Latest news with #TheDestroyer
CBC
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Leon scores twice as Canada women top Haiti 4-1 in friendly, celebrate Desiree Scott
Adriana Leon scored twice in a 4-1 win over Haiti in a friendly on Saturday, sending longtime Canadian midfielder Desiree Scott off in victorious, celebratory fashion. The 37-year-old Scott took to the international pitch for the last time — her 188th cap — in her hometown. Scott entered the field at Princess Auto Stadium after the rest of her team had taken their position to a rousing, standing ovation. In a pre-game ceremony, the Winnipeg native was presented with a bouquet of flowers and custom-framed jersey with her No. 11. A message on the scoreboard read: "FROM THE HEART OF WINNIPEG TO THE WORLD STAGE." A video of Scott's highlights and her words of appreciation was then shown. It finished with her saying, "We just wanted to make our people proud." 'The Destroyer' Known as `The Destroyer,' Scott won gold at the 2020 Olympics, after Olympic bronze in 2016 and 2012 — one of only three players, including Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt, to win three straight Olympic medals. The five-foot-three dynamo was appointed to the Order of Manitoba in 2022. The 2012 team was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019. Scott helped Canada win the CONCACAF championship in 2010, represented Canada at three World Cups (2011, 2015 in Canada, and 2019), and won Pan Am Gold in 2011. Before the match, Canada coach Casey Strong — who missed Saturday's game for personal reasons — dedicated it to Scott's legacy. Canada, ranked No. 7 in the world, responded by dominating the first half on the way to a 4-1 victory over the 51st-ranked Haitians before 9,211 in attendance. Leon scored the first of her two goals in the seventh minute, converting a long cross from forward Janine Sonis. Leon then scored in the ninth minute after taking a nifty pass from Sonis and firing a shot past Haiti goalkeeper Kaina Cesar Pietrus. Canada opened the second half by taking a 3-0 lead. Defender Shelina Zadorsky converted a pass from Sonis in the 50th minute. Haiti then replied in the 52nd minute on a goal by forward Batcheba Louis. Sonis then registered her fourth assist of the match when she sent a cross to Olivia Smith, who headed the ball into the net in the 90th minute. Farewell at home Scott, who was subbed out to more applause in the 55th minute, played her final international match on the same campus where she set records for most career points (56) and assists (31) for the University of Manitoba Bisons. She was named Canada West Rookie of the Year in 2005, a two-time conference all-star and an All-Canadian in 2009. Scott was inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame in 2019. Scott had expected about 200 friends and family to attend the match. Canada will host Haiti in a second friendly in Montreal on June 3.
CTV News
31-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘What dreams are made of': Canadian soccer legend Scott playing final international game in Winnipeg
Winnipeg's own Desiree Scott bids farewell to international soccer in a celebration match on home turf. A Winnipeg soccer legend is lacing up her cleats one last time in her hometown. Desiree Scott will hit the pitch Saturday afternoon with Canada Soccer's Women's National Team (CANWNT) in a friendly match against Haiti. It will be the final international game of the defensive midfielder's 14-year career playing for Canada. 'For me, it's all about a celebration. It's about another opportunity to wear the red and white and just enjoy the moment out there on the field with my team,' Scott told reporters Friday afternoon. 'Not a lot of players get to write their own script and how they end things. So, I'm grateful that I'm here in Winnipeg with family and friends in the stands and getting this opportunity to go for one more.' The defensive midfielder, known as 'The Destroyer' for her hard-nosed approach to soccer, has been a CANWNT mainstay since 2010, racking up 187 caps—the 4th most in team history. 'There's no greater honour than representing your country. I think we don't realize how special that is until you're no longer putting on that jersey and walking around with a maple leaf on your chest,' Scott said. She's played in three FIFA Women's World Cups for Canada and has captured three Olympic medals—one gold and two bronze—during her storied career. 'This team is like family, and we've just had so many great moments, not only on the field, but off it,' she explained. She said defeating the United States women's national team 1-0 in the Tokyo Olympics semifinal en route to the gold medal was a career highlight. 'I mean, that's what dreams are made of. And to see the rise of this team and its success, and to be along that journey playing and having a hand in it, has been my greatest joy.' Scott played for the University of Manitoba Bisons for five seasons prior to joining the women's national team. She's also played for club teams in Canada, England, and the United States. She currently plays for Ottawa Rapid FC in the newly formed Northern Super League. She was appointed to the Order of Manitoba in 2022. Scott's final game with CANWNT kicks off Saturday at 1 p.m. from Princess Auto Stadium.
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘I can live up to it': Giro d'Italia contender Michael Storer on his Destroyer nickname
Few people get to choose their own nickname. And when a sportsperson is labelled as 'The Destroyer', it could go one of two ways. Michael Storer has carried the weighty moniker since Nico Denz coined the nickname during a celebratory dinner for one of the Australian cyclist's two stage wins at the 2021 Vuelta a España. Former teammate Denz turned to his native German to find 'Der Zestörer' as a nod to Storer riding away to a pair of victories in Spain as much as for the similarities to his surname. Storer backed up his breakout Grand Tour with second place overall in the Tour of the Alps the following year, but had to wait longer before impressing again in a three-week race. A top-10 finish in last year's Giro d'Italia was the first sign that Storer might be a general classification challenger in the making. An overall triumph in the Tour of the Alps last month now has the 28-year-old being spoken about as one of the leading GC contenders when the Giro starts in Albania on Friday. 'The Destroyer … yeah, that is my main nickname, at least in the cycling world,' Storer says. 'When I'm in my best shape, I can live up to it. Like in the Tour of the Alps, I think I lived up to that nickname, and hopefully I can in some more races this year. But Grand Tours are a lot about following, there aren't too many riders blowing the rest of the peloton away.' Storer looked to be in the form of his life at the Tour of the Alps as he launched solo attacks on three of the five stages, each in different circumstances. The early move on stage two went a long way to setting up Storer's overall victory, but he still had to dig deep to defend the leader's jersey on the penultimate stage and finally reclaim the lead the next day. Ineos Grenadiers' Thymen Arensman was the only rider able to keep pace with Storer on the GC, but the Australian is confident he kept enough in reserve to still have the legs to ride out three weeks at a higher level. This year's Giro will be missing defending champion Tadej Pogacar but even the absence of the dominant rider of our time is not quite enough to throw the race wide open. Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates teammate Juan Ayuso will also bring strong form to Albania and then Italy, while 2023 winner Primoz Roglic is the heavy favourite to claim his second maglia rosa for Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe. Storer will be riding the Giro for the third time and his second since joining Tudor Pro Cycling ahead of last season. While a 10th place finish last year and recent success in the mountains will ensure he won't fly under the radar, let alone ghost into a high finish, Storer is backing himself to make the most of his climbing legs while aiming to 'minimise losses' in the two individual time trials. 'I'm feeling really good about the Giro because I've held really strong fitness since January and then been slowly building on that,' says Storer, who first showed form this season when winning a stage and finishing fourth overall at Paris-Nice in March. 'I've hit a good level and then just scraped away at those extra marginal gains. I've had a really smooth run up until now. 'I want to target the general classification again but I'd also like to win a stage at the Giro. If I'm really, really good, I can win that from the peloton, otherwise it'll need to be from a breakaway. Either way, I'll get something out of the race. Hopefully I can keep up with Roglic and Ayuso, that would be a really good start.' Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion One of Storer's old friends will be working against him in the mountains, with fellow Western Australian and 2022 Giro winner Jai Hindley riding in support of Roglic. Hindley has not been back on the podium of a three-week race since finishing runner-up at the 2020 Giro, then becoming the second Australian to win a Grand Tour two years later. The pair of climbers will be among as many as 13 Australians on the start line of the Giro this year, with sprinter Kaden Groves out to add to his eight Grand Tour stage wins and Jay Vine back in form with third place at the Tour de Romandie. 'I saw how Jai won the Giro, which is a very clever way to do it, just stay second and hunt GC in the last week,' Storer says with a laugh. 'You don't have to have responsibility for the pink jersey the whole way, just at the end. I've known Jai for ages, since I was 12 years old, and he lives 30kms from my place here [in Italy]. We still go for a couple of training rides together.' Storer has lived near the mountains of northern Italy for five years after first joining the world tour with Team Sunweb in 2018 and later spending two seasons with Groupama FDJ. While he doesn't meet up with Hindley as often as they would like, there are enough riders nearby to keep Storer company and he enjoys coming across 'strong local amateurs' when he is on what he calls an easy day. A familiarity with the Italian terrain and budding links to the locals has made the Giro the 'dream race' for Storer. 'It's the culture around the race that I like, the vibe is really special,' Storer says. 'It's like real cycling. It's not like at the Tour [de France] where it's really international and you get people that aren't really into cycling going to watch. The Giro is authentic. It still feels like something real.'
Scottish Sun
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Conor Benn back in training just 48 hours after brutal fight with Chris Eubank Jr that put both boxers in hospital
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CONOR BENN is already back in the gym - just days after his agonising defeat to Chris Eubank Jr. The welterweight contender put on a fight for the ages with his sworn enemy in front of a sold-out crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Conor Benn went to war with Chris Eubank Jr for 12 rounds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Credit: REX 4 Benn lost a closely contested clash via unanimous decision Credit: GETTY 4 'The Destroyer' was back in the gym less than 48 hours after the Spurs slugfest Credit: X@CONORNIGEL Eubank Jr ensured his family maintained bragging rights over the Benns with a unanimous decision victory in the closely contested 12-rounder. Benn, 28, cut a crestfallen figure in the aftermath of the Spurs slugfest and was consoled by his dad Nigel. But he's seemingly already done licking his wounds and back plotting his ring return. Benn shared a video of himself jogging on the treadmill on his Instagram and X pages on Monday morning, in which he reflected on his first professional loss. READ MORE ON EUBANK JR VS BENN BANK JOB Eubank discharged from hospital after 36-hour stay following severe dehydration He said: "Yes, people. Attack the week, make the days count. "School's never out. Working, learning and staying in shape. The same, really. "I watched the fight back. I, personally, have me up [by] a point. I wouldn't mind a, you know, one point either way. "Four points is a bit wide, in my opinion. But you keep it moving. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 "I ain't gonna cry over spilt milk. I've got to do better than I do. "And work harder, if that's possible, and work as smart as I can. SunSport's Wally Downes Jr gives his verdict on Chris Eubank Jr's win over Conor Benn "We gotta keep it moving. We're just getting started. Just getting started, baby. "Come on, attack the week. Let's go." Boxing fans were stunned to see Benn back in the gym so soon after his gruelling war with his arch nemesis. One wrote on X: "Get after it, Conor." Another said: "Winner's mentality." And another said: "Massive respect, you're a great fighter." One remarked: "No way that fight was 116-112. Again, hell of a fight. "Happy you're back training." Another chimed in: "Let's go, champ." Both men left a piece of their soul in the ring after that iconic fight, which left them requiring trips to the hospital. Eubank Jr had to be under observation for two nights due to extreme dehydration but has since been discharged.
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Conor Benn back in training just 48 hours after brutal fight with Chris Eubank Jr that put both boxers in hospital
CONOR BENN is already back in the gym - just days after his agonising defeat to Chris Eubank Jr. The welterweight contender 4 Conor Benn went to war with Chris Eubank Jr for 12 rounds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Credit: REX 4 Benn lost a closely contested clash via unanimous decision Credit: GETTY 4 'The Destroyer' was back in the gym less than 48 hours after the Spurs slugfest Credit: X@CONORNIGEL Eubank Jr ensured his family maintained bragging rights over the Benns with a unanimous decision victory in the closely contested 12-rounder. Benn, 28, cut a crestfallen figure in the aftermath of the Spurs slugfest and was consoled by his dad Nigel. But he's seemingly already done licking his wounds and back plotting his ring return. Benn shared a video of himself jogging on the treadmill on his Instagram and X pages on Monday morning, in which he reflected on his first professional loss. READ MORE ON EUBANK JR VS BENN He said: "Yes, people. Attack the week, make the days count. "School's never out. Working, learning and staying in shape. The same, really. "I watched the fight back. I, personally, have me up [by] a point. I wouldn't mind a, you know, one point either way. "Four points is a bit wide, in my opinion . But you keep it moving. Most read in Boxing JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 "I ain't gonna cry over spilt milk. I've got to do better than I do. "And work harder, if that's possible, and work as smart as I can. SunSport's Wally Downes Jr gives his verdict on Chris Eubank Jr's win over Conor Benn "We gotta keep it moving. We're just getting started. Just getting started, baby. "Come on, attack the week. Let's go." Boxing fans were stunned to see Benn back in the gym so soon after his gruelling war with his arch nemesis. One wrote on X: "Get after it, Conor." Another said: "Winner's mentality." And another said: "Massive respect, you're a great fighter." One remarked: "No way that fight was 116-112. Again, hell of a fight. "Happy you're back training." Another chimed in: "Let's go, champ." Both men left a piece of their soul in the ring after that iconic fight, which left them requiring trips to the hospital. Eubank Jr had to be under observation for two nights due to extreme dehydration but has
