Category Sports News

Following an internal investigation into Sir Lee Pearson’s conduct, British Equestrian and British Dressage have lifted his suspension as a 14-time Paralympic gold medalist.

After his membership was reinstated, Pearson is now free to compete abroad and not compete in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

Sir Lee will return to the British Equestrian World Class Program with “urgent effect” and will be able to compete and coach both domestically and abroad, according to a statement from British Equestrian.

With 14 gold medals, the 51-year-old cyclist is Britain’s third-most successful paralympic athlete, only to be surpassed by swimmer Mike Kenny and cyclist Dame Sarah Storey.

The Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028, which ParalympicsGB claimed it was open to, was a statement released last year. Pearson, a British flagbearer at Rio 2016, had already stated his intention to compete there.

Lee has publicly stated that because of personal reasons, he did not intend to apply for Paris 2024.

He and the British Equine team are in charge of this, and it does not diminish his previous accomplishments or the possibility that he might compete in the Paralympics in the future.

Prior to the Paris Paralympics in May of last year, a four-strong British Para-equestrian team was chosen for the event. Pearson’s suspension was in place. He was not qualified for selection because he had not competed since March 2023.

Wimbledon 2025

Venue: All England Club, June 30 – 13 .

In the first round of Wimbledon, two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Italian veteran Fabio Fognini met in a meeting with British qualifier Oliver Tarvet to prepare for a seismic shock.

Alcaraz won the grass-court Grand Slam tournament 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, and 6-1 as he broke through the first day’s sweaty opening session.

After a 15-minute break in the final set, the 22-year-old Spaniard quickly seized control of the match.

A sunburned spectator was taken to the hospital, and Alcaraz gave them a bottle of cold water to aid in their recovery.

Alcaraz struggled on serve and made uncharacteristic errors off the ground throughout the four-and-a-half hour contest at temperatures topping 32C, finishing second to Italian rival Jannik Sinner.

Fognini, 38, twice fought back in his final Wimbledon match before his planned retirement, but Alcaraz resurrected control and shortened his winning streak to 19 matches.

Alcaraz won the Queen’s trophy on his return to British grass after defeating Sinner in an all-time classic final earlier this month. Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open.

Alcaraz burst into a wide smile and shared a warm embrace with his rival as he finally put an end to Fognini’s resistance.

“I tried my best, but I can’t.” In the upcoming round, I need to improve, Alcaraz said.

Alcaraz is well-versed in playing in the scorching heat because he is originally from Murcia’s sun-soaked region.

However, it was not ideal to have to start his most recent title defense with a protracted contest in the challenging circumstances.

The players hoping to win the fortnight want to keep as much energy as possible in the opening matches, but Alcaraz needed to work up his physical and mental reserves to defeat Fognini.

Playing in such high heat is “incredibly challenging,” Alcaraz said, “and it gets even more challenging when you play long matches and rallies.”

“Part of the match is when the sun starts to hit you constantly, so you may feel a little down.” I must be prepared for battle.

Alcaraz is familiar with playing the opening game of Wimbledon on its most famous court, as tradition dictates, but he lacks the freedom and fluency he is known for.

Alcaraz’s first shot has been inconsistent this season, which may have contributed to Fognini’s constant pressure-adjusted first-serve percentage below 50%.

Fognini turned professional when Alcaraz was just a toddler, but the expressive Italian showed how much he still enjoys displaying his talents on the biggest stages.

Alcaraz, who was criticized for gesturing and hurling at his team, was puzzled by his return, which showed his trademark variety and continued to play with his trademark variety.

Alcaraz’s free attack, however, causes trouble for his rivals.

Alcaraz’s face was brightened by a humorous exchange at the start of the decisive, when Fognini playfully threatened to hit a ball at his younger rival.

From that point, he found more rhythm and dominated the fifth set, passing both the forced emergency break, which had stifled Fognini’s concentration.

Alcaraz remarked, “Playing the first match on Center Court is never simple.”

However, his pushed Alcaraz in a way that recalled the fluid, natural talent that has frequently caused the best players to struggle over the years.

Andy Murray’s ability on the red dirt also troubled the former world number nine, who is one of the few players to have won in a row over Rafael Nadal on clay.

Fognini, who reached the 2011 French Open quarter-finals, has announced he plans to retire at the end of this year, though he has not specifically stated when. His best major appearance came in 2011.

Before hurling his shoes into the crowd, Alcaraz quickly led the crowd to applaud Fognini, who was then given a heartfelt ovation.

Because of his level of play, Alcaraz can play for another three or four years, he said, “I don’t know why this is his last Wimbledon.”

“Fabio has consistently demonstrated his level and talent throughout his career.

On the opening day of Wimbledon, British wildcard Arthur Fery defeated 20th seed Alexei Popyrin to seal a huge comeback.

The 461st-ranked 22-year-old Fery defeated Masters 1000 champion Popyrin 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 to advance to the second round.

After Oliver Tarvet defeated Leandro Riedi on his Wimbledon debut, Fery’s victory came as a Brit’s impressive victory in the men’s draw.

The first round of the Wimbledon men’s and women’s main draw featured 23 British players, the most in 41 years.

Cameron Norrie, the former British number one, advanced, but Oliver Crawford, the wildcard, and Jacob Fearnley, the latter, were eliminated.

Fearnley was defeated by Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in the first round, which saw his Wimbledon career come to an end.

Fearnley, 23, had never lost a Grand Slam first-round match before, but his 18-year-old opponent outclassed him 6-4 6-1 7-6 (7-5).

Fonseca won his first ATP Tour title in February with the Argentina Open, which was his second victory on grass, but he has impressed with his impressive displays this year. He defeated Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open in January and won the Australian Open in February.

Fearnley has recently experienced a meteoric rise, rising from within the top 500 a year prior to being ranked 51st in the world at this event.

On his way to securing three break points, he had a good overhead volley that had the potential to give him the first set advantage.

Fonseca, who claimed the break himself and served the first set, took the next eight points in a row to turn things around.

In the middle of the afternoon, Norrie’s performance was at its best, but he overcame the difficult circumstances to defeat veteran Spanish tennis player Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).

The 29-year-old, who is currently British number one, defeated Jack Draper at Wimbledon last year and had previously advanced to the semi-finals, but after that his form deteriorated and he almost lost.

However, with his first win on the grass this year, he has regenerated on the grass and kept that momentum.

On the opening day of Wimbledon, British wildcard Arthur Fery defeated 20th seed Alexei Popyrin to seal a huge comeback.

The 461st-ranked 22-year-old Fery defeated Masters 1000 champion Popyrin 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 to advance to the second round.

After Oliver Tarvet defeated Leandro Riedi on his Wimbledon debut, Fery’s victory came as a Brit’s impressive victory in the men’s draw.

The first round of the Wimbledon men’s and women’s main draw featured 23 British players, the most in 41 years.

Cameron Norrie, the former British number one, advanced, but Oliver Crawford, the wildcard, and Jacob Fearnley, the latter, were eliminated.

Fearnley was defeated by Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in the first round, which saw his Wimbledon career come to an end.

Fearnley, 23, had never lost a Grand Slam first-round match before, but his 18-year-old opponent outclassed him 6-4 6-1 7-6 (7-5).

Fonseca won his first ATP Tour title in February with the Argentina Open, which was his second victory on grass, but he has impressed with his impressive displays this year. He defeated Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open in January and won the Australian Open in February.

Fearnley has recently experienced a meteoric rise, rising from within the top 500 a year prior to being ranked 51st in the world at this event.

On his way to securing three break points, he had a good overhead volley that had the potential to give him the first set advantage.

Fonseca, who claimed the break himself and served the first set, took the next eight points in a row to turn things around.

In the middle of the afternoon, Norrie’s performance was at its best, but he overcame the difficult circumstances to defeat veteran Spanish tennis player Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).

The 29-year-old, who is currently British number one, defeated Jack Draper at Wimbledon last year and had previously advanced to the semi-finals, but after that his form deteriorated and he almost lost.

However, with his first win on the grass this year, he has regenerated on the grass and kept that momentum.

Wimbledon 2025

Venue: All England Club, June 30 – 13 .

World number 461 Arthur Fery, the wildcard of the British tennis world, described his incredible upset over 20th seed Alexei Popyrin on the opening day of Wimbledon as “the most proud day” of his career.

The 22-year-old defeated Masters 1000 champion Popyrin 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 to advance to the second round. The student attended school close to the historic venue.

Fery’s only two previous attempts to get past the first round were the first round, but he had already fallen short of the top 400 due to injury.

Next up is Luciano Darderi, an Italian who is ranked 59th.

Fery remarked, “It’s probably my most gratifying day in my tennis career.”

“It’s fantastic, and I’m hoping to keep going and stay healthy for the rest of the year.”

After Oliver Tarvet defeated Leandro Riedi on his Wimbledon debut, Fery’s victory came as a Brit’s record-breaking win in the men’s draw.

The first round of the Wimbledon men’s and women’s main draw featured 23 British players, the most in 41 years.

Cameron Norrie, the former British no 1 and Billy Harris, the 151th person to advance, won the tournament for the first time.

However, wildcards Oliver Crawford and Henry Searle, the country’s second-largest, were eliminated.

Dusan Lajovic of Serbia defeated him 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the final match of his career. Harris, 33, qualified for the main draw on ranking for the first time since being a wildcard last year.

Next, he faces Portugal’s Nuno Borges.

Fearnley was defeated by Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in the first round, which saw his Wimbledon career come to an end.

Fearnley, 23, had never lost a Grand Slam first-round match before, but his 18-year-old opponent outclassed him 6-4 6-1 7-6 (7-5).

Fonseca won his first ATP Tour title in February with the Argentina Open, which was his second victory on grass, but he has impressed with his impressive displays this year. He defeated Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open in January and won the Australian Open in February.

Fearnley has recently experienced a meteoric rise, rising from within the top 500 a year prior to being ranked 51st in the world at this event.

On his way to securing three break points, he had a good overhead volley that had the potential to give him the first set advantage.

Fonseca, who claimed the break himself and served the first set, took the next eight points in a row to turn things around.

In the middle of the afternoon, Norrie’s performance was at its best, but he overcame the difficult circumstances to defeat veteran Spanish tennis player Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).

The 29-year-old, who is currently British number one, defeated Jack Draper at Wimbledon last year and had previously advanced to the semi-finals, but after that his form deteriorated and he almost lost.

However, with his first win on the grass this year, he has regenerated on the grass and kept that momentum.

Norrie next faces Frances Tiafoe, the 12th seed, in the semifinals, saying, “I wanted to enjoy playing Wimbledon once more.”

After being hospitalized with “severe pneumonia,” former UFC fighter Ben Askren has undergone a “double lung transplant.”

After a brief appearance in the UFC, Askren, 40, abruptly retired from MMA in 2019.

In addition to being on the transplant waiting list, Askren was earlier this month admitted to a hospital in Wisconsin.

His wife Amy reported that Amy’s husband was “completely healthy just five weeks ago” on Facebook.

The donor and his family are forever in our hearts. Ben has just begun a new lifestyle, but she said, “Every day he has a gift,” she said.

“I’m hoping Ben will be able to give the next update in the coming weeks, but I’m hoping he won’t wait until the drugs are gone.”

Askren won the welterweight title in Bellator and the ONE Championship, and he is regarded as one of the greatest American wrestlers of his generation.

Before joining the MMA ranks, Askren was a two-time national champion in wrestling and a member of the 2008 American Olympic team.

When Askren signed for the UFC in 2019, in what was a unique MMA move, he was unbeaten in 20 fights.

Demetrious Johnson, the UFC’s flyweight champion, traded For Askren for ONE Championship.

It was a huge shock at the time in 2018 because it is the only “trade” that has ever occurred in major MMA.

Askren, who made his UFC debut against Robbie Lawler, lost to Demian Maia and Jorge Masvidal, who were wildly popular.