The Rogues Gallery Racing Club is set to fly the flag for syndicate owners at ParisLongchamp on Sunday when Rogue Millennium and Rogue Lightning both go for Group One glory.
Middleham Park Racing famously enjoyed a memorable success in the Prix de l’Abbaye with The Platinum Queen 12 months ago and there could be more joy for smaller owners this weekend.
Rogue Lightning is entered for the same five-furlong contest this term, while Rogue Millennium heads for the Prix de l’Opera over 10 furlongs.
Trainer Tom Clover told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s very exciting to be going over for Arc day with two runners in Group One races for Rogues Gallery.
“They are a great syndicate and it’s a huge thrill to be going out there. The Rogues Gallery have been with us for four years or so now and they are a great bunch – it’s just a fantastic syndicate.
“They are a great group of people who are really good friends and have just had a fantastic journey with a couple of cracking horses in Rogue Millennium and Rogue Lightning.
“To be going to Arc day with two horses who cost around £80,000 between them is just fantastic.
“They’ve got people from all over, including the Isle of Man and Ireland, and there’s a huge variety, with even Rishi Persad one of the ‘Rogues’. I think there’s around 90 members going over, so it will be a fair old raid on Paris and we’re looking forward to having a good time.”
Rogue Millennium has already claimed a Group Two prize in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot and was a fine runner-up to Tahiyra in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown last time out.
The Dubawi filly, who has been on the go since April, also has a good third to India in the Prix Allez France over this course and distance to her credit.
“I’m really pleased with her, she just seems to thrive on racing,” commented Clover. “She’s certainly an improving filly and her form over course and distance looks really strong.
“It was an amazing day to go over to Leopardstown and finish second behind Tahiyra, when she travelled so strongly through the race and hit the line really strong.
“She seems in really good form. We’re pretty versatile in terms of the ground, but it will be fantastic to see top-class racing on good ground.”
Rogue Lightning steps up in class for the Abbaye but deservedly so after following up two handicap wins with a Listed-class victory in the Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster.
“It’s a tough race but he’s up to 110 after winning a Listed race last time and he looks an improving sprinter,” added Clover.
“Danny (Tudhope), who rode him last time out, said he is really fast and he’s just been learning on the job.
“He can seem a little green when getting to the front but then the way he put the race to bed up to the line in that last half a furlong was quite impressive, we felt.
“With the sprinting division being pretty open this year, we thought why not have a go. The sprinters seem to be taking it in turn to win these races this year, so he deserves to take his chance.
“He came out of the race in fantastic form and a strong-run race like the Abbaye should suit him.
“It’s a massive step up to go for a Group One, but on the ratings you can make a case for him and some of his sectionals and fractions this year have been very good. He’s a horse we’ve always held in high regard.”
James Roby will keep his emotions at bay and focus on leading St Helens towards an achievement he believes would eclipse all others when he steps out on home turf for the final time against Warrington in Saturday’s Betfred Super League play-off.
The 37-year-old’s swansong at the Totally Wicked Stadium is guaranteed whatever the result, with a win propelling Saints into a semi-final against Catalans in Perpignan, and one game away from enabling Roby to fulfil his dream of signing off with an unprecedented fifth straight Grand Final win.
Beyond the business-as-usual mantra which has served the home-grown hero so well since he made his Saints debut as a teenager against Widnes 549 games ago, he acknowledged he will be stepping into the unknown when the final hooter brings an end to his last home appearance.
“My whole approach is that it is just another game, but maybe after the final whistle I might think a little differently,” Roby told the PA news agency.
“As of yet, it’s not sunk in that it’s the last time. I’m not the most emotional person.
“But I know after the game it might feel different, depending on the result and the atmosphere, if the fans are singing my name, a little bit of emotion might come out.”
Having announced in February that 2023 would be his final season, Roby, who would duly go on to break his club’s all-time appearance record, started the campaign by lifting the World Club Challenge trophy after a stunning upset win over Penrith in Australia.
The after-effects of that gruelling early trip threatened to curtail his career before the play-offs, with Paul Wellens’ men initially struggling to wrestle their way into the play-off positions before a late flourish sealed their customary post-season place.
Whilst he may be unsure about his emotional response to his final home appearance, Roby is crystal clear on what a fifth successive Grand Final crown would represent in the context of his already-glittering career.
“It’s the ending I would love to pick – to do five in a row, I don’t think that could ever be beaten by any other success I’ve had, or any accolade or praise I’ve had in the past,” continued Roby.
“It would be an amazing accomplishment for us as a team, and to finish on that, I couldn’t think of anything better.
“If you’d told me back when I made my debut that I would be in this position I wouldn’t have believed it.
“My mentality was, I’ve got my foot in the door a little bit here, don’t mess it up, keep your head down, keep your mouth shut and do what’s asked of you.
“It seemed to work well and before you know it you’re 20 years down the line and you’re getting ready to retire.
“I know for a fact I’ve been extremely lucky and privileged to do all this for my home-town club, and I’ll be forever grateful for everything they’ve done for me.”
Roby is honest enough to admit there is little about the matchday experience itself that he will miss: “I just look forward to coming to watch a game without the stress of having to play in it,” he joked.
His investment in the Saints’ cause will not end when he hangs up his famous red vee shirt this weekend.
Roby hopes his legacy of longevity will ensure future generations of Saints players maintain and extend the club’s dominant stature in the domestic game.
“I’ve never led this team on my own,” added Roby. “There’s a bunch of leaders in this team who are individually fantastic, but when it all slots together it becomes bigger than the sum of its parts and we can go on to achieve greatness.
“Hopefully a little bit of me and Louie (McCarthy-Scarsbrook, who is also retiring) will live on in the quality of those we leave behind, and it’s their responsibility and privilege to drive standards until it is their time too to pass on the baton.”
Tom Marquand has his sights set on what would be a memorable Group One double at Newmarket this weekend.
The prolific Relief Rally takes her chance in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes, followed soon after by Lake Forest in the Middle Park.
Both juveniles are trained by William Haggas and both are fresh from Group-race victories at the Ebor meeting, where Relief Rally landed the Lowther Stakes and Lake Forest was a slightly more surprising winner of the Gimcrack.
Their big-race jockey said: “Relief Rally has been foot-perfect all season. She is a little battler and has the ability to go with it which is great. I’m looking forward to the weekend as it would be her big opportunity to get a well-deserved Group One on the board.
“Realistically, she probably has to take another little step forward as there are other fillies who will be progressing at the end of the year, but it is a step, not a leap.
“She has been super versatile everywhere we have gone with her. The way she has done everything else I can’t imagine the track will be a problem. If she takes a small step forward she should be putting up a big performance and that should be enough to win.”
He added: “If she does train on it would be absolutely fantastic as she has not had a killer year where you have emptied the tank.
“She has had every opportunity to have some big dances, and this would be the biggest of them all.
“With fast two-year-olds you have to enjoy them in the moment and ultimately she has given us a great season.
“If it backs up to nothing else then so be it, but you can always look back with great fondness as there are not many that can go to those big festival meetings and perform as well as she has.”
In contrast to Relief Rally obliging as the 2-1 favourite at York, Lake Forest was sent on his way at 16-1 for the Gimcrack, having been beaten at 1-3 previously at Newmarket.
Marquand said: “He flashed what he could do up at Haydock on his first start and the July Stakes at Newmarket was similar.
“Getting beat in the novice was the curveball that probably made him completely unfancied in the Gimcrack, but if you went back to that July Stakes form, you probably had to think he was not too far away from having a really good shout in it.
“It is going to be an extremely tough race and there are those horses that are proven at the top level already, but he is a Gimcrack winner, and you have to be a pretty good horse to do that and hopefully he can continue on that path.”
Before Saturday, Marquand has a high-profile ride to look forward to on Friday with the return of Maljoom in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes.
The Caravaggio colt has not been seen since finishing an unlucky fourth in last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“It is great to have Maljoom back on a racecourse. He was an extremely exciting horse but didn’t have things go his way and unfortunately he found a few bumps in the road,” he said.
“I jumped on him the other morning and he felt great. He has been off the track for a long time and you worry he might be a bit rusty, but he feels and looks great and everyone is happy with him.
“Hopefully he can make a good reappearance and show us what he showed before and get back on the right road.
“William had a couple of options for him, but he chose this for a reason, and it looks a good starting place. Hopefully it will be a good gauge as to where he is and what we do in the future with him.
“Fingers crossed this next chapter in his book can be a bit longer than the last one and he can have a clear run at it all.”
Mister Sketch will likely be saved for his three-year-old season after finishing second in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.
The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Territories colt was beaten a neck on debut at the same track and then caught the eye with a wide-margin success when running away with a Salisbury novice in August.
After that nine-and-a-half-length rout he was upped sharply in the grade in the Mill Reef, a Group Two for which he was a 5-2 shot under Charlie Bishop, running for the first time in the colours of Wathnan Racing.
On heavy ground he did little wrong and was only outrun by Andrew Balding’s Array, with half a length separating them on the line at the end of the six-furlong contest.
That performance is set to be Mister Sketch’s final run as a two-year-old, and connections are hoping next year will bring about more success as he develops physically.
“He’s great, he’s come out of the race really well and we’re really happy with him,” Johnson Houghton said.
“I think the ground did for him, but only because he’s a big horse and he’s still weak. He’ll be a lovely horse for next year.
“The winner knew more, that’s the be-all and end-all of it at this age.
“I think he’s likely to have done enough for the year, we’re very hopeful for next year.”
The 2023 National Deadlift Championship held at the Fit Farm Fitness Centre on Saturday, September 23, saw the culmination of months of intense training and dedication from athletes across the nation. One standout competitor, in particular, took the stage and left an indelible mark on the powerlifting world.
Latasha Jackson, hailing from Britain, emerged as a dominant force in the GraceKennedy Money Services sponsored event, captivating the audience and her fellow competitors with her awe-inspiring performance.
Her remarkable journey to this championship event began with a determination to represent Jamaica in a sport she was passionate about. Inspired by the great Sami DePass, whose feats she witnessed at the World Championships in Malta, Latasha decided to take the plunge and participate in her first-ever powerlifting meet in Jamaica, the Deadlift Championship.
Latasha's journey to becoming a member of the NPAJ was a testament to her unwavering resolve. In an interview with The Powerlifting Voice, she revealed, "Even though I come from Britain, I’ve always wanted to represent Jamaica in something I am passionate about, seeing Sami DePass at the World Championships in Malta inspired me to make the first step which was to compete in a meet in Jamaica. The deadlift event happened to take place while I was visiting Jamaica, therefore I entered."
Preparing for a championship at the highest level requires immense dedication and hard work. Latasha's training regimen was rigorous, consisting of four weekly workouts, including two upper body and two lower body sessions. Bench press, deadlift, and squat were staples in her training, with a special focus on deadlifts in the final two weeks leading up to the competition. Nutrition played a crucial role in her preparation, as she ensured she had three protein-rich meals a day to provide the energy needed for her intense workouts.
Staying motivated throughout the process, Latasha emphasized the importance of daily habits and long-term goals, which ultimately reap substantial benefits.
The pivotal moment of the NPAJ National Deadlift Championship 2023 came when Latasha Jackson approached the barbell for her lifts. In her first attempt, she lifted a remarkable 172.73 kg (380 lbs.), setting a formidable foundation for her performance. She continued to shine with her second lift, successfully raising 179.55 kg. (395 lbs.). However, it was in her third and final lift that she left the crowd in sheer awe, confidently hoisting an astounding 190.91 kg. (420 lbs.). Her extraordinary feat earned her a total of 36.34 GL Points, solidifying her position as the NPAJ Female Deadlift Champion for 2023.
When asked about her emotions upon realizing she was the champion, Latasha said, "Pure and utter shock! I only wanted to come to participate and watch other lifters but finding out that I won also was the icing on the cake. I loved watching Tesi Scott and Ayana Duhaney, who are my fellow 84 class athletes. I had seen them on Instagram prior but seeing them lift in person was even more amazing."
In the world of competitive powerlifting, athletes often encounter unique challenges and obstacles. For Latasha, adapting to the local style of weight plates and limited equipment availability were hurdles she had to overcome. She explained, "Coming to a different country means getting accustomed to the local style. I’m used to working in kilos with 25kg plates, so coming to Jamaica with 45 lbs. plates made calculating the weights more difficult than expected. I had to memorize the sizes of the plates and work out what my warmups, top set, and back downs were prior to going to the gym, normally I’d do it on the fly.
“Additionally, the equipment available sometimes can be limited, not having a hack squat or smith machine, but you can ask personal trainers in the gym for alternative exercises which are just as effective."
Now, as the NPAJ Female Deadlift Champion for 2023, Latasha Jackson has become a role model for aspiring athletes. Her advice to those looking to excel in the sport of deadlifting or powerlifting in general is invaluable. She stressed, "Powerlifting is a long-term sport, so you never have to be ‘good enough’ to compete. Once you start, continue asking questions and increasing your knowledge so that you understand how your body works in order to progress both inside and outside the gym. This enables you to increase your self-confidence.
“I’ve only competed for a little over a year and I have to thank my coach Christian (@christianthecoach) for helping me understand the mindset it takes to be a champion."
Prop Finlay Bealham feels Ireland have “lots to tidy up” ahead of a crunch Rugby World Cup clash with rivals Scotland.
Andy Farrell’s squad will resume training at their base in Tours on Thursday, having enjoyed some time off in the aftermath of Saturday evening’s physical 13-8 success over South Africa.
Despite the result, Ireland endured line-out struggles against the Springboks in Paris, while they were let off the hook by some wayward opposition goal-kicking.
Tighthead Bealham is ready to “get back on the horse” after the well-earned break and believes there is plenty of room for improvement ahead of a decisive pool B encounter with the Scots on October 7.
“There are certainly things to tidy up for sure,” he said. “We’ve a game against Scotland and we’ll fix up what we’ve got to fix up.
“A few things (against South Africa) didn’t go to plan and the resilience and the fight (was pleasing).
“Everyone was working for each other, (it’s a) special group and to be a part of it is an honour.
“We knew they would be a big challenge and we fronted up well, but certainly lots to tidy up.
“We’ll get back on the horse and get after it.”
Following the jubilation of defeating the defending champions, Ireland’s World Cup fate will be decided by further 9pm kick-offs at Stade de France.
Test rugby’s top-ranked nation still have work to do to secure a spot in the knockout stages and will play each of their remaining tournament matches – potentially four – in the French capital, beginning in late evening.
Australia-born Bealham believes it is important players switch off from rugby in the long hours leading up to kick-off in order to avoid “playing the game 10 times before it actually starts”.
“I’ve gotten better since I’ve got older,” the 31-year-old said of not overthinking matches during free time.
“We have such a tight-knit group, everyone knows what each other is like and you can go hang out with the lads and have a bit of craic, which takes your mind off the games.
“Especially these late kick-offs, you don’t want to be sitting in your room playing the game 10 times before it actually starts.”
For the third successive weekend, Ireland were backed by hordes of travelling fans, with wide-ranging estimates suggesting between 30,000 and 60,000 Irish supporters were in attendance in Saint-Denis.
“When you’re playing you notice it at times, but when we are doing the lap at the end, seeing all the Irish, it felt like a home game,” said Connacht player Bealham.
“The support we get from the fans is second to none. They are the best fans in the world.
“Lots of credit to them, we love our fans so much. To see them all there, the sea of green, it was class.”
Brian Meehan believes Inishfallen is still on an upward curve ahead of Thursday’s Group Three Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket.
The battle-hardened two-year-old will bid to claim this seven-furlong contest after a couple of admirable near-misses on his last two outings.
Inishfallen finished a close third in a valuable York nursery on his first try at this trip and was again just collared close home when a neck second to Aablan in Sandown’s Solario Stakes at this level.
Meehan said: “He came out of the Solario very well and seems to have matured mentally since that run.
“It’s been a case of steady progression with him, he’s gone from stage to stage, stepping up each time, and hasn’t really taken a backward step.
“He’s just a good two-year-old type, a really nice horse and I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on at Newmarket.”
Eben Shaddad gave John and Thady Gosden a belated first juvenile winner of the season when scoring readily at Newmarket last month.
A €190,000 breeze-up purchase, the son of Calyx overcame signs of greenness to stay on strongly over six furlongs, pulling clear to prevail by just under four lengths.
Thady Gosden commented: “Eben Shaddad won his novice well first time out on the July course, he’s progressive and we’re looking forward to seeing him step up to Group company in the Tattersalls Stakes on just his second start.”
Charlie Appleby’s horses have been firing on all cylinders over the past couple of weeks and he will be looking for Legend Of Time to continue the yard’s good recent record in this race.
His Victory Dance was a beaten favourite 12 months ago but the Godolphin handler struck with La Barrosa in 2020 and Modern Games the following season.
Highlighting how Appleby likes to target repeat victories in races, Legend Of Time gave him a third straight success in a Haydock novice contest first time out earlier this month.
Appleby told the Godolphin website: “Legend Of Time learned plenty on his debut and looks to have come forward for the run.
“He is dropping back to seven furlongs but I feel it is well within his compass. We are dipping our toe at this level to see where we are for the rest of the campaign.”
Aidan O’Brien was successful in this event for the third time with Wichita in 2019 and this year sends over the unbeaten Military.
A 375,000 guineas buy, the Siyouni colt justified short odds in a Naas maiden, hitting the front just over a furlong out and then pulling away in a manner which suggested there is plenty of improvement to come.
Alyanaabi was hailed as “very exciting” by Owen Burrows following a comfortable Salisbury win in June and did not get the run of the race when fourth in an Ascot Listed contest next time out.
Also described as “a bit of a big baby” by his trainer, the son of Too Darn Hot has since been given a break since the end of July.
Boiling Point, Change For Good, Cross The Tracks, Son Of Man, Victory Shout and Zabriskie Point were all winners last time out in what looks a competitive renewal.
Trainer Tomohito Ozeki expects Through Seven Seas to do Japan proud in Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.
Japan currently boasts the top-rated horse in the world in Equinox, a four-time winner at the highest level who easily accounted for Arc contender Westover in the Sheema Classic at Meydan back in March.
He beat Through Seven Seas by a neck when the pair clashed in the Takarazuka Kinen, but connections had already ruled out an Arc trip for their superstar by that point.
Japan has come close to Arc victory in the past, with El Condor Pasa memorably caught by Montjeu with the post in sight back in 1999 while Nakayama Festa was beaten just a head by Workforce in 2010. Deep Impact and dual runner-up Orfevre were two other giants of the Japanese racing scene to line up in Paris.
Titleholder was well fancied last year but failed to shine as the rain poured down, with similar comments applying to Chrono Genesis the year before and Ozeki thinks ground conditions have now become a factor in the decision-making process, with the race usually staged on testing ground.
Ozeki said: “There’s a lot of thought going on in Japan at the moment in the sense of which horse could adapt to the ground in the Arc – that is the major thing people think about. It was the same for Through Seven Seas, the owners and breeders sat together for long discussions before they decided to come here.
“Personally I believe at the moment the mare is the best horse the Japanese could have sent over to run in the Arc.
“Obviously for the last three or four years Japanese horses have found it very difficult to run in the Arc because the ground has been very soft, even heavy last year. This mare could adapt to soft ground but as conditions are expected to be better, I’m not worried about it.”
The five-year-old Through Seven Seas has yet to strike in Group One company and has not run since that June defeat at the hands of Equinox, but Ozeki retains plenty of faith and thinks she is on an upward curve.
He said: “She was quite tiny, quite skinny, she didn’t eat a lot and she was a bit of a difficult character, but has matured and started to put on weight. Last summer she had a long stretch without running and that did her a lot of good. She has just grown stronger as the year has progressed.
“She is a mare that needs a little bit of time between her races, probably longer than other horses, so if you look at the time between her Grade Three win and her Grade One run, it is the same time period to the Arc and I think that is ideal for her.
“For every trainer the Arc is a big target in your career. It’s usually a target that is very far away, but now it’s here and I’m finding myself with this race in front of me and I have to be me on the day. But it would mean a lot to me as a trainer.”
Christophe Lemaire takes the ride on the daughter of Dream Journey and he too would relish chalking up an inaugural win for Japan.
He said: “As a jockey you dream about winning the Arc, for me especially with a Japanese horse as you can imagine considering my history with Japan, it would mean a lot to win the Arc with a Japanese horse.
“It would be such an event if I were to win the Arc with a Japanese horse, so I’m going to give everything I have.”
The mare enjoyed a spin on Wednesday morning and while Lemaire was not in the plate, he was delighted with what he saw and feels Through Seven Seas certainly merits her place.
He added: “I saw the Through Seven Seas that I recognised – she had her usual good, big stride. I thought she was very fit and this morning she worked on soft ground and I thought she was very fluid in her action and she worked with a lot of power, so I was very satisfied with what I saw.
“When I won the Grade Three I was quite impressed because she actually won very easily and I could feel that she had improved a lot since last year. She then confirmed that form when she finished second to Equinox, so she has developed into a Group One contender and certainly has the right to run in the Arc and produce a good performance.”
Rosie Eccles believes the heartbreak of missing out on a place at the Tokyo Olympics will stand her in good stead when she finally realises a long-held boxing ambition in Paris next year.
The 27-year-old from Cardiff was denied a second shot at reaching the delayed 2020 Games when Covid forced the cancellation of the second qualifier in London, and three personal bouts with the illness left her fearing the “curse” could strike again.
But, after fighting back to clinch Commonwealth gold for Wales in Birmingham last year, Eccles belatedly booked her place at the Games in June when she won a bronze medal at the European Games in Krakow.
Eccles told the PA news agency: “I’ve really had to do it the hard way, and just when I thought I was in the clear I got Covid again, so it felt like I was cursed and history was going to repeat itself.
“I was absolutely heartbroken to miss out on Tokyo and it’s been a real monkey on my back for a long time. But I showed at the Commonwealths that I had that grit to come back and get the medal in tough circumstances, and that shows I have plenty of self-belief.”
Eccles has dreamed of going to the Olympics since her first boxercise class in 2011, one year before the likes of Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor helped boost the profile of the women’s sport at London 2012.
“I already had a massive ambition to go to the Olympics and watching the likes of Nicola Adams just confirmed it,” added Eccles.
“I’ve always been a huge fan of the Olympics, I remember sitting down when I was younger and watching the likes of Kelly Holmes. But boxing made me realise that this is my sport and this is where I want to be, and about a decade later it’s finally happened.”
Having overcome her Covid setbacks, Eccles underscored her potential for Paris by coming through a tough draw in Krakow, including a notable win over Ireland’s world champion Amy Broadhurst to effectively seal her place.
She will have the added bonus in the French capital of a change to the Olympic weights, which means she will be able to fight in her favoured 66kg category, rather than the 70kg division in which she won her gold medal in Birmingham.
“It’s my natural weight and it’s really going to benefit me,” added Eccles. “I’m ready to go out and achieve what I know I can achieve. I’ve waited my whole life for this bit. I’ve had plenty of ups and downs, but all that heartache is only going to help.”
Marcus Smith has developed into England’s fastest player over short distances, according to sprint student Jonny May.
Making his first start at full-back, Smith excelled in Sunday’s 71-0 rout of Chile that has placed unbeaten England on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup quarter-finals.
The 24-year-old Harlequins magician, a converted fly-half, conjured a dazzling solo touch down as part of an individual two-try haul and also offered an extra dimension in attack.
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While Smith’s creativity as a ball player is well established, the lightening-quick May has been caught by surprise by just how rapid he has become.
“Marcus’ acceleration is as good as anyone’s,” said May, who sharpened his own running technique with a spell at Michael Johnson Performance in Texas.
“Off the mark he’s frightening. Top speed he’s getting faster as well.
“His top speed is probably not like a winger yet, but he doesn’t need that.
“He is deadly in the outside channels. He’s as good as anyone out there.
“He has his famous goose-step and change of direction, and then acceleration which really is as fast as anybody’s here.
“He’s probably the fastest off the mark.”
Racing 92 wing Henry Arundell underlined his pace when plundering five tries against Chile, but even the squad’s most rapid player can not match Smith for sheer speed from a standing start.
When asked if Smith is faster than Arundell, May replied: “Yes, I think he is – off that 10-metre burst.
“For acceleration you want low heel-recovery – and that’s how Marcus runs. For top speed you want your legs to come up high, but for acceleration you want it to be low.
“He really does drive his knees and keeps his feet close to the ground.
“He just whizzes off the mark. He’s an acceleration guy and he’s quick at it.”
May first encountered Smith when the Brighton resident, who was making waves as an age-grade player, was invited by former head coach Eddie Jones to join an England camp on the south coast in 2017.
“I’ve actually been saying to Marcus, ‘mate you are physically blossoming’. It’s sort of sprung up on me,” the veteran Gloucester wing said.
“You forget he has been coming in with us since he was 16. We’d put a GPS on him and he’d be running around Brighton College with us.
“I don’t want to sound patronising but because he’s always been that little guy running round with us, it’s only now I’m realising he’s looking quick and that all of a sudden his legs are big.
“You start to come into yourself at 24. Rugby is bit of a late-development sport. He’s definitely coming into himself physically.
“He has put on a bit and his legs are looking good. People are whacking him and he’s spinning off them.
“He’s looking quick, he’s obviously fit and it’s crept up on me a bit. Suddenly I’m thinking ‘bloody hell, mate, good stuff’.”
Alex King has hailed the hard work of Wales’ Rugby World Cup squad and says their quarter-final achievement has been “four months in the making”.
It was towards the end of May that head coach Warren Gatland and his assistants began work with an extended training group.
That came on the back of a dismal Six Nations campaign, where Wales only avoided the wooden spoon by beating Italy in Rome.
Off-field issues in the Welsh professional game such as finances and contractual uncertainty for players, meanwhile, almost led to a full-blown national squad strike ahead of Wales’ Six Nations clash against England.
But the transformation quietly began at Wales’ training base in the Vale of Glamorgan, before punishing camps in Switzerland and Turkey moved preparations to another level.
A record 40-6 victory over Australia confirmed Wales’ place in the last-eight for the fourth World Cup in a row, setting up a probable appointment with Argentina in Marseille on October 14.
“I am just delighted for the lads,” Wales assistant coach and attack specialist King said.
“They have worked so hard – four months in the making. We are now in the quarter-finals, but we want to really focus on Georgia next week to finish top of the group.
“We know how hard that Georgia game is going to be, and then we can see what happens, going forward, after that.
“It was awesome (against Australia), wasn’t it? We knew how important the game was for both countries.
“We scored a really good try early on, and it probably settled a few nerves.
“We then just managed to get control of the game, our set-piece got on top and we managed to keep the scoreboard keep ticking over.
“When you are playing a team that is low on confidence, the game just goes away from them. We were able to establish a good lead and stay in control to the end.”
Two of Wales’ three tries came from impressive creativity, with Gareth Davies scoring the first following captain Jac Morgan’s break, then Gareth Anscombe’s superbly-placed kick into space being finished off by Nick Tompkins.
On Davies’ score, King added: “The guys work hard, and it is nice when one comes off like that.
“It’s hard to break down defences at this level because they’re so well organised, but Gareth Davies did the support line and Jac was superb. It set the tone, really, and gave us a foothold in the game.
“All the teams that are going to go far (in the World Cup) will bring a balance of structured and unstructured (play).
“We realise that it wasn’t perfect, and no game ever is, and realise we have things to build on. But it is a good foundation to build from.
“If there is anything, there is some work in the 22 we need to tidy up on.
“It is one of the hardest places to attack because you have got a front line of 15 defenders.
“I thought Gareth finding space in the back-field for Nick Tompkins was an example of where we can go to with our kick-space.
“There are always things to work on, and we want to get Louis (Rees-Zammit), Josh (Adams), Rio (Dyer) and Liam (Williams) on the ball as much as possible.
“Sometimes a game works out that way, sometimes it doesn’t. But that is the plan.”
Caroline Dubois believes she has the tools to beat Mexican Magali Rodriguez and has set her sights on a spectacular knockout when the pair meet at York Hall.
The 7-0-0 Dubois returns to the ring on Saturday after three months away as she continues her bid to become a world champion.
The unbeaten 22-year-old credited the experienced 22-6-4 Rodriguez and will look to put a marker down with another impressive victory in London.
“She’s fought some good names (Rodriguez) and top fighters and got a knockdown in her draw against Estelle Yoka-Mossely, who was Olympic champion,” Dubois told the PA news agency.
“Rodriguez is tough and experienced and has had more fights than me at this level.
“I’ve got advantages in speed, the skill, the ability and it’s just about how I put it together on the night .
“She’s durable, she’s never been stopped, she’s tough, she knows how to take punches and ride them and how to manoeuvre through the rounds. She can cope during rounds because of her experience
“I’m looking for a win; I’m lying if I’m saying I don’t want to go out and get a spectacular knockout so it’s up to Magali and me.
“I want to put a good stamp down and impress a lot of people and open their eyes to Caroline Dubois.”
The Briton went the distance for the first time since her professional debut in her last bout against Yanina Lescano.
And Dubois, who is competing for the vacant IBO lightweight title this weekend, welcomed the experience of extra rounds while highlighting her dangerous knockout record.
“Lescano was really tough, she’s maybe someone who would not beat world champions but she could compete with world champions at my weight and give them trouble as well,” Dubois, who has won five of her seven bouts by knockout, added.
“I was able to go out there and win and know that I was able to hurt her in the later rounds and that I had the ability to overwhelm her and beat her easily really.
“Definitely (good to get experience of longer fights). At the time it was a bit frustrating but this is what will pay dividends in the times I’m in a hard fight because I know I can do 10 rounds and get through it.
“It’s been every fight except two and I’m happy with it. For me to get knockouts in 10 two-minute rounds is pretty insane when you think of it.
“It’s massive and so important. I can outbox someone but I’ve also got that factor where I can hurt them and take them out too.”
Dubois relishes her York Hall return and praised the support of Sky Sports who will broadcast the fight
She said: “It’s crazy and it’s amazing.
“I’ve always been with Sky so maybe I don’t appreciate it as much as I should do because some people who turn pro don’t get the backing of Sky network.”
Scott Cummings described Gregor Townsend as “a massive influence” on his career as he savours his second World Cup under the Scotland head coach.
The 26-year-old lock has enjoyed the most significant moments of his rugby journey under the man currently in charge of the national team.
Townsend was the Glasgow head coach when Cummings broke through and made his debut at club level as a teenager in 2015.
Two years later – and just months after landing the Scotland job – he gave the Warriors second-rower his first full international call-up for the Autumn Tests in 2017.
Townsend then handed Cummings his first cap in the summer of 2019 and took him to his first World Cup that year in Japan, where he made four appearances, aged 22.
The dependable Warriors forward has remained involved throughout the head coach’s reign and – although not always a starter – has accumulated 31 caps, two of which came in the opening matches of this World Cup against South Africa and Tonga.
“Gregor’s been massive for me,” he said. “World Cups have always been a good time for me. Eight years ago was when I made my debut for Glasgow, as we had about 22 guys away at the World Cup (in England in 2015).
“Gregor gave me my debut, and then I managed to get in the squad for the last World Cup, and then this one. He’s been a massive influence on my career and has helped shape me into the player I am.”
Asked if Townsend has evolved as a coach since he first played under him, Cummings said: “Yes, I think he probably has. The game has changed as much as anything.
“We play a different style to what we did back then. He has always been an attacking coach, something I like. I don’t want it to be slow. Gregor has always had a fast-paced game plan and I’ve really enjoyed playing under that.”
Cummings feels being at the previous World Cup has helped him deal with the demands of this one.
“Being in Japan was an amazing experience but now, being a bit older, I’ve understood what it means a bit more the second time round and the magnitude of it,” he said.
“We’ve loved being here. We had a fantastic camp (in the build-up) and a lot of fun, training hard and played in some tough games. I’ve really enjoyed it so far.”
Cummings explained how the camaraderie within the squad has helped the players deal with the intensity of living together in their hotel in the hills just outside Nice for the best part of a month.
“It’s tough,” he said. “You’re coming in every day, doing the same sort of things, building towards the same stuff, living in a hotel.
“We’ve been in our hotel for about three weeks now. It’s just about not letting people go into their shells, going out for a meal sometimes on a day off.
“There’s a lot of PlayStation being played, getting tournaments going, things like that, keeping morale up as much as we can.
“A lot of players’ partners and families have been out, so they have been around the hotel, and people seeing their kids.
“The squad is in a great place. It’s been a real family ethos, we are all great mates who are all getting on and enjoying spending time with each other.”
Scotland have spent their entire World Cup so far in the south of France, with their time in Nice interrupted only by a trip along the coast to Marseille for their first match against South Africa.
They will fly to the other end of the country for this Saturday’s must-win encounter with Pool B minnows Romania in Lille.
“It should be a bit colder up there so it will be nice to get away from the sun for a bit and get out of the hotel, have a couple of days somewhere else, see a different part of the country,” said Cummings.
“France is an amazing country and I really enjoyed Marseille and staying out in Aix en Provence.
“It’s a lovely part of the country but it will be good to see somewhere else and not always be in Nice.”
Cummings has seen a familiar face added to the squad over the past few days, with his uncapped Glasgow club-mate Johnny Matthews called up at the weekend after hooker Stuart McInally had to pull out with a neck injury.
“Johnny had an amazing season last year, as anybody who follows the URC will know,” he said. “He’s been playing unbelievably well for Glasgow and it’s very well deserved.
“We’re all absolutely gutted for Stuart not to get that 50th cap he really deserved. But Johnny came out on tour with us last year to Chile, so he’s been in and around the squad before, and he massively deserves the opportunity. I am excited to hopefully see him play.”
St Leger hero Continuous and German Derby winner Fantastic Moon have both been supplemented for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.
Continuous, trained by Aidan O’Brien, landed the final British Classic of the season with a two-and-three-quarter-length victory in Doncaster’s St Leger, a performance that sparked conversations about his late inclusion in the Arc.
Those plans have come to fruition and he will fly the flag for Coolmore in the ParisLongchamp Group One, where he will be joined by a German contender in Sarah Steinberg’s Fantastic Moon.
The German Derby victor took a key Arc trial in the Prix Niel, a Group Two run over the Arc course and distance, but was ruled out of the big race on account of the likely occurrence of soft ground in Paris on Sunday.
Autumn in France has been warm and dry so far, however, causing connections to set aside Japan Cup and Breeders’ Cup aims and supplement their Sea The Moon colt for a shot at the Arc.
The field is currently headed by Jean-Claude Rouget’s Ace Impact, the unbeaten market leader, with Owen Burrows’ Hukum the second favourite.
Rory McIlroy believes the Ryder Cup absence of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood will be felt more keenly by the LIV rebels than it will by the European team in Rome.
The trio have been stalwarts of the event for two decades but made themselves ineligible after joining the Saudi Arabia-backed breakaway and resigning their tour memberships.
Despite Garcia, the Ryder Cup’s all-time leading points scorer, making a forlorn late attempt to find a way back into the reckoning, McIlroy said the current side would not be dwelling on former team-mates.
“I mean, it’s certainly a little strange not having them around,” said the Northern Irishman.
“But I think this week of all weeks it’s going to hit home with them that they are not here and I think they are going to miss being here more than we’re missing them.
“It’s just more this week is a realisation that the decision they made has led to not being a part of this week and that’s tough.
“The landscape in golf is ever-changing and more dynamic, and we’ll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future.”
This summer’s surprise decision to merge LIV Golf into the PGA Tour is likely to offer a way back for all those players who initially defected, but there is plenty of negotiation and trade-offs to be done before that picture becomes clear.
But, having probably seen their Ryder Cup playing careers ended, Justin Rose, back after missing the record defeat at Whistling Straits, admits his former team-mates still have something to offer as members of the backroom staff.
“Obviously Westy, Poults as captains or vice-captains or however they may or may not be involved in the future do have a lot to offer,” said the Englishman.
“But the more we can kind of blood the younger generation coming through, the quicker you’re going to kind of skip through that transition phase.
“Maybe the transition started last time around at Whistling Straits and now we’re coming through that already.”
McIlroy is making his seventh Ryder Cup appearance, the most of any player at Marco Simone, and will be viewed as Europe’s leader on and off the course.
However, the world number two is keen to be viewed as just another regular member of the team and no hero figure.
“I’m not there giving rallying cries and speeches. When we came on the practice trip I said to every guy – and some of these guys have watched me play on TV – I don’t want anyone looking up to me,” he added.
“I want them looking over to me. I want them to see me like I’m on their level and there’s no hierarchy on our team.
“I guess that’s the one message I’ve tried to relay to some of the younger guys on the team.”
McIlroy will feel like he has a debt to repay after a paltry one-point return from a singles victory over Xander Schauffele in 2021, but he admits his game is in a much better place than two years ago.
“I felt like I was searching a little bit. I didn’t feel in full control of my game,” he said.
“I got a lot of confidence and belief in myself that Sunday singles at Whistling Straits because I certainly wasn’t believing in myself at that time, but the rest of my team did believe in me and sent me out number one to go get a blue point on the board.
“I realised that just being myself is enough. I think for a good part of 2021, I was trying to be something that maybe wasn’t natural to me.
View this post on InstagramMcIlroy was also asked about the behaviour of fans, particularly in the wake of Open champion and United States team member Brian Harmon being abused at Royal Liverpool this summer.
“There’s certainly a line. Most fans that come out to watch golf are very respectful and they know what that line is,” he added.
“Someone said to me once, ‘If you want to be part of the circus, you have to put up with the clowns’.”
Hugo Keenan hopes Ireland’s statement win against South Africa has eased “lurking” pressure of playing at Stade de France as they prepare for up to four more crunch World Cup fixtures at the venue.
Full-back Keenan revealed his partner thought he looked ill due to nerves ahead of Saturday’s thrilling 13-8 success over the reigning champions.
The 27-year-old’s only other Test outings in Paris ended in costly Six Nations defeats to France in 2020 and 2022.
View this post on Instagram
But Andy Farrell’s men ended their hoodoo at the home of French rugby to take control of Pool B moving towards a pivotal group-stage finale against Scotland on October 7.
Ireland’s World Cup destiny will be decided in Saint-Denis – the showdown with the Scots will also be staged there – in addition to each of their potential knockout matches, including the final.
Tournament debutant Keenan was riddled with anxiety at the prospect of arguably the biggest match of his career before helping to snap his country’s Paris losing streak.
“God, I was nervous, I met my girlfriend briefly (beforehand) and she thought I looked sick,” he said of facing the Springboks.
“I felt good once I got out there; it’s a pressure environment.
“Stade de France hasn’t been kind to us in the past. There’s a pressure lurking that we were keen personally and as a team from that loss to France last year to learn from.
“We’re just going to review this game and focus on Scotland; it’s the only thing we can control and we’re definitely not getting ahead of ourselves.”
Keenan’s second international cap was a 35-27 away loss to Les Bleus, which wiped Ireland out of title contention in the protracted 2020 Six Nations.
The Leinster player has been an almost ever-present since his Test debut and was part of the team ultimately denied a Grand Slam by a 30-24 defeat in the French capital in February last year.
While the second of those setbacks occurred in front of a partisan home crowd following a behind-closed-doors clash amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ireland were roared on to victory against the Springboks by tens of the thousands of travelling Irish fans.
“Jeez, that support was incredible,” said Keenan.
“The Irish crowd are amazing: the numbers, the amount of people who made the effort to get over here and support us – it made some difference.
“You need to harness it at the right times and I think the forwards did.
“I’m sure South Africa felt under the cosh at times when the 60-odd-thousand Irish fans are cheering for us, it does make a difference.
“There’s times you have to ignore it during play and just do your job, but you also have to embrace it and make the most of it.
“The walkaround after the game was incredibly special, I saw some familiar faces which makes it extra cool.”
The Philadelphia Phillies clinched a return trip to the postseason in thrilling style, as rookie Johan Rojas delivered an RBI single in the 10th inning for a walk-off 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
The defending National League champion Phillies lost the World Series to the Houston Astros last season and now will have a chance to take it one step further.
After Jeff Hoffman worked a scoreless top of the 10th, Rojas’ single up the middle off David Bednar easily scored pinch-runner Cristian Pache and sent the crowd of more than 30,000 fans into a frenzy.
The Phillies celebrated their first clinch of a postseason spot at Citizens Bank Park since Sept. 18, 2011, when they won their fifth straight NL East title.
Brandon Marsh homered for Philadelphia, which is poised to earn the No. 1 wild card and host all games next week in the second year of the wild-card series.
Bryce Harper’s sacrifice fly in the sixth gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead but Bryan Reynolds homered in the seventh and Henry Davis took Craig Kimbrel deep in the eighth to forge a 2-2 tie.
Aaron Nola limited the Pirates to one run and four hits over 6 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts.
Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller took a no-hitter into the sixth before Marsh’s 11th home run opened the scoring.
Suzuki commits costly error, Cubs blow 6-run lead in loss
Seiya Suzuki dropped a fly ball in the eighth inning to allow the tying and go-ahead runs to score as the Chicago Cubs squandered a six-run lead in a disheartening 7-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
The loss gave Milwaukee the NL Central title and dropped the Cubs a game behind Arizona for the second of three NL wild cards.
Chicago is one-half game ahead of fourth-place Miami, which was rained out at the Mets.
Ronald Acuna Jr hit his 41st home run – a two-run shot - in the seventh to pull Atlanta within 6-5 after the Braves scored three in the sixth on Kevin Pillar’s homer, Matt Olson’s RBI single and Marcell Ozuna’s double.
Pilllar’s drive made the Braves the third team in major league history (2019 Twins, 2019 Yankees) with 300 home runs in a season.
Kirby stifles Astros in Mariners’ win
George Kirby pitched six scoreless innings and the Seattle Mariners took advantage of three Houston errors to snap a four-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Astros.
Kirby allowed five hits with one walk and four strikeouts to win his second straight start.
Cal Raleigh had two hits and one RBI and Ty France homered to help Seattle pull within one-half game of Houston in the race for the final AL wild card.
Jose Altuve had three hits for the Astros, who tied a season high with three errors and dropped to 9-14 this month.
Hall of Fame third baseman and Baltimore Orioles icon Brooks Robinson has died, the team announced in a statement Tuesday. He was 86 years old.
The smooth-fielding third baseman was so iconic to the Baltimore franchise that he was nicknamed “Mr. Oriole.”
An 18-time All-Star selection, Robinson won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves, the most ever by a position player, and was voted the AL’s Most Valuable Player in 1964. He was named the World Series MVP in 1970 after the Orioles defeated the “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati Reds.
The Robinson family and Orioles released a joint statement reading, “We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Brooks Robinson. An integral part of our Orioles Family since 1955, he will continue to leave a lasting impact on our club, our community, and the sport of baseball.”
An 18-year-old Robinson made his MLB debut for the Orioles in 1955 but continued to spend some of his time in the minor leagues until July 1959. He won his first Gold Glove in 1960.
Robinson played his entire career in Baltimore until 1977, when he retired mid-season after hitting .149 in 24 games. The Orioles retired his iconic No. 5 jersey later that year.
On Sept. 29, 2012, the Orioles unveiled a statue of Robinson outside of Camden Yards.
“Brooks Robinson truly was Mr. Oriole,” the club said in a statement. “He played the game for 23 years with a childlike spirit, earning MVP awards in the American League, All-Star Game and World Series. Third basemen from all levels of the game will forever look to Brooks for inspiration.
“Off the field, there was not a kinder, more giving person who embraced the Baltimore community and gave his time and energy to support causes large and small. He embodied everything great not only about the Orioles, but the game of baseball and the city of Baltimore.
“The Orioles were blessed to have Brooks as a player and broadcaster for 39 years and, for the past five years, as a Special Advisor and Community Liaison.”
Robinson’s case as a Hall of Fame player was cemented in the 1970 World Series, during which he dazzled spectators and his Cincinnati opponents alike with remarkable defensive plays and delivered timely hits as the Orioles avenged their loss in the 1969 Series to the Mets.
“I’m beginning to see Brooks in my sleep,” Reds manager Sparky Anderson said during the Series. “If I dropped this paper plate, he’d pick it up on one hop and throw me out at first.”
Anderson later added, “He can throw his glove out there, and it will start 10 double plays by itself.”
Robinson crucially hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning of Game 1 and finished the 1970 Series batting .429 with two home runs, two doubles and six RBIs, making him an obvious choice for World Series MVP.
Robinson played in four World Series and helped the Orioles win two of the franchise’s three championships.
He accumulated 2,848 hits in his 23-year career while batting .267, adding 268 home runs and 1,357 RBIs.
Robinson was at his best when the stakes were highest, batting .303 in 39 career playoff games.
After hearing of Robinson’s passing, the baseball community was effusive in its praise of an all-time great.
“Today is an incredibly sad day for Baltimore and baseball fans everywhere,” fellow O’s Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. said on social media. “Brooks was Mr. Oriole. He was beloved and rightfully so. His historical career on the field pales to the impact he's made on so many of us.”
Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, who was Robinson’s teammate for 13 years, commented on MASN before the Orioles’ game on Tuesday. “I think as a young player you make a decision early in your life – who do I want to emulate? Who do I want to be like? Brooks was that guy.”
Brooks Calbert Robinson Jr. was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 18, 1937. He is survived by his wife Constance, their children Brooks David, Christopher, Michael and Diana, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
November 30, 2022 is forever etched in Anya Pilgrim's mind. It is one of the scariest days of her life and a day when all her fears and thoughts will always weigh heavily on her heart.
On that fateful day, Pilgrim, while preparing to represent University of Florida in Artistic Gymnastics, suffered a freak accident, which derailed her career progress, as she took her time to recover.
Now almost one year on, the American-born Pilgrim, who represents Barbados, has not only grown stronger, but is also one who takes her life and sport seriously, as her unwavering commitment to fulfilling a passion she always dreamed of, is clear for all to see.
"This past season had some ups and downs. At the beginning of the season after signing to the University of Florida, I had fell and landed on my neck and was out of the gym for about six weeks and had to recover from a concussion. It was not an easy road. I had to overcome my fears of injury to be able to even step back into the sport," Pilgrim told SportsMax.tv.
"Luckily I did, and only a week after I started training again, I decided to compete at my next competition where I achieved my personal best score of a 9.95 on the vault. So, these highs and lows have taught me that I am strong enough and more than capable of rise above any circumstances and come out successful," she added.
Pilgrim, who previously represented the United States national team in 2019, qualified to represent Barbados through her grandparents, who not only instilled life lessons to assist in her craft, but continues to inspire her path toward a fulfilling career.
"Both of my grandparents were athletes and represented Barbados in their respective sports, so I always looked up to them since they were high level athletes and wanted to follow in their footsteps, which I am now proudly doing," Pilgrim shared.
The 18-year-old, who earned a silver medal in the all-around competition at the United States National championships, along with a top five finish at the Nastia Liukin Cup, first donned the Barbados colours at PanAm championships in Colombia and from there, her appetite for more competition with the Caribbean Island became insatiable.
"It was also the first time Barbados was able to have a team at an event in gymnastics. I loved the experience and competing with my teammates. I was overall pleased with my performance, even though I had a mistake on one of the apparatuses, but considering I went to the competition right after Nationals, I did well, as the travelling resulted in missed training sessions," she said.
Pilgrim's performance at the PanAm Championships earned her an alternate for the World Gymnastics Championships in Budapest, and as fate would have, one of the qualified athletes has declined their spot and that opened the door for her to join Olivia "Storm" Kelly, as Barbados representatives in Antwerp.
The championship is scheduled to begin on September 30 and end on October 8.
Pilgrim knows all too well that this call up to fill the gap represents an opportunity to not only strut her stuff on one of gymnastics biggest stage, but also to possibly qualify for the Olympic Games, she is determined to make the most of it.
In fact, Pilgrim, having taken lessons from her PanAm performance, is hoping to polish up those errors to bring more success on this occasion.
"I am very grateful to have another opportunity to represent Barbados and am really looking forward to getting to share the experience with Olivia. We all had a great time at PanAm so I’m glad we will have another chance to not only compete together, but possibly create some history for Barbados," Pilgrim declared.
"Unlike PanAm, I am hoping to do much better with my routimes and just be present and enjoy every moment of the championships. When my mind is clear I perform at my best and I also added in a couple of different skills to help increase my scores. So, I'm really looking forward to it," she added from her base in Belgium.
While qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, remains her biggest goal and ambition, Pilgrim pointed out that just getting a chance to parade her skills at the World Championships, would suffice, if her dream doesn't come to fruition.
"Honestly, I would love to win a National Championship at the University of Florida, that is one of my biggest goals, along with being at the World Championships, which I am now. If I were to qualify for an Olympic Games, it would be icing on the cake of a fulfilling career," she ended.
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