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GWANGJU, South Korea: Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjostrom led a moving tribute to Rikako Ikee at the world championships on Monday (Jul 22), calling the Japanese star a "real fighter" in the face of her leukaemia diagnosis.Sjostrom stood alongside Margaret MacNeil and Emma McKeon on the medal podium with a message of support for the Japanese swim queen, a major rival of all three, scrawled on their palms."Never give up, Rikako Ikee," read the tribute, alongside two love hearts, as the three 100m butterfly medallists held their hands out to the camera."I hope really that she (Ikee) will battle this cancer. She is a real fighter and the real winner," said Sjostrom.The 25-year-old Swede had been looking to become the first female swimmer to win five gold medals in a single individual event but was forced to settle for silver after a stunning race by MacNeil.But Ikee's illness puts her disappointment into perspective, she said."What is swimming compared to what she is going through? I told … [Read more...] about ‘Never give up’: Swimmers send moving message to Japan’s Ikee

GWANGJU: American Caeleb Dressel said Monday (Jun 22) that he has been channelling his inner Bruce Lee to keep himself focused as he chases history at the swimming world championships.The 22-year-old, who captured seven gold medals in 2017 to match the achievement of countryman Michael Phelps 10 years earlier, credited a book on martial arts for restoring his inner calm before winning the 50m butterfly title."I woke up with a heart rate of 150 - I don't know why, maybe a bad dream or something," said Dressel after bagging his second gold medal of the week in South Korea."I thought 'goodness gracious!' so I went for a couple of walks, read a book. I didn't have anything this morning so I had nine hours of literally hanging around."Dressel revealed that he turns to a book inspired by Bruce Lee called Zen In The Martial Arts - which teaches how the daily application of Zen principles can improve physical powers and mental discipline - to bring him peace."I've read it three times," he … [Read more...] about Swimming: Dressel turns to martial arts book to restore calm

GWANGJU, South Korea: Three of the most dominant swimmers in the world took centre stage at the world championships on Monday but only Adam Peaty and Katinka Hosszu maintained their aura of invincibility while Sarah Sjostrom's reign in the 100m butterfly came to an end.A night after becoming the first swimmer to go under the 'Magic 57' mark in the men's 100 metres breaststroke, Peaty cruised to his third straight gold in the event, though his time - 57.14 - was off his world record of 56.88 set in Sunday's semis."I’m very happy, but ... there is (also) a little bit of disappointment in me, but I think that’ll fuel me for next year as I want to go even faster – for now though, I’ll enjoy the moment," he said.With team mate James Wilby taking the silver, Peaty said Britain was setting the bar in the breaststroke."It’s looking like Britain is a stronghold for breaststroke and it has been for a long time now,” he said.No less dominant is Hosszu, who … [Read more...] about Gold but no new record for Peaty, Sjostrom beaten

Sport Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu has joined RB Leipzig on a season-long loan, the Premier League club said on Monday. 22 Jul 2019 11:30PM Bookmark REUTERS: Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu has joined RB Leipzig on a season-long loan, the Premier League club said on Monday.Ampadu, 18, struggled for first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge last season and will be looking to build on a bright start to his senior career, having already made eight appearances for Wales.Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, who had attempted to secure the versatile youngster while at Derby last season, said Ampadu needed a clearer path to continue his development."I tried to sign Ethan on loan at Derby last year, so I'm a big fan. But with the minutes he played last year, in the interest of Ethan and of Chelsea, the idea he can play a lot of games somewhere could be good for him," Lampard told the club website https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2019/07/22/ethan-ampadu-moves-on-loan-to-the-bundesliga."I … [Read more...] about Chelsea youngster Ampadu seals loan move to RB Leipzig

GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA: Britain’s Adam Peaty completed a world treble in the men’s 100m breaststroke Monday, while American Caeleb Dressel continued to feed his obsession for gold by romping to the 50m butterfly title. Peaty completed what was deemed a formality after smashing his own breaststroke world record at the weekend in Gwangju, South Korea, clocking 57.14 seconds to win gold — although his forlorn expression on seeing his time told its own story. “A little bit disappointed, but that will fuel me for next year,“ said the Briton, who set a new world mark of 56.88 at the weekend, becoming the first swimmer to break 57 seconds. “I know how bad I want to go near 56, even faster.” The 24-year-old puffed out his cheeks and shook his head despite becoming the first male swimmer to capture three 100m breaststroke world titles. Unbeaten in five years over the distance in major competitions, Peaty turned inside world record pace but ran out of … [Read more...] about Tattoo twins Peaty and Dressel romp to world swim gold