The stable of Ciaron Maher seeks validation by developing Observer into a Group 1 mile-winning colt.
This Godolphin-owned three-year-old triumphed in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) last spring, prompting trainer and owner to pursue a Group 1 conquest at 1600m for the colt.
Maher achieved similar feats with Hitotsu, returning the Derby winner to snag the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in 2021-22, and the team now eyes that target with Observer.
While Hitotsu won the Guineas fresh, Maher will start Observer’s autumn path via the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) this Saturday at Caulfield, en route to the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on February 28.
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“He’s come back, had a couple of jump-outs and looks to be in good form,” Maher’s National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull said.
“Interestingly, his jump-outs have been quicker than the two he had last prep.
“We’re trialling against better horses being a Group 1 winner and the tracker has been providing us with some good data.
“We trialled him over a half-mile in his first one to get him chasing and in his second one he had Browny (Ethan Brown) on, and he said he was OK.
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“It gives us confidence to run him over 1400 (metres) and that will give him three weeks into the Guineas.
“He’s not quick enough to win first-up at 1200 metres, 1400 metres is OK, and second-up at a mile should be ideal.”
Observer endured bad luck finishing third to Autumn Boy in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in October, then rebounded with wins in the Moonee Valley Vase and Victoria Derby in successive outings.
Turnbull mentioned Observer’s heightened sense of duty in workouts now, leading to the choice of lugging bit over norton bit for the upcoming race.
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“Off that Derby prep, he’s not quite as fierce and hopefully, he’s grown up a bit,” Turnbull said.
“We’re going to run him in just a lugging bit, rather than the norton bit, which would suggest he’s matured a bit and hopefully he continues on that pathway to being a racehorse.
“Our aim this preparation is to be a mile winning Group 1 colt to add that to his CV.
“If he could win the Australian Guineas, we could look to go to Sydney for the Rosehill Guineas, but we’re very much a two-race program for now, and after the Guineas we can reassess after discussions with Godolphin.”
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For those interested in the Autumn Stakes action, the racing betting markets offer plenty of options on Observer’s performance.
The 41-year-old, who leads the PGA Tour in driving distance and clubhead speed, was dialed at Memorial Park Sunday, leading the field in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in the final round on his way to a five-shot victory.
Woodland plays one of the coolest driver setups on the PGA Tour, opting for Cobra’s prototype OPTM Max LS-K driver, something Cobra Tour Rep Ben Schomin described as a “working prototype” earlier this season. It’s essentially a lower-spin, fade-biased version of Cobra’s retail Max K driver that was specifically built with Woodland in mind when he started playing Cobra’s DS-ADAPT Max-K driver last season.
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LOW loft. Heavy shaft. Back weighted.
They don’t make many drivers like Gary Woodland’s. He explains how he found his current gamer. pic.twitter.com/KGSTivFfR7
“This is my 18th year on Tour and the drivers that I’ve played when I’ve driven the golf ball well have been back-weighted,” Woodland told GOLF in February, referring to the deeper CG of drivers designed for game-improvement players. “Everyone wants front weight to get the spin down and distance. But for some reason, I’ve been back with it, and I started struggling with spin last year. I went through all the drivers, and I got to their Max K driver last year, and it was low spin for me for some reason.”
With that deep CG, Woodland prefers a lower lofted head, which is why his driver measures in at just 6.4 degrees of loft. He also pairs it with a telephone pole-like Ventus Black 8-X shaft.
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When Max Homa breifly switched into the prototype earlier this year, Schomin explained that because the LS-K is not a production model like the regular OPTM LS, X and Max-K, they can still make changes to it. The goal is to test design and performance concepts to potentially utilize in future production models.
Compared to the production Max-K, the LSK has a similar shape, but a lower and deeper CG to lower spin and produce a neutral-to-fade bias, Schomin said.
As opposed to the retail OPTM line of drivers, which have glossy crowns, the LS-K has a matte finish because it’s easier for the company to get it out on Tour. Woodland has been using the prototype since the PNC Championship in December.
He also pairs the prototype head with a lead pipe-esque Fujikura Ventus Black 8-X with VeloCore+, a shaft many players have in their 5/7-woods, but Woodland loves a heavy driver shaft at a shorter length to pair with his smoother tempo.
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Gary Woodland’s winning driver at the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open
If you’ve never set foot on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National, the occasion can feel momentous. Not only is Augusta one of the most famous and revered courses in the world, but the Masters is also a social event unlike any other — a place to see and be seen, with golf in between.
For those lucky enough to attend the tournament, one inquiry often looms large: What should I wear? It’s an important question that deserves some thoughtful consideration.
Attending in a patron capacity is a little different than attending as a member of the media. When you’re working, you need to be both comfortable and professional, right? Luckily, golf and athleisure apparel have come such a long way that it’s possible to tick those boxes with some style too. At the Masters, I like to go a little bit dressier than other events.
It’s been a while since I’ve attended the Masters in person, though, so I tapped my colleague Maddi MacClurg to weigh in with some guidance. Below, you can read our thoughts on the best approach to dressing for the Masters, as well as check out some links to items that would be right at home on the fairways of Augusta.
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Top recommendations for putting together a Masters-ready ensemble
Maddi MacClurg’s dos and don’ts
Do: Dress in layers. The weather at Augusta National can turn on a dime — cool morning breezes can give way to scorching midday heat, or even an afternoon shower. It’s common for patrons to experience multiple seasons in a single day — especially if you’re arriving early to secure your Masters Gnome. So, it pays to be ready to bundle up or shed a layer at a moment’s notice.
Don’t be afraid to dress to impress. The Masters is as much a style showcase as it is a major golf event, with plenty of patrons treating every day as an opportunity to break out their Sunday best. While there’s no dress code requiring you to dress up, leaning into sharp, spring-ready looks is part of the fun.
To go green or not?
Maddi: Absolutely! Green is the signature color of the Masters, so it’s a natural choice. But don’t be afraid to add pops of Augusta National’s other iconic hues, like yellow and pink. Pastels also work, and will help you nail the spring vibes.
Jessica: I agree, Maddi. It’s really fun to lean into the green, and lots of brands are aware of this and create special Masters-inspired apparel collections to make it easy.
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Which pieces are you eyeing for this year’s edition?
Maddi: Right now, I’m all about finding unique, playful accessories. A standout bag, a printed headband, or even a slinky, on-theme scarf can elevate an already great outfit — especially if you love a monochrome look as I do. Visors have also become a new favorite of mine. Not only do they keep the sun off your face, but the right one can feel incredibly chic — like the perfect finishing touch that pulls your whole outfit together.
Jessica: Golf brands specialize in making apparel that looks great and functions well on the course, so if you go this route, there’s no doubt you’ll be comfortable. But it’s ok to source your clothes from outside the golf world, too. At last week’s Ford Championship, one of my media friends at the LPGA tipped me off to this dress from Anthropologie, which she’s planning to wear on-site at Augusta. She said it’s a favorite of a player’s agent, too, and easy to see why: structured, comfortable and polished. Here are some other looks I’m currently loving:
The Somerset Maxi Dress
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I was pleasantly surprised to find that this dress is a popular silhouette with several different print options. I love the sleeves, the length and the cinched waist.
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Puma golf dress
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Puma Women’s 30904 Sleeveless Pique Golf Dress
This one’s for the sporty girlies! Easy to wear and super comfortable with a fun green stripe.
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Johnnie-O sweater
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Johnnie-O Bridget Garment Dyed Crewneck Sweater
You’ll find all shades of green onsite at Augusta, and I love the hue and texture of this sweater.
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Golf dress
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Addison Bay Smooth Sport Fairway Active Dress
This dress is a super-cute green-and-white look, and the print is also available in separates and a matching windbreaker.
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Rugby sweater polo
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G/FORE Rugby Merino Wool Sweater Polo
Rugby stripes are trending, and I love the contrast stripe collar on this cool sweater from G/FORE.
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Goldie dress
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This dress has a winning retro vibe and is available in a number of other solid colors.
Shoe guidance
Jessica: Sandals are cute, but they have the potential to not only hurt your feet but also get incredibly dirty — especially if it rains. Open-toe styles can be especially dangerous. Even if you opt to wear a dress or skirt, I think stylish sneakers are the answer.
Maddi: If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a dozen times — and for good reason. Augusta National’s rolling terrain is more demanding than it looks, and the wrong footwear can leave you dealing with blisters before the afternoon groups even tee off. Plan to wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty from the course elements.
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Here are a few shoes I’m loving for the Masters:
Veja sneakers
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Veja Exclusive Volley Sneakers
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These shoes are the embodiment of Augusta National’s Azaleas, with their pops of green and pink. The vintage-inspired wingtip detailing is a nod to an earlier era of the game, when legends like Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino teed it up in classic brogue-style spikes.
Espadrilles
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TOMS Valencia Platform Espadrille (Women)
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Espadrilles of any kind will always complement a light linen or cotton outfit for a sunny, spring day on the course. That said, if you’re planning to trek all over the course, you may be better off opting for a slip-on or Mary Jane style like this one for added comfort and ease.
Adidas golf shoes
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Adidas Gazelle Spikeless Golf Shoes
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Whether you’re walking 18 or strolling across the clubhouse terrace with an Azalea in hand, these spikeless, sneaker-style golf shoes are a perfect on-course companion. Comfortable and practical, their extra traction comes in handy on slick grass—and with plenty of cute colorways, you can show off your personal style.
Cole Haan loafers
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Cole Haan Women’s Danby Travel Loafers
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Loafers are always a classic at the Masters — and for good reason. They strike that perfect balance between polished and practical. Whether you opt for a sleek leather pair or something with a bit more personality, loafers will easily elevate any outfit while still being able to keep up with you as you wander the grounds at Augusta National.
The first half-week of the Major League Baseball season is always such a mixed bag. We know we aren’t supposed to get all emotional or draw wide-sweeping conclusions based on such a small sample of games, yet we sat around and waited all winter for meaningful MLB action. Deep down inside, we can’t help ourselves.
As an example, most readers know I’m a Cubs fan. I will admit that while my head knew that the Opening Day loss wasn’t the biggest deal in the world, I was pretty bummed and even a bit angry about my favorite team getting pounded by what is likely one of the worst teams in baseball. I’m pretty livid about the series loss. Hey, we’re all human.
Still, here in the Power Rankings, the key is to keep our wits about us. I often say in the early going that we need to react without overreacting. With only a half week of action, there’s hardly anything to react to at all. Let’s look back at last year for some examples of how reacting could lead us astray.
The three teams with winning records above all missed the playoffs, while the teams that looked terrible ended up in the postseason. Of course, the Dodgers were 5-0 and that 0-4 Braves start was the beginning of a disaster of a season.
How do we know what is real and what was a mirage? We don’t, really. We can judge teams based on confirmation bias (I knew the Dodgers were gonna be unbeatable!), but that’s about it so far.
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Are the Braves and Orioles having bounceback seasons after falling apart last year? Are the Rangers for real? How about the Marlins?!?! The Brewers look great again, but was that just a lack of competition? The Yankees looked amazing, but do the Giants actually just suck? Are the Phillies taking a step back? How about the Blue Jays sweeping the Athletics; did that tell us anything?
We just don’t know yet and that’s part of the fun.
I do know one thing for sure: I missed this. I’m excited for the grind that is our marathon of a regular season. We’ll see plenty of surprises through the course of the season. The most unsurprising thing will be the Dodgers winning the NL West with ease. Again. But we’ll see plenty of other fun things. I promise. We’re back, baby!
Pete Crow-Armstrong last season had three bunt hits. So far this season, he already has two. It’s a nice wrinkle for a player who hit 31 homers last year and can fly.
I had concerns heading into the season that the offense would be far too reliant on the top three hitters, as awesome as they are, and nothing in the first three games has alleviated those concerns.
Obviously winning matters, but the Pirates weren’t really all that far from sweeping the Mets. Make Oneil Cruz catch two flies in the opener and then make better pitches in extras in game two. (Of course, they were awfully close to getting swept too).
Really good sign from Randy Vásquez to work six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. The Padres’ rotation is worrisome, but a big step forward here could work wonders.
I’ve spoken with relievers before who have lamented that a bad outing early in the season can ruin their numbers for weeks or even months. Ian Seymour gave up five runs without getting an out on Opening Day. That’s gonna leave a mark.
It took 20 innings, but the Giants finally scored their first run of 2026 on Saturday. Maybe their manager should’ve given more “fire and brimstone” speeches. I hear those definitely help with big leaguers.
Zac Gallen’s problem innings last season were the first, second and fourth. He threw four scoreless innings against the Dodgers on Opening Day! And then he fell apart in the fifth. Back to the drawing board.
The appeal hearing involving Senegalese supporters detained in Morocco has been delayed once more, with the court fixing April 13 as the new date for proceedings.
The case was expected to continue as scheduled, but the presiding judge ordered an adjournment, causing another setback in the trial.
The supporters have been held in custody since January following incidents of disorder during the final match between Morocco and Senegal.
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Efforts by the Government of Senegal, which put together a legal team to defend the fans, have yet to yield progress, as the case continues to face repeated delays, raising concerns about how long the supporters have remained in detention.
Dmitry Bivol has finally had his long-awaited return to the ring confirmed.
The 35-year-old was last in action over 12 months ago when he went up against countryman Artur Beterbiev in their undisputed light heavyweight showdown back in February 2025.
It was a rematch of their clash the past October which Beterbiev had won by majority decision, but Bivol was able to gain revenge in the second meeting to dethrone his rival by the exact same outcome and become undisputed champion.
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Since then, Bivol had to relinquish his WBC title which is now held by David Benavidez, but the Russian still remains in possession of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts, and is now set to compete against his mandatory challenger Michael Eifert.
Bivol had to undergo back surgery which delayed his return, and after several extensions for purse bid negotiations were granted for the bout against Eifert, a date and location has been revealed.
It was initially expected that the fight would be part of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven card in Egypt on May 23, but that won’t be the case, after it was announced that Bivol will face Eifert in Yekaterinburg, Russia on May 30.
Eifert has won 13 of his 14 professional contests, with his most notable win coming against Jean Pascal in March 2023. He has fought only once since then, a victory over Carlos Jiminez in August 2024, meaning the German has been more inactive than Bivol.
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Unified champion Bivol will be a big favourite in the bout, and if successful against Eifert, he has recently stated his desire to face Beterbiev in a trilogy contest next, before a potential fight against former rival Canelo Alvarez, or even a move up to cruiserweight.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have missed the playoffs in five straight seasons. They looked like contending for a wild card spot last year, but eventually fell two points shy of clinching it. They were hoping to equal that points tally from last season and solidify their playoff chances this year against the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
But the Blue Jackets surrendered in what looked like a routine win. Having gone up 3-0 in the first period, the Bruins mounted a spirited comeback in the third before winning the game 4-3 in a shootout. They leapfrogged the Blue Jackets into the top Eastern Conference wild card spot and left Columbus at 87 points.
Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness didn’t mince any words following his team’s fourth loss in five games (1-3-1). He called out to his players to develop a playoff mindset, as many on the roster have yet to taste playoff success in their NHL careers.
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“We got away from being aggressive, and I thought we got very selfish with the puck,” Bowness said. “Some of these guys, they’ve got a lot to learn about how to play in this league at this time of year.
“It gets harder and harder and harder, and we’re going to keep reminding them and reminding them every day how hard it is to win at this time of the year, and you just can’t get away. I hate it when we play on our heels, and we were back a little bit. Give them credit. They started coming, but there’s a lot to be learned from some of these guys, and they better damn well start listening.”
Bowness’ frustrations stem from the fact that the Blue Jackets dropped their game on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks in a similar fashion. They held a 2-1 lead after the second intermission, but let the Sharks come back into the game and eventually take a 3-2 win with a winner at 18:35 in the third.
Blue Jackets players express their disappointment after surrendering 3-0 lead
Captain Boone Jenner stated during the postgame interviews that is imperative that the Blue Jackets leave the loss behind them and look to consolidate their footing in the final eight games left in the regular season.
“It’s a tough loss, obviously, and we know what’s at stake,” Jenner said. “We are where we are right now. We can’t change the games where we didn’t get points, right? We have eight huge games here the rest of the way. We have to learn from tonight and we need to get better in order to get some more wins down the stretch.”
Jenner was guilty of taking a tripping penalty with 42 seconds left in the game, which led to Pavel Zacha’s second and game-tying goal. Leading up to the goal, the Blue Jackets tried to dump out the puck, with the nervousness showing in front of the home crowd. With eight games left, that is one emotion that needs to take a back seat.
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“There was a reason we were up 3-0,” Coyle said, “and it’s because we were doing the right things and playing the right way. We’ve got to stick to it. And we had the talk in between period, like, ‘Let’s stay on it.’
“They’re a good team. They’re going to push and play well and press a little bit, but it’s up to us, no matter what happens, to just stay on it. We can’t be turning pucks over like that and giving them easy transition.”
Columbus has played eight times in the last 13 days. They will get a rest day on Monday before they are off to face the division leaders, Carolina Hurricanes.
Jocelyn Peterman will be joining forces with 2026 women’s world championship runner-up Kerri Einarson, they announced on Monday.
Peterman will throw lead stones, Karlee Burgess will play second and Shannon Birchard will throw third stones. Peterman will also be the vice so that Burgess and Birchard, two of the best sweepers on the women’s side, can sweep Einarson’s skip stones.
The move to bring Peterman onto the team comes just four days after both Einarson’s and Peterman’s squads announced breakups. Einarson let go of longtime third Val Sweeting, alternate Krysten Karwacki and coach Reid Carruthers.
Peterman was on Kaitlyn Lawes’ team, but was left to find a new squad after Lawes and lead Kristin Gordon decided to take a year off from competitive curling.
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Peterman, 32, has a lot of experience playing with some of the biggest names in Canada already.
She won the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts playing second for Chelsea Carey before switching to Jennifer Jones’ team in 2018 to replace Jill Officer, who was set to retire.
Playing with Jones, Peterman’s biggest accomplishment was winning the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, sending her to the Olympics for the first time in 2022. Peterman also represented Canada at the Olympics in 2026, playing mixed doubles with her husband Brett Gallant.
NC State is hiring Tennessee assistant and former Wolfpack guard Justin Gainey as its next coach, sources confirmed to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. Gainey, 49, has spent the last five seasons on Rick Barnes’ staff with the Vols and has held the title of associate head coach since 2022.
Gainey, a Greensboro, North Carolina, native, led the Wolfpack to NCAA postseason appearances all four seasons of his playing career at NC State and ranks inside the program’s top 10 all-time in several statistical categories, including starts, steals and assists.
“He has just incredible pride in his university. A terrific basketball coach. I mean, if you come to our walk-throughs, like today or the other day, he scouted the last game. I don’t say a whole lot because those guys have it.”
NC State’s power brass made a quick move to interview Gainey and others in the aftermath of Wade’s departure. He wanted the job in Raleigh the last time it was open, and this time around, he was one of the early frontrunners, per 247Sports.
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“Justin has an incredible feel for the game, really understands players,” Barnes said. “He works at it. Terrific recruiter. Understands the NIL era today. If NC State knew what I knew, they would be begging him to be their next head coach. Because he’s ready not just for NC State, he’s ready to be the head coach of the University of Tennessee or any school in the country. He’s that good.”
Schertz, who propelled Saint Louis to a 29-6 record this season as a NCAA Tournament qualifier, withdrew his name from consideration on Sunday, citing in a social media post that he “turned down significantly more money this spring” to remain with the program.
“Interest from other programs in our players and staff is a byproduct of team success, so as uncomfortable as it may be, let’s hope that never changes,” Schertz wrote.
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Gainey’s first mission at NC State will be assembling his staff, along with determining roster moves with college basketball’s transfer portal opening in April. Gainey began his coaching career as an administrative coordinator and director of operations with NC State under Sidney Lowe, later landing assistant positions at Elon, Appalachian State and Santa Clara prior to earning his major stripes at Arizona.
He was an associate head coach for the first time during his next stop at Marquette, where he spent one season before joining Barnes’ staff with the Vols. Gainey was the brains behind Tennessee’s defensive improvements in recent years and will bring an on-ball pressure scheme to the Wolfpack.
Former European champion Adam Gemili has retired from athletics at the age of 32.
Gemili was a youth footballer at Chelsea and on the books at then League Two Dagenham & Redbridge before committing to sprinting, and made the Team GB squad for the Olympics in his home city at London 2012.
He reached the semi-finals of the 100m in London and went on to win relay medals at three World Championships.
He was the 2014 European Champion over 200m and took silver in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow that summer.
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Posting on his Instagram page, he said:, external “It’s hard to put into words what an incredible journey it’s been.
“Thank you for all the support, love, and belief you’ve shown me throughout my career.
“From a baby-faced Adam at London 2012 to a slightly more grey-haired version in 2025. I hope I’ve made you proud.”
Gemili narrowly missed out on more medals, finishing fourth in the 200m at the Rio 2016 Olympics, just 0.003 seconds shy of bronze, before another fourth place at the Doha 2019 World Athletics Championships.
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Alongside Zharnel Hughes and Linford Christie, he is one of just three British male sprinters to have run under 10 seconds in the 100m and 20 seconds in the 200m, with personal bests of 9.97 seconds and 19.97 seconds respectively.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch did his best to shut down the buzz around the theory that an electrical substation near Levi’s Stadium could be the catalyst for the spate of injuries the team has suffered over the last few years.
The theory popped up on social media during the 2025 season, though the 49ers have played at Levi’s Stadium since 2014 and used the practice facility that is also near the substation since 1989.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2026.(Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Niners star George Kittle said in February he didn’t believe the rumors were true, but also wanted a definitive answer.
Lynch provided one Sunday as NFL owners began to meet in Phoenix, Arizona. He said the organization had a scientist come to the facility to see if there was anything awry.
“It basically was a big nothing burger,” Lynch told reporters, via ESPN. “We’re in a safe place of work…. It’s a normal place of work. It’s a normal gym. We are safe, we’re healthy, and we feel really good about that.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is carted off the field after an injury during the NFC wild-card game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026.(Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
“That was important to us, not just to turn a blind eye, but to look into it because it’s our players’ wellness. It’s not only our players’ wellness, it’s coaches, it’s staff, all that. And it’s encouraging.”
According to the 49ers, the scientist learned that players and staff were being exposed to an electromagnetic environment similar to that of a gym or average workplace.
Still, the injury bug is something the 49ers have to figure out as the seasons go on.
John Lynch watches players work out during NFL Pro Day, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Athens, Georgia.(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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