Marathon runners set sights on magical two-hour mark

Sport at the very highest level is all about breaking barriers and setting new standards, but there is one big mark which has so far proved elusive even for the world’s elite athletes.

The world record for the men’s marathon has tumbled over the years, but attempts to duck the magical two-hour mark for the 26.4 mile run have so far fallen just short.

The fact that running a marathon in two hours is even being considered is an illustration of the remarkable achievements of the world’s best runners over the years. The current world record is held by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge who shaved a remarkable one minute and 20 seconds off the previous best when he ran the distance in two hours one minute and 39 seconds in Berlin in September 2018.

It was no surprise that Kipchoge would be the one to set such a remarkable time. Kipchoge was one of three runners who took part in an ambitious experiment in December 2016 organized sportswear giant Nike. The Breaking2 event was staged at the Grand Prix motor racing track in Monza, Italy with the intention of providing the optimum conditions for either Kipchoge, Zersenay Tadaese and Leslisa Desisa to run a marathon in under. The time could not be considered an official world record and Kipchoge was the closest to the elusive mark, covering the distance in two hours and 25 seconds.

The first record world marathon record was 2.55.18 which was achieved by American Johnny Hayes at the London Olympics in 1908. The fact that almost an hour has been taken off that mark in 110 years suggests breaking the two-hour barrier can’t be too far away.

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Grapefruit and cactus: The story behind baseball’s spring training season

Baseball has many quirky traditions, even when the sport isn’t even in season. Right now, Major League Baseball teams have all migrated south – well, the ones that aren’t located there in the first place that is – for spring training.

Spring training is a tradition that is over 100 years old with the theory that training and preparing for the new baseball season, which is traditionally starts in early April, in warmer climes was beneficial to the players.

With the number of teams travelling to states such as Florida and Arizona beginning to grow at the start of the 20th century, they began to play exhibition games against each other and these quickly morphed into mini pre-season tournaments.

One such tournament is known as the Grapefruit League and takes place in Florida. The Grapefruit first came about in 1914 as teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians began to regularly travel to the state for spring training. Now the League features 15 teams, including two who already based in the Sunshine State.

For this teams who don’t base themselves in Florida during the early spring months, Arizona is the favored state for spring training. The Cactus League was born in the 1940s as the state became a popular destination for Major League teams and now around 15 of them base their pre-season preparations there.

Spring training often coincides with spring break for school kids, which allows them to get a close-up glimpse of their heroes without having to worry about seeking out much sought-after tickets for big games.

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The weird and not-so wonderful of Olympic sports

While athletes from a range of different sporting disciplines will be busy training and preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 2024 Games in Paris were brought into focus recently by the news that one of the sports being considered for admission into the programme is breakdancing.

It’s not uncommon that new sports jockey for a place at the Olympics, but with all events in Tokyo now locked down, attention for this fringe sports has turned to Paris.

For many people, the notion that breakdancing is a competitive sport seems a bit far-fetched, but it is not unprecedented that the modern Olympic Games have facilitated some weird and wonderful events. Here are just a few examples of the strangest ‘sports’ to feature at the Olympic Games.

Club swinging

Basically, competitors had to stand still and swing wooden clubs around in some sort of routine to gain point from judges. The way the clubs were looked very much like they were about to be juggled, but competitors kept a hold of them throughout. Club swinging appeared at two Olympics – 1904 and 1932 – but was phased but many believe it was a precursor to rhythmic gymnastics.

Tug of War

This event has its roots in the ancient Games and was a regular of the first few Games of the 20th century. Two teams of eight people pulled a six-foot rope to see who could pull it over their mark first. Last seen at the 1920 Olympics.

Jeu de Paume

A form of indoor tennis played with the hand, opponents hit the ball over a velvet rope in a large indoor court. Only appearance was at the 1908 Games.

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Shaq facts to mark the big man’s birthday

One of basketball’s most recognizable stars Shaquille O’Neal celebrates his 47th birthday on March 6. The former LA Lakers and Miami Heat star has become simply known as Shaq and is renowned for his huge size, even in a sport dominated by tall players, and ability to slam dunk the ball. To mark the big man’s birthday, here are a few ‘Shaq facts’ you need to know.

1. He was born Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal in Newark, New Jersey on March 6 1972.

2. O’Neal’s stepfather was in the military, which meant they moved around a lot and he actually went to high school in San Antonio, Texas where he helped his school Robert G Cole High School win a state championship.

3. He was a big fan of Kareem Abdul Jabbar and always wanted to wear his famous number 33. However, when it was unavailable, he would wear 32 or 34.

4. He never completed college, dropping out in his junior year at Louisiana State University to sign as a rookie for the Orlando Magic and he won Rookie of the Year in 1993.

5. He was traded to the LA Lakers in 1996 where we won three NBA Championship but his time there was also dominated by an ongoing feud with the Lakers’ other star player Kobe Bryant.

6. Shaq also had dreams of being a police officer and while at the Lakers, trained in with police officers in Los Angeles. He was made an honorary United States Deputy Marshal in 2005.

7. He is seven foot one inch tall and wears size 22 shoes.

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Top three greatest Super Bowl victories

With Patriots victory over the Rams, Super Bowl fever is starting to fade away for another year. Though the Patriots managed to secure yet another victory, was it one of the greatest Super Bowl victories? Here is a rundown of the top three greatest Super Bowl victories.

1. Super Bowl LI

In 2017 the New England Patriots met the Atlanta Falcons in a game that was full of thrills spills and had one of the greatest comebacks in Super Bowl history. The Patriots were trailing by 25 points, but Tom Brady rallied his team and threw 466 yards giving the Patriots a final score of 34 and the Falcons 28.

2. Super Bowl XXV

In 1991 the Super Bowl was in Tampa, Florida, and it saw the New York Giants meeting the Buffalo Bills. The final score was Giants 20 to Bills 19 – something that was down to Scott Norwood missing a field goal for the Bills. It was not only a tense game, but also the start of the Bills four-year failed run at the Super Bowl title.

3. Super Bowl XLIX

In 2015 the New England Patriots met the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale, Arizona. This Super Bowl was one that saw the worst call in Super Bowl history – the Seahawks deciding to pass instead of run at the Patriots’ 1-yard line allowed Malcolm Butler to intercept. Tom Brady once again led his team to victory in a game that finished Patriots 28, Seahawks 24.

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The Dream Double: The men who have won Super Bowls as head coach and player

It’s considered the pinnacle of any professional football player’s career, but winning a Super Bowl as a head coach is an equally special achievement. A lot of things have to come together to create a championship-winning team, great players, a flawless system, a game plan and no small amount of luck either. Pulling it all together is the head coach’s job and when it comes off, the rewards are great.

However, for those people who have managed to slip on a Super Bowl ring as a player and head coach, that unique double is something to savour.

Only three men have managed to pull off the feat of both playing for a championship winning team and coaching another to the ultimate accolade in the game.

Fiery Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka has his own place in football folklore after building an all-conquering Bears team which took the Vince Lombardi trophy for the first time with an emphatic win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. Ditka had previously played tight end for the Dallas Cowboys in their victories in Super Bowl VI and XII.

Tom Flores was an assistant coach to the great John Madden when the Oakland Raiders won Super Bowl XI, but was head coach when the Raiders won again four years later. He had previously been a Super Bowl winning player with the Kansas City Chiefs when they won Super Bowl IV.

Tony Dungy created history when became the first black head coach to lead a team to Super Bowl glory when he was the man in charge for their Super Bowl XLI triumph over the Chicago Bears. He had already bagged a Super Bowl ring as a player with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XII.

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