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#Rio2016: Michael Phelps wins 200m individual medley for 22nd gold

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Michael Phelps seized another slice of Olympic history Thursday with a dominant victory in the 200m individual medley at the Rio Games, his fourth straight in the event.

Phelps joined discus thrower Al Oerter and Carl Lewis in the long jump as the only Olympians to win the same individual event at four straight Games.

He took his total of Olympic golds to 22  with a crack at two more in Rio in Friday’s 100m butterfly and the 4×100 medley relay on Saturday.

For fans who tune into swimming only when the Olympics roll around, Phelps’s longtime coach Bob Bowman had a message: Phelps may make it look easy, but it isn’t.

“You just have no idea how difficult it is for anybody to win an Olympic gold medal,” Bowman said.

“Michael has done it so frequently it really is hard to put it into perspective because every one of those was hard.

“Look at his numbers compared to everybody else. It’s not because of the talent it’s because of the work. It’s a combination, but work is the thing that did it — particularly this time around.”

At 31, and with a bevy of younger swimmers eager to claim a victory over a hero, Phelps’ prospects in Rio were unclear. Medals certainly, probably at least one gold.

Now he seems capable of sweeping all six of his events.

“I don’t know if I’m in better shape than I was in 2008,” Phelps said of his fitness now compared to the year he won eight gold medals in eight events in Beijing.

He said his 200m medley final, closely followed by a 100m butterfly semi-final in which he secured his spot in the final with the fifth-fastest time “hurt a lot”.

Lurking in second until the end of the breaststroke third leg of the medley he surged home on the closing freestyle lap to win in 1min 54.66sec.

That was almost two seconds in front of silver medallist Kosuke Hagino of Japan, the 400m individual medley champion who powered from fifth at the final wall to touch in 1:56.61.

China’s Wang Shun was third in 1:57.05.

Phelps’ old foe Ryan Lochte led at the halfway point, but the world record-holder in the event couldn’t keep up and finished fifth.

Brazilian contender Thiago Pereira, buoyed by an ecstatic crowd, led after the opening butterfly lap and was equal second at the halfway point, but faded to finish seventh.

The 32-year-old Lochte, who said he would take a break from swimming now as he ponders his future, said he would have liked to have put up more of a challenge.

But he savored what was billed as his final duel with Phelps.

“Going against him is a dream come true,” Lochte said. “He’s one of the best, not swimmer ever, best athlete in the Olympics.”

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Alex Iwobi opens shop to donate free Chrismas food to poor families in London

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Alex Iwobi, the Super Eagles midfielder, has opened a temporary shop where poor families can get free food for Christmas celebrations.

The shop, named ‘Alexpress’, is situated in Canning Town in East London, the community where the footballer was raised.

The pop-up stall is loaded with various food items stacked neatly in rows, and all offerings have a price tag of £0.

In a chat with the BBC, Iwobi cited his parents as his “role models,” who have inspired him to be altruistic since he was younger.

“This is where I was raised for my primary school education. People, families are going come in. They select a drink and the stuff for the house. There are different foods that they can take, and by the end of it, there is a turkey,” the 28-year-old said.

“‘Alexpress’ is a minimart to try to give out food to families that are not able to get food for Christmas. If I can help them celebrate Christmas, why not?

“Just seeing how my parents are, I have always seen them give back. And with that as my role models, I fill like when I am in a position I am today, or if I was in less position, I would try my best to give back and help the less fortunate and people who are not able to eat.”

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Arsenal’s Saka out for many weeks with hamstring injury

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Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks” after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, manager Mikel Arteta said Monday.

Asked at a press conference about the 23-year-old England international’s condition, Arteta said: “It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks.”

Saka was filmed leaving Selhurst Park on crutches on Saturday, souring what had been a comprehensive second win over the Eagles in four days.

Arteta said after the match: “He felt something in his hamstring. He couldn’t continue. He will have to be assessed, so I’m pretty worried about that one.”

He also revealed on Monday that Raheem Sterling had injured his knee and would be out for many weeks.

Arteta was asked if there was a fear Saka would not return before the end of the season.

“No (there’s no fear),” he said. “I’m very optimistic he’ll be back before the end of the season.”

The Spaniard said it was part of the “development of a player”.

“It could have been much worse. It could have been something else that can take you out for a year,” he said.

“It’s how you react to that, how you overcome that situation and it’s a great learning process for him as well.

“It is what it is. He’s injured, we cannot change it. We’re going to use this time now to help him.”

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Australian tennis star, Max Purcell, suspended for doping

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The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced today that a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, Max Purcell has been voluntarily suspended for breaking anti-doping rules.

The Australian, who is ranked 12th in the world for doubles, admitted to a breach of the regulations relating to the use of a “prohibited method” and had “requested to enter into a provisional suspension on December 10.”

No other details were divulged.

“Time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction,” the ITIA said, with the ban coming into effect on December 12.

Under the suspension, the 26-year-old is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised by any of the sport’s governing bodies or national associations.

It means he will currently not be able to play in the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in January.

Purcell won the 2022 Wimbledon doubles title alongside fellow Australian Matt Ebden and the United States Open crown this year, partnered by Jordan Thompson.

Tennis Australia stressed that the breach related to a prohibited method, rather than a prohibited substance.

“The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed the breach relates to the use of a prohibited method, rather than the presence of a prohibited substance.

“As the matter is currently under investigation, it is inappropriate to comment further at this time,” it said in a statement carried by Australian media.

The ITIA is the same organisation that charged top-ranked Jannik Sinner and world number two Iga Swiatek over breaches of its anti-doping programme.

Italy’s Sinner was exonerated after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.

He is currently awaiting the outcome of a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal against the decision.

Swiatek tested positive for a banned heart medication in August.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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