One of the three main races of the continent, the 24 Hours of Daytona, has ended in the USA: the local “oval” analogue of Le Mans on prototypes and GT class cars.

And the denouement of the battle for the victory in the LMP2 class turned out to be just the quintessence of the word “drama”: with overtaking on a ribbon, a photo finish, a gap of 0.016 seconds:

“****, YES! – shouted live the chief of the winning team to the question of the commentator “how do you like it?”. The losers wept, the winners celebrated.

This is crew #55 of the Proton team of Fred Purdade, Francesco Pizzi, James Allen and Gianmaria Bruni. The history of their ascent is pure Hollywood: the prototype was crashed twice in practice until it was almost completely destroyed, due to the repair and reassembly of the car, the team missed one of the most important night training, and therefore one of the pilots was left without the necessary clearance before the race in the dark. Therefore, one rider had to drive through the entire night period – and at the end the pace dropped, and the backlog grew to 4 laps (technical problems also prevented).

However, after dawn, the crew managed to make a breakthrough – and get the car number 4 under the control of George Kurtz, Ben Hanley, Matt McMurry and Esteban Gutierrez already on the flag!

“I honestly … I didn’t even think, in fact, that we would have such a chance,” Allen, who had overtaken, admitted after the finish. “I followed the AF Corse team car long enough and saw the CrowdStrike team car (that same #4) come off more and more. By the time I passed the AF Corse, the distance was decent, and I didn’t even think: “Will I even get it?”

But the gap gradually decreased, and I saw that by the penultimate lap I would have a chance to attack. And on the starting line, I already took the lead in front of the finish line, so I didn’t take any risks. I had enough speed on the straight, so I didn’t leave the chicane with the thought: “Did I do everything right? Did you get out of the turn well?

Japan is the main country in Fedor Emelianenko ‘s sports career . The RINGS organization was the first for Emelianenko at a professional level in MMA. He later fought for Pride, the biggest MMA promotion in the early 2000s. Fedor’s exhibition fights also took place on the territory of Japan. There he resumed performances and regained interest.

Everything around Emelianenko’s money in Japan: a fictitious contract, the first million, problems with the mafia

“Sport-Express” investigated the topic of Emelianenko’s income. In RINGS, Emelianenko started with a gift tape recorder and a maximum of 30 thousand – two fights before going to Japan generally took place in Tula. Pride later made him the highest paid fighter ever and paid close to a million per fight. Emelianenko then saw such money only in Fight Nights and Bellator.

In 2006, the MMA Weekly website showed income data for fighters in Pride, citing a report from the Nevada Athletic Commission. According to them, then at the Pride 32 tournament, Emelianenko received 100 thousand dollars. This amount does not include the bonus for winning. MMA News explained : if you add all the cash contributions, Emelianenko’s fee grows to just one million.

Blogger Artem Tarasov (now a pop MMA star) later expressed a different version of Emelianenko’s earnings in Japan: “Everyone thought that Fedor received millions in Pride. It didn’t happen, he got a penny there.” Tarasov called Emelianenko an MMA legend without money. So he explained his motivation to continue his career as a fighter, but confirmed the thesis about a million from Fight Nights.

If the ISU had presented the Ice Oscar for the most discussed transfer of the season, the statuette should have been given ahead of schedule to Daniel Grassl .

The reaction to the transition is reminiscent of how Medvedeva’s departure from Khrustalny was perceived 5 years ago. But if Zhenya was criticized inside Russia – for allegedly blatant waste of the budget, unfulfilled “11 years together – and then together” and ignoring Tutberidze’s messages – then Daniel was ganged up everywhere.

Italian commentators are angry at him – for the fact that he hits the reputation of the federation. The Olympic champion Megan Duhamel was disappointed in him – she is also interested in how Gleikhengauz and Dudakov were able to get Schengen visas. The threads on social media are dedicated to the fact that you no longer have to pretend that Grassl is a good skater.

A wave of collective indignation reached Daniel : “This Euro is probably the most difficult tournament in my life. I didn’t know how the public would accept me – I was very afraid of the reaction of the audience. But it’s easy to judge and condemn when you don’t know anything about an athlete, what drives them and what’s inside them.”

Grassl’s despair is similar to Uno’s crisis: he was also criticized for the controversial choice of coach, but Lambiel made Shoma the world champion

Of course, several weeks of training with Tutberidze could not change Daniel’s skating for better or for worse: any result – from missing the free skate to first place – would largely depend on the already accumulated baggage of skills and problems.

One can doubt how expedient Grassl’s transition to a group whose strength has never been men’s skating. Local flashes happened: two excellent seasons of Voronov, bronze of Kvitelashvili at the Euro, gold of YUChM Erokhov, and before that – silver of Pitkeev. There is also a rising star in the face of Arseny Fedotov.

A relevant example for Daniel among those listed is perhaps Sergey: Grassl’s junior age is behind him, and Maurice spent as much time in the Tutberidze group as the Italian no longer has before the first serious successes appeared. But the parallel with Voronov will be very strained: both their problems and strengths are too different, and most importantly, their rivals.

Grassl is having a frankly unsuccessful season: for the first time in 5 years, he lost the national championship (moreover, he didn’t even get on the podium there) and after last year’s silver medal, the Euro became only 6th, despite weakened competition.

Even his attempt to change his style and work on the choreography with Jason Brown instead of the usual Richaud seems like a failed experiment so far: both new programs were lost against the backdrop of last year’s space free program to the soundtrack to Interstellar and I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.

In terms of the degree of uncertainty and despair, Grassl at times resembles Uno in the 2019/2020 season .The Shoma crisis began in a similar way: a desire for change, contrasting with past excellent accomplishments; search for a coach that ended in tears in an empty kiss and edge, and a sharp drop in results. Experiments with the careers of both led to Tutberidze – but if the Japanese turned it into a short-term internship, then Daniel seems to be more serious.

Drama Shoma Uno: three falls (even on the chest), tears and absolute loneliness in Kik

Shoma’s final choice three years ago also looked illogical. An accomplished figure skater in deep discord – and a novice coach, whose best student was Denis Vasilievs without quadruple jumps. It seemed that the phlegmatic Uno and the expressive Lambiel did not combine even on an emotional level.

Shoma explained his atypical approach simply: “I do not expect technical advice from the coach, but mental and emotional support.” And he turned out to be right.

Andre Schurrle ended his career back in 2019, but continues to keep himself in shape – and an amazing method helps him. The German coped with the cold and conquered the mountain without outerwear.

Schurrle’s uphill hike is part of a test from a famous extreme sportsman

The former player of Spartak and the German national team arrived at the border of Poland and the Czech Republic and climbed Mount Snezhka, its height is 1603 meters. Schurrle shared a photo on social media where he was wearing only shorts, sneakers and a hat. Behind him is a backpack, and in front – only a naked torso (no outerwear!).

Schurrle climbed a snowy road covered with ice, and the temperature, according to Andre, reached -19 degrees. The ex-footballer passes the cold test from Wim Hof ​​- the extreme athlete from the Netherlands easily withstands the cold, he holds the world record for swimming under ice.

Schurrle is still far from Dutch, but is trying to get used to the low temperature. “The most difficult thing in terms of psychology and physics, which I completed. The last few minutes I didn’t feel anything, and I had to find something deep inside myself to continue! I will never forget it.

Minus 19, the wind blows in the face at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour, heavy snow with rain. I realized that my body and I are stronger than I thought,” wrote the ex-football player.

Didier Drogba (Schurrle crossed paths with him at Chelsea) is proud of the German. Andre Fashion Week. I’m proud of you. My body would immediately stop functioning,” Drogba admitted in the comments.

Schurrle has been testing himself for a long time

For a hike in the mountains, the German was preparing in an ice bath.

And he described the process as follows.

EGO: don’t do it! You do not need it! Come back to your warm cozy apartment!

Me: ❄️❄️💧💧 The feeling of stepping out of your comfort zone is incredible 🤩🤩🤩

I recently heard a quote: the best things and moments in life are on the opposite side of fear.

Already went to the mountains without clothes – however, in warmer weather.

Liverpool were knocked out of the 1/16 FA Cup, losing to Brighton (1:2). Another sad episode of a very unsuccessful season so far.

Although Liverpool even scored first, Harvey Elliott did it – after a close-range pass from Mohamed Salah, he flashed Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele.

Toward the end of the first half, Brighton returned to the game. After a bad corner kick, the ball ended up in front of the penalty area, but Tarik Lamptey did not lose his head and fired a strong volley on touch. On the way was defender Lewis Dunk, from whose feet the ball dived into the goal.

Almost the entire second half, both teams were silent. But already in stoppage time, Kaoru Mitoma created a masterpiece. After a corner, Pervis Estupinyan gently threw the Japanese, who was at the far post. Mitoma neatly worked the ball with two touches, and then from the goalkeeper’s area he hit hard on top. He deceived the Liverpool players with an unexpected reception of the ball. Alisson had no chance to pull out.

The legendary streak of Inaki Williams from Athletic was nevertheless interrupted – for the first time since April 2016, the striker could not enter the field in an official La Liga match. Athletic lost 0:1 to Celta.

A Basque with a Ghanaian passport lasted 6 years, 9 months and 22 days.

What’s wrong?

In the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey against Valencia (3:1), Iñaki played 88 minutes, made two assists and helped Athletic to reach the semi-finals. However, after the game, Williams unexpectedly complained of muscle discomfort. Basque was included in the application for the match with Celta in the championship, but at the last moment was removed from the protocol, he was not even on the bench.

Not too long ago, Williams almost broke the streak. 

In September 2022, Iñaki pulled ligaments in his right knee, but recovered within a week. A month later, the striker went out for the 246th time in a row and repeated the record of the defender Manfred Binz. After that, Williams risked missing the game a couple of times due to illness, but he always recovered and entered the field at least from the bench.

Williams didn’t miss 251 games – a La Liga record

The last time Williams did not go out was in a La Liga match on April 7, 2016 – it was the 33rd round of the 2015/16 season, Malaga – Athletic.

Since then, no passes.

• Season 2015/16 – 5 matches;

• Season-2016/17 – 38;

• Season-2017/18 – 38;

• Season-2018/19 – 38;

• Season 2019/20 – 38;

• Season 2020/21 – 38;

• Season 2021/22 – 38;

• Season-2022/23 – 18;

251 matches in a row – a record of the championships of Spain.

“The most incredible thing about Iñaki is that he is a striker. This is a difficult position for such a long series of matches. Forwards are exposed to many shocks. They all have to be very well prepared to play one game after another, – admired Juan Antonio Larrañague, who played 202 games in La Liga non-stop. “I suffered every day myself. Not always gave out 100% of their capabilities. Played with pain many times. And as a result, I developed traumatic arthritis in my big toe.”

Iñaki has consistently played at the start – only once in six full seasons he started less than 30 times (28 in the 2020/21 season). The best result is 36 starts in the 2018/29 season. In the current campaign, he generally started in all rounds before Celta. During the series he scored 50 goals and gave 51 assists.

During this time, Athletic changed five coaches and the president. Huge changes also took place in the life of the player himself: Inaki received Ghanaian citizenship and played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At the heart of the Basques, his brother Niko made his debut and gained a foothold.

What about other leagues?

There are more powerful results, but goalkeepers are in the lead everywhere.

Serie A leader is Franco Tancredi (Roma) with 258 caps. In France, the first place is held by keeper Fabien Coul (307 matches), who spent his entire career at Auxerre. 310 – Premier League record holder Brad Friedel.

All of them are vastly behind the legendary Bayern goalkeeper Sepp Maier – 442 matches in a row. 13 seasons without a single pass.

In December 2022, Williams admitted that he does not think about Zepp’s record and just wants to bring maximum benefit to the team: “The striker must score goals. I try to enjoy every game and stay calm a few meters from the goal.”

On Saturday , Arina Sobolenko fulfilled her dream and became the Grand Slam champion by winning the Australian Open . After that, at the championship press conference, she was asked how famous she was in her native Belarus.

Arina replied that she is quite famous, because there are not so many great athletes in the country.

In the final, even Alexander Lukashenko supported her. The Pool of the First telegram channel, covering his activities, first wrote: “ The first one looked, got sick, worried, sometimes used foul language, but predicted victory – in the second and third set. And of course, immediately congratulated!

A video of congratulations was also posted. On it, Lukashenka, together with a white Spitz, as well as businessman and member of his hockey team Sergei Teterin (who worked as chairman of the Belarusian Tennis Federation until 2021) drank a glass of vodka for Sobolenko’s success: “Now Arina has everything. It remains to wish personal happiness, health and new victories. Arina, for you!

Lukashenka loves tennis. For example, in 2010 he participated in a charity match with the participation of Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki, organized in Minsk.

And in 2012, he celebrated Azarenka’s victory at the Australian Open while in Sochi. As they said in a report on Belarusian television, then he “raised a mug of hot tea for her.”

 

This video on Saturday was also remembered by “Pool of the First”: “It seems that the video“ Pour it up! ten years ago (when Azarenka won the Australian Open) a competitor appeared😎”

He already congratulated Sobolenko on his victory in Adelaide this year. The message on the official website said: “To the delight of many fans from Belarus and from all over the world, you achieved this victory by showing an excellent game, iron endurance and self-control on the court. I am sure that we will have a bright season in which you will be able to conquer the highest peaks of world tennis.”

The European Championship in Finnish Espoo is a unique tournament: Russian skaters were suspended, but they still win. Anastasia Gubanova moved to Georgia two years ago and has already won gold.

And where is the Belgian Luna Hendrix ? The main star of the tournament is only the second.

Hendrix started the Euro with mistakes and said she would go to the hotel to cry

Luna came to Finland as a favorite: for her – the silver of the 2022 World Championship, the victory at the French Grand Prix already this season, the bronze of the series finale. And, of course, serious assessments by the standards of this season: at international tournaments she scored more than 200 points three times (less – only in the Grand Prix final).

Already on the first day of the Euro, Luna gave her rivals a chance: she broke the cascade, barely standing on her feet. The best components did not help – the first after the short program was Gubanova (69.81 against 67.85).

“I am very disappointed, this is not the level at which I can ride. But I’m going to fight and I won’t give up just like that. Tomorrow is a new day and a new start. I’ll probably cry now in the hotel, let out all the emotions – and start again, ”Hendrix said in confusion.

The most unexpected conflict of the winter is the Daily Blind against Ajax.

Blind terminated the contract with the club and went to Bayern for free. In the Netherlands, they did not understand either the decision of Ajax or the departure of Blind, and scolded the player that he left without compensation for a strong club.

But everything turned out to be not so simple. Blind revealed Ajax’s problems.

He did so with a bold announcement: “I thought for a very long time that I would end my career at Ajax. And at some point I thought: well, if I leave earlier, then next summer, when the contract ends – hopefully with another title and a well-deserved goodbye, through the front door.

But I got to the point where they didn’t even want to see me in the club where I was from the age of seven! The management said they didn’t want to see me in training. And in the end we terminated the contract. The last few weeks have been a very scary roller coaster.”

Powerful performance, but Blind also fleshed out the issues in the AD interview.

Blind accuses Ajax sports director Huntelaar of lying

Hardest hit was Klas-Jan Huntelar, the sporting director, who said Blind’s departure was the player’s decision.

“He shouldn’t speak for me,” Blind replied. – I turned from the first choice to the fourth position. And the coach completely ignored me after a skirmish during a break in one of the matches.

Huntelaar made me look like a bad guy in front of the fans. I wrote to him about it. It is quite typical for me that Ajax was the first to go public, while a mutual silence clause was included in the agreement to terminate the contract: I would not say anything about Ajax, they would not say anything about me. And after all, the club itself asked to include this item!”