The Guardian

Yes sport is about effort, sweat and inclusivity – but it also turns elite athletes into magnificent specimens of humanity where the aesthetic is part of the appeal Have you seen the 40-second video that will change the way you think about women’s sport, women’s bodies, just, you know, women? It’s been unavoidable on social media this week – brazen, unapologetic, dominating the algorithm like an …

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The former world title challenger, 61, will take on representatives from five other continents in a tournament rated by the global chess body Fide Nigel Short, the 1993 world title challenger, will head to the Antarctic for his next tournament as the 61-year-old, formerly of Bolton but resident for many decades in Greece, attempts to become the first chess player to win tournaments on seven conti…

One year on from the epic final women’s rugby is flourishing in both nations while England are aiming to take their successive win total to 40 games Train like you have never won, play like you don’t know how to lose. That is the mantra scribbled on a whiteboard in the Red Roses camp this week as they prepare to take on Canada for the first time since defeating them in the 2025 Rugby World Cup fi…

The billionaire’s departure will change little day-to-day but could be significant for club’s stadium plans Not since a doomed foray into the thorny world of the transfer market has Todd Boehly had any real influence over the day-to-day at Chelsea. The American exits football as a diminished figure four years on, along with his fellow investor Mark Walter, and the first thing to say is that littl…

With Barcelona racking up seven-goal thrillers, Real Madrid could not afford a collapse. Enter the forward quietly turning into José Mourinho’s ultimate secret weapon José Mourinho called and Carlos Espí came to his side. It was late, it was noisy and it was almost over – the match and maybe even something more – when Real Madrid’s coach took the forward who is also his flatmate to one side on Tu…

Detroit Lions 31-41 Buffalo Bills Bills QB throws three TDs and rushes for two Jared Goff excellent in defeat for Lions Josh Allen quickly put his stamp on the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium, which has been dubbed “The House that Allen built.” Allen threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores, and the Bills beat the Detroit Lions 41-31 on Thursday night in the first regular-season game at Hig…

Australian Phil Gore in hospital after 152-hour solo run Persistent pain in thigh requires 12cm incision to suck fluid out Phil Gore’s legs have delivered extraordinary numbers, including running more than 1,000km last month in a solo attempt during a backyard ultra marathon. This week, they produced another: 500ml of pus, roughly the equivalent of a pint. The 40-year-old Australian saw a doctor …

Invented a little over a decade ago in Hungary, teqball is a combination of football and ping pong In Bangkok’s Sports Science Centre, Jutatip Kuntatong is airborne, executing a gravity-defying bicycle kick that slams the ball on to the curved table with a force that echoes throughout the gym. She is preparing to represent Thailand at the Asian Games, which start on Saturday, but six years ago sh…

Spurs and Villa meet in desperation derby and Andoni Iraola faces test on south-coast return Premier League top scorers: check the latest standings Chelsea have not won this west London derby since Brentford’s first Premier League season. Each visit since October 2021’s 1-0 win , Ben Chilwell the scorer, has been a draw. This season has continued the divergence between the clubs’ respective appro…

Hoops beaten again after chastening loss to Rangers Juventus hammer NEC, Besiktas pile woe on Marseille Celtic suffered another European embarrassment as the Scottish champions were beaten 3-1 at home by Ferencvaros in the Europa League. Just weeks on from crashing out of the Champions League qualifiers to Austrian side Lask, despite at one point holding a four-goal lead, Celtic’s defensive flaws…

The first goal that AFC Bournemouth ever scored in Europe could be heard out on the Bay of Biscay. The second sounded around San Sebastián soon after. A tradition from Real Sociedad’s old Atotxa ground, recovered at Anoeta in 2009, dictates that a single firework is set off every time the visitors score while two are lit when the home team do; that way those out to sea know the score. And so it w…

Joanna Wietrzyk ‘regrets’ decision to keep racing She forfeits points from her win in the Beijing race The Australian athlete who caused a storm by winning a Hyrox event in China despite soiling herself during the race has apologised to the “people of China” and rival athletes in a statement online. Posting on Instagram, Joanna Wietrzyk offered a “sincere apology” to the “people of China, my fell…

Banton and Brook lead England home in style Big hitting leaves Sri Lanka looking out of their depth England extended their extraordinary hex over Sri Lanka to a 14th game, with the tourists looking as out of their depth as the balls that were repeatedly deposited into the River Taff as their opponents cantered to their target of 146 to win by six wickets, with 47 balls remaining. More than a doze…

It was worth the wait for Crystal Palace. After being denied their rightful place in the Europa League last season, Pierre Sage’s side made the perfect debut by brushing aside Lech Poznan with a victory that will take some of the heat off their new manager. The Frenchman has big shoes to fill in replacing Oliver Glasner after his predecessor won three trophies in 12 months and there had been some…