literal sense of the word. The tennis world was left gobsmacked when it was revealed that the one-time competitors would join forces ahead of the Australian Open in January. However, their intriguing partnership was short-lived, ending just six months later in May before the French Open. A flurry of speculation about why they parted ways soon followed. Despite initial plans to maintain their professional relationship until Wimbledon, a string of disappointing results for Djokovic seems to have prompted a change of heart. Aside from clinching the Geneva Open, and making it to the semi-finals at Roland Garros since ditching the Scot, it's been a tough year overall for the 37-year-old. Castle, 61, has a hunch that Murray was actually brought on board to provide tips to the 24-time Grand Slam champion, suggesting his role was "not the same" as a traditional coach. "I don't see it as a coaching relationship," Castle said to Betway. "I don't see those types of relationships; I see it as support and somebody who has been in the trenches as well and understands [what is needed]. "Novak may need an observation now and again and you might say something along the lines of, 'You're 37 now and need to get to the ball earlier on a rally because you don't cover the courts as quickly as you did.; "That's a truth so there could be observations like that. The tactical nous that Andy had was unbelievable so there can be a little bit of that and no doubt that was a plus. "That was what I would see as those relationships but it's certainly not the same type of coaching as going down the club and getting the club pro to take me through [some techniques]." Upon ending his partnership with Murray, Djokovic said: "We felt like we couldn't get more out of that partnership on the court, and that's all there is to it. "My respect towards Andy remains the same, even more actually, I got to know him as a person. I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ, he has a very rare mind of a champion that obviously has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well." Murray, who retired last summer after the 2024 Paris Olympics, has said that the experience hasn't deterred him from considering coaching again in the future. "I would do it again at some stage," Murray told the BBC. "I don't think that will happen immediately. I wasn't planning on going into coaching as soon as I finished playing but it was a pretty unique opportunity. It was a chance to learn from one of the best athletes of all time. "It was a brilliant opportunity for me. We got to spend some really nice moments away from the court. Results weren't as we wanted but we gave it a go."
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Trent Alexander-Arnold's big day in Madrid
If the football doesn't work out for him at Real Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold can try his luck as a regular panellist on the Spanish version of Just A Minute, a popular BBC Radio 4 comedy show, in which assorted comedians and luvvies are challenged to speak for one minute on a given subject without 'hesitation, repetition or deviation'. Football Daily is prepared to concede that – written down like that – it actually sounds really boring, but readers who are unfamiliar with the show will just have to take our word for it when we say the show is actually very funny. Or at least it was when we last listened to it about 25 years ago. Of course there is no Spanish version of Just A Minute, almost certainly because most Spaniards of our acquaintance can speak for up to three hours uninterrupted on any given subject without hesitation, repetition or deviation. But we were certainly impressed when Alexander-Arnold stood behind a lectern in the bowels of the Bernabéu at his unveiling as a Real Madrid player, giving a welcome address of more than 60 seconds in what appeared to be perfectly fluent Spanish without once stuttering, pointing at a beer tap or bellowing 'EGG AND CHIPS!!!' at the top of his voice. Short of clacking a pair of castanets or missing the presentation entirely because it clashed with his siesta, Madrid's new signing could scarcely have appeared more native, and his command of a language he appears to have been taking lessons in for a while will do little to allay [or should that be olé? – Football Daily Ed] the suspicions of Liverpool fans that he has been plotting his move to the Spanish capital for a very long time. He may even have been listening to Duolingo through his headphones on the team bus to Brighton a month ago. Either that or he's a very quick learner, because when one hack asked him how long he'd been learning Spanish, Alexander-Arnold smiled and replied 'a few months'. The 26-year-old later added that being a Real player is a 'dream', saying: 'It is something special, I don't take it for granted and I am very happy.' During his unveiling, it was also revealed his shirt number will be 12 (as opposed to his favoured 66) because Spanish rules preclude senior squad players from having anything higher than 25 and the nomenclature under which it will appear will be 'Trent' because why not? A big enough signing to merit a presentation but not so galactico that he had to live out Football Daily's recurring fever dream of being tossed a football and forced to do keepy-uppies in the centre-circle of a packed ground, prior to his Spanish masterclass, Trent and his nearest and dearest sat through a montage of his best bits. Featuring performances from Liverpool and England but mainly Liverpool, it included goals, free-kicks, raking 60-yard diagonals, that corner to tee up Divock Origi for his Big Cup winner against Barcelona, footage of Luis Díaz kneeling to buff his boot with an imaginary rag and almost as an afterthought … some boring defensive interventions. A showreel that left his mum dabbing her eyes with emotion, it was followed by a lengthy oration speech by Florentino Pérez that had her gazing intently at her phone. 'I want you to know that the defining trait of Real Madrid is that, in addition to being great players they are all true Madristas, you will quickly understand what Real Madrid is,' declared their president. At least that's what we think he said but we might need to check with a fluent Spanish-speaker like Trent. Join Niall McVeigh from 8pm BST for hot MBM coverage of the Czech Republic 1-2 England at the European U-21 Championship. 9 June: 'I haven't been captain for a year or two. I've been wearing the armband for 11 years, and I've been playing for the national team for 17. It seemed to me that such matters should be handled differently. Everything was communicated over the phone. It really shouldn't be like this. The coach betrayed my trust' – Robert Lewandowski refuses to play for Poland under Michal Probierz after a row over the international captaincy. 12 June: 'I have come to the conclusion that in the current situation the best decision for the good of the national team will be my resignation from the position of coach. Performing this function was the fulfilment of my professional dreams and the greatest honour in my life' – Probierz comes off second best in the power struggle and takes his leave. If I send you £740,000, will you please send me $1bn, as per the exchange rate on yesterday's News, Bits and Bobs (full email edition) element about Gianni's Club World Cup?' – Chris Hale (and 1,056 others). The solution to England's problems is staring the FA in the face: sack Thomas Tuchel immediately, appoint Ange Postecoglou now and, as usual, you're guaranteed a trophy – mate, it's the 2026 World Cup – in his second season' – Adrian Irving. Re: Mike Slattery's call on naming suggestions for Gianni's latest behemothic construction (yesterday's Football Daily letters), it seems to me that, at least for this edition, Top Trumps would be appropriate' – David Ford. May I suggest Big Bucket? Or – with a bit more hype – the MegaMug?' – Derrick Cameron. Re: the question 'is it OK to play in vintage football boots' (yesterday's last line, full email edition), I still have my Puma boots bought in 1970 – and keep them in their original Puma box. These weren't bought because Pelé was wearing such boots at the 1970 World Cup, but because Leeds United's Allan 'The Sniffer' Clarke (surely the greatest player ever to bestride the Football League, and not to be confused with the lead singer in The Hollies) favoured a pair. I'm now 73, so unfortunately cannot test the OK-ness of playing in them' – Paul Sanderson. If you do have any, please send letters to Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is … Adrian Irving. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. Is the game ready for this Club World Cup? The Football Weekly team deliver an extra dose of podcasting action. Everyone loves Santi Cazorla. When he was at his swaggering best for Arsenal – taking corners on different sides with different feet, scoring bangers from outside the box, generally making other midfielders look a bit silly – there was always an unconditional love from Gunners supporters and begrudging respect from opposition fans for the outrageous talent in the Spaniard's boots. And when Cazorla left the Londoners seven years ago, it felt too soon. Now, aged 40 and playing for his boyhood club, Real Oviedo, Cazorla is still doing bits and has just scored a textbook free-kick (with his left foot) to send his side to the Segunda División playoff final, his goal securing a 3-2 aggregate victory over Almería. The outpouring of joy in the stands and on the pitch is almost as good as the goal – Cazorla joined Oviedo's youth team aged eight but didn't play a senior game for them for another 30 years, before signing on the minimum wage, €93,000 (£80,000) per year, so that he wouldn't financially burden his beloved side. 'I would play for free but you're not allowed,' Cazorla told Big Website and (Oviedo fan Sid Lowe) last year. We're not sure when people started using the phrase 'good egg' and when lazy pundits first started using the term 'technician', but Football Daily is pretty sure they were almost certainly talking about Cazorla. Thomas Frank could be announced as the new Spurs boss while you're reading this, and former Brentford player Christian Eriksen reckons that'll be a good thing. 'I think he is the right coach for Tottenham,' cooed Eriksen. 'I have had Thomas at various times and I think he is the perfect match for Tottenham, and it would be great if Thomas takes on that challenge.' The words 'New York Jets owner Woody Johnson' should possibly set alarm bells ringing if you're of an NFL persuasion. And potentially of a Crystal Palace one amid the whole John Textor business. Matheus Cunha. Manchester United. £62.5m move done. 'Ever since I was a child in Brazil watching Premier League games on TV at my grandmother's house, United was my favourite English team and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt,' he trousered. The English pyramid is 'under strain' in a climate of tension between commercial imperatives and the needs of fans, according to a new Deloitte report. England boss Thomas Tuchel has continued his smooth start, now ingratiating himself with Jude Bellingham. 'If he smiles, he wins everyone but sometimes you see the rage, the hunger and the fire and it comes out in a way that can be a bit repulsive,' tooted Tuchel. 'For example, for my mother when she sits in front of the TV. I see that. But in general, we are very happy to have him.' Sheffield United are considering whether to bin off Chris Wilder. And Tom Cleverley – or TC23 for you old-school brand heads – is about to be back in the game, this time at Plymouth Argyle. Spain's Esther González is one of the world's best strikers and she talks to Megan Swanick for the latest edition of our sister email. Sky Sports News's golden age is very much at an end. John Brewin tunes in and explains why. You can keep up with all the latest transfer moves across the summer with our men's and women's interactives. And the Rumour Mill sifts through all the t1ttle-tattle to produce this. A tidy bit of goalmouth action as Marcus Stewart (left) scores for Huddersfield Town to make it 2-2 in their FA Cup fifth-round draw with Derby County at the McAlpine Stadium in February 1999. 'We will win the replay,' declared Terriers boss Peter Jackson. They would lose it 3-1. Remarkably for old-time emails such as ourselves, it's now more than 30 years since Huddersfield moved to the ground from Leeds Road.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
The Paris Games flame rises again — but it's no longer ‘Olympic'
The Paris Games may be over, but the flame is still rising — just don't call it Olympic. The helium-powered hot-air balloon that lit up the French capital's skyline during the 2024 Games is making a dramatic comeback to the Tuileries Gardens, reborn as the 'Paris Cauldron.' Thanks to an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, the renamed marvel will now lift off into the sky each summer evening — a ghostly echo of last year's opening ceremony — from June 21 to Sept. 14, for the next three years. Gone is the official 'Olympic' branding — forbidden under IOC reuse rules — but not the spectacle. The 30-meter-tall (98-foot) floating ring, dreamed up by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur and powered by French energy giant EDF, simulates flame without fire: LED lights, mist jets, and high-pressure fans create a luminous halo that hovers above the city at dusk, visible from rooftops across the capital. 'It's one of those monuments in Paris that could stay,' said Laurent Broéze, a local architect pausing in the gardens Thursday. 'It was set up temporarily, but a bit like the Eiffel Tower, it makes sense for it to return. It's a bit of a shame they want to take it down later, but maybe it could be installed somewhere else, I don't know.' Though it stole the show in 2024, the cauldron's original aluminum-and-balloon build was only meant to be temporary — not engineered for multi-year outdoor exposure. To transform it into a summer staple, engineers reinforced it: The aluminum ring and tether points were rebuilt with tougher components to handle rain, sun, and temperature changes over several seasons. Aérophile, Paris's tethered balloon specialist, redesigned the winch and tether system to meet aviation rules, allowing safe operation in winds up to 20–25 kmh (12-15 mph). Hydraulic, electrical, and misting systems were fortified — not only to ensure smooth nightly flights but to endure months of wear and tear untested on the original design. These retrofits shift the cauldron from a fragile, one-off spectacle to a resilient, summer-long landmark — prepared to withstand everything Paris summers can throw at it. The structure first dazzled during the Paris 2024 Games, ignited on July 26 by Olympic champions Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner. Over just 40 days, it drew more than 200,000 visitors, according to officials. Now perched in the center of the drained Tuileries pond, the cauldron's return is part of President Emmanuel Macron's effort to preserve the Games' spirit in the city, as Paris looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Visitors have already begun to gather. 'Beautiful,' said Javier Smith, a tourist from Texas. 'And the place where it's going to be, or is sitting now, it's beautiful. All these beautiful buildings, the Louvre, all that is fantastic.' Access is free and unticketed. The cauldron will be on display from morning to night, igniting with light from 10 a.m. and lifting off each evening after the garden closes — 10:30 pm in June and July, with earlier times through September. It will float above the city for several hours before quietly descending around 1 a.m. The 'flame,' while entirely electric, still conjures a sense of Olympic poetry. 'Yes, we came for a little outing focused on the statues related to mythology in the Tuileries Garden,' said Chloé Solana, a teacher visiting with her students. 'But it's true we're also taking advantage of the opportunity, because last week the Olympic cauldron wasn't here yet, so it was really nice to be able to show it to the students.' The cauldron's ascent may become a new rhythm of the Parisian summer, with special flights planned for Bastille Day on July 14 and the one-year anniversary of the 2024 opening ceremony on July 26. It no longer carries the Olympic name. But this phoenix-like cauldron is still lifting Paris into the clouds — and into memory. ___
