Latest news with #Izabella
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eva Okaro relishing trailblazer status ahead of World Championships
Teenager Eva Okaro is happy to be cast in the role of trailblazer as she prepares for her World Aquatics Championships debut. Okaro became the first black British swimmer to compete in the pool at an Olympic Games at the age of just 17 in Paris last summer when she was part of the women's 4 x 100m freestyle relay team which reached the final. Now 18, she is heading for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore delighted to be inspiring other young swimmers. Okaro, who won the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in April, said: 'I think it's a privilege to be in this role and I like to be a role model to especially young girls of any ethnicity, any colour, it doesn't matter. 'But it's just nice to know that I'm not in this alone as well because they don't just look up to me, but they encourage me and want to see me do well and I think that's also a big thing, just knowing that there are people behind me and people that I don't even know that just believe in me. 'That helps a lot with my confidence and being able to perform.' Asked if she was aware anecdotally of youngsters who had been encouraged by her rise to prominence, Okaro added: 'I've had a few messages before and I've been stopped a couple of times by little girls who are basically just telling me that they keep swimming because of me, which is really nice.' Okaro, who still trains with her twin sister Izabella, is scheduled to compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly in Singapore, although is yet to make a decision on whether to take part in all three after missing a week and a half of training while she sat her A-levels. Whatever happens at the World Championships, she will be heading for the United States later this year to continue her athletic and academic careers at the University of Texas, glad her exams are out of the way. She said: 'It's definitely made me feel more relaxed, 100 per cent, because little things like even homework or turning up to lessons and waking up at 7.30am for breakfast, stuff like that, I don't have to do that anymore so I can solely be focused on swimming. 'That's definitely something I've got in my locker now and it's just made it a lot easier for me.'
The Independent
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Eva Okaro relishing trailblazer status ahead of World Championships
Teenager Eva Okaro is happy to be cast in the role of trailblazer as she prepares for her World Aquatics Championships debut. Okaro became the first black British swimmer to compete in the pool at an Olympic Games at the age of just 17 in Paris last summer when she was part of the women's 4 x 100m freestyle relay team which reached the final. Now 18, she is heading for the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore delighted to be inspiring other young swimmers. Okaro, who won the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in April, said: 'I think it's a privilege to be in this role and I like to be a role model to especially young girls of any ethnicity, any colour, it doesn't matter. 'But it's just nice to know that I'm not in this alone as well because they don't just look up to me, but they encourage me and want to see me do well and I think that's also a big thing, just knowing that there are people behind me and people that I don't even know that just believe in me. 'That helps a lot with my confidence and being able to perform.' Asked if she was aware anecdotally of youngsters who had been encouraged by her rise to prominence, Okaro added: 'I've had a few messages before and I've been stopped a couple of times by little girls who are basically just telling me that they keep swimming because of me, which is really nice.' Okaro, who still trains with her twin sister Izabella, is scheduled to compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly in Singapore, although is yet to make a decision on whether to take part in all three after missing a week and a half of training while she sat her A-levels. Whatever happens at the World Championships, she will be heading for the United States later this year to continue her athletic and academic careers at the University of Texas, glad her exams are out of the way. She said: 'It's definitely made me feel more relaxed, 100 per cent, because little things like even homework or turning up to lessons and waking up at 7.30am for breakfast, stuff like that, I don't have to do that anymore so I can solely be focused on swimming. 'That's definitely something I've got in my locker now and it's just made it a lot easier for me.'
Daily Record
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Teenager dies after doing backflip to celebrate leaving home to 'start new life'
Sonny Blundell was celebrating moving out with his girlfriend. A teenager tragically died after doing a backflip to celebrate moving out of his family home to start a "new life". Sonny Blundell, 18, had just moved from New South Wales to Australia's Gold Coast with his girlfriend when tragedy struck on June 24. Australian media reported he was found "unresponsive" by his best friend in their living room. He was rushed to hospital and admitted to intensive care. He was placed into a medically-induced coma ahead of undergoing brain surgery, the Mirror reports. A fundraising page set up by his family explained he had suffered "multiple strokes" and a brain bleed requiring a drain. His older sister Izabella Cromack-Hay shared a heartbreaking update on Monday, June 30 confirming Sonny had died. She said the family has been left "in disbelief and major pain", and the GoFundMe donations will be used to bring his body home. She wrote: "Our beautiful Sonny has grown his wings and passed away 30/03/2007-30/6/2025. We are all in disbelief and major pain. I ask everyone to still support our family as we need to bring Sonny home as his sisters are waiting for him. "We are all here in Queensland trying our hardest to organize this horrible time and prepare ourselves. Please ask to donate for Sonny's Mum, his sisters, family and Sonny's funeral. Rest In Peace our Beautiful boy." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Izabella told Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph he had only recently moved away "to start a new life with his girlfriend." She said: "Moving to Queensland only a month ago, which was his greatest accomplishment, he worked the hardest concreting and making himself known." Izabella said her younger brother had FaceTimed her on the day of the incident, and he was celebrating moving to Southport beach with his best friend Mitchell Bullard when he did the backflip. She said Sonny hit his head on the ground and went to bed with a headache. But when he woke up, he went to the toilet vomiting and then passed out, Izabella said, which is when his best friend found him unresponsive in the morning. He was then taken to hospital where he sadly passed away on Monday. The GoFundMe page has raised $22,140 AUD (£10,680) so far, with a target of $28,000 AUD (£13,510). The fundraiser can be found here.
Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Teen dies after doing backflip to celebrate starting 'new life' with girlfriend
Sonny Blundell, 18, suffered a serious brain injury when doing a backflip in his apartment in Queensland, Australia, on June 24. He was taken to hospital, where he died on June 30 A teenager tragically died after doing a backflip to celebrate moving away from home to start a "new life" with his girlfriend. Sonny Blundell had just moved from the Central Coast in New South Wales to the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, when the incident happened on June 24. According to Australian media, he was found "unresponsive" by his housemate in the living room of their flat. The 18-year-old was taken to Queensland Hospital and placed into a coma in the ICU before undergoing brain surgery. A GoFundMe page created by Sonny's family said the first 24 hours in hospital were the most critical for him as he suffered "multiple strokes" and a bleed which meant he needed a drain in his brain. READ MORE: Mum's 'world fell apart' after teen daughter dies in horror car crash at hands of speeding boyfriend But sadly, in an update posted on June 30, his sister Izabella Cromack-hay confirmed Sonny had passed away. She said the family is "in disbelief and major pain" and added they will use the GoFundMe donations to bring his body back home. Izabella wrote: "Our beautiful Sonny has grown his wings and passed away 30/03/2007-30/6/2025. We are all in disbelief and major pain. I ask everyone to still support our family as we need to bring Sonny home as his sisters are waiting for him. "We are all here in Queensland trying our hardest to organize this horrible time and prepare ourselves. Please ask to donate for Sonny's Mum, his sisters, family and Sonny's funeral. Rest In Peace our Beautiful boy." According to Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Izabella said Sonny had recently moved away from home "to start a new life with his girlfriend." She said: "Moving to Queensland only a month ago, which was his greatest accomplishment, he worked the hardest concreting and making himself known." Izabella said her younger brother had FaceTimed her on the day of the incident, and he was celebrating moving to Southport beach with his best friend Mitchell Bullard when he did the backflip. She said Sonny hit his head on the ground and went to bed with a headache. But when he woke up, he went to the toilet vomiting and then passed out, Izabella said, which is when his best friend found him unresponsive in the morning. He was then taken to hospital where he sadly passed away on Monday. The GoFundMe page has so far raised $22,140 AUD (£10,680). It has a target of $28,000 AUD (£13,510). You can donate to the fundraiser here.
