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Gold Medalists Lindsey Vonn And Ted Ligety Chase Each Other In Utah

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Picture this. You’re enjoying a casual day on the slopes, riding the chair, thinking where to head next.

Then, you spot them: two skiers ripping a groomer under the chairlift like nobody’s business. For a lucky few, this was a reality when Olympic-caliber racers Lindsey Vonn and Ted Ligety met up for a high-speed lap at Deer Valley, Utah, as documented by follow-cam master Luke Bredar.

As you may have heard, Ligety and Von have earned Olympic gold medals in their respective racing disciplines, meaning they know how to really bend a ski.

And, while impressive, the turns showcased here are decidedly casual for these racers—more of a warm-up than an opportunity to actually show off.

The End of An Era: Lindsey Vonn

Even in retirement, though, both racers still find time to prove that they’ve still got it.

Last winter, Vonn dropped a hammer when she became the first woman to ski the imposing Streif racecourse in Kitzbühel, Austria.

And, more recently, Ligety blasted down a NASTAR course at Deer Valley decked out in a Santa Claus costume. Sure, it was no Streif, but I imagine Ligety’s time that day was untouchable.

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BOXING

SISTERLY GLOVE Elle Brooke opens up on sisterhood with boxing mentor Ebanie Bridges despite being ‘separated’

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The two are more than just training partners

ELLE BROOKE has found a best friend and mentor in Ebanie Bridges – but the pair are no longer joined at the hip.

Brooke first met the former bantamweight world champion at trainer Mark Tibbs’ Essex boxing gym.

Ebanie Bridges teacher: 'Teacher' Ebanie Bridges: Which subject is 'The Blonde Bomber' qualified in?

And Bridges would go onto corner the social media star while helping her in training and sparring.

The two have even shot racy content together on OnlyFans but Bridges has now switched to Dave Coldwell’s gym in Rotherham.

Brooke, 26, told SunSport: “She’s still my mentor, 100 per cent.

“I don’t see her as much, obviously she was training for her fight and she’s up North now so we’re separated.

“If she was round the corner we’d see each other all the time but we’re still such good friends, we’re like sisters.

“She’s less involved with the boxing now but she’s always there for me mentally and she’s honestly the biggest and the best hype woman in the world. I can always go to her for advice.”

Onlyfans star Elle Brooke coming to Dublin for boxing match - SundayWorld.com

Brooke bravely opened up on how a party lifestyle drove her to drugs and depression – before boxing helped turn her life around.

The sport also introduced her to soul sister Bridges and the rest of Tibbs’ stable.

She said: “If it wasn’t for boxing I would’ve never have met her.

“I would never have moved to Essex, I would never have met Ebanie, never have met some of the boys in the gym.

“And because I don’t go out on the weekends, they’re the ones I rely one for company a lot of the time. My life revolves around boxing now.”

Ebanie Bridges says she's got more Only Fans followers thanks to Conor McGregor but also more hate - Irish Mirror Online

Brooke makes her return in Leeds on Misfits 12 against ex-Love Islander AJ Bunker, who she beat in 2022.

The bad blood has since brewed so bragging rights will also be on the line as well as Bunker’s Misfits belt.

Brooke said: “We know of each other now. When we first fought it was just someone else in the influencer scene to take on that fight.

“Whereas now she’s champ, I’ve already beat her and it’s her opportunity for redemption, my opportunity to win the belt and that’s the story.

“We also aren’t that fond of each other, so it’s got great ingredients for a good fight.”

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BOXING

Bring Your A-game Against Ngannou Or Risk Career, Legend Nelson Warns Anthony Joshua

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Boxing legend Johnny Nelson has issued a stark warning to Anthony Joshua, urging the former heavyweight champion to bring his absolute best to his upcoming fight against Francis Ngannou. Nelson believes that a loss to the former UFC champion could potentially spell the end of Joshua’s career.

Anthony Joshua

Speaking to Sky Sports, Nelson acknowledged Joshua’s confidence in his ability but cautioned him against underestimating the risk involved. “Anthony Joshua is part of the reason there’s so much bigger money in the heavyweight division right now,” Nelson said. “Like it or not, he’s a household name. But what’s the attraction he had? That crossover appeal. I still believe he’s a big draw, one of the biggest out there.”

Nelson, however, disagrees with Ngannou’s current position as a potential challenger for the undisputed heavyweight title. “There are fighters ahead of him in the top ten rankings who have proven themselves,” he stated.

Despite his reservations about Ngannou’s position, Nelson believes Joshua has a clear advantage in terms of experience and boxing knowledge. “When he boxes Ngannou,” Nelson said, “to me that should be a given. Anthony Joshua knows a lot more than Ngannou about boxing. But in this sport, one punch changes everything.”

Anthony Joshua Reveals Less Muscular Physique Ahead of Comeback

Nelson emphasized the potential consequences of a Joshua defeat. “If that one punch lands and Ngannou gets the win,” he said, “which I don’t believe could happen, then Ngannou would be in a position that I think other fighters deserve. Fighters who have worked their way up, fought former champions, and earned their rankings the right way, not by jumping from one spot to another.”

For Joshua, the stakes couldn’t be higher. “He can’t afford that to happen,” Nelson insisted. “He needs to be on his A-game when he fights Ngannou. He needs to learn from Tyson Fury’s mistake. If Anthony Joshua gets this job done, it could be a cash grab, but I think the risk far outweighs the reward. If he gets turned over, the multi-million deal, that multi-million fight against the winner of Usyk and Tyson Fury, is gone.”

My class permanent, I'll always be among elite heavyweights, says Joshua | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Nelson’s message is clear: Joshua needs to approach this fight with the utmost seriousness and focus. His career, and his future in the heavyweight division, hang in the balance.

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TENNIS

What Iga Swiatek’s Australian Open exit means for WTA Rankings as Coco Gauff could reach milestone

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Iga Swiatek suffered a shock defeat at the 2024 Australian Open and there could be movement near the top of the WTA Rankings, with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff still in contention.

The world No 1 was beaten in three sets by 50th-ranked Linda Noskova in the third round of the Melbourne major on Saturday – her earliest defeat at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2022.

Iga Swiatek after losing to Linda Noskova

Despite her early exit at the year’s first Grand Slam, Swiatek will hold onto her position at the top of the WTA Rankings after the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old will only drop 110 points, having went one round further by reaching the fourth round at the 2023 edition of the tournament.

This will see the four-time Grand Slam winner’s points total fall from 9,880 to 9,770 after the event – a tally which cannot be caught by the chasing pack.

World No 2 Aryna Sabalenka was on 8,905 points heading into the Australian Open, but will not be able to increase her total as she is the defending champion.

Australian Open 2024 results: Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka through in Melbourne - BBC Sport

The 25-year-old Belarusian will remain on 8,905 points points if she can defend her title and claim the 2,000 points earned for a major triumph, but will drop points if she falls short of this.

Coco Gauff, who was ranked fourth prior to the tournament, is guaranteed to at least return to her previous career-high ranking of world No 3 after the event.

This is because current No 3 Elena Rybakina, who was a runner-up in Melbourne last year, will lose 1,230 points and slip to fifth position after her second round loss to Anna Blinkova. The 24-year-old Kazakh will see her points tally drop from 6,918 to 5,688.

Jessica Pegula, who lost in the second round to Clara Burel, will also climb above Rybakina and see her ranking improve from fifth place to fourth. The 29-year-old American will drop 360 points – from 6,065 to 5,705 – after reaching the quarter-finals in 2023.

Only one who can win it with her B-game' - Coco Gauff backed to win Australian Open by former No 5

Gauff could overtake Sabalenka to reach a new career-high ranking of world No 2 as she can increase her points total, having already matched her 2023 Australian Open result by progressing to the fourth round.

The 19-year-old will remain on the 6,660 points she had coming into the event if she loses in the last 16, but can reach 6,850 points if she makes the quarter-finals, 7,200 for the semi-finals, 7,720 if she loses in the final, and 8,420 if she wins the title.

Sabalenka will finish on 7,145 points if she loses in the fourth round, 7,335 with a quarter-final exit, 7,685 for making the last four, 8,205 if she is a runner-up, and 8,905 if she defends the title.

Gauff would, therefore, leapfrog Sabalenka to become world No 2 if she wins the title or reaches the final as the pair are both in the bottom half of the draw and would meet in a potential semi-final. The American could also overtake Sabalenka if she makes the last four and the Belarusian loses in the last 16.

Both players will play their fourth round matches on Sunday, with Gauff to face Magdalena Frech and Sabalenka to take on Amanda Anisimova.

Women’s Grand Slam points breakdown
Winner – 2000 points
Runner-up – 1300 points
Semi-finals – 780 points
Quarter-finals – 430 points
Round of 16 – 240 points
Round of 32 – 130 points
Round of 64 – 70 points
Round of 128 – 10 points

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TENNIS

Rafael Nadal urged to retire immediately with French Open king told his reign is over

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Rafael Nadal suffered yet another injury setback just before the start of the Australian Open.

Rafael Nadal has been urged to call time on his career by Express Sport readers after his latest injury setback ruled him out of the Australian Open. The Spaniard made a brief return to the court at the Brisbane International earlier this month but suffered a small muscle tear against Jordan Thompson in the quarter-finals.

Rafael Nadal has been urged to retire now and steer clear of making another comeback
Rafael Nadal has been urged to retire now and steer clear of making another comeback

Nadal has barely played over the last 12 months and is expected to retire at the end of this year, with his constant injury problems threatening to derail his farewell campaign. It seems that many fans would not be too upset to see Nadal go now, rather than delaying his retirement for another few months in light of his fitness issues.

In our latest tennis poll, 57 per cent of voters said that Nadal should hang up his racket immediately and steer clear of making another comeback when his latest injury heals. He will be hoping to recover in time for the French Open, where he has won the majority of his Grand Slam titles, but there is no guarantee that he will be in a position to compete for the top prize.

Sixty seven per cent of voters said they do not expect Nadal to win this year’s French Open title, with just 33 per cent of Express Sport readers backing him to get the job done at Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic will almost certainly be the favourite even if Nadal manages to recover in time, with the Serb having looked almost unstoppable in the absence of his Spanish rival.

The Spaniard will be hoping to recover in time to feature at this year's French Open
The Spaniard will be hoping to recover in time to feature at this year’s French Open

In terms of Nadal’s performance in Brisbane, 42 per cent of voters were pleasantly surprised and said that he was better than they were expecting him to be. Another 48 per cent of respondents said that Nadal met expectations but did not exceed them, while just 10 per cent thought that he did worse than anticipated.

It remains to be seen how Nadal will fare this year, with the 37-year-old needing to recover from his latest injury setback before worrying about anything else. Alex Corretja recently told Express Sport that he is expecting Nadal to get back on the court as soon as possible, given the extra motivation of playing at the French Open for what could be the final time.

The Spaniard has had more than his fair share of injury problems over the years
The Spaniard has had more than his fair share of injury problems over the years

“It’s obvious that on hard courts for the joints it’s a little bit risky because it’s a little bit harder,” said Corretja. “But as soon as he is ready to practice, we will see him. He will say again: ‘Okay, I’m getting back to practice’, and he will put a small goal to go.

“If he’s ready, maybe he’s ready to go to some of the South American tournaments on clay like Buenos Aires or so. But for that, he needs to be healthy. If he’s healthy, he would like to be on court as soon as possible. I don’t think he’s going to wait for the clay-court season because he’s been out for such a long time. I don’t think he can wait in his academy just practicing.”

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CELEB NEWS

Angel Reese does the unexpected as her LSU Tigers hammer Arkansas

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Reese hit a three-pointer in the blowout win

Reese made her first three-pointer of the season on Sunday.

Angel Reese is one of the unquestioned stars of college basketball. The LSU forward played a pivotal role in guiding the program to a surprise national championship in 2023, and her multifaceted skill set has the 10th-ranked Tigers in the mix again this year.

Reese has also become known for her showmanship and her controversies off the court — but if Sunday’s 31-point win over the Arkansas Razorbacks is any indication, Reese could soon unlock another part of her game that might help LSU reach new heights on it.

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A rarity for Reese
Entering Sunday’s game, Reese had made only four three-pointers from 29 attempts in her four-year college career. Since transferring to LSU before the 2022/23 season, Reese had shot 12 three-pointers and made just one — before Sunday, when the Razorbacks came to town and LSU built a huge early lead.

With the Tigers ahead by 22 points late in the second quarter, Reese took a pass from Last-Tear Poa at the top of the three-point arc. After hesitating for a second, Reese decided to launch a three-pointer — and she rattled it home to extend the lead to 25 points.

The Tigers led by 27 at halftime and went on to win 99-68, as Reese hauled in a game-high 17 rebounds to go along with her 16 points.

South Carolina showdown next
LSU has bounced back convincingly since a shocking five-point loss to Auburn last Sunday. The Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 78-58 before pounding Arkansas to improve their record to 18-2 and 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference.

Next up for Reese and LSU is a highly-anticipated matchup with undefeated South Carolina. The Gamecocks are the #1 women’s basketball team in the country, sporting a 17-0 record overall and a 5-0 mark in the SEC. But the Tigers believe they’re fully prepared to take down Kamilla Cardoso and the Gamecocks on Thursday night.

“We’re ready for it,” Reese said Sunday about the champs’ next challenge.

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BOXING

Top 12 best pound-for-pound fighters in women’s boxing: Mythical rankings starring Shields, Jonas and Mayer

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The pound-for-pound clash between reigning IBF welterweight champ Natasha Jonas and American star Mikaela Mayer certainly lived up to the hype.

After 10 rounds of high-contact action, it was Jonas who retained her title via split decision in her home city of Liverpool. However, many fans feel that the bout’s location contributed to this result and that Mayer should have left the ring with a victory.

It was Jonas’ accuracy versus Mayer’s work rate in a bout that will be in the running for Fight of the Year. And even though Mayer didn’t have a rematch clause in her contract, there have been calls for an immediate sequel.

In the pound-for-pound ratings, Jonas retains her spot at No. 6. Mayer, who entered at No. 11, moves up to the No. 9 spot following a terrific performance in defeat.

Through attrition, unified super middleweight champ Savannah Marshall and former super featherweight champ Delfine Persoon move down one place.
Women’s pound-for-pound rankings: The Sporting News’ top 12


The best in the world at light heavyweight: Claressa Shields
Claressa Shields, AKA The GWOAT. still reigns supreme.

The reigning undisputed middleweight champion also fully unified at super welterweight and once held a pair of titles at super middleweight. A native of Flint, Michigan, Shields has terrific technique, blazing hand speed and she’s bursting with energy and fighting heart.

Signature wins have come against Savannah Marshall, Marie-Eve Dicaire and Christina Hammer.

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GOLF

Lexi Thompson Splits With Golf Ball Sponsor After Six Years

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Lexi Thompson has been with Bridgestone since 2018, along with high-profile names like Tiger Woods and Fred Couples

Lexi Thompson is set to reportedly split with golf ball sponsor Bridgestone after six years with the brand.

Lexi Thompson waves to the crowd after holing her putt

Thompson, one of the most recognizable faces in women’s golf, has used a Bridgestone ball since 2016 before signing in an official capacity in 2018. The American has won three events in her six-year stint with the company, but will now move on to pastures new, Bridgestone CEO Dan Murphy confirmed.

“After a long and prosperous relationship, Bridgestone Golf and Lexi have parted ways,” he said in a statement. “We thank her for her years of support and partnership and wish her great success in golf and life.”

Bridgestone still have a number of high-profile players on their roster, including 15-time Major champion Tiger Woods and PGA Tour veterans Jason Day and Matt Kuchar.

The 11-time LPGA winner endured a tough first half of the season in 2023 but finished with a flurry, recording four consecutive top-ten finishes to end the year.

In October, Thompson also made headlines when she became only the seventh player to tee it up in a PGA Tour event at the Shriners Open. The 28-year-old was aiming to become the first woman to make the cut at a PGA Tour event since 1945 but ultimately fell three shots short.

The uptick in form coincided with Thompson hiring Colton Heisey as her caddie, with the American moving away from having a family member on the bag. Heisey’s appointment has now been made permanent heading into the new season.

“I’m super grateful for the opportunity to work with one of the best to ever do it,” Heisey said when the news was announced. “Looking forward to a great season and doing everything I can to contribute to her success.”

Thomspon will make her first start of the new season at next week’s LPGA Drive On Championship.

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FORMULA 1

Lewis Hamilton’s Ex-Ally Angela Cullen Joins Red Bull in Hyping American Skiing Champ Lindsey Vonn’s “Legendary” Feat

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Sometimes some achievements are so awe-inspiring they need to be appreciated no matter which side you are on. Lindsey Vonn did something similar to unite the skiing world and make everyone who enjoys the sport/activity look in amazement. She posted her achievement on Instagram and many, including Lewis Hamilton‘s ex-physio, Angela Cullen, appreciated it. The feat is so inspiring that Cullen couldn’t help but share it on her Instagram story, but there is a catch.

The feat the former World Cup alpine ski racer achieved was on the Streif. Streif is a World Cup downhill ski course in Austria, located on Hahnenkamm mountain, and has been hosting races since 1937. Now four years after her retirement, Vonn got the opportunity to ski on this legendary downhill track. The catch? Well, there are two!

The first – Vonn’s stunt is awe-inspiring because not only did she tackle this track four years after her retirement, but she did it at night. If there’s anything more dangerous than skiing, it’s skiing at night. The second catch that makes it noteworthy for the F1 world is Red Bull’s involvement in Vonn’s unthinkable attempt. Vonn’s nighttime skiing was made possible by Hamilton and Mercedes‘s biggest rivals, Red Bull. One of the most diverse marketing teams in the world made Vonn’s dream come true, and she shared her appreciation in the caption.

She wrote, “Never had I been so excited and anxious to ski a downhill in my life… but I guess that’s also to be expected considering I hadn’t skied downhill since the day I retired 4 years earlier! Thank you @redbull for making my dreams come true and congratulations to all the incredible athletes who raced down it this weekend! You are all victorious in my mind!”

So Cullen liking an Instagram post of a Red Bull task might ring alarm bells somewhere in the world. However, no matter what they do and who they root for, Cullen and Hamilton will always remain incredibly close. We know that because of the time they’ve spent with each other over the years. In fact, there was a time when Cullen and Hamilton were practically living with each other.

Lewis Hamilton reveals the strong bond he shares with Angela Cullen
The two were inseparable when Cullen was Hamilton’s physiotherapist. The New Zealand native took keeping Hamilton in top shape as a challenge and in turn her entire life, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. To oversee and micromanage everything the Brit does and eat in his daily routine, the two started practically living with each other.

Hamilton revealed this to the media, discussing his relationship with Cullen, and also gave her the biggest compliment one human being can give to another, highlighting her importance all the more.

He said, “Angela [Cullen] and I are naturally incredibly close. We pretty much live together. People for sure won’t understand it, naturally, because they see it from a distance, but she has been one of the greatest things that’s happened to me in my life.”

The two started being like each other and even thinking like each other after spending extended time together. No wonder the Brit regards her as highly as he does.

So even if Cullen showcased her support for Vonn in an event backed by Hamilton’s biggest rivals, it’s not a reflection of their relationship. She’s just showcasing her support for an incredible athlete achieving a tremendous feat.

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TENNIS

Rafael Nadal was not afraid to stand up to Roger Federer despite pair’s friendship

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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal caught up at the Spanish star’s tennis academy recently, but while the two are now great friends, they were also fierce rivals.

Rafael Nadal once had a heated exchange with his biggest rival, Roger Federer, over the packed tennis calendar. This happened at the Australian Open in 2012, despite their long-standing friendship formed through years of on-court battles.

While both dominated men’s singles for nearly two decades alongside Novak Djokovoic, their luck at the Australian Open has been quite different. Before his 2022 victory, Nadal had only won the tournament once in 2009, while Federer clinched the title six times between 2004 and 2018.

Nadal’s frustrations seemed to peak in 2012 when he voiced concerns about the number of games players are expected to play on the ATP Tour, which he believed was affecting their fitness levels. He was particularly annoyed at Federer for not supporting him on this issue, which led to a fiery outburst from Nadal after Federer refused to comment on the matter during a pre-tournament press conference that year.

Clearly upset, he aimed his anger at his long-time rival, criticizing Federer for his perceived indifference. Nadal said: “For him it’s good to say nothing. Everything positive. ‘It’s all well and good for me, I look like a gentleman,’ and the rest can burn themselves.

2024 Australian Open - Day 8
Novak Djokovic leads the way in men’s Grand Slam titles with 24

“Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions,” he continued, standing firm on his stance. “I love the game and there are a lot of things I’m grateful for. The game has allowed me to lead a fantastic lifestyle. But to finish your career with pain all over your body, is that a positive?”

Answering his own question, Nadal expressed concern for his future health: “No. Maybe [Federer] has got a super body and he’ll finish his career like a rose. Neither myself, nor [Andy] Murray, nor [Novak] Djokovic are going to finish our careers like a rose.

Highlighting the differences between himself, Murray and Djokovic compared to Federer, he took one last swipe at his rival for his lack of support on the issue: “We’re not like him [Federer] where it’s effortless to play. For all of us, it’s a battle.”

As their careers blossomed, it became clear that the initial dispute between the tennis legends was short-lived. They even partnered in the Laver Cup for Federer’s last professional match in 2022 and more recently, Federer was a visitor to Nadal’s academy in Spain.

The once-rival duo who clashed 40 times in thrilling battles atop the men’s game ended their rivalry on a united note.

Speaking about their friendship evolution, Nadal said: “We have never had any big issues and always respected each other and our families too. But our personal relationship has got better and better over the years, and we approach life in a similar way.”

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