Owen Farrell looks sharp on Lions return
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Reuters
7 minutes ago
- Reuters
McIntosh signs off from stellar world championships with fourth gold
Aug 3 (Reuters) - Summer McIntosh capped a brilliant world championships with the 400 metres individual medley (IM) title and a fourth individual gold medal while Leon Marchand roared to victory in the men's event in Singapore on Sunday. The United States set a world record in the women's 4x100 medley relay to win the final title and ensure they topped the medals table with nine golds, one ahead of Australia. France finished third with Canada fourth, all four of their golds won by 18-year-old McIntosh, only the third swimmer to win five individual medals at a world championships, joining Michael Phelps (2007) and Sarah Sjostrom (2019). McIntosh blitzed the field in the 400 IM with a time of 4:25.78, the world record holder coming home more than seven seconds ahead of joint silver medallists Jenna Forrester of Australia and Japan's Mio Narita. China's 12-year-old prodigy Yu Zidi finished just off the podium again having also come fourth in the 200 IM and 200 butterfly. Olympic champion McIntosh's third 400 IM world title added to her 200 IM, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle golds at the World Aquatics Championships Arena in Singapore, with only the 800 freestyle won by the great Katie Ledecky eluding her. Marchand, dubbed the 'French Phelps', nearly missed the 400 IM final after a slow heat in the morning but was back to his best in the evening, clocking 4:04.73 to finish well clear of Japan's Tomoyuki Matsushita, the Paris Olympics runnerup behind Marchand. It was a stripped-back programme from Paris where Marchand won four individual titles but he made it count with the 200 IM world record on the way to the title earlier in the week. Two years after Tunisia's Ahmed Hafnaoui won the 800 and 1,500 freestyle at the Fukuoka championships, compatriot Ahmed Jaouadi completed the double by winning the 1,500 in 14:34.41 ahead of German Sven Schwarz and American Olympic champion Bobby Finke. Jaouadi shaved nearly nine seconds off his personal best and said it was a struggle. "I wasn't the only one. My body was in a lot of pain," he added. "But through my mind is that I want this medal and I want to win it." The big names may dominate the headlines but Australian relay stalwart Meg Harris grabbed the spotlight for herself as she won 50 freestyle gold in 24.02 ahead of Chinese duo Wu Qingfeng (24.26) and Cheng Yujie (24.28). The 23-year-old Harris clinched her first individual title on the global stage after sharing two Olympic and five world relay golds in the last four years. No Russian athletes competed at last year's world championships in Doha but the nation's swimmers have racked up medals in Singapore under a neutral flag. Russians were allowed to compete on condition they have not publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine and have no affiliation to the Russian military. Russian Kliment Kolesnikov stormed to the men's 50 backstroke title in 23.68, just 0.13 off his world record, while compatriot Pavel Samusenko took a silver along with South African Pieter Coetze, each finishing in 24.17. Russian swimmers then combined to win a shock gold in the men's 4x100 medley, giving the world record (3:26.78) a huge shake with a time of 3:26.93, a second clear of France. With the U.S. men taking bronze it was up to the nation's women to secure top spot on the medal table in the final event of the night by beating Australia. They did just that and in some style, Regan Smith, Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske combining to set a world record of 3:49.34, improving on the U.S. mark of 3:49.63 set at the Paris Games. World record holder Ruta Meilutyte earlier powered to the 50 breaststroke gold in 29.55, nearly half a second clear of China's Tang Qianting. It was the Lithuanian's fourth successive world title in the event since returning from a two-year ban for anti-doping violations. Retiring American Lilly King, who won the 100 breaststroke at the Rio 2016 Games, bowed out fifth in her last individual event.
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wales stars must 'want a piece of Lions action'
British and Irish Lions' Welsh chairman Ieuan Evans has urged Jac Morgan's leading compatriots to set their sights on making the 2029 tour to New was originally one of only two Welshmen in the touring squad and won two caps off the bench as Andy Farrell's side beat Australia scored a try in Saturday's final Test defeat in Sydney and was at the centre of the tour's most controversial moment in the clearout on Carlo Tizzano at a ruck in the build-up to Hugo Keenan's winning second-Test try was deemed over that incident has continued to rage, but Evans wants Morgan's impact at home to serve as inspiration.'That needs to drive players to say 'ok, I want a piece of the action. I want to be playing in four years time in New Zealand'," said former Wales and Lions wing Evans. "Fingers crossed that the future is bright for Welsh rugby and the Welsh national team.'' Farrell named Morgan and Gloucester scrum-half Tomos Williams in his original squad, but the latter was ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury in the opening game in Ospreys star was omitted from the first Test, but after entering the fray in the second in Melbourne, played a crucial part in the late drama that sealed the series.''If you weren't captured by the drama of that second Test at the MCG then, quite frankly, you haven't got a soul," said Evans. "That was exactly what a sporting legacy is all about, that's what sport is supposed to do at such an iconic venue as the MCG.'''If I'd have had a lifestyle watch on at the time, 'it'd have probably told me to go to ER very, very quickly. "But we got the result and it was a remarkable performance and again, one of character.'' Goodwill from the players 'important' While there are no plans to move away from the traditional touring schedule of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Evans says a full review of the past few weeks will take place. The Lions are open to freshening up the tour format to bolster the matches before the Test series, which were largely underwhelming in Australia.''Obviously New Zealand brings different parameters around touring. But the players have had a great time and we'll make sure that's the case because that goodwill from the players, is really important and you've got to keep replenishing that. "You can't rely on it because hubris gets everybody eventually. You can't just assume that this is the norm and everybody is going to love this for eternity. "We'll look, we'll assess, so we can do things differently.''
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
AFL star brands TV reporter 'embarrassing' in cringeworthy interview after he was busted giving fans the middle finger
Jack Ginnivan branded a Seven News television reporter 'embarrassing' on Saturday, after the journalist appeared to press him on why he appeared to flip his middle finger up at Adelaide fans following Hawthorn's defeat to the Crows on Friday night. The Hawks have slumped to seventh in the AFL ladder following the 14-point loss at the Adelaide Oval. Despite the loss, Ginnivan, 22, enjoyed a standout performance, with the forward booting two goals while amassing 20 disposals. But appearing to be irate at his side's failure to seal the victory, the forward appeared to 'flip the bird' at several Crows fans as he made his way down the tunnel alongside his team-mates. He had appeared to be copping some sledges from spectators nearby to the entrance to the pitch. Ginnivan was unremorseful over the act, taking to Instagram to make an apparent reference to the inevitable fine he will receive from the AFL, which is likely to be around $1,000, ironically writing: 'Best coin spent.' Hawthorn star Jack Ginnivan has sniggered at questions when flying out of Adelaide after flipping the bird at Crows fans during the Hawks' 14-point loss. #7NEWS — 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) August 2, 2025 Jack Ginnivan (left) branded a Seven News TV reporter 'embarrassing' after the broadcaster approached him for an interview as the Hawthorn star made his way into the airport On Saturday, the young footy player found himself in the spotlight again, after he was approached by an AFL journalist and asked why he flipped his middle finger up at members of the crowd while he and his team walked into the airport. 'What was with the middle finger at Crows fans last night?' the reporter asked him. 'Are you a sore loser?' She continued to probe, before coaxing a response from the footballer. 'Do you think I'm going to speak to you,' the Hawthorn player replied, as he giggled to himself. 'Haven't you just?' the reporter said back, forcing another awkward laugh out of Ginnivan. 'Why are you laughing?' she added. 'Because you're embarrassing,' he said, as he continued to walk towards the entrance to the terminal. 'Imagine trying to stop me at an airport.' The 22-year-old later posted on Instagram next to vision of the incident, ironically writing: 'best coin spent' Ginnivan continued to laugh at the broadcaster, telling her that it was 'embarrassing' she was trying to talk to him while he walked into the airport terminal The persistent reporter followed him into the terminal building, but by this time, Ginnivan had had enough. 'Are you embarrassing giving the Crows fans the middle finger, given that they've won and you've lost?' The reporter asked again as the Hawks No 33 again. But this time he walked off, turning his back on the reporter. Ginnivan isn't the first player this season to land in hot water for flipping his middle finger at fans. Harley Reid copped a $1,000 fine earlier this year after he 'flipped the bird' at a group of Brisbane fans during the Eagles' defeat by the Lions in Round Two. Bailey Smith had also copped a $1,000 fine after he raised a double-finger salute to fans inside the Adelaide Oval following Geelong's win against the Crows in Round Five. On Friday night, Matthew Nicks' side outclassed their opponents, with Riley Thilthorpe booting four goals, while Taylor Walker and Izak Rankine both nabbed hat-tricks. Jordan Dawson was also a stand-out, booting a brace himself while managing a whopping 21 disposals and 12 tackles for the game.
