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      in Soccer

      Martin Braithwaite hits out at Barcelona over brutal axing and tells club to ‘think about people’s mental health’

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      MARTIN BRAITHWAITE has blasted the brutal treatment he received at Barcelona. The Denmark striker was locked in a stand-off with the Catalan giants this summer, who made it clear they wanted him out.
      Braithwaite playing for his new club Espanyol against Real SociedadCredit: Getty
      Barca needed Braithwaite’s £100,000 a week contract off the wage bill to help them register all the new stars they had signed.
      They made him an outcast and publicly criticised the former Middlesbrough striker after he dug in his heels and insisted he would only leave if they paid up his contract in full.
      Barca fans turned on the star before he was rescued by a deadline day move to city rivals Espanyol.
      But Braithwaite, 31, says clubs cannot simply use players as pawns without thinking about the impact it will have.
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      He told Danish paper Ekstra Bladet: “Did I take it as bullying, I actually don’t know. But I think it’s important that you always think about other people’s mental health.
      “That’s the way it is. I know how things work in this world. Unfortunately, football is also a business.
      “In many ways, I can only smile a little at all the things that have taken place behind the scenes
      “I think I have disproved many critics. I was top scorer last season before I got injured.
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      “But then there was a change of coach, he wanted something else, and that is part of football life.
      “Xavi didn’t believe in my abilities, so I had to leave. I had known for a long time that the coach did not believe in me and that I had to move on from Barcelona.”
      But the move to Espanyol seems to have worked out well for all parties involved, with Braithwaite scoring twice in his first two La Liga games for his new club.
      And Barca are enjoying a rip-roaring start to the season, sitting just two points behind Real Madrid in the table.
      Braithwaite added: “I am incredibly happy about the switch to Espanyol, I have settled in quickly, and the project I am part of suits me very well.”
      “When I play at Barca next time, I want to go on the pitch to win. How the fans react, I can’t control. It is completely out of my hands.” More

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      in Boxing

      How Tyson Fury overcame string of hard knocks – from wife Paris’ harrowing stillbirth to dad jailed for savage attack

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      HE’S the undefeated heavyweight champ and devoted dad-of-six, with a reported fortune of £130million.But Tyson Fury, 34, has been plagued by a series of hard knocks that have threatened to derail his career and send him spiralling into addiction.
      Tyson and Paris have had their share of heartbreakCredit: Instagram @gypsyking101
      Rico Burton, 31, was stabbed to death at the weekend
      Yesterday the Gypsy King revealed his heartbreak over the death of cousin Rico Burton, 31, who was stabbed in the neck in a senseless attack on a night out in Manchester.
      Posting about the harrowing news on his Instagram page the boxer – who trained with his cousin in his younger days – called for tougher sentences on “idiots carrying knives”.   
      He added: “You don’t know how hard it is until it’s one of your own.
      “Life is very precious and it can be taken away very quick. Enjoy every moment.”
      READ MORE ON TYSON FURY
      It’s a fresh blow for the family man who has previously battled mental health issues, exacerbated by tragedy  – including the simultaneous loss of a baby and a beloved uncle in the same hospital in 2014.
      The double whammy almost ended his reign at the top, sending him into a haze of drink and drugs as he struggled with bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts. 
      A fighter in more ways than one, he battled back from the brink to reclaim his heavyweight title in 2020, but says suffering in silence for years “nearly killed him”.
      “I’ve been an alcoholic, I’ve been a drug addict, I’ve been a fat b***** because I am a food addict and there’s not much I haven’t been addicted to,” he told talkSport last year. 
      Most read in Boxing
      “But I have recovered and I do feel better for it. There is life after mental health, if you manage it, and the last thing we need is for people to give in to mental health.
      “It is a fight, it is a battle that we will have to continue to battle and fight for our whole life. But life is so much worth fighting for.”
      As a new tragedy rocks the Fury family, we look at how the boxer has bounced back from previous low points.
      Dad ‘gouged out’ pal’s eye
      Tyson with dad John, who was jailed in 2011
      Tyson Fury was a born fighter
      A premature baby who weighed just 1lb, Tyson was one of only four survivors of mum Amber’s 14 pregnancies.
      Dad John, who had already lost two daughters in premature births, named him after the then heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, because he survived.
      When he was nine, his baby sister Romana died a few days after being born, an experience which has haunted him throughout his life.
      Tyson – who left school at 11  – was trained in the ring by his dad, himself a boxer.
      In 2011 he was devastated when John was jailed for 10 years for gouging out the eye of a former friend in a 12-year feud over a bottle of beer. 
      Fury’s uncle, Hughie Fury, stepped in to become his trainer in his dad’s absence and the pair were incredibly close.
      His dad was released from prison in February 2015 and was ringside for his victorious fight against Wladimir Klitschko in Germany that year.
      Double tragedy
      The childhood sweethearts wed in 2008Credit: Instagram @parisfury1
      Paris and Tyson celebrate the christening of baby Athena
      Fury found happiness at an early age with wife Paris, who he started dating then they were 16 and 17, and wed in 2008. 
      The couple have six children, three sons – Prince John James, nine, Prince Tyson II, five, and two-year-old Prince Adonis Amaziah – and three daughters, Venezuela, 12, Valencia Amber, four, and one-year-old Athena.
      But the couple suffered a devastating loss in 2014, when Paris was forced to give birth to a dead baby six months into the pregnancy.
      Tyson later revealed that, as he was supporting her through the ordeal, his beloved uncle Hughie was dying on the other side of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
      The trainer was admitted for a knee operation to put a bolt in his leg, which broke when a caravan drawbar fell on him, but a blood clot travelled to his lung and his heart stopped in surgery, leaving him in a coma for 11 weeks before he passed away. 
      My wife Paris gave birth to a child at six months old that was dead… We were in one side of the hospital and my uncle Hughie was dying on the other side of the hospital, at the same timeTyson Fury
      The double tragedy triggered addictions to booze and cocaine, and saw Tyson pile on the pounds to the point where he was too unfit to fight. 
       “My wife Paris gave birth to a child at six months old that was dead,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “I had to be there when she was delivering the baby.
      “We were in one side of the hospital and my uncle Hughie was dying on the other side of the hospital, at the same time.
      “I stopped myself from thinking about it. I needed to put it to the back of my mind.”
      He added that he bottled up his emotions until after his winning clash with Klitschko in 2015, when “it all came tumbling down. All the problems I’d bottled away just exploded”.
      Drink and drugs
      After beating Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in November 2015, Tyson’s health sufferedCredit: Rex
      Struggling with his “demons”, Fury’s weight spiralled to 28st and he turned to drink and drugs, downing up to 18 pints a day.
      A rematch with Klitschko, scheduled for 2016, was postponed twice after Fury was declared medically unfit, amid reports he had also tested positive for cocaine.
      He told Rolling Stone: “I’m going through a lot of personal demons, trying to shake them off. 
      “I’ve not been in a gym for months. I’ve been going through depression. I just don’t want to live anymore.
      “I’ve been out drinking, Monday to Friday to Sunday, and taking cocaine. I can’t deal with it and the only thing that helps me is when I get drunk out of my mind.”
      At one point he drove his Ferrari towards a bridge at 190mph in a desperate bid to end his life.
      He said: “I gave up on life but as I was heading to the bridge I heard a voice saying, ‘no don’t do this Tyson; think about your kids, your family, your sons and daughter growing up without a dad’.”
      Second baby loss
      Paris has suffered two miscarriagesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Athena was discharged after fighting for days in intensive care
      After relinquishing his world titles, and being stripped of his licence by the British Boxing Board, Tyson sought medical help and was diagnosed as bipolar. 
      He launched a comeback in 2018 and later revealed throwing himself into training saved his life.
      “I have been able to manage my mental health through training and I use it as a medicine,” he said.
      “I use structured routine, like a regimented lifestyle. I like to know what I am doing. If I’ve not got certainty in my life, everything seems to go AWOL. My mind starts wandering and I go very unwell again.”
      If I’ve not got certainty in my life, everything seems to go AWOL. My mind starts wandering and I go very unwell againTyson Fury
      Just days before his comeback fight against Sefer Seferi in 2018, Paris tragically suffered another miscarriage.
      Fearing the effect on his mental health, Paris decided not to tell him until after the fight.
      She said: “I was about eight weeks pregnant. Then on the day of the fight I knew I’d lost our baby. I didn’t mention it to Tyson before he went into the ring.
      “Five weeks later we fell pregnant again… We were still heartbroken over our loss, but overjoyed at the same time.”
      The birth of Athena last August was fraught with trauma when she “died for three minutes” and was left in intensive care, with Tyson asking fans to pray for her.
      The tot was discharged after a few days and left the hospital in a babygrow with the words: “Fighter just like my daddy.”
      Paris posted the picture with the caption: “Had scared us all terrible in her first two weeks of life but thankfully she is fit and well and home.”
      Mental health fight
      Now back on top, the boxer has regained his titleCredit: Getty
      Fury’s return to the top was cemented when he defeated Deontay Wilder to win the WBC heavyweight championship of the world in 2020,  and reclaim his throne.
      The new tragedy in the boxer’s family is sure to cause him immense pain but this time, the grieving boxer will open up about his feelings and says he’s learned that bottling up his emotions never works. 
      “My mistake was I just suffered in silence and it very nearly killed me,” he says. “Then I started seeking medical help, I wished to God I had done it 15 years earlier.
      “I wouldn’t have had to go through a mental breakdown and all the s*** I went through.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I am on the other side of it now and I have learned to maintain and manage the problems and I’m living life.
      “I never want to go back to that lonely, dark, horrible, grey place where you wake up every morning and think, ‘Why the f*** did I just wake up?’” More

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      in Soccer

      ‘How can I carry on… what is the point of my life?’ – Joey Barton opens up on battle with depression

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      JOEY BARTON revealed he questioned if life was worth living as he comes out of his “darkest” year.The Bristol Rovers boss and ex-England midfielder says he thought loved ones would be better off without him and asked: ‘How can I carry on?’
      Joey Barton says talking about his others was vital and has now taken Bristol Rovers back into League One, where they have two straight winsCredit: Rex
      But the former Newcastle and Manchester City star turned for help after realising he didn’t want his wife and three children – plus another kid coming – to suffer.
      In an interview for Men’s Health, the 39-year-old warned: “If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. 
      “It’s why it’s important to be honest and get it all out in the open.”
      The ex-QPR hardman believes getting “unfairly” sacked by Fleetwood Town in January 2021, suffering relegation with new club Rovers and two big court cases took him to his low point.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
      And he held nothing about his bleakest moments back from interviewer Alastair Campbell, who was Tony Blair’s spokesman as Prime Minister and has campaigned for mental health awareness after suffering depression.
      Describing himself as an “eternal optimist” until his recent issues Barton said: “I didn’t think I was capable of getting depressed. 
      “But last year, professionally and personally, was the most challenging, the most difficult, I’ve ever had. It was the first time I had dark moments, really dark thoughts.”
      At one time he was: ” looking at the window and thinking, ‘Would the fall kill me if I jumped out?’ But I decided that it wouldn’t”.
      Most read in Football
      The two-time Burnley player added: “There’s all these people thinking, ‘You’re a wife beater, you’re a violent thug,’ and I know it’s not true”.
      Barton believed life “felt futile” but decided “I am the problem” – one night even worrying that if he went to sleep he’d never wake up.
      He said he also thought: “The team is sh**, but if I go, they’ll be better. As for the family, if I’m not here, all that noise and nonsense just stops. 
      “I’ve got lots of money in the bank, I leave it to them, they can get on with their lives, everyone is better off without me.”
      Barton battled back to a good position, however – also restoring Rovers to League One, where they’ve won both games so far this season.
      And he urged anyone who has similar problems to talk about them.
      He explained how he contacted the League Managers’ Association and Sporting Chance – the mental health charity set up by Arsenal legend Tony Adams.
      Barton also did anger management and studied psychology – to help him not only beat his own challenges but become a “better version” of himself. More

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      in Soccer

      ‘I really struggled’ – Arsenal star and ex-Celtic hero Kieran Tierney opens heart on agony of losing friends to suicide

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      FORMER Celtic hero Kieran Tierney has revealed his agony at losing pals to suicide.The Scotland star, 25, says he regrets that none of his friends felt able to share their troubles with him.
      Former Celtic starlet Kieran TierneyCredit: Reuters
      Now Tierney feels he has a duty to help others after struggling with his mental health when he quit Scotland to join Arsenal three years ago.
      He made the tragic revelations on the new Amazon Prime docuseries, All Or Nothing: Arsenal.
      The fly-on-the-wall programme follows the Gunners during the 2021/22 season.
      Tierney left his family and friends to head to London after sealing a £25million move.
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TIERNEY.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-1exhbll{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}HOME COOKING .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Kieran Tierney LIVES with his chef to make him feel right at home in London
      He reveals: “It was hard to start with, I was really struggling. Really low point. Homesickness was terrible to start with.
      “Outside training you had a lot of time to think. I’m not saying I was ever in a bad, bad place where I was suicidal.
      “But my friends have been. Two or three of them have committed suicide, lost their life. You’re with these people and you don’t know a thing. They’ve not spoke.
      “So I think I feel a certain responsibility to try and help as much as I can because I kind of know how it feels to be in a certain place.”
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      The defender made his Celtic debut aged just 17 in 2015 before earning his first Scotland cap the following year.
      His Hoops performances earned him a big money move to Arsenal three years later. He has since become a key part of the national side under Steve Clarke.
      All or Nothing: Arsenal is available on Amazon Prime from 4 August.
      Meanwhile, Tierney has revealed he LIVES with his chef to make him feel right at home in London.
      He has all his home comforts now that he lives with Gunners chief cook and friend Johnny McCallum.
      The pair live close to the Arsenal Training Centre in north London.

      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page  More

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      in Athletics

      GB star Matt Hudson-Smith wins 400m World Athletics bronze after suicide attempt during three years of ‘absolute hell’

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      MATT HUDSON-SMITH has revealed he attempted suicide during three years of “absolute hell” before winning world 400m bronze.Being dropped by his sponsors, the pain of long-term injuries, the isolation of living away from family during the Covid pandemic and significant medical bills all took their toll on his mental health.
      Matt Hudson-Smith’s incredible journey has landed him a world bronze medalCredit: AFP
      He kept his eyes straight ahead as he crossed the line in thirdCredit: Getty
      The Brummie was delighted with his 400m bronze medalCredit: PA
      Reluctant to give any further details or information, the quietly-spoken Brummie has said publicly for the first time he came closing to ending his life last year.
      Thankfully, for him, his family and close friends, he is in a much better place now off the track.
      And Hudson-Smith’s third-place finish at the Oregon World Athletics Championship has seen him finally deliver on his enormous one-lap potential.
      Hudson-Smith explained: “When I saw my name on the board as third, I just dropped to the floor because these three years have been absolute hell.
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Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}READ MORE ATHLETICS 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}’FOR YOU GRANNY’ .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Heartbroken Dina Asher-Smith dedicates 200m bronze to late grandma’
      “Obviously 2018 was good. I won Europeans even though everything didn’t go to plan.
      “In 2019 I tore my Achilles, tore my hamstring, messed up my hip.
      “In 2020 it was Covid. I had huge mental health issues in 2021.
      “Not a lot of people know this but I literally attempted suicide.
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      “I was racing, knowing I was hurt all the time, going to races knowing I wasn’t 100 per cent. I couldn’t do the Olympics for several reasons.
      “Everyone who has been around me – my agent, coach, family, girlfriend – have been the best support.
      “But during Covid I was stuck in America by myself. I love America, but I wanted to be with my family.
      “It was tough, man. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster.”
      While sidelined through injury, Hudson-Smith – who is based now in Florida – says he accumulated a “huge debt” through the American healthcare system.
      He added: “I didn’t have insurance. It’s America, man. It’s expensive.
      “My mum and girlfriend were like, ‘Give it a year out there.’ I was going to be an electrician instead.
      “And then obviously I was trying to get my Green Card, which got denied.
      “Things work in mysterious ways. Now I’ve got this medal.” 
      ASDA TO ATHLETICS
      It was back in the summer of 2014 when he first broke on the scene with a brilliant run at Glasgow that changed his life.
      Back then he was working in Asda supermarket and considered joining the army – something his mum did not know anything about at the time.
      After all the injury setbacks and near-misses, Hudson-Smith knew this Eugene event was his best chance and he came here in top form.
      It was on this same track in May where he posted a Diamond League meeting time of 44.35 seconds that eclipsed Iwan Thomas’s 25-year GB record by 0.01sec.
      American Michael Norman, who was on Hudson-Smith’s inside, won gold in 44.29 seconds while Grenadian Kirani James was second in 44.48 seconds.
      Hudson-Smith burst on to the scene at Glasgow 2014Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He enjoyed a fine 2018 by winning the EuropeansCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Things took a bad turn in 2019 with injuries followed by Covid and mental health strugglesCredit: Getty
      As he crossed the line in 44.66 seconds, having held off the late challenge from US star Champion Allison, Hudson-Smith was warmly embraced by Welshman Thomas, who is at Hayward Field as part of the stadium announcing team.
      Back in the BBC studio in London, Hudson-Smith’s advisor Christine Ohuruogu – the two-time women’s 400m world champion – was in a celebratory mood.
      And a chance conversation with former 200m Olympic champion Tommie Smith – who did the one-fisted Black Power salute at the 1968 Mexico Olympics – helped him hang on for third.
      Hudson-Smith, who won Britain’s first medal in the men’s 400m at world championship level since Roger Black’s silver at Tokyo 1991, said: “For the whole year my coach has been saying ‘the race is lost in the last 20 metres’.
      “In the semis, I looked to my right and I lost my momentum. In the final, I was like: ‘Don’t look at the clock. Don’t do anything.’
      I’ve seen it all and maybe I’ve shut up a few peopleMatt Hudson-Smith
      “I was at Puma House and I spoke with legend Tommie Smith. He said, ‘Don’t look to your left, don’t look to your right, just look straight forward.’
      “I felt someone outside of me, and I thought, ‘Oh c***.’ When I crossed the line, I genuinely didn’t look at the scoreboard or anything.
      “Okay, please don’t be fourth. I’d rather come last than fourth. I just dropped to the floor.
      “I always knew I could medal and had the potential to do this. It just solidifies it.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}BREAST ASSETS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}I’m a doctor – here’s the 7 reasons your boobs sag and how to fix it
      “I’ve seen it all and maybe I’ve shut up a few people.
      “They might have said I should have stayed at home. I’ve heard everything. They can’t really say anything now.”
      You’re Not Alone
      EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
      It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
      It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
      And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
      Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
      That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
      The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
      Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
      If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

      CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
      Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
      Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
      Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
      Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
      Movember, www.uk.movember.com
      Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm

      Hudson-Smith needed a few moments to take it all in on the trackCredit: AP
      He was presented with his medal by former British sprinter Iwan ThomasCredit: PA More

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      in Boxing

      Ryan Garcia ‘honoured’ to be mental health advocate after being inspired by Tyson Fury in fight against depression

      by

      RYAN GARCIA is honoured to be a mental health advocate after being inspired by Tyson Fury in his own fight with depression. The lightweight sensation in April last year withdrew from facing Javier Fortuna as he bravely admitted to battling personal demons.
      Ryan Garcia reveals Tyson Fury was an inspiration of hisCredit: Rex
      Tyson Fury overcame personal demons to become heavyweight championCredit: Getty
      Thankfully, after 18 months Garcia in April of this year returned to boxing with a win over Emmanuel Tagoe.
      The American has been open and honest about his struggles as he looks to help and inspire others.
      And he revealed heavyweight champion Fury – who came back from 28 STONE to win the titles – was a motivation of his own.
      Garcia, 23, told SunSport: “Tyson Fury, he’s definitely inspiring and if I can also be that advocate for mental health, that would be an honour as well.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}AL BE BACK .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Fury dubbed the modern day Ali as promoter says heavyweight WILL fight again
      “It just so happened that it happened to me and a couple of times I did look to Tyson Fury, what he went through as well and how he made a comeback.
      “And he was a big guy, you know like 400lb or however much he weighed, and he made a comeback as well.
      “If he could do that, obviously I could come back from where I came back from.
      “I’m just another man with another story, but it’s an important story.
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      “I feel like it will help young kids and also older adults who can resonate with the challenge.”
      Boxing hero Fury went from winning the unified titles in 2015 to battling suicidal thoughts while obese in the space of just two years.
      But after making his comeback in 2018, he was heavyweight king again by 2020 and continues to be an inspiration.
      Garcia is hoping for a similar comeback of his own having signed to fight Fortuna once again, live on DAZN this Saturday.
      But this time around, the all-new US Golden Boy heads into the bout better than ever, both physically and mentally.
      He said: “I’m really in tune with myself. It’s like anything, if you keep practising and take no breaks, you’ll get to the truth better and faster.
      “So when I say I’m in a better place, it’s like skillful-wise, my timing, my reactions, how fast I think in the ring, it’s much better.
      “I don’t have that year-and-a-half of rust anymore, now I’m back to where I was and I feel great.”
      Tyson Fury, he’s definitely inspiring and if I can also be that advocate for mental health, that would be an honour as well.Ryan Garcia
      Garcia dropped and bossed Tagoe, 33, over 12 rounds and was in line to fight Isaac Cruz, 24, afterwards.
      But when talks broke down, it gave him the chance to settle his unfinished business with Fortuna, 32, following their axed headliner.
      Garcia revealed: “It just so happened that after Cruz didn’t want to fight, Fortuna presented himself as an opponent.
      “I was like, ‘Wow, OK’. Now I get to redeem that fight that I pulled out from, basically.
      “It feels good because I know that I would’ve beaten him then and I’ll beat him now. I can’t wait to get in the ring.”
      Garcia was desperate to come back with a bang against Tagoe and looked on his way to doing so after scoring a knockdown in round two.
      But the Ghanaian was able to hold and survive to hear the final bell, much to KingRy’s frustration.
      So it leaves Garcia wishing Dominican Fortuna will perform as a much better dance partner in a fight he hopes will put the division on notice.
      He said: “The great thing about now is, before I was out for a year and a half, and because Tagoe was on the move, did it throw me off? Yes.
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      “Because I hadn’t properly prepared for anybody like that or I didn’t have my timing down yet perfect.
      “But now I think everything, I’m in a much better place boxing-wise, skill-wise and even if Fortuna did get on the move like Tagoe, I would be able to get to him much better.”
      Ryan Garcia beat Emmanuel Tagoe in his comeback fightCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      F1 ace Lando Norris believes playing golf is helping him deal with the mental pressures of leading McLaren

      by

      LANDO NORRIS’ love of golf has brought a whole new meaning to ‘Drive to Survive’.  The McLaren driver took up the sport in 2019 and warmed up for today’s British GP by teeing it up with major winner and fellow Brit Justin Rose earlier this week. 
      The McLaren driver walked the track at Silverstone on Thursday morning in association with MindCredit: LAT
      The McLaren driver took up golf in 2019 and has a handicap index of 13Credit: Getty
      SunSport reporter Frankie Christou with Lando Norris at SilverstoneCredit: LAT
      And he says swapping out being a driver to swinging one is helping him deal with the pressures of leading one of Formula One’s most successful teams. 
      The 22-year-old told SunSport: “Taking up golf has helped me a lot. 
      “When you can go out there and it’s just you, the club and the ball you stop thinking about all the other problems. 
      “Because it’s so difficult, all you’re thinking about is your swing or where to place the ball to strive to be more perfect than last time. 
      “From a mental side it is absolutely helping me. 
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}SILVER ARROWS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}F1 British Grand Prix: Start time, live stream, TV channel, how to watch FREE
      “It’s extremely different to F1 but the one thing it has in common is the constant strive for perfection.
      “Golf teaches you to deal with frustration quickly, to put it behind you and driving is the same.” 
      The Brit started playing golf alongside his former McLaren teammate Carlos Sainz and has managed to get his handicap index down to a respectable 13.
      It was around the same time Norris opened up about his struggles after revealing the toll his debut year in F1 had on him which led him to get help from the mental health charity Mind. 
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
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time, live stream, TV channel, how to watch FREE
      He explained: “I was constantly asking myself – ‘Am I good enough to be here?’
      “I got to the point of not wanting to be around anyone and just wanting to be alone.
      “I didn’t know what to do but I started working with Mind and it helped me. 
      “They taught me how to combat it but I also talked to my friends.”
      Norris’ work with Mind has seen his team McLaren team up with the charity to launch a ‘One Lap for Mind’ initiative which is challenging fans to walk, run or cycle the distance of the Silverstone track.
      While becoming a F1 world champion and a scratch golfer is on his agenda, Norris also takes pride in reaching out to his fans who have experienced similar mental issues. 
      He added: “It’s got to the point where I can feel I can use my platform to help others. 
      “People can relate to it and it makes them feel they are not alone. 
      “That’s the first step to feeling better and being in a better place. 
      “I get messages of thanks and a few people have said I have saved their life, it makes me feel happy I spoke up because even if it was just one person it makes it amazing. 
      “I don’t just want to be a driver who just races round and then in five, ten years time he is gone. 
      “I do want to be a role model for people and a guy who has an impact on people. 
      “I look up to Lewis [Hamilton] in that way as he is also the greatest ever racing driver but also a role model away from the track.” 
      Text LAP to 70145 to donate £5.00 to mental health charity Mind’ or online here.
      Norris is still looking for his first win in F1 after making his debut in 2019 (Credit: LAT) More

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      Dame Kelly Holmes reveals she’s gay as brave Olympics hero, 52, vows to be her ‘real self’ after mental health trauma

      by

      OLYMPICS legend Dame Kelly Holmes has revealed she’s gay – after living a “secret life” for decades.The 52-year-old sporting hero, who is in a happy relationship, says she wanted to “scream” about her sexuality for years – but felt unable to speak openly.
      Olympics hero Dame Kelly Holmes has revealed she’s gay and in a relationship after struggling with her mental health for yearsCredit: Getty
      The national treasure suffered episodes of self-harm as she feared being outedCredit: AFP
      She bravely chose to break her silence during Pride month after “dark times” when she considered taking her own life.
      Dame Kelly, who served in the Army, told the Sunday Mirror she first realised she was gay when she kissed another female soldier at the age of just 17.
      But she bottled up her true feelings for years – and suffered episodes of self-harm.
      Even her celebrations after she won gold in the 800 and 1,500 metres at Athens were spoiled as she feared being outed.
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      The national treasure told the paper: “I needed to do this now, for me. It was my decision. I’m nervous about saying it.
      “I feel like I’m going to explode with excitement. Sometimes I cry with relief.”
      Dame Kelly feared she’d “still be in trouble” if she’d admitted to being gay while in the Army, although family and close friends have known of her sexuality for years.
      She joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps in 1988, a month before her 18th birthday.
      At the time, the forces had a ban on LGBT soldiers, which was only lifted in 2000.
      .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Athletics.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
      After her first kiss with another woman, Kelly wrote to her stepdad to tell him what had happened.
      “I was confused and a bit scared of what it meant,” she said.
      “But he accepted it straight away”.
      She went on to have relationships with other female soldiers during her 10 years of service, risking court martial, and came out to the rest of her family in 1997.
      Between the ages of 27 and 32, she was in a relationship, but broke it off so she could focus on the Olympics.
      By 33, however, her mental health began to suffer.
      In 2003, she self-harmed before the World Championships final in France, running a tap to drown out the sound of her tears.
      “I felt I had no control over myself,” she said.
      “Yet at the same time I had this pull to succeed, thinking, ‘If I win gold it’ll all be ok’.”
      I feel like I’m going to explode with excitement. Sometimes I cry with relief
      Despite her grief, she didn’t ask for support as she was terrified of being dropped from Team GB.
      In 2020, she suffered Covid and a breakdown – and contacted a military LGBTQ+ leader to ask if she could still face sanctions for her Army relationships.
      When the advocate reassured her, Kelly says: “I felt like I could breathe again.
      “One little call could have saved 28 years of heartache.”
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Sun.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}KITCH YOU NOT .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}The five kitchen appliances making you spend more and how to stop it
      She is now working on a doc called Being Me about her experiences.

      For more information on how to seek support if you’re affected by the issues in this article, visit NHS.uk

      Dame Kelly first knew she was gay when she kissed another female soldier at the age of 17Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
      She immediately wrote to her stepfather, who was supportive, and has had relationships with womenCredit: Getty Hulton
      But she’s now come out to her millions of British fans to celebrate Pride monthCredit: BBC / Blast! Films LtdYOU’RE NOT ALONEEVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.

      It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
      It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
      And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
      Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
      That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
      The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
      Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
      If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

      CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
      Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
      Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
      Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
      Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
      Movember, www.uk.movember.com More