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      in Athletics

      Brit athletics champion, 81, is a MONK who took 70 YEARS to claim first gold after ‘nearly collapsing’ on first run

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      A MARATHON monk has become a British athletics champion after SEVENTY YEARS despite “nearly collapsing” on his first run.Father John Gribben is a sprightly 81 years old and can now claim to be top of his field after winning a gold medal at the British Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships.A sprightly elderly monk has become a gold medal British athletics championCredit: GuzelianFather John Gribben, 81, is known as the ‘sprinting monk’Credit: GuzelianHe took home top prize in the 400m sprintCredit: SWNS:South West News ServiceWhen he’s not running, Gribben works in his West Yorkshire parishCredit: SWNSKnown as the “sprinting monk” among parishioners, he won the 400 metre dash in two minutes, three seconds and 190 milliseconds.Gribben also secured bronze medals in the 60 metre and 200 metre events in London.But it took him 70 long years to finally achieve running stardom, with Gribben’s first attempt at the sport coming in the 1950s.That didn’t exactly go to plan, with octogenarian admitting he could barely stand up straight after a half-mile effort.READ MORE IN ATHLETICSHe told The Times: “I nearly collapsed after that first run. I said, ‘I’m not a runner’, but I never stopped after it.”Gribben started to master the art of running when he moved to Mirfield, West Yorkshire, in 1979 — where he remains to this day.And like any good athlete, Gribben dedicates himself to a gruelling mid-week training schedule.He explained: “Three nights at least of a 5km run, most days I’ll do a 60 metre sprint, and then the other things are an hour at the local gym a couple of days a week.”Most read in AthleticsThe Belfast native, who attended a theological college in Dublin, mainly gets his racing kicks at Greenhead Park’s Parkrun in Huddersfield.He’s since completed over 250 events, boasting an impressive 5km personal best of 26 minutes.I’m a parkrun fanatic – here are my top 10 tips for first-timers as the event turns 20Gribben, who takes TWO buses to reach the course, started attending when he was nearly 70 years old.He now runs 5km in around 40 minutes, and those Saturday morning slogs finally paid dividends when he clinched gold at the Masters.Gribben also revealed the spiritual kick he gets from running, adding: “There’s something in the spring, you hit one point where it is ecstasy, you’re outside yourself almost, when you hit that speed that carries you the last whatever you need to get to the line.“Sometimes I just say to my saviour, ‘Well I’ll run if you run with me’.“I don’t know that I get an answer but… I start putting on my trainers and it feels good to do.” More

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      in Soccer

      Liverpool release SEVEN players after winning Premier League title as Arne Slot prepares for new season

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      LIVERPOOL have released seven players after winning the Premier League title.Arne Slot is forming his squad for next season, having already signed Jeremie Frimpong and the club are closing on a record deal for his old Bayer Leveruksen team-mate Florian Wirtz.Liverpool have released seven playersCredit: GettyBut seven players have had their departures from Liverpool confirmed.They are all academy stars in Dominic Corness, Louis Enahoro-Marcus, Harry Evers, Lee Jonas, Jakub Ojrzynski, Jacob Poytress and Reece Trueman.Corness and Ojrzynski, both 22, are the most senior to depart.Both spent last season out on loan at Gillingham and Swedish side Utsiktens BK respectively.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDefensive trio Enahoro-Marcus, Evers and Jonas after all featuring regularly for the Under-21s this season.Jonas has represented England at three age groups, as high as the Under-19s.Goalkeeping pair Poytress and Trueman are the other teenagers showed the exit door.The youngsters join back-up stopper Caoimhin Kelleher, who has joined Brentford in a £18million deal, in leaving Anfield already this summer.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSLiverpool added that Kareem Ahmed, Emmanuel Airoboma, Keyrol Figueroa, Kyle Kelly, Michael Laffey, Wellity Lucky, Terence Miles and Ranel Young have been offered new deals.Striker Figueroa, 18, is the son of ex-Wigan and Hull full-back Maynor.He made 214 Premier League appearances and won the FA Cup with the Latics in 2013.Dominic Corness has been let go by LiverpoolCredit: Shutterstock Editorial More

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      in Motorsport

      Horror moment Max Verstappen’s dad flips rally car in terrifying crash revealed in unseen footage

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      THIS is the horror moment Max Verstappen’s dad Jos crashed and flipped his rally car at high speed.Disaster struck for the former F1 driver, 53, as he was competing in the Royal Rally of Scandinavia in Sweden.Max Verstappen’s father Jos suffered a nasty crash on Friday but emerged unscathedCredit: https://x.com/FIAERCJos’ rally car rolled after his rear wheels dipped in the gravelCredit: https://x.com/FIAERCHe cracked the windscreen of his car and caused other damage, being forced to retireCredit: https://x.com/FIAERCThe rollover crash brought Jos and his navigator Renaud Jamoul’s day to a halt earlier than expected last Friday.The pair started well – they were 18th overall and best out of the Master classification – but came unstuck on stage nine. Verstappen admitted they entered a corner “too quickly” before ending up in a ditch after their rear wheels dipped in the gravel. It caused the Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2 to do a 360, suffering damage in the process, with newly released video painting a grim picture.READ MORE SPORT NEWSThe latest clip showed the car with a huge crack in the windscreen, but fortunately, both Jos and Renaud escaped uninjured.Verstappen said: “I went a little bit too quick into the corner and then I missed the apex, the inside of the corner.”I was in the loose gravel, on full grass and I couldn’t make the corner. Very easy to happen in this kind of rally. “It was a typical Sweden roll. I flipped it and I was back on the four wheels. Every crash should be a lesson.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”The roll cage is all fine but the front was a little bit damaged, there was some rear damage and one damper was broken.”I must say I really enjoyed it, the way of driving. Obviously these people from these countries they used to that, the only driving they do is on these kind of stages.”Lewis Hamilton hit with grid penalty at Monaco Grand Prix after blunder saw him forced to apologise to VerstappenIt was Verstappen Snr’s third-ever start on an unfamiliar gravel surface. He didn’t manage to travel to Barcelona to watch his son Max compete in the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. The Red Bull ace endured a weekend to forget after a 10-second penalty dropped him from P5 to P10, and a hefy 49 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.The 27-year-old also picked up three-penalty points after “deliberately” colliding with George Russell on Lap 61, when asked to let the Mercedes driver through after using an escape road.The punishment moves the Dutchman to 11 penalty points – one point away from a race ban.  More

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      in Boxing

      I’m related to the greatest boxer ever but changed my name to make my own way – it worked until Mike Tyson showed up

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      NICO ALI WALSH has the most famous surname in boxing history but he kept it a secret – until Mike Tyson blew his cover. The 24-year-old is the grandson of Muhammad Ali – affectionately known as The Greatest.Mike Tyson with Nico Ali WalshCredit: X/nicoaliwalshNico’s parents – including Ali’s daughter Rasheda whose sister Laila was a champion boxer – never wanted him to enter the family business. But by 14, Ali Walsh – with the help of his grandfather – convinced his family to allow him to start boxing. It came with just one condition though, he had to hide his iconic Ali surname. Ali Walsh told SunSport: “Of course, I left out the name. Even back when I was 15 years old, my full name is Nico Ali Walsh, but I cut out the Ali.READ MORE IN boxing “I said my name is Nico Walsh, but they found out somehow. My parents were not on board with saying Ali either.”I don’t know how, they would just start announcing it at amateur fights. So it didn’t last long. The incognito version of myself didn’t last very long.”It turns out boxing great Tyson – a close friend of hero Ali’s – might have played a part in Nico’s secret being exposed.He revealed: “It probably started around my third amateur fight because I started having weird people show up to my fights.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“Like my third amateur fight was here in Vegas and Mike Tyson found out I was fighting and he and his wife Kiki texted my mum and was like, ‘Hey, we heard Nico’s fighting here. Mike wants to come to the fight.’“So Mike ended up coming to my amateur fight and it was just him, whoever he was with, and then my family.Three-weight world champion Vasily Lomachenko retires after more than 400 FIGHTS in lengthy video“So there was like 7/8 people in the crowd, and it was just us, so I guess people may have started realising it.“I started having weird people show up to my fights. Why is Mike Tyson showing up to this guy’s amateur fight? And he left right after.“So that may have contributed to people finding out.”With Ali Walsh’s name was no longer secret, he had close to 30 amateur bouts before turning professional in 2021.And he did so with legendary promoter Bob Arum, who staged some of Ali’s most iconic fights. By now, Ali Walsh is no stranger to rivals looking to make a name for themselves by trying to tear down his name – even behind closed doors.Ali Walsh tried to hide his famous surname in the amateursBut Tyson accidentally helped blow his coverHe said: “Sparring and training, it’s never 100 per cent of the time. “Sparring is where you work on things and you do certain things, but whenever I go outside of someone that I directly know, they’re trying to knock me out in sparring.“Everyone who spars me is trying to knock me out. So it’s very annoying, but I’ve gotten that my entire professional career.“I had that sometimes in my amateur career but now it’s like people are coming at me trying to absolutely take my head off in the gym. “And they do it in fights too. I don’t care what you do in a fight, but in the gym, it gets ridiculous at some points.”Ali Walsh is now 15 fights into his pro career, with 12 wins, two losses and one no-contest. A young Ali Walsh with his grandadAli Walsh with his grandad before the sporting great’s sad passing in 2016Promoter Bob Arum with Ali WalshCredit: Top Rank/Mikey WilliamsHe bounced back with victory against Ebenezer Sowah in Guinea in May following a shock defeat to Juan Carlos Guerra Jr last February.And Ali Walsh has stayed true to his roots by refusing to entertain cash-grab fights against the likes of Jake Paul. The middleweight prospect even turned down a $3million (£2.2m) offer to fight the 11-1 YouTuber-turned-boxer last year. Ali Walsh explained: “I can’t be mad at these pro guys that are calling him out, they want the money.“And obviously, the money they would be getting, they would be getting paid millions to knock out a guy that’s way below the skill level of the guy that they get paid far less to fight.“So it makes sense for these guys, but for me in particular, that’s not something I want to be remembered by. “It would really be just tainting my legacy to be getting involved with something like that.Read More on The Sun“I feel like whenever people try to tell me, ‘Nico, you should have done this or you should have done that.’ No one can tell me what to do with the Ali name except for an Ali.“So nobody outside of my family will understand what I’m talking about. So I don’t take advice from anyone else who tries to come at me with that kind of stuff.”Ali Walsh is 15 fights into his pro careerCredit: EPAJake Paul offered Ali Walsh £2.2m to fightCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Jack Wilshere faces competition for Plymouth job from ex-England team-mate, 35, as Argyle draw up three-man shortlist

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      JACK WILSHERE faces competition from Tom Cleverley in his bid to land the Plymouth Argyle job.The Pilgrims are on the hunt for a new manager following Miron Muslic’s exit for Schalke.Jack Wilshere is seeking his first permanent managerial roleCredit: AlamyMiron Muslic left Argyle for Schalke last weekCredit: ReutersHaving employed three managers in eight years between 2015 and 2023, Argyle are now looking for their fifth permanent boss of the last 17 months.According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, club chiefs will conduct a final round of interviews for the position next week.Wilshere, 33, is said to have made the final shortlist, as he looks for his first permanent managerial gig.The former Arsenal midfielder coached the Gunners’ Under-18s following his playing retirement.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLast season worked at Norwich City under Johannes Hoff Thorup, before a brief stint as caretaker boss following the Dane’s sacking.Wilshere’s former England team-mate Cleverley is also in the running for the job.The ex-Manchester United midfielder, 35, is looking for a quick return to management following his Watford sacking at the end of the season.Cleverley lasted 14 months as Hornets boss, guiding them to 14th in the Championship last term.Most read in EFLBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKTom Cleverley was sacked by Watford at the end of last seasonCredit: PAIn addition to Wilshere and Cleverley, former Oxford boss Des Buckingham is set for an interview.Buckingham, 40, guided the U’s to League One promotion during the 2023-24 campaign, but was sacked last December with his side sitting 20th in the second tier.Jack Wilshere in race against time as he faces huge 350-mile commute from managerial debut to run London MarathonPrior to taking charge at the Kassam, Buckingham managed Wellington Phoenix and Mumbai City – in addition to various New Zealand age group sides.According to the BBC, four candidates are set for an interview next week.The identity of the fourth candidate remains unknown, although it is not former rumoured boss Ian Evatt.Having initially been linked with the Pilgrims, ex-Bolton gaffer Evatt is now no longer thought to be in the frame.Former Argyle boss Muslic, 42, left to take charge of German second-tier side Schalke – despite claiming to have “fallen in love” with the Pilgrims.Argyle’s turbulent few yearsThe Pilgrims are now set for their fifth boss in 17 monthsSteven Schumacher – Dec 2021-Dec 2023 P 108 W57 D 21 L 30Ian Foster – Jan 2024-Apr 2024 P 16 W 3 D 4 L9Wayne Rooney – May 2024-Dec 2024 P 25 W 5 D 6 L 14Miron Muslic – Jan 2025-May 2025 P 23 W 8 D 5 L 10In a club statement, chairman Simon Hallett claimed that Muslic had said he was “100 per cent committed to Argyle” – but when Schalke later came calling, the former Cercle Brugge boss vowed not to return to Plymouth “under any circumstances”.Muslic had replaced Wayne Rooney as Argyle boss in January, failing to stave off Championship relegation.Rooney, 39, was axed following just five wins in 25 matches at the helm in all competitions.Read More on The SunAlongside the ex-England captain, former director of football Neil Dewsnip also departed.Prior to Rooney’s appointment, Argyle had sacked Ian Foster following barely three months in charge, after the former England youth boss has succeeded League One title winner Steven Schumacher, following his departure for Stoke City.Des Buckingham is also in the Argyle frameCredit: GettyIan Foster’s Argyle stint was even shorter than Wayne Rooney’sCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Former Man Utd star takes shot at Alejandro Garnacho’s HAIRCUT as he says it’s time to ship out ‘sulking’ ace

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      FORMER Manchester United star Ben Foster took aim at “sulking” Alejandro Garnacho’s HAIRCUT as he urged the Red Devils to axe the winger this summer.Garnacho, 20, may have played his last game for United after reportedly being told to find a new club by Ruben Amorim.Man Utd must axe ‘sulking’ Alejandro Garnacho, according to Ben FosterCredit: GettyThe Argentina international has been at United since 2020 and has gone on to score 26 goals in 144 games.However, Garnacho has failed to win over Amorim despite once being heralded as the future of the club.The winger was even involved in an altercation with a fan after the disastrous post-season tour of East Asia.And he could now be set to pack his bags for a new side, with Chelsea and Napoli both interested.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLUnited have already moved to replace Garnacho by splashing £62.5million on Wolves’ Matheus Cunha.Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo also seems destined to join this month.And now, Amorim’s decision to axe Garnacho has been backed by former United goalie Foster.Speaking to talkSPORT, he declared that the forward was not a team player.Most read in FootballHe was involved in an altercation with a fan last weekCredit: TikTok @da_wood.7BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSFoster feels Garnacho sulked too much in the wake of the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.And he also feels that Garnacho cares more about the appearance of his hair than the team’s wellbeing.Ruben Amorim bursts out laughing when asked about Man Utd star’s futureFoster said: “I think for Man United it’s best to ship [him] out. “If I was the manager I’d be a little bit similar to Amorim in the case of I just want team players.“I want a bunch of lads who are good, honest, hard working team players. And I don’t get that vibe from Garnacho, I don’t get that vibe from a few of the players.“You look at the full-time whistle after the Europa League game. You have Brennan Johnson doing an interview. “He looks like he hasn’t had a haircut for about three months, [hair] horrible all over the place, but his interview was incredible. “You could tell he’s a real nice lad, he’s hard working, he does everything for the team.“Then you look at Garnacho. Fresh trim a day ago, dyed blonde ready for the final. Read More on The Sun“The full-time whistle goes, he’s sat on the pitch sulking by himself, not trying to get behind the other lads, picking them up, saying ‘well done we got this far’.“And I think that there is the big contrast. I just want good lads, honest, hard working lads.”Foster even hit out at Garnacho’s hair cutCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes signs new four-year deal in huge boost to Mikel Arteta’s Premier League title hopes

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      GABRIEL has committed to Arsenal until 2029 in a major boost to Mikel Arteta and his Premier League title ambitions.The Brazilian centre-back has been in advanced talks over an extension for several months with his previous deal expiring in the summer of 2027.Gabriel has put pen to paper on a new contractCredit: GettyMikel Arteta, Richard Garlick and Andrea Berta were all at the signingCredit: GettyGabriel said he ‘loves the club’Credit: GettyOne of the main priorities of new sporting director Andrea Berta was to tie down key first-team stars to long-term contracts.And the Italian has already got one over the line with Gabriel taking home north of £100,000-a-week.More new deals are expected to follow in the coming weeks, including Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and William Saliba – as the latter is eyed up by Real Madrid.It also puts to bed any doubts over Gabriel’s future – having been linked with a mega-money switch to Saudi Arabia that could have seen him treble his weekly earnings.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe 27-year-old teased Gunners fans with an Instagram post on the Emirates pitch yesterday evening.On his new deal, Gabriel said: “I arrived here as a young player and after almost five years I’m so happy and I’ve learned a lot. “I’m so proud of myself, it’s an amazing journey, and I’m so happy to continue it. “I hope I win some trophies with this club, because I love this club and my family loves the club, too.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS“Arsenal is an amazing club and I’m so proud to sign a new contract. “I love this club, I love the supporters, my team-mates, I love this stadium.”I’m so proud and thank you for all the support. We continue together for the future.”Since signing for the North Londoners from French side Lille in September 2020, Gabriel has become one of Arteta’s most important figures, forming a world-class partnership with Saliba at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.He has missed just 15 Prem games since the start of the 2021/22 campaign – ten of which came last term – and has netted 17 league goals in that time during Arsenal’s era of set-piece dominance, more than any other defender.A hamstring injury in April ended Gabriel’s season early, requiring surgery that sees him currently in rehab in a bid to be fit for the start of Arsenal’s pre-season tour to Singapore and Hong Kong from July 19.Gabriel will pocket north of £100k per weekCredit: GettyJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates More

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      in Soccer

      ‘Crazy!’ – Kai Havertz shows off incredible body transformation as Arsenal fans are left stunned by new pic

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      ARSENAL fans have been left stunned by Kai Havertz’s incredible body transformation.The German star returned for the final two games of the season after spending three months out with a hamstring injury.Kai Havertz appears to have undergone an incredible body transformationCredit: InstagramThe German shared snaps of himself working hard at the gymCredit: InstagramFans reckon he is bulking up ahead of next seasonCredit: InstagramAnd Havertz appears to have kept busy while sidelined by hitting the gym.He shared three snaps of himself hard at work on Instagram alongside the caption: “Loading.”The photos show Havertz lifting weights and doing pull-ups.Fans have compared his new bulging muscles physique with his old look and are convinced he is looking stronger than he ever ahead of next season.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOne wrote: “The way Havertz has bulked up is crazy.”Another added: “He’s actually a unit right now.”A third wrote: “Mikel Arteta making his players injury-proof.”Yet others are worried Havertz is bulking up to become Arsenal’s target man No9 when a new striker is high on the club’s summer shopping list.Most read in FootballHavertz – pictured here last summer – is likely to see his place in the side put under threat by the potential arrival of a new strikerCredit: GettyJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThey have been linked with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.Reports suggest that Sesko, 21, reportedly has a £62million release clause but Arsenal have reservations over a deal.New chief Andrea Berta is a fan of Gyokeres, 26, and he could be available for around £60m.But competition for the Swede is fierce in the form of Manchester United and Atletico Madrid.Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates More