A perfect serve & volley
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
36 minutes ago
- Mint
Ben Askren says he ‘died four times': Who is he and what happened to him? What we know so far
Former MMA champion and Olympic wrestler Ben Askren is recovering from a double lung transplant. In a heart-wrenching video that has now gone viral on social media, Askren shared an update on his health for the first time after receiving a double lung transplant. The 40-year-old Askren began his MMA career 19-0 and most notably held the welterweight titles in Bellator MMA and ONE Championship. He transitioned to MMA after an amateur wrestling career that saw him represent the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Askren won three Big 12 championships and two NCAA Division I championships in wrestling at Missouri, adding gold medals at the 2005 Pan American Championships and 2009 World Championships. He reached the quarterfinals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Askren transitioned to the Octagon after his wrestling career and compiled a 19-2 record with one no-contest in 22 MMA fights. Askren became the Bellator welterweight champion in 2010 and made his UFC debut in 2019. He lost two of three fights in UFC, including a five-second knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in Las Vegas at UFC 239. Askren made an unsuccessful boxing debut on April 17, 2021, losing to Jake Paul by TKO in the first round. UFC veteran Ben Askren was hospitalised in early June with a life-threatening case of pneumonia. He went on ventilator support on June 17 and was added to the transplant waiting list on June 24, according to his wife. Askren's wife, Amy Askren, has periodically provided updates on her husband's condition and the process they've endured during his health scare since it was first revealed on June 6. According to CBS Sports, Askren, a 40-year-old father of three children, developed pneumonia following a staph infection. He was hospitalised in his home state of Wisconsin. In an emotional video posted on Instagram on Wednesday, Askren discussed his recovery and shared some scary details. Askren said he lost 50 pounds in 45 days, dealing with severe pneumonia, and has no memory of anything from the end of May to early July. He said his heart stopped several times during his scary battle with severe pneumonia. UFC legend Ben Askren said he "died four times" before life-saving double lung transplant. "I haven't given you an update in a while," Askren said in the video. 'I figure you deserve one. Whenever this is all the way over — I actually just read through my wife's journal because I don't remember anything from May 28 to July 2. No recollection, zero idea, no idea what happened. We'll kind of go through it all. I just read through my wife's journal. It's like a movie. It's ridiculous. So, I only died four times were the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. That's not ideal,' he could be heard saying in the video message. He added, "But, I got the double lung transplant and made it to the other side of it. Gaining quite a bit of strength. Learning to use everything again, I was actually on a scale yesterday and 147 pounds. I haven't been 147 pounds since 15 years old. So, I lost like 50 pounds in a 45-day period. Man, that was a battle. Other than that, I don't remember most of it." "The thing that was most impeccable to me was all the love I felt from everybody," Askren said. 'It was almost like I got to have my own funeral. ... The outpouring of love from the wrestling community was just amazing. It felt so good. So, I'm more motivated than ever to get back and do what I can to help out the best I can. I love you guys. I appreciate you guys,' he said. 'This has been tough, not only on me, but on my whole family and close community. I appreciate everything. Hope you guys appreciate the update. Like I said, somewhere down the road, maybe Amy and I can detail everything a little more,' Ben added.
Hindustan Times
41 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Novak Djokovic progresses to Wimbledon semis, sets up clash against Jannik Sinner
Novak Djokovic set up a mouthwatering Wimbledon semi-final against world number one Jannik Sinner as he moved a step closer to claiming a historic 25th Grand Slam title. Novak Djokovic set up a mouthwatering Wimbledon semi-final against world number one Jannik Sinner (AFP) The Serb won 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 against Flavio Cobolli in front of Britain's Queen Camilla on Wednesday to reach the Wimbledon last four for a record 14th time in the men's game. Earlier, three-time major champion Sinner eased pre-match injury fears to sweep past US 10th seed Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4 in an impressive display. In the women's draw, five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek and former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic both reached the semi-finals for the first time and will clash for a place in the final. Seven-time champion Djokovic was pushed hard by Italian 22nd seed Cobolli but ultimately had too much nous and craft for the 23-year-old. "It means the world to me that I'm still able at 38 to play the final stages of Wimbledon," he said on court. "Thank you for cheering for my age. I really appreciate it. It's beautiful. Makes me feel very young. "And I guess another thing that makes me feel very young is competing with youngsters like Cobolli today." The sixth seed prepared for the contest by meeting Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, who said she was keeping her "fingers crossed" for his match. She watched Djokovic from the Royal Box, along with British actor Hugh Grant. There was a collective gasp when the Serbian slipped fell awkwardly while serving for victory but he played down injury fears. "I had a nasty slip, but that's what happens when you play on the grass," he said. "I'm going to visit this subject now with my physio, and hopefully I'll be well in two days." The Serb now owns the all-time record for most Wimbledon men's singles semi-final appearances, moving one clear of eight-time champion Roger Federer, who reached the last four 13 times. He has also reached a 52nd Grand Slam semi-final, extending his all-time record in the men's game. Djokovic is now within two wins of breaking his tie with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles for any player, man or woman. But Sinner will offer a different level of challenge. The top seed has won his past four matches against Djokovic, beating him in straight sets in the semi-finals of the recent French Open. Sinner had sparked fears he may have to pull out of the tournament after falling early in his fourth-round tie against Grigor Dimitrov on Monday. He was trailing by two sets and on the brink of a shock exit when the Bulgarian pulled a pectoral muscle while serving and had to retire. Sinner wore a protective sleeve on his right arm against Shelton and said his injury had "improved a lot" after his practice was curtailed on Tuesday. Carlos Alcaraz, who has beaten Djokovic in the past two finals at Wimbledon, takes on US fifth seed Taylor Fritz in Friday's other semi-final. 'Dream come true' Attention will switch Thursday to the women's semi-finals. Eighth seed Swiatek said she had "goosebumps" after her 6-2, 7-5 win against Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova. The Polish former world number one has won four titles on the clay at the French Open, as well as the US Open in 2022, but her previous best result at Wimbledon was a run to the quarter-finals in 2023. "It feels great. Even though I'm in the middle of the tournament I've already got goosebumps after this win. I'm super happy and super proud of myself and I'll keep going," she said. She faces Switzerland's Bencic, who shocked Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2). The 28-year-old had a daughter, Bella, in April 2024, but has already risen back up to 35 in the world since returning from maternity leave. "It's crazy, it's unbelievable. It's a dream come true. I tried not to think about it at the match point. I'm just speechless," Bencic said. World number one Aryna Sabalenka plays American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova in the other women's semi-final on Thursday.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
‘I only died four times': Ex-UFC star Ben Askren shares shocking health update after double lung transplant
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren shared an update on his health on Wednesday, June 9, 2025, just a week after he received a double lung transplant. In a video shared on Instagram, Askeren spoke about his recovery and revealed that he 'died four times' before having a double lung transplant after developing pneumonia following a bacterial infection. He also said that he 'can't recollect' what happened between May 28, 2025, and July 2, 2025. Askren, who retired from MMA in 2019 after a short stint in the UFC, was admitted to the hospital in Wisconsin in June 2025 and placed on a ventilator and put on the transplant list. In a video from his hospital bed, the American said he has lost 50 lb (more than three and a half stone, or 22.7 kg) in 45 days. "I haven't given you an update in a while," Askren said in the video. "I figure you deserve one. Whenever this is all the way over, I actually just read through my wife's journal because I don't remember anything from May 28 to July 2. No recollection, zero idea, no idea what happened. We'll kind of go through it all. I just read through my wife's journal. It's like a movie. It's ridiculous. So, I only died four times when the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. That's not ideal,' he said by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tiger reunites with the zookeeper after 5 years. See the tiger's reaction! Story To Hear Undo . "But, I got the double lung transplant and made it to the other side of it. Gaining quite a bit of strength. Learning to use everything again, I was actually on a scale yesterday and weighed 147 pounds. I haven't been 147 pounds since I was 15 years old. So, I lost like 50 pounds in 45 days. Man, that was a battle. Other than that, I don't remember most of it," he added. Askren, a former MMA champion and Olympic wrestler, thanked fans and the wrestling community for all the wishes and said he is "more motivated than ever" to get back in shape and do what he can to help out. "The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody," he said. "It was almost like I got to have my funeral. Right?" Live Events Askren's wife, Amy, wrote on Facebook in June 2025 that her husband was "completely healthy just five weeks ago," before he became ill. The couple has three children. Influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who beat Askren in a boxing match in 2021, made a public plea for donations to be made for his recovery last week. Askren is considered one of the best American wrestlers of his generation and was a welterweight champion in Bellator and One Championship. He was undefeated in 20 fights when he signed for the UFC in 2019, in what was an unusual move in MMA. Askren retired from MMA with 19 wins in 22 fights. Askren won three Big 12 championships and two NCAA Division I championships in wrestling at Missouri, adding gold medals at the 2005 Pan American Championships and 2009 World Championships. He reached the quarterfinals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He transitioned to the Octagon after his wrestling career and compiled a 19-2 record with one no-contest in 22 MMA fights. Askren became the Bellator welterweight champion in 2010 and made his UFC debut in 2019. He lost two of three fights in UFC, including a five-second knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in Las Vegas at UFC 239. Askren made an unsuccessful boxing debut on April 17, 2021, losing to Jake Paul by TKO in the first round.
