IRFU announce end of men's sevens programme with former captain Billy Dardis calling decision ‘unbelievably deflating'
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The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Teenage swimmer, 18, ‘proud to be Irish' after becoming latest world champion following sensational gold medal
'It's been a long season, but to end it like that, it's just so cool' SHORTT ODDS Teenage swimmer, 18, 'proud to be Irish' after becoming latest world champion following sensational gold medal JOHN SHORTT declared "I'm so proud to be Irish" after becoming Ireland's latest swimming world champion. The 18-year-old won gold in the 100m backstroke at the World Aquatics Junior Championships in Romania. 2 John Shortt won gold at the World Aquatics Junior Championships Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription 2 He said he was proud to be Irish after the race Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription The Galway teenager's time of 53.86 saw him beat neutral athlete Georgii Iakovlev in 53.94, and the USA's Gavin Keogh in 54.06. Shortt, who won European gold earlier this summer, finished just shy of his own Irish junior record of 53.80 that he set in Tuesday's semi-final. He said: 'It feels pretty good, just so much pride at the minute, getting up there, singing my national anthem, on a World stage now, not just a European stage. 'I'm just so proud to be Irish and proud to be here. It's been a long season, but to end it like that, it's just so cool. "The meets not finished, but I'm just saying, the last 100 back of the season, we've ended on a positive note so, I'm very happy with that.' Shortt becomes only the second Irish swimmer to win a World junior gold medal. He joins Mona McSharry, who won her title in 2017 before going on to win a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. And the Galway man credited his coach John Szaranek for getting him through Tuesday's semi-final and Wednesday's finale. He added: 'The race went really well. "I was just holding on for dear life towards the end, but we got the hand on the wall first and that's really all that matters. Daniel Wiffen reveals 'crazy' interaction with fans after Olympic gold medal "The strategy, that my amazing coach put in to place, was we had to be out with the guys. "They were out so much quicker than me last night and you know they were beating me to the first 50m. "As long as I went with them, I knew I had a chance to come back quicker than they did. "That's exactly what happened, so [it was] all part of my brilliant coach's strategy!'
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘I love her' – Palestine boxer, 18, hails Kellie Harrington for boosting Olympics dream by ‘showing me something new'
'Telling my mom that I want to be a boxer was surprising for her' PALESTINE boxer Nada Al-Khawaja revealed that Kellie Harrington has been giving her tips on how to become an Olympic champion. Two-time gold medallist Harrington retired after the Paris 2024 Games but continues to train with the Irish team and a 2026 comeback has not been 100 per cent ruled out. 5 Nada Al-Khawaja revealed that Kellie Harrington has been giving her tips Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 5 The Palestine boxing team is visiting Ireland Advertisement 5 Nada Al-Khawaja training with Eric Donovan In the meantime, she has been helping the next generation of Irish hopefuls in their preparation for the World Championships in Liverpool next month. The Dubliner also found time to work hand-to-hand with teenage fighter Al-Khawaja this month as a visiting team from the El Barrio Gym in the West Bank visited these shores. Al-Khawaja was the sole female on coach Nader Jayousi's team, backed up by five team-mates in Nidal Foqahaa, Zaid Shkukani, Tamer Touriman, Shamali Adamov and Wasem Abusal – Palestine's first Olympic boxer, who like Harrington fought in Paris. Advertisement For Al-Khawaja, making it to the next Games in Los Angeles in three years' time is a lofty ambition – but the trip to Ireland provided huge encouragement that she too can make it. The boxer, who turns 19 next month, told The Rocky Road podcast: 'Wanting to be in the Olympics is very huge for me. 'It's very new for me [boxing]. So I'm still breaking these boundaries of being scared. Knowing what happens in the ring… so thinking about Olympics is way, way far. 'I'm following my coach. So whatever my coach tells me, I'm following it. I trust him 100 per cent that he's working on improving me so I can think about the Olympics.' Advertisement When asked about her training day with lightweight queen Harrington at the National Sports Campus in Dublin, Al-Khawaja's eyes light up. The featherweight said: 'I love her. She was very welcoming. She helped me train. She taught me some new techniques. 'She encouraged me in doing boxing. I was telling her that I'm a front foot boxer, and I can't really move. RTE DWTS viewers left 'crying' as Jack Woolley dedicates 'breathtaking' dance to Olympian Kellie Harrington 'But she said... She told me that, 'OK, you're a front footer. But you can do something else. You can do both'. 'So she opened my mind for something new. Oh yeah, I am a front-foot boxer. But I also can improve - and move more in the ring. Advertisement 'It's a long path. So you need to do it slowly. So you can succeed.' 'SOMETHING NEW' Harrington was 31 when she won her first Olympic gold in Tokyo, and 34 when she backed it up in Paris. Much of her success came when she emerged from Katie Taylor's shadow after the London 2012 gold medallist turned pro after Rio 2016 – and Al-Khawaja is someone who is well used to road blocks. She hails from a village outside Ramallah in the West Bank – not exactly a female boxing stronghold, she admits. The 57kg fighter added: 'I've been boxing for four years now but I'm taking it seriously these past two months. Advertisement 'It's definitely something new in our culture. Telling my mom that I want to be a boxer was surprising for her. 'You want to be a boxer? What? In this culture? No'. 'She was so surprised but she definitely supported me even though I'm her daughter. She's not going to be... She's not going to be happy. Yeah, seeing me getting beat up and beat up someone else. 5 Nada Al-Khawaja training 'Because in our culture girls are petite, they are... guys defend them usually. They don't... 'Even my brother was very surprised that I'm going to be a boxer. He's like, 'Think about it, think about it. You want to do boxing? Think about it. If you keep doing boxing you're going to get hurt'. Advertisement 'He always talks about my nose because I have a broken nose. He always makes jokes about it. 'You're going to make it more even broken!' 'Being a boxer you definitely be happy to hit someone, for your punch to land. 'But there's limited girls [boxing] in Palestine. So girls are not encouraged because of the limited opportunities that they have.' OLIVE BRANCH The trip, organised by the Shamrock and Olive Boxing Project, raised funds for the Lajee Center Boxing Club in the Aida Refugee Camp and the Beit Lahia Development Association, a grassroots organisation providing humanitarian support in Gaza. It also gave the team a chance to improve their skills – taking in two test matches against Irish teams – and bond as a group. Advertisement Al-Khawaja said: 'Well, it's such an opportunity to come to Ireland and meet Ireland boxers and share our talents together and learn from each other. 'And other than boxing it's very wonderful learning about our culture. We trade our culture, traditions, we learn about each other. Yeah it's such a good opportunity.' As for being the sole female fighter among the group? On her team-mates, she lauged: 'They're my family. They're my brothers. We fight like brothers and sisters. They give me a hard time. 'They joke a lot. But I still love them. I always love them. We will always be loving each other. 'My coach is my second father. I always tell him that. He's my father. It's sad because there were supposed to be six or seven girls coming with us. But because of the visa, it didn't work. Advertisement 'Unfortunately, they didn't come. I'm happy that I came. But I'm still sad because my other team didn't make it. I hope that next time they will have the opportunity to come.' 5 Eric Donovan working with the Palestine boxing team Al-Khawaja, who also has a passion for the performing arts, says the Palestinian team has been bowled over by the support they received from the Irish public. More than 800 Palestinian sportspeople have been killed since the latest conflict with Israel kicked off nearly two years ago, with the boxers eager to shine a light on their compatriots' plight. She said: 'If I'm not doing boxing, I do theatre, which is also something new in our culture. Advertisement 'I also studied business in college. If I'm not doing boxing, I can do theatre. If I'm not doing boxing or theatre, I'm doing business. 'I've been to America and Cyprus. In both countries, I didn't see this much support. And how much love they show for Palestinians. They are very supportive. 'I've never seen anything like that. We have a voice and they hear it. And they know the truth of what's happening in Palestine. This is very important in our country. 'The message of what's happening in Palestine is being heard correctly.'
Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Sharlene Mawdsley and GAA star boyfriend take big step in relationship
Sharlene Mawdsley appears to be primed to take a huge step in her relationship with her boyfriend, Tipperary hurling hero Mikey Breen. Sharlene and Mikey went public with their relationship earlier this summer, with the Olympian spotted at Croke Park cheering defender Breen on during the Premier County's run to the Liam MacCarthy Cup. Taking to social media on Tuesday, Sharlene posted a cryptic message on her Instagram story that appears to suggest that herself and Breen are moving to a new home. Sharing a snap of two keys on a table in a living room on her Instagram story, Mawdsley tagged Breen while captioning the story 'End of the Thurles Era @mikeybreeno.' Mawdsley and Breen confirmed their relationship this summer, and the pair appeared on stage at Tipperary's Semple Stadium homecoming following Tipp's All-Ireland win over Cork. Sprinter Mawdsley was even spotted racing some Tipperary fans after a long night of celebrations following the win, and needless to say the Newport AC star cruised to victory. It has been a difficult year for Mawdsley since starring at the Paris Olympics with Team Ireland. The 27-year-old had to deal with an injury hit start to the year, while she also suffered in her personal life as her father, Thomas, passed away at the beginning of June. The relay specialist returned to the track later in the summer and recently picked up a National 200m title as she pipped Sarah Lavin and Lauren Roy in an epic race at Morton Stadium earlier this month.
