On October 1, Thompson shared a photo from her hockey career on Instagram as she announced her retirement. “Hockey, ily forever 24 seasons later, I’m officially retired. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey!” she wrote. The timing is notable because she still feels physically capable of competing at a high level. She had been invited to Canada’s October selection camp for the upcoming world championship but declined because she had decided to return to medicine.

Interestingly, her announcement came after Thompson represented Canada at the 2026 Milan Olympics, where she won silver, and led the expansion Vancouver Goldeneyes through their inaugural PWHL season. But her dream was always to become a doctor.

“It was a long time coming,” Thompson said. “I definitely knew my goal was to become a doctor, and just thinking about the timeline to get there and eventually to become an orthopedic surgeon, I knew kind of going into this last year and into this summer that my plan was to return to school and continue down that path.”

Thompson’s Olympic journey began at the 2022 Beijing Games, where she helped Canada win gold. She led all defenders in scoring with 13 points from two goals and 11 assists, setting an Olympic record for points by a defenseman in a single tournament. She finished her Olympic career with 17 points in 14 games, another record for a women’s Olympic defenseman. After Beijing, Thompson moved to New York to continue her medical education while still training and competing for Canada.

She had wanted another chance to represent her country at the Olympics, especially after the strict COVID-19 restrictions in Beijing limited the presence of family, friends and fans. She continued balancing medical school with hockey before the demands of professional competition made the two paths impossible to maintain together. When the PWHL launched in 2024, Thompson decided to put medical school on hold and commit to hockey.

She entered the 2024 PWHL Draft and was selected third overall by the Minnesota Frost. The decision quickly paid off as she helped Minnesota win the Walter Cup in 2025 and was also a finalist for the league’s Defender of the Year award. Thompson then joined the Vancouver Goldeneyes ahead of their inaugural season, becoming the first player signed in franchise history and serving as an alternate captain.

Even while hockey became her full-time career, Thompson never completely stepped away from medicine. She continued her orthopedic research during her time as a professional player and published a paper examining injury specialization and injury patterns among elite female ice hockey players. Her work in the field kept her connected to the path she had started before choosing to put medical school on hold.

That connection eventually helped shape her decision to return to NYU. Thompson has been back at the medical school since the end of July and is now on an accelerated path toward graduating with the Class of 2027. She plans to complete her surgical residency by 2032 and hopes to focus on sports medicine and research involving elite female athletes, particularly women competing in hockey. She has also planned to shadow New York Sirens orthopedic surgeon Spencer Stein as she continues her medical training.

“A career in medicine has always been an overarching goal of mine and I feel that now is the best time in my life to step away from hockey,” Thompson said. “I have achieved far more than I could have ever hoped for and I feel like I’m ready to step away and continue on the long road ahead of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.”

But while Thompson is beginning the next chapter of her life, her retirement could leave Canada without one of its most experienced defensemen ahead of another major international tournament.

Claire Thompson’s exit adds to Canada’s growing list of absences ahead of World Championship

Canada is preparing for the tournament in Denmark, which runs from November 6 to 16, with an October 8-14 training camp in Quebec City. Thompson was one of the players asked to attend the camp but chose to retire from hockey. Canada is weighing its choices with 48 players on the list, including 16 defenders, and without one of its most experienced blueline players.

Thompson’s absence is significant given her credentials with Canada. She has twice competed in the Olympics and was a 2021 world champion, leading the Canadian women’s hockey team to the gold medal at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. She later added silver medals at the 2023 and 2025 editions. Overall, Thompson finished her international career with 63 games for Canada, scoring seven goals and adding 32 assists. Her retirement means Canada will have to replace not only her experience on defense but also the offensive production she brought from the blue line.

The timing also comes as Canada is without several other experienced players. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin is absent because of offseason knee surgery and Blayre Turnbull is unavailable due to pregnancy. Hockey Canada has also confirmed that Thompson, Natalie Spooner, and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer declined their invitations.

The post Olympic Champion Retires at 28 for a Surprising Career Switch appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On September 30, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Komolafe shared his response to the ruling in a message to friends. “I want to apologise for all this. I won’t keep the title of Stawell Gift winner, but the experience of winning it was invaluable, and I’m eager and confident that I can take it to the next level when I return,” Komolafe said.

The case began after Komolafe won the 2026 Stawell Gift in April, clocking 11.93 seconds in the 120m final. He was tested after the race, and the sample later returned positive for a prohibited substance contained in ADHD medication he had been taking. His coach, Paul Young, who won the Stawell Gift himself in 1985, explained that Komolafe had started taking the medication after his doctor sister recommended it to help him concentrate on his medical studies.

Young said Komolafe continued taking it because he did not believe it would affect his athletics. This is where the anti-doping rules come in. Under anti-doping rules, some stimulant medications used to treat ADHD are prohibited in competition. Athletes who need such medication can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption. In Komolafe’s case, however, the violation was treated as inadvertent.

Reports said he did not realise the medication contained a prohibited substance, while his cooperation with authorities and the circumstances surrounding its use were taken into account during the disciplinary process.

The standard sanction for the violation could have been four years, but Komolafe received a 12-month ban after Sport Integrity Australia accepted that the breach was inadvertent and considered his cooperation with the investigation. He is banned from competition until July 2, 2027. But this ruling also cost Komolafe his biggest achievement of the year.

He was stripped of the 2026 Stawell Gift title and the $40,000 prize money, with Jake Ireland, who originally finished second, elevated to winner. Ireland, however, made it clear that he did not want to inherit the prestigious title this way.

Reflecting on the unusual circumstances, he said, “I certainly don’t feel like a winner, maybe that’s the competitor in me. I was not first over the line.” Ireland also stressed that he did not view Komolafe’s violation as deliberate cheating and expressed sympathy for the young sprinter.

“I suppose this year has got an asterisk to it. I would hate to come across as gloating or rubbing it in,” Ireland said. “It was not like a blatant cheating where it’s deliberate; it was accidental. I feel for him, too, I know he is in a horrible place.” While he was stripped of the title but for Komolafe, the Stawell Gift victory meant a lot after years of struggles and hard work.

Born in Broken Hill to Nigerian parents Olumuyiwa and Funmilola Komolafe, who moved from Nigeria to Australia in 2002, Komolafe grew up playing soccer rather than focusing on athletics. Both of his parents are medical doctors, and sprinting was not initially the path he had planned to follow.

Coleman’s influence helped fuel Komolafe’s sprinting dream

Komolafe was always known for his speed at school athletics meets, but he did not seriously train as a sprinter until after finishing school. A major turning point came in 2019, when he was in Year 9 and watched the World Championships in Doha. His father was watching the event, and Komolafe became fascinated by Christian Coleman after seeing the American win the 100m world title in 9.76 seconds.

By October 2021, Komolafe had met coach Paul Young, a former Stawell Gift winner himself. Young began working with the young sprinter as he continued developing his athletics career while also pursuing medicine. From that point, Komolafe was trying to build two demanding careers at the same time, with his studies often competing for the same time and energy needed for training.

The balancing act was not always smooth. Exam periods could interrupt his training, while injuries also forced him to deal with setbacks. Ahead of the 2026 Stawell Gift, Komolafe was dealing with shin splints and hamstring problems, and at one point he was unsure whether he would even make it to the race.

But then, the arrival of Coleman at the 2026 Stawell Gift gave him reason to push through his injury concerns. Komolafe had grown up inspired by the American sprinter, and when he learned Coleman would compete at Stawell, he said it “lit the fire” and convinced him to keep working toward the race. Komolafe eventually found himself sharing the Stawell track with the athlete who had helped inspire his sprinting journey.

Coleman reached the semifinals, while Komolafe advanced to the final and produced the biggest performance of his career. But only months later, the achievement was taken away.

The post Champion Athlete Apologizes After Positive Drug Test Costs Him Historic Title and $40,000 in Prize Money appeared first on EssentiallySports.

McNulty will head straight into the Italian one-day Classics with the world champion’s colors on his shoulders. His campaign begins at the Giro dell’Emilia on October 3, before he moves on to the Coppa Agostoni on October 4 and Tre Valli Varesine on October 6. Interestingly, the Giro dell’Emilia will carry particular meaning for McNulty. Not only will it be his first competitive race since becoming world champion, but it will also be his first appearance at the event and his first race in the elite men’s road race rainbow jersey.

“I’m really excited to make my debut in the rainbow jersey this Saturday. The victory in Montreal was incredible for me, and I’m still processing it and letting it sink in,” McNulty said. While this will be McNulty’s first time racing in the rainbow jersey as an elite men’s road race world champion, it is not his first rainbow jersey.

Ten years ago, in 2016, the American won the Junior Men’s Individual Time Trial World Championship in Doha and wore the rainbow jersey as the world champion in that discipline. Now, at 28, McNulty has reached the top level of the sport once again. His victory in Montréal made him the Elite Men’s Road Race World Champion and ended a 33-year wait for an American man to win the title. The last U.S. male rider to claim the world road race crown before McNulty was Lance Armstrong in 1993.

His return to the Italian Classics also comes after a five-year absence from this part of the calendar. McNulty last raced the Italian end-of-season Classics in 2021, and this time he will arrive with an entirely different status. But despite the new jersey and the attention that comes with it, McNulty insists his approach will remain the same.

“I still have many races left this season, and I’m really looking forward to them. We have a strong team for these races, and we’ll be as aggressive as ever,” McNulty said. “Even though I have the honor of wearing the rainbow jersey, that doesn’t change my approach. We’ll continue racing the way we always have. Whether it’s attacking or helping my teammates, I know my role pretty well, and we have a great understanding of what works for us, so we’ll continue down that path.”

McNulty will have plenty of support around him at the Giro dell’Emilia, with Igor Arrieta, Filippo Baroncini, Felix Großschartner, Jhonatan Narváez, Tim Wellens and Adam Yates joining him on the UAE Team Emirates-XRG lineup. The team also arrives with recent success at the race, having won the last two editions through Isaac del Toro in 2025 and Tadej Pogačar in 2024. But McNulty’s road to the rainbow jersey was far from easy.

McNulty overcame tough setbacks before his World Title

At the Paris Olympics in July 2024, McNulty finished fifth in the individual time trial, 1:04 behind gold medalist Remco Evenepoel. The result was difficult to accept for the American, who had arrived in Paris hoping to fight for a medal. “I really wanted a medal so it’s a bit bittersweet,” McNulty told Cyclingnews after the race. 

Later that summer, McNulty faced another setback at the Vuelta a España. During Stage 13, his wheels slipped on the descent of the Puerto de Lumeras, sending him underneath a guardrail and into the bushes. He escaped with road rash and cuts, but the crash affected his confidence. “It’s been tough to get the confidence back, but it’s coming,” he admitted. McNulty also experienced pain in his right Achilles during a later breakaway, which he believed could have been connected to the crash.

Another difficult moment came at the 2026 Tour de France. On July 21, McNulty was knocked off his bike by a car while heading toward the start of the Stage 16 individual time trial. His team later played down the severity of the incident, saying he had escaped without a serious injury. Just two days later, however, McNulty’s Tour campaign came to an early end.

He was dropped early on Stage 18 and was struggling with throat-related illness before abandoning the race with around 50 kilometres remaining. He became the first UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider to withdraw from that year’s Tour. Tadej Pogačar later admitted, “I’m really sad that today Brandon felt so bad and could not finish. We will miss him the next two days.” Then came Montréal.

Just over two months after leaving the Tour, McNulty produced the biggest performance of his career at the 2026 World Championships. He launched his solo attack with around 32 kilometres remaining and saw his advantage shrink to just 10 seconds with 10 kilometres to go. Despite the pressure from behind and the exhaustion in his legs, he held on to become the first American man in 33 years to win the elite men’s road race world title.

The magnitude of the moment left McNulty almost unable to believe what he had achieved. “I’m really at a loss for words,” he said after the finish, describing the victory as something that required a miracle. His disbelief continued right through the final metres, when he finally looked back and realized there was nobody close enough to catch him.

The post “I’m Still Processing It”: American Cyclist Set for Rainbow Jersey Debut at Giro dell’Emilia appeared first on EssentiallySports.

USA Gymnastics announced its 2026 women’s World Championships team on October 1, with Rivera joining Skye Blakely, Charleigh Bullock, Reese Esponda and Claire Pease for the championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from October 17-25. Dulcy Caylor was named the traveling replacement athlete, while Jade Carey will serve as the non-traveling replacement.

For Rivera, the selection closes a chapter that began with disappointment last year. After winning the 2025 U.S. all-around title, she was forced to miss the World Championships selection process because of an ankle injury. This time, she stayed healthy, returned to the top of the national standings and put herself in position to fight for the Worlds team. “I’m looking forward to competing and being back on the world stage,” Rivera said.

But the question arises: how did the five gymnasts earn their places? This selection wasn’t simply to determine who the top 5 competitors in one competition were. Pease and Bullock won the top two positions automatically, with 60 percent of their World Team Selection Event Day 1 results and 40 percent of the combined two-day all-around results from the 2026 U.S. Championships.

The remaining three places were determined by the Athlete Selection Committee. The committee took into account performances from all the 2026 season and the selection event, difficulty and execution scores, consistency, the team’s medal potential, current health and readiness, and each gymnast’s ability to meet the requirements of the training plan needed for the event. In the end, that’s how Rivera got the opportunity that he had been looking for.

The Rotterdam championships also carry added importance because they mark the first opportunity for countries to qualify teams for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The top three teams at these World Championships will earn team qualification spots for LA28.

Rivera believes this young U.S. team has what it takes. “We’re all so strong mentally. All these girls are capable of so much,” Rivera said. “We’re all in very good spots, and this team could be very strong.” Interestingly, Blakely is the only gymnast on the five-member team with previous World Championships experience. She will make her fourth Worlds appearance, while Bullock, Esponda, Pease and Rivera will all compete at the championships for the first time.

That gives this U.S. team a different look from the groups that have dominated the event for more than a decade. The American women have won seven straight World Championships team titles dating back to 2011. The U.S. women have set a high standard at the World Championships, but this year’s team will have a different challenge. With Simone Biles and several familiar faces no longer part of the lineup, a younger group will have to step up against a field that includes the return of Russian gymnasts.

Hezly Rivera and Young U.S. team face tough test

The last World Championships to feature a women’s team competition were held in 2023 in Antwerp, where the United States captured the team gold with a score of 167.729. Brazil was in second place with 165.530, followed by France with 164.064.  The U.S. team in that final included Simone Biles, Skye Blakely, Shilese Jones, Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong. The win marked the seventh World team title for the Americans in a row, following World team titles in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

This time, however, the U.S. will face a different test. The 2026 World Championships mark the return of Russian men’s and women’s teams to the event for the first time since 2019. The Russian women will compete as neutral athletes, and they arrived after winning the European team title in August. Interestingly, Russia is also the only team to have beaten the U.S. women at an Olympics or World Championships in the past 15 years, doing so at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The Americans also have another streak to protect. At every Olympics and World Championships since 2003, the U.S. has had at least one woman finish on the individual all-around podium. None of the five gymnasts selected for Rotterdam has previously achieved that feat at a World Championships or Olympics. That leaves Rivera, Claire Pease and Charleigh Bullock among the young Americans looking to keep the run going.

The post Hezly Rivera Headlines U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team for 2026 World Championships appeared first on EssentiallySports.

“You don’t need to ruin the legacy you built with your ego. Leaving the Portugal camp without speaking to any of your teammates? That’s disrespectful,” Zlatan Ibrahimović said, as shared by @giraltpablo on X on October 1. Other reputed sources like Diario Mexico and Clare Sports also shared Ibrahimovic’s words.

He further added, “You need to understand that you’re no longer young. Look at Zlatan. I was young once. I competed and then I retired. Even lions know when the hunt is over.”

The tension around Ronaldo began with Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League win over Norway on September 27. He started the match on the bench, but there was initially a plan for him to play a part in the second half. Jesus later explained that he expected Ronaldo to come on for around 30 minutes. Ronaldo warmed up for roughly 20 to 30 minutes, seemingly preparing for his introduction, but the Portugal manager eventually changed his mind as the match unfolded.

After Gonçalo Ramos put Portugal back in front in the 54th minute, Jesus chose to keep his team on the pitch rather than make the planned change. Ronaldo therefore watched the rest of the game from the bench. The questions did not stop there. Ronaldo’s training involvement became another talking point around the Portugal camp, with reports suggesting that he had not trained with the squad.

Jesus pushed back against the idea that Ronaldo had refused to train, saying, “He did not refuse to train.” The coach explained that Ronaldo had instead completed gym work, mobility exercises on the pitch, and strengthening work at the hotel. Still, the situation left Ronaldo’s role for the Denmark game under the spotlight.

Then came September 30. Speaking ahead of Portugal’s next match, Jesus confirmed that Ronaldo would not start against Denmark. Gonçalo Ramos was set to lead the attack, while Ronaldo could only be considered from the bench if the situation required it. Jesus also made clear that Ronaldo’s reputation would not change his approach to selection. “The rules are the same for everyone,” he said.

But shortly after the press conference, the situation took another turn. Ronaldo spoke with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença and decided to leave the training camp in Copenhagen. According to reports, Jesus and Proença even went to the airport in an attempt to persuade him to stay, but Ronaldo went ahead with his departure and reportedly flew to Madrid.

Ronaldo later gave his side of the story through Instagram. Rather than announcing his retirement, he explained: “Following the national team manager’s press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team’s training camp.” He then added: “In due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team, to which I have always been dedicated.”

And he ended by saying: “Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates, without exception.”

So far, there has been no announcement of an international retirement from Ronaldo. Instead, his own statement suggests that more details about the decision could come from him later. While Ronaldo’s future with Portugal became uncertain, another part of his international identity was already changing.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic No. 7 gets a new wearer

Ronaldo’s connection with Portugal’s No. 7 began after Luís Figo’s international career came to an end. Before taking the number, Ronaldo wore No. 17 at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. He inherited the No. 7 in 2007, and it soon became one of the most recognizable parts of his Portugal career.

The number followed Ronaldo through major tournaments and some of the biggest moments in his international career. It also became part of the “CR7” identity that has been attached to him throughout his career. After almost two decades of seeing Ronaldo in the shirt, though, Portugal suddenly had a different player wearing it. For the Denmark match, Rafael Leão was given the No. 7 shirt.

It was a small change on the team sheet, but a noticeable one. Ronaldo had just left the camp, and now the shirt that had become his brand was being worn by someone else. Portugal then went on to beat Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen without Ronaldo. The result gave the team a positive night on the pitch, even as the questions surrounding its captain continued off of it.

The post Zlatan Ibrahimovic Calls Cristiano Ronaldo’s Camp Exit ‘Disrespectful’ as Portugal Moves on With New No. 7 appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On October 1, Lyles shared an Instagram Story featuring himself with Gay in a kitchen, where the former American sprinting star was holding a photograph of himself that he had signed for Lyles. The autograph appeared to make the moment even more personal, and Lyles’ caption left little doubt about how much he appreciated the encounter. He wrote, “The man, the myth, the legend,” while tagging Gay.

The timing of the meeting makes it even more special. Gay was already an established star when Lyles was still a teenager trying to find his place in the sport. Their paths had crossed at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, where an 18-year-old Lyles competed in the 200m alongside some of America’s biggest sprinting names. Lyles opened the competition with a 20.04-second run in the first round, while Gay was competing as an experienced international star. It was an early glimpse of the athlete Lyles would eventually become.

There was also a direct connection between their careers through Brauman. The coach had previously worked with Gay before guiding Lyles. As Lyles’ career flourished, he eventually surpassed Gay’s 19.58-second 200m personal best. At the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, he set a new American record in the event, taking the victory to win the world title with a time of 19.31 seconds.

Even after reaching that level himself, Lyles has continued to speak highly of Gay. During an interview about top-end speed, he was asked which athletes he considered to be among the fastest alongside him. “Usain and maybe like Tyson Gay,” Lyles said.

Gay has also acknowledged Lyles’ pursuit of his old marks. When Lyles targeted Gay’s 19.58 stadium record in New York, the former world champion offered him a short message of encouragement: “Good luck champ! Go get it.” The two sprinters now represent different generations of American track and field, with Gay’s career preceding Lyles’ rise to the top of the sport.

Interestingly, the Tyson Gay meeting was not the only time Noah Lyles has had a fanboy-like moment with a sprinting legend. His admiration for Usain Bolt has also produced a few memorable encounters over the years.

Noah Lyles once had a fanboy moment with Usain Bolt

Lyles has recalled that he first met Bolt in a doctor’s office in Germany in 2017, shortly before the World Championships. Lyles was there getting his hamstring checked when he spotted Bolt, who was also dealing with an injury concern. Seeing one of the biggest names in track right in front of him, the young Lyles decided to walk over and introduce himself.

“He looked more beat up than me so I just decided I was going to go say, ‘Hey, you are an amazing athlete,’” Lyles recalled. His admiration for Bolt was not limited to what happened on the track. Lyles has also spoken about studying Bolt’s races and paying attention to the Jamaican’s celebrations, dancing and personality. Lyles didn’t want to copy him but said he took inspiration from it.

There was also a funny moment between the two in 2019. After Lyles ran 19.65 seconds at the Paris Diamond League and broke Bolt’s meet record, he posted an Instagram Story asking, “Bolt who?” Bolt saw it and later responded to NBC Sports: “What do you mean Usain Bolt who? If you don’t know who I am, you’re in the wrong sport.”

Lyles later clarified the comment, acknowledging Bolt’s greatness and that being compared with him is an honor.  However, their most memorable encounter was a few years later in Jamaica. Lyles won the race at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, 200m, in 19.67 in June 2023.  After the race, Bolt came down toward the track and hugged Lyles. Bolt then leaned toward him and told him: “Keep your same attitude. The sport needs that shit. We need a personality.” Lyles later described the interaction as “really special.”

While Lyles has always insisted that he wants to create his own path rather than put athletes on a pedestal, his history with Bolt shows that even one of the world’s biggest sprint stars has had moments of genuine admiration for the man who helped define the sport before him.

The post Noah Lyles Shares Heartwarming Fanboy Moment With American Sprinting Legend appeared first on EssentiallySports.

According to a post shared on October 1 by @DeadlineDayLive on X, Portugal’s official Instagram account has lost more than 300,000 followers since Ronaldo’s departure from the national-team camp was announced. The claim has quickly caught the attention of fans, with one supporter reacting to the post by writing, “The stadium will be empty after losing 300k followers too.”

This social media reaction comes after a dramatic turn of events involving Ronaldo and Jesus. On September 27, Ronaldo watched from the bench as Portugal beat Norway. Jesus had promised him 30 minutes. He got zero.

Jesus later explained his decision, saying, “I needed a player with different characteristics, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of the running, on the contrary. Maybe now, against Denmark, he’ll play.” Those comments gave Ronaldo reason to believe he could return in the next game. However, Jesus eventually confirmed that the Portugal captain would not start the Nations League clash either.

The coach explained that his decision was connected to managing the workload of players during a packed Nations League schedule. Jesus also made it clear that he did not want the Ronaldo situation to dominate Portugal’s preparations for Denmark. “We’re playing against a great opponent. We have a mission to win the Nations League,” Jesus said, before stressing that he had 23 players available rather than relying on one individual.

Shortly after Jesus’s press conference, Ronaldo left the training camp. The Portuguese Football Federation later confirmed his departure. Ronaldo then addressed the situation himself. In a statement posted on Instagram, Ronaldo wrote, “Following the national team manager’s press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team’s training camp.”

The Portugal captain did not reveal the full reason for his decision. Instead, he said he would tell Portuguese supporters the truth about why he left “in due course.” He also wished Portugal and his teammates good luck.

That has left the situation open to further questions, especially because Jesus’s explanation and Ronaldo’s actions have created two different sides to the story. But what makes the situation even more notable is that the pair have known each other for years, both personally and professionally.

Jesus and Ronaldo were already friends in Portugal

Before Jorge Jesus ever coached Cristiano Ronaldo, the two already had a friendship that went back years. On February 10, 2025, while speaking to Canal 11 as Al-Hilal manager, Jesus was asked about his relationship with Ronaldo, who was playing for Al-Nassr at the time. Jesus made it clear that their connection began long before they worked together in Saudi Arabia, saying, “We were already friends in Portugal.”

He also explained that their busy schedules in Saudi Arabia meant they rarely had the chance to meet, despite working in the same league. In fact, Jesus said he had met Ronaldo more often in Portugal than in Saudi Arabia. Their relationship later moved from friendship to the pitch when Jesus took charge of Al-Nassr during the 2025-26 season. He coached Ronaldo throughout the campaign, with the pair going on to win the Saudi Pro League together.

The season also gave Jesus direct experience of managing Ronaldo and making decisions about his playing time. Al-Nassr played 50 matches, with Ronaldo featuring in 31 and being substituted 16 times. Then when Jesus was appointed Portugal manager in July 2026, his previous relationship with Ronaldo once again became part of the discussion.

Speaking at his presentation on July 10, Jesus made it clear that, “Cris is never going to be a problem for the national team. Not for the national team, nor for me.” He also stressed that Ronaldo’s place in the squad would be based on his condition and what he could offer the team, rather than their friendship. “As long as he’s playing and is in a condition to be selected, I will pick him, within certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best for the national team,” Jesus added.

Those comments showed that, despite their long-standing friendship and successful spell together at Al-Nassr, Jesus intended to make his decisions as Portugal coach based on what he believed was best for the national team.

The post Cristiano Ronaldo Drama Costs Portugal Heavily as Instagram Followers Take a Major Hit appeared first on EssentiallySports.

In a recent YouTube interview with Estate Born Success, Neita opened up about the early years of her life. She recalled being told while growing up, “could be a little bit harder for you,” a reminder of the challenges she might face. Still, her family continued to encourage her. “I wasn’t conscious that somebody would spot me at all,” Neita said while recalling her childhood. “I was just fast.”

She remembers playing games like kiss chase at primary school and being able to outrun almost everyone around her. At the time, Neita was not thinking about becoming an athlete or wondering if someone would notice her talent. She simply knew she was fast. That changed when her uncle Winston decided to put her speed to the test.

 When Neita was around six years old, he took her and her cousins to a local park and had them race each other. Neita was one of the youngest in the group, but her speed immediately caught his attention. After they returned home, her uncle told her mother, “You’ve got nothing less than Olympic an Olympic athlete right here…” 

Neita’s mother took notice. She already knew her daughter was quick and tried to get her involved in school athletics. However, Neita was often too young to join the clubs she was interested in. Her mother kept pushing until an opportunity finally arrived. When Neita reached Year 6, coach Alan Pollard saw her competing and told her mother, “We want her.” For Neita’s mother, it was the moment she had been waiting for.

“Finally,” Neita recalled her mother thinking. Her daughter was finally getting the chance to train properly. From there, the young sprinter’s progress began to gather pace. She competed for Lewisham before moving on to represent London and then England. Eventually, the girl who had once raced her cousins at the park found herself competing for Great Britain on the world’s biggest athletics stages.

Neita made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 and helped Britain win bronze in the 4x100m relay. She added another Olympic relay bronze at Tokyo 2020, but Paris 2024 brought a much bigger moment in her individual career.

Neita turns Paris heartbreak into another LA28 push

Neita arrived in France for Paris Olympics determined to finally win an Olympic medal in her own event after years of success in the relay. Neita came agonizingly close. She finished fourth in the 100m final in 10.96 seconds, just four hundredths of a second away from bronze, before placing fifth in the 200m in 22.23 seconds. She then helped Great Britain win silver in the 4x100m relay, bringing home her third Olympic medal.

The 100m result was particularly difficult because Neita had been open about how badly she wanted an individual medal. Before the Games, she said, “I definitely want to get my own individual medal at the Olympic Games.” After finishing fourth, Neita admitted how much the result hurt, saying she was “so close to the medal” and that she had “really, really wanted that medal.” Still, she also recognized how far she had come after finishing last in the 100m final at Tokyo.

In 2025, she moved from Italy to Florida, joining Lance Brauman’s training group, which also included Olympic champion Noah Lyles. She also became part of Grand Slam Track’s inaugural season, competing in the 100m and 200m during its first year. Later that season, she returned to the World Championships in Tokyo, where she reached the semifinals of both the 100m and 200m and was part of Britain’s 4x100m relay team.

Neita continued her international campaign in 2026, competing against many of the world’s leading sprinters. Her established personal bests remained 10.90 seconds for the 100m and 22.16 for the 200m. She also competed at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest before racing at ATHLOS London in September. But the next target is already clear: the LA 28 Olympics.

That would give Neita the chance to compete at a fourth Olympic Games. More importantly, it would give her another opportunity to chase the individual Olympic medal that came so close in Paris.

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Hoey, 26, has not competed since January, when he tore through the indoor 800m in Boston in 1:42.50. That run erased Wilson Kipketer’s 29-year-old world record, but what followed was a frustrating stretch of injuries that eventually forced Hoey to shut down his season.

His agent, Mark Wetmore, told LetsRun.com that Hoey’s problems started with a hamstring irritation during the record run. The hamstring problem also kept Hoey out of the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games a week later. Instead of clearing up quickly, the discomfort continued to trouble him well into the spring.

Hoey tried taking short breaks before returning to training, but the timing never quite worked. Each comeback came before the injury had fully settled, and by the end of spring, another problem had emerged. A stress injury developed in his lower left leg, likely connected to the compensation from his hamstring trouble, and Hoey spent several weeks in a walking boot.

The situation stretched into July, when Hoey traveled to Colorado’s Steadman Clinic, one of the country’s leading orthopedic centers. There, doctors diagnosed a stress fracture and placed him back in a boot for roughly three more weeks.
That long pause has finally ended. Doctors cleared Hoey to resume training in late August, and he has started building himself back up with the 2027 indoor season now in sight.

The comeback matters even more considering how spectacularly his year began. On December 6, 2025, Hoey hinted at what was coming when he ran 1:12.84 for 600m at Boston University, taking nearly a second off Donavan Brazier’s indoor world record.

Just seven weeks later, he returned to the same track for the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. With his brother Jaxson Hoey pacing him through 200m in 24.81 and 400m in 50.21, Josh stayed composed before taking control. He reached 600m in 1:16.19 and finished in 1:42.50.

The performance knocked 0.17 seconds off Kipketer’s 1:42.67 mark from the 1997 World Indoor Championships. Hoey also won by more than two seconds, turning a race many expected to be memorable into a piece of history.

“We did a lot of pacing work,” Hoey said afterward. “Just kind of kept steadily improving, taking it week by week, block by block, and we were able to make this work.”

Yet the record ended up becoming the final race of his 2026 season. And behind that abrupt halt was a story that had already been developing for years.

Josh Hoey’s bold decision last year

Hoey’s breakthrough under coach Justin Rinaldi had transformed his career. After turning professional in 2018, he spent his first five years struggling to break 1:47 and went through five coaches. His fortunes changed after joining Rinaldi in late 2023.

By 2025, Hoey had become a world champion. He won the indoor 800m title, ran a personal-best 1:42.01 outdoors, defeated Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and silver medalist Marco Arop in Lausanne, and finished the year as the U.S. leader in both the 800m and 1500m with marks of 1:42.01 and 3:29.75.

But missing the 2025 World Championships after finishing fourth at the USA left Hoey searching for another step forward. He and Rinaldi ultimately disagreed over how aggressively to approach training, leading them to part ways.

Hoey explained that he wanted to make changes after the season, while Rinaldi believed the proposed approach was too intense.

“There’s no bad blood or animosity,” Rinaldi told LetsRun.com. He said Hoey wanted a “six-month progression,” while he preferred a longer-term approach focused on the 2028 Olympics.

That hunger to push harder was hardly new. During Hoey’s early professional years, coaches repeatedly saw his determination become a double-edged sword. Tommy Nohilly, who previously worked with him, said Hoey sometimes trained beyond what his body could handle.

Rinaldi saw the same trait during their final months together. He believed Hoey’s relentless drive helped produce his breakthrough but could also become a limitation if he failed to trust the process.

Now, with the stress fracture behind him and training underway again, Hoey gets another chance to find that balance. The world record is already his. The next challenge is making sure his body can keep up with the ambition that took him there.

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Lee, who announced her return to gymnastics in July 2026, shared a new video on Instagram on September 30 while getting ready. The post was made as part of a paid partnership with Biogen and focused on rare kidney disease awareness.  “I just started training again, so I figured it would be a good idea to talk about how important it is to take care of your body,” Lee said. “Listening to your intuition is so important because it literally saved my life.”

For Lee, that intuition became important when she first noticed that her body was changing. She said she could not explain exactly what felt different, but she knew that something was wrong. One day, she suddenly woke up feeling extremely heavy and noticed a lot of water retention. “I took myself to the doctor and they told me that nothing was wrong, so I just trusted my intuition, and I advocated for myself,” she said.

That experience was especially frightening because Lee had always considered herself healthy. She said she did not understand what was happening to her and could not control the changes she was seeing in her body. The uncertainty also affected her emotionally, especially as she watched her appearance change from one day to the next.

“Luckily, I had such an amazing support system that helped me with my mental health, just making sure that I wasn’t letting social media affect me as much because I did look different waking up every single day, like not really recognizing who I was,” Lee said.  Her comments echo what she has previously shared about the early stages of her kidney disease.

In a 2025 Women’s Health essay, Lee recalled going from one doctor to another before finally getting the testing that gave her an answer. A kidney biopsy eventually confirmed that she had two rare kidney diseases. She has not publicly disclosed the specific names of those conditions. The health battle had a major impact on her gymnastics career. Lee’s 2023 NCAA season at Auburn ended early as she dealt with the condition, and for a period, she feared she might never be able to compete again. She later returned to elite gymnastics and made her way back to the Olympic stage in Paris.

Now, as she begins another chapter in her career, Lee says the experience has taught her to speak up even when she does not have all the answers. “It definitely taught me that even when it’s uncomfortable or you don’t even have the words for it, it’s important to speak up for yourself,” she said. That message has also become part of why Lee wants to talk more openly about kidney disease.

“Raising awareness to diseases is so important to me because I know that if I felt alone, other people do too and all I want is to be able to help somebody else out,” Lee said. “Always remember that you’re not alone and that I’m always here for you,” Lee told her followers. After everything she went through with her health, Lee has now found a way to manage her condition while returning to the sport that once seemed impossible to continue.

Suni Lee finds her way back to gymnastics

After winning three medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Lee stepped away from competitive gymnastics and gave herself time away from the pressure of the sport. She did not immediately begin preparing for another Olympic cycle, instead taking a break and focusing on life outside the gym. 

In 2025, Lee spent much of her time in New York City, experiencing a life that had little to do with daily gymnastics training. She attended fashion events, worked on beauty campaigns and spent more time creating content, enjoying experiences she had rarely been able to make time for during her competitive career. However, the lure of gymnastics never fully left her mind.

On July 14, 2026, Lee finally made her decision public announcing her return with a video captioned, “I’m back.” In the video, she made it clear that she was not returning simply because another Olympics was approaching. “I know what I’m capable of. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get there,” Lee said, setting the tone for a comeback built around finding out just how much she still has left.

Her comeback is now aimed at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which would give Lee the chance to compete at her third Olympic Games. “She wants to see what she can do when she gets a full amount of prep time,” Graba said. He also stressed that the goal is for Lee to be “as healthy as she can be” during the build-up to LA28. And that may be what makes this comeback different from everything Lee has done before.

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