Priestman 'didn't feel safe' in Canada after spying ban
"That's being brutally honest. It was very difficult for my family, and I have to live with that."Obviously it was an absolute media frenzy. You've got people knocking at your door and everything, and I've got a little boy. Without going into too much detail, it was very difficult. We knew we had to get out of that country."As well as a one-year ban, Priestman was given an eight-month suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to flying a drone in an urban area without a licence. In her absence, Canada made it out of the group stages at the Olympics - despite being docked six points for the incident. They were knocked out by Germany on penalties at the quarter-final stage. Priestman, who served as Phil Neville's assistant for two years with England's women, guided Canada to Olympic gold at Tokyo in 2021.
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BBC News
8 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wiffen departs Loughborough swim programme
Olympic gold medallist Daniel Wiffen has confirmed his departure from the prestigious Loughborough University swim programme. The 24-year-old took to social media to confirm the move, which ends a five-year spell that saw him rise to become one of the sport's biggest stars."The day has finally come - I have decided that I am moving away from the Loughborough University swim programme," Wiffen posted on Instagram."A place I called home for five years. A place where I grew from a swimmer that would never make it, to an Olympic champion."When I joined Loughborough, I went in with personal bests of 8:13 and 15:39 and now I'm leaving with personal bests of 7:38 and 14:34," he continued."I just wanted to show this as this programme made me the athlete I am today and I'm sure it will continue to make new Olympic champions long after I'm gone."The County Armagh man went on to praise his coach Andi Manley, who led his rise to Olympic champion as he captured gold for Ireland in the men's 800m freestyle at Paris 2024. Wiffen also revealed that he would return to his native Magheralin to recover from the appendicitis issues that hindered his recent failed attempt at retaining his World Championship titles. He also confirmed he plans to spend time training in the United States with his twin brother Nathan, who is currently studying and swimming in California. "Now this chapter has come to a close I will be moving back to Ireland while I rehab from my appendicitis surgery and then will be hopefully joining Nathan in California for periods until LA28. Thank you, Loughborough," Wiffen added.
Daily Record
38 minutes ago
- Daily Record
James Forrest reveals his Celtic priority and why he won't ever close the door on Scotland
He's won 26 major honours at Parkhead and picked up 39 caps for his country to date James Forrest insists he'll never close the door on playing for Scotland and the chance to fulfil his World Cup dream. Celtic's most decorated servant has done almost all there is to do in the game having lifted an astonishing 26 major honours at Parkhead. Capped 39 times for his country, he was also named in both of Steve Clarke's Scotland squads for the European Championships in 2021 and 2024. One of the few achievements still to be ticked off the 34-year-old's bucket list, however, is a World Cup appearance. Clarke's team will kick off their bid to reach next summer's North American finals when they face both Denmark and Belarus in next month's double header. And while it's now 14 months since his last international appearance, Forrest is refusing to rule out playing a part this time round. He said: "I spoke to Steve Clarke a couple of times at the start of last season but then I got a really bad injury in December which kept me out for a few months. 'But the main thing for me has always been making sure I'm playing well for Celtic and then if Scotland comes along, great. 'But no, I've not spoken to Steve this season. I just want to do well for Celtic in the games coming up and then we'll just kind of see from there. 'When I had the conversation with Steve last year, it was a good one. It was after I'd gone to the Euros and didn't play. He said if he needed me, then he'd give me the call and it was just kind of left like that. 'So as I said, it's always kind of open and I would never shut the door." Next year's World Cup will be the biggest football extravaganza FIFA have ever thrown after expanding the tournament to 48 teams. And Forrest would hate to miss out. "I think as with any player, you want to play in the top competitions,' he said. 'You want to play Champions League, you want to play for your national team. 'Obviously I've done a lot of stuff already in my career. 'But the World Cup is at the end of the season, there's qualifiers and that as well, so I don't want to think too far." But Forrest believes he can still make a major contribution for club and country, even though he's now reached veteran territory. He said: 'The sports scientists, the manager, they look at training every day and see that when I come on at the weekend, I made a contribution. I want to keep performing for Celtic and I think I can keep offering that." Forrest missed out on what would have been a 27th winners' medal in May when Aberdeen crashed the Hoops Treble party to snatch the Scottish Cup. But Forrest insists revenge won't be on his mind as the Premiership and League Cup winners head to Pittodrie this weekend. 'The cup final was hard. I've had a couple of those disappointments at the start of my career but then we went on to have a really good spell. 'It shows you how well all the different teams over the years have done, winning and being so successful. 'But Aberdeen are one of the best teams in Scotland and I think every time you play them, there's a rivalry there anyway. 'You go to Pittodrie and we all know it's a hard game, so I don't think we'll look much into the cup final. 'It's a new season and we want to get off to a good start and just keep the momentum going, and hopefully get another three points."
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Austrian Venier bows out as a world champion ahead of Olympics
Aug 7 (Reuters) - Super-G world champion Stephanie Venier announced her retirement on Thursday, six months before the Milano-Cortina Olympics, with the Austrian saying she was no longer prepared to risk her health and wanted to go out at the top. The 31-year-old Austrian won the first gold medal of her senior Alpine skiing career on home snow last February at the Saalbach world championships. Venier took part in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, failing to finish the downhill, and missed the 2022 Beijing Games. "The thought of ending my career isn't new -- it's been growing inside me for a while," she said in a statement. "The deep will and determination required for elite sport just hasn't been there in recent months in the way I expect from myself. "Even though the Olympic Games are coming up next year, now feels like exactly the right time to bring my racing career to a close." Venier, who made her World Cup debut in 2013 and was a junior world champion in Super-G that same year, earned three World Cup wins and a total of 12 podiums. "Fortunately, I was spared from major injuries, but I no longer want to push the recurring knee problems and risk my long-term health," she said. "As the saying goes: the best time to retire is at the top."
