Fijian Olympic medalist Raisuqe killed after car hit by train
Fijian wing Josaia Raisuqe, who won Olympic rugby sevens silver in Paris last year, has died after the 30-year-old’s car was hit by a train on Thursday, his Top 14 club Castres said. Raisuqe was on his way to training when the train collided with his car on a level crossing. None of the passengers nor the driver or conductor was injured, although they were suffering from shock, according to the firemen who attended the scene in southwest France. “Castres Olympique is grieving,” Raisuqe said in a statement. “He was a wonderful team-mate, appreciated by everyone, and Castres’ supporters who had taken him to their hearts.” Raisuqe had played seven times this season for Castres, his last appearance in the 52-6 thrashing by Toulouse on April 27. Raisuqe, who was fired by Stade Francais in 2017 for gross misconduct, was set to play for tier-two side Brive for the next two seasons. “He was a shining light of a boy on and off the pitch,” said Castres owner Pierre-Yves Revol. “He was a pillar of the Fijian community, which we have at the club (there are three other Fijians) and to whom we are very attached. “It is difficult also at this time not to evoke the faith of all the players and Josaia. “That, aside from the grief, will help them in this very difficult time for everyone.”
Los Angeles Olympics 2028: Venues revealed for opening, closing ceremonies
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will serve as the venues for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, LA28 announced on Thursday. The July 14, 2028, opening ceremony will be shared between the historic Coliseum, which will become the first venue to host events for three Olympic Games, and the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium, in an unprecedented dual-venue celebration. “The venues selected for the 2028 opening and closing ceremonies will highlight Los Angeles’s rich sporting history and cutting-edge future, showcasing the very best that L.A. has to offer on the world stage,” LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman said in a statement. “These two extraordinary venues will create an unforgettable experience, welcoming fans from across the globe to an Olympic and Paralympic Games like never before and concluding what will go down as one of the most incredible Games in history.”
Nine Olympic gold medalist swimmer Katie Ledecky recreates her own world record in 800 freestyle
American swimmer Katie Ledecky has shattered her own 800m freestyle world record on Saturday. She clocked 8 minutes 4.12 seconds at the Tyr Pro Series meet in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to better her previous mark of 8:04.79 which she set at the 2016 Rio Olympics. It was a tactical race from Ledecky who paced it masterfully surfing ahead through 400m. She ceded her lead at the 450m and 500m but was back in the lead by 550m and a powerful final leg saw her break the world record. The record-breaking swim capped an extraordinary series of performances for Ledecky, who posted her second-fa 400m freestyle time on Thursday. This was her best timing in nine years – and the second-fastest 1500m freestyle time in history on Wednesday. Ledecky’s most recent world record before this was in the 1500m in May 2018 in a 50m pool came into the 1500m freestyle. The 28-year-old holds 15 world records in the 50m pool. At the age of 28, Katie Ledecky is one of the most decorated swimmers in the World and US history. She has won a total of nine Olympic gold medals and 21 World Championship medals. Ledecky is the fifth-most decorated athlete in the Olympic history. Ledecky was one of the surprising stories from the 2012 London Olympics as then 15-year-old surprised everyone by winning the gold medal in the 800m freestyle. Ledecky became the first American female swimmer to win an individual event in three straight Olympics at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and emerged as the most decorated U.S. female athlete.
