Lindsey Vonn to end five-year retirement and rejoin US ski team aged 40

Lindsey Vonn, the three-time Olympic medalist and four-time World Cup overall champion, announced Thursday that she plans to rejoin the US ski team with hopes of returning to competition this year.The 40-year-old Minnesota native, who retired in 2019 citing the physical toll from a series of major injuries over the course of her 18-year career, told the New York Times that she had “retired with no intention of coming back”, but was startled to discover that she was pain-free after undergoing a partial right-knee replacement surgery in April.Vonn retired as the most decorated female ski racer in history with 82 World Cup victories, a mark since eclipsed by compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin. Her decision was influenced by numerous injuries, including severe knee issues that required multiple surgeries.In recent months, Vonn has been spotted training in various locations, including New Zealand and the Austrian resort of Sölden

Jake Paul and the grains of nuance around circus fight with Mike Tyson

Despite his absurd persona and obscene wealth, would-be boxer’s support of female fighters is worthy of noteJake Paul is having his hands wrapped in the locker room as his older brother, Logan, who also became rich and famous on YouTube, speaks earnestly to him. “You’ve expanded your mind, your circle, your emotional intelligence and your capabilities,” Logan tells Jake.“From making silly home videos to changing the entire landscape of combat sports. Everyone in this room knows just how powerful a being you are and that’s why we’re all here, including Netflix. One day, if I run for president, I’d be honoured to have you as my vice-president or maybe secretary of defence

AFLW upstarts Hawthorn put ruckus behind them and turn focus to Port Adelaide

The AFLW’s emerging powers meet this weekend in a finals clash that serves as a symbol for the league’s maturity, and is amplified by a heated all-in shoving match last week that is still being investigated by the AFL.Hawthorn host Port Adelaide on Saturday night in an elimination semi-final at Ikon Park, as two of the league’s newcomers chase glory in their first finals appearances. Both teams joined the competition in its final phase of expansion in 2022 and neither had made the eight until this season.While minor premiers North Melbourne and defending premiers Brisbane – who beat Hawthorn in a tense affair on Sunday – remain the favourites for the competition, these two upstarts have been the competition’s major movers in 2024 and loom as genuine premiership threats.Some had accused Hawthorn – who finished the 11-game home-and-away season in second place – of having benefited from a weak draw, but they proved their credentials in pushing the Lions to the brink on Sunday, and were within a kick of their opponents when the siren sounded – and the argy bargy began

‘Salads don’t win scrums’: Ox Nché is icing on Springboks’ front-row cake

A World Cup winner in 2023, the loosehead is part of South Africa’s feared ‘Bomb Squad’ and a hero in his home countryOx Nché is far from the finished article. By his own admission, the Springboks prop has just about mastered the basics. He’s not bad at the flourishing touches but there is a long way to go in his development. In short, he is a work in progress. “I’m learning, actually

‘I couldn’t be bullied’: Danny Cipriani joins criticism of Eddie Jones’s style

Danny Cipriani has become the latest former England star to weigh in with criticism of Eddie Jones, insisting he felt the Australian refused to select him at Test level because he “couldn’t be bullied” by Jones.Cipriani will return to a rugby field this weekend when he takes part in the inaugural 745 Game, a cross-code hybrid match featuring some of rugby union’s and league’s biggest names to raise money for those living with motor neurone disease. The event, which will be held at Headingley, was devised by Rob Burrow and Ed Slater before Burrow died earlier this year.Cipriani insists supporting Slater is the only way he would ever consider putting his rugby boots on again, with the fly-half now retired and living in America. The 37-year-old, arguably the brightest attacking talent of his generation, was capped only twice by Jones and was overlooked for the 2019 Rugby World Cup

Sebastian Coe pledges ‘clearcut policy’ on protecting women’s sport in IOC pitch

Sebastian Coe has promised to introduce an “uncompromising and clearcut” policy to protect women’s sport and to look into awarding prize money to all Olympic medallists if he is elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) president.In a clear sign that Coe intends to be the change candidate in next March’s election, the World Athletics president also promised to make the IOC more open and democratic, and to do more to harness the talents of the organisation’s membership.Coe, who ran the London 2012 Games and is a double gold medallist, has the deepest CV of the seven candidates for the biggest job in global sports politics. However no Briton has held the presidency since the IOC was formed in 1894 and his candidacy is opposed by the current leader, Thomas Bach, who he fell out with after World Athletics banned Russian athletes.But in his first major interview since declaring his candidacy, Coe said he would not be a “vanilla” ­candidate and protecting the ­integrity of sport would be a key plank of his manifesto