Latest news with #Redgrave
The National
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The National
Sammi Kinghorn: The London Marathon is the change I need in 2025
Those 26.2 miles at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, in which she finished in fourth place were, she said at the time, 'absolutely awful'. Yet, in the same way that Redgrave back-peddled on his promise never to be seen in a boat again, Kinghorn, too, has reneged on her pledge never to attempt a marathon again. Tomorrow, the 29-year-old will be on the start line for the London Marathon Wheelchair race. The timing of this return to the marathon is, from the outside anyway, surprising. Less than a year ago, at Paris 2024, Kinghorn achieving the goal she has been working towards for over a decade; she became Paralympic champion. Her Paralympic triumph in the T53 100m last September ensured Kinghorn completed the full set of European, World and Paralympic gold medals and even still, seven months on from that remarkable two weeks - she also won four silver medals in Paris - the joy and relief is unmistakeable in Kinghorn's voice. 'Before I actually won gold in Paris, I had wondered if it would ever happen,' she says. 'To achieve it was a huge relief but afterwards, I was mentally very, very tired. I felt exhausted because I'd been in this hyper state for so long and that takes a toll.' Sammi Kinghorn became Paralympic champion last year (Image: Getty Images for IPC) It was soon after Kinghorn's return from the Paralympics that she knew she had to have not necessarily an easy 2025, but a different year. The Borders woman has talked openly about the crippling nerves she experiences pre-race, regularly throwing up just minutes before she heads to the start line. A sabbatical from the high-pressure sprint events in which she has excelled was, then, the idea that came to mind when Kinghorn was pondering her plan for 2025 and so, given she's never one to do things by half, the London Marathon became her primary target. While the physical exertion of training for 26.2 miles rather than just a few hundred metres has been understandably taxing, Kinghorn has revelled in this being her target for the year rather than winning major championship medals, which has consumed her for so long. 'Becoming Paralympic champion, I had achieved all my dreams and so I then wanted to do something where there was no pressure and allow myself to just enjoy racing," she says. 'I got married in January and so the timing of London is great and training hard is not difficult for me so I wasn't daunted by that aspect of the marathon. 'It's cool going into a race knowing there's no pressure. Nobody cares how I do and you never know, maybe I'll be quite good at it.' Having become so accustomed to stadium racing, what Kinghorn is most relishing this weekend is racing around the streets of London and experiencing the atmosphere in the capital that has become so synonymous with this race. 'When I'm in stadiums doing the sprints, my races are so short I often don't hear the crowd because I'm so dialled into my race. So I feel like I'm missing out on that whereas in London, I'll have loads of time to take in the atmosphere and I just want to enjoy the experience. "Everyone I've spoken to says the London crowds are just amazing and that's what I'm most looking forward to this weekend,' she says. 'It's going to be a tough race though, because these are some of the very best endurance athletes ever. 'The start is really important because you want to get into the pack and then you have to know at what points to recover and what points to push hard. 'There's going to be a lot of girls around me, though, and I'll be pushing with other people so I'm hoping that makes the miles go faster.' (Image: Getty) This change of event is not purely to give Kinghorn a rest from the sprints, though, she's also hopeful this year will bring longer-term benefits. Kinghorn has ambitions to make her fourth Paralympic appearance in LA in 2028 and if she wants to head across the Atlantic in three years with a real prospect of adding more golds to her collection, she knows that, perhaps counterintuitively, this London Marathon is exactly the change she needs. 'I'm lucky that my work paid off and I got that gold medal in Paris but my goodness, I'm knackered from it and so I was forced to think about what I need to do for my longevity,' she says. 'Some people can cope with the pressure year after year but it was affecting me, and I don't want to look back at all my races and just remember being sick before them. I want to remember happy stuff but at the moment, the thought of getting on a track just makes me feel nervous. 'Currently, I'm second in the world rankings, and I could probably comfortably stay in second for quite a few more years. But no, I want to go out there and challenge for number one. And the only way I can do that is if I take some time out now. I'm going to train just as hard as I always have, but I'm going to give my mind a break. 'I feel like I've earned the right to do this - to have a year off dashing around the world and just focus on bettering myself. 'So I think this year will make me a better person as well as a better athlete.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Boat Race water quality 'an ongoing concern'
Boat Race organisers say water quality is an "ongoing concern" before Sunday's race following claims that the River Thames fails basic safety standards. Environmental charity River Action says results from water-quality testing show levels of E. coli bacteria almost three times above the Environment Agency's threshold for "poor" bathing waters. University of Oxford rowers criticised sewage levels in the Thames after losing last year's men's race. Three members of the team suffered stomach bugs before the race, although they cannot be certain it was caused by pollution. Organisers have encouraged rowers from Oxford and Cambridge to follow British Rowing poor water quality guidance, including not entering the water, covering any blisters and wearing footwear when getting in and out of the boat. "Clearly the water quality testing carried out along the River Thames shows there is more work to be done to get our waterways where we all want them to be," the Boat Race Company said. It said it was hopeful the Tideway Tunnel, a deep-level sewer that became operational this year, will have a "transformative effect" on water quality. Thames Water has been approached by BBC Sport for comment. Last month it said that £1.8bn would be committed to improve river health in London. It said the Tideway Tunnel and associated upgrades would capture 95% of the untreated sewage currently entering the tidal Thames in a typical year. British five-time Olympic rowing champion Sir Steve Redgrave said: "It's a real worry that in 2025 unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern. "Rowers, river users and the public deserve better." Last month Redgrave wrote to Environment Secretary Steve Reed calling for more action to combat river pollution. The men's and women's Boat Races take place on Sunday, with live coverage on BBC One from 12:20 BST.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Boat Race water quality 'an ongoing concern'
Boat Race organisers say water quality is an "ongoing concern" following claims that the River Thames fails basic safety standards before Sunday's charity River Action says results from water-quality testing show levels of E. coli bacteria almost three times above the Environment Agency's threshold for "poor" bathing of Oxford rowers criticised sewage levels in the Thames after losing last year's men's members of the team suffered stomach bugs before the race, although they cannot be certain it was caused by have encouraged rowers from Oxford and Cambridge to follow British Rowing poor water quality guidance, including not entering the water, covering any blisters and wearing footwear when getting in and out of the boat."Clearly the water quality testing carried out along the River Thames shows there is more work to be done to get our waterways where we all want them to be," the Boat Race Company said. It said it was hopeful the Tideway Tunnel, a deep-level sewer that became operational this year, will have a "transformative effect" on water Water has been approached by BBC Sport for month it said that £1.8bn would be committed to improve river health in said the Tideway Tunnel and associated upgrades would capture 95% of the untreated sewage currently entering the tidal Thames in a typical five-time Olympic rowing champion Sir Steve Redgrave said: "It's a real worry that in 2025 unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern."Rowers, river users and the public deserve better."Last month Redgrave wrote to Environment Secretary Steve Reed calling for more action to combat river men's and women's Boat Races take place on Sunday, with live coverage on BBC One from 12:20 BST.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Redgrave Expands with the Launch of Energy & Natural Resources Practice, Appointing Raj Rajesh as Head of Practice
LONDON and NEW YORK, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Redgrave, a leading executive search, interim, and leadership advisory firm supporting business owners, investors, and leaders, announced today the launch of its Energy & Natural Resources practice. This expansion reinforces Redgrave's commitment to delivering world-class executive search and leadership advisory solutions to organisations across the energy sector. Leading this initiative is Raj Rajesh, who joins as Head of Energy & Natural Resources. Redgrave's Energy & Natural Resources practice will focus on delivering high-impact leadership talent solutions, helping businesses successfully navigate energy transition, sustainability challenges, and operational transformation. For over two decades, Raj has partnered with organisations in the energy, mining, and industrial sectors to navigate critical transitions. Specialising in executive search and human capital consulting, he aligns leadership talent with strategic business goals, driving success across areas including climate change mitigation, decarbonisation, and the evolving energy landscape. Raj serves clients across EMEA and the U.S., bringing a global perspective to the practice. "The global energy sector is at a pivotal moment, requiring visionary leadership to drive decarbonisation and innovation," said David Angel, Managing Partner at Redgrave. "Raj's proven track record and deep understanding of the industry will enable us to provide significant value to our clients as they navigate this landscape. His appointment reinforces Redgrave's dedication to providing high quality executive search and leadership advice, equipping organisations with the talent required for long-term growth. We are delighted to welcome him to Redgrave." Raj commented: "I am passionate about partnering with clients to build diverse and effective leadership teams that drive sustainable growth. As the energy landscape continues to evolve, organisations require forward-thinking leadership who can navigate complex challenges and seize emerging opportunities. I look forward to supporting our clients shape the future of the sector." About Redgrave Redgrave is a global executive search, interim, and leadership advisory firm with a relentless passion for people. We help leaders shape the future of businesses by delivering solutions that complement their culture and ambition. Redgrave connects organisations with exceptional talent to drive their growth and success. The firm offers a range of services, including search, executive assessment, executive interim, and talent consulting. Find out more at Logo - View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
