Happy Birthday, Diljit Dosanjh! The singer-actor turns 41 today. Of course, wishings are pouring in from all corners for the Punjabi superstar. Be it his Dil-Luminati tour or acting prowess, Diljit has sealed a place in our hearts. Agree? Oh, and, how can we not talk about his love for food? After all, he is a Punjabi. From his hilarious cooking videos to enjoying local cuisine during tours, Diljit never fails to share his food shenanigans with fans on social media. On this super special day, we have decided to take a look at some of his top foodie moments, one by one.
Also Read: Chef Vikas Khanna Dedicates Bungalow’s Michelin Win To Sister Radhika
Foodie Moment 1: Kahwa in Kashmir
Diljit Dosanjh relished the famous drink on Dal Lake. In the clip shared on Instagram, he was sipping kahwa served by the renowned “Dal Star,” Mushtaq Bhai. Wrapped in cosy woollens, Diljit was seen enjoying his shikara ride. Here comes Mushtaq, who greeted him with a warm message — “Welcome to Kashmir! I’m Dal Star, and you’re a global star.”
The highlight of the video was when Mushtaq revealed the ingredients of his famous 66-mix kahwa. He proudly listed — almonds, cardamom, walnuts, cashews, honey, cinnamon, ginger, tea leaves, mulethi and rose. Read the full story here.
Foodie Moment 2: Poha in Indore
It is hard to stay away from the quintessential street snack poha when in Indore. Don’t know about you but Diljit Dosanjh did just that. Ahead of his concert, he visited a local shop — Chappan Dukan — to enjoy the yummy snack. In the video, Diljit shared, “Yaha par poha mashoor hai jo ki mujhe khana hi hota hai every day. [This place is famous for poha that I eat every day, so I am here to try it].” Full story here.
Foodie Moment 3: Parathas In Punjab
Not too long ago, Diljit Dosanjh uploaded a vlog from Punjab, and as always, his fun commentary made it entertaining. The clip begins with the global star working out, while everyone else has already started enjoying parathas for breakfast. Like a true-blue Punjabi, he humorously tells himself that he needs to finish his workout quickly, otherwise, there won’t be any parathas left for him.
After his workout, he can be seen relishing a paratha and some poha. To wrap up his breakfast, Diljit enjoys sweet oranges while sitting on a traditional rope cot. Click here to find out what Diljit ate during his day in Punjab.
Foodie Moment 4: Lavish Indian spread on plane
A day before his Dil-luminati tour concert in Kolkata, Diljit Dosanjh relished a super amazing spread on his flight. The singer shared a multi-picture post on Instagram, giving fans a glimpse of his food adventures. In the photos, Diljit can be seen enjoying a selection of quintessential desi dishes, including chicken curry, paneer masala, yellow da, and roti.
On the table, there were also two types of salad: one resembling a Russian salad, with mayonnaise and potatoes, and the other a green salad featuring lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers. Full story here.
Foodie Moment 5: Healthy Meal In Paris
During his trip to Paris, Diljit Dosanjh shared glimpses of his culinary adventures in an Instagram post. The first photo in his carousel featured a vibrant spread of fresh fruits, including bananas, apples, watermelon slices and berries, all beautifully arranged on a table. Alongside the fruits were a few white bowls. Sharing the post, Diljit captioned it with, “PARIS, sound check.” Here is the full story.
Also Read: “Chyawanprash For The Win,” Says Masaba Gupta As She Relishes The Desi Jam
While the world will have to wait until 2026 for the next total solar eclipse, the cosmos promises plenty of other wow moments in 2025. It’s kicking off the year with a six-planet parade in January that will be visible for weeks. Little Mercury will join the crowd for a seven-planet lineup in February.
Five planets already are scattered across the sky — all but Mars and Mercury — though binoculars or telescopes are needed to spot some of them just after sunset.
“People should go out and see them sometime during the next many weeks. I certainly will,” said the Planetary Society’s chief scientist Bruce Betts.
Here’s a sneak peek of what’s ahead:
The moon will vanish for more than an hour over North and South America on March 14, followed two weeks later by a partial solar eclipse visible from Maine, eastern Canada, Greenland, Europe, Siberia and northwestern Africa.
The cosmic double-header will repeat in September with an even longer total lunar eclipse over Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, and a partial solar eclipse two weeks later near the bottom of the world.
Three supermoons are on tap this year in October, November and December.
The full moon will look particularly big and bright those three months as it orbits closer to Earth than usual.
November’s supermoon will come closest, passing within 221,817 miles (356,980 kilometers). Last year featured four supermoons, wrapping up in November.
Six of our seven neighboring planets will line up in the sky to form a long arc around mid-January. All but Neptune and Uranus should be visible with the naked eye just after sunset, weather permitting.
The parade will continue for weeks, with some of the planets occasionally snuggling up. Mercury will make a cameo appearance by the end of February. The planets will gradually exit, one by one, through spring.
The sun burped big time last year, painting the sky with gorgeous auroras in unexpected places.
Space weather forecasters anticipate more geomagnetic storms that could yield even more northern and southern lights.
That’s because the sun has reached its solar maximum during its current 11-year cycle that could continue through this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Shawn Dahl urges everyone to stay on top of space weather news, so as not to miss any pop-up, razzle-dazzle shows.
The Perseids and Geminids are perennial crowd-pleasers, peaking in August and December, respectively. But don’t count out the smaller, less dramatic meteor showers like the Lyrids in April, the Orionids in October and the Leonids in November.
The darker the locale and dimmer the moon, the better it will be for viewing. Meteor showers are generally named for the constellation in which they appear to originate. They occur whenever Earth plows through streams of debris left behind by comets and sometimes asteroids.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
December is a month for reminiscing about the year gone by and looking forward to a new year filled with hope and happiness. For foodies, 2024 must have been packed with delicious moments, and we hope 2025 brings even more gastronomical adventures. Over the past year, many of us ordered a lot of food online – remember that midnight ice cream craving or the stacks of pizza boxes from a house party? The ever-growing popularity of food delivery apps has given rise to moments that made us laugh, surprised us, or simply left us speechless. Ready for a throwback? Let’s dive in!
Here Are 8 Unforgettable Online Food Delivery Moments From 2024:
1. Zomato Rider Delivers Food On Horseback
In January, a video surfaced of a Zomato delivery agent in Hyderabad riding a horse as his mode of transportation. Instead of a two-wheeler, he used a trusty steed to navigate the city’s challenges. The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), drew praise for the rider’s creativity and adaptability, with some users calling it a “peak Hyderabad” moment.
In February, an Instagram reel went viral featuring a woman who ordered a cake for her brother via Zomato. She requested “Happy Birthday Himanshu” be written on the cake and unchecked the “Don’t send cutlery” box. When the cake arrived, it had two chocolate toppers-one read “Happy Birthday Himanshu,” and the other said “Send Cutlery.” In the caption, she joked, “Thanks @zomato for the perfect order! We absolutely loved the extra efforts!”
3. Delivery Agent Prepares For UPSC Exam While On Duty
In March, a video went viral of a Zomato delivery agent taking UPSC lessons on his phone while stuck in traffic. The clip, posted on X, came with the text, “After watching this video, I don’t think you need any more motivation to study hard.” It showed the agent listening attentively, accompanied by the caption, “Sapne, majboori, aur samay ki tangi” (Dreams, compulsion, and time crunch).
4. Delivery Agent Sporting Zomato, Swiggy, And Zypp Branding
In April, a Zomato delivery agent caught attention for wearing a Swiggy shirt and a Zypp-branded helmet while carrying a Zomato bag. Shared on X, the post humorously asked, “Who are you? Swiggy? Zomato? Zypp? We live in a digital mess.”
5. Delhi Couple Uses Swiggy To Cater Engagement Ceremony
In August, a post on X showcased a Swiggy agent at an engagement ceremony. The photo revealed stacks of sealed food boxes and drinks set up on tables, with the caption, “They ordered food online for an engagement ceremony?? Bhai, I have seen everything.”
no one has used our Crazy Deals better than these guys 😭😭 shaadi ka khana bhi humse mangwa lena 🥰 https://t.co/XIo2z2TnYX— Swiggy Food (@Swiggy) August 4, 2024
6. Customer Sings “Happy Birthday,” Gives Gift To Delivery Agent
In another heartwarming August moment, a customer noticed it was their delivery partner’s birthday, as mentioned on the Zomato tracking screen. When the agent arrived, the customer and their family sang “Happy Birthday” and gave him a small gift. The caption read, “Spread happiness by whatever means you can. Thank you @zomato for giving us the opportunity.”
7. Man Gets ‘Surprise’ Pressure Cooker Delivery Two Years Later
In August, a man shared his surprise after receiving a pressure cooker ordered from Amazon in October 2022-two years after it was cancelled and refunded. His post on X sarcastically thanked Amazon, joking, “The cook is elated after the prolonged wait; must be a very special pressure cooker!”
Thank you Amazon for delivering my order after 2 years.
8. Stuck In Traffic, Man’s Food Delivery Arrives In 10 Minutes
In November, a “Peak Bengaluru” moment went viral when a man stuck in traffic for two hours ordered dinner from his car. His food arrived within 10 minutes, leaving him stunned. He posted photos of the traffic, the delivery handoff, and the food on his car seat, captioning it, “Food is over, but this traffic isn’t.”
Peak Bengaluru moment is when you are stuck in traffic for almost two hours so you order dinner from your car and it gets DELIVERED IN 10 MINUTES 😭😭(khana khatam lekin ye traffic nahi) pic.twitter.com/zyvzHl7pNK— Arpit Arora (@speakingofarpit) November 5, 2024
Do you have any unforgettable food delivery moments from 2024? Share them in the comments!
It’s been more than 85 years since Grambling State and Southern first battled on the gridiron. The Grambling State and Southern football rivalry, known as the “Bayou Classic,” is one of the biggest events in HBCU football. The Tigers and Jaguars have a combined 45 SWAC Championships, seven NFL Hall of Famers and many years of history.
Southern first met Grambling State in 1932 on Armistice Day, but the Bayou Classic didn’t commence until 42 years later.
Since 1974, the Tigers and Jaguars have met annually on Thanksgiving weekend in New Orleans, Louisiana* for the Bayou Classic. The Bayou Classic is more than just a game; it encompasses an entire weekend, with fans from both schools traveling in droves to support their schools. The battle of the bands is an event of its own with Southern’s band, The Human Jukebox, taking on Grambling State’s Tiger Marching Band, filling the stadium with music.
*In 2005, the Bayou Classic was in Houston, Texas after Hurricane Katrina and in Apr. 2021 the game was in Shreveport, Louisiana after the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Grambling State and Southern met in 2024, it marked the Bayou Classic’s 51st all-time meeting. Southern defeated Grambling State 24-14. The win keeps the Jaguars the all-time Bayou Classic series lead 27-24.
However, there’s more to this rivalry than wins and losses, with immense history throughout the series. Here are just a few notable historical events that have happened since the Bayou Classic’s inception:
1974: Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth’s MLB home run record.
1975: Muhammad Ali knocks out Joe Fraizer in the duo’s third and final fight in the Thrilla in Manilla
1986: Oprah Winfrey launches the nationally-syndicated Oprah Winfrey Show.
1995: The Million Man March happens in Washington, D.C.
Here are five moments chronicling Grambling State and Southern’s illustrious pasts.
1974 — First game
The inaugural Bayou Classic kicked off in 1974 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. In front of 76,753 fans, Southern faced future Grambling State legend Doug Williams, a freshman quarterback.
In his first Bayou Classic, Williams threw three interceptions. Nonetheless, the Tigers handled the Jaguars 21-0 to win the first edition of the classic.
The Jaguars got off to a rough start in the Bayou Classic series, losing the first five games. However, senior nose tackle Kenny “The Body Snatcher” Times would not be denied in his final attempt to win a rivalry game.
In a day that included a passionate halftime speech, Times had 10 tackles and two sacks, limiting Grambling State’s offense to just seven points. Southern would win 14-7 to land its first win in the Bayou Classic. Times would be named MVP.
1991 marked the first time that a game between historically black colleges aired nationally on network television as the Bayou Classic premiered on NBC. In front of a national audience, the Bayou Classic did not disappoint. Southern knocked off Grambling 31-30 in the closest game in Bayou Classic history.
Grambling State and Southern both entered 2016’s Bayou Classic with 8-0 SWAC records, marking the first time both teams entered the rivalry undefeated in conference play. Moreover, Grambling State entered ranked 14th in the FCS Coaches Poll.
While the winner of the Bayou Classic would still have to play in the SWAC Championship, both the Tigers and Jaguars beat the SWAC East winner, Alcorn State. In the eyes of many, the Bayou Classic winner would be the SWAC champion.
Each team entered the Bayou Classic rolling. On one hand, Grambling State displayed its prominence against an FBS opponent, holding an 18-point lead on Arizona before losing its quarterback in what became a 31-21 loss. On the other hand, Southern featured Lenard Tillery, the SWAC’s all-time leading rusher, and his 1,431 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. The Bayou Classic was set up to be a clash of the titans.
On the field, it was a Tigerfest as Grambling State routed Southern 52-30. The Tigers finished the SWAC regular season in dominant fashion, with just one team staying within 20 points.
2021 was the first time that two Bayou Classics were played in one calendar year. The second game, in the fall season, was an instant classic. To start, the Bayou Classic made history as the first NCAA football game to allow the use of coach-to-player electronic communication technology, which allows a coach to speak directly to one player on the field who has a helmet receiver.
On the field, the Bayou Classic allowed two struggling teams — Southern entered 4-6 while Grambling entered 3-7 — to have a chance to end the season on a high note.
The star of the 2021 Bayou Classic was none other than kicker Garret Urban who made five field goals on the day. Named the MVP, Urban’s fifth field goal with two seconds to play gave Grambling State the 29-26 win.
The 2024 season was one for the history books, with records broken, nail-biting storylines written, and new Olympic champions crowned.
Some Grand Tours went right down to the wire, while others were already tied up by the second week – such was the standout strength of their victors.
Alongside the victories, record-breakers, and history-makers, there were also season-defining moments that sprung from crashes. A few notable incidents shaped the campaigns of some of the peloton’s key protagonists.
To give each of these moments from the road their fair share of the limelight, we refrained from including highlights from other disciplines, such as gravel and mountain biking.
While in the world of gravel, the exhilarating World Championships in Belgium saw Marianne Vos and Mathieu van der Poel win world titles in yet another discipline.
Back to the tarmac though, and we’ve whittled a long list down to just 12 key moments from the 2024 road cycling season.
Biniam Girmay becomes first Black African to win a stage at the Tour de France, wins three stages in 2024
Biniam Girmay wins three stages and the green jersey at the 2024 Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)
The 230.9-kilometre stage from Piacenza ended with Girmay blasting up close to the barriers on the right-hand side to win ahead of Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny), taking the early lead in the green points classification.
He captured another win on the 183.4km-long stage 8 from Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises ahead of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and De Lie. He won for a third time on stage 12’s 203.6km race from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot and then carried the green jersey all the way into the finale in Nice to win the points classification.
(Image credit: Future)
The victory in Torino is one of many highlights for Girmay during his career, his name hit the headlines in 2021 when he took silver in the under-23 race at the Leuven Worlds, then again the following year as he took victories at Gent-Wevelgem and on stage 10 into Jesi at the Giro d’Italia.
Girmay followed in the footsteps of compatriots Natnael Berhane, Merhawi Kudus, and Daniel Teklehaimanot, who became the first Black African to start the Tour de France in 2015 and he stood on the podium as the leader of the polka dot jersey after stage 8 in Le Havre.
“It means a lot personally for me. And especially for the continent because it’s been a long time for African Black riders to not win at the Tour de France,” Girmay said after his Tour stage win in Torino. “It means a lot, especially for Eritrean cycling because we have a long history with cycling. We have cycling in our blood and know a lot about the Tour de France so to win today was amazing.” (PT)
Rainbow jerseys rule Paris-Roubaix as Lotte Kopecky and Mathieu van der Poel conquer the cobbles
Lotte Kopecky and Mathieu van der Poel celebrate victory in the famous Roubaix Velodrome (Image credit: Getty Images)
The ‘curse of the rainbow jersey’ was nowhere to be seen in northern France on the first weekend of April as both Lotte Kopecky and Mathieu van der Poel avoided punctures and crashes to raise their arms in sheer euphoria at the iconic Roubaix Velodrome, albeit achieving the feat in contrasting styles.
It was a race that yo-yoed back and forth with attacks, until a select group of riders, including Kopecky, Elisa Balsamo, Marianne Vos and Pfeiffer Georgi, burst clear with a handful of pavé sectors remaining.
Six riders arrived at the velodrome, and Kopecky was the last to launch her sprint. The Belgian – resplendent in an all-white rainbow kit – timed her sprint to perfection, navigating her way around the outside group at the perfect moment to take the Queen of the Classics crown.
While Kopecky’s decisive move came inside the final 100m, the Dutchman made his key attack with 60km to go. Benefiting from smart teamwork by his teammates Gianni Vermeersch and Jasper Philipsen, he powered away from the rest of the peloton and wouldn’t be seen again.
The time difference between MVDP and the second finisher, his teammate Philipsen, would eventually be three minutes, breaking the record for the fastest edition of L’Enfer du Nord in its 128-year history, and becoming the first rider in 11 years to complete the Flanders-Roubaix double. (PT)
Kasia Niewiadoma and a magical four seconds at the Tour de France Femmes
Kasia Niewiadoma reacts to winning the Tour de France by four seconds atop Alpe d’Huez (Image credit: Getty Images)
Niewiadoma took the overall lead after finishing second on stage 5. On the same day, overnight leader Vollering was involved in a mass crash that caused her to lose 1:19. Although Vollering clawed seconds back on the penultimate stage into Le Grand-Bronand, it was not enough.
Vollering tried to gain back the time lost on the final day with an attack on the mid-stage Col du Glandon. In the race up the 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez, Vollering and Pauliena Rooijakkers played a tactical battle for the stage victory.
In the end, Vollering crossed the line with the win, securing a 10-second bonus seconds toward the overall. She also made history as the first woman to have her name etched on a bend of the fabled ascent after winning on Alpe d’Huez.
But with the clock still ticking in the race for the general classification, Niewiadoma desperately tried to make it to the finish line with enough time on Vollering to keep the yellow jersey, and she did so by just four seconds.
In addition, for Niewiadoma, it signified another turning point in her professional cycling career after having won the world title at the Gravel World Championships last October and secured the win at La Flèche Wallonne atop the Mud de Huy in April. (KF)
Mass crash at Itzulia Basque Country shapes riders’ seasons and safety debate
Unscathed riders were in no mode to continue racing after witnessing a large section of the peloton hit the deck (Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Stage four of Itzulia Basque Country might not have been witness to any record-breaking performance or an emphatic victory but a mass high-speed crash with 35km remaining arguably had equal impact, shaping the course of several riders’ summers and the continuing discourse surrounding rider safety.
Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard, and Primož Roglič were among the 11 riders forced to quit the race following the incident as the race came around a bend on their way to the day’s finish in Legutio. Roglič came away fairly unscathed and would return to racing at the Critérium du Dauphiné, which he would go on to win.
Meanwhile, Evenepoel suffered a broken collarbone and sustained fractures to his clavicle and scapula when he skidded off the road. The Soudal Quick-Step rider also managed to make it back for the pre-Tour warm-up race but was off the pace when the race went uphill.
However, it was Vingegaard who was the worst affected by the crash, suffering a collapsed lung alongside broken ribs and collarbone. The Dane would not return to action until the Grand Dèpart for the Tour de France at the end of June, almost three months after the incident.
Perhaps it’s a testament to his recovery that he challenged Pogačar as well as he did en route to second place overall.
Mark Cavendish etched in history with record 35th Tour de France stage win
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Racing at his 15th Tour de France in July, Mark Cavendish broke the all-time stage win record set by Eddy Merckx by securing his 35th stage victory at the French Grand Tour on stage 5 in Saint Vulbas, the latest step in his own era in the history of sprinting.
Cavendish had announced his retirement the previous season but reneged on the idea after he crashed out of the 2023 Tour de France and lost his chance to establish a new record, that he had shared with Merckx, both on 34 – and a record that had stood for 48 years.
While racing for Astana-Qazaqstan on stage 5 at the 2024 Tour de France, Cavendish hit the front from distance to claim the win, beating Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility).
All of Cavendish’s Tour de France stage wins have come in bunch sprints. His first four wins were with Columbia in 2008, then his next 16 with HTC and their famed lead-out train from 2008 through 2011. He also took three stage wins while racing for Team Sky in 2012, and another three with QuickStep between 2013 and 2015.
He went on to race Dimension Data, where he won four stages in the 2016 edition, before his resurgent stint with Deceuninck-Quickstep in 2021 when he won another four stages. A prolonged career with Astana-Qazaqstan into 2024 saw him finally secure his record-breaking 35th Tour stage win.
Remco Evenepoel and Kristen Faulkner deliver golden doubles at Paris Olympics
Golden glee for double gold medallists Remco Evenepoel and Kristen Faulkner (Image credit: Getty Images)
Remco Evenepoel and Kristen Faulkner both starred at the Olympic Games this summer, clinching two gold medals each across their respective disciplines.
In dreary and wet conditions Evenepoel powered to time trial victory on the first weekend of the Games – putting 15 seconds into Filippo Ganna’s time despite the treacherous conditions on the French capital’s roads. Evenepoel couldn’t hide his joy as he crossed the line, already aware his time was enough for gold, punching the air as headded yet another major TT title to his record.
Coming to the fore with 40km of the 272km race remaining, Evenepoel ignited the afterburners to power through the remnants of the day’s early break and lead the race with only Valentin Madouas remaining by his side at the 15km to-go marker.
The Frenchman was duly dropped on the final ascent through Montmartre, but Evenepoel – seemingly untouchable – couldn’t foresee a mechanical nearly deriding his golden double dream.
A frantic minute ensued, with the Belgian gesturing and shouting to his mechanic for a new bike. The handover proved slick and the crisis averted.
In vast contrast, Kristen Faulkner was by no means a favourite for the women’s road race – in fact, she wasn’t even on the startlist until a last-minute switch.
Perhaps it was her rank outsider status that saw none of Marianne Vos, Lotte Kopecky, or Kata Blanka Vas respond to her attack with 3km remaining.
They’d quickly regret that when the American powered across the line over a minute ahead of themto win the women’s road race – too focused on the Olympic title to even sit up and celebrate.
Devastation for Demi Vollering at Tour de France Femmes
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Demi Vollering went into the 2024 Tour de France Femmes as the out-right favourite to win a second consecutive overall title after she had an outstanding early season that saw her on a stage racing winning streak at La Vuelta Feminine, Itzulia Women, Vuelta a Burgos and Tour de Suisse. She had also opted not to compete at the Giro d’Italia Women in order to focus on the Tour, which had moved to a new August date to accommodate the Olympic Games.
She looked well on her way to achieving that goal when she took a surprise win in the stage 3 time trial and moved into yellow in Rotterdam and then extended that lead into Liège the following day.
A devastating crash on the exit of a roundabout saw Vollering crash hard with 6.3km to go on stage 5 into Amnéville, and she was unable to remount her bike for 49 seconds as she clutched at the back of her left leg with what appeared to be a hip injury, slowly getting back on her bike to make her way to the finish, initially alone and without support from SD Worx-Protime.
The overall classification completely flipped on its head when Vollering crossed the line 1:47 behind her teammate and stage winner Blanka Vas, but more importantly, she had also lost 1:19 to Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) heading into the final three stages.
Questions swirled around the SD Worx-Protime’s tactics and why their yellow jersey was left isolated in the closing kilometres of this stage, but her teammates and the riders from rival teams who had split off the front said they didn’t realize Vollering was involved in the crash, but that there was little that could be done with such a short distance to the finish line.
Vollering said she was ‘empty, sour but proud‘ after capturing the finale stage 8 victory on Alpe d’Huez, but having also lost the overall race by just four seconds to Niewaidoma.
Ben O’Connor delivers best season of career as he stars at La Vuelta and earns surprise Worlds silver
Ben O’Connor wearing the leader’s red jersey at La Vuelta (Image credit: Getty Images)
The opening week of La Vuelta a España looked to be falling perfectly into place for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe when Primož Roglič – returning to racing after abandoning the Tour de France – took the red jersey on stage four. That was until, in their directeur sportif Patxi Vila’s words,“things got out of hand.”
‘Things’ specifically being Ben O’Connor, with the Australian putting six minutes into GC rivals on stage six after soloing to victory from the break. When we think about race favourites lending out the jersey to outsiders for a few days to alleviate pressure, this wasn’t it. The Australian and his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team defended the jersey impressively.
Ultimately though, after 13 days on O’Connor’s back, the race leader’s jersey was wrestled back into Roglič’s control on the Alto de Moncalvillo – with the Slovenian all but sealing his record-equalling fourth Vuelta title in the process.
Nonetheless, O’Connor held on for second place, describing the result, which is his best Grand Tour finish and first podium, as “a bit of a dream, I have been close before but to get it now is such an amazing thing.”
Three weeks later, he’d add a road race World Championships runner-up spot to his palmarès too, to cap off his best season to date.
The Perth native played his role in the chasing group to perfection, behind an unassailable Tadej Pogačar. By no means the fastest finisher in the group, he bided his time and let other riders show their hands before bursting away with just a few kilometres remaining, telling Cyclingnews at the finish line that this result “is for Aussie cycling, not just for me.” (PT)
250 for Marianne Vos
Marianne Vos wins dwars door Vlaanderen (Image credit: Getty Images)
She had an impressive Classics campaign, which was a clear indication that she was back to her best after late 2023 surgery on her iliac artery, with first-time wins at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Dwars door Vlaanderen, along with a victory at Amstel Gold Race.
She went on to win two stages and the points classification at La Vuelta Feminine, a stage win and the overall title at Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and the points classification at the Tour de France Femmes.
She also secured the silver medal in the road race at the Paris Olympics Games and capped off the season by winning the world title at the UCI Gravel World Championships, adding a 14th rainbow jersey to her extensive collection of titles; eight cyclocross, three road race, two track and one gravel.
Vos has amassed 255 career road race wins by the end of the 2024 season, putting another defining stamp on her G.O.A.T status in professional cycling. “It’s a number you don’t dare think about at the beginning of your career,” said Vos of her 250th victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen. “Over the years you can make a lot of memories of different highs and lows and then this is definitely a very nice highlight.” (KF)
Grace Brown’s legendary last dance
A gleeful Grace Brown celebrates Olympic time trial gold (Image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
Grace Brown called time on her career as a professional cyclist in scintillating style as she became the first Australian woman to win a Monument at Liège-Bastogne-Liège before reaffirming her legendary status by becoming the first woman to win Olympic time trial gold and the World Championships time trial in the same year.
Brown claimed victory at Liège when she outsprinted Elisa Longo Borghini and Demi Vollering to the title after spending half of the race in the breakaway.
Yet just two months later, at the age of 31, she announced 2024 would be her last in the women’s WorldTour. “I really miss my life in Australia with my husband, my family and my friends and it is something that is harder and harder to leave,” she explained when announcing her retirement.
That decision appeared to ignite a ‘leave it all out there’ mentality in the rider from Melbourne for the rest of the season as she stunned the field on the opening weekend of the Paris Olympics, storming the women’s time trial event by over a minute and a half to eventual silver medallist Anna Henderson.
“I can be really proud to go out on such a high,” Brown told reporters after her win. Yet the historic feat in Paris didn’t mark the peak of the Australian’s season – that arrived two months later in Switzerland.
Rounding out her career as the first woman to conquer both major TT titles in one year, Brown described it as a “dream” and was “really, really lucky to have the end of my career like this. It’s special.” (PT)
(Image credit: Future)
Elisa Longo Borghini’s magnificent Giro d’Italia
Elisa Longo Borghini wins the 2024 Giro d’Italia Women (Image credit: RCS Sport / LaPresse)
Italy had to wait a long 16 years until one of their own secured the coveted maglia rosa at the Giro d’Italia Women. It finally happened in this year’s 35th edition in the most dominating of fashions as Elisa Longo Broghini led the eight-day race from start to finish and was crowned the overall winner in L’Aquila.
Longo Borghini is the reigning Italian Champion and has competed in 13 editions of the Giro d’Italia Women and finished twice on the podium in 2017 and 2020, and said it took an entire team effort to make that step up as the overall champion.
She pulled on the maglia rosa after the stage 1 time trial in Brescia, and then carryied the race lead through Volta Mantovana, Toano, Urbino, Foligno, Chieti and to the top of the iconic Blockhaus, in what was a dramatic race for time bonuses on the penultimate queen stage 7 against runner-up Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).
In a dramatic stage 8 finale, she led by just one second ahead of Kopecky in the overall classification. A breakaway of three took the top three stage places, and then Longo Borghini accelerated and sprinted out of the field in the last kilometre to claim fourth place on the day and win the overall title by 21 seconds ahead of Kopecky.
Longo Borghini was the first Italian to win the maglia rosa at the women’s race since five-time winner Fabiana Luperini last won the title in 2008, and added her name to a list of compatriots to have won the race that also includes Maria Canins, Roberta Bonanomi, and Michela Fanini. (KF)
Rainbow jersey wraps up sensational season for Tadej Pogačar
Tadej Pogačar dons the rainbow jersey for the first time after an incredible 100km attack (Image credit: Getty Images)
Tadej Pogačar delivered the best season of his stellar career so far, becoming just the third male rider to complete the Triple Crown of Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and World Championship road race victories in one season.
Yet, unquestionably, the Slovenian’s World Championships victory was the most poignant of his successes in 2024, both for how he achieved it and what it meant in the context of cycling’s history.
Nowhere was this clearer than in Switzerland when the 26-year-old launched an attack from the peloton with 100km to go, weaving through the day’s breakaway as if they were barely pedalling and then riding solo to the finish from no less than 50km until the line.
A fortnight later the three-time Tour de France winner was at it again – now proudly donning the rainbow jersey – produced a mesmerising 48.4km solo effort to win a fourth consecutive Il Lombardia and his 25th victory of the campaign. (PT)
The timing and planning of Gonzaga’s new basketball facility more than two decades ago was spot-on, mirroring so many of the key aspects that launched the program’s ascension to national prominence.
It took bold thinking to make it happen. Mark Few, early in his head coaching tenure, accompanied then-school president Robert Spitzer to Salt Lake City to request donations from brothers Phil and Tom McCarthey for GU’s athletic endowment.
Except Few drew up a new play and asked Rev. Spitzer to broach the idea of a new basketball arena when they huddled before a meeting with the McCartheys.
“ Mark laid it on the line: An investment in a new Kennel is going to help us with our recruiting, with our marketing and on down the line – all these things instinctively one would know,” Spitzer told The Spokesman-Review’s John Blanchette in 2009. “I knew right away for Mark that this was going to be essential for him as a coach.
“So I changed my pitch right away – I’ve told the McCartheys this story – and it became all about the arena. We didn’t have a design, we didn’t have an amount, we didn’t have anything, but we were pitching the arena.”
That meeting was one of many that led to the McCarthey Athletic Center, which opened 20 years ago in October 2004.
Gonzaga’s men have lost just 18 times and boast a 94% winning percentage on their home court, so there’s plenty of candidates for the top 20 McCarthey moments.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs in their first action at McCarthey Athletic Center, an exhibition game against Emporia State on Nov. 5, 2004. (The Spokesman-Review Photo Archive)
Timely
On-court highlights occupy most of this list, but, as mentioned earlier, the McCarthey Athletic Center came to be at just the right time.
Building materials were largely budget-friendly when the facility was being built.
“Garco (Construction) did a fantastic job and was willing to make an honest profit and we had great subcontractors,” Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford said. “At the time, the prices for (building materials) were really suppressed and then they came back to normal (after construction). Especially steel, it was really low.”
Size mattered
It’s a question Standiford and former AD Mike Roth probably have heard hundreds of times. Why didn’t the $25 million arena have more than 6,000 seats? The answer in a nutshell: It wouldn’t have been anywhere close to a $25 million price tag if the arena required expanding to seat even 8,000.
“Substantially more on a cost -per -seat basis,” Standiford said. “I know from the design, development phase, it was way more expensive to make the building bigger. We were really pressing to build that building and fund that building as it was.”
Turiaf thrives in new digs
Ronny Turiaf felt right at home inside the new arena. The charismatic forward scored 33 points in a win over Portland State on opening night.
He followed with 20 points against Montana before dropping 40 points in a victory over Idaho in the third game.
First ranked foe falls
No. 14 Washington, the first ranked opponent to visit the McCarthey Athletic Center, fell to the Zags 99-87 in December 2004.
Adam Morrison scored 28 points, Turiaf added 23 points and 13 rebounds and Derek Raivio made five 3-pointers while contributing 21 points.
Morrison magic
We could probably assemble a list of Morrison’s top 20 in the McCarthey. Instead, we combined several of his memorable moments for space reasons.
There was his fadeaway jumper in the final second in a 75-73 win over San Francisco in Feb. 2005. There was Morrison’s 42-point eruption against Portland in January 2006, still the McCarthey Athletic Center record.
Morrison had 23 points and earned MVP honors as Gonzaga rallied from 15 points down to edge Loyola Marymount 68-67 in the 2006 WCC Tournament title game. He celebrated by hopping on the broadcast table and hanging out in the Kennel Club after LMU’s Chris Ayer missed from close range in the closing seconds.
GameDay and more Morrison magic
When ESPN’s GameDay came to GU for the first time in February 2006, Morrison delivered 34 points, 12 in the final three minutes, in an 80-76 win over Stanford.
P-Mac’s triple, Morrison’s pass
OK, one more Morrison mention. He had 34 points in a 75-72 victory over San Francisco on Senior Night in February 2006. He had a hand in the game-winner with his lone assist leading to a Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes 3-pointer with two seconds remaining.
J.P. Batista hugs his brother Anderson during 2006 Senior Night at McCarthey Athletic Center. (Jed Conklin/The Spokesman-Review)
J.P.’s Senior Night surprise
Gonzaga center J.P. Batista, a native of Brazil, had no idea his older brother Anderson had made the long trip to surprise him on 2006 Senior Night.
The two shared an emotional embrace after Anderson walked onto the court. It had been four years since Anderson had seen his younger brother.
Gonzaga pulls rank on UW
No. 18 Gonzaga routed No. 13 Washington 97-77 on Dec. 9, 2006, in the first McCarthey Athletic Center contest between ranked teams. Raivio drained five 3-pointers and finished with 25 points.
First home defeat
Santa Clara toppled the Zags 84-73 in February 2007, ending GU’s 50-game home winning streak – the nation’s longest – that dated back to the Martin Centre.
It was an unsettling weekend for the Zags, who were without Josh Heytvelt and Theo Davis. Both were suspended after being arrested the night before the game on drug possession charges.
Zags come up short on Gray’s great day
Steven Gray tried to will the 11th-ranked Zags to victory, but No. 25 San Diego State’s Billy White and Kawhi Leonard had other ideas in a November 2010 showdown.
Gray scored 35 points, including 14 of the team’s final 15, but GU couldn’t overcome White’s career-high 30 points and Leonard’s 18 points and 12 boards. “Steven was superhuman,” Few said.
Pangos hits nine 3s vs. WSU
In his first start and second collegiate game, freshman Kevin Pangos put on a memorable shooting display in an 89-81 win over the Cougars in November 2011.
Pangos equaled Dan Dickau’s school record with nine 3-pointers and scored 33 points. He made 9 of 13 3s and handed out six assists.
Olynyk drops 31 on the Gaels
Kelly Olynyk was early in his breakout junior season when he scored 31 points in an 83-78 victory over Saint Mary’s, just days after his career high 33 points in a road win over Santa Clara in January 2013.
Olynyk and Pangos combined for GU’s last 16 points. The 7-footer made a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left after the Gaels had closed within 79-78.
BYU ends GU’s bid for perfection
It started like so many Gonzaga games in the 2017 season. The Zags methodically moved in front 18-2 on Senior Night and another blowout was seemingly in the works.
Not so fast. BYU rallied late to pull off a stunning 79-71 victory, handing GU its first loss after 29 straight wins. The Zags rebounded to win the WCC Tournament and five NCAA Tournament games before falling to North Carolina in the championship game.
Geno’s crossover
Geno Crandall introduced himself to the Kennel when he scored 28 points and nearly led North Dakota to a n upset before the Zags rallied for an 89-83 OT win in December 2017.
Crandall transferred to GU the following season and made this list with a remarkable move that bewildered BYU’s Nick Emery. He shook Emery with a behind-the-back dribble near the 3-point line, followed by a between-the-legs crossover that sent Emery stumbling in the wrong direction as Crandall finished with a layup.
Emery poked fun at himself, tweeting a video of the play with the comment: “If anyone is wondering, my ankles are okay. You win some, you lose some.”
Gonzaga forward Rui Hachimura celebrates with Kennel Club members after beating Washington at the McCarthey Athletic Center on 2018. (Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review)
Rui connects on game-winner
Washington rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to pull even at 79, but Rui Hachimura countered with a 15-foot jumper with less than one second remaining for an 81-79 win in Dec. 2018.
Hachimura finished with 26 points and the Kennel Club chanted his name as he waited for a post-game interview with ESPN’s Bill Walton and Dave Pasch.
Blue bloods visit the Kennel
GU has entertained lots of power conference schools, but the anticipation meter was off the charts when two of the biggest names in the college hoops came to town.
In 2011, coach Tom Izzo and Michigan State pulled out a 74-67 victory powered by Draymond Green’s 34 points. Jud Heathcote, who led the Spartans to the 1979 national championship during a distinguished coaching career that began at West Valley High, retired in Spokane and watched from the stands.
The second-ranked Zags handled North Carolina, one of the bluest blue bloods, 94-81 in December 2019. Corey Kispert hit 5 of 6 3-pointers and scored 26 points.
The Tar Heels, playing without standout point guard Cole Anthony, suffered their fourth straight setback. “We want Wofford!” chided the Kennel Club, in reference to the team responsible for UNC’s third loss in the streak.
Timme torches Texas
The Longhorns’ visit in November 2021 was big by any measure, including AP rankings – Gonzaga was No. 1, Texas No. 5.
Drew Timme, a Texas native, conducted a post-move clinic with a 37-point effort, third in McCarthey Athletic Center history. He made 15 of 19 shots in GU’s 86-74 win.
GameDay visit, Gaels go down
In February 2023, ESPN’s GameDay returned to the Kennel for the first time in 14 years. About 12 hours after Mark Few sat down with the GameDay crew and the airing of Drew Timme’s 94 feet segment with Jay Bilas, the 12th-ranked Zags downed No. 15 Saint Mary’s 77-68, avenging a 78-70 loss in Moraga, California.
Timme had 19 points and Anton Watson added 17 as GU and SMC shared the regular-season title.
McCarthey Athletic Center’s impact
Brian Michaelson has a unique perspective on what the McCarthey Athletic Center has meant to the program. When the venue opened in 2004, he was a senior on the team. He joined Gonzaga’s staff in 2008 and he’s entering his 12th season as an assistant coach.
“The timing was absolutely perfect,” he said. “It was as early in the run as we could have done it and you needed it at that time. It has really helped take it to the next level. A bunch of us played in that old gym (Martin Centre) and it was really special, the atmosphere was special.
“But for the future, it was huge. The legitimacy of having a real arena was huge for the growth that came down the road.”
Happy Birthday, Masaba Gupta! This birthday is extra special for Masaba as she recently welcomed a baby girl with her husband Satyadeep Mishra. Along with Masaba’s love for fashion, the designer-actress is an unapologetic foodie. Her Instagram feed proves her love for indulgent spreads and humble dishes. The past year was all about Masaba sharing her pregnancy cravings and journey on social media. As she celebrates her 36th birthday today, let’s take a look at the celebrated fashion designer’s recent culinary adventures.
1) Tea Session With Neena Gupta:
Masaba Gupta shared a post on Instagram featuring images from her tea session with her mother and actor Neena Gupta. In the first photo, the two of them posed candidly while seated indoors, holding teacups. This was followed by many delicious foods they savoured, including a plate filled with large chocolate cookies. In the background, we can spot berries and cherries in a separate bowl, accompanied by a bottle of honey, for a healthy addition to her meal. She captioned the post, “Unnecessary makeup, sunglasses indoors, feeding pillow, jewels & tea = newborn couture.” Click here to read the full story.
2) Pregnancy Diaries:
Masaba shared a pregnancy-related post on Instagram revealing things she has eaten during these nine months. The first slide in the carousel showed a picture of her with the text, “POV: when 9 months feel like 9 years…,” followed by a delicious-looking pizzas, a decadent piece of chocolate cake and more. “Shot all the content I have to for 3 months / taken a selfie from every angle / rearranged the house / eaten all the cake and pizza I can / rearranged the planters in the store / harassed my husband and dog / checked on the pigeon, and their newborn baby and it’s still not over,” she captioned the post. Read on to know more.
3) Masaba Gupta’s ‘80/20 Diet Rule’:
On Instagram, Masaba posted a video giving details about her 80/20 rule in each of her daily diets, which is “golden” for her. Masaba showed how she savoured healthy homemade delights while maintaining a good balance with the other delightful items. Sharing it, she wrote, “The 80/20 rule is golden for me. 80% of the time it’s great, nutritious food and the rest of the time – BRING On THE [emojis for a pastry, French fries, pizza and burger] – cos I love it all.” From breakfast to dinner, check out her entire diet here.
4) Ice Lolly With Bhindi:
The designer’s food experimentation went to another level after she tried a unique homemade ice lolly by her husband, Sataydeep Mishra. The ingredients of this lolly were everything “healthy and yummy,” including bhindi. Read all about it here.
5) Biscuit And Caramel-Themed Baby Shower Feast:
Masaba celebrated her baby shower with a “biscuit and caramel” theme, which inspired both the decor and the delicious menu. All the guests, dressed in shades of beige, camel and white, enjoyed an elaborate dessert station that featured macarons, cookies, milk candies, a variety of cakes, biscuits, cupcakes dubbed ‘baby cakes’, tiramisu, tarts, and a tempting tall cake. Apart from these yummy treats, other foods on Masaba’s baby shower menu included Caesar salad, pasta in a choice of four sauces, a live burger station, lamb patties, buttermilk fried chicken, butter mushroom duxelle, French fries and sweet potato fries. Click here to read the full story.
Masaba Gupta, who loves feasting on a diverse range of foods, once even announced that her middle name is “dhokla” when she shared a sneak peek of her favourite Gujarati snack during her pregnancy. Happy birthday Masaba!
We watch video after video, consuming the world on our handheld devices in bites of two minutes, one minute, 30 seconds, 15. We turn to moving pictures — “film” — because it comes the closest to approximating the world that we see and experience. This is, after all, 2024, and video in our pocket — ours, others’, everyone’s — has become our birthright.
But sometimes — even in this era of live video always rolling, always recording, always capturing — sometimes the frozen moment can entrance the eye like nothing else. And in the process, it can tell a larger story that echoes long after the moment was captured. That’s what happened this past week in Beirut, through the camera lens of Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein and the photographs he captured.
When Hussein set up his camera outside an evacuated Beirut apartment building Tuesday after Israel announced it would be targeted as part of military operations against Hezbollah, he had one goal in mind — only one. “All I thought of,” he says, “was photographing the missile while it was coming down.”
He found a safe spot. He ensured a good angle. He wasn’t stressed, he said; like many photographers who work in such environments, he had been in situations like this one before. He was ready.
When the attack came — a bomb, not a missile in the end — Hussein swung into action. And, unsurprisingly for a professional who has been doing this work for two decades, he did exactly what he set out to do.
The sequence of images he made bursts with the explosive energy of its subject matter.
In one frame, the bomb hangs there, a weird and obtrusive interloper in the scene. It is not yet noticed by anyone around it, ready to bring its destruction to a building that, in moments, will no longer exist. The building’s balconies, a split-second from nonexistence, are devoid of people as the bomb finds its mark.
These are the kind of moments that video, rolling at the speed of life or even in slow motion, cannot capture in the same way. A photo holds us in the scene, stops time, invites a viewer to take the most chaotic of events and break it down, looking around and noticing things in a strangely silent way that actual life could not.
In another frame, one that happened micromoments after the first, the building is in the process of exploding. Let’s repeat that for effect, since even as recently as a couple generations ago photographs like this were rare: in the process of exploding.
Pieces of building are shooting out in all directions, in high velocity — in real life. But in the image they are frozen, outward bound, hanging in space awaiting the next seconds of their dissolution — just like the bomb that displaced them was doing milliseconds before. And in that, a contemplation of the destruction — and the people it was visited upon — becomes possible.
The technology to grab so many images in the course of little more than one second — and do it in such clarity and high resolution — is barely a generation old.
So to see these “stills,” as journalists call them, come together to paint a picture of an event is a combination of artistry, intrepidity and technology — an exercise in freezing time, and in giving people the opportunity to contemplate for minutes, even hours, what took place in mere seconds. This holds true for positive things that the camera captures — and for visitations of violence like this one as well.
Photography is random access. We, the viewers of it, choose how to see it, process it, digest it. We go backward and forward in time, at will. We control the pace and the speed at which dizzying images hurtle at us. And in that process, something unusual for this era emerges: a bit of time to think.
That, among many other things, is the enduring power of the still image in a moving-picture world — and the power of what Bilal Hussein captured on that clear, sunny day in Beirut.
___
Ted Anthony is the director of new storytelling and newsroom innovation for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://x.com/anthonyted
Tennis isn’t just about showcasing skill and resilience; it’s as much mental as it’s physical. Players often find themselves faced with challenges that push them to their limits not only physically but also mentally. For many, the strain goes beyond the match, affecting their mindset in ways fans may not always realize. Grigor Dimitrov, the Bulgarian tennis star, is the latest to open up about the mental toll the game can take.
The Bulgarian tennis sensation is currently gearing up to face Tommy Paul in the finals of the Stockholm Open. However, besides his remarkable run in the event, what captured the attention of the community is a sensational admission and a heartfelt appeal that came from the star player during an interview.
Speaking to the press, Dimitrov opened up on facing adverse situations in his life. He revealed that it would be a lie if he claimed that he never witnessed distressing times. “I had severe moments of, you know, anxiety, panic attacks,” said Dimitrov. Continuing further, he said it would be good if athletes could open up to each other about their challenges.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“Of course, I think, you know, it helps when you can talk to people and share. Even if it’s another tennis player, I would say we all should be more open to each other. I know it’s difficult, I know it’s very individual sport, I know it’s brutal. But I mean, we are all human in general today, and we are not different than anyone else,” the 33-year-old shared. This comes just a week after the world celebrated the Mental Health Day. Dimitrov shared his happiness for athletes who are coming to admit the mental stress that they face, he said that it should continue to increase. “We don’t speak about it often but I think we should. It’s not a weakness. I think it’s totally the opposite,” he added. Remember, this is not the first time that the star player has opened up about mental health.
Dimitrov has something very important to say. Please, listen.
He has been dealing with anxiety, panick attacks and loneliness. It is important to him to open up as a man.
For Dimitrov, mental health is one of the crucial topics and he has talked about mental health issues time and again. Earlier, he revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted him mentally and the repercussions he faced. “I started playing again but I was just not there – both physically and mentally – and I wasn’t prepared to do the hard yards,” Dimitrov said while talking about his recovery process. “You’re alone for about 20 days for 24 hours. I spent over 5,000 hours by myself. A lot of things are going through your head. It doesn’t matter how mentally strong you are as a person or athlete, it’s inevitable to get some bad thoughts in your head,” Dimitrov revealed in 2020. But the Bulgarian player has now learned to fight through challenges – about which he himself opened up during the conversation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
When Grigor Dimitrov revealed the secret mantra to win over these challenges
Grigor Dimitrov has depicted immense resilience over the years. This trait has not just helped him overcome the challenges on the court, but it has also allowed him to maintain a positive outlook. The Bulgarian opened up about how he amalgamates positivity and belief to stay motivated.
Speaking in an interview with the Australian Tennis Magazine, the star player shared, “I was thrilled with the way I was playing throughout the whole tournament. A lot of good wins, a lot of positive wins,” said Dimitrov, about his campaigns in 2023. “I need to stay positive and keep on believing that things will come out for me.” He also highlighted the importance of a determined outlook to achieve success.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“The discipline, the hard work, you know, all the dedication, the adjustment to very different players throughout that time, I mean, you need to be able to do that on a constant basis. It’s been difficult. I had very, very difficult matches that I have lost … but I kept on believing.”
The star’s mental tenacity has definitely helped him recently. His incredible performance in Stockholm is a good expression of the result of his belief and determination. Do you think he would clinch the title? Let us know in the comments below:
Tennis isn’t just about showcasing skill and resilience; it’s as much mental as it’s physical. Players often find themselves faced with challenges that push them to their limits not only physically but also mentally. For many, the strain goes beyond the match, affecting their mindset in ways fans may not always realize. Grigor Dimitrov, the Bulgarian tennis star, is the latest to open up about the mental toll the game can take.
The Bulgarian tennis sensation is currently gearing up to face Tommy Paul in the finals of the Stockholm Open. However, besides his remarkable run in the event, what captured the attention of the community is a sensational admission and a heartfelt appeal that came from the star player during an interview.
Speaking to the press, Dimitrov opened up on facing adverse situations in his life. He revealed that it would be a lie if he claimed that he never witnessed distressing times. “I had severe moments of, you know, anxiety, panic attacks,” said Dimitrov. Continuing further, he said it would be good if athletes could open up to each other about their challenges.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“Of course, I think, you know, it helps when you can talk to people and share. Even if it’s another tennis player, I would say we all should be more open to each other. I know it’s difficult, I know it’s very individual sport, I know it’s brutal. But I mean, we are all human in general today, and we are not different than anyone else,” the 33-year-old shared. This comes just a week after the world celebrated the Mental Health Day. Dimitrov shared his happiness for athletes who are coming to admit the mental stress that they face, he said that it should continue to increase. “We don’t speak about it often but I think we should. It’s not a weakness. I think it’s totally the opposite,” he added. Remember, this is not the first time that the star player has opened up about mental health.
Dimitrov has something very important to say. Please, listen.
He has been dealing with anxiety, panick attacks and loneliness. It is important to him to open up as a man.
For Dimitrov, mental health is one of the crucial topics and he has talked about mental health issues time and again. Earlier, he revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted him mentally and the repercussions he faced. “I started playing again but I was just not there – both physically and mentally – and I wasn’t prepared to do the hard yards,” Dimitrov said while talking about his recovery process. “You’re alone for about 20 days for 24 hours. I spent over 5,000 hours by myself. A lot of things are going through your head. It doesn’t matter how mentally strong you are as a person or athlete, it’s inevitable to get some bad thoughts in your head,” Dimitrov revealed in 2020. But the Bulgarian player has now learned to fight through challenges – about which he himself opened up during the conversation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
When Grigor Dimitrov revealed the secret mantra to win over these challenges
Grigor Dimitrov has depicted immense resilience over the years. This trait has not just helped him overcome the challenges on the court, but it has also allowed him to maintain a positive outlook. The Bulgarian opened up about how he amalgamates positivity and belief to stay motivated.
Speaking in an interview with the Australian Tennis Magazine, the star player shared, “I was thrilled with the way I was playing throughout the whole tournament. A lot of good wins, a lot of positive wins,” said Dimitrov, about his campaigns in 2023. “I need to stay positive and keep on believing that things will come out for me.” He also highlighted the importance of a determined outlook to achieve success.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“The discipline, the hard work, you know, all the dedication, the adjustment to very different players throughout that time, I mean, you need to be able to do that on a constant basis. It’s been difficult. I had very, very difficult matches that I have lost … but I kept on believing.”
The star’s mental tenacity has definitely helped him recently. His incredible performance in Stockholm is a good expression of the result of his belief and determination. Do you think he would clinch the title? Let us know in the comments below:
