Latest news with #athlete
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
José Ramírez's three-run home run (20)
José Ramírez hits a three-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning, recording his seventh career 20 HR/20 SB season
ABC News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Oneata Schwalger is wasting no time in transitioning from player to coach
The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" is a statement that often rings true throughout the Pacific Islands, and it's no different for Samoan-Australian rugby talent Oneata Schwalger. Raised by a handful of strong Pasifika women who were athletes turned coaches, Schwalger is now travelling the world to make that same transition. However, when she began, she had to wear headgear to conceal that she was a girl. "The [competing] school complained that you can't have girls… [my] coaches were awesome, they said keep coming to training… so I ended up being their water girl and I'd still train with the boys," she said. But footy as a kid wasn't something that Oneata was going to give up on just because of her gender, and seeing her persistence, her father ended up getting in touch with their local women's rugby club at Northern United. "I was really lucky; my coaches were Black Ferns and Manusina players, so as a 15-year-old, I was learning the ways from top players when I was young… when I came to play against girls my age, so I knew what I was doing," Oneata said. Samoan-Australian rugby talent Oneata Schwalger. ( Image: Instagram/@coachonez ) In her early 20s, Oneata moved to Perth to play rugby, but not too long after, she fell pregnant. Although this meant a considerable break, Oneata was still keen to get back in the game, and her next move took her and her two sons to Melbourne. Oneata Schwalger with her sons. ( Image: Instagram/@coachonez ) It was a make-or-break moment in her life and footy career and she knew she just had to make it work. "I was a single parent at the time; everything I had to do was to work around their schedule and my schedule, so when I trained, they trained with me," she said. "So it was always something that we did together." The COVID-19 pandemic marked another shift. With team sports cancelled until further notice, to get out of the house, Oneata and her boys spent most of their days at the park training. People started noticing. "It was during lockdown time that kids wouldn't play at their clubs, and I was always at the park anyway with them. Some other parents asked me if I wanted to coach their kids". Oneata was clear with her kids: "When I coach, I always say I'm not your mum. I'm your coach." And so her coaching dream gathered a bit more steam. But the coaching path for females isn't as easy and well-trodden as it is for men. Oneata had to use the lessons learnt from life and the wisdom imparted on her to carve out a path not too many other female athletes end up on. "As athletes, you see that [female representation] now… but in the female space, I was actually like I don't know that many female coaches to reach out to… but I actually know a lot more male coaches… I reached out to them and they got back to me straight away." It's been one inspiring journey for coach Oneata Schwalger. ( Image: Instagram/@coachonez ) One of the responses included Moana Pasifika's Tana Umaga, and he ended up taking her under his wing earlier this year. One big lesson from Umaga was the importance of listening to your players and adapting to the subconscious feedback from your players. Despite being coached by a line of hard-knock coaches where yelling was the norm, Umaga coached his team very differently. "[I asked] 'What changed for you?' Because he was coached that way, but he found that his delivery wasn't working anymore with this new generation of players… So I'm like, 'Ok, cool, he was coached like I was, but we just have to find ways to deliver our message so it lands with our athletes, whether it's boys or girls'."
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Nayeli Clemente, 24, Dies After Collapsing in 96-Degree Endurance Run
Nayeli Clemente, a 24-year-old athlete and physical therapist, died on May 2 after collapsing during a high-intensity endurance event in 96-degree heat in San Andrés Cholula, Mexico. The event, known as the 'Team Pyramid Run,' was part of the Cholula Games, a competitive fitness challenge pushing athletes to run increasingly longer distances. Organizers confirmed her passing in a statement to the Daily Mail on May 9. 'She was treated by the event's medical team and transported alive to a private hospital, where she sadly died the following day,' the Cholula Games said. Her brother later shared that Nayeli suffered a sudden stroke, E! News reported. Advertisement Clemente was more than just a competitor. She was a devoted physical therapist who loved nature and community. Her brother, Kevin Armando Hernández, described her as 'a strong woman, an athlete, and a nature lover,' passionate about helping others heal. Related: Congressman's Daughter 'Died Suddenly' at 23 After Feeling Nauseous Though the event wasn't sponsored by CrossFit, Clemente was a regular presence in that space and had spoken openly about the toll these extreme competitions can take. In a May 2024 Instagram post, she reflected on a prior endurance event, admitting she ignored warning signs from her body. 'There were physical and emotional signs I didn't want to see and pushed aside because I wanted to conquer the world in one day,' she wrote. 'I don't consider it the most responsible decision, but it showed me how brave, persevering, and strong I am.' CrossFit acknowledged her passing in a statement, saying, 'Our hearts go out to Nayeli's family and friends, and especially her CrossFit teammates and community.' Advertisement Clemente's death has sparked broader conversations around athlete safety, heat protocols, and the growing intensity of fitness competitions. Her legacy will be remembered not just for her physical strength, but for the courage she showed on and off the course.
CBS News
16 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
Meet the 91-year-old athlete who pushed Peloton to add senior age categories: "You can never give up"
At 91, Dottie Dorion has ridden her Peloton bike more than 2,900 times. But when the fitness company's age categories topped out at 60-plus, the veteran athlete decided she wasn't going to compete quietly with "those young 80-year-olds." After a 14-month campaign that involved lawyers and letters, Dorion successfully pushed Peloton to create new age brackets for riders 90 and older. Dorion maintains an active lifestyle that includes yoga classes, weight workouts and daily rides on her Peloton. The routine reflects a commitment to fitness that began in childhood, when she spent entire days outdoors before television became commonplace. "We didn't have TV. So, you know, we were outside all the time," Dorion said. "We'd go out in the morning, we'd come back when the dinner bell rang at night." Dorion's athletic achievements span decades and include approximately 250 marathons and triathlons, including three Ironman competitions. She completed her first Ironman in 1985 at age 52, after learning to swim specifically for the event. "I said, oh my God, I've gotta learn how to swim," Dorion recalled. "So I did, I learned how to swim." Peloton organizes riders into age groups for peer comparison and competition, but only about 6% of users are over 65. When Dorion discovered the maximum age category was 60-plus, she wasn't happy about having to compete with younger people. In a letter to Peloton's CEO last year, Dorion wrote: "I have owned a Peloton cycle since December 2018. I am very serious about maintaining fitness." The initial response was silence. Dorion then enlisted legal help, leading to months of correspondence before Peloton agreed to add both 90-plus and 100-plus age categories. "What took you so long?" was Dorion's response to the final approval email. Dorion was grateful that her persistence paid off. "You can never give up," Dorion said. "If you're doing the right things for the right reasons, it's gonna turn out well."
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Philles select Pittsburgh native in 19th round of MLB Draft
The Pittsburgh community came together this week to celebrate a local athlete getting ready to live out his baseball dreams. They held a block party on Thursday in Highland Park for Robert Phelps, 21, a Pittsburgh Allderdice graduate who grew up playing baseball in the 14th Ward Baseball Association. This past Monday, the Philies selected him in the 19th round of the MLB Draft. Advertisement 'I've been playing in the city league since I was seven years old and to be 21 now and still have the connections and the friends that are still coming out to support me, it's unbelievable,' Phelps told Channel 11. Phelps told us he was heading to Philadelphia on Friday to sign his contract and then go to play rookie ball in Florida. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
