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      Zharnel Hughes becomes fastest British man in HISTORY after finally beating legend’s 30-year 100m record

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      GOBSMACKED Zharnel Hughes says he dreamt about becoming the fastest British man in history – just hours before he officially earned the title.The 27-year-old sprinter stormed to victory at the USATF New York City Grand Prix in the world’s quickest time this year of 9.83 seconds.

      Zharnel Hughes celebrates taking Linford Christie’s record after his NYC GP winCredit: Getty
      GB sprinter Hughes overcame Brandon Carnes, Christian Coleman, Ackeem Blake and Terrance Laird in his barnstorming New York performanceCredit: Getty
      Iconic Linford Christie set the previous British 100m mark of 9.87s in 1993Credit: PA:Press Association
      Jamaican Ackeem Blake finished second in 9.93 seconds in the nine-man race while American Christian Coleman, the world champion in Doha four years ago, settled for third place in 10.02 seconds at the Icahn Stadium in Manhattan.
      Hughes’ personal best smashed Linford Christie’s British record of 9.87 seconds, which has stood since the 1993 World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart.
      Though he benefited from a +1.3 metres/second tailwind, it was deemed to be a legal display.
      And the former European champion put his hands over his mouth in disbelief when the time was announced in the stadium.
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      Initially it flashed up as 9.84 seconds before being quickly corrected to 9.83 as Hughes looked at the clock in astonishment.
      Hughes, who is coached by Usain Bolt’s ex-guru Glen Mills, had previously run 9.91 seconds but this has put him into the record books.
      He said: “I woke up with a dream (on Saturday) morning. This morning I woke up with 9.83 on my mind.
      “When I looked at the clock and saw 9.83 – I don’t know if you saw my reaction – but I was like: ‘What just happened there!’ It actually came through. Manifestation is real.”
      Most read in Athletics
      “I wasn’t coming up here thinking about breaking records – I just wanted to run fast.
      “I didn’t try to do anything crazy. I didn’t try to say, ‘Get the perfect start’ – I didn’t get the perfect start – but I relaxed and that’s what’s really important for me.”
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      Hughes, a former European 100m and 200m champion, will head to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August tremendous form and confidence.
      It is a far cry from his appearance in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics final when he was disqualified for a false start.
      Away from the track, Hughes is a qualified private pilot – and once told SunSport he has ambitions to run his own airline one day. More

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      Della Pascoe dead at 74: Two-time Olympian and former British record holder dies after battle with Parkinson’s Disease

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      FORMER British Olympic sprinter Della Pascoe has died aged 74.The star competed at the Games in 1968 and 1972 and held the 100m British record, making her one of the country’s finest athletes of her era.
      Della Pascoe, right, competed at the Olympics twice for Great BritainCredit: Getty
      Pascoe held the British 100m record and was one of the finest sprinters of her eraCredit: Getty
      According to Athletics Weekly, she passed away yesterday after suffering from Parkinson’s Disease for a few years.
      Born in Southsea in 1949, Pascoe – initially Della James – excelled at youth level winning various English schools titles.
      She went to Mexico 1968 aged just 19 and reached the 100m semi-finals.
      However, it was in the quarters that she made history by equalling Dorothy Hyman’s British record with a time of 11.3 seconds.
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      Pascoe also formed one leg of the 4x200m team that broke the world record in 1968.
      Four years later at the Munich 1972 Olympics, she was knocked out of the 200m in the quarter-finals and finished seventh in the 4x100m final.
      She won a further 12 medals at the Women’s AAA national championships.
      However, Pascoe was controversially snubbed for the 1974 Commonwealth Games – despite finishing on the podium in the 100m and 200m trials.
      Most read in Athletics
      Some suggested it was due to her marrying outspoken fellow athlete Alan Pascoe, whom she met as a teenager.
      Pascoe said in 2017: “Alan and I met at the running track in Portsmouth.
      “I had to slow down for him to catch me.”
      Following the Commonwealth heartache, Pascoe subsequently retired and spent time as an art teacher and did lots of charity work, specifically raising money through popular garden parties.
      Della and Alan had two children together, daughter Lucy and son Daniel. More

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      ‘World’s sexiest athlete’ Alica Schmidt sizzles in Cannes as she shows off toned abs in elegant cut-out red dress

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      ALICA SCHMIDT set hearts racing as she took a break from athletics to attend a glitzy charity bash in France. The 400m runner was in attendance at the American Foundation for AIDS Research Gala in Cannes.
      Alica Schmidt posed in front of an Aston Martin at the Gala
      She wore a red cut out dress that showed off her back
      Alica works as a part-time model as well as an athlete
      She is well known for her Instagram posts as well as her sporting achievements
      Alica posed on the blue carpet at the event
      She wore a stunning red dress as she walked down the blue carpet outside the event.
      Alica shared a photo to her Instagram of the evening, which her 3.7million followers lapped up.
      The post, which amassed almost 120,000 likes in just two days, showed the 24-year-old posing side-on for her followers.
      Her fans were sent into frenzy at the picture and took to the comments section to shower her with compliments.
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      One fan wrote: “Pure perfection.”
      Whilst another added: “Wow, you are of immeasurable beauty.”
      One other fan simply just wrote: “Gorgeous.”
      Alica has been dubbed ‘The world’s sexiest athlete’ before as she mixes her stunning photos with her athletic ability.
      Most read in Athletics
      The German-born runner was recently named in the Forbes 30 under 30 list and is a part-time model.
      She is hoping to make her dream of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris come true.
      Alica is a 400m runner
      She previously worked as a fitness coach at Borussia Dortmund during the 2020/21 season
      Alica is sponsored by BOSS
      She was part of Germany’s 2020 Olympic team, but did not feature
      Alica regularly posts pictures to her Instagram of her travel-filled lifestyle More

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      World’s sexiest pole vaulter Clara Fernandez leaves fans stunned with sexy bikini pictures

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      CLARA FERNANDEZ has been enjoying plenty of success on and off the track.The pole vaulter has been impressing for Spain in major competitions around the world.
      Clara Fernandez is a successful pole vaulter representing SpainCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Clara Fernandez has also attracted a strong following on social mediaCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Clara Fernandez has close to half a million followers on InstagramCredit: INSTAGRAM
      The 19-year-old athlete has also been turning heads on social media with her Instagram profile attracting over 478,000 followers.
      The Spaniard has won over fans around the world with her achievements in pole vaulting.
      But Fernandez has also created a strong fanbase thanks to her stunning glam pics on social media.
      However, her Instagram game mainly concentrates on her sports career.
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      Born in 2003, in Sant Cugat del Valles in Barcelona, the Spaniard’s pole vaulting career commenced at an early age.
      She also cut her teeth in various triathlon competitions as she trained for multiple races, such as swimming, running long distances, cycling, and of course pole vaulting.
      Fernandez has also enjoyed plenty of success in Under-20 European championships.
      Since 2018, the track star has won at least 21 titles throughout her young career.
      Most read in Athletics
      That led to a sponsorship deal with Nike, for whom she works as an ambassador.
      As it stands, Fernandez has registered a personal best of 4.05 in outdoor pole vaulting and 4.15 indoors.
      Clara Fernandez has also competed in Triathlons while building a sports careerCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Clara Fernandez has also become a representative for NikeCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Clara Fernandez has won many titles throughout her young careerCredit: INSTAGRAM More

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      Usain Bolt almost gives himself a wedgie as he desperately tries not to get his shorts wet after stepping out of boat

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      USAIN BOLT almost gave himself a WEDGIE as he tried to keep dry after jumping into the Ibizan sea.The fastest man on the planet is currently enjoying a well-earned holiday on the Balearic Island after his goalscoring exploits at Soccer Aid earlier this month.
      Usain Bolt is currently enjoying a luxury holiday in IbizaCredit: SPLASH
      The former fastest man on the planet enjoyed a nice boat trip with his palsCredit: SPLASH
      But he almost gave himself a wedgie trying to keep his shorts dry as he made his way back to the shoreCredit: SPLASH
      Bolt tried his best to keep his pale teal outfit completely dryCredit: SPLASH
      Bolt, 36, has been taking in the White Island’s beautiful sights on land and on sea.
      And he tried his best to keep an expensive-looking outfit dry as he strode through the sea after hopping off a boat.
      The Jamaican pulled up his matching light teal shirt and shorts as he made his way back to the beach.
      His shorts nearly mirrored that of a wedgie as he tried to make it to the shore as dry as possible.
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      Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Bolt called time on his sprinting career in 2017 following a hamstring injury in what proved to be his final race.
      He said: “It’s really sad that I have to walk away now.
      “I was saying goodbye to the fans and saying goodbye to my events also.
      “I’ve seen too many people retire and come back just to make it worse or to shame themselves.
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      “I won’t be one of those people.”
      Bolt turned his hand to professional football after calling time on his athletics career and joined Australian side Central Coast Mariners in August 2018.
      He scored a brace for the A-League side in an October friendly against Macarthur South West United but ended up leaving the Mariners the next month.
      Bolt hung up his footie boots the following January, saying: “I’m just doing many different things.
      “The sports life is over, so I’m now moving into different businesses.
      “I have a lot of things in the pipeline, so as I say, I’m just dabbling in everything and trying to be a businessman now.” More

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      I’m an accountant and only took up sprinting five years ago… now I’m fastest man in Europe and dreaming of Olympics

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      MEET the accountant specialising in DASH-FLOW management – as Europe’s fastest man just five years after taking up sprinting aged 26.Eugene Amo-Dadzie has made the quickest gains ever after finding unexpected assets as an athlete.
      Eugene Amo-Dadzie didn’t start competing until five years ago but has already become the fourth-fastest British sprinter in historyCredit: Getty
      The Brit is fast-tracking dreams of the Paris 2024 Olympics following his astonishing feat last week in clocking 9.93seconds for the 100metres.
      The finance manager, 30, was just 0.06secs off Linford Christie’s 30-year-old national record with that sensational performance in Graz, Austria.
      And world-class athletics is so new to him he was THRILLED to be visited by anti-doping officials afterwards as it “validated” his achievement.
      Amo-Dadzie told the BBC how a friend’s chance comment in 2018 transformed his life as they came across a race meet after playing football.
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      As they watched the 100m, his pal said: “You could put a pair of spikes on and beat these guys. Why haven’t you tried this properly before?”
      He joined Woodford Green Athletics Club and inside 12 months reached the British Championships semi-finals, encountering Olympians Adam Gemili and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
      He won bronze over 60m at this year’s British National Indoor Championships.
      And his electric efforts in Austria mean he should make Britain’s team for the World Championships in August.
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      Rather than regretting not taking up sprinting seriously as a kid, Amo-Dadzie believes he’s better off with his late arrival into the sport.
      He said: “I feel like I came into the sport at the right time. 
      “The head that I had on my shoulders at that time has allowed me to navigate this thing in a sensible way.
      “I very much enjoy that I have a different story. I still refer to myself as an accountant that happens to operate in the world of track and field.”
      To reach the Olympics from such a background might seem like unchartered territory – except of course he’s a chartered accountant! More

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      Alisha Lehmann is sport’s most fancied star ahead of ‘world’s sexiest athlete and tennis player’ as study reveals top 10

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      ALISHA LEHMANN has been named sport’s most fancied star after a new study revealed the top 10.The Aston Villa star was ranked ahead of the “world’s sexiest athlete” Alica Schmidt and tennis player Camila Giorgi.
      Alisha Lehmann has been named sport’s most fancied starCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      Research compiled by Spin Genie ranked female athletes based on the Google searches of their name followed by the word “hot”.
      Across the last two years, Lehmann came out on top with over 491,000 such searches for the Swiss forward.
      Here, we run down the top 10…
      1. Alisha Lehmann – 491,100
      Alisha Lehmann topped the list with 491,100 searchesCredit: Instagram / @alishalehmann7
      Aston Villa star Alisha Lehmann has over 13million Instagram followersCredit: Rex
      Lehmann boasts over 13.3million followers on her Instagram, where she shares snaps from training, matches and her life away from football.
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      She set pulses racing earlier this month after she showed off her bum in a bikini as she soaked up the sun on holiday.
      The 24-year-old will be hoping to back on the pitch next month, with Switzerland beginning their Women’s World Cup campaign against The Philippines on July 21.
      2. Emma Raducanu – 360,360
      Emma Raducanu ranked second in the new studyCredit: Getty
      Emma Raducanu rose to fame by winning the US Open at just 18-years-oldCredit: Instagram @emmaraducanu
      Despite struggling with form and injuries in the last two years, Emma Raducanu still came in second in the rankings.
      The British tennis star rose to fame in 2021 by winning the US Open as a qualifier at just 18-years-old.
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      Her maiden Grand Slam victory has seen her become a star in the United Kingdom and around the world.
      3. Camila Giorgi – 251,400
      Camila Giorgi is a lingerie model and tennis starCredit: Instagram / @camila_giorgi_official
      Camila Giorgi reached the second round at this year’s French OpenCredit: Getty
      Another tennis player completes the top three with Italy’s Giorgi amassing 251,400 searches.
      The 31-year-old, who is also a lingerie model, boasts 709,000 Instagram followers and often wows her fans with her posts.
      Giorgi recently appeared at the French Open but was knocked out in the second round at Roland Garros.
      4. Serena Williams – 249,500
      Serena Williams just missed out on the top threeCredit: instagram/serenawilliams
      Serena Williams is a 23-time Grand Slam championCredit: instagram/serenawilliams
      23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams narrowly misses out on the top three with just 1,900 less searches than Giorgi.
      Widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of all-time, Williams is one of the biggest sports stars on the planet.
      However, it is unclear if tennis fans will see the 41-year-old on the court again as she has not played a competitive match since last year’s US Open.
      5. Alex Morgan – 182,800
      Alex Morgan has modelled for magazine photoshootsCredit: Getty
      Two-time World Cup winner Alex Morgan had 182,800 searchesCredit: Getty
      Alex Morgan is the second footballer to appear on the list as she rounds out the top five with 182,800 searches.
      The two-time World Cup winner is also a movie star and has appeared on numerous magazine front covers when she is not on the pitch.
      A one-time Tottenham Hotspur loanee, Morgan is also expected to star at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July.
      6. Maria Sharapova – 175,700 More

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      Triathlete slams ‘complete farce’ European Championship race in Hamburg as motorbike rider killed on ‘narrow’ circuit

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      A TRIATHLETE has labelled the European Championship a “complete farce” after a motorcyclist was killed following a collision with a competitor.The 70-year-old, who is yet to be named, was carrying an official race photographer on his motorbike in Hamburg.
      A motorcyclist passed away following a terrifying collisionCredit: https://twitter.com/marcuszek
      The motorbike is believed to have collided head-on with a cyclistCredit: https://twitter.com/marcuszek
      During the cycling portion of the race, the motorbike carrying the photographer was involved in a horrifying head-on collision with a competitor.
      The terrifying incident was picked up by television footage, with the athlete thrown off his bike and into the path of fellow competitors.
      Following the crash, organisers confirmed that the 70-year-old motorcyclist had been killed in the incident – but DIDN’T halt the race.
      The triathlete, 26, was rushed to hospital having been “seriously injured”.
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      While the shocked photographer, 50, was also brought into hospital.
      In the immediate aftermath of the crash the race continued, albeit with triathletes being forced to take a diversion as cops entered the scene.
      Triathlete Jan Frodeno criticised race organisers after the event, telling Bild: “It was incredibly narrow, a complete farce. I was right next to it and saw the bike shatter into what felt like a thousand pieces.
      “I know that such things must always be covered by the media, but athletes’ safety should come first.”
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      Fellow participant Timo Schaffer also slammed organisers, saying: “Unfortunately, the bike course was very full. It was therefore foreseeable that there could be accidents.
      “There were very, very many athletes on the second lap, with all the age groupers and the pros who had to overtake in the second row.
      “Sometimes there was no other way, even in the third row. Very, very many media bikes, few referee bikes.”
      The gruelling race consisted of a 26.2 mile run, 3.8km swim and 180km bike ride.
      It was covered by German TV, although coverage was interrupted as a mark of respect after the fatal crash.
      Following the incident, race organisers released a statement.
      It read: “It is with a heavy heart that we confirmed the passing of a motorcycle operator during the Ironman European Championship Hamburg.
      “At 36km of the Ironman Hamburg bike course, a credentialed motorcycle race vehicle collided with an age-group athlete who was riding on the racecourse in the opposite oncoming lane.
      “An event photographer on the motorcycle, who was also injured during the collision, has since been released from hospital. The race participant remains in hospital for further treatment.
      “We are devastated by this tragic accident.
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      “On a day meant to be a celebration of the human spirit, we instead mourn the loss of a member of our triathlon community. Our sympathies are with all those affected.
      “Our priority always is ensuring the safety of our participants and those involved in the event. A police investigation is ongoing and we are co-operating with local authorities to understand the events that lead to the accident.” More