Latest news with #Bol
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Peter Bol lifts lid on special Gout Gout prediction amid Usain Bolt comparisons
Peter Bol has told Yahoo Sport Australia he is keen to join an elusive club and compete in his fourth Olympics at LA 2028 having also revealed the sky is the limit for 17-year-old track teammate Gout Gout who could eclipse Usain Bolt's feats. Bol and Gout were once again making headlines in the Diamond League Monaco meet earlier this month with the 800m Aussie champion breaking his own national record with a time of 1:42.55. Bol finished fourth in the race with winner Emmanuel Wanyonyi recording the fastest-time of the year. However, Bol proved he is only getting faster with the 31-year-old translating his form in Australia to overseas competition. And his much younger teammate, and recent roommate, Gout was also breaking records. The 17-year-old phenom fell short of cracking the 20 second barrier in the 200m having run at a disadvantage against a strong headwind during his debut win at the Diamond League. While Gout opted to run in the U-23 men's division, he still left a lasting impression having blitzed his opponents and won his race in 20.10 seconds. Gout was fortunate to have been paired with Bol as a roommate during his time in Monaco with the 800m champion acting as the veteran in the team. And Bol admitted it's hard to offer too much advice to a young star who is tracking alongside Olympic legend Bolt at the same age. Although Bol, who became a household name in Australia after his feat at the Tokyo Olympics, said it was embracing the nerves that can take him to a new level. "It was his first Diamond League circuit. He is an impressive kid. We get to spend a bit of time [together]. I was thinking about what advice can I give someone who is so impressive at such a young age and achieving so much," Bol told Yahoo Sport Australia at the I.V. Liquid 'The Funnest Fun Run event'. "The only thing I could think of is to be yourself and be prepared to be more nervous than ever. It happens. You've got to go through it. And he is going to do it well. He has got everyone around him. His coach is amazing. His management team, he is impressive as a kid." Peter Bol claims Gout has no limit in 200m Ever since Gout burst onto the athletics scene as a teenager in Australia, the Queensland-born runner has been compared to the greatest sprinter of all-time. As a 16-year-old, Gout bettered Bolt's 200m record at the same age. Gout then joined Bolt as one of the six fastest under-20 athletes of all-time with his 19.98 time last year. Although the time didn't count as a national record because it was wind-assisted. And Bol has witnessed Gout's ability on the track and claimed there is no limit to what he can achieve going forward. Bol also predicted Gout has time on his hands and his best could come at the Brisbane 2032. "I don't think he has a limit. It is definitely doable and it is realistic for a guy with his potential and for a guy with his expert team. Everything is there for him. He is hard working. I could bet on it. I think he will reach amazing heights," Bold said on his track teammate. "And the beauty of that is he might reach the top of his heights in Brisbane. Where he is he can medal at home, that is super special." Peter Bol eyes fourth Olympics in LA Bout's recent national record in Monaco was the 28th fastest run of all-time. The 31-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down having closed the gaps on the likes of Wanyonyi. And Bol said beating a number of the best runners in the world has given him confidence heading into Tokyo this September. "The whole year I've been in a good place. I've been pretty confident and running really well in Australia. So it's always great to head overseas and keep that consistency going. Winning is important, it's what we are required to do at a championship. At Monaco we had all the finalists from last year on the start line. So it was great to beat a few of them," he said. "Because I've always believed I am one of the top guys in the world. So believing it is one thing, then doing it is a whole different level. So it gives you a lot of confidence heading into the World Championships in Tokyo. Last time I was in Tokyo at the Olympics I came fourth, so my goal is to done one step better and that is on the podium." And Bol has set a goal of featuring in the LA Olympics, which would mark his fourth games representing Australia. "I came to this country as a 10-year-old and to say I have the ability to go for a fourth Olympic Games is pretty special," he added. Bol was taking part in the Liquid I.V. 'The Funnest Fun Run', which reminds people to stay hydrated and exercise. "I do run professionally, so when I get the chance to do something fun like a bit different, less fun engaging with the community."
Express Tribune
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Lyles scorches to comeback win, Alfred conquers 100m
Noah Lyles fired a warning shot at contenders over the 200m at the world championships by scorching to victory in the Diamond League meet in Monaco on Friday as Julien Alfred notched up another win in the 100m. Lyles delivered a near-faultless run to clock 19.88 seconds to edge Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo into second with 19.97sec. And Alfred timed a very comfortable looking 10.79sec to win the women's event-ending blue riband race ahead of American Jacious Sears (11.02). But Lyles was the star of the show at a packed Stade Louis II in perfect balmy conditions. Tebogo had even said that when the American's face appears on meet posters, people want to come and see him perform. And so it proved, Lyles coasting to a morale-boosting victory after successfully coming back from a tendon injury. "I pray for times like this to be out here and do what I love. I come out here and I give my best," said Lyles. The 10th competition on the 15-meet Diamond League circuit was loaded with a raft of top track and field stars, none less so in the electric men's 800m. There was a late change in the wavelight technology that informs racers of record pacing in the two-lap race, with an unexpected tilt at Kenyan David Rudisha's world record from when he won gold at the 2012 London Olympics. His compatriot and current Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi looked liked he might break the now mythical mark of 1:40.91, but he just faded at the line to win in a meet record and world lead of 1:41.44. American Josh Hoey, the world indoor champion, was second in 1:42.01, with Algerian Djamel Sedjati rounding out the podium (1:42.20). "I came to run a season's best and a meeting record," Wanyonyi said. "I came prepared. I gave my best today so I am happy with the result." There was another world-leading meet record in the women's 400m hurdles as world champion Femke Bol shot out a warning to the imperious Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone with a maiden victory in Monaco in 51.95sec. The win took Bol's incredible streak of consecutive victories in the Diamond League since 2021 to 26, including four final wins. The Dutchwoman easily saw off competition from Dalilah Muhammad and fellow American Anna Cockrell, Olympic silver medallist in Paris, who finished second and third. "Running 51 is always very special, I don't do that every day," Bol said. "I am feeling good so far this season, I had a great start to it. I also did two 400m flats but I could see my shape getting better." Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis again dominated the pole vault, the US-born Swede breaking the meet record with a successful vault of 6.05m on just his third effort of the competition, with only Greece's Emmanouil Karalis left to push him.
Kuwait Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Lyles scorches to comeback win as Alfred shines
MONACO: Noah Lyles fired a warning shot at contenders over the 200m at the world championships by scorching to victory in the Diamond League meet in Monaco on Friday as Julien Alfred notched up another win in the 100m. Lyles delivered a near-faultless run to clock 19.88 seconds to edge Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo into second with 19.97sec. And Alfred timed a very comfortable looking 10.79sec to win the women's event-ending blue riband race ahead of American Jacious Sears (11.02). But Lyles was the star of the show at a packed Stade Louis II in perfect balmy conditions. Tebogo had even said that when the American's face appears on meet posters, people want to come and see him perform. And so it proved, Lyles coasting to a morale-boosting victory after successfully coming back from a tendon injury. 'I pray for times like this to be out here and do what I love. I come out here and I give my best,' said Lyles. The 10th competition on the 15-meet Diamond League circuit was loaded with a raft of top track and field stars, none less so in the electric men's 800m. There was a late change in the wavelight technology that informs racers of record pacing in the two-lap race, with an unexpected tilt at Kenyan David Rudisha's world record from when he won gold at the 2012 London Olympics. His compatriot and current Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi looked liked he might break the now mythical mark of 1:40.91, but he just faded at the line to win in a meet record and world lead of 1:41.44. American Josh Hoey, the world indoor champion, was second in 1:42.01, with Algerian Djamel Sedjati rounding out the podium (1:42.20). 'I came to run a season's best and a meeting record,' Wanyonyi said. 'I came prepared. I gave my best today so I am happy with the result.' Bol on top form There was another world-leading meet record in the women's 400m hurdles as world champion Femke Bol shot out a warning to the imperious Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone with a maiden victory in Monaco in 51.95sec. The win took Bol's incredible streak of consecutive victories in the Diamond League since 2021 to 26, including four final wins. The Dutchwoman easily saw off competition from Dalilah Muhammad and fellow American ?Anna Cockrell, Olympic silver medallist in Paris, who finished second and third. 'Running 51 is always very special, I don't do that every day,' Bol said. 'I am feeling good so far this season, I had a great start to it. I also did two 400m flats but I could see my shape getting better.' Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis again dominated the pole vault, the US-born Swede breaking the meet record with a successful vault of 6.05m on just his third effort of the competition, with only Greece's Emmanouil Karalis left to push him. Once the two-time Olympic champion had cleared that height, he skipped 6.10m, forcing Karalis into a third failure, and second place. Pundits might have reckoned that there would be no world record attempt, Duplantis happy to call it a day ahead of a month off competition with an eye on peaking at Tokyo in September. But, ever the competitor, the bar was raised to 6.29m, 1cm higher than the record mark he set in Eugene last week. But it was not to be and three failures at the new height brought the Swede's evening to an end. Dominican Marileidy Paulino edged American Aaliyah Butler by three-hundredths for victory in the 400m flat in 49.06sec. The men and women's short hurdles were won by American Trey Cunningham (13.09sec) and Jamaica's Megan Tapper (12.34) respectively. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha won the men's 5,000m in 12:49.46 and Morocco's two-time Olympics champion Soufiane El Bakkali claimed victory in the 3,000m steeplechase in 8:03.18.- AFP
Sydney Morning Herald
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Comedians, influencers and footy players: Why we can't get enough of celebrity boxing
At the very least, you may read about who won on Thursday morning, even if by accident. These fights don't happen unless there is an audience willing to lap it up. And that audience has always been there, even if those within it will never self-identify as such. Boxing has long thrived on theatre as much as talent. The hardest part for promoters is making their fighters known, telling their stories, convincing people to care, and getting them invested enough to spend their money. Drafting in big names from other sports, or even popular culture - with their pre-existing fanbases, narratives and rivalries - is a simple shortcut. Mix in the novelty factor, and there's easy money to be made. Media companies know there will be clicks and views for such content. There is surely no other sport like it, where notoriety outweighs skill to the extent that most people would seemingly rather watch relative rookies going at it - or, in some cases, total rookies - instead of the actual best in the world. Celebrity boxing is hardly a new phenomenon. In 1976, not too far removed from his peak, Muhammad Ali shared the ring with Antonio Inoki, a Japanese professional wrestler who wanted to prove that pro wrestling was the best style of combat. Fought under special rules, in which Ali boxed and Inoki … well, did not box, viewers were treated to the sight of him lying on his back for pretty much the entire bout, kicking Ali in the legs no less than 107 times. It finished in a draw, and though the event was widely panned and considered possibly the lowest ebb of Ali's career, some regard it as the precursor to what we know today as mixed martial arts. So, there you go. Ali also went toe-to-toe, so to speak, with NFL player Lyle Alzado (1979), NHL player Dave Semenko (1983) and, all on the same night in 1978, Marvin Gaye, Sammy Davis Jr., Richard Pryor and actor Burt Young, who played Paulie in the Rocky movies. In this context, rugby league grudge matches don't seem so bad, do they? Then, of course, there's Celebrity Boxing, the TV concept which aired twice in the United States on Fox in 2002, pitting C-graders and lower (often a lot lower) against one another for no apparent reason. Episode one featured Paula Jones, a civil servant who sued Bill Clinton for sexual harassment, against Tonya Harding. Episode two saw former NBA star Manute Bol take on the ex-NFL defensive tackle William 'The Refrigerator' Perry - only so that Fox would agree to broadcast the phone number for the Sudanese refugee charity that Bol had established. Bol won, but the show never returned; in any case, it was a pale real-life imitation of Celebrity Deathmatch, its illegitimate claymation forerunner on MTV. Meanwhile, the BBC attempted a British spin-off around the same time, in which 5.5 million viewers watched Ricky Gervais narrowly lose to businessman Grant Bovey, before pressure from boxing authorities led to it being canned due to safety concerns. In more recent times, this whole business has come back with a vengeance with a variety of desperately strange match-ups - like the farcical three-round clash between retired basketballer Lamar Odom and the late pop star Aaron Carter in 2021, the year before Carter passed away. You can largely blame the Paul brothers, Logan and Jake, for enabling the resurgence. They started out scrapping with fellow YouTubers and influencers; one of their amateur fight nights made an estimated $US3.5 million in ticket sales and sold 1.3 million pay-per-views worldwide, making it the biggest non-professional card of all time. Loading 'From a hardcore boxing fan's point of view, it makes my skin crawl,' famed British promoter Eddie Hearn told TMZ at the time. 'But, from a promoter's point of view, I have to say congratulations.' The Pauls soon branched out into former MMA fighters, and then finally, actual boxers: in 2021, Logan was schooled by Floyd Mayweather jnr, and just last year, Jake took on a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in what was, at that point, the most-streamed sporting event of all time and the biggest gate in US boxing history outside of Las Vegas. Paul-Tyson was, of course, a shambles, but the clear highlight of the card was the second rematch between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, the co-main event. Taylor's victory was highly contentious, but the spectacle was genuinely awesome, and seen by 50 million households throughout the world, many of them new to the sport - and only because they shared the spotlight with Paul and Tyson. In Australia, the circuit is dominated by ex-footy players. Some of the cards are glorified sportsmen's nights. But Gallen has at least measured up against true boxers like Justis Huni, and was once considered Australia's third-best heavyweight, while Sonny Bill's boxing links go back as far as 2009, just before his debut in New Zealand rugby. Now their decades-long personal feud - partly legit, partly confected, just like real boxing - can be settled in the ring. It'll be the last act of both of their athletic careers. What does this all mean? Boxing has always been a bit of a circus, but now the tent is bigger, the rules are different, and the whole thing plays perfectly in today's personality-driven media landscape. What matters most is not how many rounds you've fought, but how many people want to watch you do it. That might offend the purists, but boxing has never really belonged to them. It belongs to whoever can sell it, and there's a lesson in that for the so-called sweet science. Roll your eyes if you want. But don't hate the players, like Gallen and SBW. Hate the game.
The Age
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Comedians, influencers and footy players: Why we can't get enough of celebrity boxing
At the very least, you may read about who won on Thursday morning, even if by accident. These fights don't happen unless there is an audience willing to lap it up. And that audience has always been there, even if those within it will never self-identify as such. Boxing has long thrived on theatre as much as talent. The hardest part for promoters is making their fighters known, telling their stories, convincing people to care, and getting them invested enough to spend their money. Drafting in big names from other sports, or even popular culture - with their pre-existing fanbases, narratives and rivalries - is a simple shortcut. Mix in the novelty factor, and there's easy money to be made. Media companies know there will be clicks and views for such content. There is surely no other sport like it, where notoriety outweighs skill to the extent that most people would seemingly rather watch relative rookies going at it - or, in some cases, total rookies - instead of the actual best in the world. Celebrity boxing is hardly a new phenomenon. In 1976, not too far removed from his peak, Muhammad Ali shared the ring with Antonio Inoki, a Japanese professional wrestler who wanted to prove that pro wrestling was the best style of combat. Fought under special rules, in which Ali boxed and Inoki … well, did not box, viewers were treated to the sight of him lying on his back for pretty much the entire bout, kicking Ali in the legs no less than 107 times. It finished in a draw, and though the event was widely panned and considered possibly the lowest ebb of Ali's career, some regard it as the precursor to what we know today as mixed martial arts. So, there you go. Ali also went toe-to-toe, so to speak, with NFL player Lyle Alzado (1979), NHL player Dave Semenko (1983) and, all on the same night in 1978, Marvin Gaye, Sammy Davis Jr., Richard Pryor and actor Burt Young, who played Paulie in the Rocky movies. In this context, rugby league grudge matches don't seem so bad, do they? Then, of course, there's Celebrity Boxing, the TV concept which aired twice in the United States on Fox in 2002, pitting C-graders and lower (often a lot lower) against one another for no apparent reason. Episode one featured Paula Jones, a civil servant who sued Bill Clinton for sexual harassment, against Tonya Harding. Episode two saw former NBA star Manute Bol take on the ex-NFL defensive tackle William 'The Refrigerator' Perry - only so that Fox would agree to broadcast the phone number for the Sudanese refugee charity that Bol had established. Bol won, but the show never returned; in any case, it was a pale real-life imitation of Celebrity Deathmatch, its illegitimate claymation forerunner on MTV. Meanwhile, the BBC attempted a British spin-off around the same time, in which 5.5 million viewers watched Ricky Gervais narrowly lose to businessman Grant Bovey, before pressure from boxing authorities led to it being canned due to safety concerns. In more recent times, this whole business has come back with a vengeance with a variety of desperately strange match-ups - like the farcical three-round clash between retired basketballer Lamar Odom and the late pop star Aaron Carter in 2021, the year before Carter passed away. You can largely blame the Paul brothers, Logan and Jake, for enabling the resurgence. They started out scrapping with fellow YouTubers and influencers; one of their amateur fight nights made an estimated $US3.5 million in ticket sales and sold 1.3 million pay-per-views worldwide, making it the biggest non-professional card of all time. Loading 'From a hardcore boxing fan's point of view, it makes my skin crawl,' famed British promoter Eddie Hearn told TMZ at the time. 'But, from a promoter's point of view, I have to say congratulations.' The Pauls soon branched out into former MMA fighters, and then finally, actual boxers: in 2021, Logan was schooled by Floyd Mayweather jnr, and just last year, Jake took on a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in what was, at that point, the most-streamed sporting event of all time and the biggest gate in US boxing history outside of Las Vegas. Paul-Tyson was, of course, a shambles, but the clear highlight of the card was the second rematch between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, the co-main event. Taylor's victory was highly contentious, but the spectacle was genuinely awesome, and seen by 50 million households throughout the world, many of them new to the sport - and only because they shared the spotlight with Paul and Tyson. In Australia, the circuit is dominated by ex-footy players. Some of the cards are glorified sportsmen's nights. But Gallen has at least measured up against true boxers like Justis Huni, and was once considered Australia's third-best heavyweight, while Sonny Bill's boxing links go back as far as 2009, just before his debut in New Zealand rugby. Now their decades-long personal feud - partly legit, partly confected, just like real boxing - can be settled in the ring. It'll be the last act of both of their athletic careers. What does this all mean? Boxing has always been a bit of a circus, but now the tent is bigger, the rules are different, and the whole thing plays perfectly in today's personality-driven media landscape. What matters most is not how many rounds you've fought, but how many people want to watch you do it. That might offend the purists, but boxing has never really belonged to them. It belongs to whoever can sell it, and there's a lesson in that for the so-called sweet science. Roll your eyes if you want. But don't hate the players, like Gallen and SBW. Hate the game.
