Latest news with #Olympian
The Star
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Star
Malaysian hockey legend Kevin passes away
PETALING JAYA: Former national hockey player and Olympian Kevin Nunis passed away at the age of 65 on Saturday (June 28). Kevin had passed away at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He had vast experience in the national hockey team, having been part of the team when they played at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, as well as two Asian Games appearances (1982 India, 1986 South Korea), and represented Malaysia at three SEA Games (1983 Singapore, 1987 Jakarta, 1989 Kuala Lumpur) editions. From Seremban, Kevin started in the national team during his youth, playing at the Junior World Cup with the team in 1979 in Paris. His time in coaching saw him as head coach for the Terengganu state team in 1990, after which he was assistant coach for Terry Walsh in the national team in 1992. He was most recently the head coach of the National Hockey Development Programme in 2021.
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Cathal Doyle is desperate to race after 'crazy' Faith Kipyegon pacing duties
The old and somewhat tiring joke goes, that you can find the Irish at everything, and Faith Kipyegon's 'Breaking4' project was no exception. Kipyegon didn't manage to become the first woman to break the four-minute barrier for the mile, but she did achieve the fastest time ever run with a 4:06.42 clocking and in the process has inspired one of her Irish pacers from the bid. Cathal Doyle, Olympian, multiple national record holder and probably the gutsiest man in Irish athletics, was one of a long list of pacers to assist Kipyegon in the 1609m exhibition run at the Stade Charlety in the French capital on Thursday evening. Doyle says running three laps with Kipyegon is up there with one of the best experiences he has had in his 27 years. "It was probably just one of the coolest things you'll probably ever do, it was just a bit crazy because I've never paced a race before, especially at that kind of level," Doyle told RTÉ Sport. Doyle walked down the tunnel onto the track in the French capital that just ten months ago saw him progress to the Olympic semi-final, to be the tip of the 'shield' formation for Kipyegon after some gruelling training with the Nike team leading the project. "Training was actually pretty intense… We had two sessions every day in the morning and evening. We were shown on a laptop the formation. And I was like, 'Oh, I've kind of drawn the short straw here'." The five-time national champion explains that he ran in the middle of lane two, where there were markers for him to follow, meaning he ran marginally further than the rest, which can make pacing trickier. The Nike team, meticulous in their planning, attempted to cover every possible scenario that the athletes learned through dozens of repetitions. "There was just scenario after scenario, there must've been about six different scenarios. The front five of us around Faith were the shield. And then the guys around near her were the 'spoiler'. "Luckily for my job, I actually didn't have to think. All I had to do was just run hard and stay in line where I was…it was just a lot of practice." "Luckily for my job, I actually didn't have to think. All I had to do was just run hard and stay in line where I was… It was just a lot of practice." Doyle reveals the call to be involved came only last week, thanks to some intervention from training partner and fellow Nike-sponsored athlete Elliot Giles. "He (Giles) asked if he could bring a training partner, and then they realised this guy can pace when they looked up my personal bests. "I only knew I was doing it less than a week ago, there wasn't even a second thought." For any athlete racing on the circuit, it can become monotonous quickly. Doyle is no exception, running almost 25 races last season and 12 already this year, so the 'Breaking4' project offered a change from the continuance of the track season. "You never get a chance to do stuff like this, running meets is cool and it's fun and all, but at the same time, they're all the same. So, this was a little bit different." "You never get a chance to do stuff like this, running meets is cool and it's fun and all, but at the same time, they're all the same. So, this was a little bit different." There were doubts from both fans and media of the sport as to whether the goal was achievable, but Doyle details that there was no question of its feasibility among the 13 pacers, and it was vital those around Kipyegon believed. "Everyone was just so focused on their role. There wasn't even a question of, will she do it or not? "In there, you're starting to believe that maybe she could do it, but apparently a 3:59 mile for a woman equates to a 1:58 men's marathon. "So, it was even more difficult than the 'Breaking2 ' project with (Eliud) Kipchoge. But everyone was fully invested." The event, organised by the shoe brand that has become synonymous with technology, development and science-backed projects like the one Doyle took part in, also specified that the pacers didn't tell Kipyegon the exact time per lap, allowing her to focus only on the task. "She didn't actually know the paces either. We were strictly told 'don't tell her'. "No talk of splits on the warm-up - zero talk, do not mention splits. She hadn't a clue so all she had to do was hold on for dear life." The stadium had a sizeable crowd, not full, but not bad for realistically four minutes of entertainment. The Irish Olympian explained he wasn't sure how a visibly nervous Kipyegon kept it together, knowing that it would be a rare scenario in which all eyes are exclusively on her. "I don't even know how she could pull it together. You walked out and a couple of thousand people there and they're all cheering for just her on the line." "I don't even know how she could pull it together. You walked out and a couple of thousand people there and they're all cheering for just her on the line." Doyle is now excited to get back racing after six days in the French capital working towards something "crazy" which has changed his perspective on his own goals. Which is exactly why Kipyegon attempted the near-impossible feat in the first place. "I'm actually pretty buzzing now to race again and train, even though I was just among the 10 others, it's just being around really good people and really successful people. It does rub off on you and then you kind of feel like, 'oh, I want to be that as well now'."
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
BookTalk: National runner Shanti Pereira reads as part of her morning routine
Who: Shanti Pereira, 28, Singaporean track-and-field athlete who is a two-time Olympian, an Asian Games 200m champion, a two-time Asian Championship winner and a four-time SEA Games medallist. She is also the fastest South-east Asian woman in the 100m and 200m events. She competed in the Gumi Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in May, finishing second in the 100m and 200m events, and fifth in the women's 4x100m relay final. She is training for the World Athletics Championships in September. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Edmonton Journal
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Flames take lightning-quick Potter with 32nd overall pick
Article content There's more to Potter's game than the quickness with which he darts around the NCAA ice for Arizona State. Of course there is. You don't play U.S. college hockey as a 17-year-old against opponents who might be six or seven years older than you just because you're fast. But they say you can't teach speed, and Potter's got it. The son of four-time U.S. Olympian Jenny Potter – who won a gold, two silvers and a bronze medal with the Americans – the newest member of the Flames might have the 'fastest skater' title locked up if the organization ever brings their Super Skills Competition back. 'I think my strongest asset is definitely my speed,' said Potter, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 183 lbs and is a leftie. 'Speed and skill and tenacity and compete are what I do best. 'I think the best players in the world have a lot of speed. Just looking at McDavid and MacKinnon and those guys, just being able to use my speed and hands at the same time is really important, and I think that's what the best players in the NHL do.'
Ottawa Citizen
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Flames take lightning-quick Potter with 32nd overall pick
Any conversation about Cullen Potter is going to start with his speed. That's inevitable. Article content Drafted by the Calgary Flames with the final pick of the first round, 32nd overall, Potter might just be faster than any other player whose name got called on Friday night. Article content 'His speed is electric,' said Flames GM Craig Conroy. 'He's fast, quick, electric, he's got hockey sense.' Article content Article content Article content Article content But they say you can't teach speed, and Potter's got it. Article content The son of four-time U.S. Olympian Jenny Potter – who won a gold, two silvers and a bronze medal with the Americans – the newest member of the Flames might have the 'fastest skater' title locked up if the organization ever brings their Super Skills Competition back. Article content 'I think my strongest asset is definitely my speed,' said Potter, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 183 lbs and is a leftie. 'Speed and skill and tenacity and compete are what I do best. Article content 'I think the best players in the world have a lot of speed. Just looking at McDavid and MacKinnon and those guys, just being able to use my speed and hands at the same time is really important, and I think that's what the best players in the NHL do.' Article content Article content Article content Nobody is expecting Potter to be one of the best players in the world right away, but the early returns on his college career have been extremely encouraging. Article content Despite being only 17-years-old for a good chunk of his freshman year at Arizona State – he turned 18 on January 10 – Potter netted 13 goals and added nine assists in 35 games. He also put up four goals and four assists while playing for the U.S. under-18 team. Article content Conroy and the Flames scouting staff watched it all, and were thrilled about getting a player with his upside so late in the first round. Article content 'When you look at him, you think 'Where is he going to be?' ' Conroy said about playing against older competition in the NCAA. 'It would be like stepping into the American League right away, you're playing against me. That's what I think is so impressive for him. To see him play with the U18s, I thought he was noticeable every shift and it was the speed that caught my attention.'
