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      in Athletics

      ‘World’s sexiest athlete’ Alica Schmidt has one last chance to feature at Tokyo Olympics after being benched in relay

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      ALICA SCHMIDT may well be many people’s favourite German athlete at Tokyo 2020.But unfortunately, she hasn’t actually seen any action yet.
      Fans are hoping to see Alica Schmidt compete at the GamesCredit: Instagram / @alicasmd / Puma
      The German is in Tokyo for the Games
      However she is yet to competeCredit: Instagram / @alicasmd
      The German could compete in the 4x400m women’s relayCredit: Rex
      The 22-year-old has 2.3million Instagram followersCredit: Refer to Caption
      The 22-year-old, dubbed by some as the ‘world’s sexiest athlete’, is in Japan after qualifying for her nation’s 400m relay squad.
      She has so far been limited to supporting from the sidelines, however, after being benched for Germany’s botched mixed 4x400m attempt last weekend.
      Without Schmidt, Germany qualified for the final – only to be disqualified for making contact with the Jamaican team.
      She could still feature at the Games, however, in the 4x400m women’s relay.
      Germany take on the likes of Australia and France among others in their heat later today.
      And if they go through, they will compete for medals in tomorrow’s final.
      Schmidt has still been making the most of her Games experience from the sidelines, keeping her hordes of social media followers updated.
      She has been a regular poster on TikTok.
      And she has also made sure not to neglect her 2.3million Instagram followers.
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      In her most recent post, she wrote: “Day ✌🏼 in the Olympic village.
      “Preparation is going well and the food is delicioussss 😋.
      “So many new impressions here and I’m so grateful to be part of @teamdeutschland.”
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      Fans are eager to see Schmidt competeCredit: Rex
      She has been dubbed the ‘world’s sexiest athlete’Credit: Instagram / @alicasmd
      The world’s sexiest athlete: Germany’s Alica Schmidt More

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      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua unfazed that coach McCracken is with Team GB at Olympics and says ‘it’s been good having a wider team’

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA is unfazed by the absence of Team GB’s Olympics coach Rob McCracken and said: ‘It’s been good having a wider team’. Joshua is trained by McCracken – the man who led him to Olympic gold in 2012 – with the two stationed at Team GB’s Sheffield HQ.
      Anthony Joshua is unfazed by the absence of Team GB’s Olympics coach Rob McCracken
      Team GB’s Olympics head coach Rob McCracken in TokyoCredit: Getty
      But AJ has started preparations to fight Oleksandr Usyk on September 25 without his head trainer, who is in Tokyo with the GB boxing squad.
      The unified heavyweight champion still has assistant trainers Angel Fernandez and Joby Clayton as part of his camp.
      And Joshua believes he has been left in safe hands, despite the loss of McCracken.
      He told Sky Sports: “Everyone brings something different to the table. Usyk will bring in Vasiliy Lomachenko’s dad. He works with Russ Anber.
      “I have a list of different nutritionists and strength and conditioning coaches that he will bring in for this fight.
      “He is changing his team because people have a wealth of knowledge. It’s been good having a wider team and working collectively.”
      AJ’s preparation is 365 days per day, not just an eight-week camp. Rob will be missing for a couple of weeks.Eddie Hearn on Anthony Joshua’s training
      AJ was faced with the possibility of fighting without McCracken for the first time since 2016 when he was in talks with Tyson Fury.
      Joshua, 31, and Fury, 32, had agreed terms for a historic first-ever, four-belt undisputed title decider on August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
      But it would have meant McCracken was in Japan for the Games – something AJ was willing to go through with.
      His promoter Eddie Hearn said: “He has a good training team that is led by McCracken, but with other good trainers.
      “AJ’s preparation is 365 days per day, not just an eight-week camp. Rob will be missing for a couple of weeks.
      “Actually, we made a decision that whatever the date for the Tyson Fury fight, AJ would take it. Even if Rob had to pop to Tokyo.
      “Rob is a massive part of AJ’s corner and his life.”
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      McCracken has helped GB to a record six medals, with Joshua proudly cheering on his gym-mates from home.
      He was ordered by the WBO to face Usyk, 34, in a mandatory defence after Fury lost his arbitration case with Deontay Wilder.
      Wilder, 35, won the right to a trilogy bout against the Brit after his rematch loss in February 2020, which included a contracted third fight.
      Anthony Joshua shows off immense power as Brit star DESTROYS medicine ball while training for Oleksandr Usyk fight More

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      Team GB high jump coach Caan is under investigation about conduct and is banned from travelling to Tokyo Olympics

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      A BRITISH high jump coach has been suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation.It is understood Fuzz Caan was unable to travel to Tokyo due to the British Athletics probe following a complaint about his conduct.
      Brtish high jump coach Fuzz Caan has not travelled to Tokyo as an investigation into his conduct goes on
      In a statement, UK Athletics said: “We can confirm that an employed coach has been suspended pending an internal investigation.
      “As such, no further comment is available at this time.”
      Had he travelled, Caan would have been involved with Brits Morgan Lake and Emily Borthwick ahead of this morning’s high jump contest in Tokyo.
      The pair had mixed emotions following their appearance at the Olympic Stadium on Day 13 of the Games.
      Milton Keynes’ Lake, 24, was fifth in qualification group B after clearing a height of 1.95m.
      She finished tenth at the Rio 2016 Olympics and will be aiming to improve considerably on that performance in Saturday’s final.
      Borthwick, 23, from Loughborough, was eighth in the qualification group with a personal best of 1.93m but that was not enough to progress further.

      In a separate issue, Toni Minichiello – the man who guided Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill to Olympic heptathlon glory at London 2012 – remains provisionally suspended from coaching.
      According to UK Athletics, the 55-year-old is the subject of complaints from female athletes and his coaching licence has been revoked pending an investigation.
      Minichiello is not a member of the BBC athletics team, which has been covering the events from studios in Salford.
      Morgan Lake booked her place in Saturday’s high jump finalCredit: PA
      Emily Borthwick went over a new PB of 1.93m but could not progress in TokyoCredit: PA
      Tokyo 2020: Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulls up injured in 200m before limping over line at Olympics More

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      Tokyo 2020: Favourite Grant Holloway suffers shock loss after 24 wins in row as Hansle Parchment takes 110m hurdles gold

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      RED-HOT favourite Grant Holloway suffered one of the shocks of the Olympics with defeat in the men’s 110m hurdles final.The American, 23, was unbeaten in a staggering 24 races going into the showpiece race of the season.
      Hansle Parchment, front, stormed through to win Olympic gold in the 110m hurdlesCredit: AP
      There was plenty of respect between the top three Grant Holloway, Parchment and Ronald Levy afterwardsCredit: Reuters
      And he made a lightning start out of the blocks, seemingly pulling clear by the mid-way point.
      But a stumble late on saw Holloway lose his rhythm – opening the door for Jamaican Hansle Parchment to storm through for gold.
      Parchment crossed the line in 13.04 seconds with Holloway second in 13.09 and another Jamaican, Ronald Levy, claiming bronze in 13.10.
      Sprinting legend Usain Bolt congratulated his compatriot Parchment on the victory.
      He wrote on Instagram: “Simply Magnificent. Brilliant.”
      Bronze medallist at London 2012, the new champion Parchment said: “The greatest feeling, the greatest feeling.
      “I’ve worked so hard. It’s unbelievable that I caught this guy (Grant Holloway). I’m really grateful.
      “Certainly. There are so many here, Grant here for instance, and that’s a motivation for me. I even sat and watched (other athletes) to improve how I take my training times.
      “I don’t think a lot of people expected me to win.”
      HOLLOWAY HURT
      But there was obvious disappointment for nervous Holloway, who was expecting to add the Olympic gold to his world championship title from 2019.
      Despite this, the former long jumper, high jumper and 400m runner was gracious in coming second and laughed with Parchment and Levy on the track afterwards.
      He said: “Everybody knows I’m going to get out strong. Now it just comes to a point where I’ve got to finish strong.
      “I did it once when I was two shaves (0.02s) off the world record so I know I can do it.
      “I just think the nerves, the big atmosphere got the best of me a little bit.
      “But I’m young, I’ve got a lot of races under my belt so I’ll take this with a grain of salt and I keep moving forward.
      “This was not the outcome that I wanted but it enables me to say I’m an Olympic medallist.”
      Brit Andrew Pozzi was left disappointed by his seventh-placed finish.
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      He said: “I came here wanting to win a medal, I wasn’t moving quite how I wanted.
      “Sadly, in that race I tried to fight it a little bit. It’s a disappointment not to win a medal.
      “It’s been a big journey, I’m so grateful for everyone who’s contributed over the last decade. It’s frustrating, it’s not quite where I want to be.”
      Holloway made a flying start and looked on course for victory in TokyoCredit: Getty
      Parchment enjoyed a strong finish and went over the line in 13.04 secondsCredit: AP
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      Tokyo 2020: Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulls up injured in 200m before limping over line at Olympics More

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      Tokyo 2020: Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson through to 10m diving final as First Dates’ Fred pays tribute

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      ANDREA Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson both made the 10m platform diving final.But only after each making a mess of one of their five attempts.
      Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix booked her place into the 10m platform diving final this morningCredit: Reuters
      And she’ll be joined in the final by fellow Brit Lois ToulsonCredit: Getty
      Toulson stood joint fifth after her opener but then got her second dive, a reverse 2 ½ somersault which was the easiest of the five routines on her programme, badly wrong to plunge to 14th.
      With only the top 12 to qualify, it meant Toulson, girlfriend of three-time Olympic medallist Jack Laugher, could not afford another mistake.
      And the 21-year-old from Huddersfield pulled herself together to get back into the top 10 after round three and a terrific fourth effort, an inward three and a half somersault with tuck, earned 72.00pts, her best of the contest.
      That moved Toulson up to sixth and another solid dive on her final effort eased her into the final in ninth behind Hongchan Quan of China.
      Spendolini-Sirieix, daughter of “First Dates” maitre d’ Fred, served up a mess of a third dive but it did not spoil the entire dish.
      The mistake took her out of the top eight and put some pressure on but a terrific last dive secured her passage in eighth place
      It’s just great to be here and I’m so grateful to be able to compete.Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix
      She said: “I was much more relaxed than yesterday and I definitely had a lot more fun.
      “It’s just great to be here and I’m so grateful to be able to compete.”
      When pressed on being more relaxed, she added: “It definitely helps with that internal pressure. And it makes a lot easier.
      “You’re so much more relaxed and confident when you’re having fun.”
      “I always want to do better in every competition. I definitely improved on my prelim score yesterday and I want to improve on my score in the final.
      Spendolini-Sirieix’s dad couldn’t help but share his delight at his daughter’s progression to the Olympic final.
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      He tweeted: “And onto the final! #tokyo2020 #olympics #diving #platform #10m #teamgb #goAndrea”
      A delighted Toulson said: “I’m really proud that me and Andrea have both got through to the final.”
      She added: “I’m really enjoying it. I’ve got five more dives, so hopefully I can improve.”
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      Tokyo 2020: Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulls up injured in 200m before limping over line at Olympics More

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      Who is Andrew Pozzi and how long has he been dating Katarina Johnson-Thompson?

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      ANDREW POZZI is Team GB’s big hope in the men’s 110 metres hurdles – and he is the male half of British Athletics’ power couple.The hurdler is looking to become Britain’s first medallist in decades when he goes up against the high barriers and the best in the world.
      Andrew Pozzi, left, qualified for the Olympic final after finishing fourth in his semi-finalCredit: Getty
      Andrew Pozzi and Katarina Johnson-Thompson have been together since 2018
      Even the great Colin Jackson, who held the world record, never won a medal at the Olympics.
      Who is Andrew Pozzi?
      Andrew Pozzi, 29, is a British track and field athlete from Stratford-upon-Avon.
      The began running with Stratford Athletics Club as a youngster and ran 13.29sec in the hurdles as a youngster, the fastest time ever run by a British junior.
      Pozzi made his senior breakthrough at the 2012 World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, where he finished fourth at the age of 19.
      He later won the British Universities, or BUCS, Championships at the London Olympic stadium where he achieved the Olympics ‘A’ qualifying standard and berth at the home Games.
      Unfortunately he suffered a hamstring injury and had to withdraw during his first heat.
      In 2018, Pozzi beat Jarret Eaton to win the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham over the shorter 60m hurdles event, with a time of 7.46sec.
      In this Olympics, Pozzi has improved through the rounds, running 13.50sec in his heat, where he qualified in fourth, then 13.32sec in his semi-final, where he was again fourth.
      He will be in lane two for the final, next to world No1 Grant Holloway, who is favourite to win gold.
      How long has Andrew Pozzi been dating Katarina Johnson-Thompson?
      The hurdler and multi-event world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson started going out in 2018.
      A year later, KJT became a heptathlon world champion and de facto favourite to win gold in the Tokyo Olympics.
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      But little did either of them know it would be put back by 12 months, leading to an injury nightmare for Johnson-Thompson, who has been battling an Achilles injury.
      Unfortunately for KJT, 29, she was forced out of the Olympic heptathlon after a pull in the opposite calf to the leg she injured earlier this year.
      The pair have shared adorable pictures together on Instagram and have juggled it all while getting through their gruelling training schedules. More

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      Team GB boxer Ben Whittaker REFUSES to wear silver medal on podium after losing Olympic final against Arlen Lopez

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      BOXER Ben Whittaker was so devastated with his Olympic final loss he refused to wear his silver medal on the podium. The brilliantly talented light-heavyweight lit up the Games in Tokyo with his eye-catching and slick back-foot style.
      Ben Whittaker refused to wear his silver medal on the podiumCredit: EPA
      Ben Whittaker pictured pocketing his silver medalCredit: AFP
      But he was unable to overcome the final hurdle in his long journey to Olympic gold as he was outpointed by Cuban Arlen Lopez.
      Lopez, who won gold at Rio 2016 at middleweight, beat the Brit on a split-decision.
      And Whittaker, 24, was left heartbroken after defeat, so much so that he could not even bare celebrate his runner up prize, putting it in his pocket.
      He told the BBC: “You don’t win silver, you lose gold. I’m very disappointed with myself. I didn’t perform good.
      “I am very disappointed. I feel like a failure. He was very good but you are in this game to win gold, not silver.
      “This feeling will stick with me now. I don’t want this feeling again.”
      I am very disappointed. I feel like a failure. He was very good but you are in this game to win gold, not silver. Ben Whittaker
      Whittaker’s stance may appear unusual, but it echoes the mindset boxing legend Floyd Mayweather had after he was reduced to bronze in 1996.
      Mayweather, now 44, was robbed in the semi-finals and was left so disgusted he gave his medal to his grandmother to keep.
      Years later he famously stated you cannot win a bronze if you were beaten, believing he instead ‘received’ the medal.
      Whittaker, who did later wear his silver after coming off the podium, had a similar winning mentality.
      He said: “I don’t want to look like a baby or a spoiled brat but I am so upset that I didn’t win the gold. I feel like I lost gold. I can’t celebrate silver.
      “Maybe in a couple of years when I’ve got kids I can look back and say your dad lost a gold medal. But that is all it is.
      “I want to put this to the back of my mind because I didn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve.
      ‘THAT’S A WINNERS ATTITUDE’
      “I want to thank God for putting me in this position and everyone in Great Britain for getting behind me.
      “Sorry for making you wake-up and seeing me let you down.”
      Whittaker was praised by Piers Morgan, who tweeted: “‘You don’t win silver, you lose gold. I’m very disappointed – I feel like a failure. You’re in this game to win gold.’
      “Love this – finally, an athlete at these Olympics prepared to tell the truth about competing in elite sport. Good for you.”
      Another online agreed: “That’s a winners attitude – and no doubt he will get that gold next time.”

      But despite Whittaker’s competitive nature winning the approval of some, others disagreed.
      One said: “He needs to tone the misery down a bit. How many people have silver medals!”
      Another said: “His unsporting behaviour really irritated me. He should learn to be gracious even in defeat.” More

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      Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulls up injured in 200m before limping over line in devastating blow for Team GB Olympic ace

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      THE injury curse struck the British Athletics squad again as Katarina Johnson-Thompson failed to complete day one of the heptathlon.Johnson-Thompson, 28, ruptured her Achilles at the end of 2020 and also underwent surgery on an unspecified issue.

      Heptathlete star Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulled up injured during the 200m eventCredit: Reuters
      Medics rushed over to Johnson-Thompson’s aid after she went down injuredCredit: Reuters
      The fact the Liverpudlian had managed to make the start line in Tokyo was an achievement in itself, something she called a personal “victory”.
      But after 80m of the 200m heat one, the fourth of seven rounds of competition, reigning world champion Johnson-Thompson pulled up and was then disqualified for stepping outside of her lane.
      She crashed to the floor in agony and remained there with her head in her hands.
      A wheelchair was brought to the track but she refused that and decided to carry on running to record a time – but officials deemed that she has stepped outside of her lane.
      Prior to that race, she had been lying in fifth place overall and knew that the track events were her strongest disciplines.
      This bad news follows the exits of sprinter Dina Asher-Smith from the 100m and 200m following a torn hamstring, and Adam Gemili could not complete the 200m for a similar injury woe.
      A statement from British Athletics stated that Johnson-Thompson picked up a calf injury.
      They said: “Unfortunately Katarina Johnson-Thompson sustained an injury to her right calf during the 200m and has had to withdraw from the heptathlon.
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      Liverpool athlete Johnson-Thompson suffered a calf injury 80m into the raceCredit: Reuters
      Johnson-Thompson bravely limped over the finish line, but she was disqualified for stepping outside of her laneCredit: Reuters
      The 2019 world champion went into the 200m event lying in fifth place overallCredit: AP

      “To confirm, it is not a repeat of her recent Achilles injury which was on her left leg. There will be no further comment this evening.”
      Commenting on Johnson-Thompson’s injury, Denise Lewis, the 2000 heptathlon Olympic champion, said: “She hasn’t contested a 200m for a while. The turn puts a lot of stress on those Achilles tendons.
      “I am so gutted for her, so gutted for her. She has worked so hard to get to this stage. She increased the strapping for the 200m. This was the test event.
      “Someone’s heart has been trashed on the track It will be hard for her to come back from this emotionally – but she will.”
      Jessica Ennis-Hill, the 2012 heptathlon Olympic champion, had her British record broken by Johnson-Thompson at the 2019 Athletics World Championships in Doha.
      She said: “Kat has been such a victim of the past 18 months. She had the best year of her life in 2019 and was ready to go. She was in the best place – all she had to do was be ready to ride through the winter and maintain her form.

      “Instead, she had an 18-month layoff and it is hard to maintain that. The event is gruelling and it has ended up in injury.
      “It is utterly devastating for her. The years she has had in the sport, she has had so many lows, it’s so unfair she is in this position again.
      “There is a lot going on next year, it is a huge one, and you don’t want to put the body through more stress. She has to go away and rest now.”
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