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Skateboarding, Beach Handball, and the Olympic Dream: Athletes Share Their Aspirations for Paris 2024

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The American Jagger Eaton won bronze at the skateboard premiere at the Olympic Games in Tokyo despite a broken ankle. He dreams of another medal in Paris. (IMAGO / USA TODAY Network / IMAGO / Michael Madrid)

“The Olympics are the biggest thing there is. There is nothing that has a higher status. Being there as Team Germany, representing the country, even on a larger scale than the national team, is something extremely special.”

Lucie-Marie Kretzschmar is currently also active as an athlete in France. But not in Paris, but 20 kilometers away, in Creteil, in the “Maison du Handball”.

Beach handball as a demonstration competition

To kick off the Olympic Games, the World Handball Federation has organized a demonstration tournament there. Not indoors, but outside on sand. Beach handball is the name of the young, spectacular sport. Eight all-star teams with the best players in the world will compete against each other this weekend. Lucie-Marie Kretzschmar hopes “that we present the sport in such an attractive way that we somehow get the chance to be part of the Olympic program in the next editions.”

It is already part of the Youth Olympic Games program. The demo appearance on the sidelines of the games in Paris is now intended to speed up its inclusion in the larger Olympic program. Also to promote the professionalization of the spot.

“At the moment it’s still a bit of a fringe sport, but a lot of young people are keen to play this sport. And if you have a chance of making it to the Olympics, that’s even more motivation than it already is. That’s why I think we need that so that we’re not just the little brother of indoor handball.”

“The Olympic qualification was everything for me, I put everything into it over two or three years,” says someone who has already experienced it: multiple karate world champion Jasmin Jüttner, whose sport was part of the Olympic program for the first and only time at the 2021 Tokyo Games.

“It’s a huge opportunity, not just for us as athletes individually, but also for the sport as a whole. It was so important to me and I was really looking forward to it. To be honest, it was the greatest achievement of my life so far and I’m not sure if I can ever top it.”

Sports at the Olympic Games in Paris

The International Karate Federation had always tried to be included in the Olympic program in the past, but failed every time. It was only when Tokyo, the host country, decided to include karate in the program and thus put it in the spotlight.

“That brought with it a lot of advantages. On the one hand, there was more support, there was generally more media attention before, during and after the Olympics. And for my part, I felt very much part of the great athletes that you see. You then notice afterwards, when you are no longer an Olympic athlete, that the interest and also the general support and everything drops off a lot. You sometimes feel like a second-class athlete.” READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Skateboarding at the Olympic Games in Paris

Karate will no longer be part of the program in Paris and Los Angeles in 2028. Skateboarding is a different matter, and will be part of the program again in Tokyo, although its inclusion in the Olympic program has generated little enthusiasm internally.

“From the beginning, there was an aversion to the competitive sports regulations that come with becoming part of the Olympic movement,” says Hans-Jürgen Kuhn, who was one of the skateboard pioneers in Germany in the 1970s and helped to build up professional structures in the German Roller Sports Association. But it was precisely this professionalization and the strict competitive sports rules that were the reason many athletes did not join in.

Quarrel over smoking weed: doping instead of attitude to life

“Smoking weed is one of the prohibited doping methods in competition, but it is allowed in training, so it is also an ambiguous situation. And in this whole surfing and skat scene, it is not a doping agent, but rather part of the attitude to life that you smoke weed sometimes.”

Hans-Jürgen Kuhn does not believe that the Olympic Games will trigger a skateboarding hype. Although the 2028 Games will take place in the motherland of skateboarding, the USA. Baseball and softball will then be part of the Olympic program again.

Olympic Games and Politics

Baseball and softball will not be back on the program until 2028

“I think the Olympics are hugely important for this sport, especially for the young girls trying this sport for the first time,” says softball player Rachel Garcia, who won the silver medal with the USA at the 2020 Tokyo Games. “Being able to represent the sport on that stage and be the inspiration to keep softball on the program for the long term was a feeling that can’t really be described.”

After the 2008 Games, softball was temporarily removed from the program by the IOC. In 2028, the hosts from the USA have decided to include baseball and softball again. “The Olympics are the biggest stage and it is so important that softball continues to have this stage,” says US national player Rachel Garcia.

“Our sport is growing all the time, there are more and more professional leagues that allow more female athletes to play this sport professionally. And just seeing how this sport has grown in the last ten years is huge. And the Olympics are a huge support for that.”

2024-07-27 17:51:27
#Olympics #sports

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SAD|| 10 Players Who Lost Everything After Divorce, Number 5 Will Shôck You

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The Hidden Financial Struggles of Footballers: Divorce’s Costly Toll

The glamorous image of professional footballers, with their luxurious lifestyles and multimillion-dollar contracts, often obscures a harsh reality: the financial devastation many endure through divorce. Behind the fame and fortune, several high-profile players have seen their wealth significantly depleted after parting ways with their spouses, a stark reminder that no amount of money can fully shield one of the financial pitfalls of personal relationships gone awry…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

One of the most shocking examples is that of former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué, who lost not only his properties in England but also custody of his children following a bitter divorce. Despite earning millions during his career, Eboué found himself stripped of almost everything. His situation became a cautionary tale, underscoring that even the wealthiest footballers can fall victim to the financial ruin that divorce can bring.

Eboué is not alone. Football legends such as Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs have also experienced significant financial losses due to divorce. Henry reportedly paid £10 million to his ex-wife, while Giggs parted with an astonishing £40 million after his marriage ended. Louis Saha and Wes Brown, both former Manchester United players, also suffered substantial financial hits, with Brown declaring bankruptcy despite earning £50,000 per week during his time at the club. His case highlights how even vast earnings can quickly evaporate when faced with legal settlements and financial mismanagement.

David James, the former England goalkeeper, faced a particularly dire situation, losing much of his fortune after divorce and being forced to auction his personal belongings to make ends meet. Similarly, Ray Parlour, another Arsenal great, saw his ex-wife receive half of his £10 million fortune, including a £2.5 million house. Jamie Redknapp, a former Liverpool star, also faced a hefty settlement, parting with half of his estimated £15 million fortune after his marriage ended.

These are just a few of the many footballers who have faced financial disaster due to divorce. Keith Gillespie, once a key figure in the Premier League, lost over £7 million, leading to his bankruptcy in 2010. Despite earning significant wages during his career, his divorce and poor financial decisions left him in financial ruin. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Perhaps the most shocking case is that of Tendai Ndoro, a Zimbabwean striker who lost everything after registering all his properties in his wife’s name. Following their breakup, she kicked him out of the house, leaving him with nothing. Ndoro’s story serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of not protecting one’s assets, even in relationships where trust is implicit.

For footballers, whose careers often peak early, these financial setbacks can be devastating. While their salaries are among the highest in professional sports, the combination of short career spans, legal fees, and divorce settlements can quickly erode their fortunes. Many players also face additional challenges in managing their finances due to a lack of financial education or oversight during their playing years.

These stories underscore the importance of safeguarding personal wealth, especially for high-earning individuals like footballers, who may be more vulnerable to financial upheaval. Proper financial planning, asset protection strategies, and prenups are increasingly necessary tools for protecting one’s earnings and securing a stable future.

In conclusion, while the public sees footballers as insulated by their wealth, the reality is that they are just as susceptible to the financial hardships of divorce as anyone else. The personal struggles behind the scenes reveal that their lives, though glamorous on the surface, are often fraught with the same vulnerabilities and challenges faced by ordinary individuals. These cases serve as sobering reminders that financial security is never guaranteed, even for those at the pinnacle of success.

 

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NFL | The best was yet to come, and then no

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In February 2022, the Bengals missed the Super Bowl by three small points, but regardless, the future seemed bright in Cincinnati.


Posted at 1:13 a.m.

Updated at 7:00 a.m.

In any case, that’s what we, the most seasoned experts in American football, believed, capable of seeing the future each season, often in a very impressive way; for example, this column has been predicting since 1970 that the New York Jets are not going to win the Super Bowl, and that’s still exactly what happens.

The Bengals have never won anything, but their presence on the big stage two years ago suggested that, a bit like the Nordiques in 1990, the best was yet to come.

Well, no.

As of this hour, the Bengals are a dismal 1-4, and even then, their only win came against the Carolina Panthers, who are about as bad as they are.

The good news for the Bengals is that this “landing” is fairly easily explained: their defense is pretty awful. The less good news is that it is probably already too late to try to solve this problem.

In five games, the Bengals have allowed a total of 145 points, which gives a pretty staggering average of 29 points per game. No one else in the American Association looks this bad, and in the league as a whole, only the Carolina Panthers are even worse in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Bengals are wasting the best years of Joe Burrow, who turns 28 in December. He wouldn’t be the first quality quarterback to waste his talent in this uniform.

Is it necessary here to remember that in American football, as in life in general, there is never anything certain? This reality reminds us of this sublime quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who once wrote that “supreme happiness is a hundred times sweeter to hope for than to obtain”.

Rousseau must have been a Bengals fan, obviously.

You are probably aware that the New York Jets fired their coachbut that’s not the worst. The worst part is that poor Robert Saleh would have been escorted to the door like a pauper by security agents.

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Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh

It’s undoubtedly one of the worst moments in the history of a club that collects the worst moments, from Mark Sanchez dropping a ball on his lineman’s pussy, to a visibly hot Joe Namath trying to to kiss a reporter live on TV (we’re going to move on to the naughty photo of Brett Favre because there are children here).

We can never repeat it enough: in football, as in life, everything starts from the top. The leaders of the Jets, who display a level of competence similar to that of the inventors of Pepsi Crystal, thus opted for the easy way, instead of realizing that their ground game is non-existent, and that their quarterback who hears voices in his head is finished.

In addition, barely installed, new coach Jeff Ulbrich decided to give control of the attack to assistant Todd Downing, who will call the plays from now on. This is not a detail because this task previously fell to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, close and confidant of Aaron Rodgers.

It’s obvious that this is going to end very badly. As per usual.

Someone whispers in my ear that the inbox is overflowing again, so let’s get to it right away.

First, Luc Girouard from Sept-Îles sends us this timely little comment: “Would Prince Rodgers have plotted to kick Robert Saleh out in order to take his place? »

We all see what you did, Luc.

Then, there is a certain Nicolas B. from Laval who sent this: “Hi Richard. Great weekly column on football. Really entertaining. In addition, you allow my teenagers to read about football in French, which is still a challenge […] If you ever make a reference to my comment, my sports travel gang is buying me a beer on our next trip. »

You will demand a micro beer, Nicolas. Finally, there is Marco Campanozzi who can no longer hear about “mixing” and the right chair: “I can’t do it anymore!!! »

We are Marco.

It will be another great opportunity to lock yourself in front of the TV while pretending to do something constructive, because Sunday’s menu is particularly spicy.

Thus, Commanders in a state of grace will go to Baltimore to prove that they are serious, the Chargers will go to Denver in the hope of recovering after two defeats in a row, and the Cowboys will host the Lions, in a match that they can’t really let slip away, just to build something following the little miracle last Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

Don’t forget to check out the colors during halftime.

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A young badminton player realizes his deceased father’s dream

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Only 13 years old, badminton-player-honors-fathers-dream-at-nationals/” title=”13-year-old Saskatchewan badminton player honors father’s dream at nationals”>Gautham Sumesh is preparing to realize the dream of his father, who died six months ago: he will soon participate in the National Badminton Championship.

My father was really addicted to badmintonrecalls the Saskatchewan teenager. He really liked that I played.

Gautham Sumesh has been playing badminton since he was old enough to handle a racket. The first time he managed to beat his father, Sumesh Pulavathil, he was offered a drink to celebrate the event.

Sadly, Sumesh Pulavathil died in a road accident near Estevan last October.

Despite the tragedy, the teenager continues to carry his family’s dreams: Gautham Sumesh won the provincial championships this year and is preparing to participate in the National Championship in New Brunswick.

He would be really happyhe believes.

Dreaming of badminton

The young player’s parents left India in 2022 in the hope that their son would become a top badminton player.

: Gautham badminton”,”text”:”When we moved to Canada, we only had one thing in mind: Gautham badminton”}}”>When we moved to Canada, we only had one thing in mind: Gautham badmintonexplains the latter’s mother, Gayathri Ramdas. It is the foundation of our family life.

Her husband put everything in place to help his son play. He bought him shoes and racquets, in addition to devoting many hours to coaching him and other children.

Sumesh Pulavathil (front) was an avid badminton player. (Archive photo)

Photo: Provided by Gayathri Ramdas

Although the family was devastated by Sumesh Pulavathil’s death, there was never any question of the teenager quitting badminton. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Since the death of his father, Gautham Sumesh has undergone intensive training, particularly in preparation for the provincial competition which took place in April.

He remembers that no one knew him when he started competing provincially, but that changed after his victory at the provincial championship.

: “Hey, good job!” Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with me”,”text”:”After I won, everyone said to me: “Hey, good job! “Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with me”}}”>After I won, everyone said to me: “Hey, good job!” Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with meexplained Gautham Sumesh.

A portrait of Sumesh Pulavathil (far left) and his family.

Photo: Provided by Gayathri Ramdas

Despite his son’s success in the championship, Gayathri Ramdas believes the victory was bittersweet due to his father’s absence.

Despite everything, she watched her son grow up and demonstrate the values ​​of sportsmanship and good play that she and her husband wanted to instill in him, as he harbored ambitions of becoming a professional badminton player.

I’m little by little catching up on all the dreams we had.

With information from Janani Whitfield

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