More stories

  • in

    Tokyo 2020: Favourite Grant Holloway suffers shock loss after 24 wins in row as Hansle Parchment takes 110m hurdles gold

    RED-HOT favourite Grant Holloway suffered one of the shocks of the Olympics with defeat in the men’s 110m hurdles final.The American, 23, was unbeaten in a staggering 24 races going into the showpiece race of the season.
    Hansle Parchment, front, stormed through to win Olympic gold in the 110m hurdlesCredit: AP
    There was plenty of respect between the top three Grant Holloway, Parchment and Ronald Levy afterwardsCredit: Reuters
    And he made a lightning start out of the blocks, seemingly pulling clear by the mid-way point.
    But a stumble late on saw Holloway lose his rhythm – opening the door for Jamaican Hansle Parchment to storm through for gold.
    Parchment crossed the line in 13.04 seconds with Holloway second in 13.09 and another Jamaican, Ronald Levy, claiming bronze in 13.10.
    Sprinting legend Usain Bolt congratulated his compatriot Parchment on the victory.
    He wrote on Instagram: “Simply Magnificent. Brilliant.”
    Bronze medallist at London 2012, the new champion Parchment said: “The greatest feeling, the greatest feeling.
    “I’ve worked so hard. It’s unbelievable that I caught this guy (Grant Holloway). I’m really grateful.
    “Certainly. There are so many here, Grant here for instance, and that’s a motivation for me. I even sat and watched (other athletes) to improve how I take my training times.
    “I don’t think a lot of people expected me to win.”
    HOLLOWAY HURT
    But there was obvious disappointment for nervous Holloway, who was expecting to add the Olympic gold to his world championship title from 2019.
    Despite this, the former long jumper, high jumper and 400m runner was gracious in coming second and laughed with Parchment and Levy on the track afterwards.
    He said: “Everybody knows I’m going to get out strong. Now it just comes to a point where I’ve got to finish strong.
    “I did it once when I was two shaves (0.02s) off the world record so I know I can do it.
    “I just think the nerves, the big atmosphere got the best of me a little bit.
    “But I’m young, I’ve got a lot of races under my belt so I’ll take this with a grain of salt and I keep moving forward.
    “This was not the outcome that I wanted but it enables me to say I’m an Olympic medallist.”
    Brit Andrew Pozzi was left disappointed by his seventh-placed finish.
    COMPETITION: SPOT THE BALL TO WIN A CAR AND CASH

    🥇 TOKYO OLYMPICS LIVE: All the latest from the Games with our live blog
    🥇 WHAT’S ON TODAY? Best bits to watch at the Olympics and UK times for your favourite stars
    He said: “I came here wanting to win a medal, I wasn’t moving quite how I wanted.
    “Sadly, in that race I tried to fight it a little bit. It’s a disappointment not to win a medal.
    “It’s been a big journey, I’m so grateful for everyone who’s contributed over the last decade. It’s frustrating, it’s not quite where I want to be.”
    Holloway made a flying start and looked on course for victory in TokyoCredit: Getty
    Parchment enjoyed a strong finish and went over the line in 13.04 secondsCredit: AP
    DREAM TEAM 2021/22PLAY DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON

    £100,000 prize pot up for grabs
    £50million budget to build your best XI
    Play in Mini Leagues against your mates, colleagues, etc
    Click here to play for FREE
    Dream Team app available through Apple Store and Google Play Store

    Tokyo 2020: Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulls up injured in 200m before limping over line at Olympics More

  • in

    What are Nike sprint ‘super shoes’ worn by Dina Asher-Smith and why was original design axed for Toyko Olympics?

    NIKE’S have released a new sprint ‘super shoe’ after the originals were axed by the company – because they would not have got approval from World Athletics.And the company have released an adapted version of the running spikes to be worn by Dina Asher-Smith at the Tokyo Olympics.
    Dina Asher-Smith is among dozens of athletes wearing Nike’s new sprint spikesCredit: Getty
    Nike’s new sprint spikes have been controversial but the original designs were never released before these versions were unveiled for the OlympicsCredit: Rex
    Nike’s new running spikes have been shelved ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
    The shoes are a different design to ones we have seen before on an athletics track
    The controversial shoes were being branded as a Usain Bolt-busting solution from Nike – but the American company have shelved the shoes with World Athletics approval all but impossible.
    Instead they have released an adapted version, which have been approved by boffins at World Athletics.
    And rival companies are also coming up with footwear that has similar technology – with Adidas among the chasing pack.
    They have been a big talking point at the Olympics.
    What are the Nike Zoom Air Viperfly spikes and will they be allowed at the Tokyo Olympics?
    Nike’s cutting-edge running spikes are designed specifically for 100m sprinters.
    All sprinters wear footwear with small metal spikes on the bottom for better grip.
    Over the last few decades, manufacturers have found ways to make the foot plate more rigid and lighter, which has been approved by athletics officials.
    But the Nike shoes have a carbon fibre mechanism under the ball of the foot that acts like a springboard, generating more power in the sprinter’s stride.
    Nike said: “This composition, developed alongside the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%, was designed to provide responsiveness and energy.
    “It follows deep study of the strategy and performance of the race, and focuses attention on what athletes need most in the last 20 meters of the sprint.”
    Currently, we will NOT be seeing these spikes at the Tokyo Olympics, if it goes ahead in the summer of 2021.
    Nike will not make these shoes available for athletes in Japan.
    The shoes have to be approved by World Atheltics, which approve certain lines of footwear ahead of each world championships, with specific limits on sole thickness.
    Nike told SunSport: “World Athletics changed the rules so the shoe will not be produced given Nike respects the rules.
    “We have been researching, developing, building, and testing performance footwear for half a century.
    “The athlete will always be our focus and we will continue to create new and better solutions for their needs.”
    The black and green spikes are being described as the fastest of all time
    What shoes did Usain Bolt run his 100m and 200m world records in?
    Retired Jamaican track icon Bolt ran 9.58sec in the 100m in 2009 at the World Championships in Berlin.

    He then went on and broke his own 200m world record, setting an all-time fastest of 19.19sec in the half lap sprint.
    Bolt wore Puma spikes his whole career and was endorsed by the German company since his earliest days as a promising young teenager.
    Usain Bolt broke the 100m and 200m world records in Berlin in 2009, which still stand todayCredit: AFP – Getty More

  • in

    Tokyo 2020: Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson through to 10m diving final as First Dates’ Fred pays tribute

    ANDREA Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson both made the 10m platform diving final.But only after each making a mess of one of their five attempts.
    Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix booked her place into the 10m platform diving final this morningCredit: Reuters
    And she’ll be joined in the final by fellow Brit Lois ToulsonCredit: Getty
    Toulson stood joint fifth after her opener but then got her second dive, a reverse 2 ½ somersault which was the easiest of the five routines on her programme, badly wrong to plunge to 14th.
    With only the top 12 to qualify, it meant Toulson, girlfriend of three-time Olympic medallist Jack Laugher, could not afford another mistake.
    And the 21-year-old from Huddersfield pulled herself together to get back into the top 10 after round three and a terrific fourth effort, an inward three and a half somersault with tuck, earned 72.00pts, her best of the contest.
    That moved Toulson up to sixth and another solid dive on her final effort eased her into the final in ninth behind Hongchan Quan of China.
    Spendolini-Sirieix, daughter of “First Dates” maitre d’ Fred, served up a mess of a third dive but it did not spoil the entire dish.
    The mistake took her out of the top eight and put some pressure on but a terrific last dive secured her passage in eighth place
    It’s just great to be here and I’m so grateful to be able to compete.Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix
    She said: “I was much more relaxed than yesterday and I definitely had a lot more fun.
    “It’s just great to be here and I’m so grateful to be able to compete.”
    When pressed on being more relaxed, she added: “It definitely helps with that internal pressure. And it makes a lot easier.
    “You’re so much more relaxed and confident when you’re having fun.”
    “I always want to do better in every competition. I definitely improved on my prelim score yesterday and I want to improve on my score in the final.
    Spendolini-Sirieix’s dad couldn’t help but share his delight at his daughter’s progression to the Olympic final.
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

    He tweeted: “And onto the final! #tokyo2020 #olympics #diving #platform #10m #teamgb #goAndrea”
    A delighted Toulson said: “I’m really proud that me and Andrea have both got through to the final.”
    She added: “I’m really enjoying it. I’ve got five more dives, so hopefully I can improve.”
    DREAM TEAM 2021/22PLAY DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON

    £100,000 prize pot up for grabs
    £50million budget to build your best XI
    Play in Mini Leagues against your mates, colleagues, etc
    Click here to play for FREE
    Dream Team app available through Apple Store and Google Play Store

    Tokyo 2020: Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulls up injured in 200m before limping over line at Olympics More

  • in

    Who is Andrew Pozzi and how long has he been dating Katarina Johnson-Thompson?

    ANDREW POZZI is Team GB’s big hope in the men’s 110 metres hurdles – and he is the male half of British Athletics’ power couple.The hurdler is looking to become Britain’s first medallist in decades when he goes up against the high barriers and the best in the world.
    Andrew Pozzi, left, qualified for the Olympic final after finishing fourth in his semi-finalCredit: Getty
    Andrew Pozzi and Katarina Johnson-Thompson have been together since 2018
    Even the great Colin Jackson, who held the world record, never won a medal at the Olympics.
    Who is Andrew Pozzi?
    Andrew Pozzi, 29, is a British track and field athlete from Stratford-upon-Avon.
    The began running with Stratford Athletics Club as a youngster and ran 13.29sec in the hurdles as a youngster, the fastest time ever run by a British junior.
    Pozzi made his senior breakthrough at the 2012 World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, where he finished fourth at the age of 19.
    He later won the British Universities, or BUCS, Championships at the London Olympic stadium where he achieved the Olympics ‘A’ qualifying standard and berth at the home Games.
    Unfortunately he suffered a hamstring injury and had to withdraw during his first heat.
    In 2018, Pozzi beat Jarret Eaton to win the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham over the shorter 60m hurdles event, with a time of 7.46sec.
    In this Olympics, Pozzi has improved through the rounds, running 13.50sec in his heat, where he qualified in fourth, then 13.32sec in his semi-final, where he was again fourth.
    He will be in lane two for the final, next to world No1 Grant Holloway, who is favourite to win gold.
    How long has Andrew Pozzi been dating Katarina Johnson-Thompson?
    The hurdler and multi-event world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson started going out in 2018.
    A year later, KJT became a heptathlon world champion and de facto favourite to win gold in the Tokyo Olympics.
    🥇 TOKYO OLYMPICS LIVE: All the latest from the Games with our live blog
    🥇 WHAT’S ON TODAY? Best bits to watch at the Olympics and UK times for your favourite stars

    But little did either of them know it would be put back by 12 months, leading to an injury nightmare for Johnson-Thompson, who has been battling an Achilles injury.
    Unfortunately for KJT, 29, she was forced out of the Olympic heptathlon after a pull in the opposite calf to the leg she injured earlier this year.
    The pair have shared adorable pictures together on Instagram and have juggled it all while getting through their gruelling training schedules. More

  • in

    Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulls up injured in 200m before limping over line in devastating blow for Team GB Olympic ace

    THE injury curse struck the British Athletics squad again as Katarina Johnson-Thompson failed to complete day one of the heptathlon.Johnson-Thompson, 28, ruptured her Achilles at the end of 2020 and also underwent surgery on an unspecified issue.

    Heptathlete star Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulled up injured during the 200m eventCredit: Reuters
    Medics rushed over to Johnson-Thompson’s aid after she went down injuredCredit: Reuters
    The fact the Liverpudlian had managed to make the start line in Tokyo was an achievement in itself, something she called a personal “victory”.
    But after 80m of the 200m heat one, the fourth of seven rounds of competition, reigning world champion Johnson-Thompson pulled up and was then disqualified for stepping outside of her lane.
    She crashed to the floor in agony and remained there with her head in her hands.
    A wheelchair was brought to the track but she refused that and decided to carry on running to record a time – but officials deemed that she has stepped outside of her lane.
    Prior to that race, she had been lying in fifth place overall and knew that the track events were her strongest disciplines.
    This bad news follows the exits of sprinter Dina Asher-Smith from the 100m and 200m following a torn hamstring, and Adam Gemili could not complete the 200m for a similar injury woe.
    A statement from British Athletics stated that Johnson-Thompson picked up a calf injury.
    They said: “Unfortunately Katarina Johnson-Thompson sustained an injury to her right calf during the 200m and has had to withdraw from the heptathlon.
    SUN BINGO WIN A SHARE OF £250k (18+ T&Cs apply)
    Liverpool athlete Johnson-Thompson suffered a calf injury 80m into the raceCredit: Reuters
    Johnson-Thompson bravely limped over the finish line, but she was disqualified for stepping outside of her laneCredit: Reuters
    The 2019 world champion went into the 200m event lying in fifth place overallCredit: AP

    “To confirm, it is not a repeat of her recent Achilles injury which was on her left leg. There will be no further comment this evening.”
    Commenting on Johnson-Thompson’s injury, Denise Lewis, the 2000 heptathlon Olympic champion, said: “She hasn’t contested a 200m for a while. The turn puts a lot of stress on those Achilles tendons.
    “I am so gutted for her, so gutted for her. She has worked so hard to get to this stage. She increased the strapping for the 200m. This was the test event.
    “Someone’s heart has been trashed on the track It will be hard for her to come back from this emotionally – but she will.”
    Jessica Ennis-Hill, the 2012 heptathlon Olympic champion, had her British record broken by Johnson-Thompson at the 2019 Athletics World Championships in Doha.
    She said: “Kat has been such a victim of the past 18 months. She had the best year of her life in 2019 and was ready to go. She was in the best place – all she had to do was be ready to ride through the winter and maintain her form.

    “Instead, she had an 18-month layoff and it is hard to maintain that. The event is gruelling and it has ended up in injury.
    “It is utterly devastating for her. The years she has had in the sport, she has had so many lows, it’s so unfair she is in this position again.
    “There is a lot going on next year, it is a huge one, and you don’t want to put the body through more stress. She has to go away and rest now.”
    Hannah Mills talks about being Team GB’s most successful female Olympic sailor in history More

  • in

    Sky Brown, 13, wins Team GB’s first skateboarding medal as she claims bronze at Tokyo 2020 Olympics despite two falls

    SKY BROWNBrown made Team GB history early this morning by becoming Britain’s youngest Olympian at the age of 13 years and 28 days.
    Sky Brown became Britain’s youngest ever Olympian this morningCredit: Getty
    Sky Brown in action in the women’s skateboarding prelimsCredit: Getty
    The teenager posted an impressive score of 55.26 in her first run of the prelims.
    But her opening run in the finals didn’t go to plan as she fell off attempting a kickflip indy.
    Brown’s earlier handiwork, however, saved her as she scored a 47.53 to occupy bronze position.
    The kickflip indy proved to be Brown’s nemesis again in her second run as she failed to land the trick, although she did end turning in a score of 47.37.
    But she showed composure beyond her years to nail the trick at the third time of asking and successfully complete her run.
    That run earned her a score 56.47 and put her back into bronze position.
    Brown was made to sweat in the Tokyo heat as she awaited Misigu Okamoto’s final run.
    But the 15-year-old could only muster a 51.99, a score that prompted a heartwarming embrace between Brown and her father Stuart.
    Speaking after the prelims, a delighted Brown said: “That was insane.
    “It’s crazy to be here. It’s awesome to be here.
    “I didn’t really think about the scores but I’m really stoked with that score.
    “I have some other tricks but I just really want to enjoy the time of being in the Olympics and make good memories.”
    MORE TO FOLLOW More

  • in

    Which events are in the heptathlon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and how do athletes earn points?

    IF doing one track and field event was not enough – a number of athletes decide to do SEVEN.The heptathlon is a women-only event and competitors earn points for their performance in each discipline.
    Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be going for gold at Tokyo 2020Credit: PA
    Belgium’s Naffi Thiam won gold last time out at Rio 2016Credit: EPA
    World champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be targeting more success as he will bid for gold at Tokyo 2020 against 2016 champ Naffi Thiam of Belgium.
    And what British athletics fan could forget Super Saturday in 2012 when Jessica Ennis-Hill won a magnificent gold medal?
    What does the heptathlon consist of?
    All heptathletes are scheduled to take part in seven different events with the first four completed on day one and the remaining three on day two.
    The woman’s heptathlon consists of:

    Day one: 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m sprint
    Day two: Long jump, javelin, 800m run

    The long jump combines speed, strength and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point.Credit: Sportsfile
    For the high jump, competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it.Credit: Sportsfile
    The heptathlon is a set of events that take course over two days measuring the key components of strength and versatility of these mega-athletes competing at the Olympics.
    The event’s unrivalled empress is American athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who set the world and Olympic record in 1988 with a score of 7,291 points.
    The 7,000-point barrier has only been breeched on 10 occasions, six of those coming from Joyner-Kersee herself.
    Since then, no other competitor has come within 250 points of breaking her mark.
    London 2012 – Jessica Ennis wins heptathlon goldCredit: The Sun
    How is it scored?
    This is where it gets a little bit complicated.
    The rule of thumb is that a high-level performance in each of the seven games should score a competitor approximately 1,000 points per event.
    There are three different equations to create the scores for each event in the heptathlon, those being:
    Running events (200 m, 800 m and 100 m hurdles)

    Jumping events (high jump and long jump)

    Throwing events (shot put and javelin)

    Yes, if it seems like you need an advanced degree to set this up, you’re right.
    The heptathlon’s scoring system was devised by Dr. Karl Ulbrich, an Austrian mathematician.
    P is the number of points scored, T is the competitor’s time, and a, b and c are Ulbrich’s specially derived coefficients. These coefficients can change for each event.
    Ulbrich’s formula is used to allow comparisons from past and future heptathlon’s, rather than just awarding points relative to placement.
    The scoring changes also make it more difficult for less-rounded athletes to win the event based on their dominance in one or two events.
    Losing by three-tenths of a second in the 200m run is the rough equivalent to losing by three feet in the javelin throw, and so on – so it is a competition of the best overall athlete over seven events.

    Who to watch out for
    Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson – or KJT as she is nicknamed.
    Johnson-Thompson recorded her best ever finish at a World Championships in 2017 – finishing fifth in London.
    The Liverpool born athlete then followed up that success by winning heptathlon gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia to claim her first global senior outdoor title.
    And in that same year she also claimed a heptathlon silver medal at the European Championships in Berlin behind Belgium’s Nafi Thiam.
    The 28-year-old’s best score of 6981 points is a British record and the ninth best heptathlon score in history. More

  • in

    Tokyo 2020: GB’s new athletics star, and 800m record-holder, Keely Hodgkinson still manages to have fun off the track

    OLYMPIC silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson has put in the hard yards on the track – but still manages to enjoy herself off it.The Team GB star, 19, smashed Dame Kelly Holmes’ British record as she came a shock second in the Tokyo 2020 women’s 800m final on Tuesday – less than a second behind winner Athing Mu.
    A stunned Keely Hodgkinson takes silver in the Women’s 800m in Tokyo
    Keely still manages to have fun off the track as she enjoys nights outCredit: Instagram / @keely.hodgkinsin
    The teenager has enjoyed holidays in Dubai, Italy and PortugalCredit: Instagram / @keely.hodgkinsin
    Hodgkinson shares regular snaps with her 48k followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram / @keely.hodgkinsin

    A remarkable final saw three British athletes take part, with Jemma Reekie narrowly missing out on a medal in fourth sport and Alexandra Bell finishing seventh.
    But it was a moment to savour for Hodgkinson, who was stunned with her second-place finish and a sensational time of 1:55.88.
    The Leeds Beckett university student told the BBC of her conversation with Athens double gold-medalist Holmes before the race – and Hodgkinson could not believe she had broken her record.
    The Wigan-born athlete has enjoyed a quick rise to the top, and her Instagram page has documented every step of the journey, from British champion to silver at the Tokyo Games.
    Her social media also shows off a vibrant lifestyle, including trips to destinations such as Dubai, Portugal and Italy.
    Hodgkinson also displays photos fun nights out – but there are frequent running pics too, including one in the Lake District.
    The teenager has more than 48,000 followers on Instagram but that number is rapidly increasing after her success in Tokyo.
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

    Hodgkinson will likely turn her attention to going one better at the World Championships in America next year.
    But on home soil reigning Olympic champion Mu will be tough to beat.
    The 19-year-old bossed the 800m final from start to finish and recorded a winning time of 1:55:21.
    DREAM TEAM IS BACK! SIGN UP NOW FOR THE 21/22 SEASON WITH £100,000 PRIZE POT UP FOR GRABS
    DREAM TEAM 2021/22PLAY DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON

    £100,000 prize pot up for grabs
    £50million budget to build your best XI
    Play in Mini Leagues against your mates, colleagues, etc
    Click here to play for FREE
    Dream Team app available through Apple Store and Google Play Store

    Keely Hodgkinson breaks down in tears after winning silver and Britain’s first Olympic 800m medal for 17 years More