Latest news with #professionalathlete
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Beach volleyball in the Intuit Dome? AVP players embrace their new digs
Brandie Wilkerson of the Palm Beach Passion, left, blocks against Molly Shaw of the Miami Mayhem during an AVP League match at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Friday night. (Joe Scarnici / Getty Images) Devon Newberry is closing in on two years in the professional beach volleyball circuit. Yet for all 731 days, 'professional' has felt like an elusive label. The former UCLA standout is accustomed to hauling her equipment on the beach, tugging her bag across the uneven sand while weaving through sunbathers and surfboards. The provisional bleachers creak under sunscreen-slathered fans while music might buzz through a nearby portable speaker. Advertisement There's charm in that chaos. But it's nothing like the entrance Newberry made Friday at the Intuit Dome. Above her, the sweeping halo scoreboard glowed, flashing beneath the thump of blasting pop anthems. Around her, where NBA chants once echoed, beach volleyball fans cheered. And strangest of all, tons of sand created a faux indoor shoreline. After two years chasing it, Newberry found her label. Read more: 300 tons of sand trucked into Intuit Dome to create unique AVP beach volleyball venue 'I walked into the Intuit Dome today and I was like, 'I feel like a professional athlete walking in,'' Newberry said. 'I haven't felt like that as a beach player. There's very rare moments when you're like, 'Wow, I am really a professional athlete.' And when I was going underground here and looking all around me, I was like, 'I really am a professional athlete.' And that's because we're playing at the Intuit Dome.' Advertisement In what began as a head-scratcher for the players themselves, 300 tons of sand were poured into the Intuit Dome, turning the Clippers' arena into a pop-up beach — where the L.A. Launch kept their perfect run afloat for the start of AVP League Week 5. The Launch struck first and last — with Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon opening with a win, and Hagen Smith and Logan Webber closing it out — both pairs dismantling the San Diego Smash. Sandwiched between those victories, Palm Beach Passion's men's and women's teams both made quick work of the Miami Mayhem. The moment Newberry described — descending into an NBA arena re-imagined as a sand-strewn battleground — was the AVP's moonshot: to re-imagine the sport in lights, not solely sunlight. 'Playing in such an amazing place, brand new building, with everything going on, with the new building around here, it's really cool,' said 2016 Olympian Chaim Schalk. 'To get to play at such an iconic arena is an honor.' Logan Webber of the L.A. Launch spikes over Chase Budinger of the San Diego Smash at the Intuit Dome on Friday night. (Joe Scarnici / Getty Images) Beach volleyball rarely has ventured beyond its coastal roots. But at the Intuit Dome, the sport embraced a new direction. Advertisement 'This shows that beach volleyball is growing and it's trying to adapt to the world we live in, finding a new way for fans to interact with the players, and new ways for the sport to be exciting,' said Chase Budinger, a former NBA player who became a beach volleyball player. 'This will get more people in the stands because it's so new and so different.' In place of sun-worshiping fans camped out on makeshift bleachers, parents lounged on cushioned seats as kids nestled beside them balancing chicken wings and pizzas on their laps. The sport welcomed a combination of newcomers hunting for Friday night entertainment and AVP devotees. 'There's so many people who love beach volleyball, and so many people who would love beach volleyball if they were just given the opportunity to go watch,' Newberry said. 'And not everybody can make it out.' Advertisement Read more: How Chase Budinger went from the NBA to playing beach volleyball in the Olympics Change comes with tradeoffs. With no wind, the court became something of a power chamber — the compact sand lending itself to higher and cleaner jumps, the still air enabling blistering serves and monstrous spikes that might have drifted wide on the beach. Rallies became quicker and tighter. The margin for error shrank, tightening the grip on the crowd. 'For a lot of people watching beach volleyball for the first time, it's really hard to conceptualize how wind, how deep the sand is, might affect play,' Newberry said. 'So it feels like more of an even playing field which allows everybody to watch really entertaining volleyball.' Advertisement By re-imagining the boundaries of where its sport can potentially thrive, the AVP might have sketched out a novel blueprint for other sports. 'I wouldn't be surprised if other sports follow and start expanding their ideas of where they could play,' said Olympic silver medalist Brandie Wilkerson. 'I'm excited to see where this is going to go and see other sports try to catch up.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
News24
10-07-2025
- Sport
- News24
‘They said I'd never walk normally – now I'm a professional athlete'
Sphelele 'Padede' Dlamini was told he'd never walk normally. Instead, he learnt to fly – across basketball courts in France as a professional athlete. The 29-year-old from Kwamashu was born with clubfoot that led to amputation, but he's turned that challenge into his greatest asset. Having played for HBC Gravelines, he now plays for CTH Lannion Basketball Club. This is his story. 'Wheelchair basketball didn't just change my life – it saved it. It gave me purpose, direction and a second chance at greatness. Every challenge, every struggle, every moment of doubt was just preparing me for this moment. And this is only the beginning. READ MORE | MY STORY | 'How my gap year inspired an app that connects people with causes that matter' I discovered wheelchair basketball during primary school at Open Air School. I'd tried various sports, but nothing clicked until I saw kids from other schools rolling onto our courts for wheelchair basketball tournaments. I fell in love with the sport at first sight. There was something about the speed, the strategy, the pure athleticism that just spoke to me. Those Thursday afternoon sessions became everything to me. Within months I was dominating school competitions. Soon I was representing KwaZulu-Natal provincially, collecting medals and making a name for myself. But let me be honest about the reality we face in South Africa. Our sports infrastructure is decades behind other countries. We don't have proper equipment, professional transport systems or the support structures European athletes take for granted. Here, wheelchair basketball is treated more like a hobby than a legitimate profession. Despite these limitations, I refused to see them as excuses. Sports became my tool for building a better life. I've always been someone with a plan, especially when it comes to basketball, and this sport has been my pathway to a brighter future. The breakthrough I'd been working toward came in 2016 with my first professional offer abroad. Financial constraints killed that dream before it could take flight. But in 2022, when Gravelines basketball club in France came calling, Michael Stevens from the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund stepped in to make the impossible possible. Mike handled everything – visa applications, flight bookings, travel insurance. I knew this was my moment because opportunities like this simply don't come around for South African wheelchair basketball players. READ MORE | The contrast between South African and European wheelchair basketball is like night and day. In France, there are physical therapists, nutritionists, world-class training facilities and a level of professionalism that we can only dream of back home. It's not just about playing the game – it's about being treated like the professional athlete you are. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sphelele Dlamini (@sphelele__dlamini) My goals now extend beyond personal success. I'm targeting contracts with higher-level clubs in Germany, Spain or Italy, and I dream of representing South Africa on the international stage. Prayer and unwavering belief have carried me this far – I know I can go further. But this journey isn't just about personal glory. I want to use my platform as a way to advocate for others like me. I want to show every kid with a disability that missing a part of your body doesn't mean you're missing opportunities in life. You still exist, you still matter and you can still achieve greatness.'
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Who is Belinda Bencic's husband Martin Hromkovic?
FOLLOWING the birth of her daughter, Belinda Bencic is playing in her first Wimbledon since 2023. Next up she's taking on No.18 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round — no doubt her supportive husband Martin Hromkovic will be cheering her on all the way. 3 3 3 Belinda Bencic's partner Martin Hromkovic? Martin Hromkovic was born in Slovakia on May 27, 1982. He's a former professional footballer who enjoyed a 17-year career as a defender. Martin was picked up by FK Inter Bratislava, but spent most of his career at OFC Russell Gabcikovo. He later transitioned into a career as a fitness and conditioning coach, gaining a master's degree from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia The new job was partly responsible for kindling his romance with Belinda Bencic, which started in November 2018. Their relationship was initially professional — Martin became Belinda's dedicated strength and conditioning coach. As they spent more time together during training sessions in Slovakia, their relationship naturally developed into a romantic one. In 2022, Belinda told Blick: 'It came a little unexpected, but it's an ideal situation. When I work on fitness in Slovakia, we can be together. 'As a tennis professional, relationships are so difficult. I do not see my best friend until half a year later. 'You never see another tennis player. A man waiting at home — no chance! 'You took the game away from me' - Major Wimbledon controversy as new technology FAILS and Kartal rival fumes at umpire 'Martin wants the best for me for my private life and sport. He often travels, I'm very grateful for his support! 'Fortunately, we can separate private and professional life well. When I work, I really see him as a coach. I hope it stays that way. 'For him, the job is done when I'm fit. Martin was an athlete himself, a footballer. So he understands well when I'm nervous or tense.' Wedding In November 2023, Martin proposed to Bencic during a romantic holiday in the Maldives. Sometimes I feel even more relaxed with a different perspective, you know, playing the tournaments, maybe being more grateful that I'm able to play and to have these beautiful moments together [with my family] Belinda Around the same time, Belinda announced she was pregnant on Instagram, writing: "Expecting our little miracle soon! We can't wait to meet you." The two married without fanfare, with Belinda's manager Martin Bal Telling 20 Minuten: "Belinda and Martin got married in a civil ceremony during her pregnancy." While the civil ceremony was kept private, they reportedly plan to hold a larger celebration with friends and family at some point in the future. Family life Their daughter, Bella, was born in April 2024. Belinda is one of nine mothers to start in the Wimbledon 2025 ladies' draw. On being what it feels like bringing not only her husband, but also baby Bella along, she said: 'Sometimes I feel even more relaxed with a different perspective, you know, playing the tournaments, maybe being more grateful that I'm able to play and to have these beautiful moments together.' Speaking about her return to the Slam, Belinda told the Wimbledon website: "The locker rooms are so nice. "I'm not in the members' locker room now, because I'm not seeded [in the] top 16 now, but they help create this special atmosphere before we play. "They are so classic, clean, elegant. "I love the flowers all around the Grounds... I love it all here."
South China Morning Post
25-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Wu on overcoming the odds to chase his professional basketball dream
Rex Wu Wai-tsun knows he is fighting against the odds to fulfil his dream of playing basketball alongside the region's elite, but hopes competing in China's second tier will take him a step closer to making that a reality. At 6ft (1.82 metres), the 20-year-old Hongkonger is small by the standards of the modern game, but Wu, who has been chasing his goal for a decade, is used to defying expectations. Now, having joined Hong Kong Bulls for their third season in the National Basketball League, he has his eyes on a rapid rise. 'I want to play outside Hong Kong,' Wu said. 'I'd like to challenge myself in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) or in Japan's B League. 'My target is to be able to play [in those leagues] by the time I am 24. I love this sport and have spent so much time on it growing up. I have been persistent all along and I don't want to give up midway.' The Hong Kong Bulls will compete against seven other sides in the NBL starting on Saturday. Photo: Handout Expected to lead the city's under-22 side at the National Games in November, Wu said he had dreamed of becoming a professional since he was a child.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Matildas star Charli Grant opens up about overcoming the huge problem in her love life with her fiancé
Matildas star Charli Grant has revealed the struggles behind maintaining a long distance relationship - and how challenging it can be planning a wedding as a professional athlete based overseas. Grant, 23, is engaged to Lachlan Cameron, who was previously based in Adelaide. Cameron has since moved to London in a bid to be closer to his future wife - and the Tottenham defender is thankful for the sacrifice he made. 'It (long distance) was really difficult,' Grant said. It was (also) hard (for both of us) with the time difference. 'We would only be able to speak just before I went off to training and then he would be asleep by the time I finished training. 'So it was only small doses of the day.' The couple got engaged in December last year, and Grant admitted now having her partner in the United Kingdom is 'really special.' 'I've been through some difficult moments, and some really exciting moments with my to have him there by my side to just give me a cuddle when I need a shoulder to cry on or someone to celebrate with is great,' Grant told News Corp. She added both her and Cameron 'aren't the best planners' - before confirming their upcoming wedding - in Australia - will be based around her football schedule, which can be at times chaotic. Meanwhile, after playing just 396 minutes across 10 matches for Spurs in the Women's Super League 2024-25 season, Grant is determined to hit the ground running ahead of the new campaign. The club are yet to announce their new head coach, with Robert Vilahamn sacked after Tottenham finished 11th this season. Grant also has a new Matildas boss in Joe Montemurro, with her motivation sky high ahead of the Asian Cup on home soil next year. It comes after Grant was overlooked for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 'When you do miss out on things (selection), it just gives you that fire and drive to prove them wrong, and to show you do deserve that opportunity,' she said ahead of two recent international home matches against Argentina. 'In a way, you've just got to turn it into a positive and just use it as energy to make yourself better. 'The Asian Cup I'll definitely be working towards, trying to just be part of the squad. 'But to break into that starting line-up, that is a goal of mine.'
