Sometimes it’s not about winning, it’s just about getting in the pool.
And Chelsea Hodges’s bronze medal in the women’s 50 meter breaststroke was proof of that.
“The last 12 months have been really hard,” she told ABC Sport.
“Just to come back to do that swim, no words for it. I’m just incredibly proud of myself.”
The Olympics Comedown
At the Tokyo Olympics, the 21-year-old was part of Australia’s successful 4x100m medley relay team, becoming another member of the Dolphins’ gold medal factory.
She was on top of the world, a rising star among an exciting crop of young talent, and everyone told her life was going to change.
Except that it didn’t.
“Normally swimming is what she uses to get rid of the stress, that’s the place she goes to find peace,” mum Catie Hodges told ABC Sport.
“But she said, ‘what do you do when the pool is what’s causing the stress?'”
Chelsea Hodges (right) found it hard to adjust to life after winning gold in Tokyo.(Getty: Jean Catuffe)
Chelsea said it got the point where she “questioned why I was in the sport.”
“I went through that bit of a post-Olympic depression and just really struggled and lost my love for the sport,” she said.
She threw herself back into swimming after Tokyo, helping out with swim clinics, and her family thought all was well.
But one day she broke down in tears and told her mum what was really going on.
“From the age of three she said she wanted to swim for Australia,” Catie said.
“And she said: ‘I got there and I won this, you always say it wouldn’t be great if I won a gold medal and you won it and go, now what? It doesn’t feel like you think it would feel .’
“She was worried that she wouldn’t be fast again and so she thought about quitting.”
Hodges’s support system kicked into gear to help get her through and back in the pool.
Hodges says she’s rediscovered her love of the sport.(Getty: Quinn Rooney)
“My friends and family at home, my squad mates at home are my absolute rock and they really pushed me through,” Chelsea said.
“I had a few days where I just sat beside the pool and had about six of them next to me giving me hugs, so they really did help me, they made me fall in love with the sport again.
“This moment right here is exactly why I’m in it.”
Hodges isn’t the only Dolphin who’s dealt with a difficult Tokyo aftermath.
After winning Commonwealth Games bronze in the men’s 200m freestyle, Elijah Winnington shared similar thoughts.
“Two months after the Games, I wasn’t sure if I’d even swim again, I was really struggling with motivation,” he said.
“What was going through my mind was ‘what’s the point if I’m putting in all this hard work, and I get a result like at the Olympics [7th and 22nd]?’
“So I ended up getting in contact with some really special people and my mind coach now who I talk to every day who’s really built on my mindset to how I can push forward and keep improving mentally, and not just the physical side.”
Looking backwards and forwards to find your way
Jake Templeton has had to rely on resilience too, to remain motivated.
After a four-year hiatus from the international scene, he marked his return with bronze in the men’s 50m freestyle S13, for vision-impaired swimmers.
The Tasmanian missed selection for the 2019 world championships by a tiny margin and wasn’t selected for last year’s Paralympics despite swimming a qualifying time.
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He was philosophical about his journey.
“I like to look backwards and forwards,” he said.
“I like to look back at the things that were a bit of heartbreak, and then I like to look forward at moments like tonight where I just want to win a medal.
“I just knew that I wasn’t done yet, so I had a bit of a vengeance and something to prove.”
Katja Dedekind broke the first world record of the meet, in the women’s 50m freestyle S13 final.
“I thought the worlds was my best time that I could do this year and to be honest, if that was my best time this year I would have been happy,” she said.
“But a PB, world record, Commonwealth Games champion, world champion in the same year, stoked.
“I feel like I’m only just knocking on the door of all the knowledge that there is in the swimming world.”
Cycling: The Australian dominated the race and takes first place with points. Scotland’s Neah Evans takes silver and Wales’ Eluned King picks up bronze.
Georgia Baker wins gold for Australia! Photograph: Ian Walton/AP
gymnastics: Jea Maracha’s wonderful floor display gets her up to seventh.
gymnastics: Emma Spence has moved ahead of Alice Kinsella in the all-round final.
Men’s bowls: It’s 10-9 to England against Jersey after end 13 in the quarter final. It’s pretty intense stuff on the greens.
Cycling: Laura Kenny is action very soon. She is taking part in the 25km points race. That is just 100 laps of the track.
Cycling: Chris Hoy on the crash: “There are quite often crashes but they are rarely very serious. This one is the direct result of not having a barrier at the top of the fencing. Personally, I think it is preventable if they put a perspex screen to protect the crowd. I have seen a shot of it and it was horrendous to see. Something has to be done before something genuinely serious happens.”
England win mixed triathlon gold
Alex Yee got the team off to a great start, which was followed up by Sophie Coldwell, Sam Dickinson and Georgia Taylor-Brown putting in fine displays to complete the job. Taylor-Brown crosses the line with flag in hand. It is a second gold for Yee in the games. Wales take silver and Australia bronze.
England win gold in the mixed triathlon! Photograph: David Davies/PA
Men’s hockey: England defeat Wales 4-2. The Welsh put in a fine defensive display but were made to pay for leaving indiscipline.
Mixed triathlon: Wales, New Zealand and Australia are working together in the chasing pack on the bikes in the vague hope they can catch Taylor-Brown in front. That is unlikely but it should be a fun battle for silver and bronze.
Mixed triathlon: Taylor-Brown opts to swim without a wetsuit and still adds to the 16-second lead she had when she entered the water. She jumps on the bike 20 seconds ahead of her competitors.
Men’s hockey: Five minutes to go between England and Wales. The score is currently 3-2 to England after a whirlwind few minutes.
England’s Samuel Ward in action with Wales’ Hywel Jones. Photograph: Stoyan Nenov/Reuters
Mixed triathlon: Sam Dickinson completes his run in plenty of discomfort. He is giving it everything to send Taylor-Brown off in the lead for the final leg.
Men’s hockey: England have a 2-1 lead over Wales with less than 10 minutes to go.
gymnastics: Alice Kinsella puts in an impressive display on the uneven bars. An incredible dismount completes the job. Top top stuff.
Mixed triathlon: Huge fan of the commentators celebrating a quick shoe change. You have to admire that.
Mixed triathlon: England’s Alex Yee had a storming leg to hand over to Sophie Coldwell in a commanding lead. Coldwell is putting in a fine performance so far to maintain the lead at the front. She is currently on the bike.
Alex Yee dominates his leg to give England a big lead in the Mixed triathlon. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images
gymnastics: There is nothing like gymnastics to make you feel old. Wales’ Jea Maracha has just put in an incredible display on the uneven bars. She is only 16.
Men’s hockey: England and Wales are all level at 1-1 after two quarters. Ward gave England the lead but Prosser equalised.
Phillip Roper and Wales’ Dale Hutchinson battle for the ball in the men’s hockey. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA
gymnastics: The competitors in the Women’s All Around final have been introduced to the crowd.
Men’s squash: Good news for England’s Adrian Waller who is into the last eight thanks to a comfortable win over Christopher Binnie.
Another 3-0 win for Adrian sends him into the quarters! 👏
— 🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. July 31, 2022
Cycling: A further updates from Team England on Matt Walls: “Matt is alert and talking (as he has been throughout) and is being given medical attention in hospital.”
India defeat Pakistan by eight wickets
It was an absolute breeze for the Indians in the end, reaching their 100 target with more than six overs to spare, aided by an unbeaten half century from Smriti.
India have too much for Pakistan as they defeat their neighbors by eight wickets. Photograph: Aijaz Rahi/AP
Here is what happened earlier in Lee Valley.
Cycling: Fixing the track at the velodrome looks like a tricky job.
A member of staff at Lee Valley gets to work on the damaged track. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
Why are the BBC claiming the cricket on BBC One right now is live when it is quite considerably delayed? Am I missing something?
Men’s hockey: England v Wales is about to start. Both sides won their opening fixtures so will be aiming to maintain a perfect record. Wales are wearing an intimidating all black kit, while England look angelic in all white.
Cricket: India are 63-1 and are cruising to victory with 37 required from 69 balls.
Cruising. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters
Matt Walls taken to hospital
Cycling: A positive update from Team England.
Following a crash in the cycling men’s scratch race, Matt Walls has been taken to hospital for precautionary checks.
We send our best wishes to the riders and spectators involved in the incident, and will provide a further update when we can.
Cycling: Matt Walls is on his way to hospital and has been described as “all right”, according to the BBC, which is a relief.
rugby sevens: A very dramatic ending to New Zealand v Fiji. The Kiwis ended the match with five players after two late yellow cards with the score at 14-14. They managed to hold on to get a golden point but Fiji took advantage of the extra players to score early on.
Cycling: Matt Walls has been taken out of the stands on a stretcher.
rugby sevens: New Zealand are leading Fiji 14-7 at the break, aided by the Fijians playing most of the game thus far a man light. New Zealand gifted a try in the final seconds of the half after being utterly dominant.
Leroy Carter of New Zealand is tackled by Jeremaia Matana of Fiji. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Cycling: British Cycling confirmed Walls and Bostock are still being treated and will be taken to hospital.
Following a crash in the men’s scratch, Matt Walls & Matt Bostock are being treated by medics before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
We send our best wishes to the riders and spectators involved in the incident, and will provide a further update when we can.
Cycling: Spectators have been asked to leave the velodrome while treatment continues in the stands and the authorities have ended the stream from the venue.
Cricket: India have bowled out Pakistan with the final ball of their 18 allotted overs, reduced due to rain. India have been set a target of 100 to win.
Pakistan are all-out for 99. Photograph: Aijaz Rahi/AP
Cycling: The remainder of the session has been abandoned following the crash that resulted in Matt Walls going into the crowd. They have been treating the cyclist in the stands and are preparing to take him to an ambulance and onto hospital.
Good afternoon! We are about to get some gymnastics after a lengthy explanation of what we can all expect.
I am now going to turn my attention to the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes but never fear – Will Unwin is here to guide you through day three of the Commonwealth Games. Goodbye for now.
Trackcycling: It was a qualifying round, heat two of the scratch race in which the crash occurred. Matt Walls of England is the rider who is currently being treated having apparently left the track and ended up in the crowd. Matt Bostock, also of England, has apparently been taken to hospital. The BBC have replayed the first stage of the multi-rider crash – it appears that Walls was forced to take evasive action in trying to avoid a crash on the track in front of him. Let’s all hope that Walls, and everyone else, is going to be OK.
Trackcycling: There are a lot of concerned faces in the track center in the aftermath of that accident. Details are sketchy, but Simon Brotherton, on commentary, is sure that one rider somehow ended up going over the barriers and into the crowd. He says that England team staff members are in that area of the venue. The rider is also being attended to by medics.
The two Canadian riders are being disqualified, although Chris Boardman thinks that it is for riding off the track, rather than causing the crash.
Thoughts are with all the riders involved in the crash in the velodrome.
Magpies young gun Jack Ginnivan has revealed the intense commentary around his game has “definitely taken a toll on my mental health,” but says he has strong support around him.
Ginnivan was at the center of more debate from the football world after being involved in a contentious umpiring decision during his side’s 10th consecutive win over Port Adelaide on Saturday.
It put the 19-year old in the spotlight yet again, having made headlines all season for his polarizing approach and ability to draw free kicks.
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And Ginnivan admitted the heavy scrutiny has affected him in a brutally honest post-game interview.
“It’s definitely taken a toll on my mental health and all that stuff, but I’m here, happy, smiling, when you’re kicking goals and winning it’s beautiful, so (I) can’t complain,” Ginnivan told Fox Footy .
“I’ve got some strong leaders around me, Darcy Moore, Callum Brown is one of my best mates, he’s looking after me.
“My mum, my family are so amazing, they’re up here every week, so I can’t complain. ‘Fly’ (Craig McRae), he’s a beautiful human, I love him to bits and he’s looking after me day by day.”
The latest controversial umpire call on Ginnivan came midway through the second term of Collingwood’s narrow win over the Power at the MCG after the forward took possession of the ball inside forward 50.
Ginnivan then appeared to turn into a Robbie Gray tackle and get taken high, prompting the umpire to pin the Magpie for holding the ball.
Collingwood fans were vocal in letting their thoughts be known, booing loudly after the decision.
“Every time he’s tackled there’s a question among football fans,” Fox Footy commentator Mark Howard said.
Riewoldt: ‘It was the right decision’ | 00:43
It came after the AFL recently announced a crackdown of high contact interpretation for players who duck or shrug into a tackle, with umpires now instructed to pay holding the ball.
But just last week the league admitted Ginnivan should’ve been awarded a free kick for a tackle laid on him by Essendon’s Mason Redman, but said the Magpie was responsible for the high contact.
It prompted AFL legend Leigh Matthews to say he felt so “sick” and “disturbed” after watching Ginnivan not receive a free kick for the Redman tackle that he couldn’t sleep, declaring the “fabric of the game is being attacked” in passionate Pull on 3AW.
Although St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt said he believed the umpire made the right call in paying the free kick against Ginnivan during Saturday’s clash against Port.
It came amid a strong first half from Ginnivan, booting three goals, with Riewoldt praising the youngster for performing while under so much scrutiny.
“We’ve lost our minds over the last couple of weeks and this young man has been at the center of it,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy at halftime.
“You’ve got to love the fact he comes out here on the biggest stage and with all the noise, all the talk, despite the fact he’s only a 19-year-old kid, he comes out this quarter and he absolutely lights it up.
Ginnivan gets caught by Gray (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“It’s just awesome to watch. I don’t think we’ve spoken about a 22-gamer as much as we have this guy and what has maybe gotten a lost a little bit in all of it is just how well he’s been playing.”
Former Magpies coach Nathan Buckley also thought the incident was well umpired.
“There was the one that wasn’t paid inside the forward 50 and he was a metre-and-a-half from the Port Adelaide defender and knew what he was going to do before he got there,” he said.
“There wasn’t any evasive action taken. I think that one was fair enough, as was the one on the wing.”
Triple M commentator Brian Taylor noted: “I think he’s been given life, Ginnivan! I don’t think he’ll receive a free kick again,” while others on social media were less than satisfied with the officiating of the play.
the sun-herald revealed that under the terms of Hasler’s two-year deal, Manly require a top-eight finish this season to trigger an automatic extension for 2024.
Sources with knowledge of the situation have indicated those terms have been revisited in talks between Manly management and Hasler’s agent George Mimis recently. Discussions took place before seven Manly players stood themselves down from NRL duties on religious and cultural grounds over the club’s ‘Everyone in League’ rainbow jersey.
‘Everyone has been brave here, including the chairman, the coach, Daly Cherry-Evans, the players who didn’t play – everyone has been brave.’
Tony Mestrov
The Sea Eagles’ subsequent loss to the Roosters has left them two points adrift of the top eight and in desperate need of a win over Parramatta on Friday.
Manly’s playing group assembled at their Brookvale base on Sunday morning for a “clear the air session”, according to Penn.
Penn insisted on Sunday that Hasler is under no pressure to keep his position, though he declined to comment on specific performance clauses in his contract.
“I’m not going to go into detail, but we’ve always said that Des is here as long as he wants to be and as long as the team’s performing,” Penn told the herald. “He’s not in any danger and we’re competing to make the finals.
Incoming Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov.
“If we were competing for the wooden spoon it would be a different story, but we’re tenth and we’ve got to win at least four, if not five, out of our last five games and that’s what we’re focused on right now.
“We won’t entertain any discussions with Des until the off-season and he’s on contract for 2023 as it is.”
A surprise top-four appearance last season triggered a monetary bonus in Hasler’s deal, which was originally negotiated with one eye to the two-time premiership winner’s next move beyond coaching.
Penn reiterated that an off-field role for Hasler whenever his time as head coach wraps up remains the plan, with specifics around a coaching director or consulting role yet to be revisited since.
Manly’s precarious place on the ladder leaves them fighting for a final spot over the next five weeks.Credit:Getty
“There’s always been discussions to have Des on board for as long as he wants to be,” Penn said. “The most important thing as people come toward the end of their career, you do look at how you transition and when they transition.
“That’s been considered previously but right now, we’re not even there yet. The focus is this year and ends.”
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Meanwhile, the ‘Sea Eagles Seven’ were advised to stay away from last Thursday’s home game against the Roosters amid police fears around crowd backlash.
The players concerned met with Penn and Manly officials last Thursday to discuss their stand-down and the lack of direct consultation from the club around the jersey.
They also trained together last week but Sunday was the first time they have re-joined the wider playing group with an eye to salvaging the Sea Eagles finals bid.
“There was a plan for the guys to get together, have a chat and a clear-the-air session,” Penn said.
“There aren’t any major dramas, it’s just that it was a very busy week and there hasn’t been a chance for everyone to get together and have a chat.”
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It stung, but he managed to channel his frustration in the right way. When he woke up the next day, he blasted a mid-48s relay split to power the Australian 4x100m freestyle quartet into the final as the quickest seed.
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“It got me fired up. My mixed relay lead wasn’t the greatest time I’ve ever done. It was my first race here, massive crowd, I’m only 17, so it’s also an experience whether the results are good or bad,” Southam said.
“But I just trusted myself and my ability. Good times. With a disappointing time like that, you can’t get too down about it, which I was a bit. But I woke up determined to get our team the fastest seed into the final. Hopefully we can go on and kick some butt.”
Southam’s fresh arrival on the scene and the glut of talent in Australian swimming has allowed him to enjoy a luxuriously low profile. But that won’t last once he begins to strip time off his personal bests and start to set his sights on Chalmers, the 2016 Olympic champion and Tokyo silver medallist.
For all the depth in the women’s sprinting stocks, the Australian men’s remains thin, with Chalmers out on his own ahead of a group of swimmers who are well off the kind of times that would put them in and around an Olympic final.
Southam has a personal best of 48.60 but already Popovici, at the same age, has a blistering 47.13 on the books. But Olympic medals are n’t handed out between Games’ cycles, so time is on his side as he tries to join the rush for medals in Paris in 2024.
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Two cyclists have been hospitalized in a horror crash that also injured a young girl who was in the crowd at the Commonwealth Games velodrome.
England’s Matt Walls and Matt Bostock from the Isle of Man were the most seriously injured in the crash that also took out a number of other riders during the qualifying race of the men’s 15km scratch at Birmingham 2022.
See the shocking crash in the video player above
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Walls was sent flying into the crowd, while Bostock crashed heavily into the barrier.
Bostock was taken away in a stretcher and Walls was screened off from the crowd as he was treated.
“Following a crash in the men’s scratch, Matt Walls and Matt Bostock are being treated by medics before being taken to hospital for further treatment,” British Cycling tweeted.
“We send our best wishes to the riders and spectators involved in the incident, and will provide a further update when we can.”
Matt Walls of England (left) along with George Jackson of New Zealand and Joshua Duffy of Australia during a crash in the Men’s 15km Scratch Race on Day 3 of the XXII Commonwealth Games at the Lee Valley VeloPark in Birmingham, England, Sunday, July 31 , 2022. (AAP Image/Alex Broadway/SWPix.com) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Credit: ALEX BROADWAY/AAPIMAGEMatt Walls of England (left) along with George Jackson of New Zealand and Joshua Duffy of Australia during a crash in the Men’s 15km Scratch Race on Day 3 of the XXII Commonwealth Games at the Lee Valley VeloPark in Birmingham, England, Sunday, July 31 , 2022. (AAP Image/Alex Broadway/SWPix.com) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Credit: ALEX BROADWAY/AAPIMAGEGeneral view of a crash in the Men’s 15km Scratch Race Qualifying Round as England’s Matt Walls, top left, and Canada’s Derek Gee, right, go over the barrier into the crowd at Lee Valley VeloPark on day three of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in London, Sunday July 31, 2022. (John Walton/PA via AP) Credit: John Walton/AP
Spectators were left ducking for cover after Olympic omnium champion Walls, high on the banking, was sent spiraling into the air, landing in the front seating section of the arena.
Walls was riding up the banking trying to avoid others who had fallen lower down, and appeared to clip another wheel before being sent flying over the top.
One spectator told AAP how Walls’ bike also came flying over the barrier, shooting along the row of spectators, in scenes that many experienced observers believed were unprecedented at a major track meeting.
Australian Josh Duffy was one of several riders who came down in Sunday’s accident but was reported by team officials to be unscathed.
One man in the crowd received treatment for cuts to his arm while a young girl also received attention, reportedly also for cuts.
The crash occurred during the final lap of the race at Lee Valley VeloPark.
The crash has resulted in the remainder of the competition in the morning session at the venue being postponed.
It came a day after Australian cyclist Matt Glaetzer was in a massive crash at high speed in the keirin.
The sprinter was left lying battered and bruised the track, his kit torn and his bike damaged, after the 70kph spill in the precarious mass sprint event.
England’s Joe Truman suffered a suspected broken collarbone and required oxygen at trackside in the same incident.
Watch Matt Glaetzer’s crash in the video below
Aussie cyclist Aussie Cyclist Matthew Glaetzer involved in terrifying crash in the Velodrome.
Aussie cyclist Aussie Cyclist Matthew Glaetzer involved in terrifying crash in the Velodrome.
A happy child, who loved the game and her teammates, and was “totally focused on winning a gold medal.”
So, when she was singled out and made to feel special about her ability by a coach, she didn’t see anything but encouragement.
“I had no clue grooming was a thing,” Karen said.
“I was completely oblivious.
“I didn’t see anything wrong in what was happening.”
Karen was 14 years old when she first met the person she says groomed her over several years, before the situation turned sexual.
She’d been flattered by phone calls and letters and encouraged to move interstate for her sport.
But then she found herself under someone else’s control, and was even forced to lie to her parents about the situation.
“It was almost as though a switch was turned off and from that moment any relationship with anybody … was just wrong because there was this lie,” she said.
‘They said they didn’t have insurance for that’
Karen eventually found her way out of the situation and built a new life, but the anguish of the grooming and abuse resurfaced when her own child began playing softball.
And that’s when she says she struck a brick wall.
Karen says the person who abused her was an Australian softball coach, and she believes Softball Australia is liable.
Softball Australia was not part of the National Redress Scheme set up after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, so she sought help from lawyers for a civil claim.
But she has accused the organization of stonewalling.
“They were approached and they pretty much denied any responsibility,” she said.
“They said they didn’t have insurance for these sorts of things and there was nothing they could really do.”
Karen says she was blocked in her bid for redress when she approached Softball Australia. (ABC News: Nickoles Coleman)
The National Redress Scheme says Softball Australia is now in the process of joining and has been included in a list of hundreds of others who’ve lodged an interest in being part of the scheme.
But lawyer Simon Brook from KnowMore, who works with survivors of child sexual abuse who are trying to get access to the scheme, says it remains a problem that some of the smaller sports have not signed up until now.
“Unfortunately, it is a serious issue and it does seem to be widespread across a number of sports,” he said.
He has suggested there could be some encouragement.
“The Australian government could consider further options for encouraging sport institutions to sign up to the National Redress Scheme,” he said.
‘Zero tolerance’ for behavior that puts young people at risk
But while Softball Australia is still working its way forward to join the redress scheme, it has taken other steps to deal with any contemporary allegations.
In a statement, the organization says it has zero tolerance for any behavior that puts the wellbeing of children and young people at risk.
“Softball Australia has a dedicated senior staff member to handle member complaints, and any complaint – whether historical or contemporary – must be treated in a timely and sensitive manner,” the statement outlined.
The organization also says it has adopted the National Integrity Framework, which aims to protect children in sport and is run through Sport Integrity Australia.
Sport Integrity Australia is better known for its drug monitoring, but now has a child protection policy, which includes a court system.
Karen says a softball coach started grooming her when she was just 14. (Supplied)
For Karen, nothing can change the past, but she says some things could make a difference.
“An apology would be amazing, for myself and my family, my parents,” she said.
“So I could move forward.”
And she has a message for any young players and their families about the warning signs to watch out for.
“That special attention [or] being singled out, especially in a team kind of environment,” she said.
“If it doesn’t feel right and if someone is telling you to lie about something.
“It’s something that is very difficult to get out of, once it’s started.”
* Karen has chosen not to include her surname in this story.
They spent Friday celebrating the wedding of Australian Cricket captain Pat Cummins and his partner Becky Boston in Byron Bay.
And embattled ex cricket captain Tim Paine and wife Bonnie looked rather worse for wear as they emerged for breakfast on Saturday morning after what was likely a big night of partying.
The couple, who were embroiled in a sexting scandal last year, put on a united front as they stepped out hand-in-hand en route to a local coffee shop.
Former cricket captan Tim Paine and his wife Bonnie looked worse for wear as they emerged for breakfast the morning after Pat Cummins’ wedding to Becky Boston in Byron Bay
Once at the eatery, the couple took a seat on the veranda and ordered breakfast and coffees.
Becky swathed her svelte frame with a baggy gray hoodie worth $350, and a pair of black short shorts.
Pulling her hair back, the blonde she shielded her eyes from the glare beneath sunglasses and completed her look with white sneakers.
The couple, who were embroiled in a sexting scandal last year, put on a united front as they stepped out hand-in-hand en route to a local coffee shop
Her former cricket captain husband meanwhile wore a gray shirt layered beneath a black jumper and matching shorts.
He topped off his low-key look with white sneakers.
Tim and Bonnie were among several high-profile guests to attend Pat and Becky’s lavish nuptials on Friday.
Once at the eatery, the couple took a seat on the veranda and ordered breakfast and coffees
Becky swathed her svelte frame with a baggy gray hoodie worth $350, and a pair of black short shorts
The glamorous couple said ‘I do’ at the luxurious Chateau Du Soleil in the Byron Bay hinterland on Friday.
Comedian Andy Lee and his girlfriend Bec Harding were among those in attendance.
Also at the event was Australian cricketer Travis Head who went along with his pregnant fiancée Jessica Davies.
Pulling her hair back, the blonde she shielded her eyes from the glare beneath sunglasses and completed her look with white sneakers
Fellow cricketers Mitchell Starc, Andrew McDonald, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and his wife Emma McCarth and Tim Paine and his wife Bonnie likewise attended.
Paine was replaced by Cummins as Australian cricket captain after he quit in November 2021.
He stepped down on November 19 after a sexting scandal in which Paine sent a lewd photo and explicit messages to a female staffer.
Her former cricket captain husband meanwhile wore a gray shirt layered beneath a black jumper and matching shorts
Tim and Bonnie were among several high-profile guests to attend Pat and Becky’s lavish nuptials on Friday
He was investigated by Cricket Australia in 2018 after the woman complained, but it was cleared of misconduct and the matter was kept secret.
Paine sent a photo of his penis to the female co-worker along with a stream of lewd text messages, many of which are too raunchy to publish.
‘Will you want to taste my d**k?? F**k me, I’m seriously hard,’ one of the messages sent to the Cricket Tasmania employee read.
Paine was replaced by Cummins as Australian cricket captain after he quit in November 2021
He stepped down on November 19 after a sexting scandal in which Paine sent a lewd photo and explicit messages to a female staffer
Paine, who had led the team since the Sandpapergate scandal in 2018, held a press conference at which he tearfully apologized and announced he would step down.
‘It’s an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket,’ he told reporters.
Bonnie stood by her husband after privately being told of the sexting investigation in 2018, and insisted they’d moved past it.
He was investigated by Cricket Australia in 2018 after the woman complained, but was cleared of misconduct and the matter was kept secret
Paine, who had led the team since the Sandpapergate scandal in 2018, held a press conference at which he tearfully apologized and announced he would step down
Bonnie said the scandal had actually been ‘good for their marriage’ in the long run, even though she was ‘completely rocked’ by his betrayal.
She also admitted she felt bad for him after he was forced to stand down as Australia’s test cricket captain.
In an interview in November, Bonnie said she’d already ‘had her time’ of ‘getting angry, venting and getting upset’ but decided in 2018 to put the incident behind them – and that by doing so, their marriage was stronger than ever .
‘I have a bit of sympathy for Tim at the moment. A lot actually. He and I went through all of this privately in 2018. It was horrific then and is really hard now,’ she said.
Bonnie said the scandal had actually been ‘good for their marriage’ in the long run, even though she was ‘completely rocked’ by his betrayal
The Tigers will be without Jackson Hastings for the rest of the season after he suffered an ugly leg break against the Broncos.
Hastings had his leg caught under him in an ugly tackle that saw Broncos forward Patrick Carrigan placed on report for a hip drop tackle.
Scans confirmed a broken leg for Hastings who will undergo surgery that rules him out for an extended period.
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Meanwhile, the Eels have copped a massive blow in their hunt for the top four with star halfback Mitchell Moses reportedly suffering a broken finger.
Brent Read told Triple M that Moses will be ruled out for at least a month after suffering in the injury in last night’s win over the Panthers. Moses appeared to injure his finger at him in the 31st minute, and had it strapped by a physio shortly afterwards, but managed to finish the match.
Moses will reportedly undergo surgery and could miss the remainder of the regular season.
COWBOYS LOSE FLYER TO HAMSTRING INJURY
The Cowboys will be sweating on a hamstring injury to winger Kyle Feldt after he limped off in their 34-8 win over the Dragons.
STORM FULLBACK CRISIS WORSENS
Meanwhile, the Storm’s outside back injury crisis has worsened with replacement fullback Nick Meaney going off against the Warriors with a shoulder injury.
Meaney fell on the point of his shoulder from a great height after he was taken out in the air by Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
“He fell awkwardly and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has quite a significant AC joint injury the way that shoulder came down right on the point,” Warren Smith said on Fox League.
“Melbourne in all sorts of problems here. They were chasing Reece Walsh to be a fullback.
“Tyran Wishart will come on and play fullback now after they already lost Ryan Papenhuyzen for the season.”
Nick Meaney suffered a shoulder injury.Source: FOX SPORTS
Coach Craig Bellamy was hopeful after the game that it wasn’t a serious injury and revealed there are some positive signs.
“He’s done something to his right shoulder but I don’t think we’re quite sure of what he’s done,” he said.
“It looked pretty dire when he came off, he obviously had the sling on. But it’s looking a bit better at the moment, they don’t think it’s quite as bad as what they thought it was at the start.”
In the same game, Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita succumbed to a leg injury in the first half and left the field.
“We’re thinking it’s an MCL… he’ll have scans to see the extent of the injury. But our medical officer said it’s an MCL injury,” interim coach Stacey Jones said after the game.
Brain fade gives Niche a golden moment | 00:51
ROOSTERS STAR SUFFERS UGLY CONCUSSION
Roosters prop Lindsay Collins has suffered a nasty head knock, colliding with the head of Morgan Boyle.
Collins bounced out of the tackle, knocking himself unconscious before leaving the field with the assistance of the club doctor and trainer.
The 26-year-old was one of three players who left the field in the first four minutes of the Origin decider and was playing his first game since the blow, spending two weeks sidelined due to ongoing concussion symptoms.
“I fear for Lindsay here, he went straight down… he has copped both head and shoulder, that is incredibly heavy on Lindsay Collins,” Andrew Voss said.
“You could see the contact,” Greg Alexander said.
“That is worrying for a player that is only returning this round because of concussion.”
Fox League’s James Hooper confirmed Collins would not return to the field in Round 20.
“Category 1 concussion, his night is over,” Fox League’s James Hooper said.
PANTHERS’ INJURY UPDATE
The Panthers have copped a significant blow with star five-eighth Jarome Luai expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.
The club confirmed the timeline on Thursday and revealed that Luai had suffered a high grade MCL injury.
Penrith also revealed that Mitch Kenny (knee) and Stephen Crichton (ear/concussion) could return next week.
“I can do it all!” Foxx delivers try | 00:39
TIGERS’ BIG BLOW
Luke Brooks will miss Round 20 and likely the rest of the season after suffering a calf injury at training.
The Wests Tigers confirmed on Thursday that Brooks will be out for five to six weeks with Jock Madden the man expected to replace him in the halves.
The Tigers also revealed Luke Garner is a good chance of returning from a neck injury in Round 21, Stefano Utoikamanu has commended a running program after undergoing wrist surgery and Tommy Talau will return to full team training over the next month.
Read on for the full NRL casualty ward.
ROUND 20 INJURIES
Lindsay Collins (head knock) – TBC
Nick Meaney (shoulder) – TBC
Chanel Harris-Tavita (knee) – TBC
Mitchell Moses (finger) – Finals
Adam Elliott (hip) – TBC
Jackson Hastings (leg) – season
Kyle Feldt (hamstring) – TBC
FULL CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Selwyn Cobbo (concussion) – Round 21
Albert Kelly (foot) – Round 21
TC Robati (arm) – Round 21
Te Maire Martin (ribs) – indefinite
Herbie Farnworth (biceps) – indefinite
Jordan Pereira (illness) – indefinite
raiders
Adam Elliott (hip) – TBC
James Schiller (ankle) – Round 21
Jordan Rapana (suspended) – Round 21
Semi Valemei (knee) – Round 21
Harry Rushton (jaw) – Round 25
Trey Mooney (ankle) – indefinite
Jarrod Croker (shoulder) – season
Josh Hodgson (knee) – season
Harley Smith-Shields (knee) – season
BULLDOGS
Paul Alamoti (cheekbone) – Round 21
Corey Allan (groin) – Round 22
Ava Seumanufagai (calf) – Round 22
Corey Waddell (suspension) – Round 25
Luke Thompson (concussion) – indefinite
Jack Hetherington (shoulder) – season
Billy Tsikrikas (knee) – season
Raymond Faitala-Mariner (ribs) – Round 21
Braith perplexed by Finucane ban | 05:15
SHARKS
Dale Finucane (suspension) – Round 22
Royce Hunt (shoulder) – indefinite
Jack Williams (shoulder) – season
Sione Katoa (pectoral) – season
TITANS
Joe Vuna (knee) – indefinite
Shallin Fuller (leg) – season
BE EAGLES
Sean Keppie (shoulder) – Round 21
Ben Trbojevic (head knock) – TBC
Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) – finals/World Cup
Karl Lawton (knee) – season
Morgan Boyle (ankle) – indefinite
STORM
Nick Meaney (shoulder) – TBC
Jack Howarth (shoulder) – Round 21
Will Warbrick (quad) – Round 21
Tepai Moeroa (shoulder) – Round 21
Brandon Smith (suspended) – Round 21
Xavier Coates (ankle) – Round 22
Trent Loiero (back) – indefinite
Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee) – season
Reimis Smith (pectoral) – season
Christian Welch (Achilles) – season
George Jennings (knee) – season
KNIGHTS
Kalyn Ponga (concussion) – indefinite
Kurt Mann (quad) – Round 21
Bradman Best (thumb) – Round 22
Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) – indefinite
Chris Vea’ila (leg) – indefinite
Bailey Hodgson (elbow) – season
Dylan Lucas (pectoral) – season
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Wingers star in Bulldogs victory | 02:52
COWBOYS
Kyle Feldt (hamstring) – TBC
Jordan McLean (hamstring) – Round 24
Mitch Dunn (knee) – season
Heilum Luki (knee) – season
EELS
Haze Dunster (knee) – season
Ray Stone (knee) – season
Mitch Moses (finger) – Finals
PANTHERS
Eddie Blacker (hamstring) – Round 21
Mitch Kenny (knee) – Round 21-22
Stephen Crichton (ear/concussion) – Round 21
Kurt Falls (leg) – Round 21
Mavrik Geyer (thumb) – Round 21
Jarome Luai (knee) – Round 25-finals
Nathan Cleary (suspension) – Finals
‘Personally it wouldn’t be an issue’ | 01:59
RABBITOHS
Peter Mamouzelos (wrist) – Round 24
Hame Sele (hamstring) – Round 25
Michael Chee Kam (thumb) – Round 25
Campbell Graham (cheekbone) – indefinite
Liam Knight (knee) – season
Jacob Host (shoulder) – season
Jed Cartwright (hamstring) – TBC
Taane Milne (hand) – Round 21
dragons
Cody Ramsey (knee) – Round 22
Jayden Sullivan (shoulder) – Round 23
Mikaele Ravalawa (hamstring) – Finals
Moses Suli (ankle) – Finals
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Alex de Minaur battled back from a set down for his second consecutive match on Friday at the Atlanta Open to reach his second final at the ATP 250 event. The third seed dominated the final two sets in a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory against Ilya Ivashka, repeating the formula he used in his quarter-final win against Adrian Mannarino one day prior.
“I just found a way to get through,” De Minaur said. “It wasn’t an ideal start but these things happen. You adapt, you move on and try to do the best that you can.”
The Aussie let an 0-3 lead slip early in the match, with Ivashka surging to the opening set after a lengthy rain delay at 5-5. De Minaur then fought off two break points to open the second set as he began to reassert himself with his steady baseline game. He again erased a pair of break points to start the deciding set before his pressure told.
De Minaur broke serve on five of seven chances, doing his damage with a 62 per cent win rate on second-serve return points.
By improving to 8-1 in Atlanta, the Aussie is through to his first tour-level final of 2022 after three previous semi-final runs. He is seeking his sixth title and his first since winning Eastbourne last June.
The 2019 champion has enjoyed strong support all week in Atlanta, but is not expecting to be the crowd favorite in the final against American Jenson Brooksby, who raced past Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday evening.
“It’s going to be a fun match,” De Minaur said. “I feel like I might not have the crowd on my side tomorrow since I’m playing an American. But I’m looking forward to [the final].”
Brooksby took charge of the all-American semi-final by storming to a 3-0 lead as Tiafoe struggled to find the court in the opening set. The 21-year-old pressed home the advantage by claiming his third break chance in his opening return game of set two before his opponent began to settle in on the stadium court.
Tiafoe began to find space to attack late in the match and brought up his first break point as his countryman served out the match. But on his sixth match point in a five-deuce game, Brooksby outlasted Tiafoe in a marathon rally to advance to his third ATP Tour final and second of 2022 (Dallas).
“I thought I stared out really strong today. I came out really fired up,” he said post-match. “I think I kept it up in the second, then he started competing, started playing better… I was a little nervous there [at the end of] the second set.”
After improving to 8-2 against fellow Americans, Brooksby will seek his first tour-level title on Sunday in his first ATP Head2Head meeting with De Minaur.
“I think it will be a good, physical match tomorrow,” I previewed. “I’m excited. It’s the final, always really exciting for me.”
