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      in Athletics

      British team that travelled to Poland for European Indoor Athletics Championship in isolation after positive Covid test

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      BRITISH athletes that competed at last weekend’s Euro Indoors must self-isolate for ten days following a positive Covid-19 test in the camp.
      The majority of the squad that travelled to Torun in Poland for the European Indoors Athletics Championship – 46 athletes plus 20-odd support staff – will be required to stay at home in line with UK government guidelines.

      British athletes returning from Poland following the European Indoors must self-isolate for ten daysCredit: AFP

      A member of the support staff returned a positive lateral flow test on Tuesday evening – this is despite returning a negative result before flying into the UK.
      It is understood most of the squad, led by new head coach Christian Malcolm, travelled home in the early hours of Monday morning having left their hotel on Sunday evening.
      Athletes had to isolate for five days but this latest development might inconvenience their training schedules.
      A British Athletics spokesperson said: “British Athletics has confirmed that a member of the GB & NI team travelling party returning from Torun provided a positive lateral flow test on the evening of March 9.

      “This has been followed up this morning with a PCR test.
      “As a result, all members of the travelling party will now need to self-isolate for a period of ten days from Monday March 8 (ends Thursday March 18) in line with government guidance.”
      The three-day event was overshadowed by hosts Poland withdrawing their entire 4x400m men’s relay squad after positive coronavirus tests.
      Belgian hurdler Eline Berings was shocked to discover she had tested positive for coronavirus last Saturday despite showing no symptoms.

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      I hope this never happens to anyone again and there can be a solution for such situations in the future.Also, if anyone has an idea what might cause a false positive… I’d be happy to hear. Bad luck is not really an answer that suits professional sports…. @vanranstmarc pic.twitter.com/RU42uCeKUH
      — Eline Berings (@ElineBerings) March 9, 2021

      Though she was immediately excluded from competition, the 34-year-old claims she tested NEGATIVE on the Sunday following another a PCR test.
      Berings tweeted: “I hope this never happens to anyone again and there can be a solution for such situations in the future.
      “Also, if anyone has an idea what might cause a false positive…I’d be happy to hear. Bad luck is not really an answer that suits professional sports.”
      False positives could indeed be a major headaches for competitors heading to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics later this summer – as it would almost certainly rule them out of action in the Japanese capital.
      At the Europeans, Britain won 12 medals – two golds, four silvers, six bronzes – to finish third in the standings behind Holland and Portugal.
      This matches their record haul from Glasgow in 2019 and represents their best squad display on foreign soil in the competition’s 55-year history.
      Keely Hodgkinson, the 19-year-old Leigh runner, won 800m gold at her first major champs while US-based Amy-Eloise Markovc was triumphant in the 3,000m on the opening night.

      Sisters Cindy Sember and Tiffany Porter, in the mask, won silver and bronze in the 60m hurdlesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Keely Hodgkinson became European 800m champion, one of two gold medals won by Britain in Torun, PolandCredit: EPA

      Team GB star and pharmacist Tiffany Porter runs hurdles in fastest time this year wearing a mask More

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      in Boxing

      Team GB ace Cheavon Clarke holding on to Olympic dream and following in golden oldie Joe Joyce’s footsteps

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      CHEAVON CLARKE is looking up to Joe Joyce and banking on becoming another Team GB golden oldie.
      The 30-year-old Team GB heavyweight celebrated The Juggernaut’s November win over Daniel Dubois, especially as Joyce went into the British title clash as the underdog.

      Team GB heavyweight Ceavon Clarke is holding tight for the Tokyo OlympicsCredit: PA:Press Association

      The Putney ace took his 2016 Olympic silver quality – after he was robbed of a gold in Rio – as well as all of his knowhow from years in the British amateur boxing super-school to dominate the red-hot prospect.
      Joyce, 35, spent years as Anthony Joshua’s understudy in Sheffield and had to bide his time.
      And Clarke is having to show similar patience now the pandemic is delaying his overdue shot at Olympic legacy.
      “Joe is a good story, I respect his hustle and the way he has levelled up,” Clarke told SunSport.

      “Joe started boxing later in life than a lot of boxers and took every opportunity that came his way and has never settled.
      “Some people get on the Team GB squad and think ‘I am the best in the country’ but then they have to go on to become the best in Europe and the world.
      “That’s why I respect what Joe has done, as well as guys like Joshua Buatsi, James DeGale, AJ and going right back to Audley Harrison.”

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      The delay to Tokyo 2020 has forced a lot of amateur boxers into snap decisions.
      Former Team GB prospect Solly Dacres will make his pro debut on March 20 and the American amateur team lost their hottest talent Keyshawn Davis to the paid ranks last month on the Canelo undercard.
      But Kent ace Clarke, speaking to SunSport to launch his new website and clothing line, is still laser-focused on representing his country at the highest level.
      “We are all on our own journey so everyone has to make their own right decision,” he said.

      Cheavon Clarke wants to follow in the footsteps of Team GB stars like James DeGale and Anthony Joshua.Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      “But, for me, there is only The Olympics. No disrespect to anyone, but anyone can be a professional boxer, not a lot of people can say they have even been to an Olympics, let alone medalled or won.
      “Good luck to everyone turning over now but I have set myself a goal and I like to conquer one level at a time.
      “There is a proven track record of success here and that leaves clues.
      “It isn’t the only way, but if you build your pedigree then when you turn professional you are usually very successful.

      Joe Joyce wins a silver medal for GB in super heavyweight boxing at Rio 2016
      www.c4boxing.com was designed, built and hosted by GoDaddy and forms part of a new partnership between GoDaddy and Team GB. GoDaddy offers a range of services to help entrepreneurs get online quickly More

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      in Athletics

      Watch Team GB star and pharmacist Tiffany Porter run hurdles in fastest time this year wearing a mask

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      TEAM GB hurdler Tiffany Porter clocked her fastest time this year while wearing a mask.
      The 33-year-old is a pharmacist based in the US and opted to wear the face covering despite not being ordered to do so and having received two vaccine doses for Covid-19.

      Pharmacist and athlete Tiffany Porter opted to wear a mask and ended up running a season’s bestCredit: USA TODAY Sports

      Porter safely negotiated the hurdles while wearing a maskCredit: USA TODAY Sports

      Porter juggles competing at the top level of athletics with working as a pharmacistCredit: Instagram @tiffofili

      Running indoors in New York on Saturday, she came second in the 60-metre hurdles in 7.89 seconds – a season’s best and only 0.09 seconds off her personal best for the distance.
      On Instagram, Porter asked for people to respect her decision to wear a mask after footage of her competing was shared by the World Athletics page.
      She said: “Thanks @worldathletics for the post. I have gotten a lot of questions about why I’m choosing to run in a mask so here are a few things:
      “1. Yes I am fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and today marked two weeks since my second dose.

      “2. Yes I ‘understand the science’ and I’m also aware how the pandemic, mask-wearing, government response etc has become controversial and politicised.

      Wearing a mask does not bother me and I train daily with one so competing with one on is not a big deal for me.”
      Tiffany Porter

      “3. Wearing a mask does not bother me and I train daily with one so competing with one on is not a big deal for me.
      “4. It makes me more comfortable to take every extra precaution (even if seen as ‘extra or unnecessary’) and that should be respected.
      “5. No I do not judge others for their decisions/their approach to this pandemic.

      “6. Information regarding the pandemic is rapidly evolving and we acquire new information and guidelines daily.”
      Porter was running against her younger sister Cindy Sember who also competes under the Union Jack flag for Team GB.

      The footage was shared on the World Athletics Instagram pageCredit: Instagram @worldathletics

      The British athlete came second in the indoor race in New YorkCredit: Instagram @worldathletics

      Sember, 26, came fifth in 8.22 seconds but along with all the other runners did not choose to wear any PPE while sprinting.
      The pair both made the 2016 Rio Olympics 100m hurdles final – Porter finished seventh with Sember just outside the medals in fourth, despite running a season’s best on the biggest stage of all.
      Porter was born in the US to a British mother and Nigerian father and represented the country of her birth until switching allegiance at the end of the 2010 season.
      She graduated from the University of Michigan with a doctorate in pharmacy in 2012.
      Porter juggles competing with her work as a pharmacist and said: “I am a woman who wears many hats and I’m very passionate about the different roles I play.
      “I’m a firm believer in giving your all, no matter the task.”

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      in Athletics

      Team GB athletes face being kicked out of Tokyo Olympics if they catch Covid in Japan as chiefs try to avoid outbreak

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      TEAM GB stars who catch Covid-19 in Tokyo will be kicked out of the Olympics.
      In the newly-published IOC and IPC Playbook for Athletes and Officials – available to read on the insidethegames website – there will be a number of counter-measures in place to avoid any potential coronavirus outbreaks this summer.

      Tokyo 2020 officials are setting out strict measures for the summer’s GamesCredit: EPA

      If anyone provides a confirmed positive test during the Games, they should ‘immediately begin isolating’ and inform their designated Covid-19 Liaison Officer.
      Infected individuals will ‘either be required to continue isolating or be hospitalised’ and more significantly, they ‘will not be allowed to compete’.
      Depending on the symptoms displayed, the location of any isolation period could be a ‘government-approved isolation facility’ not the Athletes’ Village.
      Anyone deemed to be a ‘close contact’ of a positive case will be retested.

      All the athletes will be tested at least every four days during their stay at the Games.
      They must monitor their daily health and record their temperature for 14 days before travelling to Japan this summer.
      They must also prepare a list of all the people they expect to have close contact with – for example, room-mates, coaches, physiotherapists or immediate team members.
      Contact with others must be kept to a minimum and using public transport is forbidden.

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      As reported earlier this week, Olympians must ‘avoid shouting, cheering and singing’ and will be encouraged to clap their compatriots instead.
      This would suggest that singing the national anthem would be banned but the organising committee refused to answer questions on this at a media briefing on Wednesday.
      Questions also need to be asked whether any athlete would be stripped of their accreditation if they celebrate against the rules in the venues.
      Gyms, tourist areas, shops, restaurants or bars are all banned to avoid the spread of the killer virus.

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      in Athletics

      Team GB hero and Olympic hopeful Dina Asher-Smith reveals she has been seeing psychologist since start of Covid pandemic

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      DINA ASHER-SMITH revealed she has been seeing a psychologist since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
      Britain’s fastest woman’s dreams of Olympic glory last summer were thrown upside down with Tokyo 2020 delayed a year.

      Dina Asher-Smith turned to a psychologist at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemicCredit: Carla Guler / Women’s Health UK

      Britain’s speed queen wants to be in the best place mentally to compete at the top levelCredit: EPA

      But she refused to let the scuppered plans cripple her years at the top of world athletics.
      And so the Londoner, 25, immediately took the step of turning to an in-house psychologist at British Athletics to keep her mentally on track.
      Speaking to Women’s Health, Asher-Smith revealed: “When the pandemic hit, it was like, ‘Right, okay, let’s make sure my brain’s okay.’
      “The first thing I did was to get a psychologist because I’ve worked too hard for too long to have something like a pandemic ruin the next few years for me.

      “We’ve got five years on the go, which in track and field we have never seen before.
      “And the only way you can put your best foot forward is by being in the right frame of mind.”
      Asher-Smith broke her own British records for the 100m and 200m at 2019’s World Championships in Doha to win silver and gold respectively.
      She was also part of Team GB’s 4x100m relay team that managed a national-best 41.77s lap to claim bronze at Rio 2016.

      And it is that level of unparalleled ability that has seen her thrown into the British public’s conscience – not that she would have chosen to be such a famous figure.
      Asher-Smith added: “Believe it or not, when I was at school I was quite shy. But, obviously, you realise that being shy, unfortunately, is incompatible with being a high-profile sportsperson.
      “People will take your shyness as either you’re trying to hide something, or you’re being mean, or being cold – and you just have to come out of your shell.”
      That shyness could easily have seen Asher-Smith drop out of sport participation, as it does for a large group of girls as they hit their early teens.
      The Orpington sprint queen is not surprised, though.
      Many do not have the role models to inspire them and are made to feel as though a career as a sportswoman is not a plausible avenue.
      Thankfully for Asher-Smith, the Williams sisters helped transform that misconception for her – as they have done for the new generation of tennis stars.
      The athletics ace – who will be hoping of bringing home golds from next month’s European Indoors in Poland – said: “There’s a big drop off of girls who do sport when they’re about 13 to 15 or around that age, and everybody seems to be confused as to why.

      Girls see the ideal of femininity projected to them and, as a young sportswoman, you look and think, ‘So, am I opposite to that?’
      Dina Asher-Smith

      “To me, it’s perfectly clear. I think at that age, when people become more aware of their surroundings and people start to look for who they are, what it means to be a woman, sport isn’t in that picture.
      “They see the ideal of femininity projected to them and, as a young sportswoman, you look and think, ‘So, am I opposite to that?’
      “You have to show that being a career sportswoman is viable, is celebrated, is positive, it doesn’t come with stereotypes, it doesn’t come with boxes that you have to fit and that it’s not at odds with being a woman.
      “When Serena and Venus were the only two black women in tennis all that time ago, they were able to be pioneers.
      “But now you’ve got Naomi Osaka, you’ve got Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens.
      “You’ve got so many black girls because the Williams sisters have shown, yes, this is a sport they can play at the highest level.”

      Asher-Smith is preparing for this summer’s rearranged Olympic Games in TokyoCredit: Carla Guler / Women’s Health UK

      The Londoner recognises why so many girls drop out of sport at an early ageCredit: Carla Guler / Women’s Health UK

      She was speaking to Women’s Health magazine for their March editionCredit: Carla Guler / Women’s Health UK

      Asher-Smith won three medals at the 2019 World Championships including the 200m goldCredit: AFP or licensors

      Venus and Serena Williams have helped pave the way for black girls to dream of making a career in sportCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      in Athletics

      Team GB stars will NOT have to quarantine for Olympics Games but sightseeing around Tokyo will be banned

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      TEAM GB stars won’t have to quarantine before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics – but city sightseeing will be forbidden.
      A 20-page athletes playbook will be published next month detailing all the info for this summer’s rescheduled Games.

      Team GB will not have to quarantine before the Tokyo Olympics but will be barred from sightseeingCredit: AFP

      According to IOC Vice President John Coates, Olympians will be tested for Covid-19 72 hours before arriving into Japan and routinely in the Athletes Village.
      But their movement will be confined solely to competition and training.
      Going outside of the bubble to visit Tokyo hotspots will not be allowed.
      It was thought that stars may have to observe a two-week quarantine hotel period like tennis players have done for the Australian Open.

      But that concept has been dismissed by one of the senior figures involved in the organisation.
      Australian Coates, 70, said: “We will release next week a series of playbooks, which will give instructions on what’s required from them before they go to the Games.
      “They must undertake saliva and nose testing within 72 hours of travelling to Tokyo, like we have now introduced in Australia.
      “They will be tested on arrival. Then they will be tested if they continue to be negative every four days.

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      “No quarantine. It’s isolation – they will be limited just to the Olympic Village and the transport to their venue for competition and training.
      “That’s it. No going downtown. Lockdown but not into a hotel.”
      The prospect of a behind-closed-doors Olympic and Paralympic Games has been mooted by IOC boss Thomas Bach but the deadline for that is March or April.
      Coates added: “A decision will be taken on venues. We have to look at the capacity and what the situation is.
      “It may be that there will not be foreign spectators. We should leave those decisions as late as possible.”

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      in Athletics

      Chris Smith dead at 43: Team GB star leaves behind wife and two kids after going for run in Scottish hills

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      TEAM GB runner Chris Smith has tragically been confirmed dead after his body was found near a 3,700ft mountain.
      Emergency services were called on Tuesday evening after Smith, 43, did not return home from an afternoon run in the Perthshire hills.

      Tributes have flooded in for mountain runner Chris Smith (centre, right)Credit: Twitter / @smithcj_5

      Tayside Mountain Rescue Team, police and a Coastguard helicopter were deployed to find Smith, who had been on holiday with wife Lindsay and two children.
      On Thursday morning, a search-and-rescue team discovered a body near the 3,700ft Meall Garbh, Glenlyon, pending formal identification.
      A statement on behalf of the family has since confirmed the death.
      It read: “On behalf of our entire family, we are devastated to let you know that Chris has lost his life in Glen Lyon.

      “He was doing what he loved having spent the previous days having the most special time with Lindsay, Cameron and Alastair.
      “We would like to thank everyone for the support they have given us, in particular the mountain rescue teams, emergency services, members of the public and Chris’s friends that joined the search.
      “We will always treasure his energy, spirit and love. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.”
      The Aberdeenshire-born runner competed in international mountain running events for Team GB.

      Chris Smith is survived by a wife and two kidsCredit: PA:Press Association

      The Scot (No4500, centre) was a popular character on the mountain running sceneCredit: Twitter / @smithcj_5
      In the 2016 European Mountain Running Championships in Italy he helped secure Team GB a bronze medal.
      Smith lived in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, and was most recently a member of the Thames Valley Harriers.
      Tributes have flooded in for the much-loved athlete.
      A British Athletics statement on Friday morning added: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chris Smith, the Great Britain and Northern Ireland mountain runner.
      “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
      Former Olympic sprinter Donna Fraser wrote online: “So sad… my condolences to his family.”

      We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chris Smith, the Great Britain and Northern Ireland mountain runner.Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/vQNJqj90Ix
      — British Athletics (@BritAthletics) October 30, 2020

      The World Mountain Running Association stated: “Everybody at the WMRA is incredibly saddened by the devastating news about Chris Smith.”
      Former Team GB colleague Sarah Tunstall told the organisation: “He was a true gent, selfless team-mate and fantastic athlete who always left everything out there on race day.
      “I have countless fond memories of Chris and am privileged to have shared poignant moments in both our running careers, that will forever make me smile.”
      Andrew Douglas added: “His longevity at the top level of the sport is something I really admire and should be of inspiration to all involved in mountain running. He’ll be sorely missed, one of life’s genuinely special people.”

      Fellow trail runner Gary Priestley tweeted yesterday: “It is with great sadness that I hear Chris Smith’s body has been found.
      “He was an absolute gentleman & a mountain running great as well as very strong on the cross!! Thoughts are with his family!! I’ll never forget the good times we shared. RIP my friend.”
      Team GB 400-metre medallist Katharine Merry wrote online: “Awfully sad news… thoughts with friends and family.” More

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      in Athletics

      Mo Farah’s I’m A Celebrity stint backed by athletics chiefs.. as long as Olympic bid stays on track

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      ATHLETICS bosses have welcomed Mo Farah’s Jungle jaunt – provided it doesn’t damage his Tokyo Olympics bid.
      As we told you first, Britain’s most successful athlete, 37, has signed up for this year’s rescheduled I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

      Mo Farah is set to appear on this year’s I’m A Celebrity in North Wales – provided it does not impact his Olympic preparationCredit: Pacemaker Press

      The four-time Olympic champion will join campmates next month at the new venue Gwrych Castle, North Wales, instead of the hot Australian rainforest.
      Eating creepy-crawlies and sleeping in cold, damp tents is not exactly ideal preparation for Farah’s quest to defend the 10,000m Olympic title next July.
      Jo Coates, CEO of UK Athletics, said: “It’s that knife-edge decision.
      “As a marketer, to have athletes in mainstream TV shows is just perfection.

      “However – and a big however – you would never want to do that to the detriment of performance.
      “I’d imagine there have been lengthy conversations. If he is there, there will have been lengthy conversations about whether this would affect performance.
      “The fact that it’s in Wales and not as long a time is very different from many weeks in Australia.
      “Part of our communications strategy is about reaching a new audience. That’s what we have to do.

      “And shows like that take our athletes to a completely different audience. But I would never condone it to the detriment of performance because ultimately that’s what they do.”
      UKA are hopeful they will have two Diamond League meetings on the 2021 calendar, which is published shortly.
      And Coates is confident the UK Indoors trials will happen next February regardless of whether or not they are allowed fans.
      She added: “Even if we don’t sell a ticket we can still put that event on, which is fantastic news for the sport.”

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