Six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy has revealed he faced the genuine risk of leg amputation following a horrific mountain bike crash in Wales last year.
The 50-year-old sustained multiple serious fractures to his lower right leg during what he described as the worst accident of his life.
The former track cyclist suffered an exploded right knee and tibia, leading to a prolonged stay in a major trauma ward.
Danger of compartment syndrome
Medical staff warned the Scottish rider that the severe trauma could lead to compartment syndrome.
This dangerous condition occurs when pressure builds up within enclosed muscle portions, cutting off blood flow and potentially causing nerve death.
Speaking to the Sporting Misadventures podcast, the 11-time world champion detailed the sobering experience of preparing for emergency surgery.
“There is a risk of amputation for anybody in that situation, the doctors tell you that. Compartment syndrome is the risk and I was given the warning.”
“It is quite a sobering thought when you are lying there in this strange hospital ward and you are about to go for your operation.”
Remarkable rehabilitation effort
The devastating injury arrived at a particularly challenging time, as the British sporting icon is currently undergoing treatment for terminal prostate cancer.
Despite the immense physical and emotional toll, he approached his recovery with characteristic determination.
Committing to up to six hours of daily rehabilitation, the legendary Olympian managed to walk by the end of January, months ahead of initial medical forecasts.
He credited the rapid response of the bike trail medical team for ensuring he reached the hospital swiftly.
Comparisons to winter sports star
During the podcast, parallels were drawn between this ordeal and the devastating injuries suffered by Lindsey Vonn.
The American alpine skier also faced the threat of amputation following a severe crash before her highly anticipated Olympic comeback.
Fortunately, prompt medical intervention spared the celebrated British athlete from facing such drastic surgical measures.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has promised US President Donald Trump a swift knockout victory when he defends his title against Justin Gaethje at the White House on 14 June.
The Georgian-Spanish fighter headlines the historic ‘Freedom 250’ event on the grounds of the presidential residence.
He faces the 37-year-old American interim champion in an eagerly anticipated unification bout.
Stepping up to lightweight
‘El Matador’ vacated his featherweight title last year to move up to the 155lb division.
The transition proved highly successful as he brutally stopped Charles Oliveira in the first round to claim two-division championship status.
This upcoming summer clash will mark his first defence of the lightweight crown.
Both competitors possess devastating striking power, making a five-round judge’s decision highly unlikely.
A message for the President
With the US President confirmed to be sitting cageside, the defending champion anticipates a brief, explosive contest.
“Don’t blink or start fixing your hair, because it’s going to be over quickly.”
The unbeaten titleholder acknowledges the immense threat posed by his veteran opponent but remains supremely confident.
“Based on his fighting style, how he comes out in every fight, I see it ending quickly, honestly.”
Gaethje seeks undisputed glory
The ‘Highlight’ enters the octagon following a gritty interim title victory over Paddy Pimblett in January.
He will be desperate to finally capture undisputed gold, having previously fallen short in title shots against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Oliveira.
However, the lightweight king believes engaging in a striking battle against his technical superiority will be a fatal mistake for the American challenger.
“I think he’s the kind of guy who offers a fight, and when you do that, I think you’re making a mistake.”
England have appointed former Leeds Rhinos boss Brian McDermott as their new men’s head coach ahead of the Rugby League World Cup.
The 56-year-old succeeds Shaun Wane, who stepped down from the national role in January.
He will balance international duties on a part-time basis alongside his current position as an assistant coach at Australian NRL club Gold Coast Titans.
Beating stiff competition
The Yorkshireman was selected by the Rugby Football League from a highly competitive five-man shortlist.
Warrington’s Sam Burgess, current Leeds manager Brad Arthur, St Helens’ Paul Rowley and former England coach Steve McNamara were all considered for the post.
Hull KR’s treble-winning chief Willie Peters had also previously expressed interest.
However, he ruled himself out of the running by accepting an offer to join the new Papua New Guinea Chiefs franchise at the end of the season.
A proven track record
The ex-marine brings tremendous pedigree to the international setup following a trophy-laden eight-year spell at Headingley.
During his tenure with the Rhinos, he secured four Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, and a World Club Challenge.
Rugby league great Kevin Sinfield recently described the former Bradford forward as the best coach he had ever played under.
‘Building belief in the group’
The new international boss stated his immediate priority is establishing a winning culture within the squad.
“I’m incredibly proud to take on the role of England head coach ahead of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.”
“My focus now is on creating an environment where players can perform with confidence, represent the shirt with pride, and give themselves the best chance of going deep into the tournament.”
“I’ve always been hands-on and close to the detail, and that will be important in this role. My job now is to get the standards right, build belief in the group, and make sure we’re ready when it matters.”
World Cup campaign begins
The national side will travel to Australia this autumn to begin their latest quest for global silverware.
Their opening fixture takes place against Tonga in Perth on 17 October.
Subsequent group stage matches against France and Papua New Guinea will follow shortly after.
Jon Rahm has dismissed speculation regarding the impending collapse of LIV Golf, insisting he is fully focused on competing amid reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is withdrawing financial support.
The Saudi-funded breakaway circuit has been plagued by recent reports suggesting it will wind down operations due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The two-time major champion revealed he was forced to switch off his mobile phone after being inundated with messages about the league’s uncertain future.
“I’m not paying any attention to it at all.”
The 31-year-old told Spanish newspaper ABC that he remains unconcerned about the current administrative situation.
“Until the people in charge here tell me something concrete, I’m not going to waste my time thinking about it.”
“I have a signed contract, and everyone here gets paid. I don’t see any reason to worry. What I have to do is play golf.”
Assurances over immediate future
LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil has attempted to reassure stakeholders by insisting the current season’s schedule will be completed as originally planned.
On the course, the former world number one has remained entirely unaffected by the surrounding off-course noise.
He secured his second event victory of the year in Mexico City on Sunday, following a previous triumph in Hong Kong last month.
Those strong individual performances have helped propel his Legion XIII team to third place in the overall season standings.
Structural changes and ranking ambitions
The breakaway series has recently attempted to align closer to traditional professional golf standards by introducing four-day events.
The Spanish star indicated that he is highly encouraged by these structural developments as the tour seeks broader legitimacy.
“They’re all very positive and they make us stronger every day.”
“Regarding the four rounds, it’s clear that as a competitor, the more days you play, the better shape you’ll be.”
“Accumulating points on the global leaderboard is crucial for accessing major tournaments and always competing against the best golfers.”
Conor McGregor has been warned about the lasting psychological impact of his catastrophic leg break as the former champion nears a UFC comeback in Las Vegas on 11 July.
The 35-year-old has not competed since fracturing his tibia and fibula during a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier five years ago.
UFC chief executive Dana White recently confirmed that negotiations for the Irishman’s highly anticipated return at UFC 329 are progressing well.
White stated last weekend that an official announcement will be made as soon as a final agreement is reached.
Lasting impact of traumatic fractures
However, fellow mixed martial artist Chris Weidman believes the physical and mental recovery from such a devastating injury is profoundly difficult.
The American fighter suffered an identical horrific leg break just months before the Dublin-born superstar.
Weidman struggled significantly upon his own return to the octagon.
“It is hard to be the person you were beforehand, for sure,” stated Chris Weidman.
He explained that despite feeling fully recovered during training camps, the trauma unexpectedly resurfaced during an actual competitive bout.
“As soon as I went to throw my kick back, I just couldn’t do it. My body wouldn’t let me do it,” added Weidman.
Pimblett eyes International Fight Week
The proposed July date coincides with the promotion’s annual International Fight Week celebrations.
Liverpool lightweight Paddy Pimblett has already revealed his intention to feature on the same star-studded card.
The 29-year-old is looking to bounce back following a points defeat to Justin Gaethje.
Pimblett confirmed he is already beginning his diet and a comprehensive 12-week training camp in preparation for the summer showcase.
Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt has urged Australian teenage sensation Gout Gout to build a strong support team to avoid distractions after the 18-year-old recorded a 200m time faster than Bolt achieved at the same age.
The young Australian prodigy clocked an astonishing 19.67 seconds to claim the 200m title at the Australian Athletics Championships earlier this month.
He subsequently secured victory in the under-20 100m event with a blistering time of 10.21 seconds.
These phenomenal performances have inevitably drawn global attention and widespread comparisons to the world-record holder.
Focus remains crucial for emerging star
Speaking to CNN, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist emphasised the importance of maintaining discipline amid sudden international fame.
He warned that promising athletes can easily lose their path when thrust into the spotlight.
“At that young age, because I was there, you start getting put left and right and then you forget track and field.”
“Hopefully he has the right set of people to guide him and keep him focused on track and field because the rest of the stuff will always be there.”
“But if you mess up on track and field, then it all goes away.”
Diamond League debut awaits
The 18-year-old talent is already being touted as a potential home gold medallist when Brisbane hosts the Olympic Games in 2032.
Before turning his attention to future Olympic glory, the son of South Sudanese immigrants faces an immediate challenge on the elite European circuit.
He will make his highly anticipated Diamond League debut over 200m in Oslo on 10 June.
The field in Norway will provide a stern test, led by reigning Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana.
Meanwhile, Bolt remains the ultimate benchmark in the sport, retaining the world records in both the 100m and the 200m.
Switzerland’s Marcel Hug has won his ninth Boston Marathon men’s wheelchair title with a dominant performance on a cold Monday morning in Massachusetts.
The Swiss athlete crossed the finish line in an unofficial time of one hour, 16 minutes and six seconds, aided by a helpful tailwind.
Despite the blistering pace, the phenomenal racer narrowly missed breaking his own course record by just 33 seconds.
Closing in on historical greatness
This latest triumph marks a fourth consecutive victory in the prestigious American event for the dominant wheelchair star.
He now sits second on the all-time list for men’s wheelchair victories in Boston, trailing only South African legend Ernst van Dyk, who claimed 10 titles between 2001 and 2014.
American competitor Daniel Romanchuk secured second place with a time of 1:22:44, while Jetze Plat of the Netherlands completed the podium positions.
In the women’s wheelchair division, Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper produced a superb performance to take the crown.
Early dominance sets up latest major victory
The serial champion established his authority immediately, building a 13-second advantage over British rival David Weir by the three-mile mark.
That commanding lead was relentlessly extended to 55 seconds by the time the elite field reached the halfway point of the 130th edition of the world’s oldest annual marathon.
Such dominance is customary for the Swiss racer, who has only lost one of seven World Marathon Major titles since his Berlin victory in 2022.
Freezing conditions challenge historic field
Competitors were greeted by frosty conditions in Hopkinton, with starting temperatures plunging into the low 40s.
It proved to be the coldest start to the event since 2018, providing a stark contrast to the mild 58-degree weather experienced last year.
Despite the freezing morning, ideal racing weather soon developed as defending champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir led more than 30,000 runners onto the historic course.
UFC president Dana White has confirmed that Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the octagon is progressing well ahead of a targeted July bout in Las Vegas.
The 37-year-old has not competed since suffering a broken leg during his second consecutive defeat by Dustin Poirier in 2021.
A planned comeback last year was ultimately derailed when the former dual-weight champion sustained a broken toe.
However, speaking at a press conference following UFC Fight Night in Winnipeg, White offered an optimistic update regarding the situation.
“It’s looking good. Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.”
Summer return on the cards
Reports suggest the comeback is likely to headline UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena on 11 July.
This event falls just three days before the Irishman celebrates his 38th birthday.
While an opponent has not yet been finalised, the prospective matchup is expected to take place in the welterweight division.
The Dublin-born fighter had previously sought a spot on the promotion’s White House card in June, though that event’s schedule is now completely full.
A turbulent few years
McGregor made history during his prime by becoming the first simultaneous two-weight champion in the organisation’s history.
His meteoric rise included a 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo and a historic stoppage victory over Eddie Alvarez at Madison Square Garden.
However, the controversial star has only fought four times in mixed martial arts since a lucrative boxing crossover against Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
His sole victory during this period came via a 40-second stoppage of Donald Cerrone in 2020.
Outside the octagon, the fighter has also faced significant legal battles in recent years.
In 2024, a civil-court jury in Dublin found him liable for a 2018 sexual assault, allegations which he continues to vehemently deny.