Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has tied the knot with Becky Boston in front of a star-studded crowd in Byron Bay.
The couple walked down the aisle on Friday afternoon, but only shared the news with the world on social media on Monday evening.
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Cummins, 29, and Boston, 31, held their glamorous reception at the Chatuea Du Soleil in Byron Bay.
The couple uploaded the same image to their social media accounts on Monday, showing them holding hands in a garden surrounded by white flowers.
A host of big names were in attendance at the ceremony with Andy Lee and his girlfriend Bec Harding.
Fellow cricket stars Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon were also among the guests.
The news comes hot on the heels of Ash Barty marrying her long-term partner.
Cummins proposed to Boston back in 2020 after a banner 12 months which he capped off by dropping down to one knee.
Boston posted a photograph of the two having a picnic in a picturesque farm setting with the caption: “My forever person. I am the happiest girl in the world right now.”
Cummins also shared the news on social media and was widely congratulated by the cricket world.
“Big boy. Took you long enough haha congrats guys!” wrote Peter Siddle.
“Congratulations guys. A champagne to settle the nerves,” added Mitchell Johnson.
Cummins went public with the Brit-born interior designer back in 2014 and she is regularly seen on his arm at red carpet events and cheering from the stands.
The couple welcomed their first child, Albie, in 2021.
A 3m piece of space junk from Elon Musk’s spacecraft has crashed into a farmer’s property in NSW at around 25,000km/h.
The object – which was part of the SpaceX Crew-1 craft – was found in a sheep paddock by a farmer living on a large property in the Snowy Mountains.
Farmer Mick Miners said he discovered the space junk, which resembled a tree from a distance, after his family heard a loud bang.
The bang was also reportedly heard by residents living in southern NSW, with some alleging they saw an explosion.
SpaceX has been in space for almost two years. Supplied Credit: NCA NewsWire
Neighboring farmer Jock Wallace also reported a similar foreign object that had been torpedoed into his land.
Luckily for both farmers, the space waste – which came from one of the craft’s fins – was located a fair way from their homes.
Upon investigation, Australian National University space expert Brad Tucker was called by authorities to inspect the object.
“This is most definitely space junk which was part of the SpaceX Crew-1 trunk,” he told Ben Fordham on radio on Monday.
“SpaceX has this capsule that takes humans into space, but there is a bottom part … so when the astronauts come back, they leave the bottom part in space before the capsule lands.”
Musk determined to be on Mars in five years.
Musk determined to be on Mars in five years.
The spacecraft, which costs $62m per launch, has started to deorbit after almost two years in space.
Mr Tucker said the craft was originally planned to break apart and land in the ocean.
“We saw most pieces land in the ocean, but clearly some hadn’t because this 3m piece was speared into the ground from space,” Mr Tucker said.
“In photographs of the debris, you can clearly see charring, which you would expect from re-entry (into the atmosphere). It is very rare to see because they don’t usually land on land but in the ocean. People often think they find small pieces of space junk, but they would burn up on re-entry, so it’s more likely to be large pieces like this.”
The spacecraft, which is a stainless steel rocket, was more than 50m tall.
SpaceX is an American aerospace company founded in 2002 by Mr Musk that helped usher in the era of commercial spaceflight.
A man has been arrested after he was found with an assault rifle outside the Brooklyn home of an Iranian American journalist who was previously the target of a brazen abduction plot by Iranian intelligence agents, according to court documents and the journalist.
Masih Alinejad, an exiled journalist and women’s rights advocate living in New York, has long been critical of the regime in Tehran. Last year, four Iranians were charged with conspiring to kidnap her and take her to the Middle Eastern country, possibly via a daring maritime mission. (Iranian officials dismissed the allegations at the time as “baseless.”)
Iranian intelligence agents plotted brazen abduction of Brooklyn dissident journalist, US prosecutors say
Alinejad was not identified by prosecutors, but on Sunday, she said she was the intended target in last week’s incident — posting a video on Twitter that she said showed the man outside her home. The video, in which the weapon was not visible, appeared to have been captured by a doorbell camera.
“Last year the FBI stopped the Islamic Republic from kidnapping me. My crime is giving voice to voiceless people. The US administration must be tough on terror,” she wrote on Twitter.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan on Friday, the suspect, Khalid Mehdiyev, was observed by law enforcement officials near a home in Brooklyn on Wednesday and Thursday.
He “behaved suspiciously” during that time, the complaint reads, entering and leaving a gray Subaru Forester SUV several times, ordering food to the vehicle and appearing to attempt to look inside the windows of the house.
New York City police officers arrested him nearby on Thursday afternoon, after he did not stop at a stop sign and was found to be driving without a license.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, investigators found a loaded AK-47-style assault rifle in a suitcase on the rear seat, the court document shows, along with identification for Mehdiyev showing a home address in Yonkers. The rifle’s serial number appeared to have been destroyed, but markings indicated it was made by Norinco, a Chinese state-owned manufacturer of firearms and military supplies.
The suitcase also contained $1,100 in hundred-dollar bills, investigators say.
According to the criminal complaint, Mehdiyev initially said that he didn’t know about a gun and that the suitcase was not his. He told investigators he had borrowed the vehicle and that he had placed his wallet and other personal effects in the front pocket of the suitcase for “safekeeping.”
During an interview with law enforcement officials, he said that he was in Brooklyn looking for a place to live and that he attempted to open the door of the residence to knock on an inner door to ask whether the residents would rent him a room. He told investigators he changed his mind because he thought he might wake a sleeping or sick occupant, the court document said.
But later, the complaint said, he called the investigators back and told them that the rifle was his and that he had been in Brooklyn because he was looking for someone.
Mehdiyev was charged with one count of possessing a firearm with a destroyed serial number and detained without bond. His attorney for him, Stephanie Carvlin, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday night.
Several exiled Iranian dissidents have disappeared under mysterious circumstances in recent years, although threats such as those allegedly faced by Alinejad on US soil are especially rare.
Alinejad, a longtime critic of the theocratic government in Tehran, received a human rights award in Geneva in 2015 for creating a Facebook page inviting women in Iran, where hijabs are mandatory, to post pictures of themselves without their headscarves. She is a prominent figure on Farsi-language satellite channels abroad that critically view Iran.
Last month, she wrote in a column for The Washington Post that Instagram restricted her account after a video she shared that was critical of the Iranian government went viral; it was viewed 2.8 million times on Instagram and more than 1 million times on Twitter. An Instagram representative said at the time the restriction was placed “incorrectly because of a technical issue.”
Alinejad tweeted Sunday that she was “shocked to learn that an assassin with a loaded AK-47 came to my home in Brooklyn.” She added: “I’m grateful to federal agents but the Administration must do more to protect US citizens.”
Power prices are hiking yet again in added blow to the cost of living pressures as Australia shivers through winter.
Adam Corrigan, an energy efficiency expert at Australian Energy Foundation, has a few tips for Australians looking to save some dollars on their next power bill.
The first problem going unnoticed is wall vents, according to Corrigan.
Wall vents can allow heat to escape. (9News)
“The wall vents, you don’t need them, close them off, it’s just another hole in your home,” he said.
“You can actually go to your hardware store and you can actually buy a little plate that just goes straight over the top of it.”
The next problem where valuable heat is escaping homes is in door seals.
“Put your draft stripping along there, external weather strip, internal weather strip and you’ve sealed the door off,” Corrigan said.
Corrigan said even the little two-millimetre gaps between the door and the fame is where heat is “diving straight out the door”.
Gaps between the door and door frame could be costing you more on the power bill. (9News)
Many may not realize this is eating up the power but Corrigan pointed out electric devices like speakers, modems, DVD players and the Foxtel box functioning on stand-by power are still chewing up the bill.
“In the average home, about 15 to 20 per cent of your electricity spend is just appliances on stand-by,” he said.
Corrigan recommended investing in stand-by power remotes to solve the problem.
“Plug them in at the wall socket plug in your powerboard, get a remote and bang you’ve just turned it off at the wall,” he said.
“It will cost you $30 to $40. It pays for itself in the first couple of months.”
Appliances are often on stand-by and still using power. (9News)
With all of the cold weather, if residents don’t have an air conditioning unit that can heat then they may have invested in a small electric floor heater but Corrigan said these are “money guzzlers”.
“They’re just really just energy hungry,” he said.
Comparatively, Corrigan said the electric heater uses about 1500 watts while a high-efficiency air conditioner is using 1300 watts at maximum power.
“That (air conditioner) will heat the room much much more effectively,” he said.
Electric heaters use more power than air conditioning units, Corrigan says. (9News)
Hot water systems account for up to 40 per cent of household energy use but Corrigan says turning the top temperature down can save cash.
And the second fridge in the garage can often be another appliance sucking energy and adding it to the bill.
“Simple thing, if you want it for your Christmas parties, birthday parties, that sort of thing but turn it off the rest of the time,” Corrigan said.
“Turn it on the day before and away you go.”
Triumph and heartbreak as Aussies dominate Commonwealth Games
There are many games in the PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe catalogue.
So many games, in fact, it’s hard to know where to start. But what if it’s not enough? What if there were several notable snubs that would sadden and disgust me were they not added to the catalogue? huh? What about that?
With how these game services work, we’ll continue to see more titles added to the PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe games catalogue. Perhaps we will one day see a time where every single game ever made is available to play on the LeapFrog LeapPad Ultimate Bundle Kids Safe Learning Tablet.
However, there are a few games that are definitely real (because I’ve played every one of them from start to finish, for sure) that I would like to see make their way to the PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe games catalogue. Please take a look.
The Last Minion
Image: Ruby Innes / Kotaku Australia
This is easily one of the best psychological horror games ever made.
The Last Minion is an indie game developed by Gru himself in his self-made engine GRUnity, and he said that it came to him in a dream where the Minions turned against him and tried to eat him alive. Of course, Gru still loves his Minions, but this game was a passion project he had to make.
Set in the aftermath of the Great Minion Massacre, you play as Gru hunting down the final Minion, a troublesome beastie called Grenjamin that refuses to die and loves eating Gru-based individuals.
The graphics are insane. I really felt like I was Gru, and I honestly had fear in my heart for this horrible creature. Este needs to be in the PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe games catalogue.
Bunty Goes To Gynecology School
Image: Ruby Innes / Kotaku Australia
This is hands down the best Bunty game in the Bunty series.
Bunty Goes To Gynecology School is a comedic action-adventure, puzzle platformer, and educational simulator game developed by iconic studio The BedWetters. It is the 14th game in the Bunty series and a sequel to the cult-classic Bunty Makes A Genuine Italian Lasagne. The most recent game in the series was 2021’s Bunty Is In The Army Now And He’s Bloodthirsty.
The game revolves around the big man himself, Bunty, as he learns all about what it takes to be a gynecologist. The greatest part of this game is not only its sense of humor but also the fact that you have all the knowledge and qualifications required to become a professional gynecologist upon completion.
Este needs to be in the PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe games catalog as it’s the best one. easily.
Oochie Ouchie Footsie Ouch 2: Foot Hurty Owie Ow
Image: Ruby Innes / Kotaku Australia
Oochie Ouchie Footsie Ouch 2: Foot Hurty Owie Ow is the superior sequel to the admittedly rough Oochie Ouchie Footsie Ouch.
Oochie Ouchie Footsie Ouch 2: Foot Hurty Owie Ow was made by indie studio Damn, That’s Gotta Hurt Interactive. You play as a foot as you go through many levels that require you to hop on horrifically painful things like Legos and thumbtacks. The first game felt like a demo, but this one feels real.
What sets this game apart is the heartfelt story of the foot. We learn that one day, the foot accidentally fell off the elusive ‘Some Guy’ when he fell asleep waiting for a Diet Coke and Hot Fudge Sundae at the Ouchland McDonalds at 2:00 am after a night getting gunked up at the Yeowch Hotel. The journey the foot has to go through, which involves stepping on many painful things, echoes our everyday struggles and pains as a society.
If this doesn’t hit the PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe games catalog soon, I don’t know what I’ll do with myself or even my own foot.
Constipation: The Beginning
Image: Ruby Innes / Kotaku Australia
Constipation: The Beginning is one of my favorite games of all time.
Constipation: The Beginning is the prequel title of the constipation series, which has seen critical acclaim from the video games industry and the medical industry alike. It was developed by sole developer Dr Greeble Gunts, a proctologist that started making the constipation games to educate the masses about the dangers of constipation.
What I love most about this game is that the character customization is easily one of the most advanced I’ve seen in a video game. You can make the playable character look exactly like you, and Dr Gunts did this so players would feel truly immersed in the painful experience of constipation.
I hope the PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe games catalog includes this game soon, so more people can learn what to do when you are constipated.
Playstation Worm (Remaster)
Image: Ruby Innes / Kotaku Australia
I can’t understand why playstation worm never got any sequels or remasters.
playstation worm was PlayStation’s answer to nintendogs, and was a PlayStation exclusive. Similar to nintendogs, you have a special friend that you must raise, walk, feed, and train for competitions. However, the big difference is that your special friend is a giant 12-meter-long worm that speaks to you and asks you to do things.
The worm has a man’s face and is very kind to you if you treat it right. However, it will ask you to do unspeakable things — horrible, terrible acts of evil. At first, you’re disgusted at the thought, but then you sit back and think about whether you would do these things for your family dog, who you deeply care for. It changes things a lot.
Not only do I need to see this game on the PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe games catalogue, but it needs to be remastered.
How about you, then? What game do you want to see in the PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe games catalogue? Let us know!
Rachelle Levi — proud mum of sisters Teagan and Maddi who were part of Australia’s Commonwealth Games gold-medal winning women’s rugby 7s side — was “two champagne bottles down” and could not contain her excitement when she was interviewed by Sam Mac on Sunrise on Monday morning.
“Oh my god, I’ve been up all night and I’m the most excited mother in the whole world. I absolutely love my daughters and I love the Aussie girls, they are the best!” she said.
“Woohoo, two champagne bottles down already, yesss!” she excitedly told Mac, who responded: ”At the Olympics it was all about (swimming coach) Dean Boxall, right, as the most passionate supporter, well I see your Dean Boxall and I raise you Rachelle, over here. Are you ok?”
Sam Mac caught up with Rachelle, the proud mum of sisters Teagan and Maddi Levi who were part of the rugby 7s team that took out the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Credit: Sunrise/supplied
Dean Boxall became an instant social media hit for his reaction in the immediate aftermath of Ariarne Titmus’ victory over her American arch rival at the Olympics.
Throwing his head back and rattling the safety barrier in wild scenes he later explained he was paying homage to 1980s and 90s wrestling star The Ultimate Warrior, who he described as “my favourite”.
Nat Barr and David Koch were in stitches over Rachelle’s interview, with co-host Edwina Bartholomew questioning how her daughters might feel about their mother’s outing on national TV.
“Imagine winning a gold medal and waking up the next morning with messages ‘Your mum’s on TV, she’s had two bottles of champagne, she’s a riot!’”
SEE THE HILARIOUS INTERVIEW IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
Rachelle Levi admits she was “two champagne bottles down” during the interview. Credit: Sunrise
But it seems her daughters were well aware of what their mother might get up to.
Maddison Levi, who scored 10 tries in five games, including a hat-trick against New Zealand that was sealed by an assist from her sister, guessed her parents would be enjoying the moment.
“Mum had a bottle of champagne ready at 6am in the morning,” the 19-year-old said.
“She was ready to celebrate and I think she’ll be celebrating all day… mum dad, all our friends and family came around to watch so I’m sure she’ll be on it all day.
Rachelle Levi had Sam Mac and the Sunrise hosts in fits of laughter. Credit: Sunrise
“I don’t know if I can say (what they said) on camera; they were definitely happy.
“There were tears of joy. It was a pretty emotionally rollercoaster.
“They’ve been with us through the highs and lows and to have two kids standing on that podium is pretty awesome. They definitely had tears. But lots of swearing, I can confirm.”
A central Queensland mother has been remanded in custody after being charged with murder over the death of her eight-year-old son.
WARNING: This story contains graphic content that may disturb some readers, and references to an Aboriginal person who has died.
Police were called to a welfare check at a Berserker home during the early hours of Saturday morning where they found the body of Zion Ziggy Sean Goltz.
On Saturday afternoon his mother Louwanna Thyra Goltz, 36, was charged with one count of murder.
Her case was mentioned in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court this morning, but she did not appear in person.
In an objection to bail affidavit filed by police and obtained by the ABC, police will allege the boy died by strangulation, although prosecutors are awaiting an autopsy to confirm his cause of death.
The affidavit claims Zion was not in Ms Goltz’s care for the first seven years of his life and had only been returned to her care in the past 12 months.
The court documents allege Ms Goltz’s mental health declined in the past months, and “alarmingly” quickly in the past week.
The affidavit also states Ms Goltz was detained for a mental health assessment on Saturday where she was diagnosed with suicidal ideation, with police arresting her for her own welfare.
The mother and son lived at a Berserker address managed by the Department of Housing.
According to the court documents a witness told police Ms Goltz was “rambling incoherently” and spoke about an artist’s canvas in the early hours of the morning of Zion’s death.
Police have seized the canvas, which allegedly displays words with Christian themes relating to Satan and Jesus Christ.
Police allegedly observed her speak and apologize to voices for disrespecting them.
HAMPSHIRE, Ill. (WL S) — Questions remain after a mother from Rolling Meadows and five children were killed in a fiery crash on I-90 in McHenry County Sunday.
That sole survivor of the crash, Thomas Dobosz, 32, remains hospitalized here at Loyola University Medical Center.
A neighbor told ABC7 he lost his wife and all of his children in the crash.
Investigators said just after 2 am Sunday, Dobosz was driving westbound on I-90 near Hampshire in a blue Chevy van when the driver of a gray Acura, identified as 22-year-old Jennifer Fernandes of Carpentersville, was driving in the opposite direction and collided with Dobosz’s vehicle head on. Both cars became totally engulfed in flames.
Troopers said they found Fernandes dead on scene as well as all of Dobosz’s passengers, identified as 31-year-old Lauren Dobosz and five children: two 13-year-old girls, 7- and 6-year-old boys, and a 5 -year-old girl.
SEE ALSO | Kankakee couple killed, 3 kids injured in GA crash on way to visit grandparents
Neighbors in Rolling Meadows said four of them were the couple’s kids.
“When you find out it is people you’ve known for many years, it kind of hits a little harder,” David Moreno, a neighbor of the Dobosz family, said. “Losing your family in a split-second like that is not going to be easy for anybody.”
Moreno said four of the children were the couple’s kids.
“My understanding is one of the eldest daughters had a friend with them,” he said. “I know it’s going to be devastating for the community just to know that it was somebody that people have known.”
State Police are still trying to figure out why Hernandes was going the wrong way. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the five children.
The fatal crash also caused another one collision.
When a semi-truck had stopped to let a medical helicopter land, a second semi didn’t stop in time and rear ended it, officials said.
The trailer on one of them was torn open and the boxes inside scattered on the roadway.
One person had minor injuries from the second crash.
From solid perfumes and shampoos to serum capsules and face contouring devices, here’s an edit of beauty miniatures for your next trip.
Tata’s Daily Essentials Kit by Tata Harper: A kit that’s made up of Tata’s favorites, the products within the Daily Essentials set will help revitalize and rejuvenate the skin, helping to make it feel smoother and firmer, thanks to the antioxidants and botanicals. The collection contains the Regenerating Cleanser, Resurfacing Mask, Hydrating Floral Essence, Rejuvenating Serum, Reparative Moisturiser, and Replenishing Nutrient Face Oil, all in handy mini sizes.
Tata’s Daily Essentials Kit by Tata Harper:
Nanny Harper
Eau Rose Refillable Solid Perfume by Diptyque Paris: Housed within a sweet reusable pot is this solid perfume by Diptyque. It is made from alcohol-free wax, and the balm is scented with Eau Rose (there’s a range of other fragrances available too).
Eau Rose Refillable Solid Perfume by Diptyque Paris
Patrick Parchet / Diptyque Paris
Airbrush Glow & Set Travel Kit by Charlotte Tilbury: A hero set from leading makeup artist, Charlotte Tilbury, expect classics in the form of the Hollywood Flawless Filter to highlight and brighten the complexion, the Mini Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder for touch-ups, and the Travel Sized Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray.
Airbrush Glow & Set Travel Kit by Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury
Rêve de Miel Gentle Shampoo Bar by Nuxe: A gentle shampoo block by Nuxe, it is ideal for trips away. It is sulfate-free and contains Provence honey as well as organic camelina oil to give a silky feel and appearance.
Rêve de Miel Gentle Shampoo Bar by Nuxe
Nuxe
Travel Essentials Setby Eve Lom: This Eve Lom bundle is made up of its multi-award-winning Cleanser, that’ll soften, smooth and deeply cleanse the skin; the quick-absorbing Time Retreat Radiance Essence that’ll provide luminosity while also reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; the Moisture Cream for radiant, hydrated skin; and the mini Muslin Cloth.
Travel Essentials Set by Eve Lom
Fantastic look
Bear Mini Facial Toning Device by FOREO: A best-selling toning device for FOREO, it uses microcurrents to contour the face by energizing and firming all 69 muscles in the face and neck. It’s made from silicone so it can be easily washed, it’s USB rechargeable (up to 90 uses per single charge), and also comes with an app to control the currents.
Bear Mini Facial Toning Device by FOREO
FOREO
Green Weekender by Bamford: Everything you want for a quick weekend away to naturally nourish the skin and hair, this Bamford set consists of 4 x 50ml bottles of Geranium shampoo, Geranium conditioner, Geranium body wash and Geranium body lotion, housed in a handy white muslin bag.
Green Weekender by Bamford
bamford
Clear Bottles by Muji: Muji offers a whole host of reusable bottles in handy travel sizes — great for when you have to decant your favorite liquid product.
Clear Bottles by Muji
Muji
Hyaluron Intense Travel by Zelens: Zelens takes a no-nonsense approach to skincare, and these mini serums are easy to use while packing a punch of hydration. Suitable for all skin types, the lightweight serum supports skin renewal to give a supple, smooth, and more plump complexion.
“Ideal for most skin types, this light serum gives a burst of intense hydration, leaving skin beautifully plumped and smoother.” Dr Marko Lens
Hyaluron Intense Travel by Zelens
FANTASTIC LOOK
Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel by Dr. Dennis Gross: A super easy and quick way to rejuvenate your complexion, these peel packs (available in five, 30 or 60) are great for slipping in your hand luggage. Made up of five alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids and antioxidants (including retinol, ubiquinone and resveratrol), this combination will protect and smooth the complexion, as well as restore uniformity of tone.
Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel by Dr Dennis Gross
Dennis Gross
GEAR Pocket Multi-Tool by Tweezerman: Keep your nails in tip-top condition with this multi-tool by Tweezerman. Made from stainless steel, there’s a folding nail clipper, file, little scissors, and buff.
GEAR Pocket Multi-Tool by Tweezerman
Fantastic look
Deodorant Stick by Acqua Di Parma: A convenient and great-smelling deodorant (it dons the Colonia Pura scent), this hard stick doesn’t have to be packed in your liquids bag, giving you that precious extra space.
Deodorant Stick by Acqua Di Parma
Acqua Di Parma
Unplugged Cordless Styler by ghd: A cordless styler is great for when you’re on the go, and this one from ghd is 35% lighter than the Platinum+ Styler. The straightener features two heat sensors, one across each styling plate, and offers up to 20 minutes of styling. It comes with a USB-C charging cable so it can be charged on a plane, in a car, or on your laptop. It’s pre-set to an optimum temperature of 365°F, allowing the ceramic-coated plates to easily glide through the types without snagging for a slick finish.
Unplugged Cordless Styler by ghd
Look Fantastic
Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator Travel Size by dermalogica: Atravel light exfoliant, the rice-based powder activates when it comes into contact with water, releasing papain, salicylic acid and rice enzymes that polish the skin. It’ll also brighten and even out the skin tone thanks to the phytic acid from rice bran, white tea and licorice, while the oatmeal and allantoin soothe and reduce redness.
Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator Travel Size by dermalogica
The first thing Chalmers needs to know is: that’s completely fine. And in swimming, sadly, almost a new normality. His great rival and friend Dressel has been open with his mental health concerns about him, speaking of them before Tokyo and then withdrawing just days into the recent FINA World Championships.
The Olympics were a watershed for athletes dealing with crushing pressure and expectation. Simone Biles, one of the faces of the American Games team, drew her from competition to focus on her mental health. Swimming’s winning machine, Katie Ledecky, showed rare glimpses of emotion as the toll she carried became clear.
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Chalmers need look no further than the face on the other side of the Channel Seven microphone for a reminder of how swimming can grind down even the brightest of souls. Cate Campbell, poolside for the broadcaster in Birmingham, revealed her own depression battle late last year after she was diagnosed four weeks before the Tokyo Games.
The whole scenario raises questions about the treatment of athletes, especially those who float in and out of the spotlight and don’t have the support scaffolding in place like those in the protective bubble of a wealthy football or cricket team.
Professionals must have a degree of resilience in terms of weathering the occasional media storm or robust line of questioning. But it wasn’t only Chalmers who felt the line had been crossed when he spent his entire post-race interview talking not about a gold medal or a Games record but allegations of petulance and division.
It may be hard for him to see through the present mist but his lowest moment also presents a golden opportunity. Having been bold enough to call out what he felt was inappropriate and inaccurate coverage, Chalmers now has the chance to step back, reconnect with the important people in his life and ponder what he wants out of the sport, if anything, and how to engage with those within its wider ecosystem.
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What is apparent is that he could do with a fresh set of eyes when it comes to taking back control of his own narrative, because it’s a good one, potentially with a great legacy, and worth telling. If that means picking his battles from him more carefully and having some more discipline around his prolific social media output, he needs to be open to those conversations.
But first, he shouldn’t fear stepping back and if needed, checking out completely for an extended time. Travel the world, learn the drums, feed the snakes… all worthy adventures if they lead to him finding his self-worth and purpose beyond a set of Speedos.
Once he does, as so many have done before, he will return to the pool with a renewed vigour, drive and love for the water. What he comes to define as success, as a person and an athlete, will go a long way to determining what sort of man will emerge from the other side.
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