logo
Australia's beaming Harris foils Walsh treble bid at swimming worlds

Australia's beaming Harris foils Walsh treble bid at swimming worlds

eNCA3 days ago
SINGAPORE - Australia's Meg Harris denied Gretchen Walsh a sprint treble at swimming's world championships in Singapore on Sunday, winning the 50m freestyle for her first individual world title.
Harris, the Paris Olympics silver medallist, powered home in 24.02sec to beat Chinese pair Wu Qingfeng (24.26) and Cheng Yujie (24.28).
The American Walsh, who won gold in the 50m and 100m butterfly in Singapore, finished fourth in 24.40.
Australia also won the men's 50m freestyle, with Cam McEvoy taking gold on Saturday.
Harris said becoming an individual world champion was "the dream I have been dreaming of the whole time".
"This is why I swim," said the 23-year-old, who could not stop smiling as the magnitude of her achievement set in.
"I still can't put it into words, it'll take a while to process."
World record holder Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden, the reigning Olympic champion and a four-time world title-holder in the event, did not compete in Singapore.
"I love sprinting, I love racing. Could not be more happy," added Harris.
The Australian has now won six world golds in her career. The previous five were in relay events.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Olympic golden girl Tatjana Smith reflects on her year since retirement
Olympic golden girl Tatjana Smith reflects on her year since retirement

TimesLIVE

time5 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Olympic golden girl Tatjana Smith reflects on her year since retirement

It's been a year since Olympic gold medallist Tatjana Smith retired from competitive swimming. The 28-year-old renowned backstroke queen announced her retirement last year after winning two medals at the Paris Olympics 2024. She won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke and a gold medal in the 100m backstroke. Reflecting on the year since her last strokes, Smith shared how her journey shaped who she is. 'One year ago today, I swam the last race of my career,' she said in an Instagram post. 'It still feels surreal. A journey that began with a dream ended up exceeding every expectation I ever had. Swimming gave me more than medals or records — it shaped who I am. It taught me discipline, resilience, humility, and the power of showing up, again and again.' Smith dedicated her last race to her family for their support. 'That final race wasn't just mine; it belonged to my family, who sacrificed more than most will ever know. Standing on the deck that day, I wasn't just closing a chapter. I was celebrating them and the rest of my team, their belief in me, and all the moments we lived through together. I even got to celebrate my competitors — witnessing them reach their dreams, knowing the work and heart behind every moment of success.' Smith started swimming at a young age, and she is now the most decorated athlete in South Africa, with a total of four Olympic medals, including two golds. 'Swimming gave me a stage — but more importantly, it gave me a purpose, a second family, and moments I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. The chapter has closed, but the gratitude never will.'

Stadium Management offers update on new FNB Stadium pitch
Stadium Management offers update on new FNB Stadium pitch

The Citizen

time9 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Stadium Management offers update on new FNB Stadium pitch

"We got experts who advised us the FNB pitch is beyond its lifespan and that we have to replace it,' Grobbelaar said. Stadium Management South Africa CEO Bertie Grobbelaar has provided an update on the state of the FNB Stadium pitch, which has undergone a makeover during the off-season in order to host Betway Premiership matches. The iconic 2010 FIFA World Cup venue serves as the home ground for Kaizer Chiefs, who kick off their 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign away to Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium on Sunday. ALSO READ: Barker sees benefits in early Chiefs clash Following the trip to the Mother City to take on Stellies, Amakhosi are scheduled to return to FNB Stadium next Wednesday to host Polokwane City, followed by another home tie against Richards Bay six days later. 'A lifespan of a GrassMaster pitch is anything between 10, 12 to 15 years depending on the usage. We didn't run away last year, we got experts who advised us the FNB pitch is beyond its lifespan and that we have to replace it,' Grobbelaar said to Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000. 'We couldn't do it mid-season and had to wait until the end of the season. It was a bad playing surface towards the end of the season. They took out the pitch, did the work, maintenance and renovations. 'As I said to you, they are halfway with the stitching now, and the GrassMaster machine is on the pitch as we speak. So it's not about the point of not caring about it.' When pressed about whether the stadium will be ready to host Chiefs' upcoming fixtures, starting with the clash against City, Grobbelaar admitted that the surface still has some bit of patches after work was done on it. 'We're hosting the first game on the 13th (August) and you're going to ask me again why is the northern side not as good as other sides,' he said. 'On the northern side, it (will still) have a bit of patchiness for about two weeks and it will be fully grown in. As a stakeholder in the football industry, we must play our role as venues. A football page is dependent on a good playing surface. 'For the spectacles that we anticipate this year, we all need to play our roles. I do understand it (the public frustration) but, as I said to you, not all pitches are hybrid. With the Kikuyu pitches, there is a problem with the change of the season.' FNB Stadium is a multi-purpose venue and frequently hosts major music concerts, with the most recent being American R&B superstar Chris Brown, who performed in front of over 90,000 fans. Grobbelaar acknowledged that such events contribute to the challenge of keeping the pitches in top condition. 'Most of the stadiums rely on other events as well. If you only maintain a pitch to play football, then that's a different story, but the minute you've got concerts and other events on the pitches, the maintenance and keeping it up to standard becomes a challenge,' he explained. 'We need to find the balance to be commercially viable and still deliver good surfaces for playing football. It is a challenge and no one can run away from that, but the venues need to also accept responsibility. ALSO READ: Durban City announce Nodada and three more signings 'That is the problem and it's not commercially viable to only have football at the stadium. I can't speak for others, but a stadium like FNB, you won't be able to maintain the facility without it being used as a multi-purpose venue.'

Major shake-up in world of cycling as Remco Evenepoel confirms NEW team
Major shake-up in world of cycling as Remco Evenepoel confirms NEW team

The South African

time10 hours ago

  • The South African

Major shake-up in world of cycling as Remco Evenepoel confirms NEW team

Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel will leave Soudal Quick-Step at the end of this season, the team said on Tuesday, and join Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe. The 25-year-old Belgian is one of cycling's brightest stars and won both the road race and time-trial titles at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He is also the current time-trial world champion, finished third at the 2024 Tour de France and has twice won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege Monument race. Evenepoel also won his first Grand Tour, the Vuelta a Espana in 2022. 'Remco informed the team's management that he did not wish to discuss an extension of his current agreement, which expires at the end of 2026,' Soudal Quick-Step said on Tuesday. 'While we regret Remco's decision to leave, we will foster the memories that we have made and will continue to strive together to achieve some significant results for the rest of the season.' Red Bull-Bora boss Ralph Denk hailed the signing as a landmark one for the team. 'Remco brings not only exceptional athletic talent, but also a remarkable mindset. His determination, professionalism, and relentless drive to succeed are truly inspiring,' he said. Evenepoel will race alongside Tour de France breakout star Florian Lipowitz, who came third and won the best young rider's white jersey. Red Bull also boast five-time Grand Tour winner Primoz Roglic. Denk described Evenepoel's arrival as a sign of 'bold ambition to become one of the most attractive forces on the international cycling stage in the years to come'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store