logo
Amber Anning makes British history to win 400m gold at World Athletics Indoor Championships

Amber Anning makes British history to win 400m gold at World Athletics Indoor Championships

Yahoo22-03-2025
Amber Anning stormed to 400 metres gold to claim her first senior individual international medal on the second day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in China.
The British record holder, who collected a pair of relay bronzes at last summer's Paris Olympics, crossed the line in 50.60 seconds to pip the United States' Alexis Holmes by three hundredths of a second, while Norway's Henriette Jaeger took bronze.
It was redemption for the 24-year-old, who was disqualified from the same event due to a lane infringement at the European Indoor Championships earlier this month.
"It feels amazing," said Anning, who became the first British woman to win an individual world indoor sprint title.
"I came here wanting the win after the disappointment of the Europeans. I wanted the gold and I'm grateful that I was able to get the job done and bring a medal back to the home city.
"I knew with the calibre of girls in this race it was going to be close, especially to get that break. But I stayed strong, I had faith in myself, and I got to the end and I fought for that line."
Amy Hunt, who claimed 4x100m relay silver in Paris, was delighted by her fifth-place finish in the women's 60m after qualifying for her maiden senior individual world final.
Hunt improved on the morning's semis by running 7.11secs in the final, and said: "I can't believe I'm fifth in the world in an event that nobody thinks I can do apart from me and my coach!
"That was one of the most fun races I have ever done in my life and at the end of the day that's what it is all about. I was smiling at the start line, I was stood next to the world champion and I nearly had them. A few inches off, a couple more metres I would have got them."
There was disappointment for pole vaulter Molly Caudery, who was unable to defend her title from Glasgow 2024 in a competition plagued by technical issues.
Caudery, who has experienced an injury-hampered start to her season, finished fourth.
She said: "It was definitely not what I wanted but I am disappointed to say the least. It was a really, really, tough competition and there were a lot of technical issues, but I don't want to put any excuses out.
"If there is an hour wait in the middle of the competition when it's getting to those medal bars - the really important bars - it shouldn't be happening at a competition like this. The girls did struggle with that - as did I - it ruins the flow and even I know we were all deflated after, but that's championships for you."
More medals are up for grabs on Sunday's final day of competition. Debutant Funminiyi Olajide is in the women's long jump before Scott Lincoln appears in the shot put.
Scotland's Neil Gourley goes for gold in the men's 1500m final and Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell is in the women's final of the same distance.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman will make Liberty debut against the Sun
2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman will make Liberty debut against the Sun

San Francisco Chronicle​

time20 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman will make Liberty debut against the Sun

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Emma Meesseeman is ready to help the New York Liberty on their quest to repeat as WNBA champions. The 2019 WNBA Finals MVP, who last played in the league in 2022, will suit up for the team Friday night against the Connecticut Sun. 'Emma Meesseman's return to the WNBA is a tremendous moment for our league, and the fact that she chose New York for her next chapter speaks volumes,' said New York Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb. 'She is one of the most skilled, intelligent, and unselfish players in the world and her presence elevates everyone around her. Emma brings invaluable experience, championship pedigree, and a unique versatility that fits seamlessly into our group as we continue our relentless pursuit of a title in 2025.' Her arrival is a boost for the squad, which will be without Breanna Stewart for a few weeks while she recovers from a bone bruise in her right knee. New York also is without Nyara Sabally (knee) and Kennedy Burke (right calf strain). Meesseeman plays forward alike Stewart, and is also 6-foot-4. The Liberty (17-9) are in second place in the standings despite having lost three straight games. They are in the midst of a busy stretch with three games in the next five days, playing twice in Connecticut on Friday and Sunday and then hosting Dallas on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Meesseman is a two-time All-Star and helped the Washington Mystics win the 2019 title. She has been focused on leading the Belgium national team since her last season in the WNBA, which she spent with the Chicago Sky. Meesseman played with Natasha Cloud, whom New York acquired in the offseason, in Washington when the Mystics won their championship six years ago. Meesseman helped Belgium win the EuroBasket title last month to qualify for next year's World Cup. Even without Stewart for the immediate future, the Liberty still have a talented group around Meesseman with Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Cloud and Leonie Fiebich leading the way. Meesseman has dominated overseas in her time away from the WNBA. She was named the EuroBasket MVP twice in the past three years. She helped Belgium reach the medal round at the Paris Olympics before it lost to France in overtime in the semifinals and then Australia in the bronze-medal game. The Liberty waived guard Jaylyn Sherrod to make room for Meesseman. 'Jaylyn Sherrod is a champion in every sense of the word. She embodies the passion, grit, and relentlessness that define the city of New York," Kolb said. 'Her rise from undrafted free agent to WNBA Champion is one of the most remarkable stories I've had the good fortune to witness, a testament to perseverance, and a powerful reminder to always push the boundaries and to never give up.' ___

2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman will make Liberty debut against the Sun
2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman will make Liberty debut against the Sun

Fox Sports

time20 minutes ago

  • Fox Sports

2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman will make Liberty debut against the Sun

Associated Press UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Emma Meesseeman is ready to help the New York Liberty on their quest to repeat as WNBA champions. The 2019 WNBA Finals MVP, who last played in the league in 2022, will suit up for the team Friday night against the Connecticut Sun. 'Emma Meesseman's return to the WNBA is a tremendous moment for our league, and the fact that she chose New York for her next chapter speaks volumes,' said New York Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb. 'She is one of the most skilled, intelligent, and unselfish players in the world and her presence elevates everyone around her. Emma brings invaluable experience, championship pedigree, and a unique versatility that fits seamlessly into our group as we continue our relentless pursuit of a title in 2025.' Her arrival is a boost for the squad, which will be without Breanna Stewart for a few weeks while she recovers from a bone bruise in her right knee. New York also is without Nyara Sabally (knee) and Kennedy Burke (right calf strain). Meesseeman plays forward alike Stewart, and is also 6-foot-4. The Liberty (17-9) are in second place in the standings despite having lost three straight games. They are in the midst of a busy stretch with three games in the next five days, playing twice in Connecticut on Friday and Sunday and then hosting Dallas on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Meesseman is a two-time All-Star and helped the Washington Mystics win the 2019 title. She has been focused on leading the Belgium national team since her last season in the WNBA, which she spent with the Chicago Sky. Meesseman played with Natasha Cloud, whom New York acquired in the offseason, in Washington when the Mystics won their championship six years ago. Meesseman helped Belgium win the EuroBasket title last month to qualify for next year's World Cup. Even without Stewart for the immediate future, the Liberty still have a talented group around Meesseman with Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, Cloud and Leonie Fiebich leading the way. Meesseman has dominated overseas in her time away from the WNBA. She was named the EuroBasket MVP twice in the past three years. She helped Belgium reach the medal round at the Paris Olympics before it lost to France in overtime in the semifinals and then Australia in the bronze-medal game. The Liberty waived guard Jaylyn Sherrod to make room for Meesseman. 'Jaylyn Sherrod is a champion in every sense of the word. She embodies the passion, grit, and relentlessness that define the city of New York," Kolb said. 'Her rise from undrafted free agent to WNBA Champion is one of the most remarkable stories I've had the good fortune to witness, a testament to perseverance, and a powerful reminder to always push the boundaries and to never give up.' ___ AP WNBA:

Jabari Smith Jr. sees Rockets star Amen Thompson as ‘most athletic person on the planet'
Jabari Smith Jr. sees Rockets star Amen Thompson as ‘most athletic person on the planet'

USA Today

time20 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Jabari Smith Jr. sees Rockets star Amen Thompson as ‘most athletic person on the planet'

Jabari Smith Jr. on rising Rockets star Amen Thompson: 'If you look at athleticism as a whole, with speed, strength, jumping... I don't think anybody is as fast as him and jumps as high as him.' As part of a newly released podcast episode of The Young Man and the Three, fourth-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. shared perspective on his journey within the NBA and with the Houston Rockets. During a conversation with host Tommy Alter and New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, Smith addressed numerous topics related to his own personal growth and that of players around him in Houston. One of his endorsements was for rising Rockets star Amen Thompson, who Smith has played alongside in Houston since the latter was drafted at No. 4 overall in the 2023 first round. When asked if Thompson is the league's most athletic player, Smith responded: If you look at athleticism as a whole, with speed, strength, jumping... if you put all of it in there, I don't think anybody (in the NBA) is as fast as him and jumps as high as him. The things I've seen him do in practice... it's ridiculous. It's the random jumping. Being able to jump and not load up... just being able to jump and your head is at the rim. You can't even train that. How do you get better at that? It's just something that you can't really teach. He gets an offensive rebound and just jumps right back up. Doesn't bend down, or anything. It's something I've never seen before, honestly. And it gets me pissed off talking about it, because it's like, 'Why can't I do that?' Amen is just, like, the most athletic person on the planet. The complete conversation can be viewed and listened to below. Beyond their two seasons as Houston teammates, Smith and Thompson also spent considerable time together with the U.S. Select Team prior to the 2024 Olympics. It's worth noting that as good as Thompson was in 2024-25 — including NBA All-Defensive First Team honors — it was only his second professional season. He remains just 22 years old. Showcasing elite defense, athleticism, and positional versatility, Thompson averaged 14.1 points (55.7% FG), 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 32.2 minutes per game last season. The 22-year-old became a full-time starter in January and never relinquished the job. At 6-foot-7, Thompson is tall and athletic enough to play in the frontcourt, and he started at forward last season after Smith went down to a multi-week injury in January. Yet, Thompson also has point-guard skills, making him capable of playing and defending anywhere. It all adds up to a tantalizing talent package, and it's one of many reasons — along with the offseason arrival of Kevin Durant and the presence of All-Star center Alperen Sengun — that Houston is among the NBA's championship favorites for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store