Lawrence Ostlere

Russia is back at the Paralympic Games – and this is just the start Ten athletes will compete for Russia and Belarus at the Paralympic Games and parade under their national flags in Friday’s opening ceremony in Verona, despite condemnation across Europe

The Paralympics are welcoming Russia back to the Winter Games – and this is just the start www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympi...

Matt Goodwin is running: the search for Reform’s elusive byelection candidate Nigel Farage’s man in Gorton and Denton has a huge public platform, and a taste for culture war. What happens when he concerns himself with bin collections?

spent a couple of weeks in manchester on the trail of matt goodwin. why has nobody seen him? how do you fight a politics that lots of people absentmindedly agree with? and - you know - does he secretly want to remigrate me?

www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

Yes, fair. I don’t think it’s really winner-takes-all tonight but the winner has a very good chance of earning automatic promotion, obviously, esp if it’s Boro – maybe it’s as significant psychologically as mathematically? Good luck!

Kim Hellberg’s high-octane football has Middlesbrough closing in on Premier League The little-known Swedish coach was tracked by Middlesbrough after impressing in his homeland, writes Lawrence Ostlere. Now, after a decade away, the club are closing in on a return to the top flight

Heading to Coventry tonight for their game with Middlesbrough in what feels like a shootout for the Championship title.

Here's a piece on unheralded Swedish coach Kim Hellberg and how he has transformed Boro into the league's entertainers: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Relegation looms for Sheffield Wednesday – fans haven’t felt this excited in years A month on from entering administration and the exit of maligned owner Dejphon Chansiri, Wednesday fans have poured millions of pounds back into their club and have hope again ahead of Sunday’s Sheffi...

Administration, a crumbling ground and -4 points: Sheffield Wednesday fans have not felt this excited in years www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Only one question remains before Team Europe’s bid for Ryder Cup history The preparation is over, the talking – a lot of talking – is finally done. Now Europe must go out and deliver while deflecting the abuse of a hostile New York crowd

Team Europe are the most prepared away team in history. On the eve of the Ryder Cup, only one question remains. Piece from Bethpage Black:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/golf/r...

Oliver Tarvet’s battle with Carlos Alcaraz flies flag for US college route to tennis After being blown away by the world No 2 in the first set, the British qualifier competed gamely in a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 defeat and an advert for a US university education

Oliver Tarvet’s battle with Carlos Alcaraz flies flag for US college route to tennis www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis...

True, not a good look at all, but I suspect new investors are more concerned about financial health than brand image at this stage

Michael Johnson cancels Grand Slam Track’s LA meet amid financial concerns Organisers of Grand Slam Track remain confident the new athletics competition will continue in 2026 despite the premature end to its inaugural season

Understand Grand Slam Track had to cancel its LA event in order to avoid significant losses and protect the competition's future, with a new investor to be announced next week.

Story:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/genera...

Why Seb Coe lost the room in crushing IOC presidential election defeat Lord Coe finished a distant third in the race for the prestigious role leading the Olympic movement after making enemies inside the IOC, writes Lawrence Ostlere – but that was not the only reason

Why Seb Coe suffered crushing defeat in yesterday's IOC presidential election:

🔴 "Loathed" by some figures at the IOC
🔴 "Too old school" for newer, younger members
🔴 Kirsty Coventry's compelling pitch to athletes

www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympi...

How Dan Burn went from Asda shifts to England call – and proved everyone wrong The hero of Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final admitted to a sleepless night after receiving his first England call-up at the age of 32

When England were in the Euro 2024 final, Dan Burn was in an Airbnb. He could go from Asda to the World Cup. Burn on his remarkable rise:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Inside the secret battle for the highest office in sport: ‘No one tells the truth’ Lord Coe faces a seven-way fight to becomes president of the IOC in Thursday’s election in Greece. Lawrence Ostlere delves behind the scenes in the race for power

Spoke to IOC members about Thursday's once-in-a-generation election to anoint the most powerful figure in sport.

Inside the race to become the next IOC president: “Everybody tells you who they’re voting for, and no one tells you the truth” www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympi...

Inside the magic of Plymouth’s FA Cup run - and its deeper meaning As the Championship side travel to Manchester City in the fifth round, captain Joe Edwards tells Miguel Delaney about the club’s wider role and commitment to environmentally conscious choices

Interview with Plymouth captain Joe Edwards, ahead of the chance for another huge FA Cup upset against City... and a perfect opportunity to talk about his club's new environmental campaign, especially with the "uniqueness" of their location

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

‘I feel like I’ve been let off the lead’: Tom Pidcock on his Ineos exit, Netflix editing and not riding Le Tour Olympic gold medallist on his strained departure from Ineos Grenadiers, moving to Q36.5 and feeling revitalised

Interview with Tom Pidcock on his exit from Ineos Grenadiers, life at Q36.5 and falling out of love with the Tour de France.

By @jeremywhittle.bsky.social

How Geraint Thomas became the loveable face of Britain’s tainted cycling boom Thomas will retire at the end of the season and is targeting one final Tour de France

The question was never whether he had the lungs or the legs. The question was whether Geraint Thomas could carry his body over cobbled track and hard hills, whether he could climb into the sky and fly back down a sheer mountain face, day after day, without getting hurt...

Ronaldo at 40: still scoring, and potentially only 18 months from breaking 1,000 goals: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Why Barcelona’s kamikaze offside trap could change European football Barcelona have caught more players offside than any other team in Europe by a remarkable distance, writes Lawrence Ostlere. So will Hansi Flick’s radical tactics catch on or are Barca starting to get ...

All of which might be worthy of mockery if it wasn’t quite so effective, like Tottenham but with points.

So will Hansi Flick’s radical tactics catch on or are Barca starting to get found out? Piece:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Their kamikaze high line gives matches a bizarre look and similarly bizarre things seem to unfold: last week goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny impaled his own defender with his kneecap; in the same game, captain Raphinha scored from outside the box with his face...

Weird and wonderful things are happening at Barcelona this season. Their games have brought more goals than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues. They have trapped more opponents offside than any club, too...

Why Barcelona’s kamikaze offside trap could change European football Barcelona have caught more players offside than any other team in Europe by a remarkable distance, writes Lawrence Ostlere. So will Hansi Flick’s radical tactics catch on or are Barca starting to get ...

A piece on what Hansi Flick is doing at Barcelona and whether it might soon start to be mimicked across Europe: www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...