Author: Nifemi Filani

[ad_1] Ahead of the Bannister Miles anniversary event in Oxford on May 6, Gavin Riley recalls a prophetic ‘demonstration mile’ featuring Roger Bannister at Motspur Park in 1953 When Roger Bannister achieved athletics immortality 70 years ago by becoming the first athlete to run the mile in under four minutes, it was the realisation of an ambition he had nursed privately for more than a year. As a member of the last generation of “gentleman” athletes – well-educated, academically gifted, assured of a rewarding professional future – Bannister had to assume the role of the gifted amateur whose sport was…

[ad_1] Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young will become the next head coach of Brigham Young University. Young is the highest paid assistant coach in the NBA and was a candidate for multiple jobs during the past hiring cycles. Young interviewed for the Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets already this offseason. Young will replace Mark Pope, who left BYU to become head coach of Kentucky. Young will continue working with the Suns in the playoffs, but will begin assembling a coaching staff that’ll immediately start recruiting for BYU. Young is a native of Salt Lake City. [ad_2]

[ad_1] Once a promising young star, LaMelo Ball has been limited to only 58 matches during the last two NBA campaigns due to ankle issues. The last time he played for Charlotte was back in January 26. This is why the point guard is again considering wearing protective braces to avoid future injuries.  In other words, the 2022 All-Star is willing to leave vanity aside and do anything in his power to keep him healthy and on the court. “I’m going to see over the summer, try some stuff,” Ball said of the ankle braces. The player then added that if…

[ad_1] The Houston Rockets signed general manager Rafael Stone and assistant general manager Eli Witus to multi-year contract extensions earlier this season.  The Rockets had a jump from 22 wins in 22-23 to 41 wins in 23-24 after hiring Ime Udoka and adding Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in the offseason. Houston also has an encouraging young core headlined by Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. The Rockets promoted Stone to general manager in 2020 following the departure of Daryl Morey. [ad_2]

[ad_1] Grayson Allen signed a four-year, $70 million contract extension with the Phoenix Suns that includes a player option, his agents Mitch Nathan, Aaron Mintz, and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports announced Monday. The deal keeps Allen out of unrestricted free agency this summer and rewards him after averaging career-high numbers with the Suns. His 3-point percentage (46.1%) led the NBA this season. Per multiple NBA betting sites, the Suns hold ninth-shortest odds to win the championship. Sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen has agreed…

[ad_1] “The ban on the hijab [a type of headscarf that covers the head and neck, but leaves the face clear] is the consequence of two discriminations: it is islamophobia, but also gender discrimination,” says Veronica Noseda, who plays football for Les Degommeuses, a Parisian football club set up to fight discrimination.Assile Toufaily, who moved to Lyon in 2021 having played football at international level for her native Lebanon, agrees.”It’s not really about the French society, it’s the government,” she says.”There is a hate on Muslim people during these last few years in France and it’s shown in sport.”This summer…

[ad_1] American meet sees best 2024 marks in many events plus results from Australia and China, with an amazing javelin throw for 15-year-old Ziyi Yan Tom Jones Memorial, Gainesville, Florida, USA, April 12-13 It’s not unusual to see fast sprint times in this Tom Jones Memorial and teenager Kaylyn Brown won the women’s 400m in a world outdoor lead of 49.95 – her previous outdoor best was a mere 53.11 though she had run 50.83 indoors. Aaliyah Butler was second in a 50.05 PB and NCAA champion Amber Anning, an Arkansas team-mate of Brown, ran a 50.08 PB to go…

[ad_1] Initially annoyed that his brand new heart-rate monitor must be faulty, and having informed doctors that stopping running was not an option, he had successful surgery during the pandemic – which involved burning away a part of his heart.”I have been fine ever since the operation but it is something that can come back,” says Pattison, who continues to have regular check-ups.”I remember my first race after the operation, I was pretty emotional because I didn’t know if I’d make it back from that. I didn’t know of anyone having that operation and making it back to the top…

[ad_1] Teenager sets UK all-time records in the under-15 boys’ age group as we bring you our latest results round-up TRACK & FIELD BE FIT TODAY TRACK ACADEMY OUTDOOR SERIES 1, Lee Valley, April 14 Ade Adewale, who ran a PB 6.67 in winning the South of England indoor 60m title, clocked a UK 100m lead of 10.25 /1.4 in his outdoor debut ahead of Nick Walsh’s 10.30. The latter edged the second round race 10.30 to 10.34. The star performances, though, came from 14-year-old Divine Iheme who achieved UK all-time under-15 age group bests of 10.76/0.5 in the 100m…

[ad_1] World Athletics’ decision to award prize money at the Paris Olympics goes against the Olympic spirit, says the head of cycling’s governing body.World Athletics will become the first federation to offer prize money at an Olympics this summer.Gold medallists in athletics events will earn $50,000 (£39,400).”The Olympic spirit is to share revenues and have more athletes compete worldwide,” UCI president David Lappartient said.”Not only [to] put all the money on the top athletes but spread the money.”If we concentrate money on top athletes, a lot of opportunities will disappear for athletes all over the world.”Given the Olympics’ origins as…