Austria bobsleigh driver Jakob Mandlbauer has been taken away on a stretcher following a severe crash during the four-man final at the Winter Olympics.
The terrifying incident occurred during heat two of the competition when the Austrian sled lost control attempting a left turn.
The vehicle flew off the side of the track, drawing audible gasps from the crowd in attendance.
While Mandlbauer’s three teammates were able to exit the sled and walk away unassisted, the pilot remained at the scene requiring immediate medical attention.
Race delayed for medical assistance
Medics rushed to the track to treat the driver, leading to a significant pause in the proceedings.
The Austrian was eventually carried away on a stretcher, though the extent of his injuries has not yet been confirmed.
Officials were subsequently required to repair a section of the ice that had been damaged during the collision before the event could resume.
It marks a second accident for this specific crew, who previously crashed during unofficial training sessions at the start of the Games.
Team GB make strong start
Despite the disruption, Team GB managed to deliver a composed performance once the heat continued.
The British quartet finished third, trailing only the dominant German teams who secured the top two spots.
Switzerland and Italy rounded out the chasing pack, finishing with times of 54.49 and 54.55 respectively.
Tyrrell Hatton is one of eight players granted permission by the DP World Tour to compete in conflicting LIV Golf tournaments throughout the 2026 campaign.
The Englishman will be joined by Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie in receiving dispensation.
These members will retain their status on the Wentworth-based tour and face no disciplinary action, provided they adhere to a specific set of criteria.
Strict conditions for releases
The agreement requires the golfers to pay all outstanding fines in full for previous breaches of tour regulations.
They must also withdraw any pending legal appeals against sanctions previously imposed by the European circuit.
Further terms stipulate that the group must participate in additional mandated DP World Tour events and fulfil specific media obligations.
Tour stance on future events
Officials have emphasised that these releases apply strictly to the 2026 season and should not be viewed as setting a precedent.
Any future requests for tournament releases will continue to be assessed on an individual basis.
The tour confirmed that disciplinary proceedings will continue against any members who compete in conflicting LIV events without securing a prior release.
Maro Itoje to win 100th England cap against Ireland in Six Nations
Maro Itoje is set to become only the ninth player to reach 100 caps for England when he leads the side out against Ireland in the Six Nations at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
The Saracens lock will join an exclusive club of centurions, cementing his status as one of the national team’s modern greats.
It is a landmark moment for the 31-year-old, though one tinged with sadness following a personal tragedy.
A bittersweet occasion
Itoje revealed the achievement carries extra weight after the passing of his mother in December.
The England captain admitted the milestone feels different without her presence.
“In many ways, it’s going to be a little bit sad that my mother is not here to witness this in the flesh,” Itoje told Sky Sports.
“But she will be there in spirit. And I know she’ll be cheering down from the heavens.”
“I am very honoured, very humbled. It’s a great milestone to almost achieve.”
Longevity and consistency
The British and Irish Lions tourist made his international debut against Italy during the 2016 Six Nations.
He immediately became a fixture in the side that went on to secure the Grand Slam under former head coach Eddie Jones.
Reflecting on a decade at the highest level, the forward attributed his endurance to divine intervention and good fortune.
“Ultimately, it’s the grace of God,” he said. “To play that long consistently, you have to be a little bit lucky in terms of injury.”
“I’m obviously very professional with recovery, but there’s an element of luck to not have big spells out.”
“I’ve just tried to be as consistent as I can – through the good times, through the not‑so‑good times – just stay consistent.”
World Cup ambitions
Despite boasting a trophy cabinet containing Premiership and Champions Cup titles, the skipper remains hungry for international silverware.
While immediate focus remains on the weekend’s clash at Allianz Stadium, the ultimate target remains the 2027 World Cup.
“The short‑term goal is to win on Saturday,” Itoje added.
“Obviously, the World Cup is a huge goal of ours. We want to build towards the World Cup and win.”
Promoter Frank Warren believes a blockbuster fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remains possible but admits the contest depends entirely on timing.
There had been a strategy for the British heavyweights to meet later this year after completing respective warm-up bouts.
However, those plans were shelved after Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria last December.
The former two-time world champion was hospitalised following the incident, which resulted in the deaths of close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Road to recovery
While the priority remains physical recovery, there are indications the 2012 Olympic gold medallist is preparing to resume training.
A potential summer return could eventually place him on a collision course with the Gypsy King.
"That was the intention," Warren told Sky Sports regarding the domestic showdown.
"Obviously the dreadful thing, with that tragic car crash, AJ lost two of his good friends, part of his team, I don’t know what he’s going to do."
"That [fight] would sell out anywhere. That’s all about timing."
Fury’s comeback confirmed
While Joshua’s future remains uncertain, his rival is set to end a 12-month retirement on 11 April.
The WBC champion will face Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Warren insisted he will not pressure the Watford-born fighter into a decision regarding a future contest.
"The only person who’s going to determine whether he wishes to fight on is himself," Warren said.
"I don’t know if he wants to do it. He’s a very wealthy guy. He may do, he may not, who knows? But that was what the intention was."
No crossover bouts
Warren also confirmed that the Morecambe-based fighter has no interest in following Joshua’s path by facing influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Paul managed to last six rounds with Joshua in December prior to the accident.
"Tyson has categorically said he doesn’t want to fight anything like that," Warren added.
"That’s not something that’s on his agenda."
Bruce Mouat leads Team GB into the Winter Olympic curling final against Canada on Saturday, aiming to end a 102-year wait for a men’s gold medal.
Millions are expected to tune in at 18:05 GMT to witness the showdown in Cortina.
The British quartet are seeking the nation’s fourth gold of these Games high in the Italian Dolomites.
History weighs on Mouat’s men
Curling first appeared at the Winter Games in 1924, which remains the last time a British men’s team stood atop the podium.
Since that inaugural victory in Chamonix, the country has claimed a medal on only two other occasions.
Mouat’s rink were forced to settle for silver four years ago in Beijing after a narrow defeat by Sweden.
There is also the spectre of Sochi 2014 to banish this weekend.
Old rivalries reignited
That final in Russia saw a GB side lose to a Canadian team skipped by Brad Jacobs.
Jacobs returns to lead the opposition again on Saturday, looking to inflict further heartbreak on his transatlantic rivals.
The narrative is complicated by the presence of current GB coaches Michael Goodfellow and Greg Drummond.
Both men were part of the British team defeated by Jacobs a decade ago.
Furthermore, former GB skip David Murdoch will be watching from the opposing camp as Canada’s high-performance director.
The pantomime villains
The North American outfit have endured a turbulent tournament in Italy leading up to this gold medal match.
Their campaign has been marred by accusations of cheating and heated verbal exchanges across the ice.
Counter-claims regarding illicit filming and intentional physical contact have seen them cast as the competition’s pantomime villains.
Despite the controversy, they proved their quality by beating the British rink during the round-robin stage earlier this month.
Saturday promises a tense tactical battle as Mouat attempts to reverse that result and rewrite the history books.
Floyd Mayweather Jr has announced plans to end his retirement and resume his professional boxing career following a scheduled exhibition bout against Mike Tyson.
The undefeated five-division world champion has signed an exclusive promotional agreement with CSI Sports just days before his 49th birthday.
Mayweather insists he retains the ability to set new benchmarks in the sport despite not fighting professionally since 2017.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing,” Mayweather said.
“From my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards, no one will generate a bigger gate or have a larger global broadcast audience.”
Undefeated record on the line
The American originally walked away from professional competition at the age of 40 following a stoppage victory over MMA star Conor McGregor.
That win extended his perfect record to 50-0, with 27 victories coming by way of knockout.
Since that lucrative crossover event, he has participated solely in exhibition contests against opponents such as Logan Paul and John Gotti III.
Tyson exhibition details
Before resuming his pro career, the veteran is scheduled to face heavyweight icon Mike Tyson in an exhibition match in spring 2026.
Reports suggest the event could take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 25 April, though specific broadcast details remain unconfirmed.
CSI Sports co-founders Richard and Craig Miele stated the deal highlights a commitment to providing the “most high-profile fighters in the sport”.
“Floyd will once again continue to dominate boxing with the biggest audience and highest gross events of all time,” the promoters said in a statement.
Legal disputes and future rivals
News of the comeback arrives as Mayweather pursues a multi-million dollar lawsuit against former broadcast partner Showtime.
The fighter claims he is owed at least $340m (£268m) in unpaid earnings from career purses reportedly totalling over $1.2bn.
His return to the professional ranks has also fuelled speculation regarding a potential rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
The Filipino great recently returned to professional boxing, potentially opening the door for a sequel to their high-grossing 2015 encounter.
China’s Yang Jingru has claimed victory in an extraordinary women’s 1500m speed skating semi-final at the 2026 Winter Olympics after being the only athlete to avoid a mass crash.
The race descended into absolute mayhem as six of the seven competitors fell to the ice during the heat.
It left Yang as the sole survivor on the track in a contest described as “extraordinary” by onlookers.
A race of attrition
With her rivals sliding helplessly into the padding, the Chinese skater crossed the line unopposed to book her place in the next round.
Short track speed skating is renowned for its unpredictability and high-speed collisions, but a wipeout of this magnitude is incredibly rare at the elite level.
The incident clears a dramatic and unexpected path for the 1500m contenders as the competition moves toward the medal races.
This dramatic event highlights the fragile nature of Olympic dreams in a sport where disaster is often just a blade’s width away.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has undergone a second surgery on his broken jaw following his knockout defeat by Anthony Joshua in December.
The 29-year-old American suffered the injury during a sixth-round stoppage loss to the former two-time heavyweight world champion.
Paul revealed on social media that further medical intervention was required after complications arose during his initial recovery.
Recovery setbacks
The social media star admitted that a lack of rest had contributed to the failure of his initial treatment.
“Had to get another jaw surgery,” Paul posted on Instagram.
“The screws and plates were coming loose because apparently I didn’t rest for the past two months.”
Paul shared images from the hospital alongside his partner Jutta Leerdam, a Dutch speed skater and Olympic medallist.
Despite the medical setback, the cruiserweight appeared to be in good spirits regarding the procedure.
He posted edited video clips mocking his condition, featuring a CGI mechanised jaw and robotic sound effects.
Joshua’s return delayed
While his opponent continues his rehabilitation, Joshua has faced a difficult period outside the ring.
The 36-year-old was involved in a car accident in Nigeria 10 days after the fight which resulted in the death of two close teammates.
Although the Briton returned to training in January, promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that a competitive return has been pushed back.
“Originally the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March, and then fight Tyson Fury in August,” Hearn said.
Hearn dismissed suggestions of an immediate bout with Fury, citing Joshua’s need for physical recovery.
“He’s going to come back – I believe – late summer, but physically he’s not yet in a position to return to camp,” Hearn added.