Two-time Olympic gold medallist Olaf Tufte has died at the age of 50 after being found unconscious at his family farm in Norway.
The decorated rower was transported to a hospital in Oslo before his passing was confirmed by his family on Tuesday.
His remarkable sporting career spanned an astonishing seven consecutive Summer Games, beginning at Atlanta 1996 and concluding at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
A legacy of Olympic dominance
The Norwegian cemented his status as a sporting legend by securing back-to-back gold medals in the single sculls at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
He also claimed silver in the double sculls at Sydney 2000 and added a bronze medal in the same discipline at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre led the tributes, describing the veteran athlete as one of the nation’s greatest ever sporting heroes.
“Tufte brought immense joy through sport to us as a nation,” Støre said in a statement.
Mentorship and life beyond the water
At his final Games in Tokyo, the 45-year-old competed in the men’s quadruple sculls alongside teammates who were young enough to have been born after his own Olympic debut.
“The veteran mentor, still on the water, still leading by example,” World Rowing noted in their official tribute.
Following his transition away from elite competition, the single sculls specialist moved into coaching and recently guided Birgit Skarstein to a Paralympic silver medal at Paris 2024.
Away from the water, the multifaceted athlete managed a family farm, served as a volunteer firefighter, and established several successful businesses.
“I’m not made for resting,” he famously once remarked. “I need to do other stuff otherwise I get bored.”
Former England captain Ben Stokes has hit a match-winning 108 in his first appearance for Durham since announcing his international retirement.
The dynamic all-rounder struck an unbeaten century from 123 balls to guide his county to a five-wicket victory over Derbyshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
His sensational innings featured 10 boundaries and three sixes as the hosts successfully chased down a challenging target of 257.
Rescuing the run chase
The decorated talisman arrived at the crease with his side in deep trouble at 24-2 during the ninth over of their reply.
He methodically rebuilt the innings by anchoring crucial 50-run stands alongside Will Rhodes, Colin Ackermann and Ollie Robinson.
The left-handed batter eventually reached his hundred off 116 deliveries before sealing the win on the very first ball of the final over.
It marks his 10th career List A century and his first in domestic limited-overs cricket for the north-east county since 2014.
Life after international duty
This stunning return to county action comes less than a month after the legendary cricketer walked away from the highest level of the sport.
He officially stepped down from England duty in June following a series-ending Test defeat to New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Earlier in the day, Martin Andersson top-scored for the visitors with 112 as they posted a competitive total of 256-9 after electing to bat first.
While he dominated with the bat, the former national skipper went wicketless during his nine overs with the ball, conceding 38 runs.
England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir also featured for the opposition, taking a solitary wicket for 56 runs across his full allocation of 10 overs.
Remco Evenepoel claimed consecutive Tour de France victories by dominating the stage 16 time trial to reduce Tadej Pogacar’s overall lead on a bittersweet day for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
The three-time world time trial champion navigated the 26.1km course along the shores of Lake Geneva in 32 minutes and 19 seconds.
It secured a second successive victory for the reigning Olympic champion, following his maiden road stage triumph on the Plateau de Solaison on Sunday.
However, the Belgian’s celebrations were dampened after team-mate and co-leader Florian Lipowitz crashed out of the prestigious Grand Tour.
Pogacar retains commanding yellow jersey
The German rider, who sat fifth in the general classification, misjudged a corner with 6.4km remaining and was forced to leave in an ambulance.
Overall race leader Pogacar experienced a nervous moment as he nearly slid out on the exact same treacherous bend that ended Lipowitz’s race.
The Slovenian managed to stay upright, ultimately finishing 28 seconds slower than his main rival to take second on the stage.
His advantage at the top of the general classification has now been reduced to four minutes and 32 seconds ahead of the demanding final week.
Bittersweet victory amid team-mate crash
I read this morning it’s been a while since a Belgian won on our national day so I’m proud to be the one. It’s unbelievable to take two victories in a row.
The joy of a stage win was heavily tempered by the loss of Lipowitz, who had been enjoying a stellar race before the incident.
The 24-year-old stage winner acknowledged the mixed emotions surrounding the day’s results.
I’ve just been told my team-mate Lipowitz crashed, that’s very unfortunate… a bittersweet pill to swallow with this victory. I will really miss him for the last week.
Skjelmose shines in shadow of dominant leaders
Lidl-Trek rider Mattias Skjelmose produced an outstanding performance to claim third place, finishing one minute and four seconds adrift of the winner.
This latest success marks the 26th career time trial victory for the Belgian prodigy, reinforcing his status as a premier specialist against the clock.
When asked about challenging for the overall title, the former Vuelta a Espana winner remained realistic about his prospects against the dominant race leader.
If Tadej is on his way to win a fifth Tour de France, I think it’s just amazing that I can be a bit close to him, it’s an honour to race with him.
The PGA Tour, European Tour and Asian Tour have announced a strategic alliance running until 2029, dealing a significant blow to rival circuit LIV Golf.
The agreement takes immediate effect and aims to provide global playing opportunities across the three golfing bodies.
It establishes a clear pathway for members of the Asian circuit to eventually join the DP World Tour in Europe.
A major setback for the breakaway circuit
This new collaboration represents a severe disruption for the Saudi-backed league.
The rival organisation had previously invested $300m (£235m) into the region to create the lucrative ‘International Series’.
Those events have been heavily dominated by defectors from the traditional ecosystem, including Carlos Ortiz and David Puig.
Financial uncertainty looms
Broader financial concerns are currently casting a long shadow over the future of the 54-hole enterprise.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) recently stated it will cease funding the controversial league after the current season.
Chief executive Scott O’Neil is now actively seeking outside investors to keep the operation afloat beyond 2026.
Adding to these woes, Canadian-based Mobii Systems Group filed a lawsuit in Miami on Monday over allegedly unpaid broadcast technology fees.
Renewed global cooperation
The DP World Tour previously co-sanctioned events in Asia between 2016 and 2021.
That relationship was severed upon the launch of the Saudi-funded project, but officials now expect at least two co-sanctioned tournaments annually.
“We feel the time is now right to collaborate with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour to enhance the Asian Tour for our members, fans and partners.”
Commissioner Cho Minn Thant believes bringing the three organisations together will significantly increase the bandwidth of professional golf.
“Positive news, and great to see the respective tours working together for the good of international golf.”
Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy shared his swift approval of the newly established agreement on social media.
Scottish athlete Josh Kerr has set his sights on breaking the long-standing 1,500m world record after shattering the mile benchmark at the London Diamond League.
The 28-year-old ran a staggering three minutes 42.66 seconds on Saturday to eclipse Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1999 mile record.
He secured victory comfortably ahead of Yared Nuguse and Jake Heyward in front of a jubilant crowd at the London Stadium.
Chasing an enduring legacy
Now, the 2023 world champion is aiming to dismantle another of El Guerrouj’s historic athletic achievements.
The Moroccan’s 1,500m time of 3:26.00 has remained untouched since 1998, but recent track performances suggest it may finally be under severe threat.
During his record-breaking mile run, the two-time Olympic medallist clocked a 1,500m split of 3:27.51, which shaved three-hundredths of a second off his own British record.
Striking while the iron is hot
Writing in a newspaper column, the Scottish distance runner revealed his immediate ambitions caused some mild friction at home.
“I was soon in a spot of trouble with my wife, Larimar, when she woke up and I said ‘It’s on’ in reference to Hicham El Guerrouj’s world 1,500m record of 3min 26.00sec.”
“She said: ‘Can you just give us 12 hours before you set another goal?’ I was like: ‘I could, but the iron’s hot.'”
He believes that momentum is crucial in modern athletics, noting that halting personal ambition inevitably leads to a decline in performance.
Commonwealth Games take priority
The immediate focus for the track star will be competing on home soil at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this week.
Following that prestigious event, a specifically targeted attempt at a remaining Diamond League meeting appears the most likely scenario for his historic bid.
“We have not made any decisions yet – and things would have to be put in place with the right 1,500m race – but I do think that it is in the legs.”
Two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard has abandoned the Tour de France after suffering a heavy crash near the end of Sunday’s 15th stage at Plateau de Solaison.
The 29-year-old Danish rider was involved in a collision close to a kerb with approximately 20 kilometres remaining of the mountainous route.
Following the incident, he was assisted into an ambulance with his right arm secured in a sling.
His premature exit deals a devastating blow to the Visma-Lease a Bike team.
Title ambitions abruptly ended
Prior to the crash, the elite climber was sitting comfortably in second place overall.
He had been closely pursuing defending champion Tadej Pogacar in the general classification standings heading into the decisive final climb.
The incident removes one of the main pre-race favourites and significantly alters the dynamic of the peloton.
A decorated Grand Tour history
The former race leader secured overall victory in cycling’s most prestigious event in both 2022 and 2023.
Beyond his success in France, the Scandinavian star is part of an exclusive group of only eight male riders to have won all three Grand Tours.
Cycling fans will now eagerly await further medical updates regarding the full extent of his arm injury.
Conor McGregor suffered a severe ACL injury during his opening-round defeat by Max Holloway at UFC 329 in July, UFC president Dana White has confirmed.
The 38-year-old sustained the right knee damage in the opening seconds of the welterweight bout.
Addressing the media on Saturday, White consulted with officials at the podium before revealing the full extent of the damage.
“ACL. His knee is f***ed up,” Dana White stated.
Surgery and rehabilitation
The Irish fighter confirmed on social media that he will undergo surgery to repair the torn ligament.
Despite the severe setback, the former dual-weight champion insists he plans to return for the final bout remaining on his current contract.
However, the UFC boss immediately played down expectations of an imminent comeback for the promotion’s biggest star.
“The Conor McGregor discussion isn’t even worth talking about,” White added.
Long road to recovery
The veteran promoter emphasised that a lengthy rehabilitation process must take priority over matchmaking.
“He’s got to have knee surgery, he’s going to have to go through physical therapy, it’s all going to take time, and then when the doctor says you can start hardcore training again, then we start talking about Conor McGregor again.”
This latest medical blow comes after a significant period of inactivity for the Dublin native.
The clash with Holloway was his first appearance in the octagon since July 2021.
During that previous outing, he suffered a devastating broken left leg in a first-round stoppage loss to Dustin Poirier.
Dricus Du Plessis delivered a masterclass performance to defeat fellow former champion Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City.
The South African fighter overwhelmed his opponent with relentless power and striking volume over five gruelling rounds.
Judges at the Paycom Center scored the middleweight contest 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 in favour of the 30-year-old.
Title redemption in sight
I’m back in the winner’s circle, baby. Let’s get my belt back.
Dricus Du Plessis
This dominant victory marks a successful return to the Octagon for the former middleweight king.
He previously surrendered his 185-pound crown in a taxing five-round decision to Khamzat Chimaev last August.
Before that singular setback, the Pretoria-born athlete boasted an unblemished 9-0 promotional record that included two title defences.
A tough transition at middleweight
For the defeated contender, this challenging bout represented only a second career appearance in the 185-pound division.
The former long-reigning welterweight titleholder opted to move up a weight class after missing out on a bout against Islam Makhachev.
Despite securing a momentary takedown in the third round, the Nigerian-born veteran could not overcome the early structural damage.
The 37-year-old absorbed significant punishment throughout, including a brutal right hand to the temple and multiple perfectly timed knees.
Striking superiority seals the victory
The number-two ranked middleweight established his range immediately with a punishing series of jabs and leg kicks.
He continued to dictate the pace deep into the championship rounds by landing heavy head kicks and slick combinations.
A desperate late surge of heavy haymakers in the final seconds proved insufficient to rescue the contest for the struggling veteran.
Thank you, Kamaru Usman, for bringing the best out in me, and thank you for giving your life up over so many years to entertain these fans.
Dricus Du Plessis