All posts tagged: skeleton

Skeleton of D’Artagnan, the Fourth Musketeer, Found in Dutch Church

Skeleton of D’Artagnan, the Fourth Musketeer, Found in Dutch Church

Published by Jenni Sidey

The skeletal remains of the 17th-century French folk hero D’Artangnan—born: Charles de Batz de Castelmore—have perhaps been recovered after being buried under a church in the Netherlands for centuries. The floor of the church, St. Peter and Paul in Maastricht, suffered damage last month, and subsequent repair work revealed the remains. D’Artagnan, a French soldier who served under Louis XIV, rose through the ranks to eventually became a captain of the Musketeers of the Guard, an elite branch of the French military. Fans of French literature, know D’Artagnan from Alexandre Dumas’s beloved 1844 adventure novel Les Trois Mousquetaires. (If you were a child in the ‘90s, the live action Disney movie The Three Musketeers, starring Chris O’Donnell as D’Artagnan, is likely the more immediate reference point.) In both instances—and many other creative retellings of the story over the years—a character named D’Artagnan leaves home and is befriended by Musketeers named Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, who take D’Artagnan under their wing. Related Articles According to the Dutch news site L1, several objects uncovered along with the …

The Olympic wit and wisdom of an African skeleton racer : NPR

The Olympic wit and wisdom of an African skeleton racer : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Ghana’s Akwasi Frimpong takes part in a training session for the men’s skeleton event in the 2018 Olympics. Kirill KudryavtsevAFP/via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Kirill KudryavtsevAFP/via Getty Images For those not familiar with the sport of skeleton, where the solo sledder lies flat on their stomach, head first, Akwasi Frimpong sums it up: “You’re on a cookie sheet sled and it’s like ‘dude, good luck.’” Skeleton was actually the third sport Frimpong took up to chase his dream of becoming an Olympian. Born in Ghana, Frimpong moved to the Netherlands when he was 8 as an undocumented immigrant. He eventually got Dutch citizenship. He also took up track in the Netherlands, and later bobsled, then skeleton. In 2018, he became the first male Black African skeleton racer to compete in the Olympics. (That same year, Simidele Adeagbo became the first female Black African skeleton athlete in the Olympics, competing on Nigeria’s team.) NPR spoke with Frimpong about the challenges of being an African athlete in a predominantly white sport, his foundation called Hope …

Ukrainian skeleton racer banned from the Olympics receives 0,000 after honoring fallen athletes

Ukrainian skeleton racer banned from the Olympics receives $200,000 after honoring fallen athletes

Published by Jenni Sidey

The symbol of the helmet was not a collection of abstract designs; it was actually a visual representation of real people. The faces of over 20 members of the Ukrainian Olympic Team killed during Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine were designed as part of the helmet. Skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych had planned on wearing this helmet at the winter games in Milan Cortina but was disqualified before completing any races at these games. After being disqualified, Vladyslav returned home with an unexpected gift — a donation from Rinat Akhmetov, the owner of Donetsk Shakhtar FC and Mariupol Azovstal Steel Factory, in excess of $200,000 intended as a financial contribution to support his athletic career as well as promote his message. The total amount of the donation coincidentally matched the value of the prize awarded to Olympic Gold medal winners by Ukraine. Vladyslav Heraskevych’s “helmet of remembrance” was banned by the IOC. (CREDIT: Getty Images) “Vlad was deprived of a chance to compete for glory at the Olympic Games, but he is a true champion for …

How a Skeleton Olympian Trains for Gold

How a Skeleton Olympian Trains for Gold

Published by Jenni Sidey

In the space for three days in February, Matt Weston finished first in the high-stakes sport of skeleton (both in the men’s title and with mixed team partner Tabitha Stoecker), making him the first British athlete to win two gold medals at the same Winter Olympics. Despite being only the second male skeleton ‘slider’ to win the Olympic, World, European and World Cup titles, Weston only got started in the sport nine years ago. The 28-year-old spent his formative years playing rugby and practicing taekwondo. It was only when a training injury dashed a promising martial arts career that he decided to branch out and try something new. Weston, who was part of UK Sport’s Discover your Gold program, was selected to undertake a barrage of physical tests, measuring everything from his sprint to how high he could jump. Testing well for explosive power, the governing body suggested Weston might feel at home bombing down a mountain at 80mph. Luckily, he agreed. “Now it’s a lot easier to apply to compete in skeleton,” Weston laughs. …

Matt Weston and Tabby Stoecker storm to history-making mixed team skeleton gold

Matt Weston and Tabby Stoecker storm to history-making mixed team skeleton gold

Published by Sam Flores

Matt Weston wrote his name in the British Olympic record books as he teamed up with Tabby Stoecker to win a second gold medal at the Milan and Cortina games in the mixed team skeleton competition. Weston had already claimed top spot in the men’s competition on Friday evening with a dominant performance and he showed why he is the best in world as he turned around a 0.3second deficit after Stoecker’s run to deliver victory by 0.17s. That gold means he is the first British athlete to win two medals at the same Winter Olympics and joins dual women’s skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold as the nation’s most successful athlete at the Winter Games. Source link

Superman Weston claims another gold in team skeleton on GB’s greatest day

Superman Weston claims another gold in team skeleton on GB’s greatest day

Published by Sam Flores

Having nabbed the last few slices of margherita pizza at the athletes’ village on Friday before getting to bed, Weston was hoping for a few beers to celebrate this gold alongside some more pizza. And, after Team GB’s earlier victory in the mixed snowboard cross, how did it feel both to cap off Britain’s greatest Winter Olympic day but also become the most successful athlete in any single Games? “I’m just absolutely over the moon – buzzing – there’s some great names in British Winter Olympian history,” Weston said. “To even consider putting my name next to those is a massive honour. A lot of those guys have been an inspiration.” After being asked about his grasp of history, Weston then laughed as he thought back to his school days. “I was a bit of a nightmare to be honest,” he said. “I think my teachers probably watching are going to go: ‘How is that the same Matt Weston who was at school?’ I was a bit of a character, but I’ve calmed down. I’m …

From breaking his back to going for second Olympic gold

From breaking his back to going for second Olympic gold

Published by Sam Flores

Welcome to our live coverage of the Winter Olympics. Strap yourselves in, tonight could be the night Team GB finally breaks their medal duck at Milano-Cortina, as Britain’s Matt Weston targets a place on the podium in the skeleton. Weston underlined his gold medal credentials with near-perfect runs yesterday, setting successive course records as he jumped to the top of the leaderboard. The 28-year-old, who is a two-time world champion, is Britain’s brightest medal prospect at the Games and after his two statement runs on Thursday, the big question is whether he can continue that fine form in heats three and four tonight. In a measure of his superiority, Weston was the only slider under 56 seconds as he clocked 55.88secs in heat two, to add to his 56.21secs in run one on the Cortina sliding track. “I was quite annoyed after the first run. I tried to be a bit too relaxed because I tried to over-compensate for race-day nerves,” said Weston. “It’s pretty crazy [to be the overnight leader] but I take every …

Team GB secure first gold at 2026 Winter Olympics as Matt Weston wins men’s singles skeleton | UK News

Team GB secure first gold at 2026 Winter Olympics as Matt Weston wins men’s singles skeleton | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

Matt Weston has won gold in the men’s singles skeleton competition, Team GB’s first medal at the Winter Olympics in Italy. The 28-year-old, a world and European champion, had been the favourite for gold after leading at the halfway stage of the event on Thursday, with track records in the first two heats. On Friday, the British athlete posted another track record on his third run – recording a 0.39-second advantage at the top of the leaderboard. Follow latest updates from Sky Sports A near faultless run in his final heat at the Milano Cortina Games saw him increase his margin of victory to 0.88 seconds, bringing the gold home with a fourth track record. Image: Weston completes his final run. Pic: Reuters Image: Pic: AP Germany’s Axel Jungk took his second successive Olympic ⁠silver, ​while Jungk’s compatriot and ⁠defending champion Christopher ⁠Grotheer picked up ​the bronze. Marcus Wyatt, Team GB’s other medal hopeful, finished ninth on Friday. Image: Matt Weston after winning his gold medal. Pic: Reuters Image: Weston celebrates his victory. Pics: Reuters …

Ukrainian skeleton racer fails to overturn Olympics ban at top court – POLITICO

Ukrainian skeleton racer fails to overturn Olympics ban at top court – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

However, after an appeal, CAS backed the IOC, saying that although it was fully sympathetic to Heraskevych’s decision to commemorate his compatriots, the focus must be on the Olympic Games and other athletes. Heraskevych said his helmet displayed only portraits and no political slogans, and that he was disqualified before the race, so he did not violate any rules. “The court sided with the IOC and upheld a decision that an athlete could be disqualified from the Olympic Games without actual misconduct, without a technical or safety threat, and before the start,” Pronin Law Firm, representing Heraskevych, said in a statement after the decision. “This case was much broader than an individual dispute. It concerned the freedom of expression of athletes, the limits of discretion of sports bodies, and the very understanding of Olympic values,” the firm added. Source link