Aussie reflects on death
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
CYCLING: Paris-Roubaix winner Mathew Hayman says the tragic death of a young Belgian cyclist in last Sunday’s famed classic is a sad reminder of the dangers of the sport but he remains fully focused on tomorrow’s Commonwealth Games road race.
Hayman was one of three Aussies to contest the ParisRoubaix on the weekend before flying to the Gold Coast and arriving on Tuesday night.
Belgian Michael Goolearts, 23, crashed heavily during the race and later died from cardiac arrest.
“You get to the end of the race and you’re full of emotion anyway, but to hear that someone passed away and you’re not sure of the circumstances, it changes your thought about the race and the day,” said Hayman, who won Paris-Roubaix in 2016.
“It makes you reflect on what you’re doing and it was tough.
“It’s a pretty small world the cycling world and everybody knows somebody who was connected to that young guy.
“It is a dangerous sport but it’s a pretty rare thing to happen so SEVENS: Charlotte Caslick has a history of making an impact on the big stage.
In leading Australia to an Olympic sevens gold in Rio, she also won the world’s best player award, increased her Instagram followers by 1500 per cent and spawned a generation of young footballers in braids.
“She is phenomenal, on and off the field,” says coach Tim Walsh.
“To our team and to the game of rugby. There is a huge pioneering aspect NETBALL: Diamonds captain Caitlin Thwaites says she’s unsurprised by New Zealand’s fall from grace at the Games, but expects a fiery response in their semi-final tomorrow.
For the first time in Games history either Australia or NZ will miss the final.
Australia clinched top spot in its pool on Wednesday night with a resounding 72-51 victory over Jamaica, who will meet England in the other semi-final for a shot at the gold medal.
Thwaites (pictured) said England and Malawi, which both stunned the Silver Ferns during the pool stages, had been on the rise for months.
“Watching England the last few months, they’ve definitely grown and having so many players in our competition has to the way she has almost created a new genre for women’s contact sport.”
It’s a huge compliment, handed down on the eve of the Aussie team kicking off their Games, but knowing how Caslick responds to such pressure, Walsh is unconcerned.
“My mother once said to me: ‘Women are like tea bags, you never know how strong they are until you drop them in hot water’,” Walsh said.
“Our girls thrive under pressure and been amazing for their development,” Thwaites said.
“You can’t take anything away from Malawi. “They’re a country on the rise and led by Joanna Kachilika, who’s been absolutely amazing for the Melbourne Vixens. She’s definitely rallied them.”
However, Thwaites warned a wounded NZ could rise.
“It’s just going to bring them closer together and make them dig deeper ... (captain Katrina Grant) was obviously a little bit upset after their game the other night and it is pride on the line for them,” she said. we will just stay positive and are looking forward to Saturday.”
Hayman, won gold in the road race at the 2006 Melbourne Games, said despite being in the middle of a gruelling European classics campaign, nothing would have stopped him flying back to Australia for this year’s Games.
“This (he grabs his shirt), the green and gold, it’s pretty special to me. It doesn’t matter how many Tour de Frances you’ve done or Paris-Roubaixs you’ve ridden, being in this village you they really look forward to the big moments and that’s what you want. In those big moments in games, they want to be at the centre of it.”
In January, Caslick starred again as an unbeaten Australia won the Sydney Sevens.
With the Aussies’ campaign beginning today with pool matches against Wales and England, how does Caslick feel about the pressure? Have a guess.
“For me I love big tournaments and BASKETBALL: In 18-year-old Ezi Magbegor (pictured), Liz Cambage may just have the sidekick she needs to help return the Opals to the top tier of women’s basketball.
While Cambage has been the dominant force in leading unbeaten Australia into the semis at the Games, Magbegor has shown enough in her international debut to justify the hype.
She’s hit double-figure points in two games while mixing it with some big bodies and is intent on again playing a key role in tonight’s semi-final against New Zealand.
“It’s great to see her doing so well,” Opals coach Sandy Brondello said of Magbegor. “She’s the future of the Opals.
“We have Liz Cambage, who’s obviously a superstar, but one spend your life being an athlete and to see all the other guys who have worked so hard to get here it’s something special,” he said.
“It’s special to ride down the Champs Elysees as well but I’m pretty honoured to be here again – not many people get to do two home Games.
“It was hard a couple of weeks ago to think about being here when I was in the middle of a European campaign and the classics, but getting off the plane and soaking up this environment I’m so glad I’m here.” big games and I hope that I thrive in these situations,” the 23-year-old said. “I like putting on a show.” When Australia played its first game in Rio, Caslick had less than 5000 Instagram followers. Three days later when she stood on the dais with a gold medal, it was over 70,000.
That count is up to almost 100,000 and Caslick has embraced the profile, turning the attention into sponsorship dollars. great player doesn’t make a great team and we’ve got really good players around her.”
Brondello is not just thinking Games success. The Opals have a World Cup in September and the Tokyo Olympics are a little over two years away.
“A lot of people ask me if it’s a lot of pressure but I think it helps me be motivated,” Magbegor said of the hype.
The Kiwis are expected to be no match for the Opals, who have won their pool games by an average margin of 54 points. Canada and England meet in the other semi-final. — AAP
The former Australian cyclist of the year produced another big ride in Paris-Roubaix on the weekend, finishing 22nd behind winner Peter Sagan before flying to the Gold Coast.
“I jumped on a plane and went to a hotel Sunday night still feeling pretty battered from the race. It’s a long, hard race, but we got here really well,” he said.
“We arrived Tuesday night and have been using all the techniques from the sport scientists to get on the time zone as quickly as we can and I’m feeling pretty good. I had a really good ride yesterday and all the guys are ready to go.”
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HOCKEY: Lachlan Sharp will step out for the Kookaburras today knowing whatever challenges await him won’t be as rugged as working deep down a coal mine in Lithgow.
It is a job the 20-year-old (pictured) has put on hold to chase Games glory.
“It is very challenging,” he said. “Uneven, dusty, very loud … things can get very hot once they are cutting coal. You carry weight with things like gumboots, a hard hat on your head working in the mud. It can get pretty hard.’’
Before moving to Perth over Christmas, he and his father would drive to training from Lithgow to Sydney and back three times a week, for three years, often exhausted after an eight-hour shift.
“Two hours there, two hours back three times a week,” Sharp said. “It does get to you after a while but it’s all been worthwhile and this is a dream for me. I am loving it.’’
Sharp has been carrying a hip injury this tournament, playing limited minutes, but is expected to be given more time in today’s semi-final against England.
Australia thinks enough of him to give him the cherished No.1 shirt vacated by the great Jamie Dwyer. “The coach actually gave me the No.1 ...you have to respect what has gone before you,” Sharp said.
— Robert Craddock