Features

Subterms

    More stories

    • 250 Shares179 Views

      in Motorsport

      Maverick Eddie Jordan was cowboy who brought rock’n’roll to F1, made Katie Price a star and gave Schumacher his debut

      by

      EDDIE JORDAN was the Irish underdog who brought rock’n’roll energy to Formula One – and helped make Katie Price a star.The former team owner, who has died aged 76, draped the then 20-year-old glamour model over his trademark yellow cars at racetracks in his Nineties heyday.Eddie Jordan, pictured here with Katie ‘Jordan’ Price, was a true F1 rock starCredit: GettyJordan handed big breaks to a number of drivers in F1 including Michael SchumacherCredit: Getty’Eddie Mania’ was in full swing during the 1990sCredit: PA:Press AssociationJordan’s record of giving rookies their big break was second to noneCredit: AP:Associated PressWith glamour girl Jodie MarshCredit: ReutersIt gave The Sun’s Page 3 girl her first taste of global attention – and made everyone remember her alias, “Jordan”.At the time, the Jordan Formula One team was by far the most exciting name in racing thanks to Eddie’s trailblazing sense of fun.As well as making so-called “pit babes” part of the action, he painted menacing snakes on the noses of his racing cars and organised rock concerts after races, with himself on drums.While other teams seemed to care mainly about technical specs, he was all about passion, and his motormouth enthusiasm made that passion infectious.READ MORE ON EDDIE JORDANThe scrappy former Dublin street-trader also captured imaginations with his swashbuckling sponsorship deals – including one when he managed to convince delivery firm DHL to repaint their entire international fleet of white vans and planes with his famous “Jordan Yellow”.Eddie once recalled: “We were like cowboys in the Wild West, chasing around finding money.”He was also famous for what even back in 1990 was described as an “uncanny ability to spot young drivers and maximise their potential”.Those he gave big breaks to included Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, others to drive for him included world champion Damon Hill, Eddie Irvine, Rubens Barichello, Ralf Schumacher, Jean Alesi, Martin Rundle, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Rubens Barichello.Most read in MotorsportBut top drivers always ended up getting lured away to richer and more corporate teams, backed by huge car makers such as Ferrari and McLaren.Maverick Eddie ended up being the last independent owner in the sport.Brave Eddie Jordan’s final public appearance just weeks before his deathHe finally sold up in 2005, becoming a TV racing pundit and presenting Top Gear alongside Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc from 2016.Meanwhile the father of four threw his deal-making energy into the business world, including owning chunks of Celtic FC, Jazz FM and posh people’s bible Debrett’s.According to the Sunday Times Rich List, by 2020 he was worth £85million.But despite his success Eddie once admitted: “I want people to think I’m a bit of an Irish eejit.“I don’t want people to know whether I’m clever or not. I like them to think I just got lucky.”Edmund Patrick Jordan was born in Dublin on March 30, 1948, and first began wheeler-dealing in the playground with conkers: “I would be buying and selling constantly.”After a brief attempt at studying to be a dentist, he ditched university in 1967 to work as a bank teller.He bragged in 2004: “I was by far the best person at opening new accounts.”When a strike closed Dublin banks in 1970 he headed to work in Jersey where one Sunday he had a go in a go-kart at a local track.He wrote in his 2008 autobiography: “I had no idea that this sort of exhilaration existed.”The following year he won the Irish Kart Championship.Then in 1972, aged 24, came a crash that left him with an infected fracture that hit his nervous system and caused alopecia. Jordan was worth around £85m according to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2020Credit: PAJordan started out as a bank tellerCredit: GettyHe eventually fell in love with racing in 2008Credit: GettyJordan married Marie in 1983Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdFor the rest of his life he covered up his total baldness with wigs: he had three in different lengths that he wore on rotation.He then moved into car-racing, starting with the Formula Ford competition, then Formula 3 and Formula Atlantic.And to fund it all, in his own words: “I was always a hustler.”That included flogging smoked salmon on Dublin’s streets, dressed in chef’s whites and standing under a sign designed to make the cut-rate fish look high-end: “Saumon fumé ici”.Meanwhile he did “brisk business” selling used cars from the car park of the bank where he still worked.He won the Irish Formula Atlantic Championship in 1978 and tested for McLaren’s F1 team but later admitted: “I was a little accident prone.”So in 1979 he moved to Britain and founded his team, Eddie Jordan Racing, letting other F3 drivers including, briefly, Ayrton Senna, take the wheel while he wrangled fees and sponsorship deals.By this time he had just married Marie McCarthy, a former Irish basketball international and his “absolute rock” for the rest of his life.He said he had first fallen for her because she was a “jeans and bacon butties” kind of girl.And to his amazement when, after his team had aced both the F3 and Formula 3000 competitions, she supported him when he told her in 1990 that he wanted to move into F1.By then, they had four children and £5m in the bank, largely from managing drivers’ careers.He wanted to spend it all on the high-risk venture and recalled: “I talked to Marie about it and she said, ‘You’ll never be happy until you do it. Let’s get on with it.”Jake Humphrey’s heartfelt tributeUtterly devastated.EJ has left us.Formula One won’t see the likes of Eddie ever again where a guy with a love for racing can hustle his way into the sport and end up winning races.More important than race wins though, he won hearts. I will never forget how his face would always light up whenever he saw a Jordan GP jacket, flag or cap… as we traveled the world together years after the team had been sold.His greatest achievements were Mikki, Zoe, Kyle and Zak. His incredible 4 kids who share his spirit. His wife Marie is one of the strongest, most wonderful women I have ever met.The 4 years we spent together hosting F1 on the BBC were greatest of my career. Wing-walking, scooter riding, car driving madness that I know he loved deeply.His incredible spirit and love of life lives on in me, and my children who were lucky enough to meet him and hear all about him.Eddie lit up a room whenever he entered it. That is a lesson for us all – be the light in the room.I was lucky enough to share one, final, cherished meal with him and his boys a few months ago. It was special. We talked about me doing one last interview with him. Sadly that will never happen.As I left his departing words were ‘I love you brother’.I love you. Brother.One of the 3 Amigos is gone. The world seems a little less bright this morning.Farewell friend. Play the spoons up there for meSo he renamed his team Jordan Grand Prix and gathered a crack design group that on a tiny budget built what is still regarded as one of F1’s most beautiful cars of all time: the Jordan 191.That first racing year, 1991, the team colour was green, after he “browbeat” a sponsorship deal out of 7UP then ran around signing up other sponsors associated with the same colour: Fujifilm and, famously, the country of Ireland.The Irish government coughed up £1m when he claimed he had painted the car green because “I felt so strongly about this being the first ever Irish F1 team”.Thanks to this, Eddie was an instant cult hero in his homeland; the rest of the world took notice when underdogs managed to keep up with and sometimes beat the big-name teams.Most spectacularly, in that first season he gave a young Michael Schumacher his F1 debut at the Belgian Grand Prix.The 22-year-old qualified seventh, considered impossible for a newbie.He was then swiftly poached by another team in a murky deal that led to Eddie denouncing his fellow owners as “the piranha club”.This off-track drama only helped raise the Jordan team’s profile and a so-called “Eddie mania” began to take off.He explained the attraction of his team this way: “We do things differently. We like entertaining, we like rock’n’roll.”From 1994 rock literally became part of the team’s image, when he began putting on gigs at Silverstone after the annual Grand Prix.A keen drummer since his teens, his band V10 – later called Eddie and the Robbers – became GP fixtures and were joined on stage over the years by everyone from Bono to Rod Stewart.Meanwhile in 1996 Eddie finally got his financial breakthrough, landing the deep-pocketed Benson & Hedges as a sponsor – and finally getting his trademark yellow cars.Jordan blasted his fellow team owners as the ‘piranha club’ after Schumacher was poached from himCredit: GettyJordan landed a financial breakthrough in 1996 to get his trademark yellow carsCredit: PAJordan started putting on rock concerts at Silverstone every yearCredit: PAJordan has been a keen drummer since his teensCredit: GettyInitially that year the vehicles were painted gold to match the cigarette brand’s packaging, but after a single race everyone realised the sponsorship logos did not “pop” well against that shade.So tests were done and the team found that the best background colour for logos was what became known as “Jordan Yellow”.That was a breakthrough: the Jordan cars were instantly by far the most eye-catching racers on the track.It was then Eddie realised that Jordan was a “brilliant brand” – whether or not his cars actually won was not the point.He went even further with the following year’s model by adding a snake to the paintwork. It was dubbed “Hissing Sid” and Eddie later said it had “a colossal impact”.There had been nothing like it in F1 before.Eddie also decreed that he wanted his team to be “sexy”, so in 1998 he brought in a handful of glamour models to events and races.They included Melinda Messenger and Katie Price, who had adopted the name Jordan when she first posed for The Sun in 1996.Jordan was the breakout star, and was soon being referred to in the Press as “Eddie Jordan’s pit girl”.She wrote in her autobiography: “I was definitely on the way up.”That same year, 1998, his team had its first win, when Damon Hill triumphed in the Belgian Grand Prix.Eddie danced a jig all the way to the podium.By this stage, the team was so popular that its bright yellow merchandise outsold Ferrari’s.At the end of that glorious year, unable to resist a good deal, Eddie sold 49.9 per cent of team to private equity firm Warburg Pincus for £40m.But costs for designs and drivers were rocketing as more big money came into the sport, and Eddie was still always scrabbling for sponsors.He later admitted: “We were insolvent most of the time.”It was because he was still “desperate for the money” that in 2002 he wrangled one of his proudest deals, with delivery firm DHL.They were interested in being sponsors, but balked when Eddie refused to repaint his cars white with red trim to match their company colours.So Eddie demanded a meeting with the board, then handed out a picture of a street full of boring white delivery vans.He followed that with a picture of a street full of boring white delivery vans plus one in Jordan Yellow, and his point was made.They rebranded, repainted their entire fleet and sponsored the team.Eddie boasted in 2023: “To this day they pay me a tiny royalty.”The team went on to have four wins in total, the last in 2003.But by then the Irishman was tiring, especially after he lost a £150m court case against Vodafone in 2003.He had claimed the phone giant had reneged on a sponsorship deal; the judge branded him “a wholly unsatisfactory witness”.In early 2005, Eddie sold the team to the Midland Group for £47million and walked away.He thought he would miss it, but later wrote in his autobiography: “To my surprise it did not matter at all.”He threw himself into TV commentating, golf, cycling and raising money for child cancer charity CLIC Sargent, as well as into other businesses.In March 2023 Eddie, who was awarded an honorary OBE in 2012, celebrated his 75th birthday by zooming down a black-run ski slope in a bright yellow Jordan jacket, holding dozens of yellow balloons.Twelve months later Eddie was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder and prostate, which was “quite aggressive” and quickly spread.Revealing his diagnosis on his Formula For Success podcast in December 2024 he said: “Everybody listening to this – don’t put it off. “Go and get tested, because in life you’ve got chances.”As he had said a few years earlier: “We need to get people to believe.”And that’s the key word in life, and it’s the biggest word I’ve ever used.”READ MORE SUN STORIESBut he also admitted he had plans for what he wanted done with his body when he did die.He revealed happily: “I’m going out in flames.”Jordan wanted his F1 team to be ‘sexy’Credit: GettyEddie Jordan has four children with his wife, MarieCredit: GettyHe was good friends with Sir Rod StewartCredit: GettyJordan attends the Monaco GP in 2022Credit: Getty More

    • 288 Shares179 Views

      in Athletics

      I refused to let horror car crash that took my legs ruin me – now I’m world record holder, says Strictly’s Billy Monger

      by

      “BILLY MONGER . . . you are an Ironman.”Those words are still sinking in for a 25-year-old who has already beaten all odds to become a world-record holder.Billy Monger is a double-amputee after a shocking Formula 4 racing accident weeks before his 18th birthdayCredit: Simon JonesBilly training for the Ironman’s 112-mile bike ride across volcanic terrainCredit: Daniel Loveday/Comic ReliefThat’s a world-record holder in triathlon’s most gruelling event, the Kona Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.A 2.4-mile swim in jellyfish and shark-infested waters.A 112-mile bike ride in treacherous crosswinds across volcanic terrain. Then a marathon, 26.2miles of running.And, in case you hadn’t noticed, Billy is a double-amputee after losing one leg just below the knee and the other above the knee in a shocking Formula 4 racing accident weeks before his 18th birthday.Read more on Billy MongerBut his time of 14 hours, 23 minutes and 56 seconds smashed the world record for a double amputee by more than TWO HOURS.So was that drive always there, or was it his accident that changed him?Billy, who was raising money for Comic Relief, says: “I remember after my accident being like, ‘I’m the same 17, 18-year-old kid that I always was, wanting to be a Formula One world champion’.“There’s no getting away from it, that does affect things. You do have to grow up quicker.Most read in Athletics“Learning to deal with that adversity all of a sudden, other adversity you face in your life doesn’t seem that daunting.”So the jellyfish stings suffered on the swim are now something you just brush off?Cheryl praises inspirational racer Billy Monger’s fundraising in rare TV appearance“Yeah, well, that is what it is really!”In the brilliant film of his year of training, Billy can even joke with his coaches about sharks not being interested in him as they’d be better off chasing someone with legs.I don’t think Billy looks at things in a “normal” way, but that’s probably because he’s not normal. And that’s far from an insult and nothing to do with him being an amputee.He adds: “Because of the accident, I’m more curious about what I’m still capable of.“I don’t want to go, ‘Oh well, this bad thing happened to me, so I’m just gonna feel negative about it’.‘About to pass out’“If I did that, it’s quite obvious what my life would look like and I didn’t really fancy a piece of that.”Instead, he fancied a piece of Hawaii — not grass-skirts and sunshine but 14-plus hours of endurance racing.He says: “It’s seen to be the hardest Ironman, so looking back, I was a bit nuts for signing up.”Because of the accident, I’m more curious about what I’m still capable ofBillyHe had done only “a bit of doggy-paddle for rehab” and had not run more than 5km without pain before the training started.It is normally a four-year plan for an Ironman. Billy did it in one.His journey before is just as remarkable.Billy had been on the road to F1 as a prodigiously talented and dedicated karting racer before the horror crash at Donington Park in 2017.Billy put in hundreds of hours of trainingCredit: 2024 Comic ReliefBilly in 2017 after his horror crash at Donington ParkCredit: Rex FeaturesBut since then he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special, BBC’s Race Across The World and covers F1 for Channel 4.Billy’s previous Comic Relief challenge, a 140-mile walking, kayaking and cycling trip across the UK in 2021, raised £3.2million.But an Ironman? Kona?!“Mad, isn’t it?” he says, reflecting on going from learning to walk as a double amputee to competing in a world championship triathlon. “But one step at a time.”His steps included needing four different sets of prosthetics, “eight spare legs”.Modest as well, he even blushes when you compliment him.But there is such a steely determination in his eyes, perhaps he always knew he would complete it?“No way,” he says. “I feared not getting across that line plenty of times.Get to race day knowing you’ve done all you can. Be the best version of yourself and that’s all that mattersBilly“To train for something like that, you have to shape every decision around your training.”Billy did the vast majority of his hundreds of hours of training alone and stump health was a serious concern, despite having a prosthetics specialist on hand.Put simply, sores and blisters from pressure and rubbing on his legs could put him back in a wheelchair for weeks, meaning no chance of getting to Kona.Even after all the hundreds of hours’ training, there were still doubts during the event.He says: “My body was doing things that I’d never seen it do before. Then you see someone passed out on the side of the road and it just adds to that anticipation.“The shaking, the ‘Am I about to pass out here?’.”But after a year dedicated to helping others, he wasn’t about to quit.He adds: “I didn’t want to let other people down.“The message was, get to race day knowing you’ve done all you can. Be the best version of yourself and that’s all that matters.”Billy barely remembers the moment the PA announcer screamed “You are an Ironman” at the finish, seconds before he collapsed into the hoardings.Fuel for the fire“But he can now watch it back time and time again as he is forever an Ironman. The Iron Monger, if you will.But Billy still doesn’t feel like this challenge is complete as it is all to raise money for Comic Relief and the community projects the charity supports, such as running clubs, food banks and care centres that Billy visited during his epic year.I ask if it has sunk in, what he and his family have achieved?He replies: “In ways it has, but in ways it hasn’t.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Comic Relief and Red Nose Day on Friday was the fuel for the fire, so it feels like the job is only half done.” More

    • 300 Shares119 Views

      in Motorsport

      Meet the stunning F1 WAGs stealing the show in 2025 – from pro golfer to racing star & top model who dated Kardashian ex

      by

      AS the Formula 1 aces took to the grid this weekend, some fans were driven to distraction by the bevvy of beauties in the paddocks.The drivers’ glamorous wives and girlfriends  tried to keep their cool at the Australian Grand Prix as the mercury hit 32C and their partners burned rubber.At the Australian Grand Prix the F1 Wags stole the showCredit: GettyAnd with a host of rookies on the track alongside veterans Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, there were some unfamiliar faces on the sidelines, too.American Hannah St John, 21, was all smiles at Albert Park Circuit, in Melbourne, as she cheered on Red Bull Racing’s rising star Liam Lawson. She joined Scot Rebecca Donaldson, 28, the girlfriend of Carlos Sainz, who was making his Williams’ debut after four seasons at Ferrari.And the Wags also live life in the fast lane, with impressive careers of their own including as a professional golfer, model and racing driver.read more on formula oneHere, Thea Jacobs takes a look at the F1 stars’ stunning other halves, who are in pole position to steal the limelight from their men . . . Isabella Bernardini & Gabriel BortoletoYOUNG love is at the races this year, in the shape of Team Sauber’s newbie driver Gabriel, 20, and his girlfriend Isabella, who is just a year older.The couple are high school sweethearts, having got together when he was 16.Isabella Bernardini is currently thought to be studying computer science at Eindhoven in the NetherlandsCredit: GettyIsabella and Gabriel Bortoleto are high school sweetheartsCredit: AFPMeet F1 newbie Liam Lawson’s stunning girlfriend Hannah St. John, who is also a model and medical student Isabella is currently thought to be studying computer science at Eindhoven in the Netherlands.Most read in MotorsportThe couple aren’t afraid to show off their romance online, posing together for a cute New Year’s snap in which she perched on his knee, and sharing pictures of his Formula 2 races last year.Brazilian Isabella flew in to watch her beau make his F1 debut, and she looked stunning in a white mini-skirt and blouse combo.Sadly, Gabriel was not placed in his first race of the season – but he was surely a winner with Isabella.KELLY, 36, is in a relationship with Max , 27, the four-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion.She is also racing royalty, as the daughter of three-time winner Nelson Piquet, 72.Kelly Piquet is the daughter of three-time winner Nelson PiquetCredit: GettyKelly is expecting her first child with Max VerstappenCredit: RexSince she started dating Red Bull racer Max in 2020, the Formula E social media manager has been a regular at the grand prix.But the heavily pregnant model missed out on this weekend’s race to attend an event at swanky restaurant Kaspia London, in Mayfair.It will be Kelly and Max’s first baby together. She also has a daughter with Russian driver Daniil Kvyat.Francisca Gomes & Pierre GaslyPORTUGUESE Francisca, 22, has been in a relationship with Alpine’s French driver Pierre Gasly since 2022.She posted a sweet black- and-white snap of the pair kissing after his first outing of the season and revealed they had relaxed with a plush Italian meal the night before.Francisca Gomes has built a career as a model and influencerCredit: GettyPierre Gasly has dubbed Francisca his ‘lucky charm’Credit: AFPBeing in the paddock isn’t a new experience for “Kika” either as her father is former F1 driver Goncalo Gomes, 49.And thanks to her mum being TV presenter Maria Cerqueira Gomes, Francisca isn’t easily fazed by the limelight.She has built a career as a model and influencer, which allows her to follow Pierre, 29, around the world for his races.Which is lucky for the driver as he dubbed her his “lucky charm.”Not too lucky though, as he only took 11th place on Sunday.Eliska Babickova & Andrea Kimi AntonelliELISKA and boyfriend Andrea, 18, clearly love life in the fast lane – as they’re both professional racing drivers.She is more likely to be seen trackside this year as Andrea has been promoted to the F1 circuit and snatched fourth place for Mercedes Down Under.Eliska Babickova was the first woman to be crowned ­Italian champion of the OK karting classCredit: AlamyEliska and Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrated a year together in OctoberCredit: AFPEliksa – the first woman to be crowned ­Italian champion of the OK karting class – will understand the nerves and determination involved when it comes to racing.Outside the sport, she has a YouTube channel with her sisters, fellow drivers Petra and Tereza, where they document their lives.Eliska and Andrea celebrated a year together in October, and while he is off racing all over the world, she is finishing high school and plans to study economics at uni.Carmen Montero Mundt & George RussellAS fans of Netflix documentary Drive To Survive will know, George loves nothing more than showing off his stunning 26-year-old Spanish girlfriend Carmen.She appears to be a good omen too, as 27-year-old British Mercedes ace George took third place in the Aussie Grand Prix at the weekend.Carmen Montero Mundt recently returned to studies after a finance job in LondonCredit: InstagramCarmen and George Russell have been together since 2020Credit: AFPThe couple, who have been together since 2020, live in Monaco.Carmen recently returned to studies after a finance job in London, but her life is worlds away from her childhood in Spain.She said: “I always wanted to work in finance. “My family struggled financially during the global crisis, and that determined what I wanted to do from a very young age.”Hannah St John & Liam LawsonHER rookie boyfriend Liam may have endured a nightmare start to his Red Bull career, but Hannah looked like a seasoned Wag as she cheered him on from the sidelines.Wearing this black halter-neck dress to the race, she later changed into a striped blue two-piece to console the 23-year-old Kiwi driver after he swerved into the wall and crashed out in Melbourne.Hannah St John graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Biomedical SciencesCredit: Avalon.redHannah was there to support Liam Lawson as he began his Red Bull careerCredit: APHannah, 23, graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. She also works as a model and influencer, with 40,000 followers and partnerships including Bvlgari.The beauty flew to New Zealand last year to meet Liam’s family and followed him around the world in his last season as a Formula 2 driver.She was also there to support him last year when he replaced Daniel   Ricciardo for the last six races of the F1 season.Alexandra Saint Mleux & Charles LeclercSHE has only been dating Ferrari ace Charles since 2023, but that hasn’t stopped Alexandra winning over legions of fans and becoming the second-most followed Formula 1 Wag on social media.The Italian influencer – who has a degree in Art History and a social media account dedicated to her favourite pieces of work – is often seen trackside cheering on her boyfriend, who placed eighth yesterday.Alexandra Saint Mleux is the second-most followed Formula 1 Wag on social mediaCredit: GettyCharles Leclerc has been dating Alexandra since 2023Credit: GettyShe has also started carving out a career as a model, and last month appeared in adverts for Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand.Alexandra, who has more than 1.6million followers on Instagram, often posts snaps of her pet dachshund, holidays and outfits, leading Tatler to brand her the “most stylish woman in F1” – quite the accolade.Rebecca Donaldson & Carlos SainzSCOTTISH beauty Rebecca did a few laps of the showbiz circuit before she shacked up with Williams driver Carlos in 2023.Now an established model, she started out in pageants and appeared on Britain’s Next Top Model on TV, and was linked to Kourtney Kardashian’s ex, Scott Disick.Rebecca Donaldson appeared on Britain’s Next Top Model on TVCredit: RexCarlos Sainz started dating Rebecca in 2023Credit: EPAThese days she is often spotted cheering on 30-year-old Carlos, who she has dated since 2023, and was seen gracing the paddock this weekend in a body-hugging grey dress.During her catwalk career, 28-year-old Rebecca has been a cover girl for Vogue and Marie Claire, and in October 2020 she launched her own activewear range, Muse.Sara Pagliaroli & Lance StrollVICTORIA’S Secret Angel model Sara and 26-year-old Aston Martin race ace Lance made their public debut as a couple at the 2021 premiere of 007 blockbuster No Time To Die.And with her bombshell good looks, the gorgeous 29-year-old Italian could pass for a Bond Girl herself.Sara Pagliaroli started modelling at 17Credit: InstagramLance Stroll and Sara made their public debut as a couple at the 2021 premiere of No Time To DieCredit: AFPSara started modelling at 17 and has worked with brands including Replay Jeans and Adria Beachwear.In 2020 she launched her own jewellery brand called Blue Lemon Jewels, and she is currently the face of clothing brand Yamamay.Lily Muni He & Alexander AlbonLILY, 25, might be known to some as the girlfriend of F1 driver Alexander, 28, but she is a sports star in her own right.The stunning brunette is a professional golfer who has been playing since the age of five and currently takes part in the US-based LPGA Tour.Lily Muni He is a professional golfer who has been playing since the age of fiveCredit: GettyAlexander Albon and Lily had their first date on a golf course in 2019Credit: AFPLily wasn’t there to cheer on ­Alexander as he took fifth place in Oz, but she showed her ­support on Instagram.It was F1 that brought the pair together as they began their relationship after she watched Netflix series Drive To Survive. They had their first date on a golf course in 2019.While Lily travels the globe playing golf, she does find time to cheer on Alexander during races – such as at Silverstone in 2023, when she was spotted in the paddock.READ MORE SUN STORIESAlexander repays the favour and has been seen ­supporting her on the green, posting about it on his own social media.These two are well on their way to taking pole ­position as a true sporting power ­couple.Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

    • 263 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      How 3 MILLION dogs are being slaughtered ahead of World Cup with executions & poisoned food… but Fifa is doing nothing

      by

      AGAINST a backdrop of pained barking, an emaciated pooch hobbles over to a dirt-covered animal pile, which it licks, bites and then tugs at — eager to pry off any flesh to stave off starvation.It’s a haunting moment now regularly seen in Morocco, stray dogs are resorting to cannibalism to survive after a terrifying “street cleanse”, while others are killed in ghoulish ways and left to rot. Animal rights campaigners claim stray dogs are being rounded up and then killedCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)One dog has resorted to cannibalism, as seen in footage supplied to The SunCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)They claim dogs have been shot, beaten with weapons, poisoned and stabbedCredit: ‘International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)A design of Morocco’s upcoming 2030 FIFA World Cup venue set to be built in CasablancaCredit: Courtesy Populous/Oualolou + ChoiThe north-west African nation is allegedly in the midst of a mass butchering spree to eradicate three million homeless dogs in time for the 2030 FIFA World Cup – despite vowing they’d ended the killings.Horrifying videos released by animal rights campaigners expose the horrors being unleashed on the streets of Morocco on the canines.Heartbreaking footage shows dogs being stabbed with poisonous sticks, violently impaled with hooks, left to bleed out from gunshot wounds and abandoned in pounds without food or water. It flies in the face of FIFA’s Bid Evaluation Report, which claimed Morocco had “outlined its commitment to the protection of animal rights” and since August had ruled “the culling of animals is prohibited in the country”.READ MORE FROM FEATURESHere The Sun refutes that with a damning dossier of evidence obtained on the ground through the International Animal Welfare Protect Coalition (IAWPC), which was also presented to FIFA.They say Morocco has violated their vow and lied to the footballing body. And that means their implementation as a host nation – alongside Spain and Portugal – is a “sham” and they must be stripped of their duties, campaigners say. The campaign calling for action from FIFA has been backed by celebrities including Downton Abbey star Peter Egan, music legend Gary Numan, conservationist Chris Packham and world-renowned conservationist Dr Jane Goodall.Most read in FootballChariots of Fire actor Peter tells The Sun: “Football is regarded as the ‘beautiful game’ and for it to be celebrated in such ugly circumstances is a betrayal of all ethics. FIFA must act now.“I’m absolutely appalled by the situation and the football-loving public will be too, the majority of people who love the beautiful game cannot endorse such cruelty by knowing about it, ignoring it and supporting the World Cup. “It’s almost impossible to get one’s head around why any country would choose to brutally slaughter millions of animals just to ‘tidy their streets’ for a football match. It’s inconceivable.“They choose the cheapest way of destroying these poor creatures too, often this is starving them to death or bludgeoning them with a weapon. It’s absolutely shocking.”Dog that mauled man to death ‘attacked schoolboy days earlier’ in East LondonOne stray dog being shot on the streets in MoroccoCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)One stray was dragged along the ground for a lengthy amount of time to cause injuryCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)’Absolute evil’The new footage, shot in the coastal city of Kenitra, shows animals waiting in dark and damp spaces to starve to death and canine cannibalism.Les Ward, President of the IAWPC, tells The Sun “absolute evil is going on in Morocco” and that cruel dog catchers are being dispatched to the streets to round up strays for slaughter. He explains: “The Moroccan Government hasn’t even got a clue what animal rights means. “They are setting up ‘dispensaries’ and ‘clinics’, which are killing stations to eradicate dogs, not help them.“At these killing pounds the dogs are thrown into a mass of frightened animals. They don’t feed them, they don’t give them water. If they do feed them it’s with poisoned bait that kills them.“Cannibalism is occurring. These dogs are being starved to death and as a result, start to eat one another. “Others are being killed, shot and poisoned and then thrown in the bin.”They don’t die immediately, they thrash around, crying as blood pours out of themLes Ward, IAWPC PresidentAnother heartbreaking clip shows several emaciated pooches cower in their alleyway-like prison, some lifelessly looking up at the camera, while others could be seen with wounds. A few had given birth.An IAWPC campaigner, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid persecution, told us: “The dogs are starving and dying. “It is a tiny space with up to 400 dogs cramped into it and they are living in their own waste. “Some of them die from sickness or poisoning, the others eat them because they are starving… the dogs are kept next to a slaughterhouse which uses them as food. “It is inhumane and unbearable.”World Cup ‘horror’Moroccan authorities are estimated to be killing 300,000 homeless dogs each year, despite it being ruled illegal since 2019.Supporters claim it will end rabies, which kills roughly 80 people a year, but campaigners argue culling won’t work.Instead, they insist their Trap Neuter Release (TNR) programme, currently being implemented by volunteers, is the only way to succeed. Previously it helped Goa, in India, become a rabies-free state.A poison-tipped stick that’s used to kill strays in MoroccoCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)A dead dog moments before it was feasted on by a starving strayCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)Animals filled a narrow alleyway in a ‘kill shelter’ in Kenitra, MoroccoCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)Les tells us: “Morocco’s approach will exacerbate the problem because rabies-infected dogs will continue to breed and more will move into the area. Killing is not the solution, it’s a horror.”Campaigners claim the culling has been ramping up since the 2023 Club World Cup, which was a ‘trial event’ from FIFA officials after Morocco lost an unprecedented five main tournament bids.Some oppose the slaughter – in 2022, a judge fined the Governor of the Nador Province 6,000MAD (£490) after discovering they had killed strays.The judge labelled it “uncivilised” and stated the brutality “which dates back to ancient times, are no longer acceptable”.In 2023, hundreds of strays and tagged dogs were killed in Tangier, which the founder of SFT Animal Sanctuary insisted was “because of FIFA’s visit” for the Club World Cup.She claimed the orders came “from the governor” and that all tagged dogs had to be “removed… from the posh areas around the stadium where FIFA will be”.’Inhumane killings’Now a World Cup host for 2030, campaigners allege the butchery is increasing and often the barbaric street killings are taking place in front of children. IAWPC footage shows men of the attacks by men in orange suits, including one who stuck his fingers up at the camera.Using “tong-like” implements, which have a painful debilitating effect, they pick up dogs the size of German Shepherds and throw them into vans pile with other dogs. One ‘dog catcher’ flips up his fingers at a cameraCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)They then use giant tongs to pick up a German Shephard and chuck it into a vanCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)Dead dogs being taken to the tip to be disposed of alongside rubbishCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)They are then taken to ‘holding’ centres where they are starved to death or “inhumanely killed”, we are told.One day is seen with blood trickling down from the midriff due to being cruelly dragged along the streets and beaten.Les says: “Some of the dogs are left to decompose on the street. Young children are seeing this. That’s traumatic for them and there are links between regularly seeing traumatising things and becoming violent in adult life.” Some dogs are killed with a stick that holds a syringe containing poison at the end, others are fed deadly bait by hand – both practices cause “considerable pain, suffering and lingering death”.Les explains: “Any vet will tell you killing a dog by strychnine is a cruel and lengthy process. They lure the dogs close by getting unsuspecting members of the public to tell them the dogs’ names.”Gun squads allegedly “shoot dogs around the clock with rifles and pistols” but cruelly they are “rarely killed outright” and left to bleed to death on the streets.he was banging on the door so hard and she was left standing in the street screaming as he was driven away. Louise Smith, victim of dog catchersLes adds: “These aren’t bullets that pass through they lodge in the body of dogs, meaning they don’t die immediately, they thrash around, crying as blood pours out of them.“I recently saw a harrowing photo of a dog seconds after its face was obliterated with a shotgun. It’s all extremely cruel.” Dog catchers Many of the animals are being rounded up by groups of dog catchers – and some seized them because they “know owners will bribe them to get their pets back”. Among them is Scottish mum Louise Smith, 46, who has paid to retrieve her six-year-old daughter Salma’s dogs “multiple times” but more recently she notes they are “all about killing.”“I tried to bargain with the dog catchers,” she says. “Salma was beside herself, she cut her knuckles. She was banging on the door so hard and she was left standing in the street screaming as he was driven away.”Dog catchers collect the animals and transport them to ‘kill centres’Credit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)Six-year-old Salma was devastated when her dog Bingo was taken by dog catchersCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)One man shoots a dog in the streetCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)FIFA ‘betrayal’Pressure is mounting against FIFA to take action – celebrities to join the campaign include Dr Jane Goodall, who’s famed for her work with wild chimpanzees. In a letter, she demanded urgent intervention, writing: “If you fail to act, however, FIFA will be known for its complicity in a horrific act of barbarity – on your watch.”There is simply no excuse for the awful campaign of cruelty that is being executed in football’s name.” Les says the IAWPC has sent letters to FIFA every week, supplied photo and video evidence as well as written testimony, only to receive “no reply, nothing whatsoever”. He says: “Absolute evil is going in Morocco and FIFA and its associations should know better. In the UK, anyone found shooting, poisoning, starving or clubbing a dog would be thrown in jail, because it’s a criminal offence. “This World Cup is being built on three million dead dogs and god knows how many traumatised children, that’s a blood scandal and raises the question of whether we should be sending our football teams there at all.“Allowing Morocco to host the World Cup has greenlit their killing groups to pick up and murder as many dogs as they can, as quickly as they can before 2030. “FIFA is complicit by maintaining the wall of silence. They are not stopping the government from killing their dogs, so they are party to it and complicit.”READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Sun contacted FIFA, officials in Morocco and the Moroccan embassy but received no response.Find out more about the IAWPC here or sign their petition.Dog catchers using metal tongs, which cause immense pain, to pick up poochesCredit: International Animal Welfare Protection Coalition (IAWPC)Morocco is preparing to host the 2030 World CupCredit: AFPFIFA President Gianni Infantino has been slammed by animal rights campaignersCredit: EPA More

    • 263 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Plied with drugs dissolved in booze and hosed down like an animal – inside tragic Maradona’s House of Horror court case

      by

      ON the football pitch, Diego Maradona was revered as a god, but in his final days the legendary footballer is alleged to have been treated more like an animal.This week Argentina has been gripped by the start of a five-month trial in which seven of the people tasked with caring for the man who led the country to the 1986 World Cup are accused of his homicide with possible intent.Seven people tasked with caring for Diego Maradona are accused of his homicide with possible intent, the legend in coaching role in 2019Credit: GettyMaradona’s cheat goal against England in the quarter-final of 1986 World Cup in MexicoCredit: GettyFans crowd the hearse as Maradona’s body is taken to the cemetery in 2020Credit: AFPDoctor Leopoldo Luque, centre, wrote ‘the fat man’s going to end up kicking the bucket’ in vile WhatsApp messagesCredit: AFPMaradona died aged 60 from heart disease at his rented home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires, on November 25, 2020, two weeks after undergoing brain surgery.The prosecution claims that the team paid to look after him were criminally negligent.In heated scenes, Maradona’s former lover, Veronica Ojeda, was heard shouting “daughter of a bitch” at one of the accused as the hearing got under way on Tuesday.Outside the court in San Isidro, north of Argentina’s capital, a fan held up a placard with the message “Justice for D10S” — a nickname mixing Maradona’s shirt number and the Spanish word for God.READ MORE ON MARADONA‘Kicking the bucket’Others had tears in their eyes as they chanted his name.There have been claims that Maradona drank beer in the morning and was given sleeping pills dissolved in his booze at night while he was under the accused’s medical care.WhatsApp messages were uncovered in which his neurologist, Leopoldo Luque, wrote “the fat man’s going to end up kicking the bucket”.And it is alleged Maradona was washed down with a hosepipe rather than being helped to the shower.Most read in FootballThe former Barcelona and Napoli player has been adored in the South American nation since his moments of individual brilliance — and his infamous handball “hand of God goal” against England — saw them lift the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.Considerable amounts of his fortune, once estimated at £75million, were blown on addictions to alcohol and cocaine, which contributed to his terrible state of health.Diego Maradona’s daughter fights back tears as she says family live in fear of mafia ahead of trial into his death At the time of his death his heart weighed 503 grams, which was almost double what it should have been.But the prosecution case is that with the right medical care, Maradona would have survived.Chief prosecutor Patricio Ferrari told the court: “You will see during this trial what reckless home care is — reckless, deficient, without precedent, without any type of control during the period that ended with Diego’s death. “In that house of horror where Diego Maradona died, no one did what they had to do.”The problems began for Maradona when he was feted in the southern Italian city of Naples for twice taking their once-lowly side to historic league titles in 1987 and 1990.The Mafia, dominant in the region, kept him supplied with drugs and prostitutes, yet he still somehow managed to play at the top level.Two years before his death, the star told British documentary maker Asif Kapadia of his time there: “Sunday to Wednesday I was partying on cocaine. I would come home high on drugs.”In that house of horror where Diego Maradona died no one did what they had to doChief prosecutor Patricio Ferrari In 1991, traces of cocaine were found in Maradona’s urine sample and a couple of weeks later 1.5g of the same drug was found by police at his flat in Buenos Aires.Maradona’s ex, Veronica Ojeda, demands justice outside trialCredit: GettyA fan holds up a placard with the message ‘Justice for D10S’ — a nickname mixing Maradona’s shirt number and the Spanish word for GodCredit: AFPMaradona’s daughters Dalma and Gianinna arrive for trialCredit: GettyLater, he was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the United States after testing positive for a stimulant called ephedrine.His attempts to get clean were always short-lived, with hangers-on often willing to get him whatever substances he desired.He also had a voracious appetite for alcohol, food and young women.In 2005, the 5ft 5in Maradona weighed nearly 20st and underwent a gastric band operation.Emergency surgeryThe star had eight children by various mothers that are known of, but since his death at least three other people have come forward claiming to be his offspring.It was not until 2007 that he recognised Diego Jnr as his son. He had been born in 1986 to a mistress.There were a number of health scares over the years, including being treated by doctors at half-time when he was watching Argentina play at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.The most serious was on November 3, 2020, when he underwent emergency surgery at La Plata hospital in Buenos Aires for a blood clot on his brain.His personal doctor, neurosurgeon Luque, performed what appeared to be a successful operation.But there was a question over whether the patient would be better off staying in hospital, where there would be swift access to emergency care, or if he should instead recover in a home setting.Luque, who is one of the seven accused, agreed to take Maradona to the legend’s rented residence in Tigre on November 11.If he got up at 9am and asked for beer he was given itGriselda Morel, an educational psychologist Prosecutor Ferrari told the court: “Clearly, the victim was not in full use of his mental faculties and even less could decide on his own about his health.”He entered that place for a clinical rehabilitation and home medical care that we can say without any doubt was calamitous.”The prosecution alleges that there was no defibrillator on hand to help restart Maradona’s heart if he went into a cardiac arrest and that the medical team did not carry out the necessary checks.Prior to the start of the trial, Griselda Morel, an educational psychologist who worked with Maradona’s eight-year-old son and visited his home, claimed that the sick star was given alcohol.She alleged: “If he got up at 9am and asked for beer he was given it.“One of his custodians crushed tablets he was taking and put them in his beer so he didn’t cause a fuss at night.” Griselda said that Maradona was so confused he would speak on an imaginary phone.The other six accused are psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, addiction specialist Carlos Diaz, doctor Nancy Forlini, nursing co-ordinator Mariano Perroni, nurse Ricardo Almiron and clinical physician Pedro Pablo Di Spagna.Heart in formaldehydeAnother nurse, Gisela Dahiana Madrid, has asked to be tried separately.Gisela’s lawyer, Rodolfo Baque, has claimed that when the nurse warned that Maradona’s heartbeat reached a high 115 beats per minute in the days before his death, “nothing” was done about it.When the former footballer was found unconscious at around 12.30 in the afternoon on November 25, 2020, the medical team spent 45 minutes trying to revive him. But experts believe he died between 4am and 6am, which suggests no one checked on the patient for at least six and a half hours.Post-mortem blood and urine tests revealed Maradona had been given a cocktail of prescription drugs including Quetiapine, Venlafaxine and Levetiracetam which are used to treat depression, panic attacks and epilepsy among other conditions.Fernando Burlando, the lawyer representing Maradona’s daughters Dalma and Gianinna, said outside court that the player had been treated like an animal and went as far as to call it “murder.”The accused are on trial for homicide with possible intent, which could result in 25-year prison sentences. They all deny the charges.Luque said: “The death occurred unexpectedly, suddenly, during sleeping hours, without offering us any time.”The complex medical trial will last until July and see around 100 witnesses give evidence.The final verdict will be delivered by three judges.One of the key pieces of evidence will be Maradona’s heart, which has been kept in formaldehyde at a police laboratory ever since his death.One of the key pieces of evidence will be Maradona’s heart, which has been kept in formaldehyde at a police laboratory.READ MORE SUN STORIESThere have been claims that fans had plotted to steal the organ. And during the 2022 World Cup, Argentinian fans campaigned to have the heart flown to host nation Qatar along with the country’s football team.Why the heart finally failed Maradona — a lion on the football pitch — is sure to inspire a passionate response from devoted fans whatever the court decides.Model of Maradona in a model house shown to courtCredit: Getty More

    • 250 Shares179 Views

      in Athletics

      I’ll never forget coach’s reaction to my pregnancy… getting back to top was such a proud moment says Jessica Ennis-Hill

      by

      OLYMPIC golden girl Jessica Ennis-Hill dealt with many a challenge in her career, but one of the toughest was her coach’s chilling reaction when she told him she was pregnant.It was two years after she had won the heptathlon at the London 2012 Games when she broke the news to Toni Minichiello.Jessica Ennis-Hill at the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards last yearCredit: GettyJessica shows off her baby bump in 2014 while pregnant with the first of her two childrenCredit: Getty Images – GettyTrainer Toni Minichiello with Jessica at 2012 GamesCredit: GettyInstead of congratulating her, he instantly began scrolling through competition dates on his laptop to work out the bombshell implications.Jessica, who was made a dame in 2017 on the back of her Team GB Olympic glory, says of her pregnancy by childhood sweetheart Andy: “It was a bit of a surprise, it all happened sooner than we expected. “It was definitely a shock to all of my team.“My coach had this plan, ‘You’re going to do the Commonwealth Games in 2014, and then Worlds, then Olympics’.READ MORE IN SPORTS“I remember going to his house and being like, ‘I’ve got something to tell you — sit down’. “I was so nervous.“I said, ‘So I’m pregnant . . .’ “He was just so shocked. Most read in Athletics“He didn’t know what to say — he just kind of sat there“And then he got his laptop out and started looking at dates. Jessica Ennis-Hill stuns in bold outfit live on BBC for Paris Olympics as fans say ‘how I have missed you’ “He didn’t even say, ‘congratulations’, he was in such a fluster. “He said, ‘When’s he or she going to be born?’“I was sat there like, ‘Congratulations, you know, anything like that would be nice’. “Eventually he said, ‘Congratulations’.”Defining momentMinichiello was later banned from UK Athletics due to allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which he denied.Following the 2022 ruling, Jessica said she was never on the receiving end of any such misbehaviour.But she will never forget his cold response to being told back in 2014 that she was to become a mum at age 28.She adds: “It was quite a challenging time because everyone at that stage thought you don’t start your family during your career.“You do all your career stuff then start your family.“I think that’s since changed. I think a lot of women feel they have the support and policies in place to come back.”Jessica was forced to withdraw from the 2014 Commonwealth Games as a result.She was then determined to get back to her best, but acknowledged her body had changed, so her coach encouraged her not to ­compare how she was before — and just focus on the comeback.She says: “There’s a mental impact when you’re at the back of the group in training — and you’re the Olympic champion.“I would compare myself to me at my best. “When I looked at those times, I was nowhere near.“Eventually I did get stronger and those times came back, but I was never the same version I was before — but that was OK because of being a mum.”Her Olympic heroics at age 26 in front of an expectant home nation had capped an already stellar rise in the heptathlon — comprising the 200 and 800 metres, 100-metre hurdles, high and long jumps, shot put and javelin throw.She says: “My coach would say, ‘These are your post- pregnancy PBs’ [personal bests].”Jessica returned to training just ten weeks after baby Reggie arrived in her life, and initially struggled to rebuild her fitness.’Challenging time’She adds: “It was quite a tricky, challenging time because everyone at that stage thought you don’t start your family during your career, you kind of do all your career stuff and then start your family.“I think that’s since changed. I think a lot of women feel they have the support and policies in place to come back.” But she was forced to withdraw from the 2014 Commonwealth Games — and after she had son Reggie, who is now ten, Minichiello would compare her performances as “before” and “post” pregnancy.She says: “My coach would say ‘These are your post-pregnancy PBs [personal bests].”Jessica returned to training just ten weeks after Reggie arrived, and struggled to rebuild her fitness. She says: “There’s mental impact when you’re at the back of the group when you’re training — and you’re Olympic champion.Jessica beams after winning gold in the heptathlon at London 2012Credit: Times Newspapers LtdJessica competing in the long jump event during the heptathlon at London 2012Credit: Getty“I would compare myself to me at my best. When I looked at those times, I was nowhere near. “Eventually I did get stronger and those times came back, but I was never the same version I was before — but that was OK because of being a mum.”There’s mental impact when you’re at the back of the group when you’re training — and you’re Olympic championJessica Ennis-HillIt was more than OK, in fact, as just 13 weeks into motherhood she stormed back to win the 2015 World Championships in Beijing — then Olympic silver a year later in Rio de Janeiro.Jessica, who would retire the following year, now admits it was crazy trying to achieve again what she had done before her pregnancy.She says: “I thought, ‘What am I doing? What am I training for? This is hard’.“Your body changes so much. “It’s the hormones that go through your body for months after, the relaxing, that makes all your ligaments relax.“So my Achilles were loose and that’s not great when you’re trying to be this coil that needs to jump as high and far as you can.“I couldn’t train like I did before 2012.”But she made it her mission to return to the top of her sport — and soon revelled in the challenge.She says: “That journey was the hardest and the best — that feeling of beating the rest of the world, and those who doubted me, was the best.Greatest achievers“Your body is never going to be the same after having a child, whether it’s coming back to exercising or doing the Olympics.”While Jessica didn’t get a second Olympic gold, she wouldn’t change a thing.She says: “I was incredibly proud of what my body was able to achieve post-natally. “And having my son was the best thing ever. “But I might just get my silver one sprayed gold!”Jessica and Andy went on to have their second child Olivia in 2017 and she is now retired.When she married construction site manager Andy 12 years ago, she was already a national treasure.Her Olympic heroics at age 26 in front of an expectant home nation had capped an already stellar rise in the heptathlon — comprising the 200 and 800 metres, 100-metre hurdles, high and long jumps, shot put and javelin.In 2009, the Sheffield-born star won gold at the World Championships in Berlin and, in 2010, gold in the World Indoor Championships in Qatari ­capital Doha, plus the European Championships in Barcelona.In 2011, she claimed silver at the World Championships in South Korea and, five years later, that was upgraded to gold after Russian star Tatyana Chernova was found to have been doping.After silver at the 2012 World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, there then followed her defining moment atop the podium in London.Today, Jessica says she still gets competitive when she laces up her running shoes. Now aged 39, she adds: “I have done parkruns a few times — my husband was doing it quite a bit at one stage.“I still don’t want to get beaten, especially by someone with a buggy!”After retiring and being ennobled in the 2017 New Year Honours, Jessica won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award that year. She has also launched her own post-natal exercise advice app, become a patron of Sheffield Children’s Hospital and is a TV sports pundit. Oh, and she is launching her own podcast, Gold Minds, where she will chat to some of the world’s greatest achievers about how they overcame real-life challengesYour body is never going to be the same after having a child, whether it’s coming back to exercising or doing the OlympicsJessica Ennis-HillIt means she can finally use the psychology degree from Sheffield University that she gained after leaving school.She says of her podcast: “I get to speak to people about their golden moment that’s changed their life.“They also bring in three items that take us on their journey to reach that moment and the aftermath. “They’ve all been fascinating. “It’s delving into the psychology and mindset.”One of her guests will be British rowing cox Erin Kennedy — a two-time Paralympic champion. Erin, 32, was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, but has continued to win medals at the highest level, including gold at the 2024 Paris ­Paralympics.One of her guests will be British rowing cox Erin Kennedy — a two-time Paralympic champion.Erin, 32, was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago but has continued to win medals at the highest level, including gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympics,.Jessica says of their chat: “Erin was incredible. “I was sat with my mouth wide open, blown away by what she has been through.“She brought in a wig because that was a huge part of her journey to getting back to ­­winning gold in Paris.”READ MORE SUN STORIESShe adds of podcast work: “As an athlete, you’re wanting to push your-self — and this was something out of my comfort zone I wanted to try.” Jessica’s Gold Minds podcast chats with former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams and former Ireland rugby captain Johnny Sexton are on all major platforms. New episodes land on Wednesdays, the next features sports presenter Gabby LoganJessica wearing the Union Flag after her Olympic triumph in front of her home nationCredit: The Times More

    • 250 Shares179 Views

      in Motorsport

      Why Geri wasn’t ‘blindly standing by’ Christian Horner as pal reveals how she REALLY dealt with his F1 text scandal

      by

      DRIVING along happily through the idyllic Oxfordshire countryside in their 4×4 Geri Horner turns to hubby Christian and says: “You never know what life’s going to bring.”The former Spice Girl couldn’t have been more prophetic.Geri and Christian Horner went through a year from hell in 2024Credit: GettyThe couple are pictured before the bombshell news on Drive to SurviveCredit: NETFLIXChristian is captured the moment a slew of alleged private texts messages is anonymously leakedCredit: NETFLIXThe ironic moment – caught on camera for Netflix’s Drive to Survive show last year – reveals how the couple were blissfully unaware that the coming Formula 1 season would threaten to turn their whole lives upside down.Soon after the clip was filmed, Horner, 51, was accused of alleged “coercive behaviour” towards an anonymous employee, sparking two independent investigations over the following year, which ultimately cleared him.But just a day after the allegations were first chucked out, a tranche of text messages and photographs were sent from an anonymous email to dozens of journalists and key F1 figures.Some of the messages were allegedly of a sexual nature – including requests for selfies – and the bombshell leak, which had been timed to coincide with the first race of the season last March, soon became the talk of the circuit.”It was a shock to both of them when the allegations blew up – they never saw it coming,” one friend told The Sun.Red Bull star driver Max Verstappen’s dad Jos called for Horner’s head saying the team would “explode” if he stayed on as the allegations threatened to derail both his job and his marriage.“There is tension here while he remains in position, Verstappen Snr said back in March”The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode.”The 51-year-old known as “Jos the Boss” during his racing days was even forced to deny being the source of the leak after he and Christian reportedly had a blazing row in Horner’s paddock office.Meanwhile there were reports Geri was distraught and in “floods of tears” after reading the messages and that the fairytale couple were heading for divorce.Moment Toto Wolff gets set to break Lewis Hamilton promise in behind-the-scenes clip on Netflix’s Drive to SurviveBut despite the furore, loyal Geri flew to Bahrain to be at her husband’s side and was pictured hand in hand with him at the paddock.Dressed in her signature all-white outfit, she posed at the podium ceremony, all smiles as they celebrated a 1-2 victory for Verstappen and fellow Red Bell driver Sergio Perez.  The couple even shared a kiss in full view of the cameras just before lights out at the track.It was a show of unity and defiance by the pair – although some criticised Horner for parading Geri around the paddock so shortly after the news broke.Geri and Christian appeared hand in hand at the Bahrain Grand Prix after the scandal brokeCredit: GettyThe couple embrace despite the drama unfolding off the trackCredit: PAThe couple share a kiss after Red Bull win the raceCredit: BackGridMax Verstappen’s dad Jos hit out at Horner after the texts were leakedCredit: GettyOne outspoken F1 pundit, former driver Christijan Albers, called the move “a farce and an absolute nonsense”.A body language expert told The Sun at the time Geri appeared “awkward” and as if she was on a “denial mission” as she posed for cameras alongside her hubby.Others wondered how she could back her man so soon after that shock leak.But while some might have thought Geri was burying her head in the sand and standing by her man friends say she is absolutely no pushover and had lots of questions for Christian, who was cleared once again of wrongdoing in August after an appeal to the original findings was dismissed.’Secret to their marriage’“People think Geri was just blindly standing by her man through the whole thing but it’s not like that at all,” a friend said.“She’s been in the spotlight for the majority of her life, so she knows what it’s like to be at the top of your game and the pressures that brings, and it takes a lot to faze her. She is a strong and intelligent woman. “When the allegations first came out, she of course had questions.“They talked through it and since then he has been cleared twice following two independent investigations by two separate KCs (King’s Counsels).“Good communication is one of the secrets to their marriage.”It was a shock to both of them when the allegations blew up – they never saw it coming and a lot of people were spreading hurtful rumours, but it was all untrue, they are in a really good place right now.”When Horner was cleared of wrongdoing back in August, he said he was “relieved” to put the whole saga behind him.Behind the scenes But the new Netflix show captures some of his candid behind-the-scenes reaction to his the texting allegations.The excruciating moment he first faces the world’s media and other team bosses after the texts had been leaked is caught on camera on the new show.McLaren boss Zak Brown addresses a press conference with the cutting remark: “These are not the type of headlines Formula 1 wants or needs.”Cameras cut to defiant Christian walking through the corridors saying “You find out who your friends are” before quipping: “Zak is a p***k.” Christian and Geri showed another united front at the Saudi Arabia Gran Prix last MarchCredit: EPAHorner celebrating the Red Bull Racing Team’s win in JapanCredit: GettyLater, after the second practice session at Bahrain, cameras catch the exact moment the text bombshell drops – with phone alerts pinging and Horner holding his head in his hands in disbelief.It sends the world of Formula 1 into a frenzy. However, despite the controversy off the track, Horner has the last laugh as Red Bull wins the Bahrain Grand Prix in dramatic scenes.”That’s the best way to f*** all of them. Shut the f*** up,” he’s filmed saying to another Red Bull Racing team member.As Red Bull continues to dominate the season Horner says: “In Formula 1 there’s winners and w*****s and you don’t want to be in the “w****r category”.Rivals plot In other parts of the show, he says that the motive behind the leaks was obvious – his rivals wanted him ousted.”The higher you rise, the sharper the knives,” he says.”I’ve reached the top of my game and I never thought in a million years I’d have a challenge like this in my career.”It was obvious that the end goal was for me to leave Red Bull.”It’s a crucial time of year, in a job that I do, you’re the front face of the organisation.”You can either hide away or you can get out there and face it.”It was a dramatic year from hell for the couple – although it ended on a high with Horner picking up a CBE from Prince Charles for his services to motor sports.Horner also reportedly built bridges with Verstoppen’s dad. Happy families And the couple put on a loved up display at the 2024 FIA awards in December in Kigali, Rwanda.And while the new season of Drive to Survive might contain some uncomfortable memories for the pair, the insider said they are not interested in reliving the past at all and are focused firmly on the future and their blended family which includes Bluebell, 18, Olivia, 11 and Monty, eight.Christian and Geri on their wedding day in 2015Credit: Doug Seeburg – The SunChristian and Geri Horner with their children Bluebell, Monty and OliviaCredit: Getty Images – GettyTheir marriage has weathered the storm – and they and the F1 team are “stronger than ever”. “Geri and Christian just want to put this whole episode behind them,” the pal said. “Their marriage is stronger than ever, they just got back from a trip to the States together and had a great time.  “Their priority is their family and they are fiercely protective over their kids and the time that they have to be a family despite their busy schedules. “The [Red Bull] team are stronger than ever too – everything is good.”They are not fazed at all about the new Netflix show and are just focused on the future.  “Yes it was a difficult time for them but they are both very resilient.”A rep for Red Bull declined to comment. More

    • 163 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      How Bruno Fernandes’ ‘Steven Gerrard syndrome’ is spoiling Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd system

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED are looking to find a silver lining in their woeful season by winning the FA Cup but will need to beat Fulham in the fifth round on Sunday to move a step closer to that goal.The Red Devils beat Ipswich 3-2 earlier this week despite being down to ten men, but are still flattering to deceive in many ways.On today’s Tactics Exposed we break down why Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 is not workingCredit: GettyBruno Fernandes’ ‘Steven Gerrard syndrome’ is both a blessing and a curse for UnitedCredit: ReutersRasmus Hojlund will need a big turnaround to prove he is the solution at Man UtdCredit: EPAA young, talented Portuguese manager could prove a huge thorn in the side of Man Utd when Marco Silva’s Fulham visit Old Trafford.The Cottagers have gone under the radar for how good a season they are having, sitting in the top half of the table.Meanwhile, Man Utd’s various shortcomings have been well-documented with Ruben Amorim’s system still failing to get the best out of this squad.So how might the ex-Sporting boss look to tackle the next match against Fulham? Our latest episode of Tactics Exposed, in association with Betfair, will hopefully have the answers to all your questions.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhy is 3-4-3 not working?Amorim’s 3-4-3 system worked wonders at Sporting Lisbon, winning two Portuguese titles and many other accolades. So why is it yet to translate over to England?We took a range of questions from fans about Man Utd’s tactics ahead of their clash with FulhamThe simple answer to start with is that many of these players have never played the system before.Manuel Ugarte, Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt to a lesser extent are the only players familiar with the system, and the lack of specialists in various positions including central midfield and wing-backs are a huge issue.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSSo why does Amorim insist on playing 3-4-3? Well the idea is quite simple: Because the wing-backs provide overloads in all positions on the pitch.When defending, you have a back five, when in possession, you have a four-man midfield instead of two, and when attacking, you have a front five.Roy Keane slams Man Utd in angriest ever rant and has bust-up with Wright over BrunoBefore signing Patrick Dorgu, United lacked a specialist wing-back. Amad Diallo was tried out there before he was moved into the front three, Alejandro Garnacho did not work there, while Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are not quick enough to excel.At Sporting the system worked so well because there was a lot of trust given to players.We should note this was often against sides who many would consider inferior opposition, which is not a luxury as readily extended into the Premier League.Ultimately, as Amorim has warned, it will take time.Players have been left isolated by moving out of their positionsAnother reason this system is failing is that players are moving out of position, leaving them overloaded instead of the opposition.For example, if a long ball is played into the right channel for Rasmus Hojlund to run on to – which prompts a wing-back, one of the tens and a midfielder to step up – when possession is conceded back to the opposition they end up being overloaded and exposed on the other side of the pitch.This happened five or six times against Ipswich, where Ugarte moved out to right wing-back to get the ball, but the wing-back was out wide, so he did not get the ball.Fulham will doubtless look to block the passing lane off which will then leave them outnumbered in trying to find passing solutions.This all comes from the simple fact United players are not being utilised properly when building up.Is Bruno Fernandes overrated?We looked at whether Fernandes is doing too much at Man UtdOur latest episode of Tactics Exposed, in association with Betfair, has given us the chance to directly answer some of your questions.And one of the most heavily debated stars in the Premier League is Bruno Fernandes, as seen with Roy Keane’s explosive argument with Ian Wright earlier this week. The raw numbers tell a story of Fernandes being the star man of Man Utd’s team, with six goals and seven assists in the Premier League and 23 goal contributions across 39 games in all competitions this season.However, as is always the case in football, you have to look a bit deeper to find the real answer, which can often have more than one truth.In one sense, the stats are completely right and you can’t fault his effort.But in his duty as club captain, Fernandes is actually taking on too much responsibility and is therefore disrupting Amorim’s system which is actually quite rigid with defined roles for a number of players.Fernandes has recently been the left-sided midfielder in the central pivot after moving back from one of the two attacking midfield roles. But that has created its own new problem.In the system, the central centre-back, two central midfielders and striker should generally remain in a set position.But Fernandes is suffering from something I will dub “Steven Gerrard syndrome”, where he is trying to do everything and putting the team off balance.While it means he gets on the ball a lot and has a heat map across the entire pitch, Fernandes’ effort ends up creating an overload which favours the opposition.Against Ipswich he would often move into the back three, therefore creating a four, which paired with Ugarte drifting out wide it ends up allowing the opposition to have many extra numbers in attacking areas.So how do you fix this issue? As we mentioned earlier, it comes down to trust.Most teams defend in a 4-4-2 shape, and if Fernandes remains disciplined by staying in his area, it can open passing lanes and create the overloads the Amorim system is designed to create.Of course there is the argument Fernandes is only doing too much because those around him are not pulling their weight. Again, this may be true, with many United players seemingly playing in a cowardly manner and lacking courage.Fernandes needs to learn to trust his team-mates more by handing them more responsibility, but at the same time they need to step up their game to get near the 30-year-old’s level.Rasmus Hojlund is not the answer, is he? More