Earthquake survivor Ralf Etienne has become Haiti’s first-ever Winter Paralympian after making his historic skiing debut at the Milan-Cortina Games on Friday.
Sixteen years ago, he lost his left leg when a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the Caribbean nation.
The natural disaster claimed over 200,000 lives and left the then-20-year-old trapped upside down in building rubble for eight agonizing hours.
“I decided that if I survived this tragedy, I would live a life to serve people.”
From tragic rubble to Paralympic snow
The former media entrepreneur was eventually rescued and pushed in a wheelbarrow for an entire day to reach a functioning hospital.
It took another week before a doctor could examine the severely injured man and officially amputate his trapped limb.
Following a move to the United States for prosthetic treatment, the resilient survivor dedicated his subsequent years to extensive humanitarian work.
Despite building a successful career as an investment banker, the 36-year-old harboured a deep desire to showcase a positive side of his homeland.
A rapid rise to the global stage
He discovered alpine skiing only two years ago during a trip with friends and instantly realised its potential to inspire others globally.
“I touched the snow, and I never turned back.”
Driven by his new sporting ambition, the financial executive relocated from New York to London to facilitate rigorous weekend training across the European mountains.
Balancing a demanding corporate career with elite athletic preparation often meant leaving the office at 2am to catch early-morning flights to Switzerland.
“At first skiing meant freedom to me, and then I realised it was inspiration. That is what the Paralympics are about.”
Inspiring a new generation of athletes
Armed with a mobility grant from the International Paralympic Committee, the pioneering skier took to the Italian slopes with just 80 days of total on-snow experience.
His participation marks a monumental sporting milestone, ensuring the Haitian flag flies proudly at a Winter Games for the very first time.
The inspirational debutant joins competitors from El Salvador, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Portugal in bringing new national representation to the prestigious winter event.
Under-fire Tottenham Hotspur interim head coach Igor Tudor has urged his squad to abandon their “victim” mentality as he attempts to salvage confidence ahead of Sunday’s daunting trip to Liverpool.
Pressure is mounting on the Croatian tactician after Spurs suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
That European humiliation was defined by a catastrophic opening spell in which reserve goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky made two disastrous errors before being substituted after just 17 minutes.
The midweek loss condemned the North London club to four consecutive defeats at the start of Tudor’s tenure, marking an unwanted first in their history.
Fighting the ‘black magic’ narrative
Overall, the Premier League side have now endured a historic six consecutive losses across all competitions this calendar year.
Facing a monumental challenge to arrest this dramatic slide, the former Juventus defender insists his players must make a conscious choice to fight rather than wallow in self-pity.
He revealed that he has challenged the dressing room to ignore external noise and take personal responsibility for turning their turbulent season around.
You can be the victim or you can say I can change something. This is the message I want to start and what I told to the players.
Psychological rebuild on Merseyside
Spurs face a formidable test this weekend when they travel to Anfield to face a Liverpool side currently battling at the upper end of the table.
Tudor admitted that much of his daily work at the training ground now revolves around psychology and rebuilding the shattered courage of his squad.
The interim boss heavily criticised the persistent negative narrative surrounding the club, aggressively dismissing talk of deep-rooted institutional decay or curses.
All the other things are b******* and sorry to use this word, but it’s on us. Don’t think it’s not about me. You know that can be the problem more than all these things about Tottenham and the club, like magic on the club, like bad black magic.
While acknowledging the sheer scale of his task, the 46-year-old remains hopeful that small, incremental changes in attitude can spark a rapid revival.
He stated firmly that difficult moments do not last forever, urging his squad to view the current crisis as a crucial opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Six Georgia rugby players and a team official have been charged with anti-doping violations following a joint investigation into a sample-swapping scheme ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The World Anti-Doping Agency and global governing body World Rugby uncovered the orchestrated evasion tactics during an inquiry named “Operation Obsidian”.
Investigators found five distinct instances where members of the national squad allegedly substituted urine samples to bypass drug detection protocols.
Employees within the country’s own national anti-doping agency were also found to have tipped off athletes about upcoming tests.
Outrage over testing failures
The sweeping probe, which launched last year, revealed severe lapses by regional doping control officers.
These officials failed to properly observe the Eastern European competitors during testing and did not directly witness urine collection.
“What has been happening in Georgian rugby is outrageous and will send shockwaves through Georgian sport and government, as well as the global game of rugby.”
Wada president Witold Banka condemned the systemic failures while praising the relentless determination of the independent intelligence team.
World Cup struggles and agency fallout
The timeline of the investigation heavily focuses on the extended preparation period before the major international tournament held in France.
Irregularities were initially flagged by the athlete passport management programme, prompting a deeper look into the squad’s testing history.
The Lelos ultimately endured a miserable campaign at the 2023 global showpiece, finishing at the bottom of their pool without securing a single victory.
This sprawling scandal has now completely eroded international confidence in Georgia’s domestic anti-doping framework.
Banka has consequently demanded that relevant authorities implement wholesale changes to restore the integrity of the nation’s testing procedures.
Arsenal have commenced negotiations with Declan Rice over a lucrative new long-term contract to secure the midfielder’s prime years in north London.
The England international currently has two years remaining on his existing deal, which includes an option to extend for a further 12 months.
However, the Premier League leaders are eager to reward the 27-year-old with a significant pay increase to solidify his position among the club’s highest earners.
Rice reportedly takes home £240,000 per week under his current terms.
Securing a midfield cornerstone
Discussions are described as being at a preliminary stage with no set timeline established for their completion.
The process of ensuring the former West Ham captain remains a central figure for the foreseeable future is now actively under way.
Since arriving in a club-record £105m transfer in 2023, the combative holding player has forged a reputation as one of Europe’s elite.
He has amassed 102 league appearances for the Gunners while establishing himself as an indispensable asset for his country with 72 senior caps.
Building a title-winning core
The Emirates hierarchy have deliberately moved to lock down the futures of their most crucial personnel over the past 12 months.
Attacking talisman Bukayo Saka recently committed to a fresh four-and-a-half-year agreement worth a minimum of £300,000 per week.
Defensive duo William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, along with highly-rated academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, have also signed extensions.
Furthermore, the title challengers have initiated dialogue with Dutch defender Jurrien Timber regarding an improved deal.
Pushing for domestic glory
These contract developments arrive as Arsenal set the pace at the summit of the English top flight.
The north Londoners currently boast a seven-point advantage over reigning champions Manchester City, who retain a crucial game in hand.
They host Everton this Saturday, seeking to inch closer to a first championship triumph since Arsene Wenger’s legendary 2004 campaign.
France, Scotland and Ireland will battle for the 2026 Six Nations title on a decisive final day as struggling England aim to cause a major upset in Paris.
The tournament concludes on Saturday following a chaotic and unpredictable campaign that has seen pre-tournament expectations entirely rewritten.
Borthwick’s future hangs in the balance
England head to the Stade de France facing the grim reality of recording their worst-ever championship finish.
Head coach Steve Borthwick is fighting to save his job after suffering a landmark first-ever defeat to Italy during the fourth round.
The under-fire manager remains convinced he can fix the squad’s issues, but another heavy loss to the defending champions will severely test the patience of the Rugby Football Union.
Title destiny remains in French hands
Fabien Galthie’s side saw their Grand Slam aspirations shattered last weekend following a staggering 50-40 defeat at Murrayfield.
Despite that defensive setback, Les Bleus know exactly what is required to retain their crown and will aim to inflict maximum damage on their struggling cross-channel rivals.
A dominant performance in Le Crunch would underscore their status as the pre-eminent force in northern hemisphere rugby and secure the championship.
Triple Crown clash in Dublin
Before the action kicks off in Paris, a tantalising showdown awaits at the Aviva Stadium as Ireland and Scotland go toe-to-toe for the Triple Crown.
The victor in Dublin will temporarily move to the summit of the standings, but they must then rely on England to spring a major surprise against the tournament leaders.
Irish boss Andy Farrell insists anything can happen on the final weekend and genuinely believes the English squad are capable of doing his side a massive favour.
“Look at the results in the competition; of course they have the quality to cause a shock, 100 per cent.”
“Everyone knows the players they’ve got, the coaching staff they’ve got, and what they’re capable of.”
England captain Maro Itoje has challenged his struggling team to prove their character against France in Paris this weekend to avoid their worst Six Nations finish since 1987.
A fourth consecutive defeat on ‘Super Saturday’ would consign the visitors to a dismal campaign featuring just a single victory.
Head coach Steve Borthwick is under immense pressure and faces a looming post-tournament Rugby Football Union review regarding his future.
The veteran lock insists the upcoming test is entirely about mental fortitude rather than tactical nuances.
Tactics secondary to resilience
“This game is about showing each other and showing our fans what we are really about, what we are truly about.”
The national skipper believes the current squad is still building towards success despite their frustrating recent setbacks.
“This game is an opportunity for us to show the character of this team. And I genuinely believe this team is going somewhere.”
Antoine Dupont’s title-chasing hosts enter the fixture as heavy favourites to inflict further misery on their cross-Channel rivals.
Bouncing back from Italian upset
Just five weeks ago, the English side were riding a 12-match winning streak before their form collapsed dramatically.
Confidence was severely dented following a shock 23-18 defeat to Italy in round four, a match where the Red Rose were overwhelmingly backed to win.
“I’m sure we were the favourites against Italy last weekend and I think a lot of people have lost a lot of money at Cheltenham betting on favourites.”
The experienced second-row remains unfazed by external predictions, pointing to last year’s narrow 26-25 triumph over Les Bleus when the odds were similarly stacked against them.
Looming world champion challenge
“But this is a brilliant opportunity and perhaps this opportunity is necessary for us to be the team we need to be, against a good quality French side, in their own backyard.”
Regardless of the outcome in the French capital, a daunting summer schedule awaits the embattled squad.
They will kick off their Nations Championship campaign against back-to-back world champions South Africa on 4 July.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will make late fitness decisions on Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard before Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Everton.
The Premier League leaders are hoping to have an almost fully-fit squad available as they look to extend their advantage at the top of the table.
However, the potential absence of their club captain remains a significant concern for the north London side.
Odegaard faces prolonged absence
The Norwegian playmaker has been sidelined with a persistent knee problem since providing an assist during last month’s resounding derby victory over Tottenham.
Fears over a longer spell in the treatment room were recently amplified by Norway head coach Stale Solbakken.
The international manager suggested the midfielder might not return to competitive action until the end of March.
Trossard recovering from cup knock
Meanwhile, the Belgian forward is also a doubt after sustaining a knock during a recent FA Cup fifth-round victory at Mansfield.
That minor injury kept him out of the squad for Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 first-leg draw against Bayer Leverkusen.
Despite missing the European tie, the versatile attacker had returned to the training pitch on the eve of that fixture.
Arteta awaits medical clearance
Speaking ahead of the weekend clash at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners boss offered a cautious update on his injured duo.
“Let’s see. We will have to wait and see, speak to the doctors on whether they are involved or not.”
Chelsea will host Newcastle United in a vital Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge on Friday, with Anthony Gordon shaking off an illness to feature.
The England winger has fully recovered in time for the highly anticipated fixture in west London.
His timely return provides a significant boost for the visiting side as they look to secure crucial points on the road.
Gittens bolsters attacking options
In addition to Gordon’s recovery, Jamie Gittens is also set to make his long-awaited return to the matchday squad.
The dynamic forward’s availability adds further firepower ahead of the Friday afternoon encounter.
Stamford Bridge will set the stage as both clubs aim to solidify their league standings moving into the business end of the season.
Crucial points at stake
The hosts know that a victory on home soil is essential to maintain momentum in their domestic campaign.
However, the Magpies have proven to be stern opposition and will arrive in the capital eager to disrupt the local rhythm.
Supporters can expect a tense and tactical affair as two of the division’s most ambitious sides go head-to-head.