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      Runners will be able to identify as non-binary in next year’s London Marathon

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      RUNNERS hoping to take part in next year’s London Marathon will be able to identify as non-binary.The rule change is being touted as part of a drive to make it the most inclusive event of its kind in the world.
      Runners in next year’s London Marathon will be able to identify as non-binary amid a rule changeCredit: Getty
      Event director Hugh Brasher said: ‘We continue our journey to make our event truly inclusive’Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Those applying for the 26-mile run can tick one of three options — male, female and non-binary — on their race application.
      It will not apply to those wanting to take part in the elite race or the championship and good for age categories, which operate under World Athletics rules.
      Event director Hugh Brasher said: “This is a significant step forward for the TCS London Marathon as we continue our journey to make our event truly inclusive.
      “We know there is still much more to be done but changes such as this demonstrate our commitment to making the TCS London Marathon an event that is for everyone.”
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      Next year’s event — the 43rd — will be held on Sunday, April 23, as it returns to its usual spring slot following two years of Covid disruption.
      The ballot for places opens on Saturday, October 1, the day before this year’s race.
      More than 400,000 applications are expected.
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      Olympic sprinter Shavez Hart shot dead outside nightclub aged 29 after ‘trying to break up fight’

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      OLYMPIC sprinter Shavez Hart was shot dead outside a nightclub after he reportedly tried to break up a fight.The 29-year-old athlete was tragically gunned down in a club’s parking lot in the Bahamas on Saturday.
      Hart was shot dead aged 29Credit: Getty
      The sprinter was gunned down outside a nightclubCredit: Getty
      The Royal Bahamas Police said the fatal shooting happened around 2am in Mount Hope, North Abaco.
      According to the report a fight between a group of men broke out in the parking lot.
      One of those involved is said to have briefly left the scene but returned armed with a gun and opened fire, shooting Hart in the chest.
      The Olympics star was taken to the Marsh Harbour Clinic where he was pronounced dead.
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      A suspect has been arrested and taken into police custody while an investigation is underway.
      The sprinter tragically passed away just days before his 30th birthday.
      The Bahamas Olympic Committee has paid tribute to the sprinter in a statement.
      It read: “The Olympic family is saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Shavez Hart, a proud native of Abaco.
      Most read in The Sun
      “He was always very humble, yet proud and determined to offer the very best of himself for the sake of country.”
      Hart’s mourning mum told the Nassau Guardian her son was caught in the middle of the fight.
      She said:  “He was such a good son – very quiet and always helpful.
      “He did a lot of work in the community and was always trying to give back. I will certainly miss him.”
      The country’s Prime Minister Philip Brave Davies paid his condolences in a tweet and said: “On behalf of my family and the people of The Bahamas, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Shavez Hart.
      “As a country, we’ve been blessed to have had an amazing athlete carry our flag worldwide.
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      “Ann and I will keep the family of Shavez in our thoughts and prayers.”
      And the country’s Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said: “It is with great sadness that I join in the sporting fraternity in expressing heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Shavez Hart. More

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      Ben Gregory’s fiancee says Team GB star’s taken first breaths without assistance since crash but ‘won’t remember anyone’

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      THE FIANCEE of comatose Team GB and Wales decathlete Ben Gregory has revealed he has taken his first breaths without assistance since being hit by a car while cycling.Gregory, 31, was left fighting for his life after a horrific crash on August 19.
      Gregory was hit by a car while cycling on August 19Credit: Dai Sport
      The comatose 31-year-old has taken his first breaths without assistanceCredit: Getty
      Fiancee Naomi says Gregory will have ‘no memory’ of his familyCredit: Instagram/@bengregz
      The Team GB and Wales star will have to ‘re-learn how to think and how to talk and walk’Credit: Instagram/@naomi_heff

      The Team GB and Welsh decathlete suffered multiple brain haemorrhages and a fractured skull and neck after the collision.
      In a positive development on his condition, fiancee Naomi Heffernan has confirmed Gregory has taken his first breaths without assistance and should soon start to come out of his coma.
      However, Gregory will have “no memory” of his family and will have to “learn how to move again, obey commands, re-learn how to think and how to talk and walk”.
      Heffernan said on Instagram: “The doctors said we are now out of the storm but what has seemed like the hardest two weeks of our lives are about to get harder.
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      “But I’m certain of this, Ben would never want us to doubt him, ever.
      “This is going to the hardest thing he’s ever had to go through. Me too.
      “But with his incredible army behind him and Ben’s love for life and his drive I know he’s going to defy all the odds, he’s going to surprise every doctor and nurse and he’s going to get through this in a way that they’ve never seen before.
      ‘Ben will never be the Ben you once knew but he will be an even better version, Ben 2.0 with even more strength and light than any of us can imagine.”
      Most read in Athletics
      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.
      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.
      Fiancee Naomi says Gregory will come back ‘an even better version’Credit: PA More

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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.
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      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.”
      Most read in Athletics
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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