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USA Today
02-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Katie Ledecky wins gold in 800m freestyle at swimming world championships
American Katie Ledecky continued her domination of the women's 800 meters freestyle with a brilliant swim to win gold at the world championships in Singapore on Saturday and deny Summer McIntosh the chance to win five individual titles. It was Ledecky's seventh gold medal in the event at the world championships and 23rd world title overall, the 28-year-old edging out Australian Lani Pallister and McIntosh with a time of eight minutes and 05:62 seconds. Pallister pushed hard all the way and took a remarkable silver in 8:05.98, while Canadian McIntosh was third in 8:07.29. "That's pretty incredible, three of us going under 8:10 ... incredibly fast. They pushed me all the way," Ledecky said. "I'm just really happy I could put that together. I just told myself to trust my legs, because I've gotten a bit better at kicking. Just running home at the end. "I don't think I have anything to lose at this point of my career," added the 28-year-old. "Just enjoying the crowd, swimming against the best in the world. Everyone in that heat is the next generation of swimmers coming up; just proud to be a part of it." Ledecky also won gold in the 1,500 and bronze in the 400, and is closing in on compatriot Michael Phelps' record of 26 world championships titles. The defeat ended McIntosh's bid to match Phelps's record of five individual titles at a single world championship, though beating Ledecky in the 800 always looked like it would be the biggest obstacle on the 18-year-old's programme. Ledecky broke her own 800 world record in May, swimming 8:04.12 to improve a mark she set nearly a decade ago at the Rio Games, but McIntosh had also been making waves in the event in the build-up to the world championships. She posted the third-fastest time ever in June and ended Ledecky's 13-year unbeaten streak in 2024 when she bested the American at a sectionals meeting in Florida. McIntosh said she would try to get the race out of her mind as quickly as possible with another shot at a gold medal coming up in the 400 individual medley on Sunday. "I know I'm the favourite going in so it's a bit of a different set-up. I'm excited to finish off this meet with a really strong swim and I have full confidence for the IM," she added. "I went into the 800 free with full confidence as well so I think this is a really big learning lesson for me." Saturday's race was billed as a showdown between Ledecky and McIntosh but Pallister threw a spanner in the works by taking an incredible five seconds off her personal best. "I feel like that's been the biggest hyped-up race and the 800 is my best event, obviously with an 8:05," Pallister, who took bronze in the 1,500 and finished fourth in the 400, told Australian broadcaster Nine Network. "Coming off the 1,500, being comfortable swimming next to Katie, being close in the 400, I knew I had a sub 8:10 in me. I didn't think I'd be 8:05 here, but now I'm really thrilled with that."
Irish Daily Mirror
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Intriguing Katie Taylor claim that could have changed her boxing destiny
Pete Taylor says that his daughter Katie would not have turned pro if he had been in her corner in Rio. The pair were publicly reunited ahead of the sell-out bout at Madison Square Garden, but they had been back in contact for some time after Katie stopped working with her dad after he split from her mother. He revealed how they reunited in the gym in the States, when Katie started working towards the trilogy fight, for the first time in around a decade. "Katie said, 'will you come over and do a bit of training with me', I said I can come over at the weekend and we were training away, it was great, it was crazy it was," he recalled. "It was just like we never stopped, you've got to click with someone with pads and straight away it was working. We had a good week, and then she booked to come over to Amsterdam to train. "It messed up Serrano's head as well a bit, I think. We get on great and I think I know what she's thinking before she does half the time. "If you look back if things didn't happen the way they did with her ma, myself, relationships, she wouldn't be where she is so everything happened for the right reasons." Taylor senior had fostered Katie's talent in the boxing ring from the start, guiding her true a trailblazing amateur career that saw her win five World Championships. But their ultra-successful partnership ended in the wake of the London 2012 Olympics, when Katie won gold, after her father left home. "If she had won the gold in 2016 she wouldn't have turned pro because I would never have had her turn professional, I didn't want her to turn professional ever," he told James English's 'Anything Goes' podcast. "We were only talking about this last month when I was over there, she wouldn't have turned pro and she wouldn't be where she is now. Ireland's Katie Taylor dejected after losing her fight at the Rio Games (Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan) "You could stay amateur and win three or four (Olympic) golds but she would never have created the legacy for women's boxing that she has created now. So look, maybe it worked out right for her." There were a couple of occasions when he was coaching another boxer on the same card that Katie was fighting on, but he would leave the venue after his own boxer was finished. "It was tough," he admitted. "I don't want Katie's fights as a pro (live), I only watch the fight after I know she's won. "Twice we were on the same card as Katie, and once my lad boxed I left, I was gone. I've no control in the fight so I don't watch it. "Ross (Enamait, her coach) could be shouting something into Katie and I could shout in the opposite, it would be a head melt for him because she'd recognise my voice. "I wasn't in the corner for the third Serrano fight, I watched it at home but I only watched it after the fight was over. The first two fights I would have been saying to her, 'What are you doing, move your legs'." He did make the point to Katie in the run-up to the third showdown and it was a different kind of contest, with the Bray bomber winning comfortably after the rivals went to war in the first two clashes. "I saw her face after the first one because we Face Timed each other, and this was why I didn't want her to go into pro boxing," admitted Pete. "There's no padding, and the state of the faces afterwards, especially when it's your daughter. Even the second fight with the clash of heads, Katie's jaw was out there." Asked if he thinks she will now retire, Pete replied: "She won it so easy, is she going to retire, is she going to think, 'that was a great performance, I'm going to carry on'. Look, she'll make her own mind up. "It's very difficult, you've got to not listen to what anyone else is saying and just do what you want to do." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Katie Taylor emotionally reconciles with dad Pete after NINE YEARS and welcomes him back for Amanda Serrano trilogy
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KATIE TAYLOR will enter the most important fight of her boxing career having reunited with the person who started it all. Taylor had been estranged from her dad Pete - her first coach - after discovering that he had been having an affair. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Peter Taylor with his boxing star daughter Katie 7 Peter and Katie at the AIBA Women's World Championships in China Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription 7 They have reconciled in recent years Credit: Sportsfile Pete's marriage with Taylor's mum Bridgett collapsed while he also lost the relationship with his daughter. The former amateur light-heavyweight champion has been forced to watch his girl's legendary career from the sidelines for the last decade. But, ahead of Taylor's New York trilogy fight with Amanda Serrano in the early hours of Saturday night on Netflix, the two have finally reconciled. Taylor, 39, said: "To be back training with him is huge for me, you can't mention my story without mentioning my dad." Her manager and close confidant Brian Peters said: "It takes some doing just to get that relationship back, that takes work but it's beautiful to see it. "Katie uses a great word restoration." Taylor was only 12 when she first laced up the gloves, inspired by her older brothers Peter and Lee who boxed for the St. Fergal's Boxing Club in Bray. But it was her dad who she looked up to most. 7 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The two were inseparable, travelling around the world in amateur boxing tournaments, campaigning to get women's boxing recognised in Ireland and the Olympics. Pete watched his daughter make history in 2001 when she boxed in the first officially sanctioned female bout in Ireland. Katie Taylor takes on Amanda Serrano in dramatic rematch at Madison Square Garden Taylor then fought for female boxing's inclusion in the Olympics by competing in showcase bouts in front of IOC officials. After pioneering the landmark introduction of female boxing at the 2012 Games in London - she won gold with her dad in her corner. But just before the Rio Games four years later, the Irish icon's world was rocked with the news of her father's affair. She was knocked out in round one in Brazil - as a red hot favourite at the time - and turned professional just months later in the wake of cutting out her dad. Taylor also relocated to Connecticut - over 3,000 miles away from Ireland where she is a celebrated sporting hero - and always enjoyed living the quiet life. American Ross Enamait took over as her coach in the absence of Pete and guided Taylor to undisputed titles in TWO different weight classes. To be back training with him is huge for me, you can't mention my story without mentioning my dad. Katie Taylor Her sensational 25 fight run - losing only once to Chantelle Cameron which she avenged in the rematch - included two epic wins over Serrano. But with dad Pete now back in the corner - he expects the third bout to be Taylor's most decisive after two close and disputed decision wins. He said: "This is a happy place for us. We're just so comfortable in here together. "Katie's my child and I'm her dad. Even though Ross has been with her for the last ten years, I still know Katie better than anybody else. "When you have two people that is interested in one person, and the conversations are always going to be constructive, two is better than one. "No matter what, she'll always find a way of winning. No disrespect to Amanda Serrano, I don't think she has the tools to beat Katie. "Katie's got the abilities to adapt all the time. Obviously, Amanda's going to adapt as well. You've seen the best of Amanda Serrano in both fights in all fairness. "I still don't think you've seen the best of Katie Taylor and I think in this fight you're going to see the best Katie Taylor and it's going to shock Amanda Serrano." 7 Amanda Serrano lost her first fight to Taylor in 2022 Credit: AP 7 Serrano also lost the rematch Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Katie Taylor emotionally reconciles with dad Pete after NINE YEARS and welcomes him back for Amanda Serrano trilogy
KATIE TAYLOR will enter the most important fight of her boxing career having reunited with the person who started it all. Taylor had been estranged from her dad Pete - 7 Peter Taylor with his boxing star daughter Katie 7 Peter and Katie at the AIBA Women's World Championships in China Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription 7 They have reconciled in recent years Credit: Sportsfile Pete's marriage with Taylor's mum Bridgett collapsed while he also lost the relationship with his daughter. The former amateur light-heavyweight champion has been forced to watch his girl's legendary career from the sidelines for the last decade. But, ahead of Taylor's New York trilogy fight with Amanda Serrano in the early hours of Saturday night on Netflix, the two have finally reconciled. Taylor, 39, said: "To be back training with him is huge for me, you can't mention my story without mentioning my dad." Her manager and close confidant Brian Peters said: "It takes some doing just to get that relationship back, that takes work but it's beautiful to see it. "Katie uses a great word restoration." Taylor was only 12 when she first laced up the gloves, inspired by her older brothers Peter and Lee who boxed for the St. Fergal's Boxing Club in Bray. But it was her dad who she looked up to most. Most read in Boxing 7 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The two were inseparable, travelling around the world in amateur boxing tournaments, campaigning to get women's boxing recognised in Ireland and the Olympics. Pete watched his daughter make history in 2001 when she boxed in the first officially sanctioned female bout in Ireland. Katie Taylor takes on Amanda Serrano in dramatic rematch at Madison Square Garden Taylor then fought for female boxing's inclusion in the Olympics by competing in After pioneering the landmark introduction of female boxing at the 2012 Games in London - she won gold with her dad in her corner. But just before the Rio Games four years later, the Irish icon's world was rocked with the news of her father's affair. She was knocked out in round one in Brazil - as a red hot favourite at the time - and turned professional just months later in the wake of cutting out her dad. Taylor also relocated to Connecticut - over 3,000 miles away from Ireland where she is a celebrated sporting hero - and always enjoyed living the quiet life. American Ross Enamait took over as her coach in the absence of Pete and guided Taylor to undisputed titles in TWO different weight classes. To be back training with him is huge for me, you can't mention my story without mentioning my dad. Katie Taylor Her sensational 25 fight run - losing only once to Chantelle Cameron which she avenged in the rematch - But with dad Pete now back in the corner - he expects the third bout to be Taylor's most decisive after two close and disputed decision wins. He said: "This is a happy place for us. We're just so comfortable in here together. "Katie's my child and I'm her dad. Even though Ross has been with her for the last ten years, I still know Katie better than anybody else. "When you have two people that is interested in one person, and the conversations are always going to be constructive, two is better than one. "No matter what, she'll always find a way of winning. No disrespect to Amanda Serrano, I don't think she has the tools to beat Katie. Read more on the Irish Sun "Katie's got the abilities to adapt all the time. Obviously, Amanda's going to adapt as well. You've seen the best of Amanda Serrano in both fights in all fairness. "I still don't think you've seen the best of Katie Taylor and I think in this fight you're going to see the best Katie Taylor and it's going to shock Amanda Serrano." 7 Amanda Serrano lost her first fight to Taylor in 2022 Credit: AP 7 Serrano also lost the rematch Credit: Getty 7 They now meet in a trilogy clash Credit: The Mega Agency
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First Post
07-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Neeraj Chopra Classic first impressions: '15,000 people came to cheer', former Olympic and world champions react
Thomas Rohler and Julius Yego, two of the biggest athletes other than Neeraj Chopra himself who took part in the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 in Bengaluru, share their first impressions of the historic event in India. read more The top athletes including former Olympic and world champions who flew down to India on Neeraj Chopra's request for India's first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Gold-Level event in Bengaluru left the country highly impressed, feeling loved and asking for more. The inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 at the Sri Kanteerava stadium in Bengaluru on 5 July was a watershed moment for Indian athletics in many ways. The one-day javelin throw event, named after the two-time Olympic medallist and co-organiser Neeraj, witnessed a massive outpouring of love from locals as 14,593 fans turned up to the stadium – an unbelievable statistic for an athletics event in the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They were greeted by some thrilling javelin throw action as 2023 world champion, Neeraj clinched the top spot with a strong 86.18m throw in difficult windy conditions. Kenya's Julius Yego, the 2015 world champion and Rio Games silver medallist, came second with an 84.51m throw and Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage took the third spot with a best effort of 84.34m. Also Read | Bengaluru witnesses home champion Neeraj's class and rare athletics celebration 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Rohler of Germany, one of the biggest names in the 12-man field, had a tough night, finishing 11th with a best attempt of 75.85m. Rohler, Yego praise Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 That, however, didn't spoil his mood as he was happy to see thousands of fans on the ground. 'I think we all need to be thankful for the work and the power that Neeraj put into this event. We've seen how much joy all these people had in the stadium,' Rohler, who has struggled with back injuries over the years, said. 'I mean, we were seeing one event today, not the whole track and field, just javelin. And there were almost 15,000 people coming to cheer for sticks flying far. That is a beautiful thing.' Asked about what would be his recommendation regarding the event to other European athletes, Rohler said: 'The experience was very good. I think that the competition, the friendship that we had, we sat together, Olympic champions at one table, had Indian food together. It was just the overall experience. Thank you guys.' Thomas Rohler praised Neeraj Chopra for making the event possible. Image: Reuters Yego, silver medallist in the 2016 Summer Games, felt that after a successful start, more events could be added to the NC Classic in the next edition. 'The organisation was really nice. I enjoyed every bit of this competition. The accommodation, the hotel, everything was really nice, you know, the security. Maybe next year if possible we can have maybe two events or three events. It's fine because I've seen India doing so many in the long jump, in the triple jump. So we can have the same events going at the same time,' Yego, known as 'Mr YouTube' for learning the sport by watching videos, said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I've enjoyed it, I love the fans. Every other time on my Instagram I get a lot of messages from the Indians. They really cheer me and sometimes I tell them, you have your own champion who is doing so well and I say, yeah, we want you to push him and today I tried to push him.'
