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      Team GB athlete Ben Gregory, 31, in a coma after suffering fractured skull in bike crash, fiancée reveals

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      A TEAM GB athlete is in a coma after fracturing his skull in a horror bike crash.Welsh decathlete Ben Gregory, 31, “has a fractured skull, neck and multiple haemorrhages to his brain”, according to his fiancée Naomi Heffernan.
      Ben Gregory competing with the Great Britain senior men’s heptathlon team at the National Indoor Athletics Centre, CardiffCredit: Dai Sport
      Ben Gregory celebrates winning the Men’s Decathlon 1500 metres at the Commonwealth Games in 2018Credit: Getty
      Naomi revealed Ben was on life support after Friday’s accidentCredit: Instagram/@bengregz
      Ben showed off his apparent fitness in an Instagram clipCredit: Instagram / Ben Gregory.
      Ben appeared to work up a sweat as he hit the treadmillCredit: Instagram / Ben Gregory.
      In a heartbreaking post, she said Gregory was now in a coma and on life support.
      She added in a social media post: “Ben needs your positive thoughts and prayers right now. Those that know Ben know how strong he is mentally and physically, he’s a fighter and he’ll get through this.
      “Please pray for him and send all the positive energy and thoughts you can muster.”
      Just days earlier, Gregory uploaded footage of himself going through his paces on a treadmill, appearing to be fit and healthy.
      Read More on UK news
      James Williams, the Head of Welsh Athletics, shared his wishes for Gregory’s recovery on Twitter.
      Welsh Athletics said in a statement: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Ben’s friends and family at this time.
      “Ben’s accomplishments as an athlete speak for themselves: Wales’ greatest ever decathlete – three Commonwealth Games, the Welsh record holder and representing Wales and Great Britain multiple times.
      “The outpouring of support across social media is testament to his popularity as a person and as an athlete.
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      “Everyone who has had the privilege of training or competing alongside Ben will speak of his incredible love of life, his kindness, support and loyalty.
      “We will all continue to pray for a full recovery for Ben.”
      “Hoping he pulls through,” said fellow Welsh athlete and former world 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene. “One of the nicest and most positive people I’ve had the pleasure to be around at the track.”
      Another fellow Welsh athlete and decathlete, Curtis Mathews, said: “He is a very special man, brings joy to everyone he is around and deserves no less than the best from life. I can’t describe how much I hope this champ pulls through because he is honestly the best of us.”
      Gregory has represented Wales at three Commonwealth Games and also Great Britain at other events.
      In October 2020 Gregory managed to escape serious injury in another bike crash.
      Read More on The Sun
      His bike was involved in a collision with a car in London but he was able to walk away from the incident.
      Outside of athletics, Gregory works as a model and personal trainer.
      Gregory’s fiancee Naomi Heffernan asked people to pray for himCredit: PA More

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      World’s sexiest athlete Alica Schmidt beams with joy after helping Germany 4x400m relay team make Euro final

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      THE world’s sexiest athlete, Alica Schmidt, helped Germany reach the 4x400m relay final at the European Championships. Schmidt, 23, suffered heartbreak in an individual event just three days ago, finishing last in her 400m semi-final.
      Schmidt started the relay for GermanyCredit: AP
      The Germans reached the 4×400 relay final in front of their home crowdCredit: Getty
      Schmidt could be seen passionately supporting her teamCredit: Getty
      The 23-year-old suffered heartbreak in an individual event just days ago, finishing last in her 400m semi-finalCredit: Getty
      The final will be contested on August 20Credit: Reuters
      But the German put the disappointment behind her and helped the relay team reach the European Championship final in Munich.
      Schmidt ran the first leg of the relay and could be seen passionately urging her team-mates on.
      The Germans finished fourth behind Switzerland, Ireland and the Netherlands, who turned in a season’s best run.
      Great Britain will also contest the final against Schmidt and her team-mates.
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      The Brits won heat one, with Belgium, Poland and Spain completing the line-up for the August 20 final.
      Schmidt’s pre-race ritual may have worked this time.
      The stunning social media sensation says slapping herself “pushes” her on.
      Speaking to Bild, Schmidt revealed: “Yes exactly. I totally give up.
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      “I really like doing that, that I make myself aware, now it starts, now I have to be ready. That pushes me.”
      The result puts Schmidt in good standing as she is eyeing a place at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
      She was in line to compete in Tokyo, but didn’t make the final cut. More

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      BBC viewers left in hysterics as Jesper Hellstrom bizarrely does HEAD first triple jump at European Championships

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      SWEDISH athlete Jesper Hellstrom did his best salmon impression during Wednesday’s triple jump final at the European Championships in Germany.The 27-year-old may not have claimed a medal, but he proved to be one of the major talking points at the Olympiastadion.

      Jesper Hellstrom has delighted viewers with his salmon dive in the triple jump finalCredit: Getty
      Swedish athlete Hellstrom over-rotated in his second jump at the European ChampionshipsCredit: Getty
      Hellstrom ended up jumping head first into the sand at the OlympiastadionCredit: Reuters
      A surprise finalist, Hellstrom narrowly qualified having taken the final spot with a jump 16.07 metres.
      He started off with a cautious first jump of 16:02, before he got his second attempt all wrong in comedic fashion.
      Having over-rotated, Hellstrom lost his balance and ended up diving head first into the sand.
      Showing off his best salmon and seal dive impression, the Swede could be seen laughing during his jump as he left the crowd in stitches.
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      A third jump saw him reach 16.23 metres, but it wasn’t enough to make the cut as he finished the final in tenth spot.
      Speaking after the final of his hilarious second jump, Hellstrom joked: “I thought quite immediately afterwards, ‘I wonder if there will be any funny pictures from this.'”
      It wasn’t just Hellstrom that found the funny side, as BBC viewers were loving it as they took to social media to comment on his jump.
      One user tweeted: “Jesper Hellstrom is my new favourite athlete at these games.”
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      Another said: “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s Sweden’s Jesper Hellstrom in the triple jump. Brilliant.”
      A third added: “Full marks to Jesper Hellstrom for doing the salmon in the triple jump final.”
      This person then remarked: “This made me laugh out loud when watching it live on TV.”
      Meanwhile another messaged: “Brilliant! You’ve made my day Jesper Hellstrom.”
      One then simply stated: “My new favourite athlete.”
      This viewer posted: “Not his longest jump no doubt, but certainly his most memorable!” More

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      World’s sexiest athlete Alica Schmidt changes kit and suffers heartbreak as she finishes dead last in 400m semi-final

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      WORLD’S sexiest athlete Alica Schmidt crashed out of the European Championships after finishing last The German runner, 23, reached the 400m semi-finals after finishing third in her heat in Munich on Monday.
      Schmidt was competing on home soil in MunichCredit: Getty
      The world’s sexiest athlete finished last in her 400m semi-final after switching outfitsCredit: Getty
      Schmidt, 23, will continue to work towards the Paris Olympic GamesCredit: Getty
      The social media sensation wore a onesie for her heat but opted for a crop top and shorts for her semi-finalCredit: Getty
      However the semi didn’t go to plan for Schmidt, who changed from a onesie in her heat to a crop top and pants.
      Schmidt finished dead last, not making the cut for Wednesday’s final.
      Femke Bol of Holland won the race, qualifying alongside Cynthia Bolingo and Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke.
      While Brit Nicole Yeargin came in at fifth.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      Schmidt’s pre-race ritual of slapping herself didn’t work either.
      The stunning social media sensation says slapping herself “pushes” her on.
      Speaking to Bild, Schmidt revealed: “Yes exactly. I totally give up.
      “I really like doing that, that I make myself aware, now it starts, now I have to be ready. That pushes me.”
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      Schmidt will undoubtedly dust herself off and go again with the 2024 Paris Olympic Games not too far away.
      She was in line to compete in Tokyo, but didn’t make the final cut. More

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      World’s sexiest athlete Alica Schmidt breaks down in tears of joy after being selected for European Championships

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      ALICA SCHMIDT broke down in tears after finding out she’d been selected to compete at the European Championships.The German runner, 23, was recently in action at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
      Alica was emotional as she found out the newsCredit: https://www.sport1.de/news/leichtathletik/2022/08/leichtathletik-em-schmidt-feiert-premiere-bei-euro More

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      Toni Minichiello, who coached Jessica Ennis-Hill to London 2012 gold, handed life ban for ‘sexually physical behaviour’

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      JESSICA ENNIS-HILL’s former coach has been banned from training athletes for life after being found guilty of “engaging in sexually inappropriate behaviour”.Toni Minichiello was suspended last year after “multiple female athletes and coaches” accused him of extreme misconduct.
      Toni Minichiello has been banned from coaching athletes by UK AthleticsCredit: GETTY
      The 56-year-old was found guilty of “engaging in sexually inappropriate behaviour” with athletes over a 15-year periodCredit: GRAHAM HUGHES
      Minichiello is the former coach of Dame Jessica Ennis-HillCredit: GETTY
      Minichiello has vehemently denied any wrongdoingCredit: PA
      Minichiello, 56, was the subject of an investigation into complaints about his conduct over a 15-year period.
      The Sheffield-born coach was accused of “making inappropriate sexual references and gestures to athletes” and “making intrusive enquiries and personal comments about their personal lives”.
      The complainants also accused Minichiello of “engaging in sexually physical behaviour”, “unwanted touching of athletes” and “engaging in inappropriate and sometimes aggressive behaviour, bullying and emotional abuse”.
      And following a lengthy investigation into the allegations, UK Athletics has concluded there were “gross breaches of trust by Minichiello” and have banned him from coaching athletes.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      An excerpt of a statement on Minichiello’s actions read: “They amount to a large number of breaches of the UKA coach licence terms over a 15-year period.
      “They constitute gross breaches of trust by Mr Minichiello which have had severe consequences for the mental health and mental wellbeing of the athletes under his charge.”
      It added: “It is noted that during the process of these disciplinary matters, Mr Minichiello’s coaching licence expired and therefore cannot be suspended/subject to a sanction.
      “Therefore, UKA has decided that it will not entertain any future application made by Mr Minichiello for a UKA coach licence in perpetuity.
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      “The issuance of a UKA licence to a coach is essentially a representation on behalf of UKA that the coach in question can be trusted with the athletes under his charge.
      “UKA is firmly of the view that there will never be a time in the future at which it would be appropriate to grant that assurance and issue such a licence.”
      Minichiello – who has vehemently denied any wrongdoing – has escaped serious punishment from UKA as his coaching licence had already expired.
      According to The Guardian, Dame Ennis-Hill was not one of the complainants against Minichiello.
      Minichiello guided Ennis-Hill to world titles in 2009, 2011 and 2015 and a silver medal at Rio 2016.
      Read More on The Sun
      UKA added: “UKA wishes to recognise those who came forward to give evidence in this case.
      “We thank them and strongly encourage anyone with a concern to come forward.” More

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      First Dates star Fred Sirieix fights back tears as daughter Andrea WINS diving gold at Commonwealth Games

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      FIRST DATES star Fred Sirieix beamed with pride as his daughter Andrea won a gold medal in diving at the Commonwealth Games.Andrea won the 10m Platform diving gold medal with a staggering 357.50 points.
      Andrea won the gold medal in front of her gushing dadCredit: Getty
      First Dates star Sirieix was seen cheering his daughter onCredit: PA
      Sirieix fought back the tears as his daughter was presented with the gold medalCredit: AFP
      Andrea competed at the Tokyo OlympicsCredit: Getty
      Andrea alongside fellow England diver Toulson (left), who picked up silver, and Canada’s McKayCredit: PA
      Dad Sirieix jumped for joy while his 17-year-old daughter was seen wiping tears from her eyes and hugging her coach.
      The First Dates star, who calls Andrea “mon caneton”, meaning “my duckling”, said on Instagram: “Gold! #commonwealthgames2022 #diving #10m #platform Well done mon [duck emoji] @andreassirieix04.”
      Sirieix also took to Twitter, saying: “That last dive! To pull it off like that! Wow!!!! What a performance!”
      Andrea was closely followed by England team-mate Lois Mae Toulson in second with 337.30 points.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      Canadian Caeli Sierra McKay won the bronze medal.
      The family were flooded with messages of congratulations, which the 50-year-old has described as “very warming”.
      He said: “Thank you so much for all the messages congratulating Andrea. It’s really nice. Really warming. Thanks.
      “I just want to apologise as I can’t respond to all. It’s very kind.”
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      For Andrea, it’s another milestone in her career having competed at the Tokyo Olympics.
      Andrea with her coach after her final diveCredit: Getty
      Andrea performed a reverse two-and-a-half somersaults in tuckCredit: Getty
      Andrea has never competed at a international competition on home soil before the Commonwealth GamesCredit: AFP
      Andrea finished in seventh place in the women’s 10m platform diving final at the 2020 Tokyo GamesCredit: AFP
      Sirieix alongside his daughter on the red carpetCredit: Getty More

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      Watch incredible scrap between England and Canada in Commonwealth Games hockey as Panesar SENT OFF for ‘choking’ rival

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      ENGLAND’S Commonwealth Games hockey match against Canada was marred by a vicious scrap.And one player was sent off after “CHOKING” a rival during a fit of rage.

      The brutal scenes occurred in Thursday’s battle between England and Canada.
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