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    I won bronze at London 2012 Olympics to make Team GB history… now I work for the Premier League in totally new career

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    KRISTIAN THOMAS won bronze with Team GB at London 2012 but now works for the Premier League in a completely new role.The retired gymnast was a part of the history-making quintet which came third in the men’s team all-around 12 years ago.Kristian Thomas won gymnastics bronze with Team GB at the London 2012 OlympicsCredit: AFPHe now works as a player care and engagement manager for the Premier LeagueCredit: YouTube / Team EnglandIt was the first time in 100 years Team GB had won an Olympic team medal in gymnastics.Now 35, Thomas has been a player care and engagement manager for the Premier League since January 2022.His role sees him offer support to all 20 clubs and their player-care staff to help raise such provision at each club.He also canvasses player opinions and gives feedback to the Premier League for any potential rule changes.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDiscussing his career change, he told Olympics.com in December 2022: “Ultimately sport is sport at the end of the day, and I like to think that what I bring to the role is that knowledge and understanding of what being an elite sportsperson looks like, whether you’re a footballer or a gymnast.”That exposure and competing under the spotlight and having a goal, a focus, training towards that, it might happen, it might not happen, the bounce-back resilience shown with injuries, setbacks, and so on, that still stays the same.”As for the impact of his work, he added: “Taking the knee would be a good example.”Recently the captains decided that instead of doing it every game, they would do it in selected matches instead and hopefully drive the exposure that way.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThomas also works for Commonwealth Games England and the British Olympic Association alongside his Premier League job.It follows a range of roles including motivational speaker and athlete trainer since retiring from gymnastics.Footballers you didn’t know were related from Premier League icons to Lionel MessiAs well as bronze in London, Thomas was part of the team which finished fourth in Rio in 2016.He was also a Commonwealth and European champion in the men’s team all-around as well as winning European gold in the floor exercise.His best Olympic performance in the event saw him place seventh in Rio eight years ago.It came after he had made more history at the 2013 World Championships with bronze in vault, the first global medal ever won by a British male gymnast in the discipline.Thomas made history with Team GB in 2012 and competed again at the 2016 gamesCredit: GettyHe won European gold in two events during his gymnastics careerCredit: AFP More

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      Olivia Dunne concerns over her LSU gymnastics future after being left out of lineup for second straight week in row

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      CONCERNS have been raised over Olivia Dunne and her gymnastics future.The LSU gymnast star, 21, hasn’t appeared in the collegiate team’s lineup for two straight weeks.
      College sports star Olivia Dunne hasn’t participated in LSU’s last gymnastics meetsCredit: Getty
      The 21-year-old is in her senior season as an LSU gymnastCredit: Getty
      The New Jersey native boasts around 13 million followers across social media and has a NIL deal valued at $3.5 millionCredit: Getty
      Dunne has become immensely popular due to her social media presence.
      She has close to 13 million across Instagram and TikTok .
      As a result, Olivia has an NIL deal that is valued at $3.5 million, the second-highest across the country.
      The 21-year-old has entered her senior year as a gymnast.

      But Dunne hasn’t appeared in two straight LSU meets.
      The most recent absence came when the Tigers lost to Missouri 197.325-197.225.
      Olivia was seen cheering on her teammates but was left out of the lineup and didn’t perform.
      She had sat the previous week against Kentucky.
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      Dunne has recently posted videos of herself training on the balance team.
      It’s unclear if Olivia is dealing with an injury.
      As for LSU, they will host Arkansas on February 2.
      Dunne has still had success outside of the sport of gymnastics.
      The New Jersey native has been revealed as one of the stars of a new Prime Video documentary alongside fellow LSU gymnasts Flau’jae Johnson Angel Reese, and Jayden Daniels. More

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      World’s biggest stadium for 250,000 fans is now abandoned relic of Soviet era where Rolling Stones once played

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      THE world’s biggest stadium has now been reduced to merely a training ground after falling into disrepair.Prague’s Great Strahov Stadium could house an eye-watering 250,000 fans in its pomp, but has seen better days.
      Great Strahov Stadium’s stands have been allowed to fall into disrepairCredit: Alamy
      The once great stadium could house 250,000 fansCredit: Alamy
      The huge site can fit eight football pitchesCredit: Alamy
      Great Strahov was once a thriving gymnastics venueCredit: Getty
      Designed by Czech architect Alois Dryak in the 1920s, Great Strahov Stadium was initially used for synchronised gymnastics events between the First and Second World Wars.
      As Europe approached full-blown conflict, the stadium hosted an anti-war event in 1938 that drew an astonishing 348k crowd.
      The enormous field covers 63,500 square metres – enough to house EIGHT football pitches.
      While it continued to host gymnastics throughout the last century, Great Strahov diversified its schedule following the end of communism in the late 1980s.
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      Suddenly fans could flock to the stadium to watch previously banned concerts, with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses, U2 and Bon Jovi packing out the stands.
      The Rolling Stones proved particularly popular, drawing crowds of over 100,000 on two separate occasions.
      With Great Strahov getting older, however, its facilities began to fall into disrepair.
      Following its rocking 1990s there were even talks of knocking it down entirely – although these were thwarted when it gained UNESCO Heritage Site status in 2003.
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      The sprawling venue previously hosted enormous eventsCredit: Getty
      Great Strahov was renowned as one of the globe’s premium venuesCredit: Getty
      Its interior has been allowed to degradeCredit: Alamy
      The once grandiose exterior has been allowed to rot in recent yearsCredit: Alamy
      While its pitches remain in use, the stands have been allowed to slowly fall apart and are no longer safely habitable.
      There were even suggestions that the once Great Strahov could be transformed into an Olympic village, should Prague win their bid to host the 2016 Games.
      But when they were awarded to Rio, this plan was KO’d.
      Instead, it is now used as a training ground by Czech side Sparta Prague.
      It has been suggested in the past that Great Strahov could be converted into hotels, shops and restaurants.
      But issues over its historical status have also put those plans out of action.
      As it is, the creaky remains of this once-special arena are still intact in Prague’s Strahov district, west of Petrin Hill.
      But what lies next remains unclear, with any potential development of the Soviet relic looking difficult to pull off.
      Bono performs at Great Strahov in 1997Credit: Reuters
      The stadium’s South Tribune is now full of graffitiCredit: Alamy
      Great Strahov has closed its doors to the public in recent yearsCredit: Alamy
      The 1920s Soviet relic has UNESCO World Heritage StatusCredit: Alamy
      Big events appear unlikely to return to Great Strahov any time soonCredit: Getty More

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      Tearful Simone Biles admits she’s still scared to do gymnastics after pulling out of FIVE Olympic finals with ‘Twisties’

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      CRYING Simone Biles is suffering from the Twisties and admits: I’m still scared to do gymnastics.The American superstar withdrew from five of her six finals at the Tokyo Olympics after a fluffed vault routine left her feeling disoriented.
      Simone Biles broke down in tears during an interview where she stated she is scared to do gymnasticsCredit: NBC
      The Twisties are like the yips for gymnasts and the 24-year-old has spoken about the mental pressure of competing on the world’s biggest stages.
      Biles broke down in tears in an emotional interview with the Today programme in the US.
      She said: “To do something that I’ve done forever and just not be able to do it because of everything I’ve gone through is really crazy because I love this sport so much.
      “It’s hard. I’m sorry. And I don’t think people understand the magnitude of what I go through.
      “But for so many years to go through everything that I’ve gone through having a front, I’m proud of myself.”
      Biles spoke in 2018 about being abused by USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, who is now serving a life sentence in jail.

      USA Gymnastics have been heavily criticised for covering up Nassar’s hideous crimes, which involved molesting hundreds of women and girls.
      Biles said: “Over the years, after suppressing so many emotions and putting up a front on a global scene, I think all of that came to light.
      “My body and my mind allowed me to suppress all of that stuff for so many years, for as long as it could take.
      American star Biles has won an astonishing 32 Olympic and World Championship medalsCredit: Reuters
      “And as soon as we stepped onto the Olympic scene, it just decided it couldn’t do it anymore and it cracked, and that’s what happens. 
      “And that’s why taking care of your mental well-being and mental health is so important, so that something like that doesn’t happen. 
      “And I’m grateful that it wasn’t somebody else, and it was me, because I know I’m strong enough and I can get back on my feet and I’m going to get back on my feet with the right help.”
      Simone Biles and gymnasts blast FBI for Nassar cover-up at Senate hearing More

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      Gymnastics champ and former porn star Van de Leur says OnlyFans saved her career in lockdown

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      FORMER Dutch gymnastics prodigy Verona van de Leur has revealed her OnlyFans page saved her career during lockdown.
      Van de Leur is a former Dutch Sportswoman of the Year with five European Championship medals and a World Championship silver to her name.

      Verona van de Leur has an army of online fansCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Her life has taken plenty of twists and turns before ending up in pornCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Verona van de Leur was once Holland’s golden girl of athleticsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But injuries and a falling out with her parents, after her father spent thousands of her own money, meant she quit the sport in 2008.
      Van de Leur, 35, told SunSport how she ended up living in her car, on the streets and even spent time behind bars after attempting to blackmail a couple for money.
      She then turned to the porn industry where she remained for eight years until 2019 and signed up to OnlyFans during the coronavirus pandemic.
      Speaking of having to survive in the current climate, she told Meduza: “I don’t know how long the lockdown will last.

      “The government does not compensate me for anything, but I have to live somehow.
      “Fans ask me why I decided to end [my porn career] and after so many years they can’t let me go.
      “OnlyFans has become a good way to make a lot of money and pay attention to the fans at the same time.
      “I am proud of my work and while I can still make money from it, why not? Of course, this was not my plan when I announced my retirement in December 2019, but since then many people’s lives have changed.

      After spending time in jail, Verona turned to a career in pornCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      She opened up an OnlyFans account following the pandemicCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Verona spent eight years in the porn industryCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Before joining the porn industry she was living on the streetsCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      Verona was set for stardom at an early age in gymnasticsCredit: Instagram / @sexy_verona

      “Belgium and Holland are still locked down. We were told that until everyone gets the vaccine, life will not be normal. I cannot look into the future.
      “But I was never ashamed of porn. I loved the job. There was a moment when I could give it all up completely – so why not use it?
      “On my account, I began to post porn content that was filmed over the past eight years, which means that there were updates every day – so many videos have accumulated.”

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