Latest news with #athleticism
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
It's Reigning Men, That's the Problem
This is Bloomberg Opinion Today, an iron-pumping circuit of Bloomberg Opinion's opinions. Sign up here. Poland's new populist president Karol Nawrocki — a former boxer — admits to joining a free-for-all football fan melee back in 2007. That more than qualifies him for the ranks of world leaders enamored of physical strength and thuggish joys, says Adrian Wooldridge. Among them, Adrian lists Russia's Vladimir Putin, India's Narendra Modi, China's Xi Jinping, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Belarus's Alexander Lukashenko. Lionel Laurent says the US State Department might just call them America's ' civilizational allies ' since Donald Trump shares their preoccupation with athletic prowess.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Meet the running-obsessed Liverpool cult hero who ran a marathon on a treadmill on CHRISTMAS DAY and completed a 24-hour challenge without training - as star shows off remarkable body transformation
For former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise, the unrelenting search for athletic greatness didn't end when he hung up his boots back in 2016. His drive to compete on the biggest stage in the beautiful game may have dissipated, but as an elite athlete, the motivation to challenge yourself both physically and mentally never goes away. It's not as easy as turning off the competitive switch in your brain. Yes, athletes retire, but the fire is always in their bellies to push athletic boundaries and satisfy their desires to be the best. It's a high that the cut above will always crave. That's certainly the case when it comes to Riise, at least. In football, he reached the pinnacle by winning the Champions League in 2005 in the most miraculous way possible. The sense of achievement after lifting Ol' Big Ears is simply unmatchable - it's what every professional footballer dreams of as a youngster - but 20 years on from the fateful day in Istanbul, the former Norway international has found another way to fulfill his yearning for the feeling of athletic accomplishment. Riise, who played 348 times across seven years on Merseyside, has traded his football boots for running shoes. The 44-year-old now pushes his body and brain to the limits, even more so than on the football pitch, through the means of extreme challenges. 'For me, the physical and mental toughness is harder in the running,' Riise tells Mail Sport. Believe it or not, this is Riise's response to being asked to compare 'Miracle of Istanbul' to his recent remarkable running challenge. A gruelling 120 minutes against an AC Milan team, who were widely considered unbeatable in 2005, in a Champions League final wasn't as challenging as 24 hours on a treadmill. No, you are not hallucinating. In February, Riise took part in a charity running event in which had to complete 24 hours on a treadmill, only taking short breaks to go to the toilet. It's hard to imagine that feeling of getting off it at the end of it all. What's even more impressive is that Riise was one of only four competitors to complete the challenge entirely on his own. The majority taking part were relay teams, with runners taking on segments before switching. The ex-Red notched up an incredible 172km (106 miles) across a weekend in February. That's slightly over four marathons. Imagine that, running marathon, after marathon, all in the span of 24 hours. The thought of running just one is enough to frighten 99.99 per cent of the world's population, let alone four on the bounce. It was all for a good cause. The aim of the event was to raise money for a mental health charity, with more than 250,000 Norwegian Krone (£17,850) brought together by the time it was finished. For such an extreme challenge like that, you'd expect most runners to prepare properly with a training plan over roughly 12 or 16 weeks. Surely nobody is silly enough to just run having not trained. Wrong. Riise managed to make what was already a mental challenge even harder for himself. 'I didn't train for it,' Riise continued. 'I didn't know what I went into. I just went up and ran. Walk, run, go to the toilet, break, and repeat. 'I was asked three weeks before if I wanted to join in for a couple of hours, and then I did the whole thing. The longest I [had] ran was two or three hours, so I didn't know what I was going into. 'In football, my body is used to it, I'd prepared for it, I'd trained for it, it was my thing. But running like that was not. It was so hard for my body and my muscles. 'I had a guy next to me, and we were four people who were running the whole thing, he came up to me and said, "Johnny, good news, we have run six hours now... bad news, we have 18 left". 'It was just killing me! 'If I do it again, I am going to go further because now I know what I am getting into. I know what is expected. I would like to do it again, I want to hit the 200km mark.' While Riise didn't specifically train for the event, there was a good reason why he was still in good enough shape to complete it. His base fitness is through the roof, and that's because of the treadmill running he does throughout the year. Riise was on Norwegian reality TV show '16 weeks of hell' where he was tested to the limit Many people are not fans of treadmill running. There's nothing quite like exploring the outdoors. Well, for Riise planting his feet on the tarmac doesn't quite provide as much of a mental challenge as smashing into a rubber belt for hours on end. Being at one with the running machine is something that the Norwegian does to push his limits. He does this year-round, including on days when most of us couldn't fathom doing exercise. No holidays are off-limits. 'I love running. On Christmas Day, I woke up at 6am and did a marathon on the treadmill by myself,' Riise continues. 'I want to test myself mentally. Physically, I know I can run a marathon on a treadmill, but for me, it's more about being able to stand on that treadmill for three and a half hours, it's a mental toughness that I am trying to test myself. 'I had never done a marathon before, and I finished in three hours and 27 minutes.' Riise almost looks in the same shape as he did during his glory days in red. He has always been known for his strong build - his power was what made him a star at Anfield, and these days it looks like he could still get the kit on and put in a shift. However, it hasn't always been like that for Riise following retirement. In fact, his latest extreme challenge was the culmination of a weight loss journey that he has been on over the past 18 months. Last year, Riise was one of six contestants in a Norwegian reality TV show titled '16 Weeks of Hell', which is a series where celebrities were pushed to their physical breaking point and underwent a strict diet to turn their fitness around. The result of the show for Riise was a return to the shape he had always been while on the football pitch. 'I want to become a machine again,' Riise once said, and well, a machine he now is. He has no intentions of slowing down either. The 44-year-old only wants to continue stomping, whether that be in races in which he can 'test myself', or back on the treadmill. Riise has a lot in the works, and has no intention of putting the pounds back on. 'I'm doing the Oslo Marathon in September, they asked, and I said yes again, stupidly,' he jokes.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
The promising signs Emma Raducanu is bridging the gap on clay ahead of French Open
Clay has never felt like a natural happy hunting ground for British players. The grass-court season on home turf, with its attendant pressures and hype, and the hard-court season that makes up the majority of each year are more familiar underfoot. That was certainly true of Emma Raducanu, who admitted in Madrid that she did not feel comfortable on the red dirt and occasionally cut a frustrated figure as she failed to get to grips with it. But on the eve of Roland-Garros, the climax of the clay season, she can reflect on a promising couple of months. She is unlikely to make a deep run at the French Open: the gulf between her and the top clay-courters like Coco Gauff was made evident in their one-sided match in Rome last week. But success for Raducanu – contrary to what Twitter's armchair experts may think – is not necessarily about that. This year has been about stringing together runs and rediscovering her natural gamestyle after some time in the wilderness. She herself called it a 'fresh start' when she arrived in Rome and said her next few tournaments were about trying to 'work on doing things differently to try and bridge the gap between where I am now and where I want to be'. Her improved athleticism and physical strength has been apparent: this time last year she was retiring from her first round appearance in the Italian capital, and she had only previously done one full clay season. Wrist and ankle surgeries kept her out of Roland Garros in 2023 and she missed the major last year to prioritise preparing for the grass-court swing. Fast-track to now and she looks a more complete athlete, and more able to sustain momentum over the long drag of the tennis tour. With that has come a rediscovered faith in her game and an increased grittiness and ability to grind out wins. This year's Rome tournament was the first time she had won three straight matches on the surface. She backed that up with an impressive scalp in the WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg, where she accepted a wildcard, beating world No. 17 Daria Kasatkina in straight sets. Her Strasbourg tournament came to an end with a hard-fought defeat to another former top-10 player and dogged competitor in Danielle Collins. Her mental strength has been apparent too, withstanding seven straight breaks of serve in the second set against Kasatkina, and regrouping from failing to serve out the match in the second set against Maya Joint in her first-round match in Rome, before ultimately winning in three. Her planned second-round opponent in Rome, 21st Ekaterina Alexandrova, withdrew in the hours before the match and Raducanu had to adjust from preparing to face a hard-hitting ball-striker to the loopier, topspin-heavy style of lefty Jil Teichmann. She followed up a comprehensive win over the Swiss with a three-set epic over the tricky former top-10 player Veronika Kudermetova, before she was outclassed by Gauff, who went on to make the final. Both on and off the court Raducanu has cut a more relaxed figure this year, with the new regime of Jane O'Donoghue and Mark Petchey – close allies who have known her since before her US Open triumph – clearly working. Raducanu's approach has always been slightly unorthodox, from the rapid hiring and firing of different coaches, to the choice to prioritise training blocks and accepting wildcards to big tournaments over grinding on the lower-level tennis circuit and gaining match sharpness. But her choice to overlook a permanent coach in favour of this more low-key approach has paid off; she has spoken at length about playing in an 'authentic' way and rediscovering her creativity. 'I think I got very boxed in to a certain way of playing, which was aggressive. I dominate, I'm an aggressive baseliner, but I think I have more tools at my disposal. So in practice these days, I've just been messing around with the ball and seeing what I can do, and how creative I can be,' she said in Rome. All this comes in a spell when the Brits seem to be finally establishing a foothold on the clay. Raducanu's contemporary Jack Draper has to be one of the favourites for a deep run at Roland Garros, having made the final in Madrid and cemented his status in the world's top five. Katie Boulter won a maiden title on clay at the WTA 125 Trophée Clarins last week to complete the career set on all surfaces, and fight back in the intriguing battle developing between her and Raducanu for the British No. 1 spot. There remain several major areas the 22-year-old can work on to narrow the gap to the top. Windy and heavy conditions trouble her and she is still figuring out how to move and slide on clay, a skill that comes with practice and time. But her clay-court season so far has marked a significant step up and proven that her game – phenomenal when it's firing – can transfer well onto the red dirt, making her a threat on all surfaces. For a player whose career has in many ways gone back to front, winning a major title before establishing herself as a consistent force on the tour, the signs are that she is now trending in the right direction.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
England to introduce minimum fitness standards under new coach Charlotte Edwards
New England head coach Charlotte Edwards has warned her squad that new minimum fitness standards will be introduced next year. England were criticised over their athleticism and fielding during the 16-0 Ashes whitewash against Australia, a disastrous tour that led to regime change with Edwards replacing Jon Lewis and Nat Sciver-Brunt installed as Heather Knight 's replacement as captain. Lewis insisted during the Ashes that athleticism was not the reason his side were losing, before strangely appearing to suggest that the gap may be down to the better weather and cultural differences in Australia. Former skipper Edwards had promised to hold players accountable for their fitness on taking the job, and has now confirmed that new standards will be introduced. While there have been fitness expectations in the past no specific benchmarks were set for players to meet in order to be selected. 'Clearly we had to touch on the fitness issue," Edwards explained. 'When I came in I said it was all about individual improvement. "Before the World Cup [in India in September] it is about individuals improving as much as they can in that time. I am not going to set fitness standards [now] because there haven't been any standards in place so I felt I was defeating the object. "The players are very aware there will be minimum fitness standards come this time next year which they will have to adhere to. There has to be more accountability in the area. "But what I will say is I have been so impressed with their standards, the way they have gone about stuff and I couldn't be more impressed in that area." England begin their new era with the first of three Twenty20 internationals against the West Indies at Canterbury on Wednesday evening. Edwards has confirmed that she has appointed a leadership group rather an official vice-captain to support Sciver-Brunt, with off-spinner Charlie Dean, batter Sophia Dunkley and wicketkeeper Amy Jones operating as part of the unit for this series. The three T20s are followed by three one-day internationals from 30 May.
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Gordon D'Arcy: Ditching Sevens is sad but sensible if it means IRFU will fix the system
There is always a temptation to look at rugby through the prism of my own experiences. In those circumstances, I have to stop myself from holding the past up on a pedestal as if it was some sort of golden age that had all the answers to any modern ills in the sport. Having said that, there are times when a comparison helps to clarify how I feel about something. I have been reflecting on the current state of professional rugby and how I view it. For me, rugby used to be a game built on momentum, shifting sands, sudden breaks and a chance of the unexpected – a virtuoso moment to change everything. Lately, it feels more predictable, less exciting. I'm always conscious of sounding like some old curmudgeon who thinks that things were better back in the day. Maybe my feelings are governed a little by not being involved in the maelstrom of playing. Heavily prescribed rugby is not my cup of tea and that's probably why Sevens, in small doses, captivates my interest. There's always a spark, a moment of supreme athleticism, a stunning burst of acceleration or mesmerising footwork, or a great lung-bursting cover tackle that quickens the pulse. READ MORE Sevens rugby has always offered that spark, a space where raw, often overlooked talent could break through. The IRFU's recent decision to disband the men's elite programme has shut down a rugby pathway, one that was less travelled. Financially, the move is understandable as rugby globally is under pressure from unsustainable revenue models. England's Premiership has presided over the demise of clubs such as London Irish, Wasps and Worcester Warriors. The United Rugby Championship is attempting to juggle ballooning travel costs and modest money on offer for TV rights. Even the wealthiest unions are feeling the strain. Ireland is certainly not immune. This week, as the Champions Cup final draws near, the focus has shifted, unexpectedly, to the IRFU 's decision to cull the men's Sevens programme. Ireland's Aoife Wafer was the Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Although that choice may feel like a step backwards, it is a pragmatic and ultimately necessary one in today's economic climate. Against this deteriorating financial backdrop, Ireland has chosen sustainability over sentiment. The Sevens programmes, while valuable, lacked the depth of infrastructure and pathways needed for consistent long-term success. That's not a reflection on the players, who have achieved a great deal over the last decade, but rather on the structure of Irish rugby itself. [ Owen Doyle: Leaving an arguable try scoring decision totally in the TMO's hands does not stack up Opens in new window ] [ 'The end is nigh for real supporters': Readers react to Ireland's Six Nations fixture list Opens in new window ] For years, the professional game has been prioritised at the expense of the grassroots. That imbalance is beginning to show. A clear example is the women's game, which is chronically underfunded at club and schools level, which produces just enough elite players to compete internationally. Standouts such as Amee-Leigh Costigan, Stacey Flood, Erin King, Béibhinn Parsons and newly crowned Six Nations Player of the Championship, Ireland number eight Aoife Wafer, are succeeding despite the system, not because of it. The private school system, funded and managed independently, has done the heavy lifting There is logic in retaining the women's Sevens programme. The same players often compete in both 15s and Sevens, and in the absence of a competitive 15s domestic league, Sevens provides them with crucial high-performance exposure. The reality is that the men's 15s team is the financial engine of Irish rugby. It drives revenue, fills the Aviva Stadium and attracts sponsorship that sustains the entire system. The provinces on their own would struggle to stay afloat. With Sevens and women's rugby generating minimal income and most aspects of the professional game running at a loss, the decision to double down on the men's 15s game makes hard economic sense. But at this moment, it also exposes the flaws in our system. For the first time in the professional era, attention is being directed to elements below the academies. And rightly so. Academies don't produce players, they refine them. Young players who make it into the provincial hothousing structure come from the schools and/or clubs. One of those pathways (clue – it is not the clubs) is vastly better funded and carries a clear geographical bias. Blackrock's Caelan Doris offloads to Roghan McMahon during their Leinster Schools Senior Cup tie against Terenure College in 2021. Photograph: Colm O'Neill/Inpho Academies reflect the quality and volume of youth participation, as well as the standard of coaching. Neither of which have seen meaningful investment – or perhaps the right governance is a better phrase – from the IRFU in the professional era. The private school system, funded and managed independently, has done the heavy lifting. That has kept annual costs down, but it has also meant the union ceded control over player development. There's now an acknowledgment that the existing one-size-fits-all model isn't fit for purpose. The main underage pathway needs reform, urgently. This decision, while painful, could be an opportunity, an inflection point While this might be a hard pill to swallow, the IRFU has consistently demonstrated sound financial principles in overseeing the sport and been prudent in managing the money. They've spent within their means and resisted the pressure to overextend. When Covid hit, Irish rugby emerged in relatively robust health. The ongoing crises in Wales and England only highlight the prudence of the IRFU's approach. And let's not forget, outside of France, Ireland was the only Six Nations side fielding both men's and women's teams on the World Sevens Series circuit. That commitment wasn't cheap. This decision, while painful, could be an opportunity, an inflection point. If Irish rugby uses this pause to rebuild its house, particularly around the player development wing, the long-term benefits could outweigh the short-term loss. David Humphreys has said he wants to see all four provinces competing in the Champions Cup. That's ambitious. It will take time. But he is confronting the biggest problem in Irish rugby head-on. If we can fix the foundation - our 15s structures, our academies and most importantly, our grassroots - then it's possible to protect, nurture and grow the core elements of Irish rugby. This can be done, even if it means temporarily closing a door that led to a magic kingdom.
