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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Lionesses star Ella Toone's heartbreaking inspiration for Euro 2025 glory
Ella Toone was an integral part of England's triumph at Euro 2025, marking the end of a season which began with the heartbreaking death of her father, Nick, following a battle with cancer England midfielder Ella Toone was playing in memory of her late father as she helped the Lionesses win another European Championship. Nick Toone was diagnosed with prostate cancer the day after he watched Ella score in the 2022 final, as England beat Germany 2-1 at Wembley. In September of last year, Nick died three days short of his 60th birthday. "For the past few months, I've been trying to figure it all out, trying to get unstuck," Ella wrote for the Players' Tribune in January. "It's still raw. I still feel the pain digging in, the gutting feeling of not having him here anymore." The Manchester United vice-captain continues to be inspired by her dad and topped off her most challenging season yet with another international trophy. Toone started all but one of England's matches on their way to the final and produced another lung-busting display against Spain. She was replaced by Beth Mead in the 87th minute, as the Lionesses dug in and took the game to extra-time and penalties before getting their hands on the trophy for the second time in three years. Post-match, Toone shared two emotional Instagram stories and revealed that her mum had been sat next to a spare seat at the final in Basel, Switzerland. "Spare seat next to my mum tonight," she wrote alongside an image of the seat. "If that's not a sign I don't know what is. I know you were there Dad. Love you cock." Toone also posted a selfie with Mead - who lost her mum, Jane, to ovarian cancer in January 2023 - with the caption: "We did it for our angels in the sky. Forever with us & forever proud." Who was your Player of the Tournament for England? Let us know your pick in the comments section. One of Ella's aunties, Tracy Haslam, told the BBC ahead of the tournament: "He went to all the away games, he went to the World Cup [in 2023]. He used to be right by her side all the time when it came to a football. "It's just a bit harder now her dad's not here. There's a lot of firsts when you lose someone close. It's quite hard for when she plays a game, you can see it sometimes, that she misses him." Nick will be proudly looking down on Ella, who scored two goals and provided two assists during England's successful campaign. She also helped United finish third in the Women's Super League last season, having been at the club since they turned professional in 2018. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. 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. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Lionesses Bring It Home Again - Souvenir Edition
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Mead eyes Euros repeat for England after emotional rollercoaster
Darling of England's coronation as European champions three years ago, Beth Mead is back among the goals ahead of Euro 2025 after the toughest moments of her career on and off the field. Mead eyes Euros repeat for England after emotional rollercoaster Mead became a household name after her six goals on home soil led the Lionesses to England's sole major tournament victory in the men's or women's game since 1966. But even that moment of elation was tinged with the emotion of her mother's battle with cancer. June Mead's diagnosis with ovarian cancer a year before the Euros provided her daughter with a "motivation I never knew that I had", the Arsenal forward later revealed. "People on the outside just saw me breaking all these records, winning all these awards," Mead told the Players' Tribune. "Mum was on such a high watching me that season. I think for all of us, football was our anchor. It was the one thing that was distracting us, and giving us so much joy. "We rode that wave into the Euros - that whole July just absolutely flying, into the final, into lifting the trophy." Mead was still coming to terms with her newfound fame when she was shaken by the news her mother's cancer had spread. A few months later Mead suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury an all too common occurence in the women's game that would cost her a place in England's run to a first ever World Cup final in 2023. What appeared her lowest moment, Mead now reflects on as a blessing. Her injury allowed the 30-year-old to move back home to the coastal town of Whitby in England's north-east to spend time with her mum in the final weeks before she died in January 2023. It took another nine months for Mead to return to action on the field and much longer to find the form that guaranteed her a place back in the Arsenal and England side. But the seeds of a return to brighter days were sown in those difficult times. Mead recalls seeing up to 30 Arsenal players and staff at her mum's funeral having got up at 4.30am to make the five-hour drive from London. "They rallied around me and we found that strength together," she added. "We held onto each other. Held so many different emotions for each other. And that's what a family does." The spirit of Arsenal's band of sisters had its reward last month when they stunned the all-conquering Barcelona to win the Champions League in Lisbon. Mead was central to that success. It was her moment of magic that split the Barca defence to tee up Stina Blackstenius for the only goal. Mead has also re-established herself as a key part of the England side aiming to retain their title at the Euros in Switzerland. Mead has scored three times in her last four caps. "When you win things, you're more hungry to do it again, she said. "I would wish more than anything for myself and for the team to be able to play like I did the last Euros. I'll do my very best to be able to get that level again." England's defence begins with a tough opener against France on Saturday before Mead will face off against her partner, Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema in their second match in Group D. Mead described that draw as "inevitable" but is focused on firing England to glory once again. "Obviously we want each other to do well but not against each other!" kca/pb This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Straits Times
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Alpine skiing-Shiffrin faced PTSD in recovery from Killington crash
Mar 27, 2025; Sun Valley, ID, USA; Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States during the first run of the slalom alpine skiing race in the 2025 FIS Ski World Cup at Sun Valley. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY REUTERS NEW YORK - Twice Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after a grisly crash during a giant slalom race in Killington, Vermont, in November left her with a puncture wound in her abdomen and severe muscle damage. The American wrapped up her season in March with a record-extending 101st World Cup win but wrote in the Players' Tribune on Friday that the crash in Killington - and another suffered at the beginning of 2024 in Cortina - took a mental toll. "Those two crashes maybe built on one another. I talked with my therapist about that, and she let me know that past trauma, or a history of traumatic events, can sometimes affect your reaction to new traumatic events," wrote Shiffrin, who lost her father suddenly in an accident in 2020. "Maybe when I crashed and got that puncture wound, maybe that was kind of a perfect-storm situation for PTSD to take hold. But who knows, really. With all this stuff, there's just a ton of nuance, and so much that we don't know for certain." Shiffrin, who is loved by American fans and praised by her fellow athletes for her upbeat attitude and resilience, said that getting back in the starting gate has helped the most in overcoming "the visions and the images I kept seeing." She wrote that after putting in the work on her mental health, she felt like herself again. "It was just continuing to get back up to the start gate. Just literally the process of going up the mountain and doing the thing I know how to do, again and again," wrote Shiffrin. "I just needed to keep doing it. Needed to keep reminding myself — proving to myself, really — that the vast majority of times when I am training or racing … nothing terrible happens." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about her PTSD ahead of 2026 Winter Olympics
Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about her PTSD ahead of 2026 Winter Olympics Show Caption Hide Caption Paul George on 2028 LA Olympics Paul George shares what Team USA needs to do to remain dominant in the 2028 LA Summer Olympics. Sports Seriously Mikaela Shiffrin, the American World Cup alpine skier and two-time Olympic Gold medalist, bravely shared her journey of being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an incident Killington, Vermont with the Players' Tribune. In her article for the Players' Tribune, Shiffrin recounts a crash during the giant slalom race in November 2024, where she suffered a puncture wound to her abdomen and severe muscle trauma that required surgery just 12 days later. Despite this setback, she remained focused on competing that season. She described her experience of returning to the slopes, feeling off during training runs, and struggling with a lack of control over her body—something she had never faced before. Shiffrin described the crash as a traumatic event that led to her diagnosis of PTSD. She realized that it's different for everyone, and people experience it in their own way. "I just needed to keep doing it. Needed to keep reminding myself — proving to myself, really — that the vast majority of times when I am training or racing … nothing terrible happens," Shiffrin wrote. "The vast majority of times, I don't end up with a puncture wound through my obliques. Like, most of the time, everything really does end up OK." Shiffrin returned to the snow in January 2025 and went on to claim win No. 101 with the slalom at the World Cup finals in March 2025. More: Mikaela Shiffrin gets win in final race of roller-coaster season Is Mikaela Shiffrin competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics? Mikaela Shiffrin is expected to compete in the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026, according to the official Olympics website. When do the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics start? The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are set to begin on February 6, 2026, and will run through February 22, 2026. The Paralympic Games will take place from March 6 to March 15, 2026. Where will the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics be held? The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Italy for the third time, with Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo as the official hosts of the event. How to watch the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics? The streaming service Peacock will provide coverage of every event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The coverage will kick off with the Opening Ceremony, which will take place at San Siro Stadium in Milan and will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ella Toone says speaking about father's death allows her to ‘focus on football'
England and Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone says opening up about her late father has allowed her to 'focus on football'. The 25-year-old, who was named Barclays Women's Super League Player of the Month after a spectacular January, recently penned a moving piece for the Players' Tribune about her relationship with dad Nick, who died in September last year. Toone's touching and brave tribute was met with compassion and gratitude from inside her club and well beyond. I lost my dad to cancer in September. This is the first time I'm really talking about it, but I wanted to share for anyone else who is grieving or feeling alone. @PlayersTribune ❤️ — Ella Toone (@ellatoone99) January 28, 2025 'It was the right time,' she told the PA news agency. 'I think I always wanted to speak out on what I've been through and now everyone knows what I've been through, and why maybe the first half of the season wasn't my best football, because I had a lot going on. 'It was nice for me to share those memories. The main thing for me was to help people that are going through similar, and hopefully they can find that everyone goes through grieving differently, and that's OK. 'I think that was the main message I wanted to send out, and now that my story is out there I can just focus on football.' Nick Toone died three days short of his 60th birthday, having been diagnosed with prostate cancer the day after he had watched his daughter score in the Euro 2022 final, a match in which England beat Germany 2-1 at Wembley. Toone was flooded with messages after the piece was published from 'a lot of people saying that they've been through similar and it's really nice to hear my story'. 'The girls have been amazing since it happened and the whole way through the season, they've always looked after me and they've just been normal,' Toone added. 'That's the main thing. 'They made me feel like football is my safe place and they're always there if I need them. I think we've definitely bonded together as a team, even more so this season than ever before, because of the things we faced.' Toone was sidelined with the first major injury of her career late last year, but bounced back in spectacular fashion to kick off 2025, scoring five goals in four matches including a hat-trick in the Manchester derby she admits is 'definitely up there' in terms of career highlights. Ella Ann Toone with her hat-trick ball 😍 — Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) January 19, 2025 'I've always wanted to score against City,' the lifelong United fan explained. 'I'd not managed to do it until that game at the Etihad and instead of managing to score one, I managed to score three!' Reigning BWSL champions Chelsea look hard to beat for a sixth straight season, but United, sitting in second place and seven points back, are currently the closest to catching them. At the very least, next season's Champions League teams could well be decided at the sharpest point of this campaign's business end, with Toone's side set to face Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in three of their final four league contests. 'I think people do underestimate us,' agreed Toone. 'They don't class us as one of those big teams, but we're fine with that. 🥁 After a closely contested fan vote… You voted @EllaToone99 as our Player of the Match at Spurs 👏🎖️#MUWomen — Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) February 3, 2025 'I think overall the team is doing really well, I think individuals are doing really well, we're getting eight out of 10 performances from all the team at the minute. 'So hopefully we can keep on pushing for that. The squad as a whole is really clicking and gelling together now, so hopefully we can kick on towards the end of the season. 'I think anyone can beat anyone.' As for herself, Toone added: 'I've grown massively, especially this season alone. 'I've had a lot going on and I've used it to come back physically and mentally stronger than ever before. 'I feel the love of the game again and more importantly for me it's about making sure that I can step out onto the pitch, give 100 per cent, and put on a show for everyone. 'I've definitely grown, and I keep growing.'
