Latest news with #Olympics2024
Forbes
4 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Ilona Maher Focused On World Cup Glory
USA rugby star Ilona Maher celebrates following victory during the Women's Rugby Sevens Bronze medal ... More match at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by) Last summer, the U.S. Women's National Rugby team pulled off an upset win over Australia to take the bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Since then, the team's biggest star, prop Ilona Maher, has been almost everywhere. Maher called the experience of playing in Paris in front of 60,000-person crowds 'amazing' and added, 'I don't think I've taken a breath since.' The USA team was initially paired with rugby powerhouse France in the tournament's Group C, along with Japan and Brazil. On July 28, 2024, the Eagles opened up their Olympic Rugby Sevens campaign with an astounding 36-7 win over Japan, in which Maher scored a try (5 points) in the 9th minute of play. In their next game, less than four hours later, the USA women secured their advance to the next round with a 24-7 win over Brazil in which Maher also scored. In the next round, the USA faced Great Britain in the Olympic quarterfinals, pulling off a 17-7 win, in which Maher played more of a defensive and support role. After losing to eventual gold medalists New Zealand in the semifinals, the Americans faced Australia in the bronze medal match, winning last-minute 14-12, after Maher supplied the ball to center Alex Sedrick, who ran it in for the winning score. Last week, when I interviewed Maher for the third time, via Zoom, she spoke not only about winning a medal for the USA but also about the experience of representing her country on the biggest stage. 'Sometimes it still doesn't feel real," Maher explained, while stating that the team's 'whole goal was getting a medal. Even though it was bronze to us, it felt like gold (to us), and I think to the world, it felt like gold in many ways.' And while millions of Americans, both everyday sports fans and media pundits alike, are striving to learn the ins and outs of rugby, Maher says that the enthusiasm during and since the Olympics has been remarkable. 'Whenever someone talks about me, they sometimes will call me a gold medalist, and I'm like, you're wrong, but thank you so much," Maher said. "We have, I think, elevated the sport much more than anything. It's been a really cool role, and I think rugby is really reaping the benefits of it.' The 2024 Olympics marked the New Zealand women's team's second gold medal in Olympic Rugby Sevens. Canada took the silver medal, and the USA's bronze was the country's first Olympic medal in rugby overall. But it was in the after-party from the USA's exceptional finish that saw Maher's star rise in the public space. VIDEO: A highlight reel of Ilona Maher's rugby power The 5-foot-10 Maher, a three-time NIRA college rugby champion, turned up as a guest on Late Night With Seth Meyers just hours after arriving back in the USA from France, after the August 11 closing ceremony. She also made the rounds elsewhere on television, being booked for an interview with CBS Mornings, reading fun tweets for Buzzfeed, and a fun sit-down on Peacock with comedians Kevin Hart and Keenan Thompson. CNN even went so far as to call Ilona Maher 'the face of rugby.' In addition to an ongoing media tour, Maher has experienced a rise on social media visibility, with her Instagram follower count rising from 1 million to 5 million. And most recently, Maher was tapped by Sports Illustrated to be one of the athletes featured in SI's 2025 Swimsuit Edition. Yet, millions of Americans got to know Maher from her participation this past year in ABC's TV hit series Dancing With The Stars. This season, Maher was paired with professional dancer Alan Bersten to compete against NBA veteran Dwight Howard, actors Eric Roberts and Tori Spelling, and others. Maher and her partner made it to the final round of the Dancing With The Stars competition. Yet Maher said that one of her main interests, besides winning, of course, has been to grow the game of rugby and see it provide more opportunities for the sport's top players. She thinks the USA team's performance will increase visibility for the game's athletes. 'As female athletes, we especially want to be sponsored because we want to be able to play our sport comfortably. I think there is starting to be a change in that.' Right before the Summer Olympics' conclusion, and the same day that the USA won bronze, businesswoman and investor Michele Kang, owner of the Washington Spirit, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, and London City Lionesses women's soccer clubs, announced a $4 million donation to the USA Women's Rugby Sevens team. VIDEO: Ilona Maher talks rugby and birthday celebrations with Seth Meyers. On top of being the most exciting rugby player on the planet right now, Maher is known as an advocate for body positivity. It's one big reason she's been tapped for a new endorsement deal with TJ Maxx. The brand's newest initiative, championing what it calls 'True Originals,' focuses on women who are boldly and authentically themselves. In addition to signing Maher, TJ Maxx has also enlisted Tony and Grammy award-winning singer Renée Elise Goldsberry, world-renowned pianist and composer Chloe Flower, and others to launch a groundbreaking new program that brings dynamic sponsorships to everyday women for being exactly who they already are. 'It's important for us (women) to be able to focus on ourselves, be true originals, and really, live out authentically our lives and passions," Maher said. She adds that her increased work of the field has allowed her to be 'not just a rugby player,' but to undertake other pursuits such as her TV appearances and, hopefully, one day acting. 'Long-term, I definitely want to branch out more. I would love to see what I can do in the other media space, whether it's the commercial space, the film space.' Ilona Maher shines, touting authenticity for new endorser TJ Maxx Fellow TJ Maxx ambassador Flower thinks that Maher is exactly the kind of person women need to hear more from. 'Ilona is the kind of powerhouse you can't help but be inspired by – not just because of her incredible talent on the field, but because of how she shows up off of it,' Flower said this week. "She leads with authenticity and boldness–exactly what this campaign is all about. I'm so proud to stand alongside her as we champion women who are rewriting the rules just by being themselves.' In addition to Maher's partnership with TJ Maxx, she has also won recent endorsement deals and partnerships with beauty megabrand L'Oreal, skin care firm Paula's Choice, as well as a multi-year agreement with sports giant Adidas. Last summer, before the Olympics, she also scored a partnership with Procter & Gamble to pitch one of their flagship products, Secret. And on the rugby scene, Maher was recruited by England's Premiership Women's Rugby league to play a season for the Bristol Bears, helping the team snag fourth place in the 2025 season, and also helping increase attendance. But Maher said she has one other major item on her task list, the Women's Rugby World Cup. This year's competition takes place in England during the month of August, with matches set to kick off in eight cities, including London, Manchester, Brighton, and Bristol. The USA's first game against England is on August 22, with a total of 16 countries competing for the trophy. The Eagles' best result in the Women's Rugby World Cup happened in 1991, when the USA were crowned champions. Maher is gearing up for the challenge and hopes that her USA squad can match that feat. 'That's the focus right now, and my hope for the game (of rugby) is that more eyes will be on it," Maher said. "I hope it's not just eyes on me. We have so many more great athletes, and people are recognizing us and what we're capable of.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Imane Khelif breaks silence after leaked medical report ‘proves Olympic gender-row boxer is a biological male'
IMANE KHELIF has issued a response after a leaked medical report claimed the gold medal-winning Olympian was a "biological male". Khelif, 26, won Algeria's first-ever female gold medal in boxing during the Paris Games in 2024. 2 However, during Khelif's run to the final, she was embroiled in a bitter gender row after being banned from International Boxing Association competition in 2023. The IBA banned Khelif after tests taken in New Delhi allegedly produced the DNA of a 'male'. The IOC - who replaced the IBA as the Olympic's boxing governing body - were warned about the tests and urged to remove Khelif from the competition. But Khelif was allowed to box in Paris because of her female passport status. Now, the alleged sex-test results from the 2023 World Championships have been published for the first time by 3 Wire Sports, and suggest the boxer is biologically male. American journalist Alan Abrahamson produced the result of a test said to have been carried out on the boxer in New Delhi in March 2023 - which triggered the boxer's disqualification. The document published summarises the findings on Khelif as 'abnormal', stating: 'Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype." A karyotype refers to an individual's complete set of chromosomes, which in Khelif's case has been reported by (IBA) as being XY, the male pattern. Khelif refused to respond directly to the claims in a social media post on Monday, instead focusing on her work as a Unicef ambassador - a role she has held since January 2024. The post featured a photo of Khelif wearing a blue polo bearing the organisation's logo as she made a heart symbol with her hands to celebrate the "Global Day of Parents". Imane Khelif wins Olympic gold in women's welterweight final after huge gender row that has grabbed worldwide attention She paid tribute to her own parents in the caption, saying: "Today, I became a champion, but it all started long ago. When my parents believed in me, even when the dream felt too big. "When they supported me, listened to me, and stood by me. Being a parent isn't easy. There's no manual. But the love, patience, and trust you give your child can change everything. "On this #GlobalDayOfParents, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every parent who chooses, every single day, to be there for their children. "Together with @unicefalgerie, I'm celebrating these everyday heroes. Because when parents are supported, children can dream and succeed." The alleged test results disputing Khelif's gender carry the letterhead of Dr Lal PathLabs in New Delhi, accredited by the American College of Pathologists and certified by the Swiss-based International Organisation for Standardisation. This directly challenges what IOC spokesman Mark Adams said in a tense news conference at the Paris Olympics. He described the results that saw Khelif banned as 'ad hoc' and 'not legitimate'. IOC president Thomas Bach even claimed that the results are the product of a Russian-led misinformation campaign. It followed after the IBA - headed by Russia's Umar Kremlev - had been stripped of IOC recognition in a row over ethics and financial management. Khelif has always denied being a biological male and even named JK Rowling and Elon Musk in a cyberbullying lawsuit. And the 26-year-old has vowed to fight on, even eyeing another gold at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. But World Boxing has ruled that Khelif is ineligible to enter future events as a woman without first submitting to the same chromosome testing that has already triggered the boxer's disqualification at global level. The governing body - provisionally approved to run Olympic boxing in LA - announced that all athletes in its competitions over 18 years old must undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test to determine their sex. The test detects chromosomal material through a mouth swab, saliva or blood. Khelif has failed to provide any evidence of having female chromosomes in the nine months since the gender scandal erupted. In February, Khelif spoke out in her defence and wrote: 'For two years, I have taken the high road while my name and image have been used, unauthorised, to further personal and political agendas through the spreading and dissemination of baseless lies and misinformation. But silence is no longer an option. 'The IBA, an organisation that I am no longer associated with and which is no longer recognised by the IOC, have again made baseless accusations that are false and offensive, using them to further their agenda... 'My team is carefully reviewing the situation and will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that my rights and the principles of fair competition are upheld." An IOC spokesperson told Sun Sport: "The IOC has always made it clear that eligibility criteria are the responsibility of the respective International Federation. "The factors that matter to sports performance are unique to each sport, discipline, and/or event. "We await the full details how sex testing will be implemented in a safe, fair and legally enforceable way."
CBC
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Paris silver medallists Humana-Paredes, Wilkerson set sights on Hollywood ending at next Olympics
The scene was straight out of a sports movie. It was the women's beach volleyball final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, played under the lights beneath the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in mid-August. On one side stood Brazil's Ana Patricia Ramos and Eduarda Santos (Duda) Lisboa, a top team from a powerhouse country. Across from them lingered Canada's Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson. The Toronto-born duo was not expected to find itself in that moment — a mere 18 tournaments over two years together had shown itself with a 1-2 record in group play. But Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson rallied to win a lucky loser match, rolled through the first two rounds of the knockout stage, then won a three-setter in the semis to buck the odds and reach the final. Still, the Canadians entered as underdogs. Then, fireworks: a closely contested first set ended with a 26-24 Brazilian win, but the Canadians returned fire with a dominant 21-12 second-set victory. Along the way, Wilkerson and Ramos jawed like NHLers in a playoff scrum, prompting the in-game DJ to cheekily play John Lennon's Imagine. After a narrow third set, Ramos and Duda emerged with the Olympic title, ruining the Canadians' Hollywood ending. Canada takes silver in women's beach volleyball after loss to Brazil 10 months ago Duration 2:03 Speaking eight months later, Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson were both still grappling with the duality of claiming Canada's first-ever women's medal in the sport while ending their tournament with a loss. "It was so much that led up to that point, not even just the two weeks at the Olympics," Humana-Paredes said. "When you're so close to being at the top and fighting for what you have been working for for so long and you fall short and like just short, that definitely hurts. "It's a huge sting. And I think it takes time for sure for that to just kind of sting less and less, but there's still so much to be proud of." Now set up for training in California, the Canadians' movie isn't over – they plan to continue working together, with the goal of gold and a literal Hollywood finish at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson will compete at their second stop of the Elite16 Beach Pro Tour season beginning Wednesday in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Live coverage of the tournament will be available on and CBC Gem. Their season debut in April was a bit of a reversal of their Olympic journey – the Canadians went undefeated in group play but fell in the quarterfinals, denying them a semifinal rematch against Ramos and Duda. Their next major tournament is the world championship in November in Adelaide, Australia. "Solidifying our spot as a world-class team on the World Tour is the new challenge that we're looking forward to," Wilkerson said. "We've always known we could do it. We've proven that we're the best in the world. So now to be able to do it over and over again is going to be the hardest challenge I think any athlete in any sport does, and it really differentiates the legendary ones from those that are extremely talented." Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson barely had time to process in the aftermath of their silver medal, with the regular season resuming just two weeks after that dramatic final and continuing through the fall. Humana-Paredes said their first downtime came around Christmas, but the duo took a longer-than-usual off-season to regroup. Now, they return to competition as Olympic silver medallists and with new targets painted on their backs. But in their view, the buildup to Los Angeles began two years ago – Paris was just a bonus. "We kind of have our foundation, but now it's like, OK, now we can get creative. Now we can push boundaries. I think we know we had moments where we could do that in the lead-up to Paris, but not as much as I feel like we have now," Humana-Paredes said. For Humana-Paredes, the silver medal could have been a culmination. Alongside former partner Sarah Pavan, she'd won the world title in 2019 and entered the Tokyo Olympic two years later among the favourites – only to lose in the quarterfinals. Finally reaching the Olympic podium three years later – albeit with a new teammate – could have felt like the end of a journey. Instead, it's only made her hungrier. "I look back at some of those games, I'm like, 'Oh, we can do that so much better.' And so I think there's a level of, we're not settling on that result. We keep moving forward. I think for better or for worse, you just keep moving and you keep going in the direction you want to go and you do it together," she said. Plus, while the silver was satisfying, it still did come with the bitter tinge of losing gold. "You can have both feelings. Like you can be disappointed and be super proud at the same time. And I think that's what was really eye-opening for me being like, 'Yeah, I'm all those things and more,'" Humana-Paredes said. Wilkerson is taking a similar approach. "I never want to become accustomed to not meeting my goals. That's not a good feeling. But outside of that, it's still something I'm processing and choosing to lean on how amazing of an opportunity it [was], choosing to be grateful and just be so proud," Wilkerson said. She said the attitude now goes something like this: they won Olympic silver just 18 tournaments into their time together – just think about what that could look like by 2028. "We're trying to use it to our advantage," Wilkerson said. More than anything, though, the vibes are immaculate between Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson. And that fact alone gives them confidence that, come 2028, they can take that final step. "I genuinely feel that Mel wants the best for me and I want the best for her and I think that's what's going to keep us strong throughout all of the challenges that are absolutely going to come," Wilkerson said. "We're getting to know each other more and more and she's the person I spend the most time with in my entire life. I think we find ways to enjoy that — and genuinely."
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Arshad Nadeem breaks silence on Neeraj Chopra's 'not close friends' remark: 'I will always stand with our army'
Pakistan's javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, who won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, refused to comment on Neeraj Chopra's recent remarks about their friendship. The 28-year-old brought up the recent cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan in the conversation when he was asked to address Neeraj Chopra's recent comments ahead of the Doha Diamond League. Ahead of the Doha Diamond League, Neeraj Chopra had recently remarked that he never shared a close friendship with Arshad Nadeem. He also said that their dynamic is likely to change following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists. "I want to clarify that I don't have a particularly strong relationship with Nadeem - we were never really close friends. But because of the current situation, things will not be as they were. That said, if someone speaks to me with respect, I always respond in kind," Neeraj told reporters on the eve of the Doha Diamond League. Arshad Nadeem was asked about this particular Neeraj Chopra comment on Thursday ahead of his departure for the Asian Athletics Championships. Responding to this query, Arshad told reporters, "I don't want to make any comments about Neeraj because of the ongoing conflict with India. I come from a village, and I will only say that my family and I will always stand with our army." Earlier, Neeraj Chopra, who recently threw 90m for the first time in his career, faced backlash from fans on social media after he invited Arshad Nadeem to the now-postponed inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic. The World Athletics-approved event was originally scheduled to be played in Bengaluru. Neeraj had extended invitations to international javelin throwers, including Arshad. However, it must be mentioned that the invitations were sent prior to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The tensions between both countries then escalated at the border. However, a ceasefire was eventually declared. Neeraj and Arshad have been having intense battles since the 2018 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. At the Paris Olympics, where Neeraj Chopra was the hot favourite to win the gold medal, Arshad Nadeem stubbed the world with a throw of 92.97 metres.
India Gazette
22-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports revises Scheme of Assistance to NSFs, 13 Sports to adopt league culture
New Delhi [India] May 22 (ANI): Thirteen sports in India will soon have league culture, basketball, badminton, archery, boxing, wrestling, white water sports and polo are the main games under which the league will start, accoridng a release from Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). These reforms aim to build a robust, accountable, and performance-driven sports ecosystem, ensuring alignment with India's long-term goal of becoming a global sporting powerhouse and eventual host of the 2036 Olympic Games. Games that are under operation in leagues include Hockey, Kabaddi, Shooting, and Yogasana. Games in which progress is going on for a league culture include Cycling and Rugby. Under planning leagues include Basketball, Badminton, Archery, Boxing, Wrestling, White Water Sports and Polo. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports had revised the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs; the last revision was in February 2022. The revision follows the commencement of a new Olympic Cycle post-Paris Olympics 2024, reflecting India's aspirations to host the 2036 Olympic Games and addressing emerging challenges. Revision considers increased costs due to inflation in training, infrastructure development, equipment procurement, and athlete welfare. Financial assistance for conducting National Championships increased to 90 lakhs for high priority sports, 75 lakhs for priority sports (Up from the previous limit of Rs51 lakh). Financial assistance for hosting International Tournaments in India doubled to Rs2 crore. Pro Kabaddi League and Hockey India League are one of the major sports leagues of the country. Hockey India League was founded in 2013 as a part of Hockey India's attempt to develop an International Hockey Federation-sanctioned league. The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is an Indian professional Kabaddi league for men. It was founded in 2014, It is the most popular kabaddi league in the world. Salary Hikes for Coaches: Chief National Coach: from 5 lakh to 7.5 lakh per month, other Coaches: from 2 lakh to 3 lakh per month. Diet Charges increased significantly, senior athletes: from 690 to 1000 per day per athlete, for junior athletes: from 480 to 850 per day per athlete. Focus on Grassroots and Athlete Development: NSFs must earmark at least 20% of their annual budget for grassroots development, channelled through affiliate units for junior/youth development. NSFs of High Priority and Priority sports disciplines shall identify a probable group of athletes in two categories of Senior Group and Junior Group with high performance potential. These athletes will be trained at accredited academies, selected by NSFs through a fair and transparent process. The training programme delivered at these accredited academies for a particular sport will be monitored by the High Performance Director (HPD) of the respective sport. Each Probable Group athlete is to receive Rs10,000 per month as dietary allowance during non-camp days, so that they are not deprived of a proper diet. At least 10% of Scheme funds will be allocated for: Coach and technical staff development, conduct of training courses in India, courses for Indian personnel abroad, development of coaching curriculum, conduct of Conferences, seminars, workshops, Inviting Foreign/Indian experts for conduct of workshops/courses, conduct of national and international certification courses, all NSFs to have a Coaching Education Expert dedicated to the training of trainers, foreign Experts shall also mandatorily train and build capacity of local officials and coaches during non-training periods as part of Key Results Areas (KRAs). (ANI)
