Latest news with #OlympicChampions
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Torvill and Dean honoured in their home city for farewell tour.
Ice skating champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have been honoured in their home city of Nottingham to mark their farewell Olympic gold medallists unveiled a newly-updated tram in their name on Tuesday to celebrate 50 years of dancing together.A rink at the National Ice Centre was also officially named after them and a blue plaque marking their final performance together at the centre was said they will "always be a part of Nottingham", adding the city will always have a "special place" in their hearts. The pair became household names after their gold medal-winning performance of Bolero at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics in became the highest-scoring figure skaters of all time for a single Tuesday, they returned to Nottingham to mark 50 years since they formed their skating partnership in the said it was a "huge honour" and "really special" to be at the unveiling of the tram and to have a rink named after them."Nottingham is where we grew up and where we both first started to skate," Torvill said."We've never had an ice rink named after us, and to have it here in Nottingham, where it all started, is very special."An ice rink is a special place that brings communities together and we are honoured that we are going to be part of it forever." The ice skating legends will perform the final show of their farewell tour 'Our Last Dance' in Nottingham on said the tour, which began in London in April and has visited nine venues across the country, was "very much a celebration of our careers".Dean added: "The final performance will be emotional, but not a sad occasion."We want to skate the best that we can skate."The audience has been so receptive. It's nostalgic for a lot of people and it's sort of conjured up memories of the past for them - good memories."Torvill said: "This whole tour has been a celebration. We want to leave on a high and want the audience to enjoy celebrating with us." 'Privilege and honour' Martin Ingham, CEO at the National Ice Centre, said: "Not only did they provide the inspiration for millions of people to start their skating journey but they provided the inspiration for this building which over the last 25 years has seen over seven million skaters come through our doors."They opened the building. They held the greatest skating gala that this country has ever seen in 2002 in front of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh."They did a unique thing skating with the Olympic torch here and have skated so many times with Dancing on Ice and now with the Last Dance."
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canadian Olympic hammer throw champs part of star-studded lineup for 50th Prefontaine Classic
Canadian hammer throwers Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg, shown from left to right in this composite image, will both be in action at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday. The duo are the reigning world and Olympic champions of their sport. (Matthias Schrader/The Associated Press, Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press - image credit) This year's Prefontaine Classic features a lineup befitting a milestone for the iconic track and field meet. Saturday marks the 50th edition of prestigious event on the University of Oregon campus, which carries the name of the late Steve Prefontaine, an American collegiate runner who never won an Olympic or world championship medal, but who left an indelible mark on his sport before dying in a car crash at age 24. Advertisement Read more about the history of the meet in this story by Scott Russell. Several Olympic and world champions will compete in Saturday's event at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., and that includes Canadian hammer throwers Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg. You can watch live coverage of the event, available on and CBC Gem at 4 p.m. ET. Rogers is well acquainted with Hayward Field, having competed there several times before and during her collegiate career. It was also the venue where the 26-year-old from Richmond, B.C. broke the Diamond League women's hammer throw record in 2024. Rogers also collected a a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships when Eugene hosted in 2022. Advertisement "I just love the stadium. I love the energy it carries. The 'Hayward Magic' is totally real, I am a full believer in that," Rogers said. "Knowing that there's going to be a very high level of competition makes it all the more exciting because it really motivates you to be there and be your best self on the day. "I think it'll be a lot of fun, and it's a renowned meet for a reason. It brings in the best of the best. It attracts some of the biggest track fans in the world and is just an exciting place to be in. I can't wait." Rogers is the top-ranked hammer thrower in the world, but she'll face a stiff test from a pair of top-ranked Americans in Eugene. Brooke Andersen, ranked second in the world, won a world title at Hayward Field in 2022, while No. 4-ranked Annette Nneka Echikunwoke was the silver medallist at Paris 2024. WATCH | Rogers 'excited' to compete at Prefontaine Classic 50th anniversary: Advertisement On the men's side, the 23-year-old Katzberg has looked impressive so far this season, winning all five events he's entered. He also has the season's best throw: an 82.73-metre mark that won the Nanaimo, B.C., native the Kip Keino Classic title in Nairobi at the end of May. Joining Katzberg in competition on Saturday is Canadian teammate Rowan Hamilton, of Chilliwack, B.C. The 25-year-old won an NCAA title in hammer throw in 2024 and finished ninth at that year's Paris Olympics. Mitton looks to get back on track The Prefontaine Classic also offers the chance to capture some crucial Diamond League points, which are especially important for Canada's Sarah Mitton. Advertisement The Brooklyn, N.S., native entered the season on a high note, capturing a second consecutive World Indoor women's shot put title this past spring. However, the defending Diamond League Final winner has fourth and fifth-place finishes in her first two stops on the circuit. Mitton – who owns the Canadian record of 20.68m – enters competition in Eugene coming off a strong showing at the Royal City Inferno Track and Field Festival in Guelph, Ont. She won that event on June 18 with a throw of 20.35m. Watch all the action from every Diamond League meet on and CBC Gem. Click here for the full broadcast schedule. Olympic men's pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis will also be in action in Eugene. The Swedish star recently improved upon his own world record at the Diamond League meet in Stockholm last month (6.28m) and will face Paris 2024 silver medallist Sam Kendricks in Saturday's competition. Advertisement Not to be outdone, the track events will also feature a who's who of elite global talent at Hayward Field. The women's 100m will see Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Lucia line up against a pair of top American sprinters: Olympic silver medallist Sha'Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. The men's 100m will also be big draw: Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson of Jamaica, Americans Christian Colemna and Trayvon Bromell, and Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain are among the field of sprinters. The men's 200m is headlined by Olympic champion Letsile Tobogo of Botswana and Grand Slam Track champion Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. Advertisement The signature event of the Prefontaine Classic will also have plenty of excitement around it in 2025. The Bowerman Mile (named after legendary University of Oregon coach Bob Bowerman) has attracted top middle distance runners like Norwegian Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Americans Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse. The women's 400m will mark the Prefontaine Classic debut of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning Olympic champion and current 400m hurdles world record-holder. McLaughlin-Levrone is the first track athlete to break more than four world records in the same event. Canadian Para athletes ready to shine This year's Prefontaine Classic will also include four Para sport events, two of which will feature Canadian athletes. Toronto's Marissa Papaconstantinou will compete in the Para mixed classification 100m, while Nandini Sharma, of Brampton, Ont., will race in the Para athletics 800m T54 event.
CBC
03-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canadian Olympic hammer throw champs part of star-studded lineup for 50th Prefontaine Classic
This year's Prefontaine Classic features a lineup befitting a milestone for the iconic track and field meet. Saturday marks the 50th edition of prestigious event on the University of Oregon campus, which carries the name of the late Steve Prefontaine, an American collegiate runner who never won an Olympic or world championship medal, but who left an indelible mark on his sport before dying in a car crash at age 24. Read more about the history of the meet in this story by Scott Russell. Several Olympic and world champions will compete in Saturday's event at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., and that includes Canadian hammer throwers Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg. You can watch live coverage of the event, available on and CBC Gem at 4 p.m. ET. Rogers is well acquainted with Hayward Field, having competed there several times before and during her collegiate career. It was also the venue where the 26-year-old from Richmond, B.C. broke the Diamond League women's hammer throw record in 2024. Rogers also collected a a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships when Eugene hosted in 2022. "I just love the stadium. I love the energy it carries. The 'Hayward Magic' is totally real, I am a full believer in that," Rogers said. "Knowing that there's going to be a very high level of competition makes it all the more exciting because it really motivates you to be there and be your best self on the day. "I think it'll be a lot of fun, and it's a renowned meet for a reason. It brings in the best of the best. It attracts some of the biggest track fans in the world and is just an exciting place to be in. I can't wait." Rogers is the top-ranked hammer thrower in the world, but she'll face a stiff test from a pair of top-ranked Americans in Eugene. Brooke Andersen, ranked second in the world, won a world title at Hayward Field in 2022, while No. 4-ranked Annette Nneka Echikunwoke was the silver medallist at Paris 2024. WATCH | Rogers 'excited' to compete at Prefontaine Classic 50th anniversary: Camryn Rogers 'excited' to compete at Prefontaine Classic 50th anniversary 19 hours ago Duration 0:32 On the men's side, the 23-year-old Katzberg has looked impressive so far this season, winning all five events he's entered. He also has the season's best throw: an 82.73-metre mark that won the Nanaimo, B.C., native the Kip Keino Classic title in Nairobi at the end of May. Joining Katzberg in competition on Saturday is Canadian teammate Rowan Hamilton, of Chilliwack, B.C. The 25-year-old won an NCAA title in hammer throw in 2024 and finished ninth at that year's Paris Olympics. Mitton looks to get back on track The Prefontaine Classic also offers the chance to capture some crucial Diamond League points, which are especially important for Canada's Sarah Mitton. The Brooklyn, N.S., native entered the season on a high note, capturing a second consecutive World Indoor women's shot put title this past spring. However, the defending Diamond League Final winner has fourth and fifth-place finishes in her first two stops on the circuit. Mitton – who owns the Canadian record of 20.68m – enters competition in Eugene coming off a strong showing at the Royal City Inferno Track and Field Festival in Guelph, Ont. She won that event on June 18 with a throw of 20.35m. Watch all the action from every Diamond League meet on and CBC Gem. Click here for the full broadcast schedule. Olympic men's pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis will also be in action in Eugene. The Swedish star recently improved upon his own world record at the Diamond League meet in Stockholm last month (6.28m) and will face Paris 2024 silver medallist Sam Kendricks in Saturday's competition. Not to be outdone, the track events will also feature a who's who of elite global talent at Hayward Field. The women's 100m will see Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Lucia line up against a pair of top American sprinters: Olympic silver medallist Sha'Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. The men's 100m will also be big draw: Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson of Jamaica, Americans Christian Colemna and Trayvon Bromell, and Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain are among the field of sprinters. The men's 200m is headlined by Olympic champion Letsile Tobogo of Botswana and Grand Slam Track champion Kenny Bednarek of the U.S. The signature event of the Prefontaine Classic will also have plenty of excitement around it in 2025. The Bowerman Mile (named after legendary University of Oregon coach Bob Bowerman) has attracted top middle distance runners like Norwegian Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Americans Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse. The women's 400m will mark the Prefontaine Classic debut of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning Olympic champion and current 400m hurdles world record-holder. McLaughlin-Levrone is the first track athlete to break more than four world records in the same event. Canadian Para athletes ready to shine This year's Prefontaine Classic will also include four Para sport events, two of which will feature Canadian athletes. Toronto's Marissa Papaconstantinou will compete in the Para mixed classification 100m, while Nandini Sharma, of Brampton, Ont., will race in the Para athletics 800m T54 event.
National Post
03-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Top-ranked U.S. women cruise to win over Canada in soccer friendly
Article content Canada went into Wednesday's contest with a 4-53-9 all-time record against the U.S. in a rivalry that dates back to 1986 when the Canadian women's program was established. The Canadians have not won on American soil since Nov. 11, 2000. Article content In their most recent meeting, last April at the SheBelieves Cup in Columbus, Ohio, the two teams played to a 2-2 draw before the U.S. won a penalty shootout 5-4. The Americans also won by penalty shootout in the game before that, the CONCACAF W Gold Cup semifinal in March 2024. Article content Canada's last win over the U.S. was a 1-0 decision in the Tokyo Olympic semifinal in August 2021. That was the Americans' first loss to their northern neighbours since March 2001, in the group stage of the Algarve Cup. Article content It was 29 C, feeling like 32 C at kickoff for the clash of the last two Olympic champions. Article content The U.S. came out with purpose and Biyendolo, put behind the Canadian defence in the sixth minute, failed to find the target with an attempted chip. Two minutes later, Canada's defence was cut open again with Sheridan stopping Biyendolo's header. Article content Article content After going down 1-0, Canada threatened for the first time in the 20th minute only to see U.S. goalkeeper Claudia Dickey, in just her second senior appearance, deny Jordyn Huitema from in close. Article content Sheridan stopped Alyssa Thompson in the 23rd minute after another Canadian defensive breakdown. Article content The U.S. had 63% possession in the first half and outshot Canada 8-5 (6-2 in shots on target). Article content Early in the second half, the Americans queued up to take a shot on the Canadian goal, winning ball after ball. Article content Stoney sent on Nichelle Prince and Shelina Zadorsky in the 62nd minute. Simi Awujo, Holly Ward, Marie Levasseur and Annabelle Chukwu followed off the Canadian bench. Article content Biyendolo hit the crossbar in the 80th minute as the Canadian defence was found wanting again. Article content Appointed in January, Stoney saw her record with Canada fall to 6-2-1. The lone previous loss was a 1-0 setback April 8 at the hands of No. 32 Argentina in Langford, B.C. — 'a game we should never lose,' said Stoney.
Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Times
Michael Johnson's Grand Slam series: Track stars chase unpaid fees
Some of the world's leading track and field stars are still waiting on millions of pounds in payments they have been promised for participating in Michael Johnson's new Grand Slam Track series. As The Times revealed last month, Johnson, the BBC pundit and former Olympic sprint champion, had to call an emergency meeting with athletes to notify them of the cancellation of the final of the four Grand Slam Track (GST) events in Los Angeles from June 27 to June 29. But senior figures in the sport have now told The Times that athletes, Olympic and world champions among them, and their agents are still chasing money owed to them from the first meet in Kingston, Jamaica, at the start of April, with some now expressing their concerns directly to World Athletics. Johnson surrounded by Grand Slam Track group winners at the Philadelphia meet last month STR/NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES When Johnson launched an independent series of track meets that were seen as a rival to the long-established Diamond League events, he announced a total prize fund of $12.6million (£9.2million). For the leading stars, appearance-fee contracts were worth as much as $200,000, with prize money of up to $100,000 available for each round of competition. But the final event had to be cancelled at late notice against a backdrop of poor ticket sales for the first three events and concerns about a lack of sufficient broadcast and sponsorship revenue. While is it normal practice for prize money not to be paid until drug test results have been processed, those involved expected to receive their appearance fees sooner. Indeed, the Diamond League drug test results are normally processed within two to three weeks. But many athletes and their representatives are yet to receive payments owed to them from Kingston and the following events, held in Miami and Philadelphia, prompting the Association of Athletics Managers to write to GST before having a Zoom call with Johnson last week. From left, the US duo Kenny Bednarek and Gabby Thomas, Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji and Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith were among the winners in Kingston RICARDO MAKYN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES One source said Johnson was unable to provide specific dates for when accounts would be settled, adding that they were still hoping to secure new sponsors with a view to returning in 2026 with more events. On Tuesday, GST sent an email to athlete representatives aimed at providing some assurance that they will be paid. 'We'd like to provide the following update regarding payments for the athletes who competed in Grand Slam Track events this year,' read the email from the GST executive Kyle Merber. 'Our plan is to make payments for Kingston prize money before the end of July and the remaining payments due by the end of September, which includes the honouring of Los Angeles appearance fees.' Last week there were reports in the United States of GST staff being laid off, while the imprecise nature of the latest communication continues to cause alarm. 'It's still a bit vague,' one leading agent said. 'If they have the money, why can't they pay it now? For some of these athletes we are talking a lot of money; hundreds of thousands of pounds. We just hope it comes through as promised, eventually.' GST has been approached for comment.
